I Heard You Only See Me as a Friend - Chapter 22

It was a strange sensation, like stepping on clouds fluctuating and unsteady while his mouth was filled with a sweetness akin to cotton candy.

At the very beginning, there was no rhythm or technique. Fortunately, Feng Jin quickly recalled the contents of that medical pamphlet. Following the “tutorial” in his mind, he rapidly grew accustomed to the motions.

His Alpha genes allowed Feng Jin to firmly seize the initiative. He gradually deepened the contact, and his pheromones began to overflow, staining the other person’s breath and teeth with his unique scent.

Ji Wan endured it passively. His hands were in an awkward position with nowhere to go; he wanted to lean on something to steady himself, but there was nothing around him to grab onto except for Feng Jin.

Feng Jin also felt that Ji Wan wasn’t standing very steadily. His hand, which had been resting on Ji Wan’s arm, slid all the way down until he grasped Ji Wan’s hand, guiding it to rest firmly on his own waist.

Feng Jin didn’t overthink it in fact, he didn’t have the mental capacity to think much at all right now. He simply thought that since Ji Wan had nothing to hold, he should hold onto him. As for whether this was too intimate or ambiguous, Feng Jin was no longer capable of making that distinction.

He finally understood why this was one of the methods to alleviate excess pheromones. As his emotions were stirred, those pheromones that were usually so difficult to vent surged out effortlessly, flooding toward the person capable of accepting them.

Feng Jin lost track of time. He hadn’t yet felt satisfied when he realized the hand on his waist had shifted from a grip to a push. Ji Wan was trying to push him away, leaning his body backward as if attempting to escape his control.

Feng Jin opened his eyes. His dissatisfaction dissipated halfway upon seeing Ji Wan’s watery eyes, but he didn’t let go. Still gripping Ji Wan’s arms, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ji Wan didn’t have time to explain. He gave Feng Jin a sudden, powerful shove and quickly retreated into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.

At that exact moment, the sound of a key inserting into the lock came from the dormitory door. With a click, the door swung open.

“I’m back holy crap! Why are the pheromones so thick in here!” Kong Liyan’s hair practically stood on end. He scrambled back several steps and slammed the door shut again.

Feng Jin: “…”

He actually hadn’t heard the sound of Kong Liyan returning. Thinking back, Ji Wan’s sudden struggle must have been because he heard the footsteps.

A moment later, Kong Liyan pushed the door open again, this time armed with a bottle of pheromone neutralizer, spraying it frantically around the room.

“Feng-ge, why did you suddenly release so many pheromones?” Kong Liyan asked, looking at Feng Jin’s face.

Then, he saw a face filled with murderous intent and fury, mixed with a hint of… unfulfillment.

Kong Liyan: “…”

Crap. Did I just interrupt Feng-ge’s teenage ‘self-comfort’ session?

Seeing that the fury was about to spread to him, Kong Liyan made a split-second decision. Without even putting down his backpack, he turned tail and bolted.

Hearing the main door close again, Ji Wan slowly emerged from the bathroom. Everything seemed to have returned to how it was before Kong Liyan arrived, yet the atmosphere had shifted.

“…Continue?” Feng Jin asked.

Ji Wan shook his head. “No. My tongue is numb. You should be feeling better by now, right? We’ve already exceeded the time suggested in the pamphlet.”

Hearing the words “tongue is numb,” Feng Jin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Finally, he let out a cold snort and mocked, “Your constitution is really too weak.”

Ji Wan didn’t even bother to argue. He muttered “right, right, right” while drying his hair and climbing into bed.

“You should exercise more; it’s good for the body,” Feng Jin added.

Taken alone, the sentence was fine, but in the context of their previous “topic,” it felt incredibly strange. What kind of exercise helps with a numb tongue?

Ji Wan was speechless, assuming Feng Jin was just talking nonsense because he was too shy and embarrassed. He pulled the quilt over himself, turned over, and went to sleep.

The day for the annual physiological knowledge class arrived, and Ji Wan sat below, listening intently. The class primarily covered ABO physiology, becoming progressively more in-depth as the students grew older.

High school sophomore year was a relatively “mature” age, so the course content was quite direct.

“As shown in the diagram, the body structures of each gender are different. First, let’s look at the Alpha’s anatomy—”

As the teacher lectured, many students were too embarrassed to look at the projection screen, peeking once before quickly lowering their heads.

Ji Wan, however, felt no embarrassment at all. Approaching it as a quest for scientific knowledge, he looked up and studied the diagrams seriously, completely unaware that Feng Jin was staring at him from behind.

Feng Jin looked at the screen, then at the back of Ji Wan’s head as he diligently studied the images, and he frowned. What’s so interesting about that? Everyone has it; what’s the big deal? If Ji Wan has questions, he can just ask me.

Even though he knew the organ on the screen was just a drawing and not a real person’s body part, Feng Jin still felt uncomfortable. He didn’t know where this inexplicable irritation came from, but he forced himself to suppress it.

