Chapter 36: Sailor Uniform

Chapter 36 The Sailor Suit

Pheromones serve multiple functions.

Among their own kind, Alpha pheromones are typically used for dominance.

For the opposite sex, they function as flirtation and seduction; pheromones can both arouse desire and provide gentle reassurance to Omegas, ensuring their comfort.

Pheromone fluctuations can also reflect one's current emotional state.

The higher the compatibility, the more intense the pheromonal communication.

At this moment, all the Alphas clearly sensed Yuan Shiyuan's unease and disorientation. The instinct deeply ingrained in their Alpha genes instantly awakened, and they immediately released their pheromones to soothe him.

This subconscious protective behavior was akin to comforting their own Omega.

But Yuan Shiyuan was clearly an Alpha.

"Mmm..."

A nightmarish wave of heat enveloped Yuan Shiyuan. When he jolted awake, five tall shadows filled his vision.

With only a small night light illuminating the room, their faces remained unclear. The broad silhouettes cast by the Alphas' imposing figures created a horror-movie visual effect.

Yuan Shiyuan was startled.

He instinctively shrank back, then slowly regained his senses, propping himself up with one hand.

"What's going on?"

Were these Alphas holding a midnight gathering around his bed instead of sleeping?

Pei Yanbing discreetly placed a pillow behind his lower back, his large, well-defined hand pressing down on Yuan Shiyuan's shoulder to make him lie back down.

"You don't look well," he said. "You were trembling earlier."

Jiang Hang touched his forehead. "Your face is burning up too."

The calloused tip of his finger brushed against Yuan Shiyuan's cheek, causing him to shiver slightly.

"I do feel a bit unwell..." Yuan Shiyuan had forgotten that his rut had just occurred not long ago. "Maybe it's my rut?"

But his rut had never caused such a strong reaction before. Had his rut, after years of being calm, suddenly decided to rebel and make him suffer?

Ying Mingxi pressed an ice-cold towel against Yuan Shiyuan's feverish cheek.

The cooling sensation made him narrow his eyes slightly, tilting his head to rub against the towel, his eyelashes trembling.

"Are there any other discomforts?"

The edge of the towel was warm with Yuan Shiyuan's body heat and pheromones, sending a tingling numbness through Ying Mingxi's fingertips. He asked softly, "Do you want an inhibitor?"

"Okay."

Just as Yuan Shiyuan rolled up his sleeve, Bo Jin stopped him, covering his porcelain-white wrist.

"Not right," Bo Jin said. Due to his Pheromone Mania, he was extremely familiar with Alpha ruts. "It doesn't feel like a rut. Taking inhibitors outside of the rut period can have side effects."

The Alphas each had their own opinions, leaving Yuan Shiyuan bewildered.

Waking up in the middle of the night to five towering figures, startled before he was fully awake—how coherent could he be?

Yuan Shiyuan tugged the blanket aside slightly, his slender ankles peeking out from under the covers, pale and glaringly bright in the darkness.

"Can you all step back, please?" he said. "I'm having trouble breathing."

Five towering figures, each over 190 cm, crowding around him—the air felt stifling.

The Alphas immediately stepped back. Ying Mingxi opened the window to let in the cool night breeze, and Yuan Shiyuan's mind finally cleared a little.

"It really doesn't seem like a rut," Yuan Shiyuan said slowly. "The symptoms are different from a rut."

After speaking, he sniffed lightly. "Your pheromones... why do they all smell so good?"

His dreamlike whisper was like a spark falling into a pot of oil.

The Alphas' pupils constricted.

Being complimented on their pheromones in the middle of the night was indeed unexpected.

Bo Jin glanced at Yuan Shiyuan's exposed calf and instinctively turned away. The other Alphas also looked somewhat uncomfortable.

"If you think they smell good, then it probably isn't a pheromone rejection issue."

Ying Mingxi's gentle voice carried a hint of hoarseness. "Speaking of pheromones, Shi Yuan, your pheromones..."

