Chapter 45

Chapter 45

045

Begin.

Chu Li's efforts had not been in vain; the changes in him over the past few months were evident.

Firstly, his physical fitness had improved. He used to feel exhausted after just a short walk, but now, he found morning runs effortless.

Additionally, his body proportions appeared more balanced. When he lifted his shirt, one could glimpse the beginnings of abdominal muscles.

He seemed to have grown slightly, although he hadn't measured and wasn't entirely sure.

The little key, the pet store kitten, was also growing alongside him. It opened its eyes after about a week and started walking near the end of the first month, initially wobbling unsteadily on its feet, stretching its tail straight to maintain balance. But by a week past its first month, it had already learned to climb, scaling the cat tree inside the shop. Occasionally, when it climbed too high and didn't dare jump down, it would stand on the cat tree meowing for someone to help.

Chu Li noticed that the kitten was more likely to climb high when he was around.

A few days ago, the pet store owner informed Chu Li that the kitten had completely weaned. The mother cat no longer had milk and showed little interest in caring for her offspring, asking which brand of cat food Chu Li preferred. As Chu Li wasn't well-versed in this matter, he decided to visit the store and discuss it with the owner.

Chu Li usually took public transportation to the pet store from school, as hailing a taxi was too expensive and would invite unnecessary questions from drivers.

On this day, he boarded the bus as usual. Not prone to motion sickness, he made good use of his time on the ride, browsing through the materials Wen Renjian had just sent him.

Unexpectedly, after reading only two lines, a commotion erupted from the other end of the bus. The Blue Stripe Star's buses were longer than those on Earth, and there were still a few passengers standing scattered throughout the cabin. Hearing the disturbance, Chu Li looked up but couldn't see what was happening at the far end.

He pulled out his earbuds, intending to ignore the commotion. However, it quickly shifted closer to him.

Simultaneously, the automated bus announcement sounded: "Next stop, 234 Star Moon Avenue. Doors will open in two minutes. Please prepare to disembark..."

"Make way! Make way!"

A middle-aged man pushed his way through the crowd, staggering forward.

Unfortunately, Chu Li happened to be standing right by the bus doors, obstructing the man's path. Without moving, the man glared fiercely at Chu Li upon seeing him, bellowing, "Don't block my way!"

From behind, someone shouted, "He's a thief! Catch him!"

This middle-aged man was clearly an Alpha, with a robust physique, and in his hand was a stun gun. No one dared to approach him.

All happened in the blink of an eye. Chu Li didn't yield to anyone, instead, he stepped forward and stood before the middle-aged man. In the instant of the latter's astonishment, he precisely seized his wrist and threw him over his shoulder.

The moment the middle-aged man hit the ground, the bus arrived at the stop and the doors opened. Chu Li got off the bus calmly. The man remained on the floor for a while, watching helplessly as the doors closed... then he was abruptly pressed against the glass by a few people who followed behind.

After getting off the bus, Chu Li looked at his hand, pleased to see the results of his recent training. If this had happened in the past, he wouldn't have been able to do it so effortlessly.

---

When he connected with Jing Baiyuan in the evening back in his dorm, Chu Li recounted the incident to him.

He hadn't felt much while doing it during the day, but when he retold the story that night, he felt excited. He looked at Jing Baiyuan eagerly throughout the entire narration – a fact that even Chu Li himself was unaware of.

From Jing Baiyuan's perspective, Chu Li's entire being screamed "Praise me!"

It made Jing Baiyuan want to reach out and pat his head.

However, remembering that they were in a virtual world where their avatars were mere digital constructs, he held back. Any action taken in the virtual world would be recorded by the game company, giving him a sense of his thoughts being invaded. Thus, Jing Baiyuan rarely brought up intimate topics or engaged in any close gestures with Chu Li in this realm.

Longed even more to meet him in reality, to converse face-to-face.

It was as if the longing had been accumulating bit by bit, despite the short time they'd been apart.

"Truly remarkable," Jing Baiyuan managed to say after much restraint.

Chu Li's disappointment was evident, and he swallowed his words unspoken.

Jing Baiyuan opened his mouth, intent on continuing their conversation, but suddenly realized that Chu Li had always been the one initiating their talks. Now that Chu Li fell silent, Jing Baiyuan found himself at a loss for words.

After a moment of silence, Chu Li said, "Well... I need to log off now. I might not be able to come back for the next two weeks."

Jing Baiyuan took a moment to comprehend: Chu Li's rut was approaching, and he needed to make preparations.

"Wait a moment," Jing Baiyuan called out to Chu Li. "Where do you plan to... spend it?"

Previously, Jing Baiyuan had suggested that Chu Li should spend his rut at the new property he had purchased, but Chu Li had declined.

Chu Li's thoughts were rather straightforward. They had only known each other for a short while, and Jing Baiyuan had already helped him a lot. If he continued to occupy his house, it would appear that he was being too impolite.

