After putting down his phone, Duan Jiayan laid back down on the bed.

Even though it hurt, he still decided to wash up. Song Yi saw him stepping into his slippers and slowly making his way over. As he bowed his head to wash his face, he could see the back of the other’s neck was a patch of red. Song Yi anxiously reminded him, “Xiao-Duan, your nape seems to be red. Is it your disorder again?” 

Duan Jiayan nodded as he washed his face.

Song Yi finally understood why he sat unmovingly on his bed this morning, “Does it hurt? Why not head down to the classroom early to look for the class monitor—”

Duan Jiayan finished washing his face. He swung his hands to shake off the beads of water as he said, “He said he’ll be coming over in a bit.”

Song Yi paused, “Huh? He… He’s coming to our dorm?” 

Duan Jiayan gave an ‘en’, “To help finish up the mark for me.”

Song Yi fell into silence before shouting, “Xiao-Duan!!”

Duan Jiayan was caught off guard by the shout and reflexively shouted back, “What?!”

Song Yi, “I feel! Class Monitor! He! Most probably! Highly Likely! Seems to be—”

Song Yi watched as Duan Jiayan raised an eyebrow, with a look that said “What on earth are you trying to say?”

Song Yi sighed, “Never mind, I’ll be leaving first.”

As he spoke, Song Yi picked up his bag.

Half a beat later, he felt like such a situation was simply not one he can just let go. Song Yi turned around to study Duan Jiayan before sighing once again and said, “Bro, you really do look pretty good, but your brain just seems like it can’t make turns.” 

Duan Jiayan, “????”

Song Yi, “You, a waste of god’s gift.”

Duan Jiayan, “What did I do?”

Song Yi, “You, living in bliss but don’t even know it.” 

Duan Jiayan, “Speak properly.”

“Forget it,” Song Yi decided to stop and smiled meaningfully as he changed the topic, “After you finish up your mark, remember to tell class monitor if his bite felt good or not.”

After he finished speaking, he opened the door to leave.

Seeing the boy standing outside, Song Yi froze and hurriedly hid his leering smile, instead greeting him energetically “That… Good morning class monitor!” 

Duan Jiayan was on the balcony washing his hands and did not have a view of the dorm’s door, hence could not see who had just came in.

Hearing Song Yi’s last sentence to him, Duan Jiayan laughed from the balcony. Afraid that Song Yi could not hear him, he raised his volume and said, “Tell him whether his bite feels good or not, am I that vulgar a person? Why not let me bite you and you tell me if it feels good or not?”

Song Yi, “……”

Song Yi looked as Lu Xingci raised an eyebrow and felt as if his surrounding just fell into a deadly silence. 

“Sure,” Lu Xingci looked towards the figure on the balcony and said slowly, breaking the silence, “Where do you want to bite?”

Song Yi, “……”

Oh my god aaaaaaa!

What kind of words are these? 

Duan Jiayan heard his voice and froze.

Moments later, the sound of footsteps came bounding over.

“Lu-ge!” Duan Jiayan cried tragically. “I’m about to die from this pain, hurry up and hug me!”

Probably because he was tortured by his stress disorder for the whole night, Duan Jiayan could not be bothered to think of his image the moment he caught sight of Lu Xingci. 

He bounced over to Lu Xingci and without hesitation, opened his arms and wrapped it around Lu Xingci.

Lu Xingci also seemed to be used to his ministrations as he hugged the boy back. His palm stuck to Duan Jiayan, moving from the back of his head to his nape, before giving him two pats on the back in consolation.

Song Yi was shocked for a moment after witnessing this, not knowing if he should stay or leave.

These two seriously…… 

After hanging onto Lu Xingci for a while, the pain on Duan Jiayan’s body slowly started to recede. After he calmed down, he noticed Song Yi was still standing by the door in a daze. He asked curiously, “You’re still not leaving? You’re about to be late.”

Song Yi gave an ‘oh’, and another two ‘oh’s, a complicated look coming over his face as he left the dorm.

After Song Yi left, Duan Jiayan went to close the door. Lu Xingci saw him locking the door without much thought before turning around to face him.

They both stared at each other for a while. 

Duan Jiayan was a little troubled.

Directly asking Lu Xingci to finish his mark, will it seem a little too uncaring?

He felt like it did not take Lu Xingci that long since they hung up the call to come over. Should he first ask if the other has eaten breakfast?

Just as he was considering what to do, Lu Xingci glanced at him and calmly said, “Sit down? I’ll finish up your mark for you.” 

Duan Jiayan looked at his straightforward approach and celebrated his good fortune. Raising a leg, he hooked his chair over.

