Zhou Yi wrapped himself tightly in the quilt and spoke in a low voice, his words barely audible, “You… why are you calling now? He’s still at home!”

Liang Xianzhang smiled on the other side of the screen, his gaze fixed on Zhou Yi, who was hiding cautiously in the quilt, looking like a teenager trying to sneakily use his phone without his parents knowing. Despite Zhou Yi’s flustered expression, Liang Xianzhang found it endearing.

When Zhou Yi heard him calling her name, his hands trembled, almost dropping the phone. His face turned red, but fortunately, the dim lighting and the quilt covered most of it. He stammered, “You… don’t call me that… and, I’m not thinking about you…”

His words only made Liang Xianzhang smile even more. His voice softened, and he replied in a teasing tone, “That’s because I miss you.”

The way he said it, deliberately stretching his words and making them sound like a sweet whisper, was enough to make anyone melt.

Zhou Yi pursed his lips, not daring to meet his gaze. Despite the excitement stirring in his heart, he managed to say, “I’m going to hang up. You should sleep.”

“I can’t sleep without Xiaoyi by my side,” Liang Xianzhang responded, the corners of his mouth curling up, his gaze never leaving the screen. His eyelashes cast a shadow under his eyes, adding to the allure of his look.

Zhou Yi could feel the intensity of his gaze through the screen. It wasn’t just his eyes; it felt like the heat of Liang Xianzhang’s presence was seeping through. He didn’t know if it was the quilt or the heating in the room, but a warmth started spreading through his body.

Uncomfortable, Zhou Yi lifted a corner of the quilt, trying to cool himself down, but remained silent.

Liang Xianzhang paid no mind to his silence and continued, “Xiaoyi, you can’t sleep either, right? If you were here with me, I’d hold you tightly and coax you to sleep.”

His voice was slow and deliberate, almost like he was replaying the scene in his mind. Zhou Yi, already feeling lonely, couldn’t stop the tremor in his heart. His instinct was to cover the phone with his hand, as if trying to muffle the impact of those words. He spoke in a soft, urgent tone, “Don’t say anymore…”

When the screen went dark from Zhou Yi’s hand blocking it, Liang Xianzhang’s voice trailed off. The silence between them grew, filled only by the sound of their breathing.

Liang Xianzhang’s gaze shifted to the paused surveillance footage on his laptop. It was the moment he had captured earlier, when Zhou Yi had approached with the necklace. From the angle, every detail of Zhou Yi’s expression was clear. The way his long, thick eyelashes framed his eyes, how his pupils sparkled in the dim light—it was all so beautiful. But there was also a sense of sadness and loneliness in Zhou Yi’s gaze, hidden under a thick layer of emotion.

Liang Xianzhang couldn’t stand seeing him like this. He had been trying to be patient, but the urge to be with Zhou Yi was unbearable. He had almost crossed the line a few days ago, but this time, he couldn’t hold back anymore.

With a deep breath, he returned his attention to the screen, watching Zhou Yi’s hand drop from the camera and his face half hidden beneath the quilt. “Do you want to see me, Xiaoyi?” Liang Xianzhang asked, his voice full of temptation.

Zhou Yi, staring at him, was caught in a moment of weakness. Even though he had told himself a hundred times not to give in to Liang Xianzhang’s words and actions, he couldn’t stop himself from sinking in that moment. He lowered his head, his voice barely a whisper, “Hmm.”

Liang Xianzhang’s eyes deepened, and his breath quickened. He closed his eyes momentarily before opening them again, struggling to maintain his composure. “I want to see you too. I’m going crazy.”

The next morning, Zhou Yi woke up early. After getting dressed and washing up, he grabbed his phone and prepared to go out for breakfast. He had fallen asleep quickly after talking to Liang Xianzhang the night before. Though it had only been four or five hours of sleep, it had been deep and restful, leaving him feeling surprisingly energetic.

After putting on his shoes, Zhou Yi stood at the door, glancing across the hallway. He couldn’t help wondering how Liang Xianzhang had slept. Did he sleep as soundly as Zhou Yi had? Lost in thought, Zhou Yi entered the elevator, heading downstairs to grab breakfast.

He quickly bought something from downstairs and was returning to the building when, just as the elevator doors were about to close, a hand reached out and stopped it. Zhou Yi instinctively pressed the door-open button, and the elevator doors slid open.

A familiar scent filled the air. When Zhou Yi saw who it was, he froze for a moment, swallowing hard, his heart racing. Liang Xianzhang stood there, his calm demeanor making Zhou Yi’s anxiety grow.

Liang Xianzhang simply said, “Thank you,” as he stepped in and waited for the elevator doors to close.

Zhou Yi couldn’t help but feel a subtle contradiction. He was relieved that Liang Xianzhang kept his distance, but at the same time, that very distance made him feel lost.

The elevator started its ascent, and Liang Xianzhang spoke, “Did you sleep well last night?”

Zhou Yi came back to his senses and nodded. “Pretty well…”

Liang Xianzhang shifted closer, his voice suddenly low and intimate, “Then why do you look so bad?”

Zhou Yi’s heart raced as Liang Xianzhang’s face neared his. Feeling a rush of tension, he instinctively took a few steps back. But Liang Xianzhang followed him, trapping him between the elevator wall and himself.

Zhou Yi’s heart skipped a beat, and he was about to speak when, in an instant, Liang Xianzhang pinned him against the wall, pressing his knee into his thigh. Zhou Yi’s words caught in his throat, unable to keep up with the sudden intensity. Their lips met in a fierce kiss that left him breathless.

The elevator’s confined space, combined with the overwhelming scent of Alpha pheromones, made Zhou Yi dizzy. He couldn’t forget that they were in a public space, and the possibility of someone entering at any moment made him anxious.

He pushed weakly against Liang Xianzhang’s chest. “This is… in the elevator… and there are cameras… we’ll be caught… don’t…”

Liang Xianzhang’s lips parted for a moment before he lifted Zhou Yi effortlessly, holding him against him. With his tall frame, Liang Xianzhang shielded Zhou Yi from the camera’s view. His voice was a low murmur in Zhou Yi’s ear, “This way, you don’t have to worry about being filmed…”

Zhou Yi, stunned and unable to escape, lowered his head to bury it in Liang Xianzhang’s chest.

Liang Xianzhang’s eyes sparkled as he kissed Zhou Yi’s earlobe, his voice a soft, teasing whisper. “Xiaoyi, lift your face so I can kiss you. I’ll be gentler this time.”

Zhou Yi, his lips still tingling from the previous kiss, refused to comply, keeping his head hidden.

Liang Xianzhang smiled, trailing his lips along Zhou Yi’s neck. “Why can’t I smell your pheromones?”

Zhou Yi hesitated before answering softly, “I’m wearing a suppression patch. His estrus period is coming soon, and the house is full of his scent. I’m afraid it’ll affect me.”

At his words, Liang Xianzhang tightened his grip around Zhou Yi’s waist, his voice low with possessiveness. “Who smells better, his pheromones or mine?”

Zhou Yi’s heart pounded as he felt the pressure of his grip. Looking at his expression, Zhou Yi bit his lip. “You… yours…”