Chapter 29

Chapter 29

That gloomy gaze wasn’t so much asking, “Do you want to interfere?” as it was bluntly confirming, “Do you want to die?”

He felt like the other man could lunge forward and snap his neck at any second.

A primal, bone-deep fear made the guy forget his original intentions, and he stammered out an explanation.

“N-no, that’s not what I meant. I was just talking nonsense, just nonsense. S-sorry for interrupting. W-wishing you a happily ever after.”

He slunk away, putting as much distance between himself and the two as possible, turning his back to them—clearly wanting nothing more to do with them.

Only after a while did it dawn on him why he had felt such crushing pressure.

—That man was a *Quality Alpha*.

The guy grew even more confused, stealing glances at Li Yang and Ying Xi out of the corner of his eye.

Though the two looked compatible standing together, that *Quality Alpha* clearly had an elite status. So why was he with an ordinary Beta?

They definitely couldn’t be a real couple.

No *Quality Alpha* would ever be with a Beta, not permanently.

So far, out of the thousands of couples who had tried, every single one had broken up for the same reason.

An Alpha couldn’t mark a Beta, and a Beta couldn’t release pheromones to ease an Alpha’s rut.

A rank odor invaded his nostrils, and Li Yang raised a hand to cover his nose, turning to Ying Xi as he tried to speak calmly. “Did you release pheromones?”

The scent wasn’t mixed—it seemed to belong to just one person—but he couldn’t tell if it was Ying Xi’s.

It was completely different from the usual nauseating scent.

“No.” Ying Xi tilted his head, gaze landing somewhere in the distance as he pressed his wristband. “Someone’s pheromones are out of control.”

“Damn it, who the hell comes to a haunted house during their heat?”

“Who is it?”

“I smell it too—get it under control, quick.”

The murmurs grew louder as everyone turned to look at the Omega who couldn’t control their pheromones.

“S-sorry,” the person stammered, awkwardly covering the back of their neck as they apologized. “I’m not in heat yet, I just *presented*, and my pheromones are unstable. My suppressant patch fell off… I’ll leave right away. I really didn’t mean to.”

Most of the Alphas nearby were affected, their faces flushing, eyes glazed and unfocused as they unconsciously moved closer.

The Omega could only curl in on themselves. “Don’t get too close to me.”

A voice came from Ying Xi’s wristband as he spoke calmly, “There’s someone here with out-of-control pheromones. Please bring suppressant patches.”

“One moment,” a staff member replied.

Ten seconds later, an NPC hiding nearby received the order and rushed over, applying a suppressant patch onto the Omega’s neck.

The pheromone-addled Alphas snapped out of it, grumbling in discomfort.

The Omega was led out early by the NPC, and the surroundings returned to normal.

Watching the scene unfold, Li Yang once again felt this world was terrifying.

He wanted to continue solving the puzzle but noticed Ying Xi silently staring at him.

“What’s wrong?” Li Yang managed a stiff smile, his breath brushing against his fingers before he remembered he was still covering his nose. He lowered his hand. “There was a musty smell earlier. Did you notice?”

“Can I get closer to you?” Ying Xi asked instead of answering.

Li Yang blinked in confusion. “Why?”

“I want to confirm something.”

“...Fine.” Li Yang nodded, bracing himself.

Ying Xi stepped closer, then slowly leaned in, almost nuzzling his face against Li Yang’s neck.

They weren’t actually touching, but to an outsider, it would look like they were pressed flush together—an intimate posture that hinted at an unusual relationship.

The moment he felt Ying Xi’s breath skim his skin, Li Yang’s eyes widened, gooseflesh prickling all over his body as an electric current shot down his spine.

His body inexplicably heated up, his breathing turning shallow. He looked down at the face so close to his—if he lowered his head just a bit more, his chin would brush against Ying Xi’s cheek.

Li Yang instinctively covered his neck and took two steps back, his pulse racing wildly.

