Time passed neither too quickly nor too slowly. On the day of the field activity, Pei Yiyan’s pheromones finally stabilized.
The activity was scheduled to gather at the academy gates at ten in the morning, after which everyone would take a unified bus to the activity base.
Early that morning, Xiao Zhao drove the two of them to the hospital first to check Pei Yiyan’s pheromone levels. If they were still unstable, Shen Yuqing would have no choice but to skip the event.
Fortunately, everything was fine.
On the way to the academy, Pei Yiyan remained silent, lips pressed tightly together, clearly sulking.
Shen Yuqing said, “Alright, I’ll be back in a couple of days. Besides, you can still watch me on the academy’s livestream.”
This field activity would be fully broadcasted on Silino Academy’s official network. Interested parties or parents worried about their children could all tune in.
Pei Yiyan replied, “On the livestream, I might not even get a clear view of your face.”
The broadcast wasn’t focused on individual shots; it simply showed whoever appeared on screen.
Shen Yuqing teased, “If you don’t want to watch, I’ll just give the account to my brother.”
Pei Yiyan frowned and glanced at him, but Shen Yuqing was grinning, clearly joking. Pei Yiyan turned his face toward the car window, ignoring him.
Realizing he had upset him, Shen Yuqing quickly added, “Just kidding. Use my account. Whenever I appear on the livestream, you’ll get a notification. Then you can watch. Regular accounts don’t have this feature, it’s exclusive to parents.”
Pei Yiyan turned back to look at him. Shen Yuqing was still smiling as he said, “I’ve given you parental privileges. Don’t be upset anymore. Besides, the doctor said this period is critical for you. You absolutely can’t let your emotions swing too wildly.”
He shifted closer to Pei Yiyan. “Take good care of yourself. Once the activity’s over, let’s find some time to go out together.”
Pei Yiyan stared at Shen Yuqing as he leaned in, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. He raised a hand to cover Shen Yuqing’s face and muttered, “Who wants to go out with you?”
Just as Shen Yuqing was about to free his face from Pei Yiyan’s palm, the latter added, “Fine. I’ll reluctantly spare you a week.”
Shen Yuqing’s eyes curved into crescents as he laughed. “Great! Anywhere you’d like to go?”
Pei Yiyan didn’t have a specific destination in mind. Truthfully, as long as Shen Yuqing was with him, even staying at home would be fine.
But before he could answer, Xiao Zhao smoothly parked the car.
Shen Yuqing glanced outside everyone had already gathered at the entrance, along with many parents. Some were carrying large bags, as if heading out for a picnic.
“I’ll get out now. You two can head back,” Shen Yuqing said.
His belongings fit into a single backpack, two sets of lightweight sportswear, some nutrient packs, and a few snacks and water bottles.
Though the academy would provide supplies and wouldn’t let students go hungry, these were just in case he couldn’t reach a supply station in time.
After Shen Yuqing got out, Xiao Zhao retrieved his backpack from the trunk and handed it to him. “Be careful, Young Master,” he said.
Shen Yuqing patted his shoulder. “Take good care of Pei Yiyan at home. Let him do whatever he wants just pretend you don’t see anything.”
Xiao Zhao nodded and took note of it.
As the two were talking, Pei Yiyan also got out of the car.
Standing by the vehicle, he instantly drew many gazes.
Shen Yuqing overheard someone whispering, “Hey, isn’t that the genius from the Pei family?”
“Yeah, but the Pei family doesn’t have any geniuses now. After the incident, he’s hardly been seen. Why is he here today?”
“Didn’t you see the second son of the Shen family? He’s participating in this event, so Pei Yiyan, as his fiancé, naturally came to see him off.”
Seriously, couldn’t you keep your voices down when gossiping?
Shen Yuqing heard every word clearly!
But Pei Yiyan showed no reaction to these remarks. He simply walked over to Shen Yuqing and said softly, “Be careful.”
The practical activity was competitive, and tempers could flare, leading to reckless actions. Plus, being in the mountains, there were countless insects around.
Shen Yuqing replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
Pei Yiyan seemed about to say more when someone approached them, talking as they came.
“Yuqing, you’re here too.”
Shen Yuqing looked over and saw Lin Sui and Song Lejin.
The two were dressed in similar sportswear and walked toward them.
Upon reaching them, Song Lejin greeted Shen Yuqing before turning to Pei Yiyan. “Good morning, Yiyan-ge.”
