TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 39

Lin Mingfei had only intended to tease Debon, never expecting the little AI to take it seriously and call the police! He lunged forward, trying to unplug the charging cable, but Debon had already charged enough to remain operational…

The call ended up going through successfully…

Lin Mingfei spent quite some time explaining to the fiercely suspicious police on the other end that it was a mistaken dial and that nothing had actually happened. As expected, he was scolded thoroughly by the conscientious officer and had his ID number noted down.

After the call finally disconnected, Lin Mingfei let out a long sigh of relief, wiping away imaginary cold sweat from his forehead.

“It was a temporary mark! Temporary mark, okay? You ungrateful piece of artificial junk—” He angrily pointed at the innocent-looking little robot, ready to unleash a torrent of insults when the Omega on the bed murmured weakly, “Brother…”

“Xia Tong!”

A shiver ran through Lin Mingfei’s heart. He immediately lost all interest in arguing with Debon and turned to rush to the bedside, sitting down urgently.

“Why are you awake so soon?” He adjusted the blanket for Xia Tong and asked softly.

“I heard you two talking…” Xia Tong’s heavy eyelids barely opened, and his voice was faint. “What happened…?”

“Nothing.” Lin Mingfei touched Xia Tong’s warm forehead gently. “Just a little misunderstanding between me and Debon, and it’s resolved now.”

“Alright…” Xia Tong whispered. “If there’s anything that needs explaining… I can help… I won’t let Brother get hurt…”

Lin Mingfei froze for a moment, a dull ache swelling in his chest, before letting out a soft chuckle.

“Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere right now?” he leaned closer and asked, his tone increasingly gentle.

“Not really… just feel weak and very thirsty,” Xia Tong murmured. “The back of my neck stings a little…”

Lin Mingfei felt a twinge of guilt, realizing he might have been too rough earlier.

Debon, ever pragmatic, spoke up in its usual rigid tone, reluctantly offering advice: “After an Omega experiences heat, they need to replenish large amounts of water, sugar, and electrolytes. Sweetened milk and sugar-salt water are ideal supplements.”

Lin Mingfei narrowed his eyes slightly and decided to temporarily call a truce with Debon.

Reluctantly, he stood up from the bedside, quietly opened the door, and left the room, carefully closing the door behind him. He hurried downstairs and spotted He Youjin entering, looking tired and disgruntled as he slumped onto the sofa.

“What’s wrong, Old He?” Lin Mingfei asked as he stepped into the kitchen and opened the fridge to grab some milk.

“I made a trip all the way to the league headquarters, and they refused to register me! The receptionist even said I must be crazy!” He Youjin fumed, throwing his coat onto the floor in frustration. “Recruiting an Omega to play full-immersion esports is insane? What the hell does that mean? Straight Alpha bias at its finest!”

“Calm down, calm down,” Shi Ya handed him a glass of water, trying to soothe him. “You probably went close to the end of office hours. The staff on duty at that time are usually newbies with lower professionalism. Go back tomorrow and ask to speak to their supervisor.”

“Screw that! I’m filing a complaint right now!” He Youjin rolled up his sleeves angrily. “I want to know exactly which rule I violated by trying to register an Omega! If they don’t give me a proper explanation, I’ll flood their complaint hotline!”

Meanwhile, Lin Mingfei had turned on the gas stove to slowly warm the milk with some brown sugar. Leaning against the counter, he let out a sigh, a bit exasperated.

“Zero!” He Youjin seemed to have calmed down slightly after venting. He turned to the kitchen. “Where’s Xia Tong?”

“Ah… he’s upstairs,” Lin Mingfei hesitated briefly before replying.

“Xia Tong wasn’t feeling well during the meeting earlier, so the captain carried him upstairs to rest,” Zhou Yanxun chimed in, ever quick to report. “How is he now?”

“He’s much better,” Lin Mingfei responded succinctly. “I’m warming some milk for him to help him sleep better tonight.”

“Not feeling well? What happened?” He Youjin narrowed his eyes suspiciously, glaring at Lin Mingfei with thinly veiled hostility.

The milk in the pot started to bubble. Lin Mingfei turned off the heat, poured it into a mug, and resumed his usual composed demeanor, unfazed by He Youjin’s death glare. “Guess.”

He Youjin: “…Guess my ass! If you don’t want to say, fine!”

