Chapter 26
Tan Ning awoke abruptly around six in the morning.
He had a nightmare.
The lingering final image was from the day he broke up with Lin Song’an a year ago. Lin Song’an’s eyes were bloodshot as he asked why. Tan Ning didn’t answer. Lin Song’an turned and left; Tan Ning watched his figure grow distant, enveloped by immense sadness.
He woke up, his breathing uneven.
Looking at his phone, it was only 6:20.
The other three roommates were still asleep. Tan Ning lay in bed for another hour and left precisely at 7:40.
Zheng Yu complained, “So annoying! Why get up so early?”
He Qingrui turned over and mumbled in Tan Ning’s defense, “Maybe he’s going to the library, and he wasn’t that loud anyway.”
Zheng Yu was speechless, his face suddenly darkening.
Carrying his backpack, Tan Ning walked out of the campus. Before eight o’clock, there weren’t many people around. The roads were wide, the air carried a slight chill, and green leaves on the branches swayed with the wind.
Tan Ning took the subway to Tianhe Villa, a total of fifteen stops. After exiting the station and walking to the villa entrance, it was almost nine o’clock. This time, the security guards didn’t stop him—probably following Lin Song’an’s instructions. Without questioning his identity, they opened the gate respectfully, as if Tan Ning were the owner of the villa area.
Instead of going directly to Lin Song’an’s house, Tan Ning detoured to the supermarket to buy some vegetables, beef, and chicken breast.
The prices at the upscale villa supermarket were nearly ten times those at the Xuancheng market. Tan Ning didn’t understand why labeling vegetables with a foreign origin made them so expensive.
A few items cost him several days’ living expenses.
Tan Ning walked slowly, expressionless, carrying plastic bags toward Lin Song’an’s house. The door code was the same as Lin Song’an’s phone password; to this day, Tan Ning didn’t know what the numbers 210315 represented.
Entering the house, it was eerily quiet. Tan Ning glanced toward the closed bedroom door.
He went to the kitchen first, washing the beef and side dishes and putting them into a rice cooker to stew. Then he chopped the vegetables and chicken breast to make four vegetable-chicken patties, placing them on a plate.
After tidying up, he washed his hands and headed toward the bedroom.
As expected, the room was a mess.
The air was filled with a tense and dangerous atmosphere—like an arena after a fierce battle, with the lingering scent of smoke and tension.
Lin Song’an always believed he could overcome his physiological constraints, but the results were less than ideal.
Glass cups, table lamps, picture frames, laptops—all were scattered everywhere. Expensive collectibles and artworks on the shelves were shattered on the floor—an incalculable amount of damage. Tan Ning was always sensitive about money; he sighed and arranged the items that were still intact.
By the door lay a box of something Tan Ning hadn’t seen before. He picked it up and found it was the “Omega Pheromone Extract” that Lin Song’an had mentioned before.
A box of six doses, none used.
It seemed Lin Song’an had struggled but that rationality had prevailed in the end.
Without changing his expression, Tan Ning threw the entire box into the garbage bin in the living room.
He closed the bedroom door and walked to the bedside, crouching down. Lin Song’an was asleep but obviously in a light sleep; his brows furrowed occasionally, and there were dark circles under his eyes.
The blue watch was intact, placed on the bedside table.
Crouching by the bed, Tan Ning stared blankly at Lin Song’an’s sleeping face. He first hugged his knees, then tilted his head, trying to synchronize his breathing with Lin Song’an’s.
“Your breathing is so fast,” he whispered.
Alphas are always vulnerable like children during their rut periods, and with a face like Lin Song’an’s, it naturally evoked even more pity.
Tan Ning raised his hand and pressed Lin Song’an’s nose tip.
The next second, Lin Song’an opened his eyes.
“Ning Ning,” his first words were a bit confused, the second filled with dependence, “You’re here.”
Without any warning, Tan Ning was pulled onto the bed, enveloped by the soft velvet blankets, as if surrounded by clouds. Lin Song’an, suppressing himself, kissed him gently and carefully.
“Ning Ning, it’s still no good.”
He sounded a bit frustrated.
Tan Ning could imagine how much Lin Song’an had suffered last night. In biology class, the rut period was described as being as painful as drowning, teetering on despair. For a top-level alpha like Lin Song’an, the pain would naturally be doubled.
The mess in the room also proved this point.
All his muscles were tense, his breathing trembling uncontrollably. Tan Ning saw his sliding Adam’s apple and his intense gaze.
“Mm.” Tan Ning said nothing.
Saying anything was useless; struggling was useless; even surrendering was useless.
