Why Is This Omega Stalking Me…?

Chapter 70

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Jiang Li stumbled out of the car, his heartbeat racing so violently that it felt as though it might tear through his chest. It wasn’t the light, fluttering kind of nervousness people liked to romanticize—the kind that came with shy smiles and stolen glances. No, this was something far harsher. It felt as if an invisible hand had reached inside him and was squeezing his heart without mercy, tightening and tightening until even breathing became difficult.

He barely noticed where he was going as he made his way toward his apartment building. His steps were hurried, uneven, as though he were trying to outrun something that clung stubbornly to him. By the time he reached his door, his fingers trembled against the handle. He leaned his weight against the closed door, his forehead nearly touching the cold surface as he shut his eyes tightly.

What had he been thinking?

The question echoed in his mind, heavy and unrelenting.

What had he been hoping for?

That Shen Yu would love him?

A faint, almost broken smile curved his lips at the thought. He had promised himself he would stop crying, that he would stop running away from things he didn’t want to face. He wanted to be stronger, to face his feelings head-on instead of collapsing under them.

But it hurt.

It hurt so much that the resolve he had tried to build shattered almost instantly.

The smile faded as tears followed, slipping down his cheeks without restraint. Shen Yu hadn’t needed to say anything. He hadn’t needed to reject him outright or speak cruel words. The silence had been enough. The hesitation in his eyes, the widening of them as though he didn’t know how to respond—that had told Jiang Li everything he needed to know.

They had never been standing in the same place.

Where Jiang Li had been reaching for love, Shen Yu had only been offering responsibility.

A duty.

Something obligatory.

Jiang Li let out a shaky breath.

It was better than the cold indifference he had faced months ago.

It was better.

It had to be better.

But the thought crumbled almost as soon as it formed.

No... it wasn’t.

It was worse, because somewhere along the way, Jiang Li had allowed himself to believe something foolish. He had thought that perhaps there was a small place for him in Shen Yu’s heart, that maybe—just maybe—there had been a hint of warmth growing there.

That hope made the reality unbearable.

He was still leaning against the door, tears falling silently, when something shifted in the air around him. At first, it was faint—so subtle he almost dismissed it—but then it grew stronger.

Pheromones.

They crept into his senses slowly before intensifying, thickening the air around him. The closer they came, the clearer it became that whoever they belonged to was standing very near.

Jiang Li stiffened.

His fingers tightened around the doorknob as instinct kicked in, and he hurriedly tried to open the door. Before he could, however, a pair of hands slammed against the wall on either side of him, trapping him in place.

His breath caught.

The person behind him stood so close that Jiang Li could feel the heat of his body, could sense the overwhelming presence pressing into his space. He didn’t dare turn around immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes for a brief moment, forcing himself to take a steady breath.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked, his voice sharp despite the tension coursing through him.

A low chuckle sounded near his ear. The stranger leaned in, his chin hovering close to Jiang Li’s shoulder, and Jiang Li felt the unmistakable sensation of him inhaling deeply.

He was smelling him.

The realization sent a chill through Jiang Li.

If Shen Yu caught even a trace of another Alpha’s pheromones on him...

The image alone—Shen Yu’s expression shifting into disgust—was enough to make his chest tighten painfully.

Jiang Li struggled, trying to break free, but the grip holding him in place was far too strong. When he was finally forced to turn, his eyes met a pair of striking silver ones.

The Alpha stared down at him, his gaze intense and sharp. There was a flicker of annoyance in his expression, likely at Jiang Li’s resistance, but Jiang Li refused to show fear. Even though his heart was pounding wildly and his body felt weak, he clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stand firm.

"What the hell do you want?" he demanded.

The Alpha’s lips curved into a slow, amused smile before he straightened up, finally giving Jiang Li space. The sudden release made Jiang Li narrow his eyes warily.

Now that he could see him properly, he took in the man’s appearance. He wore a simple black vest and low-hanging sweatpants, his posture relaxed in a way that only made him seem more dangerous. There was something irritatingly confident about him, something that made Jiang Li want to wipe that smug expression off his face.

