Chapter 26: Splits

Chapter 26: Splits

It wasn't much of an adventure, just playing a recording of Xu Chen drunkenly hurling abuses. After hitting play, Xie Chu continued to be the quiet, meat-eating handsome boy.

Noticing that Ye Lincheng didn't want to make Xie Chu uncomfortable, Gu Sheng chimed in, "That's okay, I want to hear what this brat said too. As soon as the class representative mentioned playing the recording, did you see his cowardly face? Wonder if he said something disgraceful. Maybe he cursed at Lu Tou?"

Ji Feifei initially wanted to chime in and summarize, but a glare from Xie Chu, coupled with the earlier banter with Yu Yang, seemed to have made him forget most of it, so he stuttered without uttering much.

On the other side, Ye Lincheng was still eyeing Xie Chu's phone, but Xie Chu's hands, holding the chopsticks and bowl, showed no sign of stopping.

With a soft "thud", the chopsticks were placed in the bowl. Xie Chu calmly grabbed Ji Feifei's fruit beer, which had only two sips missing, and chugged down most of the bottle. Slamming the bottle on the table, he said to Ye Lincheng, "Let it be."

Just like that?

Ye Lincheng's brows furrowed.

He initially thought he had suggested the easiest yet most mundane dare, but he didn't expect Xie Chu would rather drink the fruit beer than let Xu Chen's dark history be revealed. Yu Yang even suspiciously shook the beer can, asking, "Did you two conspire to swap this with apple juice?"

Ji Feifei snatched back the beer bottle, retorting, "Nonsense."

"I'd seriously suspect Xu Chen is your relative then," Yu Yang sighed, "Why not just play that bastard's offending words for us?"

To be honest, he was curious about how Xu Chen could have cursed Ye Lincheng and the others. If it made someone as calm and unbothered as Xie Chu, a top student, throw a bowl of spicy condiments in anger, it must have been an epic level of foul language.

"You said it yourself, half a bottle of beer and we're settled. Trying to backtrack now?" Ji Feifei didn't care about curiosity killing the cat; he shot back bluntly.

"Don't ask anymore," Ye Lincheng whispered.

If Xie Chu didn't want to play it, he must have his reasons.

He didn't want to force it.

Seeing Yu Yang carelessly shake the empty beer can earlier, Ye Lincheng felt a twinge of unease.

If he didn't want to drink, he should have said. Was he trying to prove a point by downing the alcohol? Xie Chu doesn't seem like someone who drinks, what if he hurts his stomach? Ye Lincheng would have to take care of him over the weekend.

The mere thought infuriated Ye Lincheng, "Why is a kid drinking alcohol?"

"Is there no difference between being seventeen and eighteen?"

The game of Truth or Dare went on boisterously for two more rounds. Fortunately, this time it was fairer; Yu Yang and Ji Feifei, the two main culprits, couldn't mess with others. One sent an embarrassing confession to the seventh chat in his WeChat, while the other gritted his teeth and posted on his social feed, claiming he could only last 5 minutes.

It was almost completely dark outside. After having their fill of fun and food, the group was ready to leave.

Ye Lincheng glanced at Xie Chu, who had been quietly sitting beside him, looking perfectly normal without blushing or speaking, and asked with a smirk, "You do realize you still owe me a study session tonight, right?"

Xie Chu's eyes shimmered faintly red, the corners lifting into a crescent smile. Holding his face with both hands, his voice sounded more playful than usual, a bit drawling at the end,

"Of course, I have to rescue the study dunce, don't I?"

Ye Lincheng: "..."

"Was that what was said?"

Doubting Xie Chu's sobriety, Ye Lincheng waved a hand in front of his eyes, "Do you even know who you're tutoring tonight?" He strongly suspected Xie Chu mistook him for Yu Yang after having a few drinks.

Xie Chu blinked, his fair complexion slightly flushed. His demeanor was more relaxed, lacking his usual cold aloofness. He looked innocent enough to be lured home with a simple lollipop. Puzzled, he pointed his chin towards Ye Lincheng,

"Isn't it you? Always hiring tutors yet ranking... at the bottom. Studying... till midnight and still failing. Can't even differentiate between electricity and magnetism... uh..."

