Lu Siyan’s heat was still seven days away.
Xiao Yanxiu remembered this very clearly.
Calculating from the day they first met, the dates showed it had arrived a full week early. This timeline was unnervingly fast, and the Alpha chased into the room, filled with worry.
“Sweetheart…”
The person huddled under the quilt was burning hot. His face showed an abnormal, feverish flush, the blood vessels beneath his skin were clearly visible, and the surface of his body was slick with sticky sweat.
The Alpha gently lifted a corner of the sheet, seeing the Omega’s mouth slightly parted as he struggled with shallow, hurried breaths.
It was as if a fire were raging in his chest; his throat was parched, his vision blurred, and every breath he exhaled carried a scorching heat.
The thick scent of heat pheromones surged.
They lunged aggressively through the room, darting in every direction.
Xiao Yanxiu clenched his fists tight, forcing his mind to remain steady. The man knelt by the bedside and performed a quick check of the Omega’s condition.
It was definitely a heat, but it was accompanied by a fierce, sudden fever.
This was distinctly different from the slight rise in body temperature normal during a heat, making it easy to tell the difference.
Xiao Yanxiu didn’t dare stay in the room for too long.
He was afraid he would lose control.
Even though the Omega’s watery eyes were rimmed with layers of crimson, and his entire body seemed to be on fire.
His lips were vivid and inviting, looking as though they would turn into a shallow pool of water at the slightest touch—an agonizingly tempting sight.
Yet, the Alpha still withdrew from the room with immense self-control.
His heartache for the boy and his determination to protect him forever triumphed over instinct and desire in that moment.
Compared to resolving the heat, it was more important to control the high fever first to prevent the condition from worsening.
After stepping out, Xiao Yanxiu immediately called Shen Zhiyan, urging him to come over at once.
“Do you know what time it is, bro? I’m seriously over this.”
“Am I just your unlucky doctor friend? I’m busting my gut trying to write a thesis; I’m a PhD candidate facing a delayed graduation, bro!!”
“You’re calling me for a fever? Are you sick in the head?”
Shen Zhiyan came from a medical family. He had majored in clinical medicine before switching to biopharmaceutical research.
His parents represented the pinnacle of domestic medical technology, and their family enterprises spanned various pharmaceutical plants, hospital chains, and medical device factories, nearly monopolizing 80% of the country’s medical resources.
Xiao Yanxiu couldn’t explain clearly over the phone and could only urge: “Just get here, now.”
Half an hour later, his friend arrived at the door, carrying a medical kit and huffing with irritation, cursing passionately as he entered.
The two Alphas went upstairs one after the other. Just as Shen Zhiyan turned the handle of the master bedroom door, a trace of bergamot pheromone—not even 1%—drifted into his nose.
The man reacted sharply, slamming the door shut with a loud “Bang.”
Xiao Yanxiu nearly crashed into him. “Easy with that.”
The Alpha pushed him aside and cracked the door open a tiny sliver, confirming that Lu Siyan was still curled up in bed, sleeping obediently. Only then did he turn back and hiss softly, “Don’t scare him awake.”
Shen Zhiyan’s mouth twitched; he looked like he wanted to swear.
As a warrior nearing graduation and currently locked in a death match with his thesis, his nerves were frayed and his spirit was weak. He held it in for a long time but finally couldn’t resist.
“Big brother, you’re an Alpha for God’s sake. Can’t you tell the difference between a heat and a fever?”
“Why are you calling me for a heat?”
“Just get in there and handle it yourself, damn it.”
Shen Zhiyan turned to leave.
Xiao Yanxiu stopped him.
“Yes, it’s a heat, but he has a fever too.”
“His fever is very severe. He’s scorching.”
The man explained helplessly, “I can tell the difference between the heat of a fever and the heat of a cycle, do you understand?”
“A high fever can trigger a series of complications and cause damage to various bodily functions.”
“It’s because he’s having a fever at the same time as his heat that I can’t ask anyone else. Hurry up and go check on him.”
Shen Zhiyan gritted his teeth, determined to go through fire and water for his brother, but as soon as his hand touched the door, he immediately flinched back.
“I can’t. I’m an Alpha too.”
