PMWAIAAPM Chapter 38

Chapter 38 (Three-in-One) Want to Stick Together?

The phone hung up, and Xing Yang’s fingertips brushed against his gland, the scar barely noticeable.

His insensitivity to suppressants wasn’t natural; it was because his gland was too small. Ever since being transplanted into his body five years ago, the gland had never grown. As a gland transplant patient, he didn’t really follow medical advice, which always gave Zhou Jiaoyue headaches.

She was a girl only twenty-two years old, but she had tremendous medical talent. Five years ago, when his body and mind were on the brink of death, he was lying in the hospital waiting to die, and Zhou Jiaoyue found him with his medical records, inviting him to become a participant in the gland implantation experiment, giving him a chance to live.

His gland, his reproductive cavity, all began to develop after a few injections of omega transformation agents, but his male hormones were too strong, suppressing the implanted gland, making him appear more like an alpha, or at worst a beta.

A disqualified omega.

How small was his reproductive cavity? Small enough that even bonding with an alpha felt like being stretched.

Bonding is the process where ao mutually nourish each other, immensely pleasurable, and while Xing Yang felt pleasure, there was pain mixed in. His reproductive cavity was too small; it could never accommodate the amount Tan Zhiyu produced in one go. If it weren’t for his years of fitness, he might end up unable to get out of bed after every encounter with Tan Zhiyu.

Tan Zhiyu’s mother was German, and he successfully inherited some bloodline traits that made his talents flourish.

Xing Yang had the feelings of an omega, but lacked the soft capacity of an omega. Every marking by Tan Zhiyu made him feel a mix of satisfaction and comfort; during their first time, he felt the sensation aligned with his expectations. Not bad.

Of course, all of this was done secretly while Zhou Jiaoyue was at school.

Zhou Jiaoyue had warned him that his gland was too small, only for survival, and that no other functions should be used.

He was a lawbreaker; Zhou Jiaoyue had been busy preparing for her graduation in Germany, and the blood test reports sent from home hadn’t been reviewed. In her eyes, Xing Yang was a rather low-maintenance patient and her most successful transplant case, so she neglected it.

After this week’s exams, she suddenly remembered and turned pale when seeing the report.

The elevated levels of alpha pheromones in his blood indicated that Xing Yang had been marked by someone.

A perfectly fine big man, whom she had taken great care of for five years, had actually been ruined by another man. How could she not be angry?

Xing Yang felt a bit hot as he touched his gland; he asked Zhou Jiaoyue, “What would happen if no precautions were taken?”

Zhou Jiaoyue was infuriated, “You are an omega! Without precautions during bonding with an alpha, of course, you would get pregnant! Pay attention next time!”

Xing Yang replied, “With my gland and reproductive cavity being this small, is that really possible?”

He remembered Zhou Jiaoyue once saying that his gland had not developed well, not matured enough, more like a juvenile’s.

But he didn’t understand; alpha pheromones acted as another kind of ripening agent. The release of pheromones would cause his gland to relax indefinitely until it could accommodate a full embryo.

Zhou Jiaoyue said, “No one’s organs are just for show. What do you think?”

Xing Yang said, “I was just curious.”

He instinctively placed his hand on his lower abdomen. He had never thought that one day he would be a father and have a child of his own. He was a drifting weed that had long lost his home, floating with the winds of the world, finding a sense of existence and belonging through his work. Marrying Tan Zhiyu was the best decision he ever made without regrets.

Outside, it started to drizzle.

Pitter-patter.

Xing Yang leaned against the edge of his desk and took a sip of coffee, biting down on the painkillers he had in his mouth; the bitterness spread, but his heart felt sweet.

In this life, he could also experience such joy. The television was broadcasting the progress of the recent construction of Star Sea Amusement Park. Next to the financial news was the latest entertainment report. Mr. Tan’s last film was nominated for the Three Golds, and he was expected to become the youngest Three Gold Best Actor. On the screen, Tan Zhiyu’s dark green eyes were deep.

“Tang Zhiyu has always been busy filming. I wonder if he will prepare to transition into other forms like TV dramas or variety shows anytime soon,” the host said on TV, cutting to clips from Tan Zhiyu’s movies. That beautiful face appeared on screen, wearing a European-style court costume, standing in a snowy landscape, his indifferent cheeks betraying no emotion, distant and cool, an alpha capable of bearing all the illusory romance.

