Chapter 34: The Temperature Keeps Rising
On the last day of final exams, Fu Rangyi was scheduled to proctor in the afternoon. Many teachers had already stopped coming into the office, but he still chose to get up early and go to work. As usual, Zhu Zhixi sleepily wandered to the entryway, eyes closed as he leaned against the full-length mirror.
He was wearing soft light-blue pajamas. He still hadn’t removed the headband he’d used while washing up, and tiny droplets of water lingered on his face. Without even opening his eyes, he stretched a hand toward Fu Rangyi, holding it high.
As if he were completing some sort of daily mission.
Feeling a little mischievous, Fu Rangyi didn’t take his hand. Instead, he gave it a light slap.
“Hey!”
Only then did Zhu Zhixi open his eyes. He immediately pulled his hand back and planted both hands on his hips in exaggerated indignation. But before he could finish his complaint, Fu Rangyi had already predicted it. They spoke at exactly the same time.
“What’s wrong with you?” / “What’s wrong with you?!”
Zhu Zhixi’s eyes widened.
The next second, Fu Rangyi leaned closer, lowered his head, and quickly pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
After straightening up, he adjusted his glasses in front of the mirror and tried to sound casual.
“Didn’t you say holding hands doesn’t work anymore?”
Zhu Zhixi was still frozen in place, maintaining his foolish hands-on-hips pose.
Glancing at him, Fu Rangyi laughed.
“You really look like that blue glass double-handled vase in the Palace Museum right now.”
“What?” Zhu Zhixi finally recovered a little of his wandering soul, though the rapid combo attack had thoroughly woken him up. “What kind of vase?”
“I’ll send you a picture later.”
Zhu Zhixi instinctively knew it couldn’t possibly be some elegant-looking artifact. Fu Rangyi was definitely making fun of him.
The cheek that had just been kissed felt inexplicably hot. He unconsciously scratched it a few times while watching Fu Rangyi’s every move.
Fu Rangyi reached for his suppressor bracelet.
To store the thing, Zhu Zhixi had specially bought a transparent acrylic box and placed it on a cabinet. He’d even attached a label:
Home of the Bracelet
He’d emphasized countless times: take it off when you get home, put it back on before going out.
So far, Fu Rangyi had been very obedient.
Click.
The bracelet locked into place.
It wasn’t turned on yet.
“Oh…”
Fu Rangyi paused.
Zhu Zhixi was leaning against the entryway wall, frowning as though he were in serious discomfort.
“What’s wrong?”
“Did you secretly release pheromones…” Zhu Zhixi groaned weakly, wearing a pained expression. “Why can’t I move? My shoulders feel so heavy. It’s like I’m carrying a mountain.”
The words immediately reminded Fu Rangyi of his rutting period. Zhu Zhixi had said almost the exact same thing back then.
“What?”
He visibly panicked. Something like this had never happened before.
And it also meant he couldn’t hide the fact that he’d been secretly leaving pheromones on Zhu Zhixi anymore.
Fu Rangyi immediately pressed the bracelet’s power button and increased the suppression level.
“Are you okay? Is it serious? I’m sorry. I thought I had it pretty well under control…”
“My hand fell asleep. Why were you releasing pheromones anyway? Was making fun of me not enough?”
Filled with guilt, Fu Rangyi grabbed Zhu Zhixi’s hand.
For a top Alpha, releasing enough pheromones to intimidate a Beta was practically a form of bullying.
He gently massaged Zhu Zhixi’s hand, working from the palm to the wrist and then the forearm, trying to relieve the pressure.
Unexpectedly, the hand suddenly slipped away.
Zhu Zhixi tucked it behind his back. His bright eyes spun mischievously as he whispered:
“I lied.”
Seeing that expression, Fu Rangyi immediately understood.
“You already knew.”
“Knew what?” Zhu Zhixi continued acting, but for some reason, his ears had turned red.
He rarely blushed when lying.
“That I’ve been putting pheromones on you.”
Zhu Zhixi pressed his lips together and glanced at Fu Rangyi’s reflection in the mirror.
“Well, I go out and meet lots of people every day. I’m a Beta carrying a Super Alpha’s pheromones. Of course people would tell me.”
Without thinking, Fu Rangyi blurted out:
“Who was rude enough to say that?”
Zhu Zhixi looked up at him and suddenly burst out laughing.
