Yun Xingze leaned against the cold wall, his fingers clenching tightly as his nails dug into his palms, the pain bringing him a sliver of clarity.
Another match had just ended, and soon, Alphas would flood the backstage area. If his pheromones leaked now, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Frowning deeply, Yun Xingze suppressed the heat surging within him through sheer mental discipline. He took a deep breath, steadying himself before stepping out calmly.
Several Alphas brushed past him.
Yun Xingze’s cheeks were slightly flushed, though it wasn’t unusual given he’d just finished a match. His expression remained indifferent, exuding a cool detachment that only made him more striking.
The Alphas froze for a few seconds, staring.
Only after Yun Xingze had walked away did they snap out of it.
“That Omega… he’s gorgeous.”
“His skin is so fair, and his eyes are stunning. How can such a high-quality Omega defeat Caleb?”
“His figure is top-tier too. Damn, I heard Chi Yu called off their engagement. What kind of idiot does that?”
Listening to the idiots behind him, Yun Xingze felt irritation surge, his fingers itching to turn around and punch them.
He hated being ogled by these Alphas.
The sensitivity and irritability brought on by his heat manifested fully in this moment.
After leaving the arena, Yun Xingze wanted to head straight back to his dorm, but his steps remained sluggish.
Outside, the sky had turned gray, a light drizzle dampening the ground.
Pedestrians along the street had their rain-shielding robots deployed, transparent nano-umbrellas blooming above them to keep the raindrops at bay.
Yun Xingze hadn’t brought one. The rain soaked into his hair and clothes, the cold wind seeping through his collar, yet it did nothing to quell the rising heat in his body.
Then, a sharp ache pulsed from his scent gland. The heat surged through his veins, pooling at his shoulders as if it were about to spill over.
Alarmed, Yun Xingze searched for a secluded spot. The only nearby buildings were the training halls, which had Omega-only restrooms.
He turned toward the training facility. Along the path, cherry blossom petals scattered in the wind and rain.
Before he could reach it, a warm, rosy fragrance filled his senses fresh yet intoxicating, laced with pheromones.
Yun Xingze immediately covered his scent gland, gritted his teeth, and quickened his pace into a jog.
But his vision blurred.
Tears welled at the corners of his eyes. He couldn’t tell if it was the rain or his own helplessness.
After running some distance, Yun Xingze confirmed no one was around and leaned against a cherry blossom tree, bracing himself against the trunk as he gasped for air.
The rain had drenched him completely.
He tried to activate his wrist comm to call the infirmary, but his arms felt leaden.
He wanted to speak, but his throat seemed strangled.
Every cell in his body was in chaos. It took all his strength just to keep from collapsing to his knees.
This was an Omega’s heat.
Without an Alpha’s mark or suppressants, it was like being a puppet with its strings cut.
Yun Xingze hadn’t expected it to come early likely due to his irregular schedule. It was a thousand times worse than falling ill with a fever.
His fingers gripped the tree trunk, yet he couldn’t help but slowly crouch down.
A dull ache spread through his limbs as every cell in his body screamed, craved, and waited.
The scent of roses drifted between the cherry blossom trees, and only one thought filled Yun Xingze’s mind; he was doomed.
At this moment.
Luo Wenchuan took out a black umbrella from his bag, opening it against the increasingly heavy rain to shield himself from the storm.
Traditional umbrellas had become rare in this era, even on remote barren planets, and their price far exceeded that of rain-blocking robots.
Walking along the path, he stood out among the crowd his tall frame clad in a fitted school uniform made him appear even more striking. The black umbrella in his hand inexplicably added an air of aloofness and nobility.
After his conversation with Ke Lei, Luo Wenchuan was in a foul mood and planned to head to the simulation training room.
Located next to the mecha training hall, the path from the arena led through a grove of cherry blossoms the same place where Luo Wenchuan had once rescued a cat.
Since it was the weekend, the mecha department students were busy with competitions, and the bad weather left the path deserted.
Yet the moment Luo Wenchuan stepped onto the trail, umbrella in hand, a sudden whiff of rose fragrance caught him off guard.
Unlike ordinary rose scents, this aroma was fresh yet not overpowering, standing out distinctly in the rain, carrying a hormonal intensity that left Luo Wenchuan momentarily stunned.
Within seconds, his thoughts scattered as the fragrance seeped into his lungs.
The raindrops pattering against the black umbrella no longer sounded like water they might as well have been rose petals.
When Luo Wenchuan regained his senses, he immediately understood.
This was an Omega’s pheromones!
He should have turned and walked away exposure to Omega pheromones always triggered an allergic reaction in him.
Yet this time, his heartbeat inexplicably accelerated, pounding against his chest like a drum, leaving him breathless.
His breathing grew shallow and rapid, his body temperature rising swiftly.
Luo Wenchuan knew this couldn’t be an allergic reaction.
He wasn’t allergic?
His eyes widened slowly as he followed the scent’s trail, landing on a young man crouched beneath a cherry blossom tree.
Luo Wenchuan inhaled deeply, trying to steady himself, but the crisp air mixed with rose essence left his mind blank for an instant; his legs nearly buckled.
Raindrops streaked through the air like transparent threads, and through the blur, Luo Wenchuan recognized the boy.
His hair was soaked, head bowed low, one hand clutching his neck as he struggled for breath in obvious pain. Cherry blossom petals clung to his dark locks, his fair cheeks damp with rain and tears, a flush spreading from his face to the tips of his ears.
Luo Wenchuan stood frozen, maintaining a ten-meter distance drawn to the boy yet afraid to approach.
The rose-scented pheromones hanging in the air signaled extreme danger to him.
Not the usual danger of an allergic reaction to Omega pheromones, but danger of another kind.
Luo Wenchuan didn’t know if he could control himself if he took even a few steps closer.
Holding his breath, his Adam’s apple bobbed against a dry, aching throat.
He knew he should call for help and leave immediately.
At this very moment, the rain suddenly intensified. Amid the falling cherry blossom petals, the boy’s tense posture reminded Luo Wenchuan of that panicked cat he’d encountered that day.
His heart nearly skipped a beat.
An overwhelming sensation crashed over him, a voice in his mind warned that if he turned away now, he might never cross paths with this Omega boy again.
Yun Xingze’s breath grew scorching hot. His body temperature felt like it had spiked to forty degrees, yet the icy raindrops continued to pelt him, the clash of heat and cold making his fingers tremble.
Then—
He heard crisp, decisive footsteps.
Lifting his head, his blurred vision caught a tall figure striding toward him through the rain. The tailored navy-blue school uniform hugged long, powerful legs, while black boots splashed through puddles with each step.
Finally, those boots stopped right in front of him.
The person shifted the black umbrella from their own head, lowering it slowly until it sheltered Yun Xingze, shielding him from the freezing downpour.
