Chapter 5 : Too Noisy

Ren Xiao's pencil moved deliberately across the paper, the gentle scratch of graphite breaking the stillness of the classroom. His focus wasn't truly on the drawing—an elaborate depiction of random clouds and trees—his mind wandering elsewhere. He had always found solace in the isolation of his own thoughts, the way his ideas could flow freely, unimpeded. There was a certain serenity in drawing, even if it was merely to kill time.

The whispers of the classroom hummed faintly in the background, a muted sound he hardly acknowledged. He didn't mind being solitary in a crowd; in fact, he preferred it. No expectations, no one drawing him into conversations he didn't want to participate in. Yet, as he looked up briefly, his tranquility was disrupted. The chatter from the back of the room intensified, and he heard the sound of someone's steps approaching.

A voice, bright and cheerful, interrupted his thoughts. "Ge! ! "

Ren Xiao's eyes widened for a brief moment before he turned to confront the source of the interruption. There, standing with a welcoming smile, was a girl with sleek black hair, the ends of her bangs framing a pair of dark, discerning eyes. Next to her, a boy stood slightly behind, his expression cool, almost aloof, but there was something subtly intense about him.

The girl waved enthusiastically, her grin infectious. "Hi! I'm Ling Xia, and this is Jian Wei. " She gestured to the boy, who nodded curtly but remained silent.

Ren Xiao blinked, perplexed. Why were they talking to him? His annoyance flared. "Why are you telling me this? " His voice wasn't harsh, but the frown on his face conveyed a lot.

Ling Xia's smile didn't falter, although a trace of amusement sparkled in her eyes. "Ah, we just thought you looked interesting. You know, we've seen you around, and—well, we figured we should say hi. "

Jian Wei gave a half-shrug, his voice monotone. "Yeah, no harm in it, right? "

Ren Xiao observed them, feeling his patience wear thin. The girl's cheerful attitude was irritating. And the boy, Jian Wei, appeared to maintain his distance, as if he wasn't particularly interested in this brief interaction. It made Ren Xiao wonder if they were simply bored. He couldn't tolerate pointless exchanges, the small talk that lingered like a cloud without any content.

His gaze remained on Ling Xia, narrowing slightly. The atmosphere around her felt… heavy. There was something about her presence that demanded attention, something unique. His eyes darted to her aura—sharp, commanding.

"You're an Alpha," Ren Xiao said slowly, a trace of disbelief in his tone. His instincts had screamed it from the moment she entered, but it still caught him off guard. He wasn't sure how to react to it.

Ling Xia raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at her lips. "How did you find out? " she inquired, tilting her head. "You're perceptive. But you're correct, I'm an Alpha. You could say I'm… a 'resistant' Alpha. Few can detect my pheromones. "

Ren Xiao's eyes shifted towards her, a wave of discomfort washing over him. She's an Alpha—a force of nature, someone hard to overlook. Yet, for some reason, her easy grin felt less like a threat. More like an invitation.

His mind was already attempting to withdraw, seeking to escape the gravity of the conversation. He sensed it—the fleeting curiosity that battled against his wish to stay distant. What was it about her that stirred these feelings in him? He clenched his teeth, wrestling with the part of him that craved to learn more and the part that aimed to retreat completely.

His internal struggle was interrupted by Jian Wei's abrupt, dry remark. "She has a knack for pulling people in," he noted, his voice surprisingly smooth, slightly teasing. "Don't let her influence you. "

Ren Xiao's brow furrowed, his gaze darting back to Jian Wei, who had made the comment almost casually. Jian Wei's tone was considerably less playful than Ling Xia's, causing Ren Xiao to ponder. What's his deal?

Ling Xia, observing his focus shift to Jian Wei, tilted her head in a playful dare. "Don't mind him," she stated. "He's a bit enigmatic, but he's harmless. "

Ren Xiao's eyes rested on Jian Wei for a brief moment longer before redirecting his attention to Ling Xia. There was something about them, a sort of silent connection that intrigued him despite himself. They weren't merely casual classmates—they shared a certain comfort with one another that Ren Xiao found hard to define.

Still, something felt… off. The energy between them appeared electrified, and Ren Xiao, despite his yearning for solitude, sensed a reluctant curiosity drawing him closer.

"Is there a particular reason you chose to approach me? " Ren Xiao asked, his tone straightforward but not unkind. His mind continued to navigate the enigma they represented.

Ling Xia shrugged, her expression a blend of amusement and genuineness. "You appear distinct from the others. We merely thought it'd be fascinating to see if we could engage you in conversation. " Her eyes sparkled with a peculiar kind of mischief.

"Uh-huh," Ren Xiao responded, not entirely persuaded. Yet, he could not dismiss the curiosity igniting within him. For a brief moment, he almost forgot the irritation he'd felt when they first engaged. Almost.

"Well," he added, "just don't anticipate too much from me. " His voice was cooler now, still cautious, but not wholly dismissive. His body language, however, remained tense.

Ling Xia's smile became gentler, and Jian Wei moved closer, resting against the desk with a subtle, understanding expression on his face. "I can't make any guarantees, but I believe you'll discover this discussion… intriguing. "

Ren Xiao gazed at both of them for an extended period. His thoughts were still in turmoil, caught between his urge to retreat and an almost irresistible force that made him want to discover more. Yet, as he always did, he suppressed his curiosity, his defenses building higher.

Too Noisy. Overwhelming.

The bell sounded, marking the conclusion of the exchange. Ling Xia waved one final time before she and Jian Wei walked away, leaving Ren Xiao alone with his reflections, still uncertain about what had just transpired.