BDBE 1

Chapter 1 Returning to Eighteen

A well-defined hand reached out from the side.

“What is love?” 

“This listener from Qiongying City says his girlfriend keeps accusing him of not loving her. He wants to ask our radio station, what exactly is love…” 

The spring rain had just stopped. 

It was rush hour, and it had just rained. Cars were lined up in long queues on the road. 

The person in the driver’s seat raised his hand and adjusted the frequency of the car radio. The emotional anchor’s voice, as soft as the spring rain, was immediately switched to a real-time traffic report. 

The car in front finally moved. Tao Yan, who had been idly wiping his glasses, quickly put them back on and stepped on the gas. 

But just as it moved slightly, a car suddenly appeared beside him. Tao Yan quickly slammed on the brakes, and the car lurched. 

He almost bowed to the steering wheel. After regaining his balance, he looked at the person in the back seat and asked, “Are you alright?” 

In the back seat sat a youth in a school uniform. The slightly oversized uniform didn’t look dowdy on him; on the contrary, the youth sat upright with elegant posture; he didn’t look uncomfortable from the car’s earlier swaying. 

Shen Wanchao, with his long, slender fingers, gently held his phone. He slowly raised his eyes and smiled gently, “It’s alright.” 

His eyes were a lighter shade than most, reflecting a golden hue in the morning light. Even after knowing him for so many years, Tao Yan was still occasionally entranced by his smile. 

Timeless elegance. 

Shen Wanchao cleared the post he was browsing on the screen, “The best Jianbing Guozi ¹near Qiongya School, Aunt Zhao’s Jianbing,” and instead opened a group chat called “Post-Production Team,” to send a long list of requirements and suggestions. 

Someone replied immediately. 

Colorist Xiao Liu: Received, Boss! “By the way, aren’t you supposed to be relaxing abroad? It should be nighttime in the US now, and you’re still replying to messages. So dedicated!” 

Shen Wanchao: “^^ Liu-ge, you flatter me. It’s my duty.” 

Renderer Xiao Huang: “Ha… You stepped on a landmine.” 

Colorist Xiao Liu: “(Kneeling on a washboard) I was wrong, Director Shen!” 

Newcomer Xiao He: “Why can’t we call Boss ‘Boss’?” 

Renderer Xiao Huang: “(Adjusting glasses) Because Director Shen thinks that title isn’t elegant enough. It sounds like someone’s collecting protection money.” 

Shen Wanchao: “^^ How’s work going, Xiao He? Do you want to report to me?” 

Newcomer Xiao He: “(I’m dead, burn some paper money if you need anything)” 

Shen Wanchao exited the group chat, his gaze inevitably fell on another person’s profile picture in his contacts. 

A flame-point ragdoll cat, its fur all over its body while it slept in a mess. 

The name next to the profile picture was: Zhou Hui. 

The chat box was pinned to the top. 

Shen Wanchao clicked on it. The conversation between the two was still stuck on the last sentence he had sent half a month ago: 

[Going abroad to clear my head, return date uncertain, don’t contact me.]

As it turned out, Zhou Hui really didn’t contact him for half a month. 

Shen Wanchao’s heart clenched. He typed in the chat box: “I told you not to contact me, and you really didn’t? I’ve never seen you so obedient before, you jerk^^” 

His finger hovered over the send button for half a second. Shen Wanchao sighed almost imperceptibly and quickly deleted the message. He looked up and glanced out the car window. The traffic jam showed no signs of abating; the surrounding cars were moving slower than snails. 

Tao Yan glanced at his watch and hesitated before saying to Shen Wanchao, “If this traffic jam continues, we might be late. There are only two hundred meters left. Why don’t you get out and walk a bit?” 

Shen Wanchao glanced at the soaked, muddy road and frowned slightly. 

But after considering it, he left Tao Yan with a “Thank you, A-yan,” and got out of the car.

The car stopped right under a sign that read “Extreme Speed ​​Internet Cafe.” 

