I Heard You Only See Me as a Friend - Chapter 7

Ji Wan remained silent, ultimately refraining from commenting on Feng Jin’s claim about staying single forever. After finishing their meal, he followed Feng Jin back to the dormitory.

The distance from the cafeteria to the dorm wasn’t far; with their long legs, it only took a few minutes. They walked in silence, Ji Wan lost in thought, but he noticed Feng Jin’s breathing becoming increasingly rapid and heavy. Suddenly, Feng Jin surged ahead, sprinting up the stairs and leaving Ji Wan behind.

Soon, the heavy sound of a door being slammed against its frame echoed from above.

Ji Wan frowned and quickened his pace. Reaching the dorm, he used his key to open the door. Inside, Feng Jin was alone, half-leaning against his desk, injecting a syringe similar to the one Ji Wan had seen before.

“…Close the door.”

Feng Jin’s voice was low and laced with irritability. Once Ji Wan shut the door, Feng Jin finished the injection.

“You already had a shot this morning,” Ji Wan noted.

The more often these were used, the greater the side effects—impacting health, mood, and pheromone stability. Ji Wan had specifically looked up this medication on his way back; normally, it was meant for use once a week or even once every two weeks. Feng Jin’s dosage was clearly abnormal.

Feng Jin’s mood evidently hadn’t recovered. He irritably kicked his desk and said coldly, “It’s none of your business.”

Ji Wan didn’t get angry at Feng Jin’s attitude. He remembered that one of the drug’s side effects was making the user irritable and temperamental. Given the circumstances, Feng Jin’s emotional management could actually be considered quite impressive.

“You look like you’re in a lot of pain,” Ji Wan said.

Feng Jin didn’t respond. He climbed onto his bed, lay down, and pulled the quilt over his head, physically and metaphorically cutting himself off from the world and refusing to communicate.

Ji Wan looked at the motionless figure on the bed, feeling a stir in his heart. Feng Jin felt the side effects firsthand, yet even so, he refused to just “settle” for any random Omega. With Feng Jin’s family background and looks, even if he just found people he liked who were willing to be bitten, a single bite from each would relieve his built-up pheromones for a long time.

Ji Wan thought for a moment and continued, “Is it because you have an Omega you like that you don’t want to bite anyone else?”

“If I don’t like them, I don’t want them. Why do you ask so much? You want to turn into an Omega and marry me?” Feng Jin’s irritability was difficult to suppress at times like this. His voice held a hint of warning; if Ji Wan were smart, he would shut up and let it drop.

Ji Wan silently observed Feng Jin on the bed.

Due to his past experiences, he didn’t like physical contact, let alone being held down by an Alpha and injected with pheromones. The very thought triggered a sense of resistance—resistance to the feeling of being coerced, and to the potential emotional entanglements that might arise from such proximity.

…But Feng Jin was different. In the few days since the start of the term, Feng Jin had helped him several times.

More importantly, an Alpha of this caliber could find whatever type of Omega he desired. Between Feng Jin and a Beta like himself, there would be no emotional complications—at most, they would be friends. The idea of an Alpha who could have top-tier Omegas falling for a scentless Beta was laughable.

For Alphas and Omegas, biting the back of the neck was an act filled with an intimate atmosphere… but he was just a Beta.

What intimacy could there be for a Beta?

Ji Wan stopped hesitating. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the test report he had gotten at the hospital, pulled back Feng Jin’s quilt, and placed the report right in front of his face.

Feng Jin: “?”

“What’s this…?” Feng Jin squinted to read the words. The more he read, the more shocked he became. He suddenly bolted upright and stared at Ji Wan.

That face still looked so “sexually cold,” as if isolated from all romance.

Feng Jin: “You…”

“When I went for my check-up, I happened to see the medication you use and learned about your condition.” Ji Wan sighed, meeting Feng Jin’s eyes. “As you can see, I am a Pure Beta.”

Neither of them looked away. Ji Wan continued, “If you need it, for these next two years, I can let you take a bite whenever you’re feeling unwell, until you find an Omega you like.” Ji Wan paused, then added, “As ordinary classmates.”

Feng Jin scanned Ji Wan.

In his case, the injections only served as a suppressant. The only thing that could truly provide relief was to vent the pheromones by injecting them into someone else’s body. He had been unwilling before because he didn’t want to be influenced by pheromones and develop feelings he shouldn’t have. But if the person was a Pure Beta, that concern vanished.

His excess pheromones were suppressed by the drugs, but it brought him no sense of ease. It was like a volcano about to erupt being forcibly held down; the danger remained. He had no reason to continue being conflicted or overly sensitive. After all, even if he bit a Pure Beta, there would be no emotional fallout caused by pheromones.

Feng Jin leaned forward on the bed. “What if I say… I need it right now?”

When Feng Jin pressed his hand on Ji Wan’s shoulder from behind, Ji Wan’s entire body tensed up. Sensing his nervousness, Feng Jin let go.