“What did you want to confirm?” He fought to keep his voice even, but it still trembled slightly.

Ying Xi’s expression shadowed. He lowered his head, silent for a moment before finally speaking. “Yangyang, have you ever been near an Omega?”

“No.” Li Yang now understood the meaning behind that action. “The Omega who left just now lost their suppressant patch, right?”

Ying Xi hummed in acknowledgment but said nothing more.

He was certain that scent had been pheromones—and a familiar one at that.

But this time, it was more distinct, letting him confirm it was the smell of lemons. Yet it had disappeared without a trace, leaving no trace for him to lock onto.

The other Omega’s pheromones hadn’t been this scent.

Wasn’t Li Yang a Beta?

Ying Xi’s gaze grew even darker, his eyes unknowingly drawn to the exposed sliver of the younger man’s pale neck—reddening at a visible pace.

It was as if a hand had reached into his mind, shredding his self-control.

An overwhelming craving surged, and Ying Xi nearly stepped forward on instinct—only jerking back to awareness when he met Li Yang’s clear, dark eyes.

“Were you affected by that Omega’s pheromones?” Li Yang noticed his dazed state.

“No.” Ying Xi shook his head.

Whatever was truly affecting him remained uncertain, but he was sure it was related to Li Yang.

Ying Xi frowned briefly before relaxing, murmuring with amusement. “Let’s keep going. This is our first date, after all.”

Li Yang froze, turning away to mutter under his breath, “I never said this was a date.”

“You didn’t deny it just now,” Ying Xi’s smile widened, “so I’m calling it a date.”

Li Yang didn’t argue further and let it slide.

Later, dozens of players gathered together to take the final route to clear the level, turning the whole thing into a mess.

Li Yang was somewhat distracted and hardly looked for clues, basically getting dragged along by the group the whole time.

He could sense Ying Xi sneaking glances at him.

Did he notice something?

Feeling uneasy, Li Yang tugged at his collar and zipped it all the way up, covering his neck. The nagging worry in his chest finally eased.

After exiting the haunted house, Assistant Min approached with two cups of milk tea, smiling.

"Had enough thrills? Have some milk tea."

Li Yang nearly refused, but his fingers touched the cup—warm.

"It’s so cold out, so I bought hot milk tea," Assistant Min said. "It’s warm inside, but it’s freezing outside. Drink up and warm yourself."

Ying Xi took his cup, his reaction showing he was used to Assistant Min’s attentiveness.

Li Yang, however, was surprised. Meeting Assistant Min’s dollar-signs-in-his-eyes look, he couldn’t help but ask, "Is your salary really high?"

Since Li Yang wasn’t his colleague, Assistant Min could discuss it freely. He hinted, "Whether my salary is high or not is up to the young master—and you."

Ying Xi paused. "Noted. Double bonus this month."

Assistant Min’s eyes perked up like a kid on Christmas. "Thank you, young master! Thank you, Classmate Li!"

"Classmate Li?" Li Yang sipped his milk tea. "Just call me Li Yang."

"Got it, Classmate Li."

Li Yang: "..."

Why did this déjà vu hit so hard?

The amusement park was huge, with too many attractions to choose from.

Assistant Min wanted to ride the roller coaster. Li Yang looked at its height—though he felt nothing emotionally, his legs trembled reflexively.

Forget it. That high up, the cold wind would probably freeze his face off.

Better safe than sorry.

Li Yang sat on a bench, clutching his milk tea.

Despite the sunny weather, the temperature was bone-chillingly cold.

His hands holding the cup quickly turned icy.

Assistant Min whipped out a hand warmer, directing it at both of them.

As his fingers warmed, Li Yang was stunned. "Are you Doraemon?"

"I can be," Assistant Min replied, pulling out tissues and handing them to Li Yang, his gaze way too eager. "As long as the money’s right, I can even do a monkey act."

Li Yang asked curiously, "Is your salary at least five figures?"

