Chapter 78

Yu Xi had seen a doctor for a while afterward.

Psychological intervention proved effective. Proper, scientific guidance allowed one to break free from emotional loops and observe oneself from a higher perspective.

How was he not excellent enough?

He had gained some fame early on, started taking on events young, and even guest-starred in TV dramas and films, with several shots making it to the hot searches.

He hadn’t neglected his studies either, always ranking at the top, earning impressive placements in academic competitions.

He chose not to pursue the competition path for guaranteed admission, opting for the college entrance exam instead—and still ranked near the top of the province, getting into A University’s most competitive major. Among a crowd of academic elites, he finished his credits ahead of schedule, switched to the acting department, and his debut drama skyrocketed him to fame.

He had reached this point through his own choices. In every field he ventured into, he made a name for himself. His popularity and commercial value led the pack. He had the right to be willful, the right to choose.

Where exactly was he lacking?

Breaking free from those mental shackles instantly changed one’s mindset and perspective.

But sometimes, Yu Xi still couldn’t figure it out—why did Yu Wan resent him so much?

He didn’t understand.

Some things had no answers, and he couldn’t get past them, so he stopped thinking about them and set them aside for now.

Sometimes, avoidance was an extremely effective method.

But now, he had no reason to avoid it, nor any way to do so anymore.

Yu Xi felt terrible right now.

His psychological state had manifested physically, making him want to vomit, but he really didn’t want to move or leave his room. He could only endure it as drowsiness surged over him.

It hurt so much, and he was so sleepy…

Irritated, pained emotions rose in his heart once more. Yu Xi placed his fingers on the back of his neck, touching the gland and the bite mark on it.

That was the mark Yi Chen had left.

Yu Xi’s emotions gradually calmed.

In those times when he was alone, tormented by emotions and swallowed by isolation, bewilderment, and helplessness, he stroked the bite mark Yi Chen had left. He even picked at the scab until it bled profusely.

He didn’t want the wound to heal.

The pain reassured him.

It let him deceive himself that he was never truly alone.

–

Yi Chen’s eyes were very red.

He was extremely angry right now.

Yu Xi had never told him any of this.

In front of him, Yu Xi had seemed perfectly normal, and Yu Wan had been overly gentle—gentle enough that no one would connect Yu Xi’s occasional odd moments to her.

Yi Chen felt like he was going insane.

Just hearing those words and scenarios suffocated him. He couldn’t imagine how agonizing it must have been for Yu Xi to live under that constant repression, how he had endured it.

And the source of it all, Yu Wan, could calmly say those things.

When Yi Chen couldn’t hold back his rage, she poured him a cup of tea.

He stared at Yu Wan, saying nothing.

Yu Wan ultimately hadn’t ended up with Yi Chen’s father.

Yi Chen didn’t ask why.

Adults always parted gracefully. Yu Wan and his father hadn’t made a ugly scene.

In fact, after going abroad, Yu Wan and his father rarely saw each other. They were both busy with their own affairs, and meetings were few.

Yi Chen didn’t see much of Yu Wan either—school kept him swamped.

He had only gone to watch one of her competitions during a weekend break.

He recorded videos and took photos, posting them to his Moments.

Yu Wan looked stunning and radiant dancing in a red dress.

Back then, he had hoped Yu Xi would see Yu Wan like that.

Sometime after, Yu Wan returned, picked up her suitcase, and waved to Yi Chen. “I’m off. I hope things go well for you both in the future.”

Yi Chen took a deep breath and said to Yu Wan, “You shouldn’t have come back.”

“I had to come back.”

“Your purpose?”

“I need to get Xiao Xi’s forgiveness.”

Yi Chen: “?”

Yi Chen desperately tried to control his expression, but he couldn’t.

“Forgiveness?” Yi Chen asked incredulously. “Need?”

“I had my own difficulties.” Yu Wan lowered her gaze. She seemed about to say more when her phone rang. She stepped aside to answer it.