Pei Yiyan’s gaze settled on him. “Mm, hello.”
Song Lejin noticed the change in his eyes and exclaimed, “Yiyan-ge, your eyes are better?”
The timing of Pei Yiyan’s recovery was too coincidental. He had been in a sensitive period and hadn’t appeared in public, so no one knew he was now fully recovered able to see and walk normally again.
Lin Sui also looked at Pei Yiyan in surprise. “It really seems like you’re better. I’ll let my sister know. She was just talking about helping you schedule a doctor’s appointment recently.”
Before his injury, Pei Yiyan had met Lin Sui’s sister, a highly capable woman he respected.
“Give your sister my regards,” he said.
Lin Sui hadn’t expected Pei Yiyan to speak to him directly and stammered, “Oh, okay. I’ll tell her.”
Shen Yuqing interjected, “Are they calling for us to gather?”
Sure enough, a teacher was blowing a whistle in the distance.
The first group needed to leave so the next vehicles could enter.
Shen Yuqing glanced over before turning back to Pei Yiyan. “We should get going. You should head home.”
Pei Yiyan gave a quiet hum, but as Shen Yuqing turned to leave, he couldn’t help but grab his wrist.
Lin Sui inhaled sharply and whispered to Song Lejin, “Looks like they still have something to say. Let’s go ahead.”
Song Lejin forced a smile. “Sure.”
His attention had been fixed on Pei Yiyan, and he knew Pei Yiyan couldn’t possibly like Shen Yuqing.
Yet now, Pei Yiyan’s behavior toward Shen Yuqing didn’t seem indifferent at all.
Song Lejin took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of jealousy in his chest. But after a few steps, he couldn’t resist looking back only to see Pei Yiyan holding Shen Yuqing tightly in his arms.
Lin Sui saw it too and sighed. “Didn’t expect them to be so close.”
He glanced at Song Lejin, noticing his slightly odd expression, and asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Song Lejin snapped out of his thoughts, his expression returning to normal as he replied, “No, I’m fine. Let’s go.”
Lin Sui still gave him a puzzled look, making sure Song Lejin was alright before heading to the gathering with him.
Meanwhile, Shen Yuqing was currently being tightly embraced by Pei Yiyan. He returned the hug briefly, but Pei Yiyan only held him tighter, making it hard for him to breathe.
He wondered wasn’t the rut period already over? Why was Pei Yiyan still so clingy?
Just as Pei Yiyan was about to speak, he sensed someone’s gaze on them. Sharply turning his head, he spotted an alpha standing in the shade not far away he hadn’t noticed when the man had arrived.
The stranger’s gaze lingered on them or more precisely, on Shen Yuqing in his arms.
Only when their eyes met did the other man lower his gaze slightly, looking away.
Pei Yiyan also withdrew his attention when he felt Shen Yuqing pat his waist lightly. “Alright, enough. Everyone’s watching. I have to go.”
Pei Yiyan buried his face in the crook of Shen Yuqing’s neck, inhaling his scent greedily. “Shen Yuqing,” he murmured, “stay.”
He didn’t want Shen Yuqing to leave. For some reason, the closer it got to this moment, the more unsettled he felt. He wanted to keep Shen Yuqing by his side, but Shen Yuqing wouldn’t stay.
Shen Yuqing gently pushed him away. “Why bring this up again now? I’m leaving. See you later.”
Pei Yiyan reached out to grab him, but Shen Yuqing dodged. “If you keep this up, I’ll really miss my ride,” he said, shouldering his bag. “Xiao Zhao, you guys head home first. No need to see me off.”
Pei Yiyan frowned at the rejection; lips pressed into a displeased line.
Shen Yuqing couldn’t help but laugh. Leaning in, he whispered something only the two of them could hear: “Go home. I left you a gift by the bedside.”
With that, he turned away breezily. “Bye!”
Pei Yiyan’s throat bobbed as he watched Shen Yuqing disappear into the crowd and board the vehicle with the others. Only then did he get into his own car. “Take me home.”
He had to admit Shen Yuqing’s words had hooked him. He couldn’t wait to see what kind of gift Shen Yuqing had left.
As the car turned a corner, it passed by the alpha from earlier. Their eyes met briefly through the window before the man looked away, shouldering his backpack and blending into the crowd.
Pei Yiyan expressionlessly rolled up the window.
He knew this alpha. Wu Yi’s investigation had included a photo of him, Song Wangzhuo.
The one with the magnolia-scented pheromones.
