Chapter 45: Afraid of Pain

Whether it was from sleeping too late or catching a chill, when He Siheng woke up the next morning, he felt his head foggy and groggy. He lay in bed for a good while before finally dragging himself up.

He picked up his phone from the bedside table and checked the time—it was almost ten o’clock. Fortunately, it was the weekend, so he didn’t have to go to school.

He Siheng stepped out of the room. The door to the side bedroom was tightly shut. He walked over and knocked twice. “Shu Yichen, are you up?”

He called out a few times with no response, but he seemed to hear faint crying from inside. Just as He Siheng was about to open the door for a look, Tan Jing’s voice stopped him.

“He’s still in his Susceptible Period. You should keep your distance from him.”

He Siheng let out an “oh” and withdrew the hand that had already grasped the doorknob.

Shu Yichen’s Susceptible Period had come on so suddenly. If Tan Jing hadn’t been there, things probably would have gone south last night.

Wearing his slippers, He Siheng shuffled toward the living room and scratched his head. “Sorry for the trouble last night. I’ll take him back home today.”

Tan Jing glanced at his awkward demeanor. “Suddenly so polite?”

“Shu Yichen just Differentiated and can’t control his Pheromones well yet. We don’t want your place smelling like him everywhere.” He Siheng remembered that Alphas had strong territorial instincts.

“It’s just a phone call to the housekeeping service. This house has the best ventilation system money can buy.”

Tan Jing returned to the kitchen and took two eggs he’d just bought from the supermarket out of the fridge. He cracked them into the hot oiled pan.

He Siheng sat at the dining table, his mind a bit muddled as he watched Tan Jing bustle about in the kitchen.

Tan Jing was dressed very casually today—a beige crewneck sweater and loose, well-draped leisure pants. Thanks to his long legs, the baggy style looked great on him, and the warm tones made him seem much softer overall.

With a face that screamed “never lifted a finger in his life,” the apron around his waist looked completely out of place, yet he moved around the kitchen with practiced ease.

But what was even stranger was Tan Jing’s vibe today. The man who usually showed little expression had a faint smile lingering at the corners of his lips, making him look like he was in a great mood.

“Did you win the lottery?” He Siheng blurted out.

Tan Jing flipped the fried eggs, his tone rising slightly. “Something like that.”

He Siheng yawned. “How much?”

Tan Jing looked up at him with a meaningful smile. “Wife money.”

He Siheng: “?”

For some reason, He Siheng shivered.

Why did it feel like the lottery Tan Jing had “won” was from his family’s bank account?

Tan Jing turned off the heat, washed his hands, removed the apron, and brought the fried eggs and toasted slices of bread to the table. “Eat up.”

He Siheng picked up a fried egg with his chopsticks and took a bite. It smelled good, but tasted bland.

Well, that balanced things out. Seeing Tan Jing so at home in the kitchen, he’d thought the guy had mastered some culinary skills. Turns out, it was just average.

Hiding his schadenfreude, He Siheng feigned concern. “Did you forget the salt?”

“Did I?” Tan Jing took a bite from the egg on his own plate. The taste was normal.

“It’s bland as hell.” He Siheng gave his blunt review, then took a sip of milk. His swallowing paused.

Wait, it wasn’t just the egg— the milk tasted like water too?

Just as He Siheng started suspecting his taste buds were failing, a hand reached over and pressed against his forehead. The palm, freshly cooled from cold water, felt nice and refreshing against his skin. He Siheng couldn’t help but nuzzle into it, but the hand pulled away.

Tan Jing frowned. “You’re running a fever.”

He Siheng froze.

No wonder his head had felt foggy since waking up, and he couldn’t taste salt or sweetness.

Damn it—a fever meant a fever shot.

“Looks like you caught too much cold wind last night,” Tan Jing said as he stood from the table. “I’ll get the thermometer.”

Almost on reflex, He Siheng grabbed his hand. “I’m not getting a shot.”

He’d gone from smug to pathetic in seconds.

Tan Jing chuckled. “Don’t panic. Let’s take your temperature first.”

The words “take your temperature” made He Siheng’s heart sink.

He’d always had good health, rarely caught colds, and fevers were even rarer. But every time it reached the fever stage, he inevitably needed a shot because pills alone never cut it. His few injection experiences growing up were all from fevers that wouldn’t break with medicine.

Ten minutes later, He Siheng pulled the thermometer from under his arm and handed it to Tan Jing like it was his last will and testament, his expression grave.

“37.5 degrees. Low-grade fever. Some medicine should do the trick.”

Hearing the results, He Siheng sighed in relief, his whole body visibly relaxing.

Seeing his “escaped death” look, Tan Jing found it amusing. “So afraid of pain—what are you going to do in the future?”

He Siheng was puzzled. “What future?”

Tan Jing got up to fetch some common cold medicine. “Never mind, you’re still young. We’ll talk about it when that day comes.”

He Siheng was baffled. “What day?”

Annoyed by Tan Jing’s cryptic words, He Siheng cursed him disdainfully. “Half-assed talker—you’ll end up without a partner.”

Tan Jing paused mid-step, turned back, and gave him an amused half-smile.

He Siheng’s eyelid twitched, sensing trouble.

Sure enough, Tan Jing tugged at his lips and delivered a reality check, enunciating each word. “The day I give you a Permanent Mark.”

He smirked faintly. “You know what a Permanent Mark requires, right?”

“…”

He Siheng ducked his head in silence, his face flushing red.

Better if he’d just left it half-said.

Should’ve never asked.

Of course he knew. Unlike a Temporary Mark that was just a bite to the Gland, a Permanent Mark involved knotting after opening the Reproductive Cavity.

