ABMSI Chapter 32

After dinner, everyone returned to the hotel to rest for the night. The next day came quickly, but before they could set off for the mountain hike, a small incident occurred.

Just as Duan Wei finished packing his things and was ready to go, he heard a commotion outside the door. A moment later, an intense pheromone scent filled the air.

It was sweet and cloying—so strong that even a faint whiff hit his senses like a tidal wave. It was the scent of an Omega’s pheromones.

Peng Yan reacted almost instantly, covering his nose and mouth. “Looks like some Omega suddenly went into heat.”

But the scent was… off. Even Duan Wei, who had never personally experienced a heat before, could tell something wasn’t right about it.

Sure enough, their door was knocked on the next moment. Duan Wei opened it and saw a familiar face standing there.

It took him a while to place him, but he finally remembered—it was the tour guide Old Qin had mentioned yesterday: Zhu Fan.

Zhu Fan looked anxious. “One of the Omegas in your class just went into heat—suddenly and severely. We need a lot of suppressants. Do any of you have extras?”

In the whole room, Duan Wei was the only Omega. Naturally, everyone turned to look at him. Without hesitation, he grabbed a few injectors from his backpack and handed them over. “These are all I have—I’m not sure if it’s enough.”

“It should be enough,” Zhu Fan said, taking them. “Quick, everyone from Class 8 who isn’t an Omega, head to the bus immediately—especially the Alphas. That student’s heat came on too strong; it could easily trigger the Alphas’ rut response!”

With that, he hurried off with the suppressants.

Because their door was still open, that sweet floral scent poured in like a wave. Peng Yan immediately frowned, pressing his hand tighter over his nose. “Let’s move, now.”

As Zhu Fan had warned, Peng Yan, being an Alpha, was already reacting uncomfortably.

Instinctively, Duan Wei turned toward Fu Duqiu—but the latter was sitting calmly on the sofa, expression unreadable, as if that syrupy pheromone in the air meant absolutely nothing to him.

Seeing this, Duan Wei zipped up his bag and said to the others, “Let’s go. To the bus.”

They stepped outside the hotel. The snow had stopped, leaving a layer of powder on the ground. The main road had been cleared overnight, revealing a smooth stretch of pavement.

The bus was already parked at the intersection. A few students from Class Eight were standing nearby, gossiping about the Omega who had gone into heat. Duan Wei went straight up the steps and took his usual seat.

The little incident hadn’t derailed his plans. He’d spent all of last night scheming and had finally come up with a brilliant strategy.

In the original story, Fu Duqiu and Xu Jianian were grouped together for the outdoor cooking activity. While gathering firewood, they fell into a hunting pit and were trapped there overnight—an experience that sparked mutual affection.

But Duan Wei thought that was too plain. He wanted to… enhance it.

The weather was freezing; the two leads would definitely be shivering in that pit. If he “accidentally” tossed down some supplies, they’d surely use them.

But he’d only throw down one person’s worth.

That way, they’d have to share—one coat for two, one bottle of water for two…

The more he imagined it, the more thrilled he became, grinning uncontrollably—until Fu Duqiu suddenly asked, “What are you laughing at?”

“…” Duan Wei nearly jumped. Realizing how obvious his grin had been, he quickly tried to rein it in and said blandly, “Nothing. By the way, how many layers are you wearing today?”

Fu Duqiu paused, glanced down at his collar, and replied, “A sweater and a jacket. Why?”

“No reason.” Duan Wei smiled faintly. “Just… pity, I guess.”

“…”

Once everyone was accounted for, the bus started moving. After handling the situation, Zhu Fan finally returned to sit in the front seat. According to him, the Omega who’d gone into heat had calmed down thanks to the suppressants but would have to remain in isolation at the hotel instead of joining the group.

The students of Class 8 sighed in sympathy.

Fu Duqiu turned to Duan Wei. “Do you still have enough suppressants for yourself?”

From his perspective, Duan Wei’s first heat should be coming soon. An Omega’s first heat was usually accompanied by severe cramps, and Duan Wei had just given away most of his supply.

Duan Wei nodded. In truth, he wasn’t entirely sure. The incident had happened so suddenly he hadn’t had time to think. Now, only three or four doses remained in his bag.

According to what Xu Jianian had told him, an Omega’s heat typically lasted three or four days. He did a quick calculation—hopefully, what he had left would be enough.

