To Hell with Playing Coy

Jiang Yumiao looked into the second male lead's reddened eyes. The dark currents within them seemed dense enough to swallow him whole, and, caught in that gaze, he felt towering waves surge through his heart.

Ning Chunchi stared at him silently for a moment, then curled his lips into an unreadable smile. As though accepting a challenge, he took the gland patch from Jiang Yumiao's hand.

"Turn around," he said in a low voice.

Jiang Yumiao obeyed, turning his back to him just as he had in the screening room that afternoon. The difference was that he had been utterly unguarded and at ease then, whereas now his faintly trembling shoulders betrayed his nerves. To keep the second male lead from touching his hair again, he even "considerately" swept his long hair to one side, exposing his smooth, pale nape.

His completely unprotected gland was laid bare before Ning Chunchi.

Just as it had been on the day of the temporary marking.

Jiang Yumiao squeezed his eyes shut, as though that could ease his embarrassment a little. Yet after a long wait, what came was not the cold touch of a gland patch, but... someone's breath.

Ning Chunchi had leaned close to his gland. That realization made Jiang Yumiao wrap his arms around himself, trying to find some sense of security in the gesture.

"The mark has faded," Jiang Yumiao heard the Alpha behind him say softly.

Jiang Yumiao's voice trembled slightly. "You bit me yesterday morning. How has it faded so quickly?"

Ning Chunchi chuckled. "That's how temporary marks work. Once the bite mark disappears completely, the marking will be gone too."

Hearing the second male lead's explanation, Jiang Yumiao actually found himself hoping the bite mark would last a little longer, so their bond could remain deeper for another moment.

It seemed he, too, had fallen under Ning Chunchi's spell and stopped thinking straight.

Clothing rustled behind him as Ning Chunchi raised his hand, ready to apply the grape gland patch.

"Don't put it on yet..."

At Jiang Yumiao's words, Ning Chunchi stopped his hand and looked straight at him.

He heard the Omega take a small, deep breath before saying, "I'm worried this heat will last a week. If the bite mark fades so quickly, I'm afraid that once the temporary marking wears off, what happened at the Water Kingdom will happen again. So... could you..."

Jiang Yumiao's ears were already scarlet. He simply couldn't go on. He knew Ning Chunchi disliked Omegas who deliberately approached him and had said he preferred the reserved type, but he didn't want to go against his own heart either.

To hell with playing coy. Playing coy won't win me my dream man!!!

Ning Chunchi's breathing suddenly grew heavy. The Omega was inviting him to mark him again. His actions were so bold, yet he didn't even dare finish the sentence. It stirred Ning Chunchi's cruel streak once more.

He wanted Jiang Yumiao to say it himself.

A low chuckle came from behind him. Jiang Yumiao heard Ning Chunchi suddenly lean closer and murmur in his ear, "Even if the marking wears off, suppressants will be enough. Otherwise, have you needed to find an Alpha to give you a temporary marking every time you've gone into heat all these years?"

The corners of Jiang Yumiao's eyes reddened at once. He was already shy and awkward around the second male lead, and this was the first time he had felt such an unmistakable rejection from Ning Chunchi.

Before this, Ning Chunchi had gone along with whatever he asked.

The more Jiang Yumiao recalled, the more hurt he felt. Ning Chunchi's indulgence really had spoiled him, making him naively assume the second male lead would agree to anything he asked. In truth, they had only spent three days together-a laughably short time to mention aloud.

Perhaps Ning Chunchi had only indulged all his little gestures out of politeness for the cameras.

The Omega remained silent for a long time before finally squeezing out, "N-no, that's not it. Only you. You're the only one who's ever marked me."

There was even a hint of tears in his voice.

Jiang Yumiao was crying.

Ning Chunchi's pupils abruptly contracted, every cell in his body coming to a boil. Hearing that tearful voice actually left him especially exhilarated.

So he really will cry if I reject him...

The thought he'd had during the beach game on the first day was confirmed at that moment.

Ning Chunchi took Jiang Yumiao by the shoulders and gently turned him around, meeting the Omega's reddened eyes.

Both their eyes were red, but one was from sadness, while the other was from... sheer excitement.

Ning Chunchi asked gently, "Then I'm the first Alpha to mark you?"

Hearing his gentle question, Jiang Yumiao tilted his face up to look at him and nodded, fighting to keep his tears from falling.

Ning Chunchi suddenly smiled. All the darkness vanished from his eyes, leaving only feigned warmth and genuine delight.

The smile that suddenly blossomed across the second male lead's face left Jiang Yumiao spellbound. He had never seen Ning Chunchi so happy before.

Ning Chunchi tightened his hands slightly on Jiang Yumiao's shoulders and drew the Omega into his arms. Although the little thing's reddened eyes excited him immensely, he didn't actually want to scare him away. It was time to soothe him.

Jiang Yumiao's eyes flew wide. The second male lead was hugging him!

Not from behind, and not because of a marking, but a real, face-to-face embrace. There was a noticeable difference in their heights, and Jiang Yumiao nestled against the crook of Ning Chunchi's neck as cedar and ocean pheromones washed over him.

He felt a large hand pat his back twice, just as gently as on the day of the temporary marking.

Ning Chunchi's voice came from above his head. "Don't cry. As long as you need me, of course I'm willing to mark you again."

The second male lead's words burst like fireworks in Jiang Yumiao's heart, sweeping away all his sadness and hurt.

Jiang Yumiao slowly raised his arms and wrapped them around Ning Chunchi's waist. Burying his face against his shoulder, he nuzzled him twice and said in a muffled voice, "I need you."

The moment he said it, Jiang Yumiao's body suddenly left the ground. Startled, he hurriedly grabbed Ning Chunchi's shoulders.

Ning Chunchi had lifted him like a child, supporting him beneath his bottom.

Jiang Yumiao cried out in alarm, "What are you doing!"

Ning Chunchi didn't answer. Holding him like that, he set him down on the bed, then sat down on it himself.

"What am I doing? Didn't you want me to mark you?" he asked with a teasing smile.

Jiang Yumiao scooted backward twice. "You could have marked me over by the sofa too."

Ning Chunchi scoffed. "Last time, you passed out as soon as I finished marking you. If we did it by the sofa and you passed out again, I'd still have to carry you to bed."

He caught Jiang Yumiao's ankle and pulled the retreating Omega back, coaxing him, "If we do it here, you can go straight to sleep afterward."

Jiang Yumiao let out a startled cry as he was pulled back. His mind was a complete muddle now, and the Alpha easily convinced him. "All right, then."

He simply lay down on his side with his back to Ning Chunchi and steeled himself. "I'm ready. Go ahead."

The mattress dipped gently beside him as Ning Chunchi lay down too.

Jiang Yumiao felt the cedar and ocean pheromones grow richer, as though the Alpha had deliberately released them to soothe him.

A long arm wrapped gently around him, and someone lightly licked his gland-a gentle warning before the storm.

Jiang Yumiao closed his eyes, swept into the deep sea of his consciousness by the fierce storm that followed.

The heavy bed curtains hung down, concealing everything within.