“Oh, by the way, didn’t you buy a box of saline soda earlier?” Lin Mingfei turned to Zhou Yanxun. “Pass me a bottle. Xia Tong is thirsty.”

“Oh, my room’s unlocked. You can grab it yourself!” Zhou Yanjun replied, looking a bit worried. “Do you think Xia Xia got overworked from gaming?”

“Or maybe it’s the sudden temperature drop with the season change?” Bo Yu speculated. “I have cold medicine and fever reducers in my room. Captain, want to take them just in case?”

“No need,” Lin Mingfei replied. “You guys should head back and rest. Morning run tomorrow at six sharp. Anyone late gets punished.”

Zhou Yanjun and Bo Yu, both carefree by nature, didn’t think much of it and obediently retired to their rooms. Lin Mingfei grabbed the milk and snagged a bottle of saline soda from Zhou Yanjun’s room before heading back upstairs.

As he re-entered Xia Tong’s room, the scent of interwoven pheromones—rich and intoxicating—hit him with full force. The previously unnoticed sweetness of Osmanthus and the woodsy undertones of his own scent mingled in the enclosed space, leaving him momentarily dazed.

Returning to the bedside, Lin Mingfei gently called out, “Xia Xiaotong.”

The little Omega’s lashes fluttered slightly in response, accompanied by a soft, murmured hum.

“Get up and drink some milk before sleeping,” Lin Mingfei coaxed, lowering his voice and carefully cradling Xia Tong’s shoulders and neck.

The small Omega stirred from under the covers, shivering slightly as if cold. He leaned weakly into Lin Mingfei’s embrace, pressing his side against Lin Mingfei’s chest. Lin Mingfei felt a surge of electricity course through his heart as he brought the mug to Xia Tong’s lips.

“Be good, have some sweet milk. Careful, it’s hot.”  

The little Omega opened his lips slightly, sipping the warm milk in small gulps. His once rosy, delicate lips had faded to a pale pink from exhaustion, making Lin Mingfei feel a pang of guilt. After helping him finish half a cup of sweet milk, Lin Mingfei opened the bottle of saline soda he had taken from Zhou Yanjun and let Xia Tong drink a bit of that as well, finally stopping there.  

After replenishing the necessary nutrients, Xia Tong’s complexion looked a bit better. Lin Mingfei tucked him back into the blanket, dimmed the lights, and turned to leave. Just as he opened the door to Xia Tong’s room, he saw Shi Ya standing in the hallway, a cigarette in hand.  

The base was quiet since Bo Yu and Zhou Yanjun had gone to rest, and He Youjin, who didn’t live there, had returned to his place. Most of the lights were off, leaving the faint glow of Shi Ya’s cigarette to illuminate his unreadable expression.  

Lin Mingfei clicked his tongue against his cheek and leaned against the railing. “No smoking in the base.”  

“There’s a lot of things we’re not supposed to do in the base,” Shi Ya replied, his tone ambiguous. “What’s wrong with Xia Tong?”  

Lin Mingfei raised an eyebrow.  

He wasn’t surprised that Shi Ya had noticed something off. Compared to the straightforward Zhou Yanjun and Bo Yu, Shi Ya was a seasoned old fox who had spent years navigating people’s emotions. If he couldn’t detect the signs of an Omega in heat, he might as well give up his title as a seasoned Alpha.  

“It’s exactly what you’re thinking.” Lin Mingfei tilted his chin. “He’s in heat.”  

“Did he have his medication with him?” Shi Ya’s face changed slightly.  

“He had some kind of inhibitor,” Lin Mingfei replied nonchalantly.  

“Inhibitors are for preventing heat! They’re useless for someone already in heat and can even worsen the symptoms!” Shi Ya exclaimed, clearly knowledgeable about these matters. “Did you give it to him?”  

“Do I look like I can’t read instructions?” Lin Mingfei retorted calmly.  

“Then how did you handle it?” Shi Ya pressed.  

Lin Mingfei licked his canine tooth, the sweet, lingering taste from earlier still vivid in his memory.  

“I gave him a mark,” he said quietly.  

Shi Ya’s eyes widened in shock, his pupils contracting in anger. He grabbed Lin Mingfei by the collar. “Are you a damn beast?”  

“It was temporary,” Lin Mingfei said, unfazed.  

Shi Ya: “…”  

He could practically hear the sound of his metaphorical forty-meter saber being unsheathed.  

