Raindrops pattered against the umbrella above him. Yun Xingze’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his back stiffened further, unable to discern whether the person before him bore good or ill intentions.
If this was an alpha, would he try to mark him?
Suppressing his discomfort, Yun Xingze slowly tilted his head back to look up at the tall man, then involuntarily widened his eyes.
From beneath the umbrella, he could see the dark golden handle gripped by distinct knuckles, the pale prominent wristbone, and the cuff stained with raindrops and petals.
Following the long, powerful arm upward revealed broad shoulders clad in a dark blue school jacket over a white shirt—no tie, exposing a glimpse of collarbone.
Further up was a face both familiar and strange.
The man’s jawline was tightly clenched, lips pressed thin as he looked down at Yun Xingze. His narrow, handsome eyes were unfathomably deep, brows slightly furrowed.
That moment of eye contact left Yun Xingze’s mind blank.
He never expected the person before him to be Luo Wenchuan, the notorious omega-phobe.
Before Yun Xingze could react, the man maintained his stance and slowly crouched down, reaching toward the gland Yun Xingze was covering, attempting to pry his hand away.
The other’s fingers were slightly cool. When they brushed against Yun Xingze’s sensitive skin, the rough calluses made him swallow hard.
Though Yun Xingze had little strength left, Luo Wenchuan’s movements were even gentler, almost tentative.
Yun Xingze looked at Luo Wenchuan. They were so close now, with him sandwiched between the umbrella and the man’s body. He could see the transparent droplets on the other’s face, those clean-lined monolid eyes, and the straight, handsome nose bridge.
“Let me help you.”
Luo Wenchuan parted his thin lips to utter these three words. His voice was deep, carrying an inexplicable hoarseness, as if restraining something with great effort.
Unaware of anything amiss, Yun Xingze felt an unexpected sense of security upon hearing Luo Wenchuan’s voice and unconsciously loosened his fingers.
Luo Wenchuan’s fingers touched Yun Xingze’s gland. After confirming the location, he took out a disposable auto-injector of suppressants.
The suppressant was housed in a transparent, specially designed syringe that simultaneously disinfected, injected, and alleviated pain at the injection site.
Before Yun Xingze could wonder why he carried suppressants, Luo Wenchuan brought the syringe near his gland with one hand, thumb brushing clockwise at the top to activate it.
Then, a disinfectant swab extended from the syringe’s side to clean the gland. Seconds later, with disinfection complete, Luo Wenchuan slowly inserted the needle.
Yun Xingze’s pain sensitivity spiked. He gasped sharply, a pained moan escaping his throat.
Luo Wenchuan’s Adam’s apple moved, but his hand remained perfectly steady as he held the syringe and began administering the suppressant.
The pain intensified, drawing fresh tears from Yun Xingze’s eyes.
Though no stranger to illness in his past life, never had Yun Xingze felt so physically and psychologically fragile as now.
Through tear-blurred vision, he saw Luo Wenchuan’s expressionless face—thin lips pressed together, calm eyes fixed on the syringe as if entirely indifferent to his suffering.
Yun Xingze closed his eyes, gritting his teeth against the sharp pain radiating from his glands, his body trembling uncontrollably.
At that moment, a deep, magnetic male voice spoke again:
“Bear with it a little longer.”
Yun Xingze opened his eyes and met a pair of narrow, calm black eyes. The gaze, usually so cold it sent chills down one’s spine, now carried a faint trace of earnest reassurance.
In that instant, Yun Xingze seemed to see the Luo Wenchuan who had once saved a cat the same look in his eyes back then.
While Yun Xingze was still dazed, the inhibitor injection was completed. Luo Wenchuan carefully removed the needle, and a tiny mechanical arm extended from the left side of the syringe, pressing a hemostatic bandage onto Yun Xingze’s skin.
The heat surging through Yun Xingze’s body subsided considerably, and his temperature rapidly dropped.
Just as he was about to say thank you, Luo Wenchuan suddenly reached out with slender fingers.
Gently, meticulously smoothing the edges of the bandage that hadn’t fully adhered.
Yun Xingze froze for a second, but by the next moment, Luo Wenchuan had already stood up slowly.
Because he had been holding the umbrella over Yun Xingze the entire time, his own clothes were now damp from the rain.
Yun Xingze felt deeply apologetic. He stood up, wanting to say something to Luo Wenchuan, but his legs had gone numb from crouching for so long. The moment he rose, he lost his balance and toppled forward.
Immediately, his chin collided with Luo Wenchuan’s shoulder.
At over 180 cm, Yun Xingze was considered tall for an Omega, but Luo Wenchuan stood around 190 cm. When Yun Xingze fell into his arms, he was met with the clean scent of mint—likely from cologne or laundry detergent.
He could hear the other’s breathing near his ear, warm air brushing against his earlobe.
Luo Wenchuan stiffened.
Yun Xingze had expected him to explode in anger, but he didn’t.
Instead, Luo Wenchuan swiftly pulled out a can of scent-blocking spray from his bag and spritzed it over Yun Xingze a dozen times, as if utterly repulsed by the rose-like pheromones clinging to him.
Yun Xingze desperately wanted to stand, but the earlier fever had left his body weak, and the prolonged crouching had cut off blood flow to his brain. His vision darkened.
A few seconds later, Yun Xingze lost consciousness, collapsing into Luo Wenchuan’s embrace.
Before passing out, he murmured weakly, “Thank you.”
Luo Wenchuan said nothing, his muscles tense.
Frowning, he waited for Yun Xingze to get up, but no response came.
After about half a minute, Luo Wenchuan asked in a low voice, “You’re not planning to move, are you?”
But Yun Xingze didn’t answer, his head resting heavily against Luo Wenchuan’s neck, his full weight pressing against him, his hands unconsciously resting at Luo Wenchuan’s waist.
