Chapter 18

Looking at the round, plump handwriting on the wrapper, Jun Yanxing couldn’t help but pause.

When exactly did Tang Zhuo swap these out?

He stared at the line of text for a moment before casually tossing it onto the desk, only to notice a tiny slip of paper wedged inside the pack of gum.

Intrigued, Jun Yanxing pulled the note out.

Are you really not going to try it? QAQ

It’s delicious! Highly recommended! (Strongly!)

This time there was no signature, but there was no lack of emoticons.

Jun Yanxing studied the small characters on the note, almost able to imagine the expression on Tang Zhuo’s face as he “spoke” those words. He had a bit of cleverness in him, it seemed—he just didn’t use it in the right places.

Despite this private assessment, what he failed to notice was that the reflection on the computer screen showed the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.

After a moment, Jun Yanxing tucked the note away, pulled a stick of gum from the small pack, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. It was an old-fashioned brand of peppermint—ordinary, and a bit sweet.

It did, however, successfully dull his craving for nicotine a little.

Jun Yanxing chewed the gum lightly. When the flavor began to fade, he unwrapped another and stuffed it in. Then, he saved all his data, shut down the computer, picked up his water glass, and left the study.

To his surprise, he found Tang Zhuo still in the living room. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “You’re back?”

“Huh?”

Tang Zhuo, who had been sitting on the sofa in a daze, snapped back to reality and looked up at him. “No… I hasn’t gone out yet.” He then explained, “It’s too early; there will be too many people.”

Jun Yanxing glanced at the clock. It was just past ten. Surely the morning rush hour was over? Besides, on a weekday morning, the supermarket shouldn’t have many customers.

Reading the look in his eyes, Tang Zhuo gave a sheepish smile. While that was indeed part of the reason, it was mostly an excuse. The truth was that the thought of leaving the complex alone filled him with such resistance that he had been procrastinating, taking twice as long as usual to finish his chores.

“I-I’ll be heading out in a bit,” Tang Zhuo said, looking down and fidgeting with his fingers.

Jun Yanxing gave a noncommittal grunt and walked over to the kettle to pour water, but his peripheral vision remained uncontrollably fixed on Tang Zhuo.

Is he acting again? Why does he look so uneasy?

Tang Zhuo didn’t notice Jun Yanxing watching him. He had grown accustomed to the man’s indifference and had already experienced his short temper. Although he had broken the “do not disturb” agreement quite a few times, Tang Zhuo still knew to keep his distance when Jun Yanxing was genuinely busy. Otherwise, he would just become annoying.

He mentally counted his few friends in this world: Wan Qingyue had classes, and he wasn’t sure if Ren Liu had to work—besides, at the moment, the friendship with Ren Liu was still mostly one-sided.

If he invited him to the supermarket… Thinking of the dog that had bared its teeth at him yesterday, Tang Zhuo dismissed the idea.

What about Grandpa and Grandma Su? They probably needed to buy things too.

Just as Tang Zhuo pulled out his phone to scroll for the Su family’s number, a cool voice, laced with a hint of helplessness, sounded beside him.

“Let’s go.”

Tang Zhuo blinked and looked up to find that Jun Yanxing had approached him at some point. “Huh?” He was momentarily stunned.

“Aren’t you going to the supermarket?” Jun Yanxing asked with a slight touch of impatience.

Tang Zhuo finally reacted, his voice filled with surprise: “You’re going with me?”

Jun Yanxing pursed his lips. “I need to buy a few things.”

His explanation sounded perfectly reasonable, but Tang Zhuo was still overjoyed. “That’s great! Let’s go together! Wait for me a second.”

In less than a minute, Tang Zhuo—who had been procrastinating in every possible way—had packed up all his things. He came to Jun Yanxing with a face full of smiles. “We can head out now!”

With that radiant, high-energy look, there wasn’t a trace of the frantic unease from moments ago.

Was it another act after all?

Jun Yanxing looked down at Tang Zhuo, his gaze somewhat dark. When Tang Zhuo shot him a confused look, he simply turned toward the door and led him out. Tang Zhuo immediately forgot about the man’s odd behavior and happily started chatting away at his side.

“What are you planning to buy at the supermarket?”

“Cigarettes.”

“…”

Jun Yanxing’s single word silenced Tang Zhuo instantly. Tang Zhuo followed behind him with a look of wanting to say something but hesitating as they entered the elevator together. If he tried to stop him, what if Jun Yanxing refused to accompany him to the store? But if he didn’t say anything, he felt genuinely uncomfortable.

