Chapter 26

“Lin Si,” Lu Wei called his name.

“Don’t come near me,” Lin Si’s voice trembled as he stopped Lu Wei. “Don’t call my name… Can you go back to your room?”

Lu Wei turned around and walked away.

But less than ten seconds later, he reappeared, standing at a distance neither too close nor too far. He asked, “Do you need a suppressant?”

Hearing the word “suppressant,” Lin Si looked up, his gaze burning as he stared at Lu Wei and the hand extended toward him.

After a long moment, Lin Si nodded, slow and stiff like a rusty, stuck robot.

Lu Wei bent his knees, placing the suppressant on the floor. With a gentle push, he slid it over to Lin Si.

Lin Si reached out to grab it, but his legs gave out, and he almost collapsed to the floor. His fingers fumbled around the suppressant, his rounded nails pressing against the opening.

Nearly ten seconds passed, and he still hadn’t managed to tear it open.

“I… I can’t…” Lin Si’s shoulders and legs trembled instinctively, his tear-filled eyes glistening.

Finally, he let go, leaving the suppressant lying in his palm.

He couldn’t bring himself to inject it.

Suddenly, the scent of pheromones enveloped him, gentle as the warm breath of a lover in an intimate moment.

Lu Wei knelt before him, meeting his gaze.

Lin Si felt heat spreading throughout his entire body. The burning sensation at the back of his neck reached its peak, radiating outward, even making his throat dry and parched.

Lu Wei took the suppressant packet from Lin Si’s palm, tore it open carefully, and pulled out the syringe. “I’ll do it.”

A tear fell onto the floor, then another, and another… Lin Si pushed away the hand Lu Wei held the syringe with, retreating in fear, yet unable to stop himself from collapsing forward.

Lu Wei caught him by the back, preventing him from falling to the ground. Instead, Lin Si ended up leaning against Lu Wei’s shoulder.

He could hear Lin Si’s labored breathing close to his ear, along with his almost pleading words: “Don’t give me the injection…”

Lu Wei adjusted his position, letting Lin Si lean against him, his chin resting on Lu Wei’s shoulder.

Their skin exchanged warmth, and Lin Si’s body heat spread across Lu Wei’s shoulder. With sobs racking his body, Lin Si feebly pushed at him.

Lu Wei lowered his gaze, feeling the soft touch of Lin Si’s hand on his chest.

His hand was unbearably delicate, the knuckles faintly pink, curling in on itself uselessly before weakly pressing forward again.

Lu Wei removed the cap from the suppressant with one hand, lifted Lin Si’s wrist, and said softly, “Don’t move.”

Realizing what Lu Wei intended, Lin Si cried harder against his shoulder. He couldn’t make much noise, but he refused to let Lu Wei grip his wrist, struggling and pleading, “No, don’t.”

Lu Wei had always gone to the hospital for his injections and wasn’t used to administering a suppressant himself. With Lin Si constantly moving and crying so pitifully on his shoulder, it was impossible to get it right.

Even with Lu Wei’s hardened personality, seeing Lin Si in such a fragile state, crying like a child, made it difficult for him to remain indifferent.

“Lin Si, it’ll be quick. It won’t hurt,” he said, gripping Lin Si’s elbow firmly. His gaze darkened as he noticed the flush of desire coloring Lin Si’s skin. Lowering his voice, he added, “If you don’t take the suppressant, I’ll have no choice but to temporarily mark you.”

Lin Si’s resistance seemed to come from the depths of his soul. His strength surged as he shoved Lu Wei away with all his might, crying and struggling.

Lu Wei sighed and backed off slightly to match Lin Si’s movements, giving him some space. “I was joking. I won’t mark you,” he said gently.

Lin Si stilled for a moment, and Lu Wei repositioned himself. This time, he pulled Lin Si fully into his arms, ensuring he couldn’t see either him or the syringe in his hand.

He pressed one hand against the back of Lin Si’s head. But his inexperience showed—his first attempt resembled a slap, causing Lin Si to hiccup in a pitiful sob of grievance.

Lu Wei curled his fingers and softened his touch, gently stroking Lin Si’s head a few times in an attempt to comfort him. Meanwhile, his other hand lightly secured Lin Si’s wrist.

