Shao Luo, everything’s set for tonight.
As the crowd in the classroom trickled out, Gu Yuxing slung his backpack over his shoulder. The top floor of New Harbor City. Want to ride together in my car?
Luo Baixi dragged himself up from his desk. He had dozed off when the end-of-class bell rang, leaving him feeling groggy and heavy-headed.
The button of his uniform shirt had left a faint, reddish indentation along his jawline, making his skin look so fair it was almost translucent.
Turning his head to look at the sunset burning across the edge of the sky outside, he finally confirmed that he had just had a daydream.
A daydream was a daydream, though.
Why on earth would a daydream happen to feature anyone surnamed Yan?
And on the very night of his first meeting with Yan Chenhuan, no less.
How thoroughly ill-omened.
Luo Baixi rolled up his exam paper, handed it to Gu Yuxing, and said, I’m not going home. I’m heading straight to your place. I won’t take my bag.
Alright. Gu Yuxing took the paper, casually stuffed it into his backpack, and walked out of the classroom with him. Did you and that person get into another argument?
No one dared to utter that name directly in front of Luo Baixi; it was young master Luo’s absolute taboo.
Luo Baixi let out a light sneer. Is he even in a position to argue with me?
Looks like the issue is pretty serious this time, Gu Yuxing said, reading Luo Baixi’s expression immediately.
Luo Baixi handed the phone that was dialing Steward Lin over to Gu Yuxing, bent down, and began tying his shoelaces. Tell Uncle Lin I won’t be back until tonight.
Gu Yuxing expertly took the call and reported in, then habitually held the phone close to Luo Baixi’s cheek. Without even lifting his head, Luo Baixi muttered, It’s me. Everything’s safe. Don’t worry, Uncle Lin. I’ll be back by ten tonight.
I am your elder brother.
The calm, familiar voice of Yan Chenhuan came steadily from the other end of the phone.
The air froze instantly.
Luo Baixi’s expression darkened, and he turned to glare at Gu Yuxing.
Fearing collateral damage, Gu Yuxing sucked in a breath and whispered in self-defense, You were the one who dialed. I didn’t pay attention to who it was
Luo Baixi stood up, gave his shoe a sharp stamp, took back the phone, and blurted out, I dialed the wrong number.
Mm. Yan Chenhuan didn’t mind at all, simply saying, I’ll pass the message along to Uncle Lin.
Luo Baixi’s tone was stiff. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.
Be safe. Come home early tonight. Yan Chenhuan seemed thoroughly accustomed to his temper and antics, patiently inquiring like a dutiful older brother: Do you want me to send a driver to pick you up?
No need. Luo Baixi decisively pressed the end-call button.
Was Yan Chenhuan starting to act more and more like an all-inclusive steward, managing every trivial detail, even when he came home at night?
Yet, within the Luo household, no one truly regarded Yan Chenhuan as a mere servant.
He was simply someone Luo’s father had adopted as a companion when Luo Baixi was ten years old. Though he often handled tasks typically left to servants, that steady aura of his, his thoroughness in managing affairs, his knack for navigating social pretenses, combined with his upright posture when stepping outside, left him with zero trace of a dependent living under someone else’s roof. Instead, he carried himself like a genuine older brother who already possessed the authority to manage Luo Baixi’s life.
The foolish and naive brotherhood depicted in that daydream didn’t even belong to a time he could remember.
Yan Chenhuan was the kind of person whose flaws no elder could ever pick out. From top to bottom, he was impeccably flawless, yet Luo Baixi knew very well that he was a thorough wolf in sheep’s clothing.
He was just wearing a human skin to put on a grand act and swindle praise.
What was most infuriating was that his father frequently praised him as a role model; it was a complete inversion of order.
Yan Chenhuan was never anything worth looking at straight in the eye.
Shao Luo, do you need any help? Gu Yuxing asked, noticing him frequently zoning out.
No. I was just too sleepy during homeroom and had a nightmare, Luo Baixi said, leaning back into the backseat of the Gu family car to clear his head.