"Also smell very good."

Ying Mingxi seemed to want to say something but couldn't quite grasp it. They weren't so ignorant that they couldn't distinguish between same-sex and opposite-sex pheromones, but in many moments just now, they had indeed experienced a discrepancy in their perception.

It was as if Yuan Shiyuan beside them wasn't an Alpha but an Omega.

If it were to prevent discomfort during his rut, taking an inhibitor early wouldn't be a problem—it was like taking painkillers before a headache struck. But for some reason, he felt Bo Jin was right.

The pheromone concentration in the air was high, as if they knew Yuan Shiyuan would like their scents, releasing them in unspoken agreement. Yuan Shiyuan lifted his head, sniffing repeatedly, then hugged the pillow sideways like he was drunk, a tipsy expression on his face.

Was it his imagination?

Their pheromones smelled so good, better than ever before.

Maybe it was because the pheromones were more concentrated now, and he didn't feel as uncomfortable as he had earlier.

But... he wasn't entirely comfortable either.

Once they confirmed Yuan Shiyuan wasn't unwell and it wasn't his rut, the Alphas returned to their respective beds.

Under the dim light, Yuan Shiyuan's cheeks were flushed, and his eyelashes were damp. He stared at the small figurine on the bedside table for a moment, hesitated for a long time, then reached out and pulled the small towel up, completely covering the figurine's eyes.

As if successfully completing some kind of ritual, he maintained his position with his back to Pei Yanbing and quietly slipped his hand under the covers.

Just checking.

A perfectly ordinary action became exceptionally embarrassing due to the breathing of another Alpha behind him. Yuan Shiyuan felt like he was doing something wrong, gently biting the corner of the blanket as he poked the area where his skin had been irritated.

"Uh..."

The moment his fingertip touched the irritated skin, the arch of his foot tightened abruptly. Yuan Shiyuan bit down hard on the blanket, swallowing back a nearly escaped whimper, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Sure enough, this was where the problem lay.

The allergic skin had inexplicably become thin and feverish, extremely sensitive to the slightest touch, each gentle contact causing a strange shiver.

Even without shining a flashlight, he could sense the unnatural redness and swelling of this patch of skin.

Can allergies really get this bad? Yuan Shiyuan wondered, suddenly recalling the search results he had found earlier.

Could it not be an allergy, but rather… being in heat?

No, that couldn’t be—he didn't particularly feel like…

His mind raced chaotically as he abruptly remembered what he had learned in physiology class. The course not only detailed an Alpha's rut but also covered in detail the common symptoms of an Omega's heat and how to help alleviate their discomfort.

He had studied diligently and taken detailed notes—it was every Alpha's responsibility, as well as their role as a partner.

Generally, an Alpha's rut is accompanied by swollen and heated glands, abnormal body temperature, and heightened aggressive instincts. They become extremely sensitive about their personal space, frequently experience marking urges, desire contact with highly compatible Omegas, and may even trigger nesting instincts.

This was why many people described an Alpha in rut as behaving like an unsocialized animal.

As an Alpha, Yuan Shiyuan had never experienced these urges—not now, and not in the past.

Based on theoretical knowledge, he couldn’t help but feel that his current state resembled an Omega's heat…

But he was an Alpha! No matter how much he might resemble an Omega, it was impossible for him to go into heat.

"Hmm? No… Captain!"

While lost in thought, Pei Yanbing suddenly pressed close from behind, his scorching arm wrapping around Yuan Shiyuan's waist, pulling him entirely into an embrace. At the same time, another large hand firmly covered the lower half of his face, silencing any sound he might make.

"?!"

Yuan Shiyuan was shocked—the usually cold and restrained captain had such restless sleep.

Just as he was about to struggle, a hot breath brushed against the back of his neck. A strange, tingling sensation shot down his spine, making his entire body tense up.

Yuan Shiyuan strained to turn his head and look.

Was Pei Yanbing… sleepwalking?

