The Unattainable Flower Pulled Down from the Pedestal by Universal Dislike – CH43

Chapter 43

When Lin Song’an arrived at the hotel, the Yan family and the Ye family were already present. Fang Jin was chatting with them, and Lin Yexun was verifying the menu. He waved at Lin Song’an to come over. “Song’an, come and greet your uncles and aunties.”

Upon hearing the name “Song’an,” Yan Zhiyu couldn’t help but shiver. Lin Song’an’s gaze swept over him. Yan Zhiyu looked even more delicate than in his photos, with a shy demeanor. As Lin Song’an approached, Yan Zhiyu’s entire body tensed, and he lowered his head.

The adults noticed this as well. A 95% pheromone compatibility was indeed significant. Fang Jin wanted to seat them together, but Lin Song’an had already naturally sat beside Lin Yexun, making his resistance clear.

Fang Jin had no way to persuade him.

Ye Ling sat next to Yan Zhiyu, rolling his eyes dramatically. He knew very well that Fang Jin no longer cared about him. Even if things didn’t work out between Lin and Yan, the opportunity wouldn’t come to him.

It didn’t matter; he didn’t care anymore.

He snorted, fiddling with his chopsticks. Mrs. Ye whispered, “Ling Ling, mind your manners.”

Ye Ling then put down his hand.

Lin Song’an took the initiative to raise his glass and greet the elders. Having been exposed to the business world early on, his demeanor and speech were more mature than the other two peers. Mrs. Yan looked at him; even though she knew he had someone else in his heart, she couldn’t help but scrutinize him, becoming more satisfied the more she looked.

Yan Zhiyu had been pampered like a young master from Jiangnan—soft-spoken and lacking strong opinions. Recently, a single remark from Ye Ling often left him in tears. He actually needed a partner like Lin Song’an to complement his personality.

If only Lin Song’an were single, it would be perfect. The families matched well, they were of similar age, one alpha and one omega, and their pheromone compatibility was a rare 95%… It was practically a match made in heaven.

Lin Song’an took the initiative to speak. “Uncle, Auntie, as you probably know, I’m not single. I’ve been in a relationship with my partner for nearly two years, and our feelings have been quite stable.”

Fang Jin’s face immediately turned cold. Lin Yexun subtly pressed her arm, prompting her to hold back her anger.

Lin Song’an continued, “Due to my oversight, I didn’t inform my parents. My mother, with good intentions, helped me check my compatibility. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding has disturbed Zhiyu’s life. I sincerely apologize.”

Yan Zhiyu was at a loss. He repeatedly pressed the suppressant patch on the back of his neck. Ever since he had a sip of wine, he felt unwell. He didn’t understand why, even with his high-strength suppressant patch properly in place, his heart kept racing and his body felt hot.

He didn’t even dare to look up at Lin Song’an.

Was it his heat cycle starting or Lin Song’an’s rut period? There must be a strong triggering factor at play.

Mrs. Yan knew that her son wouldn’t dare to speak in such a situation, so she took the initiative. “Song’an, there’s no need to apologize. I’ve already told your mother that feelings can’t be forced. We just hope our children are happy; it’s nothing to worry about.”

Lin Song’an smiled. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Ye Ling watched coldly from the side.

Both Lin Song’an and Yan Zhiyu were the type of “model children” that elders loved. The two families chatted and laughed harmoniously. Fang Jin occasionally chimed in with amusing anecdotes, making the atmosphere even more pleasant.

Ye Ling couldn’t stand such harmony.

Why was it that from the day he first developed feelings, he had pursued Lin Song’an, only to become the clown everyone ignored in the end?

He turned to look at Yan Zhiyu, who was blushing from his neck to his ears, breathing rapidly.

Ye Ling smirked and leaned in to whisper, “Do you need a suppressant?”

Yan Zhiyu shook his head. “I didn’t bring one.”

“I have one. I’ll take you upstairs.”

At this point, Yan Zhiyu could only seek help from fellow omega Ye Ling. Ye Ling made an excuse about going to the restroom and took Yan Zhiyu upstairs. This hotel was both a restaurant and a hotel, so Ye Ling quickly obtained a room key. As Yan Zhiyu entered the room, Ye Ling held onto his coat. Yan Zhiyu felt hot all over, anxiously waiting for Ye Ling’s suppressant.

But Ye Ling blinked at him, his doll-like round eyes revealing a sinister glint.