The polished metal walls of the elevator reflected Tang Zhuo’s conflicted expression, which Jun Yanxing caught clearly. A trace of a smile appeared in the man’s ​read the original at bailiantales.com​eyes, but it vanished the moment Tang Zhuo looked up at him.

“Don’t we still have plenty of cigarettes at home?” Tang Zhuo eventually couldn’t help but speak up. There was still a full pack in the drawer where he’d put them yesterday.

Tang Zhuo wrinkled his nose. “You’re so young; how is your addiction so strong? Can’t you use gum instead? Think about it. Gum is sweet—it puts you in a good mood, doesn’t harm your health, and freshens your breath. Your mouth smells nice afterward; isn’t that better?”

Just then, the elevator reached the ground floor. Jun Yanxing glanced at Tang Zhuo and said airily, “Should I head back then?”

“…”

Tang Zhuo quickly grabbed his arm, offering a fawning smile. “We’re already here! Let’s go, let’s go. I’ll stop nagging you.” He then practically dragged Jun Yanxing out of the residential building.

Reaching the complex entrance, Tang Zhuo pulled out his phone to check the route Wan Qingyue had told him, while Jun Yanxing walked to the curb and hailed a taxi. Tang Zhuo rushed to stop him, whispering, “It’s only a ten-minute walk.”

What a waste of money to take a cab!

Unfortunately, Jun Yanxing didn’t listen to him. After a moment of hesitation, Tang Zhuo climbed obediently into the car. After all, his leg was still injured; if he didn’t have to walk, he naturally preferred not to.

Settling into the back seat and buckling his seatbelt, he finally had the chance to look at the street scenery. The brilliant summer sun filtered through the trees, leaving only a residual warmth on the asphalt. The streets were bustling. Even on a weekday morning, the sheer volume of people was intense for Tang Zhuo.

“So many people” was perhaps his most direct and profound realization about this world. [read the original at bailiantales.com]Is the population so high because the gender structure is simpler? Tang Zhuo wondered. In his world, a declining population was a major concern, and the government put a lot of effort into encouraging childbirth.

Come to think of it, in his original world, Omegas were treated as precious precisely because of their reproductive abilities… This was something the original Tang Zhuo had never realized before.

So, now that I’m no longer an Omega, am I no longer worthy of being liked and cherished?

Tang Zhuo thought back to the question that had troubled him before. He withdrew his gaze, lost, his eyes landing unconsciously on Jun Yanxing. The breeze from the window gently lifted the man’s hair. He sat in the sunlight yet looked so cold, possessing a distance that made people unable to approach. He seemed never to care about others’ opinions.

Tang Zhuo blinked. He suddenly envied Jun Yanxing’s personality; he himself could never stop caring about those around him. But he also understood something. The predicament he was facing had nothing to do with whether he could have babies. This was his own issue. People who were going to dislike him would still dislike him. If someone changed their attitude just because he was an Omega, was it the person they liked, or the identity?

Tang Zhuo couldn’t help but think of another question. His “Mr. Alpha” had also chosen him because he was an Omega and they had a high pheromone compatibility. Hadn’t he himself accepted the marriage for the same reason? Was that kind of union truly right? But their pheromone compatibility was 99%—didn’t that prove they were fated partners?

The conflict of values was hitting Tang Zhuo hard. The perceptions he’d built since childhood seemed to be shaking. Some invisible shackle was breaking, making his head spin.

Sensing something, Jun Yanxing turned his head slightly, his gaze landing impassively on Tang Zhuo. Just then, the taxi pulled up at the supermarket. “We’re here,” he reminded him.

Tang Zhuo snapped out of it. “Let’s get out then.”

Pulling his thoughts from the chaos, his smile returned. After getting out, Tang Zhuo huddled close to Jun Yanxing. As they moved through the crowd, he quietly grabbed a corner of the man’s shirt. With Jun Yanxing there, Tang Zhuo felt he had a pillar of support. He gained the interest to look around, taking in views completely different from his world.

Jun Yanxing took all of this in. There were always parts of Tang Zhuo that felt contradictory. For example, right now—despite clinging to him, when they encountered a staff member ​unauthorized copy​doing a promotion at the entrance, Tang Zhuo responded enthusiastically. He asked all sorts of questions, not looking shy at all.

Jun Yanxing found it strange, yet the patience he showed while waiting for Tang Zhuo might have surprised anyone who knew him.

“Look, she gave me a keychain!” Tang Zhuo held up the gift, a cheap plastic rabbit. Because the design was unique, it was rather cute.

But… Jun Yanxing’s gaze flickered, landing on Tang Zhuo’s smiling eyes and the shallow dimple on his cheek. The next moment, he looked away.

“Let’s go inside.”

“Mhm!”