Chapter 43
The room was quiet. The noise outside gradually subsided. The balcony door was left open, and the breeze gently swayed the curtains. The night sky was filled with stars, and in the distance, the colorful lights from the sports field swept across the sky, with faint sounds of commotion coming from the field.
The universityâs sports field was always lively at night. Bai He quietly observed the scene outside the window, lost in thought. He didnât speak, his hands resting on both sides of his body, motionless.
Qin Yao, who was lying on him, also remained still. After a while, it was Qin Yao who finally gave in.
The hand resting on Bai Heâs waist loosened, and Qin Yao slowly stood up, taking two steps back.
âSorry,â he said, forcing a smile. His arms, hanging by his sides, twitched as if he wanted to raise them, but after a moment of hesitation, he gave up.
Qin Yao, being an alpha, was tall. Even when standing upright, he was slightly taller than Bai He, who was sitting on the shoe cabinet.
Bai Heâs view was blocked by Qin Yao, so he had no choice but to withdraw his gaze and focus on Qin Yao instead.
Qin Yaoâs hair seemed to have grown longer. This time, he hadnât tied it up in the usual small ponytail. His hair was fluffy, with stray strands at the back of his neck. He wore a dark jacket, which made his pale skin stand out even more, and his eyes were noticeably red.
Those once beautiful eyes, which used to tilt upwards at the corners, now drooped down. Bai He, at this inappropriate moment, thought of a stray dog abandoned in the rain.
But Qin Yao wasnât a dog; he was a cat.
Bai He looked expressionlessly at this once-precious large cat. âI found you at the start of the semester. Thereâs been plenty of time since then. Why didnât you explain back then?â
Qin Yaoâs face stiffened. He clenched his fists and then loosened them. His usually composed expression now showed rare unease. âI was wrong. Iâm sorry.â
Bai He didnât really want an explanation. He hadnât had the cat for long, but it was long enough for Qin Yao to tell him the truth. Yet, Qin Yao hadnât.
Bai He closed his eyes, refusing to look at Qin Yao. His hand, resting on the shoe cabinet, tightened slightly. âThe first time, when Ling ling went missing, it wasnât a burglary, was it? You left on your own?â
Qin Yao was silent for two seconds before nodding. âYes.â
Both of their breathing slowed to the point where it was almost inaudible. Bai He opened his eyes, and they were already somewhat red. âThen why did you come back? Did you pity me? Or were you just using my pheromones?â
Since that day, Bai He had thought a lot. He realized that finding Qin Yao had been a coincidence. Qin Yao didnât know the rules of this world, and being picked up by Bai He was also unexpected for him.
Later, when Ling ling went missing, Bai He could have assumed that Qin Yao left to avoid some awkwardness. After all, by then, they had become friends. Not knowing the truth might have allowed them to continue getting along harmoniously.
But Bai He couldnât understand why Qin Yao came back, contacting him through Zhou Luoluo, reigniting his hopes.
When Bai He thought about it, he could only come up with two reasons.
He didnât forget things when he drank. That night, when Qin Yao took him home, cooked for him, and took care of him, Bai He had almost shown his most vulnerable side to him. He still remembered Qin Yao sitting next to him, holding a pillow.
One question after another.
Qin Yao asked if he hadnât been eating properly lately.
Asked if he was unhappy.
Asked if his unhappiness was because the cat was lost.
Bai He had answered yes.
Now that he thought about it, he had laid bare his sadness in front of the very person who had gone missingâLing ling.
So, was Qin Yao pitying him?
But that didnât seem convincing enough. Bai He had spent a lot of time researching alpha pheromone-related disorders.
Qin Yao had said that pheromones could cause people to lose their reason. That statement had become a knot in Bai Heâs heart, tightly binding him.
He had researched a lot, but he still didnât know what exactly was wrong with Qin Yao. He only knew that their compatibility rate was high.
But what did a high compatibility rate mean?