Lu Wei spoke casually, as if indifferent: “Why are you coming home at this hour?”

“Work in Beicheng?”

“Is the filming finished?”

Lin Si didn’t respond but didn’t act out anymore either.

Lu Wei lowered the hand resting on the back of Lin Si’s head, discreetly picking up the syringe from the floor. He continued asking, “Have you finished reading Director Ye’s script?”

As his words fell, Lu Wei found the right spot and gently pressed the needle in. The silver tip slid into the soft pink skin without much resistance.

He tightened his arm around Lin Si and, as Lin Si flinched at the slight pain, Lu Wei said calmly, “If you don’t get the role after the audition, I’ll pull some strings and arrange a better supporting character for you.”

At the same time, Lin Si cried out against his shoulder, “You’re lying!”

The suppressant was fully injected, and Lu Wei slowly withdrew the needle, letting out a long sigh of relief.

His shoulder was already damp, tears trailing down his muscles and pooling near his shoulder blades. Meanwhile, the “tear machine” clinging to his shoulder trembled as he wailed, repeatedly accusing him of being a liar.

Lu Wei, who had initially intended to push Lin Si away, hesitated and let his hand drop to his side. He didn’t say a word, uncharacteristically generous as he lent Lin Si his shoulder, waiting patiently for him to calm down on his own.

After about three minutes, Lin Si gradually stopped crying, lying limply against Lu Wei’s shoulder, sniffling groggily.

“Feeling better?” Lu Wei asked. His voice no longer carried the coaxing warmth from earlier, reverting to its usual aloof tone.

Lin Si didn’t respond.

Lu Wei reached out and lightly touched the back of his neck. “Does it feel better here?”

Lin Si nodded slightly.

Satisfied, Lu Wei released his arm, picked up the discarded suppressant packaging from the floor, and tossed it into the trash. He stepped back a couple of paces, putting some distance between himself and Lin Si.

Finally, he got a clear look at Lin Si.

Perhaps because he hadn’t removed his makeup earlier, his face was smudged from crying. A large tear still clung under his eye, combining with the redness of his nose, lips, and ears. Together, it made him look like a ruined rose garden—fragile and pitiful.

Lin Si’s shoulders still trembled slightly with aftershocks of his sobs. Lu Wei pointed at the sofa and said, “Go sit over there.”

Once Lin Si was settled, Lu Wei made a call to Xiaoshan Hospital. After being connected to Li Jicheng, he explained the situation and asked if Lin Si’s estrus had arrived and how long the suppressant’s effects would last.

“That’s impossible,” Li Jicheng said firmly. “He’s been using suppressants for years. There’s no way skipping for less than a month would push him into estrus. The most likely scenario is pseudo-estrus. He’ll feel feverish and crave your pheromones, but there won’t be any… physical desire.”

Lu Wei glanced at himself, still shirtless. He recalled the scene from earlier: Lin Si clinging to him but not trying to touch his bare chest or acting out of control. He’d only cried—pure, innocent, and restrained.

“What should I do in this situation?” Lu Wei asked. “Does he need to go to the hospital?”

“No, the suppressant you mentioned is the most effective one available at the hospital,” Li Jicheng said after a pause. “Was that for you?”

Lu Wei, accustomed to waiting for answers rather than providing them, didn’t respond.

Li Jicheng continued on his own. “Actually, a temporary mark from you would’ve worked just as well. You didn’t have to use the suppressant—it’s too strong and undermines the natural balance. But, you did stop using suppressants yourself, right? So he must’ve picked up on your pheromone scent?”

Lu Wei remained silent, recalling the faint moment when Lin Si had trembled against him. Indeed, he hadn’t been repelled by Lu Wei’s pheromones—only overwhelmed by them.

“Without pheromones,” Lu Wei said calmly. “Living together for any length of time would be pointless.”

“It wouldn’t be entirely pointless—just slower,” Li Jicheng replied. “Pseudo-estrus isn’t common nowadays, but as the side effects of Lin Si’s suppressants gradually wear off, he’ll likely rely on you more. Don’t inject him with suppressants again.” He sighed. “Has he been crying again?”

“Mm.”

Li Jicheng chuckled lightly. “If you two can live together, do so. Avoid living apart; it’ll make temporary marking more convenient.”

