Zhou Shu woke up three days later. A rainstorm had just passed over Haicheng that day.
In the early morning, the long-absent sunlight emerged, and the air carried the lingering, fresh fragrance that follows a downpour.
Zhu Lili walked into the hospital carrying that outdoor freshness. Today, she had stripped off her usual accessories and wore a simple, plain cotton leisure suit, looking like a college student visiting her brother after a morning run.
During this time, Zhu Lili had been busy investigating and pulling strings everywhere.
The police had come to the hospital twice—first to confirm the situation, and then to summon Jin Yan.
That day, the massive, high-intensity release of Enigma pheromones had caused a significant impact on the hotel. The guests on the same floor had lost consciousness for several hours without even realizing it. When they woke up, their bodies felt as if they had been dismantled and reassembled, racked with pain.
Unable to suppress their fury, they chose to report the incident to the police.
Under Zhu Lili’s irritable explanation, the police learned the cause and effect, understanding that the Enigma had not done it intentionally. To settle the matter quietly, the hotel took the initiative to offer compensation to the guests. Zhu Lili also suppressed the news; otherwise, once the word got out, it would only have a more detrimental effect on Zhou Shu.
Yet, she remained puzzled. This was Haicheng—who would be crazy enough to do something like this on their home turf?
Was it a deliberate attempt to do the unexpected?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, nearly ripping a seat out of the hospital corridor with her bare hands. Gou Feifei was so startled that he immediately calmed her down and cheerfully went to pay the fine for the damage.
Standing outside the ward, Zhu Lili couldn't bear to see Jin Yan with his bloodshot eyes.
She went inside and forced Jin Yan to go home, change his clothes, and take a shower, promising to keep watch for him.
At first, he wouldn't be moved. It wasn't until Zhu Lili said, "Do you want your brother to feel even more heartbroken when he wakes up?" that Jin Yan finally gave a faint nod and agreed to go home first.
The surface of the sea after a storm is always exceptionally calm, gently fulfilling its mission of flowing and carrying, as if the rain had never come.
But occasionally, when the wind brushes across the surface, the seabed can still capture that scent that once lingered intimately with it, even if it feels slightly different from the scent in its memory.
Lying on the hospital bed, Zhou Shu’s eyelashes fluttered first, and then he slowly opened his eyes.
His vision was somewhat blurred, and even a slight breath deepened the aching pain in his chest and abdomen.
Fatigue radiated from his bones, climbing up his spine to wrap around his neck.
It wasn't until the sensation swirled and settled at his gland that Zhou Shu finally recalled exactly what had happened to him during this period.
That day, he had been forcibly induced into a susceptibility period. The shroud of darkness and the physical pain had nearly made him drift into a coma.
In his haze, he sensed Zhou Duo taking control of the body while crying, stubbornly gritting her teeth to keep from making a sound, leaning into a corner and panting weakly.
His heart ached for her. He wanted to comfort Zhou Duo, but his consciousness gradually blurred.
He remembered that not long after, while in his deep sleep, he sensed the scent of Enigma pheromones. Consequently, his Alpha body, which shared a bond with the Enigma, instinctively released pheromones so that the other could find his partner.
Then, he had fallen asleep within that familiar embrace.
Later, when Zhou Duo fell into a slumber, Zhou Shu’s consciousness returned slightly. He wanted to move his fingers, but they wouldn't obey.
And then, a sharp pain he had never felt before radiated from his gland. Heavy rain fell recklessly into the ocean; he was soothed by the gentle rainwater, and his entire body became warm and sunny.
Zhou Shu shifted his body, and the pain in his gland struck suddenly. The next second, a pair of eyes filled with worry appeared in his sight.
"Shu-ge, you're awake?" Zhu Lili was both surprised and delighted. She hurriedly pressed the call bell at the head of the bed. "Don't rush to move. Take it slow and let the doctor see you first."
"Mm..." Zhou Shu tried to move his throat, but there was still a strong burning sensation.
"Don't talk yet. You've had a fever for three days. You scared Xiao Yan half to death. He hardly closed his eyes, changing your towels every day, using alcohol to bring down your temperature, and using cotton swabs dipped in water to moisten your lips." She smiled, teasing him. "I didn't expect that at this age, the little puppy you raised since childhood would still be so inseparable from you."
