Chapter 7
This was the best sleep Bai Yan had had since moving into the Pei family home.
At first, he’d had a few nightmares, but then it became comfortable.
It was like being submerged in warm water, or being held tightly from behind, the storms of the world fading away, leaving only a comfortable sense of security.
Even after he woke up, the warmth of the beautiful dream lingered on his fingertips.
Light filtered through the sheer curtains onto his face. Bai Yan’s eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes to the smooth ceiling of a hospital room.
The lights in the room were off. It was quiet and serene, with only the faint sound of a keyboard tapping in the distance.
The young man had just woken up, his eyes still hazy with confusion. His muddled brain wasn’t working properly yet, and he instinctively followed the sound.
The Alpha was sitting on the sofa, wearing a turtleneck sweater, his hair combed back neatly.
A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose as he focused on the screen in front of him. The light from the screen softened the severe lines of his face.
Sensing the young man’s gaze, Pei Tingyu nonchalantly looked up. “Awake?”
Bai Yan jolted.
It’s Mr. Pei! How is he back? —No, wait, where am I?
Bai Yan’s conditioned reflex was to shrink back under the covers. He had his hand halfway up before he abruptly realized how rude that was.
So, he pulled the corner of the quilt up in a concealing gesture, his eyes wide and round as he slowly asked, “Mr. Pei, you’re back from your business trip?”
“Mm.”
Bai Yan swallowed, his hoarse voice continuing, “Did you bring me to the hospital?”
His muddled brain began to think, finally understanding what this clean, white room signified.
It wasn’t his fault he hadn’t reacted immediately. The hospital room was surprisingly large and filled with light, the bed beneath him soft and comfortable. Even the smell of disinfectant wasn’t as pungent.
It was so different from the small, cramped cubicles he had slept in during his previous hospital stays.
“Mm,” the man said, taking off his gold-rimmed glasses. He rose from the sofa and walked unhurriedly toward the hospital bed, explaining in a gentle voice, “You had a fever yesterday and fainted at home. I happened to have just gotten back from my trip.”
The Alpha’s tall figure drew closer and closer. Bai Yan’s eyes widened, and his neck shrank back. The words of thanks were stuck in his throat.
What is Mr. Pei going to do? Right now…? But he’s still sick, and he’s not ready…
Bai Yan’s heart pounded. He bit his lower lip nervously, the light scent of jasmine flitting about the room.
The moment before the man’s presence completely enveloped him, the young man squeezed his eyes shut in fear, his curled-up body trembling slightly.
A soft touch suddenly landed on his forehead, there for just a moment before it was gone.
A moment later, the man’s low, magnetic voice, tinged with an unreadable meaning, sounded by his ear. “Good, the fever is gone.”
Bai Yan froze.
What was I thinking! Mr. Pei just wanted to see if I still had a fever.
The young man’s head roared. His burning face felt as if it were steaming, and he wished he could find a crack to crawl into.
Unfortunately, there were no cracks in the hospital room. The Omega’s little heart pounded erratically.
He pulled the quilt up higher, covering his flushed cheeks, leaving only his two large, moist eyes exposed.
His hoarse voice was stammering as he said his thanks. “Th-thank you, Mr. Pei, cough cough cough.”
“Cough cough cough—”
The sudden emotional fluctuation tickled his throat.
The young man clutched his chest in discomfort, his body arching, his thin back heaving with each cough. Moisture seeped from the corners of his eyes.
“Slowly.” The soothing scent of orange blossom pheromones was released into the air. Pei Tingyu hesitated for a fraction of a second before his large hand landed on the young man’s thin back, patting it gently to help him catch his breath.
Bai Yan’s heart trembled. The spot on his back where the man’s hand touched felt as if it had been zapped by electricity. A dense current flowed through him, all the way to his heart.
He didn’t dare to look at the person beside him. He buried his head, his ears bright red, his voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz as he thanked him. “Thank you, Mr. Pei.”
The Alpha went to find the doctor. The moment the man left the room, Bai Yan immediately buried his burning face in his hands.
That was so embarrassing. Thank goodness Mr. Pei didn’t seem to mind.
His head was spinning, his memory still stuck on yesterday.