Seeing the uncertain look on his face, Fu Duqiu couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smirk and said,
“When the time comes, don’t come begging me to mark you.”

“How can you even think of something that disgusting?” Duan Wei shot back with open disdain. “Do yourself a favor and erase that thought right now. Even if you begged me to mark, I wouldn’t give you a single bite.”

His words were utterly unreserved—so much so that Peng Yan, sitting in the front seat, broke out in a cold sweat.
Fu Duqiu, however, remained perfectly unbothered. After a pause for thought, he said casually,
“You do realize… biting isn’t the only way to mark someone.”

Peng Yan: “…”
Duan Wei: “?”

Anyone with a basic understanding of physiology could grasp the implication—
except for Duan Wei, who had apparently never attended a single biology class in his life.

He looked at Fu Duqiu, replaying those words in his mind.

If not biting… then there was only one other way.

The moment he realized it, Duan Wei’s eyes flew wide open. A flush crept up from the roots of his hair all the way down to his toes.

This bastard—
was flirting with him?!

And using such filthy, shameless words?!

“You—!”

Though Duan Wei usually had a sharp tongue and a temper to match, at the end of the day he was still rather inexperienced—an innocent soul who’d never been through any real storms. Fu Duqiu’s words hit him like a punch to the chest, leaving him completely speechless. He sucked in several deep breaths and turned to stare stubbornly out the window.

That damn bastard…
If it weren’t for the fact that Xu Jianian would also fall into the pit later, he’d dump a bucket of freezing water right on Fu Duqiu’s smug face and let the man freeze to death on the spot.

Fu Duqiu, meanwhile, glanced at Duan Wei’s flushed profile and let the corners of his lips curl ever so slightly before looking straight ahead again.

The mountain they were heading to wasn’t far. About ten minutes later, the group arrived. Duan Wei was the first to get out of the car—only to be greeted by a world blanketed in white.

The sky was a dull, misty gray, and a thin veil of fog draped itself between the mountain peaks, giving the entire landscape an ethereal, dreamlike quality. The tips of the mountains were already covered in snow, gleaming like jade peaks standing tall and elegant in the haze.

Everyone from Class 8 piled off the bus, pulling out their phones to snap photos. The tour guide, Zhu, stood to the side explaining the rules and safety measures for the hike. Then, the group made their way to the trailhead and began climbing.

The breathtaking scenery gave Duan Wei a burst of energy—he eagerly whipped out his phone and started taking pictures everywhere he turned. Unfortunately, every single photo came out blurry and out of focus.

Peng Yan took one look and burst out laughing.
“Duan-ge, it’s such a shame you didn’t study photography. The art world just lost a rising star of abstract expressionism.”

“Get lost,” Duan Wei snapped, though a mischievous smile tugged at his lips. He pointed toward a rock near the cliff edge. “Hey, Little Yan, come on—stand over there and let me take your photo.”

Peng Yan raised an eyebrow. “At the edge of a cliff? What, you planning to take my memorial portrait?”

Holding his phone with exaggerated patience, Duan Wei smiled sweetly. “Do I look like someone who’d miss such a perfect opportunity?”

Xu Jianian, standing nearby, couldn’t stop laughing at their banter—completely unaware of the brilliant little scheme Duan Wei was already cooking up for her.

They kept climbing for quite a while. At first, Duan Wei bounced around with excitement, practically hopping up the trail, but the higher they went, the more exhausted he became. Eventually, he was all but draped over Peng Yan’s shoulders, whining and gasping, while Peng Yan groaned under his weight.

By the time they reached about halfway up, evening was settling in. The tour guide, Zhu, suggested they stop and start preparing for the outdoor cookout early. With nearly fifty students in the class, it wasn’t possible for everyone to eat together, so the guide divided them into five smaller groups to set up separate cooking spots.

And just as fate (and the original story) would have it—Duan Wei, Peng Yan, Xu Jianian, and Fu Duqiu were assigned to the same group, along with a few other classmates from Class 8.

Once the arrangements were made, the ever-capable top student Fu Duqiu naturally became the group leader. He fetched a pot and some basic seasonings from the guide, then began assigning tasks and dividing up the work.

“What??” Duan Wei’s eyes widened when he heard the plan. “I’m not teaming up with you!”