Shen Wanchao got out of the car. At the same time, the door of the internet cafe across the street opened, and two tall teenagers walked out. One of them was tall and slender, with striking good looks, a few faint strands of dark blue dyed in his hair, and an earring. He had a cocky demeanor, but his eyes were tired, and he yawned. 

Shen Wanchao stopped and stared at this boy for a long time. 

Zhou Mingchen and Fang Chi had just come out of the internet cafe after spending the night there. 

They were still a little dizzy from suddenly seeing the daylight and didn’t notice the people around them. 

Fang Chi stroked his almost bald buzz cut, and complained, “My sister poured glue on my head last weekend! My beautiful hair!” 

Zhou Mingchen replied casually, “It’s…showy.” 

Fang Chi, feeling sorry for his once-thriving forest hair, asked, “Should we skip the quiz in English class this afternoon?” 

“Skip,” Zhou Mingchen said matter-of-factly, “I still have a few forms to finish.” 

Fang Chi rubbed his chin, “Should I skip too…” 

Zhou Mingchen said mercilessly, “Skip it, you can’t even spell ‘abandon’ anyway.” 

Fang Chi sighed, “You’re right!” 

The two chatted aimlessly, completely unaware that someone was passing by. In a moment of inattention, Fang Chi bumped into Shen Wanchao’s shoulder. 

Shen Wanchao didn’t move, but Fang Chi was knocked back. 

Fang Chi was in a bad mood because he hadn’t slept all night. He frowned and yelled, “Are you blind?” 

As he spoke, a card fell to the ground from his bag.

Shen Wanchao glanced at the student card on the ground, took out a tissue from his pocket, placed it in his hand, and bent down to pick it up first. 

With his eyes lowered, Shen Wanchao softly read the name on the student card: “Fang Chi.” 

Then he lifted his eyelids and looked at the tall boy in front of him, his scrutinizing gaze like that of a law enforcement officer confirming the identity of a criminal. 

Fang Chi felt a chill run down his spine under his gaze and reached out to snatch his student card back. Shen  Wanchao deliberately pulled his hand back slightly. 

“What are you doing?!” Fang Chi was furious and embarrassed. 

Shen Wanchao glanced at the photo on the student card, then at Fang Chi, and Zhou Mingchen beside him. 

He said calmly, “Nothing, I’m just surprised that you’re students at Qiongya School.” 

“Huh?!” Fang Chi didn’t understand what he meant. 

As Shen Wanchao wiped the student ID card, he smiled and said, “Judging from your outfits, I thought you were Tony² from Huihui Hair Salon next door.”

This was clearly not a compliment on their fashion sense. 

Zhou Mingchen, whose hair was dyed and permed, frowned. 

Fang Chi snatched the student ID card from his hand and shouted, “What’s wrong with your eyes? Does Huihui Hair Salon have a Tony as handsome as us?” 

Shen Wanchao gave Fang Chi a scrutinizing look, then suddenly clasped his hands together: “Sorry, I was blind. I wonder which temple you’re from?” 

Fang Chi completely broke down; he pointed to his head: “I have hair! I’m not bald! Look closely! It’s a buzz cut! A buzz cut!!!” 

He did indeed have a tiny bit of bluish down on his head, about a few millimeters long. 

However, it was barely visible and could be ignored.

Shen Wanchao, too lazy to even glance at the two problem students, turned and left. 

Fang Chi was still desperately trying to prove himself: “I really have hair, you don’t believe me? Touch it!” 

Zhou Mingchen sighed, patted his shoulder, and said, “Never mind, Ton… Fang Chi, let’s go.” 

… 

After getting away from the two problem students, the smile on Shen Wanchao’s lips quickly disappeared. 

He glanced at the “Aunt Zhao’s Jianbing” stall not far away, the must-try food recommended in the post earlier for Qiongya School. 

He hadn’t eaten breakfast and was very hungry, but after the chance encounter earlier, he had no appetite. 

Besides, eating jianjing on the street… wasn’t very elegant. 

Oh well, consider it a way to lose weight. 

Actually, Shen Wanchao wasn’t a real 18-year-old high school student. 