Assistant Min just grinned, saying nothing.

Ying Xi took Li Yang’s empty cup and tossed both into the trash. Leaning back with his hands on the armrests, he said lazily, "His salary is at least six figures—not counting bonuses."

Li Yang froze, feeling like he’d struck gold. "Can any Beta do this job?"

No wonder Assistant Min bent over backwards—it was all for the money.

"Nope," Assistant Min said. "You’ve got to be like me—reading the young master’s mind before he thinks it."

Li Yang knew he’d never pull that off and immediately gave up.

"Don’t sweat it, Classmate Li," Assistant Min said excitedly. "You’re loaded compared to me!"

Li Yang remembered the assets gifted to him—money left untouched, properties unused.

He’d have to return them when he left.

An awkward silence fell. Assistant Min pointed at the distant Ferris wheel and suggested, "You came all this way—aren’t you going to ride it?"

Li Yang’s legs trembled, but his face remained calm. "I’m not really interested."

Assistant Min knew but played along. "I get it. It’s really high—I’d be scared too."

"I’m not afraid of heights," Li Yang clarified.

"Right, you’re just not interested," Assistant Min said.

Li Yang: "..."

Wasn’t this just calling him scared of heights without saying it?

Li Yang looked up. The Ferris wheel was indeed looming. He wasn’t sure if he was afraid of heights—he’d never tried anything this high before.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Li Yang stood, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Let’s try it."

When in Rome...

Ten minutes later, he couldn’t handle sitting near the edge of the cabin—nor the middle. His eyes flickered around, desperate for focus, and he wished he could go back in time to tape his mouth shut for opening it.

Whether it was acrophobia or not, this was nightmare fuel.

Ying Xi, on the other hand, looked chill. Li Yang assumed he was used to it and unbothered—until he noticed his jaw locked tight and unblinking stare fixed on him.

Li Yang: "...Are you afraid of heights?"

"I’m not," Ying Xi said. "I’m just not interested in the view outside."

Smooth save.

Li Yang was caught between laughing and facepalming. Still, Ying Xi wasn’t the type to chicken out. Tentatively, Li Yang glanced down—

Instantly, his stomach dropped. Lightheaded and shaky, he could only squeeze his eyes shut and duck his head.

This really wasn’t just about being afraid of heights or not! This was survival instinct!

The Ferris wheel’s unique design made you feel weightless when sitting in it, with no solid surface to ground you.

Looking down, it felt even more like floating among the clouds.

Ying Xi’s lips had gone pale at some point. Seeing this, Li Yang waved a hand in front of his face, afraid he might faint. "Are you okay? You look worse off than me."

"I’m fine," Ying Xi said expressionlessly. "They say you can make a wish at the top. Hurry up and make one."

Were they at the top yet?

Just as Li Yang mustered the courage to look, the Ferris wheel suddenly stopped.

They were truly at the highest point. Li Yang wanted to shut his eyes completely.

Noticing Ying Xi’s rigid posture, stiff as a statue, Li Yang asked incredulously, "Haven’t you ridden this before?"

Weren’t tycoons and heirs in novels supposed to lack such ordinary weaknesses?

Ying Xi being afraid of the Ferris wheel—this was way too relatable.

"I have," Ying Xi said flatly. "I’m just not interested."

Li Yang finally met his match in stubbornness.

He cupped Ying Xi’s head to steady him. "Just keep looking at me, then. Don’t look outside, and you won’t be scared."

This action also prevented Li Yang from seeing the surroundings, and strangely, he felt oddly calm.

"I’m not scared," Ying Xi said, his complexion gradually returning to normal as he stared straight at Li Yang.

Li Yang shifted awkwardly but didn’t—and couldn’t—look away. "Still making a wish?"

Better than looking down and getting dizzy, he’d rather look at Ying Xi.

"Yes," Ying Xi replied, slowly closing his eyes.

