Every word Xia Yan said came from the heart, and he almost raised his hand to swear to the heavens that he truly didn’t have any ulterior motives towards Xu Cong.
However, after he finished speaking, there was a long silence in the bedroom.
After the temporary marking, as time passed, even the previously overwhelming pheromones became somewhat subdued.
The atmosphere fell into a deep silence.
Xia Yan felt so embarrassed that he wanted to find a hole to hide in, standing helplessly in front of Xu Cong. It was the first time he hated being tall, with nowhere to escape.
Xu Cong could hardly believe his ears.
What did he just hear?
Xia Yan actually had a reaction to him.
He looked at Xia Yan in disbelief.
Those words exploded in his heart like thunder, stirring a tidal wave of emotions.
But he was like a traveler who had wandered through the desert for too long; even when a lush oasis appeared before him, he doubted it was real.
For a long moment, he said nothing, as if weighing the truth of those words.
His silence made Xia Yan even more distraught.
Xia Yan thought, Great, if Xu Cong doesn’t say something soon, I might just perform seppuku right here.
After a few more seconds, Xu Cong finally spoke. He looked at Xia Yan, suppressing all the intense emotions swirling inside, his gaze utterly calm.
He asked, “Is it true? Do you actually have a reaction for me, what kind?”
Xia Yan’s eyes widened.
What kind of garbage question was that? Xia Yan thought. I’m practically dying here, and you’re still asking for details?
He almost cursed.
But when he met Xu Cong’s bottomless, pitch-black eyes, he inexplicably felt a bit guilty and flustered.
“What kind of reaction do you think?” Xia Yan replied, utterly defeated, adopting the same attitude he used to placate his math teacher back in the day. “Blushing, heart racing, body heating up, wanting to stick to you… For more details, refer to the Omega Heat Manual. If you keep making me say this stuff, I swear I’ll kill you.”
Xia Yan couldn’t resist adding that last part.
He crossed his arms, though he had given up resisting, still bristling like a defensive porcupine.
With every word he uttered, Xu Cong felt his heart beating faster.
Thump—Thump thump—
Noisy, chaotic, restless.
He stared at Xia Yan without blinking. Xia Yan’s lips moved as he rambled on, venting like he’d given up entirely.
But Xu Cong could no longer hear clearly.
All the sounds blurred into a single thought in his mind: “Grab him.”
Grab Xia Yan.
His brain sent him this command.
His pheromones greedily lured him onward.
See? Your Omega isn’t indifferent to you. He blushes because of you. His heart races for you. He accepted your temporary mark.
He should belong to you.
Xu Cong’s canines ground together almost imperceptibly, his eyes resembling those of a lion before the hunt—ruthless and determined rather than tender.
But it was only for a fleeting moment.
Before Xia Yan could look up, Xu Cong’s lashes fluttered, and he reverted to his usual self—reserved, steady, gentle, and dependable.
Even if he was indifferent to the rest of the world, he was still the one Xia Yan could rely on most.
Xu Cong said softly, “Did you sleep through all your biology classes, Xia Yan?”
“What do you mean?”
Xia Yan quickly lifted his head, looking puzzled.
Xu Cong straightened up, no longer letting his shadow completely envelop Xia Yan, easing the tension a little.
He said, “It’s perfectly normal for you to react to me. We have a 100% compatibility rate. Biologically, our pheromones are bound to elicit strong reactions from each other. Especially since you’ve just differentiated, you’re more sensitive than others. But this is just a physiological response—like feeling thirsty or tired. It doesn’t mean anything.”
He spoke with a serious, matter-of-fact tone, utterly convincing.
Xia Yan was stunned, his arms slowly lowering from his chest.
“Really?” He could hardly believe it. He had come here with a desperate, do-or-die attitude, ready to confess and face the consequences, but Xu Cong gave him an entirely different answer. His eyes lit up, and he asked again, “This is normal? It doesn’t mean I…”
He gestured between himself and Xu Cong, too embarrassed to finish the sentence.
Xu Cong nodded calmly.
“Didn’t we learn this in school biology class?” Xu Cong said. “Alphas and Omegas are biologically influenced by pheromones, which is why we’re taught to control them and not be slaves to them. You’re just not used to it yet because you’ve only recently differentiated. Once you adjust, you won’t react to me like this anymore.”
Xu Cong spoke lightly, as if it were no big deal.
He clearly saw Xia Yan’s face brighten, like someone clutching a lifeline.
It made Xu Cong want to lower his head, cup Xia Yan’s face, and plant a kiss.
His voice grew even softer, his white sandalwood pheromones exuding a comforting, soothing scent, doing everything they could to reassure the Omega before him—making him feel safe and at ease.
He said, “Here’s a less-than-ideal comparison: if an Omega were to enter heat in front of me, I’d also be affected. But that’s just a typical Alpha response—what’s attracting me is the pheromone, nothing more.”
Oh, damn. That’s true.
Xia Yan was completely dumbfounded. Why didn’t I think of that?
Once he finishes this differentiation period and becomes a normal Omega, if an Alpha enters a heat period, he would also be affected. But would that mean he’d fall for every Alpha he met?
Such a simple logic, and he hadn’t realized it.
“My God… yeah,” Xia Yan murmured to himself, looking at Xu Cong with disbelief and almost bursting into tears of relief. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of something so simple. I’ve been overthinking this whole time.”
He punched Xu Cong on the shoulder.
“I’m so dumb.”
