As soon as Lu Yue finished speaking, Liang Shen also fell silent.
Although he had initially approached Bai Long with the intention of having her mark Lu Yue to help him get through his heat—knowing it was purely transactional, devoid of any emotional involvement—the thought that Bai Long might genuinely see this as just another side gig still left him with a complex, uneasy feeling.
In a way, this kind of iron-hearted Alpha was indeed the perfect candidate for a purely transactional arrangement.
But for an Omega who had just been marked and was now in the dependency period, encountering an Alpha who could turn even something as natural as dependency-period companionship into a business opportunity… was honestly kind of pitiful.
“Sigh, forget it. Whether she’s actually opening up or just here to make some extra cash, at least she’s willing to come. Saves us from having to scheme up an ‘accidental’ meetup.”
Worried Lu Yue might overthink things, Liang Shen shrugged, deliberately casual, trying to soothe the man’s visibly sinking mood.
“But today might not work—you’re getting discharged anyway. How about tomorrow? It’s the weekend—perfect timing to set up a meal or something.”
“You can take the chance to add her contact too. It’s a reasonable request during the dependency period. This is a legal transaction—you paid, so she should see it through to the end.”
“You’re just too damn proud for your own good. Sometimes you really should stop worrying so much about face. Otherwise, with your condition, it’s easy to slip into a secondary heat.”
The suggestion was perfectly reasonable, yet Lu Yue didn’t respond right away.
He sat there with his head lowered, long eyelashes trembling slightly, casting faint gray shadows beneath his eyes.
After a long pause, just as Liang Shen thought the other had silently agreed to his suggestion, Lu Yue pressed his thin lips together and spoke in a low voice.
“Didn’t you say earlier I should stay another day or two for observation?”
“…Then I’ll stay one more night.”
“…?”
Liang Shen widened his eyes as if he couldn’t believe his own ears.
What was he hearing?
The same workaholic who just days ago had been throwing a fit, demanding to be discharged and return to the office, now saying he wanted to stay in the hospital longer?
“Wait, hold on—did you hear what I said? I’m not saying you can’t meet her; I said tomorrow. Dude, it’s just one night—blink and it’ll be over. Are you really that desperate?”
“She has a part-time job tomorrow.”
Lu Yue knew this wasn’t great, but he had just been marked, and he was at the peak of his dependency period.
If Liang Shen hadn’t told him Bai Long wanted to come, it would have been one thing. But now that he knew and still couldn’t see her, the itch was unbearable.
She had to work a full shift at that café on weekends. If they didn’t meet today, he’d have to wait even longer.
Liang Shen suddenly felt a pang of regret—regret that he had asked Bai Long to give Lu Yue that temporary mark.
But even if it hadn’t been Bai Long, there would have been another Alpha eventually. At least the girl was gentle and likable.
The only headache was Lu Yue’s unforeseen level of dependency. He had seen Omegas in this state before, but one who acted like “one day apart feels like three autumns” after just one meeting was a first.
“…Alright, fine. Since you, the Omega, don’t mind, what else can I say?”
Lu Yue wasn’t in heat tonight, and it was Liang Shen’s shift anyway, so even if an Alpha and an Omega were alone in a room, it shouldn’t be an issue.
“I’ve told Bai Long to come over. Hmm… she says she just got off work, is on the bus now, and should arrive at the hospital in about half an hour.”
Liang Shen replied to Bai Long’s message while glancing at Lu Yue out of the corner of his eye. The man seemed listless, his head lowered slightly as if he had no energy.
“What now? She’s coming, shouldn’t you be happy?”
“Half an hour is… still so long.”
“…”
There’s no saving him.
An Omega in the dependency period is just a lovestruck fool.
. . .
By the time Bai Long arrived, the sky was already mostly dark. She checked in with the nurse at the front desk and headed straight to the third floor.
“Mr. Lu?”
Just like before, the girl stood somewhat awkwardly outside the door, knocking gently and calling softly.
“Come in.”
Whether it was her imagination or not, Bai Long felt Lu Yue’s voice sounded deeper and huskier than usual.
Thinking he might have just woken up, she didn’t dwell on it and gently pushed the door open.
Lu Yue sat on the bed wearing black silk pajamas.
He held a book in his hands, flipping through it. When she entered, he only glanced over from the corner of his eye, giving Bai Long a brief, faint look.
It was completely different from his earlier demeanor with Liang Shen—detached and cold.
“You sure know how to pick your timing. Not too early, not too late—just as it’s getting dark.”
Bai Long didn’t know Lu Yue had been there when she messaged Liang Shen, nor did she know how pleased he’d been to hear she was coming.
So she assumed her uninvited visit—and Liang Shen acting without his consent—had upset him.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Lu. I didn’t mean to disturb you during your rest. It’s just… I heard Omegas in the dependency period can really struggle without their Alpha around, and Dr. Liang mentioned you haven’t been feeling well lately.”
