PTBC chapter 46

After escaping Xu Cong, Xia Yan didn’t go to find the director or the screenwriter.

The villa was filled with people, a chaotic mess. He sneaked away to the garden at the back.

The garden at night, with fewer people, was particularly quiet.

He had just grabbed a coat. It was a bit chilly, but he didn’t want to go back. He leaned against a bench behind the rock garden, a cigarette between his lips, his mind in turmoil.

He thought he had been too indulgent with Xu Cong.

He suspected that Xu Cong had been doing it on purpose lately, becoming more and more excessive. Those intimate gestures, fingers brushing his lips, brushing his hair aside, hugging him from behind…

In the past, he hadn’t paid much attention, but now, thinking back, there were so many red flags.

And Xu Cong hadn’t even tried to hide his intentions, his gaze now far more naked than before, like a well-behaved wolf-dog finally showing its fangs, enough to send a chill down his spine.

Thinking about this, Xia Yan felt even more agitated, and accidentally inhaled smoke, coughing a few times. He had no desire to continue smoking and casually put the cigarette out in the nearby trash can.

He stood up, it was cold outside. He decided to go back inside, any room would do. He just wanted to hide until the party was over and avoid Xu Cong.

At night, everyone would go back to their rooms, and he would lock his door, no pheromone comfort would trick him into opening it.

Xia Yan made up his mind, feeling a little calmer.

As he walked toward the villa, he heard a noise nearby and instinctively looked over.

Just one glance, and Xia Yan wished he were blind.

Next to him was a flower wall made of shrubs, like a maze, maybe designed to give guests a little fun in playing hide and seek. In any case, unless someone was unlucky enough to bump into someone, hiding behind this plant wall would offer some privacy.

But Xia Yan just happened to walk right there.

And then he saw the person who had disappeared for most of the evening, Zong Yi, being pressed against the corner by Zhao Ye, kissing.

That day was the wrap party for the crew. Although Zong Yi had already finished filming his scenes, since the event was hosted by Xu Cong, Xia Yan had specially invited them, Forest, to join. The other team members were unavailable, but Zong Yi came with Zhao Ye.

Now, these two tall alphas were intertwined, passionately kissing.

Zong Yi, though not weak, was pinned by Zhao Ye, his hands behind his back, unable to move.

Zhao Ye’s eyes were closed, his lips fiercely nibbling Zong Yi’s.

With his good eyesight, Xia Yan could even see Zong Yi’s trembling eyelashes.

Wow.

Xia Yan thought expressionlessly, if I could go back seven hours, I’d never have invited Zong Yi.

God, strike these wild lovebirds down with a lightning bolt.

Rationally, he thought he should leave politely, not disturb their fun.

But emotionally, he couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

That laugh immediately startled the two people who had been kissing passionately.

Zong Yi’s face turned pale, and he immediately looked toward Xia Yan. When he saw that it was Xia Yan, he subconsciously let out a sigh of relief, but his face quickly shifted from white to red and back to pale again.

Zhao Ye wasn’t as friendly, glaring at him with aggression, though he didn’t say anything.

Xia Yan sneered coldly a second time.

Zong Yi quickly pushed Zhao Ye away, nearly making him stumble.

“I can explain.”

He looked at Xia Yan eagerly.

A few seconds later, Zhao Ye stood aside, while Xia Yan stood side by side with Zong Yi. Xia Yan, with a weary expression, lit a cigarette, feeling like he had smoked more in the past few days than in the past year.

“What exactly are you trying to explain here?” he asked Zong Yi with a deadpan expression. “Are you saying he forced himself on you, grabbed your hand, pinned you against the wall, and kissed you for over three minutes while you barely resisted?”

He couldn’t help it, his voice laced with sarcasm.

“That Zhao Ye of yours must have incredible arm strength—to single-handedly subdue an alpha who works out regularly while still having the leisure to grab your waist. Have you considered signing him up for boxing training? Don’t let that talent go to waste.”

Xia Yan’s face was full of sincerity.

Zong Yi’s face turned bright red, torn between wanting to cover Xia Yan’s mouth and wanting to murder Zhao Ye, who wasn’t too far away.

He stammered, trying to explain, but not even half a coherent sentence came out.

Seeing Zong Yi like that, Xia Yan understood everything.

