“Yo, Di Zhe, haven’t seen you going out to have fun lately. Your wife’s got you on a pretty tight leash, huh?”
When Shen Yandong heard that remark, he couldn’t exactly say it had nothing to do with him but he also didn’t take it to heart.
If anything, there was even a faint sense of secret satisfaction.
At the very least, it meant that outsiders had picked up on the ambiguous relationship between him and Di Zhe.
Not bad. Keep it up.
Given enough time, everyone would come to know that Di Zhe belonged to him.
Yet when he cast a casual glance toward Di Zhe, he suddenly noticed something unexpected. Di Zhe looked like a flower that had just been basked in sunlight, visibly, unmistakably brightening up with joy.
Shen Yandong was taken aback.
Even after they returned to the dormitory, Di Zhe was still radiating happiness from head to toe. It was obvious he had something he wanted to ask but he kept hesitating.
Shen Yandong held back, watching quietly as Di Zhe fidgeted, twisting and turning awkwardly for quite a while before finally gathering the courage to speak.
“In the afternoon… when they said you were my wife… why didn’t you deny it?”
Idiot. What do you think?
Shen Yandong let out a soft laugh.
The sound made Di Zhe uneasy and only then did Shen Yandong reply in a casual, almost indulgent tone, “If it makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”
Di Zhe pretended to be troubled, putting on an act as he said, “But those people are really gossipy. If you don’t deny it, after a while the whole academy will know you’re my wife. What are we going to do then?”
Shen Yandong raised an eyebrow slightly. “Wouldn’t that be even better?”
Di Zhe’s face flushed red.
He fell silent again.
Shen Yandong could clearly feel how happy Di Zhe was and that happiness seemed to illuminate his own mood as well yet at the same time, a strange, indescribable tightness rose in his chest.
The two emotions tangled together, leaving him in a deeply contradictory state.
He was happy yet angry; amused yet filled with regret.
He had agonized and struggled for so long.
And in the end, all it took to resolve everything were the two simple words: “husband.”
If only he’d known earlier.
That night.
Di Zhe received a call from his parents, who wanted to check in on how his university life was going.
As they chatted, it was only natural that Shen Yandong’s name came up.
His mother asked, somewhat irritably, “So, have you two made up?”
Di Zhe feigned ignorance. “Who?”
His mother snorted. “Who else? The one living in your dorm. The one you chased for two years without success and now he’s the one chasing you.”
Di Zhe stammered, unable to respond.
“Look at you, no backbone at all,” his mother said. “But that’s how it is when you’re young. Relationships go up and down all the time. If there’s any misunderstanding between you two, it’s good to talk it out.”
Di Zhe clung to the key point. “I’m not dating him.”
His mother replied dismissively, “Alright, alright, you’re not, you’re not.”
Trouble, it seemed, either didn’t come at all, or came all at once.
Not long after hanging up, his younger uncle contacted him, asking if he still wanted to go out to the club.
In truth, Di Zhe wasn’t very interested anymore. Besides, the last time at the nightclub had left him somewhat shaken.
Di Chengyu chuckled. “I heard that beta chased you all the way to your school and now you two are back together. What, planning to stay pure for your wife?”
Di Zhe bristled immediately. “Did my dad tell you that? Why does he blab everything about me? He’s like a leaky sieve!”
Di Chengyu burst out laughing. “So, do you still want him? That beta, I mean.”
If he did… his backside would end up hurting.
Di Zhe felt troubled at the thought.
He quickly changed the subject. “Why are we talking about him? Weren’t you saying you’d take me out to have some fun?”
Di Chengyu smirked. “What, aren’t you too scared to go?”
“I’m not scared of anything,” Di Zhe retorted stubbornly.
Di Chengyu let out a scoff, teasing him, “You’re not in your heat period lately, are you? A little virgin alpha like you, your pheromones are the most sensitive. Get surrounded by a few omegas giving off pheromones and who knows, you might heat up on the spot.”
I’m not a virgin anymore!
…It’s just that the position wasn’t quite what I’d expected.
The words nearly slipped out before Di Zhe swallowed them back down.
He made an excuse instead. “When would it be? My schedule’s pretty packed, I need to check if I have classes.”
Di Chengyu was determined to lead him astray. “No need to check. If you want to go, I’ll take you this weekend. You won’t have classes then, right?”
And just like that, half unwillingly, half yielding, the plan was settled.
It was supposed to be a night out for fun.
Yet for some reason, Di Zhe couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in his heart.
He just couldn’t shake the feeling that he had wronged Shen Yandong.
And somehow, he even had the uneasy sense that Shen Yandong might find out, just the thought of it made his heart pound in panic.
At that very moment, the sound of running water from the bathroom stopped. Shen Yandong stepped out after his shower, dressed in an ordinary set of gray cotton pajamas. The ends of his hair were still damp, all of it brushed back to reveal his entire face, so strikingly beautiful it was almost overwhelming to look at.
