Hormonal Illusion was, without question, a quintessential angst novel. Its unusual ABO setting cast an added layer of tragic pathos over its heaven-blessed protagonist.

In the story, Yan Ruojun went through two relationships, and by sheer coincidence, the two Alphas entangled with him happened to be a pair of paternal half-brothers with a significant age gap—

Lin Zhu, and Lin Xiujie.

If Yan Ruojun and Lin Zhu were like two parallel lines that briefly intersected because of pheromones, then he and Lin Xiujie were probably true love: bound together in youth, separated by twists of fate, and only after many hardships able to find their way back to each other.

In the story, the Yan and Lin families had been close family friends for three generations.

Yan Ruojun and Lin Xiujie were about the same age. They were classmates, rivals, and also close childhood companions who had grown up together.

As cooperation between the two families’ businesses deepened, the elders began entertaining the idea of bringing the two adolescents together.

For people of their background, a powerful union between two families that knew each other inside and out was far more stable—and far more beneficial—than a love match. What was more, the two youngsters were genuinely well-suited in every way.

Yan Ruojun and Lin Xiujie were both heirs to major business groups, raised under elite education. Their abilities were evenly matched, and they got along well, so neither of them rejected the arranged engagement.

Thus, at sixteen, while still in high school, the two became fiancés. Their once-open and straightforward relationship gained a faint, hazy layer of intimacy and ambiguity.

If not for the unexpected, they would have formed a true bond after their secondary differentiation and, when the time was right, held a grand wedding, becoming partners who could entrust each other with their backs.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as “if.”

When he turned eighteen, Yan Ruojun was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease and was deemed fated to be unable to form a union with Lin Xiujie, whose pheromone compatibility with him was only 60%.

That vague, budding affection was cut short before it could truly take root. In silent mutual understanding, the two took a step back and placed each other in the position of cherished friends.

Their engagement existed in name only, maintained solely by the bond of business cooperation.

Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

Month after month, Yan Ruojun went to the hospital for follow-up appointments, receiving outrageously expensive injections to control the hormones in his body. At his family’s urging, he also underwent remote pheromone matching with Alphas through the hospital, yet the results were always disappointing.

Until this day.

A report marked with a 100% pheromone compatibility rate was placed before Yan Ruojun.

In the upper-left corner, under the name of the Alpha who had provided the pheromone sample, were two striking characters—

Lin Zhu.

Lin Xiujie’s younger half-brother.

From the moment Yan Ruojun agreed to meet Lin Zhu, fate lifted its brush and began painting his life in shades of sorrow.

Induced into heat, temporarily marked, even permanently marked… Yan Ruojun’s soul remained independent and free, yet his body was dragged step by step into the mire of desire by a vile and shadowed Alpha.

He developed a powerful dependence on Lin Zhu’s pheromones, to the point of addiction.

And for that, he endured things he once would never have tolerated.

The climax of the original novel came when Yan Ruojun overcame both his physical and emotional dependence and asked Lin Zhu for a divorce.

…It was like a butterfly breaking free from a spider’s web at last—its wings torn, yet still resolute as it flew toward the sky, revealing a tenacious and dazzling vitality.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Ignoring everyone’s objections, Yan Ruojun underwent surgery to remove his gland. Another surgery, meanwhile, became a secret shared only between him and his doctor.

By chance, that secret was discovered by Lin Xiujie.

Having known each other for over twenty years, Lin Xiujie voluntarily kept the secret for him and remained by Yan Ruojun’s side while his health deteriorated, supporting him and taking care of him all the while.

As they spent more and more time together, Lin Xiujie rekindled the affection he had once felt in his youth and fell in love with Yan Ruojun all over again.

…

Although the original novel was filled with scenes of the protagonist suffering, along with explicit content from beginning to end, there was no denying that its core was positive and uplifting.

The protagonist endured immense physical and psychological pain, yet he never gave up on himself. He defied even his biological instincts in order to save himself. And by the end of the story, he was even able to calmly accept a new relationship and embrace a new life…

He did not need redemption.

Because he himself was redemption.

