Chapter 33: Asserting Dominance

Source: http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5896087

For a moment, the world went quiet.

The autumn wind brushed through the distant branches, and the dry, yellow leaves made a faint, crisp sound.

The noisy shouts faded away, and the cheering classmates surrounding them also seemed to blur into the background.

Ji Xiao looked at the girl leaning against her chest, and in the bright autumn world, there was only her.

The earlier sprint seemed to have drained all of the girl's strength. She leaned against Ji Xiao, with sweat dampening her forehead.

Her rosy lips were slightly parted, each breath heavy with exhaustion and the unique allure of an Omega.

The cool scent of mint mingled with the girl's overly warm temperature, unabashedly falling onto Ji Xiao's chest.

Then it seeped into her heart, bringing a cool, lingering sensation to her soft core.

Ji Xiao could clearly hear her own pounding heartbeat.

Thump, thump.

Uncontrollable pounding pointed to her chest, causing a wave of surreal dizziness.

"Ji Xiao, what are you doing? Help her up!"

A reminder sounded from the crowd, as Qi Qi looked at Ji Xiao, who was standing still like a log, with a face full of regret.

Ji Xiao hadn't snapped out of it yet and foolishly glanced at Qi Qi.

Seeing this, Fang Yiming, also shouted in a hurry, "Wei Qingyu is about to fall! Hurry and support her!"

Ji Xiao then realized what was happening and quickly reached out to support the heavily panting Wei Qingyu, and worriedly asked, "Are you okay?"

Wei Qingyu was exhausted, the burning sensation in her throat made it hard for her to speak, so she just shook her head.

That shake was sluggish, not at all like someone fine.

Ji Xiao looked at Wei Qingyu, who had rested her head on her shoulder, furrowing her brow slightly, "Let's take a walk first and then sit down."

Wei Qingyu had eased up a bit, lifting her head slightly from Ji Xiao's shoulder, saying, "Okay."

The voice was hoarse and weak as if it had taken a lot of effort to speak.

Ji Xiao didn't say anything more, silently supporting Wei Qingyu as they left the crowded center, heading towards their class' audience seats.

The autumn wind brushed over Wei Qingyu's sweaty skin, bringing a chill.

It was at this moment that a thick orange coat was draped over her.

Wei Qingyu was somewhat surprised, but when she looked up, she saw Ji Xiao's fair skin exposed.

She didn't know when Ji Xiao had taken off her own coat while supporting her.

"What are you looking at?" Ji Xiao noticed Wei Qingyu's surprised gaze and asked arrogantly.

She had noticed long ago that Wei Qingyu was wearing too little.

The T-shirt, soaked with sweat, barely covered the girl's slender back, providing no warmth. Even the pretty butterfly bones on her back looked particularly frail.

If it's cold, then let her be cold. After all, as an Alpha, she could withstand the cold much better than an Omega with a weak constitution.

Seeing the golden-orange eyes once again exuding a hint of arrogance, Wei Qingyu didn't feel as repulsed by it this time.

She silently lowered her gaze and, in front of Ji Xiao, tightened the coat around her slightly.

The familiar scent of peach brandy enveloped her once again.

It was strange, really. They always said strong liquor burned the throat.

But after catching a whiff of Ji Xiao's brandy scent, Wei Qingyu not only didn't feel discomfort but the bloody taste in her throat was also effectively suppressed.

After walking for a while, Wei Qingyu returned to the class' audience seats with Ji Xiao's support.

By this time, other matches had already begun, and many classmates were not in their seats, making the audience seats seem particularly empty.

Ji Xiao casually pulled out a nearby chair for Wei Qingyu to sit on, then quickly rummaged through the cluttered chairs to find Wei Qingyu's bag.

Although it wasn't yet deep autumn, the temperature had cooled slightly, and the water bottle in the bag was already cold when she took it out.

How can someone drink cold water right after finishing the 1500 meters?

With that thought, Ji Xiao took Wei Qingyu's cup and said as she walked, "The water is cold. Rest here, I'll go get you some hot water."

The girl spoke quickly, and her actions were swift.

Wei Qingyu was about to turn back to look, but all she saw was Ji Xiao's back.

The sun behind Ji Xiao cast a radiant glow on her figure. Wei Qingyu watched Ji Xiao's silhouette and nodded, "Okay."

Water was in high demand during the sports day. When Ji Xiao reached the water room on the first floor, the temperature, which was usually maintained at 100 degrees, had dropped to 20 degrees.

