Chapter 46

Chapter 46

046

Back to accompany you.

Heat rose from within, fuzzily seeping into his mind. Chu Li lay in bed, feeling as if he was asleep, yet not quite.

A subtle sweetness lingered in his mouth, the residue of the medicine he had just taken.

Despite being a medicinal solution, it carried an alluring fragrance that could entice addiction. Chu Li knew that this was likely the effect of the pheromones in the concoction; during his rut, he desperately needed the soothing presence of an Alpha's pheromones, but Jing Baiyuan was not by his side. Thus, he had to rely on the medicine for comfort.

No wonder the doctor had repeatedly warned him not to exceed two bottles a day – the substance was indeed potent.

As the fever persisted, Chu Li's consciousness became increasingly muddled.

One's physical state could truly influence their thoughts. Before this began, he had sworn to endure it alone. Yet, only half a day in, he found himself whining pathetically in bed, longing for Jing Baiyuan's return.

Being alone was unbearable; he yearned for Jing Baiyuan to come back.

Why wouldn't he come back? He had vowed to take care of him, yet he left precisely when he was needed the most... Was there something so crucial that he couldn't stay by his side, couldn't bring him along, couldn't be with him...?

Of course, these were all irrational whims, and Chu Li was well aware that he wouldn't feel this way once his rut was over. But he just couldn't help himself at this moment.

With no one else in the house but him, he could indulge himself however he pleased.

Chu Li lay in bed, murmuring to himself for a long while, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep. When he awoke, the sky outside was already dark.

He glanced briefly at his personal terminal and realized that only eight hours had passed since he took the first dose.

Thirty minutes... and sixteen hours left.

Perhaps due to reduced physical activity during sleep, he felt relatively better now, though he had unknowingly broken out in a sweat, making him quite uncomfortable.

He got out of bed to freshen up in the bathroom.

After his routine grooming, he went downstairs for breakfast.

Following the meal, the heat returned with a vengeance. Chu Li could only manage a quick wash before retreating back to bed.

Before bed, Chu Li had considered taking another dose of the medicine. However, it was only the first day, and he didn't want to set a precedent so early on. He wasn't sure how he would fare in the following days.

After some thought, he decided against it.

It wasn't unbearable, and he could endure it for now.

After getting ready, Chu Li wrapped himself tightly in his blankets and returned to bed. However, he had probably slept too much during the day and found himself unable to fall asleep. He stared blankly at the ceiling.

About two hours later, he clutched himself in discomfort once more.

This won't do, he couldn't hold on any longer.

Chu Li struggled to his feet, planning to reach for the medicine on his nightstand. However, his weakened state caused him to break out in a cold sweat as soon as he stood up. His hand rested on the drawer but he couldn't muster the strength to open it.

After struggling for a while, his energy drained, and he could no longer support his body. He began to fall towards the floor.

The room was pitch-black, and the fall would surely be painful. Chu Li inwardly acknowledged the danger, yet he was powerless to prevent it and resigned himself to the inevitable.

Unexpectedly, the anticipated pain did not come. A pair of hands, chilled from the outdoors, firmly caught him mid-fall.

"Hmm?"

Chu Li lifted his head in confusion.

He had been so engrossed in battling with his own body that he hadn't noticed anyone approaching from downstairs.

"Why is your body so hot?" the person whispered into his ear.

For a moment, Chu Li couldn't tell if he was dreaming or if someone had actually entered the room. Still in the position of reaching for the medicine bottle, he felt a supportive hand guiding him. Finally grasping the drawer handle, he pulled it open and took out the medication inside.

Jing Baiyuanting: "..."

Regarding the matter of how he had traveled a great distance to return home, only for his Omega not to even spare him a glance...

Chu Li almost dropped the medicine bottle in his clumsiness. Jing Baiyuan caught it, his voice tinged with helplessness, "Little Li."

Chu Li: "..."

Chu Li finally realized the situation and asked, "It's really you?"

"It's me."

"How did you end up here?"

