Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Fortunately, being in heat doesn’t cause a loss of reason, nor does it instantly turn someone into some promiscuous mess.

At the very beginning, it’s just gland discomfort—redness and swelling—which causes some uncomfortable physical reactions.

It also acts as a reminder.

As glandular secretions increase, one gradually begins to crave an alpha’s pheromones.

When glandular secretions peak, the gland starts craving being marked by an alpha, and the instinct to reproduce also reaches its peak simultaneously.

The gland will release a large amount of sweet-scented pheromones, and the body will simultaneously prepare itself to attract an alpha to reproduce.

But throughout the entire process, one doesn’t lose their rationality.

Most omegas also give themselves an inhibitor shot during the first stage.

Then they safely pass their heat.

When An Nuo hadn’t realized anything, he didn’t feel his gland was uncomfortable, but as soon as Lu Yunyan asked, it was as if his body had been reminded, and he immediately started feeling discomfort in his gland.

He wasn’t sure if it was swollen, but he could confirm it was hot, and when his clothing rubbed against it, there was a sharp sting.

“Let me see.”

They were both startled, but compared to An Nuo’s flustered state, Lu Yunyan remained calmer—after all, he wasn’t the one in heat.

An alpha also wouldn’t instantly degenerate into some beast just because they encountered an omega in heat.

Moreover, An Nuo’s pheromone scent hadn’t grown stronger; it smelled the same as usual, which didn’t quite match the typical signs of being in heat.

Lu Yunyan reached out and unbuttoned An Nuo’s collar, revealing the gland below his collarbone. Its color was deeper than usual and seemed slightly swollen.

This, however, matched the initial symptoms of being in heat.

Lu Yunyan couldn’t be sure either, so he first asked An Nuo: “Are you okay now? Does it hurt anywhere?”

An Nuo’s heart pounded anxiously; he had no idea what to do.

Just as he was about to say it hurt, with the slightest movement, he felt a distinct surge of wetness.

“...”

And he was still in Lu Yunyan’s arms, being held by him.

It was even Lu Yunyan who had felt it first.

An Nuo’s cheeks burned, but unlike earlier embarrassment, this time it was shame, humiliation, and fear.

His eyes instantly reddened, and tears spilled over uncontrollably.

He couldn’t hold them back.

The tears simply wouldn’t stop.

Lu Yunyan could sense An Nuo’s distress and soothed him gently: “It’s okay, don’t cry. These are just normal physiological reactions. Anyone would struggle to control them. It’s alright.”

“...It’s not normal, this isn’t normal!”

Though Lu Yunyan meant to comfort him, his words also laid bare the truth. An Nuo couldn’t help but lash out, sobbing.

“...It’s not like this, it never happened like this before. This is really abnormal!”

It being abnormal was one thing.

But the situation was also wrong.

It had to happen at the company, and in Lu Yunyan’s office, of all places.

What should he do next?

It was only his second day, and this happened—should he even continue working here?

Most importantly, what if someone else came in?

If anyone saw him in this state, he might as well not live anymore—he’d just jump from Lu Yunyan’s office window.

Tears quickly covered his entire face. An Nuo bit his lip, not daring to cry out loud, only hiccupping and sobbing under his breath, sounding utterly pitiful.

Fortunately, Lu Yunyan also realized An Nuo’s worries. Though no one was likely to intrude, to reassure An Nuo, Lu Yunyan immediately carried him to the rest room.

The rest room wasn’t used often and was as pristine as a model room.

It was almost too neat, giving off a weird “newness” to it.

But An Nuo couldn’t care less. As soon as Lu Yunyan set him on the bed, he immediately bundled himself in the covers, trying to gain some sense of security.

He then tearfully begged Lu Yunyan: “...Can you get me an inhibitor? Please, I’m begging you.”

Lu Yunyan felt both pity and amusement, truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Why was he acting like the world was ending? It was just too pitiful.

Large companies usually offer these supplies for free, just in case, but An Nuo couldn’t use them without caution.

Lu Yunyan said, “You might not be able to use these things right now. Don’t worry, I’ll consult the doctor.”

An Nuo whimpered, “...Then ask the doctor quickly, please.”

At An Nuo’s desperate urging, Lu Yunyan quickly called the doctor and put the call on speakerphone so An Nuo could listen too.

