I Heard You Only See Me as a Friend - Chapter 10 

Fitting two males into a single restroom stall was, after all, a bit crowded.

The stall door was locked. Ji Wan stood up straight, while Feng Jin was less than half a step behind him. The warm breath brushing against the back of Ji Wan’s neck made the fine hairs on his skin stand on end.

“Not going to lean against the wall?” Feng Jin asked.

Ji Wan shook his head, suppressing the sense of oppression caused by the cramped space and the height of the person behind him. “It’s not clean. Never mind.”

In fact, the place Feng Jin had brought his cousin to was no cheap children’s playground. This restroom was so clean the tiles could act as mirrors, and the air was filled with the scent of expensive incense. It was simply a personal psychological barrier Ji Wan couldn’t overcome.

“Mhm,” Feng Jin didn’t press the topic. He pulled the collar of the jacket Ji Wan was wearing slightly open, revealing the gland that carried no scent of pheromones.

The neck of the person in front of him was slender, looking as if it could be snapped with a single pinch. Feng Jin unconsciously lowered his voice: “I’ll be gentler this time.”

Ji Wan closed his eyes. “Okay.”

The moment the pheromones were injected, the effect was almost instantaneous; Feng Jin noticed Ji Wan shudder.

The irritable and uncomfortable excess pheromones were vented out. Conversely, the clean skin where he injected them once again carried his scent.

…Completely and exclusively, his own scent.

He had occupied this place once more.

As various stray thoughts flashed through his mind, Feng Jin looked up and noticed that the swaying Ji Wan was getting closer and closer to the wall. Ji Wan, who was closing his eyes to endure the pheromones, was completely unaware.

Ji Wan valued cleanliness and was unwilling to lean against the walls here.

Recalling what Ji Wan had just said, Feng Jin immediately reached out and grabbed Ji Wan’s arm, pulling him back.

Ji Wan, suddenly subjected to force, was completely unprepared. At this moment, his legs were still somewhat weak, and all his energy was focused on restraining himself from making any strange sounds. Being pulled like this, his footing became unstable, and he fell backward into Feng Jin’s embrace.

For a moment, both of them froze.

Feng Jin instinctively wrapped his arm around Ji Wan’s waist to steady him. His palm happened to reach through the open zipper of the jacket, pressing against Ji Wan, who was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt underneath.

The elevated body temperature of an Alpha radiated from his palm. That heat was transmitted directly to Ji Wan through the thin fabric. Ji Wan struggled uncomfortably, and realizing what was happening, Feng Jin let go.

However, in that brief second, a thought forced its way into Feng Jin’s mind.

…His waist is so thin.

Startled, Ji Wan turned his head, and Feng Jin finally faced Ji Wan directly for the first time after he had just received a pheromone injection.

Those clear, black-and-white eyes were shimmering with a hint of moisture. The boy looked like a flower in a deep valley that had just endured a storm fragile and easily broken, a sharp contrast to his usual temperament.

Feng Jin’s gaze was too subtle. Coming to his senses, Ji Wan quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve. After wiping, Ji Wan looked at the jacket sleeve and belatedly realized something was wrong.

…This wasn’t his clothing; it was Feng Jin’s.

Ji Wan said awkwardly: “Ah, it’s your jacket. I’ve dirtied it.”

Feng Jin: “…I saw.”

A lingering awkwardness permeated the air, along with a certain indiscernible atmosphere beyond mere embarrassment. Finally, Ji Wan broke the silence: “Are we continuing?”

“Forget it.” Looking at the tears on Ji Wan’s face that hadn’t been completely wiped away, Feng Jin felt uncomfortable all over. Usually, those who cried in front of him were people he had beaten up; this was the first person he had “bitten” into tears.

Feng Jin fumbled awkwardly in his pockets, only to find he hadn’t brought a single tissue.

Even ten minutes ago, Feng Jin wouldn’t have thought that a grown man like himself needed to carry tissues, let alone that the purpose of such a tissue would be to wipe someone else’s tears it was simply preposterous.

But now, he seemed to truly need one.

Feng Jin’s hand remained stiff in his pocket, unsure whether to take it out or keep it there. Ji Wan, however, didn’t dwell on it. Hearing Feng Jin say it wasn’t necessary, he opened the stall door and walked out.

Feng Jin listened to the sound of the sink faucet being turned on outside. Guessing that Ji Wan was likely washing his face, he didn’t go out immediately. He waited until he estimated Ji Wan had finished tidying himself up before stepping out of the stall.

Outside, Ji Wan had indeed finished tidying himself. The spot where he had been bitten on the nape had been briefly wiped with water. Water droplets still lingered on the fresh tooth marks, sliding down his slender neck and eventually disappearing into his collar, out of sight.

The pheromones that had been injected not long ago were already fading to the point of being almost unscentable.

Feng Jin stared at his own tooth marks for half a second, then lowered his dark eyelashes and quickly averted his gaze. He walked over to wash his hands, his brow furrowed as he stared at the running water. “Was it painful this time too?”

Ji Wan had recovered. As a Beta, he didn’t know much about the trivia surrounding pheromone scents, so he asked curiously: “It didn’t hurt, but it felt very… sour. Are… are your pheromones vinegar?”

( In Chinese, “vinegar” is a metaphor for jealousy.)

As soon as Ji Wan finished, he saw Feng Jin’s lips press thin and his sharp eyes flicker over. “Are you provoking me?”

Vinegar-scented pheromones were rare. The few famous Alphas with vinegar-scented pheromones were just like their scent massive “vinegar jars” who were obsessively jealous. Therefore, telling an Alpha his pheromones were vinegar was often a form of mockery.

