Chapter 18
Lin Song’an began preparing for Tan Ning’s birthday surprise several days in advance, but midway, his mother summoned him for some inexplicable pheromone tests.
From gland examinations to blood draws, he went to the hospital five or six times in total. Frustrated by the hassle, Lin Song’an asked his mother, “What exactly is this about? Why do I need to test my pheromones? Weren’t the levels determined when I first differentiated?”
When Lin Song’an had first differentiated at the age of fifteen, his exceedingly rare level-nine pheromone had immediately made headlines.
“It’s not about testing levels,” his mother said vaguely as she carefully examined the test results. “It’s just a basic check. Don’t worry about it for now; I’ll handle the rest by consulting specialists.”
“What are you planning?”
His mother gently pushed him away, her expression relaxed. “It’s nothing, really. I just want to find an expert to treat your rut period. That’s all. You can go now.”
So Lin Song’an went back to catch up on sleep, and the next afternoon, he drove alone to Xuan City.
Although Lin Song’an was a physically robust alpha, he couldn’t escape the weakness caused by having two tubes of blood drawn and undergoing pheromone extraction. He already felt fatigued while driving.
When he first saw Tan Ning, his spirits were high, so it didn’t affect him much. But now, after eating sweets and falling into silence with Tan Ning, drowsiness quickly crept in.
He had wanted to hold Tan Ning tighter, but when Tan Ning struggled slightly, he found he didn’t have much strength left.
Sensing Lin Song’an’s grip slowly loosening, Tan Ning suddenly didn’t dare to move.
He was still pondering: Why did he need to test his pheromones?
Lin Song’an completely let go, lifted his head, and looked at Tan Ning. “Can I go to your place and take a nap? I’m so sleepy.”
Their eyes met, and Tan Ning saw a playful glint in Lin Song’an’s eyes, a mix of temptation and testing.
“No,” Tan Ning refused.
“Why not? Isn’t it just your grandfather at home? I’ll leave before dawn so he won’t notice. Can’t we make that work?”
Tan Ning looked away.
Lin Song’an chuckled and rubbed his waist.
Before Tan Ning could respond, Lin Song’an said, “Just kidding. I’ve already booked a hotel.”
He knew Tan Ning would never bring him home.
Tan Ning, who had been anxiously thinking about how to hide that half-wall of health supplements at his grandfather’s place, paused. “What?”
Lin Song’an buried his face against Tan Ning’s abdomen again, nuzzling him. “I’ve booked a hotel. I’ll sleep there and head back tomorrow morning. I wanted to spend more time with you, but I have some matters to attend to with my dad tomorrow afternoon.”
Seeing that Tan Ning didn’t respond, Lin Song’an shook him lightly. “Are you upset that I’m not going to your place?”
Tan Ning asked, “Which hotel?”
Lin Song’an couldn’t recall for a moment. “I can’t remember; I’ll navigate there later.”
Lin Song’an’s fatigue was nearly palpable.
Tan Ning had never seen him struggling like this. Lin Song’an was always confident and at ease; even during his rut periods, he only ever exhausted Tan Ning.
He must be truly tired.
Tan Ning himself felt sore and achy after a four-hour bus ride to Xuan City Station, not to mention Lin Song’an, who had driven five hours after having two tubes of blood drawn.
Two tubes of blood—Lin Song’an’s arm still bore obvious bruises.
Before long, Lin Song’an completely released Tan Ning and said, “Let’s go.”
But Tan Ning stood motionless. Lin Song’an turned to look at him and saw that Tan Ning had slightly raised his arms, his curled fingers peeking out from his sleeves. His eyes were fixed intently on Lin Song’an, still silent.
Seeing his strange posture, Lin Song’an’s first thought was: Is he asking for a hug?
Impossible. Lin Song’an mocked himself with a laugh.
“Are you cold? Then let’s head back.” Lin Song’an quickly took Tan Ning’s hand and led him back to the car, placing the gifts into his hands. “Open them at home.”
Tan Ning’s expression was even more impassive than when he’d first come out. He put the gifts back and said, “No need. Thank you.”
Lin Song’an sighed. “Giving back gifts that someone carefully selected isn’t the right way to say thank you.”
Tan Ning’s fingertips trembled unconsciously. Lin Song’an pinched his face gently. “I thought you just weren’t getting along with your roommates at school, but you seem even unhappier since coming home.”