Bai He didnât quite understand.
Because of the pheromones, he couldnât tell if he really liked Qin Yao or if Qin Yao wanted to stay by his side to heal because of the high compatibility rate.
Yes, because of the high compatibility rate, AO pairs could soothe each other. Bai He suddenly realized.
So, that day when Qin Yao invited him to his house for dinner, it wasnât because he genuinely wanted him there, but because the alpha was entering a susceptible period and needed comfort.
And later, when Qin Yao knocked on his door, saying there was a mouse in his houseâwhat a lie…
Thinking back on it now, Bai He almost laughed in frustration. How had he not realized how lousy that lie was?
Top floor, 18th floor. Even the mice wouldnât bother coming up.
So, it really was just the pheromones. Qin Yao had only been using him.
Bai Heâs expression turned from complicated to cold, gradually filling with anger. He stepped down from the shoe cabinet, one foot bare on the floor, and reached for the door to send Qin Yao out. But a hand grabbed his from behind, stopping him.
The distance between the two narrowed. Bai He found himself almost in Qin Yaoâs embrace as his hand on the doorknob was covered by Qin Yaoâs.
Qin Yaoâs hand was large, his palm slightly warm.
âBai He, I didnât pity you, and Iâm definitely not using you.â Qin Yaoâs slightly hoarse voice came from behind, sounding urgent. âI was wrong before. I was an idiot. I was out of my mind. Iââ
Bai He turned around, his face close to Qin Yaoâs, scrutinizing him as if trying to see through him. He quietly waited for Qin Yao to continue, but the proximity seemed to have choked Qin Yaoâs words.
In the silence, someoneâs heartbeat quickened, its strong and muffled sound disturbing the quiet.
Bai He continued to stare at Qin Yao. âBecause of the pheromones?â
It was something Qin Yao had said before, the reason heâd given when he rejected Bai He. Qin Yao lowered his head, staring blankly into Bai Heâs eyes. His gaze slowly dropped, landing on Bai Heâs lips.
His own heartbeat was so loud it made his scalp tingle. Qin Yao suddenly felt his throat go dry, and he instinctively swallowed, realizing something.
It wasnât because of the pheromones.
Damn it…
âIâŚâ
Qin Yao couldnât finish his sentence. Bai He took a step back, pulling his hand away. âLet go. Otherwise, the pheromones will make things ambiguous for someone again.â
ââŚâ
Qin Yao abruptly loosened his grip. He had been the one to bring up the pheromones, and now, days later, the bullet had hit him squarely in the forehead.
He lowered his gaze, looking at Bai He. His voice was soft. âI know youâre angry. You donât have to forgive me. Itâs okay if you never forgive me. I just want to make it up to you.â
âWere we ever in some kind of close relationship?â Bai He moved his wrist, asking indifferently, âWhat do you mean by making it up?â
Qin Yao was momentarily stumped by Bai Heâs question. He had almost forgotten that the usually gentle Bai He had a way with words that could easily put people on the spot. He had once made Zhang Wenjingâs face turn pale with just his words.
âWe were⌠friends.â Fortunately, Qin Yao knew he had thick enough skin. He bent down, pulling a pitiful face. âBai He, weâre still friends. Donât throw me away, okay?â
Bai He glanced at him without saying a word.
âWeâre good friends. Give me a chance to make it up to you.â Qin Yao reached out to grab Bai Heâs hand again, but Bai He avoided him. Qin Yao awkwardly retracted his hand, mumbling, âYou didnât answer, so Iâll take that as a yes.â
With that, the alpha sensibly opened the door and left. Before leaving, Qin Yao softly said to Bai He, âGood night. See you tomorrow.â
The door closed, and silence returned.
Bai Heâs half-dried hair was now completely dry. He turned and walked a couple of steps into the room, feeling the coldness in one foot. He went back to find the slipper that had fallen under the shoe cabinet.
His face remained expressionless the entire time.
