Chapter 17

"Can't you just hold me?!" Yun Zhi tightened his arms around Fang Yixing's neck, perfectly self-righteous about it.

"Alright, it's my fault. I'll hold you."

Fang Yixing raised an eyebrow slightly, adjusted his grip under Yun Zhi's backside, and started walking toward the main path.

A large palm planted squarely under him — Yun Zhi couldn't have ignored it even if he'd tried. He marveled privately at how enormous Fang Little Beautiful O's hands were. Long, slender fingers — he'd touched them before; they were slightly cool to the touch and incredibly comfortable.

Fang Yixing carried him and walked, glancing sideways at Yun Zhi, his warm, low voice gentle and quiet. "Why were you looking for me so urgently that you cried?"

"I did not cry!" Yun Zhi protested indignantly, neck stiff. He hadn't thought anything of shedding tears in front of everyone just now, but now suddenly he was embarrassed. All the fault of an Omega's overactive tear glands — he'd made a scene in front of the entire training camp.

Fang Yixing couldn't help a quiet laugh. "You can't feel the tear tracks still on your face?"

Yun Zhi raised one hand and scrubbed his face vigorously to destroy the evidence, then both hands whipped forward and locked around Fang Yixing's throat in a dramatic chokehold, his soft voice threatening, "Don't bring that up again. I have a reputation."

"Cough, cough — alright, I got it. Let go." Fang Yixing coughed twice and decided to surrender.

His dark eyes glanced at Yun Zhi lightly, carrying a distinct trace of amusement.

Very good. The little sweet Omega didn't hold back at all — daring to make an attempt on the life of his... no, of the Alpha with whom he shared hundred-percent pheromone compatibility.

That debt would have to be collected later.

"Hey! What's going on with you two?!" Some trainees coming out of the training building ran into them, laughing and teasing along with their teammates. "Look at that pose — how adorable. OO relationships come with a hefty fine, you know — are you two planning to pay it?"

Having it pointed out to him, Yun Zhi realized belatedly just how improper his and Fang Yixing's posture was. His face was thin-skinned — it flushed bright red in an instant. He looked down and tried to explain, "We're just messing around. There's no OO romance."

"Put me down." Yun Zhi buried his face, which was red enough to drip, and tapped Fang Yixing's shoulder.

Fang Yixing stifled his amusement and set Yun Zhi down on the ground.

The joke those two Omegas had made didn't bother him in the slightest. First of all, his and Yun Zhi's secondary genders didn't fit the scenario. And second, even if he were an Omega — surely he could afford to pay the OO-relationship fine?

The two of them walked back to the dormitory building, Yun Zhi with one hand over his face and the other holding onto Fang Yixing's sleeve.

Yun Zhi still hadn't forgotten about the disappearance. He tugged at his sleeve, put on a serious face, and asked, "Where did Xue Ruye take you earlier? What did he do? Did he do anything bad to you? Your gland — let me take a look."

He reached for his collar as he spoke.

Fang Yixing quickly grabbed his own shirt and looked down at him, finally beginning to taste something in that indignant expression. Surprised and half-exasperated, he asked, "You... you weren't actually interested in Xue Ruye earlier. You were worried about me getting bullied by him?"

Yun Zhi frowned. "What else would it be?!"

Yun Zhi was genuinely angry. "And you actually thought I liked him! That kind of awful man — I wouldn't want him even as a free gift!"

"Let me tell you something," Yun Zhi rose on tiptoe and leaned close to his ear, keeping his voice low enough that only they could hear. "His private life is a mess — he has a particular thing for Omegas like you. The fact that he put you on his team is definitely not selfless. Be careful. Don't let his smooth talk fool you. There are plenty of handsome, accomplished Alphas out there — I actually think your boss is quite something."

He said this, then gave Fang Yixing a meaningful eyebrow raise with obvious implication.

So that was what was going on in that little head of his. Fang Yixing suddenly felt he had been overthinking everything. His little sweet Omega was still far from wising up in that regard — and for now, there was no need to worry about any Alpha leading him astray either.

"I have no interest in either of those people, and I'm not weak — no one will be bullying me." He lowered his head slightly so that his dark eyes were level with Yun Zhi's, his warm and low voice utterly sincere.

An Omega holding their own against an Alpha? Yun Zhi absolutely didn't believe that.

Fine, fine — men all had their pride. Yun Zhi understood. He thoughtfully nodded.

Back in the dorm, Fang Yixing hustled Yun Zhi off to shower.

