He hadn’t even taken a few steps when Chi Zhan suddenly caught a far stronger scent than before. The crisp mint aroma had been replaced by an intense wave of plant fragrance. His mind went completely blank. It took him a long moment before he turned to look at Cen Chi.
“I’ll handle your absence notice,” Cen Chi said, raising the thermometer with a smile. “Can we check your temperature now?”
Chi Zhan found himself speechless.
His head was filled with question marks. Each one felt crucial, tangled together like a mess of knotted thread, all jostling for attention, none coming to the front.
Tao Ran, who had been watching the two in confusion, was about to ask what was going on when Chi Zhan spoke.Â
“Go on to class. Don’t worry about me.”
“You sure… it’s okay?”
“I’ll take care of him,” Cen Chi replied.
Tao Ran got the distinct feeling that if he said anything else, he’d officially become the third wheel. As the saying goes, better to tear down ten temples than ruin one relationship. He wisely slipped away.
Once Tao Ran left, Cen Chi held out the thermometer.Â
“It’s been disinfected.”
Chi Zhan didn’t take it. He just stared at him.Â
“What were you doing just now?”
“What do you mean? I don’t follow,” Cen Chi replied.
Chi Zhan was silent for a moment, then dropped the subject. He took the thermometer into his mouth.
After several careful tests, Chi Zhan was beginning to confirm Cen Chi’s pheromone scent. But this was not something Cen Chi could ever find out.
Betas weren’t supposed to be able to smell pheromones.
That unsettling feeling in Chi Zhan’s chest had grown stronger. Once suspicion takes root, it only grows—sprouting leaves, stretching skyward, unstoppable.
Cen Chi couldn’t know. He must not find out.
That thought was the only thing ringing in Chi Zhan’s mind.
Cen Chi didn’t leave. He typed something quickly on his terminal, then said, “I filed your leave request for the whole day. Don’t worry about the paperwork—I’ve handled it.”
Chi Zhan nodded.
Cen Chi had classes today. He should have been on his way out already. Seeing Chi Zhan nod, he left without another word.
Chi Zhan let out a breath.
Once Cen Chi left, the scent gradually dissipated. Chi Zhan resisted the strong urge to chase after him, forcing himself to stay seated.
What the hell was going on? Why could he smell Cen Chi’s pheromones—and more than that, why did he like it so much?
Chi Zhan rubbed his forehead, trying to think it through. The only halfway reasonable explanation was that Cen Chi had used a highly popular perfume that Betas could also smell.
The door opened again. Cen Chi walked in carrying something. Noticing the confusion in Chi Zhan’s eyes, he explained, “Eat a little something first. Don’t want you fainting from low blood sugar.”
He removed the thermometer and checked it in the sunlight.
“You’ve got a slight fever,” Cen Chi said, glancing at him. “Eat, then rest up.”
“…Didn’t you have class?” Chi Zhan asked slowly, clearly not expecting him to return.
Cen Chi opened the breakfast bag without answering, handed Chi Zhan a pair of chopsticks.Â
“Didn’t know what you liked, so I just grabbed a few things.”
Chi Zhan glanced inside.
Most of it happened to be food he liked.
Compared to Cen Chi, who had notoriously picky tastes, Chi Zhan could eat pretty much anything—but there were only a few things he actually liked.
Still, right now, he had no appetite.
Chi Zhan put down the chopsticks.Â
“You don’t have to take care of me. I’ll be fine with some medicine.”Â
He started digging through the first aid kit, pulled out fever medication, poured a glass of water, and got ready to take it.
Cen Chi didn’t stop him. But just as Chi Zhan was about to take the pills, he said quietly, “It won’t work.”
His voice had lost its usual warmth—cool, indifferent, even a little distant.
Chi Zhan ignored him, tossed the pill back with a gulp of water. Thankfully, Cen Chi didn’t release any more pheromones. After taking the medicine, Chi Zhan grew even more drowsy and returned to bed to sleep.
Cen Chi didn’t disturb him. But neither did he leave. As Chi Zhan lay on his side, he noticed Cen Chi also take a pill.
What was he taking? Chi Zhan wondered.
But being sick would only set him back further. The schedule was already packed; he needed to rest and regain strength. If he could make it to class that afternoon, even better.
Chi Zhan closed his eyes and forced himself to rest. When he woke again, it was to the sound of Cen Chi’s voice.
The room was dark. The curtains had been drawn at some point. Chi Zhan opened his eyes and felt like his entire body was burning. He was drenched in sweat—the fever had worsened.
He glanced at the clock. He’d slept for several hours.
And now, there was less than an hour left before his meeting with S.
Chi Zhan got up.
“You’re still running a fever,” Cen Chi said.
“I feel much better. You didn’t go to class? I told you, you don’t need to look after me.”
He was about to get down from the bed when his wrist was suddenly caught.
The other’s hand was cool to the touch—comfortingly so. Chi Zhan found himself reluctant to pull away, completely unaware of the expression on Cen Chi’s face in the dim light.
“Take this,” Cen Chi said softly, holding out a round tablet.
It wasn’t standard fever medication.
“What is this?” Chi Zhan asked warily.
“It won’t harm you.”
“Thanks, but I don’t need it.”Â
Chi Zhan was polite but firm. He pushed Cen Chi’s hand aside. His body still felt like it was on fire. There was a glass of water on the table from earlier. He reached for it—only to find it ice cold, the chill nearly numbing his fingers.
Before he could drink, Cen Chi took the cup from him without asking and poured a fresh glass of warm water.
“…What exactly are you trying to do?” Chi Zhan gave him a strange look. “I’m really feeling a lot better. You don’t need to worry.”
At this point, he didn’t even have the energy to be mad about what happened yesterday. Frankly, Cen Chi wasn’t his priority—S was.
When he didn’t get a reply, Chi Zhan went to change clothes. He opened the wardrobe and took out an outfit.
Then Cen Chi suddenly said, “You can’t go out right now.”
