Faced with He Qingye’s joking words, Pei Yumian’s throat tightened. For a moment, he did not know what to say.
When He Qingye had married him, one glance was enough to make him seem as cold and cutting as a walking refrigeration unit. Paired with pheromones that smelled of absinthe, even lifting his head to look at He Qingye required Pei Yumian to summon his courage.
Yet the He Qingye in front of him now was smiling with complete gentleness.
Pei Yumian felt warm breath brush through the spaces between his fingers. When he looked up, He Qingye was already trying to bury his face in Pei Yumian’s palm.
Pei Yumian hurriedly pulled his hand away and hid it behind his back.
“Do you need anything else?”
He Qingye looked disappointed. He sighed softly and said in an exaggeratedly pitiful tone:
“Of course. I want my wife to stay with me.”
That clingy behavior again. Before Pei Yumian could find a reason to refuse, the phone in the corner of the sofa rang.
Seeing that it was a video call from Xiaopang, Pei Yumian immediately answered.
Xiaopang’s fair, chubby face filled the camera. The instant he saw Pei Yumian, he opened his mouth, ready to howl.
Pei Yumian’s brows knitted together.
“No crying!”
Xiaopang shut his mouth with a whimper.
“Dad, I miss you so much…”
Pei Yumian let out a cold laugh.
“He Yaoyuan, did you cause trouble at Grandma’s house?”
Caught immediately, Xiaopang could no longer whine convincingly. His eyes darted around as he stammered:
“I didn’t. I just… I just missed you.”
Pei Yumian was about to continue interrogating Xiaopang when Qin You appeared behind him and took the phone.
“Yumian, don’t worry. I can handle him.”
Hearing his mother-in-law say that only made Pei Yumian worry more. He wondered who on earth this little brat had taken after.
At some point, He Qingye had sat down beside Pei Yumian. With a mild expression, he helpfully added fuel to the fire:
“Mom, if Xiaopang doesn’t listen, just give him a good beating.”
Pei Yumian frowned at He Qingye. He himself had been obedient beyond measure since childhood. Clearly, this had to be He Qingye’s fault.
Qin You keenly sensed that Pei Yumian and He Qingye had some conflict that needed resolving. After making a little small talk, she ended the call.
“He Qingye, were you obedient when you were little?”
As Pei Yumian asked, he stared fixedly at He Qingye and, sure enough, saw the smile on He Qingye’s face stiffen.
“Wife, it’s time for my afternoon exercise. I’m going to work out first.”
After saying that, He Qingye took three quick strides and hurriedly left the small study.
Watching his back, Pei Yumian nearly laughed from exasperation at the father and son.
One was mischievous and refused to tell the truth; the other was clingy, pretended to be innocent, and constantly spouted sweet talk. They truly were father and son.
Once Pei Yumian figured that out, he put the pair out of his mind. Knowing he was finally about to get some real time alone, he opened his computer and logged into his Fight the Landlord account.
Growing up, Pei Yumian had never really had any hobbies.
More accurately, the Pei family had not allowed Pei Yumian to have hobbies of his own. His phone and computer were monitored to prevent the chaotic games and people on the internet from ruining the innocence and perfection expected of an omega waiting to be married off.
That ridiculous, feudal reason had constrained Pei Yumian for eighteen years. Only after marrying He Qingye did he finally begin living like a person, with a phone and computer that no one monitored.
Having been cut off for too long, Pei Yumian could no longer adapt well to the colorful online world. He mostly played games like Fight the Landlord. Since he was excellent at mathematics and could count cards, he could keep winning.
Two hours later, Pei Yumian looked at the Happy Beans in his account, now doubled, and closed the game interface in satisfaction. He planned to go upstairs and read for a while.
This villa was Pei Yumian and He Qingye’s marital home. Its original decoration had been exquisite but somehow lacking in warmth. Over the past three years, Pei Yumian had changed many things about it. Apart from his small study, his favorite place was the glass conservatory on the top floor.
Flowers bloomed there all year round. Pei Yumian dragged a recliner into a corner of the conservatory, lowered the sunshade, and hid among clusters of flowers to read.
