It was Zhou Le who quickly looked away, feeling slightly flustered. The air in the car became quiet and strangely tense.
Sensing Zhou Le’s unease, Lu Jingran smoothly shifted the topic, mentioning that he’d already prepared lunch for Zhou Le, along with Chen Nan and Sheng Qian, so they’d eat together in the classroom.
“…Oh, okay.” After agreeing, Zhou Le remembered something. “Uh, Class Rep, Xia Linchuan and I wanted to invite you guys out for some barbecue. Would you be interested?”
Before now, no one had ever thought of inviting Lu Jingran for a casual barbecue. For most people, this was a reasonable treat and even a bit of a splurge. But compared to the lavish hotel gatherings Lu Jingran and his group were used to, it probably seemed pretty modest. Even so, it was the best Zhou Le could offer.
“Sure,” Lu Jingran agreed without a second thought. He didn’t even seem to catch what kind of food Zhou Le had mentioned—he’d said yes simply at the invitation itself.
“Alright, I’ll ask Xia Linchuan this afternoon. Once we’ve booked a time, I’ll let you know, Class rep.”
Lu Jingran saw Zhou Le’s cheerful expression and replied, “Okay.”
—
During history class, Lin Xiaoxiao was nearly asleep. Close to noon, she was already dreaming about the cafeteria’s fresh, steaming spicy chicken.
She wiped a bit of drool from her mouth.
“Hey,” Lin Xiaoxiao nudged Zhou Le’s arm, leaning in to whisper, “Are you heading to the cafeteria later? Grab me a serving of spicy chicken. You run faster than me.”
Zhou Le was daydreaming about what time he’d go help Uncle Zhou deliver takeout that evening. “Huh? I’m not going out at noon. I’m eating with the Class rep—he’s bringing me lunch.”
Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly perked up, looking at Zhou Le curiously.
Zhou Le shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. “What’s up?”
Lin Xiaoxiao gave a little snort. “How come you’re so glued to the Class rep lately, even eating together?”
Before, Zhou Le would either grab a quick meal from the cafeteria, eat a bun in the dorm, or, when he had a bit of extra money, join her and Xia Linchuan for a cafeteria meal. But now… “It feels like since you both did that competition, you’ve been attached to the Class rep. It’s like you can’t stop mentioning him…”
Lin Xiaoxiao kept on, and Zhou Le started to realize it too.
He wasn’t sure when it started, but Lu Jingran now included him in just about everything: meals, studying, reading, walking him home. The way Lu Jingran cared for him felt different from how Lin Xiaoxiao and Xia Linchuan looked out for him. Was it because… he realized Zhou Le was an Omega and was giving him extra attention?
But that didn’t make sense. He wasn’t the only Omega in the class, so why would the Class rep single him out?
Zhou Le had just dismissed this thought when the bell rang.
“Alright, class dismissed. Keep reviewing this afternoon; I’ll test you tomorrow.”
The teacher barely stepped out of the room before students scattered in every direction.
As the classroom emptied, someone entered to deliver lunch to Lu Jingran. His family had arranged it so he could bring food directly into the school. They set up near Sheng Qian’s desk to eat.
Zhou Le came over to help clear off the books.
Lu Jingran looked toward Chen Nan and nodded to Sheng Qian’s seat, “You sit over there.”
Chen Nan, holding a lunch box, hesitated, glancing at Sheng Qian, reluctant. “Why can’t Zhou Le just sit over there?”
Zhou Le shrugged, “I don’t mind either way.”
With that, he was about to head to Sheng Qian’s seat.
But when Lu Jingran looked up, Chen Nan obediently moved over to Sheng Qian’s side.
Zhou Le took Chen Nan’s original seat.
The meal was rich, with the same flavors as the home-cooked food he’d had at Lu Jingran’s house. Though they were simple dishes, they were crafted with impressive skill.
Feeling a bit self-conscious again, Zhou Le wondered if his and Xia Linchuan’s dinner treat wouldn’t match up to this.
“Why aren’t you eating? Are you full?” Lu Jingran noticed Zhou Le pausing, lost in thought.
