Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Zhou You returned to the bedroom and reapplied a suppressant patch. To be extra cautious, he also put on an inhibitor bracelet, even though it felt like overkill. He had a premonition he wouldn’t be making it to the old family estate tonight.

Feeling a surge of irritation, Zhou You unbuttoned the top of his shirt. Just then, the bedroom door opened, and a familiar, potent, and aggressive Alpha pheromone washed over him, making him instantly frown. He quickly rebuttoned his shirt, securing every single button up to his neck.

Meanwhile, Xing Hui’s clothes were being shed, piece by piece, landing at Zhou You’s feet. The released pheromones agitated Zhou You, making him restless. He bit back his annoyance for a moment before glaring angrily at Xing Hui. "Control your pheromones."

Xing Hui walked up to him, brazenly stating, "I want you."

Zhou You’s ears flushed crimson, and he turned his face away.

Xing Hui gripped his chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. "I told Dad I’m not coming home today." As he spoke, his hand moved to the buttons Zhou You had just fastened, unbuttoning them one by one.

Zhou You frowned and raised a hand to stop Xing Hui’s movements, but in the next instant, his hand was captured in Xing Hui’s. Xing Hui kissed the back of his hand and asked, "Do you want to do it yourself?"

Zhou You replied, "I’m tired."

"Then I’ll do it. You don’t have to lift a finger." Xing Hui’s hand slid down to Zhou You’s narrow waist, pulling him close. He leaned in and murmured seductively into his ear, "I’ll make sure you’re thoroughly satisfied."

Zhou You pushed him away and quickly adjusted the setting on his inhibitor bracelet. "I’m genuinely exhausted, and we just had sex yesterday… Can’t you take a break for one day?"

Xing Hui dismissed his refusal and pressed closer, changing the subject. "What were you doing at Xiao Liu’s place today?"

"Don’t you already know?" Zhou You was incapable of lying, or at least, bad at it. Xing Hui had numerous people monitoring him, and there was even a tracker in his phone. He truly had no secrets from Xing Hui.

Except for one—he was a transmigrator.

"I want to hear it from you," Xing Hui said, gently stroking Zhou You’s chin with his thumb. "So, who was that man in the photo?"

His voice was husky, soft and gentle, not sounding angry at all.

"A relative," Zhou You could only say. This lie wouldn’t be exposed because the person in the photo was his original self. Even if Xing Hui sent someone to investigate, they wouldn’t find any information.

"A relative?" Xing Hui’s eyes narrowed, clearly skeptical. He had already investigated Zhou You thoroughly—where did this relative suddenly appear from? He frowned. "If you don’t tell me the truth, you know the consequences. I won’t do anything to you, but I won’t be lenient with anyone else."

Zhou You let out a light, unconcerned laugh. "If you can find him in this world, I’ll be impressed."

Hearing this, Xing Hui pondered for a moment and asked, "Is he dead?"

*You’re* the one who’s dead, Zhou You cursed silently.

"If he’s dead, why keep his photo?" Xing Hui said, pinching Zhou You, his breathing becoming ragged. "You ignored my calls and messages because of him. What kind of relative is so important to you?"

Zhou You’s body stiffened slightly. "We’ve been married for so many years. Don’t you trust me?"

"No, I don’t," Xing Hui said, cradling Zhou You’s face and kissing him. "Give yourself to me. I want you." His hand moved to the back of Zhou You’s neck, peeling off the suppressant patch, then his lips nuzzled the gland, again and again.

Zhou You closed his eyes. Although he was psychologically resistant, his body craved Xing Hui more than he had imagined.

A faint, elegant scent of lilies began to diffuse. Zhou You’s pheromones were those of an Ice Beauty double lily—light and subtle, much like his aloof demeanor.

Perhaps it was due to Alpha nature; sharing a bed with another Alpha meant their pheromones clashed, causing instinctive repulsion.

Two Alphas simply couldn’t share a bed.

That was why Xing Hui always thought Zhou You was cold.

In reality, Zhou You, as a straight man, simply couldn’t accept being intimate with another man.

Xing Hui was always fixated on leaving bite marks on Zhou You’s neck, injecting his own pheromones in an attempt to mark him.

It was a futile fantasy—two Alphas, regardless of who took the dominant role, could never mark each other.

Xing Hui’s pheromones carried the scent of roses. As a transmigrator, Zhou You didn’t naturally dislike the scent, but being constantly pressured into intimacy had made him develop both a physical and psychological aversion to it. He had told Xing Hui multiple times that he didn’t like the smell of his pheromones.

