YPSSS Chapter 26.1

Xia Shiruan let himself be dragged around like an accessory by Xie Ji all day.

Chen Rongxin kept turning his head back to look at them, as if watching some rare spectacle.

After such a long day, Xia Shiruan was exhausted and naturally declined the invitation to play board games after dinner.

He worked until 2 AM last night and was woken up early in the morning. He couldn’t catch up on sleep during the car ride either. All in all, Xia Shiruan felt the difference in energy levels between himself and the others, so he firmly but politely stated that he needed to return to his room to sleep.

“That’s too bad,” Chen Rongxin said with slight disappointment. “We’re playing Battle Royale tonight. I wanted to see how a top student would handle this kind of puzzle game.”

While everyone else laughed at him for calling Battle Royale a puzzle game, Xia Shiruan keenly noticed that there wasn’t any mockery in Chen Rongxin’s tone when he called him a “top student.”

“Let’s go,” Xie Ji waved.

Xia Shiruan also said goodbye to everyone, saying he would see them tomorrow.

Back in the room, Xia Shiruan went straight to take a shower.

For various reasons, he was a bit distracted. After hazily drying himself with a towel, he suddenly realized he didn’t bring any change of clothes with him.

The storage rack only held the clothes he had just taken off. Xia Shiruan stared at them hesitantly, feeling troubled.

With his obsession with cleanliness, Xia Shiruan could at most tolerate putting his outer clothes back on for a short while, but underwear that he had already taken off… he absolutely couldn’t bear to wear it again.

But walking out completely commando felt really awkward.

Just as he was spacing out, the door suddenly cracked open.

Xia Shiruan turned around startled, and through the steam saw half a head peeking through the door crack: “!”

The person outside clearly didn’t notice his shock and threw in a bundle of white fabric with lightning speed. Since the door wasn’t opened very wide, it was hard to control the force and direction, causing the bundle to land precisely on Xia Shiruan’s face.

“…”

That person paused, gave a light cough, then quickly shut the door.

The whole process was as fast as a thief using qinggong¹ skills to sneak in and steal.

“…” Xia Shiruan took the underwear off his face, rubbed his nose, and quietly put them on.

When Xia Shiruan finished getting ready and went out, Xie Ji was already dressed to leave, looking neat and tidy. He was a stark contrast to Xia Shiruan who was barefoot with water still clinging to his hair.

Thinking about what just happened, Xia Shiruan felt a bit embarrassed. He tugged at the hem of his clothes and mumbled a soft “thanks.”

Xie Ji had lingered outside as if waiting just for these words. After hearing them, he showed no reaction except for a grunt before leaving.

The door closed with a click, and everything fell silent.

Xia Shiruan stood there dazed for two seconds, then sighed and fell back onto the bed, raising his hand to pat his cheeks.

As if patting like this could clear out all the messy thoughts in his head and return him to being the old Xia Shiruan who cared about nothing except studying and reading books.

Since they all came from wealthy families, they naturally stayed at the most luxurious hotel in the Mount Xia tourist area. The blanket was soft silk, making it extremely comfortable to sleep on.

Because it was too comfortable, and Xia Shiruan was indeed tired from the day’s activities, when he next woke up, it was pitch black outside with no way to tell the time.

Xia Shiruan reached for his phone to check and found it was already 2:30 AM, while the other single bed was completely empty with no sign of anyone.

He was surprised, first because he had slept for so long, and second because he was amazed at their energy, still playing at this hour without returning.

He recalled the various research papers he had looked up recently, which mentioned that Alphas’ energy levels were on average 2.5 times that of Betas, and 3.5 times that of Omegas.

Although he didn’t know where the samples came from or how they were determined, and he had been quite skeptical at the time, now Xia Shiruan felt that at least when it came to staying up late playing games, the research results could be proven true.

Xia Shiruan lay flat on the bed for a while, feeling a bit hungry.

His last meal was around 6 PM in town. The food had been quite greasy, so he barely ate anything, and now his stomach felt empty.

But at this hour, even in a tourist area, no place would still be selling food. After thinking for a moment, he sat up, turned on the lights, got out of bed, and went to boil some water.

The hotel’s cotton slippers made no sound on the thick carpet. As he took the kettle to fill it with water, the sound of water hitting the kettle walls echoed particularly crisp in the quiet room.

There was a soft “plop” sound near the door.

It sounded like something small falling to the ground.

Xia Shiruan paused, then took the filled kettle to plug it in.

But the moment he plugged it in, another sound came from outside the door, clearer this time, distinctly reaching Xia Shiruan’s ears in the quiet night.

Xia Shiruan became alert almost instantly, his animal-like vigilance confirming that someone must be outside the door.

But who would be at his door at this hour?

Xia Shiruan pressed the kettle’s switch, then slowly walked toward the door.

Standing at the door, he asked in a low voice, “Who’s out there?”

The person making those small sounds outside paused, then without hesitation began knocking: knock knock, knock knock knock, knock knock knock knock…

Xia Shiruan: “…”

If he had felt nervous a moment ago, now his heart was completely at ease.