Zhou Le shook his head and resumed eating.
Lu Jingran placed a napkin beside him.
“Thanks,” Zhou Le mumbled, his mouth full.
“Be careful; it’s hot,” Lu Jingran reminded him, watching him eat.
Zhou Le nodded.
When they’d nearly finished eating, Zhou Le remembered to tell them about the weekend dinner reservation he and Xia Linchuan had made at Daegu BBQ, Room 666.
Lu Jingran, already aware, said nothing. Chen Nan had no comment either, simply murmuring acknowledgment while eating. Sheng Qian also agreed.
Zhou Le half-expected Chen Nan to make a joking remark—perhaps comparing it to his last invitation—but this time, Chen Nan was unusually quiet.
It was also then that Zhou Le noticed something off between the two across from him.
Chen Nan and Sheng Qian hadn’t exchanged a word at the table, nor a single glance. They sat side by side, but it felt as if a river separated them.
Just as he was pondering the strangeness of it all, things got weirder.
Chen Nan reached for a spicy squid slice just as Sheng Qian’s chopsticks did too, and their chopsticks brushed against each other.
The second their chopsticks touched, even someone as oblivious as Zhou Le sensed the awkward silence between them.
It lasted only a moment. In the next, they both pulled their chopsticks back, resuming their meals as if nothing had happened, their faces turned to their bowls of plain rice.
Chen Nan cleared his throat uncomfortably, while Sheng Qian simply lowered his head.
Not a word was spoken the whole time.
Lu Jingran placed a piece of sweet and sour pork on Zhou Le’s plate, saying, “Eat up.”
Zhou Le didn’t dare ask anything more, though the lunch was marked by an odd atmosphere; Chen Nan and Sheng Qian acted like strangers, never even meeting each other’s gaze.
After school, Zhou Le was packing up when Xia Linchuan asked, “Hey, you biking home later?”
“Give me a ride to the internet café on your way. I want to go online.”
Zhou Le was about to agree, then remembered. “I didn’t bring my bike; the Class rep gave me a ride this morning.”
Lin Xiaoxiao overheard and chimed in, “What? The Class rep drives you in the morning now?”
Zhou Le hesitated. “Uh… it’s probably just on his way…”
On his way?
Halfway through, Zhou Le felt a bit guilty.
It didn’t seem entirely on the way, and he’d even brought breakfast from home for him. It looked pretty deliberate.
“So, how will you get home tonight? You don’t have your bike,” Xia Linchuan asked.
Zhou Le thought for a moment. “I’ll probably take the bus.”
Though a bit of a hassle, it wasn’t too bad.
Just as he finished saying this, a tall figure appeared beside him.
Lu Jingran naturally took his packed-up bag. “Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
Lin Xiaoxiao and Xia Linchuan, who were still gathering their things, stared in shock.
This is… way too natural, isn’t it?
“Getting picked up and dropped off, huh.” Lin Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but comment, “Class rep, you’re really good to Zhou Le.”
Lu Jingran smiled without denying it.
Lin Xiaoxiao felt like she was about to get dizzy from that smile.
Zhou Le hadn’t expected Lu Jingran to take him home; he had planned to go back on his own.
But now, sitting in the car…
“What’s up? Why do you keep looking at me?” Lu Jingran asked.
Zhou Le immediately looked away, “Huh? No, I just thought there was a utility pole over there, and, uh… it looked pretty nice.”
“A utility pole?” Lu Jingran’s lips curled up. “Nice?”
“Mhm.”
“Which looks nicer—the pole or me?”
Zhou Le hadn’t expected him to ask that, momentarily stunned.
Looking at Lu Jingran’s expression, he seemed serious.
“Hm?”
Zhou Le felt a little embarrassed, dropped his gaze, scratched his head, and murmured, “You… you look nicer.”
Lu Jingran’s smile grew wider. “Really?”
Zhou Le’s gaze drifted as he nodded.
Suddenly, Lu Jingran leaned in closer, their noses almost touching, with only a pinky-width between them. “Why don’t you take a closer look, then?”
The straightforward pressure from the Alpha made Zhou Le’s breath catch, his mind going blank.