He had no choice but to save the day.
Forget everything else—just the scent clinging to Mu Chenxing made it impossible for him to return to the dorms.
Professor Zhang tinkered in the compounding room for a while and produced a spray bottle. He spritzed Mu Chenxing up and down twice, then dragged him to the adjacent testing room. Finally, he sighed at him.
Mu Chenxing: “…It hasn’t gone down?”
Professor Zhang rubbed his temples in headache: “I figured regular Pheromone Cleansers and Suppressants wouldn’t cut it, so this was a high-concentration custom mix… Pei Yao’s pheromones are really something…”
Mu Chenxing’s heart skipped in alarm: “So what’s the result? Can I go back to the dorms?”
Professor Zhang: “Like hell you can. You trying to trigger a whole building’s Heat Periods?”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
A whole building?
He sniffed his arm. “No way, right?”
“Bullshit. I just sprayed you twice over.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
It scared the shit out of him.
“But your roommates and neighbors are definitely in for it.” Professor Zhang frowned at the data on the Holo-Screen for a long time before leading him back to the office for a blood draw to test his internal pheromones.
After a while, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don’t go back to the dorms. Come stay with me for a few days.”
Mu Chenxing: “…Won’t that affect other people at your place?”
Professor Zhang said calmly: “High-rank Alphas’ homes are specially designed to contain pheromones—no leaks.” He glanced at him. “Omegas’ too.”
“…Oh.” Mu Chenxing had no clue how to gauge ranks, so he just nodded along. “Then I’ll have Xiaoxiao and the others pack some daily necessities and clothes for me.”
“Forget packing.” Professor Zhang opened a Holo-Screen to log data, handwriting notes while lecturing him. “You want them coming over to suck up your pheromones?”
“Also, skip classes for the next few days. I’ll tell your counselor. Any homework, have Xiaoxiao and them send it to you.”
Mu Chenxing: “…Oh.” He scratched his head. “Won’t that bother you and the principal?”
A day or two was fine, but it sounded like more.
Professor Zhang: “…Bother my ass. What the hell’s in that kid brain of yours all day? I say go, so go!”
Mu Chenxing shrank back: “Okay.”
Because of Pei Yao’s pheromone issue, the Medical Building had been cleared early. But with the school festival, there weren’t many people around anyway.
Fortunately, the treatment went smoothly, and Pei Yao had kept his pheromones mostly contained around Mu Chenxing. So the lingering pheromones in the building were mostly from before Pei Yao’s treatment.
Professor Zhang activated the building’s air purification system, then led Mu Chenxing on a full round, spraying high-concentration Pheromone Cleanser twice more. They waited in the office for over half an hour, and the pheromones were basically cleared.
During the wait, Professor Zhang drew another tube of his blood for experiments. Mu Chenxing could only curl up on the sofa, checking materials and catching up on lessons.
And sending messages.
Pei Yao had really transferred him sixty thousand, even adding a kissy emoji.
Mu Chenxing tapped into the guy’s profile and stared at the “Falcon 01” ID for a long time—
He’d mocked Pei Yao before for using such an old-man ID. Who knew the guy was actually the Falcon 01—the legendary Falcon Squadron’s number one, Admiral Pei Yao.
He’d thought the guy was some public security bigwig. Turns out he was an honored guest at the Alliance First Military Academy’s festival, with the demoted major general principal personally escorting him.
Accomplished at 37, rich, powerful, prestigious, and not bad-looking… pursuing him?
Hah, he’d sooner believe he was the reincarnation of Qin Shi Huang.
A staunchly straight guy like him wouldn’t let some man defile him!!
He didn’t reply, ruthlessly closing the window and switching to chat with his roommates.
As for him crashing at Professor Zhang’s for a few days, Tong Xiao and the others were just puzzled how he kept running into these things one after another.
Mu Chenxing bullshitted a few lines, and with Professor Zhang and the principal involved, they were relieved and didn’t pry.
They didn’t ask, but Mu Chenxing didn’t let them off—he needed them to cover his daily Association runs for a few days.
Tong Xiao and the trio: “…”
Mu Chenxing pleaded earnestly, reasoning from habits to protocols, from “one time leads to two” to “discipline starts strict”… he howled in the group chat for nearly half an hour.
Sure enough, the three little Omegas softened, each promising to make sure everyone kept up the runs without fail, so he could rest easy in confinement.
Mu Chenxing snapped his fingers, spamming kissy emojis, and closed the window satisfied.
Professor Zhang was still messing with his experiments. Mu Chenxing lifted his arm to sniff—too immersed to notice any difference. He got up, slipped into the compounding room, and familiarly grabbed the detector to scan himself—
Red light flashed, a big warning icon popping up.
Mu Chenxing silently set the device down.