It must have been something important, because Yu Wan left. Liang Shuo emerged from the room, looking flustered as he came to sit across from Yi Chen.

The old house had poor soundproofing—they’d heard the entire conversation.

He had never imagined the teacher had such a personality in private. She… she… Yu Wan had always been so kind to him…

No wonder Yu Xi’s expression changed instantly upon hearing Yu Wan’s name. No wonder he stiffened and grew irritable around her.

Yi Chen was in bad shape, very angry, but holding back his fury.

Liang Shuo said quietly, “Sorry, I didn’t know about… between the teacher and Teacher Yu Xi…”

Before he finished, Yi Chen’s phone rang too.

Luo Qin’s urgent voice came through: “Get to the hospital now! Yu Xi’s pheromones are out of control—he’s in the Emergency Department. Hurry!”

Yu Xi had just differentiated into an Omega, and his gland was already unstable.

He had fallen asleep in his room, but in his dreams, his pheromones went haywire, leaking wildly. Xiao Chen and Guan Zifan were both Betas and couldn’t smell a thing. They only broke down the door after waiting too long with no sound from inside, finding Yu Xi drenched in sweat, face deathly pale, and passed out.

By the time Yi Chen arrived, Yu Xi was in a hospital room, his condition stabilized.

Luo Qin was sweating profusely. “Good thing we got him here in time. Nothing major happened.”

Luo Qin briefly described Yu Xi’s symptoms, his tone scolding. “I told you, he just went through Secondary Differentiation—his gland is super unstable. Look what you’ve done! Look at his gland!”

Yi Chen’s breath hitched.

The fragile gland was a bloody mess. The bleeding hadn’t stopped earlier, soaking through several layers of gauze.

The severe gland injury had triggered this pheromone leak.

“I did it to myself.” Yu Xi had woken up and overheard Luo Qin and Yi Chen’s conversation just as consciousness returned.

“You did this to yourself?” Luo Qin didn’t buy it. In his years as a doctor, he’d seen plenty. “You two aren’t even back together yet? Already so lovesick you’re making excuses for him? Gland injuries hurt like hell! Without pheromones numbing the pain, I don’t believe you could do this without flinching.”

Yu Xi: “.”

Seeing Yu Xi’s expression, Luo Qin knew this couple was hopeless. He warned repeatedly, “Until the gland wound fully heals—no! Mark! ing! If Heat Period hits, either inject suppressant or tough it out. Mark him like this again, and send me a heads-up—I’ll have the OR ready for you, OK?”

Luo Qin shoved a big pack of supplies into Yi Chen’s arms. “Wash hands, disinfect, change dressing every half hour.”

With that, Luo Qin left without looking back.

The room was empty now, unnaturally quiet. Yu Xi didn’t know what to say or how to act seeing Yi Chen in this situation.

Instinctively, Yu Xi raised his hand to touch the gland, but it felt rough now, wrapped thickly in gauze by Luo Qin.

“You’re still feverish.” Yi Chen spoke first.

He set the medication aside, approached Yu Xi, and pulled him into his arms. “Rest a bit more, okay?”

The familiar voice, familiar body heat—the memories overlapped with the present. It felt unreal, like the past, yet more real than ever.

They had separated, but now they held each other tightly once more.

“You… let go of me,” Yu Xi said.

“No.” Yi Chen refused. “Try pushing me away?”

Yu Xi made no move. “Childish.”

They held each other for a while before Yu Xi suddenly said, “Pomelo Mint. Let me smell it.”

Yi Chen smiled.

He removed the Pheromone Blocker Patch, and strands of pomelo mint fragrance wafted out, lingering by Yu Xi’s side.

Gentle, warm, cautious.

Yu Xi grew sleepy again.

Unlike the exhausted collapse in his room earlier, this time he wanted to rest—but he clung to Yi Chen’s warmth, reluctant to drift off.

“Sleep for a bit,” Yi Chen said. “I’m here. Not going anywhere.”

