While Di Zhe was still lost in a daze, one of the alphas he had been hanging out with noticed his sudden silence. The guy nudged him with his elbow and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Then he saw Di Zhe staring blankly across the street. Following his gaze, he also spotted Shen Yandong. “Who’s that?”
Di Zhe’s reaction was so unnatural that the alpha couldn’t help teasing, “Your boyfriend?”
Only then did Di Zhe snap back to his senses, immediately denying it three times in a row, “No, no, no, he’s not my boyfriend. He’s… he’s my roommate.” As he spoke, for some reason, he bit his tongue, stumbling over his words.
“Oh? Really?”
Just as everyone’s curiosity was piqued, Shen Yandong had already crossed the street, stepping over the pedestrian crossing and walking straight toward them.
Di Nuo and the others were standing at the entrance of the shop, where the lighting was much brighter. It finally illuminated Shen Yandong’s strikingly enchanting features, his pale gray eyes from the daytime now appeared much deeper in color, like a bottomless well, dark and unfathomable. His gaze brushed past the others, focusing solely on Di Zhe.
“Hello,” he said.
When he gave a slight nod, it was as if everyone had been unconsciously compelled by him. They all followed suit, nodding, or even bowing slightly, one after another. “Hello, hello.”
Someone cautiously asked, “Are you a freshman at F University too?”
Shen Yandong replied, “Yes.”
There was someone like this among the freshmen at F University?
How had no one heard of him before?
Even though Shen Yandong’s manners were impeccable and he didn’t make anyone feel slighted, there was still a subtle sense of distance that made it hard to feel close to him.
After just a brief exchange, Shen Yandong turned to Di Zhe and said in a seemingly gentle tone, “I came to pick you up.”
This was the second time he had said it.
For some reason, Di Zhe felt an inexplicable tightening around his neck, like an invisible pressure. He asked, “Why did you come?”
Shen Yandong’s voice was calm, his tone refined yet it carried an urgency that left no room for refusal. “It’s not safe late at night. You should head back to the dorm.”
A trace of resistance rose in Di Zhe’s heart. “I never said I was going back. I’m already an adult and I’m an alpha. There’s nothing unsafe about it.”
Shen Yandong said, “Every year in Jiangcheng, the number of missing persons is between three to four thousand. Among them, 37% are male alphas. Don’t assume that just because you’re an adult alpha, you won’t become a victim.”
It sounded rather terrifying.
Di Zhe had always been afraid of topics like this. Hearing Shen Yandong say it so matter of factly made his scalp tingle and his heart grow uneasy.
At just the right moment, Shen Yandong gave him an easy way out, gently persuading him, “Before your mother left, she was worried that you’d focus only on having fun and forget everything else. She asked me to keep an eye on you, make sure you don’t stay up too late. Come on, let’s go back.”
Did that really happen?
Di Zhe’s mind felt sluggish, unable to process things clearly.
Before he could even respond, the group of newly acquainted friends had already decided to abandon him. One by one, they started saying their goodbyes. “You’re heading back to the dorm? We’re going to the next spot, to party and drink!”
“Hey!”
Di Zhe grew anxious, trying to shake off Shen Yandong and catch up to them. “Wait, don’t leave me behind! Take me with you!”
“Going drinking?” Shen Yandong followed after him. “If you insist on going, then I’ll come along too.”
Di Zhe blinked. “I thought you don’t drink?”
Shen Yandong replied, “I’ve never said that I don’t drink.”
He looked straight at Di Zhe. “I have a high alcohol tolerance.”
For a moment, Di Zhe couldn’t tell whether he was telling the truth or not.
As soon as those words were spoken, the group grew excited again, inviting him enthusiastically, “Sounds great! Handsome guy, come drink with us, let’s all be friends.”
Ironically, this made Di Zhe hesitate instead.
What had happened the last time he got drunk had left him deeply traumatized.
Forget drinking with Shen Yandong, he wasn’t even that willing to drink with anyone anymore.
But at that very moment, Shen Yandong cast him a seemingly casual glance and said, “If you don’t dare go, I’ll accompany you back to the dorm.”
Provoked, Di Zhe’s temper flared. Acting on impulse, he retorted, “Who says I don’t dare? If we’re going, then we’re going! Let’s drink!”
Stubbornly, Di Zhe thought to himself that the last time he had fallen into trouble was because he had drunk too much but if this time Shen Yandong ended up drinking more, then who knew what might happen?
And so, the two of them followed along with the group, heading toward the bar together.