Xing Yang held his coffee while admiring his husband’s beauty, even the coffee suddenly tasted sweeter.

The company affairs were becoming more tedious; the next quarter’s audit was approaching. He needed to wrap up all his current projects before traveling.

He worked late into the night, having told Wang his secretary to leave early. It was nearly eleven when he headed down to the basement to prepare to drive home.

“Beep—”

In the distance, a silver-gray car’s lights illuminated as it slowly drove towards him and finally stopped in front. The window rolled down slowly, “Need a ride?”

The man leaned against the window with a slightly playful demeanor, raising an eyebrow at Xing Yang.

Xing Yang chuckled and leaned down, asking, “How much for a ride to Butterfly Manor?”

Tan Zhiyu deliberately leaned closer, just needing Xing Yang to come a bit closer to kiss him.

“About… three million five hundred thousand, want to get in?”

“Wow.” Xing Yang deepened his smile, a bit helpless, “That’s so expensive.”

This was the commission for promoting Star Sea Amusement Park.

The smile lines at the corners of Xing Yang’s eyes deepened. He rubbed the knuckles of his fingers against Tan Zhiyu’s nose, softly said, “Good thing I can afford it. Let’s go, Master Tan.”

He got in the car, sitting in the passenger seat while Tan Zhiyu pulled out a card from his pocket, “Here.”

“What’s this?”

“I told you, I’m richer than my father.” He tossed the card at Xing Yang, “Since you begged so pathetically last night, consider this a gift.”

Tan Zhiyu had low material desires growing up; he was raised by his parents with material possessions. He didn’t have much of a concept of spending money. The star power and the yearly share dividends from Tan Yushen easily equated to Xing Yang’s accumulated wealth from founding Yuanyin Real Estate.

This lavish little card was casually tossed, and Xing Yang touched the black card, “So you don’t need money usually?”

“Aren’t you going to give me some?”

“Oh—”

Xing Yang realized that refusing it would make Mr. Tan lose his face, so he nodded and took it, “Okay, I’ll help you manage it from now on.”

“The family financial authority is in your hands. I’m just in charge of management, okay?” Xing Yang asked.

“Make do,” Tan Zhiyu said in a good mood, stepping on the gas as they headed in the direction of Butterfly Manor.

–

At Butterfly Manor, as soon as he got home, Xing Yang returned next door to feed the cat, and a pot of soup was simmering in the kitchen.

Qiu Jing called, “Hey, man! I successfully graduated and returned home! Let’s go out and have fun, call Chi Yanchuan and the others, how about a cruise?”

“No time,” Tan Zhiyu was sitting on the sofa, holding a little teddy bear.

“No time? What could you possibly be busy with?”

“Staying home with someone, and now that I’m out of money at home, I need to apply for funds whenever I go out, I’m afraid he’ll get jealous if I mess around with you.”

Qiu Jing: “?”

He was puzzled, feeling infinite anticipation for this boss Xing, wondering what kind of person could make Tan Zhiyu act this way…

Tan Zhiyu asked, “Graduated at twenty-eight, you really are something.”

Qiu Jing was the only one among their young heirs who hadn’t gone astray. The once-flamboyant young man had transformed into a stereotypical engineering nerd with glasses, and when exams were mentioned, he was even more distressed. “Well, there was almost another delay.”

“How so?”

“There’s a girl in my opposing group; her attacking power is extremely strong. She got a job in Switzerland working on gland implantation projects before even graduating. Forget it; you wouldn’t understand. When could I take your boss Xing out for a walk? Let me broaden his horizons.”

Tan Zhiyu scoffed, “What are you? How could you be worthy of him expanding your horizons?”

Qiu Jing: “?”

Who was the man who was crying and begging him not to hang up a few days ago? He asks?

“You better pray that this face can hold onto Xing Yang for a lifetime! Otherwise, don’t call me crying in the future.”

Tan Zhiyu: “Joking! I’m a man like an eagle, who cries? You must be mistaken.”

Qiu Jing: ‘…..’

Alright, alright.

Qiu Jing hung up the phone in silence. The soup in the kitchen was still simmering, but Xing Yang hadn’t come back. Tan Zhiyu went next door to knock on the door but got no response after a while.

The password lock was his birthday. He hesitated a moment before opening the door.