What a strange thing to find funny.
Fu Rangyi couldn’t understand the joke. He only felt awkward that his secret had been exposed.
But soon Zhu Zhixi shuffled a little closer in his slippers.
“I don’t mind, though. Before, whenever I went out, weird people would always hit on me. Some of them were incredibly persistent. It was annoying. Ever since your pheromones started sticking to me, those people have practically disappeared.”
He lowered his head, speaking more and more quietly.
“It feels like… you’re protecting me.”
His hands found Fu Rangyi’s and gave them a gentle shake.
“I feel safe every day. Thank you.”
Fu Rangyi felt his heart start acting up again.
Zhu Zhixi always managed to control it so effortlessly.
One glance.
One small gesture.
A few casual words.
Regret.
He shouldn’t have stopped at kissing the cheek earlier.
Zhu Zhixi was almost pressed against him now. Fu Rangyi could faintly smell the clean, pleasant scent of his body wash drifting from his skin.
Zhu Zhixi tilted his head up and blinked.
“I already said thank you. Shouldn’t you say something too?”
Say what?
That I want to pin you against the entryway mirror and kiss you?
Or that I want to mark you right now?
A guy who failed biology class and still loved teasing Alphas.
Of course, Fu Rangyi said neither.
He stared steadily at the troublesome rabbit and asked,
“My car’s in the shop. I was going to take a taxi to work. You’re going to the museum this morning, right? Could you give me a ride to campus?”
Zhu Zhixi squeezed his hand hard.
“You’re really the type to eat and take, aren’t you?”
A smile tugged at Fu Rangyi’s lips.
“Can’t I?”
“Sure~”
Zhu Zhixi deliberately dragged out the word.
“Say thank you.”
“Thank you.”
“Say, ‘Thank you, little angel.'”
Fu Rangyi hesitated before obediently complying.
“Thank you, little angel…”
“Good. Then wait five minutes for your angel. I’ll change clothes and we’ll head out!”
For a brief second, Fu Rangyi actually imagined what he’d look like dressed as an angel.
Like that little firefighter—
No, that big fire hydrant—
With a pair of snow-white wings on his back and a glowing halo above his head.
It would suit him perfectly.
But when he later encountered a real angel and confirmed that angels truly existed in the world, the first wish that came to mind wasn’t that image at all.
Instead…
Since the little fire hydrant could transform into all kinds of animals and even understand animal speech, was it possible he could turn people into animals too?
Even for just one day.
“What are you daydreaming about?”
Zhu Zhixi had already fastened his seatbelt and turned toward Fu Rangyi in the passenger seat.
“Don’t tell me you’re waiting for me to buckle your seatbelt too?”
Not at all.
Just moments ago, there had been a little rabbit sitting in the driver’s seat.
A tiny fluffy ball completely unable to reach the steering wheel.
It had been entertaining to watch.
“No. Just got distracted.”
Fu Rangyi buckled his own seatbelt.
This was the first time he’d ridden in Zhu Zhixi’s car, and it felt surprisingly novel.
The car was completely different from his.
Zhu Zhixi had filled it with decorations.
A whole row of miniature animal figurines stood across the dashboard, arranged from shortest to tallest.
The lumbar cushion and neck pillow were covered in kitten patterns.
A small charm hung from the rearview mirror. At first, Fu Rangyi thought it was simply a golden heart.
But as the car moved and the charm rotated, he saw the photo on the back.
A face strikingly similar to Zhu Zhixi’s.
A young female Omega.
Of course Fu Rangyi knew who she was.
If Zhu Zhixi’s mother were still here, he’d probably be even happier than he was now.
A child raised with love could still carry wounds that would never fully heal.
“Why are you so quiet?” Zhu Zhixi suddenly asked. “Do you get carsick when other people drive? I’m actually pretty good, you know. I’ve even got a commercial driver’s license.”
Fu Rangyi snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head.
“It’s nice.”
He didn’t want Zhu Zhixi noticing that he’d been staring at the photo and accidentally bringing up painful memories.
Remembering the sticker he’d seen on the rear windshield before getting in, he smoothly changed the subject.
“I noticed you have an AED sticker. When did you install a defibrillator in the car?”
Zhu Zhixi blinked and glanced at him during a red light.
“You’re the first person who’s ever asked me that. You know about them too?”