Like a sloth clinging to a tree in sleep.
Only then did Luo Wenchuan realize Yun Xingze had fainted.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his brows furrowing in faint impatience toward this Omega boy. Nevertheless, he closed the umbrella and scooped up the little sloth in a bridal carry, heading toward the infirmary.
At that very moment, the rain stopped.
Sunlight spilled through the clouds, casting a gentle glow over the gray world.
The boy’s hair was disheveled, petals from cherry blossoms still clinging to it, leaving him looking utterly disheveled.
His head rested against Luo Wenchuan’s chest, eyes closed, long lashes delicate, skin pale, lips slightly colorless, yet unable to mask the youthful vigor radiating from his handsome features.
Luo Wenchuan found it hard to believe this was the same boy who piloted the Caliber mecha on the battlefield.
The scent blockers neutralized all pheromones, the rich rose fragrance completely gone, as if everything that had just happened was merely an accident.
After fainting, Yun Xingze had a dream where he returned to his original world, lying in a medical pod for treatment, his entire body wracked with unbearable discomfort.
Then, a calloused hand gently touched his neck, pulling him from the agony.
Carrying the scent of mint.
In the infirmary.
Chi Yu accompanied Su Zinan for a checkup, only for the doctor to say there was nothing wrong perhaps just exhaustion, his heat cycle hadn’t arrived early.
Su Zinan rubbed his neck and said to Chi Yu, “Thanks for bringing me, Yu-ge. I’ll transfer the medical fees to you.”
“No need,” Chi Yu replied. “Between us, money doesn’t matter. We’re old teammates.”
Su Zinan smiled. “You’re so kind, Yu-ge.”
“But next time, be more careful,” Chi Yu frowned. “Don’t overreact like that—you scared me.”
Su Zinan nodded. “I was just nervous when I said that. If something like that happened backstage during a match, the consequences would be serious.”
“Then carry suppressants with you,” Chi Yu said impatiently. “I can’t always accompany you to the infirmary, can I?”
“Alright, alright, I’ll be more careful next time,” Su Zinan pouted. “I know you only have eyes for Xingze now.”
Chi Yu thought of Yun Xingze and turned to leave the infirmary to find him.
Su Zinan followed. “Yu-ge, want to grab a meal first?”
Chi Yu ignored him.
At this moment, recalling Yun Xingze’s performance in the arena, Chi Yu felt as if a hook had lodged in his heart, desperate to see him immediately.
He’d never imagined the Yun Xingze he grew up with would become such a powerful, stunning Omega.
Yet when Chi Yu reached the doorway, his steps suddenly halted.
Su Zinan bumped into his shoulder and blinked. “Yu-ge, why’d you stop so suddenly? That hurt.”
Chi Yu stood frozen, as if witnessing the most impossible sight.
Su Zinan followed his gaze and his eyes widened. “Luo… Luo Wenchuan and Yun Xingze?!”
Chi Yu stared as Luo Wenchuan hurried into the infirmary, carrying a beautiful Omega youth bridal-style in his arms, both drenched from the rain.
Chi Yu wondered if he was hallucinating.
In all his years on the school team, he’d never seen Luo Wenchuan interact with any Omega. The SS-ranked genius Alpha seemed completely indifferent to romance.
Yet now, Luo Wenchuan was holding Yun Xingze?!
A surge of jealousy rose in Chi Yu’s chest. He strode forward and blocked Luo Wenchuan’s path, demanding, “What happened to him?”
“Heat cycle came early,” Luo Wenchuan said coldly. “Move.”
At the word “heat,” Chi Yu’s expression darkened. He refused to yield. “Give him to me.”
Luo Wenchuan frowned. “To you? Are you a doctor?”
Chi Yu’s expression stiffened, and he pressed his lips together.
Both Luo Wenchuan and Chi Yu were top-tier Alphas in the school team. However, Luo Wenchuan ranked first, was exceptionally handsome, and his presence completely overshadowed Chi Yu; something that had frustrated Chi Yu on numerous occasions.
Now, watching Yun Xingze lying unconscious in Luo Wenchuan’s arms, Chi Yu felt an overwhelming sense of crisis, as if his most precious possession had been snatched away.
Luo Wenchuan, carrying Yun Xingze, bumped shoulders with Chi Yu and strode past him with deliberate force.
Chi Yu froze for a moment before quickly following. But Luo Wenchuan, with his long legs, moved swiftly. He carried Yun Xingze to the doctor, described his symptoms, and then took him straight into the ward completely ignoring Chi Yu.
Su Zinan, standing nearby, whispered to Chi Yu, “Xingze is really something, huh? Even Luo Wenchuan fell for him. Who would’ve guessed? Maybe I should learn a thing or two from him if I want to get a partner.”
Hearing Su Zinan’s words, Chi Yu clenched his fists, an inexplicable anger rising in his chest.
He had never even seen Yun Xingze during his heat; so why did Luo Wenchuan get to?
Chi Yu stepped to the ward entrance, his face dark. As he watched Luo Wenchuan place Yun Xingze into the medical pod, he gritted his teeth and said, “Luo Wenchuan, this isn’t the school team. What gives you the right to act so high and mighty?”
Luo Wenchuan turned and walked out of the ward, closing the door behind him to keep Chi Yu’s voice from disturbing those inside.
Then, he frowned at Chi Yu. “What exactly do you want?”
“He’s my fiancé,” Chi Yu said, staring at Luo Wenchuan, enunciating each word. “Didn’t you know that?”
Luo Wenchuan’s sharp, cold eyes met Chi Yu’s.
Contrary to Chi Yu’s expectations, he didn’t respond immediately.
The atmosphere between them grew tense and uneasy.
