Chapter 26: Applying Medicine

Chapter 26 Tending Wounds

—What an insane love triangle?!

—Honestly, I never expected Jiang Hang to take the initiative to seek Yuan Shiyuan out... Love seeing the cool guy playing homewrecker. [heehee]

—But Ying Mingxi has such a good temper. I feel like even if he found out his partner was cheating with a teammate, he’d silently suck it up and just remind the teammate to use protection...

—When Jiang Hang goes too far, will Ying Mingxi end up feeling sorry for Yuan Shiyuan and telling Jiang Hang to be gentler? [facepalm]

Ying Mingxi had changed clothes when he returned, and the scene on the sofa directly in front suddenly caught his eye unexpectedly. His gentle face seemed momentarily stunned, then he politely closed the door.

"What happened?"

Ying Mingxi asked with concern, "Did you accidentally fall onto someone again? Why are you so careless, Shi Yuan?"

Yuan Shiyuan got down from the sofa and was adjusting his bathrobe belt when he paused.

He glanced at the other person: "Stop pretending. I told you, you're nothing like your brother."

—Wow! Thought it was the older brother, but it turned out to be the younger one!

—Oh my god, Ying Mingche was totally believable... I totally didn’t see through the act. Xiao Yuan actually recognized it at a glance, and they were so far apart!

—This shows how super observant Xiao Yuan is. I’m curious, since Xiao Yuan can usually tell the twins apart at a glance, can he also distinguish who’s the older brother and who’s the younger one when they take turns coming in? [silly grin]

After being exposed, Ying Mingche completely dropped the act. He glanced at Jiang Hang, then turned his gaze back to Yuan Shiyuan’s face.

"This is the second time, right?" He gave a meaningful smile. "First it was Bao Jin, now it’s Jiang Hang. Don't tell me this was another 'accident'?"

Jiang Hang frowned. Second time?

Had Ying Mingche also seen Yuan Shiyuan "fall" on someone else before? And that person was Bao Jin?

Coincidentally, he had also seen Yuan Shiyuan "fall" on Bao Jin...

Yuan Shiyuan said matter-of-factly: "It really was an accident."

He didn’t even bother with a new excuse.

Anger and hurt welled up in Ying Mingche. He didn’t understand—was Yuan Shiyuan too lazy to even lie to him? This was the second time, and he couldn’t even be bothered to come up with a new excuse!

Not ready to drop it, Ying Mingche stepped forward and grabbed Yuan Shiyuan’s wrist: "Then I want a turn too."

"If you accidentally fell on them, I want it too." He urged, "Hurry up and accidentally fall on me."

Ying Mingche sat on the sofa, his long legs parted, even spreading his legs to make room.

Yuan Shiyuan fell silent. He said, "Are you crazy?"

He’s a totally straight Alpha—why would he sit on another Alpha’s lap? The previous incidents were one thing—they were genuine accidents, and he had no choice.

Asking him to willingly sit on another guy while fully conscious and in control of his body? He’d rather get stabbed—it’d be less awkward.

Of course, stabbed with a knife, not with a dangerous citrus wedge.

But if it’s for the team's publicity and the fans want to see it...

He might be willing to put up with it.

"Hurry up, hurry up." Ying Mingche urged, insisting that Yuan Shiyuan be fair to everyone.

Ying Mingche reached out with a large hand and scooped Yuan Shiyuan onto his lap. Before Yuan Shiyuan could even settle or process what was happening, another pair of large hands snatched him away.

Yuan Shiyuan: ??

What the... Why was he being manhandled like a ragdoll?

Jiang Hang blocked Yuan Shiyuan and said coldly, "Cut it out here."

"How ridiculous, who are you to say that? Are you the owner of this room?" Ying Mingche retorted, "The other owner's my brother, isn't he?"

"You're in my brother's room, yet you have no sense of being a guest and still act like this." His tone grew increasingly mocking.

——Okay, but, let's be real, ymc, the other owner of the room isn't you either. [facepalm]

——Wait, the information in their conversation just now is huge? What does it mean that this is the second time ymc has witnessed this? The last time was with Brother Huo? Oh my god, Brother Huo is getting this kind of action in private?

——ymc seems to know a lot of inside information. Earlier, when assigning rooms, he even mentioned something about "hiding in the closet last time"... What was he doing hiding in the closet?

——Doing something sketchy while silently thinking: Sorry, Xiao Yuan, I’ve done something bad to you. [yellow heart]

——WTF, is this what S-class Alphas are like in private??

——Putting these horn-dogs in one group, I really can't rest easy about my baby. Xiao Yuan, promise me, okay? When you sleep, make sure to keep your pants secured. Don’t let bad Alphas touch you—no grabbing, hugging, or rubbing allowed. [crying]

"Jokes have their limits."

