Chapter 38

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Running into the emergency exit, Xu Ziyan closed the door breathlessly, and with trembling fingers tore off the safety sticker and stuck it on the back of her neck.

Despite all his calculations, his worst fears still came true.

His vulnerable period arrived early.

With so many Alphas in the base, he absolutely couldn't let his pheromones leak out. The scent blocker was new and still unopened. Xu Ziyan was so flustered that he tried three or four times but couldn't manage to tear open the plastic seal.

Finally, he bit a small hole with his teeth and managed to spray the barrier agent onto himself.

The intense sweetness that permeated the surroundings was slightly suppressed, but it was still not enough.

He's definitely out of the running for today's training match, but... if he can take the potion before it's exposed, he can still pretend nothing's wrong and play normally in tomorrow's points match.

The heat inside his body grew stronger and stronger. Xu Ziyan stood up, wanting to hurry back to his dormitory, when the door to the emergency exit behind him was suddenly opened with a bang.

He shuddered, his face turned pale, and he prayed desperately in his heart that he would find out that he was not an Alpha, but a Beta or Omega.

But things didn't go as planned.

The next moment, Alpha's furious voice rang out: "Xu Ziyan! What the hell is wrong with you! Have you lost your mind?"

Xu Ziyan was scolded, but his heart was greatly relieved.

He turned his head and called out timidly, "...Captain."

Xie Wei remained silent with a sullen face.

Xu Ziyan's sudden and inexplicable run left everyone in the training room completely bewildered, unable to understand what had happened.

Only Xie Wei caught the faint sweet scent of strawberry marshmallows in the air. Although he could usually smell it in a little bit, the pheromones today were particularly different. Then, thinking of Xu Ziyan's situation last time, Xie Wei didn't have time to say anything and hurriedly ran out as well.

He looked down at the marking stickers and barrier agent on the ground, and felt a throbbing vein in his temple.

Xie Wei wasn't stupid; she knew the Omega in front of her was about to enter his most vulnerable period. Now wasn't a good time to get angry; the most urgent thing was to get him back to his dorm to take his medication.

He immediately took off his team jacket and said, "Raise your hand."

Xu Ziyan looked at the tall Alpha in front of her with his brows furrowed, swallowed unconsciously, and obediently raised his arm.

Soon, the still-warm coat was put on Xu Ziyan's body. The Alpha's pheromones were even more potent than the blocker, completely covering up the sweetness on his body.

As Xie Wei zipped up his jacket, she asked, "Are there any suppressants in the room?"

Xu Ziyan nodded, feeling dizzy.

Xie Wei hummed in agreement: "Take your medicine as soon as you get back, and rest well in your room for the next few days. Just contact me if you need anything."

Xu Ziyan opened his mouth, then hesitated and said, "...There's a match tomorrow."

Xie Wei looked at him incredulously: "You think you can compete looking like this?"

Xie Wei was already holding back her anger, but upon hearing this, she couldn't contain it any longer and jumped three feet high: "You didn't take care of yourself and went straight into your vulnerable period in the training room, and I didn't even scold you, but then what? You still wanted to compete during your vulnerable period? What's wrong with your brain? Do you know what would have happened if it hadn't been me who came in, but another Alpha? What would have happened if something went wrong on the field?"

Once an Omega enters their vulnerable period, they crave even more protection and security from an Alpha. Now, after being harshly scolded, and with her emotions being more sensitive and fragile than usual, Xu Ziyan felt a pang of sadness and tears welled up in her eyes.

Xie Wei's anger was extinguished halfway through by the young man's tears.

He was speechless, then hurriedly wiped away the young man's tears, and said dejectedly, "...Fine, I was wrong, I shouldn't have said that to you."

Xu Ziyan was also startled by his own sudden vulnerability. He blinked and said in a muffled voice, "It's not that I haven't thought about those things, but if I don't play, no one else on the team can play. When Clear was there, TWG never had a situation where a player had to withdraw from a match due to a player's vulnerable period. I don't want to be the exception."

Xie Wei sighed, unable to muster any anger. He squatted down with his back to Xu Ziyan: "Get on, I'll carry you back."

Xu Ziyan looked at the broad, powerful back of the Alpha in front of her and hesitated for a moment: "I can walk by myself."

“Tsk,” Xie Wei said, “Why so much nonsense?”

Xu Ziyan paused for a moment, but still spoke her mind truthfully: "But I'm already in my susceptible period. Captain, you're an Alpha, and being so close to me, won't... you know?"

Xie Wei said expressionlessly, "No. Xu Ziyan, if you keep dragging your feet, I really won't take care of you anymore."

Xu Ziyan quickly shut his mouth and climbed onto Xie Wei's back.

He wrapped his arms around Alpha's neck and rested his cheek against Alpha's shoulder. At such close range, he could clearly smell the faint scent of lemon mint.

It makes people feel comfortable and at ease.