After briefly explaining the situation, the doctor also expressed confusion: “His heat started early? That’s impossible. The medication for this treatment cycle isn’t finished yet; heat shouldn’t be possible.”

Lu Yunyan asked, “Could it be that the medicine worked too well?”

The doctor said, “Impossible.”

Then he asked, “What are the specific reactions? Which stage is it?”

An Nuo’s face was flushed red as he was crying into the blanket, so Lu Yunyan had to answer for him.

“It looks like it just started. The gland is just a little darker in color, but—”

“But what? Don’t hold back, just describe it objectively.”

At the doctor’s request, Lu Yunyan had to give an objective description. After a pause, he continued: “But there’s quite a lot of lubrication.”

“...”

An Nuo's flushed face instantly turned even redder; for a moment, he even forgot to cry, he was so embarrassed he wished he could disappear after hearing those words.

But the doctor remained calm: "What about the pheromone scent? How much stronger has it become?"

"The pheromones don’t smell any different; they’re still the same as before."

"Let's do a video call. Let me see what the scent gland looks like."

"..."

Lu Yunyan hesitated for a second. Honestly, he didn’t want anyone to see An Nuo’s upset and vulnerable state at all.

It was heartbreaking, yet also way too cute.

He felt that anyone who saw it would find it endearing.

Especially since the scent gland was such a private area—it absolutely couldn’t be shown to just anyone.

The possessiveness of an alpha emerged, irrational and completely out of place.

After waiting a few seconds without a response, the doctor, though understanding, snapped impatiently:

"You still say the pheromone concentration hasn’t increased? It seems to me you’ve already been greatly affected—you're not thinking straight."

"I’m a doctor, and I’m also an omega. I’m not going to be interested in your wife, okay?"

Only then did Lu Yunyan regain some rationality, defensive: "I know, of course I know. Do I seem like someone who can’t distinguish these situations?"

The call switched to video.

When Lu Yunyan positioned the camera at his scent gland for examination, An Nuo felt an indescribable sense of shame.

He knew the other party was a doctor and that this was just a standard procedure, so he endured and cooperated.

But he still felt uncomfortable inside, and tears fell even faster.

"The scent gland’s color looks fine; it shouldn’t be a major issue. It’s probably due to a significant fluctuation in hormone levels."

An Nuo asked in a tearful, soft voice: "...C-could I use an inhibitor?"

"Of course not," the doctor said sternly. "This isn’t a normal heat cycle; you can’t take medication without caution."

"..."

"To understand the exact situation, you’ll need to come to the hospital for an examination. We’ll decide after confirming the details."

An Nuo’s eyelashes were completely damp with tears: "Then... does that mean I have to... just be stuck like this...?"

"Like what? Just keep leaking?"

"..."

"If it's leaking, let it leak. It won’t kill you, but using medication recklessly could."

"..."

Lu Yunyan asked: "If inhibitors aren’t an option, what about a temporary mark? Would that make him feel better?"

"Probably not," the doctor said. "Since it’s unclear whether an alpha's influence would have a positive or negative effect on him right now, my advice is to hold off on everything. Come to the hospital first for an examination to determine the actual cause."

"Okay."

Perhaps seeing how miserably An Nuo was crying, the doctor comforted him: "Although this situation isn’t normal, it at least shows the medication is working—you are capable of restoring your heat cycle."

"As for the current symptoms, actually, all omegas experience this. Only your alpha sees you like this, so it’s fine; there’s no need to feel embarrassed."

"..."

The doctor didn’t know the actual relationship between An Nuo and Lu Yunyan, so An Nuo found it hard to explain that it was precisely because Lu Yunyan was seeing him like this that he felt so ashamed.

After hanging up, Lu Yunyan felt a little better and tried to hold An Nuo: "It's okay, it's alright now, don’t cry. We’ll go to the hospital right away."

But An Nuo pulled away from Lu Yunyan, immediately backing away to keep his distance: "...Stay back, don’t hug me. The doctor said you shouldn’t touch me!"

"..."

The doctor had only said not to give him a temporary mark.

But fine, he understood An Nuo’s current state would make him feel even more panicked and helpless.

Fortunately, the morning meeting had lasted a long time. Half an hour after An Nuo entered Lu Yunyan’s office, it was lunch break.