“Xing Yang?”

“Meow—” A fat orange cat jumped down from the couch and bumped at his feet, trying to ingratiate itself. Tan Zhiyu quickly stepped back; he was allergic to cat fur and, despite liking cats, had never owned one.

Xing Yang’s home very much matched the CEO vibe—decorated in shades of black, white, and gray. It was his first time entering Xing Yang’s home despite being neighbors for so long, and the air was filled with a faint, clean scent like soapberry.

Xing Yang worked out daily; why hadn’t he invited him to join?

Using the edge of his slipper, he brushed against the fat orange cat, holding back the urge to pet it.

At the entrance, there was a photo of a small fat cat on the shoe rack, along with a stack of… Tan Zhiyu’s magazines.

Tan Zhiyu raised an eyebrow. “?”

These magazines seemed rarely glanced at; many were brand new, but some had clearly been around for a while, even dating back two years. Despite not being frequently looked at, they seemed to be treasures.

Hehe, it seemed Xing Yang had long been enchanted by his own face, only too shy to admit it.

To be loved was something he understood in his life.

Sometimes, too much charm could be a source of distress for him.

He had been staring at the magazines when the water in the bathroom stopped running; the man emerged from the bathroom, half-naked, wrapped in a towel. “Why are you here?”

Xing Yang froze for a moment, his expression clouded as steam clung to his skin. Water droplets trickled down his bronzed body, butterflies tattooed on his chest bobbed with his breaths, and yesterday’s fervent kisses left marks on his collarbone, the alpha’s commitment, red and enticing.

It was Tan Zhiyu who had called Xing Yang plain.

But it was him, staring in amazement at Xing Yang once more,

It seemed as long as he was given time, he could continue to gaze at Xing Yang forever, endlessly.

“I… I didn’t know how much salt to add to the soup…” Tan Zhiyu coughed, casually fabricating a lie, “Just came to ask.”

‘Soup….’ Xing Yang seemed to have completely forgotten, asking in puzzlement, “What soup?”

“?” Tan Zhiyu was stunned; it was clearly the soup Xing Yang made in his own house, and he was now questioning him. What was he implying?

He had taken the initiative to come find him and politely stood at the door, not inviting himself in to sit down, and now was being questioned; what was that supposed to mean?

“Forget it if you’re not eating.” Tan Zhiyu frowned, biting his lip, his mood suddenly deflating, “Who needs it? Throw me here, and you’re back to take a shower.”

“Zhiyu…” Xing Yang quickly grasped his wrist, “Wait, I…”

“What’s wrong?”

As Tan Zhiyu felt his wrist grasped, he sensed an unusual warmth, frowning slightly. “Are you running a fever?”

“Really?” Xing Yang’s response came out like a child; he chuckled softly, “Can’t be, I hardly ever get sick.”

Tan Zhiyu pulled his wrist closer, leaned in to check his nape, and didn’t detect the sweet aroma of omega pheromones, only body heat. He seemed fine on the way back; how had he suddenly run a fever?

His body temperature was higher than normal; Xing Yang’s skin was darker, his breaths already fleeting. He hadn’t yet realized just how foolish he was.

“I thought the heat period didn’t pass, and if I took a cold shower, I’d be fine.” Xing Yang pressed his forehead, and after catching a whiff of Tan Zhiyu’s rose scent, he felt even hotter, as if all his strength was being drained away.

“Feeling unwell and still taking a cold shower? Do you have no common sense?”

Tan Zhiyu reached to tug him towards the bedroom, but Xing Yang shook his head, “Let’s go to yours, the little treasure sheds fur…”

“What’s his name?”

“Xing Xiaobao.” Xing Yang grumbled a reply, being led by Tan Zhiyu; his head felt heavily woozy, droplets of water still cascading from his hair.

Upon hearing the name, the entire cat perked up and came over, preparing to rub against Tan Zhiyu’s pants.

Tan Zhiyu had never known where Xing Yang found out about his allergy to cat fur, yet, given his experience in the business world, it didn’t seem strange.

“Xiaobao, no random rubbing against your uncle.” Xing Yang stopped the cat from running into him.

But Tan Zhiyu protested discontentedly, “How could I be this cat’s uncle? You must be out of your mind.”

He should be Xiaobao’s dad instead!

