Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Ten minutes ago.

The moment Meng Shijiu's fingertips withdrew from the other's forehead, his wrist was seized by a scorching force and pulled down.

He stumbled forward, caught off guard, and crashed into a pair of eyes reddened at the corners by the heat of a rut.

Touching the searing heat of the Alpha's palm, Meng Shijiu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Before he could speak, the unfamiliar Alpha lowered his head, burying his burning cheek entirely into Meng Shijiu's cool palm, followed by a deeper, more forceful inhale.

A muffled sigh, tinged with both frustration and excitement, escaped eagerly.

Meng Shijiu turned his face away and picked up the terminal the Alpha had dropped on the ground.

The call log on the screen showed a record from a few minutes ago—likely a distress signal this unfamiliar Alpha had sent to a friend.

This bent-over posture was a bit tiring. Meng Shijiu supported himself on his knees, crouching down to observe the Alpha who was now desperately seeking solace in his palm.

According to textbook definitions, the Alpha's current state was a typical case of induced sudden-onset rut symptoms, albeit remarkably well-controlled.

At least, being this close, he didn't sense any aggressive pheromones from the other.

Contrary to the Alpha's arrogant and cold features, his actions carried a canine-like clumsiness and stubbornness. His rapid breaths swept over Meng Shijiu's skin again and again.

More than sniffing, this resembled a pursuit. It was as if the silver-haired Alpha's very bones and blood harbored a clear, damp scent, compelling him to chase it instinctively, over and over. His breathing grew even more feverish and urgent, as if trying to completely possess this wisp of fragrance that could quell the fire raging within him.

But it was still far from enough.

Xie Zehuan's nose trailed along Meng Shijiu's wrist, and before he knew it, he had pulled the impassive silver-haired Alpha entirely into his embrace.

He surrendered completely to this cold, clear scent, seemingly on the verge of losing his mind to the pseudo-rut.

—Yet, he was also stealthily watching the silver-haired Alpha's expression, cunningly taking deep, cautious sniffs near Meng Shijiu's neck. A hoarse, trailing tone betrayed urgency and greed: "Pheromones."

He was demanding pheromones from a fellow Alpha stranger.

Meng Shijiu understood: "...I'm an Alpha, not an Omega."

Although Xie Zehuan's consciousness was hazy, he wasn't so far gone as to mistake the other's gender.

But precisely because of that, this instinctual craving felt even more absurd, and even more fatal. He fell silent, burying his face deep into the silver-haired Alpha's neck.

Only then did he belatedly realize his hand was unconsciously gathering the silver-haired Alpha's long hair.

That cascade of silver hair, like fresh spring snow, seemed to melt silently under his scorching palm.

This unexpected softness made him unconsciously gentle his frantic movements, afraid of disturbing this fragility that didn't belong to him.

For a moment, Meng Shijiu almost released his pheromones—after all, when someone was practically begging for trouble, it was hard to refuse such a request.

But looking at the other's state, he lowered his gaze and explained to the Alpha clinging to him: "An Alpha's pheromones will only accelerate your loss of control. Hold on a little longer. Your friend should be here soon."

—No.

Xie Zehuan inhaled even deeper.

That fragrance, seemingly seeping from the silver-haired Alpha's very skin, always felt just out of reach, urging him to get closer, even closer...

It had to be pheromones.

Why won't you give them to me?

This silent question trembled in his feverish breath, filled with utter confusion. As it went unanswered again and again, it rapidly fermented, gradually twisting into a sharp, bitter resentment.

Just as his rationality was nearly gnawed away, the silver-haired Alpha's attention suddenly shifted away from his face.

Meng Shijiu looked toward an Alpha approaching in the distance. "Your friend is here."

With the silver-haired Alpha's attention withdrawn, that intoxicatingly cold, clear scent seemed about to leave him too.

Xie Zehuan jerked his head up, glaring directly at the intruder who had come to disturb them at such an inopportune time.

