Shi You understood immediately. An Alpha naturally has a rejection response when they come into contact with another Alpha’s pheromones, and he himself was only a Beta.
Even so, the word punishment made him pause. “Punishment? What kind of punishment are you talking about?”
Lu Yicheng lowered his head slightly, his gaze dipping as if he were hiding something. “I have not decided yet. It depends on my mood.”
Shi You did not press him anymore. He obediently added this clause to their agreement, writing every word with care.
The room was very quiet. Shi You leaned over the desk, and the warm afternoon sunlight filtered in through the floor to ceiling windows of the balcony. The light struck the glass dome on the table and broke into scattered flecks of golden glow.
A few delicate specks fell into Shi You’s eyes, making them shine softly.
The Beta continued writing, then carefully checked the entire agreement once more.
After that he raised a hand and unconsciously pressed the back of his neck, then reached up to rub his temples as if the long concentration had left him slightly fatigued.
Lu Yicheng watched him in silence. After a long pause, he suddenly spoke. “Shi You, come here for a moment.”
Shi You assumed he had something more to say. He replied promptly and walked over without hesitation.
Instead, he was pulled into a warm embrace almost immediately.
The same hands that had intertwined with his earlier were still warm from that contact. They slid a little awkwardly yet very gently across his back.
The scent of cold cedarwood, thick and enveloping, wound around him. Bit by bit it eased the faint and persistent ache that clung to Shi You’s body.
He had not expected an embrace out of nowhere. It was somehow more comforting than holding hands, and it soothed the lingering discomfort caused by the lack of proper nourishment.
“Are you feeling unwell?” Lu Yicheng pressed their foreheads together, his hand patting Shi You’s back with surprising tenderness. “Your hands are so cold, but your forehead is burning.”
Shi You froze for a moment.
He did not speak. He genuinely did not know what he was feeling, only that he did not want to say anything. Instead he lifted his arms, wrapped them loosely around Lu Yicheng’s neck, leaned obediently into the Alpha who was now officially his guardian, and murmured in a soft voice, “The nourishment is making me uncomfortable…”
Lu Yicheng held him close. Mushrooms were always impossibly soft and warm when held like this.
He remembered the drawer stuffed full of syringes and medications that Shi You relied on, and the memory made his chest tighten painfully.
His hand moved across Shi You’s back, a light repetitive motion, as if it were a simple habit yet also clearly meant as comfort. “You do not need to endure it anymore. Leave it to me from now on.”
For some reason, those words made Shi You’s heart tremble. The cedarwood pheromones wrapped around him in thin threads, soothing him, and he tightened his hold around Lu Yicheng without thinking.
The small bit of clinginess from his partner gave Lu Yicheng a strangely solid feeling, something that finally made all of this feel real.
He rested his chin lightly on the top of Shi You’s head. Only when the person in his arms fully calmed down, when his body temperature returned to normal and the discomfort faded away, did Lu Yicheng slowly help him sit upright again.
He stared at Shi You for several seconds, his arm still firmly around the Beta’s waist. Shi You’s expression was a little vacant, like a dazed mushroom that had not yet recovered from the effects of the pheromone’s comfort.
Lu Yicheng leaned forward, closing the distance again. He lowered his head and moved in, brushing his nose against the side of Shi You’s neck in a quiet lingering sniff.
His eyelashes quivered. He swallowed once and said quietly, “There is no scent.”
The Omega like pheromone fragrance that had appeared yesterday had completely vanished.
In his memory, that scent had been very clear. Sweet and creamy like light milk, drifting out from this very spot on the side of Shi You’s neck.
But now it was gone.
Maybe it was simply a natural scent from the mushroom body. Or maybe Shi You really was approaching differentiation.
Late Omega differentiation was known to be painful. To be safe, they should go to the hospital and have a comprehensive examination done.
Lu Yicheng’s expression turned solemn. He was already planning to book an ABO gender evaluation appointment later. He needed to make sure Shi You’s body was absolutely healthy.
Watching the serious look on his guardian’s face, Shi You vaguely recalled what Lu Yicheng had said earlier.
