Chapter 27
Outside the window, the thunderstorm raged on. A sweet, intoxicating scent of jasmine floated in the moist air.
Pei Tingyu’s gaze was incredibly dark. His low, magnetic voice was almost a mumble. “Mark you? Can you handle it?”
The Alpha’s gaze was almost tangible, pressing forward, inch by inch, invading the young man’s exposed, delicate skin.
His intentions seemed to have changed. Was he trying to use his rut as an excuse to scare the young man away, or was he trying to—
Use his rut as an excuse to vent his long-suppressed desires.
Perhaps even he himself couldn’t tell the difference.
The Alpha’s body temperature was cool, his fingertips occasionally sliding over the warm, smooth skin. The ambiguous movements were almost like a tease.
The nerves at the back of Bai Yan’s neck were tense. He had started trembling the moment the man touched his Adam’s apple, but he hadn’t taken a single step back.
It’s okay, he knew. Mr. Pei is just sick.
A crimson blush spread across the young man’s cheeks. The heat rose, and he couldn’t help but part his lips, revealing the pink tip of his tongue.
The pheromones were thick and heavy. His reason was mostly gone, his mind shrouded in a light veil. In his haze, he only remembered that he had to soothe the Alpha before him.
Because, because they were partners…
The Omega’s hazy gaze met his. He nodded very slowly, a smile blooming on his face as he said obediently, “Of course. I’m your partner…”
The next moment, his cherry-pink eyes widened, and even more moisture filled them.
The young man’s chin was grasped, and a large hand wrapped around his waist and back, pulling him into the Alpha’s broad, warm embrace.
Something soft and wet suddenly touched his lips, carefully licking away the blood at the corner of his mouth.
Then, it traced the seam of his lips, prying them open bit by bit, and forcefully pushed its way inside!
It’s Mr. Pei’s tongue!
Startled, Bai Yan snapped out of his daze. His hands flew to the man’s chest, pushing, subconsciously trying to struggle free and escape.
But the man’s other large hand gripped the back of his neck, holding him fast.
The scent of bitter orange blossom flooded his senses, filling his lungs. The gland on his neck burned hot, steadily eroding Bai Yan’s reason.
The slender Omega was completely enveloped in the tall Alpha’s embrace!
The two of them were pressed against the cold, solid wood desk. The vast difference in their sizes meant the young man could only lean tightly against the man’s bulging chest.
BOOM—BOOM—
The wind howled, and the thunderstorm roared. In the flickering light, only the small desk lamp cast an ambiguous orange-yellow glow, illuminating a small world within the room.
The scent of orange blossom wove a tight, impenetrable net around the young man, completely enveloping him.
The two highly compatible pheromones intertwined, lingering and passionate, becoming indistinguishable from one another.
“Mmph!”
The Alpha’s forceful movements slowly became gentle. The soft tip of his tongue licked Bai Yan’s upper palate, as gentle as a feather’s caress.
A tingling, unfamiliar numbness shot up from the tip of his tongue, flowing all the way to the bottom of his heart. The young man suddenly lost the strength to resist and leaned limply against the man’s chest.
Pei Tingyu held the young man’s lips, delving deeper and deeper.
The Alpha, who had always had faint desires, was now like a different person, insatiably demanding from his legal partner.
The high concentration of AO pheromones mingled in the room. The anxious, scorching orange blossom pheromones were finally soothed, and belatedly, they offered a gentle comfort to his partner.
The two held each other tightly, the veins on the man’s arms bulging as he gripped the young man’s slender waist.
Until, at a certain moment, his reason, on the verge of losing control, was suddenly jolted.
An image flashed in his mind: the cold hospital walls, the slender, paper-white young man nestled in the bed, sobbing secretly in his sleep.
His body had trembled like a little rabbit, shivering uncontrollably, a teardrop precariously clinging to the corner of his eye.
He had been so afraid, yet so timid. Because he felt insecure, he had carefully bitten his lip, not daring to let out a single sound of crying.
So pitiful, and so fragile.
