Liang Yan also felt embarrassed.
He had just wanted to wave it off and say it was fine. After taking a sip of the lemon water Ji Qiu handed him, he felt a little better and was about to pick up his knife and fork again. But the moment he speared a piece of beef and caught a whiff of its smell, the nausea he had just managed to suppress surged back up his throat. Liang Yan almost gagged again and hurriedly clutched Ji Qiu’s hand to ride it out.
“My stomach’s a bit uncomfortable,” he said, pressing his lips tightly together and pushing the plate slightly away. “It’s not the restaurant’s fault. Sorry about that.”
“Do you want to see a doctor?” Jiang Xinglan asked with concern. “If you’re feeling really sick, I can send you home first. We can meet another time.”
Liang Yan shook his head. The moment he no longer smelled the half-cooked meat, his stomach eased a little. Taking a breath, he apologized softly, “I’m okay.”
Then he called the waiter and ordered a lighter, hot dish.
Ji Qiu kept holding his hand, his palm slightly warm.
Jiang Xinglan persisted, “Still, maybe you should get checked at a hospital? You don’t look too well…”
“Really, I’m fine. Sorry for the trouble.”
Just as Liang Yan finished speaking, Ji Qiu—seeing his reluctance—quickly picked up the cue and added naturally, “Yeah, it’s probably the barbecue from last night. The meat wasn’t fresh, and Yan Yan didn’t sleep well today either.”
He continued, “And, well… there’s also the classic reason for this kind of thing since we’re both medical students, when minor illnesses hit us, we tend to avoid doctors out of habit…”
Liang Yan didn’t refute that.
It was true—he really did avoid hospitals.
The more you know about how the body works and how diseases develop, the less you want to face medical tests or hospitals in general.
The explanation was convincing enough that Jiang Xinglan didn’t press further.
Liang Yan felt relieved.
Of course, that wasn’t the real reason. What mattered more was that he’d started recalling some unusual symptoms he’d had these past few days.
The waiter soon brought over a light, low-oil dish topped with a drizzle of fresh lime juice. Liang Yan sniffed it, the burning discomfort in his throat eased noticeably, and he even felt a bit of an appetite returning.
Feeling drowsy lately wasn’t necessarily strange on its own, but adding it to everything else…
Ji Qiu might be clueless, but Liang Yan wasn’t.
He kept his head down as he ate.
Still, that couldn’t possibly be the case… right?
Once it was clear Liang Yan was fine, everyone at the table relaxed.
Thanks to Jiang Xinglan’s calm professionalism, the meal wasn’t nearly as tense as they had imagined. If not for Liang Yan’s episode earlier and the serious topic of discussion, the atmosphere could almost be called harmonious.
Lai Qiutong briefly summarized the incident to Jiang Xinglan, though what she said differed slightly from what he’d heard at the company. She didn’t mention Ji Yang at all just lightly remarked, “Your company had a similar issue back when the inhibitor was still at version 1.0.”
Jiang Xinglan, following the company’s line, only gathered the basic facts and their requests. When the topic neared sensitive territory, he didn’t pry. Since they didn’t want to say more, he let it go avoiding any awkwardness.
Xu Yishu, still unclear about Jiang Xinglan’s exact connection to them, stayed cautious throughout, carefully concealing the fact that Ji Qiu was actually an Alpha. Worried he might slip up, he remained quietly tense the whole time.
His round, youthful face was set in a serious frown—two contrasting impressions that somehow looked oddly fitting together.
“Let’s leave it at that, then,” Ji Qiu said after a bit more discussion. “Even though we’re friends, we’re on different sides. Some things are best kept at arm’s length.”
His words were frank, his face open and innocent like a pure, guileless Omega.
Jiang Xinglan didn’t bother questioning if that was genuine. Since the conversation had reached this point, there was no need to push further. “Alright. I’ll report back to the company.”
He added politely, “Good thing it’s you guys, if it were someone else, it’d be much harder to handle.”
Ji Qiu accepted it without false modesty. “Yeah.”
It was almost funny just a group of students, sitting here discussing a major pharmaceutical company and clinical trials that affected countless Omegas.
Jiang Xinglan had already quietly paid the bill and went to the door to call a car for them.
Ji Qiu, Liang Yan, and Lai Qiutong were all from the same school, but Xu Yishu lived in a different direction.
After helping the three of them book a ride, Jiang Xinglan politely prepared to call another one. The Omega, who had barely made his presence felt during dinner, was just as quiet now.