Lin Song’an’s kisses fell like a storm.
In the hours that followed, Lin Song’an, overwhelmed by his rut period, acted with an intensity that left Ta Ningn exhausted and overwhelmed. Tan Ning felt powerless to control the situation, and his emotions shifted from silence to fear and distress.
“Don’t cry, Ning Ning. Be good.” Lin Song’an tried to comfort him, lifting him from the bed.
Later, Lin Song’an began to regain his clarity.
“Are you feeling better?” Tan Ning’s voice was weak and hoarse.
He glanced out the window; it was already noon. The sun was high, glaringly bright.
“Much better.”
Lin Song’an lay beside Tan Ning, his eyes complex.
“Hungry?”
“Not really.”
Tan Ning turned over, facing away from Lin Song’an, pulled up the blanket, curled up, and prepared to sleep. He whispered, “There’s beef soup in the pot; just add some salt, and you can eat it. There are also vegetable-chicken patties; bake them in the oven for twenty minutes.”
Lin Song’an hugged him from behind.
“I’m sorry, Ning Ning.”
Tan Ning was too tired to speak.
When Lin Song’an brought lunch to the bedside, Tan Ning was already asleep. When he woke again, he had only taken a couple of bites of the patty before Lin Song’an seemed to need his help again.
Holding the patty in both hands, Tan Ning widened his eyes, trying to take a few more bites to fill his stomach.
But Lin Song’an’s behavior indicated that the rut period was not yet over.
Tan Ning noticed Lin Song’an’s intense gaze fixed on the back of his neck, and he felt uneasy.
In the past, he had allowed Lin Song’an to bite him gently during these times, treating it lightly.
But today, he resisted strongly because he suddenly thought of that unknown omega with a high compatibility with Lin Song’an. Although that person hadn’t entered their lives yet, Tan Ning had considered that perhaps they had someone else in their heart, just like Lin Song’an trying to escape the constraints of compatibility. Many unexpected factors could prevent things from going as Lin Song’an’s mother wished.
But Tan Ning didn’t dare put himself in an uncertain position.
Lin Song’an tried to proceed, but Tan Ning mustered his strength to reach for the bite stopper in the bedside drawer.
The cold metal was icy.
Seeing it, Lin Song’an stopped.
Catching his breath, Tan Ning held the straps of the bite stopper in both hands, staring straight at Lin Song’an.
Lin Song’an was unwilling, of course. It was something that completely suppressed his instincts. But the remaining clarity told him that Tan Ning refused to be bitten.
“Put it on,” Tan Ning’s tone brooked no argument.
“Ning Ning…”
“Put it on,” Tan Ning gazed at him, “or you can’t touch me.”
Lin Song’an could only comply, slowly lowering his head, allowing Tan Ning to put the bite stopper on him.
Lin Song’an pressed closely against him, the cold bite stopper touching Tan Ning’s throat.
He showed a pitiful expression, and Tan Ning’s heart softened.
When he woke again, it was already late at night.
Lin Song’an was feeding him honey water with a small spoon. Tan Ning stared blankly for a few seconds, momentarily forgetting where he was until the soreness in his muscles reminded him.
He still asked, “Are you feeling better?”
“Much better.”
Tan Ning thought: Perhaps the actual effect wasn’t great, but he had done his best.
The first time he accompanied Lin Song’an through a rut period was a month after they confirmed their relationship. That day, Lin Song’an didn’t want Tan Ning to be with him during the rut period, fearing he’d get hurt. But Tan Ning, not fully understanding, proactively stayed with Lin Song’an and ended up being exhausted.
In the early morning, shivering, Tan Ning fed Lin Song’an medicine and told him, “Next time, please inform me in advance about your rut period; I won’t come during those days.”
Very decisive and resolute, with a hint of anger.
Lin Song’an smiled helplessly and apologized.
But in reality, Tan Ning said he wouldn’t come, yet he came every time afterward.
Because Lin Song’an had endured a night alone, this rut period didn’t last too long—not the expected three days and nights. Lin Song’an carried Tan Ning to take a bath and then to the guest room. The two cuddled and chatted.
Lin Song’an hugged Tan Ning from behind, whispering in his ear, “There’s no money today, and there won’t be any in the future.”
It took Tan Ning a moment to react; Lin Song’an was referring to the previous arrangement where he paid him two thousand yuan each time.
Resuming their romantic relationship.
Tan Ning didn’t want to engage with him but didn’t want to lose ground by ignoring him, so he coldly said, “No.”
Lin Song’an chuckled, took out his phone from under the pillow, and placed it in Tan Ning’s hand.