Pei Tingyu abruptly snapped back to his senses, his reason, which had been on the verge of losing control, once again taking over his brain.
The heat in his heart slowly subsided, and his rapidly rising body temperature dropped.
The man was stunned for a few seconds in disbelief.
His pheromone disorder… was over?
However, before he could react, the young man in his arms suddenly went limp, a low, pained moan escaping his throat.
“Nnngh…”
“What’s wrong, Yanyan!”
The Alpha immediately tightened his grip on the young man’s soft, slender waist, holding him close. A rare flash of panic crossed the man’s eyes, and his usually steady, calm heart pounded heavily.
He pushed aside the sweat-dampened hair on the young man’s cheek and, as expected, saw a face that was far too red.
The young man’s breathing was ragged, his small face flushed and moist, his cheeks an unnatural crimson. His beautiful eyes were tightly shut, a few stray teardrops still clinging to the tips of his lashes.
Pei Tingyu’s hand unhesitatingly fell on the young man’s forehead. The heat was frighteningly hot.
The jasmine pheromones were overwhelmingly sweet, sweeping through the room.
Bai Yan had been induced into another pseudo-heat by his pheromones!
The Alpha’s temples throbbed violently. His hoarse voice was laced with a hint of panic. “Yanyan, you have a fever.”
The young man’s mind was hazy. He still thought his discomfort was due to the Alpha’s rut.
He gently rubbed his forehead against Pei Tingyu’s broad shoulder and mumbled softly, “It’s okay… Mr. Pei, you can continue.”
“Mark me, and you won’t be in pain anymore.”
Despite facing the Alpha who had just lost control and forcefully kissed him, the young man’s gaze was filled with attachment and trust.
Like a sacrifice, and also… like an invitation.
A strange emotion grew wildly in the young man’s trusting and dependent gaze, until it completely filled his chest, making it impossible for Pei Tingyu to ignore.
It was desire, and it was love.
Thump—thump—
The dull, rapid thumping of his heart in his chest was too unfamiliar. A strange sense of satisfaction arose with it, gradually seeping into every part of his body.
But Pei Tingyu had no mind to care.
The Omega in his arms was growing hotter, gradually losing strength, and collapsing in his embrace.
His bangs unconsciously brushed against his arm, his hot, rapid breaths spraying onto his skin.
Pei Tingyu’s face darkened. He wrapped a large hand around the young man’s waist, lifted him into his arms, and strode to the bedside, gently placing the Omega on the bed.
Bai Yan’s face was flushed red, his forehead burning hot, his trembling lips constantly exhaling moist, hot air.
The heat made the Omega’s jasmine pheromones exceptionally sweet, a thousand times softer and sweeter than before, like a blatant invitation.
The corners of the man’s eyes were crimson, but his gaze was incredibly dark, as if a dark fire was burning in their depths. His arms were suddenly covered in bulging veins.
His last shred of reason was on the verge of snapping. Pei Tingyu’s tongue slid hard over his itching teeth, using all his strength to suppress the boiling possessiveness.
He lowered his voice as much as possible and coaxed gently, “Yanyan, I’ll go get the doctor. It’ll be over soon.”
“Don’t go!” a voice, laced with tears, called out to him.
Pei Tingyu’s eyes suddenly widened.
The young man on the bed suddenly raised his arm and grabbed his hand.
The calloused fingertips were not soft, but the force with which they slowly tightened around his fingers made Pei Tingyu’s heart tremble.
“Don’t go, Mr. Pei… It hurts so much.” The young man opened his hazy, tear-filled eyes and shakily held onto the man’s hand.
His fingers trembled uncontrollably, as if in accusation, and also as if in supplication. “I don’t want to be alone again.”
Thud. The string called “reason” in Pei Tingyu’s mind completely snapped.
The Alpha’s heart was filled with a sour bitterness. How could he bear to let Bai Yan be alone again?
The man leaned over, releasing his gentle orange blossom pheromones to soothe him.
His large, broad hand once again cupped the young man’s face, his fingertips gently rubbing his feverish cheeks.
