Chapter 39: Secondary Differentiation (Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3)
byChapter 39: Secondary Differentiation (Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3)
*Silence*?
Even though Yuan Shiyuan had just entered the industry, he had heard of the prestigious brand "*Silence*." It occupied the most prominent location in shopping malls, with high-end fashion and jewelry priced at astonishingly high rates. He never imagined that one day he would have any connection with this brand.
Yuan Shiyuan leaned out of the car door window to take a look.
He got out of the car and said politely, "Hello, I'm Yuan Shiyuan."
Pierre’s gaze instantly grew intense and passionate the moment it landed on the pink-haired Alpha. Unable to contain his excitement, he quickly stepped forward as if to give a hug but stopped himself abruptly mid-motion.
"Oh God... You’re even more radiant than in the photos!"
"Mr. Pierre, we were just about to get something to eat. I’m not sure if you’ve eaten yet? If not, we could go together..." Zhuang He handed over his business card.
Yuan Shiyuan sat by the window, next to Bao Jin. Bao Jin instinctively scooted over, making space for Pierre to sit next to Yuan Shiyuan.
Pierre certainly wanted to join them, but his visit was sudden, and he was worried about making Yuan Shiyuan nervous. He was also aware that his current appearance was rather disheveled—after all, he had rushed over straight from the airport, covered in travel grime, without time to clean up.
"No need. I don’t want to interrupt your plans." He gazed fervently at the pink-haired Alpha, using his most charming tone, "Let’s set up a time to go over the contract details in depth."
"Is that alright?" His polite and gentlemanly demeanor seemed almost afraid that Yuan Shiyuan might refuse.
Yuan Shiyuan smiled at him. "Of course."
Under the scorching summer sun, the smile that greeted Pierre left him frozen in place. Zhuang He said, "Then, Mr. Pierre, please rest well for now. We’ll set a time to discuss further!"
"No trial period, directly appointed as brand ambassador?"
Inside the car, the AC was blasting. Ying Mingche leaned over and gently poked Yuan Shiyuan’s cheek, his tone full of pride. "That's our Princess Yuanyuan."
"Nothing’s set in stone yet."
Yuan Shiyuan tilted his head to avoid the poke, his hair brushing against Bao Jin’s shoulder. Bao Jin shot him a glance but said nothing.
Although Yuan Shiyuan was also pleasantly surprised, he knew very well that until the contract was signed, anything could happen.
Ying Mingxi said, "Luxury brands like this put the most stock in a celebrity’s image and temperament, ensuring they align with the brand’s tone. Pierre is the head of the brand. The fact that he flew all the way from France personally shows how seriously *Silence* takes you. Our captain was once invited to a *Silence* runway show—he knows what the brand prefers."
"*Silence* turned down three best actor winners and two best actress winners last year," Pei Yanbing suddenly interjected. "You and *Silence* are a very good match."
"It’s normal for Shi Yuan to be skeptical—after all, this is *Silence*! The company will gradually coordinate with *Silence*." Zhuang He reassured him, "Don’t worry, we’ll do our best to secure this."
Yuan Shiyuan smiled but couldn’t suppress a yawn.
As the van moved forward, he grew drowsy. Before taking a nap, he scrolled through his phone.
During the show, he had posted a group photo of Scepter on his social media, and the number of likes was astonishing—so many that the likes went on forever.
Then, checking the family group chat, he saw that his family had been posting screenshots from the live stream every day.
There were screenshots of Yuan Shiyuan looking shocked, snacking on the sly, frowning, puzzled, and even one of him wearing a skirt.
Mom: Our Yuanyuan is so good-looking! [Sailor outfit ○]
Dad: Skirt, pretty. [Thumbs up]
Yuan Shize was currently not only training at the gaming house but also catching up on classes, pulling double duty and keeping extremely busy. By the time he saw the messages, it was already late at night. He immediately sent a "?"
Then he added: Why is brother wearing a skirt?
Yuan Shiyuan: "..."
So there was something even more embarrassing than being called out by his teammates.
Yuan Shiyuan sent a [spinning circles] emoji to mask his awkwardness.
Before locking his screen, an absurd scam message caught his eye:
"Respected Omega Mr. Yuan Shiyuan..."
