PTBC chapter 28

Bai Yu finally arrived at the hospital at 3:30 a.m., looking haggard.

He was startled to see Jiang Chuxin in the corridor and couldn’t understand why he was there, especially given the bad blood between him and D.A members.

Upon hearing that Jiang Chuxin was there out of concern, Bai Yu thought to himself, ‘Like hell I’d believe that,’ but he still politely nodded and sincerely thanked him.

Jiang Chuxin had little to say to Bai Yu. He glanced at Xia Yan, who had just woken up, looking annoyed as he sipped water with Xu Cong’s assistance.

A faint sense of sourness surfaced deep within Jiang Chuxin, but it was fleeting, disappearing almost as soon as it appeared.

He told Bai Yu, “Since you’re here, I’ll head back. The production crew ran four guest shoots in one night, so someone needs to wrap up the finale.”

“Sure, sure. I won’t see you off,” Bai Yu responded dismissively, clearly eager to focus on his sick captain.

Xia Yan, however, noticed Jiang Chuxin leaving.

He raised his head just in time to see Jiang Chuxin’s retreating figure.

Turning to Xu Cong, he remarked, “That guy is so weird. What’s he even doing here? Watching us?”

Xu Cong continued holding the cup for Xia Yan, his eyes downcast. “Who knows?”

About ten minutes after Bai Yu began fussing over Xia Yan, Dr. Tu Lan returned with new results, delivering a bombshell to everyone in the room.

Addressing Xia Yan and Xu Cong, he said, “Your pheromone test results are out. As I suspected, your compatibility is 100%. This is extremely rare.”

Xia Yan was dumbfounded.

Though Xu Cong already knew their compatibility was high, he hadn’t expected it to be this high. His expression momentarily went blank.

Bai Yu, meanwhile, was still catching up. “What 100%?”

Dr. Tu Lan, knowing Bai Yu had just arrived, kindly explained the situation.

“Xia Yan experienced a severe rejection reaction tonight due to an alpha’s heat period, and medication didn’t help. However, his symptoms subsided on the way to the hospital, after being exposed to Xu Cong’s pheromones. So I ran a compatibility test between them. As I said earlier, their match is an extremely rare 100%.”

Bai Yu’s face grew serious.

Though he was a beta, he understood the implications. A 100% AO match meant a perfect, heaven-sent pairing—a destined soulmate. It was a phenomenon so rare it could easily make local news.

And now, their team had one such pair.

Bai Yu felt a wave of despair, reminiscent of the night he first learned Xia Yan was an omega.

“Our company has a strict no-dating policy within the team!” he shouted at Xia Yan and Xu Cong. “Even with a 100% match, it’s not allowed!”

But neither of them paid him any attention.

Xia Yan glanced at Bai Yu as if he were an idiot before turning back to Dr. Tu Lan. “So what? What does this have to do with my pheromone imbalance?”

He wasn’t stupid; he had already guessed that Xu Cong’s pheromones played a role in his recovery.

Dr. Tu nodded. “Yes, based on existing data, if you maintain regular contact with a highly compatible alpha and supplement with his pheromones, your hormone levels will stabilize. Those painful symptoms will disappear, and you’ll fully recover.

“In other words,” Dr. Tu said with a slight smile, “this also means that, on the pheromone level, you’ve completed puberty and officially entered adulthood.”

A spark of hope ignited in Xia Yan’s eyes instantly.

Damn it, he could finally escape this out-of-control state.

He was absolutely fed up with the anxiety of fearing a sudden episode even while attending events.

He turned to look at Xu Cong, his gaze filled with scrutiny and eagerness, as if he were staring at a thousand-year-old ginseng—precious and life-saving.

Then he immediately turned back, asking the doctor with a thirst for knowledge, “So what should I do?”

Dr. Tu Lan adjusted his glasses, trying to explain professionally.

For a fleeting moment, he genuinely wanted to ask if Xia Yan had ever read his own fanfiction.

Because whatever happened in fanfiction, the two of them needed to do exactly that.

