Idol Chapter 126.5

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[ABO] Twenty years old (1)

“Read the letter, read the letter!!”

“You’re blocking the camera, can you please watch your positioning??”

“How about we cut the cake first—”

Behind the scenes at the birthday party.

Pei Ruye took one last look at the boy surrounded by people on stage, then took back the letter and gift.

“Let’s go, to the airport.”

Assistant Zhang hurriedly followed, confused: “Weren’t we waiting until after the birthday party to leave?”

The gifts were meticulously chosen months in advance, and now to just leave without giving them?

The man turned and walked towards the exit, the congratulatory letter crumpled in his hand.

The kid was only twenty, everything was just beginning.

He was his teacher, supposed to shield him from storms, not become a danger himself.

With a heart now biased, better not to meet.

As the elevator doors opened, Pei Ruye was about to step in when a sudden commotion came from behind.

“President Pei—” another assistant who stayed behind rushed over: “Huo Huo’s had an accident, they’re taking him to the hospital now, do you want to go see?!”

Pei Ruye turned and quickly walked over, not even passing through the VIP channel before seeing the stretcher and medical staff.

“The kid was feeling unwell even before going on stage, and couldn’t even stand properly after coming down,” Jiang Shu said anxiously: “You should’ve told me if you weren’t feeling well, how can you just tough it out like this—”

The audience at the front desk was still unaware of the situation, engaging in lively interactions and playing games with the organizers.

Pei Ruye caught up to the ambulance in a few steps and without thinking, climbed in with Jiang Shu.

Assistant Zhang promptly canceled the flight.

Nothing’s more important than the boss’s little white wolf; there was no choice in the matter.

The ambulance sped northward with its siren blaring, Huo Ren’s complexion on the stretcher was pallid, his neck showing an unnatural flush.

Jiang Shu reached out to touch his forehead, but Huo Ren, with the last of his consciousness, dodged as if on high alert.

Pei Ruye, with a deep frown about to speak, suddenly caught the strong scent of gin from the cramped space of the ambulance.

His eyes shifted subtly as he leaned over to firmly grasp Huo Ren’s hand.

Could it be… differentiation?

Without making a sound, the man released a deep, melancholic scent akin to the ocean depths, instantly soothing Huo Ren’s rapid breathing. His chest heaved, longing for more.

He slightly opened his eyes, his pupils clouded with a layer of confusion.

“Teacher…” the young man’s voice was hoarse, “I…”

Huo Ren’s physical strength was rapidly depleting, and it was already a feat that he could maintain his composure at this moment.

Pei Ruye silently took off his coat and draped it over him, then, in front of everyone in the ambulance, pulled him into his embrace.

Huo Ren, as if finally finding safety after plunging into the deep sea, clenched his hands tightly under the cover of the coat, feeling relieved yet guilty.

Jiang Shu, as a somewhat slow-reacting old A, finally sensed something amiss.

He anxiously ran his fingers through his hair, changing his sitting posture from cross-legged to straight-legged to scissors-legged.

“Huo Ren, didn’t he differentiate at eighteen as a true ALPHA?!”

In the entertainment industry, ABOs each have their peculiarities, but OMEGAs, due to concerns like their heat periods, are easily manipulated and generally hold a lower status.

Strictly speaking, OMEGAs in this line of work are almost always fully marked by the age of twenty-two. Long-term use of suppressants can lead to a hoarse voice and red marks on the skin, which is fatal for an idol’s career.

However, fans also wouldn’t accept their idols being tied to an ALPHA early in life. Rather than that, they’d prefer to follow more lively and free BETAs.

OMEGA idols have always had to deceive in various ways.

Either marry in secret early on or claim to be taking new drugs from abroad that don’t have such side effects.

—Except there aren’t any.

As the ambulance arrived at the private hospital, the rest of Crown’s members’ nanny vans also arrived one after another, all waiting anxiously at the entrance, visibly distressed.