Xing Hui was hurt by this, but there was nothing he could do—pheromones were innate, and he couldn’t change them. So, he emitted more pheromones, hoping Zhou You would get used to the rose scent and eventually come to like it.

Xing Hui’s voice was filled with satisfied laughter. "Your pheromones are overflowing."

Zhou You felt embarrassed, his cheeks flushing red.

Xing Hui reached for Zhou You’s inhibitor bracelet, chuckling. "Didn’t you pay attention in biology class? If you’re wearing a suppressant patch, you don’t need the inhibitor bracelet."

Zhou You frowned, still refusing. "I don’t want to."

Xing Hui’s expression stiffened slightly. He tossed the expensive inhibitor bracelet aside casually and looked at Zhou You. "But I do." He wrapped his arms around Zhou You’s waist, pulling him closer. "Are you sure you don’t want to?"

Zhou You’s body tensed unnaturally, his face growing even redder.

The room was filled with the scent of roses, growing increasingly intense and easily overpowering everything else.

Xing Hui was very attentive to Zhou You’s feelings. In the beginning, Zhou You had been extremely resistant, and Xing Hui had gone to great lengths with desensitization therapy before Zhou You finally relented.

But even now, Zhou You still cried easily during these moments.

He would sob softly, his eyes swollen, his hair and eyelashes damp. Occasionally, he would even plead in a tearful voice, a stark contrast to his usual self—docile and obedient.

This was one of the rare moments when Xing Hui felt Zhou You was soft and vulnerable around him, and he relished it.

"You always say you don’t like my pheromones, but you clearly do," Xing Hui said, not stopping.

Zhou You remained silent, turning his head away and closing his eyes, unwilling to look at him.

Xing Hui let out a low, wicked laugh before "retaliating" playfully.

When the phone on the bedside table rang, Xing Hui was kissing Zhou You deeply.

Interrupted, Xing Hui was annoyed but ignored the call, only holding Zhou You tighter.

The phone stopped vibrating, but then Zhou You’s phone started ringing.

Zhou You stiffened.

Xing Hui loosened his grip slightly. "It must be Dad."

"Get out!" Zhou You pushed Xing Hui.

Xing Hui didn’t move, simply reaching for the phone. Sure enough, it was his father. He answered the call.

"Hey, Dad," Xing Hui said, his voice low and hoarse.

Hearing Xing Hui’s voice, Xing Mingyuan said displeased, "Why is it so hard to get you to come home? What are you doing?"

Xing Hui’s voice was lazy. "What do you think?"

"Watch your tone!" Xing Mingyuan was irritated. "What are you up to?"

Xing Hui chuckled, "Nothing much."

"Dad, let’s talk tomorrow. Tomorrow, Zhou You and I will come over."

"Where’s Zhou You? Hand him the phone."

Xing Hui kissed Zhou You on the mouth and put the phone to his ear.

Hearing Dad’s voice on the phone, Zhou You’s icy expression softened slightly, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Xing Hui kissed him again, getting frisky.

He deliberately moved a couple of times.

Zhou You clenched his teeth, glaring at him with shame and anger, adjusting his breath: "Dad." Only when he spoke did he realize his voice was terribly hoarse.

It was too obvious what had just happened.

Xing Mingyuan: "..."

The call ended. Xing Hui laughed wickedly, while Zhou You, utterly embarrassed, propped himself up a bit, lifted his leg, and kicked Xing Hui off the bed with force.

Zhou You’s face flushed red, his expression cold as he got out of bed, slipped on a robe, and headed to the bathroom to shower.

The next day, Dad called again, asking both of them to come over for lunch at noon.

"Darling, should we find Dad a partner?" Xing Hui asked for his opinion.

His Omega father passed away early, and his Alpha father raised him alone.

A few years ago, Xing Hui had suggested this to his dad and got scolded for it.

In recent years, probably because his dad has gotten older, he always hopes that Xing Hui and Zhou You would move back to the old mansion.

The old mansion is indeed large, but from adjutants to junior officers and soldiers and a bunch of maids and servants, plus the daily important affairs of the Central Alliance and the steady stream of high-ranking officials and dignitaries from the Xing family, his dad never rests.

"You discuss it with Dad," Zhou You replied flatly.

Xing Hui looked at him: "We’ll mention it when we go back. Do you think it’s okay?"

Zhou You lowered his eyes: "Whatever."

Xing Hui wasn’t angered by this dismissive attitude. Under the table, his foot playfully rubbed against Zhou You’s calf: "Okay, then we’ll mention it when we go back."

