"What brings you to the hospital? Are you feeling unwell too?"
Yu Tianwu motioned for Liu Yan to sit beside her, asking with concern.
"Too...?"
Liu Yan paused, glancing at the gastroscopy room behind her. "No, I’m here to arrange things for my father. Are you having stomach issues?" He pointed toward the room. "If your stomach is acting up, you should try to avoid alcohol and spicy food. Last time, you went straight for hot pot right after drinking; is that why you're feeling unwell now?"
In truth, such comments were a bit presumptuous coming from someone she had only met once.
However, Yu Tianwu didn't mind. Faced with his sincere concern, she found herself unsure of how to respond. She simply lowered her head and rubbed the back of her neck like a disciplined student. "I know. I was wrong."
The moment the words left his mouth, Liu Yan realized he had overstepped. He expected Yu Tianwu to be displeased and an apology was already on the tip of his tongue. He hadn't expected that Yu Tianwu, a fellow Alpha who likely possessed a strong personality, would react this way.
He was surprised, but he instantly felt a surge of goodwill toward this girl who had previously offended him. "Sorry. I have a younger sister at home who isn't in the best health. I’ve grown used to lecturing her."
"A sister? Your biological sister?" Yu Tianwu tilted her head and asked.
"Mhm, yes."
"That’s so nice. I wish I had such a wonderful older brother," the beautiful Alpha said, her posture softening as she slumped against the back of the chair with a slight pout.
Being praised so bluntly made the introverted Liu Yan feel a bit bashful. "It’s alright. We bicker quite often. Having siblings comes with plenty of headaches too."
"But there’s also that close, personal concern—" Yu Tianwu propped herself up with one hand, leaning her face close to Liu Yan’s as she whispered, "Just like yours, Brother Yan."
"Ah."
Liu Yan recoiled, startled. Even though they were both Alphas, the girl in front of him was simply too attractive. He couldn't withstand such a high-voltage visual attack at such close range.
He felt his neck beginning to heat up again.
"You can just call me Liu Yan. 'Brother Yan' sounds a bit strange, doesn't it?" He gave a forced laugh, trying to steer the conversation away.
Seeing him dodge the topic, Yu Tianwu pursed her lips and leaned back. She stretched her long legs out with a hint of boredom, staring at her own feet. "Oh."
The atmosphere stagnated. Was the awkwardness returning?
Liu Yan screamed internally. No, he had to say something.
"After the gastroscopy, remember to stick to congee today. Don't eat anything irritating."
"By the way, did you opt for anesthesia? Did no friends come to accompany you?"
"I—"
He had started nagging subconsciously again. Yu Tianwu was just about to interrupt and explain the situation when the door to the gastroscopy room opened.
The doctor stepped out. "Young lady, your partner’s gastroscopy is finished. You can go find him now."
The voice that had been warming her heart came to an abrupt halt. For a rare moment, Yu Tianwu felt a flicker of irritability.
Especially when she saw the "Have I been played?" expression on Liu Yan’s face.
She gave the doctor a curt thanks, then turned to explain to Liu Yan, "I’m sorry, I didn't get a chance to say it, but I’m just here accompanying a friend..."
Liu Yan was so embarrassed he wanted to find a hole to crawl into. What was that? His incessant nagging just now was so humiliating.
He could only wave his hand dismissively. "It’s fine, it’s fine. As long as you’re healthy."
*Ah, I want to run away,* Liu Yan wept silently.
Perhaps sensing Liu Yan’s desperate urge to escape, Yu Tianwu seized the moment and pulled out her phone. "Let’s add each other on WeChat, Liu Yan."
This guy seemed quite interesting, and since he was Li Zi’s friend, she couldn't just let him slip away.
*Hurry up and establish a connection, Yu Tianwu!* she told herself.
She stared at the hesitating man. For the first time in her life, she felt nervous. During his long silence, the palm holding her phone began to sweat.
"Alright. Scan my QR code."
*Ah, he agreed.*
Yu Tianwu broke into a radiant smile.
This joy lasted all the way until she dropped her senior back at school. Even Xia Tian’s "I have something to say" expression as he got out of the car didn't dampen her mood.
After parking, she walked over to Xia Tian. Seeing him standing still, she asked, "What is it, Senior?"
"Uh... nothing. I just wanted to say thank you."
"I really troubled you today, Tianwu," Xia Tian said. He actually wanted to ask her how she viewed their relationship, but his instincts told him now wasn't the right time.
