31: Don’t Run
“Nervous?”
The low, husky voice brushed through every pore in his eardrums, redirecting Shen Jin’s attention.
All the staff had withdrawn. The vast room was left with only the two of them.
An indescribable sense of urgency stretched between them like a tightly drawn string.
“I’m fine.” Shen Jin’s heart was practically leaping into his throat, yet he’d long mastered the skill of inner turmoil paired with outward calm. I’m not nervous. I’m really not nervous. “Why would you think I’d leave?”
If it had been even a few minutes later, they truly would’ve missed each other.
The other spoke unhurriedly. “We made an appointment, yet you seemed to think I wouldn’t come?”
Shen Jin hadn’t expected such sharp perception. He awkwardly wanted to deny it, though the other clearly didn’t intend to argue and quickly continued.
“There was a traffic accident on the way. I escorted the injured person to the police station and went past the agreed time, though it turned out fine,” the youth explained, as if not wanting Shen Jin to misunderstand his intentions. He paused briefly, then added, “you’re still here.”
There was a faint smile in that person’s tone, giving Shen Jin the fleeting illusion that he was being teased.
Listening closely, there was nothing ambiguous about it. He was probably overthinking.
“Shall we start?”
Shen Jin gave a soft response. He raised his hand and tore off the high-potency suppressor patch at the back of his neck. Thin as cicada wings, it could briefly suppress scent leakage and temporarily restrain the activity of pheromones within the body, practically a miracle.
These patches were expensive, and more importantly, unavailable on the open market. They were exclusive supplies for matching rooms.
Each patch only lasted around ten minutes, and he’d already replaced several.
To ensure today’s marking went smoothly, Shen Jin hadn’t taken an additional suppressant injection.
The instant he tore it off, countless electric currents surged through his limbs and bones. Fine, dense numbness boiled up as every cell in his body seemed to be activated.
Once released, the raging tide nearly overturned his mind, leaving him almost weak.
He forced himself to keep control, barely preventing a moan from slipping out.
Shen Jin had restrained himself for far too long. Ever since his differentiation, he’d been suppressing those instincts. They’d yielded under pressure, yet that never meant they didn’t exist.
Once unleashed, they were like floodwaters after the gates opened, utterly unstoppable.
They found an outlet and rushed wildly through his body. The physical frenzy left Shen Jin gasping with every step.
In just a few seconds, the matching room filled with a sweetness intense enough to make any Alpha fall without resistance.
Shen Jin heard a light, muffled groan from across the room, followed by silence.
Neither of them spoke.
It was like a silent drill.
When Qian Kun was young, an Omega had once tried to force a marking on him. The attempt failed, yet it left behind a heavy psychological shadow. After that, he went to the military camp and deliberately trained his endurance in this regard. Ordinary Omegas didn’t hold that much temptation for him.
Yet just now, the moment he caught Shen Jin’s scent, he felt himself losing control. Driven by Alpha instinct, he wanted to claim this sweet prey as his own.
Qian Kun covered his face, faint veins standing out on the back of his hand.
He was holding back, unwilling to let Shen Jin see what he was truly like in this moment.
“Could you… turn off the lights?” Shen Jin’s voice carried a soft, damp warmth, like flower petals battered by heavy rain.
He found it difficult to say aloud, the urge rising to open the door and escape this suffocating atmosphere at once.
After a few seconds’ pause, a light chuckle came from the other side. “If I turn them off, I won’t be able to see you. Do you want me to grope around in the dark?”
Shen Jin realized how poorly phrased his request was. Too dark meant fumbling blindly, which would only lead to more contact. He made a quick decision. “Then… I’m ready.”
He walked to the isolation window. Along the way, he noticed the other had dimmed the room lights. Only a desk lamp remained, casting a hazy light while most of the room sank into shadow.
Warmth stirred in Shen Jin’s chest. Those small, considerate details temporarily suppressed his impulse to bolt.
He turned his back. His cheeks were tinged with pale red from the intense clash inside his body.
He pressed the green button. With a clatter, the electric grid withdrew.
The isolation window consisted of three layers. Once both parties entered their respective rooms, the outer two layers opened automatically. The innermost layer was an infrared electric grid preventing contact.
If the Alpha crossed the line, the Omega could unilaterally activate it to protect themself.
Against the dark background, a fair, jade-like nape came into view, delicate and fragile. A tiny black mole nestled behind the ear added a touch of restrained allure.
At the center, the gland no one had ever seen before glowed faintly pink under hormonal influence.
Qian Kun’s gaze darkened.
Their compatibility was far too high. The other’s existence felt like gravity itself, drawing him closer against all reason.
Shen Jin’s mind was far from clear. Every passing moment felt unbearable.
He sensed the youth approaching, footsteps passing through his ears.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Each step landed squarely on his heart.
The other’s gaze felt almost tangible. Shen Jin rubbed his fingers together, fingertips braced against the wall.
Hot breath lingered at his nape. He could feel the youth’s hesitation.
