最佳契合 (Perfect Match) – 十九瑶
Chapter 77
Everything made sense to Zheng Feiluan.
This is not a symptom of his condition; it’s a memory.
The tide comes back, bringing with it mud and sand. The rare Lily of the Valley has returned, and the pain caused by the pheromone went away due to gland replacement, and now it has also been restored.
In the dream, Zheng Feiluan embraced He An close and went to bed with him thoughtfully because he felt lonely and vulnerable.
Zheng Feiluan stayed by the bedside all night, allowing He An to sleep close to him. The omega felt very uncomfortable at first. His eyebrows were constantly furrowed, and he’s likely suffering from burning pain in the nape of his neck. Apart from that, his breath was shaking and sweating profusely at times due to the fact that the two pheromones were competing with each other in his body.
And the awful feeling of recovery lasts far longer than the heat cycle.
All of He An’s past feelings of being coerced and insulted had been turned into a loud, eerie murmur that broke Zheng Feiluan’s heart. He heard He An say no, that he was terrified, that it hurt, and curled up and hid in a corner of the hospital bed, eager to get away from him, only to move back in embarrassment because of the cold or something else.
Zheng Feiluan was really worried, so he grabbed He An’s hand and gradually released the comforting pheromones.
He knew this was what He An needed.
Snuggled up in Zheng Feiluan’s intoxicating scent, He An instantly relaxed, his shoulders loosened, and he drifted off to sleep with his pillow propped up on the corner of his clothes.
It’s well known that an alpha’s pheromones are the best medications for an omega, but it’s not always easy to control the “effect.” If the amount is too high, it will trigger the native glands and worsen their healing pain, but if it’s too low, it will have no analgesic effect on a patient like He An. Dr. Ji estimates that if Zheng Feiluan takes good care of him, he will be able to recover within three days. If he’s not properly cared for, his recovery will be delayed by a few days, and he may experience unstable side effects.
Zheng Feiluan was afraid to ignore it for even a second.
He looked at He An’s face over and over again, noticing the small changes in the way his eyebrows moved. If he got hot, slept restlessly, or felt sick and wanted to throw up, he would emit more comforting pheromones, causing the back of his neck to ache. Just as He An reached out to scratch, he stopped him and withdrew his pheromones.
The ward was under quarantine, so the nurses couldn’t come or go. It was only natural for Zheng Feiluan to become his own nurse. When he was thirsty, he gave him water, and when he was hungry, he gave him nutrients solution. When he was too sweaty, he would twist a wet towel and wipe He An down. Then he would put on a clean hospital gown.
The sky was dim outside the window after a busy night.
Zheng Feiluan sat on the corner of the bed, watching He An as he slept soundly in his arms, and despite not having slept in nearly twenty-four hours, he felt completely refreshed.
These were the original responsibilities he was supposed to fulfill.
⋮
He An felt tired and lethargic, so he had a wonderful night’s sleep. In his dream, it resembled a spring afternoon. The smell of grass, laundry soap, and Lily of the Valley wafted up his body as the sun warmed him. Fragrant, and… there’s a tingling sensation as well.
A thick snowfall was falling lightly outside the window when he woke up, with the curtains half-open and the light low.
Is it snowing?
So it’s not spring anymore.
Jumping out of bed, He An marched in his slippers to the window, bent on one knee on the bay window cushions, placed his hand on the glass, and watched Yuanjiang’s first snowfall of the year with great interest. A warm mist in the shape of a palm quickly formed on top of the cold glass.
Little white flakes flew and settled among the buildings; the closest ones could only be seen through a thin pane of glass. There is snow on the streets, colored umbrellas all over, and the roofs of the houses below have turned white.
Absolutely beautiful.
As he watched outside, the doorknob behind him made a slight turning sound. He looked back and saw Zheng Feiluan leaving the bathroom. You could tell he hadn’t showered in days by the way he was ragged and unshaven. He wasn’t the same person as before. He went from being a male god to a tough guy who does hard labor.
