Chapter 2 How do you want to thank me?

It's really too close.

Lin Yao tried to retreat again, but was restrained by his strong legs and could not move.

He was so weak from the high temperature that the force with which he pushed away sounded like flirting: "Shut up... It's none of your business."

Xie Xingchen hummed in agreement, then stood up a bit straighter, bringing the distance between them even closer.

The pale pink hue peeks through his fair skin, like a ripe peach, tempting one to take a bite and get a mouthful of juicy goodness.

"Are you really an Alpha?" Xie Xingchen stared at him. "You look like an Omega in heat."

Snap! A crisp, clean sound.

Lin Yao was angered by these words, raised his hand, and gave him a solid slap.

The other person didn't dodge, took the hit head-on, and tensed up and then relaxed their jaw.

It must have hurt quite a bit; Lin Yao's fighting score was perfect.

Xie Xingchen tilted his head slightly, then turned back, smiling and inviting, "Want to touch it again?"

Lin Yao: "......"

I'm fucking beating you up, have I beaten you into an idiot?

Lin Yao wiped his hands with disgust, really afraid that he would come over and lick them just to disgust people.

At this moment, she was weak, her legs were limp, she couldn't stand, and she was almost sitting on Xie Xingchen's firm and taut thighs, relying entirely on the force of Xie Xingchen's legs to hold her up.

"Can you shut up?" Lin Yao's voice escaped from between his tightly clenched lips. "Let go."

Xie Xingchen gently nudged his lower back and comforted him, "Okay, don't be angry. I'll go get you some suppressants."

Lin Yao refused his charity: "I just finished, I don't need it."

"But you're very hot, covered in sweat, and need to take a shower."

Xie Xingchen said, his fingers lightly stopping on his back to monitor his temperature. "If left untreated, the situation will get worse and worse. In Chongqing, where are you going to find an Omega who is willing to help you, since you are almost entirely an Alpha?"

He spoke directly, which made Lin Yao feel hot.

Her cheeks flushed even more deeply, and she retorted, "My private life isn't as chaotic as yours, you spoiled brat."

Xie Xingchen laughed again, defending herself: "I'm very careful; I stay home alone during my vulnerable period."

Lin Yao's past days were filled with studying and working, and he rarely... It took him several seconds to react, but the tips of his ears turned a burning red.

"Shut up." His tone was fierce.

So pure.

Xie Xingchen found it extremely fun.

From the moment they met, the two of them would basically fight whenever they met, or exchange sarcastic remarks. Lin Yao was irritable, aloof, and prickly throughout high school, which was the impression he gave him, but he never showed any shyness.

He reached out and pinched her bright red earlobe, just as he was about to say something, the door opened.

Looking towards the doorway, a gust of wind swept by, and then the door was abruptly shut.

"Your roommate's having sex in there! It's Xie Xingchen, he's holding a stunning beauty in his arms, I didn't see her face, but she's completely naked except for her underwear, and her legs are so white and straight!!!" The voice outside the door was loud and clear, and it was unclear who he was repeating this to.

Lin Yao looked down at his legs.

Another voice exclaimed, "Young Master Xie really knows how to have fun. He actually dared to bring an Omega to the dorm. That's too wild!"

Lin Yao scoffed silently.

"He just mentioned in an interview that he has a friend he can't bear to part with, the one who's quite handsome and broke his record. Maybe it's a goodbye between casual sex partners, and things are tense. After all, having a double A is also very exciting." A third voice joined the discussion.

Lin Yao:......?

No, who's messing with him?

Once I'm dressed, I'll assassinate you all one by one!

Xie Xingchen smiled slightly, shrugged, and said, "What can we do? They're spreading rumors."

"I'll go explain."

Lin Yao used all his strength to push the person away and bent down to take out a change of clothes from his suitcase.

He hunched over, his back taut in a smooth arc, the slight indentation of his spine extending to his waist, two shallow dimples on his back, perfect for pressing down on and then pulling back...

Xie Xingchen lowered his head, put his thumb and forefinger together, and gently pinched them together.

Lin Yao made no attempt to hide anything, changing his clothes right in front of him, completely covering his exposed skin and concealing his private parts.

He turned around, and just as his hand touched the doorknob, Xie Xingchen called out to him.

"Are you sure you want to go out? There are too many people and gossips outside. How are you going to explain that you're naked in my arms?"

Lin Yao corrected: "She was wearing underwear."

"It makes no difference; the messing around is already a done deal anyway."

Xie Xingchen smiled and said calmly, showing consideration for the other person, "Now they all mistakenly think I brought someone back. The rumors have already spread. If you show your face, it will really be spread that the two of us Alphas are having an affair. You go hide in the bathroom and I will step in."

