Chapter 045 Return to Yaoxing 03

Chapter 045: Return to Yaoxing, Part 3

Zhou An was dressed in a pastel yellow tracksuit today, topped with a white sun hat. With rosy lips, pearly white teeth, and a petite figure, his innocent smile made him look quite lively and adorable.

His signature braid hung over his left chest, much as it had when Zhou Younan left Yaoxing.

"Big brother, why didn’t you tell anyone before coming back?" Zhou An asked with a smile, blinking his large eyes innocently at Zhou Younan.

Zhou Younan’s face grew even darker.

*Brother?* That word coming from Zhou An’s mouth was genuinely unsettling.

In truth, Zhou Younan had long since tallied up the good and bad deeds the Zhou family and Zhou An had done to him and Zhou Luo.

Luo Luo getting his ID and being able to attend school, the brothers being fed and housed in the Zhou household, and Zhou Mo looking out for them—these were the good things the Zhou family had done.

The bullying and ignoring it, forcing him to marry Wei Qing—these were the bad things.

In Zhou Younan’s heart, Luo Luo was the most important, while he himself only ranked second. As things stood now, the Zhou family was a wash in his eyes. He had no desire to deal with Zhou An or the Zhou family.

Zhou Younan said flatly, "I wasn’t planning to return to the Zhou family, so there was no need to say hello."

"Who are you?" Wei Qing, standing beside Zhou Younan, asked.

"You must be Marshal Wei Qing, right?" Zhou An’s cheeks flushed slightly as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear and said in an affected tone, "I’m Zhou An, the young master of the Zhou family."

Zhou An’s smile grew even more charming, and a heavy scent drifted through the air.

Catching the scent of Zhou An’s night-blooming cereus pheromones, Zhou Younan was completely confused: *What was this about?*

He frowned at Zhou An.

He still remembered how unwilling Zhou An had been to marry Wei Qing before the wedding. What was he doing now, releasing pheromones right in front of them? Had he changed his mind about Wei Qing after seeing him? His change of heart was way too quick. Did he even know Wei Qing?

Zhou Younan couldn’t understand Zhou An’s thoughts at all.

After releasing his pheromones, Zhou An gave Wei Qing an enchanting, innocent look.

Wei Qing let out a loud sneeze, frowned, and covered his nose, looking utterly disgusted. "What’s that smell? Control your pheromones. It’s choking and disgusting."

Zhou An’s face instantly turned ashen.

His pheromones were the rare and much-coveted epiphyllum scent. From the moment he presented, every Alpha who had smelled his pheromones had been captivated without exception.

"Wh-what?" Zhou An couldn’t believe his ears. He even wondered if he was hallucinating. Someone actually disliked his pheromones? Impossible!

Wei Qing’s frown deepened, his disgust now completely unconcealed. "I said your pheromones are too strong and smell awful."

This time, Zhou An’s smile shattered entirely. He stood frozen in place, seemingly unable to comprehend Wei Qing’s words.

Seeing Zhou An’s expression crumble, Zhou Younan almost laughed out loud.

"Let’s go. The smell here is too strong." Wei Qing, delivering the final insult to Zhou An, pulled Zhou Younan and Zhou Luo along as they hurried past him.

Zhou Younan couldn’t resist glancing back. Zhou An was still standing there, looking completely shattered.

This time, he couldn’t hold back and finally laughed out loud.

Wei Qing gave Zhou Younan’s hand a squeeze, his pale green eyes looking slightly hurt. "Why are you looking at him? His pheromones smell terrible. My nose is assaulted, and instead of comforting me, you’re laughing."

"Terrible? His pheromones are the prized night-blooming cereus scent."

"It’s overpowering. I hate that kind of pheromone, and I hate people who don’t control theirs."

Zhou Younan thought for a moment. He figured Wei Qing’s aversion to Zhou An’s pheromones might also be because of the capsule. Otherwise, how could anyone dislike the epiphyllum scent?

"He was your real fiancé. I was just a substitute when I married you," Zhou Younan told Wei Qing about Zhou An’s identity.

"Doesn’t that mean we’re fated, meant to be?" Wei Qing raised an eyebrow.

Could his words really be interpreted that way? Zhou Younan looked at Wei Qing with amusement.

Wei Qing cocked his head slightly, meeting his gaze with a smile as he slipped an arm around Zhou Younan’s waist.

Already accustomed to such physical contact, Zhou Younan didn’t protest.

*Fine.*

*He could interpret it however he wanted.*

Luo Luo, who was being led by the hand, watched their interaction with wide eyes.