Just as the tension was reaching a peak, Yuan Shiyuan’s words brushed it off as just team banter. He peeked out and asked curiously, "Why are you alone?"

There were only two key cards—one for powering the room and the other taken by Ying Mingxi. That’s why Yuan Shiyuan had instinctively assumed the newcomer was Ying Mingxi; only he and Ying Mingxi had key cards.

Did Ying Mingxi give his key card to Ying Mingche?

"Am I not enough by myself?" Ying Mingche sulked. "What, do you want me to call the whole team over? Your room is so small—could it even fit everyone?"

Though the suite was spacious, cramming six S-class Alphas in here would still feel cramped. He added in a teasing tone, "You're too greedy."

Yuan Shiyuan: "Anyway, I was just asking."

First Jiang Hang showed up, then Ying Mingche. He thought maybe it was some group thing or that some task card had appeared in the room, moving things along.

"Do you have any task cards or something in your room? Mine doesn’t—I’ve checked every corner."

Jiang Hang: "I haven’t gone back to check yet."

Ying Mingche: "Mine doesn’t, and I’ve checked the other rooms too—none of them have any."

No task cards? No NPCs to move things along? Then what are we recording?

Yuan Shiyuan wondered unless the process had already progressed without their knowledge. That would explain why the production crew was so unconcerned, letting them run around clueless.

Ying Mingche couldn’t stand being ignored. He played with Yuan Shiyuan’s bathrobe belt and said, "You only care about task cards. You don’t even check on me."

"I feel like crap—I might have a fever. That’s why I came to find you."

"Really? How high?"

Ying Mingche blurted out: "192.5." "Wait, what?"

"Uh."

"Hm?"

Yuan Shiyuan said, "Actually, nobody asked."

Yuan Shiyuan's dismissive tone immediately irked Ying Mingche, who dragged the conversation back to the beginning, dredging up old grievances and insisting that Yuan Shiyuan make him "fall" too.

"You really want to bring up the past?" Yuan Shiyuan said. "Fine, then I’ll bring up some old business too. That time on the rooftop you were on a phone call—I heard you."

"Want me to remind you what you said?"

Jiang Hang glanced over, and the live chat was buzzing with guesses about what Ying Mingche had said. Yuan Shiyuan wore a smile, looking less like he was picking a fight and more like he was teasing.

That attitude only made people even more curious.

But Ying Mingche froze, his mind quickly replaying the memory. His Alpha-level memory instantly brought back that day.

"I..." He suddenly lost his nerve. "I messed up."

"Oh."

"Don’t be mad at me," Ying Mingche said. "I didn't really mean that..."

"Which just proves you’re a habitual liar," Yuan Shiyuan said, deliberately putting on a stern face. "How do I know if what you’re saying now is for real?"

"It is!" Seeing Yuan Shiyuan’s serious expression, Ying Mingche didn’t dare raise his voice, trying to think of a way out.

It was the first time Yuan Shiyuan had seen Ying Mingche look so flustered. He found it amusing and couldn’t hold back a laugh.

"Alright, I was just messing with you," he said. "I’m not mad."

"Really?"

"Really."

Ying Mingche didn’t believe him.

He knew his own flaws all too well, and he knew what kind of rotten person he was. If anyone saw his true nature, they wouldn’t keep liking him, much less let him stay close.

Yuan Shiyuan’s casual attitude, as if brushing the matter aside, only made Ying Mingche more anxious. Yuan Shiyuan was kind to everyone, always equally even-tempered.

He’d rather Yuan Shiyuan got angry at him, showed a different, special side—but he was also afraid he wouldn’t be able to smooth things over.

Ying Mingche felt torn and conflicted.

He was extremely skilled at reading people’s moods. Seeing that Yuan Shiyuan wasn’t resisting his closeness, he asked guiltily in a small voice, "You’re really not angry? You won’t ignore me later?"

Yuan Shiyuan countered, "Then will you behave?"

"I’ll behave."

"You’ll do whatever I say?"

"I’ll do whatever you say."

"You won’t resist?"

"Absolutely not."

—Training a dog is just that simple.

—When Xiao Yuan takes charge, it’s a done deal. [Thumbs up]

—YMC is totally spellbound. [Crying laughing]

Yuan Shiyuan was surprised Ying Mingche was being so obedient this time.

After spending this much time together, he had a pretty good understanding of Ying Mingche. Ying Mingche was like a mischievous, badly-behaved brat—the more you told him not to do something, the more he’d do it, as if deliberately trying to get your attention.

With that type, ignoring them won’t make them settle down. Yuan Shiyuan had to engage a little, mixing punishment with rewards.

Otherwise, Ying Mingche would only get more and more wound up.

"Fine, you said it, and I’ll remember it. I’m not angry this time, but next time might be different," Yuan Shiyuan said. "You can stay here, but no making noise, and no more jokes that disrupt team harmony."

