Chapter 22 Aggressive Kiss

Chapter 22: The Ravaging Kiss

Zhu Zhixi suddenly stopped struggling, his body going rigid.

The pain hadn’t fully subsided yet, and tears were still spilling uncontrollably from his eyes. In his blurred vision, Fu Rangyi’s face burned into Zhu's sight with painful clarity.

Amidst panting breaths, the heat of his breath ghosting across Zhu's skin jolted him awake.

He reached out, trying to break free again, but the more he resisted, the deeper and more relentless the kiss became. The Alpha dominance hidden within SA genes erupted completely. The insurmountable physiological gap left him gradually losing the ability to fight back, forced to endure it.

* Bastard!*

My first kiss…

With just a moment of slackness, his teeth were forced apart by the insistent press of a tongue. Zhu Zhixi choked out a sound, thrashing like a trapped animal, his mind flashing to the image of Fu Rangyi forcing out the capsule. Startled, he desperately slapped at the shoulders pressing down on him—only to make things worse.

His hand was seized, and in the struggle, the bracelet on his wrist snapped. Ice-blue beads scattered in a clatter, bouncing and rolling across the floor.

Meanwhile, his twisting waist was gripped tightly.

The tongue ravaged and stirred with rough dominance, like a scorching little snake, delving deeper and deeper. It was ticklish yet suffocating, the sharp canines dragging deliberately over his incisors, making them ache. Gradually, tears streamed down his face, and though he wanted to cough, he couldn’t. A silver strand of spit connected their lips.

No…

Zhu Zhixi struggled to think clearly when he suddenly noticed the hand on his waist loosening bit by bit.

When he stopped struggling weakly, Fu Rangyi, in turn, became less aggressive. The invasive kiss softened considerably. Amidst the slick, filthy noise of their mouths, a wet tongue slid out, teasing the roof of his mouth and the edges of his teeth—bizarrely, it even deliberately brushed against his front teeth.

“Mmm…” Zhu Zhixi shuddered all over, nearly biting down.

But he held back, afraid that actually biting might provoke Fu Rangyi further.

What did chastity matter? What did Beta Morals matter? A little initiative could lead him into love's sweet trap to save his life, but too much would only land him in an early grave.

Lost in these chaotic thoughts, the out-of-control Alpha suddenly withdrew, a shining string of spit stretching between their lips.

He, too, seemed breathless, taking a deep inhale before leaning in again—but this time, instead of pressing against his lips, he aimed slightly higher, letting his soft mouth brush Zhu Zhixi’s cheek.

“Glutinous rice dumpling…” (Note: This is an affectionate nickname referring to someone cute or sweet.) he murmured, voice gone rough and syrupy, before opening his mouth to give a light, deliberate bite.

“Ah—”

Before Zhu Zhixi could react, Fu Rangyi kissed him again, stealing his breath and protests alike. Zhu Zhixi’s furrowed brows relaxed, then tensed once more as he closed his eyes.

He wanted to stay clear-headed, but…

Fu Rangyi knew exactly how to wreck him.

For some reason, his mood wasn’t great, and he let out an unconscious whimper, his hands gripping the dip of Fu Rangyi’s spine.

Soon, he noticed Fu Rangyi’s movements suddenly gentling again, no longer pressing so tightly, leaving him plenty of room to breathe—though his tongue was still held captive.

Would he ease up if given a little response?

So Zhu Zhixi hesitantly raised his left hand, carefully looping it around Fu Rangyi’s neck. His fingers trailed upward, stopping at the nape. At the same time, he extended the very tip of his tongue, tasting something precious, flicking lightly against Fu Rangyi’s tongue and teeth while gently kneading the spot over his Scent Gland.

Fu Rangyi’s breathing abruptly grew heavy and ragged, his brows furrowing as low, rough groans escaped his throat.

Hearing those sounds, Zhu Zhixi felt as if something was shifting within him too.

But survival instinct crushed every other urge.

He forced himself to come to his senses, quietly opened his eyes, and while Fu Rangyi was completely immersed, sneaked his other hand into his hoodie pocket, pulled something out, popped open the clear cap with his thumb, and jabbed upward.

The needle sank into his bicep. Fu Rangyi opened his eyes, slowly turned his head, and stared at the sedative being injected. Looking almost betrayed, he tilted his face slightly and fixed his gaze on Zhu Zhixi, blinking slowly.

