Chapter 46
When Lei Xin knocked on the door, Tan Ning was still sleeping in Lin Song’an’s arms. Hearing the noise, he mumbled a few times.
Being an impatient person, Lei Xin started pressing the doorbell more frequently when Lin Song’an didn’t come to open the door.
Tan Ning was awakened by the noise. Without opening his eyes, he first furrowed his brows, then grabbed Lin Song’an’s pajamas and burrowed under the blanket.
Lin Song’an held back his laughter as he watched him.
He sent a message to Lei Xin: [Stop pressing the bell; Tan Ning is still asleep. Wait a moment.]
Lei Xin [……]
After a few minutes, as if unconvinced, Lei Xin sent another string of […………]
Both of them were acting like children. Lin Song’an chuckled and put down his phone. Using his injured arm to hold Tan Ning, he carefully withdrew his other arm. Just as he was about to get out of bed, Tan Ning bit him—precisely on his forearm, leaving teeth marks.
“Ouch,” Lin Song’an pinched Tan Ning’s chin and said with a smile, “Little cat has quite a temper when waking up.”
Tan Ning slowly opened his amber eyes, and for some reason seemed angry again. His gaze was cold as ice. He turned over, facing away from Lin Song’an, and continued sleeping.
Tan Ning usually didn’t have a temper upon waking. In the past, when he went to school, no one cared about him. He set his own alarm to wake up. Often, he had already left the house while his grandfather was still snoring away. So even if he had a temper upon waking, it was useless; he had no one to vent to.
Now he had someone he could bully to vent his feelings.
He didn’t even recognize himself anymore.
He always realized after acting willfully that his behavior might be annoying, might be excessive, might make Lin Song’an feel irritated. But Lin Song’an always told him with a gentle smile: You can be even more willful.
Since he heard that the person outside was Lei Xin, Tan Ning decided not to get up.
Lin Song’an had no choice but to get out of bed alone, tidying his loose pajama buttons, and went to open the door for Lei Xin.
Half an hour earlier, upon hearing about what happened the previous day, Lei Xin was shocked as if struck by lightning. He stood there stunned for several minutes, then hurriedly drove over to find Lin Song’an.
He thought: Being induced into a rut sounds terrifying. Using self-harm to stay calm must be so painful. Although Lin Song’an has always been the most mature and rational among his peers, he must be very fragile at this moment.
Outside the door, Lei Xin had been agonizing for a long time. Lin Song’an had always been someone surrounded by a halo, and he had willingly been his sidekick for twenty years. It was always Lin Song’an comforting him; he had never seen Lin Song’an in a vulnerable state. He pondered for a long time about what to say, not knowing how to face Lin Song’an.
But Lin Song’an had a beauty in his arms and didn’t seem much affected.
Even when he opened the door, the first thing Lei Xin saw was the hickey on Lin Song’an’s neck.
“……” The silence from Lei Xin was deafening.
“What’s up?” Lin Song’an asked.
“Came to check on you,” Lei Xin awkwardly rubbed his nose. “It’s almost eleven; why aren’t you up yet?”
“Didn’t sleep until after two last night.”
Lei Xin was stunned. He saw Lin Song’an’s right hand wrapped in bandages, and couldn’t hide his admiration as he looked him over. “Wait, in that situation last night, you still… until two?”
Lei Xin thought to himself: As expected of a level-nine alpha.
Lin Song’an narrowed his eyes slightly. Although it was a bit outrageous, he didn’t bother to explain.
He went into the kitchen and reheated the fish soup that Tan Ning had made the night before, then took out a few dishes from the fridge.
Lei Xin was even more dumbfounded. “Bro, you can cook now?”
“Yes.”
“Your hand is like that; why are you cooking? Isn’t anyone taking care of you? Isn’t that person taking care of you?”
“I’m just taking the meat out to deforst.” Lin Song’an appeared adept, like a seasoned home cook.
Lei Xin stepped back a couple of steps, shaking his head. “Previously, when Ye Ling told me you’ve changed from before, I didn’t believe it. Now I finally believe it.”
At the mention of Ye Ling, Lei Xin suddenly realized and quickly shut his mouth, glancing at Lin Song’an’s expression from the corner of his eye.