Ye Lincheng immediately covered his mouth.

Yep, he's drunk.

On the side, both Gu Sheng and Yu Yang were suppressing their laughter. Ji Feifei, having just dressed, tried hard to hide the pain of his 'perfect genius' persona crumbling, managing a forced smile, pretending he hadn’t heard anything, "Let's go. I stay in the dorm and need to get back before curfew. No more dallying."

After he left, Yu Yang and Gu Sheng burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha, seems in the minds of top students, we all fit this stereotype."

"Damn, I'm never again believing those class proverbs that claim studying never brings shame!"

"Ye, are you okay? Hahahaha."

Ye Lincheng glowered, shooting daggers with his eyes.

Once Yu Yang had his fill of laughter, he patted Ye Lincheng's shoulder, "Come on, buddy, let him breathe. It's not often someone speaks such truths when drunk."

Gu Sheng, stifling a laugh, said, "Where does he live? Let's take our class representative, who's always eager to help and never mocks weaker students, home first."

Ye Licheng tightened the hand he had over his mouth, sliding it down to leave just the nostrils for Xie Chu to breathe through. He pulled the slightly unstable boy to his side and stated coldly, "He's staying at my place tonight. I can drive straight home."

The two who were just chuckling moments ago paused in surprise.

Yu Yang was the first to react, "What do you mean 'you can drive straight home'?"

Ye Licheng carefully placed Xie Chu in the passenger seat, arranging him like a delicate doll, and fastened the seatbelt. He gritted his teeth and said, "What I mean is, no one's giving you two a ride. Find your way home with a smile."

Yu Yang: "..."

Gu Sheng rubbed the back of his head, a beat slower in his reaction. It wasn't until Ye Licheng stepped on the accelerator and the silver sports car sped away that he murmured, trailing in the dust,

"What kind of reaction do you get when you mix a top student and a slacker?"

The city lights streamed by in a blur as the car approached the upscale apartment complex in the Uptown area near the lake bay, eventually pulling into the underground parking.

The Bianjiang Apartment was the residence Ye Licheng frequented most after returning to the country, though he hadn't stayed there much recently.

The day after Xie Chu was taken away by Xie Weizhou, Ye Lincheng moved in from his villa with Zhang's wife, arranging for the house to be thoroughly reorganized. Obstructing furniture was relocated, and plush woolen carpets were laid throughout, ensuring that even hopping around would feel neither hard nor cold.

Although he had eagerly awaited her arrival, Master Ye's mood was now far from jovial.

The passenger door was half open, with Ye Lincheng leaning against it, casting an annoyed glance at Xie Chu.

Realizing that no one was coming to unbuckle her, Xie Chu attempted to press the red button herself. However, her inebriated state made it difficult, causing her to frown and emit a soft grunt.

"Hmm? What..."

In the end, Ye Lincheng leaned in, unbuckled her, and with one hand, hoisted her over his shoulder. Their relationship now teetering on the edge, he didn't plan on cradling her gently. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Xie Chu's waist, draping her over him with a displeased expression, saying,

"Quickly thank your 'big brother' for bringing you home."

The scene almost resembled a young adult's abduction.

It couldn't be helped; his mood was truly foul.

Yelin had been holding back from snapping at Xie Chu throughout the journey, now wanting to salvage some dignity. Was it wrong to be diligent in studying? Was having a tutor a matter of shame? Yet he couldn't find the words to argue.

Moreover, with people nearby being inebriated and not in their right minds, the risk of a sharp retort was high and only added to his frustration.

So he decided to seek recompense elsewhere.

Like making Xie Chu apologize profusely for the rides he never mentioned offering her before.

“Do you know I used to wake up even earlier than the crack of dawn for you? Helping you down the stairs, pouring milk for you, and even driving the car up to the front door to pick you up.”

Yelin weighed the person on his shoulder, furious,

“Say thank you. Say it now.”

Held around the waist by Yelin, Xie Chu's head drooped behind his back. After being jostled a bit, her t-shirt and school uniform slid up, exposing her slender waist. Mumbling, it took her a while to say,

“You... don’t... have a driving license, do you?” Yelin froze in the elevator.

