Hearing Liang Xianzhang’s words, a satisfied smile spread across his face. He pressed his lips against the suppression patch, deliberately rubbing it, and said, “Stay away from him, okay? His scent mixed with yours is unbearable.”

Through the thin suppression patch, Zhou Yi could feel the warm breath that almost went unnoticed. His body, already heated by the strong floral scent of the patch, felt even warmer, and an emptiness surged from his stomach. The sensation was suffocating, and his gland, trapped by the suppression patch, made him feel as though he couldn’t breathe.

Zhou Yi’s hands trembled as he grabbed Liang Xianzhang’s collar, his body shaking violently. “Don’t… don’t touch…”

Liang Xianzhang chuckled softly, deliberately pressing his lips harder against the patch, pushing it into Zhou Yi’s gland. “You haven’t answered me yet, Xiaoyi. Answer me, and I’ll let go.”

Zhou Yi nodded quickly, squeezing out a few strained words, “…I’ll stay away from him…”

Liang Xianzhang released his lips and kissed Zhou Yi’s sweaty face. “So good…”

Zhou Yi’s legs were still weak as they entered the elevator. Liang Xianzhang adjusted his collar and hair, making sure Zhou Yi looked perfect. He even took out a pheromone eliminator from his pocket, carefully eliminating the traces of his scent from Zhou Yi’s body.

At that moment, Zhou Yi felt dizzy from the way Liang Xianzhang kissed him. Now, looking back, he realized it had all been planned by Liang Xianzhang.

Zhou Yi should have been angry about his behavior, but instead of feeling anger toward Liang Xianzhang, he found himself wanting more of his touch and affection.

When this thought crossed his mind, Zhou Yi felt a deep despair. He realized that his dependence on and trust in Liang Xianzhang had grown so strong, it was impossible to resist anymore.

Zhou Yi scratched his head, a headache forming as he thought about what to do next.

---

When Shang Yichen emerged from the bedroom, the smell of breakfast filled the air. His substitute lover was setting the dishes on the table, smiling up at him with that familiar, loving expression.

“Good morning, Mr. Shang!” Zhou Yi greeted him as usual, and Shang Yichen, though accustomed to it, found himself slightly annoyed by the routine.

But today, something about Zhou Yi felt different. His already large eyes appeared unusually moist, with pupils like amber wrapped in resin. His lips were flushed, as if they had been kissed recently.

Shang Yichen’s thoughts wandered. A hunger stirred inside him, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a while. He even wondered, If I bit those rosy lips, would they become even redder?

“Mr. Shang, are you okay?” Zhou Yi’s voice snapped him back to reality.

Suddenly realizing how close he had gotten, Shang Yichen stiffened. Embarrassed, he stepped back, annoyed at himself. “Nothing…” he muttered, though his tone was harsher than he intended.

Zhou Yi lowered his head and said nothing.

Shang Yichen felt a sudden wave of frustration. He knew his tone was off, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he grabbed the bowl and began eating breakfast in silence, the tension thick in the air.

---

After breakfast, Shang Yichen retreated to his study. Zhou Yi, still washing dishes in the kitchen, let out a soft sigh of relief. Shang Yichen’s pheromones seemed to be getting stronger as his estrus period approached, and Zhou Yi could feel the pressure building. He tried to keep his distance, fearing his own pheromones would slip out in front of him.

But more than anything, Zhou Yi dreaded having Shang Yichen around all the time. His scent, now thick in the apartment, made Zhou Yi feel tormented and on edge.

Zhou Yi longed for a break, for Shang Yichen to leave so he could escape the constant tension.

Meanwhile, in the study, Shang Yichen couldn’t focus. His mind felt like it was on fire, and the urge to kiss Zhou Yi overwhelmed him. He couldn’t deny that he had these thoughts again—thoughts he shouldn’t have. His estrus period was approaching, and his pheromones were acting up, but there was more to his feelings than that.

He wanted to get close to Zhou Yi, but at the same time, he looked down on him, seeing him as nothing more than a Beta, unworthy of being with someone like him. The internal conflict was tearing him apart. He couldn’t figure out why, despite thinking so little of Zhou Yi, he found himself so drawn to him.

His mind kept going back to Gu Shuning. Zhou Yi is just a substitute, he told himself. Gu Shuning is the one I should be focusing on.

As Shang Yichen’s estrus period neared, he tried to rationalize his feelings. The desire he felt for Zhou Yi was simply the result of his Alpha instincts. His thoughts of Zhou Yi were just a fleeting temptation. Once the estrus period passed, everything would return to normal. He was sure of it.

After all, Zhou Yi was just a substitute for Gu Shuning, wasn’t he?

Shang Yichen took out his phone and sent a message to Meng Rongze, asking him to arrange for an Omega to help him through the estrus period.