He really couldnât figure out what Qin Yao meant.
Later, Bai Qiu replied to his message, confirming the plans to return to the Bai family this weekend. Bai He tossed his phone aside and prepared to sleep. As he lay in bed, covered with his blanket and eyes closed, he couldnât help but think about everything that had just happened, feeling a bit uneasy.
Tossing and turning, he finally grabbed his phone and found Xia Tianâs profile.
âDeath knocked on Tian Tianâs Little Treasure.â
âDeath pinched Tian Tianâs Little Treasure.â
The other side replied within seconds.
Tian Tianâs Little Treasure: *[Whatâs up, Bai He-ge? Popping up.JPG]*
Bai He smiled and typed a message.
Death: *[Still awake?]*
Tian Tianâs Little Treasure: *[Youâre still awake too, arenât you?]*
Death: *[Yeah, can you send me the link to the school forum?]*
Tian Tianâs Little Treasure: *[Wow, Bai He-ge, you like gossip too?]*
Death: *[?]*
Tian Tianâs Little Treasure: *[Haha, our school forum is actually famous for being a gossip haven.]*
Tian Tianâs Little Treasure: *[Hereâs the link. Go and enjoy!]*
Death: *[Thanks.]*
Bai He wanted to use the forum to check something. After registering an account and logging in, it didnât take long for him to find a post that had just been put up recently.
Help post: *[Anyone from Building 9 of Phase 1? Iâm new here and canât find the place. I didnât expect Omega University to be this big. Could any kind-hearted little O help me out? [Rose] [Rose]]*
1F: *[First reply. So, if no one helps, they arenât kind-hearted little Oâs?]*
2F: *[Second reply. Building 9 is at the back of the apartment complex, near the faculty apartments. By the way, are you an alpha, OP?]*
3F: *[Why are so many alphas at the school today? Arenât you supposed to live in Phase 2? Why are you asking about Phase 1?]*
OP: *[@2F, thank you! Youâre so nice. I wonder if I could take you out to dinner to thank you in person. [Rose]]*
OP: *[@1F, dear, in the eyes of us alphas, youâre all kind-hearted and beautiful~]*
OP: *[@3F, the counselor told us to come here. Not sure about the specifics.]*
4F: *[Ew, OP, youâre so greasy! Your intentions are so obvious!!]*
âŚ
43F: *[Why are there so many people at Building 9??]*
44F: *[Itâs so crowded! No way we can fit more people in!!]*
45F: *[Ahh, Iâm going to be crushed by all these alphasâŚ]*
46F: *[Itâs going to stink in here. Whoâs spraying pheromones all over the place? No manners!!]*
âŚ
106F: *[Everyone, disperse! The counselor said he sent the wrong message!!]*
107F: *[WTF??]*
108F: *[This is single-occupancy housing for omegas! Theyâve reported us! Quick, letâs leave before it gets worse!!]*
109F: *[What? There are omegas? Does this mean we lose first dibs on potential partners?]*
110F: *[By the way, if itâs single-occupancy housing, can alphas apply to live here too?]*
111F: *[Apparently, they can, but you have to apply yourself.]*
âŚ
After scrolling to the end, Bai He put down his phone and stared at the ceiling, sighing.
Qin Yao wouldnât have applied to live here too, would he?
Whatever. What did it matter to him?
Closing his eyes, Bai He quickly fell asleep.
The next morning, the first rays of sunlight shone into the dormitory. Bai He opened his eyes, lifted the blanket, and sat up, staring blankly for a full minute before fully waking up.
He got out of bed, washed up, and dressed. Noticing that the weather seemed colder, he chose a slightly thicker light-colored jacket. Holding the books he needed for the morning, he opened the door, only to be greeted by Qin Yaoâs bright smile.
Bai He: ââŚâ
He lowered his head and bypassed Qin Yao, walking downstairs. The person behind him followed at a close but respectful distance.