“And please don’t blame Dr. Liang either. He’s both your doctor and your friend—he only asked me to come because he was worried about you.”
She already felt guilty about leaving right after the marking without considering Lu Yue’s feelings.
Today, after listening to the lady who bought the cake, Bai Long remembered how pale Lu Yue had looked back then—he probably hadn’t been feeling well even then but had kept it to himself.
The thought made her feel even guiltier.
“Don’t worry, I won’t run off this time. If you’re feeling uncomfortable at all, just say so—I’ll stay with you.”
Honestly, when Lu Yue saw Bai Long, he was actually quite pleased inside—especially as her sweet strawberry scent began to fill the room, bringing him an unprecedented sense of calm.
But of all things, she had to bring up that incident again. Proud as he was, his expression instantly darkened.
“Shut up.”
The moonlight outside was cool and pale, falling over him like a layer of frost.
Seeing the girl flinch slightly in fear, Lu Yue took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions.
“…Come sit.”
Bai Long also noticed the man’s strained expression. She thought he was unhappy to see her but had to endure sharing the same room because of the dependency period.
It wasn’t an unreasonable assumption—after all, their interactions hadn’t exactly been pleasant from the start.
Even if it was mostly on Lu Yue’s side.
She wasn’t foolish enough to poke a sleeping bear right now.
So without a word, she obediently walked over.
Bai Long assumed an Omega in the dependency period only needed pheromones for comfort, and since the man didn’t seem eager to talk either…
She paused, picked up the chair, and moved it toward the small table by the bed instead.
Lu Yue, who had been waiting for her to sit beside him on the bed, was taken aback. Before he could say anything, she placed her backpack on the floor by her feet.
Then, right in front of him, she took out an Olympiad math workbook.
“…What are you doing?”
Bai Long’s hand, holding the pen, paused. She slowly looked up.
“Doing homework.”
Maybe his expression was too stunned, but Bai Long felt a little unnerved.
“…Is it not allowed to do homework in a hospital room?”
Is that really the damn point?!
Lu Yue had a short temper to begin with, and being in the emotionally unstable dependency period only made it worse.
He’d been happily waiting for Bai Long all day, like some imperial concubine awaiting the emperor’s visit—cleaned up nice and early, not expecting to talk about poetry, literature, or the meaning of life under the moon and stars, but…
Leaving a delicious-smelling Omega you’ve been marked by alone just to do homework?
What kind of human being does that?
Of course, all of this was just internal screaming. On the surface, he remained stoic.
“Whatever. Do as you like. Just don’t disturb my rest.”
He let out a cold hum, giving Bai Long an indifferent glance before picking up his own book again, flipping through it with apparent disinterest.
Bai Long couldn’t tell whether he was pleased or annoyed.
Seeing he didn’t say anything more, she relaxed a little and went back to working on the math problems.
What she didn’t know was that while she was lost in the sea of numbers, the man beside her had gradually shifted his gaze from his book to her.
This was the first time Lu Yue had observed Bai Long this closely. The marking had happened at night, and he hadn’t turned on the lights, not wanting anyone to see him vulnerable.
His mind had been hazy then; he’d only seen her silhouette in the moonlight.
Her skin was snow-white, her hair dark and smooth, tied back with a red ribbon that made her neck appear even more slender and pale. Her hands were beautiful; as she gripped the pen, her knuckles turned a faint white.
But what made it hardest for Lu Yue to look away were her eyes. Unlike most people’s, they were amber-colored, clear and transparent like gemstones, as if the whole galaxy were reflected inside.
Even from the side, he could see them clearly.
Whether it was the dependency period or simply that the girl happened to fit his aesthetic perfectly, Lu Yue suddenly felt his ears grow warm.
Just as he realized he’d been staring too long and was about to force himself to look away, Bai Long unexpectedly glanced up and met his gaze.
Ever since her enhancement, Bai Long had grown sensitive to being watched. Even though Lu Yue had been subtle, she had felt it almost immediately.
Caught in the act, Lu Yue forced himself to stay composed. Seeing Bai Long open her mouth as if about to ask something, he cut her off before she could.
“You overcomplicated the problem in the top right corner.”
Bai Long thought something was off about her, but it turned out he’d been staring to help her with the question.
She quickly picked up the test paper and reworked the problem. But her skills were limited—no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t find a simpler method.
After a moment’s hesitation, Bai Long looked at the man, cheeks slightly flushed.
“Sorry, Mr. Lu. I’m just not that clever. If it’s okay… could you explain the simpler approach?”
Lu Yue’s heart gave a little stir at her words.
He hadn’t expected his random excuse would lead to her initiating a conversation.
With that thought, he lifted his gaze slightly toward Bai Long, then gently closed the book in his hands and set it on the bedside table.
“I’m not feeling well enough to get up. Come sit closer.”
Bai Long didn’t suspect anything. Afraid he might change his mind, she picked up her test paper and pen and moved over.
