My Ex-Husband Got Married, and the Bride is Actually Me? - Chapter 3

Shen Yan watched the other person’s slightly flustered expression, his eyes flickering a few times before a faint smile curled at the corners of his lips. “Sure.”

Because alphas and omegas possess pheromones and are particularly prone to mutual attraction during their heats—often leading to chaos—the dormitory areas for these two genders were situated far apart, with various activity zones also segregated.

The boy kept stealing glances at Shen Yan along the way, his ears tinged with red. When they arrived at the alpha dormitory area, the boy’s expression cracked slightly. “Classmate, aren’t you an omega?”

“When did I ever say I was an omega?”

Shen Yan’s gaze cooled a few degrees as he took the sketchboard from the boy’s back. He uttered a quiet “thanks” before turning and walking away without another glance.

Leaving the boy standing there, utterly bewildered.

In the current social structure, the omega population, due to their unique reproductive value, scarce demographic ratio, and generally striking appearances, had become the preferred choice for high-ranking elites in the dating market.

In contrast, the alpha population occupied the pinnacle of the social hierarchy with their robust physiques, exceptional intellect, and formidable control over resources. As the driving force behind innovation and decision-making across various fields, they far surpassed ordinary people in terms of material wealth accumulation.

Within this seemingly binary social stratification, the beta population found themselves in an especially awkward position. They lacked the innate reproductive advantages of omegas and didn’t possess the remarkable abilities or resource control of alphas.

Betas often had unremarkable appearances, relatively low reproductive value, and unexceptional performance in most skill-based fields, which frequently placed them at a disadvantage in social competition.

Shen Yan was a beta. With his androgynously striking features and waist-length hair, he was often mistaken for an omega, attracting the attention of other alphas.

He rarely bothered to explain and was more than happy to accept the favor and assistance of alphas. Through relationships with alphas, Shen Yan had indeed resolved many of life’s difficulties.

After all, as a beta, he couldn’t be marked like an alpha or omega, nor could he form a bond with an alpha to produce offspring. While this identity made him somewhat of an “outlier” in social circles, it also spared him many potential pitfalls.

Alpha families typically chose omegas as partners for development. Although in past relationships, some alphas had tried to resist their families’ pressure for his sake, they ultimately couldn’t withstand the authoritarian might of their alpha parents.

Shen Yan’s floor was a mixed alpha and beta dormitory. His room was on the top floor, but since there was an elevator, the height didn’t trouble him much. He reached his dorm without much effort.

As soon as he entered, he spotted a physically imposing alpha squatting on the floor. The alpha was dressed in a black T-shirt, his short hair neat and tidy.

Alpha seemed oblivious to his presence, completely absorbed in packing his luggage. Two suitcases lay open beside him, one of which was half-filled with neatly arranged rows of small inhibitor bottles, their orderly arrangement making them particularly eye-catching.

Shen Yan stood silently at the doorway, surveying the dorm room. It was a four-person space with bunk beds and desks below, along with two private bathrooms and a balcony.

He mentally assessed the living conditions and found them quite satisfactory.

Then, he gently placed his art portfolio on his assigned bed.

“Whoa! Dude, how do you walk so quietly?” Alpha jumped like a startled rabbit, whipping his head around in surprise.

His eyes widened as he took in Shen Yan, who had appeared in the dorm unnoticed. Tipping his head slightly in confusion, he asked, “Hey, classmate, are you lost? This is the Alpha dormitory. The Omega dorms are in the south district.”

Shen Yan crossed his arms and shook his head lightly, correcting Alpha’s mistake. “No, I’m not lost. I’m a Beta.”

“Beta?” Alpha’s eyes widened further before he scratched his head sheepishly. “Oh, sorry! You really don’t look like a Beta.”

“Uh, I’m Xu Chu, from the Traditional Chinese Painting department.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shen Yan, Oil Painting department.”

Shen Yan glanced at the two empty beds. “Are our other two roommates from the same departments?”

“Nah, I asked the advisor. The two of us were the extras in our departments, so we got paired with others. No idea what majors those two are,” Xu Chu said as he finished packing his suitcase. “But today should be the last day for registration.”

“Maybe our other roommates dropped out?”

“Ah, whatever. There’s a meeting tonight—the group chat just sent a notice. Let’s go together.”

“Sure.”

The freshman orientation concluded that evening amid enthusiastic applause. The advisor stood at the podium, painstakingly reiterating a long list of post-enrollment reminders, covering everything from academic discipline to campus safety.

Shen Yan had rarely attended such a lengthy meeting. He sat in the audience, stifling yawns, while Xu Chu chatted with new classmates, asking about the best local restaurants.

Finally, after an exhaustive series of announcements, the advisor dismissed everyone. The freshmen collectively sighed in relief and began leaving in small groups.

Shen Yan politely declined Xu Chu’s invitation to grab dinner at the cafeteria, opting instead to visit the school exhibition hall.

This year’s National Art Exhibition had just ended, and award-winning works by S University’s faculty and students were on display for a few days.