This world indeed worked that way. Omegas pairing with Alphas was the most common and fundamental structure.
And especially for someone like Lu Yicheng, a top level Alpha, countless little Omegas would rush toward him in a heartbeat.
Someone like him, at his age, should be dating an Omega. Yet Shi You was just a Beta. Someone like Lu Yicheng, someone so outstanding, probably only took care of him temporarily because of special circumstances.
“Do you… hope that I am an Omega?” The words slipped out of Shi You’s mouth before he could think. “But you just promised me…”
Lu Yicheng froze.
That was not what he meant at all.
But Shi You stared straight at him with eyes that held a hint of grievance.
Lu Yicheng’s mind moved rapidly. Then he remembered the conditions they had written earlier.
Was Shi You feeling insecure?
Shi You noticed that Lu Yicheng did not answer him immediately. He himself felt that his question sounded unreasonable too.
He had not wanted to trouble Lu Yicheng. The man was already so busy, yet he was still willing to help him. That alone was more than enough.
Shi You glanced at the time and said quietly, “Maybe I should go back first.”
The dim light fell into Lu Yicheng’s vision. For some reason, he immediately felt that something was going wrong.
Shi You shifted as if to stand up and leave the sofa. Lu Yicheng grabbed his hand the very next moment.
“…I am sorry,” Lu Yicheng said in a low voice. “Stay with me a little longer.”
Shi You had no idea why he needed to apologise, but the heat in the Alpha’s eyes made him sit back down. “But I have to go back and put hand cream on my tentacles.”
“They are a little dry. Autumn is too dry,” Shi You explained. “My hands are also a little dry.”
He extended both hands toward Lu Yicheng as proof. His palms were pale and soft, the fingers slender and elegant, and on the back of his hands there was indeed a faint dryness.
He even showed Lu Yicheng his mycelium tentacles. They still looked smooth and glossy, but they did lack the slippery shine they used to have.
“I have hand cream here,” Lu Yicheng said. “I will put it on for you.”
Shi You’s round eyes widened slightly.
So Yicheng really did like playing with his tentacles.
But as soon as Lu Yicheng lowered his gaze to the tentacles, there was something frightening in the air. The light traced sharp edges across the Alpha’s features, making him seem powerful and predatory.
Especially his eyes. Something dark and inky seemed to shift at the bottom of them. When he looked over, it felt like he was staring at prey he was about to claim, as if he might eat the mushroom up.
Shi You shrank back a little. “But… I also want to take a nap later…”
“Shi You,” Lu Yicheng said in a slow steady voice, “you are the one who asked me to take care of you. Is that right?”
His voice was deep and rich. When it curled into Shi You’s ears, every word seemed to sink straight into his heart.
“Do you not want to stay with me a little longer?”
Well, that was convincing.
Of course Shi You wanted to stay with Lu Yicheng longer. He still had not completed his four hours of nourishment for the day.
The house was quiet. The autumn afternoon light had grown stronger, and Lu Yicheng walked over to the window to pull the curtains shut.
The heavy blackout curtains darkened the room immediately, leaving only a warm orange lamp glowing softly in the corner.
“I will not turn on the main lights. If you want to nap, you can lie on the sofa,” Lu Yicheng said, picking up the hand cream. He nodded toward the wide sofa. “There is plenty of space.”
Shi You nodded. With the curtains drawn and the lights dimmed, the atmosphere grew strangely intimate.
Before he could adjust his thoughts, Lu Yicheng had already taken his hand.
In the soft half illuminated room, Lu Yicheng squeezed out a little white lotion and dabbed it onto the back of Shi You’s hand.
The lotion was slick and sticky. It felt cold when it touched his skin, but the fingertips massaging it in were warm and firm.
The mushroom’s hands were not as soft as they looked. They were slender, the delicate bones pressing lightly against the Alpha’s palm.
But the skin was extremely fair. The knuckles were tinged pink, and as Lu Yicheng circled them with lotion, the color deepened even more.