The sweet strawberry scent lingered around her, making Lu Yue’s ears grow even warmer.
Luckily, his hair covered them, and Bai Long’s attention was on the paper, so she didn’t notice.
Lu Yue took the pen and paper from Bai Long. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, like flower buds swaying in a spring breeze.
The two were now quite close. With just a slight lowering of his gaze, he could see the girl’s soft red lips and her ivory-smooth neck.
He pressed his thin lips into a straight line, his heart pounding like a drum.
“…Sit farther away.”
The man’s voice came from above her, brushing against her ear like fine sand, sending a tingling sensation through her.
Bai Long obediently shifted a little further away, yet the scent of white cedar remained intense.
She swallowed hard, trying with all her might to keep her own pheromones from reacting.
“…Mr. Lu, you don’t look so well. Should I call Dr. Liang over?”
“No need.”
“But…”
“Why so much talk? Do you want me to explain this or not?”
Bai Long was left speechless and didn’t dare say another word.
After all, an Omega in the dependency period wasn’t exactly reasonable—pushing further would only backfire.
Lu Yue was afraid he’d lose control of his emotions, so he tried not to look at Bai Long, focusing only on the test paper.
But that didn’t clear his mind much. If anything, the sweet strawberry scent in the air made him feel even more dazed.
Frowning, he bit the tip of his tongue to stay alert.
“For this question, first substitute this exponential function, then… then…”
Before he could finish, Lu Yue’s body went limp and he slumped forward.
Bai Long reacted quickly, catching him and pulling him into her arms. His skin felt scorching to the touch.
“Mr. Lu?”
The already dazed man, hearing Bai Long’s voice, forced his heavy eyelids open and looked toward her.
He rested against Bai Long’s shoulder, his exhales hot and unsteady. His usually sharp eyes were now misty and unfocused, like distant mountains shrouded in fog.
The corners of his eyes were faintly tinged with red.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and his eyelashes trembled.
For a moment, the room was eerily quiet, broken only by their slightly ragged breaths.
Omegas in the dependency period do need an Alpha’s pheromones to soothe them, but rarely would one be affected this intensely just by being a little close.
He was frustrated by his own weak will, but there was nothing he could do—he could push through heats with inhibitors, but he couldn’t resist Bai Long’s pheromones.
Bai Long wasn’t feeling great either. Earlier, she had just barely managed to endure.
Now, she was in her irritability phase, and at her energetic age, she was already primed to ignite.
The pheromones in the room grew so intense that Lu Yue’s consciousness grew hazy. Cradled in the girl’s arms, he couldn’t muster a shred of strength. Especially his gland—it ached terribly, showing signs of a secondary heat.
The two remained locked in this awkward embrace—Bai Long holding him, not daring to move, while Lu Yue didn’t dare try to get up either.
After a long pause, just as Bai Long was trying her best to ignore the charged atmosphere and pull back her overflowing pheromones—
The man who had been silent all along spoke in a hoarse voice.
“…What are you waiting for?”
“Don’t you realize my condition requires a second mark?”
Lu Yue thought that by letting her hold him like this without moving, he was making it pretty obvious.
But even as he was reaching his limit, she still hadn’t made a move.
“A second mark?! But… didn’t I just mark you yesterday?”
Bai Long probably thought Lu Yue’s state was just an overreaction to her pheromones because he was still in the dependency period.
From start to finish, she hadn’t once considered marking as the answer.
“…What do you mean? Are you mocking me for being shameless?”
If Bai Long’s reaction hadn’t been so strong, Lu Yue might not have felt so humiliated and angry.
His jaw tightened, and his eyes reddened.
“If your technique hadn’t been so clumsy, if you hadn’t left me in such discomfort, if you hadn’t just taken the money and left without even a bit of aftercare—would I be like this now?”
The more Lu Yue spoke, the angrier he became. Others paid for pleasure, but he had paid to suffer.
Right—it wasn’t as if he was freeloading. He’d paid for this. Shouldn’t he get to enjoy it the way he wanted? Why did he have to tiptoe around her feelings?
He was just being affected by her pheromones.
He had plenty of money anyway. Once the dependency period passed, he could switch to any Alpha he wanted—any one of them would be more considerate than this one right here.
With that thought, Lu Yue forced down the turmoil inside him. Ignoring Bai Long’s reaction, he pushed himself up on the bed.
A thin layer of sweat had formed on his forehead and the tip of his nose, while his neck and cheeks were faintly flushed.
“Same as before—thirty thousand per time. Deal or not?”
Bai Long stared in shock at the man before her, flushed and restless under the influence of pheromones. He undid his collar, exposing the pale skin of his neck right in front of her.
The reddened gland stood out starkly in her line of sight.
She swallowed hard, her hand unconsciously clenching the bedsheet beside her.
“Mr. Lu… how about a discount?”
“My technique is pretty poor. Thirty thousand is too much. I’m unworthy of the reward.”
“…”