Xia Yan’s first event after his recovery was an invitation to a luxury brand gathering. Their group had always enjoyed excellent opportunities in the fashion world, thanks to not only their skyrocketing popularity but also Xu Cong’s background.
Although Xu Cong’s family had never openly stated it, everyone knew he was the young master of a wealthy family. With an alpha brother above him and numerous cousins holding prestigious positions, his background was unmistakably elite.
Despite initial objections, Xu Cong had insisted on entering the entertainment industry, and his family eventually relented, paving the way for him.
And D.A certainly didn’t waste those resources, quickly rising to fame.
At an event like this, naturally, the stars shone brightly.
Male and female celebrities, regardless of their ABO gender, mingled together at the event, each trying to outshine the other.
At the event, not only was D.A present, but so was Forest, their rival group from the neighboring company.
The two groups were longstanding rivals. Their fans fought fiercely online, and whenever the two groups met in person, there was always an air of passive aggression as they tried to outdo one another.
At an award ceremony once, during Xia Yan’s speech, Forest’s lead singer couldn’t hold back an eye-roll. The moment was captured and uploaded online, sparking a massive fan war. From then on, the rivalry was firmly cemented.
However, contrary to public perception, their actual relationship wasn’t as hostile.
The rivalry was real, but they could still sit down and enjoy hot pot together in private.
This time, due to some mishap at the event, there weren’t enough dressing rooms, and both groups were placed in the same one after repeated apologies from the organizers.
Xia Yan was convinced the organizers were hoping for a fight to break out.
But the reality was that Lin Qixu was chatting about video games with Forest’s youngest member, Ye Zhaoyang was discussing skincare routines with Forest’s face of the group, and Xiao Ning and Forest’s third member were yawning together, complaining about not having enough to eat that morning.
The harmony in the room was striking.
If fans saw this, they’d probably explode with outrage, accusing the members of betrayal.
Xia Yan naturally ended up sitting with Forest’s leader, while Xu Cong sat on the other side.
In such situations, Xu Cong was usually the one who remained aloof.
For some reason—perhaps they were simply destined to clash—Xu Cong and Forest’s leader, Zong Yi, never seemed to get along, yet they often found themselves forced to sit next to each other.
Xia Yan, on the other hand, got along decently with Zong Yi.
Zong Yi, an alpha, was a chatterbox and a motherly figure. He was always either cleaning up after his team members or mediating disputes within the group.
His biggest dream was to leave the industry as soon as possible.
“I can’t take this life anymore,” he grumbled to Xia Yan, his tone resigned. “Every day, it’s either preventing Alan from sneaking out to date or catching Long Weiwei drinking milk tea in the middle of the night. Zhao Ye might be less troublesome, but you know his family situation. My god, I have to constantly watch out for that idiot of a biological dad of his showing up and causing trouble. Who knows if he’s racked up more gambling debts…”
Holding a cup of water carefully so as not to mess up his makeup, Zong Yi’s expression was dark, his grip on the cup so tight it was slightly deformed.
“Why doesn’t that idiot dad just get hit by a falling flower pot? I’d buy fireworks to celebrate.”
Gone was the gentlemanly image he maintained in public; he now resembled a mob boss collecting debts.
The makeup artist had already left, so they could speak freely.
This frankness was why Xia Yan liked being friends with Zong Yi. Listening to Zong Yi vent always made him feel like his own life wasn’t so bad.
Despite his team’s eccentricities, at least they weren’t as rebellious as Forest’s members.
After venting, Zong Yi turned his attention to Xia Yan’s health.
“What happened to you the other day? Did you really skip out on activities because of gastroenteritis? That doesn’t sound like you,” Zong Yi said skeptically. “You’re the type who’d still compete even with a head injury. Taking this many days off for gastroenteritis just doesn’t add up.”
He lowered his voice and asked with concern, “You’re not dealing with something serious, are you? Don’t be shy—if there’s anything I can help with, just say the word.”
Xia Yan’s face stiffened.
“It’s really nothing,” he said vaguely. “Just gastroenteritis. Maybe all the stress piled up and hit me at once.”
Zong Yi looked unconvinced but let it slide. He pulled out his phone and started enthusiastically recommending remedies.
“I told you, you can’t keep burning yourself out like this. I just bought some really good digestive powders—I’ll send you a few cans. Oh, and this foot soak is great too! Just one packet per soak—it helps with sleep…”
Zong Yi leaned closer to Xia Yan, his hand casually resting on his shoulder as he scrolled through his phone. As an alpha himself, physical proximity didn’t seem like a big deal to him.
