The air hung heavy in silence for a long while.

This time, Dou Changxiao’s motion to push someone away was sharp and decisive.

Ning Zhu was flung aside, uttering a confused “Hm?”

Was he complaining that the money wasn’t enough? But he hadn’t even quoted a price yet!

Ning Zhu: “You—”

“One more word, and I’ll call the police.”

Ning Zhu: “But—”

Dou Changxiao’s piercing gaze swept coldly over him, making it clear that if Ning Zhu uttered another syllable, he would act immediately.

“…” Ning Zhuo shut up in utter bewilderment. He couldn’t fathom how a hostess would threaten to turn in a paying customer.

Besides, this person was so skilled—he didn’t seem desperate like Fang Huaixin, driven into this line of work. Beyond money, Ning Zhuo couldn’t think of any reason to get involved in this mess.

Then why had he refused him? Was it because his words had been too blunt, his card-handing gesture too direct?

Following this line of thought, he seemed to find the crux: the man was a hostess, not a prostitute. Normally, he might tolerate a customer taking liberties, but when Ning Zhu had immediately demanded a mark, it was only natural for the other to be angered.

Frowning, Ning Zhu reflected on his behavior. He admitted his earlier actions had been inappropriate and somewhat disrespectful.

Cheng Yang and Fang Huaixin were deep in conversation in the hallway. Dou Changxiao strode over, tapping the wall beside him, causing both to turn.

Dou Changxiao: “ Have you finished talking?”

Cheng Yang: “Uh… not yet.”

Dou Changxiao: “Finish it back inside.”

Cheng Yang scratched his head in confusion: …Why the sudden rush?

He and Fang Huaixin hadn’t fully resolved their issues, and it clearly wouldn’t be settled anytime soon. He nodded in agreement.

As they walked out, Cheng Yang spotted Ning Zhu standing alone in the hall.

Knowing Ning Zhu had helped Fang Huaixin earlier, he approached warmly to greet him.

Ning Zhu smiled back, then glanced at Dou Changxiao standing nearby.

Perhaps the method had been flawed, but Dou Changxiao himself—Ning Zhu was determined to have him no matter what.

His glands wouldn’t suddenly improve. The only reason was exposure to the pheromones Dou Changxiao had released not long ago. Even a tiny amount could soothe his glands.

Ning Zhu was certain his compatibility with the Alpha before him would be exceptionally high.

Cheng Yang asked, “Brother Ning, how are you getting back?”

Before Ning Zhu could answer, Dou Changxiao spoke for him: “He’ll figure it out.”

The manager who had brought Ning Zhu over had already returned to the store, likely scrambling to clean up the mess he’d left behind.

Ning Zhu said, “I’ll take a taxi.”

He pulled out his phone, its screen now shattered into pieces, and pressed the power button.

No response.

Cheng Yang: “…Brother Ning, your phone’s cracked like ice. How can that still work?”

Ning Zhu: “.”

Dou Changxiao watched coldly from the sidelines.

At least he still had his SIM card. He could flag someone down on the street and let them name their price—someone would surely be happy to give this Ning guy a ride.

“Where do you live, Brother Ning?” Cheng Yang asked.

After Ning Zhuo gave his address, Cheng Yang exclaimed in surprise, “Hey, that happens to be on our way!”

He, Dou Changxiao, and Fang Huaixin were all students at S University. Ning Zhuo’s residence happened to be not far from the S University campus.

“On your way? Aren’t you guys going back to the club?”

Cheng Yang asked curiously. “What’s the point of going back to the shop at this hour?”

Ning Zhu: “…You’re right.”

It would be dawn in two hours. If they went back to the venue now, there wouldn’t be many customers left.

“Want to ride with us?” Cheng Yang asked, then turned to Dou Changxiao. “Changxiao, should we drop Brother Ning off on our way?”

Dou Changxiao wore a stone-cold expression, not even bothering to utter a single word.

Cheng Yang couldn’t figure out what had gotten into his buddy today—he was so aloof he’d even skipped the “yeah.”

Ning Zhu eventually got into Dou Changxiao’s car. He took the front passenger seat because Cheng Yang, for some reason, insisted on sitting next to Fang Huaixin.

