Pei Yao kept his head lowered, motionless.
Mu Chenxing probed cautiously: “Pei Yao?”
He wouldn’t have passed out, would he?
When Pei Yao bit me back then, he seemed to pass out too.
Professor Zhang called from across the office: “Xingxing, come here.”
Mu Chenxing glanced at Pei Yao, then at the Alphas several meters away, all on high alert and staring at Pei Yao. He jolted and started to dash over—
“Don’t come over.”
The tuxedo Alpha stopped him. “If you run, Pei Yao won’t be able to control himself.”
Mu Chenxing: “?”
He didn’t get it, but he halted.
Professor Zhang: “He’s more dangerous right there!”
Tuxedo Alpha: “The moment after pheromone fusion is when an Alpha’s possessiveness peaks. If he leaves, the consequences don’t bear thinking about!”
Professor Zhang: “But they’re not mates. Xingxing is in danger staying there.”
Tuxedo Alpha: “Staying put is safer than leaving. Don’t test an Alpha’s possessiveness lightly—it’s pure biological instinct.”
Professor Zhang fell silent.
Mu Chenxing had no choice but to stay where he was, glancing at Professor Zhang, then at Pei Yao, who sat with his head down, unmoving.
The latter had his shirt slightly unbuttoned, hands loosely draped over his knees—nothing out of the ordinary.
But Mu Chenxing didn’t dare move either, so he just stood there in a daze.
The cool aura enveloped him, more comfortable than the perfectly temperate air-conditioned room, soft and fuzzy, lulling him toward sleep.
At the other end, Professor Zhang had already started chatting quietly with the tuxedo Alpha. Mu Chenxing eyed the sofa several times, tempted to sit, but seeing Pei Yao frozen beside it—
The guy’s been still for nearly 15 minutes.
A chill crept into Mu Chenxing’s heart, and he opted to keep standing.
He ended up standing for what felt like half a day. Even shifting his weight between feet nonstop left him exhausted—in his old world, even military training students knew standing was the most tiring posture.
His legs went numb, his waist and back ached, and only then did Mu Chenxing notice the cool aura slowly dissipating.
He immediately looked at Pei Yao.
Who lifted his head at the exact same moment.
His eyes were reddened at the edges, dark pupils feral, like a starving snow wolf from the barren plains, poised to lunge at prey the next second.
Mu Chenxing’s hairs all stood on end; he instinctively backed up two steps.
The next instant, the savage expression vanished from Pei Yao’s face.
He smiled again, teasing: “You’ve been staring at me the whole time. Getting hungry for me?”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
If not for the lingering red at Pei Yao’s eyes, he’d have thought he’d imagined it.
Pretending not to hear, he countered, “You okay?”
Pei Yao smiled. “Better than okay. I could fuck you for days, no problem.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
If only the guy were mute.
Hearing their exchange, the others waiting at the far end of the office stood up.
Professor Zhang called out: “Ignore him. He’s riding high on your pheromones right now—gonna be extra horny.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Physiology class did mention it—biting a gland and injecting pheromones is like force-feeding the recipient a liter of hard liquor mixed with half a kilo of aphrodisiac. Anyone would get wild.
No wonder.
Pei Yao didn’t refute, just kept smiling at him.
Though his gaze was a bit…
Mu Chenxing shifted uncomfortably and turned toward Professor Zhang’s group.
“Xingxing.” Professor Zhang approached, eyeing him up and down. “Anywhere hurting?”
Mu Chenxing slumped. “Yeah.”
Everyone startled; Pei Yao frowned.
Mu Chenxing: “My legs, my waist—they’re wrecked. I’m exhausted.”
Everyone: “…”
Pei Yao paused, then lowered his eyes with a chuckle.
Professor Zhang laughed in exasperation. “Who told you to stand?”
Mu Chenxing protested: “Wasn’t it you guys who said not to move?”
Professor Zhang: “…The sofa was right next to you. Are you an idiot?”
Mu Chenxing couldn’t exactly say his gut told him not to sit, so he played dumb: “You watched me stand forever and didn’t say a word.”
Professor Zhang: “…”
He stepped up and flicked Mu Chenxing’s head. “You’ve got a million clever tricks up your sleeve usually—how’d you turn dumb today?”
Mu Chenxing clutched his head, muttering: “Must be from you smacking me.”
With his familiar teacher nearby, he relaxed and plopped onto the single-seater sofa.
After over a month of training, standing that long was already impressive… but still, ugh.
Of course, no one else paid him much mind.
The two military-uniform Alphas aside, the tuxedo Alpha shadowed Professor Zhang closely.
Professor Zhang pulled out a small device and pricked Pei Yao’s finger for a blood sample, checking the readings.
Pei Yao had already buttoned his collar and was shrugging into his jacket. “Dropped, right?”
Professor Zhang stared at the holo-screen, shock plain on his face. “Yes, and still dropping! At this rate, you won’t need suppressants anymore—hiss.”
He whipped around to glare at Mu Chenxing.
Mu Chenxing was mid-waist stretch, meeting their stares calmly as he continued. “What?”
Professor Zhang: “…What are you doing?”
Mu Chenxing finished two more reps before dropping his arms. “Relaxation exercises. Loosens the muscles.”
Professor Zhang: “…”
He glanced at the holo-screen in his hand, then at Mu Chenxing, but in the end said nothing, turning back to Pei Yao. “He’s only 18!”
Pei Yao finished donning his jacket and stood.
“You think I don’t know why I didn’t touch him?” He swept a glance at Mu Chenxing, regret in his tone. “I’m not a pedophile. Too young—couldn’t get my mouth on him.”
Mu Chenxing muttered: “Give me ten more years, and I’d still be a kid to you.”
Pei Yao: “…”
Professor Zhang burst out laughing. “Alright, alright, got it.”
He checked the readings again. “This drop speed means no suppressants needed.”
He hesitated, then asked: “If it’s convenient, could you leave a bit of pheromones for my research? I’ll keep it confidential, and if there’s any breakthrough, I can—”
“Sure.” Pei Yao nodded at his chin. “Figure out what’s going on.”
Professor Zhang followed his gesture to the bewildered Mu Chenxing. “That’s exactly what I want to test… If you’re not comfortable, send a few people to oversee.”
Pei Yao: “No need. With you here, Dr. Zhang, anyone else is just icing.”
Professor Zhang smiled faintly. “Then I won’t hold back.”
After Pei Yao’s affirmative hum, he dashed into the dispensing room and grabbed a transparent container.
Pei Yao took it, deftly tore open the packaging, uncapped it, and bit down.
Milky-white liquid trickled slowly down the container’s wall.
Mu Chenxing had seen pheromone samples in lesson videos, but collecting one live was a first. He couldn’t help standing to peer over curiously.
Pei Yao noticed and smiled at him.
Professor Zhang followed his gaze to Mu Chenxing. “Come by in a few days and leave some for me.”
Mu Chenxing: “Oh.”
Pheromone extraction was simple, but it took time to build up stores—ten days or half a month minimum.
Professor Zhang: “No rush. Some blood works too.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Pei Yao finished extracting, capped it, and handed it over. “Thanks for the trouble.”
Professor Zhang nodded and stowed the small container in the dispensing room.
The tuxedo Alpha watched him go, then turned back. “Still going to the banquet?”
Pei Yao: “Of course. Why not?”
He smiled. “They’re all waiting to see me crash and burn, right? I’ll play the weakling and enjoy the show.”
The tuxedo Alpha sneered. “Those useless bureaucrats wouldn’t last a day on the battlefield, yet they passive-aggressively snipe at our battle records nonstop. You’re lucky they even greet you—and you go running after them everywhere? You bored after three years garrisoned or what?”
Pei Yao wagged a finger, grinning. “Nah, not bored.”
He pointed at Mu Chenxing, who was all ears for the gossip. “Just stopping by to check on my future boyfriend~”
Mu Chenxing: “…Pah, I didn’t agree.”
Pei Yao beamed. “That’s why I said ‘future’.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Tuxedo Alpha blinked in surprise, eyeing Mu Chenxing’s deadpan face. “You’re serious?”
Pei Yao blew a kiss at Mu Chenxing, earning a massive eye-roll, before turning back with a laugh. “Not up to me, is it? Still waiting on little Xingxing to nod~”
Tuxedo Alpha pinched his brow. “Talk normal! Don’t make me deck you!”
Pei Yao waved him off. “I don’t fight the disabled.”
Tuxedo Alpha rolled up his sleeves. “Disabled my ass. Even with unstable pheromones, I’d wipe the floor with you.”
Pei Yao raised his hands. “Fine, I surrender!”
He smiled at Mu Chenxing. “Don’t worry, little Xingxing—even if I lose, I’m still plenty strong.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Want to curse him out. But glancing at the tuxedo Alpha—who might be the principal—he zipped it.
Tuxedo Alpha scowled too. “You fucking single for forty years and gone feral? A little Omega’s pheromones wrecked you? Can you talk straight?”
Pei Yao sighed. “Can’t help it—you said it yourself, I’ve been single too long.” He shrugged. “Besides, little Xingxing likes this type.”
Mu Chenxing shivered and backed up two steps. “Don’t slander me. I don’t!”