His movements were gentle, wiping away the two teardrops at the corners of his eyes, as if treating a handful of snow that would melt at the slightest touch.
The man’s magnetic voice murmured gently, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. No one will leave.”
“Yanyan, my precious, don’t be afraid. Let me stay with you, okay? You’re not alone…”
The young man’s lashes trembled twice and gently covered his eyelids. The hand clutching Pei Tingyu’s also slowly relaxed.
The warm orange blossom pheromones held him tightly, so reassuring.
Everything after that was like a phantasmagorical dream.
The bed beneath him was incredibly soft, and something even softer landed on his cheeks, his neck, his wrists, his fingertips.
His gland was hot, his forehead was hot, his whole body was hot. Only the Alpha beside him exuded a cool presence.
The heat in his lower abdomen continued to spread, as if an unnamed fire had risen within him, rushing toward a certain place.
“Nnngh…” Bai Yan frowned and panted in discomfort, his shoulders under his messy clothes trembling uncontrollably. The fire inside him was burning so hot he could barely breathe.
The Omega shrank back, sobbing pitifully, crystal-clear teardrops constantly welling up in his eyes.
Faced with his body’s unusual state, the inexperienced young man was completely helpless.
“So hot, mm, so strange.”
A low, magnetic voice coaxed gently, “Yanyan, my precious… don’t be afraid. I’ll teach you…”
“My precious… relax, leave it all to me. It’s alright.”
The man let out a low chuckle, caught the young man’s wrist as it blocked his face, and placed a gentle kiss on it.
The older Alpha’s gentle tolerance enveloped the young man’s inexperience, teaching and encouraging him.
Just like before, when the man had taught him how to hit a good shot.
The skillful and patient guidance allowed the Omega to gradually relax his tense body.
As if submerged in a hot spring, Bai Yan found himself melting without even realizing it.
Their scents and body temperatures completely merged. The young man thought hazily, Mr. Pei said I could trust him, rely on him.
“My precious, don’t be afraid…”
The man’s lips unconsciously found their way to the back of the young man’s neck. He extended his hot, wet tongue and lovingly licked the Omega’s most vulnerable gland.
His soft lips murmured gently, rubbing against the cute little protrusion, his hot breath spraying around the gland.
The young man unconsciously bit his moist, red lower lip. Unable to bear it, he tilted his head slightly, his body trembling violently. His fair, delicate neck quickly flushed a deep red.
After a moment of moist softness, two sharp teeth suddenly pressed against his gland, and a thick, rich scent of orange blossom was injected into it!
The young man let out a low moan, his body suddenly curling up.
The hand clutching the quilt tightened abruptly, and the concentration of orange blossom pheromones in the room seemed to intensify.
A petal quietly fell from the rose in the small vase on the bedside table, its faint fragrance blending with the mingling scents in the room.
Jasmine and orange blossom were tightly entwined, inseparable.
Soon—Pei Tingyu calmly withdrew his hand. Ignoring the discomfort in his lower body, he stood up and casually wiped himself with a tissue from the room.
When he turned around, the Omega was gone from the bed, but a suspicious bulge had appeared under the covers.
The Alpha chuckled, a hand to his lips, and coaxed softly, “My precious, it’s okay. This is very normal.”
“Come on out, don’t suffocate.”
After a rustling sound, a tear-streaked face emerged from the covers.
The young man sat on the bed pitifully, his mouth pouted in displeasure. The quilt was pulled over his head, and he clutched the corner, covering his entire body tightly.
The Omega lifted his moist, flushed face, his cheeks puffed out, and asked the man he trusted, “Isn’t this so strange, so embarrassing…”
His hazy mind had been thoroughly soothed, and because he was too excited, it couldn’t continue to function. He only knew, instinctively, that he was unhappy.
The unease and fear of living under someone else’s roof were all gone. The young man was like a blank sheet of paper, every emotion written clearly on his face.
“How could it be? It’s not strange at all, my precious…” Pei Tingyu sat on the edge of the bed, his gentle gaze tracing the young man’s exquisite, beautiful features.