Soon, he collapsed, unconscious. But his hand still hadn’t gone limp—it remained tightly clenched around the same hand that had just worked over his scent gland.

"Fu Rangyi, you're actually insane..."

Zhu Zhixi panted, his face flushed red. He tried to pull his hand free but couldn’t, so he had to use his right hand to peel back the fingers one by one, wrenching his left hand free like uprooting a carrot.

This was terrifying.

You'd have to be a saint to resist that. Zhu Zhixi had never been prouder of himself—what kind of mind, what kind of willpower was this!

Saint Zhu shook out his hand, and the glowing countdown timer streaked like a meteor.

Dizzy already, the quick look made his vision swim. He quickly stopped.

But when he looked again, his jaw dropped.

[47 days 01 hour 42 minutes 05 seconds]

[47 days 01 hour 42 minutes 06 seconds]

07, 08, 09...

[47 days 01 hour 42 minutes 10 seconds]

His eyes widened.

The countdown was actually reversing! It kept going backward without stopping.

That wasn't kissing—that was mouth-to-mouth!

This was undoubtedly a jolt of energy for the exhausted Zhu Zhixi. Pumped with adrenaline, he thrashed about and accidentally pressed on some small object.

Squeak—

Annoying.

Hearing the sound, Fu Rangyi suddenly woke up. His head throbbed with pain, and some round thing was jabbing his kidneys. His vision was a dark, shapeless void. It took him several seconds to realize he was wearing a blindfold.

He shifted slightly and pressed on it again.

Squeak squeak—

Confirmed. That damn squeaky duck nurse button.

He wanted to remove the blindfold and get rid of the duck, but he couldn’t. His hands were wrenched behind him and tied up tight.

Moving his fingers, he could feel the wooden panel behind him, its grain familiar—definitely the headboard. Further down was a soft pillow.

"Quit squirming."

In the darkness, he heard footsteps approaching, closer and closer, until they stopped right in front of him.

"It only gets tighter if you fight it."

Zhu Zhixi's voice.

Unable to see or touch, only hearing the voice sent him into a frenzy. He couldn't make sense of a word, only wanting to break free with brute force. As he struggled, his body went off-balance, tipping sideways and sinking into softness.

He heard a long sigh, and soon, the right side of the bed dipped slightly.

"I stayed out of kindness to take care of you, and this is how you repay me? You lied to me and bit me."

When did I... Fu Rangyi's head throbbed terribly.

What nonsense is this?

Zhu Zhixi's tone was fiercer than usual, his words rapid. After finishing in one breath, he inhaled sharply, then muttered under his breath, "You little monster. No limits to what you'll do."

Who's the real villain here?

Is there anyone worse than you?

He was pulled upright. A warm hand pushed against his chest, positioning him back into a sitting position against the headboard.

"Open your mouth."

Still dazed and confused, he didn't react in time before a straw nudged against his lips.

"Drink."

Another sigh.

"It's nutrient drink, not poisoned. Didn't you just beg for water? Or did you actually eat and just wanted to trick me into leaving?"

His voice grew faster, his breathing ragged, as if angry. "Fu Rangyi, how can you be this awful? I really thought you were awake—I was actually relieved. Luckily, I'm smart enough to have a contingency..."

*Trick?*

"Fine, don't drink then."

His memories were hazy, tangled up in his mind. He couldn't recall or understand what Zhu Zhixi was talking about. All he felt was heat—so much heat—and lower down, he was burning up.

"Forget it." Fu Rangyi tilted his head back, thumping it repeatedly against the headboard. The lock of the bite guard clinked against the tiles.

"Not a chance. Forget it. I won't trust you again."

*Why?*

Hearing this, Fu Rangyi suddenly felt a sting of hurt.

But the next second, he was jerked closer, feeling the other's body heat as they drew nearer. Moments later, the grip loosened, pushing him back into place—though this time, a pillow cushioned the back of his head.

"Stop struggling, or I'll really lose my temper. And when I'm angry, I throw punches."

Punches...

It was unbearable, as if fire ants were under his skin, chewing through his marrow.

He panted raggedly. "The blindfold..."

"The blindfold stays on. I won't—"

A prolonged buzzing appeared, Zhu Zhixi's voice abruptly cutting off. Soon after, he was talking to someone else now.