The message was clearly a scam—they hadn’t even done a background check, claiming he was an Omega?
Have scams gotten this sloppy now?
Yuan Shiyuan glanced at it casually before ignoring it. He tossed his phone aside, curled up in his seat, and closed his eyes to grab some sleep.
As the chauffeur van slowly approached Starry Night Entertainment, deafening cheers from outside surged like waves against the windows.
"What’s going on?"
"Don’t roll down the windows yet," Zhuang He picked up his phone. Xiao Huang’s frantic voice yelled through: "Don’t use the main entrance! It’s completely overrun!"
"The northeast gate is still clear—the fans haven’t found it yet... Come in from there!"
The driver steered sharply, pulling up near the northeast gate. Xiao Huang sneakily peered out, waving wildly like an undercover agent making contact.
"You scared me to death. Good thing you didn’t go to the main entrance. Both the main and side gates are packed with fans," Xiao Huang said, heart still pounding. "If you’d shown up there, the scene would've been a disaster."
Was it really that exaggerated?
Yuan Shiyuan was the last to get out. As soon as his hand touched the car door, five distinct, well-defined hands reached out toward him at once.
He didn’t take any of them, hopped down cleanly.
"This height is nothing," Yuan Shiyuan said, chin raised. "Still, thanks anyway, bros."
The moment he spoke, screams erupted nearby.
"Is that Yuan Shiyuan?"
"It’s Yuan Shiyuan!"
"We love you, gege!"
Fans quickly noticed the commotion, and flashes nearly blinded him. Yuan Shiyuan instinctively squinted and turned his head away. Before he could even steady himself, Bao Jin yanked him against his chest.
A large hand firmly completely covered Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes.
"Close your eyes," Bao Jin said quietly. "You haven’t had proper training—this intensity of flashes is too much for your eyes to handle."
The other four Alphas formed a human wall, shielding them from the relentless flashes as they hurried toward the back entrance. "Get Shi Yuan inside first."
"Let’s go."
Bao Jin’s voice was close to Yuan Shiyuan’s ear as he practically dragged him through the door. Like he was hauling a prize stuffed animal, Yuan Shiyuan was ushered all the way into the company.
Cool air rushed down, dispelling the stifling summer heat.
After being carried along like that the whole way, Yuan Shiyuan finally couldn’t take it anymore and tugged free from Bao Jin’s arm.
Bao Jin looked down, puzzled.
"I know you’re 194.82 cm tall," Yuan Shiyuan said, tilting his head back with a meaningful tone.
"I'm so jealous," he thought, wishing he could be taller too. He never thought of himself as particularly short, but surrounded by the other five S-class members with their exaggeratedly tall, refrigerator-sized frames, he ended up looking tiny.
Being effortlessly "carried" along by someone of the same gender hurt his straight Alpha ego.
Bao Jin didn't pick up on anything unusual in Yuan Shiyuan's tone. He lowered his voice and asked, "You remember my height so clearly?"
"I remember every word you've said," Yuan Shiyuan replied smugly, a hint of pride curling his lips.
His memory was just that good.
Bao Jin's ears flushed slightly, and he turned his head away uncomfortably, his expression stiffening for half a second. Changing the subject, he said, "The company will arrange some classes for you later. Scenes like this will happen often from now on. You need to be careful whenever you're out."
Yuan Shiyuan asked curiously, "Are all those people at the entrance our fans? There are so many…"
Back when Yuan Shiyuan was still idling at Ximi Entertainment, he'd occasionally run into fans waiting outside the building, but never anything close to these numbers.
Bao Jin said, "Do you really not realize how popular you are right now?"
Record-breaking magazine sales, the live broadcast incident, the contrast effect from the variety show—all of it piled up, and with it being summer break, the hype was simply staggering.
Yuan Shiyuan still looked dazed.
Bao Jin wasn't surprised. Yuan Shiyuan was still new to the industry and had no frame of reference for these things. He reached out to adjust Yuan Shiyuan's flipped collar and smooth down his messy hair.
"From now on, you'll need to pay more attention to your image," he said. "Big star."
"It's not that exaggerated," Yuan Shiyuan retorted, tilting his chin up to make it easier for Bao Jin to fix his hair. Then he added seriously, "But a lot of those people don't really look like fans."