Qian Kun thought he could suppress instinct. His aversion to marking hadn’t formed overnight. It was built over years.
It wasn’t directed at Shen Jin. Deep down, he even harbored a base expectation toward a first marking.
He’d watched several marking videos overnight, yet every time the scene reached the exposed gland, he shut it off before he even realized it.
In the end, he learned nothing. His body boiled, clamoring to mark, while the physical strain dragged him through fire and ice at once.
Time passed, second by second.
A faint fragrance lingered. Shen Jin thought hazily.
It felt familiar. Not the scent itself, but something deeper, like a collision of souls.
The youth approached and retreated several times, his presence burning hot.
Shen Jin could clearly sense the Alpha’s overwhelming aura and the possessiveness hidden within.
Yet there was hesitation, almost reluctance.
Shen Jin was at his limit. He gritted his teeth. “If you can’t, then today we’ll just—”
Regret surged. Clinging to the last shred of rationality, he stepped back, intending to leave.
Before he could take another step, strong arms locked around his neck. He lightly collided back against the isolation window and was pulled into another’s embrace.
Scalding fingers gently pinched his chin.
A low, husky voice came. “Don’t run.”
With slightly hurried breaths, the youth’s lips pressed down without warning.
The next instant, Shen Jin couldn’t suppress a low cry. “Ah!”
His resistance to the unfamiliar scent crumbled with ease.
The youth’s manner was gentle, yet his movements were decidedly forceful.
Shen Jin felt as though he had fallen into clouds, drifting weightlessly.
At the back of his neck, an unfamiliar wave of pheromones spread, gradually calming the turmoil inside him.
He shuddered. The sensation was deeply unfamiliar.
Throughout the entire process, Shen Jin pressed his lips tightly together. The air held increasingly heated breath.
He involuntarily lifted his swan-like neck, only to be soothed with just the right amount of pressure.
For a first marking, the youth behind him felt his way slowly, from awkward beginnings to growing ease.
The dark fragrance of pheromones drifted through every corner of the room.
When it ended, the youth lingered briefly at Shen Jin’s neck and shoulder, breath slightly unsteady.
After a short pause, neither spoke right away.
Eyes closed, the youth explained his earlier hesitation. “I was afraid you would be uncomfortable. I don’t have experience.”
Shen Jin wasn’t sure if those words struck some sensitive nerve.
“I don’t either…”
A low laugh rumbled from the youth’s throat. It sounded pleasant.
Neither could see the other’s face. In the dim light, they slowly calmed the lingering turbulence inside them.
An Alpha and an Omega during marking felt like they were locked in a fierce war.
Once Shen Jin recovered, the youth fully withdrew, taking that lingering warmth with him. He said softly, “If you’re satisfied, please leave a five-star review. I look forward to your next visit.”
Because of the agreement, Shen Jin couldn’t turn around.
Yet the other’s scent just now, even the intonation of his speech…
Familiarity was an overly delicate feeling, hovering between certainty and doubt.
Intuition was also a mysterious thing.
Did they know each other or not?
*
When Shen Jin walked out of the matching room, his entire spirit felt renewed.
The restless pheromones inside him lay dormant for the first time, obedient and subdued. The process had been unbearably embarrassing, as though another’s presence had completely taken control of him.
In the lobby, he noticed many staff members clustered at the entrance, their discussion unusually animated.
Passing by, he caught fragments like “3S”, “so young,” and “so cool, but he totally ignores everyone.”
Shen Jin didn’t want to relive that frenzied marking. Out on the brightly lit street, he opened the app and tapped five stars on AX000034**’s profile.
What surprised him was the sheer number of comments under this relatively new account.
[Oh my god, this ID actually showed up in the matching room???]
[AX prefix!!! I trusted the wrong fate. I want him. Where do I book this one?]
[I’ll pay the highest price, seven figures. Little bro, want to consider me?]
Seven figures felt absurd.
Did that mean he had actually paid a little too little?
The account itself had no information beyond what registration required.
Yet the ID and prefix alone told everyone this was a high-level Alpha.
Shen Jin skimmed briefly. As expected, he had scored a bargain.
Once luck arrived, it truly couldn’t be stopped.
Swaying along on the bus ride back, he hesitated, then messaged HateBunnies. [I’ll increase your marking fee by 50,000 next time.]
HateBunnies: [No need. You’re a student, right? Spend more where you actually need it. I do have a small request, though.]
Snowball: [What is it?]
HateBunnies: [If you don’t run next time, I’ll be a lot happier pink bunny.]
“…”
Shen Jin walked back to the dorm under the moonlight. His roommate seemed to have been back for a while already. Fresh from a shower, he lounged at his desk with his phone. His lazy voice carried its usual indifference. “If he wants to come, let him. Why stop him?”
Shen Jin closed his eyes, recalling the sensation from hours ago and comparing the two.
There were subtle differences. Maybe everything was just wishful thinking on his part.
Hearing Shen Jin enter, his roommate greeted him casually.