A wave of inexplicable frustration rose up.

His canines throbbed, unbearably itchy. Fu Rangyi ground them together harshly.

"Oh, so now you have time to call me back?" Zhu Zhixi didn’t put the call on speaker, his tone sarcastic, yet it somehow sounded weirdly intimate to his ears. "No, are you playing some kind of prank on me? I nearly—"

He abruptly fell silent.

Fu Rangyi took a deep breath, trying to suppress the ringing in his ears so he could hear more clearly. He heard the door open, footsteps approach, then the door close. After that, everything became muffled.

*Who's there?*

His aggression was impossible to hide, his teeth grinding loudly.

After shutting the door, Zhu Zhixi glanced back to confirm, then stepped into the hallway.

"...I almost got bitten to death by him!" he whispered angrily. "Not exaggerating—I swear I saw the pearly gates coming to get me!"

Li Jiao sounded utterly shocked. "No way. Wasn't he wearing a muzzle? Did you take it off? I warned you a thousand times not to—"

"How dare you turn this around on me!" Zhu Zhixi was so furious he nearly pressed his fingers to his forehead, his nape throbbing with pain.

"Bro, is the muzzle’s password just for show? Total junk! I just stepped out to grab something, and when I came back, he'd already gotten free!"

"Absolutely impossible," Li Jiao insisted firmly. "I swear on my medical ethics—without the password and operational permissions, there’s no way it could’ve opened."

You have medical ethics?

Zhu Zhixi narrowed his eyes. "Then you must've remotely unlocked it for him. Definitely."

"I swear to god! I was hauling ass to my flight all afternoon and just got my phone back. If I'm lying, I'll eat my hat!"

"You Alphas are dogs anyway!"

"Hold on, let me check your earlier messages. Why did you send so many?" Li Jiao paused briefly. "So... you first injected the suppressant, then gave him the oral solution to restore cognitive function, right?"

"Yeah." He sounded less sure of himself at the question.

"Well no shit. That explains everything."

Li Jiao, seemingly hiding somewhere, kept his voice low. "The correct medication sequence is to first use the capsule to lower libido, then the oral solution to restore cognitive function. Once the pheromone levels stabilize, administer the injection. That’s the most effective method with the least side effects."

"The higher the Alpha’s rank, the stronger their reproductive instincts during rut—it’s hardwired in their DNA. If you directly inject the suppressant during the peak phase, his physiological instincts feel threatened, triggering survival instincts. Of course, there’d be a rebound effect. Every SA would—"

Zhu Zhixi clutched his neck, cutting him off. "You never mentioned that! How is this my fault, bro?"

"I—I was hauling ass to my flight!" Li Jiao retorted. "And you even gave him the oral solution to restore his thinking ability? Jesus Christ, that’s like giving a horny wolf a genius IQ—he’ll stop at nothing to mate! Of course he’d trick you! Con you out of your last damn thread..."

Zhu Zhixi: "...My boxers are right where they belong."

"So... if we'd actually done it, what then?"

Zhu Zhixi snorted. "If that had happened, we'd already be stuck together like glue. Would I still be chatting with you?"

Li Jiao froze for a second before bursting into laughter, then quickly muffled it, lowering his voice. "Do you always talk to Fu Rangyi like this? How has he not had an aneurysm?"

"I’m planning to hit him with worse insults from now on!"

Zhu Zhixi was so mad it made his head pound.

"Good thing I stayed sharp. I had a feeling Fu Rangyi wouldn’t regain his senses so easily, so I grabbed a sedative along with the thermal nutrient solution and stuffed it in my pocket. Otherwise, this little Beta would’ve been screwed!"

"How is he now? Is he stable?"

Zhu Zhixi cracked open the bedroom door and took a glance, immediately startled. How the hell did *his knot* even fit in there? Wouldn’t that kill him?

As someone on the verge of death, Zhu Zhixi’s brain naturally conjured up images of such a demise.

No, that’s way too undignified.

"...Still in wolf-dog mode. Hasn’t turned back into a doctor yet."

After saying that, Zhu Zhixi added, "Is that junk capsule of yours even working? I don’t see it doing squat."

"It’s a new drug, and you didn’t follow the instructions... Just lock him up and walk away. It’s not the first time—he won’t die."

Zhu Zhixi frowned. "Damn, you’re cold. And you call yourself a good friend!"