How could he possibly be jealous?

He wouldn’t be jealous over anyone in his entire life.

Feng Jin’s anger deflated like a punctured balloon when it met those clear eyes. He could only counterattack in the same manner: “Your pheromones are vinegar!”

Ji Wan: “I don’t have pheromones.”

Feng Jin: “…”

Was this guy specifically designed to counter him?! If a normal Alpha had provoked him like this, he would have pinned them down and beaten them long ago. But with Ji Wan, he had no good solution.

Damn it!

The two left the restroom and found the little cousin looking for them everywhere. The boy ran over excitedly.

“Where did you go?” The little cousin asked innocently. “I saw you drinking something in there earlier. Where’s mine? Where’s mine?”

“Yours,” Feng Jin recalled the lemonade. Looking down at his weak cousin, he said ruthlessly, “He bought it, and I drank it.”

Cousin: “…?”

Just as the little cousin’s admiration was about to shatter, Ji Wan timely bought him a new cup of milk tea, which finally turned his tears into a smile.

As dusk fell, Feng Jin looked at Ji Wan: “When are you going back?”

Ji Wan didn’t want to go back, but he knew that if he told the truth, Feng Jin being a responsible “business partner” might stay to accompany him to ensure nothing happened. So he said: “I’m heading back now.”

“Mhm.” Feng Jin dispatched his cousin to buy something to lead him away. Once they were alone, he looked at Ji Wan again, his lazy demeanor vanishing as his face turned serious. “I’ll be going to the hospital for an exam in a few days to see what frequency of biting is most appropriate. If you don’t trust me and are afraid, I’ll take advantage of you, you can come with me.”

Ji Wan shook his head. He had no reason not to trust Feng Jin. After all, Feng Jin’s pheromones wouldn’t cause him physical harm; it was just a bit of an aching sensation when being bitten.

Ji Wan: “No need. I trust you.”

Once the little cousin returned, the group headed to the taxi stand. Ji Wan took off Feng Jin’s jacket to return it. Feng Jin stalled for a few subtle seconds, not reaching out, until Ji Wan urged him repeatedly. Only then did Feng Jin leisurely take back his clothes.

Ji Wan waved to the two brothers watching him and got into a taxi.

As the car drove away, Feng Jin looked down at the jacket in his hand.

As an Alpha sensitive to others’ scents, Feng Jin disliked taking clothes others had worn, especially those just taken off; it usually made him feel disgusted.

In fact, he had originally planned to just give the jacket to Ji Wan; he had plenty of clothes anyway.

But when Ji Wan handed him the jacket, he couldn’t smell any offensive odor, so he took it back as if possessed.

Somewhat irritably, Feng Jin shook the jacket open. A trace of warmth still lingered on the fabric, but as the cool autumn wind blew, it dissipated completely.

When Ji Wan returned home, the sun had already set and night had fallen. The warm yellow light emanating from the house seemed cozy, but the moment Ji Wan stepped through the door, the atmosphere seemed to freeze.

The group was gathered on the sofa chatting, with gift boxes piled to one side like a small mountain. Clearly, while Ji Wan was out, they had gone shopping.

Likely gifts bought by my stepmother to apologize to the guests, Ji Wan thought with a touch of schadenfreude.

Everyone stared at him like a collection of strange statues. Ji Wan adjusted his mindset and began walking toward his room, but he was called to a halt halfway.

“Ji Wan,” Father Ji said with a dark face. “You just leave like that?”

“Otherwise?” Ji Wan tilted his head in feigned confusion. “Did you keep me here because Second Aunt wanted to apologize to me?”

Second Aunt’s expression changed instantly. The stepmother sitting beside her quickly patted her back to soothe her: “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Ji Wan is immature. Don’t lower yourself to a child’s level.”

Father Ji’s face grew uglier. He was Ji Wan’s father, after all, and had raised him; he knew that when it came to matters involving his biological mother, this son of his would neither bend to soft tactics nor yield to force he simply would not bow his head. Keeping Ji Wan here would only lead to more unseemly scenes.

Father Ji waved his hand: “Go to your room and reflect properly!”

Ji Wan continued walking. Halfway there, he heard the group resume their conversation.

Third Aunt stroked Ji Ke’s head and said affectionately: “Keke is so beautiful; you must find the most powerful and wealthy Alpha! I heard you’re at the same school as the Eldest Young Master of the Feng family. Have you made friends with him?”

Ji Ke blushed, but before he could speak, the stepmother smiled and said: “Don’t even mention it. I told him to be proactive, but he’s unwilling, saying he’ll wait.”

The stepmother ruffled Ji Ke’s hair and teased: “Wait for what? You can’t expect the Young Master of the Feng family to add you first, can you? That’s impossible. Someone who can make the Feng family’s heir take the initiative probably hasn’t been born yet!”

Ji Wan didn’t listen any further. He went to his room, closed the door, and pulled out his phone to relax. He discovered that Kong Liyan, whom he had added after moving into the dorm, had sent him several messages.

Peacock Spreading Its Tail: [Shocked.jpg] Peacock Spreading Its Tail: Wan-wan, Brother Feng asked me for your WeChat! Peacock Spreading Its Tail: I’ve never seen him add someone proactively before. No matter how I look at it, something is wrong. Be careful! Peacock Spreading Its Tail: [MurderousAura.jpg]

【Add.】

Ji Wan was stunned. A friend request popped up on his screen.

The person applying had a solid black profile picture. The name was a simple “.”. And in the reason for the application, only one word was written: