Over the next few days, Mu Chenxing kept up the same routine. Every evening, like clockwork, Zhang Yunli drilled him on lessons, but otherwise, he spent his time alone—quiet yet fulfilling.
Pei Yao showed up like clockwork too, every night for dinner and lurking like a streetlamp. He stuck around for five straight days until the sixth, when he finally parted ways with the lamppost.
Mu Chenxing got it. This meant the Pheromones in Pei Yao’s body had finally stabilized.
Sure enough, on the seventh day, Zhang Yunli came home from work with reagents and instruments. After running a full check on him, he brought up the topic. “The midterms are in a couple days.”
It was the weekend, and exams started the day after tomorrow.
Mu Chenxing’s eyes lit up. “Does that mean I can go back?”
“That’s exactly why I’m asking, since it clashes with the exams,” Zhang Yunli said helplessly. “Going out there would still affect others. The school is considering the midterms and wants your input. Option one: take Suppressants and sit for the exams. Option two: sign off on skipping them and make up the credits next semester.”
“With Pei Yao’s Pheromone Level, even though you only got a tiny bit on you, you’d need at least two more shots if you take Suppressants.”
“Your Gland is in the late stages of development. Last month, we had no choice but to jab you a few times already. Two more could mess with your growth. That’s why we’re asking now—buy some time to check with your parents.”
Mu Chenxing: “What exactly would it affect?”
Would it stunt his height?
Zhang Yunli: “Your original Pheromone surge was drug-induced, not a normal physiological state. Pei Yao’s Pheromones suppressed it, but combined with the drugs, they’ve already impacted your Gland development quite a bit. It might advance your Heat Period. Based on your readings from the past month, the earliest estimate is about half a year.”
Mu Chenxing: “!”
…Just half a year until he devolved from human to beast? Terrifying!
“But,” Zhang Yunli continued, “thanks to all that reckless exercise last month, we topped you up with two extra Suppressant shots, which stalled your Pheromone development. Your Heat Period should get pushed back another half year.”
“Two more shots today would be risky.”
“Cases like yours—injecting Pheromones and Suppressants before full development—are rare. We don’t have much data, so it’s hard to predict Gland damage, but delayed development is certain. Heat Period could be late by at least a year or two; worst case, it might even affect overall growth or fertility, though the latter’s a tiny probability.”
—Holy shit, is this a jackpot!?
“I’ll do it!” Mu Chenxing declared instantly. Midterms didn’t matter, fertility was a non-issue—he was all in on delaying that Heat Period!
Zhang Yunli frowned. “Midterms aren’t that crucial. I suggest skipping the shots. The school said there’s risks either way, so if you insist, it needs your dads’ signatures.”
Mu Chenxing lowered his gaze, his voice soft and hushed. “I’m an adult now. I can sign myself… and besides,” he forced out some tears, “they don’t even care about my condition. They only…”
Zhang Yunli froze.
Mu Chenxing covered his eyes. “Teacher, please don’t tell them, okay? If I miss the exams, flunk the credits, or even get expelled… I won’t have a way out, waaah~~~”
Zhang Yunli’s mind raced with assumptions. “God… no wonder something this huge happened and your family didn’t even check on you. The school had to chase it down.”
He grabbed Mu Chenxing’s hand, full of heartache. “What kind of dads are those? If I had an Omega as sweet and obedient as you at home, I’d spoil you rotten!”
Mu Chenxing: “…?”
Him? Sweet? Obedient?
Had Zhang Yunli forgotten how he’d smacked his head flat just days ago?!
Zhang Yunli seemed to have totally forgotten, even ruffling his hair. “It’s fine. I’ve taught you a bit, so consider me half a teacher. I’ll handle it for you! No Suppressants! Skip the finals too! If your dads complain, tell ’em to come find me!”
!!
Nooo!!
Mu Chenxing pounced. “Teacher, no need! Please, let me take the shots. I can’t afford to lose credits or get expelled—”
“I’ll handle it!” Zhang Yunli shoved him back firmly. “Your principal’s downstairs. I’m going to him right now! We’ll keep you safe and sound here at our place!”
Mu Chenxing: “…?”
Stay here? Had Zhang Yunli gotten the wrong idea?
