PTBC chapter 6

After returning from the company, the others left for their respective activities, leaving Xia Yan alone in the dorm to rest.

It was the first time since his debut that he’d experienced such a quiet day off, and he wasn’t used to it at all.

He sent his test results back home as well, informing his two fathers that within their pure-to-the-core alpha family, an omega had been born.

His sister sent her congratulations, laughing so hard she nearly fell over, and even vowed to come back and verify it in person.

His fathers, however, were utterly shocked and nearly flew over from New Zealand, only to be talked out of it by Xia Yan.

“I’ll find time to visit soon,” Xia Yan replied.

“I’m perfectly fine, no need to panic. Your son is doing great.”

The two fathers scrutinized him through the screen from head to toe. Seeing that he was indeed in good spirits, they suppressed their worries, deciding to wait until he returned to discuss it further.

After hanging up, Xia Yan jumped out of bed and headed to the gym.

The company had only given him a three-day isolation break, and he didn’t waste a second of it. If he wasn’t working out, he was dancing, singing, or checking the online reputation of his team members.

The epitome of productivity.

He was full of energy, but his other teammates were suffering.

Ye Zhaoyang was at the coffee machine, picking out beans to make himself a cup, while Lin Qixu and Xiao Ning crowded beside him.

They had a rare free morning with no activities planned, so everyone stayed at the villa to rest.

It was supposed to be a relaxing day.

But their captain, Xia Yan, was exercising in the living room.

Exercise naturally heightened the concentration of pheromones.

Even though Xia Yan meticulously wore suppression patches and used blocking sprays, there was still a faint trace of his pheromones lingering in the living room.

Before debuting, they’d undergone special training to resist omega pheromones to deal with overly zealous fans. Naturally, they weren’t going to lose their composure over such a small amount.

The problem, though, was…

Xiao Ning looked like he was about to faint, sipping his Americano lifelessly.

Xia Yan, having finished his crunches, was now casually lifting dumbbells while watching videos on the sofa, looking utterly relaxed. There was no sign of the “weakness” typically associated with the differentiation period—just a slight sheen of sweat on his temples. His red headband pushed his hair back, exposing a pale, sculpted side profile, lips slightly flushed, with a drop of sweat trailing down his face.

If fans saw this, there would undoubtedly be an eruption of piercing screams, with outrageous comments flooding in, calling him everything from “husband” to “Ge, let me touch you.”

But for them, it was a different story.

Xiao Ning grumbled in frustration, “Now I get why everyone used to think the captain was an alpha. With that aura, who’d believe he’s an omega? Without that test result, I’d swear this was a joke.”

“Is this really our captain?” he added weakly. “Feels more like a T-Rex lounging in the living room.”

Lin Qixu nodded grimly, grabbing a mint nasal spray and taking a whiff.

As young, hot-blooded alphas, though they wouldn’t dare have inappropriate thoughts about their captain, the sudden transformation of a person who was usually as fierce and intimidating as a T-Rex, suddenly turning into a legendary top-tier omega?

Anyone would daydream a little.

Like… the captain suddenly becoming gentler.

Or the captain, due to unforeseen circumstances, becoming fragile and needing their help.

Oh, the thought was thrilling.

But it took only two days for that dream to shatter.

Xia Yan’s pheromone levels were indeed extraordinarily high. According to the hospital, he was a once-in-a-decade top-tier omega with outstanding physical attributes.

The problem was, he wasn’t weak. Nor did he exhibit any traditional omega traits, like soothing or enticing alphas.

His pheromones carried a rich rose fragrance, but it was violent and oppressive, like a top predator. Without blockers, it was as if a ferocious beast were looming over everyone.

That terrifying pressure was on par with any high-ranking alpha.

Just sitting next to him, you’d feel the breath of the beast right by your ear.

Until Xia Yan’s pheromone levels stabilized, none of the other team members wanted to be near him.

Who’d want to sit with a T-Rex?

The old Xia Yan was scary enough. Now he was an upgraded version!

They’d rather huddle by the coffee machine than set foot in the living room. Distance was good.

“I don’t think the captain even needs to hide his identity. With his pheromones, who’d think he’s an omega?” Ye Zhaoyang commented.

“I agree,” Lin Qixu chimed in. “Next time there’s a pheromone battle, we won’t even need to step in. Just send the captain out. Other alphas will kneel and call him ‘dad.’”

Xiao Ning nodded fervently.

As they grumbled about how the captain was too aggressive and lacked “omega ethics,” Xu Cong finally got up in the other room.

He’d stayed up late streaming the night before, so he’d woken up later than usual.

His chat was full of fans asking about Xia Yan’s condition, urging them all to take care of themselves.

Though Xu Cong usually maintained a cold and aloof persona, he answered each question seriously.

“The captain’s still resting these days,” he said in a measured tone. “He’s eating well. The auntie even sent over some light meals for him, though he complained about the broccoli being disgusting and tried to pick it out.”

At that, Xu Cong’s gaze turned helpless, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.

“You all know how much he hates vegetables. He’d rather eat plain boiled chicken breast.”

That night, their CP tag on social media exploded with new posts.