"I knew your days would be coming around these few days... After much contemplation from afar, I still couldn't sit still. At one moment, I was worried someone might trouble you, and at another, I feared that you wouldn't manage on your own... I should have asked someone to take care of you, but knowing your personality, I knew you wouldn't agree... Yet, who else could take care of you during times like these?"

Jing Baiyuan helped Chu Li place the medicine bottle back on the table and then gently laid him in bed.

As they leaned against each other, Jing Baiyuan whispered beside Chu Li, "Although I've repeatedly said that I'd protect you, if I'm not by your side during such crucial moments... That promise would be meaningless. How could I ever earn your trust in the future?"

Chu Li: "..."

Perhaps it was due to Jing Baiyuan's presence, but Chu Li felt slightly better physically. After a moment of silence, he said, "If you had urgent matters, it's understandable for you to leave... You didn't do it on purpose."

"There must be resentment in your heart towards me too," Jing Baiyuan said.

His question was too straightforward, leaving Chu Li unable to respond, so he remained silent.

Jing Baiyuanting tightened his grip on Baiyuan's hand at that moment, whispering, "When my father passed away and my mother remarried, I was only eight years old. On my birthday, I fell ill with a high fever. The only one taking care of me was an AI robot. I knew that I would be fine after taking the medicine and sleeping, but I still blamed my mother for not being there... for not looking after me... I understood that she had no choice, but my complaints couldn't be stopped."

"..."

"You have every right to blame me," Jing Baiyuanting held his hand and gently brushed his lips against it. "Little Li, you're different from others, and I don't know how to talk to you."

Jing Baiyuanting often felt that Chu Li opened up to him less than he did to their cat.

Chu Li was aware of what Jing Baiyuanting was talking about. He closed his eyes slightly and reached out to him.

Jing Baiyuanting leaned down to embrace him. Chu Li buried his face in Jing Baiyuanting's chest and murmured, "I once knew a young girl..."

"What?"

"She lived next door to me. When she was nineteen, she fell in love with a boy and moved in with him. But the boy had a terrible character and treated her poorly. She struggled alone, balancing school and family responsibilities. Every day when she woke up, she would see the boy playing with other girls. They fought and broke up, only for him to casually dismiss her feelings..."

"She loved him deeply, so she kept compromising. Eventually, when she found out he was with someone else, she didn't dare to say anything."

Chu Li's story was incomplete, yet it sharply constricted Jing Baiyuanting's heart. He held Chu Li's hand tightly.

Chu Li kept his head down, continuing his story. "Later, to retaliate against the boy, she did the same thing he did. Their relationship deteriorated further, eventually leading to a breakup."

"But I couldn't understand why, after the girl genuinely broke up with him, the boy refused and tried every means possible to get her back. He called her persistently, attempting to force her... and even went to her house, threatening to expose her misdeeds to the world... When I met the girl, her condition was already dire, and she lived next door to me."

"The boy continued to harass her relentlessly. If reconciliation wasn't possible, he used every trick in the book to make her suffer... In the end, she jumped from a building. I watched her leap from the window. I was fifteen at the time, a young and naive age, and my first brush with emotions ended in such a tragic manner."

"When she was still alive, she would often come to chat with me, sharing intimate details of their relationship. Sometimes, I'd become so enraged that I wished I could take her place and kill the guy myself. Yet, she kept asking me if he had never truly loved her at all..."

"I believe the boy's actions were unforgivable, and the girl was pitifully foolish..."

Midway through his tale, Chu Li tightly gripped Jing Baiyuanting's hand. "Do you understand? I'm scared."

"My parents didn't have a great relationship either. They sent me to the hospital but never came to visit. I spent my springs, summers, autumns, and winters alone in that room, witnessing such tragedies... I'm genuinely afraid."

Holding Chu Li's hand for a moment, Jing Baiyuanting spoke honestly. "I don't quite understand."

He shared openly, "My parents had a loving relationship. My mother remarried out of necessity... If not for... she might have been with my father now."

"Is that so?" Chu Li whispered softly. "How enviable."

"You..." Jing Baiyuan held Chu Li's shoulders, sensing a contradiction in his words. However, seeing Chu Li's lowered eyes, not buried against his chest as before but still avoiding eye contact, he swallowed his question.

