Yu Shiqing frowned. Was it a side effect of the suppressant? He thought he had just heard something that wasn’t real.
Seeing his expression, Jiang Yu looked serious and said, “You didn’t hear wrong.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t react much. He asked, “Why?”
From his tone, it sounded like he wasn’t very willing either. Then why bring it up?
Jiang Yu took a deep breath and calmly started from the beginning.
“You already noticed yesterday that I’m still in my heat period. But right now, all the heat suppressants on the market don’t work on me.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t understand why he was talking about his heat now. Then he heard the last part and looked Jiang Yu up and down again.
Under Yu Shiqing’s gaze, Jiang Yu pressed his thin lips together and awkwardly adjusted his collar.
Today, he wore a grey-blue turtleneck sweater with a dark wool coat on top. It made his shoulders look broad and his legs long—he looked very stylish, with nothing unusual on the surface.
Yu Shiqing hadn’t paid much attention at first. But now, because of Jiang Yu’s movement, he looked closer at the side of his neck and realized that the high collar was probably covering something.
Maybe bite marks.
Yu Shiqing thought absentmindedly—they still haven’t faded?
“What are you looking at?” Jiang Yu asked.
Yu Shiqing came back to his senses. When he looked up, he met Jiang Yu’s eyes, which were starting to show anger again. Not wanting to provoke him, he slowly turned his gaze away and said calmly, “The weather’s nice today.”
It was just past November, and the temperature had dropped quickly. The days were getting colder. It was almost noon, but the sky was still covered in dark clouds. No sunlight was visible. The wind outside howled, blowing their coats and making the air even colder.
Nice weather? Jiang Yu closed his eyes briefly.
“Are you even listening to me?”
“I’m listening,” Yu Shiqing replied. “You said the suppressants don’t work on you. But your pheromones seem stable now. Did you find a solution?”
“Yes. That’s why I made the request.”
Then Jiang Yu suddenly turned his back to Yu Shiqing and took a step forward.
He got straight to the point:
“Because I found out that maybe… your pheromones work on me.”
Yu Shiqing looked surprised, which was rare for him.
He had never heard of alpha pheromones working to suppress another alpha’s heat.
It sounded impossible.
Jiang Yu had expected this reaction. After all, he had felt the same way last night. So without waiting for a reply, he continued:
“I’ll help you revise the script. You help me get through this heat period.
That’s what you owe me.”
After thinking briefly, Yu Shiqing said, “Okay.”
The script wasn’t the main point. After what happened last night, if there was a chance to make it up to Jiang Yu, even if Jiang Yu didn’t do anything and just asked for help, Yu Shiqing would agree.
Seeing how easily he agreed, Jiang Yu turned around, his gaze sharp and doubtful.
Yu Shiqing asked, “Once a day?”
He brought up the details first. Jiang Yu’s tone softened.
“No. Just follow the usual cycle.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t object. “Then according to the cycle, when will your next pheromone surge happen?”
Jiang Yu answered honestly, “I don’t know.”
Yu Shiqing frowned slightly. He suddenly had a bad feeling.
“So what you mean is… you don’t just need me to live with you.
You need me to go everywhere with you too?”
Jiang Yu replied, “Something like that.”
Yu Shiqing asked, “How many days are left in your heat?”
Jiang Yu said, “Yesterday was the first day.”
A normal alpha’s heat period happens once a year and lasts for a week.
If yesterday was the first day, then there were six days left.
Yu Shiqing thought about it. The movie set was still being built, but before filming starts, there would be a training session in the next couple of days.
Before training, they would stay in the same hotel. During training, they would be at the same filming location.
If he calculated that way, it wasn’t too hard to accept.
Jiang Yu stayed quiet with him for a few seconds and thought he was still unsure.
“If you think it’s unfair, I can offer more.”
Yu Shiqing looked at him. “Like what?”
Jiang Yu said, “For example, I happen to know a few directors preparing for new movies. They’re still casting.”
In his mind, Yu Shiqing had fame and awards, but that was three years ago. Now, in the entertainment world, Yu Shiqing had basically disappeared. It was hard for him to get roles from proper directors again.
This was a pretty generous offer, Jiang Yu thought.
But Yu Shiqing said, “No need.”
Jiang Yu frowned. “You don’t agree?”
“No,” Yu Shiqing said. “I agree. I just don’t need any extra offers.”
Jiang Yu was surprised.
Yu Shiqing continued, “Then it’s decided. I’m going to do my makeup test now. I’ll be back at the hotel around 4 p.m. If your schedule changes, let me know.”
Jiang Yu watched him take out his phone, ready to exchange contact details, and suddenly asked, “Why didn’t you accept?”
Yu Shiqing said, “Phone number first.”
After connecting the call and saving the number, he finally answered while putting his phone away:
“Because helping me with the script is already enough.”
“Enough?” Jiang Yu repeated with a strange look.
“You do realize you really need opportunities like this now, right?
Or do you think this one movie can turn everything around for you?”
Yu Shiqing listened quietly. Then, suddenly, he smiled softly.
Jiang Yu frowned. “Why are you smiling?”
Looking at the sharp, distant face in front of him, Yu Shiqing only smiled gently and said,
“Thank you.”
Jiang Yu hadn’t expected a “thank you.”
For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.
He stared blankly at the smiling Yu Shiqing for half a second, then looked away and said coldly,
“No need to thank me. This is just a deal.
Remember, after one week, we’re even.”
“Alright.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t want to drag things out with him either. He glanced at his watch.
“See you in the afternoon, then.”
“See you in the afternoon,” Jiang Yu replied.
After saying goodbye, he stood there, watching Yu Shiqing walk away.