Before he could get any closer, a long, strong hand suddenly intervened, creating a barrier between him and Xia Yan.
Zong Yi froze and looked up to see Xu Cong’s cold face.
Xu Cong was the tallest in the group at 189 cm, towering over most in the entertainment industry. With his broad shoulders and long legs, he exuded the presence of a male model. Simply standing there, he was intimidating.
He stared icily at Zong Yi, his sharp phoenix eyes devoid of any warmth, radiating only a piercing chill.
“Our captain’s been having some nasal issues lately,” Xu Cong said coldly. “You should keep your distance. Don’t aggravate it.”
Zong Yi froze, his tail metaphorically stepped on.
As an alpha, his pheromones were famously… durian-scented. He diligently used blockers daily to prevent any leakage, but the secret had been exposed by paparazzi once, leading to widespread ridicule and a day-long trending topic online before his agent paid to have it taken down.
Being reminded of it now by Xu Cong hit a sore spot.
Still, Zong Yi was naturally good-tempered—otherwise, he wouldn’t survive managing his rebellious teammates.
Xu Cong, however, stared him down with the unyielding intensity of an eagle poised to strike, his thin lips pressed into a firm line. His gaze zeroed in on Zong Yi’s hand still resting on Xia Yan’s shoulder.
Reluctantly, Zong Yi withdrew his hand.
From afar, Forest’s Zhao Ye seemed to sense something and glanced their way.
Xia Yan immediately kicked Xu Cong. “What are you saying? Be polite.”
Unfazed, Xu Cong didn’t even flinch.
Later, as they walked to the banquet area, Xia Yan turned to Xu Cong. “What’s wrong with you? Bringing up pheromones like that? Everyone knows Zong Yi smells like durian—it’s not new. Besides, I love eating durian. I don’t mind him. You’re lucky Zong Yi’s patient. Don’t be so harsh next time, got it?”
He shot Xu Cong a sidelong glance.
Xu Cong remained indifferent.
“He’s an Alpha, and you’re in your differentiation period now. Being close to him and smelling his scent, even with blockers, is bad for you,” Xu Cong said.
Xia Yan froze for a moment, not having considered that aspect. He was still used to being an Alpha and hadn’t fully adjusted.
“It’s not that easy to be affected,” Xia Yan replied, though he knew Xu Cong was looking out for him, so his expression softened.
But soon, Xia Yan regretted his words.
He thought Xu Cong, as the smartest in their group, truly had foresight.
At that day’s reception, the mix of Alphas and Omegas created an explosion of pheromone scents.
In public settings, especially when interacting with fans, celebrities usually use blockers out of politeness. But it’s not a strict requirement.
That day’s attendees included not only stars but also many outsiders.
Many people were eager to flaunt their dominant pheromones, like showing off the most glamorous feather on a peacock’s tail.
Xia Yan, now a thousand times more sensitive to various scents than before, felt overwhelmed at the reception.
He felt suffocated, as though a thousand bottles of perfume had shattered at his feet, their overpowering fragrances mixing and making his head throb.
Holding a champagne glass, he forced himself to make small talk, though his mind buzzed, desperately suppressing the urge to throw up.
He had underestimated Dr. Li’s warnings.
Back at the dorm, everyone had been considerate, using scent blockers and taking suppressant medication, which made him oblivious to how severe his differentiation period could be.
Now, his body ached as if ants were crawling under his skin. He even suspected a rash had broken out on his back, itching fiercely.
Barely enduring until the event ended, Xia Yan was scheduled for an interview afterward. It wasn’t exclusive to his group; Forest’s members were nearby too.
The interview questions were pre-screened, with no tricky ones—mostly about their upcoming album or Lin Qixu’s first acting experience.
Xia Yan usually approached the media with neutral politeness, but at the moment, he wore a tense expression, suppressing any sign of weakness or discomfort.
Just as he was figuring out how to discreetly sneak off for his meds, Xu Cong had somehow swapped places with Xiao Ning, ending up beside him.
Positioning himself slightly behind Xia Yan, Xu Cong subtly used his body as support while seamlessly taking over answering the reporter’s questions.
“Travel? We’ll go when we have a break. The captain said he wants to visit the Netherlands.”
“Yeah, next week, I’ll be joining the captain for the ‘Relaxing Vacation’ show. It’s going to be really relaxing, rare for just the two of us to attend an event together.”
Xu Cong still wore his usual indifferent expression.
But under the spotlight, his strikingly handsome face was a powerful weapon. His aloof demeanor gave him an air of chastity, seemingly immune to scandals, yet when he glanced at others with casual indifference, he exuded the charm of a rebellious but reserved rogue—brimming with sex appeal.
