Chapter 24: Are You Sure?

He Juan stared at Su Xieren as if the Beta had grown two heads. In the end, he merely blinked and showed a confused smile. Surely, he must have heard wrong—

"No, you did not hear wrong, da-ge." Su Xieren said with an unimpressed look. Ah, He Juan forgot that Su Xieren could be considered a psychic with how well he could read people. "But in case you will try to get yourself out of this one, let me repeat once again. I think you have found your true mate. But of course, it's better if you consult someone from the Pheromones Department for a more professional opinion."

He Juan groaned low and once again buried himself into his palms as if he could hide from the whole world this way. "How could you be so cruel to this old man…"

Su Xieren huffed out an amused sigh. "Thirty three is not old, da-ge. Do you want me to remind you how many nurses and doctors have visited my office just to ask for your number after you dropped off once to get me some coffee?"

Heat crawled up He Juan's neck at the implication behind Su Xieren's words. He knew that he did look too bad (at least he was better than an ugly toad) but surely, Su Xieren was just exaggerating! He Juan clearly knew that a lot of people had a crush on Su Xieren, despite how aloof his appearance was. Those people who visited Su Xieren's office clearly wanted to have a chance to strike a conversation with him and coincidentally, He Juan was the most convenient topic to talk about!

"Please don't humor me, Xieren." He Juan leaned back on the couch and tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling. He was really doomed this time. Even like this, he still could not stop thinking about Mu Yuze. His voice, his penetrating gaze and his toned, slender body… He Juan draped an arm over his face and sighed. "I have totally messed up. I don't think he wants to have anything to do with me anymore…"

True mate. If, by any small chance, Mu Yuze was really his true mate… it would be a dream come true. He Juan did not even dare to entertain that thought for fear that the emotions in his chest would thrive even more. He Juan would rather nip out every single bud at its branch rather than letting it wither away.

"Are you sure?" Something in Su Xieren's voice told him that he knew more than what he'd shown. "I don't think that's true, da-ge."

He Juan's head whipped to him. What did Su Xieren mean by that? It couldn't be… "Is he still outside?!" He Juan was panicked into standing but before he could take more than two steps, Su Xieren pressed him back down to the couch.

"No, I told him to go home."

He Juan let out a growl from the base of his throat. "So he was still outside when you arrived?!"

Just imagining that Mu Yuze was still outside at this hour after all of the things He Juan had said to him was enough to drive him crazy. How could He Juan leave his omega all alone?! He started to struggle against Su Xieren's hold. When it was not enough, He Juan used his pheromones trying to intimidate him into submission. He totally forgot that Su Xieren was a Beta who would not be affected by his oppression. "Let me go! I have to find him—"

"Da-ge!" Su Xieren clasped him tightly on his shoulders, so tight that he might as well be crushing He Juan's bones with his grip. "Calm down and listen to me! Yes, he was still outside when I arrived. I talked a bit with him and saw him leave the building. He has left, da-ge!"

He Juan's chest was heaving by the time Su Xieren's words sank into his mind. He stared at the steady Beta in front of him for a solid two seconds before slumping back on the couch. He felt totally drained from the emotional roller coaster he had gone through for the past twenty hours. Oh God… was this how it was for every Alpha in rut or was it just him?

"Heavens…" He Juan held his forehead and screwed his eyes shut. "I'm sorry, Xieren. I don't know what has come to me…"

"You're almost in rut, da-ge." Su Xieren explained calmly. "Your instinct will make you crave for him, to provide for him and hold him close. There's nothing wrong with you." And then as if he had not tortured He Juan enough, he added after some thought, "...especially if you two are true mates."

He Juan did not open his eyes as he asked in a strained voice. "Is he okay?"

"Overall, he looks fine. When he saw me, he looked mildly murderous though." Su Xieren sounded positively amused. "I think he would have banned me from entering if I had not provided proof of our acquaintances and my medical ID. I had to dig deep into my photo album when we threw that tacky new year party with Jia-ge last year. He also inspected my belongings and demanded that I elaborate on what I came here for." This time, a faint laugh escaped Su Xieren. "After that, he told me to take care of you."