“His pheromones are so powerful; I don’t dare go in…”
As his friend recoiled, he suddenly had an idea. “How about this: I’ll give you a dose of suppressant. You go in and give him a shot in the arm.”
“Once the pheromones are somewhat under control,”
“I’ll go back in to examine him.”
Xiao Yanxiu said helplessly, “He’s allergic to suppressants.”
Ever since he was sixteen, Lu Siyan had to be hospitalized every time he went into heat. His glands were slightly damaged, though not severely.
Doctors had always suggested he find an Alpha, and his family was pushing him toward an arranged marriage, but the Omega seemed to be waiting for someone, silently resisting all along…
The medicine box in Shen Zhiyan’s hand thudded to the floor.
“Allergic to suppressants? Then he won’t be able to use most medications.”
His friend looked troubled, his mind racing as he quickly came up with another plan. “I’ve got it. Go to the bathroom right now, get a basin of warm water, and give him a physical cool-down by sponging him.”
“Top to bottom, inside and out, left and right—every inch of skin must be tended to with meticulous gentleness.”
“I’m going to look up his medical records now.”
“I need to see exactly what’s going on with this allergy of his.”
Shen Zhiyan used the computer in Xiao Yanxiu’s study to log into the system and retrieve all of Lu Siyan’s hospital records from the past few years.
Based on the blood report analysis and medication history, he prepared some drugs for pain relief, anti-inflammation, fever reduction, and clearing toxins.
After writing down the dosage and instructions on a slip of paper and handing it to Xiao Yanxiu, Shen Zhiyan patted his shoulder. “Brother, regarding the suppressant issue, there’s really nothing I can do.”
“Wait until his temperature drops a bit.”
“Then you two can settle it yourselves.”
Xiao Yanxiu wanted him to stay. “Can you just wait downstairs? In case there’s an emergency, I can call you.”
Shen Zhiyan, who had just slung his medical kit over his shoulder, almost took it off again to swing it at his head.
“You piece of…”
His good friend’s mouth twitched involuntarily, his jaw aching. Fearing his voice was too loud, he lowered his tone.
“The two of you are going to be upstairs resolving a heat,”
“And you want me to squat downstairs?”
“Are you even human, Xiao Yanxiu?”
“Even ‘bros before hoes’ doesn’t cover this level of audacity.”
“Why don’t I just kneel by your bed and serve you both while I’m at it?”
Shen Zhiyan firmly refused. Xiao Yanxiu, blinded by worry, only then realized how inappropriate his request was.
He sighed inwardly and walked his friend to the door. “Then don’t sleep too soundly tonight. Keep your phone on. I’ll contact you immediately if there’s a problem.”
His best friend patted his chest. “Don’t worry.”
It’s just a heat clashing with a fever, what’s the big deal?
Shen Zhiyan got into his car, then beckoned Xiao Yanxiu, who was standing at the door looking worried while smoking, to come over.
“I’m giving you some ‘props’ as a gift.”
He pulled a bag out from the passenger seat; it made a “clink-clank” sound.
Caught off guard, Xiao Yanxiu bit down on his cigarette and took it with both hands.
“What is this?”
Shen Zhiyan winked. “Good stuff. I brought it back from Japan. Keep it for tonight and take your time playing with it.”
The man was confused. He peeled back a corner of the bag with his fingers, and when he saw what was inside, he froze.
Shen Zhiyan smirked, stepped on the gas, and fled before he could be scolded.
Xiao Yanxiu put out his cigarette and felt inside the bag for a fluffy rabbit tail—the craftsmanship wasn’t bad—along with a pair of semi-transparent stockings with fine shimmering patterns…
The Alpha’s pace quickened as he headed back upstairs.
Inside the master bedroom, there was no sign of the pheromones dissipating; instead, they had become mellower and richer, sweet and enchanting.
An Omega in heat naturally has a nesting instinct. Since Lu Siyan had a severe fever, he had wrapped himself tightly in the quilt, leaving no room to breathe.
Xiao Yanxiu knelt by the side of the bed.
He reached out and pulled back the thin quilt that completely enveloped the Omega. Lu Siyan was soaked through with sweat.