“My previous car had one. Then I got a new car and kept saying I’d install another one, but I was always too busy and never got around to it.”
Zhu Zhixi tapped the steering wheel lightly.
“No wonder you recognized it. A while back I was hiking in Chile, and a friend at our campsite suddenly went into cardiac arrest. Luckily, someone had a defibrillator in their vehicle and they managed to save him. After that I felt these things were incredibly important, so I asked my brother to install one for me.”
He smiled.
“Though it hasn’t been used so far. Probably because I was overseas most of the time and nobody drove this car. It just sat in the garage collecting dust. So these days I try to drive it myself whenever possible.”
Fu Rangyi nodded.
After a pause, he said,
“I can teach you CPR. I’ve been one of the collapsed-and-nearly-dead patients many times. I’m very familiar with the procedure.”
Zhu Zhixi grinned proudly.
“No need. I’ve learned it too. I even have certification.”
With a perfectly serious expression, Fu Rangyi said,
“Then Dr. Zhu can perform it on me.”
“What are you talking about?”
Zhu Zhixi’s palms instantly became sweaty, causing his grip on the steering wheel to slip slightly.
“Don’t say things like that.”
A few seconds later, he quietly spat several times in succession, as though warding off bad luck.
While chatting, they soon arrived at S University.
Zhu Zhixi drove him through the gates.
After getting out, Fu Rangyi walked around from the passenger side to the driver’s window and tapped on the glass.
The window rolled down.
Looking at Zhu Zhixi smiling inside, he said:
“Thank you.”
“Thank who?” Zhu Zhixi folded his hands on the window frame, rested his chin on them, and blinked suggestively.
Fu Rangyi took a deep breath.
“Thank you, little angel.”
Zhu Zhixi tilted his head.
“You’re too polite. Five-star service, dear customer. Remember to book me again next time.”
Then he suddenly realized how ambiguous that sounded and hurriedly added:
“I mean book my car.”
Fu Rangyi apparently didn’t take the word date the wrong way. Instead, it reminded him of the dinner gathering that evening.
“You remember the dinner tonight, right? Six o’clock. I sent you the location yesterday.”
“Mhm, I remember.” Zhu Zhixi tilted his head. “I’ll dress up carefully. I absolutely won’t embarrass Teacher Fu.”
“That’s not necessary,” Fu Rangyi replied immediately.
“Why?” Zhu Zhixi frowned slightly and reached out, hooking a finger around one of the buttons on Fu Rangyi’s overcoat. “You don’t like my taste?”
He was clearly pretending to be aggrieved, but there was still a mischievous glint in his eyes. His voice was light and sticky, like a piece of soft taffy.
I hate seeing other people’s eyes glued to you.
Before this, Fu Rangyi had never realized that Betas could attract more attention than either Alphas or Omegas. People of every secondary gender flocked toward him without restraint. No one seemed to have any boundaries; everyone wanted a piece of him.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? So you really don’t like it?” Zhu Zhixi gave him a shove.
“Of course not.” Fu Rangyi caught the hand that had pushed him and answered honestly. “I just think you’re handsome even when you don’t make a special effort.”
Zhu Zhixi froze.
Because Fu Rangyi was simply stating the truth, he didn’t notice anything unusual. He released Zhu Zhixi’s hand and turned to leave. Before walking away, he casually added in a gentle voice,
“Come early, little angel.”
His figure gradually disappeared down the tree-lined path. He stopped briefly when he encountered two students and gave them a polite nod.
Zhu Zhixi kept watching.
Without thinking, he opened his mouth and quietly supplied the dialogue for the students:
“…Hello, Professor Fu. Goodbye, Professor Fu.”
After muttering to himself, he started the car and drove away.
His face felt warm. Zhu Zhixi didn’t roll up the window immediately, letting the cold air blow over him for quite a while before finally feeling clear-headed again.
The moment he arrived at the museum, a new message popped up on his phone.
[Handsome Widower: ?????]
Zhu Zhixi grinned foolishly for quite a while.
The exhibition preparations were progressing more smoothly than expected. Though he wasn’t the type to create meticulous plans or work with ruthless efficiency, he was bursting with ideas and creativity.
Standing nearby, Zhou Ming watched him set up camera equipment.
“Taking photos?”
