Chapter 25 Part 2

He tapped his temple: “My experience and expertise aren’t affected by clothes. Rest assured—I’ll stake Yi Chen’s… Yi Chen’s… his happiness for the rest of his life on it.”

Yu Xi: “OK.”

Not in a hospital without proper equipment, Luo Qin used a reagent to test Yu Xi simply. About fifteen minutes later, the test strip changed color.

In diagnostic mode, Luo Qin looked far more professional. He eyed Yu Xi: “I can basically confirm now: you’re about to undergo secondary differentiation into an Omega. ‘About to’—your body’s in transition from Alpha to Omega. Precursor heats will appear frequently.”

“Precursor heat—you just experienced it. Similar to full heat: instinctive craving, desire for marking, for Alpha pheromones, loss of reason. Symptoms overlap, but not as severe as true heat period, and shorter duration.”

Yu Xi recalled his earlier state.

Indeed, it hadn’t lasted long; he’d regained reason quickly.

Luo Qin continued: “Oh, right—the meds I prescribed, do you still have them? They’ll ease it a bit, but they’re symptomatic relief only, suppressing symptoms but not instincts. No specific cure for precursor heat yet, unless…”

“Unless what?” Yu Xi leaned in close to Luo Qin, lowering his voice as if recalling something. “Just now, I really wanted to… you know. Consciousness all fuzzy, no clue what I did. But after kissing for a bit, it got way better.”

In consultations, hiding symptoms was taboo. No need to conceal the truth.

Yi Chen didn’t even know Luo Qin had treated him, proving Luo Qin kept their talks confidential.

Luo Qin showed no outward surprise at Yu Xi’s words, nodding along… Internally, he was utterly shocked!

Kiss? Who did he kiss?

No way?

It couldn’t be Yi Chen, right?

Yi Chen kissed his ex-boyfriend? What?

Wait… maybe it wasn’t Yi Chen?!

Given the hostile state between Yi Chen and his ex-boyfriend, how could he possibly go back to him?

Then did Yi Chen’s ex-boyfriend kiss some other Alpha??!!!

And after kissing, Yi Chen even brought his ex-boyfriend home?!

But the gossip the doctor knew could only be digested by the doctor himself. Luo Qin didn’t show it and continued to answer professionally: “Yes, human saliva also contains pheromones. If it’s really unbearable, a kiss can indeed make the body feel much more comfortable.”

Luo Qin reminded him: “Precursor heats will be more frequent during this period. Pay attention to getting plenty of rest, carry your medicine with you, avoid crowded places, and it’s best not to go out until this phase passes.”

Yu Xi looked troubled: “Given the nature of my work, that’s a bit difficult… Is there a method that won’t affect my job?”

“There is.” Luo Qin remained calm on the surface while his mind exploded with ideas. “You can kiss Alphas more often. You can’t be marked yet, so you can only get Alpha pheromones through those means. Kissing is time-efficient—for example, the Alpha who just kissed you. If it’s convenient, you can continue seeking his help.”

Yu Xi: “…………”

“What’s wrong?” Luo Qin showed his professional doctor’s smile, though paired with his punk cyberpunk outfit, it looked anything but well-intentioned.

“You think Yi Chen will kiss me again?” Yu Xi said. “No, no, no, forget it. I absolutely won’t have anything to do with him anymore!”

Luo Qin: “?”

Luo Qin: “!”

When Yi Chen came out of the room, Yu Xi was staring at him with an indescribably complicated look.

Luo Qin was packing up his house call kit and said to Yu Xi: “Come to the second-floor reception desk tomorrow morning to add an appointment. I’ll prescribe more medicine for you. Keep an eye on your condition during this time and contact me if anything comes up.”

Then, he gave Yi Chen a meaningful look.

Yi Chen: “??”

Luo Qin didn’t linger at Yi Chen’s place. After the checkup, he left, and Yi Chen saw him off downstairs.

As soon as he closed the door, Yi Chen asked: “How’s Yu Xi?”

“Patient privacy—I can’t say. You can ask him yourself.”

Yi Chen pursed his lips: “He definitely won’t tell me honestly.”

Luo Qin shrugged: “Then that’s not for me to get involved in.”

With that, Luo Qin stared at Yi Chen’s lips—perfectly shaped, moist and glossy, just a bit too red.

Luo Qin sighed: “That kiss lasted quite a while, huh?”

–

After seeing Luo Qin off, Yi Chen returned to find Yu Xi still wearing that strange expression.

Wherever Yi Chen went, Yu Xi’s eyes followed—like knives, making his back crawl.

Yi Chen: “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.” Yu Xi kept staring.

Yi Chen: “Can you stop looking at me like that?”

Yu Xi: “I can’t.”

Yi Chen: “…”

He sighed, trying his best to ignore Yu Xi’s weird gaze as he headed to the kitchen. “You’re not leaving tonight, right? It’s tiring to go back and forth. Stay here—want some late-night snacks?”

He was indeed tired.

Driving back to his place from Yi Chen’s would take an hour—too much hassle. Besides, Yi Chen had several spare rooms. They wouldn’t end up rolling around in the same bed again. After hesitating for a moment, Yu Xi nodded: “Sure.”

