It was said that in the beginning, the gender known as Enigma did not exist. The three genders—Alpha, Beta, and Omega—were distributed equally, acting as checks and balances for one another.
Later, because the Alpha gene was too dominant, they began to mark Omegas at will, exerting absolute possession and turning them into mere property. Furthermore, an Alpha could mark multiple Omegas, while an Omega could only hold the mark of a single Alpha. If they were to separate, the process of removing the mark would cause immense physical harm to the Omega.
Many Omegas met with accidents during mark-removal surgeries or during post-operative recovery. Some found it difficult to conceive again, while others saw their lives cut short. Consequently, the gender ratio began to shift. As the number of Omegas dwindled, Alphas showed no mercy or protection; instead, they became even more unscrupulous in plundering their prey.
Thus, it was often said that the birth of the Enigma was the universe’s way of balancing the Alpha gender.
They could mark Alphas and turn them into their own exclusive Omegas. However, the difference was that an Enigma’s mark could only be given to one person. The connection between the Enigma and the marked individual was reciprocal; once a mark was made, it signified absolute mutual devotion and loyalty. This was also why offspring produced with an Enigma possessed superior genes and had an eighty percent chance of undergoing a second differentiation.
When Jin Yan had first differentiated into an Enigma, he had heard all sorts of rumors, but they were just that—rumors. To him, those snippets of text were nothing more than unsubstantiated anecdotes.
He had also heard before that all three genders—Alpha, Beta, and Omega—originally possessed reproductive cavities. Later, because Omegas consistently played the role of the child-bearer in society, this fixed pairing allowed the genetic memory to persist in them. In contrast, the reproductive cavities of Betas and Alphas had vestigially regressed over time until they eventually vanished.
There were so many rumors from so many sources that Jin Yan had long since forgotten the academic papers he had once glimpsed regarding the "reproductive cavities" of the three genders. But today, when the two mothers brought it up, the memory was suddenly jolted awake. The words, formed by clusters of black ink, leaped off the pages of his mind.
So, Alphas did have reproductive cavities; they were simply vestigial.
An Alpha marked by an Enigma, however, would have those latent genetic traits reawakened. The more Enigma pheromones the Alpha received, the faster this process would occur. Given the current situation, it was highly likely that, just as his mother said, Zhou Shu’s reproductive cavity was regrowing for him...
In an instant, the possessiveness and satisfaction hidden in his blood surged forth, flushing the corners of his eyes with red. He could only follow the call of his instincts, releasing even more pheromones for his Alpha, watching with his own eyes as Zhou Shu’s furrowed brows gradually smoothed out.
Jin Yan’s breathing rose and fell in sync with Zhou Shu’s chest. It took a long time before Zhou Shu regained consciousness and opened his eyes.
"Ge, how are you feeling?"
"Xiao Shu, are you alright?"
Seeing Zhou Shu open his eyes, Jin Yan and the two mothers crowded around him.
Zhou Shu nodded weakly. "I'm fine."
"Alright, Ge, don't talk. We're going to the hospital now," Jin Yan said, slowly helping Zhou Shu up. "If it's what Mom said, we need to go to the hospital for a detailed checkup."
"Yes, exactly! Xiao Shu is right. If the reproductive cavity is regrowing, we need a proper ultrasound to check on it."
"Right, and the gland too! That needs to be checked again!"
The two mothers chattered incessantly, making Zhou Shu’s ears burn. He cleared his throat and shot Jin Yan a look. Seeing his older brother getting shy again, Jin Yan merely suppressed a smile and raised an eyebrow teasingly, having no intention of speaking up for him.
Thus, as he listened to the mothers' increasingly bold and uninhibited discussion, Zhou Shu suddenly bolted upright.
"Oh! Xiao Shu, why are you moving so fast? What if you hurt yourself?"
Zhou Shu waved them off. Jin Yan steadied him, and then, with unspoken understanding, went to fetch Zhou Shu’s clothes.
"Mom, Auntie Fang, I’m much better. It doesn't hurt anymore; it was just that one moment," Zhou Shu said. "Let’s take advantage of this and have Jin Yan take me to the hospital for a checkup."
"Good, good. Go get checked. Mom will go with you."
"Don't!" Zhou Shu coughed twice, quickly stopping her. "Mom, don't get involved. We're not children."
As soon as he spoke, the two mothers burst into laughter.
"Xiao Shu is just like he was when he was little—so shy, he can't take a joke at all. On the other hand, Yan Yan is getting thicker-skinned by the day," Jin Yan’s mother teased with a laugh.