Was he kidding? Every time he went anywhere with Fu Duqiu, something bad happened—like falling into a damn pit! Only an idiot would volunteer for that again.

Fu Duqiu frowned slightly. “Why not?”

Duan Wei wasn’t about to explain, so he looped an arm around Peng Yan’s shoulder and said,
“I’m going with him to fetch water.”

“The water source is several kilometers downhill,” Fu Duqiu said calmly. “You’ll have to cross a large muddy patch. Gathering firewood would be much easier.”

The originally assigned water-fetching Peng Yan: “?? What the hell just happened?”

But Duan Wei clung to him stubbornly, looking every bit like a martyr marching to glory.
“Nope. I’m going wherever Little Yan goes.”

As soon as those words left his mouth, Fu Duqiu, standing opposite him, cast a sidelong glance at Peng Yan—light and sharp as a blade’s edge. Peng Yan, however, felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles, a fishbone caught in his throat. Every cell in his body screamed that he needed to peel Duan Wei off him immediately.

Why—why on earth did he get dragged into this mess?!

Surprisingly, Fu Duqiu didn’t press the matter. He merely looked steadily at Duan Wei for a moment before turning his gaze aside and saying, “Then Xu Jianian and I will be in a group. Let’s get moving. Everyone back here before five.”

“Got it!” the others answered in unison.

Duan Wei got his wish and followed Peng Yan down the mountain to fetch water. The area was rich in natural beauty—lush, untouched, and serene. The mountain’s main attraction was a lake several kilometers from mid-slope, famous for its clear water that could be drunk after a simple boil.

Curious, Duan Wei followed Peng Yan all the way down. But after a while, he couldn’t help sighing.

This is way too far!

Not only far, but the path was brutal—uneven stone steps that made his legs tremble after just a few meters. Even Peng Yan, an Alpha, was panting heavily, his usual chatter completely silenced.

At that point, Duan Wei had to admit that fetching firewood with Fu Duqiu might’ve been the better deal.

It took them nearly an hour to go down and back up again. By the time they returned, dusk had settled in, and the other groups had already set up their pots and were just waiting on water and firewood to start cooking.

When Peng Yan and Duan Wei came back, one Beta student asked, “Why aren’t the team leaders back yet?”

“What? Fu Duqiu hasn’t returned?” Peng Yan frowned, setting down the water. “That’s odd. Should we go look for them?”

“Wait,” Duan Wei quickly stopped him. Don’t ruin my setup! he thought. “They might be on their way back already. Let’s give it a little more time.”

The others agreed—both Fu Duqiu and Xu Jianian were adults, after all, with phones on them. It wasn’t like they’d actually get lost just fetching firewood.

Seeing everyone relax, Duan Wei smirked inwardly. Perfect. They’re still gone—everything’s going according to plan. He picked up his jacket, pretending to stroll off casually.

But just as he took a step—

“We’re back!” came Xu Jianian’s cheerful voice.

“…?”

Duan Wei froze. Slowly turning around, he saw the two supposed victims—completely fine, standing there with armfuls of firewood.

Fu Duqiu followed behind, expression calm as ever, carrying most of the wood tied neatly with rope. He set it down with quiet efficiency.

“You two… why are you back?” The words slipped out before Duan Wei could stop them—and then he immediately wanted to slap himself. Really, Duan Wei? Really?!

Luckily, Xu Jianian didn’t notice anything odd. “We walked a bit farther up the mountain,” she explained. “Some people told us there was leftover firewood from another group’s cookout, so we went to get it.”

She shivered slightly as she added, “We almost went deeper into the woods, but it was creepy—felt like there were traps or something. I didn’t dare go too far.”

Duan Wei: “…Wow. What a coincidence.”

Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Which cursed soul decided to leave firewood there?!

With the firewood finally ready, the group began their long-awaited cookout. And that’s when everyone realized a very serious problem—none of them actually knew how to cook.

Except, of course, for the all-rounder himself.

Naturally, Fu Duqiu took charge. Calm and composed, he picked up the pan and spatula and began cooking over the open flame, the firelight flickering across his sharp features.

The ingredients were simple—no fancy meats, just vegetables and some sausage. But under Fu Duqiu’s hands, even the stir-fried cucumbers gleamed emerald green and smelled heavenly.