When the blood test results came out, Dr. Shao’s expression changed subtly, signaling non-essential personnel to leave.

Assistants and secretaries naturally exited, but Jiang Shu, after a glance at Pei Ruye, stayed to hear the results.

“This OMEGA has been taking prohibited drugs since he differentiated at eighteen,” Dr. Shao stated seriously. “HXPA-404, though it suppresses heat periods, and protects the voice and skin, it can easily cause pheromone intake disorder—this is banned internationally, who gave it to him?”

Jiang Shu gasped in shock, turning his head to glare at Xie Lianyun, who was slumped against the glass door.

Pei Ruye still held Huo Ren’s hand, quietly confirming his suspicion: “This intake disorder you mentioned…”

“It’s a severe condition.” Even though Dr. Shao wore a barrier mask, he involuntarily sniffed the strong, rich gin scent, steadying himself before continuing: “Normally, a standard marking has a temporary soothing effect, without lifelong binding, which is a preferred choice for many single OMEGAs.”

“But… given Mr. Huo’s current condition, he must receive a complete marking within twelve hours.”

Dr. Shao, having accompanied Corona for years, was aware of Huo Ren’s guardianship situation.

He took a deep breath, emphasizing, “A bond needs to be formed.”

Jiang Shu slapped his forehead in disbelief, “He’s really an OMEGA? Can you check again? Is there a mistake?”

Pei Ruye was momentarily stunned, not expecting the situation to be like this.

He knew Huo Ren had been masquerading as an OMEGA for a long time but thought SPF had internal solutions, just keeping a unified front externally.

Pei Ruye, having been busy with establishing Yehuo Livestream in recent years, had gradually faded from the board meetings, believing Su Rong and Qi Ding would take good care of Corona.

But who would have thought… Huo Ren had made such a choice two years ago.

As the two followed the doctor back to the ward, Huo Ren’s bed was already surrounded by people.

Sunflower and iceberg water pheromones circled above the ceiling, with faint traces of ambergris, all tentatively soothing their mutual friend.

As Pei Ruye entered the hospital room with a cold demeanor, the chaotic scents in the room instantly retracted.

Bo Jue, sensing that something was amiss, pulled Long Jia, who was sitting by the bedside table, aside to let Pei Ruye get closer to Huo Ren.

The nurse was already injecting him with a relatively mild sedative, but it could only temporarily relax him for a while.

Jiang Shu, knowing that everyone was waiting for an explanation, broke the silence after a moment and shared the truth.

“Permanent marking??”

“Huo Huo is only twenty years old, right?”

“So Ren Ren is an OMEGA?!”

“Absolutely no intra-team marking,” Jiang Shu, holding his head, hadn’t anticipated the situation would head in this direction. “If we start this, the entire team will be thrown into chaos. Don’t even think about it.”

The two ALPHAs who had already undergone differentiation registration coughed simultaneously.

“How could I think that way?” Long Jia instinctively glanced at Bo Jue and quickly looked away, saying, “We’ve shared pheromones with him in the past, but only because we were afraid he couldn’t withstand it— I’ve always seen him as a younger brother.”

Jiang Shu exploded, “You know you could have said something sooner??”

“Ren Ren said at the time… the risk was 0.3%, not a big issue…”

“And you!! Xie Lianyun!!”

Xie Lianyun raised his hands, “I can take responsibility for him.”

Pei Ruye glanced at him indifferently.

“I mean—I know the pharmacist—have the complete list of ingredients—”

Jiang Shu, not a medical professional, was completely out of his depth. He was both distressed by how much the kid had endured for the team and worried about his future.

“The drug is banned, and now with his intake disorder, he must be fully marked within twelve hours.”

He paced back and forth, trying to find another solution: “Maybe the doctors in Shi Du aren’t good enough? Should we fly to the United States for treatment now? Would that be in time?”

Everyone shook their heads at him with complex expressions.