It was not the right time to discuss this. They could talk about it later.

Though Jing Baiyuan claimed he didn't fully understand, he was actually quite clear-headed.

First impressions often shape one's life, which is why parents play such crucial roles in their children's upbringing. Chu Li's first encounter with love at fifteen had ended tragically, coupled with his parents' unhappy marriage, fueling his fear of relationships.

He feared both disappointing others and becoming the villain who drove a girl to her death, as well as being the foolish one who blindly gave without receiving in return.

Caught between two dilemmas.

Moreover, their acquaintance was unique, leaving no room for gradual progression. Saying he was willing to try being with Jing Baiyuan... it was ultimately under duress.

Unable to resist, Jing Baiyuan sighed and drew Chu Li closer, apologizing again, "I'm sorry. If I had been more lucid back then, I would have taken you to the hospital..."

When an Omega goes into heat, an Alpha, upon detecting their pheromones, won't instantly lose control. It takes being confined in a closed, narrow space with the Omega for over four hours for them to enter the same heat cycle.

This means that even indoors, an Alpha has at least four hours to react.

If an Alpha encounters an Omega in the midst of an unexpected heat and takes the opportunity to mark them instead of taking them to the hospital, there's a high chance that the Alpha did it deliberately.

This is precisely where the conflict between Alphas and Omegas lies, often causing disputes among couples or non-couples.

Jing Baiyuan was simply in a poor state of health at that time, in a daze and on the verge of transforming into a cat. In fact, he shifted into his feline form right after marking Chu Li.

Yet, Chu Li grabbed his hand and said in a muffled voice, "I deserved it. I clearly knew..."

He clearly read the suicide note and was aware that he had a 'condition,' but due to his preconceived notions, he didn't expect that such a disease could cause him to lose consciousness, thus letting his guard down... But he couldn't share this with Jing Baiyuan. Chu Li could only skirt around the issue.

"It was my fault for forgetting to inject the suppressants."

Jing Baiyuan shook his head. "Genetic pheromone disorder is troublesome precisely because its symptoms are unpredictable. Many patients experience accidental episodes during the period when their medication should be effective... This isn't solely your responsibility; it's also the responsibility of those around you, your family."

Jing Baiyuan spoke softly, "You're a patient, Little Li, not a sinner."

"But..." Chu Li wanted to say more, but thinking of something else, he swallowed his words and changed the subject. "You're just worried about me."

Jing Baiyuan replied, "Yes, I'm just worried about you."

"..."

Chu Li fell silent for a moment before suddenly chuckling. "You're being biased."

"Biased?" Jing Baiyuan was puzzled. "I'm not a lawyer; I don't need fairness..."

The gloom that had been weighing on Chu Li's heart earlier was lifted by this remark, making the corners of his lips curl. He found Jing Baiyuan's serious expression amusing and couldn't help laughing, his laughter growing louder with each passing moment.

Suddenly, he felt that dwelling on past events was pointless—usually, he wouldn't think too much about these things, but being alone and unwell in the room had compounded his feelings.

He hadn't expected Jing Baiyuan to return.

Now, the surprise hit him, and Chu Li wrapped his arms around Jing Baiyuan's neck, leaning closer. "Why are you back? Is it... alright outside?"

"It's fine," Jing Baiyuan assured him. "Ya Lan helped to keep people at bay; no one knows."

"So you sneaked back..." Chu Li murmured softly.

Feeling joyful after his complaint, the previous frustration vanished. He hugged Jing Baiyuan tightly and whispered, "I'm hungry."

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting frowned. "Didn't you eat?"

Chu Li shook his head. He had eaten, but not much.

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting said, "Didn't the doctor tell you to take good care of your meals these few days?"

He sounded a bit stern, and Chu Li felt wronged. "I'm alone, everything is such a hassle. I don't have the strength, can't stand steadily, can't walk properly..."

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting: "..."

He quickly apologized. "It's my fault. Come downstairs, I'll cook for you."

Chu Li was happily carried downstairs by Jing Baiyuan Yuanting.

