The Dangerous Omega Who is Good at Disguising Always Wants to Hook Me! - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: I Only Want a Temporary Mark

“As long as you are willing, you can do anything to me.

Even if you use me like you did in our past life, it doesn’t matter; this is what I wanted all along.”

Shen Xiliu’s gaze rested on Qi Yan’s face, tracing the contours of his features with minute detail. He was so familiar with this face that he only had to close his eyes for it to surface in his mind; every detail was practically etched into the depths of his soul.

So familiar, yet so strange.

He was clearly suffering because of this strangeness, yet he was thankful a thousand times over that Qi Yan was not like him.

So let it be like this. Let’s maintain this state.

Don’t remember. Please don’t remember…

“The spare Omega pheromone suppressants I have here are used up. I’m currently over the safety threshold,” Shen Xiliu said, staring at him while desperately forcing his impulses under control.

Qi Yan’s expression shifted slightly, his eyes widening: “How… how long has it been since you used a suppressant?”

If pheromones exceed the safety threshold, it causes irreversible damage to the glands. For a patient with Pheromone Disorder Syndrome like Shen Xiliu, it could lead to glandular lesions. Once it deteriorates to that level, recovery is nearly impossible.

“Probably… only about five hours.” Shen Xiliu thought about it, but he wasn’t sure, and he didn’t care.

His pupils were struggling to focus, yet they remained fixed on Qi Yan’s face, trying hard to see him.

There was a time when Shen Xiliu loved Qi Yan’s eyes most of all, because every time he was looked at by those affectionate, gentle peach-blossom eyes, he fell into the illusion that he was being deeply loved.

But later, he became afraid to look.

Shen Xiliu reached out and tore the black pheromone-suppressing collar from his neck. His damp, messy black hair clung to his cheeks and neck, and his face was flushed with a sickly red.

“The pheromones in my body are still rising. If they don’t come down soon, it will be very troublesome. So, I hope you can mark me. Please…” Shen Xiliu’s voice trembled.

Please, mark me.

Even if you don’t like me, you can use me to your heart’s content.

The sleeve of his blue hospital gown slid down. His left wrist wasn’t covered by an expensive watch; Qi Yan’s gaze fell on the pale, slender wrist, which was covered in rows of hideous, vivid scars. Every wound was deep, some even cutting through the artery. It was clear that Shen Xiliu had once truly wanted to die.

Qi Yan grabbed Shen Xiliu’s wrist and met his eyes: “Mr. Shen, you will regret this once you’ve regained your clarity.”

“I won’t!” Shen Xiliu’s eyes were bloodshot, his cheeks hectically flushed. Madness and composure intertwined, gradually becoming distorted and uncontrollable. He lowered his face, not daring to let Qi Yan see his expression, and said almost pleadingly, “I won’t. You clearly know… you clearly know… that I like you. I won’t regret it!”

Even at this stage, Qi Yan was still controlling his Alpha pheromones. Sometimes Shen Xiliu truly hated the Alpha instinct; compared to Omegas, they possessed absolute rationality and control, excelling at maintaining a facade of reason.

“Qi Yan, just think of it as saving my life.”

Shen Xiliu rested his forehead against Qi Yan’s shoulder. his voice was pained and trembling, his eyes hiding a touch of frenzy. The rampaging pheromones in his body made him unable to control his emotions, and tears rolled uncontrollably from his eyes.

It was pathetic, but it wasn’t as if there hadn’t been more pathetic scenes. At least they hadn’t reached that point of no return from the previous life yet, right?

“I know you don’t like me and that you have someone else you like, but an Alpha doesn’t have to mark only one Omega. I only want a temporary mark. The person you like…”

Must be a wonderful person. Not like me—dark and twisted, hiding in the shadows like a disgusting venomous snake, spying on your everything, envying everyone treated gently by you, wishing I could control you and trap you in a cage until you die.

…What an absurd scene, Qi Yan thought as he looked at the disheveled Shen Xiliu. How did it come to this?

Holding Shen Xiliu’s shoulder with one hand, he picked up a pheromone suppressant from the floor with the other, saying calmly: “I understand. Shen Xiliu, once you are clear-headed, we will have a proper talk.”

Patients with Pheromone Disorder Syndrome have scattered thoughts and cannot control their bodies; even the words they speak are beyond their control.

“If your thoughts haven’t changed once you’re clear, I will face all of this properly and take you seriously, rather than just brushing you off.”

Shen Xiliu’s body stiffened for a moment upon hearing this, and he tried to sit up.

“Don’t move. It might hurt a little.”

Qi Yan held down Shen Xiliu’s body as he tried to rise, half-embracing him while precisely inserting the needle into the gland at the back of his neck. Such a sting was nothing to Shen Xiliu, yet he still instinctively flinched.

“Sorry.” Sensing his movement, Qi Yan lightly stroked the back of Shen Xiliu’s head. His touch was warm and soft, as if comforting him.

His finger slowly and steadily pushed the plunger of the syringe, allowing the suppressant liquid to permeate the gland at a constant rate. His movements were gentle and mild.

All of Shen Xiliu’s struggling vanished under this comfort.

Shen Xiliu suddenly realized the empty room was very quiet. Although he couldn’t smell Alpha pheromones, the restless pheromones in his body seemed to be soothed. The wave of despair that had caused him physical and mental agony began to recede bit by bit. Having been suffocated for so long, he could finally breathe.

“I cannot take advantage of a sick Omega to mark them. If you are still willing after you wake up, and our pheromone compatibility is indeed above 90%, I am willing to cooperate with the hospital to ‘treat’ you together.”