Chi Ji, holding the finally asleep Huo Ren on the other side, spoke up sadly, “He’s still feverish… probably won’t sleep well.”

“I’ll mark him,” Pei Ruye suddenly said.

The entire hospital fell silent.

Jiang Shu, thinking Pei Ruye hadn’t understood the requirements, instinctively said, “Mr. Pei, the doctor already said, given his condition, it’s complicated, he needs—”

“I’ll mark him,” Pei Ruye said calmly. “I understand what a lifetime marking means.”

Once an OMEGA is bonded, it’s difficult to sever this connection for life unless the partner dies completely.

Thus, the law mandates that the ALPHA maintain a marital relationship with the marked, even if the other party voluntarily wants to dissolve the marriage, there is a responsibility to care for them unconditionally.

Jiang Shu’s first reaction was that Pei Ruye, only twenty-four this year, indeed should find a partner.

And considering family background, status, and intelligence, he seemed quite compatible with Huo Ren.

It wasn’t like those high school teacher-student relationships; the two were only four years apart, which would be completely normal as senior and junior in college.

He shook his head, discarding these nonsensical standards, instinctively wanting to object and deny: “You two don’t seem like—”

They didn’t seem like they were in a relationship that could develop into love.

Starting with sex, then marriage, and only afterward trying to cultivate feelings—what kind of arrangement was that?

Could this method solve the problem now, and what about later? Should Huo Ren call him teacher or husband in the future?

What a mess!

When Huo Ren woke up, he found himself in the back seat of a car, wrapped in a thick coral fleece blanket.

He moved slightly, and Jiang Shu, sitting in the passenger seat, looked back at him with a complex expression, “Awake? Want some water first?”

The burning heat made his limbs ache, and it took him a lot of effort just to sit up.

Huo Ren took the water and realized he had been sleeping in Pei Ruye’s arms.

“Teacher…” He looked up and softly called, “Am I alright now?”

“You’ve just been injected with a sedative, it’ll last for six hours.” Jiang Shu had calmed down, “That banned drug is reverse activating your glands, now there are only two options.”

“Either choose someone to complete the marking, or go to the hospital for removal surgery.”

The agent paused for a few seconds, then looked back at Huo Ren in the back seat of the car.

“Pei Ruye is currently the most suitable and safest choice, but this still requires your discussion and signing of a risk agreement.”

“Ren Ren, Uncle can’t help you with this, you have to choose on your own.”

Huo Ren’s mind roared, realizing he had indeed become that 0.3%.

Does this mean, he and his teacher have to complete the marking within six hours?!

Wouldn’t they have to marry afterward???

Pei Ruye looked down at him, his voice gentle, “Are you scared?”

“I…” Huo Ren panicked, “No, Teacher, I…”

I’ve liked you for a long time.

I’m just… too admiring and yearning for you.

I’ve never fantasized about us doing that…

He had nothing before, knew nothing.

Many things were taught to him bit by bit by the teacher.

Now suddenly faced with this situation—

“Stop the car, please.” Pei Ruye signaled Assistant Zhang to take the agreement, and gently caressed Huo Ren’s hair, “I’ll take him inside to sit for a while. If Ren Ren doesn’t want to, I’ll personally take him to the hospital later.”

Jiang Shu reluctantly said, “This isn’t fair to you either.”

Pei Ruye smiled, nodding, “Indeed, it’s too rushed.”

Even if he were to marry the little white wolf, it should have been after everything was over, gradually nurturing the feelings, step by step.

“You go back and rest first, I’ll contact you if there’s anything, we still have over six hours.”

“Alright, don’t force yourselves.”

Huo Ren subconsciously wanted to follow and get out of the car, but moving his arm caused joint pain.

He hissed softly, then was suddenly scooped up in a bridal carry.

“Shh.” The man rubbed his cheek against Huo Ren’s neck, surrounding him with a gentle and soothing deep-sea pheromone, “I’m holding you… it’s alright now.”