“Ye Ling, you—”

With swift movements, Ye Ling removed the suppressant patch from the back of Yan Zhiyu’s neck and then shut the door.

Yan Zhiyu rushed to the door, pounding on it and pleading, “Ye Ling! Ye Ling, what are you doing?”

“Your heat cycle has started.”

“No, it’s not time yet.”

Thinking about the glass of wine earlier, Ye Ling smiled. “Oh, it’s time.”

“Ye Ling!” Yan Zhiyu’s voice was filled with fear and a sobbing tone.

Ye Ling’s voice remained light. “You’d better hide and stay away from the hallway. I can already smell your pheromones.”

Yan Zhiyu immediately backed away, curling up on the bed and wrapping himself in a blanket. He belatedly searched for his phone, but it was in his coat—which Ye Ling held. Weighing Yan Zhiyu’s coat in his hand, Ye Ling then called Lin Song’an.

“Brother Song’an, could you come up to the seventh floor? Yan Zhiyu said he has something he wants to tell you.”

*

Tan Ning had never felt so disoriented.

From the moment he stood on the steps, unable to see Lin Song’an’s figure, his heart began to race with anxiety.

He first hurried back to the dormitory. As he was about to pack a change of clothes, He Qingrui, who was playing a game, glanced up at him. “Tan Ning, where’s your backpack?”

Only then did Tan Ning realize that his backpack, laptop, and thermos were all still in the library.

He quickly ran back to retrieve them. After bringing everything back, he stood dazed in the middle of the dorm room. He Qingrui finished his game, took off his headphones, and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Snapping back to reality as if awakening from a dream, Tan Ning’s whole body shuddered. He stammered, “I… I need to go buy some groceries, get some… get some meat. I want to make braised pork rice. He doesn’t like noodles.”

Sensing that something was off, He Qingrui slowly stood up and waved a hand in front of Tan Ning’s face. “Tan Ning?”

“Yes?”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Tan Ning quickly walked to the balcony to grab clothes—two sweaters and two pairs of jeans—which he stuffed haphazardly into his backpack without folding. Suddenly, he asked He Qingrui, “What time is it?”

“Huh? Oh, let me check—it’s 6:44.”

“6:44. There’s one hour and sixteen minutes left. From here to Tianhe Villa by subway takes forty minutes, plus a ten-minute walk.” Tan Ning began muttering to himself.

Watching him anxiously, He Qingrui asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Tan Ning shook his head and suddenly pulled out his suitcase. “Since the holiday is coming up, I’ll just pack my things now.”

He wanted to stay at Lin Song’an’s place.

In a flurry, he packed his relatively few belongings, grabbed his suitcase, and was ready to leave. In the blink of an eye, he was gone. Finding this strange, He Qingrui thought for a moment and then leaned over the balcony to look down.

Sure enough, Tan Ning was squatting by the flowerbed, curled up into a ball.

Was this really Tan Ning?

He Qingrui ran downstairs, panting as he reached him. With hands on his knees, he asked, “Tan Ning, what’s wrong with you?”

Tan Ning looked up, his eyes brimming with tears.

Startled, He Qingrui watched as Tan Ning helplessly rubbed his sleeves, softly muttering, “What should I do? I have a very bad feeling. My premonitions are always accurate. Bad means bad.”

“Does this have something to do with Lin Song’an?”

At the sudden mention of Lin Song’an’s name, Tan Ning’s emotions collapsed. He looked at He Qingrui with panic-filled eyes. “Is a 95% compatibility really that powerful?”

He Qingrui was at a loss for words.

“Even with a suppressant patch, can they still feel it?”

“Probably not,” He Qingrui couldn’t provide an answer. As a beta who had never experienced pheromones, he squatted beside Tan Ning. “I don’t know. But we often attend classes with Lin Song’an. There are omegas who sit close to him, and nothing happens, right?”

“What about with a 95% compatibility?”

He Qingrui closed his mouth.

Hugging his knees, Tan Ning whispered in a trembling voice, almost inaudible to He Qingrui, “Why is it so hard? I just want to be with him. Why is it so difficult…”

“Come on, stand up, Tan Ning.” Grabbing Tan Ning’s arm, He Qingrui was about to help him up when Tan Ning’s phone suddenly vibrated.

Tan Ning’s sense of foreboding intensified. He could barely hold the phone, so He Qingrui took it and showed him.

A text message from an unknown number.

The content read: [I just want you to know that true feelings are worthless in the face of pheromones.]