Almost without thinking, Lu Yicheng instinctively reached out and caught one of the restless tendrils.
The sensation was strange, soft and yielding, like jelly. The fleshy, milk-colored appendage sank between his fingers when he pressed it, then pushed back against his palm with a springy resilience.
A faint whimper escaped the boy before him. Lu Yicheng lifted his head and saw that Shi You’s fair face was tinted with the same delicate pink as the tendrils themselves.
“It hurts…” Shi You’s voice trembled slightly.
Lu Yicheng froze, and only then did he realize, those tendrils were growing from Shi You’s back.
They were a pale, tender shade of pink, glossy and beautiful. When he pinched one gently, it bounced right back into shape.
The boy’s cheeks were flushed; his body trembled as though even the lightest touch made him shiver. Lu Yicheng hadn’t meant to grip harder, but as soon as he did, Shi You’s waist quivered and his voice shook. “Y-you… don’t touch them right now…”
Startled, Lu Yicheng quickly released his hand.
Shi You’s body immediately softened, the tendrils retreating back into his skin. The flush spread from his face down his neck, staining his pale skin a fragile rose.
Lu Yicheng stared at his empty palm, remembering the strange texture. His mood was complicated, his dark eyes deepened, filled with something unreadable.
Finally, he exhaled through his nose and asked in a low voice, “What… is that?”
Shi You blinked. “Those are my fungal tendrils.”
“…”
Lu Yicheng was speechless.
It sounded unbelievable, and yet, he had seen it with his own eyes. There was no way to deny what had just happened.
As a man of science, Lu Yicheng was utterly shaken. His worldview trembled. Was Shi You… actually some kind of mushroom?
Driven by a mix of curiosity and disbelief, he reached out and turned Shi You around to get another look. But the tendrils had already vanished.
For a moment, his mind went blank. He flipped Shi You back over again, only to find the boy’s flushed, slightly dazed face staring up at him.
“Now you believe me, right?” Shi You’s voice had returned to its usual calm. He tilted his neck slightly and spoke as if this were an everyday conversation.
Lu Yicheng’s throat bobbed. “Show me again.”
“…Huh?”
“The tendrils.”
“…”
Shi You puffed up like an offended mushroom. “Why do you want to see them again? I told you, they’re unstable. It takes a lot of energy to grow them.” Then, after a pause, his tone turned mischievous. “Unless… you’d give me a little pheromone?”
Lu Yicheng’s eyes narrowed. “…What?”
Had the school never offered Beta students a proper biology class?
Give him pheromones? That was something only an Omega would request from an Alpha during heat or in the middle of… something intimate.
And yet, Shi You said it so calmly.
The boy’s tendrils had clearly taken a toll on him; his body looked fragile, almost fevered, as if something inside was stirring again.
His gaze flickered toward Lu Yicheng, this “human-shaped pheromone diffuser”and his lips pouted ever so slightly.
“Or…” Shi You stretched out his arms invitingly. “You could just hug me. My body’s softer than normal, my skin smoother too. Mushrooms have a lot of moisture, you know.”
“…”
Lu Yicheng’s expression darkened. This was far too inappropriate.
But the boy was close, so close that only the width of two fingers separated them. The faint scent that clung to Shi You was clean, cool, and quietly intoxicating.
Lu Yicheng’s composure wavered. His face grew warm, the edges of his sharp features tinged red, and his ears burned like fire.
“Y-you…” he stammered, voice rough, “don’t get any closer.”
His mind was spinning, dangerously close to agreeing. For one wild moment, he even considered actually releasing some pheromone.
Before he could decide, the door creaked open.
Standing frozen in the doorway was Jiang Yanbai, clearly just back to grab something but what he saw was a stunning young Beta reaching out for a cold-faced Alpha, begging for a hug.
Lu Yicheng: “…”
Jiang Yanbai: “…”
The air temperature dropped several degrees.
“Uh.. hi?” Jiang Yanbai’s smile was awkward and painfully polite. He looked like a man who’d accidentally stepped into a crime scene.
Lu Yicheng didn’t move. His expression was icy, his presence so strong it felt suffocating. Jiang Yanbai’s knees almost buckled under the weight of the Alpha’s pheromone suppression.
“Shit! hey! Wait! My waist… !” Jiang Yanbai clung to the doorframe, gasping. “I just came back for my car keys! I swear!”
Lu Yicheng’s gaze flicked to the keys in his hand. His expression eased just a fraction.
Without a word, Jiang Yanbai wisely fled, muttering as he went, “Okay okay! I’m leaving! You two continue!”
Behind Lu Yicheng, Shi You peeked out timidly and tugged on his sleeve. “He… he didn’t see anything, right?”
Lu Yicheng’s eyes lowered, catching a flash of the boy’s bare, pale legs. “Next time, don’t wear shorts that short.”
“? I meant my tendrils!” Shi You was almost panicking. “My mushroom secret can’t be discovered by anyone!”
