AHDIBCB Chapter 06

Stardust City, May 26th.

Jian Yurou intended to accompany Yuan Yi to school, but Yuan Yi declined. Not long ago, something had happened that could easily be misunderstood. Although the school’s news department had clarified the situation, and Zhou Xingran had also stated that it was a misunderstanding, there were still people who preferred to think of things in a more sinister way. Yuan Yi didn’t want Jian Yurou to hear those rumors, so he insisted on going to school alone.

It was just between classes when Yuan Yi entered the school gates, and he noticed many people looking in his direction. Familiar faces merged with his memories, but he paid them no mind and headed straight to find the counselor.

The counselor was a middle-aged female beta who was well aware of the recent events. She assumed Yuan Yi was taking leave because he couldn’t get past what had happened, so she advised, “Yuan Yi, I know this incident has been a big blow to you. But when you grow up, you’ll understand—nothing is more important than your studies and future. Besides, your midterm grades were quite decent this time. If you push yourself a little more, you might even secure a spot next month to go on a field practice with Professor Feng. If you take leave now, that opportunity will be gone. How about shortening your break? Two or three days wouldn’t be a big issue.”

Yuan Yi waited patiently for the counselor to finish before saying, “Thank you for your concern, teacher. But I need at least twenty days off—ideally thirty. I will return afterward. But please don’t misunderstand, my leave has nothing to do with the previous incident. I simply have personal matters to attend to.”

As he spoke, Yuan Yi showed the counselor his medical examination records.

At first, the counselor thought he was sick. But upon seeing a genetic compatibility report, which besides Yuan Yi’s name also bore that of a widely recognized general, she immediately understood the situation.

“You’re marrying General Li Heng?” The counselor was stunned. Though she personally held great respect for the general, he had already sacrificed his life. Besides, Yuan Yi was only nineteen—how could he…

“Please sign my leave request.”

“Ah, well, I can do that. But have you really thought this through? This is a lifetime commitment.”

“I’ve already given it serious consideration.”

“Alright then, I’ll mark it as personal leave and approve thirty days. This is no small matter, so be sure to take care of yourself. Come back when you’ve settled everything.”

“Thank you, teacher.”

With the approved leave slip in hand, Yuan Yi left the counselor’s office—only to run into Bai Wanzhe, the campus heartthrob, head-on.

Dressed in a white T-shirt and black dress pants, Bai Wanzhe looked every bit the pure-hearted university student. But Yuan Yi had no interest in that type. Without so much as a glance, he walked straight past him.

Bai Wanzhe clearly hadn’t expected to be ignored so thoroughly. He froze for a moment before quickly catching up, grabbing Yuan Yi’s arm. “Yuan Yi, wait a second!”

Yuan Yi frowned and shook him off. “What do you want?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but the disdain in his words was unmistakable. Bai Wanzhe immediately felt as if he were being rejected outright. Feeling a little hurt, he asked, “Are… are you still mad at me?”

Yuan Yi’s lips curled slightly, laced with mockery. “Mad? What about you is worth getting mad over? You’re overthinking. I have things to do—move aside and take a hint.”

Bai Wanzhe was so stunned he felt dizzy. Yuan Yi had always spoken to him in a gentle and soft tone. How could someone so mild-mannered and shy suddenly become like this? And… why did Yuan Yi’s scent change?!

Today, Yuan Yi was wearing clothes he had bought online. He had expected them to take a day or two to arrive, but the delivery robot had dropped them off at his door that very night, so he put on a fresh outfit before coming to school.

The scent of his pheromones was no longer that nauseating smell from before. Instead, it was a fresh and sweet fragrance, like the air after a summer rain. Sweet but not overwhelming—an alluring scent that made one want to lean in for another whiff.

Bai Wanzhe instinctively followed him, stepping closer. “Why did your scent change? Did you get a gland modification surgery? Didn’t you say your family wanted you to wait until after graduation?”

