Chapter 109

Chapter 109

"Is this helpful?"

Ling Pei responded with a low, hoarse grunt.

Yi Ye fell silent.

The silent meeting room was empty. The space Ling Pei had casually pulled him into had tightly drawn curtains, and the air was heavy and oppressive, evoking a sense of inexplicable restlessness.

Yi Ye's hand was tightly enveloped by Ling Pei's large hand. His hand was much bigger, with long fingers marked by the thick calluses from years of battle. His body temperature was scorching, and soon a dense layer of sweat seeped out, soaking Yi Ye's skin.

For the first meeting, Yi Ye had specifically dressed in a suit today, with a shirt and jacket that were not light. Gradually, he began to feel the heat. He wanted to ask Ling Pei to let go, but when he looked at that handsome face, now strained to the breaking point, he slightly opened his mouth but couldn't bring himself to say it.

His perception of Ling Pei had always been complex.

He knew very well that, no matter how similar Ling Pei was to Jiang Duming, Ling Pei was not him. Ling Pei was an independent individual, a great general with illustrious military achievements, with a life trajectory entirely different from anyone else in the universe. But when he saw that face, those eyes, he couldn't help but think of Jiang Duming.

Because the relationship between him and Jiang Duming was not something that could be summarized merely as former comrades.

They had once had a fierce argument, which became known throughout the military. After that, Yi Ye left, spending his days holed up at home, staring at his legs. Sometimes he wanted to burn the house down and be done with it, but other times he felt he didn't have the right.

He knew Jiang Duming must hate him, so during that time, he wanted to see him but didn't dare.

Until his death, he never got to see Jiang Duming again.

After coming to this world, Yi Ye resolved to let go of everything and focus on his tasks, but he never expected to meet Ling Pei.

When that familiar face appeared in his world again, his first reaction was to retreat. But when he realized this person couldn't possibly be Jiang Duming, he felt a pang of regret.

He still owed Jiang Duming many words, words he hadn't been able to say properly. But perhaps, there would never be a chance to clarify those words between them.

Yi Ye sighed helplessly, feeling disgusted with himself for thinking of Jiang Duming while looking at Ling Pei.

Perhaps out of a sense of guilt stemming from this, he spoke again: "General, do you really not need my help?"

He didn't know how intense an Alpha's rut could be, but in physiology class, the teacher had said that the stronger the Alpha, the more they needed an Omega's pheromones to soothe them. Staying here with a Beta like him wasn't a long-term solution. Going to the hospital, there must be a way.

Ling Pei still shook his head.

Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, his chest heaving violently, clearly at the limit of his endurance. His mind was being torn apart by a mix of ice and fire, the grip on Yi Ye's hand uncontrollably tightening, almost to the point of crushing bones. But the youth didn't make a sound, instead continuously asking if he needed help.

That face, now blurring in his vision, was startlingly pale, with faintly red lips and a bone structure so perfect it was flawless, exuding an intoxicatingly pleasant scent.

Ling Pei felt a ravenous hunger, constantly swallowing saliva, like a beast with food in front of it but too afraid to approach.

"It's... fine..."

He squeezed out the words one by one.

These two words were like a lifeline, barely holding onto his fragile clarity.

Yi Ye was still young, with a promising future ahead. He couldn't force the other because of his own desires, even though his mind was crazily wanting to draw warmth and moisture from the other. The consequences afterward were definitely not what Ling Pei wanted to see. Even if Yi Ye asked countless times if he needed other help, he had to say no.

Yi Ye furrowed his brows. Ling Pei was pushing himself too hard; there was nothing about his current state that matched the words "it's fine." The sweat on his forehead alone could drown someone.

Remembering the handkerchief folded and tucked in his chest, Yi Ye said, "Let go for a moment, General."

Ling Pei immediately tightened his grip.

"Are you leaving?" he asked, his voice urgent.

"I'm not leaving, just getting a handkerchief. You're sweating all over your face."

"I don't need it," he insisted.

He stubbornly lowered his head, almost like a child.

Yi Ye instantly knew he wasn’t in his right mind.

After repeatedly asking him to let go and being bluntly refused, Yi Ye pressed his lips together, his delicate brows cold as ink. "Ling Pei, enough. Let go."

The youth deliberately maintained a cold demeanor, a chill radiating from him that left Ling Pei slightly stunned, staring in surprise.

"I won’t say it again. Let go."

"Are you angry?"

The supreme general, who stood above all others, quickly let go, as obedient as a big dog.

"No."

Yi Ye's hand was already red from the tight grip, but he never cried out in pain. Only after Ling Pei let go did he realize how much force he’d used. He opened his mouth to apologize but stopped abruptly, his pupils narrowing.

Yi Ye took the handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Ling Pei's forehead, his tone patient. "How did you handle your rut before? Just tough it out?"

Ling Pei didn’t dare move, bending awkwardly to make it easier for Yi Ye to wipe his sweat, his gaze burning as he stared at the youth’s face.

"The legion has specialized sedatives for 3S—five injections a day, and it’s over in a week."

"That long?" Yi Ye asked.

Being an Alpha is truly painful.

"Does the Senate have any sedatives? At least to get you home safely."