Shen Jin moved over without drawing attention. Their gazes met.
His voice was cool. “Lend me your math paper. I want to look at the second-to-last problem.”
Qian Kun glanced at him, a little surprised by the sudden request.
Shen Jin braced himself for questions, yet Qian Kun asked nothing and handed over the paper already filled with answers.
Shen Jin took the chance to discreetly scent the air.
There was only the fresh verbena scent of shower gel. Not a trace of pheromones.
That was something only a Beta would have.
When lights-out came. Shen Jin listened to the sounds from the opposite bed. His roommate’s breathing was steady, while sleep refused to come to him.
In the dark, he found a bottle of melatonin at his bedside and bit into one. Sweetness spread, gradually brewing a hint of drowsiness.
“Shen Jin…”
A murmur drifted from across the room that Shen Jin’s heart jolted.
The drowsiness vanished at once. He looked over.
Qian Kun had simply turned over, already fast asleep again.
Shen Jin curled his damp palm, rubbing his sweaty nose.
He wiped away the tiny beads of moisture at the tip and took a few shallow breaths.
Qian Kun was dreaming, right?
Then why was he calling my name in his dream?!
*
Friday afternoon, the broadcast came on.
The grade director’s voice brimmed with enthusiasm as he announced that at exactly three p.m., the school delegation would hold a unique pheromone extraction competition with a sister school from Country Y. All students could watch from their classrooms.
Faint exclamations rose from other classes.
Qian Kun had been resting and was jolted awake by the noise. Marking demanded a certain level of mental stamina. Yesterday, to give the little friend a perfect experience, he controlled his instincts as much as possible.
Someone in class suddenly shouted, “Whoa, it’s Huai Cao!”
“Who’s Huai Cao?” the transfer students asked, confused.
“Ke Minghuai!!”
“Our Nanhu High School’s official campus heartthrob. Shortened to Huai Cao!”
“Oh my god, I haven’t seen him in ages. My male god, I’m coming!”
Liu Qimai muttered, “Why does that sound so pretentious?”
Luo Ying was displeased. Even though she switched crushes, she still admired Ke Minghuai. “Even if he is pretentious, he’s the strongest of them all.”
Lower-grade students might not recognize the name, yet upper-graders knew it well.
A prodigy who entered Nanhu High School with the province-wide third-place score on the entrance exam, he frequently competed in various contests and had more awards than one could count.
Despite the heated discussion, the two in the back showed little reaction.
Shen Jin asked Qian Kun about a complex problem from class. Qian Kun scribbled a few lines of explanation on his draft paper.
He noticed that when the name Ke Minghuai was mentioned, Shen Jin’s pen paused for several seconds.
When the time came, all the classroom televisions turned on.
Because it was a pheromone competition, every segment was conducted confidentially. They could only see footage of contestants entering the labs.
The cameraman seemed to have a preference, frequently landing the lens on Ke Minghuai.
Qian Kun instinctively glanced at Shen Jin. The one who should’ve been handling student council affairs had lifted his head at some point, smiling softly at the handsome youth on screen, pride evident in his gaze.
Qian Kun raised a brow, pressing down on his pen.
He spoke slowly. “I’m going to the school store. Come with me?”
Shen Jin snapped back. “I’m not buying anything. You go.”
Qian Kun propped his chin, half-smiling. “Who said again that they would treat me? Guess I remembered wrong?”
“When did I say that?”
“Right now.”
Interrupted by Qian Kun, Shen Jin didn’t get another chance to look at the television.
He thought he could just watch the recorded stream on the school website later.
During evening study, Qian Kun rarely appeared in the back rows, holding a classical literature worksheet as he read.
Several Omegas in front whispered about the two big shots in the back who minded their own business.
They seldom saw Qian Kun during evening study. With his grades and laid-back class attitude, and with Liu Qimai and the others’ vibrant nightlife as reference, it was easy to see why he usually didn’t show up.
Shen Jin worked through problems for a while and grew sleepy.
He rested his head on the desk, planning to nap briefly.
The evening breeze slipped through the window, carrying the scent of fallen autumn leaves, stirring strands of hair.
Shen Jin buried his face in his arms, his back forming a graceful curve. The small black mole flickered in and out beneath stray hair. An ill-timed image surfaced in Qian Kun’s mind, and he coughed softly.
Shen Jin unconsciously shivered. It might’ve been a little cold.
Qian Kun was just about to stand and close the window.
At that moment, his lazy gaze sharpened, keen and dangerous, fixed on the figure at the back door.
The newcomer’s eyes rested gently on Shen Jin.
A very familiar face, one that had appeared on the television earlier that afternoon.
Author’s Note:
The ex-husband is officially on stage. Time to roll, time to compete.
IsitRo: Breaking your reading immersion at your service! Throughout their “first meeting,” I honestly thought how could Shen Jin not recognize Qian Kun’s voice? Is it really easy to mask a voice, considering that you interact with them in a daily basis?? :o
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