Ji Qiu first found out his brother had an inhibitor-resistant receptor in his body when he had just entered high school.
After their parents divorced, each formed a new family after paying a considerable amount of monthly living expenses for the brothers.
If they were to live with their parents, the brothers would have been separated, each going to a different household. Without discussing it beforehand, they both refused custody and chose to live together.
Ji Yang underwent secondary gender differentiation early; he became an Omega at 17, and naturally started an early romance with the Alpha next door who had been pursuing him for a long time.
That Alpha was a photographer, someone who, despite having excellent genes, lived a free and unrestrained life with many hobbies—though, of course, what she liked most was that Omega.
Ji Yang was somewhat introverted, while the Alpha was bright and cheerful. From any perspective, the two were a perfect match.
Ji Yang wasn’t good with words, but his clear and bright eyes were like a pool of moonlit water. When the Alpha teased him too much, his face would flush red, yet he couldn’t help but keep looking at her.
The Alpha would feel an itch in her heart whenever he glared at her. Sometimes, even in front of Ji Qiu, she would pull Ji Yang into her arms and laugh out loud, her silver hair shimmering under the warm afternoon sun.
For a while, Ji Qiu wanted to avoid them altogether.
At the time, he lived at school and only came home on weekends. Though his high school and the medical university were in the same city, they were practically on opposite sides.
Even so, Ji Yang would rush back every weekend, claiming he was worried his younger brother might be hungry. But in reality, after asking Lai Qiutong about her favorite dishes, he would cook a table full of food she loved and then stay over at the house next door.
Back then, as Ji Qiu gnawed on crab legs on the side, he thought, If only things could stay like this forever.
Until one day, he accidentally saw deep bite marks on the back of his brother’s neck—and the matcha scent that didn’t belong to Ji Yang.
And only then, when he could smell another Alpha’s scent, did he realize in shock that he himself had differentiated into an Alpha.
The events that followed weren’t that complicated.
The two had just fully marked each other, and were in the phase of being completely emotionally attached.
Usually, when Ji Yang entered his heat, the Alpha would stay by his side. Except once, when she went on a photography trip and wouldn’t return for half a month.
Ji Yang didn’t want her to worry, so he asked someone to bring him what was said to be the best inhibitor at the time.
Unfortunately, his body couldn’t tolerate it. After just one injection, he experienced severe adverse reactions.
Since Ji Yang was studying clinical medicine, after enduring the painful side effects the first time, he recorded the situation meticulously and organized the information clearly, then sent it to KB Pharmaceuticals.
His idea was simple: as both a victim and a future doctor, he had to rigorously eliminate all potential risks.
Unfortunately, he never got the chance to wear that white coat, nor to realize his dream of working in a bright, clean hospital.
At the time, KB’s response was that they had conducted countless clinical trials without encountering such issues, and they suspected Ji Yang of fraud or ulterior motives.
It wasn’t until Ji Yang submitted his third test report that they finally invited him to their headquarters for further investigation.
The tone of KB’s email was arrogant, essentially saying that although they didn’t believe his claims, for the sake of thoroughness, they would record the information.
Ji Yang went, but he was cautious enough to back up the report on his computer before leaving.
Unfortunately, right after arriving at KB, his heat started.
The company saw it as a golden opportunity. They said, Didn’t you say there was a problem with our inhibitors? Inject just one dose. Only one. We need this data—after all, your emails are only your side of the story. If you use it and show the results, we’ll believe you. We have the most advanced medical equipment; nothing will go wrong.
Ji Qiu had no idea what Ji Yang was thinking at that moment when he agreed to inject it.
The adverse reactions came swiftly. The company was shocked to find Ji Yang’s claims were true, but they were unwilling to admit any faults in their product.
Shrewd businessmen are always skilled with words, enough to confuse a young Omega fresh out of school.
Ji Yang’s arguments were dismissed. He was dizzy, cold, and weak all over, yet he still tried to reason with them, pleading for them not to ignore a potentially fatal side effect.
Annoyed by him, someone impatiently waved a hand, saying they’d discuss it later—unintentionally pushing Ji Yang, who was heading toward the medical station, down a flight of stairs.
