PTBC chapter 2

Xia Yan stood under the corridor, next to a lush camphor tree. Hidden in the shade, he was nearly invisible to anyone passing by.

This hotpot restaurant was owned by a celebrity within the circle, known for its privacy, so he wasn’t too nervous.

However, one hand pressed against his temple, and his head felt like it was about to explode.

Strange.

Since getting into the car earlier, he had been plagued by a headache, shortness of breath, and an unshakable discomfort.

Biting a cigarette, the nicotine provided no relief. He thought to himself, Am I really going to have to visit a hospital…?

As he was pondering, he suddenly heard movement behind him.

A few male voices were conversing, heading towards the courtyard at the back.

Alphas.

A faint trace of pheromones in the air allowed Xia Yan to make the judgment instantly.

He frowned and instinctively stepped deeper into the shadow of the tree. Extinguishing his cigarette in a nearby ashtray, he decided not to linger in the courtyard and turned to head back indoors. Just then, the alphas entered the yard, their voices becoming clearer, and the night breeze carried threads of their pheromones over.

These men hadn’t used scent blockers and had also been drinking.

The pheromones, amplified by alcohol, were particularly intense—spreading through the sultry summer night like a fishing net.

“Ugh…”

Xia Yan’s legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.

He gasped for air, sweat streaming down his forehead as a wave of inexplicable pain coursed through his body.

The alphas, just about to exit through the back door, suddenly stopped.

“What’s that smell? Did you catch it?” one of them asked.

A faint fragrance wafted through the air, resembling roses but tinged with a hint of rum—enticing yet aggressive, both alluring and oppressive.

“I smell it. It’s like some alpha in heat—or maybe an omega?” one mumbled, even glancing back toward the tree.

“You’re nuts,” another mocked. “Can’t even tell an alpha from an omega? I don’t smell anything. Let’s go, stop wasting time.”

The group exited through the back door.

The courtyard was left silent, shadows of trees swaying in the night breeze. Under the tree, no one could be seen.

Xia Yan locked the door behind him, nearly collapsing.

Inside the small courtyard was a single tiny restroom. Realizing something was wrong with his body, he had immediately rushed in.

Thankfully, it was unoccupied, lit only by stark white light reflecting off gleaming tiles.

He was drenched in sweat, his arms trembling. His reflection in the mirror showed a face unnaturally flushed, beads of sweat dotting his sharp nose, Adam’s apple bobbing uncomfortably. His lips, bitten in an effort to endure, were on the verge of bleeding.

Forcing himself to stay upright, Xia Yan fumbled for his phone and quickly located Xu Cong’s contact.

The phone only rang a few times before it was answered.

“Hello?”

“Come to the restroom in the back courtyard,” Xia Yan said weakly, brushing damp hair off his forehead. “I feel awful—heart rate’s through the roof. Take me to a hospital, quick.”

“I’m on my way.”

Xu Cong hung up and immediately stood, his abrupt movement knocking over a glass with a loud clatter.

“What’s going on?”

The others looked at him in surprise.

“Xia Yan’s not feeling well. Ye Zhaoyang, get the car to the back door now. We’re heading to the hospital.”

The announcement sent everyone into action. Chopsticks were dropped, items were grabbed, bills were settled, and people bolted out the door.

Xiao Ning, still chewing a piece of meat, clutched everyone’s bags and tried to chase after Xu Cong but was yanked away by Lin Qixu.

Xu Cong quickly found the restroom.

Through the door, he caught a faint scent of roses—rich, but far from gentle, its sharpness like thorns guarding fiercely against intrusion.

Frowning, he knocked immediately.

“Xia Yan, it’s me. Can you open the door?”

Gripping the handle, Xu Cong prepared to break it down if there was no response within two seconds.

Fortunately, a few seconds later, the lock turned.

The courtyard outside was still empty.

Xia Yan’s pale face appeared as the door opened. Tall and broad-shouldered, his usual presence was powerful and commanding. But now, drenched in sweat, blood-red lips trembling, he looked fragile—and he collapsed into Xu Cong’s arms.

“I think I’m differentiating…” he muttered weakly.

By now, Xia Yan could piece together what was happening. Any basic A/B/O education would have made this transformation unmistakable.

Without hesitation, Xu Cong wrapped his jacket around Xia Yan, lifted him, and carried him through the courtyard toward the back door.

Ye Zhaoyang already had the car parked, and the others were inside, with Xiao Ning on the phone with their manager.

“Yes, the captain suddenly fell ill. We’re taking him to the hospital now. Can you come over?”

Seeing Xia Yan carried over, Xiao Ning was shocked. “Is it that bad…?”

With Xia Yan’s personality, he wouldn’t allow himself to be princess-carried unless he was completely immobilized.

Xu Cong pulled out a scent blocker spray from the car and applied it to Xia Yan’s nape.

“He’s differentiating,” Xu Cong explained to the team. “If you’re uncomfortable, just endure it for now.”

The differentiation of a high-level Alpha was just as torturous for the surrounding Alphas. Even in a civilized society, the battle of pheromones still resembled a primal arena. Even the most composed gentleman would feel an instinctive urge to bite the other’s throat.

Xia Yan’s pheromones were so overpowering that it was unbearable for everyone.

The rest of the group nodded, snapping out of their daze.

Ye Zhaoyang glanced in the rearview mirror and floored the accelerator.

Hearing it was differentiation, he changed course to a private hospital they frequented for confidentiality.

…

In the brief 20-minute drive to the hospital, the other four Alphas in the car felt increasingly uneasy. They all sprayed themselves with pheromone blockers, even Ye Zhaoyang, who was driving, wasn’t spared.

Xia Yan, now almost delirious, curled up in the back seat wrapped in Xu Cong’s coat. Xu Cong kept holding him, continuously checking his temperature.

