Chapter 159 Extra: Lu Yan & Jian Fuxu 1

Chapter 159 Side Story: Lu Yan & Jian Fuxu 1

Lu Yan met Qi Yanshen when he was three years old.

Their first meeting made a lasting impression.

Why was it so unforgettable?

Because during that first encounter, the three-year-old Lu Yan ran up to make friends, only to be sent flying into a Treatment Pod by the tiny Qi Yanshen with a single punch...

That was when he knew Qi Yanshen was awesome and definitely someone he wanted to be friends with. Thus, Qi Yanshen became his first best friend.

Lu Yan first met Jian Fuxu when he was five.

There was a banquet that day; the reason for it had long been forgotten, but he still remembered the Jian Fuxu he saw.

Small, delicate, with captivating upturned fox-like eyes, prettier than any omega he'd ever seen. Combined with Jian Fuxu's high-collared shirt, Lu Yan mistakenly thought Jian Fuxu was an omega.

Lu Yan wanted to go up and ask which family he was from and if they could be friends.

Before he could act, he witnessed an alpha approaching Jian Fuxu, and then... the little "omega" picked up a wine bottle and cracked it over the seven-year-old alpha's head.

The bottle didn't break, but the alpha's skull did.

In that moment, Lu Yan thought this "omega" was incredibly cool!

He was totally smitten!

So, after returning home, the five-year-old Lu Yan, whose life goal was to lounge around, announced in front of his entire family what would become his most embarrassing future memory.

"Papa! That omega who hit someone today is so amazing! I want to be his alpha!"

At the time, Lu Yan's father had a complicated expression, even considering taking his youngest son to the research institute for a brain check. Lu Yan's other father also facepalmed. For starters, Jian Fuxu wasn't even an omega, and even if he were, Lu Yan's small physique wouldn't stand a chance at becoming Jian Fuxu's alpha.

Lu Yan's two older brothers, mindful of their father's presence, bit back their laughter, nearly suffocating themselves in the process.

Lu Yan didn't understand his family's reaction back then. That is, not until his second encounter with Jian Fuxu.

The second time was at the start of sixth grade in elementary school. Jian Fuxu had finally completed his treatment and could live a somewhat normal life, so he came to school.

Even with a mask covering his face, Lu Yan recognized Jian Fuxu instantly. He excitedly ran over, but before he could speak, the "omega" snapped with disgust, "Get lost."

Lu Yan froze on the spot. After Jian Fuxu left, he pulled aside Qi Yanshen, who had by then become his good friend and childhood buddy, and said, "That omega is so fierce... but so damn cool!!!"

Qi Yanshen knew Jian Fuxu—the alpha he had beaten last year and who had also put *him* in a Treatment Pod.

So, Qi Yanshen calmly informed Lu Yan of the truth: "His name is Jian Fuxu, the only son of General Jian, your father's friend. He's an S-class alpha with severe pheromone allergy syndrome."

Lu Yan: "His name is... Wait, he, he's not an omega!?"

Qi Yanshen nodded, somewhat puzzled. "You didn't know?"

Lu Yan felt his heart shatter. He was down for several months afterwards, often avoiding Jian Fuxu.

He had given up on the idea of befriending Jian Fuxu, but Lu Yan noticed that Jian Fuxu was always alone—no friends, the seat next to him always empty, and even in combat class, he sparred only with the teacher.

He seemed so lonely...

Having never been hit by Jian Fuxu and unaware of the world's dangers, Lu Yan simply felt bad for him. So, he suggested to Qi Yanshen, "How about we become friends with Jian Fuxu?"

Qi Yanshen didn't understand why Lu Yan wanted to befriend Jian Fuxu. With Lu Yan's frail physique... could he even save him? What if he died?

Still undergoing psychological therapy at the time, Qi Yanshen thought this but, upon seeing the sparkle in Lu Yan's eyes, ultimately didn't refuse.

"You really want to be friends with him?"

The eleven-year-old Lu Yan nodded vigorously. So, after Lu Yan went home, Qi Yanshen went to the Jian residence and stated bluntly, "I want to be your friend."

Unsurprisingly, they fought, and neither went to school the next day.

Lu Yan was extremely worried and went to the Qi family to check on Qi Yanshen. But Qi Yanshen didn't tell the truth, only saying he was receiving psychological therapy.

Lu Yan had always known Qi Yanshen was undergoing psychological therapy for moderate emotional dysregulation. Uncle Yun had even taken extended leave to care for him.

Not suspecting anything, even though Jian Fuxu often took leave at the same time as Qi Yanshen, Jian Fuxu's special circumstances meant he frequently missed school. Lu Yan simply assumed it was a coincidence.

Moreover, Qi Yanshen said he wanted to give Lu Yan a surprise, and Jian Fuxu's parents thought it was good for someone to want to befriend their child. As a result, no one in the know told Lu Yan the truth.