The teacher continued to drone on: “…During the [heat/rut] period, Alphas will ‘knot’ internally to inject pheromones. This physiological structure dictates that Alphas and Omegas are the most compatible, whereas they lack the same physiological ‘fit’ with Alphas or Betas.”

The teacher expanded on the topic: “This is one of the reasons why we say Betas are best off finding Beta partners. In later lessons, I will cover several other reasons—”

Feng Jin couldn’t listen anymore. Nonsense. How can they spread such ideas to students? Are Betas only allowed to be with Betas?

Looking at Ji Wan again, he was still listening with the same focused, serious expression, as if he were taking every word the teacher said to heart. Anger flared in Feng Jin’s chest.

Feng Jin reached out and kicked Ji Wan’s chair. Ji Wan turned around to see a fierce, menacing Feng Jin. After waiting a second and seeing that Feng Jin didn’t speak, Ji Wan turned back to continue the lesson.

A moment later, his back was poked again. Ji Wan leaned back and heard Feng Jin’s lowered voice: “My stomach hurts. Accompany me to the school clinic.”

The moment he said the excuse, Feng Jin regretted it. This class would have an exam later, and given how much Ji Wan valued his studies, he likely wouldn’t want to leave. After all, going to the clinic was a one-person task; there was no objective need for company.

Just like at home, where his parents were busy with work and couldn’t “play” with him it was a logical conclusion.

Feng Jin felt annoyed with himself. He should have found another way to distract Ji Wan. He just needed Ji Wan to stop listening to the teacher’s nonsense.

What other excuse could I use?

Before he could think of a new reason, Ji Wan raised his hand. “Teacher, Feng Jin isn’t feeling well. I’ll take him to the clinic.”

As an absolute “Model Student,” Ji Wan had a lot of clout with the teachers. The teacher waved them off, giving them permission to leave.

Feng Jin was still stunned as Ji Wan touched his arm and led the way out of the classroom. It wasn’t until they left the teaching building and the cold wind bit at his face that the warmth in Feng Jin’s chest bloomed. He finally accepted this unbelievably good news.

“Actually, I could have gone by myself. You can go back to class,” Feng Jin said, hands in his pockets as he stepped on a dry, fallen leaf.

“Oh, I see.” Ji Wan stopped. “Then I’ll go back.”

Feng Jin: “?”

“Just kidding.” Ji Wan laughed and continued walking.

Feng Jin relaxed. Once they were far from the building, he asked with a mix of sincerity and jest, “The lesson doesn’t matter?”

Ji Wan gave him a strange look. “You’re not feeling well. Of course, that’s more important than one class.”

Ji Wan spoke very calmly, and his gaze was no different than usual as if he were just engaging in casual small talk but it made Feng Jin’s heart skip a beat.

…He’s more important.

Feng Jin faked a cough and covered his mouth to hide the uncontrollable smile at his lips.

The doctor at the clinic couldn’t find anything wrong with Feng Jin, so he simply gave him some glucose and told him to go back and rest. Feng Jin, having no issues to begin with, took the glucose and headed back to the dorm.

Estimating that the physiology class was almost over, Feng Jin had a moment of conscience and didn’t make Ji Wan stay with him. He pretended he had mostly recovered, sent Ji Wan back to class, and stayed in the dorm to lie down alone.

Feng Jin lay there for a long time, his mind racing. The more he lay there, the more hyperactive he became, feeling no sleepiness at all. He sent a message to Kong Liyan, who rarely listened in class.

.: [Got any recommendations for good action movies lately?]

Peacock Displaying its Tail: [!!!]

Peacock Displaying its Tail: [Feng-ge! How did you know I recently got my hands on a top-tier action movie? It’s pure artistic beauty! The Alpha is handsome and the Omega is gorgeous!]

Feng Jin: “…”

He didn’t know. He had meant “action” as in high-octane battle films. What kind of sleazy stuff was Kong Liyan talking about?

Peacock Displaying its Tail: [I’ll send it to you. Tsk tsk, Feng-ge, you’ve finally seen the light!]

Feng Jin coldly refused the file and shut off his phone. It wasn’t that he had a quirk; it was just that human “parts” were inherently unappealing to him. He’d rather watch a basketball game than sear his eyes with that.

Furthermore… toward people he didn’t like, he truly had no interest and no physical reaction. He could remain completely unmoved even when smelling Omega pheromones.

The body doesn’t lie. All his likes and dislikes were crystal clear.

Feng Jin rolled over and decided to just get up and study. He studied until school let out and the dorm door opened. Kong Liyan entered with an arm around Ji Wan’s shoulder.

“It’s no big deal if you missed that physiology class,” Kong Liyan was saying. “You already understand Betas anyway; all that was left was Alphas and Omegas. Hey, why don’t you… watch an AO movie with me? One of those serious, instructional ‘beginner’ films. After watching, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding ”

Before Kong Liyan could finish, he met Feng Jin’s dark, heavy gaze and immediately felt a shiver run down his spine.

…Why do I feel like if I say one more word, Feng Jin is going to make me pass away on the spot?