As Shen Yan walked through the exhibition hall, he snapped photos of the artworks with his phone.

After capturing a few pieces, he frowned at the images on his screen. He really needed to invest in a proper camera. The phone’s resolution was too low, and it would likely be inconvenient for future reference.

BANG!

A deafening crash suddenly shattered the surrounding tranquility.

Startled, Shen Yan’s heart lurched, his eyes flashing with surprise as he whipped his head toward the source of the noise.

Not far away, a young man was frantically trying to steady a massive, wobbling picture frame. The frame looked impossibly heavy, its edges leaving visible dents where it had struck the floor.

Shen Yan didn’t have time to think. Reacting on instinct, he rushed forward to help. A boy in a black jacket also ran over from the side, and the three of them worked together to steady the heavy painting frame against the wall.

“That scared me to death! The frame just fell out of nowhere—it almost hit me!” The boy with short hair still seemed shaken, patting his chest as he spoke. “If it had actually hit me, I’d probably be spending the start of the semester in the hospital. Thank you both so much!”

The boy in the black jacket didn’t say anything. Sensing the short-haired boy’s awkwardness, Shen Yan smoothly took over the conversation with a smile.

A faint, elusive scent of peaches lingered at the edge of Shen Yan’s senses. He frowned slightly, rubbing his nose in discomfort.

The boy who had come to help earlier brushed the dust off his jacket. Noticing how dirty it had gotten, he casually took it off and tossed it into the trash without a second thought.

Shen Yan’s gaze inadvertently swept over the discarded jacket, and he immediately recognized the brand—a classic design from **, one of the season’s flagship pieces, renowned for its minimalist yet sophisticated style.

He had an ex who was an alpha and a fashion designer, once working at a prestigious design institute in the capital of F Country.

Maybe to show off his expertise, or perhaps just to flaunt his connections, that ex had constantly bombarded Shen Yan with details about high-end fashion brands and their designs. Over time, Shen Yan had picked up a basic understanding of luxury clothing.

Watching the boy discard the jacket so carelessly, Shen Yan couldn’t help but speculate: This guy must be loaded. Is he some rich heir from a major corporation?

The short-haired boy tentatively asked, “Let me treat you both to a meal. Do you have time now?”

“No need, it was just a small favor,” Shen Yan replied, glancing at the other’s work badge. “You’re the person in charge here, right? If there’s nothing else, you should probably get back to work.”

The other boy also declined with a simple, “No need,” before lowering his head to adjust his shirt.

“I really am grateful to you both, but I do have other things to take care of. Next time, I’ll treat you to a meal for sure!”

The boy was still focused on meticulously straightening his collar, his movements refined and deliberate—like a pedigreed, aristocratic cat exuding elegance.

His hair was soft and slightly glossy, catching the light with a subtle sheen. The strands at his forehead fell gently, framing a face with sharp, cold features—high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and thick, long lashes visible when he looked down.

Shen Yan had the nagging feeling he’d seen him somewhere before.

Noticing someone staring, the boy lifted his head with a hint of displeasure, his dark blue eyes abruptly locking onto Shen Yan’s gaze.

It was the freshman orientation today, and Shen Yan had deliberately dressed in a white shirt, his tall frame radiating youthful energy. His jet-black hair, left untamed, was loosely tied back with a blue ribbon.

Beneath that dark hair, a pair of striking fox-like eyes stared directly at the boy.

The boy’s expression shifted slightly, his voice coming out muffled. “Stop looking at me.”

Ignoring the other’s somewhat aloof demeanor, Shen Yan leaned in closer, trying to strike up a conversation with this young Alpha. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret—If only I were an Omega. Maybe then, releasing a bit of pheromones could thaw this Alpha’s icy composure.

After all, he seemed like the type who’d be easy to coax—and easy to pursue.

“Hey, what’s your major?” Shen Yan smiled, his peach blossom eyes curving into little crescents. “Are you a freshman at S University?”

“Yes.”

“Oh—” Shen Yan drew out the syllable. “Are you from the College of Fine Arts?”

Before the words had even settled, he leaned a bit closer to the young man.

The scent of peaches seemed to grow stronger—was the other guy an Omega? Or an Alpha who’d been marked by an Omega?

From Shen Yan’s angle, he noticed a wrinkled corner of the guy’s clothes and instinctively reached out to smooth it.

A glimpse of pale wrist flashed before the young man’s eyes.

“Don’t touch me,” the guy said, staring at Shen Yan, enunciating each word clearly.

Hearing this, Shen Yan quickly withdrew his restless hand and offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I just noticed your collar was crooked.”

The young man seemed displeased, silently glaring at Shen Yan.

Shen Yan raised an eyebrow. How could someone still be this uptight in this day and age?

Maybe it was his good mood, or perhaps some other reason, but Shen Yan felt a mischievous urge. With a playful grin, he deliberately messed up the collar again.

Then the audacious beta dashed off in a flash.

Wen Xiuran: “……”