After sitting down, he faced his back towards Lu Xingci and even tilted his head down, baring his slender nape.

He seemed to be very cooperative.

“Was the previous time very uncomfortable?” 

Duan Jiayan gave an ‘ah’ in response.

Back then in the classroom, they were rushing around and he was worried about being found out. Lu Xingci was probably also affected by his anxious mood.

Without waiting for Duan Jiayan’s reply, the other rubbed his lips over his glands.

He heard the boy behind him say, “This time I’ll be gentler.” 

He was not sure if it was because the dorm was too quiet but the marking this time seemed to be taking a much longer time.

Gently and delicately, yet in a way that one is unable to resist.

He was not sure why but after a while, Duan Jiayan started to tremble.

“Is it done?” His voice was slightly tremulous, a hint of unnatural nervousness could be heard. Duan Jiayan unconsciously urged him again, “Are you done?” 

Things like instincts, really are weird.

Lu Xingci’s actions this time were clearly much gentler, but the moment he was bitten by the alpha, it was still worlds apart from how he normally felt.

As if he was caught.

As if he was possessed. 

There was no reply from the person behind him.

Duan Jiayan was worried that if he moved recklessly, it’ll end up like last time with his unfinished mark. He held his misgivings in and obediently allowed the other to inject his pheromones into him.

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Llr jmalbcr rffw ab tjnf agluufgfv atf jiqtj yftlcv tlw. Ktf batfg gfjmtfv bea j tjcv ab mbnfg tlr ojmf jcv qgfrr la yjmxkjgvr, cba jiibklcu tlw ab ifjnf. 

His eyes were covered and in an instant, Duan Jiayan could feel his eyes starting to water.

His eyes did not move. Only after a second did he realise he was this close to crying.

Crying, because he was bitten by someone.

That’ll be too god damn embarrassing. 

He! Has! Not! Cried! In! Seven! Years!

Duan Jiayan did his best to keep his eyes open and waited for the moisture in his eyes to go back before heaving a sigh of relief.

The mark was also completed.

“I bit a little deeper this time,” Lu Xingci released him and stared at his fair nape with hooded eyes. “It seemed to have left a mark.” 

Under normal circumstances, a temporary mark will only leave a faint mark that will fade in a few hours.

But the bite this time seemed to be a little heavier, it seems the mark will remain for the next three to four days. Others might also catch sight of the mark on Duan Jiayan’s nape.

“It’s fine,” Duan Jiayan wanted to stand up but probably due to them just completing the mark, he lost his strength for a second and his mind went blank.

After resting, he realised the pain on his body was gone and moved his shoulders about in satisfaction. 

“Thanks yeah,” Duan Jiayan turned and gave Lu Xingci a smile. “Have you eaten breakfast? If not, let’s go get it together?”

Duan Jiayan and Lu Xingci entered the classroom together.

They arrived a little late due to the mark and the breakfast. By the time they arrived, it was already the second lesson.

This was Zhao Minjun’s language class, and the back door was already closed.  Duan Jiayan paced around outside the classroom, debating on whether or not to go in. 

In the end, Zhao Minjun caught sight of the both of them first.

“What are you doing outside the classroom?” Zhao Minjun asked. “Why are you late?”

Duan Jiayan and Lu Xingic looked at each other.

The two, who did not discuss what to say beforehand, said at the same time, 

“Today—”

“This morning I—”

Lu Xingci paused immediately to let Duan Jiayan speak.

Duan Jiayan saw that he got his chance to speak and hurriedly answered, “Teacher, this morning I bumped into an omega that got into an accident. In order to make sure he does not get into danger, I bought him inhibitors and sent him to the hospital.” 

Spinning his tale to this point, Duan Jiayan suddenly realised he had not added Lu Xingci into his story and quickly added him in, “Class monitor had his chauffeur send us to the hospital. However, he was still worried so he, too, followed us to the hospital.”

Lu Xingci, “……”

Lu Xingci thought, ‘You sure are reliable huh.’

Duan Jiayan thought that what he said could not entirely be counted as a lie. 

He was the omega that got into an accident.

It’s just that he did not need an inhibitor, nor did he need to go to the hospital. It’s just the fine details that needed tweaking but the main story, an omega that needed help, was real.

Thinking of this, he stared at Zhao Minjun with eyes full of conviction.

Zhao Minjun was also not sure whether to believe his words or not, but still let out a smile, “Helping someone in need, it deserves to be praised.” 

Duan Jiayan, “……”

Lu Xingci, “……”

Zhao Minjun nudged her head slightly, “Head on in.”

Just like that, the both of them went in. 

