Amid Qiu Sui’s anxious fluster, the man on the sofa stirred. He reflexively tugged at the doorknob, then heard Shen Zhixiao’s hoarse, pained voice.
“You’re here…”
Noticing that his tone was no different from during their phone call, Qiu Sui’s nerves eased ever so slightly. He watched as Shen Zhixiao stood and walked toward him. Apart from his usual upright posture seeming a bit wilted, everything else looked relatively normal.
Qiu Sui felt ashamed for overthinking moments ago. Shen Zhixiao’s condition was clearly off—his movements toward him were sluggish and stiff.
He released the doorknob and quickly ushered Shen Zhixiao back to the sofa before stepping into the apartment and shutting the door behind him without a second thought.
The other man obediently settled sideways on the sofa, his long legs loosely bent, his entire body slumped against the backrest, head weakly drooping onto the pillow clutched in his arms.
This nearly two-meter-tall Alpha was huge, yet he looked utterly pitiful.
Qiu Sui had only grabbed the medicine and thermometer he kept in his dorm before rushing out.
He suspected Shen Zhixiao might be like last time—caught a chill during his Susceptible Period while resting without clothes.
Seeing Shen Zhixiao’s flushed cheeks only strengthened that guess.
Somewhat uncertainly, Qiu Sui glanced at the Bite Guard on Shen Zhixiao’s face while unzipping his backpack, asking worriedly where he felt unwell.
Shen Zhixiao’s head bobbed lightly on the pillow as he mumbled that he didn’t know.
Qiu Sui pulled out the thermometer, disinfected it, and poked it into the Bite Guard for him to take his temperature.
He didn’t even need to check—Qiu Sui could already feel Shen Zhixiao’s freakishly abnormal body heat. It felt inexplicably like last Susceptible Period… but it was already the fourth day. Shen Zhixiao’s Susceptible Period should have ended by now, right?
Unsure, he confirmed with Shen Zhixiao, “Has your Susceptible Period ended?”
The Alpha had the thermometer in his mouth, his messy black hair sweeping over his forehead and hiding his eyes. He let out a muffled mmph, which wasn’t a yes or no but usually implied the former.
Qiu Sui eyed his current state worriedly and suggested, “How about we go to the hospital? You look pretty bad.”
Shen Zhixiao’s eyes, shadowed by his hair, gazed at him with a hint of moisture and slowly shook his head.
Qiu Sui frowned slightly. When the time was up, he removed the thermometer—over 39 degrees Celsius. He was instantly shocked.
Any longer, and the guy might burn out his brain.
Qiu Sui hurriedly grabbed Shen Zhixiao’s arm, saying they needed to head out.
The cool touch made Shen Zhixiao shudder with sudden excitement.
Feeling him start to tremble, Qiu Sui panicked more and pulled out his phone to call a ride. But before he could tap the screen, his hand was pinned down by Shen Zhixiao’s.
The Alpha’s scorching heat seeped over, like pouring hot water over Qiu Sui’s fingertips, making his heart jolt. Before he could question it, Shen Zhixiao’s voice came slowly, weak and uncertain: “I… I don’t think I can go out…”
His expression was pained and helpless as he looked at Qiu Sui, struggling to say, “My Pheromones… I can’t control them.”
Qiu Sui’s knowledge of Alpha and Omega physiology was limited. He stared back at the Alpha, processing for several seconds before letting out a flustered, “Ah.”
Shen Zhixiao didn’t withdraw his hand from the back of Qiu Sui’s. He drooped his gaze weakly, a sly glint flickering in his eyes as his throat bobbed. “I think it’s Pheromone Disorder.”
Qiu Sui knew the term—he remembered learning about it in basic physiology class.
Pheromone Disorder… usually a precursor to a worsened Susceptible Period…?!
The realization hit Qiu Sui like lightning, while Shen Zhixiao continued haltingly, “Last time, it came on suddenly—just my Susceptible Period starting early. I didn’t think much of it… My Susceptible Period should have ended today, but after your call, I woke up feeling awful. My Pheromone levels are still high and out of control…”
“I can’t think of anything else besides Pheromone Disorder…” His voice weak, he buried his head back into the pillow, his hair exploding in a messy halo—the rarest sight of him not perfectly groomed in front of Qiu Sui.
Qiu Sui grew flustered. This was clearly trickier than a fever. He said seriously, “What if your Susceptible Period has worsened? We have to go to the hospital…”
Realizing he couldn’t go out like this, he amended, “Have a doctor come here.”
But Shen Zhixiao clung to his hand, preventing him from unlocking his phone.
Qiu Sui was surprised by his irrational refusal to seek help. He tried prying his fingers loose: “Your condition is really bad right now…”
The other man resisted stubbornly, voice muffled: “I’m fine… It’s just Pheromone Disorder. Not necessarily a worsened Susceptible Period.”
