Chapter 30
Bai He couldn’t bear the pain of losing Lingling again, Qin Yao thought instinctively, and the words tumbled out before he could stop them: “This is my cat.”
The receptionist and Bai He both turned to look at Qin Yao.
“…” Qin Yao’s lips twitched. Meeting Bai He’s questioning gaze, he had no choice but to keep up the lie. “My cat looks a lot like yours. The housekeeper must have picked up the wrong one. I’ll have him take good care of your cat for the time being.”
Hearing the good news, the knot in Bai He’s chest finally loosened. He turned back to look at the Maine Coon sitting among a cluster of other cats. “Your cat really does look just like Lingling.”
How could it not? he thought. I spent ages looking for a look-alike based on him, and Bai He still spotted the difference in a single glance. Qin Yao gave a helpless smile and squatted down too. “How could you tell?”
“Here,” Bai He said, pointing to the Maine Coon’s paw. “Lingling’s paw pads are redder and softer. The texture isn’t right.”
Qin Yao: “…”
He never, ever would have guessed that was the reason.
“So this is your cat.” Bai He looked again at the Maine Coon, which was still the center of attention for the other cats. Its fur, size, and even its sharp, handsome eyes were almost identical to Lingling’s. “Qiu Yao was right. They look so much alike.”
Bai He looked up at Qin Yao. “What’s his name?”
Qin Yao hesitated for a second, then calmly said, “Yan Er.”
“Hmm?” Bai He blinked.
“I mean,” Qin Yao said, his expression unchanging, “his name is Yan Er. Yan as in the bird, a swallow.”
Bai He thought for a couple of seconds. “That’s a nice name. It… suits him.”
“You’d better mean that,” Qin Yao couldn’t help but turn his head and let out a soft laugh. He stood up, pulling Bai He to his feet and taking the leash. “Come on, let’s head back to the farmhouse.”
Bai He went back to his room. The three-day team-building event had been cut short to two. After what had happened, the place no longer felt safe. The activities wrapped up the next afternoon, and the bus took everyone back.
Bai He didn’t see Qin Yao on the bus this time either, but he did get a message saying that Qin Yao would bring Lingling back to his place tomorrow.
Tomorrow was Monday. Bai He had a lecture at the university in the morning and his internship at Jinyu in the afternoon.
The bus ride home was several hours long. Without Lingling by his side, Bai He felt a little empty. Maybe it was a bit of car sickness, but he’d felt hazy and heavy-headed ever since getting on the bus. It wasn’t quite a headache, more like his head was wrapped in a thick fog—stuffy, uncomfortable, and it even felt a little hard to breathe.
Bai He had no choice but to close his eyes and lean his head back against the seat, trying to steady himself without moving. But before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep.
He had a dream.
He couldn’t see anything, as if he were sinking into a mound of soft cotton that warmed his skin like a gentle caress.
When Bai He woke up, the sky outside was already getting dark. Still in a daze, he said his goodbyes to everyone and started walking home. There weren’t many people on the road at dusk, but the few he did pass would stop and stare at his slow, deliberate steps with complicated expressions. Bai He didn’t notice any of it.
He finally reached the top floor, exhausted. His vision seemed to be covered by a film of water, the ground felt uneven, and the elevator seemed to sway. Bai He was confused. He braced himself against the wall in the corridor and slowly looked up. If there had been a mirror, he would have seen his own flushed face.
There was a very faint scent in the corridor, like brandy.
In an instant, the surging, crisp scent filled the entire space. A captivating coolness wrapped in a subtle, not-too-cloying sweetness, like a sugar cube dropped into an iced Americano, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise sharp pheromones.
Bai He couldn’t see the path clearly; his eyes were fogged over as if by steam. He lifted his foot to step forward but lost his balance. He staggered, then fell to the ground with a loud thud.
His hand took the brunt of the fall, and a sharp pain shot through his palm. It was bleeding.
The pheromones in the air grew even stronger, threatening to burst the seams of the small space.
Bai He weakly lifted his head. His front door was just a few feet away. His whole body was burning up. He must have a fever, he thought. He needed to get home, take some medicine, wipe himself down with a towel, and bury himself under a thick blanket until he sweated it out.
Right, and drink lots of water…
Bai He mentally ran through the familiar routine. He tried to push himself up, but failed. He tried several more times, but it was no use.
He sat on the floor, suddenly overcome with anger, and balled his fist to hit the floor several times. He thought he was hitting it hard, but in reality, his fists were just landing softly on the ground.
Bai He’s emotions spiraled out of control. He buried his head, and a wave of sour frustration washed over him. A moment later, two large teardrops fell to the floor with a soft patter. Bai He froze, and then the tears started to flow uncontrollably, like a floodgate had opened.
Suddenly, with a click, the door in front of him opened. The warm light from inside spilled out. Bai He raised his tear-streaked eyes and smelled a comforting scent. All the strength left his body, his mind shut down, and as he fell unconscious, he was caught by Qin Yao, who had just opened the door.
The moment Qin Yao touched Bai He, his heart lurched. Bai He was drenched in sweat and burning hot, and…
The alpha’s pores opened, and his cyan-blue eyes snapped tight, the pupils turning to slits for a second as his own face flushed.
Compared to the pheromones he’d smelled upon opening the door, the alpha, now holding the unconscious man at the center of the storm, knew instantly what this was.
Bai He was in heat.
The pheromones he was emitting were clearly those of an omega. This was completely different from the mild scent before. This was a scent that could awaken an alpha’s primal urge to mark, something a beta’s hormonal imbalance could never produce.