…This person’s knocking rhythm was exactly the same as when he made phone calls.

Xia Shiruan unlocked the safety latch and opened the door. The motion sensor light outside came on, and the person who had been curled up on the ground immediately stood up. His tall figure blocked the sensor light, but even with the backlight, his fierce expression was clearly visible.

“What the fuck…” Xie Ji glared at him, gritting his teeth. “You really can sleep, huh? Why don’t you just sleep until tomorrow morning? I was knocking like crazy outside and you didn’t even turn over!”

Xia Shiruan was stunned by this sudden outburst, taking two seconds to process what he meant.

So because he hadn’t opened the door, Xie Ji had been sitting outside until now?

“Sorry.” Xia Shiruan apologized straightforwardly. “I fell asleep and didn’t hear you. I thought you’d be back very late.”

Xie Ji probably didn’t expect Xia Shiruan to give in so quickly. His anger deflated immediately, and his expression turned awkward, as if he’d just been putting on a show.

Xie Ji’s voice dropped several notches, but his tone was still not great. “Two-thirty is already very late.”

Although it happened because Xie Ji had forgotten his key, Xia Shiruan still felt guilty about leaving him locked outside, so he stayed quiet and didn’t argue.

After entering, Xia Shiruan noticed Xie Ji was carrying several bags that gave off a fragrant smell.

It was the aroma of food, tempting Xia Shiruan’s appetite just as strongly as when he’d caught Xie Ji’s pheromones in the crowd that night he was drunk.

Xia Shiruan asked him, “Are there still places selling late-night snacks?”

Xie Ji set the bags on the table, glancing at him. “On the road back from town.”

Xia Shiruan nodded, mentally calculating the distance. It wasn’t too far. If he left now, he could be eating by three. He sat on the bed and started putting on his socks.

Xie Ji noticed his movement and paused while opening the bags. “What are you doing?”

“Going to buy some late-night snacks,” Xia Shiruan answered honestly.

Xie Ji looked at him again. “Hungry?”

Xia Shiruan nodded.

Xie Ji asked, “Want to eat?”

Xia Shiruan looked at the bags on the table, then nodded again.

“Then come here.” Xie Ji rummaged through the plastic bags and pulled out another pair of chopsticks. “I bought a lot.”

The bags of food on the table were indeed too much for one person, but from the way Xie Ji spoke, it didn’t seem like he bought some specifically for Xia Shiruan. Rather, since Xia Shiruan happened to want some, he was being generous enough to agree.

“Oh.” Xia Shiruan paused. “Thanks.”

Probably still feeling guilty about earlier, Xia Shiruan took the initiative to pour water, wipe the table, and split the chopsticks. He even sterilized the chopsticks with hot water before handing them to Xie Ji.

After passing over the chopsticks, Xia Shiruan sat with his hands folded in his lap, quiet and well-behaved.

Xie Ji picked up a crab roe soup dumpling, glanced at him, and raised an eyebrow. “Waiting for me to feed you?”

Xia Shiruan hesitated, said “thanks” again, and finally picked up his chopsticks.

An unplanned trip, the first day passed in a daze, like a dream.

It wasn’t until this quiet late night, sitting in the hotel eating steaming crab roe soup dumplings with Xie Ji, that Xia Shiruan finally felt a sense of reality.

He rarely stayed up late and therefore rarely ate midnight snacks. But these crab roe soup dumplings tasted wonderful.

He didn’t ask Xie Ji when he’d bought them or why they were still hot. As he bit through the delicate skin of the dumpling, the soup burst into his mouth, bringing joy with it.

No one could stay in a bad mood while enjoying good food.

The two of them ate their late-night meal facing each other, quiet but not uncomfortably so. After they finished eating, feeling obligated to repay the free meal, Xia Shiruan took the initiative to clean up.

Xie Ji didn’t stop him, just sat in his chair watching him busily moving around.

Xia Shiruan focused intently while cleaning up, with his head slightly bowed.

In the soft moonlight, his fair neck curved in a delicate, beautiful arc, reminiscent of the very first moment that had stirred his heart.

Xie Ji watched him, unsure of what he was feeling.

The night breeze was pleasant, carrying early autumn’s cool dampness, sobering. Yet it was also gentle, brushing against one’s face like a lover’s touch, preventing too much rationality.

With that touch of irrationality, Xie Ji’s mind slipped, and he asked something he wanted to take back as soon as he said it.

“Xia Shiruan.”

“Hmm?”

“Back then… why did you reject me?”

Xia Shiruan’s hands froze, stunned.

“Never mind.” Xie Ji stood up, appearing as if he didn’t want an answer after all. “Let’s sleep. We have to climb the mountain early tomorrow.”

Maybe it was Xie Ji’s question, or maybe because he’d just woken up, but Xia Shiruan couldn’t fall asleep afterward.

Since dawn wasn’t far off anyway, he used the time to remember the events of that day Xie Ji had asked about.

When Xie Ji asked, “why did you reject me back then,” Xia Shiruan actually had a small issue with how the question was phrased.

