After Pretending to be a Beta, the Omega was Discovered by the School Heartthrob Chapter 39

Zhou Le, however, was having a great time.

He, Lin Xiaoxiao, and Xia Linchuan were clearly there to feast, barely lifting their heads from their plates.

They didn’t care about looking silly—filling up was the main objective.

Zhou Le stared longingly at the golden crab roe, almost drooling. He glanced around, noticing that no one else had touched it, and remembered he’d only seen it in videos before. Not sure how to eat it, he was worried he might embarrass himself.

Zhou Le really wanted to eat some crab, so he reached out to grab one, but just as he did, Xia Linchuan turned the lazy Susan, and Zhou’s hand came up empty. Embarrassed, he pulled his hand back.

He thought about giving up since he wasn’t sure how to eat it anyway.

Just then, he noticed Lu Jingran turning the lazy Susan and placing two crabs in his bowl.

Zhou Le watched closely, eager to learn how to eat the crab.

He saw Lu Jingran skillfully remove the crab’s gills and break it in half, revealing the rich, golden crab roe that looked incredibly tempting.

Swallowing again, Zhou Le figured he’d learned enough and was about to grab one for himself, but before he could, two freshly prepared crabs appeared in his bowl.

“Eat it slow, watch out for the shells,” Lu Jingran said naturally, preparing another crab.

So… Was he doing all this for him?

“Why aren’t you eating? Why are you just staring at me?” Lu Jingran asked with a smile.

Startled, Zhou Le quickly looked away and started eating the crab.

The rich, intense seafood flavor seemed to explode in his mouth.

This is amazing, Zhou Le thought, completely won over by the taste.

Watching Zhou Le enjoy the food so much, Lu Jingran asked, “Good?”

Zhou Le nodded enthusiastically, too taken by the flavors to respond with words.

Lu Jingran: “Even if it’s good, slow down. Don’t rush. This one’s for you too,” 

He pointed to the crab he was currently peeling.

“Oh, no need, class rep. I can do it myself,” Zhou Le replied quickly, his words muffled as he chewed.

He watched from the side and had already learned how to eat crab.

Lu Jingran didn’t refute, simply continuing to peel the crab and placing all the meat into Zhou Le’s bowl.

Zhou Le ended up eating four large crabs, none of which he had peeled himself.

He couldn’t even eat fast enough to keep up with Lu Jingran’s peeling speed.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Zhou Le glanced at the large prawns on the table, rolled up his sleeves, and said, “Class rep, which one do you want? I’ll peel it for you.”

Just as he reached out his hand, Lu Jingran grabbed it.

“Don’t touch it. I’ll do it. You just eat.”

The Alpha’s palm was hot—warm, large, and completely enveloped Zhou Le’s hand.

In that moment of skin-to-skin contact, it felt like the warmth from Lu Jingran’s hand was traveling from the back of Zhou Le’s hand straight to his heart.

Zhou Le suddenly felt his face heat up. Instinctively, he pulled his hand back, momentarily forgetting to argue, and said softly, “Oh… okay.”

The rest of the meal turned into a seamless assembly line: Lu Jingran peeled, and Zhou Le ate. It felt like some kind of modern factory production process.

By the end, Zhou Le hadn’t eaten much of the main dishes but was completely full.

He patted his slightly round belly, his eyes narrowing in a satisfied, food-induced daze.

Lin Xiaoxiao and Xia Linchuan were also stuffed, leaning back comfortably in their chairs after devouring their meal.

It was only then that everyone noticed someone was missing. “Hey, where’s Chen Nan?”

The private room was silent.

Lu Jingran glanced at Sheng Qian.

Zhou Le, having eaten his fill, got up when he heard this. “I’ll go check.”

After all, he was hosting this gathering, and it was a bit concerning that Chen Nan hadn’t returned after so long.

But before he could fully stand, Lu Jingran pressed him back into his seat and added a piece of salmon to his plate.

Zhou Le looked at him, confused, when, in the next second, Sheng Qian stood up and left the room.

It was clear he had gone to find Chen Nan.

Yet, Sheng Qian’s indifferent expression didn’t make it seem like he was concerned. It was hard to tell what he was thinking.

Zhou Le and Lin Xiaoxiao exchanged puzzled looks.

Xia Linchuan suddenly spoke up, “No way, is the rumor I heard actually true?”

Lin Xiaoxiao perked up with interest. “What rumor? What is it?”

Xia Linchuan glanced at Lu Jingran, who was focused on taking care of Zhou Le and showed no signs of stopping the conversation. Then, Xia Linchuan leaned closer to Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Le and said, “I heard that Sheng Qian is going abroad. He’ll be studying there for several years and probably won’t come back. His family’s already moved over, and he’ll likely attend college there too.”

Lin Xiaoxiao looked regretful. “Huh?” She lamented, thinking they wouldn’t see Sheng Qian at school anymore. Although Sheng Qian wasn’t as famous as Lu Jingran, he still had his reputation as one of the school’s “heartthrobs,” especially with that scholarly yet subtly bad-boy vibe, which was hard to replace.