Professor Zhang heard the noise and glanced back. “Down now?”
Mu Chenxing slumped: “Nope.”
Professor Zhang turned back to his work: “Mm, normal. It’s top-grade pheromones after all.”
Mu Chenxing sighed and shuffled behind him: “Teacher, you testing my blood? Need help?”
Professor Zhang didn’t look up: “Nah, almost done.”
“Results out?” Mu Chenxing craned his neck, trying to make sense of it.
Professor Zhang: “Not yet. Needs 24 hours to sit and see reactions.”
He carefully slid several trays of vessels into different transparent cases, set temperatures and humidity, and activated them.
“Done. Rest waits till tomorrow.”
Mu Chenxing peered into one case: “Looks simple enough.”
Professor Zhang: “…You know jack shit.”
He checked the time. “Let’s go. Taking you back to cook.”
Mu Chenxing immediately trotted eagerly behind.
The building’s air purification needed to keep running, so Professor Zhang locked up and led Mu Chenxing around to the rear landing pad.
Mu Chenxing boarded a flight vehicle again, excitedly poking everywhere, questions nonstop.
Professor Zhang grew impatient: “You think I’m a mech expert? Might as well ask me the five traits, eight elements, and twelve properties of pheromones!”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He shut up.
Professor Zhang flew steady and smooth. Ten minutes later, they reached a well-greened neighborhood, landing directly on a small villa’s rooftop.
Mu Chenxing was once again awed by the smooth, quiet ascent and descent, wishing he could steal a few to take back to his old homeland.
Reluctantly disembarking, he followed Professor Zhang around into the villa.
Simple decor, but clearly newly renovated—furniture gleaming fresh.
Professor Zhang shed his Military Academy teacher uniform, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and headed to the wide fridge. “Anything you don’t eat?”
Mu Chenxing: “Not yet.”
The Alliance had diverse star systems and species; he hadn’t hit anything bad yet.
He patted his belly honestly. “Just ate around two, not hungry now.”
Professor Zhang: “…”
He checked the time. “Then I’ll make some complex stewed dishes. By the time they’re done, it’ll be about right.”
Mu Chenxing: “Heh heh, thanks Teacher~~”
He rolled up his sleeves too. “I’ll help, learn on the sly. Someday I can cook for you.”
Professor Zhang laughed: “Sure.”
They prepped ingredients together. Professor Zhang stir-fried, simmered, and stewed; Mu Chenxing assisted. An hour and a half flew by in the bustle.
Nearing seven, dinner was served.
Way better than Mu Chenxing expected, whetting his appetite. He wolfed down two big bowls, burping contentedly.
Hearing the burp, Professor Zhang couldn’t help laughing: “You kid…”
Mu Chenxing set down his spotless bowl, utterly unembarrassed: “Too damn good.”
Professor Zhang: “These days Omegas chase pale and skinny, scared to eat extra meat. You’re good like this.”
Mu Chenxing covered his mouth for another full burp: “I’m only 18, still growing.” His eyes hopeful: “Might even shoot up a few more centimeters.”
Professor Zhang chuckled: “Don’t worry, your Heat Period hasn’t hit yet—you’ll grow more.” He frowned suddenly. “You’re still young. Prioritize studies above all.”
Mu Chenxing, clueless: “Got it.”
Professor Zhang relaxed, standing to clear.
Mu Chenxing: “I got it.” He snatched the dishes first. “Leftovers to the fridge? I can’t go out tomorrow, you’ll be at work—perfect for me to finish.”
Professor Zhang surprised, then pleased: “Good. Reheat ’em.” He sighed. “Kids who know to save food are rare these days.”
Mu Chenxing: “…Really?”
Professor Zhang waved it off: “You don’t raise kids, you wouldn’t know. My kid’s classmates and friends? Picky wasters, a nightmare to manage.”
Doctor dad and major general father—kid’s bound to be spoiled, Mu Chenxing thought.
He kept a straight face, clearing while asking: “Where’s your kid?”
“Boarding.” Professor Zhang sighed. “Too wild. His dad dumped him at Military District Middle School for lockdown training. Only home four days a month.”
Mu Chenxing sealed leftovers into the fridge: “How old?”
“14.” Professor Zhang fretted. “Alphas at that age—pure rebellion.”
Same everywhere. Mu Chenxing soothed him a bit, loaded dishes into the dishwasher, pulled up a Holo-Screen for instructions, and started it step by step.
Hearing the low hum, he relaxed and headed out.
Professor Zhang was on a video call. Mu Chenxing was a beat slow and blundered into frame. “Sorry, didn’t see.”
Professor Zhang glanced back: “No worries, wait for me.”
To the Holo-Screen: “Drink less. Talk when you’re back.”