"Besides fans, there are also celebrity photographers. And you need to watch out for a small portion of extreme individuals."
"You mean sasaeng fans?"
"Yes. From now on, don't take the subway. I'll drive you wherever you need to go."
Yuan Shiyuan was about to refuse, but on second thought, Bao Jin had a point. Sasaeng fans could be terrifying. Even though he hadn't been deeply involved in the entertainment industry before, he'd heard plenty of extreme stories.
But he was even more puzzled: "How did you know I take the subway?"
"Last time, when I went to the nearby parking lot, I saw you carrying a small bag, walking really quickly," Bao Jin explained. "I called out to you, but you didn't hear me."
"Rideshares can't stop easily around there, and there are no bike shares—the only option is the subway."
Surprisingly, Bao Jin had been quite observant.
"I probably had my headphones in—I didn't mean to ignore you," Yuan Shiyuan said. He quite liked taking the subway.
It didn't make him dizzy, and there was no traffic. Of course, it'd be even better if he could get a seat.
Yuan Shiyuan was about to say something else when the elevator dinged open. As they passed a glass window on the fourth floor, the roar of the crowd outside almost seemed to penetrate the glass.
Yuan Shiyuan suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking up: "The fans waited so long in this blazing heat just to see me. They'd be really disappointed if they didn't get to see me, wouldn't they?"
Bao Jin looked at Yuan Shiyuan.
His way of thinking always seemed different from that of a typical Alpha.
Perhaps because Yuan Shiyuan's torn, disappointed look was too obvious, Bao Jin took hold of his wrist.
"Come here."
Bao Jin led Yuan Shiyuan to a terrace. From this height, the sea of people below was staggering.
The other Scepter members had already evacuated, yet the crowd remained densely packed!
Yuan Shiyuan's pupils dilated.
For the first time, he got a real sense of the scale of his fanbase. When others had mentioned it before, he thought they were just teasing.
He used to be a nobody, and though he had gotten some recognition recently, he was still a newcomer after all.
How could he possibly have so many fans?
Someone in the crowd spotted the figures on the terrace, and suddenly, everyone turned their gaze upward. A wave of noise erupted instantly.
"Yuan Shiyuan!"
"Brother! Look over here!"
"Baby Yuan Yuan, we all love you!!"
The intense, passionate adoration was right there in front of him.
Yuan Shiyuan said nervously, "What... what should I say?"
His demeanor reminded Bao Jin of the day Yuan Shiyuan was called "baby"—he had been just as flustered then as he was now.
"You don't need to say anything," Bao Jin said. "We're too far away; they can't hear you."
"They're happy just to see you."
Just seeing him would make them happy?
Lost in thought, Yuan Shiyuan looked toward the crowd and suddenly flashed them a genuine, heartfelt smile.
That unadorned, sincere smile triggered an even more frenzied wave of screams from below!
The scene grew increasingly chaotic.
As security was losing control of the situation, Bao Jin pulled Yuan Shiyuan back into the shadows and pulled him back inside.
As he was led inside, Yuan Shiyuan frowned and glanced back below, seemingly worried about something.
"Did..." he said uncertainly, "did one of the security guards accidentally push down an Omega?"
Bao Jin narrowed his eyes and glanced down, though he couldn't see clearly. Before he could respond, Yuan Shiyuan had already hurried over to the security captain.
"Captain, I ordered some afternoon tea for everyone. It should be here soon."
The security captain was busy in a hurry, preparing to go downstairs and assist. He was about to decline when the pink-haired Alpha added, "You've worked hard today. I'm sorry for adding to your workload."
The security captain paused, then smiled. "What are you talking about? This is our job. You don't need to feel guilty."
"Still, thank you."
Yuan Shiyuan paused briefly, a hint of warmth in his eyes, then continued, "I just saw an Omega who seemed to be accidentally pushed down by one of the security guards. I know it's chaotic, and I'm sure it wasn't intentional."
"But could you remind everyone to be a bit gentler next time? Many fans are Omegas. They're not as strong, and they've traveled a long way to be here."
"I don't want them to get hurt trying to see me."
The security team leader was stunned.