The tinted light of the sunset outside filtered through the car window film, tracing a sharp line along his eighteen-year-old jawline. His stunning facial features, half-hidden in the dim, warm light, could still not conceal his handsome appearance.
His fiery temper and the faint trace of annoyance swimming in the depths of his eyes only made the natural flush of his lips stand out all the more strikingly.
Even with a sour look on his face, simply sitting there made him resemble a fallen, untouchable phoenix from the heavens.
After confirming details with his subordinates, Gu Yuxing turned around and caught sight of Luo Baixi’s face. Without bothering to adjust the camera angle, he decisively snapped a photo. Post this online tomorrow, and Shao Luo will debut immediately. There won’t be any traffic idols left.
Are you that idle? Luo Baixi glanced at the phone screen held up in front of him.
Set up a background wall for my studio, and I’ll pay you an endorsement fee, Gu Yuxing said.
Luo Baixi’s emotions had been extremely unstable lately, but not taking it out on others was a basic matter of upbringing.
After calming down for a moment, he looked at Gu Yuxing. Doesn’t your dad hate you doing design?
I’m just messing around for fun. It doesn’t cost much, and my personal stash is still plenty ample. Mentioning this, Gu Yuxing swelled with ambition and momentarily forgot the taboo, recklessly testing the waters: Why don’t you talk to that guy at your place? I’ll pay you both an appearance fee, and let’s take a group photo. Even though he falls slightly short of you in looks, his temperament is really something else. Two different types, each with their own merits. I bet the two of you would look great together on camera.
Luo Baixi’s clear voice sounded ice-cold. Do you have a death wish, or is your money burning a hole in your pocket?
Consider it unsaid! Consider it unsaid. Gu Yuxing covered his mouth and shut up.
The back of his neck had been itching lately, and his mood was easily agitated. Just hearing Yan Chenhuan’s name was enough to ruin Luo Baixi’s original mood.
He pulled the pills that Dr. Li had given him out of his pocket, pills meant to soothe his emotions whenever needed, and swallowed them directly without even washing them down with water.
Neither bitter nor sweet, they tasted purely of pharmaceutical ingredients and binders, much like taking vitamin pills.
Still uncomfortable? Gu Yuxing asked. Or should I have my family’s doctor head over too? They can check on you right when we get off.
No need. Luo Baixi reached up to touch the back of his neck. And I’m not running a fever either. It’s probably just how it is right before a transformation.
You’re transforming awfully late, you know. Gu Yuxing rummaged through the car for an infrared thermometer and took his temperature from a distance; it read normal.
He asked, Is it normal for S-class Alphas to endure this much before transforming? When I transformed, I had zero warning. I went to sleep, and the middle of the night woke me right up. You’ve been feeling off for days now. Didn’t the doctor say anything?
Naturally, Luo Baixi knew this wasn’t normal. Previously, he had thought it was late enough when Yan Chenhuan hadn’t transformed yet by the age of fourteen after arriving at the Luo household.
As it turned out, Yan Chenhuan had at least completed his transformation within the normal window between eleven and sixteen. When it came to Luo Baixi, however, he had already turned eighteen over a month ago with still no sign of movement.
Even when it came to transformation, Yan Chenhuan had managed to suppress him, sparing the family any trouble.
And yet, he had ended up transforming into an S-class Omega. The mere thought of it filled Luo Baixi with disgust.
I don’t know. The doctor said it’s fine and won’t affect anything. Luo Baixi asked, What about Chen Chuan? Today’s his birthday; will he make it?
He said he has some family matters to take care of and will head straight to my place afterwards, Gu Yuxing said, showing Luo Baixi the venue photos sent by the manager. What do you think? Does it look the part? Romantic enough?
On the top floor of the premier entertainment skyscraper in Shangwan City, a place used to overlook the entire city, the transparent open-air platform was aesthetically filled with fresh blue roses, stretching outward like an aerial jungle descending from the heavens. Behind overlapping layers of foliage, precisely angled beams of light broke through, creating a mysterious and romantic ambiance.
He had even managed to find a few fireflies from somewhere, presumably artificial ones.
The entire venue exuded a uniquely cool yet glamorous tone.