Zhang Yunli was already lost in his self-spun family soap opera. Without waiting, he whirled downstairs like a tornado!
Mu Chenxing chased after. “Don’t be rash, Teacher—”
Zhang Yunli burst downstairs and yelled at Fu Mingyuan, who was chatting idly on the sofa. “Fu Mingyuan! I want to adopt Xingxing—”
“Nooo, Tea—huh?” Mu Chenxing, who’d just grabbed his arm, froze.
Fu Mingyuan: “?”
Pei Yao raised a brow. “What’s going on?”
Zhang Yunli fumed. “Xingxing’s dads treat him awful! He’d rather risk Suppressants just to avoid losing exam points! Who knows what he puts up with at home! Damn them! They don’t cherish him—we’ll steal him away!!”
Fu Mingyuan: “…”
He shot Mu Chenxing a meaningful glance. “What’s the deal? Spill the details.”
Mu Chenxing wasn’t paying attention, still in shock.
Zhang Yunli spilled it all in a rapid-fire rant, embellishing wildly and even speculating about domestic abuse at home.
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Whoa, slow down.
Catching Pei Yao’s amused half-smile, he felt a twinge of guilt and yanked Zhang Yunli back. “Teacher, it’s got nothing to do with them. I just love studying! Love exams! Let me take the Suppressants!!”
Zhang Yunli hugged him instead, eyes reddening. “Poor kid, so sensible… how do they not cherish you?!”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He just wanted the damn Suppressants!
Fu Mingyuan: “Ahem, Chenxing’s already 18. Adoption would be a hassle—”
“So you’d rather not bother? Don’t like Xingxing? Or do you just resent me for not popping out an Omega?!” Zhang Yunli glared.
Fu Mingyuan: “…That’s not what I meant.”
“What’s wrong with Xingxing? Sure, his brain’s a bit slow, but he’s lively, cute, obedient, disciplined. So what if he’s a little dim? We ain’t short on cash.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Touching… but could the teacher skip the personal digs?
Pei Yao, who’d heard it all, cut to the chase. “Adoption can wait. Little Xingxing wants the Suppressants to take the exams, right?”
Mu Chenxing nodded vigorously.
“Yeah, after something this big, his dads—”
Pei Yao cut him off. “They must have estimates for side effect probabilities, yeah? What’s the breakdown?”
Zhang Yunli sighed. “Yeah. Gland development: 65% chance delayed over a year, 32% over two years, 3% over three. Fertility needs post-maturity data, but current estimate is about a 6% drop.”
Pei Yao frowned.
Mu Chenxing jumped in. “That’s low, low! I’m just a freshman—delays won’t cramp my style or studies. Fertility… such a tiny risk, I can nurse it back later. I know you’ll help me out, right, Teacher?!”
Zhang Yunli: “Of course!”
Mu Chenxing grinned. “So, priorities: academics first! If the school’s worried, I’ll sign a liability waiver. No suing anyone.”
Zhang Yunli grew even sadder, hugging him tight. “God, why think like that? The school won’t abandon any student!”
Mu Chenxing squirmed awkwardly. “Teacher, I didn’t mean—”
Fu Mingyuan pulled Zhang Yunli away.
Pei Yao stepped up to Mu Chenxing. “By law, he’s an adult with decision rights. Let him choose.”
Mu Chenxing nodded eagerly.
Zhang Yunli: “But—”
Pei Yao: “No buts. Heat Period delay? Only he and I take the hit. Fertility drop? Whatever, I don’t care about kids either… If he wants the shots for exams, let him.”
Fu Mingyuan and Zhang Yunli: “…”
Mu Chenxing’s mouth twitched. “What does it have to do with you? Nobody asked.”
Pei Yao arched a brow. “Changed your mind on the shots?”
Mu Chenxing nodded instantly. “Teacher, he’s right.”
Fu Mingyuan and Zhang Yunli: “…”
And so, things wrapped up in the weirdest way possible.
Early next morning, Zhang Yunli brought the two young guys back to the villa. He gave Mu Chenxing the Suppressants, ran bloodwork and Pheromone tests—Alpha Pheromones were down to safe levels, symptoms stable—and finally escorted him back to school and the dorm.