Zhou Shu struggled to lift his eyelids. After a moment of recovery, Zhu Lili helped him sit up.
The first thing he did upon sitting up was scan his surroundings, just like the first time he had seen Jin Yan five years later.
"I sent Xiao Yan home to shower and change. He sat here for three days and nights; he was so haggard you couldn't see a trace of an Enigma in him."
After Zhu Lili finished speaking, she wanted to call Jin Yan to tell him he was awake, but Zhou Shu stopped her.
Zhou Shu cleared his throat and said in a raspy voice, "Don't call. Otherwise, he'll just rush back in a panic."
He took a few sips of the warm water Zhu Lili handed him, then reached out to touch his own gland.
It was still very painful. He could feel some small scabs; the surface was uneven.
He had been marked by Jin Yan. Jin Yan had become his Enigma.
Jin Yan had said before that an Alpha marked by an Enigma would become their exclusive Omega...
So, was he now Jin Yan's exclusive Omega?
At this thought, Zhou Shu felt his gland throb twice. A surge of heat welled up from within, flushing his ears.
"Oh? What are you thinking about? Your ears are all red." Zhu Lili exposed him without mercy, leaning back and laughing while holding the corner of her eye.
Zhou Shu glanced at her and let out a deep, "Trash," from his throat.
Just then, the doctor pushed the door open to check on Zhou Shu’s condition. All his physical indicators were normal.
"The gland is a bit red and swollen, likely because it's the first marking. During this time, you can have your Enigma help soothe the gland every day," the doctor said while taking notes.
"Soothe the gland?" Zhou Shu asked hoarsely.
"Oh, you're an Alpha, so you might not have this common knowledge. It means your partner releases pheromones and then uses saliva to soothe your gland. It helps reduce swelling and promotes healing."
Saliva soothing...
Zhou Shu took two seconds to process this. Zhu Lili, scrolling through her phone, casually added, "It means licking the gland."
"..." Zhou Shu fell silent and turned his head away.
The doctor stole a glance at Zhou Shu and coughed twice. "Your recovery is going well. You can be discharged in two more days. Do not let water touch the gland or your arm before you leave."
That phrase "do not let water touch" was like another pebble dropping into the ocean with a *plop*, stirring up a small spray of waves.
Zhu Lili watched him and shook her head silently. She smiled and thanked the doctor, seeing him out of the ward.
"By the way, I've already had someone look into the incident from that day. It's confirmed that it was a hit for hire. We have some leads, but it will take some time to find out who was behind it."
"Mm." Zhou Shu responded flatly, his expression blank. He lowered his head and lifted his left arm, looking at the wound wrapped in gauze. "If you can't find them, forget it. Don't waste energy on this."
Zhu Lili opened her mouth to say something, but it turned into a muffled sigh in her chest.
It was true; over the years, Zhou Shu’s pride had offended many people. There were wealthy patrons whose advances were rejected and countless anti-fans. These people tripped him up openly and secretly, but Zhou Shu was truly talented and followed the rules; in the end, no one could really do anything to him.
The "packages" received by the company and his private residence were innumerable. Since every single package had to be opened and checked one by one, it was better to simply ignore them all.
Consequently, Zhou Shu later chose to refuse all gifts and letters from fans. He was tired of spending time distinguishing which items were dangerous. He didn't act for the sake of fame anyway.
But it was exactly such a person, who seemed indifferent to the world, who had taken a slice of someone else's cake. Starving predators would not sit idly by. They tried every means to smear this person who was born with the cake in his hand, and now they wanted to use foul methods to ruin him.
Zhou Shu seemed truly unbothered. He calmly accepted everything that had happened that day and did not regret the kindness he had shown to a stranger.
As for the people who "carried out the plan," if they were found, they would face justice and punishment. But as for the person behind them, even if their roots were dug up, their status might not necessarily be shaken.
It didn't matter. They were people he didn't care about anyway; he shouldn't waste any more thought on them.
Zhu Lili understood Zhou Shu’s meaning and didn't press further. She estimated there would be a second wave of storms from the internet in the coming days; Zhou Shu couldn't afford to be distracted.