Falling from the second floor normally wouldn’t cause any major injury—at most, some soft tissue bruising. The other party didn’t take it too seriously, thinking that at worst, they could just offer a little extra hush money afterward.
No one expected it would turn into a spinal cord injury—something with extremely low probability.
Ji Yang couldn’t speak. He just watched as the paramedics rushed toward him, growing closer and closer.
The paramedics assumed it was just a simple fall and didn’t pay much attention—
As a result, they failed to protect the spinal cord.
By the time the ventilator was strapped on, it was already too late.
The person in charge showed no visible expression and spoke in a regretful tone:
“Due to the Omega’s unique physical condition and excessive use of inhibitors, it caused central respiratory suppression, leading to unfortunate asphyxiation. We are all very sorry. Please accept our condolences.”
Later, Ji Qiu kept wondering—
What had his brother wanted to say back then?
After that incident, Lai Qiutong secretly altered her age and refused to go anywhere else. Instead, she followed Ji Qiu and enrolled in the school that her beloved had once attended.
And Ji Qiu, taking advantage of his resemblance to him in appearance, slipped through the medical examination and successfully posed as an Omega.
KB tried hard to minimize the impact of the incident and announced the launch of the Inhibitor 3.0 research project, claiming it was to better serve Omegas.
The two of them originally wanted to find flaws in Inhibitor 3.0, stopping it from being released, and at the same time reveal the documents Ji Yang had left behind, causing a huge scandal.
But Ji Yang’s physical condition had indeed been special. After that incident, they never found another Omega who showed similar adverse reactions.
Until that afternoon.
Ji Qiu almost made no attempt to hide it when he told Liang Yan everything.
“At first, I joined Director Liang’s project thinking he might know something about KB. But later, I realized he knew nothing at all,” Ji Qiu said.
“KB is smart. Their most delicate experiments are done at headquarters. Meanwhile, researchers assigned to branch labs—like those in major medical schools—could claim to be working in ‘school collaborations.’ This lab was also one KB borrowed from the university. My sister and I pulled some strings to get in.”
“As for you, Director Liang really did tell me you were cold by nature, and except for Yin Tongguang, a Beta, you didn’t even have an Omega friend. He hoped I could approach you and befriend you. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to help out, so I agreed.”
“I’m really sorry for approaching you with an ulterior motive.”
But I’m not like that anymore.
Ji Qiu looked into Liang Yan’s eyes, his mind spinning with countless thoughts.
I am vile inside. I have ulterior motives toward you.
Do you know that?
After Ji Qiu finished speaking, Liang Yan fell into a long silence.
Autumn nights came early. Ji Qiu turned on the lab’s lights.
The cold white glow spilled down, making him even more uneasy.
Liang Yan still didn’t say anything.
In fact, he hadn’t spoken since he said, “You can mark me.”
At that moment, Ji Qiu had been completely stunned, instinctively rejecting the answer that had burst out in his heart.
No, it’s not possible.
Ji Qiu had been so scared by that sentence that he blurted out everything.
This time, surely Yan Yan won’t be mad!
Little Ji Qiu was full of anxiety.
After a while, he carefully looked at Liang Yan’s face, which was as calm as still water, and sighed to himself.
Forget it. I’ll make the first move!
With that thought, he wasted no time and immediately put on a pitiful expression:
“Wu wu wu wu wu, Yan Yan, I was wrong! I swear I won’t just randomly mark you anymore! And I definitely won’t mark anyone else either! Please don’t say scary things to threaten me anymore, I’m so scared, QAQ!!”
If he weren’t so tired right now, he probably would have rushed over and hugged Liang Yan’s leg.
But after saying that, the lab fell quiet again.
Ji Qiu panicked:
“Yan Yan? I really won’t mark you anymore! Don’t be mad!”
…?
Liang Yan felt like he almost lost his breath.
“So, you—” His voice sounded calm, but he bit out each word through gritted teeth, icy cold.
“You think when I said ‘you can mark me,’ I was speaking sarcastically? Hm??”
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