STIDM 29

The start of the new semester was hectic, with a packed class schedule. Yan Lu could only find time in the evenings to take walks with Zhong Zong, wandering the streets and grabbing snacks from local stalls. Now and then, they would call Qin Shu and Chen Ning out for some late-night food and beer.

Qin Shu’s tooth still hadn’t healed, so he couldn’t touch grilled food. He could only sit on the side, sipping slowly on a bowl of porridge. Chen Ning was considerate enough to join him, skipping the barbecue to sit and sip porridge too.

Over the past few days, even the baby fat on his face had started to fade. Qin Shu, sitting nearby, raised a hand and called over the stall owner. He ordered a bunch of barbecue and pushed the plate in front of Little Lemon.

“Eat.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Eat.”

“No.”

“It hurts…”

“Where?”

“Eat.”

“…”

Yan Lu sat across from them, completely stunned. What shocked him even more was how obedient Little Lemon became, quietly eating one bite at a time. Qin Shu even reached out to pat his head. The whole thing looked more like taming than anything else. If he said there was nothing going on between them, he wouldn’t believe it himself.

He leaned over and gave Zhong Zong’s ass a quick squeeze.

“Look at them.”

“What about them?”

“When are you ever that obedient with me?”

Zhong Zong gave him a smile.

“Aren’t I obedient enough in bed?”

Normally, anyone else would roll their eyes at that kind of shameless line, but Yan Lu happened to like it. It made him feel smug, like he’d won something, and that sense of superiority practically radiated from his bones.

Zhong Zong, ever the more reserved one, gave his cheek a small tug.

“Just eat your food, alright?”

Across the table, Little Lemon shook his head at Yan Lu, looking completely disappointed. His eyes were full of disdain.

Little Lemon used to stick to Yan Lu all the time, but after spending a few months around Qin Shu, he started seeing him as more and more of a dreamboat. Even that little gap from the missing tooth somehow looked charming to him.

Yan Lu once told him his sense of beauty had gone off track. Little Lemon puffed up with indignation.

“It has not! Yours is the one that’s off.”

“Qin Shu is skinny, pale, and looks sickly.”

“He does not! That’s what you call scholarly elegance. He’s a top student.”

“He can’t lift things, can’t carry anything. If you two ever got it on, you’d be the one princess-carrying him to bed.”

“Yan Lu! You’re filthy!”

“I am not. Dirty jokes are a necessary part of human life.”

“Stop making excuses for how filthy you are.”

Little Lemon’s whole face turned red. It was hard to tell if it was from anger or embarrassment.

Little Lemon’s whole face turned red. It was hard to tell if it was from anger or embarrassment.

After the opening weeks of military training, Yan Lu had tanned another shade darker. He felt he looked more masculine than ever. But every time Zhong Zong saw him, he just clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying that once night fell, he’d probably disappear in the dark. Yan Lu was so annoyed he almost punched him just to make sure he really couldn’t see anything at all.

Zhong Zong looked amazing in uniform. With that toned body and a hint of roguish charm, he was both handsome and dangerously tempting. Yan Lu couldn’t help himself. He told Zhong Zong not to throw away the uniform, that he should wear it next time when they did it.

Zhong Zong noticed the gleam in his eyes and flicked him on the forehead.

“Can your brain try thinking something a little more wholesome for once?”

“Wholesome? What are you into then, school uniforms or graduation robes?”

Zhong Zong went quiet.

Yan Lu wrapped his arms around Zhong Zong’s waist and bit his lips playfully.

“Then what do you want? A proper marking? Something tender? Tempting? Wild? You name it.”

“You decide.”

“Great. I’ve always wanted to do it on the basketball court. You have no idea how wild you looked playing back in high school. That one time you lifted your shirt, the photo went viral. Everyone in school had it.”

“…”

“I want you in a jersey, dribbling a ball with one hand, spanking my ass with the other.”

“…”

“Then fuck into my reproductive cavity, and while you’re biting my gland, go shoot a hoop!”