Tan Ning said, “No.”
“Did something happen?”
Tan Ning swallowed several times.
He had never felt such an urgent need to speak, but it was as if something was lodged in his throat. The longer Lin Song’an waited, the more anxious he became, and the blockage seemed to swell. In the end, all he felt was a painful lump in his throat, rendering him unable to utter a single word.
Not a single word.
Tan Ning shook his head.
Lin Song’an knew that Tan Ning never confided in him and that he couldn’t pry his secrets out. He had no choice but to let it go.
“They’re just small gifts. You’ll understand when you open them—they’re not worth much. Please accept them.”
Tan Ning was unlikely to reach out and take them, so Lin Song’an once again stuffed the gifts into his arms. Then he gently pushed him back and closed the trunk. “I’m leaving now; I’m really too sleepy.”
Turning away, Tan Ning began to walk slowly back toward his house, his back facing Lin Song’an.
Lin Song’an got into the car, turned on the navigation system, and prepared to back out of the alley. Tan Ning had already returned home.
As he steered, Lin Song’an muttered to himself, “Heartless little thing, didn’t even say goodbye.”
Around three in the morning, Mr. Wang, who couldn’t sleep and decided to take a stroll, yawned as he stepped out of his house. In the distance, he saw someone riding a bicycle emerging from the misty darkness. The sky was still dark, and the rider was so exhausted that they were slumped over the handlebars, wobbling unsteadily and nearly falling.
Mr. Wang squinted for a long time before recognizing him. “Hey, aren’t you Old Yue’s grandson, Xiao Ning? What are you doing out at this hour instead of sleeping?”
Tan Ning passed by without a word and went back home.
“That kid!” Mr. Wang waved his hand dismissively. “Acts like a mute.”
Tan Ning had rushed out wearing only a thin sweatshirt and was chilled to the bone by the damp early morning wind. His joints ached, his whole body was sore, even his fingers hurt. He took off his clothes and pants and collapsed onto the bed, his limbs barely able to stretch out.
But his mind felt at ease.
Lin Song’an stayed at the best hotel in Xuan City, over ten kilometers from Tianqiao Gardens. There were few cars on the road, and despite his fatigue, he didn’t nod off while driving. He safely reached the hotel entrance, checked in, and everything went smoothly.
Tan Ning let out a heavy sigh of relief and then fell asleep from exhaustion.
He slept until eleven the next morning. When he woke, his arms were still sore, as if he’d been severely beaten.
Groggy, he turned over and picked up his phone to see a message from Lin Song’an:
[I’m back. Do you like the gifts? If you like watches, we can pick one out together when you return.]
Only then did Tan Ning remember to open the gifts.
The first was a bottle of perfume—the medicinal sandalwood scent that Lin Song’an had once let him smell. Lin Song’an had said it was the scent of his pheromones.
Tan Ning carefully sprayed a little on his wrist and sniffed.
At first, it was bitter, but upon closer scent, it was fragrant.
There was also a new phone. Tan Ning’s current phone had a cracked screen from an accidental drop late last year. Lin Song’an often teased him, asking if looking at the screen that way made his eyes hurt. Tan Ning was reluctant to spend money on himself, so he hadn’t replaced it. He hadn’t expected Lin Song’an to remember.
Tan Ning put the phone back into its box, untouched.
The last gift was a small ceramic cat with a fierce expression and sharp claws. It looked like Lin Song’an had made it himself. Except for the pointed ears and the painted whiskers, it was hard to tell it was a cat. The glaze was uneven, and the surface was pitted—not attractive at all.
Tan Ning touched the cat’s head, then held the ceramic cat against his chest.
After a while, he sat up again, picked up the perfume bottle, and sprayed a little on the back of the ceramic cat’s neck.
*
At noon, Yue Ying came over to celebrate Tan Ning’s birthday despite still being a bit upset. But as soon as she reached the door, she saw Tan Ning cooking in the kitchen, with a meat dish and a vegetable dish already set on the table.
She paused. “Why are you cooking by yourself?”
Tan Ning turned off the stove. “It’s nothing. Let’s eat together.”
Yue Ying took out a cake. “They didn’t have small birthday cakes, only this tiramisu. I hope it’s okay.”
