The room was quiet.
So unbelievably quiet that Lu Yicheng could feel a faint, subtle line of sweat collecting along his back, like the still air itself pressed against him.
“My mind was a little messy just now. I only heard you say something about doing…”
Shi You paused, his gaze landing squarely on Lu Yicheng’s slightly reddened ears, and it took him several long beats to register the implication of his own previous words. His eyes widened a fraction.
“Wait, did I say something ambiguous again?”
The shifting light and shadow concealed the precise shape of Lu Yicheng’s expression, making him unreadable. Yet the slight lift at the corner of his eyes held an inexplicable sharpness, a focused intensity that seemed even more suggestive than before.
He studied Shi You’s face without speaking. He looked and looked until both their cheeks carried a rosy flush that was impossible to ignore. Only then did he finally speak in a low, calm voice.
“I slept on the sofa.”
Of course, the truth was that he had slept on the bed. Yet what he chose to say was the sofa.
Someone had to hold up the sky when it threatened to collapse, even if it meant doing so through pure restraint.
“I put the barrier patch on you because the scent was too strong. It would not have been good for it to spread any further.”
Shi You’s clear eyes remained as innocent and transparent as ever, and Lu Yicheng’s calm face revealed absolutely nothing. No outsider would be able to tell whether he was telling the truth or simply concealing something deeper.
And when one thought about it carefully… the things they had just mentioned earlier, the ideas of doing something and sleeping together, were essentially just different edges of the same coin. Both sounded messy. Both sounded colored by meaning that was difficult to voice directly.
Shi You fell silent, his heartbeat pounding frantically in his chest, as if trying to leap out. Without another word, he simply lowered his head and leaned against Lu Yicheng’s shoulder again, seeking a quiet refuge in closeness.
Lu Yicheng found that reaction unexpectedly pleasing. This little guy was extremely cute when shy. Otherwise, he was constantly talking and talking, chattering away without a pause. And honestly, even his chatter held its own kind of charm, as if every sentence came wrapped in its own light.
The realization startled him for a brief moment.
Had he truly allowed himself to be influenced by this young man’s strange way of thinking? The feeling stirring in his chest was unusual, unfamiliar, something delicate yet powerful, difficult to name.
Then he remembered how other Alphas used to release pheromones near him, strong enough to trigger heat symptoms in his body, and how Shi You as a Beta could only vaguely perceive those scents, barely catching surface layers. The thought made his whole body stiffen in subtle discomfort.
He fell quiet, thoughtful, and without truly meaning to, his hand slid downward until it rested naturally on Shi You’s waist.
So slender.
Shi You’s frame was small, giving the impression one could wrap a single hand all the way around him. There was not much flesh there, yet the touch was soft, warm, pliant, and full of vitality.
Lu Yicheng’s fingers curled just slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if merely brushing against fabric. But in that tiny movement he left a faint trace of his own scent, that cool and quiet cedarwood note, marking without declaring, claiming without speaking.
After all, Beta scent faded quickly.
And Alphas were territorial by nature, especially those sensitive to smell. Instinct refused to allow competition. It was natural, primal.
Just a faint marking would not cause any issue. Just a small claim, just a quiet reminder.
Lu Yicheng’s face remained composed and unreadable, but the banked flames inside him only burned hotter, spreading slow heat through his chest. At this moment, he felt that Shi You should only carry his scent.
Only his.
Later, Lu Yicheng drove Shi You home.
After applying ice to the ankle for around fifteen minutes and gently rubbing some ointment over the bruise, he pressed a medicated plaster to the tender spot.
“It does not look like a sprain. There is some bruising on the bone. Try standing and see how it feels.”
Shi You obeyed obediently, rising from the sofa while keeping one hand on Lu Yicheng’s shoulder for balance.
“I think I can stand it. It still hurts a little though,” he said, moving his ankle to test it. There was a mild sting, but it was not swollen enough to keep him from walking.
“Do not push yourself,” Lu Yicheng replied.
The autumn air outside carried a cool dampness. Lu Yicheng glanced at the time before opening his digital calendar.
A few days ago, he muted all notifications from his older brother, Lu Zhenheng, in an attempt to avoid being pushed into yet another blind date. Yet even after muting, his brother somehow found a way to deliver messages to him through internal channels.
He claimed he would return to the country today and insisted they had to meet.
Has that much time already passed?
Lu Yicheng tried to recall their last meeting. Perhaps it had been at a bland business dinner, filled with empty conversation, or maybe one of those heavy evenings in the old family house, oppressive with silence and strained politeness.
Lu Zhenheng was a contradictory man, proud and stubborn, yet clumsy at expressing sentiment.