Once everyone outside had left, Lu Yunyan immediately carried An Nuo out, quickly entered the elevator, and went straight to the parking lot.

After getting in the car, they rushed to the hospital.

The doctor was already waiting for them and soon took samples from his scent gland and blood from An Nuo for tests.

The results were largely consistent with the doctor’s earlier phone assessment: "It’s just a sudden irregularity in the heat cycle caused by excessive hormonal fluctuations. The situation is under control and not serious."

Naturally, Lu Yunyan asked: "Why did this happen so suddenly?"

The doctor asked An Nuo: "Have you been taking your medication regularly recently?"

An Nuo nodded: "I take it every day."

"At fixed times?"

Tears still streaming, his nose tip red, An Nuo nodded obediently: "Right on time, around 9 a.m. every day."

"Then it’s not a problem with the medication."

An Nuo currently needed medication to boost his hormones, first to establish a stable regulated cycle.

To ensure his hormone levels remained relatively consistent daily, the medication had to be taken at the same time and dose every day.

Otherwise, fluctuating hormone levels could cause such accidents, messing up your body’s cycle.

"Then could it be due to recent stress? Especially in the last day or two, has anything happened that made you feel very tense?"

"...Yes, doctor, yes!"

An Nuo nodded immediately, then gave an accusing look at Lu Yunyan—the source of his greatest stress that day.

The timing also matched.

That morning, after Lu Yunyan messed with him, his heat cycle had come out of nowhere.

Lu Yunyan: "..."

Teasing An Nuo like that in the morning had been amusing to him, but if that amusement ended up hurting An Nuo, it would turn into something despicable and regrettable.

The doctor glanced at Lu Yunyan: "Besides medication effects, the biggest influencing factor is emotional pressure."

"I’ve mentioned this to you before."

Lu Yunyan was very honest in front of the doctor, nodding in agreement: "Yes, I remember."

"Good that you remember. And there’s a third point." The doctor asked straight-faced, "How often do you usually stimulate his scent gland, like biting or kissing?"

An Nuo: "..."

Lu Yunyan answered truthfully: "...Well, quite a lot last week."

An Nuo literally wanted to die.

"Is it almost every day, or on-and-off, like more this week and less next week?"

"More last week, basically none this week."

Because An Nuo had been sleeping in a separate room this week.

An Nuo was mortified.

The doctor said: "That’s not good either. Either don’t stimulate him at all, or stimulate him evenly. Sporadic stimulation is the most likely to cause problems."

"..."

An Nuo kept dying repeatedly.

But Lu Yunyan understood—after all this, he was the one who had caused An Nuo’s condition.

"Generally, partners with permanent bonding marks aren’t affected by this, but your situation is special. A permanent bonding mark isn’t suitable for now, so you’ll have to be careful on your own."

Lu Yunyan asked: "When can we do a permanent bonding mark? After he recovers his natural rut cycle?"

"That’s not necessary. One more normal rut cycle afterward will be enough. As long as his rut is problem-free by then."

"Okay." Lu Yunyan asked, "What should we do now? Does he need to take medication?"

"Actually, he doesn’t need medication. As long as he stays emotionally stable, rests well, and smells his mate’s alpha pheromones, he’ll recover on his own in a day or two at most... But you’re an alpha with an impaired scent gland—your pheromones are too aggressive and not very soothing."

"Hey."

Watch it.

"You’d better not touch his scent gland these two days to avoid further stimulation."

The doctor said: "Are his parents around? Having parents nearby would be better, especially if his mother is an omega. An omega’s pheromones are actually more soothing than an alpha’s."

"..."

But this question was like another sharp blade, shredding his heart, gutting him.

Lu Yunyan quickly replied: "Of course it’s not convenient. Since it’s all my fault, how could we let his parents know?"

The doctor: "..."

Speechless but thoroughly persuaded.

"Then I’ll prescribe some calming patches—they have the fewest side effects. And you, don’t touch his scent gland these two days... Oh, and if he suddenly develops a fever after going back, don’t panic. Just give him some fever medication."

"It’s still best to have his mother come stay, or another older omega relative. That would work even better than the calming patches."

"Understood."