He flicked the ash off his cigarette, sighing with frustration, “You two, moving pretty fast, huh?”

He glanced at Zhao Ye in the distance.

That alpha, a year younger than Xu Cong, stood there with an unhappy expression, arms crossed, glaring at him as if he were about to kidnap Zong Yi at any moment.

“Hah.”

Xia Yan sneered and turned back to Zong Yi. “What’s so great about this kid? Last time, you acted like a chaste and pure man, resisting to death, and now you’re practically throwing yourself into his arms?”

The deterioration of moral values—utterly disgraceful.

He had warned Zong Yi not to be swayed by sweet-talking scoundrels. Look where that got him—he’d lost an ally in just a few days…

Zong Yi hung his head lower, clearly feeling embarrassed to face anyone.

He mumbled a muddled explanation to Xia Yan, “I don’t know how to describe it. It’s just… sometimes he looks so pitiful, and I can’t help but feel sorry for him… When he asked for a hug, I couldn’t say no. And by the time I realized what was happening, he’d already started kissing me…”

Even he was exasperated by his own excuse.

What kind of lame justification was that? It sounded like something a scumbag would say to dodge responsibility.

But when he looked helplessly up at Xia Yan, he found Xia Yan staring at him with a solemn expression, as though he completely understood, before giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

“It’s Zhao Ye’s fault.”

Xia Yan stated firmly.

But after a moment of reflection, out of fairness, he added, “Still, you’re kind of an accomplice. Just now, I nearly saw your hand wrapping around his neck.”

Zong Yi looked like he wanted to jump off a building, covering Xia Yan’s mouth in a panic. “Alright, stop talking!”

“Fine, fine.”

Xia Yan pried Zong Yi’s hand away and stood there in the chilly wind, locking eyes with him for a long moment.

Finally, he let out a resigned sigh. “Alright, stop acting like the sky is falling. I told you before—it’s no big deal. Luckily, it was me who caught you two today. I’m not about to lecture you or anything. I’ve got my own mess to deal with. I don’t have time to worry about you.”

Even though Zong Yi was devastated, his curiosity as a CP shipper managed to break through. In his flustered state, he still found time to gossip, “What mess do you have to deal with?”

“None of your business,” Xia Yan retorted, his face darkening as he pushed away Zong Yi’s curious expression. But the thought of Xu Cong, lurking who-knows-where, made his mood even worse.

“Alright, let’s go back inside,” he said to Zong Yi.

He walked back with Zong Yi, picking up Zhao Ye along the way. As they climbed the steps, Xia Yan couldn’t help but mull over his unresolved situation with Xu Cong…

That cursed differentiation period of his still hadn’t ended.

The last hospital checkup showed clear improvement, but his indicators still weren’t back to normal.

Dr. Li optimistically estimated it’d take another two months for him to fully recover.

Lost in thought, Xia Yan’s phone suddenly rang in his pocket. Hearing the familiar ringtone, his heart skipped a beat for reasons he couldn’t explain.

He took out his phone and saw Xu Cong’s name on the screen.

Xia Yan hesitated for two seconds but eventually answered the call.

He swore to himself that if Xu Cong was just calling to ask where he was, he’d hang up immediately.

But as soon as the call connected, the first thing he heard was Xu Cong’s breathing—strained, suppressed, yet undeniably filled with pain.

“Xia Yan.” Xu Cong called his name.

Xia Yan immediately realized something was wrong.

He stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing. “What’s wrong? Where are you?”

He completely forgot the vow he’d made just moments earlier.

Xu Cong took a few seconds to steady his breath. When he spoke again, his voice was calm and concise. “My heat period hit me all of a sudden. I’ve already called the butler to help evacuate the guests, and he’s summoned an ambulance. But this place is pretty remote, so the ambulance will take some time to arrive. Can you help manage the situation outside and evacuate with the others?”

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting?” Xia Yan was so angry he laughed out of frustration. He looked up at the building ahead, trying to guess which room Xu Cong was in. “I’m your captain. Do you think I’m going to evacuate with the others? Use your brain. Which room are you in? I’m coming to find you.”

There was a long pause on the other end.

Finally, Xu Cong’s low voice came through. “You can’t come. You’re an omega now. Do I need to explain how dangerous an alpha in a heat period can be?”