Once night fell, lifting one’s gaze would reveal the bright moonlight, with the entire firmament serving as its backdrop.
Luo Baixi couldn’t help thinking that this kind of aesthetic actually suited Yan Chenhuan quite well.
Did you design this? He asked.
Yeah! Gu Yuxing said, looking immensely proud. I’ve been pondering this for a month. When brothers celebrate a birthday, a dinner needs to have some flair.
Are you planning to confess to Chen Chuan? Luo Baixi blurted out.
Gu Yuxing’s face drained of color in absolute fright. No way! My sexual orientation must be female Omegas! Who wouldn’t love a cute Omega in a little skirt? Not to mention Chen Chuan is a Beta, and on top of that, he’s a guy. Men are all stiff and rigid.
Luo Baixi felt like something was slightly off with him today. It had to be what the doctor mentioned, that right before the onset of the transformation period, one’s emotions would become unusually restless.
But wasn’t the transformation period still a few days away? His pheromone concentration levels from his last checkup hadn’t even reached the threshold for transformation.
No, he had already taken one dose of pills; he couldn’t take any more.
Luo Baixi touched the spot on the back of his neck where his scent gland remained quiet. Why did his mind keep drifting to Yan Chenhuan?
It was definitely the daydream’s fault.
Yan Chenhuan might be an Omega, but he certainly didn’t wear little skirts.
Worse still, he was a rigid, unprincipled man!
I seriously doubt your sexual orientation, Luo Baixi said.
Gu Yuxing: What do you mean?
Luo Baixi: When an Alpha sends flowers to someone of the opposite sex, it’s generally considered a courtship behavior.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Luo Baixi pulled it out to see that it was another call from Yan Chenhuan.
Like a ghost lingering persistently.
He hesitated for a long time, finally answering just as the call was about to automatically disconnect. What.
Doctor Li mentioned last time that your transformation period is approaching. How have you been feeling lately? Yan Chenhuan’s voice was as clear and refined as his face; merely hearing it brought to mind the image of a classically elegant man.
Luo Baixi frowned slightly at the content of the question. I’ve been taking my medicine. What do you want now that you’ve called?
Regarding pheromone regulation, many medications required on-site formulation, being individually supplied custom prescriptions where the family doctor adjusted the formula based on individual conditions.
When restricted for personal use only, the pills usually didn’t have names printed on them.
Yan Chenhuan stood beside the dining table, still wearing the suit from the post-reception events. His jacket was draped over his forearm, and the top two buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, revealing the alluring hollow at the center of his collarbones.
Across his fair, evenly toned, and soft neck lay an unknown, faintly reddish, elongated mark.
Looking closer, one could even notice that the shirt around his waist was no longer neatly tucked, bunched up loosely over the waistband of his dress pants. Yet, this didn’t diminish his waistline or the graceful waist-dimples visible along his long legs in the slightest.
All these messy traces brought straight from a less-than-decorous banquet failed to detract from his gentlemanly elegance in the slightest.
And yet, this gentlemanly and elegant man happened to possess a pair of slightly upturned, fox-like eyes that radiated a refined, scholarly sophistication.
At this moment, those very eyes were lowered, gazing down at a blister pack of pills in his hand that lacked any instructions or labels.
These weren’t his.
Nor did they belong to anyone else in the household.
The only person careless enough to leave them behind at the dining location was
Is tonight’s gathering very important? Yan Chenhuan asked.
Very important. Luo Baixi didn’t want to elaborate further, his guard instantly going up. Are you going to run back and tell Dad on me again? He’s already gone abroad; why won’t you let him have some peace?
Ten o’clock is a bit late, and you have school tomorrow. I’ll have the driver pick you up at eight-thirty, Yan Chenhuan negotiated smoothly. How about that? I won’t tell Uncle Luo.
Doctor Li also mentioned this afternoon that he’s coming over tonight for a follow-up check. If you come back early, you can get the results sooner, he said patiently.
Luo Baixi almost fell for his words, but quickly caught himself before falling into that trap.
Eight-thirty?
The youth’s emotionless voice remained casual yet sharp: At half-past eight, will those Alpha scents on you be washed clean?