Returning home, Shen Yuqing changed his shoes, and Good Luck came over to rub against his pant leg. For some reason this time, it was even more clingy, refusing to leave after rubbing against him.
Shen Yuqing bent down to pick it up, but Good Luck, acting out of character, remained restless even in his arms, vigorously nuzzling its head against his chest as if addicted to some scent, the very one Shen Yuqing liked.
As he walked further inside, he buried his face in Good Luck’s fluffy fur and took a few deep breaths, feeling some of the exhaustion in his soul fade away.
Xiao Zhao came out of the kitchen and was startled to see Shen Yuqing looking so worn out. “Young Master, did something happen?”
It had been a long time since he’d seen Shen Yuqing with such an expression.
Shen Yuqing glanced at him. “It’s nothing, just tired from playing.”
It was only noon, and the past few days he’d returned full of energy why was he so exhausted today?
Though puzzled, Xiao Zhao didn’t press further. Just as he was about to return to the kitchen, his peripheral vision caught sight of Shen Yuqing’s clothes. Concerned, he asked, “Young Master, why is there blood on your clothes? Were you injured?”
Following Xiao Zhao’s gaze, Shen Yuqing looked down and indeed spotted a faint bloodstain on his hem something he hadn’t noticed earlier.
“It’s nothing,” Shen Yuqing said. “A classmate got hurt. I must’ve accidentally gotten some on me.”
He set Good Luck down. “I’ll take a shower first, then eat. By the way, has Pei Yiyan gone out again?”
Only after confirming that Shen Yuqing was truly fine did Xiao Zhao nod. “Young Master Pei will be back soon. He should be arriving any minute.”
Shen Yuqing acknowledged this with a nod before heading to his bedroom. He grabbed fresh clothes, tossed the bloodstained ones carelessly onto a chair, then carried his change of clothes into the bathroom.
Not long after he entered the bathroom, the front door opened again.
Pei Yiyan and Wu Yi stepped inside.
The moment they entered, Wu Yi frowned. “Young Master, there’s an alpha’s pheromones in the house.”
Though faint, the scent carried a combative edge.
Pei Yiyan’s brows also furrowed. Magnolia. That magnolia scent again.
He had caught it on Shen Yuqing before, and now, after so long, it had reappeared.
After changing his shoes, Pei Yiyan walked toward the living room. Xiao Zhao happened to be bringing out the freshly cooked dishes and said, “Young Master Pei, rest for a bit. Dinner will be ready soon.”
Pei Yiyan tilted his head slightly. “Did someone visit?”
Xiao Zhao looked puzzled. “No?”
Pei Yiyan lowered his gaze. “Has Shen Yuqing returned?”
“He has,” Xiao Zhao replied. “But he said he wanted to shower first. He should be out soon.”
Pei Yiyan’s eyes shifted toward the bedroom door. He strode over while Wu Yi, seeing this, went to help Xiao Zhao in the kitchen.
The closer Pei Yiyan got to the bedroom, the stronger the alpha’s scent became.
His frown deepened. Was the smell this strong? Did he secretly bring someone home?
For some reason, an uncomfortable feeling settled in his chest.
Pei Yiyan took a deep breath and pushed open the bedroom door but instead of the person he’d imagined, all he heard was the sound of running water from the bathroom.
Shen Yuqing was showering.
He followed the scent to the chair where Shen Yuqing’s T-shirt was placed the intense magnolia pheromones were emanating from here.
The scent outside was faint, but the fragrance on this piece of clothing was anything but ordinary. One thing he was certain of: the two had been very close.
The sound of running water in the bathroom stopped. Pei Yiyan silently walked to the window and had just steadied himself when the bathroom door opened.
“Oh, you’re back.”
Shen Yuqing’s voice came from behind. Only then did Pei Yiyan turn his head toward the bathroom entrance.
Shen Yuqing was wearing nothing but a pair of underwear, his limbs exposed, some areas still glistening with droplets of water that trailed down his skin.
In his hand was the loungewear he had accidentally dropped and soaked earlier. In this state, utterly defenseless, completely unprepared he fell right into Pei Yiyan’s line of sight.
Perfectly defined muscles, a firm chest, toned arms, long legs, and…
Shen Yuqing stepped forward, shuffling in his slippers. Unaware of Pei Yiyan’s current discomfort, he casually tossed the damp loungewear onto the chair, covering his dirty T-shirt, then rummaged through the wardrobe for a fresh set. He didn’t seem to care.
Of course right now, in his eyes, Pei Yiyan was just a blind man.
Pei Yiyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. Logically, he should have turned away, but for some reason, his gaze lingered, unable to tear itself free.
Shen Yuqing’s waist was even slimmer than he had imagined so much so that it seemed he could encircle it with one hand.
A man. A beta.
Could a waist really be that slender?
Shen Yuqing didn’t notice Pei Yiyan’s stare. He slipped into his loungewear in a few quick motions, buttoned it up, and when he looked back at Pei Yiyan, the man was standing by the window, gazing outside.
Can’t even see, yet he’s just standing there. What’s the point?
“What are you doing over there?” Shen Yuqing asked.
Only after hearing his question did Pei Yiyan slowly shift his attention back to him. “Where did you go this morning?”
Shen Yuqing was baffled. “The academy, obviously. Where else would I go?”
“Shen Yuqing.” Pei Yiyan called his name.
Shen Yuqing blinked. “What?”
The scent of magnolia still permeated the room. Unlike perfume, pheromones didn’t fade easily without air freshener, it would take at least two or three days to dissipate.
Pei Yiyan thought to himself: as an alpha, even if he and Shen Yuqing were only engaged in name, this was still his resting place.
How could he tolerate the lingering scent of another alpha?
If not for his damaged glands, he would have already saturated the entire room including the person before him with his own pheromones.
Shen Yuqing’s expression was full of confusion, as if waiting for Pei Yiyan to speak.
Pei Yiyan’s tone cooled. “We’re still engaged, aren’t we? Isn’t it inappropriate for you to bring someone back so openly?”
Then, he added, “If Shen Zhen or Ge Yue were here, what would they think?”
Shen Yuqing looked even more bewildered. “Bring someone back? I just got back myself.”
What’s wrong with Pei Yiyan? He’s acting really strange.
Pei Yiyan pressed his lips together. “The entire room is filled with another alpha’s pheromones.”
Shen Yuqing sniffed hard there was nothing there.
But then he remembered: he was a beta. He couldn’t detect pheromones.
He quickly called out to the system: [What pheromones? Where are they coming from?]
The system was equally baffled: [Host, I can’t smell anything either.]
If it were anything else, the system could scan it, but when it came to scents, it was powerless.
Shen Yuqing thought for a moment, then asked, “What does it smell like?”
Pei Yiyan nearly laughed in frustration. He took a deep breath, only to be overwhelmed again by the scent of magnolia.
He turned and walked out of the room without another word.
“Hey, you didn’t answer me,” Shen Yuqing called after him, even more confused.
What was wrong with Pei Yiyan?
Leaving things half-said like that.
But aside from Pei Yiyan, there was someone else he could ask.
Shen Yuqing followed him out and found Wu Yi. “What’s the scent of the pheromones in the room?”
Wu Yi rubbed his nose, sneaking a glance at Pei Yiyan, who was sitting on the couch watching TV. “Magnolia,” he replied.
Magnolia?
This time, the system jumped in: [That’s Song Wangzhuo’s pheromone!]
…Alright.
Now he understood what was going on.