Most memories of him were from years long gone: endless rainy days, bitter arguments echoing through spacious rooms, deserted corridors, and the sharp sound of a door slamming as a woman left without looking back.
The first time Lu Yicheng ever remembered seeing his father smile was when he remarried and had another son.
After his own failed marriage, Lu Zhenheng devoted himself to finding Lu Yicheng a more suitable partner, as if trying to rewrite a story. In his eyes, it was care. Perhaps it was not wrong, merely misguided.
With fingers interlaced, Lu Yicheng remained sitting for a while, faintly hearing drizzle brush against the windows outside.
“Yicheng.”
Shi You’s soft southern accent brought him back from memories. “You have been looking at the time. Do you have something to do later?”
Lu Yicheng looked at him and was just about to respond when his phone vibrated. Shi You noticed the subtle shift in his expression. It was tiny, nearly invisible, but he still caught it.
“I will take this call.” Lu Yicheng rose and walked toward the balcony.
On the other end of the line was Xu Qian, his father’s current wife.
“Yicheng, I am so sorry,” she said in a gentle voice. Noise echoed behind her, like footsteps and announcements in a hospital hallway.
“We were supposed to meet for lunch today, but Xiao Ci suddenly came down with acute gastroenteritis. Your father and I are with him at the hospital, so we will not be able to see you.”
The balcony curtain swayed as a breeze tugged at its tassels. Outside, the sky was a heavy sheet of gray, clouds hanging low and oppressive. Even the faint daylight seemed dull and lifeless.
“It is alright,” Lu Yicheng answered evenly. “I prepared a gift for Xiao Ci. I will have the butler deliver it to the old house.”
Xu Qian hesitated, her tone turning hesitant and apologetic. “Yicheng, let us get together another day then. Your father really likes this new restaurant and I think you will enjoy it too, it is very good, and”
“Aunt Xu.” His voice gently cut through hers, still polite yet utterly distant. “I have been busy. I may not have time, and next time is too vague.”
Silence filled the line. A long, uncomfortable pause. Then she finally spoke again, voice soft and trembling with guilt.
“I am sorry, Yicheng.”
The air felt thick again, like fog pressing inward from every angle. After a few polite, meaningless words, the call finally ended.
Lu Yicheng set his phone aside.
He was already used to this sort of thing. It did not stab, it did not bleed, but it pricked like a fine needle, just enough to leave a trace that lingered.
He suddenly wanted a cigarette. Outside, the rain was picking up.
From the other side of the door came a soft rustling noise. He turned just as the door cracked open and Shi You poked his head through.
“I saw you finished your call,” Shi You said, stepping closer, his voice quiet and gentle. “I just wanted to tell you I am going to take a shower.”
Lu Yicheng raised an eyebrow. “Right now?”
“Yes.” Shi You nodded seriously. “I still have Han Xiao’s pheromone on me. You are both Alphas, so it must be uncomfortable for you, right?”
Lu Yicheng looked at the little mushroom in front of him, bouncing with earnest intention, and felt a brief warm ripple inside him. A warmth that surprised him.
Although the truth was, there was not a single trace of anyone else’s scent left on Shi You now.
His gaze drifted to the pale calves visible beneath the rolled up trouser legs. His eyes lingered for a few seconds before he shut the balcony door and approached.
He reached and took hold of Shi You’s arm.
“Let me help you,” he said.
Shi You looked up, eyes lifting to meet the Alpha’s. Backlit by warm lighting, Lu Yicheng’s features appeared sharp, his eyes a deep black, his shoulders broad beneath the glow of the ceiling light.
He led Shi You into the bathroom and leaned against the doorframe, giving instructions calmly. “Do not let your ankle get wet. Just do a light rinse. Better to use a damp towel.”
Shi You stood there briefly, thinking through how to wash properly, then remembered he had a small bathroom stool he could sit on.
But then he thought, he was only showering. The injury was not severe. What if Lu Yicheng left the moment he began?
Shi You did not want that. He bit his lip lightly and reached to hold the door before it fully closed.
His fingers tugged at the fabric near his chest, a small nervous gesture, and he lifted his face. “Yicheng, if I start feeling unwell later, can I ask for your help?”
Lu Yicheng did not answer immediately.
Shi You blinked at him, then quickly added, almost stumbling over his words, “You can also look around my house. Have you never been here before? I think my house looks pretty nice. Feel free to explore all you want.”
“And if you need to go early, take the cake from the refrigerator with you. I made it. I hope you like it. And please close the door properly on your way out. Thank you.”
Lu Yicheng looked at him silently, the darkness in his eyes deepening as if his thoughts sank further down.
“I am not going anywhere,” he finally said. “Go shower. Call me if you need anything.”