"Contact me anytime if there are issues. In short, these two days you—"

Lu Yunyan had already heard enough to cut him off: "Don’t touch his scent gland, I get it. I’ll restrain myself these two days and absolutely not touch his scent gland."

The doctor paused for two seconds: "You understand that ‘touching’ includes all contact like kissing and biting, right?"

Lu Yunyan had no fight left: "I know, I know, I really know."

"Good, then go ahead."

"..."

As soon as he got the calming patches, An Nuo immediately slapped one on his scent gland.

But it wasn’t some miracle drug—it wouldn’t take effect that quickly—so he still didn’t dare move around freely and had Lu Yunyan lift him back to the car.

In front of the doctor, An Nuo had to endure it.

Once in the car, his shame overwhelmed him completely, and tears fell uncontrollably.

He cried and blamed Lu Yunyan: "Waa, it’s all your fault, entirely your fault. I’m never talking to you again..."

Even as he sat on Lu Yunyan’s lap, his words were so adorably pleading for attention.

Lu Yunyan was in agony too. In the past, he would’ve kissed him senseless by now.

"Alright, alright, stop crying. You’ve been crying all this way, hmm? Where’s all these tears coming from?"

"..."

An Nuo froze.

"..."

Lu Yunyan also paused.

Then An Nuo cried even harder: "...You, you’re such a beast!"

Lu Yunyan had just blurted it out. By the time he realized, it was too late—he could only hold An Nuo and comfort him: "I’m sorry, I’m sorry."

"...It was your fault to begin with." An Nuo sobbed, "It’s all your fault. It’s all on you."

"Blame me, blame me. I’m being punished too."

An Nuo tearfully asked: "...What punishment could you possibly have?"

Talking nonsense again, just saying whatever came to mind.

Lu Yunyan: "What do you think? You’re like this now, and I can’t even touch you... This is absolute torture for me."

The moment he heard that, An Nuo became even angrier.

He felt an urge to just knock Lu Yunyan out.

But a second later, recalling Lu Yunyan's condition—he likely wasn’t lying; he truly was enduring and feeling despair—An Nuo managed to find a shred of comfort amid the overwhelming hopelessness.

Still, forgiveness wasn’t an option. Lu Yunyan’s list of offenses had piled up to such an extent that they were now countless.

"It’s all your fault. You just had to bully me like that… Are you satisfied now? You’re the worst alpha in the world."

Lu Yunyan nearly laughed. How could someone be this cute even when mad?

But laughing was out of the question. He wasn’t allowed even the slightest upward curve of his lips and had to maintain a stern, serious look.

"I didn’t mean to bully you. I just wanted to be close to you," Lu Yunyan said earnestly. "I just didn’t expect it to turn out so badly and cause you so much suffering… You’re right, I am a terrible alpha."

His apology sounded sincere, but it was nowhere near enough to earn An Nuo’s forgiveness.

"Hmph."

"Now look, it’s only my second day at work, and I have to take time off… What will everyone think? They’ll definitely assume I have a poor work ethic."

Lu Yunyan sighed to himself. It was hard to explain to An Nuo that he should be the one worrying about this.

After all, everyone saw him bring An Nuo into the office, but no one saw An Nuo come out.

And then An Nuo took leave.

At least two days’ worth, no less.

Perhaps by the time he returned to the company tomorrow, the union would already be investigating whether the intern had been subjected to harassment at work by the CEO.

"No one will think that way, don’t worry—I promise no one will judge you."

Lu Yunyan held An Nuo, patiently comforting him.

"You don’t need to worry about any of this. Just go home, rest well, and catch some sleep. Everything else can wait once you’ve recovered."

An Nuo kept grumbling, "...Sleep? How can I sleep like this? I’ll definitely get the bed dirty."

"It’s not dirty, baby."

"...It’s disgusting!"

"Then I’ll hold you while you sleep. You can sleep on me, and it’s fine if you get me dirty. I don’t think you’re dirty at all."

There was no use denying it—An Nuo had been in Lu Yunyan’s arms all along and had already gotten him dirty.

And as he suddenly realized this, the intense shame he had felt began to fade bit by bit, didn’t bother him as much anymore.

"Ultimately, it’s all my fault. I knew you were on medication, yet I still pushed you like this… Well, it’s the punishment I deserve."