“The license in your car... it’s Zhang Sao's, isn't it? Every time I ride... I fear we'll be pulled over and taken to the station...”

An awkward silence.

After a while, as if she hadn't heard his reaction, Xie Chu murmured again, “Every time you brake... it's so sudden. Makes me carsick... If you haven’t been trained, it really... isn’t great...”

“And also, you... umm.”

The elevator dinged at the entrance of the apartment. Yelin kicked the main door open, reaching the bedroom entrance. He was tempted to toss her onto the bed as if she were a ball,

But he hesitated, mindful of her small plaster cast.

He remembered the sincere thanks Xie Chu would give him every time he dropped her off at school, saying, “I owe it all to you.”

Clenching his back teeth, Yelin gently placed her on the bed.

He had learned to drive in the U.S. from an African-American

Driver

There wasn't an issue with his skills; it's just that he had to wait until he was 18 to get a license in his home country. Plus, being a young man with a car, he occasionally liked to show off a bit.

Had it not been for Xie Chu's condition, Yelin wouldn't have frequently driven without a license. But considering her leg inconvenience and wanting to spare her the awkwardness of being with a chauffeur every morning, he took it upon himself to drive, even purposefully keeping Zhang Sao's driving license in the car.

Heartless.

Utterly heartless.

Even Ye Wangwang knew that this was the time to play the sycophant.

Yelin was seething with annoyance. In the end, he firmly pushed Xie Chu's head into the pillow, considering it a mild punishment for a major offense.

But the person, once settled, began to fidget, turning her face into the pillow, reaching behind her neck, as if trying to tear off a medical patch.

Yelin quickly grabbed her restless hand, balling it into a fist and tucking it under the covers. But the other hand emerged,

Still intent on tearing.

Holding her hands, Yelin whispered, "Don't tear it. Stop it."

With both hands restrained, Xie Chu heard his voice and slowly turned her body towards him, her head resting against his leg, rubbing it affectionately,

"I can tear it."

Unlike her previous constant complaints, Xie Chu's voice softened, resembling a kitten seeking approval, "If you're here, I can tear it."

Yelin assumed she was being difficult because she was tipsy. Although he understood how uncomfortable the patch might be, considering her health, he firmly held both of her wandering wrists above her head, resembling a stern father,

"No sweet-talking. It's a no."

After all the effort to get here, her glands still felt suffocated. Growing impatient, Xie Chu shifted her head upward, resting on Yelin. As she tried to rub off the patch, she murmured, "It's fine. The doctor... said it's okay. If you're here, I can tear it off."

After a few rubs, she suddenly felt increasing warmth from beneath the back of her head.

Yelin: "..."

The previously paternal Yelin lost his cool. With a swift move, he lifted the mischievous head beside him, "Stop, stop rubbing!"

With squinted eyes, Xie Chu seemed oblivious to any change. Once she felt her restrained hands free, she reached behind her neck again, intent on removing the patch.

Without hesitating to suppress his feelings, Yelin simply held her tightly, encircling her with his arms pinned to her sides, his gaze growing intense.

"Tell me, what did the doctor say? Verbatim."

Xie Chu, looking as if only her head could move, like a tiny quail, squinted her eyes and repeated word-for-word to the stern-faced man in front of her, "She said... as long as there's physical contact, or... intimate relations, I can... go without the isolating patch."

Silence enveloped the room for a moment.

A peculiar and charged tension stealthily took hold.

Xie Chu blinked, showing no hint of embarrassment despite her intoxicated state, as if she had merely commented on having Mapo tofu for dinner. Seeing Yelin Cheng's inaction, her eyes became imploring,

"It's... uncomfortable. Can we take it off, please?"

Inebriated, her ego was unrestrained by rational thought. Influenced by pheromones, she naturally submitted to the alpha with whom her pheromones so highly resonated.

Not to mention that this alpha was much stronger, holding her as if she was a small bird.

Yelin Cheng, sober and prioritizing the pressing matter, pushed aside the thoughts of intimacy. He was more concerned about Xie Chu's patch, querying suspiciously, "Did the doctor really say that? You're not lying to me, are you?"