"What? He came on too strong! At worst, marital..."

*Kiss.*

He choked on the last word.

Seeing Fu Rangyi like this, he couldn’t help but feel guilty. Watching him suffer left Zhu Zhixi feeling stuffy and off.

Even though he had forced a kiss, that kiss had somehow worked out surprisingly well.

Even if just to repay the favor, he should stay.

Besides, all that crap I pulled earlier must’ve made him pretty miserable too...

"If you really can’t bear it, just tie him up, keep the muzzle on, so he can’t attack you. Check on him every now and then, cool him off manually. Honestly, Alphas get all needy, antsy, and moody when they’re in rut. Just treat him like you would a pet."

Like...a pet?

Zhu Zhixi blinked, about to ask for more advice, when suddenly there was a crash from the bedroom.

"What happened?" He immediately pushed the door open and found Dr. Dog slumped in front of the nightstand. The lamp had been knocked over and shattered on the floor.

Blindfolded and bound, Fu Rangyi struggled to turn toward Zhu Zhixi, fighting the restraints like a wild animal. His voice was hoarse, and his tone even fiercer than before.

"Who were you talking to...?"

"Me?" Zhu Zhixi was baffled. "Your med school friend—the one you told me to go see for..."

Fu Rangyi suddenly grew even more agitated.

Now what? What’s up with him?

Afraid he’d fall, Zhu Zhixi quickly hung up and rushed over, catching Fu Rangyi by the shoulders to steady him. He propped him up like an oversized stuffed animal, even absentmindedly patting him.

Strangely enough, Fu Rangyi in his grip seemed to calm down considerably.

*Must’ve remembered who was on the phone.* Zhu Zhixi thought.

Yet the next moment, a weight settled on his shoulder. Fu Rangyi suddenly leaned against him with unexpected gentleness, pressing so close that Zhu Zhixi could feel the powerful heartbeat pounding against his chest.

The metal bars of the muzzle pressed against the side of his neck, so cold it made Zhu Zhixi shiver, while searing and uneven breaths ghosted over his skin.

"Stop squirming... it tickles."

Blindfolded and muzzled, Fu Rangyi struggled to locate him by scent, though it seemed an almost impossible task for him, fumbling repeatedly before stilling.

Then, he nuzzled insistently into the curve of Zhu Zhixi’s shoulder before lowering his head, burying his face deeper into the crook of his neck.

"Hug. More."

The man who hated hugs the most was now asking for one?

Zhu Zhixi’s worldview wobbled.

Did ruts really warp Alphas this badly? How had Fu Rangyi coped before marriage? Who’d ever been there for him?

His thoughts drifted to Fu Rangyi’s family, to the image of him locking himself away, curled up in a tent.

Chances were, no one ever had.

Once again, he recalled those words whispered in the dark—*Thank you*—each syllable like a hairline fracture in china, fragile and precarious.

"Fine."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Zhu Zhixi muttered a half-hearted warning, "You’re the one who asked for this. Don’t come after me when you wake up."

With that, he shifted closer on the bed, parting his knees slightly as he wrapped his arms around Fu Rangyi, still bound, pulling him in.

The difference in their builds was stark. Fu Rangyi was taller, broader-shouldered, and in this position, Zhu Zhixi might as well have been the one cradled.

Fu Rangyi’s face burned against him, his breaths scorching into Zhu Zhixi’s neck and shoulder, the heat seeping deeper with every exhale. The sound of his labored, restrained panting near his ear threw Zhu Zhixi off balance.

Li Jiao’s words echoed in his mind.

*Alphas are just big cats or dogs during their rut—clingy, anxious, emotional. Just treat him like you would a pet.*

Like calming a pet?

Zhu Zhixi closed his eyes and moved his hand, gently stroking Fu Rangyi’s back a few times.

That seemed to do the trick. Fu Rangyi melted further against him, his breathing growing quicker as he pressed even closer, his bound hands twitching upward slightly, as if trying to reach for Zhu Zhixi’s touch.

But he couldn’t quite manage it.

The moment Zhu Zhixi paused, Fu Rangyi murmured, "More."

His voice was still cool, but his tone was nothing like usual—breathy, unsteady, laced with something indecent.

Making demands now, are we...?" Zhu Zhixi pretended not to hear, letting the silence stretch.