After all, Xie Ji had only been ten years old at the time.

Even though Alphas naturally matured early, and Xie Ji had presented as an Alpha even earlier at eleven, developing gender awareness, it didn’t mean he truly understood what love meant at just ten years old. Therefore, his so-called “confession” couldn’t really be considered a confession, and Xia Shiruan’s “rejection” couldn’t be called a rejection either.

At least, that’s what Xia Shiruan had always believed.

They’d spent many summers together, sometimes quiet, sometimes noisy. Xie Ji had grown from a fierce little dumpling into a tall youngster, while Xia Shiruan had become a more delicate and quiet teenager.

Another summer, Xie Ji pointed at a celebrity on the projection screen and said, “I think you’re much better looking than him.”

A music video was playing on the big screen, starring the most popular Omega celebrity at the time. His beautiful face and perfect figure had countless people falling for him.

Xia Shiruan also thought this singer was beautiful, so after careful observation, he commented objectively, “He looks better than me.”

Xie Ji, his cheeks still holding baby fat, sneered, “I don’t think so. His eyes aren’t as big as yours.”

After a while, Xie Ji added, “Besides, you’ll be even better looking after you present as an Omega.”

Xia Shiruan froze, then asked, “What if I don’t become an Omega?”

He felt there was something odd about Xie Ji’s words. It sounded like a compliment, but it was actually making an unreasonable assumption.

Xie Ji frowned and said, “Impossible. I’ll be an Alpha, so you must be an Omega.”

His tone was absolute, allowing no argument.

Xia Shiruan was speechless for a moment and could only smile, treating it as another of Xie Ji’s random jokes.

Of course, Xie Ji would be an Alpha. His height, build, and intelligence all followed the Xie family genetic pattern perfectly. Becoming an Alpha was just a matter of time.

But for someone like himself, whose family had been Betas for ten generations, the possibility of presenting as an Omega was practically non-existent.

Who knew where Xie Ji got such confidence from.

Besides, Xia Shiruan didn’t particularly want to be an Omega. Basic biology classes had taught him that Omegas were physically weak beings with low spiritual power who suffered through heat cycles monthly. This didn’t match the future self he’d imagined in his small dreams.

However, after that day, Xie Ji seemed to change overnight. He visited the Xia house more frequently, following Xia Shiruan around like a little shadow. He even forced himself to stay awake during photonics lectures he’d never been interested in before, asking strange questions and making Xia Shiruan explain things to him.

They remained pretty good companions, and Xia Shiruan even thought Xie Ji might be his only and best friend.

The conflict happened on another hot afternoon.

That day, Xie Ji was different from usual. He secretly told Xia Shiruan that he was about to present as an Alpha.

In upper-class AO families, regular children’s check-ups included a service that could accurately detect individual C-value changes and, combined with gland development, predict a child’s presentation gender and timing.

Xie Ji wasn’t even eleven yet, but he was already about to present. It was incredibly early. His future was promising.

Xia Shiruan stared at him somewhat blankly and offered congratulations.

But Xie Ji didn’t seem to be there for congratulations.

He moved closer, his bright eyes fixed on Xia Shiruan, almost pressed against his ear.

“They say if a pre-Alpha bites their partner’s neck before presenting, destroying their gland cells, the partner will have a much higher chance of presenting as an Omega with better compatibility.”

“When I went for my check-up last week, I asked the doctor. The doctor said there is such a theory.”

“Xia Shiruan.” Xie Ji called his full name, his eyes holding some kind of unquestionable determination that Xia Shiruan couldn’t understand. “Can I bite you?”

Xia Shiruan’s eyes widened. He found this completely absurd.

Before he could figure out if this was another of Xie Ji’s new games, a prank, or if his stunned expression looked like consent, Xie Ji moved toward his neck, assuming the posture of a predator about to strike in the jungle.

For some unknown reason, a strange fear suddenly swept through Xia Shiruan’s entire body, making his vision go white and his scalp tingle, as a chill ran from his feet up until his whole body stiffened.

This stiffness broke when Xie Ji got even closer to his neck. Perhaps people could unleash incredible strength in moments of extreme panic. His thin arms pushed hard, catching Xie Ji off guard. Xie Ji tumbled backward, his temple hitting the bed frame, immediately drawing blood.

Xia Shiruan covered his eyes with the back of his other hand, struggling to suppress that inexplicable heart-pounding feeling, his breathing mixed with sobs. “…I don’t want to… I hate you…”

Xie Ji sat on the floor, staring blankly at Xia Shiruan, noticing his subtle trembling arms and hearing his broken, pitiful mumbling of “hate you” and “I’m a Beta.”

After a while, he touched his forehead, his eyes turning cold.

As dawn approached, Xia Shiruan drowsily closed his eyes, thinking.

How strange that Xie Ji’s unreliable prediction from back then had actually come true.

He had eventually presented as an Omega, albeit late.

Although it was delayed, and despite never receiving that bite from Xie Ji, he had somehow, bizarrely, fallen madly in love with his sweet pheromones.