Chapter 38: Delicious

Chapter 38: Delicious

Pei Ju was also wondering why he felt this way, and could only attribute it all to the plot.

The other party had gone through great lengths to send them to this godforsaken place, surely not just to watch them fight in the arena, push carts to make a living, or painstakingly submit resumes to find jobs.

After all, this was an explicit-rated story, where everything existed for the sake of smut.

Since they were holed up in this corner without seeing the governor, the plot could only advance through him.

Pei Ju felt this reasoning was sound.

After dealing with several scumbag suitors, the governor of this planet wasn't entirely a bad person.

But he was arrogant and looked down on every Omega in the White Tower. Now that his rut was approaching, it was time for him to pick a mate again.

Coincidentally, someone had presented him with an Omega—noble, stunning, and captivating.

Naturally, he became utterly infatuated and pursued him with everything he had.

But there was a hiccup in his pursuit: due to years of suppression, his rut would cause him to lose reason and run a high fever.

So at night, guided by instinct, he would sneak into the Omega's room and go at it hard, while during the day he would resume his courtship as if nothing had happened.

As for why the Omega's attitude toward him grew worse the more he pursued—that he could never figure out.

Pei Ju rubbed his forehead. He planned to move out of here and bunk with Xiaojin. With Xiaojin watching over him, he shouldn't do anything terrible, right?

Xu Shaoen watched Pei Ju stand up and wipe the sweat away with a white towel.

He gave him a deep look, and Xu Shaoen thought he was about to make some excessive request.

Like saying he really felt unwell and asking for a kiss to swap pheromones; or wanting a hug to get a better scent; or asking him to help with something else...

Xu Shaoen's hand behind his back began twisting the bedsheet into a knot again, tugging at a little corner.

As long as it wasn't too much, Xu Shaoen thought... he would still agree.

"I'll bunk with Xiaojin for the next few days." Pei Ju took a deep breath.

The floral scent flooded his lungs, and sweat dripped down his flushed neck into his collar.

He tugged at his buttons, loosening them: "...Our original plan might need to be delayed a few days. Have Xiaojin run any errands these days, and don't come looking for me unless you have to."

"Got it." Xu Shaoen stopped twisting the sheet.

He smoothed the rumpled sheet with his palm, watching Pei Ju leave.

He felt a little hollow inside.

God, he's so proper and upright, as if asking for help would be embarrassing.

Was he really that good at holding back?

Xu Shaoen watched him through the window. Pei Ju seemed to be giving Xiaojin instructions, pointing at his room.

Xiaojin nodded along, looking dead serious.

What were they talking about? Xu Shaoen was curious.

That night, Pei Ju didn't come out at all.

"Isn't he going to eat?" Xu Shaoen didn't have much of an appetite either. He stared at the closed door, worried.

Xiaojin scratched his head: "Brother Pei said he's not hungry—he's got nutrient packs in his room."

"Does he have a fever? Scared of getting you sick?"

Explaining rutting to a minor beta was a no-go, so Xu Shaoen just nodded along with Chen Junjin's story.

Xiaojin chuckled: "I'm tough, I'm not scared. I'm bunking with Brother Pei tonight."

"You two are sharing a room?" Xu Shaoen's heart thumped hard, involuntarily.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Xiaojin was a bit puzzled. "That way I can keep an eye on him. Brother Pei told me to watch him closely and not let him bother you."

"Nothing." Xu Shaoen still felt antsy.

He looked at Xiaojin—skinny arms and legs, a bit of muscle but not fully grown, like a twig.

Pei Ju was so big and solid—if something went wrong, could Xiaojin handle it in time?

"How about you take my room, and I'll go look after Pei Ju!"

Chen Junjin, mid-bite, froze: "No way!" Brother Pei switched rooms so Brother Xu could be comfy. If they swapped, wouldn't Xiaojin get the big room while they squeezed into the small one?

Then why even switch rooms!

But Xu Shaoen insisted, "Just don't tell him!"

Watching Xu Shaoen set down his chopsticks and march off to his old room, Xiaojin sat in the yard with his bowl, lost in thought.

Maybe Brother Xu really couldn't help worrying.

But it's just a fever—what could go wrong?

Xu Shaoen opened the door, and a wave of Alpha pheromones slammed into him, making his whole body lock up.

**

Had it gotten this bad this fast? He seemed fine during the day, but now, at dusk, it was already this bad.

Xu Shaoen's nerves spiked as he looked around. The room was too dark to tell where Pei Ju was.

The curtains were sealed shut, not a sliver of light getting in.

He crept in, but strong arms yanked him into an embrace.

"Mm..." The thick scent of spikenard and lemongrass wrapped around him, dozens of times stronger than usual.

