The matter of addressing him as “husband” had left Xia Ze feeling awkward all evening, the sensation of General Qi’s abs still lingering in his palm.
Even though he had only touched them through clothing, the memory seemed impossible to shake.
His dreams that night were filled with abs and the word “husband.”
In the days that followed, Xia Ze became even busier, with additional classes and tending to the soil taking up much of his time.
General Qi was clearly not idle either, he even made a trip back to the capital planet, evidently to handle something important.
As the day of their departure for the capital planet drew nearer, packing began in earnest. With Old Qi’s help, the process went smoothly.
Xia Ze had initially thought there wasn’t much to bring, since he would be returning anyway.
The main priority was transporting the specially prepared soil, he still needed to cultivate plants on the capital planet.
He had worried the soil might be too heavy to transport easily, but Old Qi assured him it wouldn’t be a problem. Even ten times the amount would be manageable.
With that settled, Xia Ze no longer had to worry about the luggage. All that remained was to focus on one final matter or rather, the last few classes.
Omega reproduction.
Omega physiology.
The newly hired instructor would cover everything from Omega differentiation to the first heat cycle, explaining concepts like mating fever, an Alpha’s rut period, scent glands and their functions, pheromonal attraction between Alphas and Omegas, and pheromone compatibility among other things.
Xia Ze’s classmates found it odd. Feng Qi spoke up first: “Teacher, isn’t this the most basic physiological knowledge? Why go over it again?”
And in such detail, too. What Omega wouldn’t already know these things?
The instructor glanced subtly at Xia Ze, careful not to let anyone notice.
Most Omegas would indeed be familiar with this, but Xia Ze raised by a deceased Beta grandfather, with no parents and no formal upbringing likely had no exposure to it.
General Qi had specifically requested a thorough explanation, wanting to fill in the gaps in Xia Ze’s knowledge.
In Qi Jing’s eyes, Xia Ze was a Beta. It made sense he wouldn’t know Omega-specific information.
And given that Xia Ze had never fully accepted his Omega identity, he wouldn’t have sought out this knowledge on his own.
So from every angle, this lesson was crucial.
Xia Ze scribbled furiously in his notebook, jotting down every detail.
His classmates didn’t find this unusual, Xia Ze was diligent in every subject, always taking meticulous notes.
By now, they even borrowed his notes sometimes.
Of course, they returned the favor in other ways.
When the topic turned to Omega heat cycles, Xia Ze’s pen paused. He had never experienced one likely due to the Gabriel rose suppressing his pheromones.
He had assumed the flower only masked his scent, but now it seemed there was more to it. He would have to study it further when he had time.
Then there was the matter of an Alpha’s rut occurring every six months.
During this period, Alphas became vulnerable, needing absolute reassurance, ideally from their bonded Omega.
In severe cases, they might even cry.
Ah, General Qi was an Alpha. Would he cry?
The thought made Xia Ze shudder. Impossible.
General Qi didn’t seem the type to shed tears at all.
Lost in imagining what Qi Jing’s rut might look like, Xia Ze failed to notice his Omega classmates blushing furiously.
Learning about these physiological topics was truly embarrassing.
When Qi Jing came to pick Xia Ze up after school, he clearly noticed the boy unconsciously glancing at him, especially staring at his eyes for a while before looking away shyly.
After returning home, Qi Jing finally asked, “What are you looking at?”
Caught red-handed again, Xia Ze whispered, “We learned about Alpha’s sensitive periods today.”
Sensitive periods?
Qi Jing usually dealt with his sensitive periods by taking suppressants. Though his heightened mental energy made his cycles more intense than most, his strong self-control meant they typically passed within a day.
He’d even completed high-intensity training during his sensitive periods, a feat that amazed his military colleagues.
Why was the kid asking about this? Was there something he didn’t understand?
Assuming Xia Ze was just curious about the lesson material the boy was always serious about his studies Qi Jing was taken aback when Xia Ze asked, “Do you cry during your sensitive periods?”
Xia Ze was genuinely curious!
Did all Alphas cry during their sensitive periods?
What would General Qi look like when crying?
Qi Jing paused. It wasn’t common for people to casually ask about another gender’s mating cycles or sensitive periods these were considered private matters.
Such questions could easily be misinterpreted as harassment.
For an Omega or Beta to ask an Alpha about his sensitive period.
It was practically an invitation to bed.
After all, everyone knew what typically happened during an Alpha’s sensitive period.
Unfamiliar with these social norms, Xia Ze had asked as if it were an ordinary question.
Qi Jing couldn’t help but rub his temples. Pulling the boy closer and glancing at Uncle Qi cooking in the kitchen, he said in a low voice, “Don’t ask these questions in public.”
“What’s wrong with these questions?” Xia Ze looked puzzled.
Qi Jing realized the boy not only lacked understanding of gender distinctions but also had no concept of appropriate boundaries between genders.
Was this a Beta trait?
But even Betas maintained proper distance. In Xia Ze’s eyes, everyone seemed the same.
This innocence made Qi Jing both exasperated and amused.
“Xia Ze,” Qi Jing rarely used his full name, “asking an Alpha about his sensitive period is equivalent to propositioning him.”
???
Propositioning what???
The realization hit Xia Ze like a ton of bricks.
Did that count as sexual harassment?
What had he just asked General Qi?!
He’d asked if the general cried during his sensitive periods!
Qi Jing continued, “If someone asks an Alpha this question, the most likely response would be: ‘Come see for yourself during my next sensitive period.'”
During sensitive periods, an Alpha’s senses became hundreds of times more acute.
Unmated Alphas would isolate themselves.
If someone visited them then.
What would happen?
Even with a Beta present, let alone an Omega, unspeakable things would occur.
Xia Ze’s blush spread from his face down to his neck.
Ahhhh! What had he been thinking?!
Too embarrassed to speak, Xia Ze was startled when General Qi leaned close to his reddened ear and whispered, “Come see for yourself during my next sensitive period.”
“See whether I cry or not.”
What was there to see?!
Absolutely not!
This was just like that old pickup line “Come see my cat do backflips”!
As Xia Ze tried to retreat, Qi Jing caught him again.
He’d never admit it, but part of him did want to see General Qi cry, it would certainly be interesting.
When Uncle Qi called them for dinner, he found the young master holding the little master close, both with reddened ears.
They seemed to be sharing some intimate whispers.
Old Qi quietly withdrew, thinking it best to let the young master and his companion continue deepening their bond.
