SMS CHAPTER 18

From that point on, Yan Chengfeng considered Zhen Ning to be someone very important to him.

To the others in the youth training team, it was hard to understand why, despite having so many friends, Yan Chengfeng always insisted on dragging the indifferent Zhen Ning around with him.

The two young men, both destined to differentiate into alphas, seemed inseparable, as if they were conjoined twins. Their close relationship puzzled some, while others couldn’t help but feel a little envious.

But Yan Chengfeng knew that, although Zhen Ning didn’t show it on the surface, he silently remembered every promise they made.

Of course, Zhen Ning had kept almost all of the promises he made to Yan Chengfeng back then—except for the most important one.

After Zhen Ning left, Yan Chengfeng tried to convince himself that life was long and that adolescence was just the shortest stage. Zhen Ning had simply looked further ahead, choosing the future and path that was most beneficial for himself.

Zhen Ning was such a smart person, never reckless or impulsive like Yan Chengfeng. Even if he didn’t pursue a career in competitions, studying or engaging in research would have been great choices. Yan Chengfeng had always understood this.

It wasn’t that pursuing a better future was unreasonable, but because it was Zhen Ning who chose that path, Yan Chengfeng couldn’t accept it.

So, even though Zhen Ning had returned to KYM, and it seemed like they might finally fulfill their promise from back then, Yan Chengfeng didn’t dare to show even the slightest bit of hope. He feared that if Zhen Ning abandoned him again, it would be even more humiliating than the last time.

But today, Zhen Ning had personally said to him, “I really want to play with you.”

Yan Chengfeng had responded nonchalantly with, “Do whatever you want,” but deep down, he knew how he really felt.

It had been so long since they duo queued like they used to in the past. Training together again meant so much to Yan Chengfeng. He felt conflicted and anxious, unable to suppress the excitement rising from deep within him. He couldn’t sleep well the entire night.

The next morning, Yan Chengfeng woke up at eight o’clock.

He didn’t quite understand why he was in such a hurry. After all, he was the one in control when it came to duo queuing, yet he couldn’t shake this strange restlessness. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t focus and kept thinking about heading to the training room early to do something.

He left the dorm and walked toward the lobby. As soon as he entered, he saw Zhen Ning standing not far away.

Zhen Ning was standing by the window in the lobby, facing away from the door, unaware that Yan Chengfeng had arrived.

For some reason, Yan Chengfeng felt a strange flutter in his heart. He couldn’t help but wonder if Zhen Ning had been experiencing a similar train of thought all night, which might explain why he was already up so early.

Yan Chengfeng hesitated for a moment, debating whether he should say something.

He took a closer look and noticed that someone was standing across from Zhen Ning. His view had simply been blocked by some plants.

Zhen Ning had been talking to this person the whole time.

Yan Chengfeng froze for a moment, then hesitated before stopping behind the plants.

Upon a closer look, he realized that the person Zhen Ning was talking to was someone he knew quite well—the team doctor, a gentle male omega.

Yan Chengfeng knew the doctor’s last name was Zheng, but they weren’t particularly close. After all, Yan Chengfeng was a healthy young alpha and hadn’t even caught a cold more than a few times in the past few years.

However, he was quite familiar with Dr. Zheng’s partner, a competent female alpha who was also a psychologist hired by the club. After the World Championship last year, when KYM was eliminated in the semi-finals, Yan Chengfeng had practically spent half a month in her office for consultations.

How long had Zhen Ning been back at KYM?

Yan Chengfeng furrowed his brow. He had barely exchanged a few words with Xu Hao from the team, yet here was Zhen Ning, already chatting so familiarly with the team doctor.

The next moment, he heard Dr. Zheng say, “Zhen Ning, you absolutely cannot use daily suppressants this frequently.”

“Monthly suppressants have more side effects, but at least they don’t create dependence. You can’t keep using daily suppressants just because you want to train more. If you keep this up, one day you’ll become dependent on them. What will you do when your body becomes resistant to them?”

Yan Chengfeng’s breath caught. He suddenly looked up, peering through the gaps in the leaves to see Zhen Ning’s face.

After a long pause, he heard Zhen Ning reply, “I’m aware of that, Dr. Zheng.”

Dr. Zheng sighed.

“Some suppressants cause irreversible damage to the body. You might not care now, but what about later?” he asked.

Zhen Ning was silent for a moment.

“Later… I’ll think about it then.” Zhen Ning shrugged it off. “At least for now, I don’t care.”

Yan Chengfeng’s body stiffened slightly.

“There are five days left until the next match.”

Zhen Ning turned his gaze toward the window and casually changed the topic. “After that, there will be a short break for the Spring Festival, so I’m hoping to delay it until then. The longer the delay, the better. Do you have any way to do that?”

At first, Yan Chengfeng didn’t even understand what Zhen Ning wanted to “delay.”

Then, he heard Dr. Zheng hesitantly say, “I can help you delay your heat to a controllable time frame. As long as I prescribe enough suppressants, it can be done. I understand that you want to be in the best possible condition for the match and not affect your teammates, but you—”

“Dr. Zheng.” Zhen Ning shook his head, cutting off the rest of the lecture. “Then I’ll trouble you with it.”

Dr. Zheng looked at Zhen Ning with a troubled expression and sighed heavily.

“Since you don’t care about the damage to your body…” Dr. Zheng seemed helpless against his attitude. “There is actually a method that won’t harm you and can also keep you from being troubled by your heat cycle and pheromones. I believe you know what I’m talking about, right?”

Yan Chengfeng froze for a moment.

But Zhen Ning remained silent for a long time.

Yan Chengfeng stood there in a daze, staring blankly at the expression on Zhen Ning’s face. After a while, he realized that Zhen Ning must have already figured out the answer.

“We’ve known each other for less than two weeks, and you’ve already asked me for suppressants countless times.” Dr. Zheng continued, “This industry is never friendly to omegas—or rather, no industry is. No one understands or even bothers to understand your struggles. But I do, because I’m the same as you.”

“Zhen Ning, I can help you with this match, but there will be countless more in the future. If you keep this up, you’re just burning through your lifespan for the sake of playing.”

Dr. Zheng shook his head and said, “Have you considered finding an alpha partner who’s compatible with you?”

Author’s note: Aiya…