"Fine, you don't need to worry about this. The company and I will handle it. Just focus on recovering during this time. Don't look at your phone if there's nothing important."
"Mm, I know." After Zhou Shu finished speaking, he saw Gou Feifei standing at the door. Gou Feifei gave a wave through the glass, indicating he wouldn't disturb Zhou Shu’s rest. Zhou Shu nodded and smiled at him, then turned back to Zhu Lili, who was blowing a wink toward the door. "Can you smell my pheromones right now?"
"Huh? What?" Zhu Lili turned back to look at him. "Are you not restraining your pheromones?"
"No. My gland hurts too much; I can't control them."
Puzzled, Zhu Lili leaned in slightly to sniff. A faint scent of green grass after rain lingered around Zhou Shu. Zhu Lili looked at him in surprise. "Could it be... Xiao Yan’s pheromones have already covered yours? I smelled it when I first came in, but I thought it was just the scent of the air outside."
Zhou Shu was also somewhat confused. "What about you? Have your pheromones not been covered?"
Zhu Lili froze. "Me?" She looked at the silhouette outside the glass window, her expression softening. "Goofy didn't mark me."
Zhou Shu’s eyes flickered. "What?"
"It's quite strange when you think about it. Do you think Enigmas just don't care about that?" Zhu Lili smiled, her eyes full of tenderness.
Zhou Shu raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"I've actually been thinking about something. Those people who clamor about being afraid of their Omega being eyed by other Alphas, and who can't wait to brand them all over—who exactly are they doing that for? Is that behavior the Alpha's possessiveness or their sense of insecurity?" Zhu Lili looked forward, her gaze unfocused. "I originally thought the Enigma species would be even worse, but it seems their desire and possession aren't expressed that way."
At least Jin Yan and Goofy weren't like that. They didn't use their gender advantage to suppress any group, nor did they forcefully mark their partners because of it.
Instead, they provided ample trust, becoming an indestructible reliance for their partners. They seemed to enjoy being "possessed" by the other person more.
the burning, obsessed gaze of their lover and their complete, bestowed trust—that was their desire.
Both were silent for a moment before the ward door opened.
The Enigma standing at the door had cleared away his stubble and changed into fresh, clean clothes. His pupils were trembling as he looked at the Alpha leaning against the headboard.
They smiled at each other. Without a word, the Enigma walked to the bedside, leaned down, and pressed a kiss onto the Alpha’s lips.
The sound of the door closing cut off the outside air. Now, only the two of them remained in the ward.
"Brother, I missed you so much." The Enigma lay against the Alpha like a clingy kitten. He didn't care about the hot tears spilling from the corners of his eyes; he only wanted to be close to his Alpha.
"Weren't you keeping watch here every day?" The Alpha was very gentle, reaching out with his unbandaged hand to stroke the Enigma’s soft hair.
"It wasn't enough." The Enigma’s body trembled slightly. Seeing the person before him awake, he finally understood the meaning of "surviving a disaster." He couldn't bear to recall the terrifying experience of that night. He only knew that if the situation that day had been any more serious, he would certainly be in custody right now.
The Alpha sensed the Enigma’s anxiety. Since being marked, he could sense almost all of the other's emotions instantly.
He wanted to coax his Enigma but felt a bit at a loss. After a moment of thought, the Alpha made a decision.
He lightly stroked the Enigma’s gland and said softly, "Yanyan, do you want to smell the scent of my new pheromones?"
The Enigma in his arms suddenly looked up, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
The Alpha smiled and pulled the Enigma closer, letting him approach his gland. "Yanyan, from now on, only you will be able to smell the scent of the ocean."
The Enigma’s lips parted slightly. He leaned in and licked down toward the gland that radiated his own scent.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 易感期 | Susceptibility Period | The Alpha equivalent of a "heat" or "rut." |
| 诱因 | Inducer | A drug used to trigger a physiological response (like a heat/rut). |
| 唾液安抚 | Saliva soothing | A trope in ABO fiction where a partner licks a gland to provide comfort/healing. |
| 小奶狗 | Little puppy | Slang for a younger, devoted, and clingy male partner. |
| 标记 | Mark/Marking | The act of an Enigma/Alpha biting an Omega/Alpha's gland to form a bond. |