“Filming a vlog.” Zhu Zhixi turned back with a smile. “I want to document the entire preparation process for this exhibition and post it online. First, it’ll attract more visitors, and second, it’ll serve as a keepsake.”
Clapping his hands together, he stood up.
“Actually, before accepting this job, I didn’t know much about these historical artifacts. Recently I’ve been organizing them all, and I’ve realized every little artifact has its own story. Some are part of history itself, while others involve amusing incidents from archaeological work.”
These were all stories Fu Rangyi had told him while explaining the exhibits one by one.
Afraid Zhu Zhixi would get bored, he’d always included extra anecdotes and interesting details.
Sitting beside him and taking notes, Zhu Zhixi had listened with complete fascination.
He had discovered that beneath Fu Rangyi’s logical mindset, efficiency, strict self-discipline, and outstanding professional competence lay an incredibly soft and sensitive heart.
Fu Rangyi probably didn’t realize it himself.
When he spoke, those cold and ancient objects would suddenly come alive.
As though enchanted by magic, they gained brief, vivid souls and lined up one after another to perform for Zhu Zhixi, showing him the stories hidden behind them.
As the listener, Zhu Zhixi had touched that pure softness.
And become completely captivated by it.
So he’d praised Fu Rangyi sincerely.
[I’m jealous of your students. They have a teacher who’s so good at explaining things.]
Pulling a chocolate bar from his pocket, he’d stuffed it into Fu Rangyi’s hand.
[You should be my teacher too. Professor Fu, this is my tuition.]
But after glancing at him, Fu Rangyi hadn’t agreed.
[Don’t call me Professor Fu. It sounds like my academic rank got demoted.]
This man’s priorities were always completely skewed.
A moment later, though, Fu Rangyi adjusted his glasses and awkwardly explained while looking down.
[I wouldn’t teach like this in class. It feels… not very professional.]
Remembering that exchange, Zhu Zhixi couldn’t help laughing aloud.
Zhou Ming spoke up at the perfect moment.
“That professional guidance came from Teacher Fu, didn’t it?”
Returning to the present, Zhu Zhixi nodded.
“Yeah. And I paid him for it too, so don’t worry—he’s not scamming the museum.”
He continued,
“These stories are actually fascinating, but most people don’t have a way to learn them. Even visitors who come to the exhibition can only read the brief descriptions beside the displays. That’s a pretty boring viewing experience.”
“So I’ve decided to pick the ten artifacts I find most interesting and tell their stories from their own perspectives. I’ll make ten short videos and release one each day during the ten days leading up to the exhibition.”
He grinned.
“That’s a pretty great marketing strategy, right?”
Zhou Ming’s eyes lit up.
“It really is. But the workload just exploded… We weren’t paying that much to begin with, so this feels a little embarrassing.”
“That’s not important.” Zhu Zhixi smiled sincerely and let out a breath. “I just want this exhibition to be successful.”
From the beginning, he’d known this would be the last time.
But he desperately wished it wouldn’t be.
To avoid being late for dinner, Zhu Zhixi left the museum at four o’clock and headed home to change clothes.
He remembered the dark gray coat Fu Rangyi had worn that morning and had already planned a matching outfit in the same color palette.
Although he’d acted casual in front of Fu Rangyi, he actually cared a great deal about this dinner.
After all, it was the first time he’d attended a gathering as someone else’s partner.
An entirely new experience.
He realized he was a little too excited.
His leg kept bouncing, and he’d even chosen a different navigation route than usual.
Calm down, Zhu Zhixi, he ordered himself.
Snow began drifting from the sky again as he crossed the bridge, and a light winter mist hung over the river.
After leaving the bridge, he slowed down and carefully navigated through an intersection.
While waiting at a red light, he casually glanced around.
Then he suddenly spotted a small dog crouching near the roadside about twenty meters ahead.
White.
Tiny.
Wearing a blue collar.
Goosebumps instantly spread across Zhu Zhixi’s body.
Without hesitation, he snapped a photo and anxiously waited for the light to turn green. The moment it did, he pulled over.
The little white dog ran.
It was heading across the street.
“Hey!”
Zhu Zhixi immediately chased after it, eyes fixed on the dog.
But it was so small.
The area was an old residential neighborhood, and the sidewalks were crowded with vendors selling vegetables and household goods. The little white dog vanished into the crowd with ease.
