"Dinner's ready."
The four of them clinked their glasses together lightly.
William glanced at the spread on the table. "Do you have disposable gloves?"
He proceeded to peel the shrimp and placed it in Lyon's bowl before starting on his own meal.
The only sounds at the table were the clinking of bowls and chopsticks and the soft noise of chewing.
Until Ethan casually remarked, "Auntie Simons mentioned she's been missing you lately."
Neither of the two across from him even paused in their actions. Lyon smiled and replied, "Oh? That's probably the 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' effect. After all, I'm her only child."
Ethan nodded in agreement. "You should spend more time with Auntie Simons, especially over a good meal."
Though it sounded like small talk, Noah couldn't shake off the strange feeling in the air. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what was off, but something definitely was.
The peculiar atmosphere lingered through the rest of dinner.
Afterward, Lyon offered to do the dishes, but Noah firmly refused. "You're a guest. There's no way I'd let you do that."
"Noah, we'll head out now. See you tomorrow!" Lyon said as they left.
After the door closed, the phone on the dining table vibrated.
Before Ethan could see the screen, Noah quickly covered it with his hand. "I'll take this call."
Ethan glanced toward the balcony but said nothing.
"Yes, tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.? That works for me," Noah said into the phone, his hand resting on the cold balcony railing, tapping rhythmically.
"Should I come on an empty stomach?"
Suddenly, Noah felt something drape over his shoulders—it was a blanket.
He turned to thank Ethan, but the man was already gone.
The voice on the other end of the line continued, "No need for an empty stomach. Tomorrow, there'll likely be a pheromone test and a CT scan to check gland development. Just let them know you're registered under my name."
"Got it. See you tomorrow."
Noah pulled the blanket tighter around himself, yet he still felt a lingering chill.
Looking at Ethan, who was now seated on the sofa, Noah walked toward him, each step deliberate and steady.
Standing before him, Noah began, "I… didn't forget my promise about the pheromone issue."
"I realized I couldn't control my pheromones, so I went to the hospital for a preliminary check a couple of days ago."
Ethan looked up at him, his eyes glistening with a single tear that trailed down his cheek. "Then why didn't you tell me two days ago? How long were you planning to hide this from me?"
His expression was both stubborn and aggrieved.
Noah caught the tear with his thumb, but it felt like it had landed directly on his heart, overwhelming him with an acidic guilt.
That single tear pulled his thoughts back to the park with its sharp, wintery scent of plum blossoms.
Back then, Noah had only been testing the waters. He had deceived Ethan. But, truthfully, Ethan's tears were the reason Noah's heart had stirred.
Ethan was so good—so strong and considerate, always making Noah feel comfortable and unburdened. Yet this strong Ethan had shed tears at his confession, his eyes reddening in response.
That tear had burned through Noah's icy defenses, melting them with its warmth.
Even now, it had the same effect, perhaps even stronger than before.
Noah wrapped his arms tightly around Ethan. "I'm sorry! It's not that I didn't want to tell you. I just didn't want you to worry, or to distract you from your work..."
"You're always thinking of my feelings, but my heart is already completely filled with you."
Ethan rested his head on Noah's shoulder. "So, can you promise me this? If anything happens, I want to be the first person you think of and the first person you tell."
"You can walk any path on your own, but when you take your next step, I want you to think about holding my hand."
Hearing this, Noah's guilt surged to its peak.
"I promise, there won't be a next time."
Of course, Ethan could have found out everything through his own means, but he preferred to hear it directly from Noah.
"What are you going to do tomorrow?"
"The hospital called just now. They want me to come in for a detailed examination."
"Can I go with you?" Ethan asked.
Noah kissed Ethan lightly on the lips, still apologetic. "Sorry, but I promised Emma I'd go with him."
"..."
One Lyon, and now an Emma—Ethan had truly had enough!
Noah avoided Ethan's gaze, clearly feeling guilty. "You know Emma is my only omega friend."
Ethan hugged Noah tighter, his heart aching. "Then if anything happens, promise me you'll call me immediately, okay?"
"I will. I'll keep your words in my heart."
Feeling uncertain, Noah rested his chin on Ethan's shoulder, rubbing against it before speaking again.
"Can you approve a day off for Emma? He already took one this month."
Ethan took a deep breath. "Fine."
Noah sprang out of Ethan's arms, excitement in his voice. "Then I'll call Emma right now!"
Ethan immediately regretted it. He should've negotiated for some benefits first.
Before Noah could get away, Ethan pulled him back into his embrace. "Rest well. Don't stay on the phone too long."
Watching Noah head out, Ethan couldn't help but smile. "You don't need to walk me out any farther. Are you planning to follow me all the way home?"
"Alright, I'll stop here. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
After seeing Ethan off, Noah dialed Emma.
Emma picked up almost instantly. "Did the hospital get back to you? I'll go request leave now."
Noah stopped him. "I had Ethan approve a day off for you. No need to jeopardize your attendance record for me."