His expression was indescribable, but he looked at Xu Cong with a relieved smile.
“You have no idea how much I’ve been suffering these past few days. I couldn’t even sleep well. I’m already so busy during the day, and then I lose sleep at night. I’ve lost three pounds…”
Thinking about the anxiety and restlessness of the past few days, Xia Yan’s mouth twitched.
He truly had been on edge these days. His reaction to Xu Cong weighed on him like a mountain, and now that the mountain was suddenly gone, he felt utterly drained.
He suddenly slumped forward, his body sagging slightly, and fell toward Xu Cong, who caught him.
This time, Xia Yan shamelessly leaned on Xu Cong’s shoulder.
“You have time to overthink alone, but you can’t find time to tell me sooner?” Xu Cong caught Xia Yan, gently stroking the ends of his hair. Xia Yan’s pheromones lingered at the tip of his nose. If Xia Yan could see the terrifying, possessive Alpha glint in Xu Cong’s eyes, he wouldn’t believe a single word Xu Cong said, no matter how much he trusted him.
Unfortunately, Xia Yan couldn’t see it.
Xu Cong coaxed him softly, “It’s just a small matter, and you’ve blown it up as if it’s a life-or-death crisis. Were you really thinking of not letting me help and just getting through your differentiation period with medicine?”
“Yes.”
Xia Yan confessed without hesitation. “I was scared out of my wits, okay? Taking medicine seemed better—it gave me some sense of control.”
“But the medicine isn’t good for your body,” Xu Cong said, holding Xia Yan close, his face lowering until it brushed against Xia Yan’s. “Don’t worry. Your blushing and racing heart are just normal responses to pheromones. Once your differentiation is complete and you’ve adapted to being an Omega—and to my pheromones—these symptoms will go away. There’s nothing wrong with liking my pheromones. If it makes you comfortable, I’m willing to do anything.”
Xia Yan felt a twinge of emotion at those words.
See? That’s what you call a true best friend.
He always knew his bond with Xu Cong was rock solid—a connection like no other.
“Alright,” he agreed decisively. “I only wanted to take medicine because I didn’t know any better. Now that you’ve explained it, why would I bother?”
He heaved a sigh of relief and grumbled to Xu Cong, “Who’d want to take medicine anyway? It always leaves me dizzy and groggy, completely out of it. You’re much better than the medicine.”
Xu Cong smiled faintly.
Xia Yan spoke so candidly.
Yet Xu Cong had never been more grateful that his pheromones happened to be helpful for Xia Yan.
With the looming crisis resolved, Xia Yan immediately felt alive again. But since it was already late, his exhaustion caught up with him, and he began yawning.
“I can’t anymore, I’m so tired.” his eyes even misted up with tears at the corners.
He glanced at the clock on Xu Cong’s desk, realizing how late it was, and waved at Xu Cong. “I’m done for today. I’ll head back now and come find you tomorrow for more pheromone therapy.”
Xu Cong didn’t stop him.
He even opened the door for him.
But in doing so, he ended up so close that it seemed like he was wrapping Xia Yan in his arms again.
“Goodnight,” he whispered in Xia Yan’s ear.
Xia Yan’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
He cast a suspicious glance at Xu Cong, wondering if this was another effect of the pheromones.
But he didn’t dwell on it, walking out of Xu Cong’s room with a wave and replying, “Goodnight.”
Xu Cong watched Xia Yan return to his room before closing his own door.
Without the owner of that faint rose-like scent, the room seemed to grow empty again.
Leaning back against the door, Xu Cong stood in the very spot where Xia Yan had just been, where the scent of his pheromones was strongest.
He didn’t know what he was thinking, his half-lowered eyelashes casting small shadows on his face.
After a while, he stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open. The cold night breeze hit his face, but he didn’t feel the chill.
From his desk, he picked up a black cigarette case, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and held it between his lips. Amid the curling smoke, he looked at the lighter in his hand—a souvenir Xia Yan had bought for him from a handmade shop in Rome, thinking it looked nice.
Xia Yan.
He silently repeated the name in his mind, rolling it over his tongue before swallowing it back down, feeling his chest grow hot.
What he had just told Xia Yan wasn’t a lie.
They were 100% compatible as Alpha and Omega, naturally drawn to each other’s pheromones, even to the point where high concentrations could trigger mutual heat.
But if Xia Yan truly didn’t feel anything for him, how could he react so much just from a little exposure to his pheromones?
Of course, he couldn’t say this to Xia Yan.
Because Xia Yan was like a frightened bird, ready to retreat at the slightest disturbance.
So he also didn’t tell Xia Yan that as time went on, he would indeed grow more accustomed to his pheromones.
But if Xia Yan truly wanted to avoid being influenced by him, the best solution would be to stay away from him, cut him off, and sever all reliance on his pheromones.
Because pheromones could be addictive.
Their compatibility was too high. If Xia Yan became too accustomed to him, there might come a day when Xia Yan’s eyes could only see him and no one else.
Society’s current view is to avoid being controlled by pheromones. Pheromones aren’t everything; they must be overcome.
Even Xu Cong himself had fallen in love with Xia Yan when he was still an Alpha, unaffected by pheromones.
But so what?
Xu Cong thought.
He didn’t care how Xia Yan fell in love with him.
As long as Xia Yan stayed by his side, that was the best ending for him.
1
Author’s note:
Xu Cong, you’ve changed—become sneaky.
(Who are we kidding? You’ve always been like this.)
