When Liang Yan used an inhibitor for the first time, it wasn’t the KB brand. He tried one, but the symptoms didn’t ease at all.
It wasn’t until he had used the fifth dose that his condition finally improved.
He went to the hospital for a check-up but found nothing seriously wrong. Liang Chen was overly concerned about him. Originally, Liang Yan had planned to set the matter aside until he found a solution before informing his father. Unexpectedly, the issue was left unresolved until now.
By coincidence, he acquired KB inhibitors from his father. Luckily, the third dose worked.
However, the side effects that followed… Liang Yan still remembered how it nearly scared Yin Tongguang to death.
He had always thought his unique physique was the problem, but wasn’t it suspicious that so many inhibitors didn’t work for him, while only KB’s did?
He had experienced that suffocating near-death sensation more than once. But Ji Yang… his death was clearly due to asphyxiation caused by spinal cord injury.
Liang Yan took a deep breath.
Yet, his own issues remained difficult to resolve.
Without a better option, inhibitors were a reluctant necessity.
He had no other choice. If version 3.0 could alleviate his condition, it would undoubtedly be beneficial—and perhaps he might uncover more details about Ji Yang along the way.
Ultimately, Liang Yan agreed to join the testing for inhibitor 3.0.
To his surprise, during a phone call, he mentioned his adverse reactions to version 2.0 inhibitors, such as feeling cold and experiencing respiratory suppression.
The other party became unexpectedly excited upon hearing this and eagerly invited Liang Yan to participate in the final round of clinical trials.
“Our 3.0 product has been specifically improved to address these adverse reactions. We believe it will benefit you. If you’re willing to join, we’re ready for your basic examination anytime…”
“Where’s the location?”
“Qi City KB Industrial Park, Southwest Factory.”
Since KB’s factory was far away, Liang Yan had to wait until the weekend to visit. Suppressing his thoughts, he dutifully attended two days of classes.
“Yan Yan,” Yin Tongguang suddenly leaned on his desk with a troubled expression, his tone melancholic. “Have you not been taking classes with Class S lately?”
Liang Yan turned his head to glance at him, wondering why he’d ask when the schedule was clearly written.
He remained silent, watching Yin Tongguang sigh dramatically before answering his own question. “Ugh, it’s been two whole weeks. It’s so lonely.”
Liang Yan: “…?”
Wasn’t Yin Tongguang busy all the time?
“Ugh.” Yin Tongguang sighed again, unable to hold back any longer. “Without Class S here, I can’t see the goddess. I’m so down.”
Liang Yan recalled that recently Lai Qiutong had indeed been spending more time with them and often laughed and joked with Yin Tongguang.
“Yan Yan, do you think I’m conflicted?” Yin Tongguang continued. “I swear I don’t have any improper thoughts about Sister Lai. She’s been my goddess since she entered school! You know what a goddess is, right? She’s the kind of person who just glows when you look at her, and you can’t help but feel happy for her.”
Liang Yan, who had never idolized anyone, couldn’t fully understand this sentiment and gave a vague response, “…Oh.”
“But ever since you got close to Ji Qiu, I’ve had more contact with Sister Lai. The more I interact with her, the more I feel she’s amazing. I could praise her strengths for an entire day… Ah, when will we have joint classes again…” Yin Tongguang rambled on.
Liang Yan thought about Lai Qiutong and Ji Yang’s situation. Feeling a bit uneasy, he hesitated before asking, “So, do you like her?”
“Huh?!” Yin Tongguang jumped like a startled grasshopper. “No, no, no! I just think it’s fun to be around her. If anyone badmouths her, I’d definitely get upset. When I see something pretty, I want to show her, and when I find something tasty, I want to recommend it to her. I want to take classes and do experiments with her… But how could I possibly like her? She’s an Alpha! An Alpha!”
He emphasized her secondary gender twice, vigorously shaking his head to suppress an idea he hadn’t even fully considered. Trying to cover it up, he added, “Sister Lai is definitely destined to pair with an amazing Omega in the future, not someone like me—a Beta without glands who can’t even smell pheromones. I’m just her fanboy! Yes, her fanboy! Like those people chasing after Ji Qiu every day!”
Liang Yan didn’t respond.
Just as Liang Yan was about to say something, his phone buzzed with a message.
[Ji Qiu: Yan Yan, good afternoon!]
[Ji Qiu: (Cute emoji.jpg)]
Looking at the sticker, Liang Yan thought Ji Qiu must have gotten too used to acting like an Omega. He decided not to bother with it.
Ji Qiu sent over a photo of a bright red spider lily.
[Ji Qiu: I just passed by the gym and saw this nearby. I can’t believe our school has these! It feels so rare, so I took a picture to show you.]
