No Need at All

Duan Xu shot Shen Yanlang a horrified look. Shen Yanlang had no idea why. "What is it?"

"Don't worry." Shen Yanlang thought he was worried about his differentiation. "Just listen to the doctor. By the way, Doctor, about what I asked earlier..."

The doctor's gaze moved back and forth between them before he smiled. "There are indeed a few things to watch out for. He differentiated late and is already an adult, so the process will not take too long—roughly two to three months. Once it is fully complete, his heat will be more intense than that of an ordinary omega. My recommendation is that he find an alpha as soon as possible."

Fuck!

Duan Xu cursed inwardly. He had not even fully processed his differentiation, and now he was being told to find an alpha!

[Find an alpha...]

Shen Yanlang repeated the words in his mind. An idea suddenly came to him, as though something had broken free from its restraints and been released all at once, becoming crystal clear.

Duan Xu had no idea what Shen Yanlang meant. He asked the doctor timidly, "Can't I use suppressants?"

The doctor frowned. "It is not impossible, but try not to use them. Your situation is unusual. It would be best to use an alpha's pheromones to soothe you, otherwise I cannot be sure whether there will be any lasting aftereffects."

Duan Xu took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. The doctor had said it was not impossible, so he could only try his best to find one. If he could not, then he would use suppressants.

Shen Yanlang looked at Duan Xu, his peach-blossom eyes curving as he smiled with extraordinary charm. "Thank you, Doctor. Please prescribe some suppressants first, just in case."

[Two or three months is enough.]

Enough for what? Duan Xu wondered.

The doctor thought that was fine, so he prescribed Duan Xu two bottles of suppressants. Shen Yanlang took Duan Xu to pick them up, then brought him back to the dorm.

"You are in the middle of differentiating right now, so be careful about everything. Don't go anywhere crowded, and try not to come into contact with other alphas or omegas. If you do, keep your distance," Shen Yanlang reminded him after they returned to the dorm.

"Got it." Duan Xu nodded obediently, warmth rising in his heart. "Don't you need to go back too?"

On the way back, Shen Yanlang had received a call from someone urging him to return home.

Shen Yanlang gave a soft hum. He was worried about Duan Xu, but he had no choice but to go back, so he could only remind him a few more times. "Call me if anything happens."

"Okay." Duan Xu smiled and waved at him.

Shen Yanlang gave him a deep look, then turned and left the dorm.

[When I get back, I have to stay by his side every second.]

Duan Xu: "..." No need. Really.

After Shen Yanlang left, Duan Xu called his mother, but the call would not go through. She was out of service range.

Duan Xu hung up. It looked like she had gone off into some remote mountain forest with his father again.

*

Two days later, the holiday ended, and Zhou Zhou and the others returned.

For the time being, Shen Yanlang did not tell Zhou Zhou and the others about Duan Xu's differentiation. Duan Xu had no intention of telling them either. They were all betas anyway, so there was no need to pay too much attention to it.

After two days of classes, the Cycling Club they had joined finally had some news. A group announcement said there would be a cycling event this Saturday. The route would start from the school's main gate and follow the greenway all the way to Lihu Park, taking about an hour in total.

Once they reached the park, they would take a group photo together, then have an hour of free time. Afterward, they would cycle back to school together and finally have a meal at a farmhouse restaurant.

As soon as Zhou Zhou saw the announcement, he immediately told them about it. Then he added, "The president also said that if we don't have bicycles, we need to rent them from a bike shop first."

"I have one, but it's at home," Xiao Xu said.

"Same," Shen Yanlang said.

Seeing that, Duan Xu said, "Then let's just rent them. It's too much trouble for you to bring them from home."

"Mm, it'll be more convenient. We only do this once or twice a semester anyway." Zhou Zhou nodded in agreement.

Shen Yanlang and Xiao Xu nodded as well, and that settled it.

At noon on Saturday, the four of them ate first, then went together to a bike shop to rent mountain bikes. They each bought a bottle of water to bring along before finally gathering at the school gate.

"The juniors are here!" The moment Shen Yanlang arrived, everyone's eyes followed him. Huang Yonghe waved at them.

Shen Yanlang and the other three pushed their bikes over.

A clean and sweet-looking girl stood beside Huang Yonghe. Her shoulder-length hair and blunt bangs added a touch of cuteness. She smiled. "Come sign in here."

The four of them signed in. Huang Yonghe said from the side, "This is my girlfriend, Yu Qingqing. She's also a sophomore. You can just call her Senior Yu."

"Hello, Senior Yu." The four of them obediently greeted her.

Quite a few people had come for the cycling event. Many of them were looking toward Shen Yanlang and whispering among themselves.

"We're so lucky! I never thought we'd get to cycle with the campus heartthrob!"

"Exactly! And did you notice? The guys in the campus heartthrob's dorm are all good-looking too!"

"I noticed! They each have their own charm!"

There was no need to mention Shen Yanlang. Since he had been named the campus heartthrob, his looks were naturally the best. He was wearing a gray tracksuit today, which made him look more youthful and energetic than usual.

Duan Xu and Zhou Zhou were both delicate and pleasing to the eye, but their temperaments were different, giving people different impressions. Both wore light white sportswear. Duan Xu was cuter, while Zhou Zhou had more of an air of refinement—though the moment he opened his mouth, all that refinement vanished.

Last was Xiao Xu. His features were more rugged, and he was also very handsome. Even his black sportswear could not conceal his solid muscles. He was the very picture of a sun-kissed tough guy.

As an S-rank alpha, Shen Yanlang had keen hearing and caught what they were saying, but he did not care. Right now, all his thoughts were focused on Duan Xu's differentiation.

[I wonder whether cycling will affect his differentiation?]

Duan Xu: "..."

At first, he had been touched, but after Shen Yanlang worried over every tiny detail every day, he had gone numb. He was even a little speechless.

He was differentiating, not pregnant!

There was no need. There really was no need!

Zhou Zhou was rather outgoing, and before long, he had hit it off with several others, making Xiao Xu sulk in silence.

Two minutes later, another two people arrived, causing quite a stir.

Duan Xu looked over and discovered that one of them was Han Xi, the protagonist's love interest. Beside him stood a boy wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Though he wore sportswear, he had the air of an elite professional.

The boy walked straight up to Shen Yanlang and gave him a pat. "Didn't we say we'd have a meal together? National Day is already over, and I still had to run into you at a club event."

Shen Yanlang's expression was indifferent. "No time."

"You have no time?" Xue Jingshu did not believe him. He pushed up his glasses. "Then why did I hear that you even came back to stay at school for one night during National Day?"

Shen Yanlang showed no embarrassment at being exposed. "There's a dinner gathering tonight."

Xue Jingshu curled his lips into a smile. "You're really stingy."

Shen Yanlang: "..."

He pulled Duan Xu over and introduced him. "This is Xue Jingshu, president of the Student Council. Duan Xu, my... roommate."