Li Yang’s gaze drifted from Ying Xi’s long lashes to his high nose bridge, then to his well-shaped lips.

Time seemed to stop in that moment. Even Li Yang himself didn’t know why he was staring at Ying Xi’s lips.

Three seconds later, Ying Xi opened his eyes. "I’m done. What about you?"

Li Yang’s gaze flitted away. "I—I’m done too."

He quickly shut his eyes and made another wish, though at that moment, his mind went blank, unable to think of anything he truly wanted.

In the end, he made a wish he never expected—*I hope Ying Xi and I stay happy together.*

The Ferris wheel began to sway, and that unsettling feeling came back.

Li Yang and Ying Xi stared at each other in silence, sitting out the rest of the ride in silence.

After getting off, Li Yang bounced back quickly, though his legs were still a bit weak.

Ying Xi seemed fine, walking off blankly to the side and sitting down.

Assistant Min approached. "So? Was it nice?"

They stayed silent, faces unreadable.

Assistant Min scratched his head, confused.

Wasn’t the Ferris wheel supposed to be the perfect place for deepening relationships? Why had these two come back even quieter?

He glanced at Li Yang, who looked uneasy, then at Ying Xi, whose expression remained as unreadable as ever.

Did nothing happen between them up there?

Assistant Min asked, "Did you make a wish?"

"We did," Ying Xi replied coolly. "Let’s go."

They stopped in front of the carousel.

Assistant Min quickly took out his camera, gesturing for them to get on.

Five minutes later, to shake the lingering nerves from the Ferris wheel, Li Yang and Ying Xi rode the carousel, sticking out like sore thumbs among the kids.

Afterward, the Ferris wheel jitters had worn off.

Li Yang took the camera from Assistant Min and saw a bunch of awkward photos.

"Assistant Min, your photography skills are amazing," Li Yang said.

Assistant Min laughed. "Could be worse."

Ying Xi appeared relatively natural, though he barely looked at the camera—he was staring holes into the back of Li Yang’s head.

He only looked at the camera when Assistant Min called for a group photo.

In the picture, Li Yang wore a white short puffer jacket, holding onto the carousel. He didn’t look embarrassed—just a little spaced out. His delicate features under dark hair were flawless, his eyes shining.

Beside him, Ying Xi looked at the camera with a faint smile, his usually cold and sharp features softened by the warmth in his gaze, nothing like his usual icy demeanor—as if he had always been a gentle person.

Once the photo was saved, Ying Xi set it as his wallpaper right in front of Li Yang.

Li Yang squawked in protest. "This one isn’t good. Maybe change it?"

"You look perfect, Yangyang," Ying Xi said.

Li Yang had no choice but to give up.

They skipped the thrill rides after that, sticking to tamer rides. After lunch, they spent hours wandering through a maze.

By the time they got home, it was completely dark out.

Exhausted, Li Yang leaned against the sofa, mentally replaying the day—finally settling on the Ferris wheel.

After locking eyes with Ying Xi, his fear had melted away, replaced by something he couldn’t put into words.

Li Yang zoned out, lost in his head, trying to understand what that feeling was—but came up empty.

Half an hour later, Li Yang sat on the edge of the bed in his pajamas, just out of the shower.

Ying Xi had holed up in the study all evening.

Though they spoke that night, both kept things awkwardly distant.

The bedroom lights clicked off. Ying Xi and Li Yang climbed into bed in unison.

As soon as he closed his eyes, his mind lit up, replaying chaotic scenes on loop. Li Yang lay awake, lost in thought for an hour before finally falling asleep.

Ying Xi, on the other hand, only fell into a deep sleep until the latter half of the night.

This time, in his dream, he sat in the Ferris wheel, his mind blissfully empty. He felt the warmth of hands covering his ears before leaning in, meeting the boy’s widened eyes as he closed the distance, and brushed a kiss against his lips.

Then, he nipped at those soft lips.

Without hesitation, it was just a quick, teasing touch before he pulled away.