In the afternoon, as the school festival was happening at night, the students took turns to head to the toilet to change outfits.

The male toilet was filled with not only boys from class ten but from other classes as well.

Duan Jiayan was carrying his outfit into the male toilet when someone patted him on the shoulder, “Son!”

He turned around and saw Shen Chilie who was also heading in to change outfits. 

Shen Chilie was performing a K-pop dance and will be changing into a hip-hop style outfit. Duan Jiayan was just about to tease him on his ostentatious dressing when Shen Chilie cried out, “F*ck, why is there a mark on your neck? Which alpha did such an inhuman thing to you?!”

Zhou Xingchen happened to be changing his outfit and happened to hear of Duan Jiayan’s plight. He immediately opened his door, “Who?! Who is so god damn shameless?!”

In their hearts, Duan Jiayan is not the type that will obediently lie down and let someone bite him on the neck.

Shen Chilie had considered the possibility of the mark coming from Lu Xingci but one, he did not think Lu Xingci will mark Duan Jiayan twice, considering how dangerous it was and two, he really did not think Lu Xingci will bite so deeply. 

Such a deep mark, it was like a dog peeing to mark his territory. One look and it seemed to be left by some young and scrappy alpha.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xingchen was none the wiser to Duan Jiayan’s stress disorder.

Duan Jiayan, “……”

Duan Jiayan really wanted to shove the two of them into the drain underneath the toilet. 

Zhou Xingchen, “Say their name! Us bros will help you take revenge!”

Shen Chilie, “You’ve been wronged! Why didn’t you tell father?”

Duan Jiayan lightly snorted, not sure if he should laugh or not.

Just as he was deciding on whether or not to piece these two imaginative heads together and have them compete on whose skull is harder, the door beside them suddenly opened. 

The man inside looked at Shen Chilie and Zhou Xingchen expressionlessly.

He had just taken off his shirt and had not changed into his new shirt, so his top half was still bare.

He most probably could not stand the two idiots any longer and so decided to open the door. Narrowing his eyes, he lazily said to Zhou Xingchen, “Tell me, how do you intend to take revenge?”

Zhou Xingchen, “Huh?” 

There was not much expression on Lu Xingci’s face, but it did look not exactly friendly.

His shoulders were both broad and firm, and his build was tall, along with a waist and abdomen with deep muscle lines.

His appearance was both full of aggression and oppression.

“I’ll help you convey your message to the shameless,” Lu Xingci paused before looking at Shen Chilie, “inhuman alpha.” 

He gave a laugh as he spoke, “Your desire to beat him to death.”

Zhou Xingchen and Shen Chilie instinctively felt a sense of danger.

Especially after Lu Xingci’s laugh, the both of them paled and took a step back.

Duan Jiayan looked at the two good for nothings and sighed, “Stress disorder, he bit me.” 

Zhou Xingchen, “?”

Shen Chilie, “!”

Song Yi could hear chatter coming from outside the toilet but due to the walls, could not properly make out what was being said. Wanting to ask what was wrong, he opened the door.

And was greeted by the sighted of their great class monitor being shirtless, he was even trying not to smile while standing on the spot. 

Song Yi, “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

He swiftly shut the door.

Before opening it.

And closing it. 

Like a fool.

Outside the door, the entertainment committee members of class ten urged, “Those inside, have you changed your outfits? Hurry up, we have to line up and head down soon!”

Being rushed by a young lady, everyone did not feel good lolly-gagging anymore. Duan Jiayan looked around the packed toilet, thinking if he should just change outside.

Lu Xingci suddenly looked at him, “Want to squeeze in with me?” 

Duan Jiayan, “?”

Lu Xingci, “The stall’s quite spacious actually.”

Thinking that it was a little better stripping inside a stall than outside, Duan Jiayan nodded his head.

As a part of Duan Jiayan’s family, seeing this scene of Lu Xingci trafficking the innocent Duan Jiayan, Shen Chilie immediately said, “No!” 

Chen Yue who was watching the on-goings so far suddenly reached out to Zhou Xingchen, “Zhou Xingchen, come squeeze in with me, let’s quickly change our clothes and head out.”

Naturally not thinking anything of this request, Zhou Xingchen went over.

After making a live demonstration, Chen Yue turned to Shen Chilie and gave an amiable smile, “What’s wrong bro? Our class is about to head up soon, time’s running out so everyone should work together.”

Shen Chilie, “……” 

Shen Chilie felt like the people around Lu Xingci were all god damn scheming.

Coincidentally, a boy from class four came to rush him, “Shen Chilie! Are you done? We are all waiting for you!”

Shen Chilie hastily replied that he was almost done, grabbed his clothes and was prepared to squeeze in with Song Yi.

