Due to Chu Yin’s insistence, his coming-of-age ceremony was not a grand affair.

Chu Yin’s birthday happened to fall on a weekend, and Tao Zhixing and Zhao Jiayang flew back to Jingpu from out of town. Old Master Tao also canceled his social engagements, and the family gathered joyfully at home for dinner.

Compared to the birthday banquets of Tao Zhixing and Zhao Jiayang in previous years, this dinner seemed somewhat modest. Old Master Tao wanted to say something but was stopped by his wife.

“He doesn’t like seeing outsiders, so don’t force him. Today is his birthday; it’s most important that the birthday star is happy. I’ll go make him a bowl of noodles later.”

“Alright.” Old Master Tao pondered for a moment and smiled, “Then I’ll help you.”

The longevity noodles served in a white porcelain bowl were nearly overflowing, topped with a golden fried egg, steam wafting up to their faces.

Chu Yin held the bowl, eating attentively and carefully, even drinking the soup until it was empty. The next morning, he woke up feeling bloated, frowning as he rubbed his stomach, and looked lethargic.

Zhao Jiayang watched him finish his digestive tablets before heading to the airport. Even after getting on the plane, the corners of his mouth were still turned up.

Not long after, Tao Zhixing flew across the ocean for an audit, and Old Master Tao went on a business trip to Taiqing, leaving only Mrs. Tao and Chu Yin in the large ancestral home.

Time passed.

That evening, Mrs. Tao returned home from the beauty salon and nearly stumbled from the overwhelming scent of plum blossoms.

Bodyguards generally did not enter the main house, and all the servants at home were betas. She initially did not think of anything amiss and turned to Xu Song, who was standing at the door to greet her, to ask if they had changed the incense.

“Since last month when you instructed to switch to Buddha’s hand, it hasn’t been changed. Why do you ask, ma’am?”

“There’s a strong smell of plum blossoms in the house.”

Xu Song turned his head and sniffed carefully, his face filled with confusion.

She found it hard to believe: “You… can’t smell it?”

Xu Song slowly shook his head and quietly explained, “No guests have come to the house today.”

Mrs. Tao’s eyes narrowed, and a bad premonition began to rise in her heart.

She carefully discerned the source of the fragrance, slowly walking into the house: “Did anything happen today?”

“Not long after you left this morning, Young Master Chu also went out, saying he was going to the mall. But when he came back around three in the afternoon, he hadn’t bought anything and then said he was tired, returning to his room to sleep until now.”

Mrs. Tao’s expression suddenly changed, and without bothering to investigate the source of the fragrance any longer, she hurried upstairs toward Chu Yin’s bedroom.

The scent of plum blossoms in the main house had become too strong to ignore, and after a while, even her sense of smell began to dull. But approaching Chu Yin’s room, she could still clearly feel the fragrance intensifying.

The door was locked from the inside. Unable to wait for the locksmith bodyguard, she called in two strong servants to break open the door, and unsurprisingly, they found the source of the strange fragrance on the bed—

Chu Yin was wrapped in blankets, drenched in sweat, with a pained expression on his face.

“What’s wrong with the young master?” Xu Song felt a chill in his heart.

Things had taken a turn for the worse: Chu Yin was burning with a high fever and his consciousness was very hazy.

She trembled as she checked Chu Yin’s breathing, quickly pulling him out from under the blankets, and without looking back, commanded, “There are no medicines at home, quickly find a doctor and tell them…”

She paused slightly, then quickly added, “It’s a side effect of the injection of artificial pheromones.”

The doctor arrived quickly, and shortly after the medication was administered through the IV, the painful look on Chu Yin’s face gradually eased. Mrs. Tao sat by the bed, holding him close, and instructed Xu Song to bring a basin of cool water.

More than half an hour later, Chu Yin finally regained consciousness and slowly opened his eyes.

“Mom?” His voice was hoarse, and his gaze lacked focus. It took a while for him to focus on Mrs. Tao’s face, and then he managed a weak smile, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“Is this really nothing? I was almost scared to death just now.” She wrung out the towel soaked in cold water and replaced the one on Chu Yin’s forehead. “Lie still and don’t move around. Tao Zhixing was quiet as a child, always lost in his own world; Zhao Jiayang was unpredictable during his rebellious phase; among the three children, you were always the one I worried the least about. Who would have thought you were hiding something so serious?!”

Her tone was strict, but her actions were gentle. Chu Yin didn’t dare to smile anymore, pressing his lips together and obediently listening to her, looking a bit pitiful.

“Now you know how to act obedient and pitiful? Do you think artificial pheromones are something you can just play around with? Do you have any idea how serious the side effects can be? Not to mention, your health has never been good. What if…?”

She paused for a moment, not continuing, then added, “I don’t care why you decided to get this injection; once the medication wears off next month, you are never allowed to entertain this thought again, do you understand?”

“The director has already told me about the consequences,” Chu Yin murmured softly.

You still dare to mention it after being warned?

Mrs. Tao’s eyebrows furrowed, and she was about to scold him when Chu Yin suddenly started coughing violently. She quickly helped him sit up and patted his back. After he finally caught his breath, her anger had mostly subsided, leaving only concern.

She sighed, her expression softening, and she lowered her voice, wanting to say a few more comforting words, but before she could speak, she noticed Chu Yin was crying.

Chu Yin rarely cried, and even when he did, there was no sound; tears silently streamed down his face. After all her harsh words, he shook his head in silence, a clear refusal.

