Under normal circumstances, Lu Guifan would have politely declined and gone home. But for some reason, he chose to stay, sitting somewhat stiffly by the bedside. He didn’t know which dishes Jiang Ruotang liked and was even holding his bowl of plain rice, unsure where to start with his chopsticks.

As if he knew what Lu Guifan was thinking, Jiang Ruotang placed some beef, fish-fragrant shredded pork, and stuffed eggplant onto his rice, then watched him with a cheerful smile.

“Eat more. Try to finish off half of it.”

With Jiang Ruotang’s movement, the previously faint scent of apple mint in the air became more distinct. Lu Guifan lowered his head, silently taking in the fragrance.

From middle school to high school, Lu Guifan had experienced several instances of Omega classmates suddenly differentiating or forgetting to replenish their inhibitors during a heat cycle. He had smelled their pheromones before, but for some reason, Jiang Ruotang’s was special, as if it was seeping deep into the core of his heart.

After they finished dinner, Sister Juan left with the food containers. She asked Jiang Ruotang if he wanted her to stay with him for the night.

Jiang Ruotang immediately waved his hands. “No, no, I’m very comfortable here!”

The word “comfortable” made Lu Guifan’s lips curve up for no reason, as he remembered seeing Jiang Ruotang with his legs crossed, eating snacks and watching his laptop when he first arrived.

Once Sister Juan left, Jiang Ruotang grabbed Lu Guifan’s arm and asked him to teach him how to control his pheromones. This thing was like riding a bicycle; before you learned, it felt awkward no matter what, and it was hard to describe the feeling. But once you learned, you could ride freely with the wind, at ease with the world.

Lu Guifan first tried using an analogy about rivers flowing into the sea, but Jiang Ruotang just stared at him blankly, clearly not understanding.

Fortunately, Lu Guifan had extraordinary patience and thought of several other ways to explain it to Jiang Ruotang, who just looked at him and shook his head.

“Or maybe I’ll go back and look up some information, or consult an expert before I answer you.”

It was truly unexpected. When it came to controlling pheromones, Lu Guifan was the top student who had learned it without a teacher, but as for him, the slacker… it seemed the top student couldn’t carry him.

“Alright.”

Jiang Ruotang looked a little pitiful with his head hung low. Lu Guifan reached out and ruffled his hair.

“Don’t be anxious. You’ll suddenly get it when the time is right.”

It was getting late. Lu Guifan said goodbye to Jiang Ruotang, shouldered his backpack, and left.

Jiang Ruotang, in his slippers, walked him all the way to the elevator. If he hadn’t been afraid that his enthusiasm would displease Lu Guifan, he probably would have followed him home.

Lu Guifan didn’t go straight home. His family didn’t own a laptop, so he used his meager pocket money to go to an internet cafe. He browsed web resources while spreading out a notebook to record important information.

There were a few other high school students playing games around him. When they saw Lu Guifan, in his prestigious North City Guangyao school uniform, walk in, they couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment, then they exchanged glances—they never thought the model student the principal was so proud of would also come to an internet cafe! So they played even more freely and without restraint.

Suddenly, someone shouted, “Director Wang is here!”

The high school students shot up and bolted for the back door without a second thought. Who knew that the teachers’ group had also blocked the back door. They could only stand in a line with their heads down in dejection.

Lu Guifan heard the commotion and looked up to see Director Wang walking in with his hands behind his back and a cold expression, looking like a big boss. A few young teachers followed him, much like a king patrolling the streets.

Perhaps because Lu Guifan was too calm, the teachers didn’t notice him at first.

Just as Director Wang was about to launch into a long lecture, one of the students said resentfully, “Why only catch us and not Lu Guifan? Is being number one in the grade so great?”

“Yeah, does being number one give you special privileges?”

“It’s so unfair!”

Director Wang followed their indignant gazes and finally saw the calm Lu Guifan sitting in his original spot.

“Lu Guifan? What are you doing here?” Director Wang’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Lu Guifan stood up unhurriedly and said calmly, “My family doesn’t have a computer. I came to the internet cafe to look up some information.”

“Yeah, right! Who comes to an internet cafe for anything but games?”

“Exactly! Director Wang, you can’t be biased!”

Director Wang walked behind Lu Guifan and saw that the page was on an English journal article about late-life differentiation. He then checked the rest of the browsing history, which was all literature on pheromone control, pheromone induction, and related topics.

Director Wang asked, puzzled, “Why are you looking at these things?”

Lu Guifan replied, “Because I didn’t control my pheromones well during my susceptible period, I implicated a friend and caused him to have a late-life differentiation. His health could become very poor, so I want to help him.”

Director Wang sighed and patted Lu Guifan on the shoulder. “You’re already in your third year of high school. You should be focusing all your energy on your studies. You’re not a doctor. Even if you read all this information here, you can’t treat him. I understand your guilt, but there’s not much you can do to help him.”

Lu Guifan remained silent and didn’t argue further.