When it came to deception, Xie Chu had a notorious track record.

Caution was warranted.

The petite figure in his embrace nodded vigorously.

Her disheveled bangs unintentionally grazed Yelin Cheng's nose, evoking a flurry of emotions within him.

An indescribable possessiveness, like a dark, toxic vine, grew rapidly in his heart with every word from the person in his arms, entwining his thoughts.

If it's true, it seems beneficial.

The idea that she could only remove the patch when near him, freely releasing pheromones, felt incredibly appealing.

For a brief selfish moment, he even wished that if Xie Chu's glandular condition remained this way, without healing, it wouldn't be so bad.

Oblivious to the tumultuous thoughts racing through Yelin Cheng's mind, Xie Chu continued squinting, her cheeks faintly flushed, awaiting his consent.

Although he had just experienced Xie Chu's drunken "honesty", for safety's sake, he probed calmly,

"How did your hand get burned by a cigarette earlier?"

Xie Chu's long eyelashes drooped, and her voice softened. She replied gently, "My mother doesn't allow him to smoke, but he still does. I didn't let him."

The expression in Yelin Cheng's eyes relaxed slightly, sensing that Xie Chu spoke truthfully after drinking. Holding her close and not letting go, he seemed intrigued to probe further,

"When did you secretly complete the math workbook?"

"During class."

"Did you initially plan to stand me up?"

"Yes." Yelin Cheng's lips twitched at the candid response, and he continued, "Why did you offer to tutor me?"

"Seeing you struggle with your studies."

Yelin Cheng raised an eyebrow. He wasn't exactly pleased with the answer, but he liked it nonetheless.

After Xie Chu responded to his barrage of questions, she craned her neck to look at him. Yelin Cheng, seeming brighter and more amused, continued his line of questioning,

"Where did you find my school uniform?"

Xie Chu blinked, hesitating a bit longer this time. After a moment, she began,

"At..."

"Nevermind," Yelin Cheng interrupted, seeing the crease in her brow, indicating her discomfort. He felt a bit guilty probing her while she was inebriated. He gently tousled her hair, saying,

"Stay still; I'll help you remove it."

Hearing that the isolating patch would finally be removed, Xie Chu's face lit up. She eagerly tilted her head forward, exposing her slender neck for Yelin Cheng's assistance.

Yelin Cheng couldn't help but chuckle at her dramatic gesture, reminiscent of a sacrificial act. He carefully lifted a corner of the patch and then slowly peeled it away.

A faint, tangy aroma of green plums wafted out, directly invading Yelin Cheng's nostrils and stirring the already restless alpha pheromones within him.

Yelin Cheng's gaze deepened.

Looking at the bed,

Like a cat finally free to frolic, Xie Chu wrapped herself in a blanket and rolled around twice, quickly permeating the bed with the tart and sweet scent, her ears twitching in satisfaction.

Only I know my own bitterness.

Yelin Cheng stood up and went outside to pour Xie Chu a glass of water, pondering whether he should make some hangover soup or warm milk. Then he suddenly remembered what Xie Chu had just said,

To maintain physical contact or engage in x behavior.

While x behavior seems unlikely, does maintaining physical contact mean continuous touch?

Yelin Cheng furrowed his brows.

Although the apartment isn't huge, it's over 300 square meters. Is such a distance acceptable?

Can that still be considered maintaining physical contact?

No way, that can't count as maintaining.

Holding the hot water, the ever-so-important young master Yelin quickly rushed back to the room.

Xie Chu was already snuggled up in bed, sleeping soundly, completely unaware of Yelin Cheng's current dilemma.

What exactly does "maintain physical contact" mean?

He didn't clarify earlier.

Not wanting to wake her up yet reluctant to go too far, Yelin Cheng crouched in the adjacent wardrobe and called Yelan Yu softly on his phone. After all, she was the most knowledgeable about medicine in the Ye family.

So, late at night, Yelan Yu received a secretive call from her nephew that sounded like he was up to mischief. She furrowed her brows, "Lin Cheng, where are you? Why are you whispering?"