“Right, no rubbing against brother.” Xing Yang thought he was getting old, calling him uncle made Tan Zhiyu unhappy.

“You’re killing me!”

Xing Yang didn’t understand where he had upset this little ancestor.

“Little ancestor, seeing as I seem to be sick, could you not be so disdainful of my foolishness?” Xing Yang curled his lips, coaxed him into a reluctant smile, “When I’m better, I’ll seriously pamper you.”

‘I’m not a child, I don’t need pampering.’

Tan Zhiyu pressed his lips together, laughter secretly blooming in his heart since Boss Xing had not forgotten about him even in sickness…

Moreover, he said he would pamper him once he got better.

He needed to verbalize things; he deemed it necessary for Xing Yang to understand that he also wanted to be Xiaobao’s father, to make Xiaobao ask him to be a daddy.

Xing Yang was busy at work every day, and he wouldn’t have been so carelessly sick like this before. He had realized his lack of energy at work in the morning and had thought it was due to staying up late with Tan Zhiyu the night before or perhaps because he was getting older.

Looking at it now, it was quite the opposite.

The pot’s soup had been turned off, and after putting on a set of pajamas, Xing Yang lay down in bed and soon fell asleep. Before sleeping, he told Tan Zhiyu to eat something first and not to wait for him.

The clothes fitted Xing Yang a bit loosely due to his frame, even though he had perfectly sculpted muscle lines; he still could not escape the genetic shortfalls tied to gender, such as his feet being several sizes smaller than a normal man’s.

Tan Zhiyu placed the teddy bear in his arms, but Xing Yang reached back, grasping his wrist. “Zhiyu, stay with me, don’t go, okay?”

In the bedroom, the medication took effect quickly, and Xing Yang fell deep into slumber without adhesive suppressants on his gland; the room felt like a vast forest.

Right before sleeping, he tightly held onto Tan Zhiyu’s wrist, saying, “I’ll be better soon; don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried about you,” Tan Zhiyu murmured but honestly sat on the bedside, holding his hand as Xing Yang closed his eyes, breaths turning shallow.

The searing body heat flowed through his palm, and Tan Zhiyu found himself sitting on the carpet beside the bed, and an hour passed before he realized he must be crazy…

He had watched Xing Yang for an entire hour.

This trick he读过 in “How to Leave a Deep Impression on the Opposite Sex,” was called contrast.

In front of others, Xing Yang was so charismatic, able to compete evenly with Jiang Ye in the boxing ring; tough yet gentle, with no weaknesses, laying down so carefreely in front of him, marks unmistakably left by him on his skin, a flushed face lying in front of him, asking him not to go…

He had never learned about Xing Yang’s past, simply knowing he was an orphan who lost his family at an early age and had even finished high school only to start working on construction sites.

Once he didn’t understand why people were so respectful towards Xing Yang.

An ordinary person built high-rises in a society where opportunity and intelligence were paramount. That was indeed difficult…

Tan Zhiyu suddenly wondered, in the world he grew up in, even though his parents loved and spoiled him, he hadn’t been truly happy. How hard must it have been for the once impoverished boss Xing, who climbed up bit by bit?

What had his past been like?

At this moment, Boss Xing stripped of business pretense, exuded a sense of vulnerability.

There was a famous saying circulating on the internet: “Caring too much for a man is the beginning of your downfall.”

Tan Zhiyu sat at the bedside, tightly holding Boss Xing’s hand as if his body had gained consciousness; he kissed the back of his hand, leaning in to closely observe Xing Yang’s eyelashes. He knew that he had truly fallen for him; he was doomed.

He was deeply concerned for Xing Yang, worried he couldn’t even realize he was sick while going to work. He wanted to inherit Tan Yushen’s legacy together with him, so he wouldn’t have to work so hard anymore.

By that time, with him and Xiaobao, the three of them together would mean true happiness.

While on a cruise, Qiu Jing found it hard to hold back his irritation when he received Tan Zhiyu’s message.

Tan: “Did you know? I never thought he’d love me so much, showing all his vulnerability before me, making my heart ache. To be honest, I’m touched by his sincerity.”

Qiu: “Do you want me to recommend a psychiatrist? I know someone.”

Tan: “I’m also preparing to be a dad (to be Xiaobao’s dad). As long as he asks me nicely next time, I’m willing to go public with him, and we won’t have to keep it a secret anymore. Of course, it depends on him asking; otherwise, I won’t agree. I have principles.”

