To avoid a sudden outbreak of his heat, Yun Xi stayed in bed at home for a few days. Strangely, though his physical reaction at the research institute had been intense, everything quieted down once he actually went home to rest.
For several days in a row, the gland remained completely still; it was unnervingly calm.
Yun Xi felt like a salted fish cooped up at home. He handled a bit of work occasionally, but he mostly played with his phone until it practically smoked. He was bored to death.
His fair-weather friends, noticing he had not come out to play lately, sent messages asking where he was, but Yun Xi could not be bothered to respond.
First, his mind was entirely focused on Su Yanqing. Second, Yun Xi still remembered how, in the book, after his two fathers suddenly passed away and his Eldest Uncle seized power, he had struggled to escape Gu Xun’s imprisonment. In his hour of isolation and helplessness, those friends had done plenty to kick him while he was down.
Cold mockery aside, some had even suggested Yun Xi sell his body, claiming he might fetch a good price. This had infuriated Yun Xi so much that he immediately blacklisted those scoundrels. No matter how much they expressed confusion or begged for forgiveness later, he ignored them.
The people still in his contact list now were those who had at least refrained from mocking him. Though some had stayed silent when he was in trouble, at least they had not added fuel to the fire.
Gu Xun was the favored protagonist. Even after breaking away from his family to start from scratch, he could smoothly build his own commercial empire. Most of the young masters Yun Xi associated with were trust fund kids who relied on their parents, so they naturally dared not offend Gu Xun.
Yun Xi understood this, but he had no desire to see them again.
Only Cheng Zhang was a naive, sweet simpleton who knew nothing. When he heard Yun Xi had nowhere to stay in the original timeline, he had taken him in without a second thought.
It was only after learning of his father’s death that Yun Xi, unable to withstand the blow and losing all hope, chose to end his own life. Thinking about it now, he felt quite sorry for Cheng Zhang; the man must have been worried sick when he found him gone.
Speak of the devil. Yun Xi was lying on his bed, boredly scrolling through his phone and about to start another game, when he received a message from Cheng Zhang.
Cheng Zhang: Great King, how have you been lately? Busy? Is the plan going smoothly?
Yun Xi placed a video call.
Cheng Zhang answered instantly. A handsome face appeared on Yun Xi’s screen, but he was grinning so flatteringly that Yun Xi could not help but frown.
“What is with the eager attitude?”
Cheng Zhang chuckled. “There is a music festival next month. They invited our band, and the pay is quite high.”
Yun Xi said casually, “That is a good thing.”
“Well, the thing is, the organizer also requested that you come along. Whether you go or not makes a world of difference in the price.” Cheng Zhang twiddled his fingers theatrically. “You know, after you went all out at the live house last time, countless videos went viral online. Our band’s account gained 300,000 followers thanks to you. We are hot right now, so…”
Yun Xi replied without a shred of friendship, “I am not going. I am getting married next month.”
Cheng Zhang screamed, “What? Married?”
His attention shifted instantly as he pressed for details. “To whom? It is not really that white moonlight you mentioned, is it?”
“If it is not real, could it be fake? I always do what I say.” Yun Xi yawned, his thoughts drifting slightly.
Speaking of Su Yanqing, he had hardly seen a glimpse of the man these past few days. Ever since the night he delivered the late-night snack, Su Yanqing seemed to be avoiding him, leaving early and returning late.
When Yun Xi sent him messages, he always took a long time to reply. Although the content of the messages seemed fine, Yun Xi had a nagging bad feeling in his heart. He felt as if something was slipping out of his control.
“Yun Xi? Yun Xi!”
Cheng Zhang shouted a few times, calling Yun Xi back to his senses.
“What is it? Why so loud all of a sudden?”
Cheng Zhang frowned slightly, speaking seriously. “Yun Xi, if you just want to play around, remember: do not let him give you a complete mark. This is no joke.”
Yun Xi waved it off. “I know that, of course. Besides, even if a mark is made, can it not be washed away with surgery? Do not worry.”
Looking at Yun Xi’s nonchalant attitude, Cheng Zhang was still worried. “Anyway, if anything happens, remember to discuss it with me.”
A warm current flowed through Yun Xi’s heart. His sense of friendship returned to the high ground, and he said mercifully, “When is the music festival? If I am free, I will go.”
Cheng Zhang was overjoyed, his worries instantly forgotten. “Thank you, Great King Yun! Long live the King, long live, long live!”
Yun Xi: “…”
What a money-grubber.
After hanging up, it was getting late. Yun Xi looked at his chat log with Su Yanqing. He had asked Su Yanqing when he would be off work at noon, and Su Yanqing still had not replied.
Feeling a bit stifled, Yun Xi got out of bed, moved a lounge chair to the doorway, and vowed to intercept Su Yanqing.
However, the lounge chair was too comfortable. Yun Xi lay there, and it was not long before he became drowsy. He forced himself to stay awake until eight o’clock, but when there was still no sign of the man, he simply closed his eyes and fell asleep.
When Su Yanqing came back and saw him lying out there, he could not just ignore him, right?
This sleep was very deep. Before long, Yun Xi drifted into a beautiful dream.
In the dream, it was his and Su Yanqing’s wedding. They were dressed in matching custom suits, exchanging rings under the guidance of the officiant. Gu Xun stood below the stage, teeth clenched, staring at him and accusing him of being shameless for having the audacity to seduce Su Yanqing.
Yun Xi laughed wildly. He stood on his tiptoes and kissed Su Yanqing right in front of Gu Xun. It was a passionate, inseparable kiss. Gu Xun’s eyes were practically dripping blood with hatred.