A dress-uniform Alpha’s voice from the other end: “Got it. See you.”
Professor Zhang ended the call and told Mu Chenxing: “Gonna grab you some clean clothes—my son’s growing fast, some kid stuff never worn. Perfect for you.”
…Kid clothes. Mu Chenxing felt a bit awkward: “I’m 1.8 meters—still squeezing into kid sizes?”
Professor Zhang rolled his eyes: “My son’s an Alpha. Hit 1.8 at 13; now even his 1.8 stuff’s tight.”
Mu Chenxing: “…I’ll wear ’em!”
After Mu Chenxing showered clean in the guest room and emerged in soft, comfy long tee and pants, he locked eyes with a pair of deeply predatory dark eyes.
He froze. Before he could speak, those eyes shifted instantly to a roguish grin on that handsome face.
“Hi~” Pei Yao, military dress jacket open, waved lazily. “Meet again, little boyfriend~”
Mu Chenxing: “…How are you here?”
“He needs you now.” A familiar voice came from behind.
Mu Chenxing startled, backing up several steps.
Too quick—the dress-uniform Alpha emerging from the kitchen eyed him puzzled.
Mu Chenxing hurried a greeting: “Hello, Principal!”
But what did that mean just now?
The dress-uniform Alpha—the Alliance First Military Academy’s principal, Fu Mingyuan—nodded, seemingly explaining: “Yunli’s showering. He says wait for him.”
Yunli was Professor Zhang’s name. Mu Chenxing nodded obediently.
Fu Mingyuan passed him with two glasses, handing one to Pei Yao.
The two—one standing, one sitting—downed their drinks in sync.
Mu Chenxing hesitated, then approached, sitting on the farthest single sofa from the Alphas.
“Fucking nasty.” Pei Yao finished first, brow furrowed as he set down the glass.
Fu Mingyuan finished too, grimacing: “Works, that’s what matters.”
He picked up Pei Yao’s empty and headed back to the kitchen.
Pei Yao turned to Mu Chenxing, grinning.
Mu Chenxing: “…Something up?”
Pei Yao: “Nope.”
Mu Chenxing: “Oh.”
He opened his Holo-Screen, pulling up half-studied coursework to continue.
“…Exuded cellulose, white blood cells, and necrotic tissue mix to form a grayish-white membranous layer, known as a pseudomembrane…”
After a bit, Mu Chenxing couldn’t hold back, looking up: “Nothing else?”
Pei Yao, sprawled lazily on the sofa, staring fixedly: “Nope.”
Mu Chenxing glanced upstairs, patient: “Almost nine. Why aren’t you leaving?”
Pei Yao grinned: “Not leaving. Crashing here a few days.”
Mu Chenxing: “…His highness the Admiral got no work?”
Pei Yao raised a brow: “Oh, finally clocked I’m an Admiral, huh.”
He lacked any common sense—at least, in this guy’s eyes, he probably came off like some coy tease pretending to be all innocent.
The thought made Mu Chenxing frown involuntarily.
Pei Yao stared at him, as if teasing: “Since you know I’m an admiral, how come I haven’t gotten a single friendly look from you?”
Mu Chenxing plastered on a fake smile. “Hello, Admiral. Safe travels—no need to see you off.”
Pei Yao paused for a beat, then burst out snickering.
Mu Chenxing shot him a glare.
Pei Yao reined it in a little, though his eyes still sparkled with amusement as he explained, “I’m really staying here for the next few days. I can work from here too, but I’ll have to come back at night.”
With that explanation, Mu Chenxing decided Pei Yao seemed somewhat decent—not that annoying.
When he heard the rest, though, he couldn’t hold back his curiosity. “Why?”
It must be my professional habit kicking in, he thought. Always digging to the root of everything.
Pei Yao shrugged, still with that roguish slacker vibe. “No choice. I can’t leave your side for now.”
Mu Chenxing: “?”
What the hell kind of talk is that?
If I keep engaging with this sly old fox, I’m a pig.
He shot the other man an angry glare and lowered his head again.
Pei Yao watched him duck back to the holo-screen and let out a low chuckle. He rested both hands on his knees and leaned in close. “Ignoring me now?”
Mu Chenxing played deaf.
Pei Yao held the bent-over pose, peering up at his face from below through the holo-screen.
Stared at like that, Mu Chenxing grew unbearably uncomfortable and simply turned sideways to face away from him.
Pei Yao gave a helpless laugh-sigh. “It’s not like I chased after you. Your teacher and your principal both invited me over together.”
Mu Chenxing: “?”
“Impossible.” Professor Zhang couldn’t wait to scrub the Alpha pheromones off him.
Pei Yao raised a brow. “Finally willing to talk to me?”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Damn it. Now I’m the pig.