Pei Yao arched a brow. “Then what type do you like?”
Mu Chenxing deadpanned: “Mutes.”
Pei Yao: “…”
Mu Chenxing felt better seeing him stumped. Not giving him a chance to stir more trouble, he turned and hurried into the dispensing room.
The moment he did, Pei Yao shot a look at a nearby military-uniform Alpha, who got the hint and followed—
“Professor Zhang, my pheromone levels have been unstable lately. Could you take a look?”
“Ah? Sure, hold on—I’ll test you.” Professor Zhang’s voice carried over. “Xingxing, grab the FIO Test Liquid from A3 cabinet.”
“Oh, got it—is it the blue jar?”
“No, blue label. Hunt around; might be low stock.”
“Okay.”
…
Tuxedo Alpha looked away. “What, putting on the nice guy act for your little boyfriend? Scared of freaking him out?”
Pei Yao dropped the smile and sighed. “He’s only 18. Gotta fatten him up a few years… Don’t scare him off.”
Tuxedo Alpha frowned. “How do you know he likes this vibe? Most Omegas go for strong, steady Alphas, right?”
Pei Yao rubbed his chin. “Gut feeling. Show him steady and strong, and he’d just wanna challenge it.”
Tuxedo Alpha: “…?”
“Enough chatter.” Pei Yao slung an arm around the tuxedo Alpha’s shoulders, steering him out. “Banquet’s starting soon. Fill me in on those bastards’ networks…”
By the time Mu Chenxing emerged from the dispensing room with Professor Zhang, Pei Yao and the others were still chatting in the hallway, voices hushed—clearly discussing something important.
Out of occupational habit, Mu Chenxing perked his ears, his steps veering subtly toward them, shifting his path slightly.
A few steps in, he nearly collided with Pei Yao.
He: “!”
So fast!
Wasn’t the guy still down the hall?
Pei Yao flicked his forehead lightly, chuckling. “Little eavesdropper.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He retreated several big steps, swiftly positioning himself behind Professor Zhang.
Pei Yao’s smile widened, but he didn’t say anything more. Instead, he turned to Professor Zhang. “The suppressants you prepared for me earlier—I’m taking them.”
Professor Zhang frowned. “You don’t have any battles coming up, so your pheromones shouldn’t go unstable again. What do you need so many high-potency suppressants for?”
Pei Yao didn’t explain. He just asked, “Is that a problem? Charge it to my account. If there’s an issue, have your man come find me.”
Professor Zhang: “…”
He glanced at Mu Chenxing, who was staring eagerly from behind, and felt a bit awkward. “No problem—you take them. I’ll send the bill your way.”
Pei Yao: “Thanks.”
He blew a kiss through the air toward Mu Chenxing. “I’ve gotta head to work. I just wired you the sixty thousand. Let’s grab dinner sometime~~”
Mu Chenxing crossed his arms over his chest. “No free lunch—I’m not interested.”
Pei Yao paused, then laughed. “That day was—” He cut himself off and nodded. “Fine!”
Then he left with the two Alphas in military uniforms.
The Alpha in formal attire—their school principal—exchanged a few words with Professor Zhang and departed as well.
Mu Chenxing turned back, ready for his checkup, only to meet Professor Zhang’s thoughtful gaze.
Puzzled, he waved a hand. “Teacher? Time for the checkup~~”
Professor Zhang snapped out of it, annoyed. “Checkup my ass—no need.”
Mu Chenxing: “?”
Professor Zhang: “Since it’s Pei Yao’s pheromones, your condition should hold steady for at least two more months. Just deal with it.”
Mu Chenxing paled in shock. “No way! Weren’t they already dissipating? How’s it gonna last two months?!”
Professor Zhang: “Didn’t you just bite him?”
Mu Chenxing: “I bit him, not the other way around!”
“Have you even paid attention in physiology class?” Professor Zhang smacked him on the head again, fuming. “You were soaked in that heavy concentration of pheromones for over half an hour. Wanna take a whiff of how you smell right now?”
“And how else were you supposed to inject pheromones into him without opening your gland? You opened it—how could his pheromones not rub off on you?”
Mu Chenxing: “…Fuck, so my gums are basically double-channel automatic doors!? That make any sense?!”
Professor Zhang: “…”
He sneered coldly. “Suck at physiology, but damn if you haven’t mastered language arts—pulling out metaphors like that.”
Mu Chenxing instantly cowered, grabbing his arm and wailing, “Teacher, I was wrong! Teacher, save me!! I don’t wanna go out smelling like this aaaah!”
Professor Zhang remained heartlessly cold. “Can’t save you. Prepare to die!”
“Teacher!!!”
