Walking into the parking lot, Gu Ziran's thoughts tangled into a chaotic mess.
The sunlight glared off the rows of expensive vehicles, but he didn't see any of them.
The plan he'd crafted earlier—the one he thought would help him survive this mission—
was now completely useless.
"Gu Ziran."
A familiar voice cut through the haze in his mind.
He turned.
Ying Qi sat casually on the bonnet of his own luxury sports car, the metal gleaming beneath him like a throne. He lifted a finger and crooked it, silently summoning Gu Ziran.
Gu Ziran swallowed and walked over.
The moment he got close, Ying Qi jumped off the bonnet and stepped directly into his space. Their faces were too close—Gu Ziran instinctively leaned back but was seized by the collar.
Ying Qi's cool breath brushed against his cheek.
"Gu Ziran," he said, voice low and sharp, "you will perfectly carry out the task I assigned you. You're smart enough to know what happens if you don't."
His omega aura pressed down like a territorial predator marking his prey.
Just as abruptly, Ying Qi released his collar, pushing him back a step. Without another glance, he turned, slipped into the driver's seat, and started the engine.
Gu Ziran barely had time to leap out of the way.
The car shot past him, wind slamming against his body. Had he moved a second later… he'd be a decorative smear in the parking lot.
His heart pounded violently as he stumbled back and crashed against the wall.
Cold sweat prickled his spine.
From the shadows, a voice echoed through the nearly empty lot.
"Brother Ziran, don't mind Boss Ying."
Gu Ziran jerked his head toward the sound.
Yu Hubin leaned lazily against a pillar, unwrapping a chocolate bar like he was watching a drama instead of a near-accident.
"He's just frustrated that his fiancé isn't giving him attention," Hubin continued, taking a bite. "But make sure you follow the plan. If you disappoint him… he'll make your life a living hell."
He finished his chocolate and flicked the wrapper into a trash can with ease.
"See you around, Brother Ziran."
With a casual grin, he put on his helmet, swung onto his motorbike, and rode off.
Finally—silence.
Gu Ziran exhaled shakily.
"…Why do I feel like I'm the one being bullied?" he muttered.
He forced himself to shake it off. Walking to his own bike, he slipped on his leather gloves, zipped up his jacket, and fastened his helmet before mounting it.
As he drove away, the rumble of his engine echoing through the lot, he failed to notice:
From a dark corner, hidden headlights flicked on.
A sleek, shadowy car rolled out.
It drove off slowly—
but in the opposite direction.
***
The moment Gu Ziran pushed open the front door—bags dangling from his fingers—
a blur shot toward him.
"Did you get it!?"
Gu Xinyi practically pounced on him, eyes sparkling with barely-contained excitement.
His older sister, only a year ahead of him, was practically vibrating like a kid on sugar.
On his way home, she had called him three times in five minutes asking him to buy ingredients.
Gu Ziran laughed and handed over the bags. "So what are you planning to make today, sis?"
"It's a surprise!" she said with a mischievous grin before snatching the bags from his hands and sprinting toward the kitchen like she was about to perform alchemy.
Shaking his head, he kicked off his shoes and lined them up in the rack. His body relaxed as the familiar scent of home wrapped around him.
Just as he was about to head to his room, a voice called out.
"Ziran, come here for a moment."
His father's deep tone.
Gu Ziran turned and entered the living room.
Father Gu sat on the leather sofa, swirling wine in his glass, a picture of dignified dominance. Beside him, Gu Yanjun—his eldest brother—sat with legs crossed, glasses perched on his nose as he read the newspaper like a refined gentleman.
"How was your day, son?" Father Gu asked, looking up with warm eyes.
"It was good, Father. Just introductions today since the new semester started," Gu Ziran replied, taking a seat opposite them.
"That's good." His father nodded, then exchanged a glance with Yanjun. "Actually, we called you because we have something for you."
Ziran blinked. "Something for me?"
Yanjun lifted his hand. A small metallic object dangled from his fingers—keys.
The kind of keys that made a young man's heart stop.
"Since you performed so well," Yanjun said, smiling faintly, "we decided to get you your dream bike."
Ziran froze.
Then—
"No way!"
His eyes widened to full moons. In a split second, he snatched the keys from his brother and bolted toward the garage, excitement bursting out of him like fireworks.