When Zheng Feiluan saw him, he froze for a few seconds before yelling, “He An, are you awake?!”
“Oh, I’m… ack!”
A warm embrace from behind wrapped He An before he could respond. Zheng Feiluan hugged him and kept on rubbing his stubble on his neck, smiling slightly stupidly, “You really are… I went inside to wash my face and brush my teeth. Just how did you get up by yourself so quickly? Are you okay? Are you still feeling sick? Are you uncomfortable in any way?”
He An looked a little lost and asked, “What happened to me?”
“Library.” Feiluan Zheng gently reminded him.
“The library… oh!”
He then remembered that a strange girl had assaulted him in the school library. The girl said she would cut out his glands to break up his relationship with Zheng Feiluan. So how are his glands doing now?
His hand instinctively went to the nape of his neck, but he was stopped.
“Show it to me first; don’t touch it.”
Zheng Feiluan brushed aside the hair on He An’s neck, revealing that the glands were healing quickly. The nasty cut, which was two inches long, had turned into a line of light pink new skin. It was tender and soft, and it smelled like Lily of the Valley, but the scent was stronger than ever.
He felt the urge, leaned in, and gave it a peck.
“Hngh!”
A cramping sensation spread from the nape of his neck down his spine and into his lower body, as if an explosion of tiny sparks had ignited there. The foul, numb feeling was terrible. It had been over two years since he’d felt this way. It caught him off guard. Suddenly, he felt a weakening in his legs and staggered backwards.
Zheng Feiluan figured he was weak, so he just supported his back, grabbed under his legs, and lifted him carefully.
“It’s cold by the window. Let’s put you back to bed.”
⋮
Gentle gusts of chilly winter snow fluttered lightly past the window.
He An leaned against Zheng Feiluan’s chest on the hospital bed and enjoyed the warm blanket. He then looked up at Feiluan and asked, “Feiluan, you got on my bed without saying anything. Are you accused of taking advantage of me?”
Zheng Feiluan laughed and said, “Actually, I’ve been lying in your bed for three days. You were more stubborn when asleep. You stopped me by grabbing my clothes and refused to let go.”
“…Oh, I see.”
He An pulled the blanket over half of his face.
How embarrassing.
Zheng Feiluan grinned and said, “I can go down now if you want.”
“Nevermind. Forget it.”
It’s very cold, so I’d better stay close.
He adjusted into a more comfortable position, rested against Zheng Feiluan’s waist, curled into his arms, and comfortably stretched his legs and feet. Zheng Feiluan had a pretty high body temperature, his breath was light and soft, and he felt safe in a way that had never been felt before.
So nice and comfy.
He An was so lazy that he didn’t want to move, like Liubailiu had possessed him. He thought he could go on lying like this all winter and never get sick.
Shortly after, they got warm and cozy under the blanket. Zheng Feiluan nervously ran his fingers over He An’s hair as he said in a low voice, “What are your thoughts about the glands? Are you against it?”
He An thought for a bit, shook his head, and replied, “No.”
“Are you really okay with it?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Zheng Feiluan gave a faint smile and said, “I noticed that you never told me about the surgery, so I thought you didn’t want to do it.”
“No, there’s nothing to be reluctant to do.” He An closed his eyes and spoke quietly, “I’ve kept my native glands for over twenty years, and they’re always superior to the artificial ones. They had to be changed back sooner or later. Hmm… it’s just that I was still having second thoughts about it, so I felt a little sad that someone else cut it first.”
He paused and mumbled in a low voice, “And I’m not sure why, but I never seem to get to do anything on my own time.”
“You’ll have another chance.” Zheng Feiluan rubbed his shoulders and reassured him, “You’re just twenty-three. One chance will follow another in the years to come, all asking for your attention and time.”
“Like what?” He An asked.
“Like… you’ll get the most perfect alpha ever, and he’ll shower you with attention to the point where everyone will be green with envy.”