Director Wang and his team were veterans at “catching fish” in internet cafes. One look at Lu Guifan’s screen and they knew he hadn’t been playing games at all, so they let him go.

Despite this, the news of Lu Guifan being at the internet cafe spread like wildfire. But the story changed as it spread, from the original “Lu Guifan was at the internet cafe looking up information” to “Lu Guifan was at the internet cafe watching porn.” Everyone became very interested. Someone even specifically went to the computer station Lu Guifan had used, wanting to find clues as to what kind of porn the top student watched.

Jiang Ruotang also saw this news before going to sleep. Although he thought it was ridiculous, it was a rare opportunity. It wasn’t often he could tease Lu Guifan! So he sent a message to Lu Guifan: [Legend has it you went to an internet cafe specifically to watch AO porn! Which one? Share it, let me broaden my horizons too!]

Lu Guifan had just finished showering. He ran a hand through his wet hair, glanced at the message on the screen, and chuckled lightly before sending a link over.

When Jiang Ruotang saw the link, his smiling face turned to one of anger.

Damn it, you really went to an internet cafe to watch porn? You’re unclean from your eyes to your brain! Believe it or not, I’m dumping you.

Although he complained this way in his heart, his fingers were very honest and clicked on the link.

Who knew it would turn out to be an educational animation on AO physiology.

Jiang Ruotang was speechless. As expected of Lu Guifan. But why did the scenes of marking and knotting in this animation look so terrifying? It made Jiang Ruotang touch the back of his neck and press his knees together, feeling like every part of him was in excruciating pain. At this moment, he truly didn’t understand what was so great about this damned ABO setting!

A short while later, another message came from Lu Guifan: [Fast forward the video to after 12 minutes. There’s a section on the trick to controlling pheromones.]

Jiang Ruotang really wanted to climb on top of Lu Guifan, grab him by the collar, and give him a fierce headbutt! Couldn’t you have mentioned the important part earlier?

Blushing, Jiang Ruotang dragged the video to the twelve-minute mark. After listening to an explanation of how glands work and how pheromones spread through the body via the bloodstream and are then released, Jiang Ruotang fell asleep as he watched.

Jiang Ruotang waited boredly for a whole day, switching from cheesy soap operas to comedy variety shows, until Lu Guifan came to see him after dinner.

The moment the hospital room door opened, a light, ethereal scent of apple mint wafted over. Without even looking at Jiang Ruotang’s expression, Lu Guifan knew he was happy to see him.

Pheromones never lie.

“I’ve been waiting for you for so long! What took you?”

Lu Guifan put down his backpack. Though his heart was pounding, he had to compose himself and say, “Physics class ran a little late today, and there was some traffic on the way.”

“Oh, so have you figured out how you’re going to teach me to control my pheromones today?” Jiang Ruotang asked curiously.

“On the way here, I spoke with your attending physician. His suggestion is… since your differentiation was induced by my pheromones, it means our compatibility is very high. We might as well try having me guide you. But this process needs a doctor present. In case your pheromones become chaotic again, the doctor can take immediate measures to reduce your discomfort.”

“Ah… a doctor has to be present?”

Jiang Ruotang was a little disappointed. What he wanted most was to be alone with Lu Guifan.

A little while later, Dr. Yang arrived. He smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with the two students, then pulled up a chair and sat down next to Lu Guifan. This gave Jiang Ruotang the feeling of being on a date supervised by an adult.

“Little Jiang, in a moment, Lu Guifan will release some of his pheromones. You need to focus on feeling the flow of his pheromones, and then imitate his method to make your own pheromones flow as well,” Dr. Yang said.

“Mm.” Jiang Ruotang nodded and looked at Lu Guifan seriously.

Lu Guifan raised his hand and once again covered Jiang Ruotang’s eyes. “Close your eyes. Don’t let your vision distract you.”

And let me pretend I’m not captivated by your gaze.

“Alright.” Jiang Ruotang obediently closed his eyes.

The entire hospital room fell silent. Jiang Ruotang tried earnestly to distinguish the various scents in the air. For example, the box of washed fruit on the bedside table—the sweet fragrance of strawberries and cantaloupe was uplifting. Dr. Yang had a faint smell of alcohol on him, and there was also the smell of Jiang Ruotang’s beloved snacks…

Before he knew it, a unique, clear scent of pine needles permeated the other smells. This scent was deep and distinctive. Jiang Ruotang instinctively lifted his chin. Lu Guifan looked at the other’s youthful jawline and the smooth, taut line of his neck, feeling a strange warmth in his heart. And the rich scent that Jiang Ruotang was smelling now had a hint of sweet clarity in it.

He subconsciously tried to pursue it, to distinguish it, wanting to follow that pleasant scent.

But the scent began to recede like an ebbing tide. Jiang Ruotang grew anxious, feeling it transform into a thousand threads, flowing back to a certain origin point.

There… was that probably Lu Guifan’s gland?

By the time Jiang Ruotang realized it, his hands were braced on the edge of the bed, reaching for the nape of Lu Guifan’s neck.