He’d seen the size of Tan Jing’s equipment in the bathroom that time. Something that big pushing into the Reproductive Cavity would hurt like hell…

Wait, why was he assuming it’d be with Tan Jing?

Pah! All Tan Jing’s fault for leading him astray!

He Siheng suddenly realized he’d been teased. He snapped his head up furiously. “Tan Jing!”

Tan Jing placed the prepared cold medicine in front of him. “Drink your medicine.”

He Siheng, all fired up for a confrontation, deflated instantly and dawdled. “Why’s it a powder mix…”

Tan Jing saw through him. “It’s sweet.”

Only then did He Siheng pick up the cup, pinch his nose, and gulp it down.

After the medicine, he was a man again. He Siheng set down the cup, cleared his throat. “There’s something we need to talk about seriously.”

Tan Jing raised a brow. “Shoot.”

He Siheng straightened up. “I only agreed to give you a chance to pursue me. I haven’t agreed to date you yet, so… no assuming we’re together and blurring the lines.”

He paused, then added, “And no letting Shu Yichen call you ‘cousin-in-law’ anymore.”

Tan Jing: “Fine, I’ll sew his mouth shut.”

“…” He Siheng: “I mean, don’t respond when he calls you that.”

“Got it. I’ll know my place.” Tan Jing took the used cup to the kitchen to rinse. “I’m just your suitor—we’re not together yet. I’ll mind my boundaries from now on.”

To He Siheng’s surprise, Tan Jing agreed readily, even admitting fault so candidly. But why did it feel overly serious? He hadn’t even accused him of overstepping.

The side bedroom door opened. Shu Yichen emerged, shrouded in low pressure, looking listless. Spotting He Siheng at the dining table, he mumbled weakly, “Morning, cousin.”

He Siheng was startled—not by the messy bird’s nest hair, but by the puffy fish-belly eyes, like he’d cried his heart out last night.

“What happened to you?”

“Nothing…”

Shu Yichen’s voice was hoarse as he veered to the kitchen for water. Seeing Tan Jing washing cups, he called out weakly, “Cousin-in-law.”

No response the first time. Thinking he hadn’t heard, he called again. Still nothing—Tan Jing ignored him.

Alphas in Susceptible Period had fragile glass hearts. Shu Yichen’s tears, barely held back in his room, surged instantly. He bolted from the kitchen without drinking and wailed to He Siheng. “Cousin, Cousin-in-law’s ignoring me! He must think I’m a bother and hates me!”

He Siheng twitched his mouth. “Change your form of address, and he’ll talk to you.”

“No, it’s got nothing to do with that—Cousin-in-law hates me!” Shu Yichen ignored all explanations, fixating on his assumption like a heartbroken spouse dumped by a scumbag. He wanted to throw himself into He Siheng’s arms for comfort.

But as he moved toward He Siheng, the gaze on his back felt tangible, chilling him to the spine.

It was hostility from another Alpha, silently staking claim—a bone-chilling pressure.

Shu Yichen stiffened, halted abruptly, pivoted on his toes, and fled back to his room sobbing. “I knew it! I’m the most hated person in the world!”

He Siheng: “…”

Suppressing his twitching lips, He Siheng looked at Tan Jing, who was utterly calm. “Alphas in Susceptible Period bully the weak and fear the strong. He doesn’t dare vent on us, so he just cries.”

He Siheng had seen his dad, Boss He, during Susceptible Period—more melancholic and negative than usual, sure, but never crying like this.

“Do you get like that during yours?” He Siheng asked Tan Jing curiously.

Tan Jing glanced at him but said nothing.

He Siheng assumed it was a yes and grinned, unable to hide his amusement. “Really?”

Tan Jing curved his lips in a polite, distant smile. “Sorry, I need to mind my boundaries. That’s private—only for my boyfriend.”

He Siheng: “…”

Shu Yichen’s emotions fluctuated wildly during his Susceptible Period, and he couldn’t control his Pheromones. For safety, He Siheng shouldn’t stay under the same roof, but Shu Yichen refused to leave with him. So, they had to trouble Tan Jing to watch him for another day.

Before leaving, He Siheng stood at the entryway and kindly warned, “If he loses control again, go easy when you beat him.”

Tan Jing was more worried about him. “You sure you don’t want me to drive you home? You’re still feverish.”

He Siheng waved it off casually. “Just a low fever. Won’t kill me.”

He needed Tan Jing to watch Shu Yichen—the only one who could keep him in check. Who knew if the kid might snap and run out to bite some random Omega.

He Siheng turned to go, but Tan Jing called out. “Wait.”

He paused. “What?”

Tan Jing stepped outside, fiddled with the entryway passcode lock, grabbed He Siheng’s hand, and pressed his thumb to the fingerprint scanner.

Before He Siheng could react, it beeped: fingerprint registered successfully.

“You—what’d you register my fingerprint for?”

Tan Jing released his hand. “So it’s easier for you next time.”

Who said anything about a next time…

He Siheng awkwardly hid his hand behind his back. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll come steal your stuff?”

Tan Jing smiled. “Stealing things would be too polite. Might as well steal the person too.”

He Siheng: “…”

“I’m out!”

He Siheng spun and left. Any more chat with this guy, and he’d get roped in again.

Next time? He wasn’t running away from home. There’d be no next time!

He Siheng strode into the elevator without looking back and mashed the close button.

As the doors shut and it descended, his phone buzzed in his coat pocket.

He Siheng pulled it out. It was a friend request:

“Little Strawberry” added you as a friend via “Brother Jing Global Support Association.”