Neither of them spoke, but Qin Yao followed Bai He all the way to the teaching building, entering the same large classroom.
Bai He found a seat, and Qin Yao sat right next to him, placing a bag of hot breakfast on the desk in front of Bai He.
âBreakfast. Itâs still warm.â
Qin Yao inserted a straw into the soy milk and placed it next to the breakfast, then looked at Bai He eagerly.
Bai He glanced at the steaming breakfast in front of him, then turned his head to look at Qin Yao. Qin Yaoâs eyes lit up.
Bai He: ââŚâ
âYou shouldnât skip breakfast. I accidentally bought too much, and I canât finish it by myself. Help me out?â Qin Yao said softly, all the while using his fingers to lightly scratch Bai Heâs hand.
Bai He: ââŚâ
Why did this feel⌠off?
Bai He usually ate breakfast, but this morning, he had skipped it to avoid Qin Yao, coming straight to the classroom. Who would have thought Qin Yao would follow him in?
He didnât take the food. Instead, he looked at Qin Yao. âYou donât have class?â
âNo class,â Qin Yao shook his head. âIâve finished my courses. Iâm following you.â
âWhy are you following me?â Bai He asked, confused.
âTo study. To turn over a new leaf.â Qin Yao leaned on the desk, persistently hooking his little finger with Bai Heâs. âTo correct my ways and start fresh. Little Bai He, just take one bite.â
Bai He: ââŚâ
He was even more confused.
When class was about to start, Qin Yao still hadnât left. Xia Tian, who had rushed into the classroom at the last minute, stood in the hallway, squinting at Bai He, then at the large figure of Qin Yao sitting next to him.
Raising an eyebrow, Xia Tian asked, âBai He-ge, whoâs this?â
Bai He hadnât figured out what to say yet, but Qin Yao sat up straight and flashed Xia Tian a polite smile. âHello, Iâm Bai Heâs friend.â
There was no mistaking itâQin Yao put extra emphasis on the word âfriend.â Xia Tian paused for two seconds before responding, âOhââ
He smiled lightly. âA friend, huh~â
Then he turned to Bai He. âBai He-ge, can I sit next to you? Iâm your friend too, right?â
The word âfriendâ was enunciated clearly, and even broken down syllable by syllable. Qin Yaoâs smile froze instantly.
âYeah,â Bai He replied, agreeing to Xia Tianâs request.
Class started, and Qin Yao moved to a corner seat, while Xia Tian sat on Bai Heâs other side.
In the corner, Qin Yao, tall and imposing, crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, his gaze filled with resentment as he watched Bai He happily chatting with another omega.
Suddenly, he heard Xia Tianâs cheerful voice.
âBai He-ge, look, look! These are the puppies my auntâs corgi just had.â
Xia Tian pulled up some photos on his phone and handed them to Bai He.
From his corner, Qin Yao couldnât see the pictures. He clicked his tongue lightly, hearing Bai He say, âTheyâre cute.â
A wave of jealousy surged through Qin Yao. But it didnât stop there. As soon as Bai He said the puppies were cute, Xia Tian immediately offered, âDo you want one? My aunt is looking for buyers. If you want, you can pick one out!â
Bai He hesitated, not having had the chance to respond before Qin Yao suddenly reached out and gently tugged on his wrist, pulling him slightly closer.
âHeâs not getting one,â Qin Yao said, his voice carrying an odd tone.
Bai He, pulled closer, looked at Qin Yao, who politely pushed Xia Tianâs phone back with a serious face. âSorry, Bai He already has a cat.â
Xia Tian blinked slowly, holding his phone. âBai He-ge, you have a cat?â
Bai He sat up straight, pulling his hand back and turning to face Qin Yao. âDo I have a cat?â
ââŚYou do.â Qin Yao lowered his head, staring into Bai Heâs eyes, his voice soft and insistent, as if he were pleading. âBai He, you have a cat.â
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