After his shower, Yun Zhi picked up his laundry basket and headed to the laundry room, muttering under his breath. He genuinely could not figure out why Fang Yixing was so resistant to sharing the bathroom — every time, he'd wait for Yun Zhi to come out before going in.

They were girl-friends now — what was the big deal about showering at the same time? It wasn't as if he'd judge him for being small down there!

The laundry room had too many people waiting. Yun Zhi didn't want to queue and turned back toward the dorm.

The sound of the shower drifted from the bathroom — somewhat hypnotic. Yun Zhi sat on his bed, listening, and his eyelids gradually grew heavy.

Just before his consciousness slipped away, he noticed he'd been getting sleepier and sleepier these past few days.

Outside the window, thunder erupted without warning. Rain hammered against the windowsill. The tall magnolia tree's leaves rustled with the impact, and a fresh, green, earthy scent drifted in from outside.

Spring was coming.

Fang Yixing stepped out of the bathroom in his casual pajamas, long trouser legs draping over his ankles.

Hot water, like exercise, accelerated blood circulation — and with it, the dispersion of pheromones. Fang Yixing had had to spray a scentless blocker in the bathroom to neutralize his own scent, and then give his still-emanating body several more sprays on top of that.

Only when the scent had thinned to the point where even he couldn't detect it did he walk out.

He was casually toweling his hair when he glanced over and saw Yun Zhi sleeping sideways on the bed. He gave a helpless smile, walked over, and tucked the blanket around him.

After switching off the audio recorder and camera, he sat down on his own bed. He was just about to set down the towel when he heard the soft rustle of blankets being pulled from across the room.

He turned to look. Yun Zhi had already put on his little slippers and was swaying drowsily toward him, eyes barely open.

His small face was tilted slightly up, his delicate nose sniffing — as though drawn forward by some appealing scent.

Was he sleepwalking?

Afraid that any sound would wake him, Fang Yixing paused the hand that had been setting down the towel and simply turned his head to watch Yun Zhi's progress.

He quickly realized that Yun Zhi was walking directly toward him.

Yun Zhi was clearly asleep — yet seemed to see him with perfect accuracy. He stood quietly before him for a moment, and then, after a little while, sat down beside him, facing him, and slowly, slowly leaned in toward Fang Yixing.

That soft, sweet little Omega suddenly threw his arms open and pulled Fang Yixing into a hug, toppling them both back on the bed — and at the same time, the faint sweet peach fragrance washed over his nose.

It drew out his warm, deep oud-wood pheromone scent in an instant.

After just the tiniest involuntary provocation from the dreaming Omega whose pheromones perfectly matched his own, his own pheromones lost all control and surged, washing over the sleeping Omega in an overwhelming tide.

The clean sweet peach fragrance deepened and intensified. Fang Yixing even found himself beginning to imagine its ripened flavor.

It must be even sweeter when fully ripe. He wanted to take a bite.

Sharp teeth sinking softly into the skin — a fragile, ripe peach would burst with sweet juice, filling the lips and teeth with sweetness.

Fang Yixing let Yun Zhi sleep against him, and reached up to gently pull open his collar.

The slender, pale nape of his neck was no longer smooth — it had grown subtly raised, the pulsing of the blood vessels within faintly visible.

Pheromone attraction was mutual. Yun Zhi's gland was also accelerating in its maturation.

Realizing this, Fang Yixing felt even more uncertain about his own slender thread of self-control. Yun Zhi absolutely could not sleep pressed against him.

Fang Yixing steadied his breathing, then gently peeled Yun Zhi off him and settled him on the inside of the bed.

Fortunately the dorm beds were large enough that they didn't have to be pressed together.

Right. Time to sleep.

Fang Yixing turned off the lights, tucked Yun Zhi's blanket around him, folded his hands over his chest, and closed his eyes calmly.

Two minutes passed. A slender, soft arm draped over his neck. Two legs wrapped without any restraint diagonally over his.

In his dreams, Yun Zhi was sinking deep into a warm, gentle fragrance of oud — and still found it wasn't enough.

He wanted to go and touch the source of the scent directly.

His fluffy head shifted outward and nuzzled into the crook of Fang Yixing's neck.

That was where the scent he loved was coming from.

Yun Zhi puckered his lips and, head buried in the source, pressed a small kiss against it.

The Alpha's gland began to throb wildly all over again. Fang Yixing's eyes snapped open. He breathed out a soft sigh.

"Well. Sleeping is out of the question now."