Liang Yan couldn’t tell how long the marking had lasted, only feeling the pheromones being injected into the back of his neck—restrained yet gentle, as if the person was mindful of something.
Perhaps it was the first time being marked like this, or maybe the intensity of the impact was too overwhelming. Or perhaps it was because… for the first time, Liang Yan could plainly feel what true compatibility felt like.
The overwhelming heat and discomfort gradually faded, replaced by a warm flow that spread throughout his body, so soothing that he squinted his eyes.
Although the other person had deliberately refrained from injecting too much pheromone while marking him, the pheromones in the air didn’t dissipate. The door to the classroom had been closed, and their pheromones continued to intertwine and merge, almost intoxicating him, making it hard for him to resist.
It felt as if the pheromones were telling them both: *We are destined to be together; we are a perfect match.*
Yet, the unease in Liang Yan’s heart only grew.
When Liang Yan finally pulled himself out of this strange sensation, the person had already disappeared.
The door to the classroom had been gently closed, and the air still held traces of their scent, reminding Liang Yan that everything that had just happened was real.
The touch of the other person’s lips, the slight pain from the bite followed by the overwhelming, uncontrollable instincts—it was like a brand etched deeply into Liang Yan’s mind.
Marking was one thing. If it happened again, Liang Yan would much rather wait for Yin Tongguang to bring him the suppressant. He would never allow an Alpha—one whose identity he didn’t even know—to get so close to him.
This was clearly taking advantage of him in his vulnerable state.
Liang Yan sat up straight, stabilized himself, and covered his neck.
His fingers brushed over the bite marks, and there was a faint pain. Just by touching it, in a daze, he could almost feel that person’s warm, dry lips on the back of his neck again—the sensation was vividly clear.
Liang Yan’s heart grew colder.
To think, he had no clear idea about this Alpha before the two previous encounters, but a mark couldn’t lie.
This person was the one who had released pheromones in the restroom the first time. He was also the one who had helped them out when he and Ji Qiuxiu were trapped in the anatomy room.
Liang Yan wasn’t ungrateful, but the reckless marking was something he couldn’t accept.
And… how could this person even have the code to this classroom?
Liang Yan’s mind was tangled with more and more questions, and then there was a faint sound from the door. It was Yin Tongguang, panting as he arrived with the suppressant.
“Yanyan!” Yin Tongguang hurried over, “I didn’t hear the phone ring, I’m late! Are you okay?”
He handed the suppressant to Liang Yan. “I saw it on your desk, so I just brought it over.”
Liang Yan lowered his eyes, not looking at him, and silently took the suppressant. “Thank you.”
“No need to mention it…” Yin Tongguang didn’t think much of it. He couldn’t smell the pheromones, but he’d seen enough of the rutting period to know what it was. Every time, he worried about Liang Yan, but he could only avoid it, waiting for Liang Yan to inject the suppressant before coming back to nervously watch his reaction.
**Chapter 20: Strange and Eccentric Ji Xiao Qiu**
But today, Liang Yan seemed a bit different.
His face wasn’t as flushed and heated as before, and his gaze was clear. If not for his pale complexion, he almost looked like his usual self.
Oh, but why was he holding his neck?
Wait, holding his neck.
And also, his behavior was more composed than usual during the rutting period.
Moreover, after Liang Yan took the suppressant, he merely glanced at it indifferently and didn’t choose to use it…
Yin Tongguang’s mind flashed with an absurd thought, but in the current situation, it seemed like the most reasonable explanation.
“Yanyan,” Yin Tongguang knew it might not be appropriate for a Beta like him to ask this, but Liang Yan didn’t seem to have many other friends, and in the end, worried that he was overstepping, he still asked, “Did you… did you…”
The word “marking” rolled around his mouth several times but he just couldn’t bring himself to say it.
There was a brief silence between them.
After a moment, Liang Yan spoke, his voice calm, with no fluctuation. The words he said confirmed Yin Tongguang’s guess.
Why would Liang Yan let an Alpha mark him? Who was that person?
“I’m sorry,” Yin Tongguang gritted his teeth, speaking with guilt, “I came too late.”
He knew perfectly well that Liang Yan had only him as a friend. He had once promised to take care of him, but in the end, something still went wrong.
Although it had only been a temporary marking, Yin Tongguang started to feel guilty and frustrated.
When Yin Tongguang spoke again, there was some anger in his voice: “Who was it?? Yanyan, don’t be afraid. I’m not afraid of Alphas. I’ll go help you…”
“It’s fine.” Liang Yan interrupted.
“How can it be fine!” Yin Tongguang’s tone grew a bit desperate, but he couldn’t rashly look at his gland.
Liang Yan looked at him, not knowing how to tell him that he didn’t really know who the person was either.
“By the way,” Liang Yan changed the subject, “Who else knows the password to this classroom, apart from you and me?”
“Ah?” Yin Tongguang was suddenly interrupted, “Who else? No one, really. The password was told to me by Dean Liang when we ran into him halfway. I never told anyone else.”
Liang Yan thought for a moment. “Mm, I see.”
