After the events of the previous night, Zhou Yi couldn’t shake the strange atmosphere between him and Liang Xianzhang.

He wasn’t sure if it was just the confusion from the night before, but he had shown a vulnerable side he had always kept hidden in front of this Alpha. This realization made Zhou Yi uncomfortable. He had been sick before, and he would simply endure it in silence. But with Liang Xianzhang, not only had he felt aggrieved, but he had also acted like a spoiled child.

Though he didn’t want to admit it, Zhou Yi remembered everything—the words exchanged, the physical closeness—and felt even more at a loss now that he was sober. He wanted nothing more than to leave.

Zhou Yi tightened his fists at his sides, the need to escape overwhelming him. “Um… Mr. Liang, I think I’ll head back now.”

Liang Xianzhang opened his mouth to insist, to offer, “It’s okay to rest here tonight,” but the words stuck in his throat. Seeing the helplessness and confusion on Zhou Yi’s face, he couldn’t bear to push further. He forced a gentle smile, trying to soften the atmosphere. “If you still feel unwell, don’t hesitate to knock on my door. Don’t bear it alone at home.”

Zhou Yi’s fingertips turned white from how tightly he was gripping his hands. He suppressed the strange, sour feeling swelling in his chest and nodded. “Okay… thank you.”

Liang Xianzhang opened the door for him, handed him the bag of medicine, and placed a pair of slippers at his feet. “Wear these. I didn’t have time to give you shoes yesterday when I brought you here.”

Zhou Yi felt his cheeks flush at the simplicity of the gesture. He was wearing the slippers Liang Xianzhang had given him. Though they were a bit big, they were incredibly comfortable.

Zhou Yi slowly walked out of Liang Xianzhang’s house, pausing to turn back and wave, signaling that he could close the door.

Liang Xianzhang’s face remained neutral, giving him a slight nod before shutting the door.

Standing at the threshold, Zhou Yi felt a strange emptiness, a sense of loss he couldn’t quite explain. He sighed and tried to push the odd emotions away. He wanted to put everything behind him—this would be the end, and both of them would move on with their lives.

He stood there for a moment longer before turning and entering his own home.

Once the door was closed, Liang Xianzhang watched Zhou Yi through his smart video doorbell. He could see every movement, every expression on his face.

But after Zhou Yi disappeared inside, Liang Xianzhang no longer focused on the door. Instead, he turned to the bathroom. He opened the laundry basket and, with a neutral expression, retrieved Zhou Yi’s pajamas. He briefly inhaled the familiar mint scent that lingered on them, his expression unreadable. He then carried the pajamas into the bedroom.

Liang Xianzhang hesitated when he noticed the underwear at the bottom of the basket. Despite the temptation, his conscience held him back, and he chose not to cross any boundaries.

Lying on the bed where Zhou Yi had slept, Liang Xianzhang took a deep breath, letting the lingering scent fill his senses. He didn’t know when they would meet again, but the thought of Zhou Yi stayed with him.

Looking at the pajamas in his arms, he realized that, for now, they would be his connection to Zhou Yi.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yi returned home, changed his slippers, and carefully placed them in a bag. He tucked them at the back of the shoe cabinet, hoping that Shang Yichen wouldn’t find them. After all, Shang Yichen never opened the shoe cabinet, and when they parted ways, Zhou Yi could easily take the slippers with him.

Next, he went to the bathroom and took out the pheromone eliminator. He sprayed it over his body and the living room, ensuring no trace of the pheromones remained.

Once done, he collapsed onto the bed in his room. The events of the past two days felt even more intense than when he had first arrived. But at least the immediate problem was solved. His pheromones were no longer emitting, and the physiological symptoms had disappeared. He felt a sense of satisfaction—his Beta identity was secure.

A large part of the credit went to Liang Xianzhang, who had helped him. Thinking of this, Zhou Yi absentmindedly stared at his cuffs, lost in thought.

Across the hall, Liang Xianzhang continued his quiet observations of Zhou Yi’s apartment, but the door remained closed. His expression was impassive, but inwardly, he had been in a very low mood recently. On one hand, he missed the comforting presence of Omega pheromones, and on the other, he couldn’t shake the strong desire to see Zhou Yi again. Even if it was just from a distance, it would have been enough for him.

Liang Xianzhang had even entertained the immature fantasy that one day, after work, he would run into Zhou Yi in the elevator or the corridor. But reality had not been so kind, and that chance encounter never came to pass.

By now, he no longer expected to see Zhou Yi by chance.

However, when the elevator reached his floor, Liang Xianzhang subconsciously glanced toward the opposite door.

It was still closed.

He had anticipated this, but there was still a twinge of disappointment. Just as he was about to turn away and head into his apartment, he spotted something hanging on the door handle—a beautifully packaged handbag, with a sticky note attached. The note read: “I’m sorry for causing you trouble last time. Thank you. I hope you like it. It’s my gift to you,” followed by a round smiley face.

Liang Xianzhang’s finger traced the smiley face, rubbing it gently a few times.

There was no doubt who had sent it.

His mood, previously low, lifted immediately. Smiling to himself, he turned back toward his apartment.

Unbeknownst to him, Zhou Yi had been watching this entire interaction through his own video doorbell.

As he saw Liang Xianzhang smile at the gift, Zhou Yi’s heart skipped a beat. The sight of his smile, even from this angle, made him understand, if only briefly, the overwhelming effect of a smile from someone like Liang Xianzhang.

Back in his apartment, Liang Xianzhang carefully unwrapped the gift Zhou Yi had left. Inside, he found a new set of pajamas and a tie—both simple but elegant, with understated patterns that exuded a calm sophistication.

Liang Xianzhang picked up each item, admiring them briefly before carefully placing them back into the box to avoid wrinkles. The thoughtfulness of the gift caught him off guard, and for a moment, he felt an unexpected urge to show it off. He snapped a photo of the items and sent it to his brother, Liang Shaowen, writing: “This is a gift from Zhou Yi to me.”

There was no reply, so Liang Xianzhang assumed his brother was busy and exited the chat.

He then noticed a new message from his secretary: [Mr. Liang, the information you requested has been compiled and sent to your email.]

Liang Xianzhang: [Okay, this is a personal matter. I’ll approve the order for you later. You can visit the Finance Department tomorrow to collect your extra bonus.]

After reading the message, Liang Xianzhang placed the gift box in his bedroom and headed to the study. There, he logged into his email to begin reviewing the files his secretary had sent.