Ying Xi snapped awake abruptly, the dream’s warmth still clinging to him. His breathing faltered, and after steadying his heartbeat, he couldn’t help but turn his head.

Li Yang lay facing him, his fair features relaxed, lips slightly parted, completely vulnerable.

The curtains weren’t fully drawn, allowing outside light to seep in, illuminating the room.

The blanket had been pushed aside, his sleepwear slightly disheveled, his shirt riding up to reveal a smooth, pale waist.

Further down were slender, well-proportioned legs.

Ying Xi forcibly averted his gaze, pressing his lips together as he reached out, instinctively tugging the fabric down to cover that temptingly slim waist.

Li Yang bat his hand away sleepily, hugging a plush toy tightly and burying his face into it.

Ying Xi burned to yank that toy away and replace it with himself.

Or better yet, turn into the toy himself—so he could be held in Li Yang’s arms whenever he pleased.

In the dim light, the rigidly seated boy’s gaze was unreadable, his throat working.

Lost in a daze, Li Yang felt as if a gaze that felt like it was eating him alive, and he drifted through many dreams in that state.

When he woke, he found it hard to breathe, thinking he’d overstepped again and curled into Ying Xi’s embrace. But lifting his head, he realized he was hugging the stuffed animal, his face buried deep into its softness.

The other side of the bed was empty. Li Yang sat up and noticed the door was locked from the outside.

Strange.

Frowning, he knocked. "Ying Xi? Why did you lock the door from the outside?"

"Hm?" A groggy voice responded from beyond.

Footsteps followed, and the door opened.

Ying Xi clearly hadn’t slept well, exhaustion lining his face. Li Yang studied him suspiciously for a moment before glancing past him at the living room.

A blanket lay on the sofa—clearly, he had slept there last night.

"Why did you sleep on the couch?" Li Yang was baffled.

Ying Xi’s gaze lingered on his lips before drifting downward to his crooked collar. He reached out to adjust it, then averted his eyes. "It got too stuffy in there, so I came out here."

"Oh." Li Yang, caught off guard by the touch, tugged at his collar again, realizing the sleepwear was too loose—it wouldn’t stay on his shoulder. He made a mental note to change.

"Go back to sleep for a bit," Li Yang said.

"No need to cook. Assistant Min bought breakfast—he’s dropping it off." Ying Xi smiled. "It’s really good."

Li Yang nodded in agreement.

After the meal, Li Yang noticed that Ying Xi had become very strange, kept avoiding him around the house.

When he was in the living room, Ying Xi was in the study.

When he went to the study, Ying Xi would be in the gym.

When he headed to the gym, Ying Xi would return to the living room.

Li Yang thought he had grown tired of him, but after secretly observing, he realized that wasn't quite it.

Though they never made eye contact, Ying Xi would always look at him when he wasn't paying attention.

That gaze was far too complex, so intense it was impossible to ignore.

The day passed quickly. Worried the situation might worsen the next day and make him overthink things, Li Yang stopped Ying Xi and asked bluntly, "Are you upset that I found out about your fear of heights on the Ferris wheel?"

"I’m not exactly afraid of heights," Ying Xi replied, looking at the ground, his face unreadable. "And I don’t mind."

"Then why have you been avoiding me all day?" Li Yang pushed. "Is there no reason?"

"There is. But do you want to hear it?" Ying Xi lifted his gaze, his dark eyes growing deeper.

His eyes held too many hard-to-read, complicated feelings, turbulent and struggling to break free.

Li Yang had a bad feeling and braced himself. "Tell me."

Ying Xi said, "I dreamed of you."

Those five short words sent warning bells ringing in Li Yang’s mind. He quickly raised a hand to stop him. "Stop, I get it. Don’t say any more."

Bad move. He shouldn’t have pressed for answers.

Ying Xi let out a low chuckle and continued, "I dreamed we were sitting in the Ferris wheel."

"I ended up kissing you."