Xia Yan was momentarily speechless.

But then, he heard a thud from Xu Cong’s end—a series of dull collisions, as if a body had hit the floor, followed by the sound of something shattering.

Xia Yan’s heart immediately leaped into his throat.

Having spent over twenty years as an alpha and received extensive education on alpha physiology, he knew just how agonizing an alpha’s heat period could be. Some alphas even resorted to self-harm in moments of extreme despair.

Especially…

Xu Cong’s heat period had always been more severe than most alphas’.

“Do you have any medication with you, Xu Cong?” Xia Yan’s voice was filled with barely concealed anxiety. “Which room are you in? Just tell me!”

Still, Xu Cong said nothing.

The silence on the other end was deafening—far more unsettling than any response.

Both Zong Yi and Zhao Ye had picked up on the situation from Xia Yan’s words. Zhao Ye frowned, and Zong Yi looked at Xia Yan with concern, but seeing how tightly Xia Yan was gripping the phone, neither dared to interrupt.

“Xu Cong!”

Xia Yan couldn’t help but raise his voice.

“Listen to me, Xia Yan,” Xu Cong finally spoke this time. Despite the pain in his voice, it was calm. “Leave with the others. Don’t do something you’ll regret. The ambulance will be here soon. I’ll be fine.”

After finishing his sentence, Xu Cong hung up the phone decisively, without a shred of hesitation.

Xia Yan cursed under his breath, almost smashing his phone on the ground. Frustrated, he ran his fingers through his hair, pushing his bangs back.

Zong Yi finally found an opening to speak and asked, “What’s going on with Xu Cong? Is it his heat period?”

“Yeah,” Xia Yan frowned, redialing Xu Cong’s number, though it was already going unanswered. “That idiot,” he cursed again, “asking me to evacuate with the other guests. What kind of nonsense is that? How could I just leave him like that?”

He angrily tapped at his phone screen.

Zong Yi understood his frustration but still reminded him, “I know you’re worried about Xu Cong, but he’s right. You’re an Alpha, and even if you go to him, you can’t do much. Alphas in their heat period are highly aggressive toward other Alphas. Being there might just provoke him further.”

Xia Yan instinctively wanted to retort, but then he paused. During Xu Cong’s past heat periods, he had been by his side, and Xu Cong had never been aggressive—toward others, yes, but not toward him…

But as he raised his head, Zong Yi’s words struck a chord.

He wasn’t an Alpha anymore.

He was an Omega.

An Omega whose compatibility with Xu Cong was off the charts, capable of providing a strong soothing effect.

Their compatibility was 100%.

For a moment, Xia Yan looked dazed, but then, as if a realization dawned upon him, he turned and bolted toward the building.

Zong Yi and Zhao Ye, confused, could only follow behind him.

…..

Xia Yan found the butler in the courtyard, who was busy organizing the staff and explaining the situation to guests, efficiently relocating them to other parts of the estate.

Although the party had been interrupted, the guests were understanding. It was already the later part of the evening, and there were plenty of rooms available in the venue, so most were simply escorted back to rest.

However, those who knew Xu Cong, like the director of the production team, were visibly concerned.

“An Alpha’s heat period is no joke, especially for an S-Class. The higher the rank, the more intense the pain.”

As Xia Yan approached, he overheard the director’s worried remarks.

His heart skipped a beat.

The butler, maintaining his polite demeanor, responded, “We’ve already called for an ambulance. Mr. Xu said he could endure it and asked us not to worry.”

What a load of crap.

Xia Yan frowned deeply.

Once the director was guided away by a staff member, Xia Yan grabbed the butler and asked bluntly, “Where is he?”

The butler seemed surprised.

He knew Xia Yan was Xu Cong’s team captain and close companion. Moreover, Xu Cong had explicitly instructed him to follow Xia Yan’s orders. After a moment of hesitation, the butler decided not to hide the truth.

“Mr. Xu is on the third floor, but he specifically asked that no one disturb him.”

Xia Yan glanced around. The evacuation was proceeding swiftly, and the once-bustling villa was now eerily quiet, with only a handful of people left.

He patted the butler on the shoulder. “You keep managing the guests. I’ll stay with Xu Cong. Call me immediately when the ambulance arrives.”

Without waiting for a response, Xia Yan headed for the stairs.