With just over fifty days left until the hundred-day mark, Shen Yan was hesitating about whether to buy an inducer when he got back. Though the method was somewhat underhanded, he felt that if something really did happen between him and Wen Xiuran, Wen Xiuran wouldn’t abandon him.
The alpha was tall and walked quickly, forcing Shen Yan to jog to keep up. He muttered under his breath, a little annoyed, “Can you slow down a bit? I can’t keep up.”
Wen Xiuran treated eating as a task and naturally had no intention of catering to his mood.
Next to the school hospital was an alley that led to a food street. As dusk fell, the crowd began to grow. Shen Yan followed the flow of people, the enticing aromas wafting from the stalls on either side making his stomach growl.
Wen Xiuran seemed rarely accustomed to bustling streets. His expression remained stiff as he deftly avoided the jostling crowd. Watching his movements, Shen Yan was reminded of a stray cat he used to feed at the orphanage.
Every time the cat ate, Shen Yan would try to pet its fur, but the cat would always find a way to dodge his touch. Shen Yan, who already had little food to spare, would go hungry just to feed the cat—only to find it so ungrateful.
“Where do you want to eat?” Wen Xiuran turned to ask him.
Shen Yan passed by stalls selling takoyaki and grilled cold noodles before settling on a seafood congee shop.
Seizing the rare opportunity to be alone together, Shen Yan naturally wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.
The seafood congee stall was run by a couple who hurried over to greet them, asking what kind of congee they’d like.
“Any dietary restrictions?” Shen Yan asked with a smile.
Wen Xiuran stood beside him, staring at the various congee options listed on the red signboard, and replied perfunctorily, “I’ve already eaten.”
Though the stall was small, it was tidy. The wiped-clean tables held several small iron pots, while large glass tanks nearby housed lively ingredients. After ordering the congee, Shen Yan added a few side dishes. The owner stirred the pot while calling out orders.
They found a small table by the wall and sat down. The owner’s wife brought over some melon seeds and candies. “Here, snack on these first. The congee will take a little while.”
Among the surrounding customers were older alphas and betas, with a few alphas not wearing suppressant patches. The chaotic mix of pheromones drifted through the air, making Wen Xiuran’s expression darken as he silently stared at his phone.
He was starting to regret his decision. He should have just withdrawn money for Shen Yan instead of coming out to eat with him.
Noticing Wen Xiuran’s tightly pressed lips, Shen Yan could tell he was unhappy again. He placed a peach-flavored candy next to Wen Xiuran and said good-naturedly, “Never eaten at a street stall before?”
Wen Xiuran gave a displeased nod.
“Then your childhood must have missed out on a lot of fun,” Shen Yan remarked with a regretful shake of his head.
Missed out on fun?
Wen Xiuran felt his childhood had been devoid of any joy. Most of his memories were of hospitals. Waking up after surgeries to cold ceilings, surrounded by masked and gloved medical staff jotting down his vitals before reporting them to his parents.
His parents were not by his side. In the hospital, children his age all had family members taking care of them, and they rarely interacted with Wen Xiuran. He was left alone in a private suite, hugging a stuffed animal and reading picture books.
As for meals, the Wen family owned their own hotels, and Wen Xiuran’s childhood diet consisted of carefully balanced meals prepared by nutritionists. The duration of his activities—eating, sleeping, studying, playing—was all strictly regulated. Every move he made was monitored and recorded.
Even now, the memory of that time made him feel a little sick.
A slender, well-defined hand suddenly waved in front of Wen Xiuran’s face, and a clear, youthful voice sounded in his ear: “What are you thinking about?”
Wen Xiuran snapped out of his thoughts, suppressing the chaotic emotions in his mind, and replied indifferently, “Nothing.”
Whenever he was with Shen Yan, he always found it hard to control his thoughts. Wen Xiuran took a sip of tea. His family had long since found a suitable omega for him, but he disliked being controlled or forming connections with anyone, so he had naturally refused.
The shop owner brought over steaming bowls of porridge, and Shen Yan naturally handed the first bowl to Wen Xiuran. Wen Xiuran’s expression remained cool, showing no emotion as he said, “I don’t want any.”
“Just try a little,” Shen Yan urged enthusiastically. “They say this seafood porridge is the best on this street.”
Wen Xiuran’s gaze was calm as water. He lowered his head slightly and, in the end, took a small sip.
Shen Yan thought Wen Xiuran was perfect in every way. Even the way he ate seemed meticulously practiced, exuding an effortless elegance that stood out starkly against the casual surroundings.
Watching the movement of Wen Xiuran’s Adam’s apple as he swallowed, Shen Yan unconsciously licked his lips. His expression remained innocent and harmless, but his tone carried a hint of flirtation: “You know, we’ve known each other for so long, but I still don’t know how old you are.”
“Eighteen,” Wen Xiuran answered bluntly.
Shen Yan was pleasantly surprised by how cooperative he was today. He tilted his head with a smug grin. “Then you can call me ‘gege.’ I’m probably older than you.”
