Marked by an Enigma After a Pheromone Disorder - Chapter 9

Tang Shi didn’t actually think Sheng Yansheng was a monster, and he certainly didn’t look at his uncle with the pitying eyes one might reserve for a “cripple.”

Moreover, he had no prejudice against disabilities. Hearing others speak of his uncle that way made Tang Shi feel an inexplicable, prickling discomfort. The Alpha sighed, his heart tangled in a knot of conflict. If my biological father doesn’t like me either, will there be no one left to care for me? He knew that eventually, Little Uncle would find someone he truly loved. Just thinking about it made his mood sour. He really didn’t want to live with someone like Sheng Jiaying, either.

After a long daze, he finally straightened out his thoughts: for now, his priority was to take good care of Little Uncle.

When Tang Shi appeared in the living room, the housekeeper greeted him with a solemn expression. “Little Master, are you always this restless when you sleep? It was quite dangerous.”

Tang Shi froze, completely baffled. He had slept perfectly fine; how could it have been dangerous? He stepped forward to help the housekeeper with the freshly ground coffee. “What did I do?”

He assumed he must have done something outrageous while drunk, but his memory was a total blank.

“It’s just…” The housekeeper hesitated, unable to bring himself to say the words “climbed into his bed.”

“It was you who carried me back last night, right?” Tang Shi asked, his round eyes wide and searching.

The housekeeper remained silent, catching a glimpse of the master behind them and quickly retreating. Tang Shi added several extra sugar cubes to the coffee, worried that the brew would be too bitter for his uncle. As he dropped the sugar in, he felt a cold gaze fixated on him.

Why the long face again?

Ignoring the icy reception, Tang Shi brought the breakfast over and offered a bright, undeterred smile. “After you finish eating today, we need to practice standing up.”

He worried that if he left, his uncle would never try to stand again. Since arriving, he hadn’t seen the man show even a flicker of desire to try. Tang Shi understood that many stars fell into a pit of low self-esteem after an injury, sometimes choosing to stay down forever. He didn’t want that for his uncle.

“Finish your meal first, then we’ll go to the garden,” Tang Shi chattered away, seemingly deaf to the heavy silence.

“Tang Shi,” Sheng Yansheng finally called his name.

Tang Shi continued to bustle around him, acting as if he hadn’t heard. Sensing something was off, Sheng Yansheng reached out and caught his hand. “I’m done eating. Let’s go to the garden.”

******

Once in the garden, Tang Shi remained glued to his side. He was exceptionally well-behaved today.

“I’ll support you. Little Uncle, try to take a few steps.” He reached out with his pale, delicate hands and gripped the man’s arms. He didn’t have much strength, but he looked like he was exerting every ounce of effort he possessed.

Despite the mystery of the boy’s sudden motivation, Sheng Yansheng’s acting skills were impeccable. As soon as he set one foot down, he made it look as though he were about to collapse. They were on the lawn rather than hard tile, so when he “fell,” he leaned his entire weight against Tang Shi.

He was heavy, and the pressure made Tang Shi’s small face scrunch up—a look Sheng Yansheng found incredibly endearing. Yet the boy didn’t complain, stubbornly bearing the weight of the man’s body.

“Little Uncle… doing great,” he wheezed, his voice strained and raspy from the effort.

“Will I ever be able to stand on my own?” Sheng Yansheng asked with a calculated touch of self-deprecating despair, playing along with the boy’s encouragement.

Tang Shi looked genuinely upset. “Of course you will! You’ll definitely stand again. Don’t say things like that.”

Tang Shi was practically carrying him, though after a few steps, the weight seemed to lighten. “Does it hurt?” the boy asked in a soft, airy voice.

“It hurts,” Sheng Yansheng lied, taking the opportunity to rest his head against the crook of the boy’s neck. He took a slow, unconscious breath. The sharp, acidic scent of the Alpha hit his nose, but strangely, he no longer found it unpleasant.

Tang Shi felt his uncle’s breath against his skin and stiffened, the fine hairs on his neck standing on end. “L-let’s stop here for today.” He helped his uncle back into the chair, catching what looked like a faint glint of a smile in the man’s eyes. It’s working!

Having finished the “rehab” session, he broached a serious topic. “I want to join a program. I was a streamer before, and I want to take some leave to participate. It shouldn’t take too long.”