The body holding him was burning up. The Alpha dipped his head, hot breath ghosting over his ear.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away?"

"I—I just came to check on you..." Xu Shaoen's voice came out shaky. Each breath filled his lungs with Pei Ju's scent, and he froze.

"Check on what?" Pei Ju spun him around. In the dark, his eyes gleamed like he wanted to eat him alive.

His white shirt hung open over his tall frame, muscles flexing with each heavy breath. His buttons were undone, torn open at some point, and a light sheen of sweat coated his tan skin, looking so hot it was hard to breathe.

"Good-looking?" The way Pei Ju was staring at him felt unfamiliar, and he slowly backed away, step by step, until his legs hit the bed.

Pei Ju followed, one knee pressed against the edge of the bed, his hands planted on either side of him like solid stone pillars.

"You haven't answered me yet—good-looking or not?" At this moment, Pei Ju was stubborn and pushy, like he was dead set on dragging an answer out of him.

Xu Shaoen felt like his heart was about to pound right out of his chest; he didn't get why he'd even come to check on a sick guy in the first place.

This wasn't some normal sickness—when it flared up, could he even take it?

"G-Good-looking." Xu Shaoen felt flustered, seriously regretting the choice he'd made. His fingers gripped the bedsheet, and he tried to sit up, desperate to escape this molten hell of erupting lava.

"If it's good-looking, then take a good look..." Pei Ju grabbed his collar and yanked him up, propping him against the wall.

Behind him was the freezing wall, in front of him the burning-hot Alpha—two totally opposite sensations had his whole body tense.

"Since you're already here." Pei Ju seemed to make the decision for him.

"Then just give me a little of your pheromones..."

**

When Xu Shaoen stumbled out of the room, Xiaojin was a little confused.

"Brother Pei, what's up with Brother Xu?" He went into the room and saw the curtains pulled open, the window pushed wide, while Pei Ju had fetched a basin of water and was taking his sweet time washing his hands.

Compared to how unnaturally red his skin had been that morning, his fever seemed to have gone down a lot, and he actually looked surprisingly good.

"He brought me some meds, saw my condition was pretty serious, and decided it's better if he doesn't bring any more."

"What?" Xiaojin hugged his blankets, still confused.

The bed looked a mess, with the sheets ripped off and thrown aside.

Pei Ju said they'd already changed them once when they moved in today—so why change them again?

Didn't Xu Shaoen say he'd personally take care of Pei Ju? Yet in less than an hour, he'd hightailed it out of there in a panic, and after returning to his room and shutting the door, he seemed totally unwilling to keep his earlier promise.

Pei Ju washed his hands clean and happened to spot a full-length mirror nearby.

Aside from his shirt being a little wrinkled, there was a faint bite mark hidden under the fabric—so not too bad.

Seeing the crumpled, wrinkled shirt in the mirror, Pei Ju let out a quiet chuckle.

The heat in his body had gone down a lot; surely Xu Shaoen, having taken that hit, wouldn't just come looking for him again.

He could still control himself now, but next time, who knows.

Pouring the water out the window, Pei Ju felt his head ache, getting drowsy and foggy.

He also clearly felt like his memory was getting worse.

Aside from that vivid image just now—a face streaked with tears, lips bitten from too much stimulation—nothing else was left in his mind.

Of course, there was also a faint salty taste lingering in his throat.

Well, now he knew something new.

An S-class Omega's pheromones were seriously delicious.

**

Xu Shaoen submerged his face in the basin of water to cool down.

His legs were still trembling, barely able to hold him up.

Damn it, damn it, damn it—Pei Ju!

He'd clearly said no, but Pei Ju acted as if he hadn't heard, directly sealing his mouth shut.

His tongue root was sucked until it ached.

"I told you not to come provoke me."

Broad fingers brushed over his lips, pressing down firmly.

His hands were beautiful, with long, slender fingers and thin calluses, feeling rough as they grazed the corner of his mouth.

But just thinking about what those beautiful hands had done made Xu Shaoen want to turn his head away and slap them off hard.

Yet his heart pounded so fast, so powerfully, like beating a drum, and the overly concentrated pheromones left him breathless and drained of strength.

So, it was all his fault?

He shouldn't have gone over!

He's a patient, a patient, a patient!

Xu Shaoen reassured himself—patients can be forgiven for anything, just like he had been before. It was all instinct, all uncontrollable.

...And what about him?

Was he also acting on instinct now, also uncontrollable?

Xu Shaoen looked at his reflection in the water, where ripples made his face glow an excessive red.

He'd merely teased lightly, and he'd already been stirred.

But he'd taken suppressants today.

So why was this happening?

==========Author's Note:==========

20 small red envelopes randomly dropped! Please comment!!!!