Qiu: “8 a.m. tomorrow, City Center Hospital is scheduled, remember to check.”

Tan: “You haven’t been married; you wouldn’t understand.”

Attached image: a pair of men tightly holding hands.

Qiu: “Without a ring, what’s there to show off about love? You’re delusional…”

He thought Tan Zhiyu was hopeless, realizing he had become an emotionally detached man, unaffected even when presented with a table of love letters. Why had marriage turned him into a lunatic? What changes did marriage bring to men?

Tan: “He hasn’t proposed yet; how could there be a ring? Once he does, there will be.”

Qiu: “Get lost.”

Tan: “In a few days when it’s public, I won’t flaunt with you anymore; I’ll flaunt with the whole world (#^.^#).”

Qiu Jing closed his eyes, feeling a buzzing in his head, and the next second: “Bang—”

The phone was thrown into the sea, startling the little omega beside him.

“What’s wrong?” Chi Yansheng pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, only for the secretary behind him to throw it into the sea too. His expression changed as he picked up some fruit to eat, “Who made you angry?”

Chi Yansheng was the current head of the Chi family, who was previously a high school classmate of Qiu Jing’s in Germany. But he was clever, already graduated and back home taking over the family business.

“Do you know Xing Yang?” he asked.

Chi Yansheng replied, “What a coincidence.”

Qiu Jing’s interest was piqued, “How is it a coincidence?”

“A few days ago, my brother had me sign a contract, working with him. I don’t know how he won Jiang Ye’s omega over to secure some land. I heard he’s planning to build a stadium.”

That was a favor Jiang Ye owed after sparring with Xing Yang in the film crew, where Xing Yang took a punch and lost to Jiang Ye; of course, Chi Yanchuan would use a contract to repay Jiang Ye.

Hearing this, Qiu Jing felt that Xing Yang might not be a good person.

Chi Yansheng was about to pull out a cigarette, but his secretary threw the entire cigarette pack into the trash, leaving him embarrassed, he could only make awkward small talk, “Anyway, he’s a ruthless person who achieves his goals by any means necessary. It’s normal; but I heard he’s preparing to get engaged to the Jiang family’s young master?”

Qiu Jing: “?”

He now seriously doubted Tan Zhiyu’s judgment and wondered if he was deceived into marriage by Xing Yang.

So, five minutes later, Tan Zhiyu received a message from Chi Yansheng: “You’ve been played by Xing Yang; get out fast!”

Tan: “Oh.”

“You wish you were being played; it wouldn’t be your turn.”

Chi Yansheng and Qiu Jing twisted their faces upon seeing this reply, and Chi Yansheng painfully asked, “Has he been hacked? Or is he in a relationship?”

Qiu Jing: “He’s a freak.”

–

The kingfisher chirped, and Xing Yang dreamed he was back in high school.

His father had neglected construction safety measures on site, and his co-workers were killed under falling steel bars. As the person in charge, his father was demanded to pay for the life lost, and he fled responsibility. His mother spent her days in tears, and he had to go to the construction site after school, bowing to the families of the deceased, begging for their forgiveness.

He wanted to go to college. He wanted to… stand out in life.

During summer vacation, he wore a cumbersome mascot costume at a mall, distributing flyers as a brand’s mascot, required to go on stage and interact with invited celebrities. Back then, Tan Zhiyu had gained some fame, and his fans had started to accumulate. He moved behind the thick cotton wall of the mascot costume to follow him closely.

He had long known there was a star at school but had never seen him. Now that he did, he didn’t realize someone in this world could be so astonishingly beautiful yet disqualified.

“Xing Yang, come here! It’s going to be your turn soon.”

Wearing the heavy mascot costume, he trudged over, and the stylist next to Tan Zhiyu was curling his hair. His long fingertips fiddled with his phone, shining like gold, tilting his head while covering half his face, eyes half-raised, “Are you a student from Ninth High?”

Ninth High.

The big-headed mascot nodded, and Tan Zhiyu turned, tilting his head, revealing the hole for his eyes, the corners of his mouth slightly curved.

Xing Yang gazed into Tan Zhiyu’s bright eyes in the dark, the clean green irises reflecting the mascot’s shadow, this absurd yet enchanting scene refracting in the mirror as the background music swelled with a piano melody.