When the kiss ended, Yun Xi looked at Gu Xun provocatively and stuck out his tongue to lick the remaining moisture from the corner of his lips.
“Gu Xun, hehe, Gu Xun.”
You finally have your day!
Wait a minute.
Why did it suddenly feel a bit chilly?
Sensing something, Yun Xi turned his head and saw Su Yanqing staring at him coldly. His lips were flushed a blood-like red from the kiss.
“Yun Xi, you lied to me.”
In the blink of an eye, Su Yanqing transformed into the monster from a few nights ago, roaring as he charged forward.
“What is up!”
Yun Xi shuddered and woke up with a start. He opened his eyes to see Su Yanqing with his back to the light, looking down at him. His expression was unclear.
Yun Xi: “?!”
His brain was still foggy from sleep. Yun Xi thought he was still in the dream and flinched again in fright. His ankle hit the armrest of the lounge chair, making him cry out in pain.
Well, now he knew this was not a dream.
Seeing Su Yanqing again after several days, combined with the dream that had a less than pleasant ending, Yun Xi lowered his head awkwardly. He did not dare to look up for a moment.
He should not have been talking in his sleep, right?
Before he could decide what to say, Su Yanqing spoke first.
“Why are you sleeping here? You will catch a cold.”
Everything sounded normal.
Yun Xi felt relieved. He rubbed his ankle and said aggrievedly, “I feel like you have been avoiding me these past few days.”
“I have not. Your current situation is special; it is not suitable for me to meet with you,” Su Yanqing said in a gentle tone.
“Really? But you did not even reply to my messages. I have been waiting.”
The Omega’s expression was downcast, and his voice was pitiful. Any ordinary person would have wanted to pull him into their arms and comfort him.
Su Yanqing just stood there, saying softly, “I am sorry. I have indeed been quite busy these past two days.”
Yun Xi looked up, trying to observe the Alpha’s expression, but Su Yanqing was silhouetted against the light, making it hard to see clearly.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds. Suddenly, a ringtone sounded from Su Yanqing’s pocket. Su Yanqing took out his phone, looked at the screen, and frowned slightly.
He walked a short distance away and answered the call. “Father.”
Yun Xi immediately pricked up his ears, but Su Yanqing did not use the speakerphone, so he heard nothing.
A moment later, Su Yanqing hung up and pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly.
Yun Xi put on his shoes, limped over to Su Yanqing, and gently took his hand. “Is your father pressing you again? Let us go see him tomorrow.”
Su Yanqing glanced at him. “Your heat?”
“There has been no movement for days. I think I am fine. Besides, I have you, right?” Yun Xi smiled with narrowed eyes. He stood on his tiptoes and whispered into Su Yanqing’s ear, “If the suppressants do not work, then I can only ask you to give me a temporary mark.”
The Omega’s breath brushed against his ear, warm and inviting. These were words that should make any Alpha’s blood boil, yet Su Yanqing had no reaction.
To get back at Gu Xun, is he willing to go even this far?
After the most turbulent anger had burned out, Su Yanqing was now calm. Even when he had seen the Omega smiling sweetly in his sleep while calling out another Alpha’s name, he had not lost control.
He was simply becoming more and more curious: where was Yun Xi’s bottom line?
Kissing was fine, temporary marking was fine, but did that mean even more excessive things were also fine?
Yun Xi shuddered for no reason. For a split second, he thought he caught the scent of the Alpha’s pheromones, but when he tried to smell it again, the scent had vanished.
It was probably an illusion.
He shook Su Yanqing’s hand and continued, “So let me go with you, okay? If there are difficulties, I want to face them with you.”
Su Yanqing’s gaze was deep. An indecipherable smile flickered at the corner of his mouth as he said warmly, “If you insist, then let us go.”
The next day.
Yun Xi took Su Yanqing’s car to the Su family’s ancestral home.
Interestingly, the Su and Yun families used to live in the same villa area. Yun Xi had moved away after his accident, but the Su family had never moved; it seemed they had great trust in the security.
As they went up the mountain, Yun Xi felt a bit excited. “I lived here when I was a kid. If only we had not moved, maybe we would have met sooner.”
Su Yanqing focused on driving and gave a faint smile. “Is that so?”
“Yes! My dad even built a glass flower house for me. It was so beautiful. I wonder what it is like now or if anyone took it over.” Having not returned for years, Yun Xi felt nostalgic. “That was my secret base. It is hard to find if you do not look specifically. When I was unhappy as a kid, I would run to the flower house. Most people could not find me.”
Su Yanqing’s eyelashes trembled. “Then take me to see it later.”
“Uh,” Yun Xi paused suspiciously and said sheepishly, “Actually, I do not really remember how to get there anymore. It has been many years.”
“That is a pity then.” As the Su ancestral home drew closer, Su Yanqing parked the car. While unbuckling his seatbelt, he said in a low voice, “Your memory really is not very good.”
Yun Xi blinked, sensing something odd in Su Yanqing’s tone. He said tentatively, “How about after we see your dad, we look for it together? Maybe I will remember as we walk.”
A glint flashed in Su Yanqing’s eyes. “No need. The mountain is not safe.”
Having said that, he got out of the car. The car had been parked for a while, yet no one from the Su family came out to receive them. Su Yanqing’s status in the household was evident.
Yun Xi followed him out of the car, looking up at the villa before him. A fighting spirit ignited in his heart.
He would see for himself just what kind of monsters lived in this Su family.