He had seen plenty of stuck-up celebrities, but this was the first time he had met one who cared so deeply for their fans. What shocked him even more was that Yuan Shiyuan had managed to spot a fan in distress amid a crowd of hundreds!
The security team leader’s expression gradually turned serious. "Some of the security staff are indeed new and still inexperienced. I’ll make sure to watch out for that in the future and focus on training as well."
"Thanks, man." Hearing this, Yuan Shiyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Starry Night Entertainment had always emphasized the relationship between artists and their fans. Except for stalker fans, the company strictly forbade any rough treatment of fans, especially when it came to Omega fans, where we need to be extra careful.
This matter could be minor or serious.
At a fan event like this, fans were unlikely to make a big deal about it. But in any other context, if an Alpha were to push an Omega and cause injury, it could potentially violate Omega protection laws.
As security dispersed the crowd, it gradually thinned out. Only a handful of people remained at the entrance of Starry Night Entertainment.
A curly-haired Omega sat on the ground, hugging his camera. His scraped knee was dusty, but he didn't even notice. His fingers flew across the screen as he excitedly shared the photos he had just taken with his friends, his face glowing with excitement.
"Our whole day of waiting paid off!" the Omega exclaimed. "Yuan Yuan smiled at us just now!"
"Actually, Shi Yuan didn’t need to come out, but he must have seen us and didn’t want to disappoint us…" He did it just to see them.
As he spoke, he suddenly zeroed in on one photo.
"Is Xiao Yuan frowning in this one? Why is he frowning?" he mused. "What is he worried about?"
When he had seen Yuan Shiyuan in person earlier, the sun had been too bright, and he hadn’t been able to see clearly, too excited to notice details. But now, looking at the photo, he could clearly see that the moment Yuan Shiyuan turned to face the camera, his brow was furrowed.
Was it just his imagination?
"Hello?"
Just as he was thinking this, a shadow fell across him.
Xiao Huang asked concernedly, "How’s your knee? Is it serious? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"
The Omega was stunned. He noticed the other was wearing a Starry Night Entertainment staff uniform and carrying a first aid kit.
Though confused, he shook his head. "I'm okay, it doesn't hurt."
Maybe it had hurt earlier, but the worst of it had passed, and now it felt okay.
"Are you sure? If it’s really painful, I can take you to the hospital. The company will cover the medical expenses. I feel terrible that you got hurt."
"Shi Yuan prepared this for you. He hopes you can use it—it has band-aids, iodine, and other medical supplies." Xiao Huang handed over the first aid kit. "He said he was happy to see you and hopes you’ll always be happy."
"He also said, 'You've worked hard.'"
When the sun had been beating down, making him dizzy, he hadn’t minded the hardship. When the crowd had jostled him, making it hard to stand, he hadn’t felt miserable. Even when his knee was scraped and bleeding, he hadn’t felt the pain. All he could think about was holding on a little longer—maybe he’d get to see Yuan Shiyuan.
But when the words "You've worked hard" reached his ears, the Omega suddenly felt a wave of emotion, as if the grievances he hadn’t even cared about were finally being acknowledged. He covered his face, tears streaming uncontrollably through his fingers.
Inside the Starry Night Entertainment office.
-
"Finally, the day has come when you've turned things around!"
Xiao Huang excitedly pushed the tablet in front of everyone, "Your popularity is blowing up right now—the 'All Yuan' CP (coupling) has shot straight to number one on the CP charts! The overseas tag has accumulated over 10 billion reads!"
"You have no idea, there are countless fan arts and fanfics about you now, and the CP super topic is buzzing like crazy. Shi Yuan, your personal super topic ranking has been climbing steadily, and you guys have completely taken over the CP charts!"
Xiao Huang exclaimed excitedly, "And the hottest one of all is 'All Yuan'—it's crushing the competition at number one!"
Yuan Shiyuan, who was sipping juice through a straw, nearly choked upon hearing this: "So I'm the one getting 'alled'?"
Yuan Shiyuan looked stunned.
It was certainly good news, but he was the one being "alled."
Well, whatever—as long as the fans are happy.
Those fanfics and fan arts are just for kicks anyway; it doesn't actually affect him in real life.
It's not like he's really going to get taken down by these S-class Alphas, right? Impossible.