This overly harmonious colleague dynamic was somewhat baffling to Ning Zhu.

The ride was quiet.

Dou Changxiao showed no desire to speak. Fang Huaixin clutched his bag, equally lost in thought and silent. Cheng Yang, more outgoing by nature, attempted to strike up a conversation several times, only to be silenced by the car’s oppressive stillness.

The warm air conditioning blew through the cabin. Nestled in the passenger seat, Ning Zhuo stole glances at the person beside him every so often.

The ninth time, Dou Changxiao caught his gaze.

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

His tone wasn’t overly harsh, but the impatience was palpable.

This time, Ning Zhuo chose his words carefully: “Would you mind sharing your contact information?”

Dou Changxiao was blunt: “I’d very much mind.”

Realizing the other man possessed an unusually short temper, Ning Zhu felt a headache coming on. He stared out the window, contemplating his next move.

The usually bustling streets were now eerily quiet. Neon lights flashed by outside the window, as if they’d stumbled into a romantic scene from some movie.

Yet Ning Zhu’s mind was occupied with how to push forward an unsavory monetary transaction with the person beside him.

This kind of deal differed from business negotiations, which involved probing the other party’s bottom line by gradually raising stakes. This erotic transaction, however, was like boiling a frog in warm water—rushing in would only scare the person away. He had to start from what the other party could accept and work downward.

His previous rashness had only hardened the situation.

To swallow this bitter pill, he first needed to thaw the frozen atmosphere.

Ning Zhu had one redeeming quality: he could always put on a friendly face for anyone. His tone softened as he spoke again: “I wasn’t mindful of my words at the police station. I take back what I said earlier.”

The two in the back row were utterly confused, exchanging bewildered glances.

“Don’t take it to heart.” Ning Zhu’s voice was clear, his enunciation softer than usual. Though not slurred, it carried a lightness that felt insincere—like a mix of coaxing and deception.

At important company meetings or business negotiations, Ning Zhu always lowered his voice several degrees to project gravitas, but he’d forgotten this habit now.

Dou Changxiao shot him a glance.

Ning Zhu had been studying his profile and caught the look.

Though the other still wore that impassive, cold expression, the lack of a sharp retort suggested his attitude had softened slightly.

Ning Zhu’s eyes crinkled, and he relaxed a bit.

As long as he spoke and acted with a bit more caution, avoided pushing too hard too soon, and stroked the fur the right way, getting what he wanted was only a matter of time.

Confident in his plan, he said, “My phone won’t turn on for now. Can I leave you my contact info?”

Dou Changxiao: “…”

I’d have to be crazy to call you.

After speaking, Ning Zhu took out a card and a business card from his wallet.

Pulling the card halfway out, Ning Zhu paused, then slipped it back in. He borrowed paper and pen from Fang Huaixin in the backseat and wrote down his personal phone number.

He then flipped the paper over, scribbled a line on the reverse, folded it neatly, and placed it on the center console.

“My earlier request was indeed abrupt. “ Ning Zhu said in the most polite tone he could muster. ”If you’re unwilling, I deeply respect your decision. There’s no need to go… that far.“

”As long as you release your pheromones to let me…” Ning Zhu didn’t finish his sentence. He saw Dou Changxiao’s facial contours suddenly tense, the veins on the back of his hand gripping the steering wheel bulging.

“…”

He sensed trouble brewing.

The next moment, the vehicle pulled slowly to a stop by the roadside.

Two words escaped Dou Changxiao’s lips: “Get out.”

The mine-sweeping game had hit a landmine right at the start, and Ning Zhu’s expression twitched in response.

Damn it. He couldn’t help cursing inwardly.

Was this kid’s bottom line set way too high?!

In the backseat, Cheng Yang was still pondering the meaning of “deep” in Ning Zhu’s words. His train of thought was interrupted as he glanced out the window at the greenbelt. They were still a long way from the residential area.

The navigation on the dashboard also showed they hadn’t reached their destination. Cheng Yang asked in confusion, “We’re not there yet, so why are we stopping here?”

Dou Changxiao didn’t respond to him. He coldly locked eyes with Ning Zhu: “Walk 1.3 kilometers along the road. It’ll take 12 minutes. Get out.”