The adolescent boy was tempted, unable to resist. Unsure if it was nervousness or excitement, the little deer hidden in his chest raced quickly.

“Have you seen me before?” Tan Zhiyu’s youthful smile lingered, “After it’s over, find Yue Jie for dinner; you’ve worked hard.”

“Okay…”

The event ended simply, filled with the screams of girls and the cameras of men. Tan Zhiyu’s face was heaven-sent—any smile could make people lose their minds.

Xing Yang stood below the stage, as if looking up at a distant star.

The host asked, “Zhiyu is about to enter college; I heard your mother is a diplomat. What hopes do you have for college life and any plans for romance?”

Tan Zhiyu took the microphone, “Actually, I enjoy working more, and I love the support of my fan sisters. But if I do end up getting married or falling in love in the future, I would prefer someone gentle, attentive. I myself… am quite awful; I might still be immature.”

The host asked, “What gender would you like to date?”

Tan Zhiyu replied, “I hope it’s an omega who thinks my pheromones smell nice.”

As those words drifted far away, Xing Yang, inside his heavy mascot suit, heard them in less than five seconds, but the transition from an eternal scentless beta to an omega had taken five years, even longer—

Tan Zhiyu wasn’t the savior of his苦生活, nor a benefactor providing material aid; he was the man he couldn’t forget from the moment he laid eyes on him.

Years later, he finally became the gentle, attentive omega who could sense Tan Zhiyu’s pheromones.

This path was long; the dream flashed back once, and he had to fall for Tan Zhiyu all over again.

–

When Tan Zhiyu woke up, he found himself holding the plush teddy bear.

“Boss Xing—” he shouted, dissatisfied, still thinking the man had gone home to find his cat.

“Boss Xing is here.” The man’s voice floated in from the living room, slow and leisurely.

Tan Zhiyu sprang up in disbelief and rushed to the living room, “What are you doing here?”

Xing Yang was stirring soup with a spoon, dressed in an apron. “Where else should I be?”

His words seemed baffling, causing Xing Yang to lose track of the conversation, “I promised to have dinner with you. Of course, I couldn’t break my promise.”

“You’re still running a fever.” Tan Zhiyu frowned as he approached, pressing his forehead against Xing Yang’s, their noses nearly brushing.

Xing Yang raised his cheek slightly, instinctively wanting to kiss him, but halted at the critical moment: “Yeah, I have a fever, so I can’t kiss you. Today’s goodnight kiss will have to wait till next time.”

Tan Zhiyu: “?”

That wouldn’t do! He pressed his lips to Xing Yang’s soft ones, feeling they were quite thick and comfortable: “Why should I suffer just because you’re sick?”

He refused to let it go; he even wanted to double it up!

Xing Yang chuckled at him, ruffling his hair, “Alright, if you keep this up, something bad will happen.”

He had always had no resistance against Tan Zhiyu, and being ill made him even weaker.

“Just because I’m sick doesn’t mean I can’t cook.” Tan Zhiyu wanted him to set down the spoon, to hug him. It was already past midnight; they should be sleeping.

“When you’re sick, do you not eat?” Xing Yang gently called his name, “Zhiyu, you can’t have those bad habits.”

Sometimes he felt like a father, giving Tan Zhiyu a strong sense of belonging.

This house was unlike those he had lived in before; it wasn’t cold but warmly inviting.

Boss Xing was like the sun.

He had nurtured Tan Zhiyu in this pool, and he had never known that the stove in the kitchen could actually be a superb tool for flirting.

Moreover…

When he was running a fever, he wrapped his arms around him from behind, feeling so warm and comfortable, “I can do it too. Let me help you.”

“With me here, you don’t need to worry.” Xing Yang brushed off his hands, “I’ll handle everything well.”

A statement full of heroic boyfriend energy.

Tan Zhiyu noted he had fallen in love once more.

He genuinely felt that every gesture from Xing Yang exhibited the charm of a mature man, and even if this was a trap, he was willing to leap into it…

“There’s something I want to talk to you about…” Tan Zhiyu earnestly urged him to put down what was in his hands, facing him seriously.

Xing Yang had never seen such a serious expression in work; he put down the spoon, “I’m listening.”