Shen Yandong quickly became popular, constantly being approached and chatted up along the way. People asked which department he belonged to, how old he was this year, whether he was an alpha or a beta.
When they learned that he was a beta, many were quite surprised and when they heard that he and Di Zhe were roommates, they couldn’t help but remark that it was truly a dorm full of handsome guys.
Meanwhile, Di Zhe, who was usually so lively, was uncharacteristically quiet. From that moment on, all the way until they reached the entrance of the bar, he didn’t say another word.
Arriving at the bar counter, Di Zhe sat down on a high stool, feeling extremely out of place.
Even though he was now fully grown into a tall, broad shouldered, long legged adult alpha, there were still moments when he felt like, deep down inside, he was just a kid, someone merely playing at being a cool, rich alpha.
Staring at the drink menu, he had no idea what to order.
In this environment full of strangers, Di Zhe instinctively leaned closer to the one person he was most familiar with, Shen Yandong. From the corner of his eye, he quietly observed him.
When the bartender asked Shen Yandong what he would like to drink, Shen Yandong simply said to let him improvise. Di Zhe thought that was incredibly cool, so he echoed the same request.
Watching Shen Yandong’s calm and composed demeanor, Di Zhe lowered his voice and asked, “This isn’t your first time here, is it?”
Shen Yandong replied, “It is my first time.”
Di Zhe blinked. “Then you’re not nervous at all?”
Shen Yandong said, “I’m pretending.”
Di Zhe frowned. “Can you not say that with such a calm expression? It’s not convincing at all!”
After two drinks went down, Di Zhe changed his mind.
Originally, he had planned to get Shen Yandong drunk but now that they were actually here, he started to feel guilty about the idea. Why was he even picking a fight with Shen Yandong in the first place?
Besides, each drink cost two to three hundred. His parents gave him a decent allowance but he couldn’t just waste it like that.
He had already spent quite a bit going out recently.
It was the end of the month and next month’s allowance hadn’t arrived yet. His wallet had long since been drained.
The bartender finished mixing his drink. The liquid was a brilliant blend of crimson and gold, shimmering as it was placed in front of him, gently rippling.
With a cheerful smile, the bartender began introducing the ingredients used in the drink and explaining the meaning behind its color. Di Zhe listened, dazzled and half confused, before taking a satisfied sip. “Tastes good, tastes good.”
The bartender smiled and said, “I’m glad you like it. That will be 2,888. Cash or card?”
Di Zhe jerked his head up, eyes wide. “How much?!”
“2,888.”
Panic instantly set in. The hand holding his glass trembled slightly.
His allowance was already nearly gone!
Why was society so ruthless?!
At that moment, Shen Yandong took out his wallet, the same old one he had used back in high school. From the card slot, he pulled out a black and gold card and handed it to the bartender. “Card. Together.”
As the saying goes, when you take something from someone, you owe them.
Back when Di Zhe had been pursuing Shen Yandong, he hadn’t been entirely without ulterior motives. Now look at him, he was the one indebted instead.
In an instant, he owed Shen Yandong a huge favor.
And,
Why was Shen Yandong casually pulling out a black and gold card from such a worn out wallet?!
Di Zhe’s mind filled with questions but this wasn’t the time to dig for answers. Now that he owed money, his confidence deflated and even his voice lost its firmness. “I’ve almost used up my allowance this month. I’ll pay you back next month.”
Shen Yandong said, “It’s fine if you don’t. I’ll treat you.”
Di Zhe shook his head. “No, I have to pay you back.”
Shen Yandong replied simply, “Alright.”
After a few more sips, warmth gradually spread across Di Zhe’s body and face.
He thought to himself that the alcohol was quite strong, no wonder it was so expensive.
If he had known, he wouldn’t have tried to show off.
And he definitely shouldn’t have entertained any bad ideas. He simply didn’t have the knack for scheming, every time he tried, it backfired.
Di Zhe took small, careful sips of his drink, cherishing every drop. The glass was barely as tall as the width of his palm, so little. Each sip felt like he was drinking money.
Having already drunk quite a bit of water earlier in the evening, Di Zhe soon felt the urge to use the restroom. He pushed his glass toward Shen Yandong. “Help me watch my drink. I’m going to the restroom.”
Shen Yandong nodded. “Mm.”
After relieving himself, washing his hands and splashing some water on his face, Di Zhe felt much more clear headed.
A thought suddenly crossed his mind: since Shen Yandong hadn’t followed him, could he sneak away right now?
…Forget it.
Where could he even go? Besides, he didn’t have money for a hotel anymore. Sooner or later, he’d have to return to the dorm.