“Are you sure it’s temporary?”  

“I’m sure. I swear on my character,” Lin Mingfei replied. “If anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility for his future.”  

“Well, aren’t you noble,” Shi Ya sneered. “Why was it you, though?”  

“I was the only one there. Call it fate,” Lin Mingfei shrugged.  

“So you didn’t ask if he was willing?”  

“But he kept calling for me,” Lin Mingfei replied.  

“Calling you by your name?”  

“No, but he affectionately called me ‘brother.’” Lin Mingfei crossed his arms. “How could I stand by and do nothing?”  

“… Just ‘brother.’” Shi Ya scoffed coldly.  

“Why do I sense some jealousy?” Lin Mingfei shot him a sideways glance. “Shi Ya, you can keep playing the field, but leave Xia Tong alone.”  

“What’s it to you? Are you going to stop people from falling in love?” Shi Ya rolled his eyes.  

“I’d prefer not to see Xia Tong leaving the base before the season even starts, posting a sign at the gate that says, ‘Timer scumbag Alpha ruined my youth and broke my heart. May he be struck by lightning.’” Lin Mingfei replied icily.  

Shi Ya: “… I’m serious this time!”  

Lin Mingfei: “So what? You think I’ll believe you?”  

In the dead of night, two Alphas stared each other down outside an Omega’s room. Sparks flew invisibly in the tense air between them.  

After a long pause, Shi Ya smacked Lin Mingfei’s chest with the back of his hand.  

“Well, since we’re laying it all out, here’s the same advice for you. Don’t be surprised if the sign says, ‘Zero’s scumbag Alpha bit my gland, lied to me, and got me pregnant. May he be struck by lightning.’”  

Lin Mingfei: “??? What the hell!”  

“Just a heads-up. An Omega’s heat can have a second wave. Tonight, you better suck it up and stay in Xia Tong’s room to monitor him. Make sure to administer medication as needed.” Shi Ya smirked. “Oh, and don’t miss the morning run at six. See you then.”  

Lin Mingfei: “…”  

That damned playboy!  

But Shi Ya was right. Later that night, Xia Tong entered the second wave of his heat. Lin Mingfei had prepared for this, setting up a chair by the bed to keep watch. He woke to find Xia Tong’s warm, clammy hand covering his, gazing at him with teary, glassy eyes full of helplessness and need—unintentional, instinctive expressions of an Omega in distress.  

“Brother…”  

Lin Mingfei held his soft, overheated hand, a heavy, stifling feeling pressing down on his chest. Shi Ya’s earlier words echoed in his mind.  

“Did he call you by name?”  

No.  

Just “brother.”  

Anyone could be a brother—anyone here could be Xia Tong’s brother.  

The thought weighed on Lin Mingfei, his breathing shallow under its pressure. He leaned down to brush a kiss against Xia Tong’s flushed, soft earlobe.  

“Tell me,” he whispered. “Who am I?”  

Xia Tong bit his lip, trying to reach out and wrap his arms around Lin Mingfei’s neck, but the Alpha pulled back abruptly. The comforting sandalwood scent retreated, leaving Xia Tong to burn in the rekindled flames of his heat. He whimpered, his hand grasping at empty air.  

“Brother… you’re my brother…” he mumbled incoherently.  

“Which brother is it? There are many brothers in the base.” Lin Mingfei said hoarsely. “Actually, it could have been anyone here today, right?”

The little Omega was breathing heavily, seemingly unable to process his words. He just shook his head repeatedly, sobbing softly, “Brother, please don’t treat me like this…”

Lin Mingfei exhaled deeply, furrowing his brows tightly, then leaned forward to embrace the Omega boy lying on the bed.

The rich sandalwood scent with an undertone of aggression burst forth, enveloping the heat-stricken Omega and doing its best to soothe his restless, empty nerves.

Lin Mingfei thought with slight resignation that he simply couldn’t bear to see Xia Tong suffer, as his heart ached along with it.

Fine. Who was he to criticize Shi Ya for “keeping fish”? In reality, he was probably just one of the many small fish in Xia Tong’s pond. The only difference was that he’d been in the pond longer than the others. Yet even so, he was willing—utterly content—to stay.

—

Author’s Note:

Lin Mingfei: “I’m probably the backup option, right?” *lights a cigarette* “Your awareness is impressive.”

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