The afternoon sky was crystal clear, with a gentle breeze rustling through the trees lining the university corridor. Ann walked beside Robert, whose hand had firmly held Ann's since they left the parking lot.
"Yesterday you texted saying you weren't close with anyone much," Ann remarked teasingly, "and now you're holding my hand and leading me around. You think I'm gonna believe that?"
Robert didn't respond immediately but smiled slightly, his gaze fixed straight ahead. "Well, you're the one I want to be close to. Of course, I have to hold onto you tightly."
Turning to Ann, he added softly, "Today doesn't count as a date, we're just going to class together. So... Can I have a real date with you sometime? Maybe watch a movie?"
Ann blushed slightly, responding shyly, "A movie sounds good. Do you have any special film in mind?"
Robert stroked his chin thoughtfully, genuinely pondering, "Well...Not really… but I used to enjoy watching Mr. Bean."
"You watched Mr. Bean?" Ann asked in surprise.
"In middle school," Robert answered. "I watched all the episodes, though honestly, I liked Teddy the bear more than the main character."
Ann laughed, "What a coincidence! My group once did a psychology presentation using Teddy as a symbol for dependent personality."
"Were you the presenter?"
"No, I made the slides. Someone else presented."
"And the creativity?"
"That was me too," Ann shrugged.
Robert nodded slightly, "You're more active than I thought."
Ann glanced at him, "So which class are you attending?"
Robert paused before replying, "I'm not attending any. I teach."
"Teach?" Ann stopped abruptly, eyes wide. "You mean… you're a lecturer?!"
"What department?"
"Marketing."
"Are you the supervisor of The Crown Club?!" Ann exclaimed, his voice echoing through the hallway, drawing several curious glances.
Robert quickly covered Ann's mouth, pulling him forward.
"Shh," Robert whispered, exasperated. "Are you trying to broadcast my entire background? Hmm?"
Ann stepped back, embarrassed, his face flushing red. He recalled Nina mentioning a "legendary lecturer Robert in Marketing": wealthy, handsome, rumored to mingle lavishly with The Crown members at extravagant, million-dollar parties.
Ann chuckled, sharing the rumors he'd heard, leaving Robert speechless.
"You believe that?" Robert asked, eyebrow raised.
"I'm not sure," Ann teased. "But you do seem suited to the title 'Mr.'"
Robert laughed awkwardly, "Don't believe that nonsense. It's all false."
Ann laughed, and the two continued chatting happily.
Suddenly, from the left corridor, a figure abruptly appeared, bumping into Ann's shoulder, causing a sharp sting.
A short-haired, attractive woman in a crop top and short skirt threw her arms around Robert's neck.
"Robert!" she greeted sweetly, clearly familiar. "Fancy meeting you here."
Robert stiffened slightly but stayed composed, neither embracing nor pushing her away.
Ann froze behind, stepping back slightly, eyes fixed warily on the two.
What was happening? Could it be…?
"Vivian…" Robert murmured.
"It's been a while~ Well, two days since I met you." Vivian released him with a smile, turning her gaze sharply to Ann.
Vivian —or Gadnon Vivian, Ann remembered. A rare female Alpha, senior in the PR department, and one of The Crown Club's prominent members.
Ann had heard her name often from Nina and classmates, but seeing her in person, he understood the hype.
Tall, around 175 cm, slender but not frail—Vivian looked straight out of a magazine. Her dark brown, perfectly styled hair framed sharp, confident honey-colored eyes.
Vivian dressed meticulously: a tight skirt, crop top, sharp-toed high-heeled boots, and a distinctive sweet pheromone. Everything about her demanded attention.
Surprisingly, her pheromones had a unique scent—strawberries with cream, sweetly enticing for an Alpha like her.
Ann knew Vivian handled communications for The Crown Club, synonymous with power, beauty, and elite events. Now he realized why Vivian and Robert knew each other.
"Hmm? New friend?" Vivian asked softly, her eyes coolly appraising.
"Yes," Robert responded curtly, removing Vivian's hand and stepping protectively towards Ann. Ann stood cautiously behind him, observing Vivian warily.
Vivian turned, studying Ann thoroughly. Smiling brightly, she approached them, exclaiming, "How adorable! I didn't expect you to befriend someone so small and cute. Anything special about this little one?"
Despite her warmth, Vivian carefully scrutinized Ann. Because Ann had taken pheromone suppressants, Vivian mistook him for a weak Beta rather than an Omega male. Finished evaluating, Vivian's smile widened knowingly.
Vivian's enthusiasm and cheerfulness surprised Ann, making him feel a growing fondness for her and dropping his initial guard. Someone as warm as Vivian, who showed such enthusiasm towards everyone, would naturally be just as warm towards Robert.