“I can go back on my own…” he said hesitantly. “No need to call a car for me.”
Jiang Xinglan shook his phone. “Already done.”
“Really, it’s fine…”
“Alright then,” Jiang Xinglan sighed. “You get in first. I’ll have the driver stop by my school’s intersection. It’ll be closer for you to walk from there, okay?”
“…Okay.”
Looking at him, Jiang Xinglan found himself doubting for the second time that day.
“Do I look that fierce?”
“N-no, not at all.”
Then why do you look so scared of me? he thought helplessly.
Lai Qiutong returned to her dorm, while Liang Yan and Ji Qiu, who lived off-campus, walked a bit further after getting off the car.
Ji Qiu glanced at Liang Yan’s face to make sure he looked fine, then went over and hooked his arm around his.
“Yan Yan, are you cold?” Ji Qiu asked, though before Liang Yan could answer, he was already wrapping his own scarf around him.
Liang Yan shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Ji Qiu tugged him along. On their way home, they had to pass through the school’s snack street. It wasn’t too late yet, and several stalls were still open.
At the end of the street was a milk tea shop they often visited—good taste, short lines.
Worried that Liang Yan hadn’t eaten much at dinner, Ji Qiu asked several times if he wanted some late-night snacks to fill up. When Liang Yan refused, he pointed at the shop. “Then how about a drink?”
This time, Liang Yan agreed, and followed him inside.
They walked up to order. Liang Yan scanned the menu and picked something he didn’t usually get.
“Lemon passion fruit.”
It wasn’t his first time at the shop, and with his good looks, the owner recognized him. Smiling kindly, the owner reminded him, “The passion fruit we just got is a bit sour. Do you want to stick with your usual caramel milk tea?”
“No need,” Liang Yan said without looking up. “Just this.”
When they left the shop, milk teas in hand, and walked to a quieter spot, Ji Qiu suddenly called his name.
“Yan Yan,” he said after a pause, “are you upset because of the exams?”
Liang Yan’s back stiffened. He froze where he stood.
He thought he hadn’t shown anything, that Ji Qiu wouldn’t notice.
But apparently, after just a few steps, he’d already been found out.
Was this guy sharp or just clueless?
Liang Yan made a casual sound of agreement.
The exam month was nearly over before they knew it. For a genius like Ji Qiu, it barely registered—he was still busy with the KB issue. But Liang Yan had actually reviewed every subject properly, and before he knew it, there was only one exam left.
Ji Qiu walked ahead, tugging him along. Liang Yan trailed behind, sipping from his straw and biting on the hard passion fruit seeds, the tart flavor spreading through his mouth.
The two of them looked almost too well-behaved.
They passed through the back street of the campus. A few students recognized them and whispered among themselves, but both Liang Yan and Ji Qiu were used to it and didn’t mind.
In the university district, students often visited other nearby campuses. After all, the medical university had plenty of Alphas and good resources, so students from other schools would come by for social events.
At the last corner, Liang Yan saw a pregnant Omega girl holding her partner’s arm as they bought food together.
He stared blankly at her for a while.
After all, the heat period was something Omegas couldn’t avoid. Those who opposed Omega rights often argued that such a physiology meant Omegas were “naturally suited” for reproduction since if an Omega in heat had a partner and let their guard down even slightly, pregnancy was almost inevitable.
Still, society had grown more understanding. If an Omega became pregnant while in university, they were allowed to continue classes until their due date. Schools even required classmates to help take care of pregnant Omegas, and the Alpha partner could also take time off to accompany them during childbirth before resuming studies without losing credits.
Some even managed to finish their credits early.
However, Qicheng Medical University was mostly made up of Alphas and Betas—in other words, lots of single people. There were hardly any Omegas in the entire Clinical Medicine department, let alone pregnant ones.
So a scene like this was practically unheard of on campus existing only in the imagination of certain Alphas.
Yeah.
Thinking about it, it really shouldn’t be possible.
That time he went to Ji Qiu’s dorm and accidentally opened his reproductive cavity, Ji Qiu had held him for a long time afterward to help clean up.
Could his luck really be that bad?
When they got home, Ji Qiu turned on the light and waited for Liang Yan to change his shoes.
Before he realized it, Liang Yan had already finished half his drink. Setting the cup aside, he sat down on the sofa and dazed out, the familiar drowsiness washing over him again.
Before long, he felt himself being pulled into an embrace.