After a while, he replayed the conversation in his mind and snorted,
“Ungrateful.”
Then he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
——
That afternoon, after the makeup test, Yu Shiqing finished his lookbook photos.
Seeing that it was almost time, he got ready to leave.
Just then, Yan Hongyun finally arrived.
Since Doomsday Rescue had a huge budget and long prep time, director Yan had a lot to handle.
He couldn’t attend to everyone. So, hearing that Yu Shiqing was leaving, it was already nice of him to personally bring the new script over.
Before Yu Shiqing left, Yan smiled and gave him a little heads-up:
“Training starts the day after tomorrow. You and Jiang Yu have the most action scenes, so it’ll be tough.”
Then he patted Yu Shiqing’s shoulder.
“Read the script again when you’re back. If anything doesn’t fit, we can discuss.”
Yu Shiqing felt something stir inside him.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but he had the feeling that Yan Hongyun always treated him a bit differently.
Normally, with Yan’s reputation, there was no need to pay extra attention to a “washed-up” actor like him.
Maybe he was just overthinking it.
So, he smiled and said, “I will. Thank you, Director Yan.”
Yan Hongyun laughed again, then left in a hurry.
Yu Shiqing and Ren Bai also returned to the hotel.
On the way, Ren Bai added Yu Shiqing to the Doomsday Rescue WeChat group.
His joining message stayed pinned for half an hour. The group was quiet until Yan Hongyun suddenly wrote,
“Teacher Yu is here too—welcome!”
Right after, the chat was flooded with profile pictures “lining up” to welcome him.
In the hotel elevator, Ren Bai looked annoyed.
“Look at these fake people. Who wants their welcome?”
Yu Shiqing had been flipping through the script. Hearing that, he opened the chat and sent a few red packets.
Just then, the elevator doors opened—Ren Bai’s floor.
He said, “You’re going to read the script again, right? I won’t come up.”
As he stepped out, Yu Shiqing remembered something and said,
“This week, you don’t need to come upstairs. Let’s just meet in the lobby.”
“Huh? Why?” Ren Bai was confused.
Yu Shiqing said, “I’m living with Jiang Yu this week.”
Ren Bai: “……”
That light sentence hit him like a bomb.
He stood frozen, staring as the elevator door closed.
Then he shouted, “Wait—!!”
But the elevator didn’t wait.
Yu Shiqing casually pressed the button for the top floor and continued upward.
After last night’s incident, the hotel had upgraded Jiang Yu’s room to a presidential suite, making him easy to find.
When Yu Shiqing got to the door, he rang the bell.
Very soon, the door opened.
Jiang Yu stood behind it and glanced at the time.
“Not bad. Pretty punctual.”
It was 3:50 p.m., ten minutes before the agreed 4 p.m.
After Yu Shiqing entered, Jiang Yu shut the door and said,
“By the way, I forgot to remind you earlier. About our situation—I don’t want anyone else knowing.”
Yu Shiqing turned to him. “But we’re living together. It won’t stay hidden, right?”
Jiang Yu said seriously, “I meant the other thing.”
Yu Shiqing understood. “Don’t worry. After this week, just like last night, I’ll pretend nothing happened.”
That same sentence again.
Jiang Yu immediately felt the same frustration rising in his chest.
“Whatever you want!” he snapped.
Yu Shiqing heard the tone and knew to step back.
“Which room am I staying in?”
Jiang Yu pointed casually. “Right side.”
The bedroom door on the right was open. Easy to find.
Yu Shiqing went in, dropped off the script, and took a shower.
During the makeup session, they had also tested clothes, which needed fitting and size adjustments.
After half a day, he felt uncomfortable.
After showering, he tossed his clothes into the washing machine, put on a bathrobe, and went to the minibar for a glass of water.
On his way back, he passed Jiang Yu.
He nodded in greeting and was about to walk past when—
“Hey!”
Yu Shiqing turned around. “What?”
Jiang Yu took a moment to find the right words, then said through gritted teeth,
“Mr. Yu, please… be a little more careful.”
His bathrobe was loose and open at the chest, revealing a wide area.
Did this idiot forget someone else was living here?
Yu Shiqing asked, “Careful about what?”
Jiang Yu took a deep breath. “Where’s your pajamas?”
Yu Shiqing said, “I didn’t bring any.”
He looked down. The bathrobe was tied properly—not revealing anything.
Jiang Yu remembered his hands were empty earlier, only holding the script. He frowned.
“You didn’t bring any other clothes either?”
Yu Shiqing really hadn’t.
His original plan was to read through the Dawn script today and return the same day.
Since things changed suddenly, he didn’t waste time going back. He figured he could buy some clothes nearby.
Jiang Yu didn’t wait for an explanation.
“Wait here.”
Yu Shiqing didn’t know what he planned but stayed still as told.
After finishing his water, Jiang Yu returned—with clothes.
It was a set of sportswear, soft-looking fabric.
Seeing it, Yu Shiqing asked, “Is that for me?”
Jiang Yu said, “Don’t worry. It’s clean.”
Yu Shiqing said, “Thanks for the kindness, but I’m not cold right now.”
Jiang Yu: “……”
His hand holding the hanger slowly tightened.
Who cares if you’re cold?!
He forced himself to ignore it, handed over the clothes, and said coldly,
“You better change into this now.”
Yu Shiqing had no choice but to take it. He thanked him again and went back to the bedroom.
Jiang Yu watched his back disappear behind the door, face blank, but chest full of frustration.
He glanced at the time.
4:48 p.m.
Great.
Forget a whole week—this was just the first hour, and he already regretted everything.