The lingering scent of orange blossom pheromones hung in the air. The young man’s nostrils flared as he looked around the unfamiliar hospital room. The large room was silent, the wind lifting a corner of the curtain.
He didn’t dare to look any further, his hand clutching the corner of the quilt with a sense of insecurity.
The Alpha doctor who came in for the check-up had a big smile on her face. She introduced herself familiarly as Li Xiaoxiao, the head of the Glandular Department, and told Bai Yan he could call her “Sister Xiaoxiao.”
Li Xiaoxiao checked Bai Yan’s temperature and other data and said with a smile, “My dear boy’s body is mostly fine now. But to avoid triggering any other conditions, it’s best to stay in the hospital for a couple more days for a full check-up.”
She winked at the Omega. “Don’t hesitate to tell me if you need anything. Everything in Mr. Pei’s VIP room is top-of-the-line.”
The young man blinked, accepting the doctor’s nickname and kindness with a sense of bewilderment. He held the water cup in his hands, taking small sips, a shallow dimple appearing by his lips as he smiled and whispered his thanks.
Pei Tingyu stood with his arms crossed. Seeing Li Xiaoxiao fluttering around Bai Yan like a butterfly, he frowned without any change in his expression and said coolly, “Is this your usual work efficiency?”
“Poor me, I just started talking to my dear boy, and you’re already trying to chase me away,” Li Xiaoxiao said, looking hurt and clutching her heart dramatically. “Isn’t this because Mr. Pei is getting married, and I’m happy for you?”
Li Xiaoxiao added, “With such a cute little darling, Mr. Pei’s pheromone disorder won’t be a problem anymore, will it?”
Bai Yan froze for a moment. So that’s why Mr. Pei married him?
Pei Tingyu’s frown deepened. He said coldly, “The annual membership fee I pay doesn’t include listening to your nonsense.”
Li Xiaoxiao made a zipping motion across her lips and waved goodbye to Bai Yan with a smile. “My dear boy, I’ll be going now. Call me anytime if you need anything.”
Bai Yan’s hand hovered in mid-air as he slowly waved back. “Goodbye, Sister Xiaoxiao.”
The room returned to silence. The man went back to his seat to work, showing no intention of leaving.
The young man placed the water cup back on the bedside table and leaned back against the headboard.
He wanted to get his phone but couldn’t find it anywhere. He didn’t want to bother the working man, so he could only lie back down under the covers and rest.
But no matter how careful he was, the rustling sound of fabric was unavoidable.
Hearing the sound, the Alpha’s typing paused. He looked over, his dark eyes behind the lenses looking somewhat cold. “What is it?”
Bai Yan’s face turned red. He apologized in a small voice, “I’m sorry for disturbing you.”
He hesitated for a moment, then continued, “Mr. Pei, I’m feeling much better. I’ll be fine on my own. Why don’t you… go take care of your work?”
Bringing me to the hospital and staying with me for my check-up must have taken up a lot of Mr. Pei’s time.
Bai Yan felt a pang of guilt. The Alpha had just returned from a business trip and hadn’t even had a proper rest before having to come to the hospital. He had caused Mr. Pei so much trouble.
The young man bit his lip guiltily, his cherry-pink eyes shimmering with moisture, filled with obvious sadness.
Pei Tingyu’s expression was dark and unreadable. After a moment, the man rose from his seat, glanced at him, and said coolly, “You’re very afraid of me.”
It was a statement of absolute certainty.
Bai Yan was startled. He instinctively opened his mouth to refute it but found that he had nothing to refute it with. QAQ.
A rich pheromone scent swirled in the room, indicating that the Alpha’s mood was not pleasant.
But their compatibility was high, so even the S-class pheromones were not aggressive at this moment.
It was like a rose that had shed its thorns, extending only the soft tips of its petals to gently envelop the fragile and delicate Omega before it.
Such a strong scent of bitter orange blossom… Bai Yan was slightly dazed. It seemed to be the same scent from his dream.
Could it be… that Mr. Pei stayed here with him all day?
Pei Tingyu stood by the window, looking down indifferently at the lush greenery below. His tone was unquestionable. “Bai Yan, I think you’ve misunderstood the relationship between us.”