Half his mind was hazy with sleepiness, the other half still uncomfortably alert—sleepy because he couldn’t help it, awake because some thoughts refused to settle.
But Ji Qiu’s arms were warm, loosely wrapped around him not too tight, just enough to say: You can lean on me.
Liang Yan heard him call his name.
“Yan Yan, Yan Yan.”
Not many people called him that aside from his parents, only his closest friend, Yin Tongguang.
Ji Qiu had been casual and familiar from the start, using it without asking, and Liang Yan hadn’t minded, so he let it be.
Now, every time Ji Qiu said his name, the last syllable lifted lightly, soft and sweet, like a gentle whine.
Different from anyone else.
Liang Yan relaxed, resting his head on Ji Qiu’s shoulder. He wrapped his arms around him and murmured a response.
“Are you worried I’ll leave once the break starts?” Ji Qiu asked softly. “You seemed a bit down when we came back today.”
Liang Yan was taken aback.
Yeah, there was only one exam left, and the break would begin in just a couple of days.
He was about to deny it when Ji Qiu whispered gently, “I won’t.”
“If you go home, I’ll visit you often.”
“If you go traveling, I’ll video call you every day.”
“If you have other plans… that’s okay too. As long as you need me, I’ll be there right away.”
“I won’t leave you.”
By the end, Ji Qiu sounded almost shy, his voice growing quieter until he simply held him in silence, then pressed a soft kiss to the gland at the back of his neck.
There was no lust in it, only tenderness.
After Jiang Xinglan returned, KB unexpectedly went quiet for a while.
The exam period passed, and there was still no update on the case.
Even Yu Zhenghao found it strange. He wondered aloud why KB was being so timid this time not pushing the project, not moving on the legal side. Were they planning to quietly back out and let it fade from public attention?
No one knew.
Setting that aside, Liang Yan finally finished his last exam.
Ji Qiu’s schedule was different from his; he had more subjects and was taking two tests that morning.
These days, Liang Yan still felt drowsy, but it was manageable. His appetite had become lighter, and the nausea hadn’t returned.
While Ji Qiu sat his exams, Liang Yan went back to their place and opened the paper bag he’d bought from the pharmacy.
He kept telling himself it was nothing. He was an Omega, this sort of thing was perfectly normal.
After all, everything between them had been voluntary from the start.
It was his silly Alpha who always overthought things—hesitant, cautious, afraid to go too far.
When Liang Yan decided to be with Ji Qiu, he had already considered many possibilities. Including this one.
Right now, he was just confirming the result.
Liang Yan stared at the test strips and the pregnancy test stick in his hand.
When he went to the pharmacy after his exam, his whole demeanor was cold and distant so much so that the clerk had mistaken him for an Alpha.
Seeing him buy several kinds of tests, the clerk had kindly reassured him, saying there was no need to worry, that the results would be accurate.
Liang Yan hadn’t corrected the misunderstanding. He simply paid in silence and walked back.
He thought he was calm.
Because when he looked at himself in the mirror, his expression was no different from usual perhaps even steadier than usual.
But when he lowered his head and looked at the test in his hand
Hmm.
Probably a false result.
Remaining perfectly composed, Liang Yan tested again using another strip.
Hiss—
By experimental standards, one or two results weren’t enough to prove anything; multiple tests were needed before drawing a conclusion.
That’s what he told himself as he opened the fourth one, then the fifth…
The results were all the same.
Forget it, he thought.
Maybe it’s just a problem with this brand.
He still felt he was calm, though he didn’t want to look directly at the obvious result.
Maybe he should try a different brand.
Acting on that thought, Liang Yan was about to get dressed and go out, but just as he stepped out of the bathroom, he heard the sound of keys turning in the front door.
“Yan Yan Yan Yan! I finished the exam early and came home! I even bought you a lemon passionfruit drink—”
Ji Qiu called out cheerfully as he opened the door, but when he looked up, still in his shoes, he saw Liang Yan standing by the bathroom door with an uncharacteristic trace of panic in his expression.
Before Ji Qiu could process what was happening, he noticed the trash bin inside the bathroom stuffed with several discarded pregnancy test strips and the test stick still in Liang Yan’s hand.
Without exception, all of them showed the same result.
His Omega was pregnant.
[mfn] If you enjoy my translations, you can show your support by leaving a comment or donating to my Ko-fi. It will be much appreciated. Thank you! [/mfn]
