The shoot went very successfully, but the process… wasn’t entirely smooth.
Wang Hui pointed out, “The theme of the posters is pure love, okay? You need to capture that youthful romance, the subtle mutual affection. Your gazes are way too intense and lingering.”
“But that’s not your fault. Exes, right? It’s normal to reminisce about the past. How about a short break? Get back into the feeling.”
Yu Xi: “!”
Yi Chen: “?”
The photographer: “?!”
“How did you know?” Yu Xi asked in shock.
“Have we ever mentioned it?” Yi Chen wondered, puzzled.
Wang Hui flashed a knowing smile. “What do you think?”
Yu Xi: “…”
Yu Xi and Yi Chen adjusted their states quickly. Once they set aside the influence of the scene, they swiftly entered work mode.
The photographer loved collaborating with professionals who had solid skills and a strong work ethic. The progress was rapid, and it looked like they wouldn’t need overtime that day. Wang Hui was very pleased with the upcoming results, and everyone on set was satisfied with the poster shoot.
—Except for Yu Xi.
During some more intimate actions—like during a chase where the wrist was grabbed and the person yanked close, or being pinned against the windowsill with nowhere to escape but to look at the other—Yu Xi could always clearly feel something pressing against him.
Yu Xi: “…”
Yi Chen: “…”
Yi Chen stepped out midway to adjust once.
On the second time he went out, Yu Xi couldn’t hold back anymore.
He stared at Yi Chen with an indescribable look. “Were you always this…?”
His gaze drifted downward, then struggled back up. “Unable to control yourself?”
The school uniforms were loose-fitting, so the physical reaction wasn’t too obvious to the naked eye. But up close in contact, it was scorchingly hot.
“Yeah.” Yi Chen was helpless too. “I was better at holding back before.”
“…” Yu Xi. “And now? You can’t?”
“Now I can’t hold back.” Yi Chen lowered his voice by Yu Xi’s ear and told the truth. “If the me from back then had been by your side now, I probably wouldn’t have been able to hold back either.”
As soon as the words landed, Yu Xi punched Yi Chen hard.
Yi Chen let out a muffled grunt, pressed his lips together, and smiled. Their sudden interaction stunned the surrounding staff.
But Wang Hui was delighted. “Yes, yes! That’s the kind of interaction—very natural. Quick, shoot it, shoot it.”
The shoot wrapped up smoothly.
Wang Hui still needed to discuss the photo editing style with the staff, so he had to stay a bit longer. Yu Xi and Yi Chen had no further schedules and could leave first.
But they didn’t. After instructing the staff, they locked the changing room door and prepared pheromone isolation spray along with some portable devices to quickly disperse pheromones and prevent any residue in the room.
His morning pheromone differentiation levels had been a bit unstable, so he needed a temporary mark. This was the perfect timing.
In the changing room, Yi Chen bit Yu Xi’s gland and delivered a very restrained temporary mark.
Just after the marking, Yu Xi’s legs felt weak, and he leaned against the wall to rest for a bit.
Yi Chen showed no signs of leaving.
“Aren’t you going?” Yu Xi tilted his head up, puzzled.
“Kicking me out right after marking? Isn’t that a bit heartless?” Yi Chen asked.
Yu Xi: “A proper Alpha leaves personal space after marking. That’s etiquette.”
Yi Chen: “An excellent Omega becomes dependent on their Alpha after marking. That’s care.”
Yu Xi: “…”
He was exhausted now. The Alpha’s pheromones temporarily left him weak all over, and his body’s frail response drained him of the energy to bicker with Yi Chen. He couldn’t be bothered whether Yi Chen left or not.
He needed rest.
The air was thick with pheromones.
The gardenia scent intertwined intimately with the peppermint pomelo.
In the sultry, heated atmosphere, Yi Chen suddenly asked, “Are you really not planning to take another step closer with me?”
Yu Xi froze.
He clearly hadn’t expected Yi Chen to ask that in this situation.
But on second thought, this question didn’t require a specific setting—just the two of them alone.
—After all, it was their business.
After a brief daze, Yu Xi snapped back.
He knew himself, and he knew Yi Chen.
They were both adults, neither fools.
He couldn’t even fool himself with his feelings, let alone Yi Chen.
Some things, some thoughts, some words, some emotions—he’d just been avoiding them all along.
“You’re not leaving because you wanted to ask me that?”
“What’s your answer?” Yi Chen didn’t dodge, stepping closer as his uniquely Alpha pheromones enveloped them.
“…” Yu Xi’s fingertips brushed his nape. The temporarily marked gland was softer than usual, stinging a little to the touch. He awkwardly turned his head away. “Wait a bit longer.”
“Wait for what?” Yi Chen looked at him earnestly. “Wait for you to get over your mental hurdle, wait for you to be willing to tell me, wait for the right timing, wait for everything to be resolved.”
“A-Yu, there’s too much to wait for.”
Yu Xi fell silent.
He didn’t know how to answer Yi Chen’s question.
Yi Chen was usually carefree, but he became excessively serious when topics like this came up.
Avoidance was shameful, but sometimes useful.
Yu Xi grabbed the clothes hanging on the wall and headed for the door.
Yi Chen blocked him—grabbing Yu Xi’s wrist and pulling him into his arms.