At least until half a month ago, he was still a 37-year-old successful adult Omega with a husband, son, and a happy family. 

His main job was a documentary director, and twenty days ago he had just finished all the pre-production shooting for a documentary and was enjoying a long-awaited vacation. 

Unexpectedly, upon returning home, he was greeted with news that his son, a minor, had been arrested by the police for driving a motorcycle without a license, and he was asked to go to the police station to bail him out. 

Although it was later proven that someone else was riding the motorcycle, it still startled Shen Wanchao. 

Moreover, the motorcycle did indeed belong to his son; just because he didn’t ride it this time didn’t mean he wouldn’t in the future. 

And that wasn’t all. The little dumpling who used to follow him around, obediently calling him “Daddy,” was now ignoring him. In the days since he’d been home, he hadn’t even heard him call him “Dad.” 

Shen Wanchao was distressed by his son’s sudden rebellious phase. 

That night, Shen Wanchao had a nightmare. 

He dreamt that his son, driving without a license, was hit by a semi-trailer truck. He was heartbroken beside his son’s body, and his son’s father was also crying in his arms. 

The semi-trailer driver threw down the words, “Go talk to my insurance company!” and disappeared without a trace. 

Terrified, Shen Wanchao sat up in bed in a cold sweat and went to the bathroom to wash his face. 

When he looked up he saw himself in the mirror, back to his 18-year-old self. 

After confirming that he had indeed become younger and there was no sign of regression… 

Shen Wanchao made a bold decision: he would seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enter Qiongya School and monitor his son 24/7. He would use loving encouragement to guide him back to the right path. 

Before even officially entering the school, Shen Wanchao had already discovered one of the reasons his son had gone astray. 

The Tony next to his son had a fiery temper, stayed up all night online, and was impolite. 

He couldn’t even spell “abandon.” 

He was clearly not a proper student, and Zhou Mingchen, who played with him all day, would naturally be negatively influenced. 

This was not good; they had to be separated. 

… 

Fifteen minutes later, Shen Wanchao stood on the podium of the second-year class classroom. 

He calmly looked at Zhou Mingchen’s gloomy face in the back row while ignoring Tony’s shocked and angry expression. 

Then he smiled at the whole class and introduced himself gently: “My name is Shen Chao, and I’m very happy to be classmates with you all.” 

The young teacher beside him said, “Then the new student will sit…” 

The homeroom teacher was named Yang Liu, a petite Omega woman, very young. She looked like she had just graduated. Her voice was gentle and soft, no wonder she couldn’t control Zhou Mingchen and the others. 

Shen Wanchao gently interrupted her, “Teacher Yang, I’d like to choose my own seat, is that alright?” 

Yang Liu was startled, but readily conceded, “Ah, yes, that’s fine too.” 

Shen Wanchao turned his head, his target clear, and walked straight to the last row before slamming his backpack down on Fang Chi’s desk. 

His eyes, however, were only on Zhou Mingchen, his smile gentle but his attitude firm: “Hello, I’ll be your new deskmate from now on, please take care of me.” 

Zhou Mingchen hadn’t slept all night, and his face was already bad. Now he revealed a murderous expression. 

“Get lost.” 

A single word caused a collective gasp. 

The students who had been watching the commotion turned their heads away, no longer daring to look directly at Zhou’s angry face. 

Shen Wanchao was completely unaffected, his smile as elegant as ever. 

But his tone had turned colder: “Say that again?” 

A tense atmosphere filled the air between them. 

Fang Chi poked his head out from behind his backpack: “Hello? Are you really blind or deliberately ignoring me? Didn’t you see this seat is already taken?” 

Shen Wanchao feigned surprise: “Tony, it’s you! What a coincidence.” 

Fang Chi was exasperated: “First of all, my name isn’t Tony. Secondly, this seat is taken, go sit somewhere else.”

Shen Wanchao remained unmoved, still polite and gentle: “Wasn’t spending the whole night as deskmates at the internet cafe enough? Do you have to stick together during the day too?” 