Entering the stall, Shen Chilie felt like something was not quite right. 

Even though Song Yi and he were both alpha and omega, the two of them in one stall together still exuded the innocence of a brotherly friendship.

However, he felt that Duan Jiayan and Lu Xingci being together, that stall had “Not suitable for the young” written all over it.

Shen Chilie suddenly had an inspiration, “Ah! Why not I’ll call my son over and you squeeze with him?”

Song Yi, “What about you?” 

Shen Chilie hesitated for a moment, “I… I’ll go squeeze in with Lu Xingci?”

Song Yi laughed after hearing that, “Even if he was willing to let you in, will you dare go in?”

Shen Chilie, “……”

On the other side. 

Duan Jiayan kept in mind the entertainment committee’s words and hung his pants on the hook. With a twist of his wrist, he directly lifted up his shirt.

Lu Xingci watched as the other stripped without any reservations in front of him. Lastly, as if it was not thrilling enough, he even reached out to pull down his pants.

Duan Jiayan rushed as he changed his clothes, “Still not changing? We’re almost late.”

Lu Xingci, “……” 

Lu Xingci suddenly felt a little tired in his heart.

He initially thought that after coaxing Duan Jiayan to come in, the other would still show some embarrassment as he changed in front of him.

He never thought this fellow was more open-minded than he anticipated by eight thousand times.

After he was done wearing his pants, he started putting on his shirt. 

As he was putting on his shirt, he saw that Lu Xingci was in the middle of changing his pants.

The moment the belt buckle was released, it released a crisp sound.

Duan Jiayan unconsciously looked over.

Suddenly, his mind was filled with the sights he saw in the museum, regarding an alpha’s… 

Duan Jiayan frowned.

And decided to take another look.

The sight before him and the ones in his memory blended together. He widened his eyes slightly, the ends of his ears were slightly warm. He softly muttered, “F*ck, how perverted.”

Lu Xingci lifted his head slightly, “What?” 

Duan Jiayan felt that he shouldn’t vent his anger on the other unreasonably and said guiltily, “I said, you’re so handsome.”

Afraid that the other wouldn’t believe him, Duan Jiayan made sure he had a face full of sincerity as he added, “After studying you for a bit, your whole body from top to bottom seems to be handsome. Our Lu-ge is absolutely perfect.”

Lu Xingci, “……”

Lu Xingci has had it. 

In a space with just the both of them, with such an atmosphere, Duan Jiayan could still tell him that he’d studied him for a bit.

Those not in the know might think Duan Jiayan was watching a show.

Duan Jiayan left the stall holding on to a black tie.

As he did not know how to tie his tie, he planned to look to Song Yi for help. 

Lu Xingci looked at the tie he was fiddling in his hand, “Don’t know how to tie it?”

Duan Jiayan gave an ‘en’ in response.

Lu Xingci seemed to be replying casually, “I’ll help you.”

Duan Jiayan seemed to think that it was fine and gave the tie to him. 

Zhou Xingchen chose that moment to open the door and saw the both of them standing together. Lu Xingci’s fingers were holding onto the black tie and had wrapped it around Duan Jiayan.

Zhou Xingchen’s eyes brightened, “Lu-ge!”

Seeing Zhou Xingchen who was blind to what was really going on and had thoughts to get the same treatment as Duan Jiayan, Chen Yue pulled him to the side and said, “What are you looking at him for, isn’t it better to find Gu Li for help?”

Zhou Xingchen also felt that it was better to get your girlfriend to wear your tie for you. Though he suddenly also felt that something was not right. With a look of horror on his face, he said, “Since when did Lu-ge get so… so shoujo?” 

“……” Chen Yue said, “Shut up, don’t implicate me. Laozi has now decided from this moment on to let you self-destruct however you want.”

For this school festival, Yi Zhong had prepared the location very early on.

The giant projector screen from the sports meet was used, along with strings of light being hung on metal beams. Paired with LED lights placed along the floor of the stage, the lighting looked as brilliant as a stream of fire, absolutely incredible.

Occasionally, during wonderful performances, there was even smoke and flares used. 

One look and you can tell a lot of money was spent.

Seeing as it was a school festival that happened once every 10 years, Yi Zhong will extend invitations to its honorary alumni that have made generous donations to their alma mater. The cost of the stage pales in comparison to the amounts they have donated.

Class ten was the second to last to perform. Before them, the other classes in the first and second year all had programmes prepared.

When it came to Shen Chilie’s street dance segment, Song Yi and Duan Jiayan secretly left class ten to go backstage to get a better look. 

It was packed with people backstage, there were even two girls holding cameras, recording the performance.