“He won’t let me temporarily mark him,” Lu Wei said plainly.

The laughter on the other end of the call was sudden and unrestrained, catching Lu Wei off guard as it reached his ears.

The quietness that followed made Li Jicheng quickly suppress his amusement, and he replied in a mock-thoughtful tone, “I’ll call Liao Ji later and have him pick up some low-efficiency suppressants from the hospital, just in case. I’ll also talk to him about convincing Lin Si that temporary marking is a medical necessity.”

Once the matter was resolved, Lu Wei ended the call decisively and turned his gaze toward Lin Si, who was sitting on the sofa.

Lin Si had his head lowered, his hands fidgeting nervously on his lap. He was still dazed, as though he hadn’t fully processed what had just happened, looking like a lost and fragile child.

Lu Wei’s phone rang, and he answered with his usual efficiency. “Postpone the meeting by ten minutes. I’ll be downstairs in three.”

After hanging up, he turned and walked into his room. While tucking his shirt into his suit pants, a soft knock came from the door.

“What is it?” Lu Wei glanced over his shoulder and saw Lin Si standing there. He picked up the watch from the coffee table, the cool strap brushing against his wrist as he fastened it.

“I…” Lin Si hesitated, unable to organize his thoughts. His mind was a chaotic mess, fragments scattered everywhere. He lowered his head and, after a long pause, whispered to Lu Wei, “Thank you.”

Lu Wei didn’t pause his movements. He put on his suit jacket, tilted his chin slightly, tied his tie neatly, and replied indifferently, “No need.”

He rummaged through his briefcase twice to confirm everything was in place before zipping it up. Then, he walked toward the door.

Lin Si stood by the doorway, his face still smudged, his eyes still red. However, his expression had calmed significantly.

“What is it?” Lu Wei asked.

“Your… hair is still wet,” Lin Si said softly, lifting his left hand as if to point it out. “And your tie… it’s a bit crooked. Adjust it to your right.”

“Got it.”

Lu Wei tugged his tie into place, then politely sidestepped Lin Si as he walked past. He avoided touching him but slowed his pace slightly. As he walked, he said, “Duan Yang will send you my phone number. Call me if anything comes up.”

With that, he left quickly, leaving Lin Si with only the sight of his retreating back.

For the first time, Lin Si had seen Lu Wei looking slightly disheveled—and it was all because of him.

His shoulders slumped as he wiped his cheek with the back of his hand.

The heat in his body had subsided, as if the earlier turmoil had never occurred. He hadn’t lost control in front of Lu Wei, hadn’t pressed his chin against his shoulder, nor had his hand brushed against the warmth of Lu Wei’s chest.

Feeling utterly lost, Lin Si absentmindedly closed the door behind Lu Wei and turned toward the bathroom.

The room still held remnants of Lu Wei’s shower—faint steam and lingering warmth. Lin Si caught a trace of Lu Wei’s pheromones in the air and instinctively sniffed.

He couldn’t identify the scent. It was almost as if it had no fragrance, as if it were air itself—yet distinct, standing apart from the mundane. It was clear, like a mountain spring cutting through the haze of chaos.

Lin Si removed the makeup from his face and looked down at the small red dot on his arm.

He thought to himself, The needle really hurt when it went in, and Lu Wei didn’t even press on it to stop the bleeding afterward. At least his hands were probably clean since he just showered.

Based on his own experience, Lin Si figured the spot where Lu Wei injected him would soon swell, turn blue, and feel sore.

Why would he choose my right arm? Lin Si complained internally. It’s so inconvenient for daily life.

He splashed a handful of water on his face, trying to clear his head, and returned to his room, determined not to let Lu Wei’s actions affect him. He buried his head in his wardrobe, rummaging for clothes.

Pulling out a pair of pants, he noticed a loose thread dangling from one leg. It was quite long, so he grabbed a pair of scissors from the basket on the coffee table to cut it off, giving the pants a quick shake afterward.

As he reached his door, a small white object fell out of the pants pocket.

His phone buzzed in his pocket—it was Liao Ji, likely urging him to leave. Lin Si quickly packed his belongings and headed out. As he passed through the living room, he glanced at the trash can and saw the empty suppressor syringe lying inside.