"Behave, and I won’t be angry."

In the end, he was still backing up Jiang Hang.

Ying Mingche shot a resentful look at Jiang Hang, who was clearly pleased to have Yuan Shiyuan defending him like this. Hadn’t he just said a few words to Jiang Hang? It wasn’t like Jiang Hang lost a piece of flesh.

"Alright." But Ying Mingche didn’t dare lose his temper with Yuan Shiyuan. He asked, "Then can I lie on your bed and rest for a bit? I’m not feeling well."

"Really, I’m not feeling well," he said, putting on a pitiful act.

Yuan Shiyuan nodded, allowing it. Then he asked, "You’ve showered, right?"

Ying Mingche: "Of course I have!"

"Then you two hang out," Yuan Shiyuan said, glancing at Jiang Hang, who hadn’t left yet. "I’m going to take a shower first."

After Yuan Shiyuan went into the bathroom to shower, the atmosphere in the living area became tense.

Ying Mingche grew more irritated the longer he looked at Jiang Hang, but he remembered Yuan Shiyuan’s earlier words and didn’t provoke further.

Pretending to check out the room, he took a lap around the suite, then headed straight for Yuan Shiyuan’s bed and lay down.

Was it because it was a suite? Why did Yuan Shiyuan’s bed smell especially nice and feel especially soft?

As his mind drifted, Ying Mingche thought again about how tough Yuan Shiyuan had been with him.

But it felt kind of good.

Yuan Shiyuan only treated him harshly, which meant he was special—otherwise, why would Yuan Shiyuan single him out?

He felt pleased for a moment, but then his expression fell. Still, he wished Yuan Shiyuan would be a little nicer to him...

The faint scent on the sheets made Ying Mingche’s mind go blank, stirring a subconscious urge to submit.

He tilted his head slightly, sniffing the pillow.

No mistake—it was the scent from Yuan Shiyuan’s hair.

Ying Mingche buried his face in the pillow without hesitation, taking a deep, intoxicated breath, then rubbed his nose against the fabric.

—?? Stalker much?

—YMC, do you have any idea how much you look like a sasaeng right now..

——Who told Ying Mingche to run into Xiao Yuan? Next-level smoking technique is just basic operation for him.

——No no no, this is legendary smoking skills.

——As a neutral observer, are sasaeng fans this bold nowadays? Not even bothering to hide it anymore?

The comments were scrolling wildly. Ying Mingche was fully immersed, burying his face deeply into the pillow’s dip.

The sound of water came from the shower, and a faint scent of pheromones drifted from the bathroom, causing him to jerk his head up and instinctively lick his canine teeth.

So fragrant…

The subtle scent flowed like morning mist, lingering at the tip of his nose, making him compulsively pursue it, even addicted.

But this was clearly an Alpha’s pheromones… No, not entirely.

It seemed mixed with something else.

Fine and fleeting, like morning dew at daybreak.

If he lost focus for even a moment, it vanished.

Ying Mingche was mesmerized by this fleeting fragrance. When he suddenly jolted back to awareness, a slender figure was already standing before him.

Yuan Shiyuan had finished showering. Water droplets trickled down his neck, disappearing into his collar. His face was shrouded in steamy moisture, clearly fresh from the shower.

Ying Mingche instinctively took a deep breath.

So fragrant.

“You’re still here?” Yuan Shiyuan tilted his head and noticed Jiang Hang in the sitting area. “You’re still here too?”

He thought for a moment and asked, “Are you planning to sleep here tonight? In the living room?”

Jiang Hang: “Would that be alright?”

“It’s okay, I guess…”

“Good, then I’ll sleep here tonight,” Jiang Hang said. “There’s a folding bed in the closet.”

Yuan Shiyuan: “…Alright.”

Ying Mingche looked at Yuan Shiyuan expectantly, but Yuan Shiyuan responded mercilessly: “You go back to your own room to sleep.”

Ying Mingche was about to speak but remembered he shouldn’t anger Yuan Shiyuan, so he immediately shut his mouth. He said, “I’ll just lie here for a while. I’ll leave once you fall asleep.”

How credible that statement was remained questionable.

Yuan Shiyuan, however, remembered something else: “For The show ‘Struggle for Survival,’ is the livestream still on while we sleep?”

“Yes,” Ying Mingche said. “They might as well put cameras in the bathrooms too.”

Yuan Shiyuan: “…”

He sounded worried, “I'm not a graceful sleeper…”

Yuan Shiyuan used to sleep well as a child, but that was because the orphanage beds were small, leaving little room to move.

After being adopted by the Yuan family, his living conditions improved. Yuan Xing and her husband were the type to dote on their children, providing him and his younger brother with a large two-meter bed where they could roll around and play.