“I’m dying of thirst!!! Doesn’t Xu-ge realize he’s only soft like this when it comes to the captain?!”

“Now I just want to know who ate the broccoli he picked out. We all saw Xu Cong eat Xia Yan’s unwanted mustard greens!”

“Purple cabbage, mangoes, squid… let’s count how many things Xia Yan has forced Xu Cong to eat over the years.”

As Xu Cong washed up that morning, he scrolled through the fan forums with his alternate account, his brow slightly raised.

To be fair, fans often come up with some wild theories and pairings that are hard for him to comprehend, but sometimes, they really do have sharp eyes.

He walked out wearing just a T-shirt and saw Ye Zhaoyang and the others huddled together suspiciously, whispering.

“What are you guys up to?” He noticed Ye Zhaoyang extracting coffee and immediately snatched it, taking out his own cup to pour in ice water.

Ye Zhaoyang kicked him and answered his question, “Talking about the captain.” He resumed extracting coffee. “Don’t you think the captain’s pheromones are too overwhelming?”

Xu Cong frowned in confusion.

He had heard them complaining about this yesterday but thought they were joking to comfort Xia Yan and assure him that his aura was as imposing as ever.

Because he himself didn’t feel anything wrong with Xia Yan’s pheromones.

“What do you mean?” He took a sip of coffee, leaning against the table. “Isn’t it just a normal rose scent?”

“Huh?”

The others stared at him in disbelief.

“You don’t think the captain’s pheromones are too strong?”

“You don’t feel like you’re being crushed by them, wanting to flee immediately?”

“Nope,” Xu Cong replied firmly.

He hesitated for a moment before quietly adding, “I don’t feel anything at all.”

That was a lie.

In truth, not only did Xia Yan’s pheromones not make him uncomfortable—they even excited him.

Whenever Xia Yan’s pheromones leaked a little, Xu Cong’s own pheromones seemed to respond eagerly, as if summoned, ready to be released. Like a flamboyant peacock flaunting its feathers, his pheromones were itching to present themselves to Xia Yan.

This forced him to constantly suppress his urges.

The others looked at him as if he were an anomaly, but they quickly rationalized it.

“Ah… Makes sense. This guy is an S-class alpha. High resistance is expected,” Lin Qixu affirmed.

Xu Cong couldn’t be bothered with their chatter. He made another sparkling lemon Americano and brought it to Xia Yan.

Xia Yan had just set down his dumbbells. His morning exercises were casual and not particularly intense.

Xu Cong glanced at his tablet and noticed he was watching a performance video of a newly debuted boy group. Most of the members were betas, but they were young and full of energy. None of them were over 20 and they were already drawing significant attention with their looks.

“What are you watching?” Xu Cong asked.

“Researching competitors,” Xia Yan replied, taking a sip of coffee while his eyes stayed fixed on the screen. He pointed at the boy group’s center. “That kid dances well and sings decently. He seems to have the most fans in the group.”

Xu Cong glanced again, uninterested.

Xia Yan, as a perfectionist, aimed to dominate in everything he did. Being an idol, he aspired to be unparalleled, keeping meticulous track of rival groups, especially alpha and beta teams.

Omegas were an exception since their roles differed.

Xu Cong however, didn’t share the same competitive drive. He and Xia Yan were opposites in their arrogance. Xia Yan wanted to crush everyone beneath him and be the boss, while Xu Cong simply believed that once their group showed up, everyone else was irrelevant.

No wonder their group attracted animosity—half the hate was due to these two.

After taking another sip of coffee, Xia Yan looked toward the dining area. “What’s with those guys hiding there? Acting all sneaky.” Suddenly, he grew alert. “Did they mess something up and are afraid to tell me?”

“No.” Xu Cong chuckled.

“They said they can’t handle your pheromones; it’s too much for them, so they’re keeping their distance.”

“Really?” Xia Yan sounded skeptical.

He glanced at them again and scoffed. “Bunch of weaklings.”

“But you’re great,” he praised. “Look how calm you are.”

Xu Cong lowered his gaze, too bashful to acknowledge the compliment.

After studying Xia Yan’s expression, he asked, “How’s your body holding up these past few days? Have the medications helped stabilize you? Tomorrow’s event might expose you to a crowded environment, and Dr. Li mentioned you might feel highly sensitive.”

After a few days of rest, Xia Yan’s hormone levels had somewhat stabilized. However, the lingering side effects would persist, particularly in situations involving large crowds.

Xu Cong had researched extensively on the subject and couldn’t help but worry.

But Xia Yan, full of confidence, waved it off. “I’m doing great. The doctors are just being cautious, which is fair. They’re afraid patients might not take things seriously. But I feel fine—ready to take on three hulking men barehanded.”

He even flexed his muscles at Xu Cong triumphantly.

Xu Cong raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident.

But knowing Xia Yan’s personality, and seeing that he seemed genuinely fine, he let the matter drop.

However, neither of them anticipated that while Xia Yan was lively and energetic in the dormitory, he would get a harsh reality check at the event the following day.

…..

Whether as an alpha or an omega, the captain remains a man at the top of the food chain.