Qi Yan was still talking to him, his voice unprecedentedly gentle and deep, like a lover whispering in his ear. Shen Xiliu’s persistently taut nerves collapsed under this treatment; he became dazed, and exhaustion washed over him.

“Everything is fine now. Your body is tired, isn’t it? Don’t worry about anything anymore. Don’t think, don’t be tense. I will stay with you. Just listen to my voice, slowly close your eyes, breathe slowly, and imagine you are in a safe, comfortable place. Your body and mind are becoming more and more relaxed. You’re very sleepy, aren’t you? Sleep. In this peaceful place, fall into a dream…”

The soothing, gentle voice murmured with a magical quality, like a breeze through the forest, carrying a natural ease that Shen Xiliu could not resist. His thoughts became blurred, and he could only be guided step by step into a dream.

“…”

Qi Yan held the back of the hypnotized, sleeping Shen Xiliu’s head, letting him bury his face against his neck. He didn’t move, just sat there on the floor, quietly keeping Shen Xiliu company.

At the hospital, the smell of disinfectant permeated the air. Shen Yunshu walked out of the ward.

Qi Yan, who was sitting outside, stood up to face him: “Director Shen, how is Mr. Shen’s physical condition?”

“His situation has stabilized. I’ve caused you trouble this time.” Shen Yunshu rubbed his forehead. “I didn’t expect such a blunder to happen this time. Luckily you showed up when you did, otherwise his condition likely would have worsened further.”

After Shen Xiliu went missing, Shen Yunshu immediately sent people to check the apartment, but he wasn’t there. If Shen Xiliu wanted to hide, no one could find him; even if he were dying of pain in a corner, he wouldn’t come out on his own initiative.

Fortunately, Qi Yan found him. Fortunately, Qi Yan was a researcher specialized in Pheromone Disorder Syndrome. Fortunately, his backpack contained the relevant medication. Otherwise, Shen Xiliu’s condition tonight could have been much worse.

“Director Shen,” Qi Yan began hesitantly, “may I see Mr. Shen’s medical records?”

He wanted a more detailed understanding of Shen Xiliu’s current state to prevent something like this from happening again.

Shen Yunshu glanced at him and nodded: “Certainly. Come with me. I actually have something I want to ask of you as well.”

“?”

Qi Yan was somewhat puzzled, but Shen Yunshu didn’t rush to explain. He led him to the office, found Shen Xiliu’s medical records, and handed them over.

“Take a look first. Xiliu’s case is complicated. Besides Pheromone Disorder Syndrome, he has a lot of other troubles. Even medication can’t be used haphazardly.”

Qi Yan’s eyelid jumped: “Then the suppressant I gave him earlier…”

“It’s fine; you used the right one.” Shen Yunshu took out cigarettes and a lighter from his desk. “Do you mind if I have a smoke?”

“Go ahead.”

This was Shen Yunshu’s private office, not open to the public, so Qi Yan had no objection. He declined when the other man offered him one.

Shen Yunshu lit a cigarette and handed him another file: “This was automatically matched by the medical system when you all came for your physicals earlier. This might be a bit intrusive, but your pheromone compatibility with Xiliu is very high. Even for a rough value, it’s already reached 90%. If a further check were done, it would likely be even higher.”

“Is it because of his illness?” Qi Yan wasn’t surprised when he saw their compatibility score.

When Shen Xiliu’s pheromones were able to affect his body even after he was fully prepared, he had estimated that their compatibility wouldn’t be low.

Even though the intensity of the Omega pheromones was a factor, it shouldn’t have had such a large impact after the suppressant was administered. Qi Yan even suspected his own rut might come early.

Shen Yunshu smoked and said: “Mhm. His condition is getting worse. A long time ago, I wanted to find an Alpha with high compatibility to extract their pheromones to relieve the pressure on the Omega gland, then use medication to regulate it once the situation improved. But he refused.”

“You’ve known him for a while; you can probably tell, right? He’s very forceful, proud, and headstrong. Sometimes he’s even more dictatorial and conceited than I am. He’s cold to those around him and never has a kind word.”

Shen Yunshu seemed to forget that he himself was a dictatorial king, saying with a face of distaste: “I heard you’re neighbors? It must be hard on you. You must find this guy unbearable, right? Constantly causing trouble for others, being sarcastic and sharp-tongued… he’s practically an anti-social existence…”

“Uh… not really. Mr. Shen is actually a pretty good person.” Facing Shen Yunshu’s gaze as if he were looking at a poor, pitiable soul, Qi Yan spoke awkwardly.

The Shen Xiliu you know and the Shen Xiliu I know seem to be different.

“Cheh, no need to speak up for him. As his elder, I know him best.” Shen Yunshu blew a smoke ring, his silver-rimmed glasses flashing in the light, emphasizing the heavy dark circles under his eyes. “Given his personality, he wouldn’t accept you helping him with Alpha pheromones, but we can’t let him keep being headstrong this time.”

“If you are willing, Qi Yan, I’ll borrow your pheromones for him. Actually, it would be even better if you could mark him. The best medicine for treating glands is a partner’s pheromones; no medicine, however good, can replace that. But if we did that, he’d probably die of anger first, and it’s disrespectful to you, so forget it.”

Shen Yunshu took a final drag and stubbed out the cigarette.

He could tell that Shen Xiliu probably admired Qi Yan, but based on his knowledge of Shen Xiliu, the man likely wouldn’t agree to someone marking him even if it killed him—let alone Qi Yan, whom he’d only known for a short time.

Qi Yan: “…”

He reached out and rubbed his nose. What was I going to say again?