At those words, Shi You’s eyes brightened immediately, shining like little stars.
“Alright. Wait for me then.” He gave a small, bright smile and closed the door.
Soon, the sound of running water filled the room. The soft rhythm of droplets hitting porcelain echoed faintly through the quiet home.
Listening to the shower, Lu Yicheng inexplicably found his mind conjuring up images that were entirely improper, images that had no right to appear and yet surfaced anyway.
If someone else had asked him for help in the shower, he would not have thought so far. He would not have cared. He would not have reacted like this at all.
Yet with Shi You, his thoughts spun in directions he was unprepared for.
Shi You was far too easy to pounce on. Pinned against the side of the bathroom, restrained by his arms, even the strongest, lustful Alpha pheromones couldn’t be detected by the beta.
He would think that he was being politely “helped.”
The beta was a little too obedient. Even when he said he wasn’t feeling well, he wouldn’t struggle. If his cheeks were pinched, he’d whimper that it hurt.
He’d probably only react shyly if someone bit his soft lips, and sucked on his tongue, and he’d awkwardly return the kiss…..
STOP!!
Lu Yicheng sat on the sofa for several minutes, letting time settle around him like dust falling in a quiet room. Only after that stillness stretched did he finally calm down. His body felt overheated, uncomfortably warm.
Even though the air conditioner was not set to a strong level, the heat inside him stubbornly refused to fade, clinging to his skin and his breath like invisible fire.
Abruptly, he stood up. He needed distraction. As Shi You had casually suggested earlier, he began to walk around and explore the place.
Actually, he had noticed it right from the moment he first stepped inside.
Shi You’s home was beautiful.
It was nothing like his own, which followed a strict minimalist style, cool and restrained. Shi You’s space was divided into soft zones, open yet layered, each section designed like a scene from a gentle story.
There was personality everywhere, warmth hidden in corners, comfort woven into the atmosphere.
A thick plush carpet lay beneath his feet. A rocking chaise lounge rested nearby, elegant yet playful, and the sofa was decorated with mushroom shaped cushions, each one round and cute and very much in line with Shi You’s personality.
They faced a clean, newly installed fireplace that still carried a faint scent of wood varnish.
The kitchen was not separated by walls. It blended naturally into the living space, and he could tell from the sparsely used utensils that Shi You was not someone who cooked often.
That was fine. It suited him. He did not seem like the kind of person to stay still long enough to simmer broth or chop vegetables. He had the spirit of someone who preferred sweetness and ease.
The entire structure of the apartment differed greatly from Lu Yicheng’s own place, showing that Shi You clearly had design understanding. Perhaps even experience.
He suddenly remembered the black curtains Shi You had ordered previously. They would suit this place perfectly, as if this lively home had been waiting for them.
He really was a mushroom full of vitality and an exuberant love for life.
Lu Yicheng moved toward the workbench, where several stacks of school assignments and design project sheets sat.
Lines, textures, color combinations, concepts scribbled in notes. He could see creative energy scattered across the surface like sparks.
When he lifted his eyes, he paused.
Across from him stretched a wall covered in cascading greenery.
The opposite wall had been transformed into a hanging forest.
Upon closer inspection, the greenery was cleverly arranged in front of hidden storage cabinets. What looked like lush plants were actually part of a functional and whimsical design. Storage disguised as nature. Practical but also imaginative.
An interesting mind. A creative one.
Next to the green wall stood a transparent display cabinet filled with collectible figures from blind boxes, lined up in neat formation as if they lived here.
Above those figurines were trophies, medals, and certificates. Lu Yicheng looked over at them quietly. Most were from eco-friendly design competitions, sustainable development awards, environmental protection projects, and even recognitions linked to mushroom conservation volunteer programs.
He had underestimated him. Severely underestimated him.
As he continued observing the room, sunlight filtered in at an angle and landed on a photo frame placed beside the display cabinet.
In the photograph, Shi You stood between a couple. All three were smiling warmly, looking like a perfect little family frozen in a happy moment.
But Lu Yicheng immediately realized he had never once heard Shi You talk about his parents or family before. So who were these two? A mystery that tugged gently at his curiosity.
Then his gaze caught another picture beside it. A different photo. A different story.
This one showed Shi You with a young male Alpha. The boy had sharp features and carried an arrogant academic aura, someone brilliant and detached, someone who could draw admiration simply by existing silently in a crowd.
In the picture, Shi You hugged him closely, arms wound around him with natural intimacy. The corner of the frame had tiny writing that read Happy Graduation.
A high school classmate? A particularly close friend? Or something else entirely?
There were only two framed photos in that space. They were displayed carefully, not casually. Who chose to place such a sentimental picture there unless the relationship held significance?