Surrounded by waves of floral fragrance, Pei Yumian grew drowsy. The book slipped from his hand. Just before it hit the floor, a large hand caught it. Pei Yumian’s mind told him he should open his eyes to see who it was, but his eyelids refused to cooperate, and his consciousness sank into sleep.
A familiar bitter, herbal scent lingered at the tip of his nose, making this sleep unusually peaceful.
The smell was faint, almost impossible to detect, yet it made Pei Yumian relax without realizing it. Even when He Qingye lifted him and moved him elsewhere, Pei Yumian did not wake.
When Pei Yumian opened his eyes again and saw He Qingye’s profile, he abruptly shoved him away and sat up.
“Are you crazy? Do you not want your gland anymore?”
After saying that, Pei Yumian tried to get out of bed to call the doctor, but He Qingye’s arm wrapped firmly around his waist and abdomen.
Pei Yumian frowned and tried to pull He Qingye’s arm away.
“He Qingye, is this the time to throw a tantrum? You—”
His vision blurred. He Qingye had pulled him back into his arms. When Pei Yumian turned his head, He Qingye’s warm breath was right there.
“Wife, the doctor said I can hug you now. A tiny amount of omega pheromone exposure is actually good for me.”
Pei Yumian stiffened all over. The rebuke in his mouth would not come out.
He Qingye might normally say all sorts of ridiculous things, but when it came to his health, he never made things up.
“Wife, I’m so happy.”
Pei Yumian could feel He Qingye’s hot, damp breath against his back. His thin house clothes barely blocked anything.
“Wife, what do your pheromones smell like? Why can’t I smell them? But it seems kind of sweet.”
He Qingye’s warm breath moved upward, drawing near the sensitive gland at the back of Pei Yumian’s neck.
Pei Yumian shuddered from head to toe. Taking advantage of He Qingye’s momentary inattention, he broke free from his arms and stepped barefoot onto the floor.
He Qingye genuinely had not reacted in time. His expression held not only surprise but a trace of dazed infatuation.
Pei Yumian covered the back of his neck and turned away from He Qingye. His voice carried an almost imperceptible tremor.
“Grapefruit.”
After saying that, Pei Yumian ran back to his own room.
The moment he entered, he locked the door, leaned against it, and slid down to sit on the floor in a sorry state.
Pei Yumian tore off the pheromone-blocking patch. At once, the scent of grapefruit spread through the entire room.
Back then, Pei Yumian had forced himself through pregnancy and childbirth without the soothing presence of an alpha’s pheromones. In the end, it had still left some lingering consequences.
After Xiaopang was born, Pei Yumian’s heats became irregular. Sometimes one came only after six months, sometimes after three.
It was not a serious problem. The doctor had not prescribed medication either. Compared with hormone-heavy drugs, an alpha’s pheromones were much more effective.
After learning that, Pei Yumian did not continue seeking the doctor’s help. Instead, he wore a pheromone-monitoring bracelet and kept an emergency suppressant injection hidden inside it.
One month before He Qingye woke up, Pei Yumian had just gone through a heat.
But now Pei Yumian once again felt weak and sore all over, and the pheromone concentration displayed on his bracelet was nearing the danger threshold. These were clearly early signs of another heat.
“Buzz—”
The bracelet vibrated with a warning. Pei Yumian smiled bitterly. At least now he had an excuse to avoid He Qingye.
Although his heat had already begun, Pei Yumian’s mental state remained fine. Supporting himself against the door, he slowly stood, walked to the bedside cabinet, and took out the suppressant he had stored there.
Pei Yumian disinfected the area with practiced movements and pressed the injector into his arm.
The burning heat throughout his body weakened considerably, and strength returned to his aching limbs.
Pei Yumian sat on the edge of the bed and called He Qingye.
The phone rang fewer than three times before He Qingye’s voice came through.
“Wife?!”
“He Qingye, my heat has started.”
Pei Yumian went straight to the point. One sentence was enough to make He Qingye fall completely silent.