Lin Yao, feeling excluded, paused for a rare moment: "Then... don't you care about public opinion?"

Xie Xingchen said nonchalantly, "My reputation has always been bad."

Lin Yao's lips tightened. He didn't want to owe the other party a favor, especially... a mortal enemy with whom he had such a bad relationship that he would fight on sight.

Xie Xingchen noticed his hesitation: "Didn't I have enough scandals in high school? One more won't make a difference."

Lin Yao had heard a lot about it. Once, when he returned from working, he saw Xie Xingchen holding a drunk girl. At the time, he thought it was someone from the rumors. It wasn't until two years later that he found out that it was his cousin.

But by then their relationship was already strained, and this clarification did little to improve the other person's image in people's minds.

However, he had no choice but to accept the favor at this moment, so Lin Yao walked inside awkwardly and said, "Excuse me, I'll go to the bathroom first."

Xie Xingchen hummed in acknowledgment, stood up straight, opened the door, and said in his usual gentle tone, "I'm sorry, please excuse my poor appearance."

"I'm Cheng Boyan, a freshman living here." The boy at the door looked at his relaxed appearance. "I heard you were busy at the door. Did I disturb you?"

"It's alright." Xie Xingchen didn't explain, which seemed to confirm his guess.

"Where is your...Omega?"

“He’s shy and doesn’t really want to show his face.” Xie Xingchen took out a personal card from his pocket. “I’ll treat you to dinner. It’ll be on my tab. Please make room for me, otherwise my darling won’t come out.”

Lin Yao leaned against the wall, hearing everything clearly, and his brows furrowed.

Honey, that's disgusting.....

How much one must betray their conscience to utter such a thing?

The chatter outside was still going on, and that feeling of unease spread like wildfire. He breathed heavily, feeling incredibly annoyed.

Unable to bear it for even a second longer, I could only turn on the shower again, relying on the cool water to ease the pain.

"Thank you for your generosity, sir. We won't bother you any longer," Cheng Boyan said graciously.

Lin Yao heard Xie Xingchen say thank you, and then the door closed.

The footsteps were light and slow, getting closer and closer.

"Taking a bath when you have a high fever? Don't you have any common sense?"

Xie Xingchen's voice came through, and even though I couldn't see his expression, it felt quite cold and oppressive.

Lin Yao saw the doorknob slowly press down: "Don't open it—"

The door opened.

He stood in the other person's line of sight, water dripping from the shower head above him, soaking him completely.

Seeing the other person staring intently at him, he inexplicably felt his hands and feet stiffen, unsure of what to do.

"We're both Alphas, do you mind?" Xie Xingchen asked.

The person had already come in.

Lin Yao mechanically shook his head: "I don't mind, but... you go out, I'll be right there."

As they spoke, a faint scent of pheromones could be detected, but it was unfamiliar and could only have come from Xie Xingchen.

Alphas are supposed to repel each other, but today is strange; he wants to get closer and absorb from them.

Xie Xingchen noticed it too, but only for a second before he restrained himself and withdrew all his words. His voice became even deeper: "I helped you solve your troubles, and now I'm going to put my helping spirit into action again."

His gaze swept over the other person's flushed skin.

"I'll take you to the hospital, then you can think of a way to thank me."

Lin Yao flared his nostrils and opened the glass door separating them, unable to utter a single word.

My hands, which were bracing against the wall, started to lose their grip and slid down the damp wall.

"You... go out first, and thank me later." He had lost his usual arrogance and forced himself to speak.

But the other party insisted on doing the opposite and wouldn't listen.

It slowly walked towards me, and with each step, the sense of oppression grew stronger.

Lin Yao stepped back, his entire back pressed against the cold tiles, with nowhere left to retreat.

The moment the other person leaned in, my legs went weak before I could even speak.

Xie Xingchen reached out and grabbed him.

"...Thank you." Lin Yao felt dizzy and disoriented.

He crashed into a solid embrace, his mind reeling from the fever. Wanting to get closer, his arms involuntarily wrapped around the broad shoulders.

The cold water soaked Xie Xingchen's shirt, and Lin Yao leaned against him, his breathing slightly disordered.

"So enthusiastic." Xie Xingchen looked down at him.

Lin Yao was half-conscious and half-dazed when he realized that this was the person he hated the most, someone he should push away, someone he couldn't let the other person have any leverage over him.

"roll."

That's what I said, but for some reason I couldn't bear to let go.

Playing hard to get is more like clumsy seduction.

"Is this how you thank me?"

The hot breath brushed against his earlobe, and Lin Yao shuddered. He heard Xie Xingchen laugh.

"A kitten in heat."