Yuan Yi looked at Bai Wanzhe as if he were an idiot. How long had he even been away from school? How could he possibly have undergone a gland modification surgery in such a short time? The whole “waiting until after graduation” excuse was just something the Zhou family had come up with to stall. Where was Bai Wanzhe’s brain? Had his good looks taken up all the space in his head?

Ignoring him, Yuan Yi walked around and continued on his way. But Bai Wanzhe looked determined not to let him leave without answers. “Yuan Yi, don’t be in such a hurry to go. I still have something to say to you. I—”

“Senior Bai!”

Zhou Xingran had somehow caught wind that Yuan Yi was back, and seeing Bai Wanzhe actively seeking him out, he rushed over. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Someone wants to see you.” Zhou Xingran glanced at Yuan Yi. “Are you here to apply for leave? Or are you planning to take a break from school entirely?”

“Why would he take a leave of absence?” Bai Wanzhe asked in shock.

“Because he’s marrying General Li Heng,” Zhou Xingran replied with a smile. “You didn’t know, did you, Senior Bai? He’s already agreed to marry into the Li family. Soon, he’ll be carrying General Li’s child. Bearing a hero’s descendant—it’s quite an honorable thing.”

“It’s true?!” Bai Wanzhe stared at Yuan Yi in disbelief. They had clearly liked each other before—so how had things changed so drastically in just a few days?

“Do you even understand what marrying Li Heng means?! Yuan Yi, are you insane?”

“I’m not insane. At least General Li was a man who stood tall and proud. A man who didn’t flee the battlefield wouldn’t hide and play dead when his teammates were in danger. And you, an alpha with zero sense of responsibility, shouldn’t embarrass yourself by speaking.”

Yuan Yi finished speaking and gave Bai Wanzhe a contemptuous once-over. Even though, as an omega, he wasn’t as tall as Bai Wanzhe, the presence he exuded completely overpowered him.

Bai Wanzhe’s face turned livid. He felt utterly humiliated—especially when he realized people around them were starting to take notice. His pride took precedence over everything, and he snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting?! You were the one found disheveled in a room with an unfamiliar alpha! Can you blame me for thinking the worst? You were the one being careless!”

Yuan Yi nodded. “I figured that’s about as much thinking as you’re capable of. We’re not the same kind of people, so do me a favor—walk the other way when you see me from now on. Thanks.”

With that, he turned and strode toward the school’s east gate without looking back. There were plenty of small shops there—he wanted to check them out.

Bai Wanzhe kicked at a rock on the ground in frustration. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t accept it. He had only been suspicious for a moment! Wasn’t that a normal reaction? Why did Yuan Yi have to cut things off so decisively?!

Bai Wanzhe, unwilling to give up, dialed Yuan Yi’s communicator—only to hear the automated message: “Sorry, the user you are trying to reach is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later.”

Zhou Xingran put on a sympathetic expression. “Senior, don’t be upset. Honestly, Yuan Yi never actually liked you. He was only keeping you on the hook because of your good family background and good looks. But now that he knows the Li family can offer him even more benefits, he’s chosen them without a second thought. He’s really not worth your feelings. And honestly… it hurts me to see you like this.”

As he spoke, Zhou Xingran gently wrapped his arm around Bai Wanzhe’s.

Bai Wanzhe frowned, deep in thought. No matter how he looked at it, Li Heng was already dead. The military had officially announced it. Was Yuan Yi really planning to spend the rest of his life relying on suppressants to deal with his heat? No—he had to be doing this just to spite him.

Bai Wanzhe pulled away from Zhou Xingran’s grasp. “You said someone wanted to see me. Who is it?”

Zhou Xingran smiled. “It’s me, Senior Bai. I came to tell you that Yuan Yi has already moved into the Li family estate. He’s not just trying to make you jealous—he’s completely set on marrying Li Heng. He’s even taken all his belongings with him. If you don’t believe me, you can come to my house and see for yourself.”