"So don’t stress because of me. Besides, looking after you is my job. I’m your husband, aren’t I?"

After crying for so long, the most intense emotions had passed. They had seen the doctor, and it wasn’t anything too serious.

Hearing Lu Yunyan’s soft, sweet talk, An Nuo finally began to listen and gradually calmed down.

"The doctor said it’s important for you to relax emotionally. So don’t put any more pressure on yourself. If you relax, maybe you’ll start feeling better soon?"

"...Hmph, you think sweet talk will work? You’re still the worst alpha in the world. I’ll deal with you once I’m better."

"Alright, once you’re better, we’ll sort it out properly."

"...You’ve committed every evil under the sun—too many to name. I’m keeping track of all of them."

As if he were some ultimate big bad villain.

Had he really done that many bad things?

Lu Yunyan got curious too: "Well, once you’re better, I promise I’ll make it up to you for each one."

A true alpha doesn’t argue in the moment but maintains a sincere apology throughout.

As An Nuo calmed down, his tears gradually stopped.

But if certain thoughts crossed his mind, he would still shed a few sad, anxious tears.

So he cried off and on throughout the journey home, his eyes still red and his eyelashes damp by the time they arrived.

The good news was that the calming patch had taken effect. An Nuo’s discomfort had lessened, and the most embarrassing issue had finally stopped.

This greatly eased An Nuo’s psychological burden.

He immediately changed into clean, comfortable loungewear and, before resting in bed, spoke up that he wanted to eat.

The immense emotional stress had masked his hunger, but now that he had relaxed, it came crashing down on him.

There were plenty of delicious foods at home, but the mochi balls he hadn’t gotten to eat became an obsession. Right now, An Nuo only wanted that.

"...Where are the mochi balls you bought me? Didn’t you bring them back?"

Lu Yunyan really hadn’t brought them back.

The situation in the office had been urgent. At the time, he was only thinking of rushing An Nuo to the hospital—how could he have remembered the mochi balls?

"How about eating something else first?"

An Nuo was about to cry again: "...No! I want those mochi balls!"

Normally, An Nuo would never be this stubborn. Such heightened emotions were also a symptom of his erratic heat cycle.

Lu Yunyan didn’t expect An Nuo to be this much trouble.

But he deserved it.

So without another word, Lu Yunyan immediately said, "Okay, okay, mochi balls it is. Wait a few minutes—I’ll go get them now."

To fetch the mochi balls for his sulky little wife, Lu Yunyan ended up making a grand production of it, even using a hovercar.

Fortunately, it took only five minutes. Just as An Nuo was about to start crying again, Lu Yunyan successfully handed them over.

"Eat up."

Here, you little boss.

Lu Yunyan was rarely subjected to such instant payback.

An Nuo sniffled, eyed the much-wanted mochi balls, and first picked one with sweet red bean filling.

The filling was creamy and just the right amount of sweet.

After taking a bite, An Nuo finally quieted down and began chewing seriously.

Although these dumplings were quite ordinary and sold everywhere, An Nuo simply loved this particular shop, feeling it had a unique texture and flavor.

As he chewed, he started talking to Lu Yunyan again.

"How could you forget? You made me wait so long again."

Chew, chew, chew.

"It's so delicious... this shop's are the best."

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

"Get me more next time, and get extra."

He continued chewing.

After eating his fill, An Nuo grew drowsy from a carb crash and finally calmed down completely, going to sleep.

But the doctor's concerns came true—not long after falling asleep, An Nuo developed a high fever.

Due to his heat, his joints ached all over, making it impossible to get comfortable no matter how he lay. He tossed and turned restlessly.

He was trapped in a fitful sleep, unable to wake fully yet unable to sleep deeply due to the pain—a truly torturous experience.

Barely conscious, An Nuo was so miserable he felt like crying.

He didn’t understand why he was always the one going through such things.

It felt as if all the misfortune in the world had landed on him alone.

He felt both aggrieved and angry.

So angry he wanted to kick off the covers, but his limbs were sore and heavy—he couldn’t even take it out on the blankets.

In his sleep, he seemed to actually be crying, until he could hardly breathe. His breaths grew rapid, and his heart rate quickened.

Suddenly, a gentle voice comforted him from beside him.