"For someone who was crying like that, you sure have a temper," the Alpha remarked casually.

Jiang Li glared at him. "What the fuck do you want?" he snapped, his patience wearing thin.

The Alpha raised his hands in mock surrender, though the grin never left his face. "I was just trying to help," he said lightly. "How could I just walk past a cute omega crying like that? What kind of roommate would I be?"

Jiang Li’s expression hardened instantly.

Without another word, he turned away, unwilling to entertain such nonsense any longer. The last thing he needed was for his clothes to be saturated with a stranger’s pheromones.

But before he could take a step, the Alpha caught his wrist.

Jiang Li tensed as the man leaned closer again, his breath brushing faintly against his ear.

His eyes drifted toward the oversized coat.

"Ah..."

"That explains it."

"He’s not worth it," the Alpha murmured quietly. "There are better Alphas than him. Trust me."

And just like that, he let go.

Jiang Li stood frozen for a moment before turning, watching as the Alpha walked away with his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

Confusion flickered through his mind.

How did he know?

The realization came slowly.

Jiang Li’s eyes widened slightly as he glanced down at himself, finally noticing the coat draped over his shoulders.

Shen Yu’s coat.

The scent clung to him unmistakably.

His fingers tightened around the fabric as he pulled it closer, instinctively leaning into the familiar warmth.

"Shen Yu..." he whispered, his voice trembling. "Is it fun... breaking my heart like this?"

---

The sky had deepened into a rich shade of blue, clouds drifting lazily across it as the wind grew stronger. Trees swayed under its force, their branches bending in quiet surrender.

Luo Xin stood beneath it all, her gaze fixed upward as the cold wind brushed against her skin and tousled her short hair. The chill seeped through her clothes, but she barely seemed to notice.

After a while, she moved, climbing down from her window and stepping onto the quiet street below.

How many years had it been?

The thought lingered as she walked without direction, her footsteps soft against the pavement.

Then she saw it.

The park.

Even in the dim light, it was unmistakable. For a moment, the present blurred, and her mind began to play tricks on her. The darkness faded, replaced by the brightness of a memory so vivid it felt real.

It had been a hot summer day.

She had been younger then, still in middle school, standing awkwardly with an ice cream clutched tightly in her hand. Around her, groups of students filled the park, their laughter blending into a constant hum of life.

But her attention had been fixed on one person.

Shen Mei.

She had been sitting on a swing, surrounded by others, laughing so freely that it seemed effortless. Everything about her had drawn people in—her calm pheromones, her soft brown eyes, her flawless skin.

She had felt untouchable.

Out of reach.

Luo Xin had taken a deep breath before approaching her friend Yuri, a dark-haired girl with freckles and a kind expression.

"Can you... give this to—" she had started, but Yuri had already understood.

"Of course," Yuri had said with a smile.

But before she could move, someone else stepped in.

An Alpha.

He handed Shen Mei a more expensive ice cream, his presence confident, assured.

Luo Xin’s heart had dropped instantly.

Yuri had glanced back at her, her expression shifting into something softer, something filled with quiet understanding.

"I... don’t think you should give it to her," she had said gently.

Luo Xin had laughed, though her eyes had burned.

Before she could say anything else, Yuri had taken the ice cream from her hands.

"I’ll take it!" she had declared brightly, opening it and taking a bite. "Mmm... it’s strawberry. How did you know I like strawberries?"

Luo Xin had stared at her, stunned, before a small smile formed despite the ache in her chest.

If only...

If only she had chosen differently.

If only she had liked Yuri instead.

Then maybe she wouldn’t have confessed to Shen Mei years later, only to be rejected so painfully.

Maybe she wouldn’t have hurt someone who had always been kind to her.

Luo Xin let out a long breath as the memory faded, the park returning to its quiet, shadowed state.

But Shen Mei’s face lingered.

Especially from that recent encounter at the mall.

The way she had spoken.

The way she had asked why Luo Xin treated her so coldly.

Luo Xin’s hands clenched tightly at her sides.

"And then you ask..." she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with bitterness, "why I hate you."