Before leaving, Zhang Yunli eyed the two young men and murmured discreetly to Mu Chenxing, “He’ll probably keep bugging you these next few days. Ignore him if you want—grab a meal if you’re free, brush him off if not. Don’t get played, got it?”
Mu Chenxing got the hint and smiled. “Got it! Thanks, Teacher! I’ll come hang after exams~”
Zhang Yunli nodded. “Bring your transcript.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Crap.
Dreading tomorrow’s exams, he dragged his feet back to the dorm.
His roommates welcomed him warmly, but he looked half-dead.
After hugging them one by one, he yanked a streamer from Tao Xirui’s bed canopy, tied it around his forehead, and declared, “No more delays! Let’s go!”
Tong Xiao: “?”
Xia Weizhen: “Go with what?”
Tao Xirui: “Xingxing, why’re you stealing my streamer?!”
Mu Chenxing: “No biggie—take my bed canopy beads!”
Tao Xirui: “Ehh? For real?”
Mu Chenxing pinned him. “Help yourself, no interruptions—I’m entering demon cram mode now!”
Tong Xiao: “…You mean midterms?”
Mu Chenxing: “Yep!”
He clenched a fist. “Tonight, no sleep, study till dawn. Pathology, Pharmacology, Immunology—all passing tomorrow!!”
Tong Xiao and the others: “…”
“Eh, whatever.”
“What’s for dinner?”
“Pancakes with spicy soup.”
“Hey!” Mu Chenxing yelled. “Quit eating and tutor me!”
Tong Xiao: “Relax, you’ll pass.”
Xia Weizhen: “Gotta eat to study hard.”
Tao Xirui: “Whatcha want? I’ll grab it.”
“Oh, pancakes with spicy soup for me,” Mu Chenxing patted his belly. “Two pork patties, two fried fins, one falcon-leg sausage!”
Roommates: “Pfft.”
Playtime aside, after a full meal, Mu Chenxing really buckled down to study.
The roommates came and went quietly, peeking at his progress now and then, answering questions occasionally.
They brought him food and drinks too.
He powered through till 9 PM, until a cool, refreshing aura slowly wound up his calf.
He: “…”
Streetlamp Bro was back.
His dorm was on the sixth floor—road out front, little garden behind. No way Streetlamp Bro was climbing the window, right?
He glanced at his quietly studying roommates, then the window outside, and decided to ignore it.
Back to full focus—until 11:30, when the roommates forced him to bed. He reluctantly shut the textbook. Fate would decide!
From then on, he was up early, home late, head buried in books—eyes open, exams.
Exams were all Holo-Screen answers, AI-graded with human oversight.
Five days later, emerging from the last exam room, results and credits hit their wristbands instantly.
Roommates stared at Mu Chenxing’s transcript, shaking their heads.
Tong Xiao, puzzled: “How’d you even get in here?”
Xia Weizhen, also puzzled: “Xingxing, what’ve you been memorizing daily?”
Tao Xirui: “Xingxing, you…”
Mu Chenxing: “…I’m actually pretty happy with it.”
Local kids wouldn’t get it—this was the fruit of a transmigrated illiterate’s blood, sweat, and dead-reckon memorization.
The three roommates shot him pitying looks.
“Pathology 61, Pharmacology 67…”
Mu Chenxing startled, whipping around. “Teacher, why’re you here?”
Tong Xiao and the others hurried to greet him.
Zhang Yunli waved his hand and kept staring at the holo-screen on Mu Chenxing’s wristband as he read out the scores: “…Immunology 55—how did you even fail that?! Human Anatomy 63…”
After finishing the row, he looked up in disbelief. “You dragged yourself back half-dead just to take the exam, and you end up with scores like this? A few subjects probably only let you pass because the AI went easy and tossed in a few extra points!”
Mu Chenxing: “…The AI are that advanced already? They can even show leniency?”
Zhang Yunli: “Is that the point?!”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Zhang Yunli stared at him for a long moment before saying, “You usually seem pretty sharp. Plus, getting into the First Military Academy Nursing Department means you’re no idiot. It has to be that Alpha—Pei’s pheromones messing with your head! Stay far away from him from now on!”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He nodded decisively. “Teacher, you’re a big shot in Pheromone studies—what you say goes!”
Tong Xiao and the others: “…”
What a shameless teacher-student duo.