Yuan Shize, when he was little, was clingy and insecure, insisting on sleeping while holding onto him. This led to Yuan Shiyuan developing a habit of needing to hold something while sleeping, or draping his legs over a pillow or stuffed toy.

Since they were on a livestream unexpectedly, they hadn’t prepared pajamas! So now, they only had bathrobes and disposable briefs.

“Really? You don’t sleep well?” Ying Mingche didn’t believe it. “You look like the well-mannered type.”

“But if you’re really worried, ask the captain. He’s more attuned to cameras. If he helps look, he’ll definitely find the hidden cameras quickly.”

“The show ‘Struggle for Survival’ hides its cameras very well. Most people can’t find them.”

But it was so late—shouldn’t Pei Yanbing be asleep by now?

Yuan Shiyuan hesitantly texted Pei Yanbing.

Yuan Shiyuan: Captain, are you asleep?

Pei Yanbing replied quickly: Not asleep.

He said: Want to chat?

Yuan Shiyuan: If you’re free, could you come to my room?

Pei Yanbing: Now?

Yuan Shiyuan: Yeah.

Pei Yanbing: Is Ying Mingxi not there?

Yuan Shiyuan: How did you know?

Pei Yanbing: Okay.

The screen showed “typing…” a few times, as if he was pondering, then he sent another: Okay.

A minute later, there was a knock on the door.

When the door opened, Pei Yanbing first saw Yuan Shiyuan, and then… Jiang Hang and Ying Mingche behind him.

Pei Yanbing thought silently, So Ying Mingxi really isn't here after all.

“Captain, I don’t sleep well, and I sleep very deeply. I’m worried the livestream might capture something embarrassing… Could you help me find the cameras?” Yuan Shiyuan was so tired his eyelids were heavy, but he forced himself to stay awake. “I want to cover them up.”

Pei Yanbing: “Okay.”

Pei Yanbing was indeed attuned to cameras.

In just a moment, all the cameras in the bedroom were covered up.

——Don't cover up the view!! (Crying)

——Captain, I hate you. I curse you to never get to taste Xiao Yuan in the future. (Furious)

——I want to see Xiao Yuan sleeping! Where’s my pretty Xiao Yuan? (Breakdown) (Sobbing)

——Am I the only one worried about Yuan’s safety? These S-rank Alphas aren’t even pretending when there are cameras. If the cameras are covered… (Screaming)

——The Alpha sharing a blanket with Yuan might secretly take advantage of him. Yuan doesn’t sleep well. If he wakes up to find his clothes gone, he wouldn’t suspect anything and would think he tossed them off himself. Plus, he sleeps so deeply that no matter what happens, he won’t wake up. He might even think it was just a bad dream.

——Perfect timing, location, and conditions—born to be cooked. (Facepalm)

"There are so many cameras!" Yuan Shiyuan didn't expect the production team would even bug the tissue box. "Thanks, Captain."

"Did I disturb your rest?"

Pei Yanbing: "No. I wasn't asleep."

Ying Mingche leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smirking coldly. He couldn't resist making a sarcastic remark: "It takes more than a minute just to ride the elevator from upstairs to downstairs, right? Captain, your legs are really long—you got here in just a minute. Did you take the stairs or what?"

"Since you're already here, why leave? Just crash here with us."

Pei Yanbing: "Okay."

—????

—You idols are really something...

—And this is still in front of the live cameras—I can't even imagine how crazy things get in private...

—Please, bring the cameras back. I have a feeling something hot and heavy is going to happen tonight.

—I'm so worried about my baby's cute butt.

—Just thinking about Xiao Yuan having to handle four guys (YMX should be coming back, right? Then only Huo-ge is left at the starting line), my dick hurts so bad, I'm literally drooling. [crying]

Jiang Hang slept on the folding bed, so Pei Yanbing had to sleep on the sofa in the living room.

Fortunately, the sofa was plenty big.

Yuan Shiyuan glanced over—not only could it fit one Pei Yanbing, but even if he lay down too, there'd still be more than enough space.

The lights went out, plunged everything into darkness, with only the dim glow of a small nightlight.

Yuan Shiyuan automatically curled up under the covers.

With the cameras covered, he felt a bit safer, no longer worried about compromising footage being broadcast.

Yuan Shiyuan pulled the covers up and didn't forget to cover the little plush toy on the bedside with a small towel.

Ying Mingche said, sounding jealous, "Even the little plush toy is more important than me."

"Of course," Yuan Shiyuan said. "But you're important too—we're teammates."

Ying Mingche selectively heard only the first part. He was instantly cheered up and rubbed against Yuan Shiyuan like a dog: "Did you just lie on the bed?"

"I was a bit sleepy earlier, so I lay down for a while."

"No wonder it smells amazing," Ying Mingche muttered. "How come you always smell so nice?"