Wen Xiuran, who had been looking at his phone, turned his gaze to Shen Yan and gave him a cold glance.
Shen Yan mimed zipping his lips, signaling he wouldn’t push further.
He kept staring at Wen Xiuran’s face, noticing the alpha’s brows furrowing slightly. Whatever he was reading on his phone seemed to make his expression grow even colder.
Finally, Wen Xiuran flipped his phone face-down on the table. “I’ve already paid. You can stay and eat slowly by yourself.”
Shen Yan was baffled by the sudden shift in attitude. Hesitantly, he asked, “Did… did I do something wrong again?”
“Shen Yan.” This was the second time Wen Xiuran had called him by his full name. His gaze was piercing as he stared at him. “Stop trying to deceive me.”
“This is your last chance. Answer me honestly.” Wen Xiuran tapped the table absentmindedly, scrutinizing the beta before him. “Have you really only been in two relationships?”
Shen Yan pushed his porridge aside, still maintaining his usual composed demeanor.
He had expected to falter under the pressure, but his voice reacted faster than his brain: “I’m sorry. I lied to you.”
Wen Xiuran nodded and stood up to leave. “Don’t contact me again.”
“Why won’t you listen to my explanation!” Shen Yan stood up anxiously. Since Wen Xiuran was so suspicious, he must have gotten hold of some dirt on Shen Yan or learned about his dark history from high school.
Without knowing how much the other party had uncovered, it was always useful to say something ambiguous: “I was pursued by a lot of people before, but none of those relationships were ever official. Though they all thought we were together.”
Wen Xiuran quickly caught the keyword: “They.”
“…” Shen Yan’s gaze began darting around nervously. “In high school, I was often mistaken for an omega, so a lot of alphas pursued me. I did go out to eat with some of them, but some alphas assumed that just one meal meant we were in a relationship. Plus, I didn’t like associating with alphas, so my reputation at school wasn’t great.”
“Those two relationships didn’t go far—just holding hands. High school didn’t explicitly forbid dating, and 15 is the legal age of adulthood. It’s not like I could avoid interacting with the opposite sex at that age.” Shen Yan added weakly, “Besides, I hadn’t met you back then. If you’d been at my school, I definitely would’ve been with you. This is really the first time I’ve ever pursued someone.”
Wen Xiuran looked down at him. “So, you think you’ve never been in a relationship, is that it?”
Shen Yan met his pale blue eyes and nodded. He figured this answer should barely pass muster. After all, not many people knew the details of his high school days. Though he had no idea who had leaked his past, Shen Yan had already cursed them a thousand times in his head.
But if Wen Xiuran cared so much about his dating history, did that mean he was actually starting to like him? Emboldened by the thought, Shen Yan shamelessly asked, “Do you like me?”
“I just care about whether you lied to me.” Wen Xiuran pointed at the congee on the table. “Eat by yourself. I’m going back to the lab.”
Shen Yan’s heart sank, though he didn’t show it. “Then are you interested in someone else? Why do you keep rejecting me?”
“No.”
“You’re currently taking suppressants for hormonal imbalance.” Shen Yan pressed further. “An S-rank alpha doesn’t even have ruts—why would you need that kind of medication?”
Wen Xiuran’s gaze darkened as he enunciated each word, “None of your business.”
Watching Wen Xiuran walk away without a backward glance, Shen Yan let out a cold laugh. The longer this dragged on, the more complications would arise. He had been too cautious—dealing with an alpha like this required a more direct approach.
Suppressing his anger, he returned to his seat and angrily gulped down two mouthfuls of congee. Then he turned on his phone, opened his favorite forum, and followed the leads to add a WeChat account specializing in pharmaceutical sales.
As soon as the contact was added, Shen Yan sent a message.
[Storyteller]: Do you have any drugs that can induce a rut in an S-rank alpha?
After a pause, he added another line.
[Storyteller]: Also, something that can weaken the body preferably with a fast-acting effect.
Previously, the highest-ranked alpha Shen Yan had encountered was only B-grade. Under normal circumstances, there was no difference in physical ability, but he hadn’t yet come into contact with an S-grade alpha. However, Wen Xiuran also seemed rather slender probably not much different from an ordinary alpha. That Beta named Lin Bai he’d met before was clearly physically stronger than most alphas.
[Inhibitor]: Of course. Not just an S-grade alpha, even an SSS-grade alpha wouldn’t stand a chance after taking my medication.
The corners of Shen Yan’s lips curled slightly. After placing his order, he switched back to his chat with Wen Xiuran.
[Tale]: I was wrong to lie to you today. Please don’t be angry.
[Tale]: Next week, come with me to the hospital for my follow-up check-up. I found a really good restaurant—I’ll treat you to a meal before we go.
[Tale]: I’ll explain everything properly. Don’t ignore me.
After sending the messages, Shen Yan rubbed his growling stomach, sipping his porridge in small bites while asking the shop owner to add a few more dishes.
While reviewing his thesis, a notification popped up at the top of his phone screen.
[…]: Okay.