Yu Xi had no strength. Freshly temporarily marked, he was too weak; even his struggles barely made a splash. So he could only be held by Yi Chen, feeling the breath drawing closer to his ear and the inescapable peppermint pomelo scent.
“You could leave now, but we’ll see each other tomorrow, the day after too. We’ll be extra intimate on camera, lots of people will ship us, scrutinizing, observing, digging into every detail.”
“Even if you turn and walk away now, you can’t escape anything.”
Yi Chen’s voice was low: “A-Yu, you’ve kissed me, responded to me, held my hand. You reply to every message, you video call me. You clearly don’t reject me.”
Every word felt like an accusation.
Yu Xi shoved Yi Chen away forcefully, retreating two steps until his back hit the door. “You’re too worked up today.”
He lifted his eyes, dark pupils fixed on Yi Chen—calm and composed on the surface, but chaotic underneath.
Just like back then.
Back then too, in what seemed like an inappropriate setting, in a similarly cramped space, the two of them squeezed into a tiny corner. Yi Chen leaned by Yu Xi’s ear and whispered, “I like you.”
It was Yi Chen’s confession.
Yu Xi had the same look back then, eyes flickering: “You’re too worked up today.”
Nothing had changed.
Yi Chen knew when to stop and smiled. “I hope you’ll reflect on yourself. You’re the most stubborn with your words.”
“You’ve been wanting to say this for a long time?” Yu Xi didn’t mind keeping up the tough act. “Just to call me stubborn?”
“Yeah, yeah—for a long time. I’ve been waiting too. For the right moment.”
Their portable devices worked well; the pheromones had mostly dissipated. Yi Chen pushed open the door.
“Now I don’t want to wait anymore. I can’t hold back, A-Yu.”
“I don’t want to wait for you to figure it out, to untie your knots, to be willing to tell me.”
“If you won’t say, I’ll find out myself. If you won’t admit it, I’ll discover it. I’ll find your knot and tear it apart. I can’t hold back.”
Yi Chen emphasized “can’t hold back” twice.
“…” Yu Xi didn’t look at him. After a long pause, he squeezed out two words: “Childish.”
–
“How can they just reconcile like that!” Guan Zifan slurped a big mouthful of noodles. “Ugh, it’s infuriating!!”
Guan Zifan was watching a lifestyle variety show.
The show featured three couples/husbands.
One pair they knew—even offline friends. Anyone with eyes could see issues in their relationship, though outsiders couldn’t judge their private life.
Finally, one side realized the problem and accepted the invite to make changes. But no need to guess: they came on the show one way, returned the same.
Guan Zifan had come to schedule Yu Xi’s upcoming work. The Boundless was about to start filming, so some tasks needed shifting. They’d talked half the day; mealtime hit, they ordered food. He just wanted to relax watching, but Guan Zifan ended up fuming.
“Lend me your mouth. I’ll roast them tomorrow.”
Yu Xi didn’t respond.
“Hey, say something?” Guan Zifan called again. “What’s up with you today? So absent-minded.”
“Was I?” Yu Xi came back to himself.
Guan Zifan smirked. “What did I just say?”
Yu Xi: “…”
“What’s been up with you lately? You’re off.” Guan Zifan was concerned. “Secondary differentiation issues? You’ve been out of it since you got back. Tell me if something’s wrong.”
“I… it’s nothing.” Yu Xi couldn’t bring himself to say it.
How could he?
Say he was thinking about Yi Chen? About what Yi Chen said that afternoon?
That he couldn’t hold back either?
That he desperately wanted to see Yi Chen?
That he was going crazy from missing him?
Actions and words could be masked.
But thoughts couldn’t. Once an idea broke free, no suppressing it.
People always found something to do when at a loss.
Yu Xi idly scrolled his phone.
Then his fingertip paused.
He tapped into the chat with 【Geng Shang Lou】.
Earlier, Wu Zhiqi had suddenly sent photos, then Guan Zifan’s barrage of calls interrupted, so the chat was still there.
【Geng Shang Lou: Have you ever thought about getting back together?】
That’s when he also saw Yi Chen’s latest Weibo post.
Just one picture, no caption.
It was a classroom.
The classroom where they’d shot the promo posters. Sunlight poured in, spilling over the desks.
—The corner where they’d secretly held hands.
Countless times.
The image was a thread, drilling unannounced into his mind, connecting shattered memories, scenes, sensations—stirring up the impulses he’d desperately suppressed.
Aaaah!!!
Screw it!!!
Yu Xi tossed his chopsticks, shot up from the table, and bolted for the door.
Guan Zifan: “???”
Guan Zifan called after Yu Xi: “Where are you going?”
Yu Xi yanked open the door: “I’m going to find Yi Chen.”
Guan Zifan’s brow twitched.
If Yu Xi went like this, he’d get photographed for sure—hot search guaranteed.
“What do you need with Yi Chen? Don’t be impulsive!”
Yu Xi: “.”
He hadn’t thought that far; go first, figure it out later.
“You’re not talking, and it’s making me anxious.” Guan Zifan said.
No answer, and he wouldn’t let him leave.
Yu Xi thought for a second and gave a very on-brand response: “Don’t stop me!!”
“I’m going to end the fan service!!”
