After Jiang Qifeng had him taken to a top-tier hospital partnered with the Jiang family, Chu Tao was led through various lab tests and examinations.

Ordinarily, for a mild cold or fever, patients would just see an on-duty doctor for a quick look and maybe receive an IV drip—or, if the fever wasn’t above 39°C, a simple fever-reducing medicine would suffice.

But Chu Tao understood that Jiang Qifeng was putting on a bit of a show to make an impression on Jiang She, showing how much he cared.

Chu Tao felt a mix of emotions, almost amused. He had never thought he’d serve as a sort of tool in this way, but when he considered that Jiang Qifeng’s actions were all in the hope of mending his relationship with Jiang She, it actually warmed his heart a little.

After all, who wouldn’t want more people to care about them?

As strong as Jiang She was, he was still a minor. He might not be heartbroken over things like this, but there would still be a small sense of regret.

But Chu Tao didn’t have the energy to think deeply about it.

His throat was dry from the fever, and he wished he could breathe in cold air to cool himself down.

While waiting in line for his test results, he pressed the back of his hand against his face.

His skin felt dry and smooth, with no sweat or oil.

Jiang Qifeng, busy with work, had instructed the driver to stay with Chu Tao for his checkups before leaving the hospital himself.

Chu Tao wanted to decline, but he didn’t have the energy and didn’t feel like saying another word.

The driver was attentive, even bringing him a cup of warm water.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Chu Tao took the water and sipped a few mouthfuls. Even though he wasn’t thirsty, he knew that staying hydrated would help him recover faster.

The driver, who was in his forties and had a child around Chu Tao’s age, sympathized seeing how unwell he was. He couldn’t help but ask, “Your eyes are so red—you seem worse than just a fever.”

Chu Tao lifted his gaze, his eyes misted over slightly, a result of his body’s reaction to the discomfort.

Lightly holding the paper cup, he replied weakly, “Maybe the fever’s back. I’m not sure.”

Even speaking that one sentence left him feeling exhausted.

The driver, concerned, hesitated before suggesting, “Shall I call your parents to come check on you?”

Chu Tao slowly shook his head.

The corridor lights were a soft, sterile white, with sunlight streaming in from a window at the end of the hallway near the emergency exit.

He pressed his face against the cool, ivory-colored wall, letting the chill soothe some of the heat in his body.

Finally, it was his turn for the tests. He had his blood drawn and an information sample taken with test strips.

Thanks to Jiang Qifeng’s influence, he was assigned a private hospital room to rest and wait for the results.

The driver helped him to the room, where Chu Tao lay down on the bed, unable to suppress a small, involuntary groan.

He startled himself with the sound.

The room carried a faint antiseptic smell. The bed was clean and dry, and the walls were painted a warm yellow, giving a comforting, non-threatening atmosphere.

He closed his eyes, resting his dizzy head on the pillow, worried he’d drift off but at the same time hoping he would.

In his hazy state, fragmented scenes flitted through his mind.

He dreamed of Jiang She lifting his chin, gazing at him with a look of delight, breathing a soft kiss onto his lips, then lingering there, filled with an intense, unyielding passion.

Then, he saw them together under the big willow tree, branches swaying, shrouded by the night, embracing each other as if they wanted to merge into one.

There was also that rainy night, the air cold and biting. Jiang She held an umbrella, standing tall beside him, blocking the streetlamp and the rain. Looking up, Chu Tao saw only a tall figure smelling of fresh rain.

He unconsciously snuggled against the blanket, turned over, buried his face in the pillow, his fingers weakly clutching the pillowcase.

“Chu Tao, right? The results are out!”

A bright, short call snapped him completely out of his dream.

Chu Tao forced his eyes open, feeling a sore, gritty pain in them.

“Doctor.”

He had no idea how long he’d been asleep. The doctor who arrived looked older, not the one from the outpatient clinic.

The doctor glanced at the driver and politely asked, “Are you his family?”

The driver quickly shook his head. “No, I just brought him here.”

The doctor, thoughtful, turned to Chu Tao. “Has your family arrived?”

The driver, nervous, asked, “Is it something serious?”

For a minor fever, they wouldn’t usually call the family—unless it was a more serious condition that couldn’t be quickly treated. Various bad thoughts flashed through his mind.

The doctor shook her head. “No, but there are some private matters that aren’t appropriate to discuss with outsiders.”

Chu Tao forced himself to sit up, leaning his back against the soft pillow. His neck felt uncomfortable, but the slight discomfort kept him alert.

“You can just tell me.”

The doctor looked over his chart; in a few months, he’d be seventeen—not a kid anymore.

She gestured for the driver to step out and closed the hospital room door behind him.

“It’s a good thing we ran some tests. This isn’t just a simple case of fever; the test results show that you’re in a special susceptibility period.”

Chu Tao looked at her in confusion, not understanding what she meant.

The doctor explained simply, “We tested your pheromones, and they’re currently in a state of acceptance sensitivity. This means your pheromones have adapted to accept someone else’s—someone who’s an alpha.”

Chu Tao’s eyes showed less confusion, but he pressed his lips together awkwardly.

The doctor continued, “This situation is extremely rare. As we know, alpha pheromones are usually mutually exclusive. Even if an alpha bites another alpha’s gland, the body’s rejection reaction would cause the gland to swell. But your body is actually accepting it.”

Chu Tao took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure how advanced research on glandular compatibility had reached this particular hospital, but since they had brought in a doctor he had never seen before, she must have experience with such cases.