"You're really being a total creep," Yuan Shiyuan said lazily, yawning. "Shower regularly, be a hygienic S-Class Alpha, and you'll smell nice too."

"I'm very clean too," Ying Mingche said. "But unlike you, who smells good everywhere."

The scent wasn't strong, but it was addictive, as if it had an instinctual pull on him. He always felt like Yuan Shiyuan was a walking dessert—making him want to slowly lick and savor it, but also to gobble him up in one bite.

As an S-Class Alpha, he rarely had such uncontrollable thoughts.

"I can't take it anymore, I'm so sleepy," Yuan Shiyuan said, at his limit. "I'm going to sleep. You should get out of here later. Mingxi-ge isn't back yet—remember to leave the keycard for him..."

"Oh, he found an injured little animal on the boat and is helping out. He might not come back tonight."

"Mingxi-ge is so nice."

"What about me? And me?"

"You're also a person."

Ying Mingche was dissatisfied with the answer: "If I'm not a person, then what—a dog?"

Yuan Shiyuan glanced at him, let out a light laugh, and said, "You said it, not me."

"..."

Ying Mingche said, "You're biased. You're so much nicer to my brother."

"Whatever," Yuan Shiyuan turned over, his back to Ying Mingche, hugging a pillow as he closed his eyes. "I'm sleeping. Remember to go back later."

"Oh."

"You're kicking me out."

Yuan Shiyuan focused on falling asleep and refused to engage.

Maybe Ying Mingche just loved the rejection—the colder Yuan Shiyuan was, the more he ignored him, the more excited he became.

With his excellent night vision, he could clearly see the pink hair right before him and the slender neck nestled within.

Ying Mingche cautiously moved closer, sniffing slowly, and soon pinpointed the source of the scent.

It was actually under the covers.

Without hesitation, Ying Mingche dug under the blanket, searching for the origin of the fragrance.

Ying Mingxi's keycard was missing, so he asked an attendant for a replacement.

Along the way, he couldn't catch his breath, his entire body controlled by a strange sensation.

The peculiar feeling washing over him made it impossible to maintain his usual cool.

What the hell was Ying Mingche doing?!

Ying Mingxi pressed his lips tightly together, fighting to keep it together, but his thoughts grew increasingly chaotic.

The moment the keycard unlocked the door, by the dim glow of the nightlight, Ying Mingxi saw two people on the bed. Yuan Shiyuan was dead asleep, curled up quietly in one corner, his nose buried in the pillow, a small section of his nape exposed with a soft glow.

On the other side, the covers were puffed up high, as if someone had buried themselves completely under the blankets. With slight movements, the sheets and blankets rustled softly.

"What are you doing under there?!" Ying Mingxi hissed under his breath, a demanding tone in his voice.

When the covers were thrown back, the blend of S-Class pheromones and Yuan Shiyuan's scent hit Ying Mingxi, leaving him stunned for a moment.

Having been under the covers for too long, Ying Mingche's face was flushed with a weird, feverish red. He was breathing hard, his tall nose bridge rubbed pink, and his eyes held a creepy, satisfied look.

"What could I be doing?" His lazy voice was slightly hoarse, full of relishing the moment. "He smells so good..."

"Brother, you smell it too, right?"

"Especially his legs... too bad the pillow was in the way—I couldn't get closer."

Their whispered conversation was audible only to each other.

Ying Mingxi could naturally sense it.

And he could sense it very clearly.

Though Ying Mingxi couldn't see, the sensations transmitted through their shared perception allowed him to picture it pretty clearly in his mind, as if he were there himself. Without thinking, he felt the same impulse as Ying Mingche—the urge to bite down.

It was too strange.

Ying Mingxi looked back at the large bed.

His younger brother was lying in the spot that originally belonged to him.

"You can go back now," he said, telling him to leave.

But Ying Mingche made no move to get up. "Brother, we're family. There's no need to be so strict about it, right? It's just sleeping—let me stay here."

Ever since they were kids, Ying Mingxi had always been the one who gave in.

As with many people's stereotypes, the older sibling was expected to be tolerant and understanding, while the younger one seemed to get special treatment.

Ying Mingche had known how to win people over since he was young, and he had also exhibited the typical Alpha flaws from an early age.

He loved to compete, to fight for things. In his view, only things that were snatched away were the best.

Ying Mingxi, however, didn't mind that stuff. Toys, snacks, and the like—he could let them have it all. The servants who took care of them would often say he was so responsible, a good older brother. Only he himself knew that the things he could give up were those he didn't care about.

This time, Ying Mingxi refused gently but firmly: "I was the one who won this room."

Ying Mingche froze.

"If you really want to stay here, that's fine too," Ying Mingxi said, acting like he was being generous, offering another option. "There's still space on the sofa in the living room. If that doesn't work, you can even sleep on the floor by the bed."

Ying Mingche looked up at him.