Tan Ning entered the password, casually asking, “What does 210315 mean?”
“Didn’t I tell you? It’s the day I first met the love of my life,” Lin Song’an said deliberately.
Expressionless, Tan Ning transferred five thousand yuan to himself.
Lin Song’an almost burst out laughing.
He nibbled on Tan Ning’s earlobe and told him, “It’s the day I first met you, silly cat.”
Tan Ning was stunned.
“That day, I saw you at Lin Qi’s house. You were teaching him in your own way. I stood at the door, watching you all along.”
Tan Ning realized.
Lin Song’an turned him over, asking in confusion, “What were you thinking when you got together with me back then?”
Tan Ning blinked and didn’t answer.
*
Lin Song’an had seen a lot of the world and many different kinds of people. There were many unique and individualistic people, many smart people, even more beautiful people.
But few combined all these qualities.
Tan Ning was one of them.
Lin Song’an had been admired since childhood. With his level-nine alpha pheromones, he was used to others conveying feelings of secret love, admiration, and the like.
Only when Tan Ning came did he lose his composure.
From that winter night leaving Lin Qi’s house, he knew Tan Ning was making the first move, and he also understood Tan Ning’s hesitant intentions.
For example, when Tan Ning took the initiative to send him a “Good morning” message, he deliberately didn’t reply, creating a bit of a challenge for the curious little cat, who would rise to the occasion.
The next day, he sent Tan Ning a “Good morning,” but Tan Ning didn’t reply.
But that evening, when Tan Ning went to Lin Qi’s house, he opened the bedroom door to find Lin Qi absent, only Lin Song’an sitting at the desk. Hearing the sound at the door, Lin Song’an closed his book, looked up slightly, and smiled at Tan Ning. “Lin Qi went out to buy snacks; he’ll be back soon.”
With a stern face, Tan Ning sat down next to Lin Song’an.
During their usual tutoring sessions, Tan Ning never felt that two chairs could be so close, but at that moment, he could feel the warmth of Lin Song’an’s hand.
He pulled over Lin Qi’s exercise book and took out a red pen to correct it.
Lin Song’an openly watched him.
His gaze was meaningful.
Tan Ning’s heart raced; feeling uneasy, he twirled his pen. Lin Song’an took his pen, mimicked his action, slowly spun it once but failed to grip it, and the pen fell onto the table.
Lin Song’an said with a half-smile, “Teacher Tan, teach me.”
Their eyes met briefly and then parted.
As if suddenly realizing something and fearing he’d lose ground, Tan Ning looked up and stared straight at Lin Song’an.
Tan Ning’s direct gaze was the most adorable.
Very frank, without any concealment.
Before long, Lin Qi returned. Lin Song’an waited until the tutoring ended and drove Tan Ning back to school.
Later, they had the ambiguous period that normal couples have. They went out to eat, watched movies together, strolled by the Ning River in the evening breeze, holding hands when their hands brushed against each other.
Tan Ning always thought he was leading the relationship.
He had no experience but seemed to know instinctively.
One day, he deliberately checked the weather forecast and rescheduled Lin Qi’s tutoring to a rainy day. On the way back, they were caught in a sudden downpour and trapped in the car.
Tan Ning tried to open the car door; the storm blew in, soaking his sleeves.
Lin Song’an said, “Shall we go to my place then?”
Tan Ning looked at the car window but said nothing.
So Lin Song’an turned the car around, heading to Tianhe Villa instead of back to school.
That was Tan Ning’s first time at Tianhe Villa.
Lin Song’an had gotten a bit wet. After a quick shower, he came out to see Tan Ning wearing his shirt.
Wearing nothing but a white shirt.
Revealing long legs and faint, mysterious lines.
Tan Ning was kneeling by the bed, head tilted, his long hair falling to one side, curiously examining the wireless charging lamp by the bed.
Seeing Lin Song’an approach, he had a moment of panic but quickly calmed down.
He looked directly at Lin Song’an.
Because of this, later when Tan Ning wanted to break up and said that he had only wanted to be intimate with Lin Song’an from the beginning, Lin Song’an was sad but believed it.
After all, Tan Ning had never shown that he loved Lin Song’an deeply.
Saying that Tan Ning had approached him because he desired his body, rather than because he liked him, was more convincing to Lin Song’an.
Tan Ning was an unqualified hunter; his traps were too obvious, like outdated pursuit tactics, making Lin Song’an find it both amusing and exasperating.
What he didn’t know was that every clumsy trick of his succeeded only because of Lin Song’an’s cooperation.
It was like the hunter falling into his own trap.
Becoming prey on the plate.