Xiao Huang, realizing he might have been too excited—some Alphas don't like this kind of development—asked cautiously, "Brother Shi Yuan, you're not angry, are you?"
Yuan Shiyuan laughed and retorted, "Why would I be angry?"
Ying Mingche got interested: "Could it be that you..."
"I'm straight. No matter how active the CP super topic gets, it won't change the fact that I'm straight."
Ying Mingche's smile instantly froze on his face.
Xiao Huang asked, "Really, you're not angry?"
"Really not angry," Yuan Shiyuan said. "What's the most extreme scenario? Probably me being transformed into an Omega with a womb, then having a five-way with you guys, getting bred by each of you in turn, and finally giving birth to a child for every one of you? That should be the most extreme scenario, right?"
"But it's never going to happen," he continued. Why would he get angry over something that's impossible? "It's not like I'm actually going to grow a womb."
Yuan Shiyuan finished, then leaned back in his chair. As he adjusted to a more comfortable position, the hem of his pants rode up slightly, revealing a slender, delicate ankle.
Bao Jin fell silent for a moment, then said drily, "No need to go into such detail."
Ying Mingche mused, "There are scenarios like that?"
He had read countless fanfics but had never come across one like that. Suddenly, he stood up, stared at Yuan Shiyuan's stomach, and poked his lower abdomen.
"If there were a womb, it would probably be around here, right?"
The air went still.
Lingering glances from different Alphas slowly drifted over.
Ying Mingche's finger traced slow circles, causing Yuan Shiyuan to shiver slightly. He was very ticklish, and his waist trembled sensitively.
"Stop messing around," Yuan Shiyuan said, swatting Ying Mingche's hand away.
Zhuang He watched the harmonious and close-knit team with a gratified smile. He cleared his throat pointedly: "It's great that Shi Yuan is so open-minded! Indeed, these things are impossible. But Bao Jin, you need to step it up—everyone else's CPs are on the charts, but yours is still an unpopular pairing."
"Before, the most unpopular CP was Jiang Hang and Shi Yuan, but now they've surpassed you too."
"The netizens aren't shipping our CP?" Bao Jin frowned. "We're roommates."
The implication was that they were closer than anyone else.
Xiao Huang: "Uh, netizens said they can't get into this ship."
Anyway, he couldn't either, but he said reassuringly, "But don’t worry, there are still pica fans out there."
Yuan Shiyuan leaned on Jiang Hang’s shoulder, cracking up: "Pica fans, hahaha..."
Bao Jin: "What do you mean, pica fans? Have you seen those?"
Xiao Huang’s face turned as if he’d tasted something gross.
Bao Jin: "Why do you look like you just ate shit?"
Jiang Hang added: "What’s the difference between reading your CP fanfics and eating shit?"
Xiao Huang instantly looked away and deflected, "The top ship is Yuan Shiyuan and the twins. Next is the captain and Jiang Hang."
Ying Mingche looked proud.
Ying Mingxi smiled faintly.
Bao Jin: "Why are you guys first?"
Yuan Shiyuan: "Don’t use your Alpha drive in this kind of thing."
Anyway, it’s all just publicity—it doesn’t matter which CP is more popular.
But Bao Jin was still pissed. He genuinely didn’t understand—he and Yuan Shiyuan were roommates. How could fans not see that they were the closest?
What’s so great about those fake twins anyway?
"Alright, stop. None of this is important."
Zhuang He interrupted, "Right now, we have a lot of resources. Let me go through them first, filter them, and then we’ll discuss in detail. Regarding Shi Yuan’s brand ambassador deal with the top luxury brand, we’ve had initial discussions. Silence is very eager to collaborate and is pushing to seal the deal quickly."
"It’s basically in the bag."
"However, there’s a strange piece of gossip recently, and I need you to explain it to me." Zhuang He looked at Yuan Shiyuan. "Shi Yuan, the captain, Jiang Hang."
The three named: ?
Zhuang He clicked the remote, and a gossip screenshot popped up on the screen.
"Screenshot"
A netizen: Oh my god, I was at the hospital for a prenatal appointment and actually saw Xiao Yuan with PYB and JH! I’m not sure what checkup they were doing, but they wordlessly had Xiao Yuan sandwiched between them!