“How is he?” Lin Song’an asked.
“The Yan family called the police. Your mom isn’t giving their family any face either. Anyway, this matter can’t be swept under the rug.”
“Mm.” Lin Song’an didn’t say much.
“He really went too far this time, completely crazy. I didn’t see before that he was such a person. In front of you, he acted so obedient.”
Tracing back to the root of the matter, Lin Song’an didn’t know whether to blame Ye Ling for being utterly reckless, or to blame Fang Jin for bringing out that compatibility report, causing chaos among the three families.
Fortunately, the outcome wasn’t bad.
Lei Xin didn’t need Lin Song’an to respond and continued talking: “And that Yan Zhiyu—after this incident, his affection for you is off the charts. I heard from his mom that this morning he kept asking, ‘How is Lin Song’an? Is his hand injury serious?'”
As soon as he finished speaking, they heard a voice from the bedroom: “Lin Song’an.”
The tone was cool, with a hint of annoyance.
Lei Xin was startled.
Lin Song’an immediately put down what he was holding and walked over.
At the bedroom door, Tan Ning was leaning against the headboard, looking up coldly at him. “I have no clothes to wear.”
Lin Song’an suddenly realized why Tan Ning had called him at this moment. Because Lei Xin had mentioned Yan Zhiyu, and although Tan Ning had said earlier that he would no longer be paranoid about pheromones, he was still jealous and wanted to display his unique status with Lin Song’an in front of Lei Xin.
Lin Song’an loved Tan Ning’s subtle little thoughts and temper and didn’t expose him. “There seems to be a pair of your pants on the balcony. As for tops, there aren’t any. Why don’t you wear mine?”
Tan Ning lifted his chin, indicating agreement.
Lin Song’an went to the balcony and got Tan Ning’s long pants that were already there, then went to the walk-in closet, casually took out a sweater, placed it by the bed, and leaned down to kiss him.
Tan Ning pretended not to care. “What’s Lei Xin doing here?”
“Visiting me.”
“Did he bring any supplements? Did he bring a fruit basket? He came and started jabbering away—so noisy.”
Lin Song’an held back a laugh and apologized to him. “He’s always like this, a loudmouth. If you want to continue sleeping, I’ll ask him to leave.”
“You’ve made a bunch of useless friends.”
Feeling at fault, Lin Song’an was somewhat embarrassed. Tan Ning thought about it and felt that he might have gone too far, so he reached out a finger and poked Lin Song’an’s bandaged hand. “Does it still hurt?”
“Doesn’t feel like anything.”
“You’re lying.”
Lin Song’an smiled. “Ning Ning, what do you want to eat? There are no dumplings left in the fridge. Should I order takeout?”
“What were you clanging around in the kitchen just now?”
“I found a piece of pork belly in the fridge. I guessed you might want to use it today, so I took it out to defrost. Ning Ning, why don’t you order some breakfast takeout now? We’ll have lunch a bit later.”
Tan Ning nodded. Lin Song’an then went out. Lei Xin had been sitting by the bar for a while and was about to leave when Lin Song’an came over.
Lei Xin looked at him with a complicated expression. After sizing him up and down, he couldn’t help but complain, “So who’s injured here, you or him? Why are you serving him? What’s he being so spoiled about?”
Lin Song’an curved his lips, clearly enjoying himself.
Lei thought: There’s no saving Lin Song’an now.
“Bro, have you really decided to be with him? Is this just dating, or are you planning to get married?”
“Planning to get married.”
Lei Xin scratched his head, puzzled. “But he’s a beta.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Isn’t everyone like this? They’d rather find lower-level alphas and omegas than marry a beta. Isn’t that how people choose their partners? Bro, you have level-nine pheromones. If you have children in the future, they’d be high-level too. Many people would be envious. Marrying a beta would be such a waste.”
When Lei Xin heard that Lin Song’an had been induced into a rut, the hotel had directly cleared the entire floor. The pheromone overflow had caused some low-level omegas to feel hot all over. Lei Xin couldn’t empathize with Lin Song’an’s pain; deep down, he thought it was kind of cool.
“Many people would be envious…” Lin Song’an chuckled.
“Bro.”
