If this were any other time, Cen Chi would never have been so unguarded—so out of tune with his surroundings that he failed to notice someone standing behind him. But the current situation was pure chaos, and distraction was inevitable.
Holding Chi Zhan in his arms made it even harder to move, let alone retaliate.
He could only bide his time and act slowly.
“Are you his friend?” Cen Chi asked again. “He needs a blocking patch right now, or things are going to get out of control.”
Just from that one sentence earlier, it was clear this newcomer’s relationship with Chi Zhan wasn’t simple—definitely closer than mere friends.
But that was… odd.
Before moving into the new dorms, Cen Chi had looked into his two roommates’ profiles. Chi Zhan’s background was clean and straightforward. His social circle was simple too—his closest friend was their fellow roommate, Tao Ran. Other than that, he only maintained casual acquaintances. So where had this person come from?
The military academy had strict controls over pheromones. If anyone entered Heat or their Susceptibility Period and couldn’t control their scent, an alarm would instantly sound across campus. Specialized staff would then isolate the affected student immediately.
Unfortunately, this was a remote island. There were no pheromone detectors here. Before disembarking, everyone had been forcibly injected with a high-grade suppressant to prevent any incidents.
There were surveillance cameras in the forest, but they were sparse. The terrain here was rugged, and as Cen Chi swept a quick glance around, he didn’t see a single camera in sight.
That, at least, was good news for Chi Zhan.
Because if his Omega status were discovered—along with his current unknown condition—he would be immediately disqualified and sent to a medical facility for quarantine. Clearly, that wasn’t something Chi Zhan would want.
However, if this man decided to report what happened here to an instructor… things would get ugly.
There were no Alpha or Omega pheromones in the vicinity, which meant the newcomer was a Beta.
That made him relatively easier to subdue.
While calculating his options, Cen Chi suddenly felt a gentle tug at his sleeve. Chi Zhan, his eyes half-lidded, seemed to have heard the commotion. His long lashes quivered as he struggled to open his eyes, though they remained hazy and unfocused.
His breaths came out hot.
Cen Chi hesitated no longer. Ignoring the blade at his neck, he moved to press the blocking patch to the back of Chi Zhan’s neck.
But another problem arose.
The moment his fingers brushed Chi Zhan’s skin, the latter flinched violently, jerking away like a startled fish—slippery and impossible to catch.
And with such intimate contact, Cen Chi was starting to feel the effects himself. Even though he’d taken a suppressant before coming here, Chi Zhan’s pheromones must have had a high compatibility with his own. His own scent was starting to stir.
Chi Zhan frowned as if displeased by the smell and began trying to hide again.
For someone whose pheromones were widely regarded as gentle and gentlemanly, and who had a high match rate with most Omegas, Cen Chi wasn’t sure whether to laugh or feel awkward at being disliked.
“Give him to me,” the man said, applying a bit more pressure with his hand. His voice dropped an octave, cold and sharp as a blade. “Don’t. Touch. Him.”
The knife pressed in again, now dangerously close to the carotid artery—a threat that left nothing to the imagination.
Was this man one of Chi Zhan’s admirers?
A Beta…
Cen Chi assessed the stranger lazily, then gave a small smile.
“You’re welcome to try. But if that blade so much as nicks me, my pheromones will flood out with the blood. I’m sure you know exactly what that would trigger.”
Had he not been holding Chi Zhan, Cen Chi would’ve had ample opportunity to fight back. But right now, he needed to stall, to provoke a slip-up, knock this guy out, and then get on with his task.
And the implication in his words was crystal clear:
Someone on the verge of entering Heat was already overwhelmed with pheromonal cravings. If a strong Alpha scent suddenly spilled into the air, it would only push him deeper into the spiral.
The subtle threat in his tone made the tension even more frigid and oppressive—though Chi Zhan remained blissfully unaware.
Cen Chi made another attempt to apply the blocking patch. When Chi Zhan twisted away again, he coaxed gently, “It’ll be okay once I stick this on. Don’t you trust Cen Chi?”
Chi Zhan should’ve recognized his voice. But in this state, he couldn’t even tell who was speaking. His fingers clutched Cen Chi’s sleeve, face turned away stubbornly to avoid his touch.
So damn stubborn.
“I’ll do it.”
A third voice cut cleanly into the tense exchange.
Cen Chi’s eyes turned frosty.
“I still don’t know what your relationship with Chi Zhan is. Besides, he won’t let you near him right now. Unless he chooses you himself, then—”
“He’ll choose me.” The man’s reply was flat and cool. He must’ve realized that Cen Chi wasn’t actually a threat to Chi Zhan, because he sheathed his blade without hesitation. Squatting down to meet Chi Zhan at eye level, he extended a hand.
He didn’t say a word. Didn’t even try to draw Chi Zhan’s attention.
And Chi Zhan, too dazed to register anyone else’s presence, didn’t even realize someone was there. That pale, steady arm simply hovered there in midair, unacknowledged.
Only now did Cen Chi finally get a good look at him—and recognized the new transfer student who’d recently stolen Chi Zhan’s spotlight.
Tang Ling.
So, a rival.
Cen Chi had only just started getting to know Chi Zhan recently, but he was well aware of how hard the latter worked. And how this Beta named Tang Ling had knocked him down to second place.
Normally, people couldn’t help resenting those who outranked them—even someone like Chi Zhan.
Based on that alone, Cen Chi seriously doubted there was anything between them. His polite smile faded as he said evenly, “If we waste any more time, don’t blame me for getting rough.”
He couldn’t use weapons, but he still had a few fast-acting drugs on him. They would suffice.
Just as he was considering which one to use, Chi Zhan suddenly stirred—as if sensing something.
He turned toward the Beta, dazed for a moment, then slowly pushed himself up and reached out his hand.
The gesture caused a rare crack in Cen Chi’s perfectly maintained composure.
The man didn’t rush. He simply gazed at Chi Zhan with those deep, steady black eyes—eyes that held a warmth and complexity hard to read. As Chi Zhan’s fingers brushed his, he quietly wrapped his hand around them.