When no new caresses came, the blindfolded Alpha suddenly lifted his head, pressing close to Zhu Zhixi’s ear with a nuzzle.

"Touch me more." The cold muzzle brushed his earlobe, raising goosebumps.

Zhu Zhixi twitched but forced composure, huffing, "Making demands now, are we...? I should send you to a cat café to work, that’d teach you manners."

He gritted his teeth and kept going—stroking Fu Rangyi’s back, patting his shoulder, running fingers along his neck and scent gland, even ruffling his short hair like he would a cat’s.

"Is this... helping at all?"

No response.

Fu Rangyi seemed completely incapable of processing words, his breathing only growing heavier as he pressed closer with increasing urgency against Zhu Zhixi's cheek.

"Hey, stop moving..." Zhu Zhixi tried to pull away but couldn’t. The moment his hands stilled, Fu Rangyi would shoulder-check and grind against him. Zhu Zhixi, thrown off balance, braced one hand against the bed, half-closing his eyes while the other moved uncertainly over Fu Rangyi’s body.

Until his fingers brushed against the scars on Fu Rangyi’s arm.

It didn't feel like normal scarring—more like raised spikes, thin and sharp as razor blades. The moment he touched them, Zhu Zhixi jerked at the sharp contact.

But he didn’t pull away. If Fu Rangyi ever truly came back to himself and returned to his usual self, these marks would never be shown to anyone again. Slowly, he traced them, inch by inch, line by line. The long, dense scars were slightly raised, like frost-etched waves. But they would never melt away.

Taking a deep breath, he enclosed the wounded forearm in his palm.

"Fu Rangyi."

No response. He wasn’t sure if his words could even be heard, but he spoke anyway, measured, syllable by syllable, afraid they wouldn’t register.

"You’re an Alpha. When you're in rut, your instincts will take over—it’s all normal. You didn’t choose this, so it’s not your fault." His voice grew quieter, but his embrace tightened.

"Don’t hurt yourself, okay?"

Fu Rangyi still didn’t answer, but his breathing deepened, his grip on Zhu Zhixi tightening more than before. As Zhu Zhixi’s hand trailed downward, he could feel the pulse beneath his fingers—vital and pounding.

Only after a long pause did he finally hear a response.

"I want... to see you."

"No." Zhu Zhixi refused firmly, keeping the blindfold firmly in place.

"Want to see..."

"No. You have to listen to the doctor."

A lie. Li Jiao had never said that.

But when binding Fu Rangyi’s hands earlier, Zhu Zhixi had seen the tears escape from the corners of his eyes.

He was afraid—if this man woke up and looked at him with those same damp eyes again, his resolve would crumble. He’d undo the restraints, just to get manhandled again.

Fu Rangyi didn’t press further. Instead, he insisted his wrists back into Zhu Zhixi’s hold, only seeming to relax once Zhu Zhixi began stroking and cradling them again. His breathing trembled, his voice still breakable, sounding fragile.

"You... are good. I need you..."

Zhu Zhixi froze for a second.

Why did he sound so sweet during his rut? Usually so quick with comebacks, Zhu Zhixi suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

After a pause, he put on an exaggerated tone, "Do you even know who I am? Saying you need me like that..."

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Because now, against his will, he was nervous—waiting for an answer he couldn’t stop himself from anticipating.

Fu Rangyi leaned into him harder, nearly folding Zhu Zhixi in half at the waist. Suddenly, he lifted his head from Zhu Zhixi’s neck and, despite the blindfold, found Zhu Zhixi’s face with unsettling accuracy. The muzzle pressed against his nose, pushing forward.

"Hey, you’re squishing my nose," Zhu Zhixi complained, flinching back.

Fu Rangyi followed relentlessly, tilting his head until the muzzle accidentally brushed Zhu Zhixi’s still-tender lips.

Then, abruptly, he spoke.

"My wife."

Author’s Note:

Just one more chapter left of their messy, rut-driven struggle! A quick note—Teacher Fu’s condition isn’t the same as sex addiction, so don’t confuse the two. It’s caused by years of relying on suppressants and manifests in various symptoms—sometimes depression, anxiety, other times insomnia, headaches, nausea. Each cycle can be different. This time was especially severe due to a bad reaction and external triggers, leading to an early onset (and also, after Xiao Zhu appeared, he’s not so 'above it all' anymore).