Trying not to wake Xie Chu, Yelin Cheng lowered his voice, "I'm in the wardrobe, trying not to disturb someone's sleep. Forget about that for now, I wanted to ask you something..."

Yelan Yu's eyebrows knit together in concern.

The wardrobe?

What kind of place is that?

Is there someone else sleeping outside?

Could it be that the esteemed young master of the Ye family has been caught in a scandal?

Yelan Yu's voice sharpened instantly, "Yelin Cheng! You better explain yourself clearly! Let me remind you, our family might cover for you in many aspects, but you must uphold moral standards! You're still a student, how could you get involved with a married woman? Don't even think about dragging me into this scandal..."

Hiding in the wardrobe, Yelin Cheng felt like he was about to faint. After explaining the situation, he murmured resentfully, "Are you even my aunt?"

Yelan Yu tried to placate him, "Oh no, dear nephew, it's my fault. A few of my divorced friends ended up with muscular men like you... Oh, is it about that ega issue?"

Yelin Cheng got straight to the point, "Yes, aren't you a medical student? What exactly does this 'contact' entail?"

Once assured that Yelin Cheng wasn’t involved in an affair, Yelan Yu continued applying her face mask and mumbled, "Oh dear nephew, I specialize in neurology, not the specifics of the ABO system. You could check it on Baidu."

"So I have to resort to Baidu after all this?" Frustrated, Yelin Cheng opened his browser to search. After filtering out numerous unrelated ads, he found a relevant online Q&A, which he screenshotted and sent to Yelan Yu.

Almost simultaneously, Yelan Yu, based on Yelin Cheng’s description, conducted her own Baidu search. Being a medical professional, she quickly found an answer, screenshotting and sending it his way.

Two images appeared in the chat window at the same time.

Yelan Yu clicked on the one sent by Yelin Cheng and felt something was amiss.

Yelan Yu: Shared - "When using pheromones to treat ega allergies, is 24h continuous body contact required?"

Yelin Cheng: Shared - "For treating ega allergies with pheromones, does body contact mean one has to undress?"

Yelan Yu: "........."

The voice on the phone lowered a notch, Yelin Cheng, with furrowed brows, earnestly asked, "Wait, am I misunderstanding something, or are you?"

"It's your mindset that's the problem."

After saying this, Yelan Yu hung up, exasperated by her adolescent nephew’s naivety.

Yelin Cheng quickly retracted his search results, choosing to act as if it never happened, and began to review the medical Q&A that Yelan Yu had sent.

The profile featured a bald male doctor with a blue background and a golden crown icon, indicating his esteemed position in Baidu's medical Q&A community. He looked quite reputable.

The answer clearly stated,

To ensure the soothing effectiveness and longevity of the pheromones, it's recommended that an alpha with matching pheromones maintain body contact once every 2 hours and a temporary marking once every 2 days.

Monitor the ega's physical condition closely. If symptoms like sneezing, fever, or unusual redness appear, take soothing measures promptly. In severe cases, seek medical attention immediately to ensure the safety of the ega.

After a moment of contemplation, Yelin Cheng crawled out of the wardrobe.

He resolved to follow the doctor's advice.

Glancing at the clock, he realized he only had an hour to shower. Never before had he felt such a pressing sense of time. Yelin Cheng felt an overwhelming sense of duty, as if he were a mint-scented angel in white, racing against the clock to save lives.

However, even the minty angel faced a dilemma when he finished his shower and was preparing to sleep while still reflecting on the world's issues.

How could a pure-hearted angel take advantage of someone?

Xie Chu enjoyed a restful sleep, the likes of which he hadn't experienced in a long time.

In his dream, he seemed to be back in his childhood, where he could faintly hear continuous whispers as he drifted off to sleep. Although muffled as if separated by a wall, they provided a comforting sensation.

The whispers gradually faded, replaced by a sensation of a large, warm insect crawling onto his bed. This insect continuously moved across his hand, causing a ticklish sensation. Eventually, he crushed it in his dream.

Afterward, Xie Chu slept undisturbed.

With the isolation patch removed from the nape of his neck, the unrestrained release of pheromones felt comfortably familiar. So much so that the next morning, before fully waking, he took a deep breath, smelling his own scent.

