CHAPTER 2

Gaotu's heat period lasted three long days.

Three days of agony.Three days of writhing helplessly against a body he could not control.Three days without food, without water, without rest.

When the haze finally broke, and his pheromones dulled enough for the inhibitor to work again, he injected himself with shaking hands. The familiar numbness returned, blanketing what little strength he had left.

But he was drained, every step sluggish. His head spun whenever he moved, his body weak from deprivation. He dragged himself to the kitchen, craving something to soothe his throat. Tea. He needed tea.

But when he opened the cabinet, the box was empty. He had forgotten to replace it.

A small sigh escaped his lips. He shuffled to the fridge, pulling it open with little hope. Nothing much waited inside, except for one thing.

His eyes fell on a bottle of juice. The one Shen Wenlang had given him.

For a long moment, Gaotu just stood there, staring at it. His hand trembled slightly as he picked it up.

He undid the cap with slow, deliberate movements, then lifted it to his lips.

After quenching his thirst and letting a bit of sugar settle into his system, Gaotu felt the faintest flicker of energy return. His legs still felt heavy, but at least he could move without collapsing.

The first thing he did was search for his phone. It had been lying somewhere untouched for days. Unlocking the screen, his eyes scanned it with a sliver of hope he didn't want to admit to.

But there wasn't much to see. No new messages. No missed calls. Nothing.

Not that he had expected otherwise. It wasn't as if there were many people in his life who would check in on him, who would even notice if he disappeared for a while.

A small sigh slipped past his lips. He placed the phone back on the table and rubbed his temples.

Pushing himself up, he looked around his apartment. The air was heavy, his pheromones still lingered a reminder of the painful period, and the sheets tangled on his mattress were damp with sweat. He needed to clean. To wash away the traces. To open the windows and let the sunlight drive out the suffocating smell.

Just as Gaotu collapsed onto his freshly made bed, a sudden knock echoed through the apartment.

He froze, sitting up straight. For a moment he thought it was his imagination until a second knock followed.

Dragging himself to the door, he pulled it open.

"...Shen Wenlang?"

"What's with that tone?" Shen Wenlang replied as he brushed past him, stepping inside without waiting for permission.

Gaotu remained by the door, heart hammering against his ribs. The sight of him here, made his throat tighten. Good thing he had cleaned. Good thing the scent was gone. If he had come just a few minutes earlier...

"What are you standing there for?" Shen Wenlang's voice cut through his thoughts.

Gaotu startled, quickly closing the door and hurrying after him. "Why are you here?"

"Why can't I be here?" Shen Wenlang shot back, expression unreadable.

"No, that's not what I mean. I just thought... you usually tell me when you're coming. So..."

"My phone's dead," Shen Wenlang interrupted, almost too quickly. "I haven't had time to charge it."

Gaotu blinked. Who's supposed to believe that? The excuse was thin, but he didn't press. He only nodded, quietly following Shen Wenlang into the room.

His eyes drifted to the table, where a couple of plastic bags sat neatly.

He hesitated, then asked softly, "What's that?"

Shen Wenlang followed his line of sight, then shrugged as if it were nothing. "Groceries. You look like the type who forgets to eat. Just look at yourself, it looks like the wind can blow you away if you step out there."

Gaotu blinked, taken aback. His lips parted but no words came out. Shen Wenlang ignored his stunned look, pulling out containers one by one; eggs, a bundle of vegetables, packets of noodles, and even a small carton of milk.

"You..." Gaotu started, but his voice faltered.

"What?" Shen Wenlang glanced up, his expression still cool, though his movements were oddly deliberate, almost... careful.

Gaotu shook his head quickly. "Nothing. I just... wasn't expecting this."

"Don't overthink it," Shen Wenlang replied flatly, setting the last item down. "I was passing by and saw a store."

Another flimsy excuse. Gaotu knew better, but he bit his tongue. He wasn't in any shape to challenge him.

Gaotu moved quickly to help, taking the groceries from Shen Wenlang and putting them away. As he reached for a packet, his eyes caught on the bandage wrapped tightly around Shen Wenlang's wrist.

"What happened to your wrist?" he asked without thinking.

Shen Wenlang stilled for a second, then glanced at the bandage. "A dog bit me," he said flatly.

Gaotu frowned, confused. "What?"

"It's nothing serious." He waved the question away as though it didn't matter, his eyes already drifting past Gaotu.

While Gaotu crouched at the fridge, Shen Wenlang's gaze swept every corner, sharp and searching. The suffocating scent from that night was gone, but faint traces still lingered in the air, a whisper of sage, too faint for most to notice. But not him.

"Did you have visitors?" he asked suddenly.

Gaotu froze for a heartbeat, then shook his head. "No. Why?"

"Nothing."

Shen Wenlang's voice was dismissive, but his suspicion only deepened. He stepped closer, closing the distance silently until he was standing right behind Gaotu as he bent over the fridge. He leaned in slightly, testing, searching for any hint of that scent directly from him.

Nothing. All he caught was the familiar clean smell of Gaotu's shower gel.

But then his eyes caught on something else, the back of Gaotu's neck, flushed red, the skin irritated from repeated scratching. Right where the scent gland lay hidden.

That was all the confirmation he needed.

Gaotu was an omega.

Shen Wenlang's expression didn't shift, though his mind stirred. Instead, his voice came out low and steady, almost lazy:

"I'm hungry. Prepare some noodles."

The sudden words startled Gaotu so badly he nearly toppled over, slamming the fridge door shut. He spun around, wide-eyed, not realizing how close Shen Wenlang had gotten.

---Both Shen Wenlang and Gaotu resumed classes on the same day after several days of absence. It was enough to set the rumor mill on fire. Whispers spread like wildfire through the hallways, fuel piled on top of the gossip that had already taken root.

Those with too much free time and too much interest in Shen Wenlang began to observe them closely, almost obsessively, as though their lives depended on it. And they noticed something strange.

Usually, Gaotu had seemed like a shadow at Shen Wenlang's side; quiet, obedient, doing things for him without question. A convenient lackey.

But now, something was different.

At some point Shen Wenlang had stepped out, when he came back he tossed a bag of chips onto Gaotu's desk without looking at him. "Eat," he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Gaotu blinked, startled, his lips parting as though to refuse. But Shen Wenlang didn't wait for an answer as he had already turned away, unfolding his long legs and strolling toward the window. The bag of chips sat there like a beacon, drawing every pair of eyes in the room.

"Did he just...?""Hand him food? Shen Wenlang?""What's going on...?"

It didn't stop there. At times, when Gaotu's pen rolled off the desk, Shen Wenlang's hand shot out before it even hit the floor. During group discussions, his gaze drifted too often toward Gaotu, lingering longer than necessary, watching, assessing.

These were small things, insignificant to anyone else. But to those obsessed with watching them, it was enough fuel to burn their imaginations alive.

Gaotu, on the other hand, was sinking deeper into unease. He could feel Shen Wenlang's attention like a second skin.

It was terrifying.