Even the reporters adored him.
Whenever Xu Cong spoke more than usual, they eagerly bombarded him with questions, but we’re careful not to provoke him.
Xia Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn’t know why, but ever since Xu Cong had come closer, the discomfort and pain in his body seemed to have lessened.
This allowed him to endure the latter half of the interview.
When the interview ended, a private gathering was scheduled, but Xia Yan didn’t even make it to the reception room. Instead, he quickly found the washroom.
As soon as he stepped in and was about to close the door, another hand pressed against it.
Startled, Xia Yan looked up to find Xu Cong holding the door, his intense gaze fixed on him.
Xu Cong stepped inside and locked the door behind him.
His eyes fell on Xia Yan’s neck. The shirt covered most of it, but the exposed part of his pale skin showed faint redness at the edges.
“Are you feeling unwell?” Xu Cong asked.
Realizing it was Xu Cong, Xia Yan relaxed and leaned against the sink. From the mirror, he could see his quickened breathing and slightly flushed face.
After some thought, he undid his jacket button and tugged at his collar to create more space, tilting his head.
“Take a look—do I have a rash on my back?”
Xu Cong hesitated but then approached. Looking at Xia Yan’s back, he saw a small patch of faint redness, about the size of a palm.
“Yes, there’s a small patch.”
It wasn’t his first time seeing Xia Yan’s body.
Back when they were seventeen or eighteen and sharing a dorm, Xia Yan had no shame. He would crawl into Xu Cong’s bed on cold winter nights, leaving Xu Cong sleepless.
Yet, after all these years, Xu Cong still hadn’t developed immunity to him.
Especially now, with Xia Yan facing away, completely trusting him. His bare back was so fair it almost blinded Xu Cong, leaving him awkwardly looking away.
“Damn it,” Xia Yan muttered, irritated. He fished out a suppressant pill from his pocket, a small white tablet that could be taken without water, and swallowed it.
Maybe it was psychological, but he felt slightly better after taking it.
“Now I get it,” he complained to Xu Cong. “Differentiation side effects are no joke. My whole body aches, my head’s killing me, I feel nauseous, my joints hurt, and now I’ve got a rash on my back. Differentiation? More like torture!”
Xu Cong frowned.
That day’s event wasn’t particularly long, but he couldn’t imagine how Xia Yan would endure if they participated in an extended variety show recording while he suffered through these side effects.
But differentiation periods weren’t illnesses—they were a natural response of the body, with no effective treatment available.
Should I ask my cousin if there are more advanced treatments or medications abroad?
Xu Cong was thinking about this.
His cousin was a doctor specializing in pheromones and even had his own laboratory.
As he was thinking, he suddenly felt his shirt being tugged.
He lowered his head and found that Xia Yan was looking at him intently.
“What’s wrong?”
Xia Yan moved a little closer. Due to the length of time, the blocking spray on Xu Cong’s body was gradually wearing off. Xia Yan had already sensed it during the interview. Xu Cong’s sandalwood pheromone was faintly spreading in the air.
Now, the two of them were cramped in this narrow washroom.
A closed space.
The trace of sandalwood was becoming more apparent.
Theoretically, Xia Yan should reject all alpha pheromones, but strangely, he didn’t feel uncomfortable with this faint sandalwood scent. Instead, it had a reassuring fragrance.
He even…
Wanted to be closer to Xu Cong.
To smell the scent more clearly.
“This is strange.” Xia Yan muttered quietly, looking up at Xu Cong. His seductive peach blossom eyes, still a bit misty from his discomfort earlier, gave off a sharp focus and calmness under the cold light of the restroom. “Why does your scent actually smell quite good?”
Xu Cong’s heartbeat skipped a beat.
Though he was taller than Xia Yan, Xia Yan’s slender fingers grabbed his shirt, and it felt as though his throat was being constricted.
I want to get closer to Xia Yan.
Every trace of pheromones on his body was desperately conveying this message.
Xu Cong swallowed, looking down at Xia Yan, his dark eyes dim in the light.
“Really?”
“Really.”
Xia Yan sniffed gently again.
But the medicine he had taken earlier had started to take effect, and he felt better now. He let go of Xu Cong’s shirt.
“It’s probably because I’m more familiar with you. You’re sandalwood, not irritating.” Xia Yan said casually, scratching his still-itchy neck, not realizing how strange the atmosphere was in such a narrow space.
He unlocked the restroom door again and opened it.
“Let’s go, make an appearance at the party, then we should head back.”