Emma backed out of the chat interface and teased, "You're something else, Noah. Never thought I'd get to enjoy such privileges!"
Noah was both eager and apprehensive about what tomorrow might bring.
"Why are you here?"
Emma, unfamiliar with the people in front of him, wisely took a step back, especially since the burly man looked somewhat intimidating.
Lyon covered half his face with his hand, looking both pitiful and sheepish as he explained, "Noah, I came to see the dentist. My toothache has been unbearable, and last night I couldn't sleep at all."
"Toothache?" Noah immediately thought of his café.
"You really need to cut down on sweets. Even if the coffee is made with sugar substitutes, it can still harm your teeth."
Turning to the burly man, Noah asked, "William, right? Could I trouble you to keep an eye on Lyon and make sure he doesn't overindulge?"
"I will."
"..."
Lyon suddenly felt the full brunt of what it meant to try and outsmart oneself.
"Noah, I'll let you go. I don't want to hold you up with your appointment," Lyon muttered, already nursing his defeat.
The roads were congested today, likely due to a large-scale traffic accident up ahead. The clock ticked closer to 8:30 a.m., leaving them with only two minutes.
"Apologies for being late; the traffic was terrible," Noah said as they entered.
Dr. Hu poured them each a glass of water and reassured them, "No need to apologize. Let me introduce you—this is the special patient I mentioned, Noah, and his friend."
Turning to Noah, Dr. Hu added, "Let's start with a pheromone test first."
Standing in front of the Omega examination room, Noah exhaled deeply, mentally preparing himself. This was his second visit.
Dr. Hu needed to remain in the clinic, so the testing room was equipped with one-way glass. On the other side stood an older man with white hair but a sharp and energetic demeanor.
This was Dr. Will, a renowned expert in Omega pheromone secretion.
Noah lay down on a soft mat designed to prevent injuries in case of induced pseudo-heat. Soon, a faint cedar scent wafted through the air, growing more intense over time.
Yet, Noah felt nothing. His gland seemed dormant, and his body remained unresponsive.
He remembered what it felt like to be in heat—a burning intensity coursing through his body. This was nowhere close.
As the ventilation system activated, the cedar scent dissipated.
A new aroma filled the room—stronger and more overpowering. It was an intoxicating alcohol-like fragrance, rich and dizzying.
Even so, Noah's body gave no response beyond a slight flush on his face and a hazy feeling in his head.
"There's no detectable Omega pheromone reaction," Dr. Will announced from the observation room. "Even with high-grade Alpha pheromones, there's no induced effect."
"That's enough. Turn on the fans," he added, his tone laced with disbelief.
This was a first for Dr. Will. The pheromone purity in the testing room was unquestionable. If it wasn't the pheromones, then the issue lay with Noah himself.
Noah, along with Emma, was escorted to Dr. Will's office.
"Please, take a seat. I still have some questions for you," the doctor said, gesturing to the sofa.
Noah sat down stiffly. "Dr. Will, can you explain my condition?"
Dr. Will picked up a pen and began to jot down notes. "You seem to have no reaction to standard pheromones. Do you have an Alpha partner?"
Noah nodded.
"In that case, it's possible that you're only reactive to your partner's pheromones," the doctor explained. "However, further testing is necessary. If your partner is willing, I'd like to conduct another pheromone test using their pheromones as the stimulus."
"I can't promise that immediately," Noah replied hesitantly. "I'll need to discuss it with my partner first."
"Of course. If it's confirmed that only your partner's pheromones can induce a reaction, we can explore a compatibility match," Dr. Will said, his handwriting firm and deliberate.
"Before your heat, was there anything unusual?" he continued.
Noah thought carefully. He had been drinking nourishing soups after a bout of gastroenteritis, but aside from that, nothing stood out.
"I did notice a strong floral scent before my partner arrived. That was probably my pheromone, wasn't it?"
Dr. Will paused his writing and nodded. "Based on your description, it was likely the onset of heat. Your CT results will take some time. It'd be best to return this afternoon with your partner."
"Thank you, Dr. Will. Should we come straight to your office or check in with Dr. Hu first?"
"Come straight to me," the doctor replied.
Outside the office, Emma nudged Noah playfully. "Call him already!"
Given Ethan's temperament, Emma was certain he wouldn't hesitate to agree.
"I'll talk to him during lunch," Noah muttered.
Emma smirked knowingly. "Sure, sure. Because he hasn't agreed yet, right?"
Ethan's Office
Felix was in the middle of a report when a knock came at the door.
"Pause for a moment. Come in," Ethan called.
A secretary entered with a menu. "Mr. Harrison, these are today's lunch options. Please let me know your choice."
"I won't be needing lunch today. That's all," Ethan replied curtly.
"Understood, Mr. Harrison."
As Felix finished his report, Ethan leaned back in his chair, idly spinning a pen between his fingers.
He glanced at his watch. Eleven o'clock.
How is it only eleven? There's still an hour until lunch. For the first time, Ethan found himself wishing time would move faster.