The Alpha’s strong arms pulled the quilt-wrapped dumpling into his embrace. He wiped away the teardrops at the corners of the young man’s eyes, one by one, and patiently soothed him. “It’s not embarrassing… It’s very normal.”
The man’s low, magnetic voice was as gentle as a lullaby, and the orange blossom scent emanating from him was reassuring and intoxicating.
The young man felt a sense of security and dependence he had never felt before. He rested his head against the man’s bulging, firm chest and gradually stopped sobbing.
He leaned half his body against Pei Tingyu, his soft, pale gold hair brushing against the man’s shoulder. He nuzzled him like a little animal, coquettishly, taking in the pleasant scent around him.
His eyelids grew heavier and heavier, his vision gradually blurring.
The rain outside had stopped at some point. The wind was clear, the moon was bright, and the clouds had dispersed. The night at Yǎyuán was quiet and peaceful, without even the sound of insects.
In no time, Bai Yan fell into a sweet dream in this reassuring scent of orange blossom.
A marked Omega will instinctively depend on the Alpha who marked him.
But Pei Tingyu was enduring it, his veins bulging. Only after the young man was sound asleep did the man let out a long breath.
With a stiff shoulder, he painstakingly removed the young man’s water-stained clothes.
His beautiful eyelashes drooped quietly. The young man’s porcelain skin was exposed to the air, with little plum blossoms blooming on his neck, and even between the two pink buds…
Pale blue veins were hidden beneath his skin, and his slender arms lay limply in the quilt.
Pei Tingyu’s large hand hovered over the young man’s abdomen. The Omega’s slender waist was so narrow it seemed he could barely get a grip on it.
He’s too thin…
My precious must not have been eating well recently.
Has my precious ever thought about what would happen if I really lost my reason? To what extent would I bully such a sweet and tempting Omega?
He trusts me so much, believes I won’t hurt him, which is why he decided to come upstairs.
Pei Tingyu’s heart ached. But when he took off his pants and saw Bai Yan’s bruised and purple ankle, he suddenly froze, the ache turning into a fine, stinging pain.
My baby, my Yanyan, he clearly has night blindness, yet he insisted on coming upstairs to find me.
It must have hurt so much when he bumped it, yet he didn’t make a sound.
Would he do this for any family member he trusted?
If someone else had proposed to my precious, brought him home, would he have done the same?
Pei Tingyu was both heartbroken and jealous. He even began to resent a person who didn’t even exist.
This resentment came out of nowhere, but it made the man, who had always been emotionally reserved, feel both sour and full.
The corners of the Alpha’s eyes were moist. He brought over the first-aid kit, knelt by the bed, and carefully held the young man’s slender, white ankle, applying medicine with a cotton swab.
The sleeping Omega felt the coolness on his ankle and frowned, letting out a soft hiss. Even though it hurt, he only twitched his leg slightly and then lay there obediently, unmoving.
As if he were used to it. Used to getting hurt, used to being sick.
I wonder how much he has suffered.
The man’s heart was so sour he didn’t dare to think about it anymore.
Bai Yan’s drunken state had shown a strong aversion to the hospital. He had sent Song Jian to investigate his precious’s past.
But when the file was delivered, he couldn’t bring himself to open it and look.
The Omega seemed obedient, but his heart was tough and independent. He wouldn’t want concern born of pity.
He was willing to wait until the young man told him himself.
But now, Pei Tingyu was not so sure.
Suppressing the responsible emotions surging in his heart, Pei Tingyu carefully examined the young man’s injuries.
Only after confirming that Bai Yan was fine did he finally breathe a sigh of relief and tuck the sleeping young man into a clean bed.
Bright moonlight streamed into the room. The Alpha stood by the bed, his gaze lovingly tracing the young man’s soft, obedient sleeping face, sighing to himself.
My precious, what am I to do with you?
If you could be happy, I would willingly offer you my all.
But I know you might not like it… and, you might not be willing.
Bai Yan felt as if he had slept for a very long time.
Occasionally, when he groggily opened his eyes, he could feel a pair of eyes watching him gently from not far away.
