Nene dragged herself into the next classroom, barely resisting the urge to turn around and leave.
She had survived de-escalation training.
She had somehow tolerated Ji Cheng's existence.
And now?
Now she had to sit through another class about instinct control.
Because apparently, the universe hated her.
The instructor clapped their hands together, looking far too excited.
"Alright, today we're working on reflex training," they announced. "This will help you learn how to override your instincts when necessary."
Nene frowned.
Override instincts?
The instructor flipped to the next slide.
Reflex Training Goals:Identify instinctual responses before they take over.React without relying on dominance or aggression.Learn to redirect instincts into controlled actions.
Nene groaned internally.
This sounded like a headache waiting to happen.
The instructor smiled.
"Now, pair up. You'll be testing each other's reflexes under pressure."
Nene immediately tensed.
Not this again.
Nene immediately braced herself, scanning the room.
Because if Ji Cheng strolled up to her again.
She was going to throw something.
The instructor continued, completely unaware of her internal suffering.
"You'll be paired based on instinct rankings," they said. "Alphas with Alphas, Betas with Betas, Omegas with Omegas."
Nene relaxed slightly until she remember she was the only Alpha in the class.
The instructor scanned their tablet.
Then—
"Lin Nara," they called. "You're with ..."
A pause.
Then, with way too much amusement;
"Ji Cheng."
Nene froze.
Her eye twitched.
She slowly turned her head;
And sure enough, Ji Cheng was already smirking, making his way over.
He stopped in front of her, tilting his head slightly.
"Looks like we're partners again, wife," he mused.
Nene exhaled sharply.
Because of course.
Of course this was happening.
She crossed her arms, scowling.
"Let's just get this over with."
Ji Cheng grinned.
"Oh," he murmured. "This is going to be fun."
Nene had a sinking feeling that it absolutely was not.
Nene stood on the training mat, arms crossed, already regretting everything.
Across from her, Ji Cheng looked far too entertained.
The instructor clapped their hands together.
"Alright," they said. "Reflex training is designed to override instinct-driven reactions. Your partner will test you with unpredictable movements, and you must respond with controlled, non-aggressive actions."
Nene narrowed her eyes.
"So basically, I have to fight the urge to punch him?" she muttered.
Ji Cheng smirked.
"That would be ideal," the instructor said dryly.
Nene sighed sharply.
The instructor stepped back.
"Ji Cheng, you'll start. Apply instinctual pressure without engaging in a full dominance challenge. Lin Nara, your job is to react without using instinct-driven aggression."
Ji Cheng tilted his head slightly.
Then—without warning—
He moved.
Fast.
Closing the space between them in a smooth, calculated motion.
Nene's body tensed immediately, instincts screaming.
Her muscles coiled, ready to react—
But she forced herself to stay still.
To think.
Not just attack on instinct.
Ji Cheng hovered just inside her space, watching closely.
"Not bad," he murmured. "You didn't flinch."
Nene exhaled slowly.
"Don't get used to it."
Ji Cheng's smirk widened.
"Oh, I hope not," he murmured. "I like you better when you're feisty."
Nene's eye twitched.
The urge to punch him was growing stronger by the second.
Nene exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm.
Because if she let Ji Cheng get under her skin any more than he already had—
She was going to fail this exercise in the most violent way possible.
Ji Cheng, of course, was still smirking.
"You're doing well," he mused. "Didn't even shove me away yet."
Nene rolled her shoulders, loosening the tension in her muscles.
Then—flat, deadpan—
"Would you survive a fight with my husband?"
Ji Cheng paused.
Then—slowly, deliberately—he smiled.
"Are you asking because you're worried about me," he murmured, "or because you're hoping I say no?"
Nene snorted.
"I'm asking," she said smoothly, "because I want to know if I should bother warning you or just let you die."
Ji Cheng laughed.
A real laugh.
Like she had just said the funniest thing in the world.
"Fair question," he admitted.
The second round of reflex training had barely started, and Nene was already losing patience.
She wasn't supposed to escalate.
She wasn't supposed to challenge.
She was supposed to practice control.
But Ji Cheng?
He was pushing.
And Nene was done playing nice.
She leaned forward slightly, dropping her voice.
"You never answered my question," she murmured. "Would you survive a fight with my husband?"
Ji Cheng smirked, completely unbothered.
"I rank in the top 100," he said smoothly.
Nene tilted her head, unimpressed.
"That's cute," she said. "But if you fought the number one guy, would you live?"
A pause.
Then, without hesitation—
"No," Ji Cheng admitted. "Not if it was one-on-one."
Nene watched him carefully.
No ego.
No posturing.
Just a simple fact.
Ji Cheng was strong.
But he wasn't stupid.
She crossed her arms.
"Then why are you so damn confident?" she muttered.
Ji Cheng chuckled.
"Because I don't plan to fight him," he said simply. "I prefer to fight people I can actually beat."
Nene snorted.
"Smart," she muttered.
Ji Cheng grinned.
"I try."
Then—his gaze flickered slightly, thoughtful.
"I have fought one of the Digital Leaders, though," he added. "They only get aggressive when provoked."
Nene blinked.
Wait.
Hold on.
That was not normal.
"Which one?" she asked.
Ji Cheng smirked slightly.
"Number Nine."
Nene stared.
Because that?
That was serious.
From Nene understanding the Digital Alpha Leaders were on a completely different level.
And Ji Cheng had fought one?
And survived?
She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you crazy?"
Ji Cheng chuckled.
"Possibly."
Then—with an amused glint in his eye—
"But they're interesting. They don't act like normal Alphas. They have too much control."