Two identical faces, their gazes staring each other down.

Ying Mingxi said gently, "Those are the rules."

"I bet Shi Yuan doesn't like people who break the rules either."

"..."

Ying Mingche couldn't understand why he should have to sleep on the floor by the bed.

Just because he was afraid of Yuan Shiyuan getting angry?

Ridiculous. Was he scared of Yuan Shiyuan getting angry?

...Well, he actually was quite afraid.

Ying Mingche knew very well that if he didn't behave, Yuan Shiyuan would truly never forgive him.

Ying Mingxi, worried about waking Yuan Shiyuan, just took a quick shower.

Yuan Shiyuan was sleeping deeply, but when Ying Mingxi gently lifted the covers and got into bed, he opened his eyes sleepily.

"Did I wake you?"

"No..."

Yuan Shiyuan forced his eyes open and recognized Ying Mingxi. He said quietly, "Brother Mingxi, I..."

"Hmm?"

"I'm a little itchy..."

Yuan Shiyuan hadn't woken up from noise but by the itchiness caused by an allergic reaction.

He usually slept very soundly and wouldn't wake up easily. If it weren't for the intense itch, as if feathers were tickling deep under his skin, he wouldn't have woken up.

"Where does it itch?" Ying Mingxi asked in a soft voice.

——I was about to sleep, but Xiao Yuan's drowsy voice instantly perked me up!!

——Everyone, stand up!! [Salute]

——ymx asked well, I also want to know where Xiao Yuan itches. Hehe.

——Of course, it's the [beep]~ [Silly laugh]

Yuan Shiyuan didn't really know how to say the location. Half of his face was still pressed into the pillow, his cheek squished into a soft curve.

"I have some ointment..." He paused for a moment before adding, like he was half-asleep, "It's in my backpack."

Yuan Shiyuan had made a special trip to the pharmacy earlier.

The doctor, after hearing his description, suggested it might be allergic dermatitis. In the summer heat, stuff floating in the air like pollen could cause skin irritation and redness.

The doctor prescribed him an ointment, which worked really well. It felt cool and soothing when applied.

Yuan Shize had helped him put the ointment into his backpack, just in case.

Yuan Shiyuan was dead tired but tried to get up. Ying Mingxi stopped him, saying, "You don't need to move. I can get it for you."

He fetched the ointment and returned to the bed, saying naturally, "Want me to put it on for you?"

"I usually put medicine on animals, so I happen to be quite good at taking care of them."

Normally, Yuan Shiyuan would never have agreed. After all, the person in front of him was Ying Mingxi, not his younger brother who had taken care of him since childhood.

But he was so exhausted now that, in his dazed state, he said "Okay" without thinking.

Yuan Shiyuan tried hard to stay awake and tried to make conversation: "Brother Mingxi, you came back so late. Were you rescuing small animals?"

"Did Ming Che tell you?"

Ying Mingxi said, "A little kitten somehow got on the cruise ship. It was very timid, scared by the people on board, and ended up running around until it knocked itself unconscious. A kind-hearted person on the ship noticed it had many wounds, some even had maggots in them."

"I was passing by and went to help."

Yuan Shiyuan was confused: "So, did you give your room key to Ying Mingche?"

"No," Ying Mingxi put it nicely. "I thought I had lost my key somewhere, so I got a new one from the front desk."

Yuan Shiyuan understood.

Probably, Ying Mingche had "accidentally" found Ying Mingxi's room key and "just" took it.

After all, they were brothers, and to them, sharing a room key wasn't a big deal.

After just a few words, Yuan Shiyuan grew increasingly drowsy. His half-asleep, dozing state seemed to hold a special meaning in Ying Mingxi's eyes.

"Did Ming Che bother you again?" Ying Mingxi sighed. "He must have been a pain, right?"

"Huh?"

"That's just his nature—self-centered and impulsive. But he means no harm; he really likes you."

——OMG, praising him on the surface but actually shading him, huh? [LOL]

——YMC, wake up already! I can't believe he's sleeping so deeply, like a log. Your brother is throwing shade at you!

——Why does Ying Mingxi seem a bit lowkey shady? Not as simple as he appears on the surface? [Magnifying glass]

——Just a tactic to jockey for Emperor Yuan's attention. [Smirk]

Yuan Shiyuan's brain was moving slowly. He buried his face in the pillow and unconsciously rubbed it with his cheek.

Suddenly curious, he asked, "What does your Scent smell like?"

There were five S-Class Alphas in the group, and Yuan Shiyuan had smelled four of their Scents—only Ying Mingxi's remained.

"..."

Ying Mingxi, who was opening the ointment package, froze.

He looked slightly stunned, clearly not expecting Yuan Shiyuan to bring up the topic of Scents late at night.

In the quiet of the night, with just the two Alphas alone together on the same bed, the topic felt too charged and suggestive.