In the depths of the night-black eyes, it seemed as if a moss-green aurora would flash from time to time.
So beautiful, Bai Yan thought hazily. The same color as the gemstone collar pin I got for Mr. Pei.
Mm, when Mr. Pei comes back from abroad, I mustn’t forget to give him the gift.
The familiar scent of orange blossom lingered at the tip of his nose, so warm it made him sigh.
It seemed someone was hugging him from behind, a strong, powerful arm across his chest, giving him a great sense of security.
Bai Yan rubbed against it comfortably and continued to sleep in the warm embrace.
The world was dim.
He was immersed in it, unwilling to wake from the dream.
The heavy blackout curtains sensed the light and automatically parted, and a ray of bright sunlight shone into the room.
The temperature on his eyelids gradually rose, and his two cicada-wing-like, snow-white lashes trembled.
The sweet, dark dream was chased away by the harsh light. Bai Yan frowned in discomfort, squirmed in the bed a few times, and struggled to open his eyes.
The unfamiliar carved ceiling made him stare blankly for a few seconds, almost thinking he was in the hospital again.
When he sat up with a start, he finally came back to his senses. What hospital would have a pure black decor?
Bai Yan leaned softly against the headboard and rubbed his eyes, looking around.
The spacious room had little furniture, and the cool-toned decor was somber and ascetic, completely different from his own room.
Opposite the large black bed was a clean and tidy solid wood desk. On the desk, the pink and white roses in the vase exuded a faint fragrance, blooming just right.
Roses?
They look just like the climbing roses I picked from the garden.
The young man blinked, his sluggish brain still a little dazed.
Where is this?
“Awake?”
As he was lost in thought, a low, magnetic voice sounded at the door.
Bai Yan instinctively looked up. The tall man was leaning against the doorframe, his gentle gaze directed at him.
Mr. Pei was wearing a casual, black turtleneck sweater, one hand casually in his pants pocket, the other holding a coffee cup. The form-fitting clothes outlined the man’s smooth waist and abdomen.
The familiar scent of orange blossom was drawn into his lungs, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction and security filled his heart.
“Mr. Pei,” Bai Yan said, looking up blankly, his thoughts still a little jumbled. His almond eyes were wide as he asked in a soft, obedient tone, “Is your rut over?”
“Mm,” Pei Tingyu said, his eyes dark, his lips curving into a smile, clearly in a good mood.
The morning sun enveloped the man’s silhouette in light, giving his deep-set features a strangely gentle quality.
Bai Yan couldn’t help but sigh to himself. Mr. Pei is truly a top-tier Alpha. Not only is he exceptionally capable, but he also has a good temperament, a good figure, and good looks.
A feast for the eyes. He’s even more of a model than the male models on my phone.
And his skills are also—
—Wait, how do I know that!
Bai Yan froze.
He! They!
Ahhh, what did I do last night?!
Bai Yan’s eyes immediately widened, like two copper bells.
He shot up from the bed, pulled the quilt over his body, and trembled as he hid deep under the covers, so scared he couldn’t even say a word.
Oh my god, I actually pestered Mr. Pei to do… to do that kind of thing!
Mr. Pei must have been forced by me, wuwu. Am I going to have to pack my bags and get out?!
The young man under the covers covered his beet-red face. A crimson blush rose from his cheeks and instantly spread to his earlobes and the back of his neck.
Bai Yan couldn’t believe how bold he had been last night. He wished he could erase the memory from his mind.
A strange, soft bulge appeared under the covers, and it twitched shyly.
The smile was still on Pei Tingyu’s lips, but the color in his eyes had dimmed considerably.
The panic in those clear eyes was obvious, and it easily pierced Pei Tingyu’s heart.
Pei Tingyu’s heart was bitter, but he still spoke as if nothing had happened, his tone returning to its usual calm indifference. “Your clothes are on the side of the bed. I’ll go out first.”
He paused, then added with feigned calmness, “Come to the study after you’ve washed up. I have something to tell you.”
The man turned and left gracefully, even remembering to close the door like a gentleman, thoughtfully leaving the room to him.