His anxious heart finally settled. Yu Xi gradually fell asleep.

He slept deeply, but dreams brought back past scenes.

Mostly from after Yi Chen left.

It felt like a chunk had been gouged from his chest—empty and hollow.

Someone had woven himself into every facet of his life, his traces etched into every second of memory. They had been intimately close, yet everything about him vanished overnight. Like a sharp knife stabbing his heart, ripping out a bloody piece. He wanted to cry, but the pain left him too drained for tears.

During that time, Yu Xi filled himself to the brim.

He did test after test, refusing to let his mind stop or wander.

Because in any dazed moment, Yi Chen came to mind.

He stared at Yi Chen’s profile pic, lost in the once-familiar image.

At meals, he habitually snapped photos with his phone, only to realize after there was no one to share them with.

Seeing clouds outside, he recalled trivial details they’d once shared.

He gazed blankly at his phone screen, waiting for a message box that would never appear.

Friends noticed Yu Xi’s low mood and urged him to go out and clear his head.

Yu Xi thought it over, borrowed an electric scooter, and rode aimlessly along Coastal Ring Road.

The sea breeze was chilly, carrying salty ocean tang. Whenever he stopped, Yu Xi instinctively pulled out his phone.

He hadn’t replied in ages.

Before, someone would ask where he was, why no response, why he’d vanished—sending cute emojis begging for attention.

Yi Chen would video call when he was heading home alone. They’d chat the whole way, endless topics.

But now, nothing. All gone.

Back then, Yu Xi couldn’t control himself or his emotions. Scenes of time with Yi Chen flooded his mind constantly.

He regretted it.

Why fight? Why argue over answers he didn’t even know? Why say nothing? Why get impatient? Why press him? Why choose to break up?

He had nothing left.

No one cared, no one noticed his hidden feelings, no one researched guides to take him to great food spots, no one waited after events, no one caught his bad moods and coaxed him with a smile.

Only then did Yu Xi realize—he’d always unleashed his emotions on Yi Chen freely, spouting what he thought were rational words in his cool, aloof way. His flaws weren’t from lack of love.

He loved him too much.

He didn’t want to separate, refused to, and always believed they wouldn’t.

Yu Xi didn’t sleep peacefully.

One hand gripped Yi Chen’s tightly, refusing to let go.

Yi Chen adjusted positions to match, and just then, Yu Xi’s phone lit up with a hospital notification. Worried it might be important, Yi Chen unlocked it—only an electronic medical record update, nothing else.

As he exited, he glimpsed Yu Xi’s appointment history.

Hospitals networked records chronologically.

Yi Chen saw entries from years ago in the Psychiatry Department.

Yu Xi’s appointments were regular.

He truly wanted to get better, going weekly and cooperating fully with the therapist.

His condition improved visit by visit.

His last visit was half a year ago—the day they coincidentally performed the same stage on that variety show, rumored to clash, be at odds, irreconcilable.

After recording, Yu Xi skipped the celebration banquet and went to Psychiatry.

What had his mood been like?

What thoughts?

“I’m… actually really happy,” Yu Xi’s voice came from nearby.

Yu Xi had woken and saw Yi Chen.

He should have told him long ago.

Everyone said he had a stern face, unwilling to be around Yi Chen, skipping the same celebration.

But he… was just thrilled beyond measure, unsure how to express it.

That day was Yu Xi’s final Psychiatry visit.

The doctor who’d seen him for years said, “You’re completely better now.”

“You’ve been better for a while. No need to come anymore.”

“You’re just lacking a sense of security. You’re afraid, you’re worried, you’re at a loss. You’re concerned that your emotions will affect you.”

“That won’t happen. Look, you’re an excellent person. You’ve already healed yourself.”

“You can completely take the next step.”

Yu Xi and Yi Chen looked at each other, as if a long time had passed, yet it seemed only a brief moment.

Then, it was Yu Xi who took the initiative, pulling Yi Chen into an embrace and kissing him.