The shifting changes in his body gradually blurred Li Zhenting’s consciousness. He tried to soothe himself, but it was to no avail; instead, his efforts only stirred a more terrifying turmoil within.
“Ugh—”
Li Zhenting, a man who hadn’t even flinched when stabbed with a knife, was now being tortured to the point of whimpering. He didn’t know what was happening to him. His only choice was to submerge his entire body in cold water, seeking one last shred of sanity.
Before Li Zi even stepped through the front door, she heard strange noises coming from inside. Her heart tightened as she pushed the door open and rushed in.
The source of the sound was the bathtub by the window. She hurried over and saw Li Zhenting curled into a ball, trembling in water that had already become somewhat turbid.
“Ting-ge?!”
She quickly reached out to pull him up, only to find that the skin beneath her touch was terrifyingly hot.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“A... Zi?”
The man seemed to catch a scent he had long craved. His nostrils flared as he pressed his face toward the back of Li Zi’s neck. His limbs clung tightly to her, instantly soaking her clothes. Even so, he wasn't satisfied. He grabbed Li Zi’s hand and pulled it forcefully toward his lower back.
“I’m... so hot... my neck is hot... and back here too...”
“I want...”
“Bite me...”
Li Zi initially thought he had a fever, but he was urgently guiding her to invade him. Caught off guard, her hand was led to the place he wanted her to go, meeting a sensation of warmth and stickiness.
This wasn't right. Li Zi snapped into focus immediately.
“Ting-ge, calm down first.”
She tried to pull him away to talk to him, but Li Zhenting shook his head desperately, refusing to leave her side for even a second. When she applied force, he even choked out a sob, crying, “No.”
These symptoms were far too similar to an Omega’s special period.
Li Zi had no other choice, so she tried releasing her pheromones to surround him. To her surprise, it was incredibly effective; the man’s movements slowed down. Taking the opportunity, she pulled out her phone and dialed Li Zhenting’s doctor.
It happened to be the same doctor he had seen during his first physical examination.
“Hello? Doctor, sorry to bother you, but I have an emergency here...”
Li Zi quickly described Li Zhenting’s symptoms.
“You’re saying he seems to have entered a heat? Has this happened before? Has he had any unusual physical symptoms lately? When was the last time you two used the catalyst?”
“Yes. It hasn't happened before. He’s been easily fatigued lately, sleeping a lot. We used the catalyst again last month during my rut.”
The doctor remained calm and asked, “When he came in for a consultation last time, he had another hormone check. Did you two not read the precautions written on the report?”
“What?”
Li Zi knew nothing about this. When Li Zhenting came back, he had only told her everything was fine and the doctor said there were no issues.
“His body is unique, and his pheromone compatibility with yours is extremely high. Therefore, once he conceives, his original Omega sex hormones are triggered. During pregnancy, there will be symptoms of hormonal imbalance, and a heat is the most typical one.”
“Are you saying... he’s already pregnant?”
The amount of information was overwhelming. Coupled with Li Zhenting’s constant pestering, Li Zi actually found it hard to process for a moment.
“If this is the first time this has happened a month after using the catalyst, then he should be.”
“Then what should I do?”
She realized that simply releasing pheromones was no longer enough to soothe him. Li Zhenting seemed very dissatisfied that her attention had been stolen by the phone, and he even tried to snatch it away. Li Zi hurriedly moved the phone further away and turned on the speakerphone.
“You’re asking me that? Surely an Alpha knows how to soothe an Omega in heat. Anyway, he should be in early pregnancy right now, so the fetus might be unstable. Try to avoid deep union to prevent any accidents. Find a day later to come to the hospital for a formal check-up and confirmation.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Li Zi hung up and focused her attention on the restless man. She took a deep breath, her canines baring as she pierced the soft flesh at the back of Li Zhenting’s neck, simultaneously injecting a large amount of her pheromones.
To be honest, after falling in love with Li Zhenting, Li Zi had never truly thought there would come a day when she could mark him.
After all, Li Zhenting was still a Beta. Even though he had entered a pseudo-heat, he still lacked a pheromone scent of his own. But as Li Zi intentionally injected hers, his body instinctively responded. With wave after wave of impact, the hands that had been gripping Li Zi tightly finally softened.
“Mm...”
He let out a small, satisfied hum.
Li Zi thought this would bring him back to his senses, but she had underestimated the intensity of Li Zhenting’s first imbalance period. Even though he was no longer complaining of discomfort, he remained entangled with her. His eyes were misty and flushed as he looked at her, hoping she would satisfy him more thoroughly and completely.
The rest of the night was an agonizing ordeal for Li Zi. She used every method and tone imaginable to comfort the man whose needs remained unfulfilled. Even when he cried, acted spoiled, threw tantrums, or begged, Li Zi remained restrained and kept a firm grasp on the boundaries. She offered only superficial relief, never crossing the line.