[Top comment 1]: Wow, is Xiao Yuan getting a prenatal checkup?
[Top comment 2]: ? No, Xiao Yuan just joined Scepter—even if he were pregnant, it wouldn’t show yet. Please don’t spread rumors about my idol. [prayer emoji]
[Top comment 3]: Hmm, so you admit that Xiao Yuan could be a mom.
[Top comment 4]: Enough... YSY is an Alpha! How could he have a womb?!
[Top comment 5]: Hold up, if you backtrack, could the baby be from his former teammate?? (I ship Xiao Yuan and his former teammate—so excited!!)
[Top comment 6]: Whoa, congrats to Scepter for becoming dads. [fireworks emoji]
[Top comment 7]: It’s fine, it’s fine. Even if the baby isn’t Scepter’s, Xiao Yuan is still our wifey. [silly grin emoji]
Yuan Shiyuan: "..."
Are netizens' imaginations getting way too wild these days??
Yuan Shiyuan just went to the hospital for a check-up, but with the way netizens described it, it made it seem like he was the shared wife of two boy groups.
He's pregnant? And it's his former teammate's child?
How is that possible? The physical contact between Yuan Shiyuan and those Ximi Entertainment members isn't even as much as it is with Scepter's alphas.
Even with Scepter, the most they've done is hold hands, touch faces, hug while nuzzling hair, or sit on each other's laps—oh, and yesterday they rubbed his allergic spots...
But aside from that, they're perfectly innocent, with a pure, wholesome brotherly bond.
"What were you all doing at the hospital together?"
Pei Yanbing: "Getting some tests done. You know about it, Brother Zhuang."
"The captain’s injury—I was the one who told him to go." Zhuang He moved on from Pei Yanbing and looked at the next person. "What about Jiang Hang?"
Jiang Hang: "I have pheromone allergies, so I go to the hospital regularly for check-ups."
Yuan Shiyuan jumped in: "I went for a physical exam."
"A physical exam? Didn’t you have one on your first day? Why again?" Zhuang He asked. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Yuan Shiyuan: "No, just a routine check-up. The doctor recommended an additional test."
"That’s good." Zhuang He felt relieved. "Your employment physical showed that you’re in very good health."
Zhuang He looked at the team’s soaring popularity and then at the harmonious, friendly group in front of him, feeling that Scepter’s future was really bright.
Zhuang He had reminded Yuan Shiyuan.
It’s been days—the physical exam results should be ready by now, right?
Yuan Shiyuan opened the hospital’s online system, ready to check the electronic report, but red text at the top said "Confidential."
He had to go to the hospital in person to get the report.
After the office meeting ended, Yuan Shiyuan planned to head to the hospital right away.
Pei Yanbing, unusually, started talking: "Want to go to the music room together?"
"Later," Yuan Shiyuan said, though he really wanted to—he had something to do first. "I've got to go out for a bit."
"I’ll come find you in the music room when I get back."
"Okay," Pei Yanbing said softly. "I’ll wait for you."
Bao Jin chimed in naturally: "You’re going out? I’ll give you a ride."
Yuan Shiyuan initially wanted to refuse, but remembering Bao Jin’s words not long ago and the memory of fans swarming the company, he agreed: "Sure. I’m just going to the hospital to get a report. It’s close by."
To the hospital?
Bao Jin thought for a moment and said, "Then I’ll go back to the dorm first to take my inhibitor."
The hospital is too crowded, and Bao Jin has Pheromone Mania, so it’s best he gets a shot beforehand.
He absolutely must not lose control in the crowded hospital; he fears his pheromones might affect innocent passersby.
Yuan Shiyuan made an "OK" gesture.
"Then I’ll walk around the company." The company was huge, and since he'd been here for so many days, his poor sense of direction meant there were still many areas he hadn’t figured out.
Yuan Shiyuan decided to get familiar with it.
"Turn on location sharing."
"Huh?"
"Otherwise, I’m afraid I won’t be able to find you."
Yuan Shiyuan eyed Bao Jin suspiciously. What did he mean by that? Did he figure out he was bad with directions?
That couldn’t be—he hadn’t told anyone…
"Alright." Yuan Shiyuan thought Bao Jin’s alpha male control issues were acting up again. "I’ve turned it on."