Only after the man’s presence had completely disappeared from the room did the young man, whose head was red enough to be steaming, emerge from under the covers.
The young man sat in a daze, his white hair a mess. The blush on his cheeks wouldn’t fade, and his earlobes were so red they looked like they were bleeding.
The scent of orange blossom permeated every corner of the room. The warm, citrusy floral scent was like sunlight, refreshing and soothing, and Bai Yan’s pounding heart slowly began to calm down.
Mr. Pei’s bedroom was very large and also very empty. There was only a large, solid wood desk opposite the bed.
And they had kissed there last night!
The young man buried his burning face in his hands again. He was startled to see the dense red marks on his wrist.
Countless blurry memories flashed through his chaotic mind.
Mr. Pei said he was going to call a doctor, and it was he who pulled on Mr. Pei’s hand and told him not to leave…
Mr. Pei was about to stop, and it was he who…
Wuwu, what have I done?
It’s nothing, Bai Yan tried to convince himself. It was just a moment of passion after a temporary mark.
We’re both adults, and legal partners.
Haha, it’s very normal. Mr. Pei didn’t say anything, so there’s no need for me to make a big deal out of it.
But after it was over, I actually shamelessly pulled on Mr. Pei and asked if it was “embarrassing”!
Mr. Pei didn’t laugh at me, it must be because he has good self-control.
Wuwu, it’s so embarrassing. I don’t want to live. Just throw me in some garbage dump!
I was supposed to be here to take care of Mr. Pei during his rut, but instead, I caused him more trouble.
The young man’s emotions were fickle. After the embarrassment, an even greater sense of dejection washed over him.
Bai Yan hung his head in despair, thinking self-deprecatingly that even if Mr. Pei wanted to terminate the contract immediately and have him pack his bags and leave, he could understand.
Bai Yan sighed, threw back the covers, and prepared to face his fate. But there was a strange feeling in his left ankle.
He bent down, rolled up his pant leg to check. The bruised area had already been treated with medicine and was bandaged with a layer of white cloth.
I don’t feel anything. The young man tried to rotate his ankle. It didn’t hurt anymore.
Last night, after I fell asleep, Mr. Pei must have put medicine on it for me… Bai Yan pressed his lips together, his heart suddenly softening.
Thinking of something, Bai Yan suddenly raised his hand to touch the gland on the back of his neck, but his fingertips recoiled as if burned.
The crimson on the young man’s face continued to spread. He clutched the quilt in a fluster, his eyes shyly lowered.
There was a slight indentation on his gland. It was Mr. Pei’s bite mark.
The heat on his cheeks continued to rise.
The deliberately ignored memories instantly came flooding back like a tide. The man’s sharp teeth had held back their strength, carefully rubbing against the back of his neck, his hot, rapid breath spraying on it…
Mr. Pei gave him a temporary mark last night.
A temporary mark was different from a permanent one. After a few days, the residual Alpha pheromones would dissipate, and the gland would return to its original state.
Mr. Pei had given him a temporary mark to get through his rut. This was part of the agreement.
The young man pressed his lips together, a strange feeling in his heart.
But why did he feel a little sad?
Clear, water-like sunlight shone into the corridor. The rain had washed away the dust in the air. The third-floor corridor had shed its gloomy, terrifying appearance from last night and now looked its usual, warm self.
Bai Yan stood at the door of the study for a long time before finally knocking.
The young man’s strained voice held a clear note of nervousness as he pushed the door open tentatively. “Mr. Pei, I’m coming in.”
“Mm, have a seat first.”
Compared to Bai Yan’s nervousness, Pei Tingyu, behind the desk, was much calmer. He pushed the porcelain bowl in front of him toward the young man.
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you? This is the congee Auntie Chen made. You have some first, then we’ll talk.”
“Okay, Mr. Pei.”
Bai Yan held the spoon and politely lowered his head, taking a couple of symbolic sips.
When he looked up, about to speak, he saw Mr. Pei resting his forehead on one hand, his dark eyes fixed on him without blinking.
The Alpha parted his thin lips and asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong? Is it not to your taste?”