Looking at the man clinging to her arm and babbling shameless nonsense, she felt a massive headache coming on. It was hard to imagine what kind of intense reaction Li Zhenting would have once he was fully conscious and remembered these things. This man, who was always "high offense but low defense," was incredibly thin-skinned.
It wasn't until dawn approached that Li Zhenting finally seemed to feel the exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.
Li Zi shook out her tired arms, finally understanding the meaning of "a day feeling like a year." She pulled up the quilt and gently covered him, her gaze softening as she watched him. Then, her eyes shifted downward toward his abdomen. Through the blanket, she pressed her hand against that spot.
“Welcome, little one.”
Knowing that an Omega’s heat could last for several days—though Li Zhenting’s situation might be different—Li Zi still requested time off. Fortunately, it was Friday, so she could use the weekend without disrupting her work schedule too much.
While Li Zhenting was asleep, Li Zi finally had time to clean the living room. There were water stains everywhere, and the water in the bathtub hadn't been drained. After a quick cleanup and a shower of her own, she returned to the bedroom and lay down beside him.
Almost as soon as she lay down, Li Zhenting’s body leaned toward her. His expression was clearly uneasy, yet he didn't wake. Li Zi knew that an Omega in this period would be extremely dependent on their Alpha, so she released her pheromones again. Only when his body relaxed once more did she finally allow herself to fall asleep.
As Li Zi expected, Li Zhenting’s heat had not ended by the next day. He didn't even seem to have regained his senses. From the moment he opened his eyes, he was glued to her. Whether she was washing up, cooking, or simply getting a glass of water, he stayed pressed tightly to her side.
It was like the imprinting phenomenon of a newborn cub; only by feeling the other person’s presence at every moment could the fear and anxiety in his heart be eased.
And when night fell, he entangled himself with Li Zi again, his feverish body drenching them both in sweat. An Omega’s constitution during heat craves the deepest mark, but unfortunately, Li Zhenting’s body didn't actually possess that capacity, and Li Zi couldn't give it to him now anyway.
With his reason gone and completely controlled by the fierce, hot tide, Li Zhenting suffered from the lack of satisfaction. Like a child denied candy, he sat on Li Zi’s lap and cried piteously, even starting to scold her.
“You... *hic*... you’re not my A-Zi.”
“A-Zi wouldn't bully me like this.”
“You... you’re a jerk.”
“I feel so bad, I feel like I’m going to die.”
“A-Zi, where are you? Save me...”
Li Zi truly didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She had to keep coaxing him: “A-Zi is right here. It’s not that I don't want to help you, but you’re pregnant now. We can't do that.”
The current Li Zhenting was in no state to listen to reason; he only wanted what he craved.
“I don't care! I want my A-Zi!”
Finally, Li Zi’s heart softened at his weeping, and she went to retrieve her "tools."
Next came the true test of her self-control.
****************************************
“!!!!”
On Sunday morning, someone woke up and sat on the bed, beginning a silent roar.
“F***, f***, f***, f***!”
Heavens, why did this happen?!
Li Zhenting clutched his head, not daring to recall the images in his mind.
*How could I be so shameless? How could I—*
*Aaaah, I’m going crazy!!*
When Li Zi walked out of the bathroom, she saw the man who had regained his senses and was now spiraling into a frenzy. His neck and entire face were beet red. He was currently clutching a pillow and hitting himself with it repeatedly, hoping to beat down the shame in his heart.
*The heat is finally over, then.*
Li Zi breathed a massive sigh of relief. She had nearly been worn out by the ordeal herself.
Li Zhenting immediately sensed someone’s presence. He lifted his head from the pillow and saw the other protagonist of the past few days—the object of his endless, obsessive clinging.
“A... A-Zi.”
He stammered out her name. It was over. He had no idea how to face her now.
“Ting-ge, you’re pregnant.”
Li Zi used just one sentence to make him forget all his other emotions, forcing him to focus entirely on what she said.
“Wh-what did you say? No, how do you know?”
He blinked, not quite daring to believe it.
“This Omega heat is the proof. Did you not look closely at the doctor’s instructions again?”
“Instructions?”
Li Zhenting quickly turned and pulled the stack of documents from the nightstand.
It was written there clearly: *Hormonal imbalance may occur during pregnancy, manifesting as: heat, lack of energy, dizziness, headaches, abdominal pain, etc. If the above symptoms appear, return for a follow-up examination promptly.*
“It really does say that...”
He was stunned.
“At the time, I only heard him say my physical condition was very good and that I should try more with my partner for a high success rate. I didn't pay attention to anything else.”
“That’s so like you.”
Li Zi walked over, tapped him on the head, took the medical file, and began reading it carefully herself.
“I shouldn't have trusted you to handle these things alone.”
“I’m pregnant.”
The person being scolded started smiling foolishly instead.
“Hehe, I’m having a baby.”
“Li Zi, we’re going to have a baby.”
He placed his hand over his abdomen and looked at Li Zi with a face full of anticipation.
“Yes, we’re having a baby.”
Li Zi set the documents aside and placed her hand over his. She leaned down and kissed his eyes.