Bai Wanzhe had no intention of going to the Zhou house. If Yuan Yi were still staying there, maybe. But now that he had moved out, what was the point?

Instead, he asked suspiciously, “Why does Yuan Yi’s scent smell different from before?”

Although omegas at school typically used suppressants or received temporary marks from their boyfriends, that didn’t mean they were completely scentless—it just meant their scent wasn’t strong enough to agitate nearby alphas. That was why Bai Wanzhe could still catch Yuan Yi’s scent.

And that scent… he had never smelled it on anyone else before, yet it was unforgettable.

Zhou Xingran shrugged. “Oh, isn’t he going to meet the Li family elders? I’m guessing he didn’t want them to dislike him, so maybe he sprayed some kind of external pheromone perfume?”

That did sound plausible. Bai Wanzhe felt a little better.

 As long as Yuan Yi wasn’t actually doing better after leaving him, that was enough. As for Li Heng? He was just a dead man. What could he do? Rise from the grave and steal Yuan Yi back? So what if they got married? In the end, there still wouldn’t be an alpha by his side.

Bai Wanzhe’s expression turned cold. He had a naturally refined, handsome look, but when he wasn’t smiling, it gave him an air of calculation—too measured, too deliberate.

Of course, that didn’t stop many people from thinking he was good-looking. 

But Yuan Yi would never be one of them.

—

Yuan Yi arrived at the east gate only to find the shop he was looking for closed. Without wasting any more time, he boarded a hovercraft and returned to the Li estate.

The hovercraft belonged to Li Heng. Since Li Heng mostly used military-grade aircraft and rarely needed the family’s civilian vehicles, Professor Jian had simply decided to let Yuan Yi use this one. Yuan Yi had too much to do and too little time, so he didn’t refuse.

“You’re heading straight to the marriage registration office?” Professor Jian asked. Yuan Yi had messaged her after securing his leave from school, but even so, she was surprised.

“Yes, I want to complete the registration and move into the surgical process as soon as possible.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to think it over a bit more? Why the rush?”

“I want to clear up more time for studying. Anything that can be handled quickly, I’d rather not delay. Even if I waited a few more days, it wouldn’t make any real difference to me.”

“So you’ve made up your mind about changing your field of study. Alright, I’ll be there shortly.”

Professor Jian Yurou had initially hoped that both sides would take more time to understand each other before making any irreversible decisions. After all, Yuan Yi was not even twenty yet—still young, still prone to changes of heart. But now, she realized that Yuan Yi was more resolute than anyone else.

Under normal circumstances, military marriage applications required a thorough review period. However, Li Heng’s case was unique, and given that Yuan Yi was Zhou Tandai’s nephew, the approval had already been expedited.

—

Yuan Yi brought his identification to the marriage registration office. Not long after, Professor Jian arrived with Li Heng’s documents. With a fast-tracked process, their registration was completed in no time.

Less than five days after arriving in this world, Yuan Yi had gone from single to married. The speed was staggering.

He glanced at the synthesized photo of himself and Li Heng on the marriage certificate. It felt a little surreal, a little unnatural—but the feeling passed quickly. He had always been clear about what he wanted.

—

The next morning, Yuan Yi arrived at the Military District General Hospital’s research sector and took an estrus induction agent.

To optimize his body for conception and increase the chances of a successful pregnancy, the doctors needed to extract his eggs while he was in heat before combining them with Li Heng’s preserved genetic material.

The entire process would take about three days. If all went well, in seventy-two hours, he would undergo the embryo implantation procedure. For the next three days, he wouldn’t be leaving the research sector. The hospital had arranged a private rest area for him.

Before checking in, Yuan Yi had already studied ABO physiology, trying to familiarize himself with the differences between this world’s people and Earth’s humans. Apart from the existence of pheromone glands and a distinct reproductive system, the rest of their anatomy was largely the same.

But despite all his preparation—when the symptoms of estrus started kicking in, Yuan Yi was still taken aback.

He was careless!