Lu Yicheng quietly eased the tension in his palms. Bit by bit he spread the lotion evenly, lingering on the small pale hands, searching the spaces between each slender finger with slow and careful movements.
Shi You trembled a little from the touch, and he licked his lips without realizing it.
Lu Yicheng’s eyes never left his hands. He finished both hands with quiet concentration, held them gently, and asked in a faintly lifted tone, “Did I do well?”
He sounded a little like he wanted praise.
Shi You obediently praised him. “Yes, it feels very skilled. Do you help other people apply lotion often?”
Lu Yicheng paused.
He could not help the small smile that tugged at his lips as he replied, “No. You are the only one.”
There was no escaping the tentacles next.
Lu Yicheng curled his fingers around one of the mycelium tentacles, took an appropriate amount of lotion, and smoothed it along the slick surface.
It felt nothing like a human hand. The tentacle was springy and smooth. Pressing it down even slightly would make a small dent, and it would bounce right back. It made him want to poke it again just to watch.
It was also difficult to spread the lotion evenly. Lu Yicheng had to stroke along the tentacle twice to finally manage it.
“Hmm…”
Shi You was indeed getting sleepy. With Lu Yicheng helping to apply the hand cream, half his work was already done. The Alpha was even massaging lightly while working, which felt incredibly comfortable.
He leaned quietly against the soft pillow Lu Yicheng had placed behind him. His eyes drooped halfway shut, and he melted into the cushions like a drowsy mushroom ready to drift off at any moment.
Lu Yicheng continued to stroke him with steady patience and growing curiosity. It really felt like he was touching a collection of soft pudding or jelly.
Even though he had touched them many times, the sensation was strangely addictive. It made him want to go a little further…
His eyes darkened. He looked up at Shi You.
The boy had fallen asleep in the shade, his body half covered in gentle shadow.
The room was warm, and his jacket had been removed, leaving only the thin inner shirt. His neck dipped in a delicate curve, his Adam’s apple rising slightly when he breathed.
His lips were soft and slightly parted, and because of his sleeping posture, his shirt had slid up a little, revealing a hint of cool pale waist.
He was sleeping deeply.
Lu Yicheng reached over and pulled the edge of Shi You’s shirt down to keep him from catching cold.
But his own gaze betrayed him and drifted back to those lips.
He had never felt desire toward anyone before. Even pheromones barely affected him. People often joked that he might simply not like people at all.
His father had used this to pressure him into finding a partner. He knew his father feared he would never find love because of the shadow over his childhood.
So he had never imagined he would one day fall for someone. And the person he was falling for happened to be a mushroom.
Lu Yicheng leaned close and called softly, “Shi You.”
The mushroom did not wake. His eyebrows drew together lightly, making Lu Yicheng’s chest soften. He did not call him again.
The space between them filled with silence, and in the stillness the ticking of the clock sounded clear and steady.
Originally he had planned to wake Shi You, kiss those soft looking lips, and maybe take a small bite to see if they would squish the same way as the tentacles.
But Shi You was sound asleep.
Lu Yicheng was not someone who would steal a kiss.
So instead he simply sat beside him and watched him for a long time. When he could not resist anymore, he gently pinched Shi You’s cheek, then returned to applying lotion slowly to the remaining tentacles.
The first day after confirming their nourishment relationship passed far more peacefully than either of them expected. Lu Yicheng was called away by his mentor to revise a proposal, so Shi You went home that evening.
Later that night, Lu Yicheng sent a message saying that after discussion, the laboratory had decided to officially allow Shi You to join the environmental regeneration project. Shi You was delighted for the rest of the night.
A guardian was a guardian, but the team leader was the team leader. Shi You happily accepted the tasks assigned by Lu Yicheng and worked seriously all night.
The next morning, Monday arrived. Shi You had an eight o clock class. After sending Lu Yicheng a message, he went to school early.