Without opening his eyes, Xie Chu instinctively tried to turn over.

But he found he couldn’t move his legs.

He was sure he should have one free leg. He tugged hard, only to feel as if both legs had been encased in casts with supports overnight, rendering his lower body immobile.

Startled, Xie Chu awoke.

The next moment, he saw the handsome face on the other side of the bed.

His mobile leg was sprawled across the bed, nestled tightly between Yelin Cheng's legs. His ankle was held firmly, with only one foot extending out to the other side in a bizarre pose.

Furthermore, Yelin Cheng was in a deep slumber, unresponsive to Xie Chu's attempts to free his leg. Frustrated, Xie Chu lay back, staring blankly at Yelin Cheng's prominent nose bridge.

Did he force his leg in that position during sleep?

Impossible. Yelin Cheng's bed was king-sized, and Xie Chu was sure he didn't have a habit of doing splits in his sleep.

So, was it Yelin Cheng who had trapped...no, held his foot in place?

He found it hard to believe that someone had the habit of clenching things like a stuffed toy while sleeping.

Solving math competition problems seemed easier than this. With furrowed brows, Xie Chu tried to deduce how this situation came to be, excluding the unlikely scenario that he did a split in his sleep.

Perhaps he had shifted too often earlier. Feeling the movement beside him, Yelin Cheng, restless in his sleep, turned over, rubbing his eyes as he woke up.

The instant Yelin Cheng relaxed his grip, Xie Chu swiftly withdrew his leg. Striving to maintain a calm expression, he exchanged glances with a slightly groggy Yelin Cheng.

Tilted head, with a languid lift of his eyes, Yelin Cheng's voice held an enigmatic raspiness, "Awake now?"

Xie Chu nodded in response.

Still pondering the split incident, he eyed Yelin Cheng warily.

Then, he saw Yelin Cheng casually lift the covers, revealing…

It wasn't him doing the splits.

Yelin Cheng liked to clutch like one does a toy.

Relief washed over Xie Chu.

With evident signs of sleep deprivation and a slightly haggard appearance, Yelin Cheng asked with a hint of morning grogginess, "How do you feel? Comfortable without the isolation patch?"

He had initially slept in the guest room, setting alarms to check on Xie Chu every two hours. But exhaustion took over, and he ended up in the same bed. At first, he placed Xie Chu's hand against his waist, but Xie Chu, quite restless in his sleep, kept moving his hand up and down, even gripping firmly at one point. Unable to bear it, Yelin Cheng clamped one of Xie Chu's legs between his own for stability.

After all, he was here to help and comfort, not to be accused of inappropriate conduct, especially since he kept a safe distance.

After a tumultuous half-night, Yelin Cheng had only just fallen asleep.

Upon being asked, Xie Chu touched the back of his neck, confirming the removal of his isolation patch.

Recalling the alcohol from last night, he wasn't sure of the events that followed. Perhaps Yelin Cheng was drunk too and treated him like a toy?

Finding a plausible reason for himself, Xie Chu momentarily set aside the toy-clenching incident, thanking Yelin Cheng as he moved to get out of bed, "I feel great. Thank you."

Too tired to even curl his lips into a smile, Yelin Cheng rested his head on an arm, eyeing Xie Chu intently. His gaze, laced with morning confusion and a hint of scrutiny, looked less like someone who clutched a toy and more like Xie Chu owed him millions.

That piercing look made Xie Chu's heart race. Yelin Cheng's stare felt as if he saw right through him, a gaze akin to that of a debt collector, leaving Xie Chu wondering...

Could it be that I did the splits myself last night?

Impossible.

With a slight cough, Xie Chuqing calmly said, "We didn't study last night. Let's catch up this morning."

Ye Lincheng, resting on his arm, showed no intention of getting up. With a hoarse voice, he began, "Do you remember last night..."

"Weren't you keen on studying?"

Fearing the mention of 'splits', Xie Chu immediately cut him off, pressing down the tousled hair at the back of his head, and said seriously,

"You do have talent. Just a month with a tutor and you've made such progress. If you truly commit, you could achieve great academic improvement."