As usual, Chu Li replied, "I'll be at the dormitory."

They had discussed this matter many times before, so Jing Baiyuan wasn't surprised by the answer.

He gazed at Chu Li in silence for a long moment before nodding gently. "Alright."

With that, Chu Li logged off.

Removing his helmet, he lay on his bed and let out a deep sigh, staring blankly at the ceiling.

A bittersweet feeling swirled indescribably in his heart.

---

Over the next few days, Chu Li didn't log into the game. First, he took leave from school and the lab, entrusting all his tasks to Zhan Jiaqing and Liu Wei.

Ever since he joined the research team, he had frequently taken time off, making Chu Li feel a bit embarrassed. He repeatedly apologized to Zhan Jiaqing, "Sorry to trouble you again."

Zhan Jiaqing smiled. "No trouble at all. Last time when I was hospitalized due to my illness, you helped me with my work. It's just mutual assistance."

---

Two days before his heat, he called the hospital to inform the doctor to prepare the medication.

The suppressants for heats had a short duration, requiring them to be readily available. The next day, the doctor notified him to pick up the medicine.

Upon arriving at the hospital, it was still the same doctor who handed him the medication. Along with it, the doctor gave him numerous precautions. "The suppressants will only keep you lucid. You'll still endure a challenging week... If possible, it's best to have your Alpha by your side during this period."

Though the doctor knew his words were futile, after all, if there was someone to accompany him, he wouldn't need to come to the hospital for medication in the first place.

Chu Li didn't say much, nodding along to each piece of advice.

Seeing how well-behaved and understanding he was, the doctor felt a pang of sympathy. "This is your first real heat since reaching adulthood, right? You mentioned previously that you experienced a false heat. A genuine heat lasts longer and is more unbearable... I've prescribed fourteen bottles for you, which is one per day based on standard dosage. However, if you feel particularly uncomfortable, you can take an extra bottle, but not more than two within 24 hours, no matter how difficult it gets... Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand," Chu Li nodded.

The doctor continued, "Also, try to spend your heat in a safe place. If your Alpha isn't around, their belongings can suffice. Familiar scents and pheromones can provide great comfort, making it easier for you."

Chu Li: "..."

This time, he fell silent, not uttering a word.

The doctor assumed he was just shy and, after saying his piece, advised, "Alright, you can go back now. Remember to prepare your meals in advance, with a balanced and nutritious diet. Don't neglect eating just because you're feeling unwell; that will only make things worse."

Chu Li nodded, indicating that he understood.

By the time he left the hospital, dusk was approaching. He should have gone to the supermarket to buy groceries and then returned to his dorm to lock himself in for the arduous seven days.

But as he stepped forward, he hesitated.

He knew all too well that spending his rut at Jing Baiyuan's residence would be the best choice.

But doing so would only deepen their entanglement... He couldn't quite put his finger on the discomfort he felt about it.

---

Half an hour later, Chu Li unlocked the front door of the house he had visited only once before, using his fingerprint.

Jing Baiyuanting must have arranged for regular cleaning services, because despite the house being unoccupied for some time, it was spotless. The only thing that surprised Chu Li was that the bouquet of roses delivered during his brief stay here previously was still in the vase.

Thanks to the good ventilation, the roses hadn't decayed; instead, they had dried into a bunch of preserved flowers.

The faded scarlet hue still clung to the petals, and their shape remained intact.

This was truly unexpected for Chu Li.

He placed the groceries and food he bought in the kitchen, then walked over to the dining table. The water in the vase had long evaporated, and the bottom of the flower stems had started to mildew.

From under the TV stand, he retrieved a pair of scissors and trimmed off the moldy parts of the stems.

After some consideration, he found a ribbon, tied the rose bouquet together, and hung it in a well-ventilated spot by the window.

Was this Jing Baiyuanting's unexpected surprise left for him?

Chu Li gently shook his head and headed upstairs.

--

In the following days, Chu Li lived alone in the house. In the stillness of solitude, one's mood tends to plummet. Several times, Chu Li wanted to log online to check if Jing Baiyuan was around. However, remembering his request for leave and considering Jing Baiyuan's usual busy schedule, he assumed his friend would be occupied and thus held back his impulse. Two days later, as dawn broke, Chu Li woke up feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Struggling to make it to the bathroom, he noticed his cheeks flushed with a rosy hue. He knew the time had come. Following the doctor's instructions, he retrieved the medication, took a dose, and, while he was still somewhat coherent, hurried to the kitchen to prepare himself some food. After the meal, his condition worsened. The state reminded him vividly of his experience in the alley, but, perhaps due to the medication, his consciousness remained clear, allowing him to maintain control over his body and understand his actions. Mustering strength, he made his way back upstairs to the bedroom and sighed in relief upon lying on the bed. For the next seven days, he would have to endure this condition entirely on his own.

Author's Note:

The overwhelming vibe of Mr. Jing being a typical male villain. Tsk, tsk.