For several consecutive nights, Xiao Zhan stayed in Wang Yibo 's bed. The dormitory beds were a little larger than a normal single bed, so even though it was a little crowded, it was able just enough to accommodate two people. Moreover, Wang Yibo always hugged him in his arms almost all night.

Since he had a temporary mark now, he didn't need to worry about being disturbed by alpha pheromones or fluctuating moods for about ten days. However, his suppressant was almost ineffective. Calculating the days, the suppressant would completely lose its effect right near the end of the semester. After that, any little situation could possible trigger his long-delayed heat. He had no other choice than to delay it day by day because what if his alpha wasn't ready yet?

Few people noticed his mark. Firstly, Wang Yibo 's pheromone scent was too weak to be noticed if they weren't close to him, and secondly, few people dared to get close to him.

"Your scent is a bit off......"

The first one to discover it was Liu Han. He leaned in close to Jiang ShaoYan's neck to confirm that it wasn't just the scent of the omega himself. A second later, Jiang ShaoYan's elbow cracked down on the top of his head.

"Aiyo, our Zhan Bao finally has an owner, hooray. Let me guess which alpha isn't afraid of death...... It can't be the one who was as completely incompatible with you as fire and water?"

He said this in a loud voice, so several students took notice and came over. Xiao Zhan covered his mouth with a "slap" and the loud sound scared the watching students into quickly turning their heads, pretending that nothing had happened.

"Who the hell is completely incompatible. You're so uncultured. Our names clearly include 'King', very well-matched," Xiao Zhan lowered his voice and spoke fiercely.

(t/n: the character for King – 王 – is pronounced similarly to Wang Yibo 's Wang – 汪)

Liu Han: "???"

Isn't "incompatible as fire and water' what you said, my friend??

Liu Han, who'd been roasted again, fake cried and then let it go after a moment. His mouth was a little numb from the slap just now, so he kneaded it sadly and said, "You don't care what other people think, so why did you stop me just now??"

Xiao Zhan frowned, "I don't care, but he still doesn't seem very self-confident in being my alpha, so I don't want anyone to know, so he isn't pressured at all."

The corners of Liu Han's mouth twitched, "You're thinking too much...... He asked me previously how he could be your alpha."

Xiao Zhan was stunned. "He asked you? When? How did you answer?"

Liu Han shrugged, "A long time ago. Probably just after we met. I, of course, told the truth, saying that you'd mind that his pheromones were too weak, but if he could change that, there might be a chance."

Xiao Zhan nodded. If Wang Yibo asked him directly, he would've given the same answer at that time. The pheromone issue was still his biggest worry right now. If he couldn't think of a solution, he'd have no choice but to take things one step at a time.

"What did that silly dog say?" He was curious about Wang Yibo 's attitude, wondering if Wang Yibo wasn't confident in being his alpha because of this incident.

Liu Han thought back. "He doesn't seem to care much about the pheromones, and asked me 'ignoring the pheromones, is it possible that Xuezhang could like someone with personality like mine?'."

Xiao Zhan was a bit surprised. Unexpectedly, Wang Yibo was more concerned about personality? According to common sense, the strength of an alpha's pheromone was the key deciding factor on acceptance. Although Wang Yibo 's personality was a little feeble, with his height, handsome appearance, and gentle and considerate character, even if his pheromones were just ordinary, he'd still definitely be very popular.

"So after that, what did you tell him?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"What else could I say? I just told him that you were unlikely to like his personality and encouraged him to learn from Zou Rui's alpha spirit, since you liked that a lot."

"......great, so it turns out you were the source of the problems." Xiao Zhan clenched his fists tightly.

Accused unjustly, Liu Han replied, "I was just telling the truth! I couldn't lie to the little xuedi. How could I know you'd really end up together!"

Xiao Zhan knew that what Liu Han was saying wasn't wrong. At that time, he didn't like Wang Yibo 's type. No matter how many times Wang Yibo confessed, it would've had the same result. But the circumstances were different now. Could it be that Wang Yibo was still concerned about the rejections of his confessions previously? Had it left a psychological trauma?

Knowing the silly dog's fragile little heart, it was possible.

That evening, Xiao Zhan returned to the dormitory with a load on his mind. As soon as he entered the door, he sniffed out a fragrance.

"What's this scent?"

Wang Yibo caught sight of him and stood up in a fluster. He handed over a gift box, "Xuezhang, I bought this for you in the shop today. I don't know if you'll like it......"

Xiao Zhan looked at the English words on the gift box packaging, it was a bottle of men's cologne. The brand ought to be very expensive, it was only carried at the specialty stores in the big shopping malls at the city center. He guessed that Wang Yibo had specially found the time to go buy it. Although he didn't like cologne very much and even thought it was a bit effeminate, for the sake of the other's good intentions, Xiao Zhan nevertheless accepted it.

"Thanks. What do you like? I'll give you a gift in return," he said casually.

Wang Yibo waved his hand, "No need. Xuezhang, please take it out and try it. If you don't like it, I'll buy a different one."

"Of course I like it, since it's a present from you." Xiao Zhan smiled, feeling a bit annoyed, "Actually, there's no need. No matter how good the cologne is, it won't be better than your scent."

He'd never been good at saying these kinds of corny lines before, but Wang Yibo 's reaction was, as always, more shy than his, which made him feel less ashamed.

"Xuezhang, you're teasing me again......" Wang Yibo blushed. "The next time your pheromones overflow, you can cover them up with this cologne, then people probably won't notice......"

Xiao Zhan paused in unpacking the box, "What do you mean?"

Wang Yibo paused and mumbled, "I'm afraid that when Xuezhang is outside, suddenly...... That kind of thing could be dangerous."