The room went silent for a moment after he spoke.

Xie Chu raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled.

He gave such an encouraging speech all in one breath. Why no response?

A sliver of sunlight slipped through the curtain gap, casting a glow on the hazel eyes of the person on the bed, making those profound eyes exceptionally bright, as if they could see right through someone.

Ye Lincheng's expression was enigmatic, his face pale.

It felt like a silent accusation. For a moment, Xie Chu had the strange feeling of being the kind of man who leaves right after a one-night stand.

First time tutoring: how to deal with a troublesome student?

Xie Chu paused. Seeing that Ye Lincheng had no intention of getting up, he cautiously asked, "If you have other plans, perhaps you could... drive me home first?"

The curtains fluttered lightly. The light from outside intensified momentarily, almost blinding.

It seemed as though Ye Lincheng was stung by something. He immediately turned away, burying his head under the covers, wrapping himself like a cocoon, and went back to sleep.

Xie Chu: "......"

With such a poor attitude towards studying, Mr. Xie had no choice but to head to the bathroom. He noticed on the sink, neatly arranged, two blue cups, an electric toothbrush, and two brush heads, as if everything had been prepared in advance.

Xie Chu took his time brushing his teeth, waiting for Ye Lincheng to wake up. Meanwhile, he mentally reviewed a line of vocabulary. Only after washing his face did he lean on the wall and slowly limp out.

This apartment is far more convenient than the villa by the lake. The floors are covered in plush carpeting, making it effortless for him to jump around. With two leaps, he was in the living room. Just as he thought about making some breakfast, he spotted the school uniform crumpled up and tossed onto the couch by Ye Lincheng.

Memories of the hotpot restaurant flooded his mind.

Xie Chu furrowed his brows, picking up the uniform.

Regardless of the truth in Xu Chen's words, he needs to find someone to discuss it.

Author's note: I'm such an airhead! I forgot to set the publication time, and this chapter laid dormant in my drafts for a night. Why am I so careless? All I can do is bow in apology!

A big thank you to the lovely angels who gifted me with VIP tickets or nutrient solutions.

Shoutout to the angels who gifted nutrient solutions:

ZeroSevenw with 24 bottles;

I'm truly grateful for all your support! Some have died, but not completely...

After what felt like an endless slumber, Shi Yu suddenly sat up.

He took in deep breaths of fresh air, his chest heaving.

A mix of emotions—confusion, puzzlement—rushed over him.

Where am I?

Almost instinctively, Shi Yu scanned his surroundings and became even more bewildered.

A single-person dormitory?

Even if he had been rescued, he should be in a hospital room.

And his body... How is it that he doesn't have a single injury?

With growing uncertainty, Shi Yu's gaze swiftly swept across the room, finally resting on a mirror by the bedside.

The reflection revealed his current appearance, that of a handsome young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old.

His previous self was a dashing young man in his twenties, having worked for a while.

Now, no matter how he looked, he appeared to be of high school age...

This transformation left Shi Yu stunned for a long while.

Please don't tell him the surgery was a "success"...

With his body and appearance changed, this wasn’t merely a matter of surgery—it was more like magic or a divine intervention.

He had completely transformed into someone else!

Could it be... he had traveled to another time or world?

Aside from the oddly-placed mirror next to the bed, which seemed inauspiciously positioned for Feng Shui reasons, Shi Yu noticed three books.

Picking one up, the title rendered him speechless.

"Beginner's Manual for Beast Taming and Care."

"Postnatal Care for Tamed Beasts."

"A Guide to Reviewing Beast-Eared Girls from Different Races."

Shi Yu:

The titles of the first two books seem normal, but what's the deal with the last one?

"Ahem."

Shi Yu's gaze turned serious, and he reached out to grab the book, but his arm froze momentarily.

Just as he tried to open the third book, curious about its content, a sharp pain surged through his brain, flooding him with a tide of memories.

Icefield City.

Beast Taming Base.

Intern Beast Tamer. The website is about to shut down; download the iRead app for "Giant Whistle Knows" and "Pretty Omega Can Be Deceptive".

Beast Master?