Yi Chen busied himself in the kitchen for a bit and brought out two bowls of braised vegetables.

Both of them needed to maintain their figures, so they couldn’t eat high-calorie foods. Traditional late-night snacks like barbecue, lobster, or noodles were off-limits right now.

Braised vegetables were perfect for them. Yi Chen had seasoned the sauce just right and braised them perfectly—not underdone or mushy—retaining the vegetables’ best color and texture after cooking. They looked great and tasted even better.

With something to chew on, the explosive thoughts in Yu Xi’s mind finally calmed for a moment. Only then did he remember to take in Yi Chen’s home.

Yi Chen’s habits were the same as before.

The place was excessively tidy—no unnecessary furniture, items, or decorations. Everything in sight was an essential for living.

Yi Chen had always been a neat freak with mild OCD tendencies in daily life. For example, anything taken from its place had to be returned exactly; even a slight misalignment would itch at him unbearably. Trash had to go straight into the bin—leaving it beside even briefly made him restless.

Yu Xi, on the other hand, was extremely casual in life. He didn’t care where things went as long as he could find them. He’d never paid special attention to such details. Back when they lived together, it had been weirdly compatible.

Things he took would magically return to their spots.

Messy desks or sofas would tidy themselves.

Forgotten laundry would fold itself and return to the closet.

Misthrown paper balls would land perfectly in the trash.

Like the little mermaid in the seashell, Yi Chen took care of his own habits while accommodating and tending to Yu Xi’s.

But Yi Seashell Girl Chen hated one thing.

Clack. Yi Chen set down his chopsticks.

Clack. At the same time, Yu Xi set down his.

They stared at each other’s empty bowls and chopsticks, seeing the same emotions reflected.

—Ugh, I hate doing dishes.

—Don’t make me do it.

—Whoever wants to wash, do it.

Yi Chen didn’t like washing dishes—no reason, just an innate aversion.

Unfortunately, Yu Xi felt the same. The wet, slippery feel of dish soap on his fingers made him uncomfortable.

So, either neither washed, or… they battled until one surrendered.

Yu Xi struck first: “This is your house. You dragged me here without a word, and I didn’t complain. Now that I’m here, I’m the guest. You’re seriously expecting the guest to do dishes? Where’s your hospitality?”

Yi Chen fired back: “I called Luo Qin over, and I made the snacks. Washing a few dishes is polite gratitude, isn’t it?”

Yu Xi countered: “You have the nerve to mention Luo Qin? I still haven’t settled the score with you for badmouthing me to him—calling me hot-tempered, petty, cowardly, and spineless!”

Yi Chen listed and refuted point by point: “You always lose your temper. I say one thing, you retort three times—isn’t that hot-tempered?”

Yu Xi: “That’s standing up for myself and fighting for my interests.”

Yi Chen: “You hurt my heart, broke up out of nowhere, and dredge up old grudges—isn’t that petty?”

Yu Xi: “That’s the pain everyone has to go through. I was paving the way for your life.”

Yi Chen: “You bottle things up, wouldn’t even tell me the breakup reason—isn’t that spineless?”

Yu Xi: “Spineless? Were you asleep every time I mouthed off at you? Those viral clapbacks of yours—maybe copy and memorize them.”

Yi Chen sneered: “So you do have a mouth. Then why break up?”

Yu Xi: “…”

Yi Chen: “So why? Because you didn’t want to sleep with me anymore? Didn’t want to hold my hand? Didn’t want to kiss me?”

Yi Chen: “Because you didn’t love me anymore?”

Yu Xi: “…”

The air grew a touch silent.

Victory was decided.

Yi Chen shoved the bowls and chopsticks toward Yu Xi and smiled: “Thanks for the hard work, Teacher Yu Xi.”

Yu Xi: “…………”

The sound of running water and clinking dishes echoed from the kitchen. Yu Xi’s irritated figure was reluctantly trapped there.

There weren’t many dishes, but Yu Xi needed at least ten minutes in the kitchen.

Yi Chen confirmed Yu Xi wouldn’t turn back anytime soon.

So, he quietly unlocked the master bedroom door—secured with three layers of locks—opened it, and slipped inside.

The room overflowed with a faint gardenia scent. Windows were tightly shut, heavy curtains blocking all outside light, plunging it into darkness.

Yi Chen softly closed the door, then flicked on the light.

Light poured from the ceiling, instantly illuminating the entire room.

The walls were plastered floor-to-ceiling with Yu Xi posters. Bookshelves overflowed with Yu Xi’s albums and magazines. He’d even bought special display cases for Yu Xi’s trading cards, kiss-cut stickers, plushies, and other merch.

Yi Chen opened his computer. The group chats he’d joined were blowing up.

[Ahhhh, Upstairs Teacher is online!]

[Teacher! The new kiss-cuts are super cute ahhhh!]

[Crying over Teacher’s standee! Quality is top-tier!!!]

[Did Upstairs Teacher buy out the entire production line??]

[Teacher, any new group buys coming up???]

[Liu Ma Liu Ma Liu Ma!! Blood oath one-man petition for Liu Ma!!!]

[Is Upstairs Teacher getting into CP now too??? Ahhhh I’m about to have content!!]