"The sedatives here don’t work on me."

As Yi Ye’s hand brushed his cheek, Ling Pei took a deep breath. "Do you really want to help me?"

Yi Ye nodded without hesitation.

Ling Pei swallowed, his tone as serious as a marriage proposal. "Could you let me... smell your gland?"

Yi Ye instinctively reached for the back of his neck.

"I don’t have pheromones. Will it still work?"

"It will," Ling Pei assured him.

"Please... let me... Yi Ye..."

The moment Yi Ye silently agreed, Ling Pei lunged forward, pulling him into a tight embrace. The door slammed with a loud crash, Yi Ye’s back hitting it with a slight pain, making him grunt. Then a wave of hot breath enveloped his gland. His neck was more sensitive than most, and the heat from Ling Pei's breath made his body tremble uncontrollably.

"Wait, wait... it’s ticklish..."

Ling Pei ignored the words, his nose nuzzling Yi Ye’s neck, the aggressive invasion making Yi Ye’s scalp tingle, the handkerchief falling to the ground during the struggle.

He urgently pressed Ling Pei's shoulders, commanding him to stop in a cold tone, but Ling Pei was like a beast freed from its shackles, half his face buried in Yi Ye's back and neck, his nose pressing against the skin, his hot and wild breath pressing against the underdeveloped gland.

He was incredibly strong; Yi Ye was lifted off the ground, his feet dangling in the air, flailing desperately.

"Ling Pei!"

"You let me."

A muffled, hoarse voice seemed to come from deep within.

Ling Pei breathed heavily, inhaling the youth's scent. He thought just pressing against Yi Ye's skin to smell him would suffice, but strangely, as if in a dream, he caught a faint, almost imperceptible trace of pheromone from the incomplete gland.

This shouldn’t be possible—Yi Ye was a beta, so he couldn’t have pheromones.

But he really smelled it.

The scent was indescribable—pure and spotless, yet warm enough to embrace the entire world.

The last thread of Ling Pei's restraint snapped. Excited like a dragon discovering an ancient treasure, his pupils dilated violently, and his grip on Yi Ye grew tighter. Ignoring Yi Ye's struggles, he roughly pulled him into his embrace, messing up his hair and collar.

"You smell so good, Yi Ye..."

When all restraint and disguise are stripped away, an Alpha is left with nothing but primal male desire.

The pheromone in Yi Ye's gland was addictive; just a faint whiff drove Ling Pei to the brink of madness.

"Let me go! Stop!"

With his feet dangling, he pushed against Ling Pei, but the size difference made his efforts feel like mere tickles.

He didn’t understand Ling Pei’s obsession with his gland and deeply regretted allowing it out of guilt.

Are Alphas always this crazy during rut?!

His frail body trembled under the Alpha's overpowering strength. Yi Ye gritted his teeth and bit down hard on Ling Pei's shoulder. Blood seeped through the fabric, the metallic taste nauseating. But it had no effect; instead, it only fueled the Alpha's frenzy!

Until, in the struggle, his head accidentally hit the door. The loud bang snapped Ling Pei back to reality.

He touched Yi Ye's head, asking, "Did it hurt?"

"Let me down!"

Yi Ye thrashed so much that sweat formed on his pale cheeks, his face cold with regret as he glared at Ling Pei.

Seeing him like this made Ling Pei's throat feel even drier.

"Sorry, but your gland—"

Before he could finish, a knock on the door interrupted.

"Is anyone in there?"

Yi Ye gasped, afraid Ling Pei might speak, and quickly covered his mouth with his hand. The heavy breathing was muffled by his palm, the heat palpable.

Hearing no response, the person outside tried to turn the doorknob.

Yi Ye's heart skipped a beat.

But fortunately, Ling Pei had locked the door when they came in.

"Strange, why is the door locked if no one's here... Never mind, let's find another room."

Yi Ye let out a sigh of relief.

But then, he heard voices outside the door.

"You haven’t been in the Senate for long, so there are many things to pay attention to. I’ll take you to meet the Vice Speaker later."

"Alright, thank you for your trouble."

Another cold voice chimed in.

What the hell?!

Is that who I think it is?!

"But you’re quite impressive. I’ve never seen a student from the Imperial Honor Military Academy enter the Senate before graduation. Once the holiday’s over, you’ll have to head back to... Emperor’s Star, right?"

Outside the door, Bai Chuan, dressed in a black shirt and suit, wore a faint smile: "So I’m just here to help out temporarily. I’m not yet qualified to be a formal Member of Parliament."

"Oh, you’ll definitely make it. I’ve seen your name in the news several times, along with your brother’s. Even though many in the Senate don’t think much of him, I believe your brother could really make a difference..."

The Member of Parliament kept rambling.

Bai Chuan seemed to listen attentively, but inside, he was indifferent.

He glanced at the tightly closed door and suddenly caught a faint whiff of pheromones coming through the crack.

"Oh, by the way, wasn’t your brother at the meeting today? I heard it didn’t go well, and it seems it ended early, so he left."

"...When did he leave?"

"About ten minutes ago, I guess."

Bai Chuan stood in front of the door, his eyes darkening as he said, "Is that so?"