Robert continued to stand there, his gaze no longer cold as it shifted toward Ann with a warm, calm expression. He said, "Because Ann is so kind-hearted and gentle, I really like him."
Ann blushed and lowered his head in embarrassment.
Vivian and her first impression of An, seeing no oddness in the interaction between the two, smiled at Robert and said, "Well, that's good. You should make more friends, you've always been hard to approach, Mr."
She turned to Ann and cheerfully continued, "You're Ann, right? I think you're younger than me. If you're Robert's friend, then that means you're my friend too!"
Vivian walked closer to Ann and took out a small keychain shaped like a crown from her bag. "A little gift for our meeting. If anything comes up, you can always find me, sweetie."
Ann felt a little shy but took the gift, saying softly, "Thank you."
Vivian continued, "No need to be so formal. When you get the chance, come hang out with me at The Crown—."
"Hey~ Why are you two focused on each other over here? Vivian? Robert?"
Before Vivian could finish her sentence, a familiar voice interrupted from afar. Everyone turned to look, and upon recognizing the voice, Vivian scolded, "Hey! I'm talking here! How dare you interrupt me, Cross?!"
Cross—Ann recognized the name instantly, though they had never interacted before.
Lucien Cross, a 24-year-old Alpha male. One of the so-called "model Alphas" at school—handsome, wealthy, arrogant, and extremely noticeable. Ann had heard Cross was a returning exchange student from Europe, but no one knew what he studied or if he even attended classes, though he was a fixture at every Crown Club party, which were the most extravagant events on campus.
Ann had seen pictures of Cross on the club's social media: golden hair, sea-blue eyes sharp as daggers, and a gaze that felt dangerous. In person, he exuded even more pressure. Standing nearly 6'3", broad-shouldered, dressed in high-end streetwear—oversized pants, bomber jackets, or loosely buttoned shirts, silver and gold accessories as if he were preparing to walk a fashion runway.
The way Cross approached, the way he glanced at others, was like a hunter assessing a new toy. Ann felt like Cross didn't view anyone with any real importance, especially someone like him—small, unremarkable, and... not an Alpha.
Cross's group had three others with him: one more Alpha male and two Omega females, who clung to him tightly. They were likely members of The Crown Club as well.
The scent of pheromones from the Alphas started to overwhelm the air, and Ann felt the pressure mounting, forcing him to retreat behind Robert.
Vivian walked past, glaring at Cross, warning him not to interrupt her conversation.
As Cross approached, he stopped in front of Robert. His eyes briefly glanced at Ann, then settled on his wrist, where Robert had been holding his hand.
"Didn't expect you to like this type. Trying something new? I thought you had better taste than this," Cross said with a smirk, his tone laced with mockery and provocation.
Robert stared back at Cross, his gaze sharp and warning, signaling him to stop pushing it.
Vivian also shot Cross a look, her voice colder, "Stop talking nonsense."
Cross shrugged and took a step back, hands in his pockets, sneering, "What? Did I say something impolite? Well, sorry, I didn't mean to be so blunt. You know how I am, Robert."
Cross's friends behind him laughed mockingly, clearly unfriendly. They slightly looking at Ann, their looks full of derision, as if laughing at a weakling.
Ann's hands trembled. Despite Vivian's playful tone and Cross's continued smirk, the air around them felt suffocating, as if there was no oxygen. This was a situation Ann had never encountered, let alone being part of it.
The pressure, the discomfort, the fear all piled up. But he couldn't, and didn't dare, to do anything except cling to Robert's shoulder.
"Alright!"
Vivian's voice broke the fake atmosphere, as she shoved Cross and his group away, seemingly coming to Ann's defense.
"Go back to the club and get back to work. Stop causing a scene here."
The group of Cross snickered but followed her order, leaving the area.
Vivian turned to Ann and apologized, "Sorry about that. Don't worry, they won't bite."
But unlike Vivian's reassuring words, Cross's group behind them sneered maliciously, as if they were monsters waiting to tear apart a defenseless prey.
Vivian turned and waved at Robert and Ann, "I'm leaving now. Remember to visit The Crown Club sometime, okay, Ann~?"
"Alright," Robert replied, watching as the group turned and walked away.
The hallway was quiet again, with only the two of them remaining. Ann tightly gripped the keychain in his hand, his eyes filled with worry, though he remained silent.
Robert understood immediately. Ann was concerned.
Ann couldn't help but feel small as he observed Robert's connections. Being surrounded by such powerful people, he feared that he didn't belong in this world of Alphas.