“…”

“Why that face?”

“…”

“Hey! Don’t walk away. Come on, I was just kidding!”

—

During the National Day break, Yan Lu had to return home. He wasn’t too thrilled about it. He had planned to go on a trip with Zhong Zong, but Zhong Zong had to fly overseas to visit his grandparents.

Left with nothing better to do, Yan Lu returned home and met up with Shi Ying. He ended up watching Shi Ying and his French boyfriend flaunting their affection. He also ran into Chen Qing and was surprised to find out that Chen Qing was not only married but also expecting a child.

Yan Lu stared in amazement at the gentle curve on what was otherwise a masculine frame.

Even though it was normal for Omegas to get pregnant, and male pregnancies were no longer unheard of, it was still a rare sight. Omegas were few to begin with, so seeing a man with a baby bump was still a bit novel.

Chen Qing asked if he wanted to touch it. Yan Lu immediately shook his head. “No way. I’m too strong. What if I break something?”

Chen Qing took his hand and gently placed it on his belly.

“Just think of it as a soft belly. A soft belly that moves.”

He winked at Yan Lu with a bright smile, warm and affectionate, helping him relax a little. As Yan Lu touched the soft, warm curve of his stomach, his eyes went wide with wonder.

Chen Qing burst out laughing at his reaction, clearly enjoying himself. “You’ll have one someday too. Better be prepared.”

“Wh-what the hell? Don’t say something that scary.”

“Otherwise, what? You expect Zhong Zong to keep holding back and not mark you?”

“No way! That’s not happening!”

“You’re both still young. Give it another two years. That’d be a better time for marking.”

“……” Yan Lu fell silent, thoughtful, gently stroking that warm belly.

Later, when Zhong Zong flew back from overseas, he gave Yan Lu a call and told him to come over. He had brought him a gift. But Yan Lu hesitated. He dragged his words, stalling and mumbling, clearly not agreeing to meet.

Zhong Zong didn’t press. Hearing Yan Lu’s roundabout refusal, he just said “alright,” and hung up.

Yan Lu stared at the phone, listening to the dial tone on the other end, suddenly feeling all kinds of terrible. What was that supposed to mean? Went abroad and lost his mind? Fell for some foreign girl or guy? How could he be so calm about this?

Panicked, he immediately called back. Zhong Zong picked up again. “What is it?”

“If I don’t come over… would you be upset?”

“As long as you’re happy.”

“Damn it! Zhong Zong, did you fall for some gorgeous foreigner? A, B, or O?”

“Overthinking like that’s a disease. You need a tonic.”

“I.. !”

“I’m coming to your place.”

“Ah! My old man’s home. Don’t come.”

“What, are you afraid I’ll get handsy and make the downstairs floor start banging?”

“Pfft. If anyone’s getting handsy, it’s me with you. I just… haven’t figured out how to tell him yet.”

“So that means I don’t get to visit, huh? But Uncle Yan actually kind of likes me.”

“No. Don’t come. I can’t hide my expressions.”

“Alright then.”

After hanging up, Yan Lu tossed his phone aside and flopped onto the bed.

His thoughts drifted to Chen Qing. An Alpha-Omega pairing not resulting in pregnancy would be more unusual than the opposite. In fact, the success rate of AO pairs conceiving was significantly higher than that of any other combination.

Many AO couples ended up pregnant on the very night they marked, especially if they didn’t use protection. But Yan Lu had spent so many years not thinking of himself as an Omega. The sudden realization that he could get pregnant made his whole body tense.

He was terrified. Absolutely terrified.

Besides, just look at him. There was no way he looked like the one who should be getting pregnant. If anything, it should be Zhong Zong with his long legs, fair skin, and that ridiculously attractive face.

If he were the one pregnant, with a round belly and that kind of glow, it would be almost angelic.

And he could even lactate…

The image of Zhong Zong, flushed and soaked with milk, flashed through Yan Lu’s mind.

His blood rushed all at once.

He got hard instantly.