PTBC chapter 37

Amused, Xia Yan asked Zong Yi, “What’s going on here? You’re taking a ‘plus one’ to the set?”

Zong Yi glanced at Zhao Ye beside him, looking slightly embarrassed as his voice lowered a few notches. “He said he wanted to see me off to the set, so he tagged along. Once we’re at the filming base, you don’t have to worry about him. He’ll find his own way back.”

At that, Zhao Ye finally shifted his gaze, meeting Xia Yan’s eyes briefly before giving a polite nod. “Sorry for the trouble. I’m just here to send the captain off.”

Xia Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and responded half-heartedly, “No problem, no trouble.”

Meanwhile, Zong Yi noticed the fourth person in the car—someone sitting in the driver’s seat—and was puzzled. “What’s Xu Cong doing here? Is he also a cast?”

This time, Xia Yan fell silent.

He replied as casually as he could, “No, he’s just here to see me off.”

After his words fell, the atmosphere in the car froze for a few seconds.

Zong Yi’s face went blank, as if he couldn’t understand why such a ridiculous scenario had occurred twice, let alone in the same car.

But he quickly recovered, nodding awkwardly. “Oh, that’s… nice, I guess.”

Though what exactly was “nice,” he didn’t elaborate.

For the next two hours, the car was engulfed in an awkward silence.

Xu Cong drove while Xia Yan sat in the passenger seat. In the back were Zong Yi and Zhao Ye.

But for some reason, Xia Yan felt that the atmosphere between Zong Yi and Zhao Ye was particularly tense. The two barely exchanged a word. Zong Yi pretended to nap as soon as he got in, eyes tightly shut whether he was truly asleep or not.

Meanwhile, Zhao Ye either watched Zong Yi or occasionally glanced at Xia Yan with fleeting looks that weren’t particularly friendly.

Xia Yan would bet his entire career of reading people’s emotions that Zhao Ye’s gaze resembled Xu Cong’s when he had told him to stay away from Zong Yi—nearly identical.

Realizing this, he glanced at Xu Cong, who was focused on driving, feeling a mix of disdain and amusement.

Honestly, he thought, both he and Zong Yi were decent captains, but their group members? Clingy, immature, and utterly dependent.

He shook his head and sighed.

…..

After dozing off for a bit, Xia Yan woke up to find the car finally pulling into the film set. Their assistants had already arrived ahead of them and were waiting at the hotel.

Thanks to last year’s renovations, the Suocheng Film Base now had upgraded facilities. The hotel they were staying at this time wasn’t bad either.

Xia Yan and Zong Yi’s rooms were on the same floor, the fifth, and after a quick unpacking session, it was time for dinner.

Since they had arrived early, the other cast members hadn’t shown up yet, so there was no need for a big group dinner. Xia Yan searched around casually, and the four of them ended up at a grilled fish restaurant two streets away.

On this cold winter night, the grilled fish restaurant was warm and bustling with activity.

Through the steam rising from the pot, Xia Yan tilted his head and gossiped with Xu Cong. “Hey, look at the diagonal table over there. Isn’t that Chen Xinlan and Hui Jia? They just starred in that idol drama ‘Frost and You’. Ratings were pretty good. Is this their second collaboration? And two tables away, isn’t that Mu Yong? He just won the Xingyu Award. This grilled fish place sure hides some gems.”

Hearing Xia Yan’s chatter, Zong Yi curiously turned his head to take a look. But when he turned back, he accidentally locked eyes with Zhao Ye, only to avert his gaze in a hurry, burying himself in his phone.

Xia Yan grew even more confused.

He sipped his rare indulgence—a cup of milk tea—and secretly texted Xu Cong:

[“What’s up with the two across from us? Did they have a fight? Zong Yi’s been acting weird since we got in the car and hasn’t spoken a word to Zhao Ye.”]

Xia Yan was dying of curiosity, but with the two right there, he couldn’t just ask Zong Yi directly.

Xu Cong glanced at his phone, then at the pair opposite them. The first dish had already been served—red bean pastries. Xia Yan didn’t like them, but Zhao Ye picked one up and placed it on Zong Yi’s plate.

Though the grilled fish place was bustling, it wasn’t a high-end restaurant. Moments ago, Zhao Ye had even wiped Zong Yi’s area with a disinfectant wipe.

Xu Cong raised an eyebrow subtly and smirked.

[“Who knows?”] he replied. [“Maybe they really did have a fight.”]

[“Then it’s definitely Zhao Ye’s fault.”]

Xia Yan’s reply came instantly.

He was completely biased. [“Zong Yi’s a textbook nice guy. For someone to tick him off, Zhao Ye must be insufferable.”]

For once, Xu Cong didn’t agree. [“Not necessarily. Maybe Zong Yi’s the one overthinking things. It could just be a small issue he’s blowing out of proportion.”]

Xia Yan frowned, unable to grasp what Xu Cong meant.

Before he could type a response, the grilled fish arrived, piled high with green and red chili peppers, stealing his attention.

Since he’d have to watch his weight and figure once filming began, he decided to indulge tonight and eat to his heart’s content.

Taking a big gulp of his iced milk tea, he turned to Xu Cong and declared, “Later, I’m getting ice cream too.”

Xu Cong looked at him with amusement. “Be careful you don’t get a stomachache.”

But as he said this, he thoughtfully picked out a piece of fish, carefully removed the bones, and placed it into Xia Yan’s bowl.