Had Bai He undergone a secondary differentiation?
Qin Yao came to a conclusion in a split second. He supported Bai He’s back with one arm and slid the other under his knees, lifting him up with ease.
Still so light, so soft, as if he had no bones.
Qin Yao buried his face, his lips nearly brushing Bai He’s brow. He froze for a few seconds, then grit his back teeth to suppress the wild, surging heat within him.
He tightened his arms, and was about to press the elevator button when the doors opened on their own. The person inside smelled the pheromones and snapped his head up.
“You…” Bai Lu’s mouth fell open. When he saw Bai He nestled in Qin Yao’s arms, he was stunned. “Brother, what’s wrong with you?!”
Bai Lu stepped forward to touch Bai He’s arm, but Qin Yao flinched and took a step back.
With his long legs, the alpha easily dodged Bai Lu’s outstretched hand. “I’m taking him to the hospital. If there’s nothing else, you should go back.”
Bai Lu was clearly uncomfortable. He was also affected by Bai He’s pheromones, but the effect between blood relatives wasn’t as strong, so he was mostly fine. He had obviously figured out what was happening, but after a moment of silence, he composed himself. “No, you can’t take my brother to the hospital!”
Qin Yao’s face turned icy. “Move.”
“No, no!!” Bai Lu blocked the elevator, refusing to leave. He stared intently at Bai He, who was flushed and panting in discomfort, and finally blurted out, “If you take him to the hospital, he’ll have a correctional record! If Dad finds out he’s an omega, he’ll be forced into an arranged marriage!”
“You… don’t take him to the hospital,” Bai Lu said, his whole body tense. “Just wait here. I’ll go buy suppressants. There’s a clinic downstairs. I’m an omega, I can use my ID to buy them.”
“How are you so sure suppressants will even work for him?” Qin Yao had no time to argue with Bai Lu, and anger was visible on his face. “This is a secondary differentiation. You can’t predict if there will be complications. Don’t make me say it again. Get out of the way.”
Bai Lu looked at Bai He, who was starting to tremble in discomfort, and Bai Qiu’s cold words flashed through his mind.
“The best outcome for an omega is to marry an outstanding alpha. This arranged marriage isn’t for my sake, it’s for yours.”
“If you can really get with the Guan family’s heir, I can let you off the hook. But that kid from the Guan family hasn’t secured his position yet. You shouldn’t put all your hopes on him.”
“The alphas I’ve picked for you are all excellent. You must go to this blind date.”
“…”
Bai Lu was terrified of Qin Yao, but he was even more terrified of Bai Qiu getting his claws into his brother again.
“If suppressants don’t work, you could try giving my brother a temporary mark,” Bai Lu said, his voice trembling. “You really can’t take him to the hospital. You…”
He glanced at the furious alpha and continued to push his luck. “Aren’t you his boyfriend? Aren’t you afraid my dad will force my brother to marry someone else and abandon you?”
What the hell is he talking about?
Qin Yao had had enough. He let out a sudden, mocking laugh and took two steps forward. He freed one hand to grab Bai Lu by the back of his collar, lifted him up, and tossed him out of the elevator.
“First of all, I’m not Bai He’s boyfriend. Second, Bai Qiu won’t force him to marry anyone. The law forbids coercion, and he has to give my father some face.” Qin Yao pressed the button for the basement level as the elevator doors slowly began to close. He looked coldly at Bai Lu outside. “Finally, if I were Bai He’s boyfriend, he would never abandon me.”
The elevator doors shut, blocking out the annoying face. Qin Yao held Bai He, who was now clinging to him, and fought against the impulse to take a private jet to a deserted island. He opened his phone, found a number in his blocklist labeled ‘Idiot’, and dialed.
After two rings, the other side picked up, fuming.
“Qin, you fucking dog—”
“Go pick up your man. He’s at his brother’s front door.” With that, before the other person could respond, he hung up and held Bai He with both hands again.
As the elevator descended, the small, enclosed space filled with a tangle of intermingling pheromones. Qin Yao’s brandy had long been drawn out by Bai He’s scent—a cool, crisp fragrance that was both sweet and exhilarating. It was intoxicating, almost numbing his senses.
He shook his head, forcing himself to stay clear-headed. When they reached the basement garage, Qin Yao tightened his grip and carried Bai He at a brisk pace to his SUV.
He pulled open the back door and laid Bai He down on the seat. As he was about to stand up, the arms around his neck tightened. Caught off guard, Qin Yao stumbled and fell forward. He quickly caught himself, but he was now only a fraction of an inch from Bai He, his lips brushing against that soft skin for a fleeting moment.
Qin Yao’s mind went blank, then exploded into a riot of color. His breathing grew heavy, the hot air mingling with Bai He’s, creating a tangled, ambiguous intimacy. A fire seemed to leap out of his chest.
No.
Stop.
This is just the pheromones. They mess with your head. I can’t take advantage of him when neither of us is in our right mind. I can’t…
Qin Yao bit his lower lip until he drew blood. The pain would keep him lucid. He ruthlessly pulled Bai He’s hands away and pushed himself up. He was about to leave when his fingers were gently caught by Bai He’s weak hand. He looked down. Bai He’s eyes were filled with tears as he looked up at him, his voice thick with an immense sense of grievance. “Qin Yao…”
Qin Yao’s heart skipped a beat.
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wow wow wow, looks like bai lu isn’t entirely reprehnsible – just maybe a bit self centered 🤔 but i guess that’s all protagonists, no>