He closed his eyes and gently rubbed his forehead against Xie Wei's shoulder.

During his sensitive period, the Omega's body was soft and hot, pressed tightly against his back, almost like a furnace. Xie Wei carried Xu Ziyan on his back, his steps steady, his expression unchanged.

But only he himself knew that he had reached the limit of his patience.

Xie Wei knew very well that even if he took advantage of Xu Ziyan on the spot, Xu Ziyan would not say a word of blame to him afterward.

They might even stammer an apology and take all the blame.

Xie Wei closed his eyes, lifted the person on his back a little higher, and headed straight for the dormitory.

The night wind was bitingly cold, blowing like a handful of ice. They were lucky; there was hardly anyone along the way, and Xie Wei brought Xu Ziyan back to the dormitory safely.

He placed the somewhat delirious young man on the bed, frowned, and touched his flushed face and neck. After confirming that he was alright, he straightened up and made a phone call to Yu Guangzhou.

The call was answered quickly: "Hello? Where are you two? The practice match has been postponed by ten minutes."

“I’m sorry,” Xie Wei pressed his temples, “today’s training match should be canceled. Please apologize to the other side for me, and we’ll reschedule for another time. I’ll also offer to provide free sparring partners as compensation.”

Yu Guangzhou was completely bewildered. Over the years, through wind and rain, Xie Wei had never missed a single day. Therefore, upon hearing this, he didn't immediately react: "Cancel? You...you're sick?"

Xie Wei said, "It wasn't me, it was Ice."

Yu Guangzhou was still somewhat puzzled. He frowned and recalled Xu Ziyan's condition today, but felt there was nothing wrong with it. Just as he was about to ask again, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: "Could it be?"

Xie Wei hummed in agreement: "You probably won't be able to play in tomorrow's match either, you..."

"Yes, you can go."

Xie Wei turned around when she was suddenly interrupted.

Her soft black hair clung to her forehead, her eyes were filled with tears, and her bright red, full lips were slightly upturned, as if asking for a kiss.

Xie Wei's throat tightened, and she almost dropped her phone.

He figured he'd probably told the dog everything he said in the emergency exit. He was about to scold Xu Ziyan for being so reckless when he heard Yu Guangzhou laugh heartily on the other end of the phone: "Yeah, what's wrong with going? You two get a good night's rest, and I'll have someone pick you up from the airport tomorrow. Hmm, I've been really busy lately, but Xie Wei, I'm not trying to be mean, but you really can't slack off on re-marking."

"..."

Xie Wei then belatedly remembered that, because he was too lazy to explain, Yu Guangzhou still considered him and Xu Ziyan to be a couple.

Indeed, when an Omega enters a vulnerable period, a temporary labeling by an Alpha can provide temporary relief. The effect is better than any inhibitor.

Can……

Yu Guangzhou, quick as a flash, had already hung up the phone. Xu Ziyan lay on the bed, looking pitiful once again.

Xie Wei felt two fires burning in her heart: one was anger, and the other was resentment.

He gritted his teeth: "Xu Ziyan, are you really planning to take the drugs and then play in the game?"

Xu Ziyan looked at him, her eyes darting away, and said something in a low voice.

Xie Wei didn't hear clearly and moved closer: "What?"

The young man suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the hem of his clothes.

“There’s another way.” Omega’s soft, full lips parted repeatedly. “Captain, I… I’m willing to be temporarily marked by you.”

The sweet scent of pheromones exploded to its peak in that instant. Xie Wei looked at him, muttered a curse under her breath, and then roughly grabbed Xu Ziyan's sparse hair at the back of his head and kissed him fiercely.

Last time, both of them were delirious, and all they could recall were fragmented memories. This time, Xu Ziyan remained lucid, while Xie Wei remained rational throughout.

But reason ultimately couldn't overcome the deep-seated desire within.

After the marking ended, Xu Ziyan was exhausted from crying. She forced herself to take a shower and then fell into a deep sleep.

Xie Wei, however, couldn't sleep.

He tucked the blanket around the young man and went to the balcony.

Night had fallen, and everything was quiet; even the neon lights had dimmed. Thick clouds hung in the sky, obscuring the moonlight and starlight.

Xie Wei opened the window, and the biting cold wind took away the last bit of heat from his body.

Because he had so many suitors, and Xie Wei seemed so invulnerable, his mother worried that he might have some kind of trauma because of his father's situation. One evening, she went to his room and asked him with a smile when he was planning to find a girlfriend.

Xie Wei's answer was: It's not time yet.

Mother Xie persisted: "Then how do we determine when it's time?"

Xie Wei said, "At least I don't want us to get together in a muddle because of pheromone attraction, and that kind of feeling doesn't count as anything."

He was the one who made those vows back then, and now he's the one who can't resist temptation.

Xie Wei gave a bitter smile, shook her head, and closed the window again.