Chapter 18

Chapter 18

When Lu Yeqing walked into the ward with her husband and son, the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

Xiao Xing sat there all proper, hands on his thighs, back stick-straight, looking like a kid who got called out by the teacher and was now on his best behavior.

Meanwhile, Xiaoze, who had been coming over to their house to play since he was little, was sitting on the hospital bed. His clothes were all neatly arranged, like he was ready to head out at any moment—but wasn't his face a little too red?

Like he was sick or something.

Lu Yeqing basically thought of Su Xingze as her own son. She and Su Xingze's mom had been best friends, and the kids used to play together all the time when they were young. Then, out of nowhere, her best friend passed away way too young, leaving behind this kid.

But she couldn't just bring Xiaoze to live with them—his dad was still around, and Old Man Su flat-out refused to let his son go.

Later on, Old Man Su remarried and got Xiaoze a stepmom, so Lu Yeqing could only have Xiaoze come over for a few days here and there.

"Xiaoze, are you sick?" Lu Yeqing went over and pressed her hand to Su Xingze's forehead, worried. "If you're sick, you should stay a few more days. Xiao Xing can get you excused from school."

"Auntie Lu, I'm fine." Su Xingze turned his head away, looking toward the other side where no one could see.

God, so embarrassing! He and Xiao Lu had just finished up with the whole neck-biting thing when he heard Auntie Lu's voice. If he hadn't been quick on the draw and thrown his clothes back on, she would've walked in on the whole damn scene.

He'd gone to bed so early last night—how the hell did he still wake up late? He almost got pegged as a lazybones by Auntie Lu.

Lu Yeqing felt his forehead and sure enough, it wasn't hot. She smiled and handed off all the luggage to the Alphas, then walked ahead with Su Xingze, chatting as they went.

Xiao Xing had mentioned that Xiaoze lost his memory and told them not to bring it up anymore so it wouldn't hurt him. Lu Yeqing couldn't stand scumbags who played with Omegas' feelings, so she'd never liked Ying Ying, who never said yes but never said no either.

Which just made her feel even worse for Su Xingze: "Xiaoze, I had Auntie Zheng and Auntie Zhang whip up something good for you at the house. Why don't you come stay at our place for a few days?"

Su Xingze wanted to go, but he checked the calendar—this National Day holiday was nine days long. Counting the day of the crash and the seven days in the hospital, he only had one day of vacation left.

And on that one day, he still wanted to get familiar with his place and cram in some last-minute acting practice.

"Auntie, we have things to do tomorrow." Lu Xingwen, loaded down with bags, stepped in just in time to save the day.

Lu Yeqing huffed, "What things? Isn't vacation supposed to be for fun?"

Omegas were already rare enough as it was. She finally ran into one, and before she could even fuss over him, he was being shipped off to school.

At a university where Alphas outnumbered Omegas left and right, and with Xiaoze having lost his memory and not knowing how to handle Alpha-Omega relationships—what if some pig snatched up a soft, fresh Omega like him?

Lu Xingwen looked at Su Xingze: "I need to go over his college coursework with him and fill him in on how things work at school."

Su Xingze quickly nodded: "Right, Auntie Lu. I'll definitely come by the Lu house this weekend."

Lu Yeqing had always had a soft spot for these sweet, obedient Omegas. She said happily, "Good boy. Auntie will be waiting for you. Oh, right—I've got an AO physiology video. I'll send it over to you later."

"*Cough, cough, cough...*" Lu Xingwen, walking behind, nearly choked on his own cough.

Lu Hean wasn't about to be outdone: "*Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough...*"

Lu Huan leaned in too, asking, "Honey, isn't this inappropriate?"

Lu Yeqing gave each of them a knock on the head: "You Alphas have such dirty minds. I'm doing this so Xiaoze can protect himself, that's all!"

Lu Xingwen said nothing.

That AO physiology video was meant for an Alpha and Omega who were officially together and getting ready for a full marking. Although it covered taboos between AOs, the differences between AOs, and how Omegas protect themselves, it also had super detailed, high-def, uncensored videos of how AOs do the full marking.

But it did go pretty deep into how Omegas can protect themselves, and all the tips were actually useful.

His childhood buddy was way too clueless about this stuff—better he learn it now.

After getting in the car.

Since it was a van, Lu Huan sat in the passenger seat, while Lu Yeqing pulled Su Xingze into the middle captain's chairs. Lu Hean and Lu Xingwen got stuck in the back row.

Lu Hean looked out the window mournfully and complained, "Alphas in this family really get no respect. I used to be on the same level as Xiao Fu, but now I've dropped another spot."

Xiao Fu was a Pomeranian—yellow on top, white on the bottom, round and chubby, absolutely adorable. Whenever anyone came home, it would clasp its paws and bow. It was deeply loved by Mother Lu.

Lu Xingwen mocked, "Your status is actually equal to Xiao Fu's?"

Lu Hean was furious and pointed at his brother: "You believe me? I'll go down with you! Sister-in-law, I—mmph—"

"What's wrong?" Su Xingze turned around and found Lu Xingwen covering Lu Hean's mouth and nose, not letting him make a sound.

Lu Xingwen smiled gently. It scared Lu Hean so much that goosebumps rose layer after layer. The former said softly, "Nothing, Chen Chen, just a little roughhousing."

Lu Hean protested with his eyes: Something's wrong! Murder! This is clearly murder! He didn't leave me any air at all!