Knowing it was best not to startle someone sleepwalking, Yuan Shiyuan reluctantly swallowed his protests. Fortunately, Pei Yanbing only held him tightly, burying his face against Yuan Shiyuan's neck and hair, breathing deeply.

Belatedly, Yuan Shiyuan wondered—was Pei Yanbing treating him like a cat to cuddle?

Chest pressed against back, Yuan Shiyuan was completely enveloped in Pei Yanbing's embrace. Their significant size difference created a visual of one wholly wrapped around the other.

Yuan Shiyuan tentatively shifted, but Pei Yanbing mistook it for an attempt to escape. He immediately slid his leg between Yuan Shiyuan's knees and pulled him back with an irresistible force.

"Ah…"

The sensitive skin of the allergic area was abruptly rubbed, and Yuan Shiyuan's eyes widened, his mind going blank. He lightly scratched the back of Pei Yanbing's hand but left no mark.

A cool, S-class pheromone enveloped him, soothing the earlier discomfort.

What… was happening?

Why did it feel so good?

Yuan Shiyuan didn’t dare move recklessly, but Pei Yanbing had no such reservations.

As if driven by an instinct engraved in Alpha genes, Pei Yanbing quickly found the right spot. He bent his knee, buried his face in Yuan Shiyuan's neck, and experimentally nuzzled against him.

"?!"

Yuan Shiyuan was grateful Pei Yanbing was covering his mouth—otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. He anxiously glanced around, afraid of waking one of his teammates.

Wait, why was he so nervous? It wasn’t like he and Pei Yanbing were having an affair.

Their relationship was one of pure brotherhood—he had nothing to fear even if someone lifted the covers to check.

Even so, Yuan Shiyuan quietly peeked over at Jiang Hang, who was sleeping on a floor mat by the bed.

Seeing that Jiang Hang showed no signs of waking, he let out a small sigh of relief. Then, cautiously, he tried touching the allergic skin again.

Because of the allergy, the skin had become extremely thin, tender, and slightly itchy. Yuan Shiyuan didn’t dare press too hard or scratch recklessly. After testing it, he confirmed it—indeed.

Scratching it himself wasn’t as satisfying as having someone else do it.

Although Pei Yanbing's sleepwalking was startling, it inadvertently did some good. Unconsciously, he helped relieve Yuan Shiyuan's itch through the friction of skin against skin.

Yuan Shiyuan's toes curled uncontrollably, lightly brushing against Pei Yanbing's foot…

He completely relaxed, leaning back into Pei Yanbing's embrace, the corners of his eyes glistening with moisture as he listened to Pei Yanbing's breathing against his neck.

It was as if he had been grabbed by the scruff—strangely, he felt a sense of security.

When dawn broke, Yuan Shiyuan woke briefly. Drowsily, he wondered whether he should talk to Pei Yanbing about this after waking up.

On second thought, never mind.

Better to preserve the captain’s dignity.

After all, he hadn’t lost anything—in fact, he’d inexplicably enjoyed himself.

In the morning, Yuan Shiyuan woke up and stretched lazily. He was in excellent condition, showing no trace of last night’s confusion.

Only he and Bo Jin were in the room.

"Didn’t you say you had to get up early for work?" he asked curiously. "Why are you still here?"

"I woke up at six," Bo Jin glanced at him. "We took turns keeping watch, switching every hour to see if you’d woken up."

"What time is it now?"

"Past ten."

Yuan Shiyuan: "…"

So he was the only one who had slept in this late.

Bo Jin reached out and touched his forehead. "Are you still feeling unwell?"

Yuan Shiyuan felt refreshed. "I feel great."

"Maybe it was the wind on the deck," Bo Jin continued. "Does your head hurt?"

—What? Xiao Yuan is sick?!

—No wonder his face was so red right after waking up! Could he have a fever? Nooo, mom’s heart aches for you! [crying]

"I’m not that fragile."

Yuan Shiyuan sniffed, the new air system diluting the pheromones, which he found somewhat annoying.