“You dummy…”
He An wasn’t sure if he should laugh or cry. He raised his neck, dropped his head, and used his forehead like a hammer to pound Zheng Feiluan in the chest. Zheng Feiluan let out a painful groan as if he were badly hurt and said, “You’re crushing the most perfect alpha in the world.”
He An tried really hard not to laugh, but he just couldn’t help it.
“Seriously, He An, the glands have been replaced. Did I change in any way for you?” Zheng Feiluan asked eagerly, “Are you in love and can’t keep your hands to yourself?”
He An lay on his chest and stared at him for a while before blinking a few times, “I don’t think so.”
“So, nothing?”
“Uh-huh.”
Zheng Feiluan was disappointed and tried to make excuses for himself, “It’s probably because I haven’t showered, shaved, or combed my hair in three days, so I don’t look as attractive as normal. He An, how about we try something else?”
“What is it?”
“Oh, it’s…”
Zheng Feiluan wasn’t feeling confident yet, so he hesitated to speak. When he caught He An’s eyes, the murky vibe in the air became slightly heavier. He An was such a careful guy, so he knew right away what he was trying to say, and an alarm went off in his head, “Absolutely not!”
“Just a little bit.” Zheng Feiluan begged.
“Not happening!”
Zheng Feiluan put up his hand and swore, “i promise. I’ll stop immediately as soon as you get a reaction.”
“Don’t you dare!”
He An quickly got up, put his hand over Zheng Feiluan’s mouth, and glared at him.
Both of them were facing each other upward and below. He An sat on top of Zheng Feiluan’s waist, his left hand covering his mouth and his right palm pressing against his shoulder. His chin was slightly lifted, and his brows were higher than usual due to his hurry and irritation. The hospital gown was very loose, and the collar was tilted slightly toward the right shoulder, exposing just a tiny bit of the collarbone.
Zheng Feiluan didn’t know where to look at all.
His face is burning, and his collarbone is even hotter. In an effort to calm down, he takes a deep breath, but He An covers his mouth, and the only scent he can detect is the scent of Lily of the Valley emanating from his palms.
He was careless and sat freely on his warm, supple crotch, separated only by a few thin layers of fabric.
Zheng Feiluan knew deep down that, no matter how much he fought against him, he couldn’t be strong enough. It would be a clear threat if he fought back, and the offense would get worse. He knew it was pointless, but the hot blood in his body still rushed down uncontrollably, and the small amount of blood in his brain almost resisted.
This isn’t fucking fair.
He looked at He An as if he were a dangerous enemy and saw that his cheeks were turning red and kept turning redder. It was clear that he felt embarrassed to be there. Shortly after, his neck and lips eventually changed from white to pink.
This look is so inviting and seductive—Zheng Feiluan’s body has completely gone against his principles, and he’s getting harder and harder.
He felt like he needed to defend himself right away, but before he could, something even stranger happened—he could feel something stiff touching his lower torso.
Whoa… He An?
Zheng Feiluan felt a hint of bliss in his heart and at the same time, felt sad, realizing that he might come across as completely cold. But he still felt lucky, pulled He An’s hand away, and smiled flatteringly at him, “See, your glands… they’re recovering properly.”
“……”
He An was embarrassed and got angry. He clenched his teeth, grabbed a pillow, and hit Zheng Feiluan in the face with it.
Zheng Feiluan took a beating early in the morning, ran to the bathroom to wash up, shaved, changed clothes, and happily went outside to alert the doctor to look at He An. He An’s desire had not yet subsided. He was pouting on the bed with his legs crossed and a pillow in his hand. Out of nowhere, he noticed something unusual—
His native glands were still there, and he was still himself, but how he felt about Zheng Feiluan was different from how he felt about him two years ago.
The beam of light that was shining down on Zheng Feiluan disappeared.
That beam of light used to make the whole world darker so that he could see one person best. Because he liked Zheng Feiluan so much, he never really saw him clearly. But now that he had beaten him up, he looked very real… and cute when he came out of the bathroom after a shower.
Looking up, He An lifted his chin and thought, “This is probably the first thing he wants to do, right?”