"Xiaoze, don't mind them. Alphas are just rowdy. Come, Auntie Lu has a card here. Take it. If Xiao Xing bullies you, you can just run away and never talk to him again."

Lu Huan anxiously stopped her: "Honey, don't say nonsense."

"You Alphas are all scheming." Lu Yeqing glanced at Lu Xingwen, then solemnly stuffed the card into Su Xingze's arms: "Listen to Auntie, take it. Consider it my wedding gift to you two."

Her son had told them about Su Xingze's situation. They wanted to help, but they always felt guilty toward Xiaoze.

She wanted to help her nephew, but she was also afraid Su Xingze would be wronged. The only way she could compensate was through this method—if her nephew couldn't win Xiaoze's heart, Xiaoze could take the money and leave, go find someone he loved.

"But we've already been married for three years. I can't accept another gift from you." Su Xingze was confused. Shouldn't wedding gifts be given right after the wedding?

Lu Yeqing clutched her head and pushed the problem onto her husband: "I suddenly have a terrible headache. I need to sleep. Honey, you keep Xiaoze company for me."

Lu Huan was not good with words. He glanced at Su Xingze, carefully covered Lu Yeqing with a blanket, and sat upright staring straight ahead.

Something wasn't right. Was there some secret he didn't know about?

Su Xingze looked at Lu Xingwen.

Lu Xingwen's gaze was fixed on the card in his hand. After a long moment, he finally looked up and asked, "Chen Chen, you won't leave me. That day will never come, right?"

Su Xingze spun the card in his hand: "That depends on what you do."

Lu Hean finally broke free and tentatively asked on behalf of his brother, "How tolerant are you of deception?"

Su Xingze thought for a moment: "Minor stuff is fine. We've been brothers for so many years—I'm not the type to nitpick. But if it's something big, that's a different story."

Lu Xingwen's Adam's apple moved. He asked nervously, "What counts as big?"

"Like, if you conspired with others to deceive me, and everyone knew about it except me, and also..." Su Xingze didn't finish. A phone call rang, breaking the silence in the car.

Another new number. Probably Yang Ye or Ying Ying again. If he didn't answer their calls, countless more would come in—it was pure chaos.

Su Xingze picked up, his temper flaring instantly: "If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost."

Everyone in the car sucked in a sharp breath. Over the years, those familiar with Su Xingze knew he was someone who looked sweet and cute, and treated those around him extremely well.

But when it came to people he didn't like, he was a completely different person—his attitude cold, and his heart just as black.

Ying Ying's voice came through the phone, putting Lu Xingwen on edge. He asked, "Xingze, are you coming to school the day after tomorrow?"

"Mm," Su Xingze replied.

Ying Ying's voice perked up: "Great, I'll wait for you, and I'll treat you to a meal then."

Su Xingze shot back, "A weasel paying respects to the chicken."

Yeah, right. Nothing good there.

Ying Ying paused mid-sentence, bit back his annoyance, and said, "We're in the same major. When you come to class, you can ask me anything you don't understand. I'll teach you personally."

Lu Xingwen snapped, cracking his knuckles, his face black as a storm cloud, about to chuck the phone out the car window.

Lu Hean grabbed his brother: "Bro, chill! You really need to chill!"

Su Xingze commented, "Sudden kindness is never free."

It's either a scam or a trap.

Ying Ying swallowed his anger, again and again: "Xingze, I was wrong before. Don't be mad anymore."

Su Xingze just said two words: "Pay up."

Ying Ying hung up immediately, cursing, "Damn! Ungrateful little punk!" and slammed his phone on the ground in a rage.

He was the main character of this world—everything revolved around him. There was no way Su Xingze could keep that attitude up for long!

Good thing the call ended. Otherwise, his brother would've blown his top! Just as Lu Hean released Lu Xingwen, he caught a weird pheromone scent in the air.

It was faint. You had to get close to smell it—dripping with violence and murderous intent, so thick that a single whiff made his head spin and his mind ache.

Lu Hean tried inhaling a bit and almost passed out, eyes rolling back and drooling.

But mixed in with that pheromone was a heavy, overpowering smell of suppressants.

Lu Hean whispered, "Bro, did you take a suppressant?"

Lu Xingwen nodded and held up his phone, showing the screen.

Heartless Hala Shao: How many shots? Regular or extra-strength?

Lu: Extra-strength suppressant.

Heartless Hala Shao: Do you have a death wish or what? You're already on pheromone meds, and you still went and shot up extra-strength suppressants?!

Lu: I haven't been taking my meds lately.

Heartless Hala Shao: Your pheromone levels are completely out of whack. Not taking meds and adding suppressants on top—at this rate, you'll be driven crazy by your own pheromones within a year!

Lu: Chen Chen's gland needs my pheromones for another month and a half.

Lu Hean knew that when it came to Chen Chen, his brother wouldn't give an inch. No amount of persuasion would work.

Heartless Hala Shao: Come find me when you have time. I'll try to prescribe you some meds to reduce the pain and pheromone buildup.

Lu: Thanks.

Heartless Hala Shao: Keep digging your own grave, then! I can't wait to see what you do when he finds out the truth!

Lu: I probably won't let him go.

He had lost him once five years ago. This time, even if it meant imprisoning him, he would keep Chen Chen by his side.

Of course, that was only the worst-case scenario. If Chen Chen never discovered these dark thoughts of his, he would gladly play the role of the gentle, considerate childhood friend forever.