“…Why don’t you pick a place you like?” Feng Jin gestured, trying to be polite.

Ji Wan was currently leaning against the dorm door. Behind the door was the hallway, where students were walking and playing after dinner. Their laughter filtered through the wood into Ji Wan’s ears. And here, separated only by a door, he was about to have an Alpha inject pheromones into him.

Ji Wan took a breath and tried to relax. “Let’s go further inside,” he said.

Feng Jin didn’t object. Pressing Ji Wan against the door had just been convenient; he didn’t care where they did it.

Ji Wan confirmed the door was locked so Kong Liyan wouldn’t burst in, then walked to his desk. Looking at the familiar textbooks and exercises, he felt much calmer, and his stiff body finally relaxed.

“Alright,” Ji Wan said softly.

But Feng Jin didn’t immediately grab him. Instead, he leaned against a nearby shelf, arms crossed, wearing a business-like expression. “I won’t take your help for nothing. If there’s anything you want, just tell me.”

Ji Wan thought it over and decided to clarify his stance again. “My heart isn’t great and I can’t handle being upset. So, I don’t plan on having anything beyond friendship with an Alpha who might easily leave for an Omega… I assume this requirement won’t be a problem for you, right?”

Studies showed that out of ten Alphas who stayed with Betas, nine would be lured away by an Omega’s pheromones and cheat. For Ji Wan, such a source of potential rage-induced heart failure was something to be avoided at all costs.

Feng Jin raised an eyebrow in surprise, then gave a firm answer: “Of course. What kind of ‘requirement’ is that? It’s a given.”

Only then did Ji Wan speak: “Also, those Alphas who cause me trouble… I hope you can help me keep them away. They interfere too much with my studies.”

Ji Wan viewed this as a mutually beneficial exchange. With Feng Jin deterring troublemakers, he could focus more energy on his work. For the feared school bully, this was a trivial task, and Feng Jin agreed readily.

“Then I have no more issues.” Ji Wan lowered his head, resting his forehead against the bookshelf, exposing his fair and slender nape to Feng Jin.

Feng Jin’s hand pressed against his shoulder again. The burning heat of his palm transferred through the thin summer clothing to Ji Wan’s skin. Ji Wan closed his eyes, waiting for the sting of the injection.

But Feng Jin didn’t bite down immediately. He added, “This is my first time biting someone. If I do anything wrong—too light or too heavy—please bear with me.”

This polite attitude could have shocked the entire school, but Ji Wan wasn’t moved by the stalling. “This is my first time being bitten. If I can’t help but turn around and punch you, please bear with me too.”

Feng Jin’s lips curled slightly behind Ji Wan. He used his other hand to steady Ji Wan’s neck, leaned down, and bit.

A Beta cannot perceive an Alpha’s pheromones. Ji Wan only felt the sharp sting of teeth breaking the skin on his nape, followed immediately by an indescribable aching swell. He bit his lip, refusing to make a sound.

Feng Jin, eyes half-lidded, felt the pheromones being injected. There was no intimate entanglement of scents. His pheromones simply saturated and claimed this clean patch of skin. All he could smell was the pure scent of his own pheromones.

…It felt like stepping onto a piece of undeveloped land and leaving the very first footprint.

The injection didn’t last long. Feng Jin didn’t know how much Ji Wan could handle, so he only vented enough to relieve his own discomfort before letting go.

“Alright. How are you?” Feng Jin asked.

Ji Wan didn’t look up. He turned around in that same posture so his back was to Feng Jin. He fumbled on the desk for a tissue, pulled one out, and wiped his face.

Feng Jin froze. “Does it hurt that much?”

“No,” Ji Wan’s voice sounded normal, though he kept his back turned. “It’s like getting a shot. And the ‘nurse’ wasn’t very good at it.”

Feng Jin: “…”

The knowledge Feng Jin had received only mentioned that Omegas felt weak and sensitive after a temporary mark. He never imagined someone would evaluate it this way. For a moment, he was speechless, unable to find a reason to even be angry.

Soon, Feng Jin snapped out of it. Facing Ji Wan, who now radiated the scent of his pheromones, he said, “I’ll find you some pheromone neutralizer.”

“No need.” Ji Wan shook his head. He was facing the washroom; he walked in, took his towel, soaked it in water, wrung it out, and wiped the spot where Feng Jin had just bitten him.

Unlike Omegas, Betas don’t retain pheromones easily. The scent remaining on the surface quickly faded with the wiping. Ji Wan returned to being the clean, scentless Ji Wan.

“Is there still a smell?” Ji Wan asked.

Feng Jin frowned, suppressing a subtle sense of annoyance at the disappearance of the scent. “I basically can’t smell it anymore.”

“Good.” Ji Wan put the towel away and washed his face with cold water before finally looking at Feng Jin.

The corners of his eyes were still tinged with a red that hadn’t quite faded, looking exceptionally conspicuous against his jade-like skin. Oblivious, Ji Wan smiled. “I wish us a happy cooperation.”