Cheng Yang: …Bro, what the hell got into you tonight?

He hurriedly intervened, “It’s so late, it’s dangerous. Could you drop me off a bit closer?”

Dou Changxiao: “This entire area is covered by surveillance. It’s perfectly safe.”

He stared at Ning Zhu and repeated for the third time: “Get out.”

“…”

Ning Zhu was dumped out of the car.

The night wind whipped up, gathering all the hair on his forehead.

Ning Zhu watched the black car turn and drive away. He stood there disheveled in the wind for a moment, utterly unable to figure out where exactly he’d gone wrong again.

Whether it was the alcohol kicking in or not, his glands no longer ached, but his head throbbed as if struck by a blunt object.

After a night of turmoil, Ning Zhu now lacked the energy to analyze where he’d slipped up again or whether any inconsistencies existed.

Thinking that his lifeline was in Beicheng and he’d find someone there eventually, he grabbed a handful of his messy hair and turned toward home.

Before taking a few steps, Ning Zhu’s feet halted abruptly as he suddenly remembered the note he’d left in the car.

“…”

He stood rooted to the spot for a moment, letting the wind blow through him. As if foreseeing something he was about to ruin, his expression darkened further.

━━━━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━━━━

The black car drove off. Cheng Yang glanced back at the rear window. Ning Zhu’s figure grew smaller and smaller until it vanished completely as the car turned the corner.

He couldn’t hold back any longer: “Changxiao, what’s your deal today?”

Fang Huaxin also looked like he wanted to say something, but held back. Since he wasn’t close with Dou Changxiao and had caused him plenty of trouble tonight, he didn’t feel comfortable butting in.

Cheng Yang understood Dou Changxiao’s temperament—he wouldn’t pick on someone for no reason. After pondering, he ventured a guess: “Could it be that Brother Ning did something to upset you? He just mentioned something about ‘scenting’ and ‘pheromones’…”

Pieced together, those words were hard not to misinterpret.

Could it be he’s taken a liking?

Dou Changxiao maintained his impassive expression, showing no intention of answering.

Cheng Yang could only drop the subject. Noticing Fang Huaixin still clutching that backpack, he asked, “Huaixin, what’s in your bag? It looks heavy. You’ve been holding it the whole time without letting me help.”

Fang Huaixin: “Wine. Mr. Ning ordered it.”

“But he didn’t take it. Did he abandon it?”

Fang Huaixin nodded.

Dou Changxiao caught a glimpse of the bulging backpack in the rearview mirror.

When Fang Huaixin went back to the store to retrieve the bottle, he’d seen it—a collectors-grade liquor, quite pricey. Even if returned unopened at a low price to the store, it would still be a considerable sum.

That Ning fellow sure was generous.

The car entered the S University campus.

Dou Changxiao parked the car, turned off the engine, and prepared to get out.

Cheng Yang noticed the piece of paper with Ning Zhu’s phone number left on the center console hadn’t been taken. “Ning’s number—aren’t you keeping it?”

“No.”

Cheng Yang: “Then I’ll save it with Huaixin. You don’t mind, right?”

Dou Changxiao wanted to say “I do mind,” mainly because he didn’t want any further connection with that Ning fellow. But in the end, he didn’t interfere with others: “Do as you please. Just take the trash with you when you’re done.”

The center console was quite far from the back seats, and Dou Changxiao showed no intention of helping pass it over.

Cheng Yang strained to reach it, finally clutching it in his hand. “Huh?” he murmured.

“Why is there something tucked inside the paper?”

Dou Changxiao froze.

Cheng Yang lifted a corner of the folded paper, puzzled. Before he could see what lay within, the object slipped from his grasp.

Dou Changxiao unfolded the paper. Before he could examine it closely, a familiar black card slid out suddenly, landing on his lap.

“…”

He glanced down at it, his expression eerily calm, then turned his attention to the writing on the paper.

The front bore a string of phone numbers. The back held a single line: [Password 990326. You can use it for now^^]

“…”

Dou Changxiao stared at that “^^”.

Two seconds later, he slowly and forcefully crumpled the paper in his hand into a tight ball.

…That crazy bastard surnamed Ning!!