I'll Come Take You Home

Chapter 38

On the first day of the new year, Ye Nanxun came to the school laboratory.

While eating nearby and walking his dog at noon, he happened to run into a frail omega who had been staring at the little yellow dog.

Ye Nanxun did not speak much, and this omega spoke even less.

This was the third day they had met.

Ye Nanxun bent down and stroked Little Dragon's head. "I'm a new teacher."

The omega beside him widened her eyes. Two seconds later, she straightened her back slightly. "Hello, Professor."

"What's your name?"

Just as Ye Nanxun finished asking, a voice with a cold timbre suddenly rang out from not far away.

"Cao Xi."

The frail omega instantly tensed up. Her already pale face turned even whiter, as though it had been brushed with a layer of lifeless lime.

His gaze lightly swept over the omega before Ye Nanxun stood and looked back. The alpha in a white lab coat was looking at him as well.

The alpha wore gold-rimmed glasses over his refined, handsome face and offered a gentle, elegant smile. "Professor Ye."

Ye Nanxun said, "Sorry, may I ask who you are?"

"Welcome to the Scientific Research Institute. I'm your colleague, Jiang Ying." The alpha's impeccably mild smile remained unchanged.

With both hands in his coat pockets, Ye Nanxun nodded to him. "Hello, Professor Jiang."

Ye Nanxun's attitude was indifferent, nowhere near enthusiastic.

Jiang Ying was not offended. He remained where he stood, his gaze moving between Ye Nanxun and Cao Xi beside him. "Professor Ye, do you know Little Xi?"

"I was just asking her name." Ye Nanxun turned to glance at Cao Xi. "My name is Ye Nanxun."

Which Ye, which Nan, which Xun?

Ye Nanxun did not seem inclined to explain, as taciturn as ever.

Cao Xi, however, politely lowered her head in greeting to Ye Nanxun. "Professor Ye, I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first."

Ye Nanxun nodded to show that he understood, then nodded to Jiang Ying as well. He immediately untied the leash beside him and led Little Dragon onward.

After walking a short distance, there was an intersection about fifty meters ahead.

As he turned left at the intersection, Ye Nanxun glanced toward the pavilion.

Neither Jiang Ying nor Cao Xi was there anymore.

Carrying Little Dragon back to the laboratory, Ye Nanxun stroked the little yellow dog's head. "Be good, Little Dragon. Wait for me in the break room."

On the first day he had brought Little Dragon along, Ye Nanxun had worried that leaving him alone in the break room might make him uncomfortable.

Was this what one should expect from a dog raised by Yan Beiyou?

Other than constantly clinging to him, Little Dragon was simply too well-behaved.

He neither barked nor bit indiscriminately. If told to stay in the break room, he would obediently remain there with his eyes closed, sleeping.

After closing the break room door and putting on his lab coat, Ye Nanxun sat down before the laboratory computer.

After staring at the data for a while, Ye Nanxun squeezed his eyes shut.

Cao Xi was a graduate student at the University of Scientific Research, an S-rank omega whose advisor was Jiang Ying, a fairly renowned professor within the institute.

Jiang Ying was one of the alphas behind Xu Wenyan.

The intact gland at the back of Ye Nanxun's neck throbbed faintly. His breathing faltered for an instant, and he reached behind himself to grip the back of his neck.

In his previous life, after his first escape attempt failed and it was discovered that his pheromones were Poison Mushroom, Jiang Ying had used his gland for experiments.

On the surface, he was a respected institute professor. In secret, however, he had constantly conducted illegal experiments, supplying powerful alpha elites with drugs that controlled high-ranking omegas.

He Lanxue was one of the victims who had been controlled.

Over the following days, Ye Nanxun maintained a routine that took him only between home and the Scientific Research Institute.

He went to the laboratory in the morning, bought lunch from a convenience store at noon, and sat in the pavilion to eat rice balls or sandwiches.

At that time, Cao Xi would come over with pet treats, politely call him "Professor Ye," squat beside him, and quietly watch the little dog until Ye Nanxun left.

Occasionally, they exchanged a few words, ordinary and mundane conversations.

Most of the time, they were each silent, each doing their own thing, both perfectly content.

Today was the same.

When the time came, Ye Nanxun stood and began untying the leash.

"Professor Ye, tomorrow..." Cao Xi pressed her lips together and spoke softly. "I'll come again next week. I won't be coming over for the next few days."

Ye Nanxun gave an "Mm" and asked nothing.

"Goodbye, Little Xi."

"Goodbye, Professor Ye."

Cao Xi stood where she was, sniffled, then turned and strode away.

By the time Ye Nanxun left the laboratory, it was completely dark. He put on the pet carrier backpack and headed toward the parking lot nearby.

His phone chimed.

Ye Nanxun stopped in front of his car and took out his phone to check the new message.

He Lanxue: Brother Nanxun! You'll come to my birthday tomorrow, right? You'll definitely come, right? Right, right?

Little Mushroom: Mm.

He Lanxue: !!! Great! I'll have the family driver pick you up!

Little Mushroom: No need. Send me the address, and I'll drive there.

After closing his chat with He Lanxue, Ye Nanxun saw another red notification dot in his chat list.

He tapped Ye Zhineng's profile picture.

Ye Zhineng: Little Xun, Lan Xue said she invited you to her birthday too. Are you coming tomorrow?

After glancing at it, Ye Nanxun had no intention of replying and swiftly closed the chat with Ye Zhineng.

Once inside the car, Ye Nanxun pulled open the zipper of the pet carrier backpack, and Little Dragon poked his head out.

The car slowly started up, maintaining the safe speed set by its autonomous driving system.

Holding his phone, Ye Nanxun composed his words in his mind. He reopened it and entered his chat with Mr. Yan.

Tomorrow was He Lanxue's birthday.

It was also the time he and Yan Beiyou had agreed to "swap eggs."

Little Mushroom: Mr. Yan, I have a friend's birthday banquet tomorrow night. Do you have time during the day?

Not long after Ye Nanxun sent the message, his phone chimed.

He lit up the screen again. Yan Beiyou had replied quickly.

Mr. Yan: Unfortunately, I don't have time during the day.

Mr. Yan: Are you staying overnight at your friend's house?

Little Mushroom: No, I'll be going home.

Mr. Yan: Message me when it's over. I'll come pick you up.

Ye Nanxun lowered his head and looked over and over at the last sentence Yan Beiyou had sent.

Little Mushroom: Okay.

After replying, Ye Nanxun turned to look out at the white blur beyond the car window, both hands tightly gripping his phone.

What he planned to do tomorrow—what if it was exposed?

Would Yan Beiyou save him?

The chance of being discovered as the culprit after poisoning someone was very low. After all, few people currently knew that his Poison Mushroom pheromones were highly toxic.

This was the conclusion Ye Nanxun had reached after calculating it again and again.

But what if?

Knowing that Yan Beiyou would come pick him up inexplicably put Ye Nanxun more at ease.

The following afternoon, Ye Nanxun entered the address He Lanxue had given him into the car's navigation system.

Bringing a gift, he took the car to the He Household.