After Meng Rongze and his companions completely disappeared from view, Liang Xianzhang loosened his hold a little, turned to face Zhou Yi, and asked, “Are you okay?”

Now that the immediate danger had passed, Zhou Yi’s tense nerves—fearful of being discovered by Meng Rongze—finally relaxed.

Hearing the question from the person who had just helped him escape, Zhou Yi instinctively lifted his gaze to meet his face.

For a moment, Zhou Yi was stunned. The words of thanks he had intended to say became, instead, “It’s you…”

He hadn’t expected to encounter the same person who had lent him a lighter in the hospital’s smoking area that day. In fact, this man had helped him twice now.

Zhou Yi’s gratitude was sincere as he managed to say, “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Are you in any trouble?”

Liang Xianzhang’s concern seemed genuine, but Zhou Yi shook his head and looked away, muttering vaguely, “No trouble…”

Seeing Zhou Yi’s reluctance to talk further, Liang Xianzhang chose not to press the issue.

Zhou Yi, though, was already thinking of leaving. His mind was preoccupied with whether he would be discovered by Meng Rongze.

Now that the danger had passed, he felt a wave of dizziness. The glands at the back of his neck began to swell and ache, and the spot where Liang Xianzhang had touched him burned, even through the fabric of his clothes.

Instinctively, Zhou Yi pushed him away, breaking free from his arms and stepping back a couple of paces.

Liang Xianzhang, seeing the sudden distance, calmly lowered his hands.

Zhou Yi felt a bit embarrassed, his actions perhaps coming off as callous, but the surge of heat in his body made him care little for appearances. Staying near Liang Xianzhang would certainly draw attention to the strange condition of his body.

Leaning against the wall, Zhou Yi said, “It’s getting late. Thanks again for today. I… I’ll go…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence. The suppressed pheromones inside him erupted suddenly, like a torrential downpour, and the blood coursing through his veins burned like magma.

His legs gave way, shaking uncontrollably, and just as he was about to collapse, Liang Xianzhang caught him.

Struggling to breathe, Zhou Yi collapsed in his arms, tearing off his mask to inhale deeply.

The situation was even worse than that day when he was alone in his room.

One glance at his body’s condition made it clear—his heat couldn’t be concealed any longer.

Zhou Yi stared up at Liang Xianzhang’s face, breath ragged.

Liang Xianzhang had sensed something was off with Zhou Yi from the start. At first, the faint minty scent seemed like it could just be from his cologne or shower gel, but now, with Zhou Yi’s face twisted in discomfort and the overpowering scent of mint filling the air, Liang Xianzhang realized what was happening.

The man in his arms was in heat.

Though he had encountered Omega pheromones before, Liang Xianzhang, diagnosed with congenital gland atrophy, had never been affected. His own pheromones were nearly nonexistent, weak to the point of blandness. He couldn’t even sense the pheromones released by others until now. The sudden rush of scent was affecting him in a way he had never experienced before.

The glands that had always remained dormant began to stir, and even his body felt restless.

Zhou Yi, breath ragged, reached up to grab Liang Xianzhang’s collar, desperate and barely able to contain himself. His words came out broken, “Are you… Alpha?”

“Yes…” Liang Xianzhang replied hoarsely.

Close as they were, they could both hear the sound of each other’s breathing. Every part of Zhou Yi’s body that touched Liang Xianzhang was burning.

Zhou Yi, feeling dizzy, licked his dry lips, his body flooded with hunger. His mind, increasingly clouded by desire, drove him to extend a desperate invitation, “Since you’re an Alpha, can you… do it with me?”

Even in this desperate state, his words were still tinged with politeness.

Liang Xianzhang’s pupils constricted as he stared at Zhou Yi’s pink tongue licking his lips, contrasting sharply with his own pale skin.

The Omega’s invitation hung in the air, and for a moment, Liang Xianzhang remained motionless. Zhou Yi, feeling feverish and overwhelmed, leaned up and kissed him, breathless. “Please, just once… I really can’t stand it…”

The kiss, infused with mint, was impossible to resist.

Had Liang Xianzhang been a different Alpha, one unburdened by his condition, he might have marked the Omega on the spot. But as it was, he couldn’t give in to the overwhelming surge of desire. The pheromones around them only heightened the tension in the air.

Realizing the struggle within him, Liang Xianzhang no longer hesitated. He picked up Zhou Yi and quickly walked out.

At the bar entrance, the man in a suit who had been rejected by Zhou Yi was waiting for his car, clearly seething with anger. His night had been ruined by the Omega, and he had lost face in front of the bar’s patrons.

He took a couple of frustrated puffs from his cigarette when his attention was caught by a Black Badge car pulling up in front of the bar. The luxury of the vehicle, especially its license plate, was impossible to ignore.

Frustrated, the man’s irritation grew as he noticed the intense mint scent in the air. The pheromones were unmistakable, drawing his attention to the Alpha walking toward the car, holding an Omega in his arms.

Realizing the Omega’s scent came from the person in the Alpha’s arms, the man in the suit took out his phone and began recording a video, zooming in on their faces. His actions, however, caught the attention of the Alpha, who briefly turned his head and glared at him with cold eyes.

The man in the suit froze, his heart racing as he quickly put his phone away. Once the car disappeared from view, he let out a sigh of relief but couldn’t shake the feeling of being humiliated.

Back at the apartment, Liang Xianzhang carried Zhou Yi up to his door, but just as they entered, Zhou Yi, overwhelmed, collapsed in his arms.

In the car, Zhou Yi’s pheromones had filled the space, creating an intense atmosphere. Liang Xianzhang, barely holding onto his composure, had tried to suppress his rising urges. The impact of the pheromones was too great to ignore, and by the time they arrived, he couldn’t hold back.

As they entered the apartment, Zhou Yi’s body trembled uncontrollably, his desire and frustration building. He clung to Liang Xianzhang, desperate for relief, his words soft pleas in the midst of his growing agony.

Liang Xianzhang, struggling with his own need to remain composed, could only hold Zhou Yi close, hoping his pheromones could offer some temporary comfort.

Zhou Yi, though overwhelmed and on the verge of breaking, continued to seek relief, rubbing against Liang Xianzhang, the actions foreign to him but driven by instinct.

And in the midst of it all, Zhou Yi, exhausted, collapsed against Liang Xianzhang, the sensation of warmth and comfort slowly washing over him.