Two sets of breathing mingled over the phone. Pei Yumian was about to hang up when He Qingye hurriedly asked:
“Then do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Is there anything I can prepare for you? I…”
Pei Yumian felt he ought to use this opportunity to scold He Qingye properly. Then He Qingye might stop being so unreasonable in the future.
“I remember the textbook said omegas need extra sugar and fluids during heat. I’ll make you sweet soup, okay? Do you like red dates or candied dates…?”
But listening to He Qingye’s inexperienced, childish concern, Pei Yumian suddenly felt that perhaps he had been too harsh on him.
Strictly speaking, He Qingye’s current psychological age was only eighteen.
Thinking of that, Pei Yumian’s tone softened considerably.
“You don’t need to do anything. Just don’t come near my room for the next few days.”
He Qingye still refused to give up. It was already painful enough that his wife was in heat and all he could do was stare helplessly. Was he not even allowed to make his wife a bowl of soup…?
“Then I’ll make it and have the nanny leave it outside your door. Is that okay? Wife~ Please~”
Hearing He Qingye act spoiled made goosebumps rise all over Pei Yumian. He hurriedly cut him off.
“Fine, fine. Just don’t put in too much sugar.”
The moment Pei Yumian agreed, he heard He Qingye cheer, as though being allowed to make him a bowl of sweet soup were some tremendous honor.
Thirty minutes later, someone knocked on Pei Yumian’s bedroom door.
“Mr. Pei, Mr. He made sweet soup for you. It’s outside the door.”
Pei Yumian answered. Only after the nanny left did he open the door a crack. Once he confirmed no one else was outside, he quickly pulled the small serving cart inside.
When he lifted the insulated cover, Pei Yumian was briefly surprised. There was more than sweet soup on the cart. There was also a bowl of noodles in clear broth.
Pei Yumian had just placed the sweet soup and noodles on the table when his phone rang. It was a video-call request from He Qingye.
Pei Yumian hesitated, then swiped to answer. He Qingye’s impatient voice immediately sounded.
“Wife, Wife, hurry and taste it. It’s my first time making noodles.”
He Qingye was very close to the camera, as though he wanted to crawl through it. His eyes were bright, reflecting only Pei Yumian.
Pei Yumian’s heart gave a little jolt. He suddenly realized He Qingye really did seem to like him, even if it was only the influence of imprinting.
Pei Yumian set his phone on a stand and slowly picked up his chopsticks.
“I know. I’ll try it now.”
He Qingye said nothing, watching Pei Yumian’s expression with visible tension.
The instant the noodles entered his mouth, Pei Yumian’s expression relaxed. The flavor was very familiar, almost exactly like the soup noodles he often ate outside the university gates.
It was probably a coincidence. Pei Yumian did not think much of it.
“Wife, is it good?”
He Qingye was still waiting for his verdict, staring without blinking for fear of missing Pei Yumian’s expression.
Pei Yumian looked at He Qingye on the screen. The corners of his mouth curved into a very faint smile.
“It’s good. Thank you for your hard work.”
He Qingye stared blankly for several seconds, then said with a dazed expression:
“From now on, I’ll cook all your meals.”
After saying that, He Qingye smiled with obvious delight.
Pei Yumian did not respond. If He Qingye wanted to cook, he could cook. It was still better than having him glued to Pei Yumian’s side.
Pei Yumian did not have a large appetite to begin with, and during this special period he ate even less.
But perhaps because the noodles were exactly the right degree of light and simple, Pei Yumian unusually finished the entire bowl. The sweet soup, which looked quite good, could only remain untouched.
With guilt on his face, Pei Yumian said to He Qingye on the screen:
“I’m afraid I can’t try the sweet soup.”
He Qingye waved a hand grandly.
“It’s fine, Wife. I’ll make it for you again tomorrow.”
Never in his life had Pei Yumian been cared for like this. With a gentle smile, he said seriously to He Qingye:
“Thank you.”
The tips of He Qingye’s ears instantly turned red. He moved away from the screen, then immediately leaned back toward the camera and said with complete seriousness:
“Wife, then can you give me a special reward?