He sat on the bed, his pajama collar messed up from sleeping, revealing a section of his collarbone.

Bo Jin’s eyes darkened abruptly. He suddenly gripped Yuan Shiyuan’s chin, his thumb pressing hard over the red mark on the side of his neck.

“What’s this?”

“Probably a mosquito bite.”

Yuan Shiyuan turned his head away—how was he supposed to say it was from Pei Yanbing rubbing against him?

When Pei Yanbing was sleepwalking and in a daze, he seemed quite different from his usual quiet self. Last night, Pei Yanbing had acted like a clingy big dog, holding onto him and refusing to let go.

His high nose bridge repeatedly rubbed against Yuan Shiyuan’s neck, leaving patchy marks.

Bo Jin watched Yuan Shiyuan in the bathroom pensively.

—This mark wasn’t there yesterday! Who’s bold enough to sneak a taste during the show?!

—Known: Xiao Yuan shared a bed with the captain yesterday…

—The captain quietly got with Xiao Yuan!

—What did they do under the covers? What exactly did they do?! I’m dying to know!

Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t closed the bathroom door.

He washed his face carefully, scooping water with his hands and splashing it on his face: “Where did you buy breakfast last time? It was really good.”

“The one on the third floor. You want some?”

“Yes.”

“You go buy it later—since you have all the star coins anyway. That restaurant gets crowded, so get there early to beat the crowd.”

Yuan Shiyuan walked out, wiping his face, his bangs partly damp. A towel hung around his neck as he looked at Bo Jin without a word.

Bo Jin frowned: “You want me to be your errand boy?”

Yuan Shiyuan retorted: “Didn’t you say yesterday you wanted to protect me? Here’s your chance.”

“That’s not the same thing.” Bo Jin said expressionlessly, “Protecting you from being worked like an ox doesn’t mean I have to serve you like a beast of burden.”

Yuan Shiyuan thought carefully: “Is there a difference?”

“Anyway, no way. Go wait in line yourself.” Bo Jin said, “I need to get back to work.”

He didn’t want to be in last place again today.

Yuan Shiyuan suddenly leaned in: “Brother, I’m begging you.”

Fresh from waking up and washing his face, his face was covered in a dewy glow. When he looked up, droplets still clung to his eyelashes.

Bo Jin: “…”

He turned around in resignation, “Fine.”

This move never failed.

When Yuan Shiyuan was too lazy to wait in line at the dorm cafeteria or order takeout, he’d use this same move on his roommates to get them to bring back food for him.

An hour later, Bo Jin returned with breakfast.

After pausing in the bedroom for a moment, he walked into the living room, carrying another bag.

“What’s this?”

Yuan Shiyuan’s heart nearly stopped.

The outfit from the maid café! He’d specifically hidden it under the bed!

He hadn’t expected Bo Jin to look under the bed—only rats would look there.

Yuan Shiyuan put on a confused look: “You’re asking me? I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“Does the show have a secret mission?” he added, “Can we sell this outfit for star coins?”

Bo Jin, seeing no sign of lying, opened the bag. The first thing he saw was a leather skirt, and his brows furrowed tightly.

“Disgraceful.” He tossed the bag back under the bed.

Yuan Shiyuan innocently enjoyed his meal, playing completely clueless. Only after Bo Jin left did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, Bo Jin hadn’t found out.

When Yuan Shiyuan arrived at the maid café with his work uniform in hand, Song Mian had waited a long time.

Seeing him, Song Mian immediately waved excitedly.

Yuan Shiyuan returned a warm smile, only then noticing an unfamiliar Omega sitting beside Song Mian. The other was tall, even a bit taller than him, sitting with arms crossed and a grim expression.

“This is my friend Lu Lin!” Song Mian eagerly introduced, adding, “Shi Yuan, did you know? The current voting segment is about what you’ll wear later—the live comments are going wild!”

Hearing this, Yuan Shiyuan turned to the camera with a charming smile: “What would everyone like to see me wear today? Anything is fine.”