But he swallowed this thought and replied seriously, “Hugging, kissing, exchanging items with pheromones, temporary marking, or if you want a permanent solution, lifelong marking. In short, anything that lets his pheromones enter your body.”

Bai Yu was so stunned that he almost fainted, beginning to ramble nonsense. “No way! Lifelong marking? Stop joking. Xia Yan is considered the most alpha of men! How could he ever be marked?”

Turning into an omega was one thing, but in his mind, Xia Yan and “being marked” were two entirely unrelated concepts!

But before he could finish, Xia Yan, after seriously considering for a few seconds, turned to Xu Cong with a solemn face and said, “You heard him. You have to take responsibility for me.”

Bai Yu’s eyes widened.

…..

After delivering the report, Dr. Tu Lan tactfully left, leaving the room to the three of them.

Before Xu Cong could respond to Xia Yan’s demand, Bai Yu was the first to object strongly.

“What do you mean by this? Are you seriously considering being marked for life?” Bai Yu looked like he was at his wit’s end. “I’ve told you already—no relationships within the team! If the paparazzi catch wind of this, you’re both finished!”

Xia Yan found Bai Yu’s chatter annoying.

Pressing on his ear, he spoke wearily, “Who said anything about lifelong marking? There are so many other options before that. Temporary marking works too.”

He looked at Bai Yu confidently. “We have so many commercial events in the team. I have acting gigs, variety shows, and performances to do. This differentiation period keeps giving me rashes and body aches, leaving me anxious all the time. Now there’s an effective, natural remedy right here that can even end my differentiation period early. I’d be a fool not to use it.”

While speaking, he gave Xu Cong’s shoulder a hearty pat.

“If Xu Cong can really help me get through this differentiation period smoothly, it’s practically a good deed.”

Bai Yu’s brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a mosquito.

Indeed, temporary marking was much better than lifelong marking.

But he still had doubts about whether temporary marking could be so effective.

And second…

He looked seriously at Xia Yan. “Temporary marking can be addictive, you know, especially with how high your compatibility is. You might end up dependent on Xu Cong’s pheromones.”

As a profit-driven manager, he still had to be responsible for his artists.

Xia Yan was silent for a moment, then looked at Xu Cong.

Xu Cong also looked back at him.

From start to finish, Xu Cong hadn’t expressed any opinion.

“It should be fine…” Xia Yan raised an eyebrow, unwilling to give up. “It’s not that serious. Don’t think I haven’t taken biology class. The effects of a temporary mark begin to fade after three days. Besides, Xu Zong and I have been together since our teens. I think we’re practically immune to each other’s pheromones by now. What are you afraid of?”

Bai Yu still frowned, clearly not in favor.

But he was conflicted.

It was true Xia Yan suffered greatly during his differentiation period. Especially in situations like today—if not for Xu Zong, who knows what kind of permanent damage might’ve been done?

This made Bai Yu’s face scrunch up even more. After a moment of hesitation, he turned to Xu Cong: “You also need to consider Xu Cong. Does he agree?”

Xu Cong, who had been silent until now, suddenly became the center of attention. Two pairs of burning eyes turned to him.

He glanced at his visibly distressed manager, then at Xia Yan, who was watching him intently. His eyelashes fluttered, and his pupils were like a calm, ripple-less pool.

“I don’t mind,” he said. “It’s up to Xia Yan.”

Xia Yan grinned, immediately giving him a firm slap on the back. “I knew you’d come through.”

With that, the votes became 2-to-1. Bai Yu couldn’t find much more to argue.

Yet looking at Xia Yan and Xu Cong sitting side by side—handsome enough to look like a movie poster—he felt uneasy.

Both were his own protégés, cultivated into talented, disciplined artists.

He should trust them.

But something inside him still felt off, as though things were teetering on the edge of chaos.

“Just don’t…” Bai Yu started but then gave up halfway. “Fine, fine. You two can try, but don’t over-rely on pheromone supplementation. Stop if anything feels off.”

And with that, the decision was made.

 

¹

Author’s note:

Bai Yu: Who understands this? I can’t take another day of this madness!

 

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  Author’s note:
  
  Bai Yu: Who understands this? I can’t take another day of this madness!