Tang Shi knelt down, looking up at Sheng Yansheng like a kitten waiting for an order—obedient, beautiful, and pure.

Sheng Yansheng watched him and gave a low, rumbling “Mhm.” Then he added casually, “I’d like to walk more often in the future.”

Tang Shi beamed. “When I get back, I’ll hold you every day!” Realizing how that might have sounded, his face flushed, and his brows knit together.

But all he heard was Sheng Yansheng’s quiet reply: “Good.”

******

Before he departed, Sheng Yansheng had the housekeeper bring something over—a square, velvet-lined box.

“What is this?” Tang Shi asked.

“Inhibitors,” Sheng Yansheng replied. “Do you know how to use them?”

Tang Shi was stunned. Why would he need inhibitors? Hadn’t his rut just ended? Without waiting for an answer, Sheng Yansheng picked up a vial and demonstrated, pressing it against his own arm. Before Tang Shi could stop him, there was a sharp click, and the medicine was injected.

Tang Shi’s eyes turned red with worry. With a slight sob in his voice, he cried out as if he were the one in pain: “That hurts!”

“You can’t just inject these randomly; it’ll ruin your body!” He wiped his watery eyes and took the kit away from his uncle.

“Do you know how now?” Sheng Yansheng asked, unfazed.

Tang Shi nodded frantically. “I know, I know! Just don’t do that again. What if something goes wrong because you used it when you weren’t in your cycle?”

Using an inhibitor outside of a cycle could indeed trigger a premature reaction, but Sheng Yansheng didn’t care. He found he quite enjoyed the sight of the little Alpha worrying over him. The boy was even more beautiful when he was angry.

******

The moment Tang Shi left his uncle’s side, the temperature seemed to plummet. He hadn’t felt the need for so many layers before, but after a few days at the villa, he felt like he had become pampered and soft.

Ji Zhicen was becoming increasingly sensitive to pheromones as his differentiation approached. The night Tang Shi returned, the Beta felt something was “off” about him, as if he’d been influenced by something powerful. They shared a bunk bed in their small dorm, and for the first time, Tang Shi slept wrapped in two layers of quilts. Ji Zhicen checked his forehead, but there was no fever. Did the Film Emperor bully him?

The next day, they headed to the Fengjing Building for the training camp. Most of the participants weren’t dressed up; he saw gaming streamers in professional jerseys and 2D-cosplay streamers who maintained their makeup but, like Tang Shi, hid their true features. There were snake-handlers, cat-enthusiasts, fortune-tellers, and food vloggers.

Tang Shi hadn’t worn makeup; he appeared as his normal self. The other streamers didn’t recognize him, casting curious glances before boarding the elevator. Tang Shi missed the first one. While waiting for the next, the scent of icy mint brushed past him as someone roughly bumped into his shoulder.

“What’s so great about that Omega? Think I’m scared of him? As long as I don’t tell my parents, they’ll never know I like Alphas. I’m here for him anyway—he’s way better than the one at home. That one is washed up.”

Ji Zhicen went to snap at the rude stranger, but Tang Shi held him back. Another elevator opened, and Tang Shi hurried inside. Just as the doors were closing, a hand caught the sensor.

A boy entered, standing a head taller than Tang Shi. He wore baggy jeans and had a strikingly powerful build. A wave of scent filled the small space. It was wet, salty, and thick, like a sea breeze carrying the tang of the ocean. It wasn’t aggressive; it felt intentional, as if inviting those in the elevator to experience a shift in mood.

He was followed by two staff members with ID badges. Tang Shi looked up and saw Luo Wenyu.

When faced with a real celebrity, Tang Shi’s instinct was to hide. Ji Zhicen, who viewed Sheng Yansheng as the only true star, also felt like ducking away. However, as the elevator rose, Tang Shi couldn’t help but think of the hand in the video. It was Luo Wenyu who caught me, wasn’t it?

Amidst the stifling silence, the person beside him spoke, startling the two managers.

“Hello.”

Tang Shi froze, not daring to look back. As soon as the elevator reached their floor, he grabbed Ji Zhicen and bolted. The one who just greeted me… that couldn’t have been Luo Wenyu, could it?

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