Dating Isn't Bad Either

The sleet showed no sign of stopping.

With a Mushroom Egg tucked against his chest, Ye Nanxun lay on his side in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar bed, quietly watching the wind and snow lash haphazardly against the window.

After lunch, Yan Beiyou had asked him to stay and get familiar with the Mushroom Egg first. If anything unexpected happened, having an alpha nearby would make it easier to handle.

There was an empty guest room in the spacious apartment. Everything inside was brand-new, clean, and devoid of any sign of habitation.

Ye Nanxun guessed he might have been the first guest to use this room.

Yan Beiyou was working in the study not far away. He told Ye Nanxun that if he needed anything, he could knock on the door.

Though the room was not Ye Nanxun's own, the moment he closed the door, the socially anxious omega relaxed all over.

The room had its own bathroom, with unopened disposable toiletries laid out on the counter.

Ye Nanxun brushed his teeth, washed his face, and held the egg as he lay down for a short nap.

Fifteen minutes earlier, a call from his mother had woken him from a sweet dream.

Chen Mingzhu worried that Ye Nanxun, who had gone out, might be stranded in the terrible weather. Ye Nanxun told her he was at a friend's house and would return after dinner once the weather improved a little.

The truth was that even by the time dinner was over that evening, the weather showed no sign of improving.

As usual, Yan Beiyou cleared the dishes himself. However, the alpha had not prepared dinner that day; when Ye Nanxun came out of his room, the delivery robot had not yet left.

The two of them barely spoke while eating. When they did, it was only to discuss the Mushroom Egg.

Every so often, Ye Nanxun glanced toward the window to see whether the sleet had stopped.

Even after they finished eating, the weather outside remained awful.

Yan Beiyou set the dishes on the kitchen island, dried his hands, and strode over. "Put on the Mushroom Egg and necklace. I'll take you home."

The man first brought over the coat and scarf hanging from the hook. After handing them to Ye Nanxun, he put on his own coat.

Ye Nanxun thanked him, leaned on his cane as he returned to the garage entrance where they had arrived, changed his shoes while seated in his wheelchair, and followed Yan Beiyou onto the hovercar.

The hovercar passed through the city's forest of high-rises and descended at a sparsely populated suburban estate.

When the cabin door opened, Ye Nanxun thought the freezing wind and damp rain would swallow him whole.

A tall, broad-shouldered figure stood in front of him. There was no wind, no snow; everything around them remained quiet and peaceful.

Yan Beiyou held an umbrella, his powerful pheromones creating a space around them that the wind and snow could not penetrate. The alpha pushed Ye Nanxun's wheelchair with one hand and escorted him to the villa entrance.

The house was brightly lit. Chen Mingzhu and Ye Xiangsong, standing behind the door, saw the handsome unfamiliar alpha behind Ye Nanxun.

Chen Mingzhu warmly greeted him. "Thank you for bringing Xiaoxun home. Come in and have some tea."

Yan Beiyou smiled politely and declined with tact, then left alone beneath his umbrella.

From inside the house, Ye Nanxun watched Yan Beiyou's departing back.

The tranquil space the alpha had created around himself had vanished. A few icy raindrops landed on the alpha's overcoat.

As he walked back to the hovercar, Yan Beiyou turned around and waved goodbye.

Ye Nanxun immediately raised his hand. "Goodbye."

His voice was soft. He did not know whether Yan Beiyou had heard him.

After the door closed, his parents beat around the bush, full of curiosity about that handsome unfamiliar alpha.

Knowing what his parents were thinking, Ye Nanxun said helplessly, "We're just ordinary friends. He only brought me home because the weather was bad."

As he went upstairs, he heard his mother mutter softly behind him, "He's handsome and has such a nice presence. It wouldn't be bad for Xiaoxun to try making more friends now and then, maybe even date someone."

Ye Nanxun did not turn around. He went straight back to his bedroom.

Once the door was shut, the entire room became his world.

Safe, warm, hidden.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Mushroom Egg, along with a necklace carrying an alpha's pheromones.

The New Year drew closer and closer.

The injury to Ye Nanxun's ankle had healed. He no longer needed a wheelchair or a cane.

He went to the school a few times.

The students were busy preparing for their final exams, looking forward to the brief New Year holiday ahead.

He now had his own laboratory and office, and he was expected to officially begin work after the New Year.

Wearing a knit cap with a scarf covering most of his face, the tall, elegant young omega walked through the empty corridors of the laboratory building.

A burst of hurried footsteps sounded behind him.

"Professor Ye, the department is having a New Year's dinner. Please come too!"

Ye Nanxun stopped. "Sorry, I have plans that day."

A trace of regret flashed across the other person's face, but it was quickly replaced by a bright smile. "All right, then. Happy New Year in advance, Professor Ye."

The corners of his lips curved slightly beneath the scarf. "You too. Happy New Year."

When he returned home, Ye Nanxun lowered his head and stepped into his soft fuzzy slippers. His mother's concerned voice reached his ears.

"Xiaoxun, does the school have any activities for New Year's? If it's just dinner, you could try going." Chen Mingzhu did not want to pressure her son, so she added, "But it's fine if you don't want to go."

Ye Nanxun took off his knit cap, leaving his hair slightly mussed. He raised a hand to smooth it down. "Mom, I'm not going to school that day. I made dinner plans with a friend."

Chen Mingzhu's eyes lit up, and she broke into a smile that showed a row of white teeth. "Have fun."

The television in the living room was broadcasting the news. Having developed the habit of watching more news lately, Ye Nanxun instinctively listened to the report.

[The New Year's Eve gala will be held tomorrow night at eight o'clock at the Dream Star Imperial Palace. The Star Lord has confirmed his attendance...]

His steps paused for an instant. Ye Nanxun removed the black-and-gray scarf around his neck, revealing an extremely thin silver chain.

He hurried upstairs and hung up his scarf and clothes.

Holding the Mushroom Egg in one hand, he took out his phone with the other and opened his chat with Yan Beiyou.

Their previous conversation had been yesterday.

Yan Beiyou: The earrings are done. Do you have plans for New Year's Eve?

Little Mushroom: No.

Yan Beiyou: It's inconvenient for me to go out recently. Come to the Imperial Palace on New Year's Eve. I'll have someone pick you up.

Little Mushroom: Okay.

On the morning of the last day of the year.

Ye Nanxun stared at the few clothes in his wardrobe, troubled. He pressed his lips together, but in the end, he chose a usual everyday outfit.

After lunch, the doorbell at the estate gate rang.

Before long, a black hovercar pulled up in front of the villa.

The refined, clear-featured alpha gave Ye Nanxun a gentle smile. "Hello, Mr. Ye. I'm Song Ren. Mr. Yan asked me to pick you up."

Song Ren's name flashed through Ye Nanxun's mind.

One of Yan Beiyou's closest friends, and the most outstanding pheromone expert in the galaxy.

"Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Song."