Di Zhe couldn’t help but think that no matter how attractive the omegas at the club might be, none of them could ever be as beautiful as Shen Yandong in a way that suited his taste so perfectly.
Shen Yandong glanced at him a couple more times, then suddenly smiled. It was like catching hold of an almost invisible strand of spun sugar, something soft and sticky that quietly clung to him. “What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”
When Shen Yandong didn’t smile, the contrast was sharp, his alluring features paired with a cold, distant aura but the moment he did smile, Di Zhe felt his heart tremble uncontrollably.
Di Zhe hurriedly shifted his gaze away, not daring to look any longer. If he kept staring, he felt like he would truly fall for him.
But Shen Yandong walked over at an unhurried pace, reaching out to place a hand against Di Zhe’s lower back, gently pushing him inward. “It’s getting cold. Don’t stand out on the balcony letting the wind hit you. Go back inside.”
Was that intentional?
Di Zhe wondered.
Or was he just being too sensitive? The moment Shen Yandong’s hand touched his waist, memories of being pressed down onto the bed surged up in his mind.
His whole body felt awkward and tense.
He didn’t want to recall that kind of pleasure, something that didn’t fit the image of an alpha at all.
Without drawing attention, Di Zhe shifted half a step to the side, putting a bit of distance between them.
Shen Yandong’s hand fell into empty air. It lowered, hidden in the shadows, his fingertips lightly rubbing together in quiet disappointment.
Yet his face still held that gentle, tender smile. His gaze flickered as he suddenly said, “Don’t be afraid of me, Xiao Zhe. I won’t touch you casually. When your sensitive period comes, when you need me, I’ll take care of you then.”
For the first time, Di Zhe suddenly felt that an alpha’s sensitive period was a terrible thing, completely irregular, impossible to predict when it would strike.
Before, in front of his friends, he would even boast about how full of energy he was.
But now… now, was it too late to start living a restrained, ascetic life?
Wait. Why should he be afraid of a beta?!
Besides, a beta couldn’t even perceive pheromones.
As long as it wasn’t like last time, when his pheromones had gone completely out of control, a normal sensitive period was nothing more than a bit of heat and the urge to relieve himself. He could completely pretend nothing was happening.
Di Zhe made his calculations.
In the blink of an eye, it was Saturday.
The night before, he had already felt a bit unwell. By the time he woke up in the morning, it was clear that something wasn’t right.
He lifted the blanket, his scent was everywhere.
It was late autumn and dawn came slowly. In the dim darkness, Di Zhe made his way to the bathroom, silently taking care of it once but it wasn’t long before he had to stand up again.
In that instant, he understood.
His sensitive period had arrived.
He returned to the room as quietly as possible. Shen Yandong was still asleep, exactly as he had been when Di Zhe got out of bed, there were no signs of movement.
He hadn’t noticed anything yet but if Di Zhe stayed here any longer, that might not remain the case.
Holding his breath, Di Zhe opened the wardrobe and took out a jacket. Just as he was about to change, he heard Shen Yandong’s voice.
“Why are you up so early today?”
Di Zhe’s hand trembled.
He told himself over and over: It’s fine, it’s fine. Shen Yandong is a beta. He can’t smell pheromones. He won’t know you’re in your sensitive period.
Putting on a calm front, Di Zhe said, “I’m going to get breakfast. Do you want me to bring something back for you?”
“Wait,” Shen Yandong replied. “I’ll go with you.”
“No need,” Di Zhe said quickly. “You can keep sleeping. I’ll buy it for you. You’re always the one bringing me food, today it’s my turn.”
As he spoke, he went straight for the door.
Too flustered.
He had forgotten it was locked from the inside. After twisting the handle twice without success, he fumbled, hands shaking, to undo the latch.
But the dorm room was small, only a few steps from the bed to the door.
Shen Yandong didn’t need to hurry. Even so, he was already beside him.
Di Zhe caught a whiff of Shen Yandong’s scent. It was pleasant.
What the hell… it wasn’t even pheromones, so why was his face heating up and his heart racing like this?
Lowering his head, Di Zhe felt the back of his hand being covered by Shen Yandong’s.
No. This won’t do.
Today he hadn’t been drinking and his pheromones weren’t out of control. He couldn’t let things turn out like that again.
He had to pull himself together… an alpha should act like an alpha. How could he be suppressed by a beta like this…?
Lost in his chaotic thoughts, he suddenly heard Shen Yandong’s voice close to his ear.
“Is your sensitive period here, husband?”
What did Shen Yandong just call him?
The word “husband” struck directly at Di Zhe’s most sensitive point. He jolted, a shiver running through his entire body, leaving him weak and tingling all over.
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← 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