Thinking of something, he added considerately, “Breakfast time at home is over. If you want something else, I’ll have the kitchen prepare it.”
“No, no, the lotus seed soup is fine.”
The seriousness in the man’s eyes was not feigned. It seemed that whatever he wanted, he could have it immediately.
Why is this like a palace drama, where the emperor rewards the concubine who served him last night?
Bai Yan was speechless.
The young man didn’t dare to let his thoughts wander any further. He buried his head and obediently ate his congee.
As the hot congee went down, the young man’s face once again turned rosy. The man lowered his gaze in satisfaction, a fleeting, gentle smile in his eyes.
When the young man looked up, the smile on Pei Tingyu’s face had completely disappeared. The man’s expression was calm, only his brow slightly furrowed.
“I’m very sorry for what happened last night. If you want to terminate the contract, I completely understand. The compensation will not be any less.”
His tone was full of guilt and apology, the curve of his lips just right, his gentle expression flawless.
It was as if last night had indeed been an accident caused by their high compatibility, a moment of passion.
It was only human, understandable.
Hearing Mr. Pei’s self-reproachful words, Bai Yan put down his bowl and quickly explained, “Mr. Pei, it’s okay. You don’t need to apologize, and don’t talk about compensation.”
“What happened last night wasn’t your fault alone…”
A crimson blush quietly crept up the young man’s fair cheeks. He swallowed nonchalantly and added, “Besides, besides, the agreement is very clear. As your legal partner, I have a responsibility to accompany you through your rut.”
“I did it willingly. Please don’t feel burdened.”
Bai Yan looked up and explained seriously, his gaze filled with clear, naive trust.
Mr. Pei has done so much for him and for the orphanage.
Last night, Mr. Pei helped him… it was just an accident.
He didn’t want Mr. Pei to blame himself for it.
“Mm.” The man’s expression relaxed slightly. He paused and asked softly, “Your ankle… is it better?”
“Much better. It doesn’t hurt at all now.” Bai Yan smiled faintly, revealing the two cute dimples by his lips.
Pei Tingyu’s gaze darkened for a moment. He coughed into his hand and suddenly said, “And your gland… is it uncomfortable?”
He averted his gaze uncomfortably and said with difficulty, “Your situation is special. If you have any discomfort, I can have Dr. Li come and take a look.”
Bai Yan’s face instantly turned bright red. He explained incoherently, “No, no, I’m completely fine.”
“Please don’t call Dr. Li! And we don’t need to go to the hospital!”
He didn’t know why, but every time he ran into Dr. Li at Yǎyuán, he would always stare at him with an indescribable expression.
If he found out about this, who knows what Dr. Li would think in private.
“Okay, we won’t call him.” Pei Tingyu smiled faintly, his voice very soft, his gaze gentle in a way he himself didn’t even realize.
Unfortunately, the still-shaken young man missed this fleeting moment of tenderness.
Pei Tingyu crossed his hands and said calmly, “I need to go abroad to inspect the market. My flight is this afternoon. I may not be at Yǎyuán for a long time.”
“I’m sorry I can’t take you to school.”
“Why? Your rut just ended. Can’t you rest at home for a few more days?”
Bai Yan looked up, his gaze pleading, not even realizing that there was a hint of grievance and reluctance in his eyes.
The faint scent of jasmine pheromones floated in the room, intertwining with the orange blossom, every wisp speaking of reluctance and a desire for him to stay.
Being watched by such a pair of beautiful eyes, Pei Tingyu found that he couldn’t bring himself to say no.
He really wanted to just tell Bai Yan that the rut, the pheromone disorder, was not the reason he had marked him.
If he wasn’t willing, even with 100% compatibility, he would never have marked him.
There was only one reason: he liked him.
The agreement would be null and void. If Bai Yan was willing, he could truly see him as his one and only lover, his partner for life.
But he couldn’t.
He was too much older than Bai Yan, and had experienced too much.
Pei Tingyu knew that he and Bai Yan were now legitimate partners, and they lived together at Yǎyuán day and night.