The pheromones hidden within his body exploded even more intensely at that moment. The Alpha’s brow twitched, but he didn’t dare delay.
The person being tortured by this heat was himself.
Even though his experience in caretaking was minimal, he followed Shen Zhiyan’s instructions and brought a basin of warm water from the bathroom.
The Alpha dipped a towel into the basin and wrung it dry.
He carefully peeled off the Omega’s drenched pajamas and wiped him down again and again—even his round toes were cleaned as thoroughly as a kitten’s paws.
The warm water was changed four or five times.
The man’s palms ached from wringing the towel so many times.
Sweat broke out on his own back; the sleeves of his crumpled shirt were rolled up, and the top two buttons of his collar were undone.
He placed the thermometer under Lu Siyan’s arm almost every ten minutes.
Fortunately, the physical cooling method suggested by Shen Zhiyan was very effective. The thermometer reading quickly dropped from 39°C to 37°C.
Xiao Yanxiu then took the pre-sorted small pills and fed them to the Omega one by one with sips of warm water.
Lu Siyan coughed indistinctly a couple of times.
His cheeks were still warm.
Seeing a reaction, the Alpha took the Omega’s damp, soft fingers and kissed them lightly. “Sweetheart…”
Lu Siyan’s eyelids flickered.
The suffocating, burning sensation from before had begun to dissipate without him noticing, and he caught the scent of camellia and cedar.
“Xiao Yanxiu.”
Even with his consciousness blurred to this extent, the Omega in heat could still recognize him…
The man’s gaze softened, his heart feeling completely full. He used his fingers to wipe away the sweat from the boy’s forehead.
Lu Siyan instinctively gripped the Alpha’s hand.
“Xiao Yanxiu.”
He reached out feebly to hug the other man’s neck.
“Xiao Yanxiu, I… I’m in heat.”
Lu Siyan’s voice was heavy with breathiness; he sounded like he was acting spoiled, yet also like he was calling for help. His absolute emotional dependence on the Alpha was fully revealed at this moment.
Xiao Yanxiu lowered his head and kissed the gland on the side of his neck. The warm sensation was like a bolt of electricity striking his brain.
The Omega’s waist immediately went taut and straight, like a startled rabbit.
The man reached out and held his back, his fingertips tracing the spine inch by inch.
“I know.”
They held each other tightly. Initially, the scents of bergamot and camellia-cedar clashed intensely, but they soon began to adapt and blend together.
They became inextricably entwined.
The Omega asked, “Will you… stay with me?”
Though Lu Siyan’s temperature had dropped slightly, he suddenly felt a bit cold. Even though he was pulled entirely into Xiao Yanxiu’s embrace, he trembled slightly.
The man knew he was nervous and afraid.
For an Omega with no experience in this area, no matter how much they craved it, it took immense courage to take the initiative and make a request of an Alpha.
Even though most Alphas wouldn’t refuse a sweet little Omega like him, Lu Siyan still wanted to prove something.
“Of course I will stay with you.”
Only upon hearing that certain answer from the Alpha did he feel at ease, but his heart felt as if it had been suddenly torn open, aching terribly.
Lu Siyan finally couldn’t hold it back; large tears spilled into the hollow of Xiao Yanxiu’s neck.
The more distressed he felt, the tighter he clung to the Alpha.
Starting from suppressed restraint, to low sobs escaping his throat, and finally to a complete, unfiltered breakdown.
Xiao Yanxiu’s heart broke. He used his palm to gently pat the boy’s back, soothing his emotions.
He had learned every single detail of what happened at the police station that afternoon.
Thinking about it, it was truly strange—Lu Siyan was a child the Lu family had spent so much effort to bring home, so how could he be so neglected?
The rain outside grew heavier.
The pitter-patter sound falling into the quiet space made it feel exceptionally safe and comfortable.
Lu Siyan finally cried himself out. He leaned against Xiao Yanxiu’s shoulder. The man lifted his chin and saw that his own shirt was wet from front to back.
He really had been wronged.
The Alpha chuckled and gave the Omega a playful flick on the forehead.
Using one hand, he began to undo the buttons of his shirt, which was now impossible to wear, one by one.
“Alright, you’ve cried enough.”
“Now, it’s time to address the heat.”