That night, it was naturally Xu Cong who stayed at the hospital to keep Xia Yan company.
Bai Yu, disheveled, left to find a hotel for the night. Before leaving, he even brought a gift to thank Dr. Tu Lan.
Dr. Tu Lan shook his head with a smile. “You’re an old friend of my mentor. Helping you with this small matter is nothing. Besides, I quite like Xia Yan and Xu Cong. Don’t worry, I promised my mentor not to say a word.”
As he casually closed the drawer in his office, if Bai Yu had sharper eyes, he might have noticed a fanfiction cover featuring Xia Yan and Xu Cong.
Back in the hospital room, Xia Yan wasn’t in a hurry to have Xu Cong mark him just yet.
He had just received an informative manual thoughtfully prepared by Dr. Tu Lan and was now studying it together with Xu Cong.
“…Let me see. Daily hugs, maintaining physical contact as much as possible. Kissing… skip that one. Having sex… skip that even more. Carrying each other’s belongings, like wearing each other’s clothes or using each other’s cups—aren’t we already doing that?” Xia Yan turned around and said, “Our wardrobes have always been interchangeable.”
They’d been sharing clothes frequently even before debuting.
Though Xia Yan was a few centimeters shorter than Xu Cong and slightly narrower in build, the difference wasn’t significant.
Their solo fans often fought bitterly online, but deep down, everyone knew these two were so close they could practically share a single pair of pants.
After all, anyone with eyes could see that the jacket Xia Yan wore yesterday was now on Xu Cong today.
As for the CP fans, they had long passed out from excitement, celebrating with fireworks and banners: “Even if I’m delusional, CongYan is real!”
Xia Yan closed the manual.
He went over the suggestions in his head. Aside from marking, the most effective method was for Xu Cong to extract his pheromones and inject them directly into him.
However, that method could harm Xu Cong’s health, so Xia Yan dismissed it outright.
As for other suggestions like dietary attention and regular sleep schedules? Those were completely ignored.
Who was he kidding? How many people in the entertainment industry actually ate healthily or got enough sleep?
But tonight, at least, he could get a good night’s sleep.
He lifted his blanket and generously invited Xu Cong to share, saying, “Come on in. Let’s sleep together so I can soak up some of your pheromones.”
He patted his pillow firmly.
Xu Cong looked at him with a complicated expression.
Under the dim bedside lamp, Xia Yan, dressed in a white hospital gown, looked like a pure and untouchable dream.
Xu Cong suddenly asked, “Do you really see me as an alpha?”
“Of course!”
Xia Yan was shocked, unable to comprehend why Xu Cong would ask such an outrageous question. “I’ve known you for so many years. Do you think I wouldn’t know what gender you are?”
Xu Cong smiled faintly, his lips curving upward. Without saying more, he slipped under Xia Yan’s blanket.
It felt just like many years ago when he was only seventeen, not yet fully grown, without the towering frame or commanding aura he had now—just a lonely, overly withdrawn boy seeking comfort in Xia Yan’s embrace.
He wrapped an arm around Xia Yan’s shoulders and listened to him let out a soft yawn.
Before long, Xia Yan had fallen fast asleep.
Xu Cong, however, lay there watching him for a long time.
Because of his hospitalization, Xia Yan had changed into a hospital-issued white gown. The neckline was slightly wide, exposing his long, graceful neck. Like a swan’s, it was exquisitely beautiful. Near his ear was a tiny red mole.
Xu Cong often found his gaze drifting to that small mole.
He’d wonder idly, if one day he kissed, licked, or even bit that mole, how would it taste?
Just like now.
….
The next day, Xia Yan’s checkup results came back normal, and he was discharged from the hospital without issue.
Dr. Tu Lan had coordinated with Dr. Li over the phone to adjust Xia Yan’s medication.
“If you can continuously absorb Xu Cong’s pheromones, your condition will greatly improve, and you won’t need as much medication. Only take it when he’s unavailable to assist you.” Dr. Tu Lan advised Xia Yan.
Xia Yan carefully stored the medicine in his bag, politely bid farewell to the doctor, and even invited him to visit them sometime.
After leaving the hospital, they had to return to the show’s production team to film the final wrap-up vlog. Bai Yu decided to tag along.
On the way, Xia Yan initiated a video call with their team members to update them on his health.
The chaos of the previous day had left Bai Yu sharing only a few words in their group chat before disappearing, causing their three teammates to worry all night.