After breakfast, Zhou You went to stroll around the vegetable garden. Xing Hui was constantly on the phone handling military affairs, following Zhou You step by step, never leaving his side. Along with them was Jun Jun, a fluffy white ball wagging its little tail and trotting along. At one point, Zhou You said, "Jun Jun, keep up."

Jun Jun immediately quickened its little paws, wagging its tail happily.

Jun Jun is a small white local breed dog, not very big. Xing Hui found him on the roadside two years ago, just born and palm-sized. He brought him home to keep Zhou You company. Since then, Jun Jun has been loyal only to Zhou You, and Zhou You treats Jun Jun like a son.

Jun Jun is treated much better by Zhou You than Xing Hui is.

Xing Hui immediately followed: "Do you only have eyes for the dog? Didn’t you see me, a person right here?"

Zhou You didn’t respond, simply bent down and picked up the little white ball at his feet.

Jun Jun, emboldened by his master, barked twice at Xing Hui, "Woof, woof!" Annoyed, Xing Hui glared at the dog, grumbling jealously, "Shameless dog."

Zhou You looked around the vegetable garden, picked two strawberries to feed Jun Jun, then expressionlessly walked around Xing Hui and left.

Just as he returned to the house, he ran into Shen Heng. He treated Shen Heng like air, not even giving him a glance, and walked straight past him into the bedroom, slamming the door shut.

Shen Heng was startled, standing there dumbfounded. When Xing Hui came over, he asked, "Did you two argue last night?"

"No."

"Then why is he upset?"

Xing Hui frowned at him: "You seem quite concerned about my Zhou You."

Shen Heng: "..."

Alright, shouldn’t have asked.

Shen Heng thought Xing Hui was being paranoid—who keeps such a tight watch on their husband? But it had nothing to do with him, so he changed the subject: "Where’s the phone you took?"

Xing Hui handed it to him. Shen Heng took it and snorted: "Did you find anything?" The thought of Xing Hui checking his phone made him angry. "I’m telling you, Xing Hui, if it were anyone else, I wouldn’t stand for this!"

"That island you wanted last time—it’s yours."

Shen Heng’s eyes curved: "Oh, come on, I didn’t mean it like that, but since you’re so sincere, I won’t refuse."

That island was originally meant for Zhou You. Xing Hui had imagined going there with Zhou You—outdoors, beach, sunlight, waves, moonlight, starry sky, merging with nature. Unfortunately, Zhou You flatly refused, and they even argued over the island. Because of it, Zhou You ignored him for several days. Otherwise, Xing Hui wouldn’t have given it to Shen Heng.

Xing Hui didn’t stop to entertain him and went to the bedroom to see what Zhou You was doing. Just then, the bedroom door opened, and Zhou You walked out fully dressed.

Xing Hui stepped forward: "Heading to Dad’s already? It’s a bit early."

"Work."

"Aren’t you off today?"

"There’s an emergency case." Zhou You’s tone was flat, not looking at him, and he walked toward the door without turning back.

"Then I’ll drive you," Xing Hui followed.

"No need." Zhou You finally glanced at Shen Heng.

Xing Hui also looked over. Shen Heng immediately stood up: "Just remembered I have something to do. I’ll head out first." After saying that, he strode away. As he passed Zhou You, he instinctively smiled at him, but the smile vanished the next second under Xing Hui’s dagger-like glare, and he quickly made himself scarce.

"I’ll drive you; it’s more convenient," Xing Hui said.

Zhou You remained silent the whole way.

When they reached the hospital, Xing Hui insisted on walking him upstairs.

Zhou You couldn’t take it anymore: "Xing Hui, should I quit this job and just stay home from now on? Would that satisfy you?"

Xing Hui explained he didn’t mean anything by it.

Zhou You sneered: "You can suspect something between me and Shen Heng, and now you following me upstairs means nothing? Also, don’t come upstairs and interfere with my work!" After saying that, he walked into the building with a cold face.

Xing Hui chased after him a few steps: "What time will you be done? I’ll pick you up."

The only response was Zhou You quickening his pace.

Over two hours later, Zhou You’s figure came into view. Just as Xing Hui was about to go greet him, he saw a young man quickly catch up to Zhou You, sling an arm over his shoulder, acting very intimate.

And on Zhou You’s face was a gentle smile Xing Hui had never seen before, his gaze soft and warm, completely unlike his usual aloofness.

Xing Hui’s eyes instantly turned icy, and he strode toward them.