"You go back to the dorm and take your time taking the inhibitor. I’ll take my time looking around."
Not far away, Jiang Hang leaned against the wall, watching Yuan Shiyuan walk away thoughtfully.
The corridors of Starry Night Entertainment were like a maze. After passing the same sculpture for the third time, Yuan Shiyuan had to admit he was lost again.
It seemed like he was trapped again.
Just as Yuan Shiyuan was about to ask for help, a message from Bao Jin came through at just the right time.
Bao Jin: I’ve finished the inhibitor.
Bao Jin: Don’t move. I’ll come find you.
Yuan Shiyuan glanced down at his phone. Thankfully, Bao Jin had shared his location with him.
All he had to do was wait for Bao Jin to come find him.
The AC was humming softly as Yuan Shiyuan found a seat and sat down. But before he could rest for more than a few seconds, a sweet, whimpering sound caught his ear.
An Omega was in heat!
And not just any ordinary Omega.
Yuan Shiyuan followed the sound and, in one corner, found a male Omega group member curled up in a ball. The Omega was trembling all over, his face flushed and wet with tears, his fingers gripping his collar tightly.
"Are you okay?" Yuan Shiyuan immediately helped the Omega up.
"Wait here, I’ll get a Beta over here…"
Yuan Shiyuan wanted to take the Omega to a safe place right away, but with his poor sense of direction, having him do it would only make things worse.
Just as he pulled out his phone, it got knocked out of his hand.
A soft body pressed against him as the Omega clung to him desperately, pheromones pouring out instantly: "Help me... mark me."
"I feel so awful."
"I feel so awful…"
Yuan Shiyuan froze in place. "Just try to calm down..."
He had never been in such close contact with an Omega before. As he pushed the Omega away, this just made the Omega cry even more pitifully.
The Omega’s vulnerable appearance really triggered his Alpha protective instincts.
"Just hang in there a little longer, okay?"
Yuan Shiyuan softened his tone. He couldn’t release pheromones to soothe the Omega at this moment—people might get the wrong idea. After all, the Omega was a member of an Omega boy group, and Omega idols couldn’t risk any scandals, or it would really hurt their careers.
"I’ve already called my assistant."
Xiao Huang was a Beta. Luckily, he was available to help now. It was also fortunate that he wasn’t sensitive to Omega pheromones; otherwise, things could have gotten really messy...
"But I’m so uncomfortable."
The Omega seemed to come to his senses a bit. Gripping Yuan Shiyuan’s wrist, he looked up and begged, "Can you give me a temporary mark? Please, I won’t tell anyone..."
"I’m also an S-class. We're probably pretty compatible..."
The Omega had clearly been enduring his heat for a long time. Eventually, he couldn’t bear Yuan Shiyuan’s inaction. He didn’t understand—why would an Alpha remain indifferent at a time like this?
Suddenly, he lunged and tackled Yuan Shiyuan to the floor, his fingers frantically tugging at Yuan Shiyuan’s collar.
"Don’t do this..."
"Bang!"
The Omega was abruptly yanked away and shoved to the floor. Jiang Hang appeared out of thin air, quickly pulling Yuan Shiyuan up from the ground and shielding him behind himself.
Yuan Shiyuan instinctively glanced toward the Omega. Having been treated so roughly, the Omega cried even more bitterly. Yuan hurried forward to help him up.
Fortunately, Xiao Huang arrived just in time. "I’m here, brothers!"
"You two get out of here!"
If rumors spread about members of an all-Alpha group and an all-Omega group, all their hard work would be for nothing! He added, "Leave this to me!"
Even as a Beta, Xiao Huang could smell intensely rich Omega pheromones, along with another... gradually spreading Alpha pheromone.
Yuan Shiyuan reacted quickly, pulling Jiang Hang away from the scene.
They entered a bathroom stall. "Did you bring your medicine?"
Jiang Hang was allergic to that Omega’s pheromones!
During an allergic reaction, Jiang Hang would lose control, unable to restrain his pheromones—almost like another form of rut, though not as intense.
"It’s fine."
Jiang Hang’s tone was calm. After a pause, he repeated, "I'm okay."
But his fingers trembled as he reached into his pocket for medicine.