Lu Yicheng stared at him, the thought rising unbidden, so, it was fine if he knew? Did that mean Shi You trusted him more than anyone else?
Suppressing the odd flutter in his chest, Lu Yicheng placed a firm hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Go home.”
“Wha…. hey, can we still meet again?”
“Yeah, yeah.” His voice dropped low, stern but oddly gentle. “Go, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Shi You pouted, dragging his feet reluctantly as he headed back into his apartment.
When the door closed, silence returned.
Lu Yicheng stood by the entryway for a long while. His eyes fell on his hand again. He flexed his fingers slowly, as though he could still feel the jelly-like texture of those impossible tendrils.
He sighed quietly. Whatever that was, it was real.
And yet, he couldn’t quite figure out what was going on in Shi You’s mind. The boy was too direct, disarmingly so.
Still, he couldn’t help thinking of Jiang Yanbai. Hopefully, that idiot hadn’t actually seen anything.
The thought of anyone else catching a glimpse of those tendrils, something that now felt oddly intimate, sent a strange irritation curling through his chest.
Just as he decided to go hunt Jiang Yanbai down for questioning, his phone buzzed.
[“YanziNotWhite” has invited you to a group chat with “NoMoreAllNighters,” “KIbo,” and “CrownPrinceofBeijing.”]
YanziNotWhite: “GUYS HOLY SHIT BIG NEWS!!”
YanziNotWhite: “LU YICHENG IS KEEPING SOMEONE AT HIS PLACE!!”
KIbo: “?? Did you meet his mom or something?”
YanziNotWhite: “His mom your ass! LU YICHENG HIMSELF!”
YanziNotWhite: “He’s got a GORGEOUS little Beta at home! I saw it with my own eyes, the kid asked to be hugged! Lu Yicheng just stood there acting all cold and noble!”
CrownPrinceofBeijing: “What? Lu Yicheng? The man’s been single his whole life! Are you serious?”
YanziNotWhite: “Dead serious! And get this, THE KID WASN’T WEARING PANTS! Just running around the house with bare legs! Bro, I’ve never seen something that wild!”
Lu Yicheng stared at his screen. “…”
YanziNotWhite: “He even used pheromone suppression on me! I thought my spine was going to snap!”
NoMoreAllNighters: “??? My idol just collapsed…”
YU: “WTF.”
KIbo: “This can’t be real. Lu-ge’s like a god in the research world, pure, disciplined, totally sexless. Now you’re telling me he’s into keeping little Betas?”
YU: “Didn’t someone tell him to just find a fake partner to fool his dad? Maybe he actually did it?”
YU: “But why a Beta? He could have any top-tier Omega he wanted.”
CrownPrinceofBeijing: “…Maybe because Betas can’t get pregnant.”
YU: “Scumbag Alpha.”
KIbo: “Scumbag Alpha.”
NoMoreAllNighters: “Scumbag Alpha.”
YanziNotWhite: “Scumbag Alpha.”
CrownPrinceofBeijing: “Wait… there are six people here. Who’s the last one?”
Lu Yicheng: “.”
…”
CrownPrinceofBeijing: “Jiang Yanbai, you absolute idiot.”
Five seconds later,
You have been removed from the group chat.
Lu Yicheng stared at the blank screen.
Great. Another rumor was born.
He sighed, switched off the phone, and leaned back against the sofa, his profile sharp in the morning light. His gaze drifted toward the balcony, where his plants basked quietly in the sun.
Forget it. At least no one else had seen those tendrils.
The next morning, Shi You woke up with a sore throat.
The seasonal flu was going around, and plenty of his classmates were already down with it. After drinking a glass of warm water, he decided it wasn’t serious, washed up, and got dressed.
When he opened his door, he just so happened to see Lu Yicheng stepping out of his own apartment next door.
“Morning, Yicheng~” Shi You greeted, rubbing his sleepy eyes. His hair was mussed, the ends curling adorably. The soft yellow hoodie he wore made his skin glow even fairer, the faint blush of sleep still lingering on his cheeks.
Lu Yicheng’s eyes flicked to him, noting the nasal tone in his voice. “Morning.”
Shi You didn’t have an early class today, so he’d slept in. He smiled brightly. “Did you have breakfast? Want to eat together?”
Lu Yicheng’s reply was immediate. “No.”
Shi You blinked, surprised by the blunt refusal. He had thought that last night, after Lu Yicheng believed his mushroom story, they’d be a little closer. Apparently not.
But then Lu Yicheng added, “I already ate.”
Oh. That explained it.
Shi You nodded cheerfully. The Alpha’s pheromones always filled the air around him, calm and grounding. Just being near him felt comfortable.
Still, without his pheromone spray, Shi You’s “temperature regulation” had been unstable lately. He’d discovered something new, though: even when Lu Yicheng didn’t actively release pheromones, simply being near him helped. If he could just spend a little more time close by each day, the effects lasted.
And today, running into him first thing in the morning, what luck!
“Then let’s head to school together,” he said happily.
Lu Yicheng hesitated. “Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?”
“I’d rather go with you.”