The doctor raised an eyebrow. “It seems you have an idea of what’s happening with your body.”

Chu Tao swallowed, his mouth too dry to even have much saliva. “Yes, but I don’t fully understand.”

The doctor lightly tapped his test results with her pen. “No need to worry. It doesn’t have much impact on your health. It’s just that you’ve been in good physical condition, so the conflicting pheromones have been suppressed. Recently, due to fatigue and low immunity, all the accumulated heat in your body has been released, reaching a period of special susceptibility.”

Chu Tao knew that for an ordinary alpha, reaching a susceptibility period might cause mood swings and clinginess, but it was manageable, typically lasting only a day or two, and often unnoticed by those around them. But he clearly wasn’t like others.

The doctor looked at him thoughtfully and asked, “As the name implies, the special susceptibility period is unique, singular, and occasional. May I ask how your relationship is with that person?”

Chu Tao paused, unsure how to respond, and vaguely replied, “Very good.”

He was too reserved; under normal circumstances, he’d have blushed, but his high body temperature now concealed any sign of it.

The doctor, understanding the sensitivity of teenagers, roughly understood his meaning and didn’t press further.

“Let me explain it this way. Imagine you’re a smoker. When you first start smoking, it’s harsh, spicy, unpleasant, and uncomfortable. You avoid it as much as possible. But if you keep smoking, you gradually get used to the smell, maybe even find it refreshing or mellow. Eventually, you’ll start needing it, maybe one cigarette a day isn’t enough—you want two, then three, and then you realize it’s become part of you, something you want to keep around for that occasional puff. Finally, you’ll reach a stable point, smoking two or three packs a month. Not excessive, but missing even one would feel wrong.”

Chu Tao’s fevered mind struggled to follow her words.

The doctor adjusted her glasses, looked away, and continued in a formal tone, “You have two choices: either quit, or, if one isn’t enough, take another.”

Chu Tao’s eyelids trembled, and his slightly misted peach-blossom eyes seemed like calm, shallow water.

“Take another?” he asked, hesitant, his voice raspy.

The doctor, despite her usual professional restraint, decided to be more direct seeing his confusion.

“You could either isolate yourself from him, use medication to cleanse his pheromone influence, and wait—it might take 27 days or so, depending on how long it takes your body to metabolize a cycle. Or don’t hold back. Hugs and kisses won’t be enough in your case, and you probably know the extent of an alpha’s needs.”

Chu Tao looked at her, stunned. “What do you mean by ‘Take another’?”

The doctor cleared her throat. “You’re still a student, so it’s not entirely appropriate, and I’m not sure how often your susceptibility will occur—monthly or otherwise. We don’t have many cases to reference. You could wait it out—it might pass in a couple of days. But going through this every month can be tough, and you’ve got exams coming up. If you have a strong connection with him, it’s the easiest way. You don’t need to go all the way; you know what I mean. Taking things too fast could even cause a rejection reaction from the pheromones, making it worse for you. You’re still in the initial stages, so you only need to do what makes you comfortable.”

Chu Tao was so embarrassed he wanted to disappear under the quilt.

The doctor was a woman after all, and though she was old enough to be his mother, it still felt awkward.

Besides, he couldn’t quite face the fact that he felt this terrible today because he was, essentially, starved for affection. Occasional hugs and kisses just weren’t enough to satisfy his body’s craving.

He remembered an email from an old professor mentioning that it might start as simple skin hunger but could become a stronger need over time.

Now, it seemed he was moving into that stronger stage.

The doctor prescribed him some fever-reducing medication, as the prolonged fever was wearing him out.

While Chu Tao was on the IV drip, Jiang She snuck out of school, climbed over the wall, and took a cab to the hospital.

Following the address given by the driver, he found Chu Tao’s room with ease.

When he arrived, the driver quickly headed back to report.

The IV drip was almost finished, and Chu Tao lay on the bed with his eyes closed, breathing steadily.

Jiang She reached out and touched his forehead. It didn’t seem as hot anymore.

He gently patted Chu Tao’s cheek and whispered, “Chu Tao, time to take out the needle.”

His hands were a little cold, having just come in from outside, carrying a faint, fresh scent of the breeze.

Chu Tao stirred awake at his touch, groggily opening his eyes to see Jiang She’s face.

In that instant, he thought he might be dreaming, so he naturally reached up to hug Jiang She around the neck.

Jiang She quickly caught his wrist. “Careful, don’t pull the needle out.”

He pressed the call button, waiting for the nurse to come and remove the IV.

Chu Tao, with his wrist held in place, was now fully awake and asked in a drowsy voice, “Why did you come here?”

Before Jiang She could answer, Chu Tao murmured, “You really did come.”

Jiang She was a little confused, and at that moment, the nurse knocked and entered. She looked at Chu Tao’s hand, then at the remaining IV fluid, and after lightly tapping the IV line, quickly removed the needle from Chu Tao’s hand.

“If everything’s fine, you’re free to go.”

Jiang She answered on Chu Tao’s behalf, “Thank you.”

The door closed, leaving just the two of them in the room.

Jiang She noticed the test report on the bedside table and, curious, leaned over to pick it up. “Let me take a look.”

Before he could grab it, Chu Tao suddenly sat up, hooked an arm around Jiang She’s neck, and pressed himself close.

Jiang She was startled, his whole body tensing up as he felt a soft, warm sensation near his cheek and ear.

Chu Tao boldly and playfully extended his tongue, giving Jiang She’s earlobe a quick, teasing lick.