By the time Wei Xiaochi and Jiang Zhan returned, it was already 11:30 PM.

Aunt Zhou, having heard that Wei Xiaochi was coming over, had prepared a pot of black chicken and chestnut soup to nourish him.

Jiang Zhan, drenched in sweat from playing basketball, headed upstairs for a hot shower. Meanwhile, Aunt Zhou dragged Wei Xiaochi into the dining room, handing him a glass of freshly squeezed juice.

“Low blood sugar is no joke. You’re still so young; you must take care of your diet and never slack off,” Aunt Zhou said, fussing over him.

Seeing that Wei Xiaochi was holding the drink but not drinking, she nudged him. “Drink up! Or are you annoyed by my nagging? Ah, getting older makes you talk too much.”

Wei Xiaochi shook his head, his lashes drooping slightly. “No, I’m not annoyed.”

It was just that no one had ever “nagged” him like this before, leaving Wei Xiaochi unsure how to respond.

His parents had divorced when he was very young. He wasn’t close to Wei Dongjian, and after Fang Yuan remarried into the family, their interactions became even rarer. As for his mother, Wei Xiaochi could barely remember what she looked like. His grandmother had torn up all her photos long ago.

Having worked in the Jiang household for many years, Aunt Zhou was treated as family and always ate meals with them.

Learning that the soup had been made especially for him, Wei Xiaochi drank two bowls during lunch, filling his stomach to the brim.

After finishing, Jiang Zhan was the first to stand. He glanced at Wei Xiaochi before heading upstairs.

Guessing that Jiang Zhan wanted his pheromones, Wei Xiaochi told Aunt Zhou he’d be back and followed Jiang Zhan upstairs with his backpack.

Back in the bedroom, Jiang Zhan pulled out a set of blue pajamas from the wardrobe and handed them to Wei Xiaochi.

“Do I have to change clothes?” Wei Xiaochi asked, confused.

“Yes,” Jiang Zhan replied. “Aunt Zhou doesn’t allow anyone to wear outside clothes on the bed, not even me.”

Wei Xiaochi’s lips parted slightly. “…Can I sit on the couch instead?”

He wasn’t eager to change clothes—or, more accurately, he didn’t want to sit on Jiang Zhan’s bed. He had planned to do some homework since he had other tasks to complete later that evening.

Jiang Zhan was silent for a moment before shoving the clothes into Wei Xiaochi’s hands and turning back to the bed.

Holding the pajamas, Wei Xiaochi felt like he was holding a piece of burning coal.

The alpha sat cross-legged on the bed, hugging a pillow with his smooth chin resting on it. His dark eyes sparkled beneath his messy hair as he fiddled with the tassels on the pillow, his voice brusque. “Why are you still standing there?”

When Wei Xiaochi looked at him, Jiang Zhan immediately averted his gaze, tugging harder at the tassels as if to hide his embarrassment.

Left with no other choice, Wei Xiaochi hesitated for a while before heading to the bathroom to change into the blue pajamas.

When he looked at himself in the mirror above the sink, now wearing the pajamas, he couldn’t help but mutter, “What am I doing? Why am I even changing clothes?”

The loose pajamas hung off him awkwardly, the open neckline exposing a large swath of pale skin. He tugged at the neckline uncomfortably.

When he walked out of the bathroom, Wei Xiaochi neatly folded his clothes and placed them on the couch. Jiang Zhan remained in the same position, but his eyes were glued to him.

“Why are you standing so far away?” Jiang Zhan muttered. “You’ve changed clothes; you can sit on my bed now.”

Wei Xiaochi adjusted his glasses, still unaccustomed to Jiang Zhan’s way of speaking—as if he were always the one eagerly chasing after the alpha.

Under Jiang Zhan’s watchful gaze, Wei Xiaochi pulled out his English textbook from his bag and hesitantly walked over.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Wei Xiaochi released some pheromones for Jiang Zhan, then pretended to flip through his book. When he felt the alpha inching closer, his breath hitched. His eyes stayed glued to the pages, but none of the words registered.

Whenever he was alone with Jiang Zhan, the atmosphere became strange.

Wei Xiaochi felt a firm presence brush against his shoulder blades, accompanied by the warm, dry sensation of someone’s breath on the back of his neck. He instinctively tensed up.