Nene frowned.
"Too much?"
Ji Cheng nodded.
"They only get aggressive when provoked heavily," he mused. "And even then, it's precise. No wasted effort."
Nene exhaled slowly.
Ji Cheng watched her carefully, amusement still lingering in his gaze.
Then—smooth, confident—
"Do you think I'd win?"
Nene didn't even hesitate.
"No."
Ji Cheng arched an eyebrow.
"That fast?" he mused.
Nene crossed her arms.
"To be honest," she said flatly, "I don't think you'd win against my grandma."
Ji Cheng paused.
Then—after a long beat—
His smirk twitched.
"Your grandma?" he repeated.
Nene shrugged.
"Yep."
Ji Cheng tilted his head slightly, still smirking.
"So your grandma would beat me?" he mused. "Interesting."
Nene rolled her eyes.
"Not interesting," she muttered. "Just facts."
Ji Cheng chuckled.
"Then let's see how much of that strength runs in the family."
Nene immediately narrowed her eyes.
Oh.
Oh, hell no.
Before she could shut that down, the instructor clapped their hands together.
"Alright," they announced. "Final exercise—controlled resistance training."
Nene bristled.
Because she already didn't like the sound of that.
The instructor continued.
"You'll be engaging in low-level instinct resistance," they said. "Your partner will push dominance energy at you, and you'll practice controlling your response."
Nene exhaled sharply.
Right.
Because what's one more challenge?
Ji Cheng grinned, clearly entertained.
"Looks like we get to play a little more, wife."
Nene scowled.
"Stop calling me that."
Ji Cheng stepped forward, slowly, controlled.
And then—just slightly—he pushed dominance energy outward.
It wasn't aggressive.
Not a challenge.
Just a test.
A silent question.
Can you handle this?
Nene's wolf bristled immediately.
Her instincts screamed at her to react.
To push back.
To remind him exactly who he was dealing with.
Nene felt the shift immediately.
Ji Cheng's dominance wasn't aggressive, but it was strong—calculated, controlled, and pushing just enough to see how she'd react.
A test.
A challenge without words.
She exhaled slowly, grounding herself.
Her wolf itched to respond, to push back, to remind him that she wasn't some weak Alpha to toy with.
But She didn't.
She just stood there, holding her ground.
Ji Cheng's golden eyes flickered slightly—just for a second.
Like he hadn't expected her to adjust so quickly.
His smirk widened slightly.
"Good," he murmured. "You're learning."
Nene rolled her shoulders, keeping her voice even.
"That surprises you?"
Ji Cheng chuckled.
"Most people don't resist instinct that easily," he admitted. "Especially Alphas."
Nene smirked slightly.
"Maybe you're just not as scary as you think you are."
Ji Cheng laughed softly.
But instead of responding, he pushed a little more.
Not enough to be overpowering.
Not enough to force a reaction.
But enough to remind her he was still there.
Nene's instincts flared again.
The longer she stood in his presence, the harder it was to ignore the urge to respond.
Because this wasn't about words anymore.
This was about balance.
How much she could hold.
How much she could resist.
Ji Cheng watched her carefully.
Then—low, amused—
"You're holding up better than I thought."
Nene exhaled slowly, voice flat.
"That almost sounded like a compliment."
Ji Cheng's smirk widened.
"It was."
And Nene?
She wasn't sure if she should be proud of herself or deeply, deeply annoyed.
Nene knew what was coming before the instructor even spoke.
The way Ji Cheng's stance shifted slightly, the way the energy in the room changed—
Yeah.
This was going to be a real test.
The instructor clapped their hands.
"Final exercise," they announced. "Alphas will push full dominance energy at their partner. The goal is to receive and control your reaction without escalating."
Nene exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders.
Right.
Don't fight. Don't escalate. Just control.
Ji Cheng tilted his head slightly, watching her.
"You ready, Lin Nara?" he murmured.
Nene smirked slightly.
"As I'll ever be."
Ji Cheng's golden eyes flickered.
Then—smoothly, without warning—
He dropped his restraints.
The shift was instant.
His dominance energy hit like a slow, rolling wave—controlled but powerful, pushing into her space, demanding acknowledgment.
Not hostile.
Not a challenge.
Just absolute, unshakable presence.
A silent declaration.
I am stronger. I am here. Can you take it?
Nene's wolf reacted immediately.
Her muscles tensed, instincts screaming to respond—to push back, to correct, to remind him exactly who he was dealing with.
For a split second—**just one—**her dominance flared up, raw and sharp.
Ji Cheng's eyes darkened slightly, his own energy holding steady.
He was ready for her to react.
Waiting for her to challenge.
But—
She didn't.
She clenched her jaw, exhaling slowly, deliberately, controlling the instinct to shove back.
Not backing down.
Not submitting.
Just absorbing the pressure without letting it push her into action.
Ji Cheng's gaze flickered slightly, like he was actually impressed.
Then, smoothly—"Good."
And just like that—he pulled back.
The weight of his dominance eased, the tension in the air fading.
Nene exhaled, rolling her shoulders.
She did it.
She didn't lose control.
Didn't escalate.
Didn't let him win.
The instructor nodded approvingly.
"Well done," they said. "That's exactly the level of restraint we want to see."
Ji Cheng grinned slightly, tilting his head.
"Not bad," he murmured. "You handled that better than most."
Nene huffed.
"I'm not 'most.'"
Ji Cheng's smirk widened.
"No," he said smoothly. "You're not."
And Nene?
For the first time, she actually believed it.