Chapter 13: Kidney-Tonic Tea
Being interrupted so abruptly completely killed the atmosphere. On the way back to the dorm, neither of them spoke again.
Jiang Rong couldn’t quite read He Siming’s intentions, and He Siming didn’t bring up what had just happened. Jiang Rong guessed that He Siming had probably been joking with him earlier, so he didn’t think too much about it.
Soon after, He Siming went downstairs and was called away by a phone call.
Jiang Rong, however, kept thinking about how He Siming had helped him through his heat—and how he had even lent him a set of clothes. He felt that he hadn’t given anything in return and was rather embarrassed.
After having dinner alone in the cafeteria, Jiang Rong originally planned to return to the dorm to rest for a bit before going to the library to continue listening to online introductory courses. But when he walked out of the cafeteria and saw the sign for a nearby supermarket, he turned and headed over.
He needed to buy a small gift to thank He Siming.
After all, He Siming wasn’t a real Alpha. He’d expended a lot of energy these past few days. Jiang Rong couldn’t exactly make him nourishing soup at school, so buying some herbal tea that replenished vitality would have to do.
He had been here for over a month and had gone to the supermarket only a handful of times. Mainly because prices there weren’t cheap—if he needed to buy something, online shopping was more cost-effective. Meals could be handled in the cafeteria, so there was little reason to visit the supermarket.
He wandered around the supermarket but found that there was no herbal tea with qi- and kidney-tonifying effects—really quite different from his own world.
In the ABO world, supermarkets always stocked this kind of functional tea for Alphas. If an Omega’s heat lasted more than four days, it truly required a certain level of physical stamina from the Alpha.
Why was that?
Because a hundred years ago, Alpha–Omega pairings operated under a pheromone-matching mechanism. They rarely chose partners on their own. Highly compatible Alphas and Omegas fit extremely well together, and there was no issue of excess pheromones that couldn’t be neutralized.
A hundred years later, technology advanced and human rights were emphasized. Alphas and Omegas could use suppressants to control their heat cycles.
But suppressants were still synthesized drugs; overuse would cause resistance in the body. Many Omegas and Alphas in relationships preferred the most primal way to get through heat.
That was because some Alphas’ low-concentration pheromones could lower an Omega’s high concentration, but only by expending physical energy. In other words, one Alpha could “charge” a heated Omega for two days—but if the Omega needed three days’ worth of energy, the Alpha’s supply wouldn’t be enough and would have to compensate with other bodily resources. That was how qi- and kidney-tonifying teas came about, and they were everywhere in supermarkets back home.
This world’s sexual health products were simply too conservative.
He searched on his phone for where to buy kidney-tonifying tea. Online recommendations pointed him toward traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies, and there were several near the school gate.
After carefully doing his research and finding one that was a century-old chain brand, Jiang Rong went straight there.
There was a doctor on duty at the pharmacy.
As soon as he entered, a female doctor in her fifties asked what he was seeing a doctor for or what medicine he needed.
Jiang Rong said, “Hello, do you have any herbal tea for men that replenishes kidney qi?”
The doctor smiled. “We do, but you look rosy and healthy—you don’t really need it. Young people can get overheated if they drink that.”
Jiang Rong’s face flushed. “It’s not for me—it’s for… a friend. He’s been working very hard.”
A doctor in her fifties had seen it all and immediately understood. “Alright. We have a relatively mild kidney-tonifying herbal tea—our own in-house formula. Many customers say their energy and overall condition improved after drinking it. But young people still need to know moderation.”
Jiang Rong nodded, blushing. “Okay, then I’ll buy a week’s supply for him.”
His little savings really weren’t much.
The doctor said, “Sure. You came to the right place. Health supplements outside are expensive—our own formulas are affordable.”
Jiang Rong took the seven days’ worth of tea bags and returned to school.
When he got back to the dorm, He Siming wasn’t there.
When they’d parted in the evening, He Siming had clearly headed toward the parking garage. He had probably left campus and might not even come back tonight.
The original Jiang Rong had intentionally avoided interacting with his roommates and had bought himself a multifunction electric kettle that could also be used to brew tea.
He saw a thermos on He Siming’s desk—it was probably for winter use. If He Siming didn’t come back tonight, he could brew the tea tomorrow morning and bring it to him in class.
After settling everything, Jiang Rong went to the library.
Whenever he encountered something he didn’t understand, he wrote it down. Unsure whether He Siming would really help him, he tried taking a photo of the confusing part and sent it to him.
Jiang Rong: He Siming, what does this part mean?
He thought he’d have to wait a long time, but to his surprise, He Siming replied in less than a minute.
He Siming sent him a link: I’m eating with family and can’t type easily. This video explains it very clearly—watch it first. If you still don’t understand, I’ll explain it to you tomorrow.
Jiang Rong: Okay. By the way, can your thermos be used?
He Siming thought Jiang Rong wanted to use it himself.
He Siming: Sure.
Jiang Rong: Thanks, then I won’t disturb you anymore.
He Siming: It’s fine.
Jiang Rong didn’t reply again. He eagerly opened the video link He Siming had sent—the teacher in the video indeed explained the points he didn’t understand very clearly.
With He Siming’s help, Jiang Rong realized that fitting into this world seemed much easier than he had imagined.
He ended the night’s studying in a good mood, planning to continue tomorrow.
Before going to bed, he washed He Siming’s thermos thoroughly.
Tomorrow was another 8 a.m. start, with classes all day. Everyone went to bed early.