After hesitating for a few seconds, Tan Zhiyu’s brow furrowed still,

And he said, “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time since you just slept.”

Xing Yang sensed the matter was serious.

It had reached a point where they had to sit down and discuss it seriously. Had he discovered his own business? Should he come clean? As he thought it over.

Tan Zhiyu pursed his lips, speaking in a somewhat muffled voice; “If the cat you have is named Xing Xiaobao, then what am I?”

Xing Yang: “?”

“I’ve thought it over; I think it needs to change. Now I’m willing to give you this opportunity; you say, how should we handle it?”

Xing Yang: “?”

He truly had never been to college and never realized how difficult reading comprehension could be. No matter how complex the contracts he viewed, he could manage to glean something, yet here Tan Zhiyu could not.

Nervously stroking his lips, Xing Yang sensibly perceived a glimmer of expectation in Tan Zhiyu’s eyes.

Was he going to change Xiaobao’s surname?

“He’s been called Xiaobao for many years; besides…”

Tan Zhiyu interrupted, “I didn’t say he couldn’t be called Xiaobao. I’m asking, in the future, what will I be? You tell me.”

Xing Yang thought for a long time.

“Well… from now on, you’ll be Dabao?”

Tan Zhiyu: “?”

Read, chaotic response.

The cream soup in the pot bubbled, and Tan Zhiyu distinctly heard a string snap in his mind.

Not Dabao!!

But Dad!!

He also wanted to be Xiaobao’s dad!!

But oddly, he somewhat liked Xing Yang calling him Dabao; it actually felt pretty decent.

Thus, he found himself falling into a conflict between wanting to be angry and delightfully accepting both emotions within a second.

He stubbornly probed, “Is that all?”

Boss Xing wasn’t very good at sweet talk and felt slightly embarrassed saying: “Then… Dawas?”

Tan Zhiyu rubbed his temples.

That wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

He felt a bit deflated but was willing to be called that since it at least proved he was special: “You can’t call me like that outside.”

Xing Yang: “Okay.”

The omega noticed the lingering disappointment in Tan Zhiyu’s expression, turning to seriously confirm, “Is there anything else making you unhappy? Hmm?”

“My Zhiyu, why aren’t you happy?”

He carefully cupped the alpha’s face, their warm breaths mingling, his deep voice soothingly entering Tan Zhiyu’s ears.

He’s tempting me again, Tan Zhiyu thought.

The warmth of his palm pressed against Tan Zhiyu’s face reminded him of the callouses from those early years when Xing Yang worked constructing buildings; even after so many years, they were still rough.

Thinking that these hands had never been so gently cradled anyone else’s face, Tan Zhiyu felt a block in his heart.

He believed Xing Yang was the best person in the world.

Even when sick, he could still remember to cook him cream soup, winning over with such raw yet self-touching acts.

He also believed Xing Yang was the world’s most oblivious individual; otherwise, why wouldn’t he graze a kiss the moment he called his name?

He wanted to kiss him but felt shy.

“You just called me Dabao; have you forgotten?” He was quite displeased with the forgetful man.

He let out a deflated hum and returned to sit on the sofa, like someone who had just been angered, but he felt too far gone, leaving the air devoid of Xing Yang’s pheromones and feeling irritated, he turned back, ultimately standing by the countertop watching him.

Xing Yang decided to finish cooking before coaxing him, “You can’t starve while sulking.”

Probably because they were too close, as Xing Yang bowed to cut vegetables, a straight line from his nape to his spine, each motion swift and decisive. Tan Zhiyu’s gaze traveled from his forehead to his nose, finally stopping at his slightly thick and upturned lips when viewed from the side.

Suddenly, an impulse surged to score a kiss; he was truly furious!

“Xing Yang, come here.”

“What’s wrong?” Xing Yang wiped his hands and approached.

Tan Zhiyu felt fidgety, especially as Xing Yang stood in front of him, immobile, making him even more unsettled. He stopped calling him Dabao and didn’t want to kiss him: “Forget it, just leave.”

“Are you a puppy?” Xing Yang chuckled helplessly, his voice deep and pleasant.

Only puppies act anxious when waiting for food and need to urge their owners.

He walked over, slowly leaning his face against the coolness of Tan Zhiyu’s face. “I have a fever, don’t kiss; will a touch make you happy?”

“Hmm?” he gently asked.