Senior, Stop Pretending to be an Alpha - Chapter 7.2

Yu Qiao was walking slowly across the basketball court, clutching the heavy stack of camouflage uniforms. Suddenly, a rapid set of footsteps approached from behind.

“Yu Qiao!”

Recognizing the familiar voice, Yu Qiao froze and awkwardly began to turn around. She wanted to catch a glimpse of the person behind her, but the stack of clothes in her arms was like a shoddily built structure; it was dangerously unstable and on the verge of a total collapse.

“Do not move, be careful.”

In a flash, a slender, fair hand pressed down on the crooked pile of clothes, narrowly preventing them from toppling. Another hand lightly steadied her arms before quickly withdrawing. A faint fragrance wafted toward her. Those soft, warm fingertips brushed against her skin, as fleeting as a burning meteor. Yu Qiao dazed for a moment, then saw a pair of smiling fox-eyes peeking out from behind the wall of clothes.

“Senior?”

“Are you okay?” Xie Bufei’s eyes curved into crescents. “Need some help?”

Before Yu Qiao could even answer, Xie Bufei had already picked up half of the uniforms with practiced ease. The entire movement was so fluid that Yu Qiao did not even have time to protest. Xie Bufei looked at her, blinked her beautiful eyes, and raised an eyebrow. “Where to?”

Yu Qiao chose to surrender. “Back to the dorm.”

With the other woman carrying half the load, the burden was significantly lightened. Her field of vision cleared up, and she no longer had to walk with such painstaking caution. Xie Bufei nodded and walked alongside her with light steps. Passersby who witnessed the scene were stunned.

Yu Qiao felt her scalp prickle under the surrounding gazes. She knit her brows in discomfort. Xie Bufei noticed, and without a word, she moved slightly to block Yu Qiao from the crowd, shielding her from those annoying stares.

As they left the basketball court, the noise behind them faded into the distance. The phone in Xie Bufei’s bag rang several times, but she did not pick up, continuing forward with a calm expression.

Feeling curious, Yu Qiao asked, “Are you not going to answer that, Senior?”

Xie Bufei did not need to check to know it was Cheng Yeli calling to fish for gossip. He had likely seen her interacting with Yu Qiao just now. Cheng Yeli was a relentless chatterbox when it came to gossip, which was a stark contrast to his cool, handsome exterior. Just thinking about his endless nagging gave Xie Bufei a headache. She shook her head. “No rush. I will call back later.”

Yu Qiao hesitated. Recalling Lu Yun’s previous words, she wondered if she should proactively maintain some distance. “Is it really okay to just leave Senior Cheng there like that?”

“Him?” Xie Bufei gave a light chuckle. “Let him be.” She had not even wanted to come; Cheng Yeli had begged her to accompany him to help clear his mind. Now that she saw he was fine, she naturally left.

Yu Qiao nodded. She thought for a while but still could not be sure of the relationship between the two, and asking directly felt far too presumptuous. She had no choice but to swallow her questions for now.

Since it was the lunch break, there were not many people on the way back to the dorms. However, those they did encounter were shocked to see Xie Bufei carrying uniforms. A few Alphas and Omegas even volunteered to help, but Xie Bufei turned them all down.

Yu Qiao couldn’t help but remark, “You are really popular.”

Xie Bufei looked at her and blinked. “Why? Are you envious?”

Yu Qiao nodded, speaking truthfully. “A little.” Sometimes she really wanted to be able to interact with people freely and easily, but she felt too clumsy in social situations and often missed opportunities.

“Do not be. It is actually quite a hassle.” Xie Bufei countered. “Can you imagine the feeling of being stared at wherever you go, as if every move you make is being monitored?”

Yu Qiao, who preferred keeping a low profile, imagined being watched constantly like she had been just now. Her scalp felt tight. “That sounds a bit terrifying.”

“Exactly.” Xie Bufei smiled, and a hint of melancholy settled between her brows. “It might sound like a humble brag, but being the center of too much attention is not a good thing. Sometimes it becomes a real burden.”

A sense of understanding dawned on Yu Qiao. She thought for a moment and offered serious comfort. “Do not feel too much pressure, Senior. Everyone watches you because you are so outstanding.”

Xie Bufei turned to look at Yu Qiao in surprise, and a strange emotion flickered in her beautiful eyes. She suddenly asked, “What about you?”

Yu Qiao blinked. “What?”

Xie Bufei leaned in closer, suddenly narrowing the gap between them. That faint floral scent felt like an enticing little hook. She asked playfully, “Will you keep your eyes on me?”

Yu Qiao looked into those clear, bright eyes and licked her dry lips, feeling an inexplicable surge of nerves. She did not like judging people by their looks, but she had to admit that Xie Bufei was truly magnetic. It was not just physical beauty, but a charm that radiated from her speech and mannerisms. She was beautiful through and through.