He threw open the garage door—
And there it was.
A brand new sports bike, sleek, perfect, with a bright red ribbon tied around it like a dream wrapped in reality.
His breath caught.
His heart pounded.
Joy flooded his veins.
The Gu family wasn't as high-ranking as the Shen or Ying families—but that never mattered.
His family was warm. Loving. Whole.
His father, a dominant Alpha.
His mother, a dominant Omega.
His siblings—strong, successful, affectionate omegas or Alphas.
And him—
A simple Beta.
Yet never once had anyone treated him as lesser.
Never once had his gender presented a barrier.
He was cherished. Protected. Spoiled.
And moments like this reminded him why.
"THANK YOU, DAD! BROTHER YANJUN! I LOVE YOU!!!"
His voice echoed through the garage, overflowing with genuine happiness.
Upstairs, Father Gu and Yanjun chuckled softly—amused and fond.
Their little son/brother's joy was infectious.
***
The next morning, walking toward his new classroom felt like walking toward an execution platform.
Gu Ziran's palms were damp inside his sleeves.
Every step echoed the same thought:
He didn't want to mess with Shen Henlu. He didn't want to mess with Xin Lu.
His mission target was Ying Qi for heaven's sake—Ying Qi, the future villain who would destroy the world if left unchecked.
So why…
why was he walking in the opposite direction of his mission?
He exhaled shakily, pushed open the classroom door, greeted the teacher—and instantly felt the weight of dozens of eyes.
Every seat was taken.
Except one.
The empty seat beside Xin Lu.
Gu Ziran's heart dropped into his stomach.
Dragging his feet, he approached the protagonist. Xin Lu didn't look up—his elegant fingers flipped through the textbook with quiet focus, his eyelashes casting shadows under his eyes. He looked cold, composed, and honestly… a little intimidating.
Gu Ziran cleared his throat and knocked gently on the desk.
Xin Lu finally lifted his gaze. His eyes were dark, calm, unreadable.
"May I sit here?" Ziran asked with a polite smile that felt painfully strained.
Xin Lu glanced around, saw the fully packed classroom, and gave a silent nod.
Gu Ziran sat down with relief, trying to muster courage.
"Hi, I'm Gu Ziran—"
"I know," Xin Lu replied, voice flat and expression untouched.
A chill slithered down Gu Ziran's spine.
'Great. Another cold beauty like Ying Qi.'
'How am I supposed to win his heart at this rate? If I fail… Ying Qi will obliterate me—and my entire family.'
But things only got worse.
Because he could feel it.
That scorching stare burning into the side of his face.
Slowly—terror crawling up his throat—Gu Ziran turned his head.
Shen Henlu was staring him down like a predator spotting a threat.
Razor-sharp eyes.
Tense jaw.
A storm brewing behind that expressionless face.
When their eyes met, Gu Ziran almost screamed.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He whipped his gaze back to the teacher, pretending to focus on the lecture while his heart tried punching its way out of his chest.
Still, he couldn't give up.
As days passed by, he kept trying to approach Xin Lu—offering drinks, snacks, small conversations.
Xin Lu ignored every single attempt.
But someone else didn't ignore it.
Someone whose possessiveness had no bottom.
And that someone finally snapped.
Later that evening, in a deserted alley behind campus, Gu Ziran found himself slammed back against a wall—fingers gripping his collar so tightly he choked.
Shen Henlu.
Surrounding them were Henlu's cronies, holding baseball bats, pipes, hockey sticks—every weapon that screamed bad news.
Gu Ziran's legs shook violently. His breath hitched in his throat.
Shen Henlu leaned in, his aura suffocating, his voice barely restrained fury.
"Listen carefully, you little bastard," he hissed. "You and that pathetic boss of yours—Ying Qi—better stop whatever game you're playing."
His grip tightened.
"Because if you don't, I'll kill you and feed your corpse to my dogs."
Behind him, his cronies laughed darkly, whispering about how long Ziran would last.
Shen Henlu shoved him hard before walking away. His entourage followed, leaving Gu Ziran collapsing slowly to the ground—knees giving out, breath trembling, fingers numb.
His heart hammered painfully against his ribs.
He was completely alone.
And utterly terrified.