Hearing this, Zhou Le turned to Lu Jingran and asked, “Is that true?”

Lu Jingran glanced at him and nodded. “Probably by next semester.”

Next semester. After that, they might never see him again.

Although Zhou Le wasn’t particularly close to Sheng Qian, they were friendly enough. Thinking that they might not meet again, Zhou Le felt a tinge of regret.

If even he felt this way, Chen Nan must feel much worse.

“That… really is a bit sad.” Zhou Le lowered his head, feeling down. He also began to understand why Chen Nan was acting the way he was.

His eyelashes drooped slightly, the fine, soft lashes conveying his little emotions.

It was hard not to feel softhearted just looking at him.

Lu Jingran gazed at Zhou Le’s lowered head, a wave of warmth surging in his chest. Suddenly, he said, “What if I left too?”

Zhou Le’s head shot up.

Lu Jingran looked at him directly and said clearly, “What if I went abroad with him?”

Zhou Le’s heart sank suddenly.

A wave of helplessness and suffocation washed over him.

“You—you’re leaving too?” Zhou Le’s voice carried a trace of anxiety he didn’t even notice.

Lu Jingran didn’t reply immediately, simply continuing to look at him.

That silence felt like confirmation.

Zhou Le’s heart grew heavier and heavier. Was Lu Jingran leaving too? Would he be gone by next semester? Or perhaps, he might never come back at all…

It didn’t feel the same as hearing about Sheng Qian leaving. Zhou Le felt completely flustered and unable to accept it. His brows furrowed tightly.

Lu Jingran suddenly chuckled softly. “I’m not. This time, the plan doesn’t include me.”

“…”

So, there’s going to be a next time? You’ll leave eventually, won’t you?

Zhou Le lowered his head, feeling a mix of sourness and bitterness, a wave of emotions he couldn’t quite describe, as if he had tasted every possible feeling.

Just then, the door opened, and Chen Nan returned, carrying a bottle of liquor.

“Come on, let’s drink! Tonight, we’re going all out!” he laughed, a wild, carefree smile on his face, giving off a scent of cigarettes and a hint of reckless abandon.

He stumbled slightly as he entered, and Sheng Qian, standing behind him, reached out to his waist to steady him.

Normally, Sheng Qian would have scolded him by now, but tonight he was unusually quiet, only occasionally casting complex, unreadable looks at Chen Nan. But beneath that look, there was an unmistakable sadness and reluctance.

Xia Linchuan and Lin Xiaoxiao hadn’t planned on drinking, but Chen Nan pushed them until they each took a sip. Surprisingly, the house’s signature drink tasted good—strong yet smooth, with just the right hint of spice—perfect for young people.

The two of them kept drinking, getting tipsier with each sip, and soon turned to Zhou Le, saying, “Come on, have a sip. It’s amazing!”

Just then, Lu Jingran reached over and took the glass Lin Xiaoxiao was offering Zhou Le. He knew this drink well; it tasted light, almost like fruit wine, but it had a strong aftereffect. He didn’t want Zhou Le drinking it.

But unexpectedly, Zhou Le took the glass from his hand. “I can handle it.”

With that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one go.

It was indeed refreshing—cold and slightly sweet, with a kick of spice that felt just right.

No wonder adults drink to drown their sorrows, he thought.

But what exactly was he sad about?

Zhou Le couldn’t quite say. His chest felt tight, a vague, indescribable sense of frustration.

The class rep might be leaving… he might be leaving…

“More,” Zhou Le said, raising his glass to Chen Nan.

“Alright, Zhou Le! I didn’t know you were a little drinker,” Chen Nan replied, delighted, pouring him another glass and ordering another bottle of the house’s special liquor.

One glass after another, one bottle after another.

When Zhou Le’s cheeks turned visibly red, Lu Jingran couldn’t stand it anymore. He took the glass Zhou Le was about to down and said, “That’s enough.”

Zhou Le tried to reach for it, but it was out of his grasp.

Lu Jingran held the glass high.

Zhou Le stretched for it, insisting.

Frowning, Lu Jingran took a sip and emptied the glass, handing the now-empty glass back to Zhou Le.

Zhou Le held the glass with both hands, staring at it, realizing it was completely empty.

He looked at it in a daze, as if he couldn’t comprehend, like a little kid gazing at his empty cup.

“It’s gone,” he mumbled, looking up at Lu Jingran, as if to complain.

“Yes, it’s gone,” Lu Jingran repeated, clearly not intending to refill his glass.

Zhou Le had had enough.

Zhou Le looked down at his empty glass, face flushed, and then turned his gaze to Lu Jingran, his tongue instinctively licking his lips to savor the lingering sweetness of the drink.

Zhou Le smacked his lips.

Watching that little pink tip peek out, Lu Jingran’s gaze narrowed slightly, his throat suddenly itching.

He reached out, trying to take the empty glass from Zhou Le’s hands. “Give it to me…”

Be good. Don’t drink anymore.

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Le, warm and soft from the alcohol, suddenly slumped into his arms.

Lu Jingran froze.