【Miracle Youyou: Model perspective layout diagram PDF】
【Miracle Youyou: Sketch number one PDF】
【Miracle Youyou: Sketch number two PDF】
【Miracle Youyou: Good morning Yicheng】
【Miracle Youyou: This is yesterday’s task. I finished the drafts】
When Lu Yicheng had just woken up, he saw an entire series of messages from Shi You. At first he assumed the little mushroom was being clingy again but when he opened the chat, he discovered that every single message was related to work.
Naturally, work still had to be handled.
Lu Yicheng sent back a simple message.
After that he looked at the details of the sketches, and the two of them talked for more than half an hour.
He corrected some parts of the design concept and once again explained the purpose of this project from both the professional angle and the realistic construction angle.
Shi You listened with complete seriousness.
【Lu Yicheng: Our core concept includes carbon neutrality. By increasing greenery and other means, we turn the building from a carbon emitting structure into one that stores and absorbs carbon】
【Lu Yicheng: Glass curtain walls look fashionable, but you must also consider the issue of light pollution】
【Lu Yicheng: Go revise it again】
The reply from the other side came quickly and full of understanding.
Whenever Lu Yicheng entered a working state he became intensely focused. After sending his messages, he paused for a long moment, then scrolled up and reread every line he had just sent to Shi You again and again.
His tone looked a little too stern.
He rubbed his forehead and tried to salvage it.
【Lu Yicheng: But it is already very impressive】
The other side replied at once:
【Miracle Youyou: It is fine group leader. I learned so many things. I will revise it right away. Thank you】
Lu Yicheng stared at the message.
He thought for a moment, sensing that something was not entirely right, then sent another text.
【Lu Yicheng: Shi You】
No reply.
【Lu Yicheng: Let us eat lunch together】
After a few seconds of emptiness, a voice message popped up.
“Hehehe I already made a reservation at the restaurant.” Shi You sounded bright and happy. “I am telling you Yicheng, you will absolutely like it.”
Lu Yicheng raised his brows slightly, his mood easing.
If he wanted, he could casually tell Jiang Yanbai and enjoy any top level Michelin restaurant, but he had not expected Shi You to be so thoughtful. The little mushroom even took the initiative to book a place for lunch.
And that gentle sentence you will absolutely like it truly lifted his expectations.
Perhaps this counted as their first date.
Thinking of this, Lu Yicheng felt his mood grow unexpectedly pleasant.
At noon, the two of them arrived at the restaurant Shi You had reserved.
The address was a little remote, but the environment was excellent. The moment Lu Yicheng stepped inside he was taken in by the design concept.
The interior used a curved arched ceiling, wrapping the space and softening the sharp angles of the original slanted roof. It also echoed the exterior facade.
The walls were done with wood grain textures, and here and there small plants were placed, creating a very comfortable dining atmosphere.
It was a green themed environmental restaurant.
Lu Yicheng was slightly surprised. He and Shi You sat down at the reserved table and started ordering food.
He had originally thought that Shi You would choose a restaurant specifically for couples, since this was their first date.
But this place was comfortable, and conversation flowed easily. Lu Yicheng commented, “The environment is very good.”
It was a little different from the date setting he had imagined, but still pleasant.
Shi You beamed and said, “Right. After you talked to me about the project this morning, I chose this restaurant. We can come check it out together.”
Check it out?
Lu Yicheng’s mind seemed to freeze for a moment.
“This place imitates a natural ecological system. It runs on a completely circular system. That point suits our project very well.”
“And look, even the tableware is made from environmentally friendly materials. I think we can get so much inspiration from here.”
“Later we should go upstairs. I want to record some things and take some pictures. Then I can revise the drawings again.”
As he listened, Lu Yicheng finally understood what was happening.
He had thought the two of them came here to talk about feelings and spend time as a couple. But in reality they were here to conduct field research for the project.
Lu Yicheng looked at Shi You, who was chirping excitedly with eyelashes practically fluttering up to the ceiling, and felt a faint bitterness tighten between his brows.
For the very first time in his life, he actually felt annoyed at work.
He had clearly just wanted to enjoy a simple lunch with his little boyfriend.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
✦ A tiny offering to the translator may please the spirits of the Realm. ☕
☕ 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