“That’s enough, Lei Xin,” Lin Song’an’s expression turned stern, commanding respect without anger. He said, “In high school, when you skipped classes every day to hang out with those guys, I waited for you at the school gate and told you I wouldn’t stop you, but you had to be responsible for your own life.”
Lei Xin lowered his head.
“It’s the same now. Don’t try to stop me. I’m responsible for my own life.”
After a long time, Lei Xin said sullenly, “I understand.”
He rolled up his sleeves. “Need help? I’ve never washed vegetables before. Is this napa cabbage? What do I do with it?”
Since he offered to help, Lin Song’an let him, guiding him step by step.
At home, Lei Xin wouldn’t even pick up a fallen oil bottle, but at Lin Song’an’s place, he washed napa cabbage and potatoes, fumbling around.
“You’re peeling the potatoes now? They’ll oxidize before they get into the pot.”
A light, mocking voice drifted from behind, scaring Lei Xin so much that the peeler fell into the sink. He turned around to see Tan Ning wearing Lin Song’an’s oversized sweater, walking to the door to pick up the takeout, then leisurely returning to sit at the dining table. He opened the takeout porridge, poured a bowl for Lin Song’an, took a spoon, blew on it, and started eating on his own.
As if he were the master of the house, and Lei Xin was his newly hired housekeeper.
Lei Xin “……”
Lei Xin looked indignantly at Lin Song’an. Lin Song’an was smiling at Tan Ning, “What kind of porridge did you order?”
Lei Xin put down the potato, washed his hands, and turned to leave.
“Aren’t you staying for lunch?”
While changing his shoes, Lei Xin mumbled, “No need. Just looking at this, I’ve lost my appetite.”
Tan Ning snorted coldly.
Lin Song’an sat down with a smile. “My fault. I’ll make sure to discipline him well in the future and never let him act like this in front of you.”
“Lin Song’an.”
“Yes?”
“What do your parents like? The New Year is coming. I want to go to the mall to buy some gifts.”
Lin Song’an hesitated slightly. Tan Ning immediately added, “I have money. I received the national scholarship last year.”
“It’s not about the money,” Lin Song’an asked him, “Are you no longer afraid of my mom?”
“Even if I’m afraid, I have to face her.”
“Why?” Lin Song’an’s smile was playful.
Tan Ning didn’t answer. Lin Song’an began to tease him, hooking Tan Ning’s leg. “Why, Ning Ning? What are you going to do after facing her?”
Tan Ning ignored him.
“After facing her, you’ll become the daughter-in-law of our family.”
Tan Ning’s ears turned red, but he shook his loose hair, the strands falling down to cover his ears. He continued eating his meal, then said, “When you’re feeling better, let’s go to the luxury mall at Yijiang Center next week, maybe in the early afternoon when there aren’t many people.”
“Alright,” Lin Song’an agreed. “But it doesn’t have to be luxury brands; it’s the thought that counts.”
“I have money,” Tan Ning said, somewhat defensively.
“I know Ning Ning has money. But the watch you bought me last time must have cost over thirty thousand, right?”
Tan Ning lowered his eyes and didn’t speak.
“If I’d known, I should have given you twenty thousand each time.”
Tan Ning blurted out, “I didn’t spend a penny of that money.”
Lin Song’an raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t you use it?”
Realizing he had slipped up, Tan Ning became mute. No matter how Lin Song’an teased or pressed him, he wouldn’t speak. After eating half a bowl of porridge, he found himself pressed onto the bed by Lin Song’an. “Why didn’t you use that money? Why? Because you didn’t want to break up with me at that time? You said we were just friends with benefits, but in your heart, you still saw me as your boyfriend, right?”
A series of questions, and Tan Ning pressed his lips tightly.
Lin Song’an finally asked, “Ning Ning loves me more than I imagined, right?”
Tan Ning’s mouth was always hard to pry open, but Lin Song’an had his ways of making him answer.
Lin Song’an lifted Tan Ning’s sweater. Worried that he might hurt his hand, Tan Ning pushed him away and turned over to sit on top of him.
Lin Song’an raised an eyebrow. “Ning Ning, what do you want to do?”
Tan Ning’s gaze lowered, landing somewhere on his gray casual pants.