In that instant, all his unmet cravings and the anger of being ignored coalesced into sharp hostility, precisely targeting Song Qingxiao, who was walking toward them.

—

Lottelance First Military Academy, Infirmary.

Xie Zehuan passed out after receiving an injection of a potent suppressant and now lay inside a rest pod.

Although the infirmary had purifiers, the smell of disinfectant still lingered.

Song Qingxiao sat on a chair, chin propped on his hand, his brow slightly furrowed with impatience.

The school medic, while setting data on the display outside the pod, asked him: "How long has he been in this state?"

"..." Song Qingxiao stood by the rest pod with his arms crossed, his gaze drifting distractedly toward the area outside the partition. "An hour?"

A faint figure stood in the corridor outside—a silver-haired Alpha.

The medic remembered that Alpha had come with these two but hadn't entered the room.

Outside the window, leaves piled upon leaves. Meng Shijiu leaned against the windowsill, lazily letting out a yawn.

The setting sun filtered through the branches and the window, its dark green light sliced by the tree shadows into block after block of sugar cubes, falling upon the silver-haired Alpha.

Thinking about how Song Qingxiao had coaxed the host over earlier, See felt somewhat helpless—

See: "What could possibly happen to Xie Zehuan... An S-rank Alpha's willpower isn't so easily shattered."

Meng Shijiu replied: "Just helping others, that's all."

See's tone was flat: "The host is truly kind."

Meng Shijiu said seriously: "Please praise me properly with the right attitude."

See fell silent for half a second, then spoke fluently: "The host, harboring goodwill, extends a helping hand in others' times of peril, upholding benevolence without seeking reward, truly a model of altruism among contemporary Alphas. See is deeply moved and filled with admiration..."

Meng Shijiu nodded with satisfaction.

Meng Shijiu: "An S-rank Alpha... would he really be so easily triggered into a rut by a stranger Omega?"

See: "Maybe his rut was just about to start anyway."

Before Meng Shijiu could say more, he saw Song Qingxiao walk out from the infirmary entrance.

He turned around.

Song Qingxiao's temperament was completely different from that of the Alpha who had fainted in the infirmary.

Earlier, when that Alpha was by the west wall, although he stubbornly clung to Meng Shijiu's waist and refused to let go, he managed to mumble an apologetic "my apologies" once he regained a bit of clarity—though he still didn't release his grip.

At that moment, Song Qingxiao, who had just arrived, leaned casually against the wall nearby. His gaze drifted lightly over the two figures, and whether on purpose or not, he dropped a remark that interrupted their exchange:

"Seems I've come at a bad time."

Only after the words fell did he slowly lift his eyelids, his eyes crinkling into a smile as he looked at Meng Shijiu.

It was really strange.

...

Song Qingxiao walked straight up to Meng Shijiu, stopping only when their gazes locked.

"Thank you, Classmate Meng." He gave a slight smile. "Judging by the time, you probably haven't had dinner yet, right? Do I have the honor of inviting you to a meal?"

Meng Shijiu: ...

Song Qingxiao: "What's wrong?"

His tone was friendly, but his gaze was utterly blatant, practically writing his dubious intentions all over his face.

Meng Shijiu glanced toward the infirmary. "Your friend is still inside. And you're going to have dinner with me?"

Song Qingxiao chuckled. "He..."

He abruptly stopped mid-sentence, looking at Meng Shijiu.

Meng Shijiu's eyes always appeared quite light under the light.

But when his lashes lowered, or when he tilted his head slightly, allowing shadows to wash over his features, that lightness would suddenly deepen, revealing a rich, emerald green.

This green shimmered quietly and serenely in the dimness, creating a strikingly captivating contrast.

A flicker of silent appreciation flashed in Song Qingxiao's eyes, and the curve of his lips deepened a fraction.

...No wonder.

No wonder Xie Zehuan, that guy, refused to let go even without clearly seeing the other's face.