⋮
After waiting ten minutes, He An obediently sat on the bed after being asked by the nurse to have his blood drawn for testing.
Ji Changhai, dressed in a white coat, examined the nape of his neck with great care. Seeing that he was in a good mood, he was pleased as he noted, “Your alpha has taken very good care of you. On average, it takes five days for recovery here, but you’ll be nearly back to normal in just three. It’s not uncommon for you to function ineffectively for a week in a row, no matter how dedicated your alpha is throughout the heat cycle or after your pheromones have gone down—do you experience any discomfort?”
He An shook his head and smiled, “No, I’m feeling really fine.”
After making some notes, Ji Changhai asked, “Is the physiological reaction normal?”
“Oh, uh…” He An stammered.
“You haven’t tried it yet?” Ji Changhai looked shocked and said, “This is a good sign that the gland is getting better, but you still need to give it a go. Let me call Mr. Zheng, and you may try it out in the ward. Just a friendly reminder, don’t lose control. Things could go wrong if you’re too compatible…”
“We did it, and everything is fine, Dr. Ji.”
Zheng Feiluan simply pushed the door in from the outside, leaned against it, and answered calmly.
He An looked directly into his eyes, felt a flush come over his cheeks, slumped his shoulders slightly, and hid part of his face behind the blanket.
“Oh, is that right? You’ve already done it? That’s good, if nothing else. The procedure was effective, and he’s healing well. All I have to do now is wait for the results of the pheromone and blood tests. If all goes according to plan, he’ll be able to go home soon.”
Ji Changhai smiled widely, put the record book away, gave a few instructions on daily tasks, and left the room, bringing the nurse with him.
⋮
There were only two of them left in the room. Zheng Feiluan was at the door, and He An was by the bedside.
Since no one else was around to bother them, the two pheromones mixed together perfectly and quickly twisted into an invisible rope that pulled them closer together.
Zheng Feiluan walked over to the bedside with a paper bag full of breakfast food from the hospital’s nutrition department. He got them and put them on the table next to the bed. He looked at He An, who was blushing, and chuckled, “Do you regret hitting me for no reason?”
He An took the blanket and flashed a mischievous smile.
Zheng Feiluan liked him like this, so he sat beside the bed, took up the mushroom and shrimp porridge, cooled it slowly, and offered it to him. When the spoon was put to his mouth, He An backed away, grumbled, and said, “I don’t want to eat.”
“Aren’t you hungry?” Zheng Feiluan asked.
“I am.”
“So why don’t you want to eat?”
“I don’t feel like it.” He scowled and averted his gaze from the bowl, clearly refusing any physical contact with it.
Zheng Feiluan figured that because he was recovering from an awful condition, his hunger was down for the time being, so he carefully convinced him, “Dr. Ji just mentioned that as long as you recover well, you’ll be discharged soon. You haven’t eaten properly for three days, and if you don’t eat anything to fill your stomach, you won’t have the energy to carry Linglan when we get home. Imagine how worried she’d be about you.”
Nothing works better than bringing up Linglan.
Even though He An felt something in his throat, he nodded and tried to force himself to eat. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to swallow the small amount of porridge. His stomach became uncomfortable more and more, and he groaned. He couldn’t hold back the urge to throw up, so he got some tissues, dropped his head, and threw up what he had eaten.
“He An?!”
There was something wrong with his face that Zheng Feiluan noticed right away. He got nervous, wiped his mouth, and then turned to look at the paper bag.
The label on the paper bag says “Omega Sensitive Semifluid,” which is the same thing that was specified for when the meal was handed over. This is already the easiest food to digest out of all the dozens that are in the nutrition department. If you’re still unable to eat it, the only option is to take heat cycle-specific dietary supplements.
Wait a second… heat cycle?
After seeing He An’s tired face, Zheng Feiluan’s expression changed immediately.
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We have five chapters left for the main story, and also five chapters for the extras! Omg, time flies so fast 😭
Translated and edited by janemoyu (08/06/24)