*His brother was actually letting Marshal Wei Qing hold him like this—he must really like the Marshal!*

"Marshal, will you protect my brother?" Luo Luo suddenly asked Wei Qing.

"Of course," Wei Qing replied confidently.

"Forever?" Luo Luo pressed.

Wei Qing crouched down to Luo Luo’s eye level and extended his pinky finger. "We can make a promise. I swear I’ll protect your brother forever."

Luo Luo eagerly went to hook fingers with Wei Qing, but Zhou Younan picked him up. "Kiddo, what do you know about ‘forever’?"

"Brother, I do know. Forever means a long, long time later," Luo Luo said seriously.

"And when is ‘a long, long time later’?" Zhou Younan asked again.

"It’s… it’s… um, when I grow up," Luo Luo answered confidently. "When I’m big, the Marshal will be old, and he won’t be able to protect you anymore. Then I’ll protect you."

"Hey! Brat! Who are you calling old?" Wei Qing angrily made to grab Luo Luo’s head but forced himself to pull back.

Luo Luo clung tighter to Zhou Younan’s neck and fearlessly shot back, "Brother is only 20, and the Marshal is more than ten years older. When I grow up, the Marshal will be old."

"When you grow up, I’ll still be in my prime! How does that make me old?"

Wei Qing went on at length lecturing Luo Luo, his argument being that even when Luo Luo grew up, he’d still be able to protect Zhou Younan.

He also sternly taught Luo Luo that just because he might be old and unable to protect Zhou Younan someday, it didn’t mean Luo Luo could abandon him—that would be heartless.

They were family, after all.

Zhou Younan watched the two of them bicker, his expression softening.

*Family?*

Though it was an illusion, at this moment he truly felt the warmth of home.

It was a very stable and fulfilling feeling, as if nothing could scare him.

*If all of this were real, how wonderful that would be.*

Wei Qing ruffled Zhou Luo’s hair and glanced up at Zhou Younan, whose eyes had softened.

He couldn’t help but think—*if only he weren’t a beastman, if only he were this world’s Alpha.*

Zhou An, having regained his composure, stood frozen as mocking laughter from the crowd reached him. He gritted his teeth in secret.

Turning to look at the distant, harmonious "family," the hatred in Zhou An’s eyes burned hotter.

*Zhou Younan had actually humiliated him in front of everyone! And now he was deliberately rubbing his favor in his face! Disgusting!*

*His good friend Zhu Gejin had been so traumatized by him that he now was terrified of mechas, developing a full-blown mecha phobia! This grudge—Zhou An would definitely repay it!*

*Zhou Younan, your smugness won’t last!*

*I’ll soon win over Marshal Wei Qing.*

*It must be because there are too many people around right now, and Wei Qing is putting on a front, that he deliberately said his pheromones smelled bad.*

Zhou An was utterly convinced—no Alpha could resist his rare ephemeral flower pheromones.

***

"Marshal Wei Qing, hello." A dark-haired, glasses-wearing Beta approached the trio.

"Teacher Fan Ke." Luo Luo greeted his teacher, then grabbed Zhou Younan’s hand and introduced him excitedly, "This is my brother."

"Hello, teacher." Zhou Younan had never met a teacher before, and he couldn’t help feeling a little nervous.

"Hello, I’m Zhou Luo’s homeroom teacher." Fan Ke pushed up his glasses as he introduced himself.

Fan Ke had come to invite Wei Qing to meet the principal, and he invited Zhou Younan and Luo Luo too.

Zhou Younan, remembering the metal box in Luo Luo’s possession, politely declined. He excused himself, saying that after the sports meet, he wanted to take Luo Luo somewhere overnight, and now they needed to pack their things.

Wei Qing left with Fan Ke, while Zhou Younan took Luo Luo’s hand, and the two made their way to his dorm.

Zhou Younan patiently helped Luo Luo pack his belongings, then offhandedly asked, "Where’s that metal box you had?"

Luo Luo, crouched on the floor, pointed under the bed, a little sheepish. "I stuck it under the bed frame. The school doesn’t allow snacks or candy, so I hid it there."

Retrieving the metal box, Zhou Younan felt conflicted.

*If there was still a capsule inside, should he keep dosing Wei Qing?*

*There was no need. He shouldn’t give it to Wei Qing. Now that he was with Luo Luo, his goal of survival had been achieved. His new goal was to escape with Luo Luo.*

Zhou Younan knew moving toward this new goal was the right thing to do, yet he couldn’t shake his gloom, as if he were about to lose something very important.

He looked out the window—the sky was a cloudless blue, and the school’s sports day flag fluttered atop the pole in the distance.