Huo Ren nodded blankly, thanking the teacher just like he did in class.

After Assistant Zhang quickly opened the door and placed the folder properly, he closed the door and ran away at lightning speed.

In the spacious living room, only the two of them remained, quiet enough to hear each other’s breathing.

Huo Ren was still nestled in Pei Ruye’s arms, like a little white wolf wrapped with its tail held.

He knew he had caused a lot of trouble for everyone, and said softly, “I’m sorry…”

“No need to worry about other things for now.” Pei Ruye held him and sat on the sofa, speaking unhurriedly, “About the marking…”

Huo Ren pursed his lips, a bit nervous.

“Doing it with someone with no emotional foundation, it’s indeed easy to feel uncomfortable.” The man brushed away the hair from his forehead, gentle almost to the point of soothing, “But I’m your dance director, I’m… actually very familiar with your body.”

“…At least I won’t hurt you.”

Huo Ren nodded quickly, already embarrassed about how to respond.

He was poised and radiant in front of the camera, but those qualities were originally imparted and taught by this person.

And now, just having turned twenty, he was completely naive about love.

Pei Ruye realized he wasn’t resisting, allowing Huo Ren to lead unconsciously, holding him as he continued to whisper.

“If we are to be together, we need to register our marriage.”

“Having never been in a relationship, it does seem rather hasty.”

He paused for a few seconds, slowly laying out his thoughts honestly: “If our marriage is to involve emotions, we can develop them gradually. I don’t want it to be purely based on pheromonal attraction.”

Huo Ren had his face buried in his chest, unconsciously sniffing the scent of the person closest to him as the effects of the medication wore off.

Such a sense of security… so comforting.

…It really is Teacher.

“But if you won’t love me, I can also sign a divorce agreement with you once your condition stabilizes,” the man said in a husky voice. “A complete marking can alleviate your disordered state, but in a few years, we can undergo separation treatment.”

Huo Ren looked up at him instinctively, his eyes still as clear as a spring river thawing.

“Why not give it a try?” he asked.

The man looked at him for a long time, then lowered his eyes and smiled softly: “Yes, why not give it a try.”

Pei Ruye was overly sensitive to Huo Ren’s scent, having been immersed in the aroma of fine wine all day, making endurance a challenge.

He didn’t wait for Huo Ren to ask anything else, lifting his hand to cover the young man’s eyes.

“Try this first.”

“Hm?”

Huo Ren paused for a second, surprised, as his lips were kissed in the darkness.

Soft, warm, lingering, fitting perfectly.

Almost instinctively, he embraced the ache in his limbs to hold him tight, wrapping his arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.

At that moment, he felt as if he was back in the deep sea, like a strand of fine wine mingling with coral and white sand.

All breaths and heartbeats merged together, the kissing and licking indescribably wonderful, soothing his long-frustrated nerves.

“Wu…Teacher…”

The man paused for a breath, then continued to lean down to give him a deep kiss.

As if naturally fitting together, they could even sense how the other desired to be treated by their lips and teeth, their first kiss needing no communication at all.

Delving deep, lingering, savoring repeatedly, endlessly.

Pei Ruye also stood up again, holding him, letting the young man kiss him relentlessly without letting go, untying his tie with one hand as he walked towards the bedroom.

Huo Ren subconsciously glanced at the room, reluctantly stopping the kiss, whispering softly, “Then… take it slow later.”

“Okay.”

“Can I ask for a stop in the middle?”

“Yes.”

“…Teacher,” he called out again, tentatively asking, “Do you, perhaps, also like me a little?”

Pei Ruye smiled without answering, pressing the young man’s palm against his own heart.

You will understand.

All promises, all heartfelt voices… all the emotions held back in silence.

The bedroom door closed quietly, and the big blue-and-white fish in the living room aquarium blew a stream of bubbles.