“See a doctor first.” Qiu Sui’s voice sharpened with anxiety at the weak tone.
Gone was the Alpha’s usual reasonable demeanor—he seemed stubborn and immature now, silently buried in the pillow, playing deaf and dumb as he gripped Qiu Sui’s hand and phone tightly, unyielding.
Staring at that furry head, Qiu Sui inexplicably saw Shen Zhixiao as an immature, clingy big dog—nothing like his usual steady self.
But soon, the pillow-muffled voice came again, pitiful and low: “But I don’t like strangers coming here…”
Shen Zhixiao peeked out with reddened eyes, pleading as he called Qiu Sui’s name, mumbling, “Once the Pheromone Disorder passes, I’ll see a doctor, okay…?”
Qiu Sui paused in meeting his gaze. He wanted to hold firm, but the humility and plea in Shen Zhixiao’s eyes made him relent. Helplessly, he asked, “Doesn’t it hurt right now?”
Even so, Shen Zhixiao clearly still hated the idea of a house call.
Qiu Sui recalled how he’d called doctors on his own last time—Shen Zhixiao must have minded seeing them after sobering up.
He pressed his lips together and compromised: “If you’re not better by tomorrow, you have to see a doctor.”
This time, Shen Zhixiao didn’t resist much, easing Qiu Sui’s mind a bit.
Unable to sense Pheromones himself, Qiu Sui searched online: early Pheromone Disorder caused temperature dysregulation, uncontrolled Pheromones, mild dizziness or headaches, Gland swelling and pain.
He’d come to help, but now felt powerless. He set his phone aside and met Shen Zhixiao’s eyes worriedly: “How do you feel now?”
Shen Zhixiao finally released his hand. The feverish heat lifted from Qiu Sui’s skin, and he felt oddly unused to it at first.
He glanced down instinctively—a clear red mark from Shen Zhixiao’s grip. Then he heard the Alpha murmur that he was hungry.
Qiu Sui’s eyes flicked away from the mark and turned concerned to him: “You woke up without eating anything?”
Shen Zhixiao mmph-ed heavily, eyelids drooping, looking fragile—though that word shouldn’t apply to an Alpha, it fit from Qiu Sui’s view.
Eyeing the Bite Guard, Qiu Sui stepped toward the open kitchen: “I’ll grab you some Nutrient Agent…”
But his hem was tugged. Turning, he saw Shen Zhixiao staring, licking his dry lips softly: “I don’t want Nutrient Agent.”
Qiu Sui glanced at the Bite Guard, hesitating as he quirked a brow: “What do you want then?”
The Alpha said nothing, just bobbed his throat. Qiu Sui guessed and smiled, finding him unusually lively compared to usual: “Anything else, you can’t eat with the Bite Guard on.”
“This can come off.” Shen Zhixiao reached for the switch and removed it before Qiu Sui could react.
Qiu Sui startled in surprise. The next second, Shen Zhixiao explained, “I was just wearing it so you wouldn’t be scared. I can put it back on after eating.”
His jaw and nose bridge were red from the hard metal. Qiu Sui’s expression softened, his heart filling with an indescribable feeling, voice dry: “You don’t have to…”
Shen Zhixiao clutched the Bite Guard, his posture lowly from Qiu Sui’s angle, voice hoarse: “Last Susceptible Period, I bit you. I was afraid you’d fear me.”
Qiu Sui hadn’t expected him to still dwell on that accident.
He’d forbidden mentioning it out of pure embarrassment, but Shen Zhixiao had misinterpreted. Heart aching yet amused, Qiu Sui said, “I didn’t. You were just out of it. I don’t blame you—don’t overthink it, okay?”
He reached over, taking the device from Shen Zhixiao’s hand and setting it on the table. Gazing at that head, he softened: “I’ll cook you some noodles, yeah?”
Shen Zhixiao’s lashes fluttered, gaze dropping somewhere Qiu Sui couldn’t see from his angle. He heard a soft mm.
Qiu Sui’s home cooking usually earned endless teasing from his parents—only Qiu Shun praised it. Unsure of his skills, but noodles were simpler than stir-fry.
Boil water, add instant noodles and egg, drizzle oil and salt, soy sauce and green onions, simmer.
Seeing tomatoes and veggies in the fridge, and considering Shen Zhixiao was ill, Qiu Sui chopped some in for balance.
He stirred the pan, noodles mixing with veggies, melted tomatoes, and egg bits.
Satisfied they were done, he turned for seasonings—and jolted at the silent Alpha behind him.
Shen Zhixiao had crept up soundlessly, ghost-like. Qiu Sui nearly swung.
He elbowed Shen Zhixiao’s side lightly: “Go rest on the sofa first.”
But the patient wouldn’t budge.
Patient’s wishes first. Seeing his flushed face, Qiu Sui let it go, added seasoning, unplugged—and felt heavy weight on his shoulder.