Upon hearing this, Yang Liu was suddenly reminded. She had long disliked Zhou Mingchen and Fang Chi, these two underachievers, always hanging out together. If it weren’t for the fact that no one else in the class wanted to be their deskmate, she would have separated them long ago. 

Now that a new classmate was willing to take the lead, she might as well go along with it. 

So Yang Liu cleared her throat: “Ahem, well, let’s have the new student sit next to Zhou Mingchen. Fang Chi, you can sit in the empty seat next to Lu Niannian.” 

Fang Chi’s voice cracked: “Teacher Yang!?” 

Lu Niannian: “No way!”

Yang Liu wasn’t very good at dealing with tall, prickly Alphas like Zhou Mingchen and Fang Chi. She lowered her head, and used her last bit of professional resolve: “It’s…it’s decided.” 

So, Shen Wanchao got his wish and sat down next to Zhou Mingchen. 

As soon as he sat down, he heard his son let out an impatient and impolite “Tsk.” 

The more unfathomable the smile on Shen Wanchao’s face, the stronger his anger became. 

Zhou Mingchen didn’t care who his deskmate was. It was good that it was Fang Chi, but it didn’t matter if it was someone else. 

He was very sleepy and just wanted to catch up on some sleep. 

It was still morning reading time. After introducing the new student, Yang Liu clapped her hands to remind everyone to continue reading. 

But all the students’ attention was drawn to the new student. 

The new classmate was an Omega. Although he was quite tall, he was slender and his every gesture exuded an air of nobility. He had a gentle temperament and didn’t seem aggressive. Surprisingly, this Omega wasn’t afraid of the Alpha and even took the initiative to sit next to Zhou Mingchen.

Zhou Mingchen was a big name in Qiongya, an Alpha who was over 1.8 meters tall at only 17. He wore earrings, had dyed hair, and was usually aloof and unapproachable. He frequently skipped school, and last semester at the end of the semester, he got into a fight with thugs off-campus, sending one of them to the hospital! 

The whole school was full of legends about Zhou Mingchen. 

1. Don’t make eye contact with him for more than a second; 

2. Don’t come within two meters of him; 

3. Alphas and Omegas shouldn’t appear in front of him together, otherwise… the guy who came to school with bandages after a week in the hospital is a prime example. 

It was said that Zhou-ge hates people who flaunt their relationships. 

In short, Zhou Mingchen’s image in Class 1 was now almost like a Cthulhu³ god, indescribable, unapproachable, and whose real name should never be mentioned.

Except for that idiot Fang Chi, no one dared to approach him. 

… 

Zhou Mingchen himself had no idea that in his classmates’ eyes, he was a monster with eight hundred tentacles who can ride a Harley. 

Right now, he just wanted to lie down and catch up on some sleep. 

Suddenly, a hand with distinct knuckles reached out from the side. 

It grabbed God Zhou by the back of his neck and lifted him up. 

Shen Wanchao smiled and said, “Sit up straight when you’re reading, keep your eyes a foot away from the book.” 

Bleary-Eyed Zhou Mingchen suddenly woke up with a start: “???” 

***

Author’s Note: 

The following are reading guidelines: 

1. There are three couples with detailed romantic storylines: 

Old married couple re-experiencing the era of love: Zhou Hui × Shen Wanchao (AO) 90% 

True youthful infatuation pseudo-incest high school brothers: Zhou Mingchen × Lin Anyi (AO) <10% (approximately) 

Nearsighted office worker and younger wolf dog: Ji Yang × Tao Yan (AB) <2% 

The author is a softie and afraid of arguments, friendly communication is welcome.

1. Chinese street food originating in Tianjin. Jianbing guozi is prepared by cooking a thin batter on a griddle to form a crepe-like pastry and topping it with savory spreads and fillings. ↩︎
2. Calling someone Tony in Chinese slang is a humorous way to refer to a hairstylist/barber. ↩︎
3. Cthulhu is a fictional cosmic entity created by H. P. Lovecraft, first appearing in the 1928 story The Call of Cthulhu. ↩︎