So borrowing from an alpha isn't perverted?

Jiang Lan packed his things and left the hospital early the next morning.

There were originally three private luxury rooms on each floor of the inpatient wing.

But Jiang Lan's face was far too recognizable, and his pheromones were unusual. Not only were they prone to surges and disruption during his rut, they were also more likely to trigger an omega's heat than those of an ordinary alpha.

As a result, he had no choice but to book an entire floor of luxury rooms every time he was hospitalized.

Fortunately, the rut department's medical staff consisted entirely of alphas and betas, saving the hospital the trouble of specially reallocating staff.

To express his apologies and gratitude for the little bit of trouble he had caused the entire department over the past few days,

Jiang Lan specifically ordered thirty-six breakfasts and thirty-six bouquets of carnations before leaving, to be delivered to the doctors and nurses who had been on duty during his stay.

He also had a commemorative banner custom-made for the attending physician he had tormented for five whole years.

Apart from [Presented to Dr. Pei Jing] and the signature, it bore just one short phrase:

[Fucking awesome].

Right in front of Jiang Lan, Pei Jing crumpled up the banner and stuffed it into his desk cabinet, then said flatly to him,

"You're the awesome one."

Wearing a mask and a cap, Jiang Lan leaned against Pei Jing's desk, his eyes curving into a smile.

"Don't be so cold, Dr. Pei. We're old acquaintances, at least. I spent a fortune on that banner. Top quality, really eye-catching. It suits you."

Pei Jing looked up and adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose.

"Whether as an old acquaintance or as your attending physician, I don't want to see you again, Jiang Lan."

As a fellow alpha, Pei Jing found helping Jiang Lan get through his rut even harder to endure than getting through his own.

Jiang Lan's pheromones were highly seductive and highly aggressive.

The seductiveness targeted omegas, while the aggression, without a doubt, targeted alphas.

Every time Jiang Lan was hospitalized, Pei Jing felt as though he were facing a wild beast before the forced sedation was administered.

And subduing that beast was usually a brutal process. He was either getting beaten up or about to get beaten up.

Whenever Pei Jing thought about it, he felt nothing but exhaustion and misery.

He continued,

"At first, you came in once every six months. Then it became every three months, and now it's almost every month. Jiang Lan, I'm paid for this. It's my responsibility."

"But it's different for you."

"If the intervals between your ruts keep getting shorter, it won't just affect your everyday life and health. It could directly affect your lifespan."

Pei Jing watched Jiang Lan fall silent. He knew Jiang Lan didn't like hearing it, but still said,

"I suggest you find a suitable omega as soon as possible. With your current standing in the entertainment industry, you shouldn't need to worry about dating or marriage affecting your career."

Jiang Lan knew Pei Jing was offering earnest, well-meant advice.

But every time he heard something like this, it was hard to stay in a good mood.

He waved a hand, tossed Pei Jing a red envelope, then turned and headed for the door.

Pei Jing frowned at the red envelope. "I already receive extra compensation for being your attending physician. I'm not taking this. Take it back."

Jiang Lan looked back, his eyes curving at Pei Jing.

"Don't worry, Dr. Pei. This doesn't violate your professional ethics. It's just a small token of appreciation."

With that, he turned and left, his smile fading.

When Ji Wanxing saw Jiang Lan emerge from the doctor's office with a long face, she knew Pei Jing had probably said something truthful that Jiang Lan didn't want to hear.

She patted Jiang Lan on the shoulder.

"Don't look like that. Even an African wild ass doesn't have a face as long as yours. When we get to the production team, they'll think you're unhappy with the guests of the opposite sex and make a whole fuss about it again."

Jiang Lan glanced at Ji Wanxing. "I'm wearing a mask."

Ji Wanxing nodded. "I know, but your chin is practically hitting your feet. It's hard not to notice."

Jiang Lan ignored her, taking the elevator down to the parking lot on his own.

The show was being filmed at a resort in a coastal city and would be broadcast live.

The guest list would not be announced before the official broadcast began, so no one knew what unexpected figures might appear in this installment.

The production team's advance publicity had been both grandiose and secretive.

They had not released the list outright, but had revealed the guests' surnames and genders.

The gimmick of "If the lineup isn't stellar, the director will wash his hair with used foot-washing water live on stream" alone had thoroughly whetted the appetites of the eagerly waiting viewers.

Jiang Lan, however, had no expectations for the show.

Because he was so deeply opposed to it, he had already decided to go through the motions.

He hadn't even gone home, merely asking his assistant to send over a couple of random pieces of clothing before driving to the airport with Ji Wanxing.

As Jiang Lan's manager, Ji Wanxing was responsible for checking his luggage before he joined the production for filming.

But when she opened Jiang Lan's backpack, she couldn't help frowning.

"You didn't bring any toiletries, perfume, or a razor?"

Jiang Lan was concentrating on driving and showed no concern over it.

"I'll buy them there. There's time."

Ji Wanxing rummaged through Jiang Lan's backpack some more and found nothing besides three changes of clothes, an old pair of slippers, and a familiar incense box.

"It'll be nighttime when we arrive. You haven't even brought underwear. Are you planning to go commando tomorrow morning?"

Already accustomed to Ji Wanxing's motherly concern and mockery, Jiang Lan remained unperturbed and spouted nonsense.

"Then I'll borrow a pair from someone."

Ji Wanxing clicked her tongue. "Fine. You're a dog if you don't."

Jiang Lan said nothing. Ji Wanxing fell silent for two seconds. "You can't ask an omega or a beta. Being treated as a pervert on the very first night of the broadcast isn't a good sign."

Jiang Lan glanced at Ji Wanxing. "So borrowing from an alpha isn't perverted?"

Ji Wanxing froze at that, then her brows shot up.

"If you know it's perverted, why would you do it? What will people say if not a single person likes you by the end of the entire show?"

Jiang Lan pursed his lips and continued spouting nonsense.

"Don't worry. I don't need to be all that normal. For an alpha like me, as long as I don't shit in the street, someone will like me no matter what my personality's like."

Ji Wanxing couldn't imagine how many times Jiang Lan would trend if that remark appeared in the show's livestream footage.

She pressed a hand to her forehead. "Just shut up, Jiang Lan. Some things really don't need to be said."

Jiang Lan obediently shut his mouth and didn't say another word through boarding the plane, landing, and the time before he stepped in front of the production team's cameras.

He thought this was great. If it meant avoiding communication, he was willing to stay silent for the entire show and play the part of someone deaf and mute.

To make himself look even more unappealing, he even deliberately changed in the minivan on the way to the resort, putting on an old-man-style white tank top, baggy pajama-like shorts, and his own slippers, one of which had a corner chewed off by a dog.

But to his surprise, the moment he reached the resort entrance, he caught a familiar figure flashing past the doorway of a tall villa in the distance.