Lu Yicheng’s jaw tightened. “…You’re unbelievable.”
He told himself it was purely for Shi You’s health, nothing else. Skipping breakfast wasn’t good. And maybe he hadn’t actually eaten much either.
He glanced at the boy’s bright, smiling eyes, so open, so earnest.
After a brief silence, he said, “Which breakfast shop?”
Shi You led him to a small eatery he often visited.
Across from their apartment complex ran a narrow food street lined with plane trees, their leaves fading from green to gold. The breeze carried a faint fragrance as the leaves fluttered down, carpeting the alleyway.
At the corner stood a tiny shop with an old wooden sign “Fu Man Man Snacks.” It had been there for years, run by an elderly couple.
“Good morning, Auntie Sun! I’m here again!” Shi You called as he stepped inside.
A kind-looking old woman peeked out from behind a cloud of steam and beamed. “Oh my, you brought someone with you today!”
“Yup! I wanted him to try your cooking. Same order as usual!” Shi You sat down at one of the wooden tables outside and turned to Lu Yicheng. “What about you? The dough-drop soup here is really good.”
Lu Yicheng sat across from him, his voice calm. “Anything’s fine.”
“Then we’ll have the same thing!” Shi You grinned.
Soon, their food arrived, two steaming baskets of soup dumplings, glistening with moisture. Even the way they jiggled showed how full of juice they were.
Auntie Sun brought over a plate of golden pan-fried dumplings as well. “It’s the first time I’ve seen you bring company, so this is on the house!”
“Wow, thank you, Auntie Sun!” Shi You smiled sweetly. “Yicheng, try these too, they’re amazing with porridge!”
Lu Yicheng nodded, quietly noting her earlier comment. The first time he’s ever brought someone.
So, Shi You really hadn’t come here with anyone else before.
“Slow down,” he said mildly when he noticed Shi You devouring the food with obvious delight. The boy’s cheeks were puffed out adorably as he sipped his porridge.
Shi You looked up. “Mm? I’m fine.”
Lu Yicheng saw that his own plate was mostly untouched and pushed it toward him. “Eat mine too.”
“Eh? But you haven’t eaten much.”
“I came to keep you company,” Lu Yicheng said simply, his cool tone softened by the warmth beneath it.
Shi You stared at him for a long moment. The misty morning light framed the Alpha’s calm, handsome face; his eyes, usually so distant, seemed gentler now.
“Ahh,” Auntie Sun chuckled from the counter, wiping her hands on her apron. “What a considerate young man. Are you two dating?”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
Congratulations. You survived the chapter. Now survive the coffee request. 😈
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · MushroomChapter 2 · Blocking The RoadChapter 3 · Pectoral MuscleChapter 4 · Delivering MealChapter 5 · CoatChapter 6 · NeighbourChapter 7 · CookiesChapter 8 · BalconyChapter 9 · MyceliumChapter 10 · Don’t PinchChapter 11 · Warmth and NourishmentChapter 12 · Speak without RestraintChapter 13 · On the bedChapter 14 · InterviewChapter 15 · InjuredChapter 16 · So WetChapter 17 · Drink WineChapter 18 · Play AgainChapter 19 · HostChapter 20 · RomanceChapter 21 · KissChapter 22 · What should Daddy do?Chapter 23 · Washing FeetsChapter 24 · MoodChapter 25 · No kissing allowedChapter 26 · Broken BridgeChapter 27 · Blind DateChapter 28 · Dinner PartyChapter 29 · FamilyChapter 30 · Heat Sensitivity PeriodChapter 31 · LickChapter 32 · AgainChapter 33 · BabyChapter 34 · SeminarChapter 35 · Matcha TroubleChapter 36 · SpankingChapter 37 · EroticChapter 38 · JealousyChapter 39 · Little Male ServantChapter 40 · I want…Chapter 41 · Deep ConnectionChapter 42 · ToothpasteChapter 43 · DifferentiationChapter 44 · A KissChapter 45 · The Taoist TempleChapter 46 · Chasing SomeoneChapter 47 · Feeding the MedicineChapter 48 · The MessageChapter 49 · Get DownChapter 50 · Soft WaistChapter 51 · HeatChapter 52 · Deep Within the ForestChapter 53 · SensitivityChapter 54 · The Little Perverted MushroomChapter 55 · Turn AroundChapter 56 · DisappearanceChapter 57 · Don’t NurtureChapter 58 · MadnessChapter 59 · The ReasonChapter 60 · Declaring OwnershipChapter 61 · I Love YouChapter 62 · KitchenChapter 63 · Sneaking into BedChapter 64 · AdulteryChapter 65 · The Muscle Show!Chapter 66 · Was It Fun?Chapter 67 · In Front of the MirrorChapter 68 · The LondonChapter 69 · Don’t Be SadChapter 70 · End of Main StoryChapter 71 · Extra 1Chapter 72 · Extra 2Chapter 73 · Extra 3Chapter 74 · Extra 4Chapter 75 · Extra 5