Just as he was thinking this, Di Zhe suddenly sensed a strong, intense scent of pheromones stimulating his glands.
It was an omega’s pheromones.
And not just any omega,
An omega in heat.
Damn it!
Di Zhe quickly covered his nose and mouth.
In a place like a bar, if someone went into heat, did it mean they had run into some kind of emergency?
With a spirit of wanting to help, Di Zhe followed the trail of pheromones. He stepped outside, turned left down the corridor, walked all the way to the end, then turned left again into the adjacent hall. Beneath a decorative money tree, he saw a delicate, slender male omega. His legs had gone weak and he was half kneeling on the ground, bracing himself against the wall.
…How could he smell it from that far away?
Di Zhe tightly covered his nose and mouth as he stepped forward. “Hey, are you alright? You, you seem to be in heat. I’ll call medical help for you.”
The young omega lifted his head hazily, his face flushed red as if burning with fever. It was obvious he was no longer conscious. The moment he saw an alpha, even more pheromones poured out from him.
Corresponding to alpha pheromones, omega pheromones also served three functions: first, to express affection; second, to soothe; third, to arouse.
Depending on the degree of compatibility between pheromones, the effects of the second and third functions could vary in intensity in real situations.
In that instant, Di Zhe felt as if his gland had been lightly shocked. It didn’t hurt, rather, it was as though some hidden switch inside him had been flipped. His head spun, his blood seemed to race, his body temperature rose, his mouth watered and a wave of heat surged downward.
It felt as though there was another self inside his body, a pure alpha driven by instinct, rapidly eroding his rationality. A single thought kept surfacing over and over again in his mind: mate, mate, mate.
His instincts urged him to capture this unfamiliar yet irresistibly fragrant omega.
But just at that moment, his collar was suddenly grabbed from behind. With a forceful yank, he was dragged backward, forcibly pulled away.
Shen Yandong’s voice was calm but laced with anger. “What are you doing, Di Zhe?”
At the same time, the bar staff noticed the dangerous situation. A beta and an omega staff member rushed over and helped the omega in heat away.
Di Zhe’s consciousness was in disarray. His eyes remained fixed on the omega as he struggled, his strength frighteningly great.
Even Shen Yandong almost couldn’t hold him down. Irritation surged within him, had Di Zhe’s reactions during his sensitive periods ever been this intense before?
By now, people nearby had started to gather and watch.
Someone even cursed loudly, “Damn, which alpha lost control? The pheromones are so strong! Don’t they have any sense of decency?”
Shen Yandong’s expression darkened. Suddenly, Di Zhe exerted force again and this time, he actually broke free.
Shen Yandong froze for a moment. Left with no choice, he immediately moved forward again, grabbing Di Zhe’s wrist. Using a grappling technique, he twisted it sharply and slammed Di Zhe’s entire body against the wall.
Calling it “pinning” him down was almost too gentle, it was more like a collision.
The impact made Di Zhe grunt in pain.
The nearby staff wanted to step in but hesitated, asking, “Do you need help?”
Shen Yandong ignored them, focusing only on restraining Di Zhe. His hand clamped onto the back of Di Zhe’s neck, gripping so hard that veins bulged on his own hand. In a low, commanding voice, he said, “Calm down, Di Zhe. Calm down!”
“Shen Yandong… help me.” Di Zhe was drenched in sweat, his face flushed red. He regained a sliver of clarity, closing his eyes as tears slipped out. He panted heavily and said, “I…I have… a medicine packet… in the left pocket of my pants.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Fleurveil
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
You read the chapter. They wrestled with the words. Seems fair, no? (￣▽￣)
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Love at first sightChapter 2 · Lack of discretionChapter 3 · ShamelessChapter 4 · UnreasonableChapter 5 · PerseveranceChapter 6 · College Entrance Examination EndChapter 7 · Graduation dinnerChapter 8 · Confession nightChapter 9 · Pressing in step by stepChapter 10 · Enough is enoughChapter 11 · A huge blowChapter 12 · University start dateChapter 13 · Roommate meetingChapter 14 · Relentless harassmentChapter 15 · I’ll pick you upChapter 16 · It’s my vulnerable periodChapter 17 · Voluntary datingChapter 18 · Open your heartChapter 19 · Obedient to allChapter 20 · Not a virginChapter 21 · Swear to love meChapter 22 · Youthful DaydreamsChapter 23 · Teenage ThoughtsChapter 24 · EmptyChapter 25 · Extremely anxiousChapter 26 · Too lazy to struggleChapter 27 · From now on