Seeing Zhou Shu’s expression beginning to crumble again, the two mothers finally decided to let him off the hook. They nagged him with a few more "gynecology-related" precautions before finally leaving the room.
Jin Yan walked over with a down jacket, a smile practically bursting from his face. Zhou Shu glared at him, knowing he wouldn't win any arguments right now, and looked away awkwardly at the jacket in Jin Yan’s hand.
"I'm not wearing that. It's too thick." He frowned and turned his head, clearly in a state that required coaxing.
Looking at his brother like this, the softest part of Jin Yan’s heart was touched once more. In a rainless, clear sky, a wave reached toward the heavens following the shape of the sunlight; the raindrops hidden in the clouds felt an unbearable itch and finally fell as a sunshower. As the warm, gentle rain descended, the ocean was finally comforted, willing to shift into any shape desired.
Half an hour later, the Film Emperor Zhou was bundled into a walking ball of black down, led to the hospital by his "starkly contrasting" younger brother. The younger brother wore a smoke-gray trench coat that accentuated his tall, upright figure. His shirt was still meticulously buttoned to the very top—a look that invited endless imagination. Though he wasn't seeing patients or attending meetings today, he wore a pair of silver-rimmed gold glasses.
While Zhou Shu waited in a corner seat, Jin Yan busied himself running between various departments on the floor, attracting quite a few covetous glances along the way. Seeing his brother looking so attractive to others, Zhou Shu’s possessiveness could no longer be contained.
When Jin Yan returned and sat down beside him, Zhou Shu reached out and snatched the glasses right off his face.
"Hmm? What is it?" Jin Yan asked, puzzled, though he didn't stop Zhou Shu, letting himself be "handled" however the other pleased.
Zhou Shu tucked the glasses away and averted his eyes unnaturally. "I don't like the look of you."
To his surprise, Jin Yan let out a low, deep laugh that vibrated from his chest, sounding incredibly sexy. It made Zhou Shu’s throat feel a few degrees warmer. He didn't know what was wrong with him; ever since last night... his dependence on Jin Yan had indeed deepened, and his possessiveness had grown stronger. If someone else looked at Jin Yan for even a second too long, he felt uncomfortable all over, irritably wanting to leave all sorts of marks on him.
His gaze dropped to Jin Yan’s smooth neck. Narrowing his eyes, he reached out and unbuttoned the first button of Jin Yan’s shirt. Only when the mottled, light-red marks were revealed did Zhou Shu feel satisfied, the emotions in his chest easing slightly.
However, this casual gesture made Jin Yan’s eyes turn red with heat. He knew exactly why Zhou Shu was being suddenly difficult. He felt as if he were being lifted into the air by this surge of love; he even wanted to kiss Zhou Shu’s lips right then and there, or gently nibble on his gland, just as he had done last night.
Their gazes locked for a moment, sparking an invisible fire that burned through the chilly air.
"Next, Zhou Shu."
The voice of the doctor from the ultrasound room interrupted the rising tension. The moment Zhou Shu heard his name, he snapped his head away. Jin Yan then took his arm to help him up.
"Don't be like this. I'm not that fragile," Zhou Shu muttered, his pride finally pricked by being pampered so thoroughly.
"Oh, I see." Jin Yan obediently let go and walked beside Zhou Shu, but he couldn't help but curl his lips into a secret smile when no one was looking.
His brother was simply too cute—and getting cuter by the day. He really wanted to hide him away at home so they could be together every day, biting his gland whenever he felt like it.
The Alpha, unaware of the Enigma’s "wicked" thoughts, focused on entering the consultation room. After asking about his symptoms, the doctor had Zhou Shu lie on the bed and lift his shirt. She applied some gel to his lower abdomen, and then the cold instrument touched his skin.
Zhou Shu let out a cold hiss. Jin Yan immediately placed his hand on Zhou Shu’s waist, trying to transfer some warmth.
The doctor, an older woman, saw this and couldn't help but tease them. "My, young man, your Enigma is quite attentive."
Zhou Shu blinked a few times and then smiled, signaling his agreement. Judging by the doctor's appearance, she seemed to be an experienced veteran who likely didn't recognize his status as a Film Emperor. This allowed Zhou Shu to relax considerably.
Encouraged by his response, the doctor did not hold back her praise. "I haven't seen many Enigmas before. I've met a few who accompanied their Alphas or Omegas for ultrasounds, but none have been as caring and devoted as yours. After all, this is a lifelong matter. Being marked and having a reproductive cavity regrow to become an exclusive Omega... you really need to find an Enigma who truly treasures you."
