The lives of both Zhou Yi and Shang Yichen continued, but something had subtly shifted.

Shang Yichen, who used to spend most of his time out—whether working, socializing, or drinking with friends—had recently stayed home more often. He now worked from home during weekdays, and when he wasn’t working, he seemed to seek out Zhou Yi’s company. His attitude towards Zhou Yi was notably different—more friendly, more open. Occasionally, he would strike up a conversation, showing interest where he had previously been distant.

Zhou Yi didn’t know why Shang Yichen had changed, but it didn’t matter. He didn’t care about what was going on in his mind. What mattered was that he was exhausted.

Every day, Zhou Yi played the role of the perfect, obedient lover—cooking three meals a day, cleaning the house, and managing the trivial conversations Shang Yichen initiated. Rather than feeling like a lover, Zhou Yi often felt more like a servant, always at someone else’s beck and call.

A lover, Zhou Yi thought, would enjoy the luxury of shopping, sipping afternoon tea, and spending time in bed. But for him, every day began early with grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning, all without pause. The white shirts in Shang Yichen’s closet had become like his work uniform, only without the badge of distinction.

Zhou Yi sometimes wished Shang Yichen would just go out again—go back to his old ways of staying out late, socializing, and drinking with friends. At least that would give him a break from the constant pressure of being the perfect partner.

But Shang Yichen stayed home, and Zhou Yi had to adjust to his new routine.

There were two things weighing on Zhou Yi’s mind, though, that made everything even harder.

First, Shang Yichen’s pheromones. With his estrus period approaching, Shang Yichen’s pheromones were growing stronger by the day. The scent was overpowering, and despite Zhou Yi’s best efforts to resist, the continuous exposure was starting to take its toll. He had tried wearing inhibitors, but they couldn’t completely shield him from the effect.

Shang Yichen, it seemed, had become fond of spending time near him. Previously, he had preferred staying in the study or his own room, but now, whenever Zhou Yi sat on the couch, Shang Yichen would sit next to him. The proximity made Zhou Yi nervous. He couldn’t help but hold his breath, tense and fearful that his body would betray him. Even with the inhibitor patch on his gland, it was hard to relax. And with every passing day, he wasn’t sure how long he could keep it up.

Zhou Yi had wanted to visit Liang Xianzhang during the day to replenish his pheromones while Shang Yichen was working, but Liang Xianzhang had stayed home, so that plan was no longer viable.

The second issue was Zhou Yi’s insomnia. He hadn’t been able to sleep properly for several nights, and he soon realized the cause. It all started the night he returned from Liang Xianzhang’s house. The memory of being held in his arms—the warmth of his chest against his back, the steady beat of his heart, and the comforting scent of his pheromones—kept him awake, longing for the feeling of safety and warmth.

Zhou Yi had never felt anything like it before. Now, lying alone in his cold bed, he missed the warmth of Liang Xianzhang’s embrace. Even though the heating was on, the bed felt empty and cold, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

Zhou Yi felt torn. He knew he shouldn’t get attached to Liang Xianzhang, that he shouldn’t rely on him, but every time he thought about him, the desire to be close—physically and emotionally—became harder to ignore.

Liang Xianzhang had been reaching out to him, sending daily messages that Zhou Yi had to ignore in front of Shang Yichen. Yet, each time he read the messages, he felt a deep sense of longing and dissatisfaction.

With a sigh, Zhou Yi turned over in bed and lifted the pillow. He found the bottle of perfume Liang Xianzhang had given him tucked beneath it. Afraid of being discovered, he kept it hidden, like a secret treat. Only when he couldn’t resist, would he open the bottle and take a deep breath.

Tonight, the familiar scent filled his senses. He stared at the necklace Liang Xianzhang had given him, its diamonds glittering in the dim light. He ran his fingers over it, and for the second time that night, he sighed deeply.

It was almost one in the morning, and sleep was nowhere to be found. Instead, the restlessness in his chest continued to grow. As he tossed and turned, his phone vibrated. He picked it up, his heart skipping a beat when he saw that it was a video call from Liang Xianzhang.

Normally, they only texted, so the video call caught him off guard. Hesitant for a moment, Zhou Yi stood up and grabbed his Bluetooth headset. He connected the call, and Liang Xianzhang’s smiling face appeared on the screen.