With everyone keeping it a secret, it wasn't until a certain day in the first semester of junior high that Qi Yanshen, covered in blood, dragged a nearly unconscious Jian Fuxu—who was struggling to breathe due to high-concentration alpha pheromones—before Lu Yan and said nonchalantly, "He agreed to be your friend."

Lu Yan swore he would never forget that scene for the rest of his life.

The teacher let out a sharp scream, the classmates were too terrified to make a sound, and smelling the intense scent of gardenias and alcohol in the air, Lu Yan's brain completely short-circuited.

Later, both of them ended up in Treatment Pods, with Jian Fuxu being particularly severe, requiring a full week of rest to recover.

After recovering, he gained the second best friend of his life.

From then on, the two of them became Jian Fuxu's friends, and Jian Fuxu was no longer alone.

Upon learning of this, Lu Yan's father told him to get along well with Jian Fuxu and to try to stop him when he hurt others, as the Jian family was nearly bankrupt from compensation payments.

Of course, Lu Yan couldn't stop him. Jian Fuxu still ended up injuring many people. If it weren't for Commander Lu Zechuan vouching for him with his military authority and Jian Fuxu's exceptional talent, he might have faced sentencing at a young age.

However, although Jian Fuxu injured many, he never once sent Lu Yan, who was closest to him, to the Treatment Pod.

At first, it was because Qi Yanshen intervened, stopping Jian Fuxu before he could act.

Later, Jian Fuxu gradually grew accustomed to Lu Yan's annoying but sunny disposition. Plus, Lu Yan learned to control his pheromones, not emitting a trace of alpha scent. So, Jian Fuxu slowly included Lu Yan within his territory.

Thus, the three of them became each other's closest friends.

As they spent more time together, Jian Fuxu realized Lu Yan really had some issues.

In their second year of junior high, when they were thirteen, Lu Yan took them drinking and got caught by their parents. Lu Yan got beaten the worst—by his father, his other father, and his two older brothers, taking turns. He was bedridden for two days. The next year, he still dragged them out drinking, this time hard liquor.

Every year after that, he got beaten, and every year, he didn't change.

Another time, when Jian Fuxu threw him over his shoulder, nearly making him cough up blood, Lu Yan's eyes sparkled as he praised him, saying how cool he was.

Over time, Jian Fuxu came to accept Lu Yan's eccentricities as normal.

Like now, at Ji Anzhi and Qi Yanshen's wedding, Lu Yan was drinking and acting drunk: "Ah!———— Even Qi Yanshen is married, and I still haven't found an omega I like... Sigh, I'm so unwilling."

Jian Fuxu said calmly, "Didn't your father introduce you to a few omegas?"

Lu Yan replied dejectedly, "I don't feel anything for those omegas. I don't like them."

Jian Fuxu was puzzled. "Didn't you always like cute, delicate omegas the most?"

Lu Yan didn't know how to put it. When he was young, he liked strong omegas, but then Jian Fuxu shattered that ideal. Later, he liked petite and cute omegas, but Chi Yan came along and shattered that one too, making him almost scared to like omegas anymore...

"You don't understand..."

Jian Fuxu wasn't particularly keen on understanding, either. Over the years, both he and Lu Yan had been constantly pressured by their parents to get married, yet neither of them had found a partner.

Although their ruts were a pain to endure, they didn't want to ease the pain by getting with an omega they didn't love—that would be unfair to the omega.

So, for all their elders' anxiety, neither of them had gotten together with an omega, let alone married one.

"Little Madman..."

"Hmm?"

"Little Madman, why aren't you an omega..."

Jian Fuxu: "........"

Lu Yan was clearly plastered. He would never dare say such a thing while sober.

Glancing at the pile of empty bottles in front of them, Jian Fuxu sighed and resignedly hoisted Lu Yan up to the guest room.

Among the three of them, Lu Yan had always been the biggest handful.

For instance, just now, for old times' sake, Jian Fuxu had, for once, not dragged Lu Yan to the guest room but helped him there instead. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Lu Yan suddenly started clamoring to be carried on his back. If it weren't for Qi Yanshen and Ji Anzhi's wedding day, he would've made sure Lu Yan saw blood.

He hauled Lu Yan, disgusted, to the guest room, and had just laid him on the bed when Lu Yan started vomiting—not only on himself but also on Jian Fuxu.

Jian Fuxu: "........ Lu Yan! Go die somewhere else!"

"Ugh... I feel awful..."

In the end, Jian Fuxu couldn't bring himself to just leave. He took Lu Yan to the bathroom to clean up.

When drunk, Lu Yan would go one of two ways: either he would fall asleep very quietly, like the time he almost got his head blown off by Ji Anzhi; or he would be restless all night, needing a babysitter. Once, when no one was watching, Lu Yan nearly suffocated himself under the blankets.

After helping Lu Yan undress and dumping him in the tub, paying no mind to his pleas, Jian Fuxu took off the dirty clothes, leaving only a clean shirt.

As for the removed clothes, he just trashed them.

