Unsaid emotions blossom between two boys, Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan, in school, but they are being pulled apart by the seeds of hatred growing in each other's hearts due to Jiang Zhuocheng.
Ten years later, Yibo knocks on the door of Zhan's heart to h...
The morning sun is peeking through the curtains, but it doesn't wake Zhan; instead, a faint sound wafts through the room from the front, a combination of footsteps and a deep, gravelly voice singing. It's a little-known fact that his brother has a very pleasant singing voice. A bit deep and off-key at times, but still very enjoyable to listen to.
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Smiling, Zhan turns his head to see Cheng coming over to sit at the edge of the bed, pushing some wild strands out of his face.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Cheng says with a grin, his eyes crinkling at the edges.
"Morning," Zhan replies with a laugh at the playful teasing before crawling to place his head on his brother's lap. He feels a sense of warmth and comfort, so he closes his eyes and nuzzles closer.
Cheng smiles softly, appreciating it. He caresses Zhan's back before patting him to awaken his laziness. "Oh, come on, you need to get up. We have a busy day ahead of us, so we can't stay in bed all day. Are you still feeling bad?" He asks with worry in his voice.
Zhan shakes his head as he starts to raise his upper body. "No, just a headache and tired," he says, sitting up and stretching his arms above his head.
"I think you're dehydrated. Let me take care of you." Cheng says as he helps Zhan out of bed and guides him to the bathroom like a father helping his son. He never tires of pampering him like a child because, in his eyes, Zhan will always be a little kid who holds his hand wherever they go.
Pausing at the doorway, Cheng plants a gentle kiss on Zhan's forehead and pats him on the shoulder. "I'm going to fetch breakfast for us. If anything is urgent, please call me."
Zhan nods and closes the door behind him before looking around for one thing that he needs right now. The thing that hides his natural scent and prevents him from being attacked by insane alphas. The thing that keeps his body from going into heat during the concert. The thing that has long kept his true self hidden—even from himself!
He makes a frustrated sigh and swallows a suppressor pill, washing it down with a cup of water from the sink. It is his last pill for the month, and he makes a mental note to get more before leaving Wuhu. He's been relying on these pills for too long, so going without them is always a challenge for his body. If he misses one dose, he will experience the onset of early heat.
Sometimes, he wishes he hadn't been born an omega and had been born as an alpha or even a beta so he wouldn't have to worry about society's expectations. The pressure to conform to certain norms and expectations weighs heavily on him, causing a constant sense of anxiety and fear when performing with others.
He brushes a hand across his jaw, stifling a yawn. He removes his tank top and throws it at the mirror before turning the water on full blast. Adjusting the temperature to one of its higher settings, he stands under the scorching stream, letting the water soothe him. The magic works on his body but not on his mind. At least his exhaustion washes away in gentle waves.
Finishing the shower, Zhan changes into fresh clothes and exits the bathroom without glancing at the mirror. If he were to look at it, thoughts of others' comments would inevitably invade his mind again. He is determined not to lose concentration at a concert for which he has put in so much hard work.
He revisits his bedroom and grabs a hoodie before going to the living room, where his brother sits on the couch with breakfast. He sits beside him and leans closer, whispering gently. "We should hit a 24-hour pharmacy and pick up another suppressant pack."
His suppressant will last him until after the concert, so he hopes the concert doesn't run long again. The last time the concert ran long was in October when his suppressant had run out, and he had been unable to get a refill in time.
He shudders at the memory of how he'd almost gone into heat during a concert filled with alphas. He had forgotten all his notes that day, but his brother covered everything and ended the concert quickly, with no one catching him. Even his brother gave some excuses to Fanxing and Peixin, who are their cousins and also the members of 'The Prides of Music.' They remain unaware of his true self. If it were good news, he would already tell them. However, it is not a good one!
Cheng pauses in his movements, trying to uphold the whole thing that has been ingrained in his mind. It feels like too much, but he accepts it, showing a mix of concern and frustration as he waits for Zhan's response. However, Zhan remains silent after discussing his lack of medicine, signaling his reluctance to delve deeper.
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Frustration starts to bubble up within Cheng. He frowns, feeling the weight of the responsibility pressing down on him. The one he needs to care about. The one he must be aware of. The one he needs to shoulder with.
They sit in a heavy silence, each enveloped in their own thoughts about the formidable challenges looming ahead. The relentless demands of their lives, the constant threat of unknowns, and the unyielding expectations of society weigh heavily on their shoulders, adding to the burden they carry.
Eventually, Cheng breaks the silence, taking a sip of his hot coffee and asking, "Are you excited about the concert tonight?"
"Yeah," Zhan responds, still not looking up from his rice dumplings and the coffee in his hand.
Cheng leans back on the couch, trying to hide his disappointment as he doesn't receive the response he is expecting. He needs to do something, or things will only deteriorate. Changing his expression to a stern one, he says, "I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch what you were saying." He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at Zhan expectantly, hoping that this approach will be effective.
Zhan grins and puts the mug back on the coffee table before throwing himself at Cheng. "I'm very excited about the concert!" He yells, making sure that at least the room vibrates with his voice.
"That's my boy!" Cheng pokes his little brother's nose and kisses him on the forehead, keeping him in a jovial mood. It works. Really, it works. The shrill ringing of his phone pulls them away from each other and their swirling thoughts. He sighs and takes his phone out, looking at the caller's identity, knowing he needs to answer it.
He excuses himself and gets up from the couch, talking to Fanxing about the final arrangements and last-minute details for tonight's concert, ensuring everything is in place. He doesn't have time to check everything because taking care of Zhan is the most important thing to him once the concert begins.
After finishing the conversation, Cheng returns to the living room, only to find the neglected coffee and half-eaten dumplings. With a heavy heart and a sense of defeat weighing on his shoulders, he shakes his head and closes his fingers around the cold screen of his phone before striding out the door.
A sense of anxiety gnaws at him as he realizes that tonight's concert is a big opportunity for them—a chance to showcase their talent and make a mark in the music industry. He wants nothing more than to make everything go smoothly to secure their future success.