[Liang Yan: Mm.]
Perhaps because Ji Qiu had typed several lines of text, Liang Yan noticed how his solitary “Mm” looked a bit out of place in the chat. For the first time, he felt like he should say more.
After some thought, he added another line.
[Liang Yan: It’s beautiful.]
The other person seemed surprised that he would follow up. The screen showed “Typing…” for a long time before Ji Qiu finally sent another message.
[Ji Qiu: Have you had dinner yet? Want to go to the cafeteria in the North District? We could pass by the gym, and I could show you the flowers in person.]
Liang Yan almost sent his reply, a simple “No.”
The North District cafeteria wasn’t close to their dorm. Lazy students typically took the campus shuttle, while the more energetic ones walked, which took at least 10-20 minutes.
He hesitated, wondering if it was worth walking so far for a flower he wasn’t even particularly interested in.
Before he could make up his mind, his phone vibrated again with another message.
[Ji Qiu: I heard they’ve added several new stalls in the North District cafeteria. It’s been ages since I ate there, and I’d really like to check it out. What do you think?]
By coincidence, Liang Yan accidentally hit the keyboard when his phone vibrated, inserting a blinking cursor into his “No.” This turned the message into an incomplete “No.”
Frowning at the flashing cursor, he silently deleted the “No” and hit send.
Yin Tongguang, still babbling beside him, was saying, “I’m telling you, my feelings are just admiration and appreciation! There’s no way it’s romantic!”
Ji Qiu’s reply came quickly.
[Ji Qiu: Great! I’ll meet you downstairs at your dorm in five minutes!]
Liang Yan pocketed his phone and stood up without a word.
Yin Tongguang stopped mid-rant and looked up. “Yan Yan, where are you going?”
Liang Yan walked to his wardrobe to pick out clothes. “To the cafeteria for dinner.”
Yin Tongguang’s eyes widened like saucers. “Weren’t we just saying we’d order delivery tonight?”
After rummaging for a while, Liang Yan pulled out a brand-new dark gray jacket and put it on. “I’m going to the North District cafeteria. Text me your order if you want anything; I’ll bring it back.”
Yin Tongguang’s jaw dropped so far it could fit a fist. The topic of liking Lai Qiutong was completely abandoned. “???”
It wasn’t until Liang Yan had changed and shut the door behind him that Yin Tongguang realized: When had Liang Yan ever dressed up just to go eat?
And why was he going all the way to the North District cafeteria, so far away?
The world suddenly felt surreal to Yin Tongguang.
Meanwhile, as Yin Tongguang pondered the absurdity of reality, Liang Yan was already downstairs, where Ji Qiu was waiting at the entrance.
Ji Qiu spotted him first and waved.
Just as Liang Yan was about to walk over, an Alpha male approached Ji Qiu in a couple of quick strides.
“Hi, Xiaoqiu! Good afternoon!” The classmate greeted Ji Qiu with undue familiarity.
“Mm-hmm, good afternoon to you too!” Ji Qiu instantly switched to his sweet Omega act, smiling brightly as he responded.
“Ah, haha…” The Alpha blushed at Ji Qiu’s smile and stammered, turning to Liang Yan to cover his embarrassment. “Good afternoon, Liang Yan.”
Liang Yan gave a curt “Mm” without looking at him.
The Alpha seemed eager to strike up a conversation but was at a loss for words. Awkwardly, he said, “You two seem really close. I noticed it at the last event, and I’ve seen you together a lot lately…”
He was referring to the handshake between Ji Qiu and Liang Yan during the event.
“Of course, of course.” Ji Qiu nodded enthusiastically, as if afraid the guy wouldn’t believe him. He reached out to drape an arm over Liang Yan’s shoulders and gave him a light pat. “Yan Yan and I are Omega besties!”
Liang Yan: “…”
Hearing this, Liang Yan felt the urge to snap. He imagined himself yanking Ji Qiu’s arm off his shoulder and twisting it in the opposite direction to show him why “sisters” hurt so much.
But perhaps because someone else was present, he did nothing. He simply stood still, letting Ji Qiu carry on with his awkward small talk.
Ji Qiu’s hand remained on his shoulder. The weather was cold, and everyone was bundled up, so Liang Yan couldn’t feel the warmth of Ji Qiu’s arm—only a faint, inexplicable pressure on his shoulder. It wasn’t intrusive, just natural.
He thought back to Yin Tongguang’s earlier ramblings.
Ji Qiu had asked him to dinner and shared a photo of a beautiful spider lily with him.
Liang Yan once again felt a sense of confusion.
Ji Qiu was indeed the first person, apart from Yin Tongguang, to get this close to him.
Were they really that close?
If he thought about it that way…
It didn’t seem wrong.
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