Chapter 102: The Only One He Wanted to Claim

It was supposed to be an Alpha losing control and letting their pheromones explode—
But the moment the door swung open, a wave of heat rushed out of the cramped room.

Even without smelling a single trace of pheromones, the stifling emotions were clear—
Restlessness, discomfort, confusion.

In reality, Ji Laili hadn’t given up on releasing his pheromones.
But the truth was—he had no idea how to do it.

He tried following the Beta doctor’s guidance,
Tried to visualize a scent he didn’t even know himself.
But it was useless.

“Tong-ge, am I really gonna explode?”

【No, I’m looking up similar cases right now. Just hold on.】

Ji Laili slumped over the table, forehead pressed against the cool glass.
His damp curls stuck to it, absorbing that faint chill,
Trying to keep himself conscious.

Hearing the system’s voice, he pulled his lips into a weak smile.

“Tong-ge, it’s been so long since I heard you talk… I thought I was playing this game in single-player mode.”

Ever since Ji Laili got together with Shen Yu, the system had been in shock.
It spent its days locked away, crunching numbers,
Or messaging its colleagues in distress.

This mission was supposed to be about saving the protagonist—
How did it turn into a romance strategy game?!

Strategy System: Just send him over in a package.

【…】

Not helpful. At all.

The system had been racking its circuits trying to file reports.
It never expected that letting Ji Laili act on his own
Would lead to him successfully seducing the darkened target.

After all these missions, this was a first.

The system had been offline for a long time,
Only rushing back when it detected Ji Laili’s deteriorating condition.

【Based on the data, your pheromones are dangerously over-accumulated. Clear your mind and try to calm down.】

Ji Laili groaned weakly, “Why do you all say different things? But… I can’t control it. Feels like my whole brain is full of iris pheromones…”

Like his entire being was being consumed by that scent.

“I can’t calm down… This is too weird.”

“Tong-ge, it hurts so much… Can you at least tell me—if this keeps going, what’s gonna happen to me?”

His breathing was labored.

“At least… give me a mental preparation.”

【Exploding is just a figure of speech.】
【Your glands will be damaged. Your over-accumulated pheromones will take over your brain, stripping away your rationality. You’ll become a mindless beast until you burn through all your energy. According to the data… that level of exhaustion will permanently damage your genes.】

By the time he regained his senses, he’d probably be ruined.

Ji Laili let out a slow breath.

“Damn… I really thought this was gonna defy science and actually blow up…”

If that were the case, wouldn’t the people outside be in even more danger?

The system froze for a moment.
Its data lines sparked violently.
For the first time, this AI understood what it meant to feel panic—and rage.

【Host! You shouldn’t be thinking about that!】

The system desperately wanted to force a hard reset,
To wipe Ji Laili’s chaotic thoughts clean.

That might at least relieve his suffering.

But a human body wasn’t digital data.
No matter how desperate it was,
It could only keep searching for a solution.

“…Thanks, Tong-ge.”

Ji Laili tightened his grip on the nasal spray.
His eyes were still open, fighting to stay awake.

“I’m not giving up that easily.
This is nothing—I’ll hold on… Hah… hah…
Someone’s still waiting for me.”

Shen Yu was still outside, watching over him.
That little butterfly was definitely worried,
Trying to find a way to help.

How could he drag him down?
He had to endure.

Ji Laili clenched the spray bottle tightly.
Inside him, chaotic energy raged like a storm.

His mind was steady,
But his Alpha genes were growing impatient—
Frustrated.

Like an overfilled balloon,
With more and more air being forced inside,
The pressure growing unbearable,
Searching desperately for a way to burst free.

Pain lanced through his nape.
He dared not relax,
But suddenly—

A faint scent of iris brushed past him.

He shook his head, damp curls swaying.

That ice-cold, cloying sweetness still lingered at the tip of his nose—
Growing stronger.

Inside him, his raging pheromones reacted instantly—
Like a dog catching the scent of a meaty bone,
Pouncing forward, desperate to claim it.

Ji Laili wiped the sweat from his face,
His lips pale from pain.

Confused, he cracked his eyes open.

“…Why can I still smell it?”

“There’s no pheromone release… It can’t be bad enough for me to start hallucinating, right?”

【Host! It’s not a hallucination!】

【Shen Yu is here! Hold on—he must have found a way!】

The little butterfly is here…

Ji Laili forced himself to lift his head.

Before he could even make out the figure—
A dense, overwhelming scent of iris wrapped around him.

A pair of arms pulled him into an embrace.
A faint chill spread from the nape of his neck.

“…Shen Yu.”

Ji Laili’s eyelashes trembled.
His lips curved slightly.

“Lailai.”

Shen Yu held him tighter.

“You’re going to be okay.”

Ji Laili’s sweat-drenched face broke into an exhausted smile.

His tone was lighthearted.

“Shen-xuezhang is here… So of course I’ll be fine.”

“In a bit—let’s walk out of here together.”

He loosened his grip on his hand slightly before letting it fall, then reached out and held Ji Laili’s hand. “Alright.”

Shen Yu said, “We will go out together. But before that, feel my scent, Laili. For me, try a little harder—try to release your pheromones.”

“I’m right in front of you.”

The scent of irises grew stronger, filling the air, so overwhelming that it made him want to sniff involuntarily. Ji Laili, in a daze, wondered—was he hallucinating?

The little butterfly had really come. That must be why he could smell this scent.

“Laili.” His hand was grasped tightly, trembling slightly. “Try… try to feel me.”

“Don’t give up. Don’t leave me behind…”

The spray bottle he had been clutching slipped from his fingers, falling to the ground with a soft thud. His trembling hand was turned over and held firmly—weak, yet resolute.

“Alright.”

Ji Laili saw the faint red at the corner of his eyes. Without saying more, he focused all his attention on sensing the pheromones wrapped around him.

It was strange—he had never been particularly sensitive to scents.

But now that he truly tried to feel it, his body seemed to have already accepted it, memorized this scent.

Shen Yu’s voice, tense and trembling, sounded again:

“Laili, I’m right here.”

“If you want, you can claim it—you can claim me.”

Ji Laili panted, the back of his neck aching.

“It’s effortless.”

“Laili, I am yours.”

Yes, the little butterfly… was his. He was the one who found him first, the one who painstakingly guided Senior Shen back onto the right path.

Shen Yu’s care, Shen Yu’s affection—everything about Shen Yu belonged to him alone. He didn’t even need to think about it; it was as if this person had already been marked by him.

In this unfamiliar world, the only thing he truly wanted—was Shen Yu.

Ji Laili held onto those trembling hands and leaned in, pressing a kiss to the corner of Shen Yu’s lips.

The pheromones that had been suppressed for so long surged out in full force, overwhelming and fervent, flooding the entire treatment room. Outside, the people who caught a whiff of it turned pale, and alarm sirens blared incessantly.

Yet, the aggressive scent of alcohol merely brushed past the Alpha lightly, wrapping around his fingers.