Chapter 33

Yi Chen did not let the silence linger for too long. He picked up the tennis ball that had rolled to his feet, tossed it up, and caught it. “Shall we begin?”

Tennis was an intensely physical sport. It required constant running, full mental concentration—watching the ball, the lines, the opponent’s movements—all culminating in the satisfying smack of ball against racket. The ball slammed into the ground, bounced up, and was met by the racket again. That impact felt exhilarating, utterly addictive.

Exercise promoted dopamine and adrenaline. In those moments of mental tension, it was like a gentle hand plucking a guitar string. Yu Xi stared intently at the ball. Yi Chen’s shots were as tricky-angled as ever. As he dashed around, his competitive spirit swelled, amplifying with every step.

He felt immensely happy, deeply pleased. Chasing the ball and claiming victory through sport had become instinct. The fire in his eyes ignited brighter and brighter, spreading from the tennis ball to Yi Chen himself.

The first time he had shown such fierce competitiveness in front of Yi Chen was not over exam scores, but on the tennis court.

There weren’t many people at school who played tennis. With heavy studies, it was hard to get everyone together. Most of the time, Yu Xi trained alone with the ball machine.

That day, Yi Chen had walked onto the court, racket slung over his shoulder. “You play too? Want a match?”

It had been a grueling stalemate, every ball fiercely contested.

Just like now—bodies drenched in sweat, hair damp, clothes clinging, muscles taut. All irritation, all anxiety, all curiosity got channeled into every attack and counter. No other sounds registered. No room for thought, only the incoming ball, the opponent, and the raw pleasure surging from deep in his brain, courtesy of the exertion.

The ball grazed the edge of Yi Chen’s racket and wasn’t returned. It hit the ground a second time and bounced out of bounds.

The automatic scorer beeped, and the score updated.

“Why didn’t you return it?” Yu Xi’s expression soured. That shot was straight-on; Yi Chen could have easily gotten it. Clearly, Yi Chen had deliberately ended the rally.

“Your leg isn’t fully healed yet. Take a break.” Yi Chen tossed Yu Xi a bottle of water.

Yu Xi had twisted his ankle, but he’d massaged it, and it had felt fine all afternoon with no pain. Light exercise was fine in this state, but overdoing it could worsen the injury—and that wouldn’t be worth it.

Yu Xi unscrewed the cap and gulped down several mouthfuls, tilting his head back.

The ice-cold mineral water rushed down his throat but did nothing to quench the burning emotions. Yu Xi turned toward Yi Chen—they locked eyes across half the court.

Yu Xi hadn’t detached from his heightened state. His eyes burned with the hunger for victory. He panted, chest heaving. That thrill, that exhilaration, transmitted unavoidably through his gaze straight into Yi Chen’s mind.

Yi Chen was momentarily stunned.

Yu Xi hadn’t changed at all.

As captivating as ever.

Yi Chen tried to steady his breathing, but he couldn’t. His heart pounded faster, heavier against his chest. He got swept into Yu Xi’s fervor. He raised his racket, pointing it at Yu Xi. “Don’t lose this time.”

Yu Xi grinned. “Impossible.”

“Boring without stakes. Let’s make a bet.” Yi Chen smiled. “Loser dresses as a woman.”

“Sure.” Yu Xi agreed without hesitation.

[Whoa, what are they even saying?! Lip-reading experts! Where’s my lip-reading master?!]

[Fe…male…clo…thes? I think I read ‘female clothes’? (I don’t care, it’s female clothes female clothes female clothes female clothes!)]

[Wuuu, any sisters feel like their eye contact was super steamy? I can’t hold it in anymore, I’m screaming at home and my mom thinks I’m crazy 55555]

[Eye-fucking, that’s eye-fucking! One look from them and I feel like they’re doing it! Next second they’re gonna devour each other!]

The break wasn’t short. To prevent another sprain, Yi Chen wrapped an elastic bandage around Yu Xi’s calf. They discussed the bet’s rules and set the automatic scorer accordingly.

Ready at last, they returned to their sides. The ball was tossed up, and their gazes sharpened with instant focus.

Yu Xi zeroed in on the ball. Yi Chen zeroed in on Yu Xi.

Yi Chen struggled to suppress his own emotions.

He absolutely loved the way Yu Xi looked when focused.

When Yu Xi got serious, he fixated intently on everything before him. He demanded perfection from himself, refining to the point of obsession. He forced himself to think, to correct, shutting out all external noise that might distract him.

Unfortunately, Yi Chen was mostly the same kind of person.

That was why they often clashed over differing ideas, sparking friction and arguments.

Like that stage performance half a year ago, when they’d been unexpectedly paired.

They’d been at odds, each stubborn in their views, neither willing to yield.

Everyone thought they didn’t get along, that they were oil and water, constantly clashing.

But Yi Chen actually relished competing with Yu Xi.

Emotions and thoughts tangled in his mind. Exercise produced dopamine—the love hormone—and in the extremity of every sprint, every serve and return, it burned hot and fierce. Yi Chen’s gaze grew scorching.

Another ball hit the ground.

Yu Xi paused and met Yi Chen’s blazing eyes.

Truth be told, he couldn’t fully calm his own emotions either.

The elevated heart rate from exercise, combined with those eyes, maxed out every pleasure, every impulse in an instant.

Without a word, they both approached the net.

What started as a courteous post-point handshake turned impulsive. Yu Xi suddenly yanked down Yi Chen’s collar. During exercise, pheromones leaked out, though not much—needing proximity to detect.