Yes, if he wanted to, he could easily make the inexperienced young man fall completely in love with him.
But that wouldn’t be fair to Bai Yan.
Right now, the young man’s gratitude, his dependence, and even the attachment and reluctance he felt because of the mark, were all born of his trust in him.
That was not love.
Bai Yan was still too young, had experienced nothing.
If he followed his heart and, in the name of love, made him willingly live at Yǎyuán from now on…
What if, one day in the future, the young man grew tired of it, regretted it, found someone he liked more, and wanted to leave him?
Could he guarantee that he would be willing to let go, that he would let go?
The answer was self-evident.
He would never let Bai Yan leave.
Even if it meant locking him up, imprisoning him, the Omega could only stay by his side.
But how was that any different from raising a rose that was wilting day by day?
That would be truly destroying Bai Yan’s trust and dependence.
He had finally managed to get his insecure precious to let down his guard. How could he bear to turn him back into a frightened caged bird that never saw the light of day?
He didn’t want his precious to suffer any more hardships.
Before things got to an irreversible point, maybe they should be apart for a while.
Once Bai Yan’s pheromone dependence on him ended, he wouldn’t be sad about his departure.
The man smiled bitterly to himself. Maybe by then, he could also control his own feelings.
His Adam’s apple bobbed with difficulty. Pei Tingyu’s expression was calm as he apologetically told Bai Yan that he had to go in person due to the urgency of the matter.
He then said, “Your phone’s alarm went off twice this morning, and then it shut down. I put it on your bedside table.”
“Oh, okay, I’ll go get it later…” Thinking of something, the young man’s words got stuck in his throat.
The phone—the wallpaper!
My lock screen is still a picture of a half-naked male model!
Mr. Pei didn’t see it, did he?!
Bai Yan’s heart immediately leaped into his throat. He sucked in a sharp breath in a panic.
The guilty young man didn’t dare to stay any longer. He hurriedly reminded Mr. Pei to take care of himself and then rushed off to find his phone.
He didn’t know that after he left, the Alpha stared at the place where he had been sitting for a long, long time.
After a long silence, the man nonchalantly picked up the porcelain bowl on the table, his lips covering the mark the young man had left.
The lily and lotus seed soup had been cold for a while and had become a little bitter.
Mr. Pei left with Song Jian that afternoon, just as he had said.
This time, he was going abroad. So far away. Who knew when he would be back.
With one person missing from Yǎyuán, nothing felt right.
Even though Auntie Chen had been trying different dishes to improve Bai Yan’s appetite these past few days, Bai Yan had no appetite.
He would often start to daze off while eating, not even noticing that the food in front of him had gone cold.
Even when Oz came back, wagging his tail energetically and nuzzling Bai Yan’s knee with his wet nose, the young man was listless and downcast.
After playing with Oz for a little while, he would start to daze off, hugging the rabbit toy. The Doberman could only stomp its feet helplessly and run to the servants.
This situation only gradually improved after the redness on his gland subsided and the red marks on his body disappeared.
The scent of orange blossom pheromones in Yǎyuán grew fainter and fainter. Each time he went upstairs, the time Bai Yan spent in front of Mr. Pei’s room grew longer and longer.
The young man would often stand at the top of the stairs, unable to help himself, staring at the closed, dark brown door at the end of the hall.
He would imagine what Mr. Pei was doing on the other side of the world. Was it like on TV, with all kinds of meetings and banquets?
And he would think of the expensive collar pin he had bought. That day, he had been so busy grabbing his phone to frantically delete the male model photos that he had completely forgotten about it.
By the time he remembered, Mr. Pei was already on his private jet.
He didn’t know if he would have a chance to give it to him in the future.
This must be the pheromone dependence after being marked.
A marked Omega would instinctively depend on their Alpha. In severe cases, they would even need constant pheromone soothing.
At this moment, Bai Yan was a little grateful that Mr. Pei was abroad and not at Yǎyuán.
Otherwise, if he clung to Mr. Pei’s side every day, he would definitely scare him.
Maybe he would even dislike and hate him.