“As long as you like it.”

—OMG, this angle is killer! So handsome!

—I love whatever my wife wears, but not wearing anything would be even better! [Drooling]

—Sailor uniform! It has to be the sailor uniform!! [Shouting]

After Yuan Shiyuan left, Song Mian excitedly tugged his friend’s sleeve: “Did you see that? He has such a great personality, totally different from other Alphas!”

The Omega looked dreamy again, “I really want to find a couple more husbands for Xiao Yuan…”

Lu Lin frowned: “Weren’t you always calling him ‘brother’ before?”

“That’s not important!”

Lu Lin maintained a grim expression and didn’t speak. After all, he was just here to accompany his friend—he had no interest in idols or celebrities.

Celebrities are all just putting on an act anyway.

All Alphas are the same anyway? Disgusting hypocrites.

Ten minutes later, the café owner found Yuan Shiyuan: “The audience voted for the sailor uniform.”

He sighed with regret, "Actually, I would have preferred to see you in that devilish leather skirt..."

"What the audience likes is what matters most," Yuan Shiyuan said with a smile.

What he wore didn’t matter to Yuan Shiyuan. As long as the audience enjoyed it and the fans were satisfied, that was enough.

The pink-and-white sailor uniform fitted well but looked a bit tight due to his Alpha frame. The thin fabric clung snugly to his waist, and the skirt barely covered his upper thighs.

When the boss handed him a fluffy bunny-ear headband and a fluffy bunny tail, Yuan Shiyuan obligingly put them on.

Seeing Yuan Shiyuan in this outfit, Song Mian turned red instantly.

"Brother Shi Yuan, you—you look absolutely stunning!" Song Mian almost squealed, "I brought a friend today, so we can order lots of coffee and leave you a big tip!"

He had no idea how thrilled he was—just yesterday, he had read a story featuring a sailor uniform and bunny girl roleplay, and today he got to see Yuan Shiyuan wearing something similar!

Yuan Shiyuan’s gaze fell on Lu Lin, who had been keeping a cold face all along.

He suddenly placed two glasses of peach sparkling water on the table.

Lu Lin frowned, "I didn’t order this."

"It’s on me today."

Yuan Shiyuan gently pushed the drinks toward him, "You seem a little down today? I’m not sure why, but I hope this drink can cheer you up a little."

"Hope you guys have a good time." Before leaving, Yuan Shiyuan gave a wink and a smile.

Lu Lin’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He had indeed been troubled lately by an arranged marriage within his family, but not even Song Mian knew about it...

How did this pink-haired Alpha pick up on that?

Lu Lin looked down at the pink peach sparkling water and couldn’t help but think of that head of pink hair.

He grabbed his friend’s hand, his voice slightly tense, "What’s his name?"

"Yuan Shiyuan?"

Outside the glass window, Ying Mingche abruptly stopped handing out flyers.

"Bro, that’s Yuan Shiyuan, right?" He stared fixedly at the pink figure inside the café, "No doubt, it’s him."

Ying Mingxi was taken aback.

"What are you all doing here?"

Bo Jin’s voice suddenly came from behind. Noticing they were all staring intently in one direction, he followed their gaze, and his eyes narrowed sharply!

Yuan Shiyuan, who should have been resting in the suite, was now wearing a tight sailor uniform with a fluffy bunny-ear headband. The skirt was shockingly short, but the cut was excellent, accentuating his straight, long legs.

What was worse, he was smiling so happily at strangers!

"What is he doing?!" Bo Jin’s voice was nearly gritted out between his teeth.

The little waiter inside the café was completely unaware that he had caught the attention of three Alphas. Behind the glass, Yuan Shiyuan, oblivious to the impending danger, smiled as he bent down to serve coffee to a customer, his bunny tail swaying gently with the movement.

"What is he doing?" Ying Mingche repeated the question, "Isn’t it obvious?"

Their teammate, wearing a sailor uniform they had never seen before, was smiling cheerfully as he served others.