A good night’s sleep.
The next morning, Jiang Rong was awakened by a beam of sunlight. Li Yizhou’s bed was by the window, and he hadn’t drawn the curtains. The newly risen sunlight slanted directly onto Jiang Rong’s face. There were still fifteen minutes before his usual wake-up time.
Having gone to bed early the past two days, his sleep quality was good. Jiang Rong got up feeling refreshed.
Since childhood, his parents had expected him to differentiate as an Omega and had held him to the strictest standards, wanting him to become the most outstanding Omega possible. So he had never slept in—not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t. Over time, he developed the habit of going to bed early and waking up early.
After washing up, he took out the tea bags he’d bought yesterday and brewed the tea with the kettle. Half an hour later, he poured the steaming hot tea into the thermos and put it into his backpack.
There were still forty minutes before class. Li Yizhou’s first alarm began ringing; there would be a second and a third.
Li Yizhou was notoriously bad at waking up. Yao Shule struggled out of bed, squinting as he climbed down and saw Jiang Rong preparing to leave.
Yao Shule said, “You’re up late today?”
“Yeah. Want me to bring you breakfast?”
Yao Shule brightened. “Sure, sure—I can sleep ten more minutes.”
“Then tell Li Yizhou I’ll bring breakfast for both of you.”
Yao Shule said, “The meal cards are on the desk.”
Jiang Rong took their meal cards and went to the cafeteria.
He was in a pretty good mood today and even managed to get the fried dough sticks he’d been craving. If he’d arrived any later, they’d be gone—but today he actually got some.
During the month he’d been living on his own, he’d browsed the food section of the campus forum. Many students said the cafeteria’s fried dough sticks tasted like childhood and were a must-try. Apparently, even students from neighboring schools came over just to check them out—they were that popular.
Fried dough sticks with soy milk, plus two vegetable buns—that was his breakfast.
Right after buying them, Jiang Rong received messages from his roommates.
The dorm group chat came back to life.
[LeleNeverLoses patted you]
LeleNeverLoses: Get me a cup of soy milk and an egg pancake.
[YizhouTheBoss patted you]
YizhouTheBoss: Same.
Jiang Rong: Already bought.
LeleNeverLoses: [heart gesture.jpg]
YizhouTheBoss: [You are humanity’s savior of food.jpg]
After finishing breakfast and just stepping out of the cafeteria, Jiang Rong’s path was blocked by a figure.
It was Ding Yan. “Wait, Jiang Rong.”
Ding Yan was He Siming’s friend, but the other day he’d made a fuss and forced Jiang Rong to drink alcohol, worsening his heat. Jiang Rong had no good feelings toward him.
And Jiang Rong wasn’t nice to everyone. “What do you want?”
Ding Yan stiffened awkwardly and pulled Jiang Rong toward a spot with fewer people passing by.
Jiang Rong was confused—was he going to hit him over that junior or something?
“Let go. What are you doing?”
Ding Yan cleared his throat. “Don’t shout, don’t shout. I’m here to apologize.”
Jiang Rong hadn’t expected that. “Huh?”
Ding Yan said, “I’m really sorry about Friday at the bar. I shouldn’t have forced you to drink that glass—it was my vanity. I didn’t know the drink was spiked, really. I’m very sorry!”
Jiang Rong didn’t respond.
Ding Yan thought he was still angry, expecting him to show the same disdain and disgust as before. But Jiang Rong didn’t. Ding Yan grew more and more uneasy.
“I’ll add you on WeChat and transfer you some compensation for emotional distress. You were unwell for three days and stayed in a hotel—I’ll transfer the hotel money to you too.”
When he mentioned the hotel, Jiang Rong didn’t dare think back on it. Besides, He Siming had paid for the hotel.
The hotel matter couldn’t be discussed, but he could return the money to He Siming.
Jiang Rong said, “Alright, then transfer it to me.”
Ding Yan was even more anxious than Jiang Rong. “Okay, okay. Oh, and remember to tell He Siming that I apologized to you.”
They added each other on WeChat, and Ding Yan immediately transferred ten thousand yuan.
Jiang Rong: “……” Are college students really this rich nowadays?
Back in the classroom, Jiang Rong gave the breakfasts to Yao Shule and Li Yizhou. In return, they’d saved him a seat.
Just as he sat down, the seat beside him was taken.
He Siming glanced at the fragrant egg pancakes in the other two’s hands, his expression calm.
Jiang Rong took the thermos out of his backpack. “He Siming, this is for you.”
He Siming’s lips curved slightly. “What is it?”
Jiang Rong leaned toward him and whispered, “Herbal tea I brewed for you this morning.”
He Siming held the thermos. “Thank you.”
Jiang Rong reminded him, “It’s a bit hot—open the lid and let it cool before drinking.”
“Alright.”
Jiang Rong told He Siming on WeChat about Ding Yan apologizing and transferred the money Ding Yan had given him. But He Siming glanced at the message and didn’t accept it.
Jiang Rong: Accept it.
He Siming: No need. Keep it. It was meant for you anyway—compensation he should give.
Jiang Rong was at a loss. Why wouldn’t he accept it?
At that moment, the professor had already stepped up to the podium and begun the lecture.
During class, He Siming unscrewed the thermos lid and took a few sips, clearly in a good mood.
Just before the end of class, the professor suddenly raised his voice into the microphone.
“He Siming—why are you getting a nosebleed?!”