Xiao Zhan was baffled. "No, as long as you mark me again before the mark disappears, there won't be a problem." Besides, his heat was coming soon. If it was successful, then this would be taken care of for a long time after. Alpha pheromones were much better than a suppressant that needed to be injected every month.

Wang Yibo 's expression seemed to be a little hesitant. He opened his mouth and finally only let out a soft "mhm".

Originally posted at tailor31415.wordpress.com, please do not read elsewhere

Before the lights were turned off at night, Xiao Zhan went over to sleep on Wang Yibo 's bed again, but then he had second thoughts. Next week began the end of term exam week. Wang Yibo had a lot of freshman courses and the past few days, he'd been studying late into the night. In comparison, he only had a few subjects, so he always went to bed first. Wang Yibo wouldn't keep studying once he saw him lying down, he'd turn off the desk lamp and computer to join him. He'd hug him all night to sleep, but Xiao Zhan didn't know if he actually slept well like that.

So he stopped Wang Yibo as he was about to turn off the lights.

"You don't have to join me. I'll sleep by myself tonight over there. Study properly."

Wang Yibo replied quickly, "I don't mind."

"Be obedient. I think it's a little crowded with two people." He knew that Wang Yibo wouldn't insist if he put it that way.

Sure enough, Wang Yibo nodded and agreed immediately when he heard that Xiao Zhan was uncomfortable sleeping like that.

After sharing a bed for the past few days, he was a bit accustomed to sleeping alone. Xiao Zhan covered himself with his quilt, but felt that it wasn't as comfortable as being held in the warm embrace of his silly dog.

(t/n: the term "sharing a bed" also means "being married". So cute, aww)

He lay in bed and browsed on his phone. By midnight, he was sleepy and realized in a daze that the dorm overhead lights had gone out and that Wang Yibo had dimmed his desk lamp. The faint light in his eyes made him feel sleepier and sleepier until he sank into a dream.

Who knew how long he was asleep but when Xiao Zhan woke up in the middle of the night, he heard a faint unusual sound in the quiet dorm room, coming from the other bed.

Wang Yibo was panting rather quickly over there, as if struggling to restrain himself, and there was a slight trace of alpha pheromone in the air.

Xiao Zhan immediately understood what he was doing.

He didn't want to disturb Wang Yibo , but he wanted to see how this silly dog, who normally seemed to be so pure, innocent, and shy, took care of himself. Although it was a bit narcissistic, Xiao Zhan figured the other was likely thinking about him while handling it right now. As a result, would he call out his name?

He imagined Wang Yibo calling out "Xuezhang" while gasping and jerking off and unexpectedly became a bit aroused himself. He quickly suppressed those thoughts and rolled over on his stomach to prevent the sound of his heartbeat from exposing him.

Wang Yibo stopped nervously when he heard the sound of some movement, only moving again after confirming that Xiao Zhan hadn't woken up.

The dorm was pitch-black without the lights, so it was impossible to clearly see Wang Yibo 's appearance over there. Only bits and pieces of his sounds came over. Xiao Zhan perked his ears up, wanting to hear if Wang Yibo would be able to control himself the entire time.

It felt a bit perverted to be doing this, but he didn't care about that. The silly dog was thinking about him in the depth of the night and rubbing one off so——

"ShaoYan......"

Jiang ShaoYan, whose imagination was running wild, was struck completely dumb.

Wang Yibo didn't sense it at all. It seemed that he was at the most critical moment, his gasps becoming more rapid. His voice was hoarse and low as he restrained himself to call out, "ShaoYan...... ShaoYan...... Oh......"

He groaned, finally finding release and gasped hard to calm himself for a long time. Then he quietly and carefully got up and went into the bathroom.

And Xiao Zhan still maintained the same motionless posture, his heartbeat violently pulsing in the pit of his stomach.

His name has been called by many people. Basically, everyone who was close to him called him "ShaoYan", until it had become such a common phrase that his ears had developed callouses1, but the moment Wang Yibo had called it out, the feeling had changed completely.

It seemed this was the first time he had heard Wang Yibo calling his name.

He normally called him 'Xuezhang', so that the relationship between them was obvious and clear and the age difference between them was also made particularly distinct due to this title.

He'd known since the beginning that Wang Yibo was younger than himself and so he'd always adjusted his attitude to act as the senior, but those low-pitched shouts suddenly made that gap disappear without a trace. With that name, he seemed to have been embraced in the arms of Wang Yibo 's powerful body, feeling his gentle doting and overwhelming cherishing.

For the first time, Xiao Zhan felt that his alpha seemed quite mature and manly.

Wang Yibo finished up in the bathroom and came back out, but he didn't immediately return to his bed. Instead he walked over to his bedside.

Xiao Zhan immediately closed his eyes and breathed evenly, pretending to be asleep.

The sound of his clothes fabric rubbing together broke out as Wang Yibo squatted down close enough to where he could barely make out the contours of the other's face. He stretched out his hand and a single finger made contact with Jiang ShaoYan's forehead. His skin was a little wet and cold after washing, so he withdrew it immediately. He squeezed his hands together for a while until his finger warmed up. Then he stretched it back out and brushed aside the scattered hair on Jiang ShaoYan's forehead and then kissed him gently on the forehead. His lips were soft and warm.

"Good night, my baby......"

After Wang Yibo returned to bed and fell soundly asleep, even after only the sound of soft, even breaths could be heard, Jiang ShaoYan's hot temperature and explosive heartbeat still hadn't calmed.

Deadly, really, really deadly.

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Footnotes:

1. Ears developing callouses (生耳茧): best I could determine is this is slang about hearing something so much that it affects your eardrums/they become worn down by the sound waves ↩

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