Meanwhile, the others in the front seats couldn’t sit still.

Lin Qixu nearly emptied half a bottle of blocker spray on himself.

The spray didn’t just prevent their pheromones from leaking; it also partially numbed their perception of others’ pheromones.

But it was a temporary fix at best.

Xia Yan’s differentiation was fully living up to his high-level status. No matter how much Lin Qixu sprayed, he felt like he was sitting next to a ferocious lion baring its fangs, ready to snap his neck the moment he moved.

Yet beyond this primal pressure and fear…

Lin Qixu felt something else—an inexplicable sensation.

Blushing, a racing heart, and an unbearable restlessness.

He felt torn between submission and the compulsion to glance back at Xia Yan.

He wanted to run away, yet even more, he wanted to move closer.

Shit 

Lin Qixu was startled by his own thoughts. He must be crazy. If Xia Yan found out, he’d definitely snap his neck.

Yet he couldn’t resist sneaking another glance.

…Of course, there was nothing to see.

All he saw was Xia Yan wrapped in a coat, one hand held tightly by Xu Cong.

That hand, pale and slender, with well-defined knuckles, looked faintly pink at the joints, likely from the heat.

This was the same hand that had been captured countless times by fan sites and praised endlessly by fans. They had even voted it the most beautiful hands among male celebrities.

Lin Qixu had always scoffed at such accolades.

He’d never thought an alpha’s hand could be anything special.

But now, he found it difficult to tear his eyes away from that hand.

…

Moments later, Lin Qixu forced himself to look away. He could’ve sworn Xu Cong had just glared at him, with a murderous intent in his eyes.

Before he could figure it out, he noticed the youngest member, Xiao Ning, was also flushed and breathing unevenly.

Xiao Ning rummaged around the car and finally found a strong mint candy in his pocket. Relieved, he popped it into his mouth like it was a lifesaver.

Seeing Lin Qixu staring at him, Xiao Ning kindly offered, “Want one, Ge?”

Only a fool would say no.

Lin Qixu viciously grabbed three mint candies and shoved them into his mouth.

The icy, sharp mint flavor hit his mouth, cooling even his brain. The mint partially dulled his sense of smell.

“What’s wrong with the captain?”

Lin Qixu sipped some water and finally had the presence of mind to whisper to Xiao Ning.

He nudged Xiao Ning lightly and asked in a low voice, “Be honest. Ever since the captain got in the car, have you felt your heart racing and your whole body uncomfortable?”

Xiao Ning nodded fervently.

With a pained expression, he also sneaked another glance at the back seat and whispered, “Even during Xu Cong’s heat period, I didn’t feel this shaky. The captain is terrifying. I even feel a little nauseous…” He paused, then muttered softly, almost inaudibly, “But I also weirdly want to get closer to him.”

Xiao Ning, with his innocent, straightforward demeanor, looked at Lin Qixu and asked, “Is it because the captain’s pheromone level is higher than Xu Cong’s? That’s why we’re both afraid of him and want to submit to him?”

Being the youngest in the group and a bit naïve, Xiao Ning had no concept of competing with pheromones.

Lin Qixu, however, didn’t respond.

He frowned in confusion. Was that really the case?

He had seen other alphas undergo late differentiation and had witnessed the heat periods of everyone else on the team.

But none of them had ever been like Xia Yan…

He sneaked another glance back. He saw Xu Cong leaning close to Xia Yan, whispering something to him. Their hands, previously clasped together, had somehow interlocked their fingers.

Lin Qixu frowned again.

…

After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at the hospital.

As soon as Ye Zhaoyang stopped the car, Xu Cong rushed out with Xia Yan in his arms.

It was late at night, and being a private hospital, it wasn’t busy. The manager had already arranged for a familiar doctor to wait upstairs.

The doctor’s surname was Li.

Xu Cong and the team were well-acquainted with him. Since their debut, Dr. Li had been handling their medical needs, almost like a team physician. He had prescribed their medications for heat periods. But when Xia Yan was placed on the hospital bed, Dr. Li’s expression turned strange.

Xia Yan was sweating profusely, his eyes shut tight, completely unconscious. Yet, he clung tightly to Xu Cong’s hand, gripping so hard that Xu Cong’s hand was reddened.

Xu Cong allowed Xia Yan to hold on.

It was only then that the others noticed Xu Cong’s condition wasn’t right either. He was clenching his teeth, bloodshot eyes fixed on Xia Yan, his gaze intense and unrelenting.

That look was one any alpha would recognize.

“Everyone out of here. He’s differentiating. Unrelated personnel should leave and wait in the hallway,” the doctor ordered, shooing the other alphas away like flies. He grabbed a few boxes of medication from the shelf and tossed them to Lin Qixu and the others. “If you’re feeling uncomfortable, take these. You’ve likely been affected by your captain.”

“And you especially,” Dr. Li said, staring sternly at Xu Cong. Holding Xu Cong’s hand firmly, the doctor picked up an inhibitor and, without warning, injected it into Xu Cong’s arm. “You’re the most affected. Your hormone levels must be off the charts right now.”

The blue liquid quickly emptied into Xu Cong’s veins.

But his expression remained tense, his eyes darkening as he glared at Dr. Li, as if considering how best to throw him out.

Dr. Li, unfazed, said, “Get out. You’re the most affected. Staying here will only hinder treatment.”

Hearing the words “hinder treatment,” Xu Cong seemed to regain some clarity. He glanced at Xia Yan, curled up on the bed, then reluctantly withdrew his hand.

The moment their hands separated, Xia Yan let out a pained whimper.

Xu Cong’s eyelashes fluttered, as if stung.

He glanced at Dr. Li, his voice low. “I’ll leave him to you, Doctor.”