Now, Ye Zhaoyang was in the backstage area of a variety show, Xiao Ning was at the dorm with a face mask half-applied, and Lin Qixu was eating a boxed lunch on a drama set.
When they heard Xia Yan and Xu Cong had a 100% compatibility rate, all three were visibly shocked.
Lin Qixu nearly spat out his food.
“Holy crap… Wait, you two?”
His face twisted in disbelief, and he was momentarily speechless, his eyes wide with horror.
The other two weren’t much better—Xiao Ning froze mid-mask application, his expression stiff with panic.
Ye Zhaoyang frowned deeply and repeated, “100% compatibility? Do you two understand what that means?”
Of course, Xia Yan understood.
After all, when he and Xu Cong had left the hospital that morning, Bai Yu’s hesitant, conflicted gaze—like he was afraid they might cross some moral boundary—was still fresh in his memory.
Before being discharged, Dr. Tu Lan had also given Xia Yan a crash course on omega compatibility rates, tactfully hinting that over 98% compatibility typically led to marriage.
But Xia Yan tried to highlight the positives for his teammates and manager.
“Why are you all fixated on this 100%? Shouldn’t you be relieved that it’s Xu Cong I’m compatible with?” Xia Yan pushed up his sunglasses, his tone calm and logical. “Think about it. If someone else had a 100% match with me, that would be the real problem. High compatibility between Alphas and Omegas naturally creates mutual attraction. That alpha could force me into heat and mark me. Because of the high compatibility, even hospital de-marking would be difficult and could cause irreversible gland damage.”
The thought made Xia Yan laugh coldly.
“If that day ever comes, you might as well prepare to visit me in jail, because I’ll personally kill that alpha.”
The three faces on the screen became subtly awkward.
For some reason, even though Xia Yan’s words seemed absurd, they couldn’t help but feel slightly convinced.
The thought of anyone other than Xu Cong marking Xia Yan sent shivers down their spines.
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
There was no alpha in the world who was worthy of their team captain.
Xiao Ning couldn’t help but scratch his face. “That’s true… At least Xu-ge isn’t really interested in the captain and won’t suddenly go berserk.”
Xu Cong somehow received a compliment. He glanced at the naive and ignorant youngest member and flashed a gentle smile.
“So,” Xia Yan pushed up his sunglasses and concluded, “You guys shouldn’t be so tangled up. Instead, you should help me celebrate. Soon, I’ll finally be free from this damn differentiation period.”
The thought of it made him want to set off fireworks.
Xia Yan had never known how to write the word “weak” in his life, yet he had stumbled during this differentiation period, which was truly a great shame.
The others exchanged glances, and it seemed there was some truth to it.
Looking at Xia Yan’s lively energy, it was definitely better than being tortured by the differentiation period until near death.
“Then you guys come back early,” Ye Zhaoyang said, “So we can hold a welcome party for you.”
Xia Yan made an “ok” gesture.
After a casual chat, Xia Yan and Xu Cong quickly arrived on the island.
They had gone missing the previous night, almost scaring the production crew to death. But the two of them laughed it off, saying that Xia Yan had suddenly gotten a fever. The production crew, although doubtful, wisely chose not to investigate further.
The final vlog was filmed on the beach, showing the guests swimming and playing in the sea, making it look like a beautiful music video.
And after this vlog, this episode of ‘Relaxing Vacation’ officially ended.
Xu Cong and Xia Yan both posted on Weibo.
Their captions were almost identical.
Xia Yan posted a group photo, along with a picture of him and Xu Cong standing together, holding a plump orange cat.
“Relaxing Vacation, finished~”
Xu Cong’s caption was exactly the same, but the other photo he posted was one of Xia Yan sleeping under a tree, wearing a floral shirt and a straw hat, with light spots from the leaves falling on his face, dancing in the sunlight.
When this photo was posted…
Their CP fans were overjoyed, declaring it was like the New Year, and they couldn’t wait to pressure the production crew to release more of their content.
Xia Yan’s loyal fans rushed over to Xu Cong’s Weibo to save the pictures.
However, a few toxic fans, after saving the photos, spat in disdain, convinced that Xu Cong, this little “white lotus,” was just trying to ride on their idol’s popularity.
The comment section instantly became lively.
Xia Yan was also browsing Xu Cong’s Weibo. Ignoring the storm of comments below, he casually liked the post.
