On the second weekend, Ji Qiu met Yu Zhenghao at the agreed place.
Although Ji Qiu knew this man was quite a bit older than them, his manner of speaking, his experience, and his clean, well-kept appearance almost erased any sense of age.
Liang Yan sat to the side with a cup of milk tea, lulled by the warmth of the café into drowsiness. He tried hard to keep his eyes open and listen to their conversation, but he couldn’t resist the pull of sleep.
When facing others—especially in important situations like this—Ji Qiu never lost his composure. Even when the other person was a well-known journalist, he could still speak with confidence, laying out his thoughts clearly for Yu Zhenghao.
Liang Yan forced his eyes open. He remembered he’d gone to bed early the night before, yet now he was inexplicably sleepy, which made him feel embarrassed in front of his father’s acquaintance.
“Yan Yan,” Ji Qiu paused mid-conversation to glance at him. “Are you really tired? Do you want to lean on me and sleep for a while?”
Liang Yan shook his head awkwardly. It already felt rude to be dozing off; he didn’t want to interrupt their talk even more.
Yu Zhenghao had never met Liang Yan, but he knew who he was. He nodded understandingly. “Don’t mind me. It’s fine.”
So in the end, Liang Yan couldn’t hold out. He shifted closer, resting his head on Ji Qiu’s lap, and slept for a solid two hours.
Meanwhile, Ji Qiu and Yu Zhenghao talked for the same two hours.
“I understand the situation now.” Yu Zhenghao’s expression grew more serious as he mentioned KB’s past. “Back then, it took several companies joining forces to resolve things. But now, regarding inhibitors, KB holds a monopoly. And you’re telling me…”
He touched his chin, thinking. “What you’ve been doing is taking samples, collecting evidence. True, the evidence is solid,”—he glanced at the Omega asleep against Ji Qiu, lowering his voice—“but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be advantageous for you.”
Ji Qiu nodded. “I know. But we urgently need a way to break it open.”
“I’ll do my best,” Yu Zhenghao said, raising his brows. “I’ll get the article written quickly, try to push for more coverage, and get it published as soon as possible.”
“Thank you so much,” Ji Qiu said earnestly.
Yu Zhenghao waved it off. “Since Dean Liang personally introduced us, there’s no need for thanks.”
As their talk drew to a close, Ji Qiu moved to stand and shake hands, but Yu Zhenghao stopped him. “No need. Let your Omega rest. He looks very dependent on you.”
For once, Ji Qiu flushed, thinking, If only you knew how clingy I am with him.
But Yu Zhenghao didn’t press. He stood and shook Ji Qiu’s hand politely. “What would help most now is if something happened—anything at all—to bring this issue into public view. Otherwise, it really will be like an ant trying to shake a tree—too difficult. But I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
Mindful of the person sleeping on his lap, Ji Qiu kept his movements small. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me.” Yu Zhenghao’s tone softened. “I’m sorry about your brother. But Liang Yan is lucky—lucky to have met you.”
Otherwise, who knows how much longer he would’ve struggled with the harmful side effects of those inhibitors.
Ji Qiu lifted his eyes with a smile, shaking his head. The curve at the corner of his eyes softened, gentle with no trace of an Alpha’s usual sharpness. “I’m the lucky one.”
After Yu Zhenghao left, Ji Qiu stayed on the sofa a little longer, until he felt the person on his lap stir. He turned to look.
“You’re awake?”
The position made it easy for Ji Qiu to look down. His fingers brushed across Liang Yan’s face almost naturally.
Liang Yan’s skin was pale, and the side exposed to the café’s warm air felt smooth and soft to the touch.
Ji Qiu couldn’t help but think that the rest of Liang Yan’s skin must feel the same.
His throat went dry, a restless heat rising in his chest.
Liang Yan was still busy shaking off his drowsiness, completely unaware of Ji Qiu’s wandering thoughts. His voice was soft with sleep as he gave a quiet reply.
In the dimly lit corner of the café, they smiled at each other. Liang Yan propped his hand on Ji Qiu’s leg and tilted his face upward, while the other’s fingers lingered on his cheek, tender and captivating.
If anyone saw them, they would surely gasp inwardly—what a perfect, wonderful Alpha and Omega! Absolutely flawless!
Then, in the very next second, the Alpha who had just been steeped in warmth blinked, leaned closer, and with sparkling eyes unleashed his signature move:
“Yan Yan, give me a kiss!”
…And instantly shattered the near-perfect A-and-O atmosphere.
Ji Qiu got a slap across the face.
Because of that incident in class when the professor caught him, and his unforgettable “刺激鸭 (exciting, huh)” remark, Liang Yan swatted him in exasperation.
Kiss your ass.
Ji Qiu covered his face, staring at him wide-eyed in wounded grievance. “If you don’t want to kiss, fine—but why hit me?”
Liang Yan hadn’t used any real force, so he ignored him.