Turning around, he looked at Lu Yan splashing in the water and felt a headache coming on. He stepped in, pulled Lu Yan up, and snapped, "The water's only waist-deep. Stop pretending."

Lu Yan clung tightly to Jian Fuxu, coughing his lungs out. He had choked on water and lost his balance, which had sent him into a panic.

"Cough, cough... How could you do that, Little Madman... I almost died!"

Jian Fuxu wanted nothing more to do with Lu Yan and tried to turn away, but Lu Yan held on for dear life.

"Let go."

"No. What if... what if I drown again and no one saves me?"

Jian Fuxu's headache intensified, especially since Lu Yan's pheromones were all over the place after drinking, putting him on edge. But as Lu Yan said, if he wasn't careful, Lu Yan really had a talent for nearly killing himself.

"You're really something else..."

In the end, Jian Fuxu gave in. Only after Lu Yan was willing to leave the bathtub did they both change clothes and leave the bathroom.

After changing, Jian Fuxu tossed Lu Yan onto the bed and lay down on the other side, ready to rest.

In the past, when Lu Yan went on a drunk rampage, either Jian Fuxu or Qi Yanshen would be on Lu Yan duty. They had all shared a bed before, and since they were all alphas, it was no big deal.

As usual, Lu Yan moved closer to Jian Fuxu.

Jian Fuxu was used to it—every time Lu Yan got drunk, he'd get clingy and had to be right up against you.

Actually, Lu Yan only subconsciously clung to Jian Fuxu when he was watching over him. With Qi Yanshen, Lu Yan never did that.

"Little Madman..."

"What now?"

"Little Madman..."

"Speak."

"You're so beautiful..."

Jian Fuxu hated hearing that the most. Many people had been beaten for saying such things in the past. Lu Yan really dared to say anything when drunk.

Jian Fuxu said with a razor-thin smile, "Any last words?"

"I... I remember the first time I saw you was when I was five. You were so cute back then... hmm... prettier than... prettier than those omegas."

Listening silently to Lu Yan's drunken babbling, Jian Fuxu had no memory of their first meeting. He only remembered laying into a bunch of people that year, and one of them probably had his skull cracked by him.

"You were so cool back then!... You know, I wanted to marry you. You were so strong, you could protect me, and I could just lie back and live off you for the rest of my life..."

Jian Fuxu was well aware of Lu Yan's desire to take it easy.

Perhaps because he had two outstanding older brothers, Lu Yan, though often beaten for being annoying, was essentially a pampered young master who grew up being doted on.

So, Lu Yan disliked hardship and often whined in front of his dad to avoid training. If it weren't for him and Qi Yanshen mercilessly pushing him through extra training, Lu Yan might not have even gotten into the First Military Academy.

After graduation, Lu Yan didn't choose the grueling front lines but instead went to the rear to manage finances, slacking off every day.

Whenever his brothers or father nagged him, he would hide in Jian Fuxu's lab, often staying for half a month at a time.

Without realizing it, he had grown accustomed to Lu Yan's presence.

However, the idea of marrying him made him want to shoot Lu Yan.

"Hah, what a pity. I'm an alpha..."

"Then marry me, okay? I don't want to go on those blind dates with omegas anymore... It's such a hassle."

If they weren't truly in love, why waste time getting to know each other?

Besides, those omegas weren't even as good-looking as Little Madman...

Jian Fuxu really thought Lu Yan would say anything when drunk. He closed his eyes, ready to sleep.

"Little Madman, marry me, okay?"

"Little Madman?"

"Jian Fuxu—marry me, okay."

"Little Madman..."

After a solid minute of this muttering, Jian Fuxu opened his eyes and warned, "Shut up."

Lu Yan had suddenly gone off the deep end for no apparent reason and was dead set on getting a 'yes' from Jian Fuxu. Even after Jian Fuxu slapped him, Lu Yan kept on whimpering and fussing, grating on Jian Fuxu's nerves.

"Lu Yan, you're an alpha!"

Lu Yan shot back, full of bluster despite having no leg to stand on. "I know! The principal and the marshal are both omegas!"

Jian Fuxu was speechless.

He really shouldn't argue with a drunk person.

Jian Fuxu tried to get out of bed, but Lu Yan suddenly hugged him and then, at the nape of his neck...

Jian Fuxu widened his eyes in disbelief. "Lu Yan! You... there's a fucking limit to your drunken antics! Mmm..."

Lu Yan's rum-scented pheromones swarmed the space. After completing the mark, he gazed at the trace he had left and let out a besotted chuckle. "Marked. Remember, you have to marry me..."

With that, he lightly sniffed the lingering scent of rum at the tip of his nose, held Jian Fuxu in his arms, and quietly fell asleep.

Furious, Jian Fuxu couldn't decide whether to shoot Lu Yan or mark him back to get even for the disgrace.

Crazy, they were all crazy... Jian Fuxu thought this as his body, overwhelmed by the high concentration of pheromones, succumbed to discomfort and fell into a deep sleep.

...