“What time is it, and you’re still talking about this!” Yin Tongguang, probably too anxious, hadn’t quite processed the situation. “Yanyan, please tell me who it was, I’ll definitely—”
Unexpectedly, Liang Yan, who usually never interrupted, cut him off again: “It’s fine, don’t worry too much.”
It was clearly his own problem, but there were always people worrying about him.
After saying that, Liang Yan, who was always cold, gave a smile. It was like snow quietly melting on a winter flower petal.
Although it seemed a little stiff, he understood—this was the other person trying to comfort him.
Yin Tongguang looked at that smile and finally didn’t continue the conversation. He only sighed.
At the same time, in the eighth-floor laboratory.
Lai Qiutong had just finished tidying up the experimental materials, said goodbye to her partner, and changed her clothes. As she walked toward the elevator, the door just opened, and she saw someone hurriedly exiting the lift.
“Ji Qiu?” There was no one else around, and she frowned. “It’s almost noon. The other groups need to borrow the lab equipment in the afternoon. What are you doing here now?”
Ji Qiu’s face held an expression she hadn’t seen before. Whether he was acting as an Alpha or pretending to be an Omega, this person usually seemed calm and collected, always looking as if he had everything under control. But now, he clearly seemed unsettled. His lips were tight, his head lowered, and he was gripping one side of his backpack strap with both hands.
“I… I came to retest the data from last time,” Ji Qiu didn’t look at her, his tone unsteady.
“Last time? Didn’t we already send the data to the higher-ups…” Lai Qiutong said, confused.
“I’ll retest it. I’ll enter the control group.”
Lai Qiutong paused for a moment, then realized what Ji Qiu meant by “retesting.”
Her eyes narrowed: “What’s going on with you today? It hasn’t been long since the last test…”
Ji Qiu’s voice had a certain heaviness to it, far from his usual calm and cheerful demeanor in front of other Alphas. He hesitated before replying, “It’s nothing, just this once.”
“You…” Lai Qiutong wanted to say more but swallowed her words after meeting Ji Qiu’s gaze. “Don’t rush.”
“Mm, I know,” Ji Qiu nodded, taking a deep breath to calm himself. “Give me the suppressant from the last batch.”
…
Liang Yan saw Ji Qiu again in the school’s arranged social practice group.
These kinds of activities were held several times each semester at the school, usually involving outstanding students being assigned to practice based on their major. Successfully completing these tasks would enhance the students’ resumes.
When the advisor told Liang Yan about the event, he didn’t refuse, simply nodding quietly in agreement. The advisor knew that Liang Yan and Yin Tongguang were close, so, in order to take care of one of the few Omegas in the department, they made an exception and asked Yin Tongguang to join as well so the two could look out for each other.
The two of them got up early that day, slowly made their way to the cafeteria for breakfast, and Yin Tongguang bought some snacks before they headed to the designated departure point for the trip.
Liang Yan wasn’t very hungry, but Yin Tongguang insisted on buying him a cup of hot soy milk and handed it to him. “The weather’s cold, hold onto this. You can warm your hands and drink at the same time.”
Liang Yan didn’t refuse. Ever since that temporary marking, his roommate had been constantly worried about him, always checking on him. No matter what he said, it didn’t make a difference, so he just accepted the gesture and casually drank a sip from the paper cup.
The soy milk wasn’t too hot, but Liang Yan wasn’t paying attention and accidentally burned himself a little. He instinctively took a sharp breath, biting down on the tip of his tongue to ease the pain, then slightly extended it and licked his lips, feeling the cool air.
When he looked up, his eyes met Ji Qiu’s, who was looking in his direction.
Before Liang Yan could react, Ji Qiu quickly turned his head, as though startled, and looked away.
Liang Yan felt a bit strange.
Not only was it odd that Ji Qiu didn’t rush over to him and yell in his usual frantic manner, but there was also an inexplicable feeling that suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Liang Yan couldn’t explain it, but it felt like something in his subconscious was urging him.
And when he looked at Ji Qiu, for some reason, he felt like Ji Qiu seemed more pleasant to look at today than usual.
Before he could sort out his thoughts, the team leader hurried over and began urging everyone to get on the bus.
Liang Yan had learned beforehand that this trip was a visit to KB Pharmaceuticals’ factory and clinical research center for practical training. The largest factory of KB was located in the suburbs of Qi City, about a two-hour drive away.
Yin Tongguang also spotted Ji Qiu and excitedly greeted him: “You’re here too? Great, now Yanyan has a companion.”
Ji Qiu walked over and gave a dry laugh. “Sure.”
Liang Yan just looked at Ji Qiu without saying a word.
The strange feeling grew stronger.
Once on the bus, Yin Tongguang found a seat by the window. Just as he was about to sit down, he thought for a moment and then said to Ji Qiu, “How about you sit with Yanyan? I’ll probably nap on the bus later. I snore when I sleep, so I won’t disturb him.”
As he spoke, Liang Yan walked over and sat down.
“No, it’s fine,” Ji Qiu hesitated and said, “I… I…”
“Sit next to me,” Liang Yan’s gaze was calm, his tone indifferent as he interrupted. “What are you afraid of?”
1You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading! ❤️ -TL: Ysiad