Ying Mingxi turned slightly.

Not far away, Yuan Shiyuan was hugging a pillow, his long eyelashes drooping—clearly exhausted but still fighting to stay awake.

Ying Mingxi could tell that Yuan Shiyuan was simply curious. He asked, "Do you really want to smell it?"

Yuan Shiyuan nodded.

"Have you smelled Ying Mingche's pheromone scent before?" Ying Mingxi said. "Do you know what his pheromone scent is like?"

"Yes," Yuan Shiyuan answered honestly. "Green tea mixed with lemon... it smells a bit like iced black tea."

As if asking casually, Ying Mingxi spoke with a coaxing tone, but his eyes were intensely serious: "Do you think his pheromones smell good?"

——Wait, why are we discussing pheromone scents all of a sudden? [Puzzled]

——Is talking about pheromones really appropriate late at night? This is basically an explicit sexual implication, right? [Facepalm]

——Asking someone what their pheromones smell like is no different from asking what their designation is...

——Yuan, you better shut up... This Ying Mingxi guy is not simple—I’m seriously afraid he might pounce on you. [Bursting into tears]

——Am I the only one surprised that Yuan has already smelled Ying Mingche’s pheromones? And he even described it so vividly—oh my god!

——Isn’t it obvious? Ying Mingche must have shamelessly seduced Emperor Yuan and begged him to take a whiff. Who doesn’t know that Ying Mingche is a shameless hanger-on?

Even if it smelled bad, Yuan Shiyuan wouldn’t say so to his face in front of Ying Mingche’s brother. Besides, Ying Mingche’s pheromones really aren't unpleasant.

"It smells good."

"My pheromone scent is white tea."

Every member of Scepter's scent profiles are publicly known. Yuan Shiyuan could easily have looked up each member’s scent online.

But he didn’t. Instead, he chose to ask in person.

This gave Ying Mingxi a pleasure he couldn't quite put into words.

Seeing Yuan Shiyuan’s curiosity, he slowly released his scent.

S-class Alpha pheromones, gentle yet dominant, enveloped Yuan Shiyuan, intensifying his drowsiness, making his gaze grow unfocused.

"You think Ming Che’s scent is pleasant," Ying Mingxi asked softly, "what about mine?"

"Shi Yuan, do you like my scent?"

——?

——Ying Mingxi, you... I really misjudged you.

——[Unbelievable]

——After complimenting his scent, is it time to get down to business? Hurry up and move things along—I want to see what happens next! [Impatient]

A light tea fragrance reached his nose. It was Yuan Shiyuan’s first time smelling Ying Mingxi’s scent, and he instinctively narrowed his eyes, tilting his head up to sniff the unfamiliar aroma.

It was similar to Ying Mingche’s green tea scent, but clearly different. If he had to put it into words... it felt like a white shirt dried under the sun—clean and gentle.

"I like it."

Yuan Shiyuan genuinely liked Ying Mingxi’s scent, not just because it smelled good, but because it felt comforting.

Like the pheromones of other S-class Alphas, just smelling it gave his limbs a satisfying fullness, as if his body was completely satisfied.

After receiving the affirmative answer, Ying Mingxi swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing, and his heartbeat quickened.

Fortunately, it was dark, and Yuan Shiyuan was too drowsy to notice his unusual reaction.

Ying Mingxi brought the conversation back around. "I’ve looked over the instructions. We can apply the medication now."

It was an imported ointment that required two tubes to be used together. As Ying Mingxi sat on the edge of the bed, carefully reviewing the instructions, he heard rustling from behind him.

"Brother Mingxi," Yuan Shiyuan said, "I’m ready."

Ying Mingxi turned, confused, and his pupils suddenly dilated.

In the dim glow of the nightlight, the scene played out in slow motion. Yuan Shiyuan parted his knees, lifted the hem of his pants with his left hand, and pressed his right hand against the red, irritated skin, fully exposing it to Ying Mingxi.

A strange fragrance, Yuan Shiyuan's scent, wafted toward Ying Mingxi, momentarily distracting him.

"So obedient."

Ying Mingxi leaned closer for a better look. Instead of touching the irritated area directly, he gently pressed the hand Yuan Shiyuan had placed over it.

"This is where the rash is, right?"

Yuan Shiyuan lightly pressed his knees together.

Ying Mingxi was surprised—was his reaction this strong? He had only treated small animals before and had no experience with human patients, but that didn’t mean he hadn't read up on it.

According to his layman's knowledge, the skin before him appeared smooth and flawless, with no visible issues.

The abnormal one was Ying Mingxi himself.

Just from gazing at it, his fangs started to tingle, creating an irresistible urge... to step closer and bite it.

But Ying Mingxi didn’t have the nerve.

It was as if an invisible force forced him to show restraint. Without permission, he had no right to overstep any boundaries.