"It’s nothing! When a senior is in trouble, a junior must offer support from all sides!"
Yu Tianwu patted his shoulder with a grin, signaling him not to worry about it.
Though she was still enthusiastic, Xia Tian felt as though a distance had suddenly opened up between them.
*Forget it, it’s fine. I’ll ask her out myself next time!*
After seeing her senior off, Yu Tianwu whipped out her phone, found Li Zi’s WeChat, and began a messaging blitz.
*Not Lush and Green:* Li Zi Li Zi Li Zi Li Zi Li Zi
*Not Lush and Green:* You there you there you there you there
*Not Lush and Green:* Waaaaah look at me
*Not Lush and Green:* [Your cutie suddenly appears.GIF]
*Li Zi:* ?
*Not Lush and Green:* Guess who I ran into today?
*Not Lush and Green:* [Sherlock Holmes contemplating.GIF]
*Li Zi:* Huh? How should I know.
*Not Lush and Green:* [Babe, why are your words so cold.JPG]
*Li Zi:* ...
*Li Zi:* Liu Yan?
Yu Tianwu’s eyes widened as she typed furiously: *How did you guess!!*
*Li Zi:* Who else do we both know that you’d make me guess?
*Not Lush and Green:* [Dog impressed.JPG]
In a hotel room, Li Zi, who was currently sitting in a chair reading, put down her phone. She turned to the man who had just opened his bleary eyes. "You're awake?"
Li Zhenting rolled over, revealing an arm marked with faint traces, and let out a yawn. "Yeah."
"What time is it?" His body felt sore and heavy; he didn't even want to reach for his phone.
"Ten o'clock. Breakfast is on the table. Go wash up and come eat."
She closed her book and set out the takeout that had arrived ten minutes ago. She had timed it perfectly for when Li Zhenting would wake up.
"Ah—it's so late already." The man in the bed wriggled under the covers for a few moments, savoring the warmth of the nest before nimbly rolling out of bed.
He wore only his underwear. The finger marks on both sides of his waist still bore a hint of bruising. Soon, a sweater slid down, hiding all the intimate marks beneath.
Shortly after, Li Zhenting emerged from the bathroom, his face still damp with water.
He sat down opposite Li Zi with a slight complaint, pointing at his neck. "Could you not bite so hard? I was planning on going out today."
With a neck full of hickeys, how was he supposed to face the stares of passersby?
Li Zi glanced at him, picked up her book again, and said calmly, "Just wear my scarf."
She made absolutely no promise not to do it again next time.
"I knew it," the man grumbled, taking a sip of soy milk.
"What are you going out for today?"
"Liu Yan’s father arrives in Zhennan today. I’m going with him to pick him up."
"Oh."
The room fell silent again, save for the occasional sound of Li Zi turning a page and Li Zhenting chewing.
"Tianwu just told me she ran into Liu Yan."
"Huh?" Li Zhenting frowned. "How did those two run into each other?"
"I don't know, but Tianwu seemed pretty excited about it." Li Zi folded the corner of a key page, deciding to review it again tonight.
"Those two? Whatever. They’re both Alphas; there’s no harm in them being friends," Li Zhenting said after a moment’s thought.
"What’s wrong with two Alphas? Don't be gender-biased." She teased him. *Aren't you, a Beta, currently mixed up with me?*
"Liu Yan clearly isn't your roommate's type. Besides, his lifelong dream is to find a beautiful Omega wife. Those two won't click."
Li Zhenting didn't think much of it. Finishing the last bite of his bun, he reached over and flipped through the book Li Zi had set aside.
*Criminal Psychology?*
Tsk. What is this even saying? He couldn't understand a word.
"Oh, really?"
Li Zi made the casual remark, then simply said, "Perhaps."
***
**Glossary**
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 衍哥 | Brother Yan | A friendly/teasing honorific used by Yu Tianwu for Liu Yan. |
| 胃镜 | Gastroscopy / Endoscopy | The medical procedure Xia Tian undergoes. |
| 李震霆 | Li Zhenting | Li Zi's boyfriend, a Beta. |
| 犯罪心理学 | Criminal Psychology | The book Li Zi is reading. |
| 圳南 | Zhennan | The city where the story takes place. |
| 不是郁郁葱葱 | Not Lush and Green | Yu Tianwu's WeChat handle (a play on her name). |
