Chapter 32 Seasonal Allergies

Chapter 32 Seasonal Allergies

It was indeed sweet.

Zhou Yu couldn't quite tell if it was the taste of the lip gloss or Lin Yunshu's pheromones.

Either way, it was incredibly sweet, captivating him, making him want to linger forever.

He didn't know how long they had been kissing when Lin Yunshu finally pushed him away.

Lin Yunshu leaned back against the door, head tilted, mouth slightly agape as he gasped for breath. In the dim light, his lips looked glossy and full, a vivid, tempting red.

Pheromones flowed slowly. Zhou Yu slipped one hand behind Lin Yunshu's back, shielding him from the cold metal door, while the other cupped the nape of his neck, helping him breathe more easily.

“Your lung capacity isn’t great,” he remarked.

Lin Yunshu didn't respond, merely lifting his eyelids to glare at him, his gaze languid and alluring.

Zhou Yu felt as if someone had gently brushed his heart.

Lin Yunshu was always so prim and proper, especially at the company—clean and beautiful, like a revered Guanyin statue, meant only for admiration.

Zhou Yu had never dared to touch him too much before, afraid of accidentally crossing the line of their superior-subordinate relationship and scaring him away.

But now things were different.

Now, Lin Yunshu was his omega, his alone.

They had registered their marriage, and soon they would hold a lavish wedding. Everyone would know they belonged only to each other, allowing no one else to interfere.

Not even other species!

They would step into the marriage hall amid worldwide blessings, kiss, and exchange vows.

Zhou Yu was growing impatient.

He cupped Lin Yunshu’s face and kissed him again.

This time, it wasn't particularly reverent—it was teasingly sensual.

Behind them, the hallway was busy with people coming and going as the interview team packed up their equipment and gradually left the reception room.

The sounds of footsteps, conversations, and objects knocking against the floor drifted through the heavy door, blurred and ambiguous, as if sinking into water.

The stairwell had no windows, with only an emergency light hanging overhead casting a pale gray light over Lin Yunshu’s face.

Lin Yunshu’s eyelashes were damp, clustered together. His dark lashes stood out against his pale skin, while the corners of his eyes were reddened.

His chest rose and fell unsteadily, and beneath his thin skin, Zhou Yu could feel his pounding heartbeat.

It didn't take long before Lin Yunshu was struggling for breath again. He gently pushed Zhou Yu away, creating a small distance between them, and buried his face in the crook of Zhou Yu’s neck.

Zhou Yu lightly rubbed the back of his neck, his palm stroking Lin Yunshu’s thin back in soothing motions to help him catch his breath.

“Why are you breathing so hard today?” he asked.

“You tell me?” Lin Yunshu’s voice was hoarse. “You’re asking me?”

Zhou Yu laughed softly. “Alright, alright, my fault.”

Normally, he wouldn’t kiss for so long, but today he had simply lost control.

There was something subtly yet strikingly different about Lin Yunshu at the company—a difference that was incredibly alluring.

Especially when he wore a white shirt, buttoned up impeccably.

“It was a bit long,” Zhou Yu admitted, “but didn’t I stop now and then to let you catch your breath?”

He pressed his thumb gently into the slight hollow beneath Lin Yunshu’s Adam’s apple. “How about I help you improve your endurance from now on?”

Lin Yunshu gave him a silent look.

“Why that look, baby?”

Lin Yunshu pushed his hand away and began straightening his collar. “You mean the kind of exercise where you wake up at 5 a.m. to lift weights?”

There were faint red marks on his neck where Zhou Yu’s hand had pressed.

Zhou Yu wasn’t sure if he had caused them. Just as he reached to adjust Lin Yunshu’s collar, the last button was done up.

The red marks disappeared beneath the snow-white shirt.

Lin Yunshu showed a regretful look. “That kind of exercise… I’ll have to pass.”

Who was Lin Yunshu? He was the one who had won a VIP gym membership two years in a row at the company’s annual party—and resold both at a 20% discount.

Not liking exercise was simply not liking exercise.

Someone born without a love for exercise couldn’t suddenly develop it later in life. Lin Yunshu had accepted this about himself.

“Of course not,” Zhou Yu said. “I’d never make you lift weights. Would you be lifting the weights, or would the weights be lifting you?”

Lin Yunshu: “...”

“Then what?” he asked with a smile.

“What I meant was, you could try some easy exercises,” Zhou Yu explained seriously. “Cardio two or three times a week, nothing too intense. Like running, for example. Moderate exercise is good for your health.”