Straightening up, he took a sip of his already-cold milk tea, set it back down, and frowned. “How long did I sleep?”
A faint irritation crept up in him. Since when did he sleep so heavily? That wasn’t like him.
“Not long, not long—just as we finished talking, you woke up.”
Ji Qiu briefly summarized his conversation with Yu Zhenghao. Liang Yan nodded, his mood easing quite a bit.
He took another sip of milk tea. The chilled liquid slid down his throat, oddly jarring in the cozy warmth of the café, leaving him uncomfortable.
Ji Qiu caught the detail and snatched the cup from him. “Too cold? Then don’t drink it. Next time I’ll buy hot.”
Liang Yan let him have his way.
But he hadn’t thought iced milk tea tasted bad before…
Maybe it was just because he’d just woken up and still felt chilled.
“Shall we go?” Ji Qiu tucked his collar snugly. “Let’s eat first, then I’ll join you for self-study.”
“Okay.”
Looking at the man gently fixing his collar, Liang Yan suddenly recalled his earlier playful plea. After a moment’s hesitation, he moved on impulse.
When he leaned over and kissed him, he tasted faint tea and creamy sweetness on his lips.
I must be influenced by him, Liang Yan thought.
I’ve gotten sticky and clingy too.
Yu Zhenghao finished writing his draft quickly. After it passed review, he sent it to Ji Qiu and his group, even sought Director Liang Chen’s opinion. With no objections from any side, the article—with its new developments and sharp questioning of KB’s inhibitors—was finally published.
But since Yu Zhenghao’s outlet was a specialized medical media platform, its main readership consisted of clinical professionals. Apart from its own news site, most followers of its WeChat and Weibo accounts were also insiders. So at first, only people in the field were shocked and started spreading it within small circles.
However, since Ji Qiu studied at Qicheng Medical University—where most students were future industry professionals—the news quickly spread across clinical medicine classes.
Many had even interned at KB headquarters before, so their reaction was even stronger. They hadn’t imagined the company they once admired would conceal results and pharmacological effects, luring Omegas into clinical trials with high rewards despite clear ethical violations. It was unbelievable.
“Gotta be fake, right?”
“Fake my ass! Look at who broke the story—this outlet is known for high-quality reporting. Since when have they published false news?”
“Exactly. There must be solid evidence.”
“But why publish this only right before the drug’s launch…? Aren’t they afraid KB will suppress the news and push forward anyway?”
“I’m just glad I’m not an Omega.”
“I know this outlet—they’ve clashed with KB before. Figures they don’t get along.”
While everyone speculated how Public Health would face off against KB this time—whether KB would ignore it or retaliate harshly—the company, which had been actively promoting its inhibitor in hospitals, suddenly stopped.
It was as if Yu Zhenghao’s words carried magic. He’d said they needed some trigger to spark greater public discussion. Unexpectedly, KB delivered the trigger themselves.
According to what Liang Chen heard from a fellow hospital director, KB halted its launch process because the daughter of a senior executive in their marketing department had recently differentiated into an Omega. After using their own inhibitor during her first heat, she experienced respiratory suppression and chilling of the limbs.
The executive was horrified, berated the R&D department, and forcibly halted all further promotion of the 3.0 inhibitor until the cause was clarified.
The heavy stone they had been carrying around had, in the end, landed squarely on their own foot.
But before hearing this news, Liang Yan had just received a call from his former roommate.
“Yan Yan!!!” The voice on the other end sounded like a worried mother hen. “You went out on a date with Xiao Qiu, didn’t you?”
Liang Yan was a little puzzled but still gave a soft reply.
“Someone from school happened to run into you two at the café and even snapped a picture,” Yin Tongguang fumed. “Seriously, what’s wrong with these people? You guys aren’t celebrities, so what’s the point of taking photos…”
The post itself was actually quite straightforward:
【Shocking! Even though I still can’t understand OO love, Yan-Qiu’s relationship is now confirmed beyond doubt!】
【RT. Today I went to a café not far from campus. Just as I was leaving, I spotted Liang Yan and Ji Qiu on a date. Naturally, I was curious, so I paid closer attention, and then I realized…】
The poster vividly described their excitement upon spotting the campus’ famous couple, using exaggerated rhetoric to express their astonishment over this CP.
At the end of the post, they even attached two photos.
The gossip-loving crowd eagerly scrolled down…
Yes, there were photos—but all they showed was Liang Yan leaning in close, their faces nearly touching.
And at the spot where their lips should have met—
Huh??
What the hell was that pixelated blur???
Can’t play fair, huh?!
Finally, the poster shamelessly added: Add me on WeChat to see the uncensored photo immediately.
To this, netizens across the thread all declared: What, are we crazy?! Why would we pay to see two Omegas kissing?!
…And yet, that very same day, the poster received a flood of WeChat friend requests.
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