The crisp peppermint pomelo mingled with gardenia. They were like two cats grooming each other, inhaling each other’s pheromone scents amid scorching breaths.

This is way too irrational, Yu Xi thought.

[Mama mia!!!!]

[Why do I feel like they’re about to kiss?!]

[Be bold, drop the ‘feel’—they’re definitely about to kiss!!]

[I’m spinning, jumping, screaming on the spot!]

[Let me crawl out of this gap, let me out, let me push their heads together!!!]

[They’re tired from tennis? Let me play!]

This really was too irrational.

Yu Xi took a deep breath.

He forced himself to let go, turning away to compose himself.

In the gap as he steadied his breathing, there came a “bang.” Behind him, Yi Chen had served while he wasn’t looking. The ball sailed over the net, hit the ground, and was registered by the machine.

The scorer beeped: “Match over. Yi Chen wins.”

Yu Xi: “?”

Yi Chen grinned smugly. “Female clothes.”

Yu Xi: “??”

Yi Chen kept his sly smile. “Loser dresses as a woman. You agreed yourself—no welching.”

Yu Xi: “?”

Yu Xi: “Aren’t you the one welching?”

“You were spacing out.” Yi Chen declared righteously. “I just served normally.”

Yu Xi nearly laughed in exasperation at that entitled tone. “Say that again?”

Yi Chen: “All talk, no follow-through?”

“Ha?” The scoreboard blared 【Yi Chen, win!】 in huge letters, glaringly obnoxious. Yu Xi vaulted over half the court. Only a beatdown would vent this. “Don’t run.”

Yi Chen naturally ran, but after dodging just two steps, Yu Xi yelped “Ow!” behind him, as if he’d strained a muscle again. Yi Chen halted instantly and turned back—only for Yu Xi to leap at him in two strides, legs clamping his waist, hands gripping his shoulders tight, hanging fully onto him.

Yi Chen lost balance and toppled backward. Yu Xi started to let go, but the sly fox grabbed his wrists. In their mutual tussle, they crashed straight to the ground—Yi Chen hitting first on his back, Yu Xi landing atop him.

Their exercise-heated breaths hadn’t evened out. Yu Xi raised his knee toward Yi Chen’s sensitive spot for a kick, but Yi Chen anticipated it, rolling them sideways. Positions flipped, and they ended up sprawled on the gym floor, neither rising. In the quiet venue, only their overlapping breaths echoed.

“Bastard,” Yu Xi cursed him.

“No welching,” Yi Chen said.

“Bastard,” Yu Xi repeated.

The AC hummed cool air from above, carrying whiffs of sweet fragrance. The timer flickered in peripheral vision. After a long silence, Yi Chen spoke. “Can’t it be like the old days?”

“No going back,” Yu Xi replied. “Life’s beatings stripped away all my student vibe.”

“Then let’s get to know each other again?”

“Don’t want to know you.” Yu Xi stared at the ceiling. “I don’t want any more entanglements with you.”

“Too late.” Yi Chen gazed upward too. “We already have entanglements—we have to sell CP, act all intimate.”

“I can’t act it.”

[I died, are they really not dating?!]

[I’m deceased from shipping, utterly deceased!!!]

[What are they even sayingggggg!!!]

[I’m so anxious! Where’s my lip-reading master?!]

[What junk camera is this? Audio sucks so bad!!!]

Once their breaths finally steadied and heart rates normalized, Yu Xi and Yi Chen got up and headed to the lockers.

Their figures drew closer, blocking the camera’s full view. Two dark silhouettes obscured the vent, narrowing the already tight frame until it went nearly pitch-black.

That was the moment Yu Xi shuddered all over. His mind blanked for an instant, vision blurring as sharp pain surged from his nape.

Precursor Heat again—unpredictable, irregular, no specific cure.

Yu Xi wasn’t as flustered as his first time. He even felt a bit grateful it hadn’t hit during the live visit stream. His body was giving him some face.

Luo Qin had said that during Precursor Heat, kissing a familiar Alpha greatly eased the pain.

And during Precursor Heat, instinct overrode reason.

Yu Xi looked at Yi Chen.

Right there was an Alpha.

They… had kissed countless times before.

Yi Chen caught a whiff of gardenia.

The scent thickened rapidly. Yi Chen realized immediately what was happening.

Locking eyes with Yu Xi amid the overpowering gardenia, he suddenly understood Luo Qin’s cryptic message from before—what that “Method B” really meant.

A kiss could alleviate Precursor Heat pain, with no side effects.

—That was Luo Qin’s advice to Yu Xi.

He really should thank Luo Qin. Otherwise, with Yu Xi’s personality, he’d pop pills nonstop before trying Method B.

Without much hesitation or warning, Yi Chen leaned down and captured Yu Xi’s lips. In a voice so low and soft only they could hear, he murmured,

“Can I only kiss you in moments like this?”

Yu Xi didn’t reply. He grabbed Yi Chen’s collar and yanked him down.

Thud. Yi Chen’s back slammed into the locker, shaking it. The feed trembled in the darkness, the last sliver of light snuffed out. The screen went completely black.

[?]

[What happened?]

[What was that noise?]

[They noticed? Blocking it on purpose?]

[Give me back the feed! I wanna see!!]

[Aaaahhhh! I’m going crazy I’m going crazy I’m going crazy!!!]

On-screen, fans clawed to pierce the camera, devour the lockers raw.

Off-screen, Yu Xi and Yi Chen embraced, locked in a deep, inseparable kiss.