The caller’s number wasn’t saved in his contacts, but Shen Yan knew exactly who it was.
He quickly put his phone away and scanned the crowd while standing in line at the station, but he didn’t spot Wen Xiuran anywhere.
Lin Bai, who was standing behind Shen Yan, followed his gaze around the terminal. Though it wasn’t a holiday, the station was still bustling with hurried travelers, none of whom seemed to be paying them any attention.
Lin Bai frowned slightly. “Is someone looking for you?”
“No,” Shen Yan denied instinctively, turning his head with an indifferent expression. “Just looking around.”
Lin Bai had helped him before, and as fellow betas, they should have naturally become good friends. But Shen Yan didn’t want to answer some of Lin Bai’s questions. In fact, he often felt inexplicably irritated around him.
“Really?” Despite the obvious displeasure in Shen Yan’s tone, Lin Bai smiled good-naturedly. “You looked really happy just now when you were searching around.”
Shen Yan turned to study Lin Bai properly for the first time.
The young man had a simple buzz cut, short and neat, with a few stubborn strands sticking up at the front. He wore a faded light-blue shirt, buttoned all the way to the collar, the sleeves neatly rolled up to reveal tanned forearms.
Paired with straight black trousers, perfectly crease-free, and a pair of white canvas shoes—worn but spotlessly clean. He looked every bit the earnest, well-kept student.
Shen Yan slid his sunglasses down with a finger, squinting as he grinned. “You like me?”
“I’m drawn to you, but I’m not sure if it’s romantic,” Lin Bai admitted candidly, shaking his head. Though he was rejecting the idea, his honesty made it hard to take offense.
“I just think you’re very attractive, and since we’re both betas, I thought we could at least be good friends.”
Perhaps Shen Yan was in a particularly playful mood, or maybe he found Lin Bai amusing. He chuckled softly, deliberately lowering his voice as he murmured, “Just friends?”
The words curled like a hook, winding their way into Lin Bai’s ears with a teasing lilt. Lin Bai faltered, taking a step back.
Shen Yan scoffed and, without waiting for an answer, pulled his suitcase away and left.
Once on the train, Shen Yan didn’t head to his original carriage—instead, he made straight for Car 10.
Compartment 21. Before he could even knock, the door swung open abruptly. Strong hands reached out and yanked him inside before he could react.
In an instant, Shen Yan was enveloped in a warm embrace, a fluffy head nuzzling insistently against his neck. He savored Wen Xiuran’s warmth for a moment before pressing a light kiss to his ear, whispering, “Want to make a wish?”
Wen Xiuran stiffened slightly, then shook his head, voice muffled. “My heat cycle hasn’t started yet.”
Shen Yan immediately pushed him down onto the bed, nipping his ear in playful punishment. “You really know how to pick your moments. Last time, you nearly wrecked me.”
Alpha hurriedly steadied Shen Yan’s waist, helping him sit securely on his lap, and explained, “That wasn’t my rut. I usually suppress it with medication. That time was just a false heat caused by pheromone imbalance. My real rut hasn’t arrived yet.”
Shen Yan let out a brief “ah,” his expression turning somewhat unpleasant.
Last time, he had nearly lost half his life, and his knees still bore bruises and it was just Wen Moran’s false heat?
Then what would his real rut be like…?
Shen Yan wasn’t a particularly lustful person, always believing that moderation was best. But every Alpha he had encountered before, once their rut hit, could think of nothing but bedding him.
Ah, whatever. Shen Yan comforted himself. It wouldn’t be long before Wen Moran’s parents came looking for him. He wouldn’t have to endure many more ruts.
Might as well take advantage of the situation now.
The temperature in the private room had likely been adjusted beforehand—it wasn’t too cold.
Shen Yan slowly undid his buttons, revealing the fading bite marks Wen Moran had left on his chest. Smiling down at the culprit, he asked, “Can seven hickeys grant me one wish?”
Wen Moran’s chest trembled slightly. Mimicking Shen Yan, he traced circles on the exposed skin before him and answered hurriedly, “Okay.”
“Next time, I want to be on top.”
Before the words had fully left his mouth, Shen Yan felt the world spin as Wen Moran flipped him onto his back.
Wen Moran cradled his head in his palm, displeasure in his voice. “No. No Alpha would willingly be beneath a Beta.”
Shen Yan’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he felt a pang of frustration. The other Alphas he had encountered, though lacking in responsibility, had often yielded to him out of affection.
Wen Moran, an S-rank Alpha, probably had an even stronger need for control. What a shame, given such a beautiful face.
He patted Wen Moran’s arm. “You’re crushing my hair.”
Wen Moran quickly adjusted Shen Yan’s hair.
“Fine, I’ll make a different wish then.”
“I want to be part of this year’s national exhibition.” Shen Yan’s gaze locked onto Wen Moran’s. “Can you make that happen for me?”
Wen Moran’s heart sank. He stared silently into Shen Yan’s eyes, time seeming to freeze between them.
After several long minutes, he slowly leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Shen Yan’s forehead before pulling the Beta into a firm embrace—like a child clutching his favorite toy.
Wen Moran spoke softly, his voice deep and magnetic. “Yan Yan.”
Shen Yan was startled. Since leaving the orphanage, few had called him so intimately. Instinctively, he tried to turn and look at Wen Moran, but the Alpha gently covered his eyes with a hand.
Feeling Shen Yan’s eyelashes flutter against his palm, Wen Moran exhaled warmly against his shoulder and murmured, “You’re my Beta. As long as you ask, I’ll give you whatever you want. That’s my promise to you.”
He paused, a hint of menace creeping into his tone. “But you should know—if you ever try to deceive me or leave me for someone else, you might come to regret it.”