A wave of embarrassment hit him. He shut his eyes, steeling himself, and walked out the door—completely missing the white slip of paper on the floor.

At the elevator, he ran into Liao Ji, who came rushing toward him.

“Li Jicheng just called me! He said something about you going into a false heat?!” Liao Ji grabbed his face and then his arm, turning him this way and that way as he inspected him. “And he said Lu Wei gave you a suppressant. Are you okay? Did anything happen?”

Lin Si, still a bit dazed, was getting dizzy from being spun around. He quickly steadied Liao Ji and reassured him, “I’m fine now. It’s all over.”

“Did it work that fast?” Liao Ji asked in surprise. “Must be a really high-quality suppressor.”

Lin Si pressed the elevator button, turned his back to Liao Ji, and lowered his head, muttering, “Let’s not talk about it. It’s so embarrassing.”

Liao Ji finally stopped his chatter, falling silent for a while. When they got into the car, he patted Lin Si’s head and said, “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Omegas have heat cycles, Alphas have susceptibility phases—it’s just normal human biology.”

“But Lu Wei saw everything,” Lin Si mumbled, his face heating up. “And he… hugged me without wearing a shirt.”

Liao Ji’s eyes widened. “He took off his clothes in front of you?!”

“It wasn’t like that. When I got home, he had just finished showering…” Lin Si mumbled. “He probably didn’t want to hug me, maybe I wanted him to hug me, so he had to… No, wait, I don’t think I wanted him to hug me either… Argh, I don’t know. I couldn’t think straight at the time, and now I can’t even remember clearly…”

He rambled incoherently, like someone frantically searching for lost keys, his words tripping over each other.

“Alright, alright, enough,” Liao Ji sighed, handing him a throw pillow. “It’s a long ride. Just rest for a bit. Take a nap, and you’ll forget about it when you wake up.”

Lin Si hugged the pillow and rested it on his knees. As he fumbled with his phone in his pocket, he felt the smooth glass back. Pressing it firmly, he pulled it out and glanced at the screen. An hour ago, there was a message from “Y”: [Good morning.]

Lin Si replied simply: [Mm.]

After typing, he flipped the phone face down and closed his eyes, but the faint sting on his arm kept reminding him of what had happened with Lu Wei.

Half-asleep, he remembered Lu Wei whispering in his ear, “If you don’t pass the audition, I’ll pull some strings to get you a supporting role with a better character arc.”

Drifting off, Lin Si fell asleep.

The car made a brief stop at Xiaoshan Hospital, where Liao Ji got out to collect a supply of suppressants. When he returned, a gust of cold air followed him into the car.

Half-awake, Lin Si asked, “Are we there yet?”

“No, it’s only been an hour.” Liao Ji adjusted the blanket over him. “We’re just getting started.”

Lin Si murmured a soft “Mm,” turned over, and settled into a more comfortable position. His phone slipped from his side, and he instinctively reached for it, squinting at the screen.

Eleven minutes earlier, “Y” had sent another message: [What’s wrong?]

Scrolling up, Lin Si realized his earlier reply to “Y’s” good morning lacked his usual enthusiasm, which must have tipped “Y” off. In the text box, he typed: [Nothing.]

But after some hesitation, he backspaced and replaced it with: [I embarrassed myself today. Feeling a bit down.]

“Y” responded almost immediately, with the same concern: [What happened?]

Pulling the blanket up to his chin, Lin Si hugged his phone and replied: [I made a fool of myself in front of my boss.]

Then he added: [We don’t really get along, probably dislike each other a lot. And today, I was so embarrassed—like, really embarrassed—and in the end, I had to rely on him to fix things.]

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Author’s Note: The secret’s about to be revealed!

Also, I’ll be posting a cliffhanger tomorrow, so updates will be slightly delayed. Apologies for the wait! Bang bang bang (kowtows). I promise to update two chapters in a row afterward, no less!

T/n: Finally we got some action Not That Kind even though our Si baby was crying so hard 😏😂 Stay tuned guys our Lu Wei is really getting suspicious. We are a few chapters away from big reveal Yay!!🥳🎉 If you want to support me you can buy me a Ko-Fi or go to my paypal page. Happy Reading 🤩❤️!!