After a drumbeat and an electric hum, the music started playing.

The street dance-styled K-pop dance was a performance that was full of energy, extremely capable of riling the crowd up. The energy in the audience immediately boiled over.

Song Yi was excitedly screaming by the side while Duan Jiayan also enjoyed the performance he was watching. 

Everywhere around them was people, along with the excited cries and high-tempo beats of the music, Song Yi suddenly cried out, “Shen Shen—”

Duan Jiayan immediately cooperated, “Lie Lie—”

Song Yi cried out again, “So handsome!”

Duan Jiayan was considering if he should shout ‘Shen Chilie is such a handsome stud’ but it felt too forced and a little insincere. 

On stage, Shen Chilie could see them having fun and could not resist smiling along.

After the performance, Song Yi turned around on habit, wanting to say a few words to Duan Jiayan when he noticed the other person’s neck was completely red. Shock, he said, “My god, Xiao-Duan! Do you not feel anything?”

Most alphas and omegas will unconsciously release their pheromones when they get emotionally stimulated. Previously, everyone was so excited, it was only natural that alpha pheromones would be surrounding them.

After the excitement is done, Duan Jiayan belatedly felt the pain in his body. 

It felt like he was getting a tattoo, as if there was someone using a needle and pricking it into his skin.

Under the bright light, the red patches on his skin were unusually eye-catching.

Song Yi hurriedly said, “Quickly go look for class monitor!”

Duan Jiayan bore the pain and nodded his head, “Then help me tell Shen Chilie what happened.” 

Song Yi was worried sick over him, he felt pained just looking at Duan Jiayan, “Alright alright, go already!”

Duan Jiayan turned around and headed in the direction of class ten.

There were more students here than backstage. Duan Jiayan figured he’d be in even more pain if he went back. Taking out his phone, he wanted to give Lu Xingci a call but his surroundings were so noisy that he was not sure if the other will be able to hear him,

Just as he was about to call, he heard someone shouting his name, “Duan Jiayan?” 

He turned around and saw Lu Xingci walking over with a bottle of water in hand.

Zhou Xingchen and Gu Li were also with him.

Duan Jiayan was just about to speak when a hot wave of pain came from behind him.

He was in so much pain that he could only bend over, frowning unconsciously. Raising his head towards Lu Xingci, there was a silent cry for help in his eyes. 

That gentle expression made Lu Xingci’s eyelids jump.

He walked up a few steps, raised his arms and enveloped Duan Jiayan in his embrace

Gu Li watched what was going on and covered her mouth, afraid that any sounds of excitement she made will disturb them, her eyes were so bright it seemed to glow.

They hugged! 

In such a public place, they were hugging each other so tightly!

Gu Li whined softly, “This is love ah……”

Zhou Xingchen heard her mumbling, his expression softened as he tried to sneakily hold Gu Li’s hand, “I’m right here.”

Gu Li shook him off. 

Zhou Xingchen, “……”

Lu Xingci’s fingers traced across his nape with the red patches, the back of his hands accidentally rubbing Duan Jiayan’s cool earlobes, “Why did your disorder act up so fast?”

“There are too many people here,” Duan Jiayan was in so much pain that he did not even want to talk. “I’ll explain in a bit, let me hug you a little longer first……”

Lu Xingci was about to agree when a flashlight suddenly shone towards them. 

He narrowed his eyes and subconsciously pulled Duan Jiayan tighter into his hug, at the same time raising a hand to block Duan Jiayan’s face from the light.

Director Jiang’s voice travelled from a distance, “The students over there! What are you doing?”

Lu Xingci quickly realised what was going on.

Director Jiang often patrolled the school at night, catching students who did not want to go home after school as well as students who might be in an early romance. 

Zhou Xingchen and Gu Li froze. The both of them looked at each other, clearly remembering the panic they felt from the time Director Jiang chased them around the whole school.

Gu Li was just about to suggest to Zhou Xingchen that they go their separate ways first when Director Jiang bellowed, “The two students over there! What are you doing hugging each other? You’ve been hugging for five whole minutes!”

His implication was, this was already longer than what a hug between normal students should be.

Director Jiang took a closer look, the two students hugging were boys, with tall builds. 

But Yi Zhong had no shortage of tall boys, and in the dark, he could not clearly make out who they were.

Director Jiang saw them not letting go despite his shouting and felt that this matter was already fixed in stone, “Which class are you two from? Thinking of having an early romance? Impossible! This school is not a place for you to do such a thing!”

Gu Li, “……”

Even though it was not very nice, she still wanted to say… 

Yes!!! Start dating, the both of you!!!