Ever since Jing Baiyuan Yuanting entered the house, he hadn't stopped emitting his pheromones. The familiar Alpha scent filled the entire house, and in this atmosphere, Chu Li, who had taken his medication, no longer felt uncomfortable. Instead, he found it very soothing.

Such treatment wasn't common, after all, the intertwining of pheromones usually resulted in strange reactions. It was only at this moment, when Chu Li had taken his medicine, that he could wholeheartedly and undistractedly bask in the embrace of the pheromones.

True to his word, Jing Baiyuan Yuanting went to cook for Chu Li. With limited ingredients at home, he prepared a bowl of noodles, adding shrimp, eggs, and various vegetables to it.

A bowl of noodle soup presented a delightful sight with its snowy white meat, crimson hues, and verdant vegetables that adorned the shrimp. It was enough to whet anyone's appetite.

However, the cooking process had taken longer than expected. By the time it was ready, Chu Li was slumped on the sofa, on the verge of dozing off.

"Little Li, dinner's ready," Jing Baiyuan called out to him.

Chu Li blinked his drowsy eyes open. Before he noticed the noodles on the table, his gaze fell upon Jing Baiyuan's pink apron.

Chu Li: "..."

He couldn't help but laugh. "Why are you wearing this?"

Jing Baiyuan: "..."

Stepping into the kitchen, he found the apron without paying much attention to its design and slipped it on effortlessly.

How to put it, Jing Baiyuan, towering at over six feet tall, wore a sleeveless vest beneath his removed jacket. His shoulders boasted solid, powerful muscles, which, paired with the pink apron, created an unusual blend of masculine strength and tenderness.

Jing Baiyuan, with a slight air of melancholy, removed his apron and took a seat on the couch beside the kitchen, observing Chu Li as he ate.

Chu Li was hungry but had no appetite. Sitting on the sofa, he held a small spoon, blowing on the soup and taking tiny bites of his food.

Jing Baiyuan didn't rush him, simply watching quietly from beside.

His gaze landed on the marks on the back of Chu Li's neck, and he couldn't resist touching them. "Has this wound healed?"

Chu Li froze at his touch, responding, "It's long gone, it's been months."

Yes, they had been apart for several months now.

His wandering heart had finally found solace in this moment.

Suddenly, Jing Baiyuan didn't want to be separated from Chu Li anymore. How wonderful it would be if they could always be together from now on.

After finishing his meal, Chu Li felt drowsy and stubbornly refused to leave the sofa. Jing Baiyuan couldn't bear to see him sleep there, so without arguing, he silently bent down, lifted Chu Li from the sofa, and carried him into the master bedroom's bathroom.

Having failed in his attempt to avoid bedtime, Chu Li tried to send Jing Baiyuan away.

But this time, Jing Baiyuan didn't budge. He stood by the empty bathtub, silently observing him.

Chu Li suddenly realized the implications of the mating season in this world. His face flushed before he could voice his thoughts.

Jing Baiyuan said, "Shall I help you with the bath?"

Chu Li: "…."

Chu Li understood that Jing Baiyuan was seeking his consent again.

Perhaps it was due to their earlier conversation, but he no longer felt as fearful. He fidgeted with his clothes awkwardly before finally saying, "Stay."

"What?"

"I said... stay!"

---

Warm water cascaded down, filling the bathtub.

Jing Baiyuan removed his sleeveless vest and squeezed in from outside.

Water overflowed from the brim of the bathtub, cascading onto the floor.

He turned to embrace Chu Li, who still appeared fearful, gently stroking his fingers and whispering, "Don't be afraid."

Then, he leaned in to kiss the nape of his neck.

The marking had already been done, and Jing Baiyuan was no longer apprehensive about it.

Chu Li relaxed marginally, tilting his head slightly to expose his neck, facilitating Jing Baiyuan's actions.

It was the familiar intertwining of pheromones, but this time, their proximity was even closer. When Chu Li let out a muffled groan, Jing Baiyuan didn't allow him to grasp anything else but held his hand, their fingers interlacing.

After that, things became somewhat disordered.

Wave after wave of water spilled from the bathtub, inundating the surroundings.