Seeing her silence, Xie Bufei broke into a radiant smile, as if her previous gloom had been an illusion. “Alright, I was just joking.” She picked up her pace and walked into the dormitory building. Suddenly, she heard Yu Qiao’s voice behind her.

“I will.”

The clean voice echoed in the stairwell, firm and clear. Xie Bufei paused, and her fair fingertips instinctively tightened around the hem of her clothes. Unconsciously, the corners of her mouth curved upward. She turned back and laughed. “My, Junior, you certainly have a sweet tongue.”

Yu Qiao remained silent. Xie Bufei was the first person in her life to ever call her sweet-tongued.

The two arrived at Dorm 301. Yu Qiao had locked the door before leaving, but now it was open, suggesting Yao Rudong had woken up. As Yu Qiao pushed the door open, Yao Rudong sprang up excitedly from her bed. “Qiaoqiao! Did you go to the basketball court? Did you see my goddess and my god there!”

Xie Bufei followed Yu Qiao inside and asked politely, “Is it okay if I come in?”

Yu Qiao replied, “It is fine.”

Yao Rudong’s voice cut off abruptly, followed by a loud, duck-like squawk. Yu Qiao and Xie Bufei were both momentarily startled. Yao Rudong caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, suddenly scooped up the clothes on her chair, and sprinted into the bathroom at light speed. The door slammed shut with a clatter as she threw the bolt.

Xie Bufei’s eyes barely caught her afterimage. She asked in shock, “Is your roommate okay?”

“She should be fine,” Yu Qiao said. “She was probably just startled.”

Xie Bufei laughed. “Do I look that scary?” She looked around; the dorm was clean and bright, and several desks were decorated with pink posters, giving off a youthful, feminine atmosphere.

Xie Bufei’s gaze landed on one particular desk. She raised an eyebrow. “I am guessing this one is yours.”

Yu Qiao was surprised. “How did you know?”

“Because it is the only one without wallpaper, and it is the neatest.” Xie Bufei said with a playful tilt of her head. “It fits your style perfectly.”

Unaware of any teasing subtext, Yu Qiao pushed up her glasses and said shyly, “Do not laugh at me. You can just put the clothes on my desk.” She pulled out her chair and asked politely, “Thank you for helping me carry them up, Senior. Would you like to sit and rest for a bit?”

Xie Bufei sat down gracefully, looking as comfortable as if she were in her own room. She noticed a pale blue square sticky note on the wall in front of the desk listing Yu Qiao’s schedule: classes, review, and finding a part-time job. Xie Bufei scanned it, her mind whirring with thought.

Yu Qiao brought her a glass of water, sounding a bit embarrassed. “I do not have any other drinks here.”

“It is fine, I can drink anything.” Xie Bufei’s eyes landed on the small bear-themed cup in Yu Qiao’s hand. “Is this the cup you usually use?”

“Yes.” Yu Qiao, thinking she might mind, explained, “I just washed it thoroughly.”

Xie Bufei accepted the cup naturally. She lowered her eyes and took a small sip. Her hair bun bobbed playfully on her head, and her thick, curled eyelashes looked like the wings of a butterfly. She looked up at Yu Qiao and smiled. Her full lips were moistened by the water, making them look even more vibrant. “Thank you, Qiaoqiao.”

“You are welcome.” Yu Qiao thought to herself that Xie Bufei made drinking water look like a movie scene.

Xie Bufei left shortly after finishing her water. The room still lingered with her faint floral scent, and the chair still held her warmth. Just as Yu Qiao sat down, the bathroom door slammed against the wall. Yao Rudong marched out, looking every bit the high-energy moe girl.

Yu Qiao looked at her in confusion. “Are you going out?”

Yao Rudong leaned against the wall, striking a cool pose while looking around. “Where is my goddess?”

“She left just a moment ago,” Yu Qiao said.

Yao Rudong’s face fell instantly. “What? I spent so long doing my makeup and put on new clothes! Why could she not stay longer?”

“You came out too late,” Yu Qiao said, speechless. “If you had been just a little faster, you would have seen her.”

“I wanted to show her my best self!” Yao Rudong pulled a chair over and sat down, her cheeks puffed out in frustration. “What do I do, Qiaoqiao? The goddess saw me in my messy pajamas and heard me gossiping about her and Cheng Yeli! This is enough to post on a forum and have my body cremated!”

Yu Qiao recalled the scene and offered diplomatic comfort. “It is okay. She probably did not get a good look at you, and she does not know who the goddess you were talking about is.”

“Sigh, I hope so.” Yao Rudong looked as if she had suffered a catastrophic blow. A second later, she snapped back to reality. She turned to Yu Qiao with a piercing, intense gaze. “Wait a minute. Why were you walking with Xie Bufei? You two… could it be?”

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