He chased it through an entire street, weaving around stalls.
At the entrance to an alley around a corner, he followed it inside—
and lost sight of it completely.
“It definitely ran this way…”
Panting, he lowered his head.
Suddenly he felt warmth on his lips.
Wiping at it, he discovered another nosebleed.
Blood soon dripped onto his clothes.
“Oh, come on.”
He dug out some tissues and remembered the method Fu Rangyi had taught him. Pinching his nose and leaning forward, he still refused to give up.
He wandered around the area, continuing to search while softening his voice in an attempt to coax the dog out.
“Xiaoyu? Is that you? We just met. Did you already forget me?”
Had it even lost the memory of their encounter?
What a weak angel.
No answer came.
The dog had disappeared completely.
After checking the time and worrying about being late, Zhu Zhixi reluctantly left the alley.
On the way back, he bought a popsicle from a convenience store and pressed it against the back of his neck.
The snow was falling heavily, and the cold was becoming uncomfortable.
He turned up the heater and sat in the car for a while.
The temporary parking alert beeped steadily.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Like a countdown timer.
Everything felt strangely unreal, as though what had just happened had been nothing more than a dream.
A thin layer of fog had formed on the windshield.
The temperature difference was too great. White mist condensed on the glass, blurring his view. When he wiped it with his fingertips, it turned into droplets of water.
He wiped it again.
After cleaning his glasses, Fu Rangyi’s vision became clear once more.
By then several platters of barbecue had already arrived at the table. Colleagues were saying, “Go ahead and start eating,” while laying slices of meat on the grill.
Sizzle.
The meat curled as it cooked.
“Hey, didn’t Little Fu say he was bringing his spouse? Why’d he come alone?”
Only then did Fu Rangyi look up.
“He had work. He said he’d come on his own. He’s on the way.”
An Omega colleague sitting diagonally across from him smiled.
“I’m so jealous. Look at Teacher Fu’s wedding ring—it’s gorgeous and so tasteful. Unlike my husband’s. He only knows how to buy platinum diamond rings. No design sense whatsoever.”
“Seriously! Teacher Fu’s ring is beautiful. I always thought you had zero interest in jewelry.”
“Your spouse picked it out, right?”
In the past, Fu Rangyi rarely discussed personal matters. When they came up, he’d simply smile and remain silent. Everyone was used to teasing him regardless of whether he responded.
So when he actually answered this time, everyone was surprised.
“I picked it out.”
His expression softened.
“No way!”
“Really?”
“What made you choose a ruby? Most people go with diamonds.”
Fu Rangyi picked up his tea and took a sip.
Looking down, he said quietly,
“When he gets here, take a look at his eyes.”
“Then you’ll understand.”
Author’s Note:
— Mini Theater: Teacher Fu’s Invitation —
The day after building the snowman, Teacher Fu “happened” to stop by the museum after work to pick up Zhu Zhixi.
During the drive, he kept chatting about random things—mostly stories from his university office. One topic jumped to another with no apparent connection.
Zhu Zhixi gradually found it strange.
Then stranger.
Then even stranger.
Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and interrupted.
Zhu Zhixi: “Whoever you are, get out of my husband’s body.”
Fu Rangyi: ??? What are you talking about?
Zhu Zhixi: What are you talking about? You’ve been rambling nonstop, jumping from topic to topic like you’re desperately searching for something to say. What are you actually trying to tell me?
Fu Rangyi: … …
(After ten minutes of silence.)
Fu Rangyi: It’s the end of the semester. My colleagues are having a dinner gathering. Several teachers want to meet you. I told them you’re very busy and probably don’t have time, and that you don’t like attending events like this, but they still want to meet you. If you don’t want to go, I’ll explain it to them. It’s not an important dinner anyway. Don’t worry—I can make up some excuses for you…
Zhu Zhixi: Wait. What are we eating?
Fu Rangyi: What do you want to eat?
Zhu Zhixi: Barbecue.
Fu Rangyi: …It just so happens we’re having barbecue.
Zhu Zhixi: That’s amazing! I’m going! That barbecue place is super good!
Fu Rangyi silently made a mental note.
After getting home, he opened the faculty group chat and, for the first time that year, voluntarily sent a message:
[Little Fu: I heard the XXX Barbecue Restaurant is excellent. Could we move the dinner there?]