She reluctantly ran from the second floor to the fourth floor, searching seven water rooms before finally finding boiling water on the rarely visited west side of the top floor.

"Hey, did you hear? Wei Qingyu broke the school record."

Just as Ji Xiao was about to head downstairs with Wei Qingyu's tumbler, a surprised voice echoed in the quiet corridor of the fourth floor.

Ji Xiao wasn't interested in eavesdropping, but when it came to Wei Qingyu, she paused her steps.

"No way! None of those Omega athletes could outrun her?"

"Not even in the Alpha group!"

"What?!"

"She ran it in four minutes and twelve seconds, on par with a national-level athlete."

"Oh my goodness, is she even an Omega? How is she so talented?"

"Why couldn't a beautiful person like her be a dumb Omega beauty? I'm so jealous."

"When God made Wei Qingyu, He must have filled her with beauty and accidentally poured in all the talent too..."

….

As the voices of the two girls discussing gradually faded into the distance, Ji Xiao leaned against the tiled wall, a faint smile creeping onto her face.

Glancing at her phone, she found that indeed, the class group chat was blowing up with this news.

One by one, those who had gradually distanced themselves from Wei Qingyu according to the sports committee member were now congratulating her in the group chat. Some smooth-talkers even went as far as to praise her to the skies, especially that sports committee member.

Ha.

As the sun rose high in the sky, its rays filtering through the lattice of the staircase, Ji Xiao's tired mood from her earlier search for hot water seemed to improve.

With Wei Qingyu's tumbler filled with warm water in hand, Ji Xiao hummed a tune as she emerged from the academic building and made her way towards the class' audience seats.

It felt as though Wei Qingyu's honor was her own.

A gunshot echoed on the playground, and from afar, Ji Xiao could hear the cheers rising high.

The ongoing event was the 400-meter final for the senior Alpha boys. Ji Xiao remembered the sports committee member had signed up for this event.

Before Ji Xiao could confirm, she heard many Omega girls in the class cheering for the sports committee member at the front of the track.

Recalling the congratulations in the group chat just now, Ji Xiao withdrew her gaze with a hint of disdain and continued walking towards Wei Qingyu.

She didn't particularly like this superficial sports committee member.

But at that moment, Ji Xiao noticed a crowd gathered in the previously empty audience seats she had left behind.

And there, not elsewhere, was precisely where Ji Xiao had helped Wei Qingyu sit down earlier.

Most of the students who hadn't gone to watch the sports committee final were gathered there.

They fanned Wei Qingyu, chatted with her, and handed her throat lozenges, appearing very attentive.

However, the girl remained indifferent, sitting in the center of the crowd with an aloof demeanor, responding coolly to the topics constantly brought up by those around her.

Her high ponytail, like ink pouring down from the top of her head, swept across her slender neck and fell onto her back, radiating an aura of keeping others at a distance.

Ji Xiao watched from afar, a hint of contentment in her golden-orange eyes.

This was probably the kind of aura Wei Qingyu should have been enjoying all along.

With unparalleled strength and beauty, being adored and surrounded by people.

At that moment, a handsome Alpha from the neighboring class walked up to Wei Qingyu with a bottle of mineral water in hand, catching Ji Xiao's attention.

He was tall and slender, with narrow shoulders and long legs, his smile radiant, resembling the male lead in a youth movie.

Ji Xiao couldn't help but tighten her grip on the tumbler in her hand, subconsciously stopping her steps just outside the circle.

Normally confident to the point of being somewhat arrogant in front of everyone, she now felt a hint of insecurity for the first time.

She was just a spoiled brat who flaunted her family's influence, even in the original world she was nothing more than a lowly intern teacher.

Average-looking, with a future destined to be ruined and losing everything, she was worlds apart from the increasingly outstanding Wei Qingyu.

Maybe she shouldn't go over and disturb her.

With these thoughts in mind, Ji Xiao was about to turn around and leave, holding the tumbler in her hands.

But suddenly, she heard a voice calling out from behind.

"Ji Xiao."

The voice was clear yet urgent, and Ji Xiao found it strangely familiar.

Perplexed and surprised, she turned back, only to see a splash of orange amidst the crowd.

Wei Qingyu was still wearing her own coat, her face calm as she looked at her.

Her own oversized orange coat hung loosely on Wei Qingyu's slender frame, making her appear almost engulfed by it.

Her clean and fair little face peeked out from within, radiating an unusual hint of cuteness amidst her usual coolness.

Wei Qingyu had long noticed Ji Xiao and also noticed her inexplicable intention to turn and leave.