The doctor spoke with increasing emotion, making Zhou Shu worry slightly about whether she might misdiagnose him.
A few minutes later, the examination ended. The moment the cold instrument left Zhou Shu’s skin, Jin Yan immediately helped him wipe away the gel and pressed his hand against the spot, acting as a human heat pack.
Seeing that the doctor was about to say more, Zhou Shu quickly spoke up. "Doctor, I’d like to ask about my condition."
The doctor tapped on her computer a few times and then printed out a sheet. "According to the data and images, your reproductive cavity is indeed regrowing."
Even though they thought they had prepared themselves mentally, both of their hearts skipped a beat the moment they heard the confirmation.
"Depending on the individual, it takes anywhere from two weeks to a month for the reproductive cavity to fully develop. During this time, you may experience frequent abdominal pain, just like what you went through earlier."
"Doctor, is there a way to alleviate it?" Jin Yan couldn't bear the thought of Zhou Shu suffering like that again, sweating from the pain.
"Yes, there are many ways. The primary method is the Enigma’s pheromones," the doctor said while typing. "You can release pheromones, kiss, or in severe cases, mark the gland."
"Is it okay to mark the gland in that situation?" Jin Yan asked.
"It's fine. The more pheromonal soothing you provide, the more the Alpha's pain will be relieved." The doctor hit the enter key one last time and looked at Jin Yan. "By the way, you cannot use sexual intercourse to relieve the abdominal pain. Otherwise, it wouldn't be good if the reproductive cavity gets injured. Also, in a month, or once the pain stops, you need to come back for a follow-up to check the status of the cavity."
Jin Yan nodded thoughtfully, while Zhou Shu looked away.
After a few more instructions, the doctor handed over the precautions and a prescription, smiling as she saw the Enigma-Alpha couple out.
"Ge, put your clothes on properly." Jin Yan walked quickly behind him, trying to keep up with his "fleeing" brother.
Zhou Shu stopped at the elevator bank and reluctantly reached out to put on his clothes, allowing himself to be bundled back into a down-filled ball.
"Hmm? You weren't even wearing your coat just now, so why are your ears so hot?" Jin Yan suppressed a smile as he straightened Zhou Shu’s collar, only to be met with a glare of indignant bashfulness. "Alright, alright, my mistake. Don't be mad, Ge."
He coaxed him happily, thinking that his brother’s temper had indeed flared up a bit today. This situation reminded him of when he was little and his mother was on her period; during those days, he would always see his father crouching by the bedroom door, knocking and begging to be let in.
Jin Yan reminisced for a moment and shivered, thinking his brother looked like the type who could actually do something like that. But then he thought it might be a fun kind of playfulness, so he smiled to himself, only to be caught by Zhou Shu.
"One look at you and I know you're thinking of something bad."
Jin Yan blinked, amused. "How am I thinking of something bad?" He instantly turned into a clingy "little bird," leaning against Zhou Shu and rubbing against his arm. "Or is it that Ge is actually thinking the same thing as me..."
"You're not allowed to say it!"
"Fine, I won't say it out here." Jin Yan leaned into his ear and blew a soft breath. "I'll wait until we get home to say it."
Zhou Shu shuddered at that sea-scented breeze, his ears turning a soft shade of pink. Thinking about how Jin Yan had spent the whole day fussing over him, always responding to his every need without a word of complaint, his heart softened into an irregular wave.
He took the initiative to grab Jin Yan’s hand at the elevator, and they didn't let go as they passed through the floors and clinics all the way back to the parking lot.
Jin Yan felt an immense sense of satisfaction. Even after returning home, he remained as happy as a puppy circling its master. After finishing dinner at the parents' house and failing to withstand their gossip and teasing, they fled into the night back to their own apartment.
That night, they slept in each other's arms, and Jin Yan no longer had to hold back his pheromones. Sea salt tangled with rain; the salty-sweet droplets transformed into the tears of the ocean waves.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
生殖腔 | Reproductive cavity | A fictional organ in ABO settings that allows Alphas or Betas to conceive.
Enigma | Enigma | A rare gender above Alpha that can mark Alphas.
二次分化 | Second differentiation | A process where a person's gender changes or evolves a second time.
影帝 | Film Emperor | A title given to a top-tier, award-winning actor (Best Actor).
B超 | Ultrasound / B-scan | A common medical imaging technique.
人肉暖宝宝 | Human heat pack | A slang term for a person who provides warmth to another.