He moved closer to Meng Shijiu again, grinning. "He's passed out. It's not like he can get up to eat, right?"

He couldn't even be bothered to find a decent excuse, exuding a peculiar sense of it being perfectly natural.

Only then did Meng Shijiu realize that Song Qingxiao was quite tall. Alphas were generally tall, but the sense of intimidation Song Qingxiao brought was particularly palpable.

His shoulders were broad, and he wore the military academy uniform with a careless, untamed air. His eye sockets were deep, his nose bridge high, and the corners of his eyes lifted with a teasing smile. When he looked down at someone, there was always a sense of relaxed aggression.

It easily put people on edge—perhaps he thoroughly enjoyed this kind of tension-inducing presence, even took pleasure in it, and thus made no effort to hold back, instead becoming even more unrestrained.

"That might be a bit inconvenient." Meng Shijiu smiled. He didn't move, but jerked his chin toward behind Song Qingxiao, signaling him to look back.

Song Qingxiao looked over, puzzled.

Another dark figure had appeared in the previously empty corridor at some point.

Jue Ning walked unhurriedly out from the stairwell, heading straight toward the two of them, though his expression was neutral.

He wasn't deliberately releasing pheromones, but his stern features and the aura around him had already made the surrounding air inexplicably thick and heavy.

Jue Ning's gaze swept lightly over Song Qingxiao before finally landing on Meng Shijiu.

Song Qingxiao's previously playful smile vanished in an instant. He turned his head sharply and asked in a low voice, "—Just who is he?"

Meng Shijiu narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms with an air of leisurely composure. "My Alpha. Can't you tell?"

Jue Ning had excellent hearing. By the time he walked over, a very faint smile touched his lips.

...

Song Qingxiao's gaze swept heavily over the departing figures, letting out a soft, derisive snort.

—

By the time Xie Zehuan woke up, it was already dark.

He sat up in the medical rest pod, looking around, and realized he was still in the infirmary.

Before his consciousness had fully returned, an instinctual sense of being watched made Xie Zehuan turn sharply.

Before he could react, he saw clearly who the figure sitting silently in the shadows was.

Most of Song Qingxiao's figure was hidden in the darkness. He hadn't turned on the lights, sitting as still as a statue. If one looked closely, they could vaguely see the straight line of his lips.

Xie Zehuan raised a hand to press against his throbbing temple, his voice still hoarse from sleep. "...Are you insane?"

The cold light from the medical pod flickered across Song Qingxiao's face. "What should we do about that Omega who deliberately triggered your rut?"

Xie Zehuan closed his eyes, a flash of annoyance crossing his brow. "Whatever."

Song Qingxiao didn't speak, watching as Xie Zehuan got up from the rest pod.

The Alpha who had just experienced a pseudo-rut seemed to have returned to normal. However, this naturally right-handed Alpha, throughout the entire process of getting up and straightening himself, moved smoothly and naturally, yet skillfully avoided using his right hand at all.

Song Qingxiao still remembered that Xie Zehuan had used his right hand to cling stubbornly to the silver-haired Alpha, refusing to let go.

Song Qingxiao silently tugged at the corner of his mouth.

His tone was sardonic. "Getting your rut triggered just by walking around. You're really something."

Xie Zehuan could hear the sting in his words, clearly him venting his bad mood on a pretext, so he simply stopped responding.

The infirmary was empty and open to view. Song Qingxiao sat quietly, watching as Xie Zehuan pretended to glance around before turning to him and asking, "...Where is he?"

Song Qingxiao smiled. "Who?"

Xie Zehuan looked up, his voice dropping. "Don't play dumb with me."

"Oh," Song Qingxiao said, as if just remembering something, his tone nonchalant. "He went to have dinner with his boyfriend."

Xie Zehuan's movements paused.

The cold fragrance still seemed close at hand, even now faintly lingering, hooking at his nerves like a barb.

"Boyfriend?" he repeated the word, his fingertips rubbing against his cuff.

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