"Don’t cry, don’t cry, baby, don’t cry."

It definitely wasn’t Lu Yunyan’s voice.

Even if Lu Yunyan tried with all his might, he couldn’t sound so tender.

But aside from Lu Yunyan, who else would call him "baby"?

An Nuo really wanted to ask who it was and why they called him baby. The voice was unfamiliar, and he barely recognized it.

But his lips were so dry, as if glued together. An Nuo tried hard to part them, but it felt like tearing fresh skin with his bare hands.

Then the unfamiliar voice comforted him again: "It’s okay, it’s okay. Let’s take some medicine for the fever. You’ll feel better after taking it."

An Nuo didn’t understand—why couldn’t he make a sound? Why did he need medicine?

Until a cool, soothing liquid flowed into his mouth, soothing his parched body, and he gradually calmed down.

Was he seeing his mother in a dream?

Some half-conscious thoughts tried to reason, then gave An Nuo a definite answer.

Yes, this must be a dream.

He was indeed seeing his mother in the dream.

Otherwise, how could the voice be as gentle, soft, reassuring, and strong as the mother he had imagined?

Who else could it be but his mother?

Since it was a dream, An Nuo was free to follow his imagination, so without the constraints of reality, he tentatively called out, "Mom, Mom..."

Having just drunk water in the dream, his words came out clear this time.

The gentle voice responded, "Mom’s here, baby, don’t cry."

Then An Nuo was enveloped by a strong omega pheromone—a rose-lychee scent he had never smelled before.

It was light, sweet, and pleasant.

Like the voice, it carried a gentle, calming power.

Was this his mother’s scent?

All his life, he had imagined countless scents for the mother he never knew, but he had never thought of rose and lychee.

Yet it truly smelled wonderful.

His aching, stiff joints stopped hurting instantly, and his breathing returned to a normal rhythm.

An Nuo felt rescued.

Though it was an unreal dream, it was the first time he had heard such a clear voice and smelled such a real pheromone. Even if it was an illusion, An Nuo wanted to talk to his mother a little more.

But his body was too heavy and tired. He couldn’t utter another word—after calling "Mom" twice, An Nuo fell into a deep sleep.

This time, he slept deeply, as if in a coma, completely unaware.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already nighttime.

His vision was hazy, as if covered by a fog, making everything unclear.

But his body felt much better. Aside from a slight headache, most of the symptoms of heat had subsided.

Moreover, the lychee-rose scent from his dream hadn’t disappeared—miraculously, it had lingered in reality and still enveloped him now.

An Nuo sniffed the air, repeatedly confirming that he could really smell it.

Incredible.

Was he still dreaming?

Was this an eerily realistic dream within a dream?

"Awake?"

The next moment, the gentle voice from his dream sounded beside his ear. An Nuo’s blurry vision cleared immediately, and he quickly looked toward the voice.

It was Shi Yu, sitting at his bedside.

Lu Yunyan's omega father.

"..."

So it was all true.

Except it wasn't "Mom"—it was Shi Yu.

An Nuo was so shocked he immediately jolted upright in bed, but Shi Yu reached out first and touched his forehead, pressing him back down gently.

"Your fever seems to have broken now. How are you feeling? Does anything else hurt?"

"..."

An Nuo blinked wide-eyed, too stunned to speak.

Shi Yu smiled. "Are you surprised to see me? Cat got your tongue? Or are you still feeling unwell somewhere?"

An Nuo remained speechless.

But he first nodded, then shook his head.

That was his answer.

Shi Yu tweaked his cheek. "Yunyan told me you were sick and might need me, so I came over."

Actually, that was the only explanation.

An Nuo had suspected it, but he still couldn't lessen the overwhelming shock in his heart.

"I, I..."

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

An Nuo's eyes stung slightly, unsure whether to feel disappointed.

Having a real omega elder by his side was definitely better than a dream-only fantasy.

But having finally pieced together his image of "Mom" in his imagination, only to have it shattered immediately upon waking, An Nuo's chest felt tight.

Then he scolded himself for being ungrateful.

Someone of Shi Yu's status, how busy was he usually? What a hassle it must've been for him to come over specifically to accompany him? How could he still feel unsatisfied?

"Th-thank you for the trouble..."