As the gentle autumn breeze brushed Ji Xiao's face, Wei Qingyu's gaze bypassed the water offered to her by the Alpha in front of her, and she said, "Aren't you giving me my water?"

Ji Xiao was momentarily stunned. She had never imagined that Wei Qingyu would one day extend an olive branch to her, let alone under these circumstances.

It felt as if a mint-flavored candy had rolled into Ji Xiao's heart, bringing a refreshing sweetness that dispelled all the self-doubt and insecurity she had felt moments ago.

Pretending to be calm, Ji Xiao nodded under the scrutiny of everyone, walked over, handed the water to Wei Qingyu, and then casually pulled a chair to sit in the closest spot to Wei Qingyu.

Though done seemingly without intention, it seemed intentional in its effect.

This behavior, akin to an Alpha asserting dominance, quickly registered in the minds of other Alphas.

What kind of person is Ji Xiao? She used to be a campus bully.

Though she had now laid down her arms and turned over a new leaf, her S-class aura still made Omegas hesitant to approach her.

Gradually, the people surrounding Wei Qingyu dispersed.

The sunlight cast the shadows of the two girls onto the ground behind them, one upright and proper, the other carefree. Despite the awkwardness, it was a quiet and beautiful moment.

The setting sun tinged half the sky red, marking the end of the first day of the sports meet under the fiery red sun.

Groups of students, clad in sports attire, chatted animatedly about today's sports meet as they greeted each other and climbed into their respective cars.

Fang Yiming and Ji Xiao also made their way through the bustling crowd, but their conversation extended beyond just today's event.

"Qi Qi really has her hands full being an older sister, especially with such a troublesome younger sister," Ji Xiao sighed.

Earlier, while the sports meet was still ongoing, Qi Qi had rushed off to the school clinic. Ji Xiao had heard that Qiao Ni, unwilling to give up, had participated in the event Qi Qi had previously signed up for despite just being discharged from the hospital and not fully recovered. As a result, she had been sent directly to the school clinic after completing the last 800m race of the afternoon in the Omega category.

"After all, they were each other's green plum*; their bond is different," Fang Yiming remarked with a hint of emotion.

*青梅(Qīngméi), from 青梅竹马 (Qīngméizhúmǎ - lit. green plum and bamboo horses, usual playtime activities during ancient times is to pick fruits like green plums and ride on makeshift bamboo horses), in modern times it means childhood sweetheart/friends

Observing Fang Yiming's apparent sentimentality, Ji Xiao couldn't help but ask, "What about you? Do you have a childhood sweetheart too?"

Upon hearing the question, Fang Yiming, who was usually laid-back, suddenly seemed a bit embarrassed. She glanced at Ji Xiao and then lowered her head, nodding slightly. "Uh, yeah, she's back in our hometown. She messaged me last month, saying she's differentiated into an Omega."

"Wow~" Ji Xiao teased, mimicking Fang Yiming's usual playful tone when joking with Qi Qi. "Who would've thought? Who would've thought you were like this, Fang Yiming?"

"Ah, you're so annoying," Fang Yiming said, feeling a bit shy from Ji Xiao's teasing, as she chuckled and pushed Ji Xiao lightly.

Then, she seemed to notice something and pointed ahead to the sparsely populated pedestrian pathway, saying, "Look, there's your green plum."

As dusk settled in, the tree shadows swayed gently.

The setting sun elongated the girl's shadow, casting a hint of orange on her backpack behind her.

She had changed out of her morning sports attire and was now wearing her uniform.

Her black ponytail was still high on her head, accentuating her cold, clean demeanor, distant yet alluring.

She came alone, and she left alone.

At the registration desk for the sports event, it was the same, and now as she headed home.

"Wei Qingyu!"

Suddenly, Wei Qingyu heard someone calling her name from behind the bustling school gate.

She stopped in confusion and turned to see Ji Xiao and Fang Yiming waving at her from a distance in the glow of the setting sun.

Her wrist, holding a black backpack, adorned with the small peach basket she had given her.

The narrow pleats of her skirt billowed like waves in the wind, lifting the bangs on her forehead and tossing them in the air.

The girl's shadow cast across flower beds and grassy fields as she strode confidently towards her.

Author's Note:

Coward Ji: Excuse me, is the original author Gosho Aoyama*?

*author and manga artist of Detective Conan aka Cased Closed, Yaiba, Magic Kaito

Cold Wei: Does that mean you'll always end up in places where people die?