Jiang Zhan leaned in so closely that his body heat seeped through the thin fabric of their clothes, making Wei Xiaochi swallow nervously and lower his head.

It was an unconscious movement, but it fully exposed the back of his neck.

Before Wei Xiaochi could straighten up, Jiang Zhan leaned forward, their faces mere inches apart.

“You… you have a red mole here,” Jiang Zhan suddenly said.

Before Wei Xiaochi could ask where, Jiang Zhan lightly touched the spot behind his left earlobe. “There’s a red dot here.”

Wei Xiaochi reached up to touch it, mumbling, “Is there? I didn’t know.”

Jiang Zhan grabbed his phone and took a picture, holding it in front of Wei Xiaochi. His arm stretched over the omega’s shoulder, chest pressing against his back in an embrace-like posture.

Wei Xiaochi scratched his ear awkwardly, glancing at the photo. Sure enough, there was a small red mole behind his left ear.

“Why is it red?” Wei Xiaochi wondered aloud.

Jiang Zhan didn’t know. He didn’t have any red moles. “Maybe we should ask a doctor.”

Wei Xiaochi shook his head. “No need. That’s too much trouble.”

“What if it’s a sign of something serious?” Jiang Zhan retorted, already opening WeChat to message Zhang Linchang, a physiology professor specializing in ABO biology.

Unable to resist, Wei Xiaochi turned to watch Jiang Zhan type.

The mole’s location was so hidden that Wei Xiaochi wasn’t sure if it had always been there. Could it have appeared because of his omega differentiation?

Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, they both stared at the phone, waiting for Zhang Linchang’s reply.

The poor professor, an expert in ABO physiology, now had to explain why moles appeared.

“Don’t worry,” Zhang Linchang replied. “It’s just a superficial capillary or minor artery dilation. Not a sign of any serious condition.”

Jiang Zhan read the message aloud for Wei Xiaochi.

Relieved that it was just a normal mole, Wei Xiaochi relaxed. He had worried it might be related to his differentiation.

Still curious, Jiang Zhan pinched the red mole behind Wei Xiaochi’s ear, prompting the omega to tilt his head to give him a better view.

“You’ve got another one here,” Jiang Zhan said, pointing to a spot on Wei Xiaochi’s neck.

“Is it red too?” Wei Xiaochi asked, startled.

“No, it’s brown.”

“Oh,” Wei Xiaochi murmured.

Jiang Zhan soon found another mole at the angle of Wei Xiaochi’s jaw, this one black.

“Here’s another one,” he announced.

Wei Xiaochi touched it absentmindedly. “Oh.”

The search continued, and Jiang Zhan even found a shyly hidden mole nestled in Wei Xiaochi’s eyebrow. Another was located slightly above his temple.

When Jiang Zhan discovered yet another mole on the cartilage of Wei Xiaochi’s other ear, the omega was starting to feel embarrassed.

“Why do I have so many moles?” he muttered, avoiding eye contact.

Glancing at the alpha, who was earnestly searching for more, Wei Xiaochi’s thoughts drifted. He suddenly recalled a scene from a nature documentary where monkeys groomed each other, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.

Jiang Zhan paused, looking at the omega with laughter dancing in his eyes. The corners of his own eyes crinkled in amusement.

Wei Xiaochi rarely laughed. In all the time they’d known each other, this was only the second time Jiang Zhan had seen him smile.

The first time was when Wei Xiaochi was reading a novel, chuckling softly at something amusing.

When Jiang Zhan caught Wei Xiaochi’s gaze, the omega froze, his smile fading into confusion.

“?” Wei Xiaochi tilted his head slightly.

Without a word, Jiang Zhan removed Wei Xiaochi’s glasses and leaned in to kiss his eyes.

Wei Xiaochi’s heart pounded wildly as he instinctively shut his eyes when Jiang Zhan moved closer.

The alpha cradled Wei Xiaochi’s face, planting kisses from his brow to his eyes, down his nose, and finally to the corners of his mouth. Each kiss was devoid of desire, filled instead with gentle warmth and affection.

Wei Xiaochi’s heart thudded like a drum. When he opened his eyes slightly, Jiang Zhan leaned in for another kiss, startling him into closing them again.

Jiang Zhan pulled the blanket over both of their heads, plunging them into darkness.

Wei Xiaochi’s eyelashes fluttered as Jiang Zhan held him close and lay back on the bed.