Shi Yu ruffled his hair. "Silly baby, don't say such things. It's no trouble at all."

Silly baby.

Such an intimate term of address, but coming from an elder, it carried a special fondness.

An Nuo stared blankly.

"I heard Yunyan call you 'baby,' so I called you that too. Is that okay?"

"..."

His body had just recovered a little, and An Nuo already wanted to curl up and die again.

"At this point, if I said I didn't know about your family situation, I'd be lying to you, and you probably wouldn't believe me anyway."

"..."

"I know everything, and my heart aches for you... Going through something like this without your parents by your side must have been very hard and painful."

The situation wasn't all that serious—toughing it out for a day or two would have been enough to get through it.

But if loving parents had been by his side, they would never have let their child suffer through even a day or two of such torment and pain.

"So I was very willing to be here with you. Don't feel guilty about it. You're married to Yunyan now—we're family already, aren't we?"

Shi Yu petted his hair, said gently, teasing.

"Actually, I quite like it when you call me 'Mom.' If calling me 'Dad' is too hard, then just call me 'Mom' from now on."

"..."

An Nuo's nose burned with unshed tears, tears welled up instantly.

His first thought was, what would happen when they divorced?

He couldn't just keep Shi Yu then—how could he let himself be won over by calling him "Mom" now?

"You've slept for so long, you must be hungry by now, right? Get up and eat something first. I'll tell Yunyan to bring food in."

An Nuo fought back tears and nodded. "...Okay."

As his physical discomfort faded and his rational mind returned, seeing Lu Yunyan again and recalling his earlier tantrum during the day made An Nuo feel a bit sheepish.

Just then, Lu Xu called Shi Yu, so Shi Yu stepped outside to take the call, leaving only An Nuo and Lu Yunyan in the room.

"Feeling better now?"

Lu Yunyan had changed clothes too—now wearing matching couple's pajamas with An Nuo.

Outwardly, they really did look like a loving married couple.

"The doctor said it's best for you to eat something light right now. I chose a few simple dishes—not sure if they'll suit your taste."

Lu Yunyan served him himself, bringing over the meal tray.

Steamed egg with minced shrimp, sautéed seasonal veggies, sour fish slice soup.

He had also thoughtfully prepared a small dessert: oatmeal made with milk topped with sweet red beans and tri-color taro balls.

An Nuo had been running a fever all afternoon, leaving him exhausted and starving.

He didn't find the food bland at all—instead, it seemed nutritious, fragrant, and very appealing.

An Nuo had a major sweet tooth, so the first thing he went for was the milk oatmeal porridge.

He immediately scooped a spoonful into his mouth.

It was sweet and comforting.

"Thank you, it's delicious."

Lu Yunyan sat down by the bed, finally able to relax a little, and reached out to press the back of his hand against An Nuo's cheek.

"Are you feeling better now?"

An Nuo's breath hitched, instinctively wanting to avoid Lu Yunyan's touch, but he didn't make it in time.

Something felt off.

With Lu Yunyan's touch, he seemed to go weak all over again.

Some symptoms of the abnormal heat had faded, but new ones seemed to be emerging.

An Nuo was sure something was wrong, but he could only force out, "...Yeah, I'm much better now."

"That's good," Lu Yunyan said. "You really scared me this morning."

Not only was he scared, but he was also worn out.

He never imagined An Nuo could be like this—teary-eyed over a sticky rice ball, even throwing a fit at him.

If this was how he acted during heat, what would he be like when carrying a child later on?

Although An Nuo's heat symptoms didn't hit Lu Yunyan too hard, nor did they make him lose his rationality, they still had some effect, more or less.

When An Nuo cried, his eyes were like sapphires tinged with pink, tears shimmering, catching the light like gems.

His eyes were flushed, the tip of his nose was flushed, lips pressed together, looking flustered and helpless.

Just like a helpless little rabbit.

A little rabbit in heat, no less.

Truth be told, An Nuo didn't even need to do anything—no need to release high concentrations of pheromones, no need to actively seduce him.

Because just the thought of such a scenario was enough to stir desire in Lu Yunyan's heart.

In urgent moments, Lu Yunyan could stay calm and handle things.

But now that it was over, seeing An Nuo so well-behaved and quiet, his mind filled with risqué thoughts, all he wanted was to knock him up.