"It doesn’t look serious," Ying Mingxi said. "Does it hurt?"

"No," Yuan Shiyuan answered obediently. "It just gets kinda itchy sometimes, and I wanna scratch. But when I actually do, I can't handle it..."

He struggled to accurately describe this weird feeling.

"I understand. I'll go easy then."

Ying Mingxi squeezed out the ointment, preparing to apply it to Yuan Shiyuan’s allergic area. The moment his fingertip touched the spot, Yuan Shiyuan trembled just barely.

It seemed Yuan Shiyuan was quite sensitive to pain and super sensitive, he thought.

"I’ll be even lighter," Ying Mingxi said soothingly, like an extremely patient doctor. "If I hurt you, you can tell me."

"Don't tough it out."

Yuan Shiyuan nodded. "Thank you, Mingxi-ge."

"Shi Yuan, here goes."

——Oh shit, oh shit?! What kind of sketchy conversation is this, huh? Huh??

——Dammit, not being able to see the conversation is making me imagine things... My mind’s already playing out all sorts of inappropriate scenarios.

——I’m begging you, I'll bow, okay? Just let me unlock the live stream right now... Production team, I’m seriously begging here, can someone please go remove the cloth covering the camera?!

——I’m so anxious, so anxious—is this ointment application even appropriate?

——It won’t turn from applying medicine to... rubbing something else, will it? [Facepalm]

——Are all the other Alphas in the room dead or something? I can’t believe they’re this tired? Dead-asleep roommates, huh? Ying Mingche is even sleeping on a makeshift bed right beside them, so close and in such a perfect spot, yet he’s out cold?!

——Wake up, all of you!!!

——Don’t let Ying Mingxi get all the action—if you’re going to do it, join in! I want to see some action. [Bawling my eyes out]

Ying Mingxi kept his promise and applied the medicine for Yuan Shiyuan.

As Ying Mingxi had said, his touch was very gentle. Yuan Shiyuan, who had initially been able to chat with Ying Mingxi and stay awake, gradually lay back down as if his body was too heavy to keep up.

It seemed he had fallen asleep again.

The affected area wasn’t large—just a small patch of skin on the inner thigh. Perhaps because of the allergy, the already thin and delicate skin appeared even more tender.

Ying Mingxi applied the medicine with a light touch, careful not to wake Yuan Shiyuan—though, given Yuan Shiyuan’s deep sleep, even if he were a bit rougher, Yuan Shiyuan probably wouldn't wake up.

The dry, smooth inner skin was evenly coated with a layer of ointment. The milky-white cream melted upon contact with body heat, forming a glossy, translucent film over the slightly reddened allergic area.

Perhaps the medicine took effect quickly, providing a soothing, calming sensation that eased the discomfort of the allergy. Yuan Shiyuan felt so comfortable that, even in his sleep, he turned his head and lightly nibbled on his curled fingers, his toes slightly flexing.

An ordinary scene, yet to Ying Mingxi, it seemed... extraordinarily captivating.

Ying Mingxi suddenly snapped back to reality and couldn’t help but mock himself.

Truly, a dirty mind sees dirt everywhere.

Yet his thoughts wandered at an inappropriate time—where was that scent coming from?

How could it be so fragrant?

Ying Mingxi sniffed his finger. Even masked by the herbal scent of the ointment, he could still detect a faint fragrance on his fingertip...

His gaze fell thoughtfully on the allergic area of the skin.

Even after applying the medicine, the skin there seemed to grow even more flushed—not the frightening red of an allergic rash, but a healthy, translucent blush emanating from within, like a berry ripening on the verge of maturity, releasing an enticing, mouthwatering aroma.

An Alpha’s unique intuition told Ying Mingxi that something was off here.

But Yuan Shiyuan was asleep now, and taking advantage of someone in such a state seemed wrong...

Yet the fragrance was so peculiar, faint yet stirring, tugging at his heart. After a moment’s hesitation, Ying Mingxi gently parted the skin to take a closer look.

There was nothing unusual.

Perhaps he was overthinking it.

Ying Mingxi quietly put away the ointment.

To prevent Yuan Shiyuan from biting himself, Ying Mingxi carefully removed Yuan Shiyuan’s fingers from his mouth, leaving behind a damp, shiny trail.

In the second he stared, captivated, Yuan Shiyuan suddenly bit him.

A strange, electric current of pain instantly surged through his body.

Ying Mingxi’s breath caught, and he stared in shock at the wound on his hand.

At that moment, as if sensing something, he suddenly turned his head. A tall figure was leaning against the wall, almost merging into the darkness.

Pei Yanbing stood there, though it was unclear when he had arrived or how long he had been watching.

And Ying Mingche, who had been sleeping on the makeshift bed beside them, seemed to sense something even in his dreams, abruptly opening his eyes.