Startled at Every Turn

Duan Xu pursed his lips and turned back to stare blankly at his desk. So this really was a novel, and he was nothing more than cannon fodder?

Thinking of his final fate, Duan Xu felt somewhat resistant.

But a moment later, he came to his senses. If he had not had that dream, perhaps things really would have gone as they did in the novel. But now that he knew, could he change the plot and avoid becoming cannon fodder?

If he switched to a different part-time job and never encountered the protagonist shou, he would not fall for the protagonist shou, and none of the ensuing mess would happen.

Honestly, Duan Xu did not think he could ever like the protagonist shou. The protagonist shou was an omega, while he was a beta. He had never considered finding an omega as his other half.

Besides, the further things went, the less he felt that person was himself. He had already been warned and knew he could not compete with the protagonist gong, yet he still went after him. It was simply too idiotic.

Having made up his mind, Duan Xu pursed his lips and smiled. Hehe, that dream was not such a bad thing after all. It had actually helped him avoid the fate of becoming cannon fodder.

*

By Sunday evening, everyone in the dorm had returned.

"Xuxu, did our dorm get a new roommate?" Zhou Zhou sat across from Duan Xu and pointed with his chin toward the spot beside him.

Duan Xu hummed. "They said he just came back from abroad. He's in software engineering."

Xiao Xu stood by the wardrobe, taking out clothes. He was fairly broad and muscular, his back completely blocking the wardrobe. His voice was a little rough. "Our dorm is really a hodgepodge, then."

"Haha..." Zhou Zhou laughed. "Four people, four majors."

After laughing, he tapped the desk. "So he didn't attend military training? He'll have to make it up later, right?"

"He probably will." Xiao Xu took his pajamas and headed for the bathroom.

Zhou Zhou curiously asked Duan Xu again, "Is he an alpha or a beta?"

Duan Xu said, "An alpha."

An S-rank alpha, and the protagonist gong of this world. His pheromones smelled of wood with a hint of blazing sunlight.

"The only alpha in our dorm." Zhou Zhou clicked his tongue twice.

The three of them were all betas. With Shen Yanlang joining them, he was the sole alpha.

Just then, Shen Yanlang opened the door and came in. The moment he entered, he saw Duan Xu and another unfamiliar person. He took the initiative to greet them, his voice still low and pleasant. "I'm Shen Yanlang, the new roommate."

"Whoa!" Zhou Zhou's eyes lit up when he saw Shen Yanlang. "Hi, I'm Zhou Zhou, from the Academy of Fine Arts. You're so handsome!"

Shen Yanlang had exquisite features, a strikingly handsome face, and peach blossom eyes full of affection. Yet his temperament was calm and steady, giving people a sense of reliability.

"Thank you." Shen Yanlang had heard such words too many times and had become immune to them.

Xiao Xu had just opened the bathroom door. Seeing that the new roommate had arrived, he came out to greet him. "I'm Xiao Xu, from the sports academy."

Shen Yanlang nodded at him. After Xiao Xu entered the bathroom, he turned to Duan Xu. "And you?"

Duan Xu had not told Shen Yanlang his name the day before yesterday.

"Duan Xu." Duan Xu cleared his throat. He had thought things through, but he was still a little afraid when facing Shen Yanlang.

Shen Yanlang hummed. His bed was next to Duan Xu's, and so was his desk. When he sat down, only a little over half a meter separated him from Duan Xu.

He's much more normal today.

Duan Xu hummed, then turned to look at Shen Yanlang. Seeing him looking at his phone, he did not think much of it and got up to wash up on the balcony.

Curious about Shen Yanlang's time abroad, Zhou Zhou began chatting with him.

As Shen Yanlang spoke, he glanced at Duan Xu on the balcony.

He looked at me just now. Did he want to talk to me?

Duan Xu paused mid-brush. The conversation in the dorm continued, but that voice just now had sounded right beside his ear.

He strangely glanced into the room and found Shen Yanlang still talking with Zhou Zhou. Then he turned back and continued brushing his teeth.

He looked at me again. Does he need something from me?

Duan Xu froze. What was going on?

He turned back to look at Shen Yanlang again. Shen Yanlang was still sitting at his desk, but the volume of his speaking voice was completely different from what Duan Xu had just heard.

Shen Yanlang noticed and looked over as well. Their gazes met again, and Shen Yanlang gave Duan Xu an inquisitive look.

What exactly does he want to say?

Duan Xu: "!!!"

This time, he saw it clearly. Shen Yanlang was looking at him, and the voice was Shen Yanlang's, but Shen Yanlang had not opened his mouth at all!

Wh-what was going on?

He was so shocked that he stared blankly at Shen Yanlang. He held a toothbrush in his hand, a ring of white foam around his mouth, while his light brown almond-shaped eyes were wide as though he had witnessed something unbelievable.

Shen Yanlang frowned slightly. Why is he making that expression again?

Hearing this, Duan Xu abruptly turned around and stopped looking at Shen Yanlang.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! I-I-I can actually hear Shen Yanlang's thoughts!

Duan Xu's hands trembled from shock. This was far too fantastical!

Inside the room, Zhou Zhou craned his neck to glance toward the balcony. "What are you looking at?"

Shen Yanlang shook his head. "Nothing."

Am I really that scary?

Duan Xu, who was rinsing his mouth, immediately choked. "Cough, cough..."

Shen Yanlang glanced at Duan Xu again, inexplicably puzzled. Strange.

Duan Xu: "..."

Shen Yanlang stood up and said blandly, "I'll go wash up too."

Zhou Zhou gave an oh and lowered his head to play on his phone.

On the balcony, Duan Xu had finished brushing his teeth. The moment he turned around, he saw Shen Yanlang standing behind him and jumped in fright. "Y-you, what are you doing?"

Shen Yanlang looked at his startled deer-like eyes and raised an eyebrow slightly. "I came to brush my teeth."

Duan Xu quietly let out a breath of relief and stepped around Shen Yanlang.

So jumpy. Am I really that scary?

Duan Xu's movements paused. Then he hurriedly moved away from Shen Yanlang and strode into the room.

How strange.

Duan Xu, who was climbing into bed, took a deep breath. He scrambled up in a few quick movements, drew the bed curtains, and completely shut himself away.

Duan Xu breathed rapidly several times, then patted his face. It was unbelievable—he could actually hear Shen Yanlang's thoughts!

Could he hear other people's as well?

To test his guess, he called out, "Zhouzhou, do you have class tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah!" Zhou Zhou's voice came through the bed curtains. "I'm fully booked all morning."

Duan Xu said, "Oh, I only have classes during first and second period."

After saying that, he waited quietly. But he did not hear that voice close to his ear again, only Zhou Zhou speaking from below. "I'm jealous! I have to get up early tomorrow. Better behave on the first day of class."

Duan Xu hummed and said nothing more. Other than the sounds of water from the balcony and bathroom, the dorm fell silent.

Shen Yanlang's voice was gone too. Had he merely been hearing things earlier?

Until lights-out, after his roommates had all gone to sleep, Duan Xu did not hear any more thoughts. He assumed he had hallucinated and went to sleep at ease.