Could it be an ex boyfriend? A first love crush? Someone unforgettable? Someone still lingering in his heart?
Lu Yicheng stared at the young Alpha in the photo. He looked younger than Shi You, youthful and confident. Did Shi You like someone younger? Was that his type?
He felt a strange discomfort twist in his chest. Why were Alphas constantly appearing around this Beta who should have been easy to overlook in the eyes of society?
A sudden sense of danger, like a quiet sting of jealousy, passed through him.
“Yi Cheng.”
Shi You’s voice floated from the bathroom, muffled slightly by steam and water. Lu Yicheng quickly put the photo back down, almost a little too fast, and turned it face down on the shelf as if the image irritated him simply by existing. Then he walked toward the sound.
To be honest, he had not expected Shi You to actually call him while showering. He originally assumed the boy was simply being clingy and playful when he asked him to stay for help. He had not thought Shi You truly would need or request something.
But when he arrived, he froze completely.
Shi You was leaning against the wall, half crouched and half standing, body curled slightly. One leg was bent up, pale thigh partly exposed, as he struggled to tug up his pajama shorts with wet fingers.
His top was long and loose, and because he leaned forward, it draped in a way that was partially concealed and partially revealed, creating a soft line between fabric and bare skin. His shorts were small and delicate, and the slit between his thighs flashed innocently yet dangerously.
Everything glowed warmly under the golden bathroom light. Steam curled in the air. His skin looked flushed and soft, damp from the shower, like warm porcelain touched by moisture.
Shi You’s cheeks were red, his eyes uncertain, voice soft with nervousness, clearly afraid of being scolded.
“I cannot pull my pants up…”
Lu Yicheng was speechless. Literally speechless.
His heart hammered hard, and his gaze trembled despite himself. He forcibly turned his head aside, as if looking too long would burn him through. His usually calm and composed face had flushed slightly, betraying tension, and he reached out blindly.
In one quick movement, he pulled the pajama shorts up for him, almost too fast, almost like his body reacted on instinct before his brain could interfere.
“Thank you.”
Shi You barely finished speaking before Lu Yicheng took the towel in his hand and placed it over Shi You’s head as if to shield himself from looking at him again.
Lu Yicheng spent every day surrounded by sterile data and orderly routines. He had always been disciplined, always composed, always untouched even by Omega pheromones that could drive other Alphas wild. He could face temptation and remain unmoved, detached, rational.
Yet this Beta, this careless and oblivious little mushroom with innocent eyes and unthinking sweetness, had somehow managed to break his composure without even trying.
“So wet,” Shi You murmured quietly, voice soft and muffled under the towel.
Lu Yicheng kept his voice steady, as if nothing affected him, as if he was immune. “Did you dry yourself properly?”
“I did. I dried my hair completely,” Shi You replied, his damp nose brushing against the rim of the bathtub edge, which rested lightly against Lu Yicheng’s palm.
He leaned slightly, warm breath brushing over the Alpha’s hand. Even through that small porcelain barrier, the warmth spread like fire. “Feel it.”
What? Feel what?
Lu Yicheng thought this silently, his expression neutral. Outwardly, he looked composed. Inwardly, his mind stuttered for a second. Yet his hands betrayed him once again. He lowered the towel slightly and brushed his fingers along Shi You’s hair.
Soft, fine, fluffy even when damp.
His hand slid down naturally, almost unconsciously, fingertips tracing along Shi You’s cheek with a feather light touch. The warmth and softness made Shi You flinch, waist turning weak instinctively.
“You, you stop touching me…” Shi You tried to protest in a small voice.
“Did you not tell me to touch you?” Lu Yicheng responded in a matter of fact tone, as though everything happening was only logical.
Flustered and embarrassed, Shi You hurried to focus on drying his hair again, ears pink.
Lu Yicheng’s patience stretched thin, the restraint inside him coiled tightly. His gaze drifted without meaning to. After fighting with impulse for a long silent moment, his fingers moved again, this time brushing the corner of Shi You’s lips.
Soft. Pink. Too easy to imagine things he should not imagine.
“I just toured your home,” Lu Yicheng said casually, lowering his voice, sounding calm even though his heart still thudded with heat.
His expression remained cool, chin dropped slightly, maintaining that composed posture. “Those two photos are nice.”
“They were taken well. And the young man in the picture whom you are hugging looks very handsome too.”
Lu Yicheng cupped Shi You’s small face suddenly, almost without giving him space to breathe. His tone was calm, yet the words carried a dangerously subtle edge.
“Is he one of your Alpha friends? Introduce him to me.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡ a little coffee would be lovely
☕ 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