Tan Ning gave a slight smile and said, “Thank you.”
Grandpa, who had been watching mahjong at a neighbor’s house, returned just in time for lunch. He said to Yue Ying, “You should try your son’s cooking.”
“I didn’t know Xiao Ning could cook.”
Grandpa served the rice. “Oh yes, I taught him before. He can make braised pork, stewed beef—all sorts of dishes.”
Yue Ying sat down. “Then living independently in the future shouldn’t be a problem for him.”
But when it came to social skills…
Yue Ying regretted not paying more attention to Tan Ning over the years.
But she also felt sad. Every time she saw Tan Ning, she couldn’t help but think of that man, Tan Wenbin.
Tan Wenbin deserved to die, but why did he have to die like that? His death left Yue Ying and Tan Ning living half their lives under the shadow of that gruesome scene.
She had moved on, but her son seemed not to have.
Yue Ying wanted to say more but was interrupted by Grandpa. “Just eat. Why do you have to talk so much during meals?”
Yue Ying’s face tightened, and she held back her words.
After the meal, Yue Ying slipped a red envelope into Tan Ning’s pocket. “Happy birthday, Xiao Ning. I didn’t get a chance to celebrate your twentieth birthday, so I’m making up for it this year.”
“No need; I have money.”
“Take it.” Yue Ying lowered her head, helping him arrange the cleaned dishes. “Besides this, there’s not much else I can do for you.”
She reached out to smooth Tan Ning’s hair but suddenly stopped. “Why do you have a wound on the back of your neck? Is that a scab?”
Tan Ning abruptly took a step back.
A mother knows her child. Yue Ying quickly realized. “What kind of wound is this? It looks like… a bite mark.”
Tan Ning immediately denied it. “No, I accidentally scratched it on a branch.”
“How is that possible? Are you dating someone? But you’re a beta—you shouldn’t be with an alpha!”
“I’m not.” Tan Ning dropped the dishes and headed back to his room. As he passed through the living room, he heard a news broadcast from Grandpa’s TV.
[Pheromone compatibility testing has become a popular trend. According to data released by Xuan City People’s Hospital, among one hundred compatibility test results, only five exceeded 85%. Some experts suggest including pheromone compatibility testing in premarital examinations…]
Tan Ning stopped in his tracks and sharply turned to look at the TV.
The news segment ended quickly.
Feeling unsteady, Tan Ning walked back to his room, lay down on the bed, and pressed the ceramic cat against his chest, holding it tightly.
Toward evening, Lin Song’an sent him a message:
[What are you doing?]
Tan Ning stared blankly at the ceramic cat.
[I’m in Singapore. There’s a beautiful resort island here. When winter break comes, I’ll bring you here for the holidays.]
[Photo]
[Photo]
[It’s colder where you are than in Ningjiang during winter. I want to take you somewhere warm for the season.]
[Oh, I forgot—little cats aren’t afraid of cold or heat.]
[We haven’t traveled together yet.]
Lin Song’an was accustomed to talking to himself.
[Tan little cat, pay attention to me.]
So Tan Ning replied:
[What do you want?]
After sending the message, Lin Song’an didn’t respond immediately. Feeling a bit annoyed, Tan Ning waited for two minutes and was about to retract his message when Lin Song’an finally replied.
[I’m accompanying my dad on a factory inspection—so boring.]
[Later, I have to attend a banquet.]
[If only you were waiting for me in the hotel room.]
Tan Ning replied:
[Oh.]
Lin Song’an insisted on engaging him:
[What else?]
Tan Ning thought for a moment and replied:
[Don’t drink.]
Lin Song’an’s alcohol tolerance was average. Tan Ning had seen him drunk before; his clinginess would double, and he’d completely lose the demeanor of a proud young master. If others saw him like that, it would be embarrassing for Tianhe Group.
Lin Song’an seemed surprised by Tan Ning’s sudden concern. The “typing…” indicator appeared several times before he finally sent:
[Alright, I promise not to touch a drop.]
Grandpa called out from the living room for Tan Ning to come eat dinner. Tan Ning set down his phone, forgetting about the ceramic cat on his chest. As he stood up, the cat almost fell to the floor. His heart skipped a beat as he quickly crouched down to catch it.
He placed the cat back into the small box on his bedside table, but still uneasy, he moved the box to the side against the wall.