He Juan stared at him, astonished. Mu Yuze did all of that… for him? Warmth bubbled in his chest and he suddenly felt so light as if he could fly. He Juan tried to deny it, to suppress his feelings but it was all futile. What he felt for Mu Yuze had been too overwhelming and all-encompassing. It was not merely physical attraction anymore, but he truly… truly liked Mu Yuze. So much.

Not because he was an omega, but because he was simply Mu Yuze.

"Not only that, he also asked me to pass a message to you."

He Juan perked up like an alert big doggy. "What is it?"

In front of him, Su Xieren's face suddenly twisted into anger and he spat out fiercely, "Stupid Alpha!" As He Juan was staring at him in shock, he smoothed out his expression and remarked demurely, "That's the gist of it."

He Juan could not help it. A laugh slipped out of his mouth, unbidden, and then it morphed into a full body laughter. He hugged his cramped stomach, tears squeezing out of the corner of his eyes. He Juan could not recall the last time he had laughed this hard. Goodness, Mu Yuze… that man was simply magical.

Su Xieren patted him twice on the shoulder. "I'm happy for you, da-ge. He looks like a good person."

"Mn," He Juan agreed wholeheartedly after his laughter subsided. His heart felt so soft and gooey every time he thought about Mu Yuze, everyone would be able to see it in his eyes from miles away. "He is very, very good. The best."

"Alright, enough with the sappy talk. I heard from him that you are not allowed to stay in this place. You know it, right?"

He Juan had the urge to curl on the couch and buried his face in it. He had truly forgotten about this matter. "Alright." He checked in with himself and decided that the last vestiges of his rut had faded away. "Wait for me a bit while I grab my things. We can leave together then."

"Where are you going, da-ge?" Su Xieren narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

He Juan did not know whether to laugh or cry. Seriously, nothing could ever go past him. He must have known that He Juan did not have any plans to return to his old house with Jia Molei. Smiling, He Juan ruffled his hair. "Don't worry, I will just stay in the nearest motel for a few days."

He Juan had already reached his bedroom when Su Xieren suddenly blurted out, "Why don't you stay over at my place?"

"Huh?" He Juan turned to him in confusion. "But what about your girlfriend…?"

Among the three of them, Su Xieren was the only one who had a steady relationship. He Juan had often heard about this mysterious girlfriend of his although Su Xieren had never introduced them before. Apparently, she was a shy and withdrawn one.

"We have broken up." For the first time, Su Xieren averted his gaze away. He Juan was stunned at the gloom he had never seen in Su Xieren's eyes before but when he blinked, everything vanished and his usual placidness returned. "So my apartment is completely empty now. You should stay over if you don't have anywhere to go."

Ah, He Juan blinked in realization. Was it during the time when Su Xieren suddenly went MIA[1] last winter? At first, he and Jia Molei thought that Su Xieren had gone back to visit both his and his girlfriend's family for Dongzhi Festival[2] so they did not intrude too much on him. They knew how precious private time was for Su Xieren. As it turned out, Su Xieren had been heartbroken during that time…? Heavens, almost five months had already passed and he did not know anything until today! What kind of friend was he?!

"I am sorry, Xieren." He Juan said guiltily.

But Su Xieren merely shrugged. "It's already in the past. So, are you in?"

"Are you sure?" He Juan could not help but ask again. Despite Su Xieren's claim, He Juan knew that he loved his girlfriend very much, otherwise he would not have bought an apartment for the two of them. What if this was just a little fight and then they would make up when He Juan was there? Wouldn't he just be a third wheel that way? It would be cruel of him to rub the salt on Su Xieren's wounds so he could only crack a light joke. "If you two dare to make out in the hallway, let me warn you that I won't pretend not to see it. You have to go find an expensive hotel for that."

Su Xieren gave him a look which said that he knew exactly what He Juan was doing. "Don't worry, da-ge. It will not happen."

"Well, if you put it like that, I will take you up on that offer." He Juan beamed. Staying with Su Xieren was his best choice at that moment. At least, it was much better than staying with Jia Molei and being nagged on every single day. "Thank you, didi[3]."

[1] MIA = Missing In Action

[2] Dongzhi or winter solstice. It's the time for a family to get together and eat tangyuan (glutinous rice flour). It's an important Chinese event for family reunions.

[3] Didi = little bro