Finding a comfortable position, Jiang Zhan tucked the blanket snugly around Wei Xiaochi’s neck before going still.

Pressed nervously against Jiang Zhan, Wei Xiaochi stayed motionless for a long moment before daring to open his eyes.

It seemed Jiang Zhan just wanted to nap while holding him. Wei Xiaochi exhaled softly, relaxing a little.

Before long, Jiang Zhan opened his eyes, gazing at Wei Xiaochi before giving him a light kiss on the lips and closing his eyes again.

Wei Xiaochi’s face burned as if set on fire.

Every few minutes, Jiang Zhan would steal another kiss, continuing until he fell asleep. Even then, the heat on Wei Xiaochi’s face refused to fade.

Listening to Jiang Zhan’s steady breathing, Wei Xiaochi stared at the ceiling, his thoughts running wild.

He imagined Jiang Zhan breaking up with him, then wondered how they’d split. Would Jiang Zhan be this clingy with someone else in the future? Would he act the same in his next relationship?

The endless questions cluttered his mind, making his temples throb.

To clear his head, Wei Xiaochi began reciting physics formulas from memory, going over everything he’d learned from first year to third year.

True to his word, Jiang Zhan waited until the evening to take Wei Xiaochi home.

At some point during the afternoon, Wei Xiaochi dozed off in Jiang Zhan’s bed. When he woke up, Aunt Zhou treated him to a hearty snack.

Jiang Zhan didn’t disturb him afterward, giving Wei Xiaochi time to complete his homework.

However, after every subject he finished, Jiang Zhan insisted on holding him and stealing a few kisses. Wei Xiaochi couldn’t help but suspect Jiang Zhan had been a kissing fish in a past life.

After dinner, Wei Xiaochi repeatedly urged Jiang Zhan to take him home, fearing that if it got too late, Fang Yuan might ask questions.

At 7:40 PM, Jiang Zhan looked visibly impatient. His mood improved only after taking a call. Telling Wei Xiaochi to wait in the room, he rushed out.

Two minutes later, Jiang Zhan returned, holding a black box.

He handed the box to Wei Xiaochi with a deadpan expression. “Here.”

Then he turned away.

Wei Xiaochi’s first instinct was to refuse. Jiang Zhan had already given him too many expensive gifts.

But before refusing, he politely asked, “What is it?”

Without looking at him, Jiang Zhan nudged the plush carpet with his foot. “Open it and see.”

Wei Xiaochi examined the box. It was square, covered in velvet, and tied with a ribbon in a neat bow.

Jiang Zhan suddenly snatched the box back, quickly undoing the ribbon. “This bow is ugly.”

He tossed the ribbon into the trash, seemingly dissatisfied with the packaging.

Then he shoved the box back into Wei Xiaochi’s hands.

Holding the now ribbon-less gift, Wei Xiaochi hesitated for a moment before opening it. Inside was a square, elegant glass bottle.

A bottle of perfume.

Jiang Zhan took it out and sprayed it into the air, filling the room with a rich fragrance. “It’s valerian perfume.”

He explained that his sister’s friend had made it for him. He had called yesterday to confirm it was ready and had it delivered today.

“Valerian?” Wei Xiaochi asked hesitantly. “Does my pheromone smell like that?”

He’d always been uncertain about his pheromone scent. Despite Jiang Zhan’s apparent fondness for it, Wei Xiaochi still harbored insecurities.

These insecurities didn’t stem from Jiang Zhan but from a middle school classmate, Fang Zhixin, who had often teased him about smelling like garbage. Ever since, Wei Xiaochi had feared his pheromones were unpleasant.

Sniffing the perfume lightly, Wei Xiaochi thought it smelled quite nice.

Jiang Zhan’s face darkened. “Not even close.”

Startled, Wei Xiaochi looked at him.

Jiang Zhan quickly clarified, “I mean the perfume—this stuff isn’t even close to your scent. It’s awful.”

He explained that he had described the smell to the perfumer as a light, clean scent, something fresh and soothing like rainwater and vanilla—difficult to describe but incredibly comforting.

But this overpowering fragrance? It gave him a headache.

“Your scent isn’t this strong or cloying,” Jiang Zhan grumbled, his voice stiff as if someone were forcing him to speak. “It’s much nicer.”

The last part was barely audible.

Wei Xiaochi froze. It was the first time Jiang Zhan had ever complimented him.