She felt utterly helpless against Chu Yin, and angrily reached out to poke his forehead but feared she might be too forceful. In the end, she just rubbed her aching temples and instructed Xu Song to take good care of him before leaving the room and going alone to the Buddhist hall.

Old Master Tao and Tao Zhixing were still on business trips, and she stood at the entrance of the Buddhist hall for a long time. Finally, she only called Zhao Jiayang to briefly explain the situation. After learning that Zhao Jiayang would return to Jingpu as soon as possible, she hung up and copied Buddhist scriptures for half the night.

When Zhao Jiayang received the call, he was still in class in the capital and was completely flustered. As soon as the call ended, he messaged Xu Song to book the earliest flight, not bothering to pack anything, just taking his identification and heading to the airport.

When the red-eye flight landed, the Tao family’s driver was already waiting at the exit. Zhao Jiayang hurried back to the Tao family, not even changing his shoes. He first went to Chu Yin’s room, and only after confirming he was okay did the heavy stone in his chest finally lift a bit.

He leaned slowly against the wall, let out a long breath, and pressed his hands tightly against his face.

Zhao Jiayang initially thought Chu Yin was just being impulsive and would be persuaded back to his senses after a few words, but he never expected Chu Yin to be so stubborn.

He had taken a week off from school, planning to stay at home for a few days once Chu Yin came around, but as days passed, Chu Yin’s stubbornness only grew stronger.

…Perhaps it could no longer be called stubbornness, but rather obsession.

The Tao family was shrouded in sorrow, and no one dared to tell Tao Zhixing or the old master about this matter. The old lady of the Tao family also stopped going out, spending day and night reciting scriptures in the Buddhist hall, almost taking root there.

Zhao Jiayang tried every possible method but was ultimately at his wit’s end. He had no choice but to seek out Xu Song to inquire about Chu Yin’s mother.

“Is Chu Yin’s mother still alive?”

Xu Song was a bit surprised, nodding hesitantly, “Do you mean…”

“Yes, I really can’t persuade him, and there’s no other way now. I can only grasp at straws and see if I can find his mother to talk to him.” Zhao Jiayang sighed heavily.

In just a few days, he had developed dark circles under his eyes.

“Since she’s still alive, that’s good. She should still be in the country, right? If so, please send me her address; I’ll go visit her.”

Xu Song was silent for a moment and said, “She’s in Jingpu, but it’s a bit far from the ancestral home. I’ll give the address to the driver and have him take you there.”

“That works.” Zhao Jiayang nodded.

His mind was entirely consumed by concerns for Chu Yin, so he failed to notice Xu Song’s unusual silence or the atmosphere around them.

It wasn’t until the car stopped in front of a special asylum that Zhao Jiayang belatedly sensed something was wrong.

The security guard at the asylum recognized the Tao family’s license plate. As soon as Zhao Jiayang got out of the car, he was escorted into the director’s office.

After talking for half an hour with the door closed, he followed the director to Yin Xia’s hospital room, standing silently for a few minutes before ultimately deciding not to go in. Instead, he turned back and got into the car.

“Let’s go back.” He closed his eyes, completely exhausted.

That was the last sentence Zhao Jiayang spoke that day.

Upon returning to the Tao family, he went straight to his room, locked the door, and sat at his desk without eating or drinking for the entire night.

When Chu Yin came to the Tao family, Zhao Jiayang was just a half-grown child. Even if there were issues, the adults wouldn’t tell him. He saw that Chu Yin was injured all over and thought it was because he was too small and had been bullied by other children, coming to the Tao family because his parents couldn’t support him.

He never imagined the truth of the situation would be like this, nor did he think that Chu Yin had suffered such things.

…He was so small; how could she bear to be so cruel?

The tightly shut door finally opened, and a servant who had been watching Zhao Jiayang hurried to inform Xu Song of the news, also letting the kitchen know to prepare a clean meal.

Zhao Jiayang stepped out of his room, his eyes bloodshot.

“If it were just about Yin Xia, he wouldn’t have turned out like this.” He looked at the hurried Xu Song, speaking slowly and deliberately, “Is there anyone else who has said something to him that I don’t know about?”

Xu Song thought for a long time and disclosed everything he knew about Yan Xin, the social scene, and other relevant details. As Zhao Jiayang listened, his expression grew increasingly grim.

He finally understood why Chu Yin had said with red eyes, “Everyone hopes I’m an omega; I hope so too.”

“I understand now. Don’t tell him about these things.” Zhao Jiayang made up his mind, “Let’s put this to rest. I’ll go see him first. When Mom wakes up, let me know, and I’ll talk to her on his behalf.”

…

When Chu Yin woke up, Zhao Jiayang had already been silently sitting by his bedside for a long time, like a statue, only coming to life when Chu Yin awoke.

“You’re awake?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

Chu Yin looked at him, hesitantly nodding, unsure of what Zhao Jiayang was planning today.

“Since you want to be an omega, then be one.” Zhao Jiayang gently stroked his head, “But from now on, if there’s anything or you’re planning to make a decision, you must tell me.”

Joy and disbelief exploded in Chu Yin’s eyes. He reached out to poke Zhao Jiayang’s hand, signaling him to bend down.

“Don’t be sad.” He smoothed Zhao Jiayang’s furrowed brow, “I can finally smell your pheromones. It’s even better than I imagined.”