Sitting nearby feeding the fire, Duan Wei found himself growing hungrier by the second. He glanced at Fu Duqiu cooking in the glow of firelight, then at Xu Jianian chatting happily with Peng Yan, and started scheming again. How can I still get them into that trap?

If he didn’t know he was here to “advance the plot,” he’d have sworn he was playing the villain.

When the food was finally ready, the aroma swept through the camp. Everyone quickly gathered around, forgetting all else—including Duan Wei’s evil plans.

Peng Yan spread out a picnic cloth, and they all sat down. The snow beneath had been cleared, but when Duan Wei sat, the chill still seeped through.

Fu Duqiu placed the dishes one by one on the cloth, and the group gasped in unison.

Maybe it was hunger, but the simple dishes tasted divine—like royal cuisine. Peng Yan gave a thumbs up. “Damn, top student really is top student—talented in every field!”

An Omega who’d just tried a bite of stir-fried cucumber and sausage exclaimed, “Oh my god, the school heartthrob can cook! This is amazing!”

Duan Wei thought that was an exaggeration—until he tried it himself. His eyes widened.

“How is it?” Fu Duqiu, who hadn’t reacted to the earlier praise, looked down at him and asked quietly.

How is it? It was incredible, that’s how. The cucumber was crisp yet tender, perfectly seasoned, lightly fried so it retained its fresh flavor.

But of course, Duan Wei couldn’t admit that. He coughed lightly and muttered, “It’s fine. Just okay.”

Fu Duqiu chuckled and started eating. Around them, several hungry Alphas dug in like wolves. One shouted through a mouthful of rice, “Top student, marry me!”

Xu Jianian laughed. “AA^[1] relationships never end well!”

Everyone burst out laughing. The cheerful warmth cut through the winter chill. Mist blanketed the mountains around them, soft and ghostly, while the peaks faded into the dark horizon.

After a while, Peng Yan stood to add more rice but noticed the fire had gone out. “Do we still have firewood?” he mumbled through a mouthful of food.

“Seems like we’re out,” Xu Jianian said.

Duan Wei perked up immediately. “How about we go get some more? We can make a bonfire later!”

“I’ll go,” said Fu Duqiu, putting his bowl down and standing up.

Xu Jianian followed at once—she was his partner for the task, after all. Picking up a flashlight, she said, “Let’s go to the woods nearby. There should still be some twigs left.”

“Alright,” Fu Duqiu agreed.

Duan Wei’s lips curled. Perfect. Finally, things are back on track.

Sure enough, half an hour passed, and they hadn’t returned. The sky darkened. Peng Yan checked the time. “Weird. Why are they taking so long again?”

“I’ll go look for them,” Duan Wei offered.

“Okay.” Peng Yan pointed toward the woods. “Take your phone. Keep in touch.”

Duan Wei nodded, grabbed a jacket left nearby, and entered the forest.

The mountain mist was thick, the air cold enough to bite. Even wrapped in the jacket, Duan Wei shivered. He walked carefully, following what he remembered from the original story. Snow still clung to the ground, branches overhead shedding flakes into his collar.

He pushed through the brush until faint voices reached his ears.

“Why is there such a huge pit here?!” Xu Jianian’s voice, high and startled.

Duan Wei stopped. Through the bushes, he saw a massive hunting pit—just like in the novel—deep enough that even Fu Duqiu, with his height, couldn’t climb out easily.

Fu Duqiu’s calm voice floated up. “Looks like a hunting trap.”

“Should we call Peng Yan and the others?” Xu Jianian’s tone trembled slightly, probably still shaken from the fall.

Duan Wei stood outside, listening to every word. The forest was silent except for their voices—and then, right on cue, Fu Duqiu said, “No signal.”

Duan Wei barely suppressed his laughter.

Ah, the author truly never disappoints.

He crept closer, clutching the jacket and a bottle of water, ready to toss them down—just enough supplies for the two “protagonists” to survive the night together.

But the ground by the pit was steep and slick, covered with leaves and branches that crunched underfoot. He had to move carefully, one step at a time.

Finally, he reached the edge, crouched low so they wouldn’t see him, and stretched out his hand to drop the items in.

And then—

His foot slipped.

The edge gave way.

And he tumbled straight into the pit.

“AAAHHHHHHH—!”