Zhou Younan still didn’t understand what he might lose, but whatever it was, nothing outweighed survival.

Without further hesitation, while Luo Luo was turned away searching for something, Zhou Younan opened the hidden compartment of the metal box.

Inside the bottom layer lay a single green capsule, undisturbed. At the sight of it, Zhou Younan’s first instinct was joy.

Before Zhou Younan could process his thoughts, Wei Qing's voice came from outside the door.

"Younan, Luo Luo."

The voice was right outside. Zhou Younan hurriedly tried to close the metal box.

But the box seemed determined to work against him—it jammed, and the lid wouldn't shut. Footsteps were already nearing. Not wanting Wei Qing to see the capsule, Zhou Younan forced it shut with all his strength.

*Snap—*

Instead of closing, the jammed lid broke clean off.

With a *clang*, the candies and capsule inside the box flew into the air. Zhou Younan's eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the capsule suspended right in front of him.

*This is it!*

He screamed internally.

He reached out, trying to grab the capsule.

Twice, he fumbled.

*Clatter, clatter, clatter—* The candies scattered across the floor, the noise drawing Luo Luo's attention. Seeing all the candies spilled, he let out a shocked cry—"Ah—!"

Zhou Younan had no time to look at Luo Luo. His eyes were locked onto the green capsule.

It landed on his shoe.

Bounced up, describing a perfect arc.

Hit the floor.

Then, bouncing erratically, it skipped toward the door.

Zhou Younan immediately chased after it—*Maybe I can still catch it.*

*Like hell I can!*

The capsule didn't make it out the door. Wei Qing appeared right in the doorway. The capsule collided with his pant leg, ricocheted, and rolled back into the dorm.

Helpless, he watched as the capsule slipped past him. Zhou Younan was sure its bouncing path was taunting him.

He had already missed the capsule, but his momentum kept him lunging forward. He crashed squarely into Wei Qing and landed hard on his butt.

Wei Qing helped him up, puzzled. "What are you doing?"

"N-nothing." Zhou Younan's face flushed red—in frustration.

At this point, he felt completely stupid. *Why did I lose my mind and try to force it? Where was my rationality? Where did it go?*

Though he dismissed it, his eyes involuntarily flicked around, searching for the capsule that had rolled back inside.

"Looking for something?" Wei Qing followed Zhou Younan's gaze, scanning the floor.

Neither of them found anything.

"Brother, are you okay?" Luo Luo approached with concern.

"I'm fine." Zhou Younan shifted his stance, angling himself, and scanned the floor again.

Still nothing. Where did that capsule go?

"Ge, are you looking for this?" Luo Luo held out his left palm in front of Zhou Younan.

In his palm was precisely that green capsule.

Zhou Younan and Luo Luo locked eyes over the green capsule.

"What is this?" Wei Qing leaned in and asked.

"I don't know." Luo Luo cast a mournful glance at the candies scattered everywhere and pouted, saying petulantly, "These aren’t my candies."

Both of them turned their curious gazes toward Zhou Younan, whose forehead was beaded with sweat.

"Haha," he gave a hollow laugh and shrugged. "Search me."

"You don't know? Then why were you chasing it?" Wei Qing frowned. He took the capsule from Luo Luo’s hand, sniffed it, and muttered, "I think I’ve smelled this scent somewhere before."

Hearing this, Zhou Younan’s hair stood on end.

Where else could Wei Qing have smelled this before?

Other than on their wedding day, when Zhou Younan had held the capsule between his teeth and given it to Wei Qing in a kiss, where else could he have encountered this smell?

Wei Qing then held the capsule up to his eyes for a closer look. "There’s liquid inside. I guess it might be some kind of medicine."

This time, a full-body shudder ran through Zhou Younan.

He couldn’t let this go any further!

The fact that he had fed Wei Qing the capsule could never be discovered!

Zhou Younan stepped forward and took the capsule from Wei Qing.

He hurried to the dormitory window, spun 360 degrees with a pitcher's windup, and launched the capsule into the distance.

"Hey." Wei Qing stood dumbfounded. He turned his gaze back from the window and asked Zhou Younan, "Why did you throw it away?"

With the capsule gone, the crisis was averted. Zhou Younan breathed a sigh of relief.

Instead of answering Wei Qing’s question, he kissed him on the lips.

Then, tilting his head with a playful grin, he said, "Someone once told me that you should never keep medicine you find lying around. You have to throw it away, or you might get sick."

Wei Qing’s furrowed brows relaxed. He took Zhou Younan’s hand, his face filled with adoration. "You’re always thinking of me! You really do think about me all the time!"