By evening, Chi Zhan returned to the dorm. He glanced around—the room was empty except for Tao Ran.
“Where’s Cen Chi?” he asked.
Tao Ran detected a hint of hostility and blinked in confusion. “He’s not back yet. Why? Did he piss you off or something?”
“Mm.” Chi Zhan’s tone was cold. “If you hear anything later, don’t come over. I’d hate for you to get hurt by accident.”
“…??”
Chi Zhan sat down at his desk and began browsing through some information. Tao Ran crept closer, half-expecting to see a search history filled with things like “how many years for killing your roommate.” But the screen only showed the school’s official website.
“Chi-Chi… are you trying to graduate early?” Tao Ran asked, stunned.
Chi Zhan gave a soft “Mm” as he continued scrolling. The academic year was packed with courses, and early graduation would mean no breaks at all. Still, with most of the major assessments already completed, the pressure wasn’t unbearable.
“But why?” Tao Ran looked baffled. “That’s so much extra work!”
“I made a bet with someone,” Chi Zhan replied.
He didn’t elaborate, but he wasn’t lying.
In order to make the Crown Prince drop this ridiculous claim about his “relationship” with Cen Chi, Chi Zhan had no choice but to graduate early—and not just early, but with top marks across the board. That was the only way to win.
If he lost, the consequences were… uncertain.
“What happens if you lose?” he’d asked.
The Crown Prince had merely looked at him, eyes unreadable, and answered lightly, “You don’t want to know… unless you actually lose.”
Chi Zhan was still trying to figure out if “losing” meant losing his right to become Secretary when Zhou Yanxing casually dragged him off to dinner.
The restaurant was extremely discreet—Chi Zhan had never been there before. The staff didn’t so much as blink at the Crown Prince’s arrival. They bowed and led them straight to a private room, then quietly withdrew.
“Your Highness, that debt…” Chi Zhan began.
“Paid,” Zhou Yanxing said, brushing off the nine million like it was pocket change.
“Thank you. I’ll repay you,” Chi Zhan said sincerely.
“Oh?” Zhou Yanxing replied with impeccable politeness. “If we deduct it from your future salary as Secretary, it’ll only take, say, fifty years. No need to thank me.”
“……”
“If you win the bet, consider it a congratulatory gift. We’ll write it off,” Zhou Yanxing added with a faint smile. “And if you lose—no rush. Take a hundred years. I’m a patient man.”
Whenever the Crown Prince smiled, there was always a touch of mockery in it—never malicious, almost teasing. And clearly, he didn’t care about the money.
Spending nine million to secure the Secretary he’d set his sights on for life—it was, in his eyes, a worthwhile investment.
To Chi Zhan, this bet was a win-win. Even if he couldn’t quite figure out what Zhou Yanxing was thinking, one thing was certain:
Early graduation = Early appointment as Secretary = Early chance to assassinate the Crown Prince.
Which… wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
“One more thing. There’s no rule against pretending to be someone’s lover, but if word got out, it’d reflect poorly. Could hurt your career down the line. Clear things up with him—soon. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Chi Zhan replied.
Even if the Crown Prince hadn’t brought it up, Chi Zhan had already decided he wouldn’t keep up the act with Cen Chi.
He was in the middle of filling out his early graduation application when the door creaked open. Cen Chi walked in.
He was still dressed formally—pure white from head to toe, tall and strikingly handsome. It was obvious he’d gone to some trouble tonight, and the effect was magnetic. You couldn’t help but look at him.
“Evening,” Cen Chi said with a smile. “Have you eaten? I brought some late-night snacks. If you’re not too picky, want to try a bite?”
He held up a takeout bag from an upscale restaurant. This move of his almost never failed—no matter how bad someone’s mood, food usually softened them.
But Chi Zhan wasn’t moved by his looks. He looked at him calmly and said, “I’ve been waiting for you. Come outside.”
Cen Chi didn’t seem to pick up on the tension.
“Why not eat something first?”
Chi Zhan stood and walked straight up to him.
Cen Chi’s lips curved into a smile, as if genuinely pleased. But before he could say a word, he felt a sudden pull around his neck—his breath caught, his movement restricted.
Chi Zhan had grabbed his tie and yanked him down, forcing him to meet his gaze. Those pale gray eyes widened slightly in surprise—but Chi Zhan’s own expression was ice-cold and unwavering.
“Outside.”
He gave Cen Chi a firm shove and walked past him without looking back.
Tao Ran, who had witnessed the entire scene, sat frozen, mouth agape in shock.
Cen Chi set the bag down, adjusted his tie, and let out a helpless laugh.
“So quick to get angry…”
Tao Ran stammered, “C-Couples fight sometimes, that’s normal. But… what exactly happened?”
Cen Chi chuckled. “Hmm… maybe I got caught cheating?”
“…?!!”
He’d already guessed that the Crown Prince’s abrupt exit had something to do with Chi Zhan—but even he hadn’t expected Chi Zhan to be this furious.
So he really likes the Crown Prince that much?
That guy was arrogant, crude, domineering—everything bad about Alphas, Zhou Yanxing embodied. What exactly did Chi Zhan see in him?
Or… was it just because he was the Crown Prince? That Chi Zhan couldn’t walk away?
Cen Chi stepped outside. Chi Zhan was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, no longer the calm, harmless figure he usually was. There was a sharp, battle-hardened edge to him now—dangerous and intense.
It was a side of him Cen Chi liked very much.
“What’s wrong?” Cen Chi asked with a smile.
“You broke the agreement,” Chi Zhan said coldly, jaw clenched. “Care to explain?”
“What rule did I break?” Cen Chi replied innocently. “Is bringing food to my boyfriend a crime now?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Chi Zhan said. “Do you want me to spell it out? Or are you pretending not to know—because you did it on purpose.”