“Running?” Lin Yunshu’s eyes widened slightly.

“Exactly,” Zhou Yu said with a laugh. “It’s the simplest option. Start slowly, warm up properly. On the first day, just run for five minutes, then ten, then twenty… gradually increase the time.”

“You could come to the gym with me and use the treadmill, or I could join you for outdoor runs,” Zhou Yu began envisioning. “I’m open to either.”

Lin Yunshu: “O.O…”

But the problem was never about you, dude!

He quietly reached behind himself and grabbed the doorknob.

“Well…” he said awkwardly, “you were almost graduating when I was a freshman, so you might not know how I handled running in P.E. class.”

“How did you handle it?” Zhou Yu was more confident than Lin Yunshu himself. “You probably just ran a bit slower.”

Lin Yunshu smiled awkwardly. “I had someone run for me all four years. My P.E. teacher never even saw me.”

Zhou Yu: “...”

His smile froze on his face.

Lin Yunshu smiled in response, lowering his wrist, then turned and hurried from the stairwell.

"Thanks, but I'm good," his voice drifted from afar, "I think I'll pass."

Zhou Yu: "…"

.

At the beef hotpot restaurant.

Guo Shengyao pushed the door open and, led by a server, escorted Lin Yunshu inside.

The hotpot they’d been talking about since last month was finally being enjoyed this month.

The restaurant was bustling, packed even at lunchtime. Guo Shengyao had reserved a private room in advance, avoiding the wait, and they were seated right away.

A few colleagues from the secretary group had also joined, chatting amiably.

"Secretary Lin, it’s been forever since we last had a meal together," Lily said.

"Yeah," Guo Shengyao reminisced, "back when I first joined the company, Secretary Lin often joined me for lunch almost every day."

"Same here!" Xiao Zhao gestured excitedly. "We used to eat together for almost every meal back then. I’ve missed it so much."

Lin Yunshu, wiping his hands with a warm towel, smiled and said, "I’ve missed you all too. It’s just that opportunities are fewer now. Order anything you want—my treat. Please don’t hold back."

The women cheered immediately, crowding around the menu and chattering excitedly.

Even though their boss was treating, they didn’t go overboard, choosing just enough according to their appetites before handing the menu back to the server.

"The boss didn’t come with you today?" Guo Shengyao remarked.

Xiao Zhao: "Why are you so nervous?"

"Eating with the big boss?!" Lily exclaimed dramatically. "Could you even eat? I remember last year when the boss suddenly decided to organize a team dinner. Oh my god, I got indigestion as soon as I got home."

Guo Shengyao looked innocent: "Isn’t indigestion caused by overeating?"

Lily: "...Really?"

She looked persuaded and began doubting herself.

Her blank look made everyone burst into laughter.

"Is it really that exaggerated?" Lin Yunshu said. "He’s really nice."

As soon as he finished, everyone around him began teasing and making faces: "Ooooh…"

"Aww, lovebirds!"

"Quick, quick, why didn’t anyone record this? The boss would be overjoyed if he heard—maybe he’d even give us bonuses out of happiness!"

Lin Yunshu was speechless, his cheeks slightly flushed: "Okay, that’s enough, you guys."

The server arrived with the dishes, conveniently putting an end to the teasing.

Guo Shengyao first ladled Lin Yunshu a bowl of hot soup, then added beef to the pot.

"Master, have some soup to warm yourself up. The broth is really fresh—I’m sure you’ll love it."

"Okay," Lin Yunshu replied with a smile, accepting it. "Thank you."

"We thought of you when this place first opened," Xiao Zhao said, "but somehow we never got the chance to bring you here."

Lily: "It’s not too late now. With the season changing and the weather cooling down, hot pot is perfect. Last month was too hot."

"You’re right."

Lin Yunshu took a sip and nodded. "It’s really tasty."

"Told you!" Guo Shengyao beamed.

They chatted as they ate. The air in the private room was stuffy, and after drinking hot soup for a while, they started sweating.

Lin Yunshu put down his spoon, exhaled, and undid a button on his shirt.

"Master, are you feeling hot?" Guo Shengyao asked with concern.

"A little," Lin Yunshu said.

But looking around the table, the women were still wearing sweaters and none were sweating.

Lin Yunshu thought it was strange—he wasn’t usually a heavy sweater.

Guo Shengyao handed him two tissues: "Here, wipe your face."

Lin Yunshu took them, dabbed his forehead, and the tissues got damp.