After finishing the story, Lin Zhu had actually grown very fond of this protagonist. That was why, after learning the role and plot he was supposed to play, he resisted so strongly.

There was nothing crueler than tearing apart something you loved with your own hands.

Luckily—

Luckily, though the system was noisy, unreliable, and constantly making mistakes, it had not imposed overly strict limitations or requirements on Lin Zhu, allowing him to complete the first task in a gentler way.

The system suddenly became alert. “…”

“My instincts are telling me the host is badmouthing this system in his heart, aren’t they?”

Lin Zhu ignored it. He merely tilted his face up and listened as Yan Ruojun calmly and evenly explained his illness, then said,

“…So my engagement with Lin Xiujie can be called off at any time. It just hasn’t been publicly announced yet. I’ve also heard that you like fooling around outside… though you’ve never really had a proper relationship, have you?”

He lowered his eyes and glanced at the stunned blond-haired youth, pausing for a few seconds before continuing,

“Then I’ll just say it directly.”

Lin Zhu’s scalp prickled. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable tension and panic about what the man was about to say, and instinctively curled his fingers into fists.

“Lin Zhu.”

The room was brightly lit.

The man seated at the bedside was a little taller than the youth crouching by him. His warm-toned shadow covered the younger man, as though trapping him in a cramped little space.

That space was so quiet that all that could be heard were their deliberately slowed breaths and their quickening heartbeats.

An ambiguous atmosphere gradually filled every corner along with the sounds of the man’s lips and tongue shaping his words.

He asked, “Lin Zhu, do you want to give it a try with me? Hmm?”

The final questioning hmm tilted slightly upward, carrying a faint nasal tone, light and airy, yet crisp and decisive.

Lin Zhu’s mind blanked for a moment. He could hardly believe what he had just heard, and instinctively let out a bewildered, “…Huh?”

If he had understood correctly, this meant Yan Ruojun wanted to try dating him, right??

Lin Zhu began to doubt his own ears. In the next second, he heard Yan Ruojun laugh and ask, “What kind of expression is that?”

Lin Zhu: “…………”

Obviously the expression of someone questioning his entire life.

Before coming to Xiangshan Club, Lin Zhu had already prepared himself to be disliked—or even hated—by Yan Ruojun.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Yan Ruojun would actually confess to him??

It was a confession, right?

At that moment, the dog-headed strategist system suddenly popped up with a bright little lightbulb and enthusiastically suggested,

“Ah! Host, you can agree! Since the protagonist likes you, he should cooperate with you in completing the key plot points later, right? And afterward you won’t have to worry about being retaliated against!”

Lin Zhu: “…”

You really are a genius.

After a moment of silence, Lin Zhu stammered, “Uh, well…” He got stuck for a second. “Isn’t this a little too fast?”

Yan Ruojun replied with perfect calm, “Too fast? We’ve already bitten each other’s glands, and you’ve already given me a temporary mark.”

“Don’t tell me…” The man suddenly leaned down, moving close to Lin Zhu until they were face-to-face. “You thought I came to see you tonight just for a hookup?”

Yan Ruojun said it without changing expression, completely casting aside his earlier intention of only showing his face and leaving. There was not the slightest trace of awkwardness at contradicting himself—only the easy composure of a mature man fully in control.

Lin Zhu’s entire back went numb. He had clearly been shocked by Yan Ruojun’s sudden blunt wording. His face was full of confusion and astonishment, and his lips parted involuntarily.

Yan Ruojun continued, “You’re not rejecting me, so I’ll take that as consent?”

The man was so close that the warmth of his breath brushed against Lin Zhu’s jaw as he spoke, bringing with it an inexplicable itch, as if an invisible little hand had quietly scratched at the center of his heart.

Lin Zhu froze. A powerful tingling numbness crawled from the top of his head down his back, then slipped along both legs to the soles of his feet.

It wasn’t an illusion.

Lin Zhu suddenly realized that he had been crouching for too long. His legs could no longer bear it and had begun to ache and go numb.

Just then, Yan Ruojun casually dropped another bombshell:

“You always make that expression—”

“Are you trying to make me kiss you?”