Yuan Shiyuan moved Jiang Hang’s hand aside and slid his own into Jiang Hang’s pants pocket. His warm fingertips grazed against Jiang Hang's tense thigh through the thin fabric, searching.
"The meds are in here, right?"
As soon as he spoke, another clearly larger hand suddenly slipped in. Jiang Hang’s hand was a whole size larger, his fingers firmly locking between Yuan Shiyuan’s.
Their hands intertwined and pressed tightly together within the narrow confines of the pocket. Yuan Shiyuan looked up in surprise, meeting Jiang Hang's deep, dark eyes.
As the Alpha stared at him, his fingers with slight calluses traced Yuan Shiyuan's knuckles, drifting slowly from the base to the tip of each finger before reluctantly pulling out the pill pack.
Jiang Hang tilted his head back and swallowed two pills. His gaze remained fixed on Yuan Shiyuan's face as his Adam's apple bobbed.
The Cabernet Sauvignon pheromone filled the enclosed space.
The overly strong alcoholic pheromones made Yuan Shiyuan feel inexplicably flushed and dizzy, but he didn't dare to leave abruptly.
He knew Jiang Hang's allergy was severe, so he had to stay by his side for now. He pressed the help button in the restroom, requesting that pheromone suppressants be brought.
Seeing his tension, Jiang Hang said, "I'm okay."
He breathed a small sigh of relief—after taking the medication, the situation had indeed improved significantly. He reassured, "I'm really fine, don't worry."
The Cabernet Sauvignon pheromone grew increasingly potent.
Just as Yuan Shiyuan turned his head, he was momentarily dazed by the overwhelming pheromones.
It was as if he had drunk an entire bottle of strong liquor; a hazy mist clouded his vision, and his whole body took on a drunken state.
Yuan Shiyuan stumbled forward a step and was caught by Jiang Hang's hand on his waist.
The next second, he found himself sitting sideways on the Alpha's lap.
Jiang Hang's pupils abruptly dilated. The usually expressionless, even somewhat impatient Cool Guy now wore a rare look of bewilderment on his face.
He watched as Yuan Shiyuan's face visibly reddening, the redness spreading from the tips of his ears all the way down to below his collarbone...
"What's wrong with you?" Jiang Hang gripped Yuan Shiyuan's chin. "Your face is very red."
"I don't know, I..." Yuan Shiyuan looked increasingly bewildered, saying dazedly, "I don't know..."
Yuan Shiyuan's eyes were dazed, his mind a blank slate, yet he felt inexplicably flustered.
But he had experienced this feeling before.
When he Presented at age ten, it was just like this—confusion, panic, sensitivity... a mix of emotions intertwined.
Jiang Hang reached out to feel Yuan Shiyuan's forehead, his fingers pushing aside the collar to check his temperature at his neck.
Suddenly, he froze, as if controlled by some force, rigidly staying in place.
A faint, sweet fragrance quietly permeated the air.
Jiang Hang was not only allergic to pheromones but also unable to smell most Omega pheromones. Yet now, he could clearly detect this aroma.
Though faint, as fresh as morning dew, it held a powerful attraction for him.
Sitting on Jiang Hang's lap, Yuan Shiyuan shifted uneasily, adjusting his position. His slender, pale fingers clutched tightly at the fabric on Jiang Hang's chest, the corners of his eyes damp and red as he let out a very soft gasp.
Jiang Hang went completely rigid, unsure how to react for a moment.
After a long pause, he reached out and grabbed Yuan Shiyuan's face, lifting it. Yuan Shiyuan's small face—it seemed as if just a casual grasp could completely envelop it.
His other arm casually wrapped around Yuan Shiyuan's waist, and with just a slight exertion, he lifted Yuan Shiyuan up slightly.
Yuan Shiyuan still appeared dazed, his legs hanging between the Alpha's legs, heels suspended in the air, only the trembling tips of his toes barely touching the ground.
The allergic discomfort that had just been suppressed by the medication transformed into a new restlessness and dry heat.
"You—"
Jiang Hang struggled to remain calm, but he was still intoxicated by the scent that washed over him.
He stared intently at Yuan Shiyuan's face, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a confusion he hadn't even noticed himself. "You..."
"Why do you smell so strongly of an Omega?"
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