This time, Zhao Ye, sitting across from them, gave him a subtle look.

….

After dinner, Zong Yi and Zhao Ye returned to the hotel, while Xia Yan and Xu Cong went to buy ice cream. Zong Yi had initially wanted to join Xia Yan, but Zhao Ye grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and pulled him back.

Xia Yan watched this scene with a strange expression, then turned to Xu Cong. “Don’t you think they’re acting weird? Is Zhao Ye bullying Zong Yi?”

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, looking like he was ready to step in and teach Zhao Ye a lesson.

But before he could act, Xu Cong grabbed the hood of his sweatshirt. “Mind your own business. Let’s just get the ice cream.”

Standing in front of the ice cream case, Xia Yan hesitated for a long time before finally picking a mint-flavored cream ice cream. He paid and walked out of the store.

The moment he stepped outside, he eagerly took a bite. The cold immediately made him shiver, even numbing his teeth, but he still said with satisfaction, “Refreshing.”

Xu Cong, smiling faintly, walked alongside him. The path they chose was a small alley, poorly lit with a broken street lamp, leaving the area pitch dark and deserted.

Leaning closer to Xia Yan, Xu Cong suddenly said, “Let me have a bite.”

Xia Yan frowned. “I told you to buy your own, but you didn’t.”

Despite his grumbling, he obediently held the ice cream up to Xu Cong’s mouth.

Xu Cong bent down and took a bite.

The minty taste was invigorating, especially in the cold of a winter night.

As they slowly walked back to the hotel, they brushed their teeth upon returning to their room. However, Xu Cong wasn’t planning to stay the night. He had an early event to attend the next morning and needed to leave.

But he lingered.

Standing by the door, he looked at Xia Yan, who was sitting on the bed looking back at him. The suppressant pills and injections Xia Yan had brought were neatly arranged, and his robe was draped over the bed.

Xia Yan shifted his gaze around the room but didn’t say a word.

Xu Cong chuckled softly. Leaning against the doorframe, he suddenly asked, “Do you want me to strengthen the mark?”

Xia Yan’s eyes lit up. This was exactly what he had been waiting for. The last time Xu Cong had marked him had been over a month ago, and the effect was starting to fade. He had been relying entirely on Xu Cong’s pheromones to get by.

Now that he was entering the production team, he’d been worried about what might happen if he suddenly had an episode.

He stood up from the bed and walked over to Xu Cong, pushing him firmly against the wall.

Despite being only slightly shorter than Xu Cong, Xia Yan managed to exude an air of dominance as he pinned Xu Cong in place, practically trapping him against the wall.

Peeling off the suppressant patch from his nape, the faint scent of roses began to permeate the room.

“I’ve been waiting for you to say that,” he said in a low voice.

Xu Cong looked down at him and didn’t waste any time. Wrapping Xia Yan in his arms, he lowered his head and sank his canines into the back of Xia Yan’s neck.

“Ah…”

Even though it wasn’t his first time being marked, Xia Yan still couldn’t suppress the involuntary tremble that coursed through him. The sensation of Xu Cong’s pheromones flooding into him was overpowering—far from the gentle and considerate vibe Xu Cong usually gave off.

It was downright ferocious.

An S-class Alpha to the core.

As Xia Yan’s thoughts blurred, he vaguely realized that no matter how mild Xu Cong appeared on the surface, deep down, he carried the fierce nature of a predator, brimming with primal dominance.

As an Alpha himself for over twenty years, Xia Yan knew exactly how they thought.

He didn’t know how much time passed, but the temporary marking, which seemed to stretch on forever, finally came to an end.

The air in the room felt thick and sticky, almost like glue, and hard to stir.

The room was silent, save for the sound of their labored breathing.

Xia Yan leaned against Xu Cong’s shoulder, clutching his arm. His body, weak from the marking, refused to cooperate, leaving him unable to stand.

The mark had left him feeling flushed, a strange mixture of comfort and exhilaration flooding his system.

It was odd.

He felt an overwhelming sense of security, yet his heart was pounding uncontrollably.

Xu Cong, on the other hand, was fixated on the back of Xia Yan’s neck.

This time, the bite was deeper than the last, leaving vivid red teeth marks on Xia Yan’s pale skin—a bold and undeniable claim.

A mark that loudly declared Xia Yan as his Omega.

But it wasn’t enough.

Not nearly enough.

The raw possessiveness deep within him, wild and untamed, wasn’t soothed by this temporary mark. On the contrary, it had been inflamed, leaving him unsatisfied and craving more.

It was too faint.

This single temporary mark could never fully convey his desire to leave an indelible imprint on Xia Yan—a mark that would never fade, etched into Xia Yan’s very being.

And into his own.

Bound together for life.

Xu Cong thought this silently, his expression blank as he tightened his embrace.

Time passed before Xia Yan let out a soft noise, instinctively struggling to free himself.

But Xu Cong’s grip was too strong, and he couldn’t break free.

He felt a warm, wet sensation on the back of his neck—a light touch, as if something soft had brushed against it.

Xu Cong had lowered his head and pressed a kiss to his neck.

And whether intentional or not, Xu Cong’s teeth lightly grazed his sensitive gland.

The heightened sensitivity of Xia Yan’s gland sent a jolt through him, his entire body shivering as if an electric current had coursed through him. His knees, traitorous and weak, gave out beneath him.