"Secretary Lin, your face is really red," Lily said worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Xiao Zhao added, putting down her chopsticks and staring at Lin Yunshu’s face. "It’s been red for a while now."

Guo Shengyao took his arm: "Master, are you feeling unwell?"

Lin Yunshu frowned, touched his face—it was indeed burning hot. His chest felt tight, and he was having trouble breathing.

"It’s fine," he reassured with a smile. "Maybe it’s too stuffy in here. I’ll step outside for some air."

As he stood up, Lily suddenly exclaimed: "Secretary Lin, are you having an allergic reaction?!"

"Really?" Guo Shengyao quickly stood up.

Lin Yunshu paused, rolled up his sleeve, and sure enough, red spots had appeared on his arm.

"Oh my god," Guo Shengyao gasped, "Master, you have them on your neck too."

"Did you eat something?" Lily grew anxious and immediately began inspecting the food on the table.

"It’s fine, it’s fine," Lin Yunshu quickly calmed them. "It’s not related to the food."

He didn’t have any specific allergies, but every year during seasonal changes, he was prone to rashes. He hadn’t had one earlier this year and had almost forgotten about it.

"It’s probably because of the season," he said.

Xiao Zhao picked up her bag: "Then I’ll hurry and buy you some allergy medicine."

"No need," Lin Yunshu stopped her with a smile. "I’ll go to the hospital for a shot—it works better."

Whether it was due to his constitution or perhaps because he used too many medications and inhibitors regularly, Lin Yunshu wasn’t very responsive to other drugs. He usually preferred going to the hospital for injections when needed.

He said this while putting on his jacket.

"I'll go with you!" Guo Shengyao chimed in quickly.

"Really, it's fine," Lin Yunshu felt bad for disturbing their meal and waved them off. "You all keep eating, don’t worry about me."

But Guo Shengyao insisted on following him out.

While Lin Yunshu paid the bill at the front desk, she tagged along anxiously behind him.

Lin Yunshu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Just go back, Shengyao, I’m really okay."

"No, I have to go with you!"

Guo Shengyao could be an incredibly stubborn kid.

"I’ve already called a ride!" She waved her phone screen at him.

Seeing he couldn't win the argument, Lin Yunshu finally relented. "Alright."

The hospital wasn’t far from work—just a fifteen-minute drive.

Though Guo Shengyao meant well, she'd hardly ever been to a hospital since she’d always been healthy. Once they reached the outpatient hall, she was totally clueless.

Lin Yunshu efficiently handled registration, consultation, blood tests, and injections.

All she could do was follow him around like a faithful sidekick, acting as a mobile support—holding his bag, clothes, and paperwork, and occasionally steadying him.

Finally, when Lin Yunshu went into the exam room for his injection, Guo Shengyao waited outside. After all that rushing around, she finally had a moment to catch her breath.

She plopped down on a stainless steel chair and only then realized she'd worked up a sweat herself.

Her phone rang at the worst possible time. With her hands full, it took her a while to manage to dig it out of her pocket. She answered without looking.

"Make it quick, I’m busy here!"

There was a three-second silence on the other end before her boss's deep voice came through, calm and measured, "Guo Shengyao."

Guo Shengyao: "...!!"

She nearly dropped her phone in fright and quickly gripped it with both hands. "B-B-B-B-Boss…"

"Keep that up and you'll send me to an early grave," Zhou Yu said.

Guo Shengyao immediately fell silent, her face fell.

"Lin Yunshu is at the hospital?" the other end got straight to the point.

"Yes," Guo Shengyao hurriedly reported. "Shifu has a bit of an allergic reaction. I’m here with him for an injection. It's nothing serious—we’ll be back soon."

The other end fell silent again, and Guo Shengyao waited nervously.

After a long pause, she tentatively asked, "Boss?… Boss?"

In the office, Zhou Yu took a deep breath.

He leaned back in his chair, phone in hand, he looked utterly exasperated.

Lin Yunshu had gone off alone again.

If Guo Shengyao hadn’t insisted on following him today, he would have gone to the hospital by himself once more.

No matter how many times Zhou Yu reminded him, Lin Yunshu never seemed to learn—always quietly handling things on his own without saying a word.

Zhou Yu even felt that if he hadn’t returned today and coincidentally overheard Lily and the others discussing it, Lin Yunshu might never have told him at all.

Allergic reactions could be minor or serious, but even if it wasn’t severe, as Guo Shengyao claimed, it must still be uncomfortable.

Did Lin Yunshu plan to return to work right after the injection?

He sighed, picked up his car keys, and headed downstairs.

"Send me the address."