AN: To those curious, this apple is currently doing an accelerated science course so updates might be a bit te. I’ll try to update something but my days are kinda packed right now.

  *****

  When Jun Yibai woke up the next morning, he just felt groggy and a bit stiff.

  That wasn’t anything new.

  What was new was the pair of arms wrapped around his waist and the foreign third leg tucked in between his own. The grip wasn’t tight but the beta found himself trapped in the man’s arms, much to his frustration.

  Why was he so weak in comparison!? How was it fair?!

  “Master~” A sultry growl rumbled behind him, the cool touch of soft lips touching the back of his neck. “It’s too early to get up. Go back to sleep.”

  “It’s not that early.” He retorted, looking around for a clock. Despite the fact he had an arm clock, it was nowhere in sight. If not for his body’s habit of waking up around a 7, he’d have no clue what time it was.

  “Where’s my clock?”

  “...”

  “Where's my phone then?” He pushed, realizing his clock was probably broken or hidden somewhere by this guy.

  “Living Room.” Chen Guiren tiredly mumbled, snuggling closer and tightening his grip on the beta.

  Bastard.

  “I have things to do today.” He compined, once again striving for freedom. He was seeking employment with a highly sought-after program that was meant for uppercssmen. He couldn’t afford to fall behind.

  “But it's so early~” Chen Guiren grumbled exasperated, though he dragged them both upright. Draped over the beta’s wide back, Chen Guiren nuzzled his back. “Why are you both such morning people? You freaks!”

  It was only then that Jun Yibai realized that it was just the two of them in bed. Despite sleeping like the dead, he’d forgotten that Li Suren was an early riser. The few times they slept in the same room together, Li Suren was the first out of bed.

  “Where’d he go?”

  “Breakfast? Shower?” He guessed, smiling into the beta’s neck. “I don’t know. Don’t care.”

  “Wasn't he sick?!”

  “After st night? If he’s still sick, I’d be insulting Master’s prowess.”

  Jun Yibai didn’t understand the connection between the two. How would sex cure a fever? Was he too tired to understand the obvious connection?

  Either way, Li Suren wasn’t the type to put himself at a disadvantage so he should be fine for now.

  Chen Guiren watched the beta, smiling as he saw the man’s expression change with every thought. His Master was so cute when he was tired. So obedient, staying in his arms like this.

  This was the best reward he could ask for. Maybe having Li Suren there too would make it even better but the wily omega was an early riser so it was not possible.

  Too bad~

  He’d have to settle for cuddling his Master.

  “Are you pnning on holding me all morning?” Jun Yibai grumbled, too groggy to force the alpha. It was nice to be held and all but he wanted to get up!

  “Can’t I?” He pouted, nipping at the beta’s exposed neck. “There's so much of master for me to hold.”

  Chen Guiren’s hands traveled up his abdomen, testing the esticity of his muscles. Both men were built for fighting but Jun Yibai was more broad than Chen Guiren, so there was a lot more to touch. How could any hot-blooded man resist the temptation to fondle such firm pecs.

  “I need to piss!” He compined, ignoring the tingles he got from the alpha's touch. Boners so early in the morning were a hassle already but if he had to deal with that on top of his other physiological needs, it’d just be troublesome.

  “Take me with you!” Chen Guiren offered, looking excited.

  Jun Yibai gave him a look of disgust, wondering if he’d let a pervert into his bed.

  “It’s nothing I haven't seen before.” Chen Guiren, having not been looking directly at the beta, continued on as if there was nothing weird about his words. “Unless Master is self-conscious about his size?”

  He didn’t dare compare himself to Chen Guiren. The man was a dominant alpha so obviously there wasn’t a point in comparison. Yet size made no difference in their retionship.

  Jun Yibai reached over his shoulder and grabbed the alpha’s chin until they were nose to nose.

  “I’m still your master regardless of physical traits.” He decred, his voice deepening as his pride was pricked. “Besides, only one of us is gonna be on his knees if this conversation keeps up.”

  Chen Guiren said nothing, probably shocked by the beta’s brazen words. Hell, Jun Yibai himself was shocked by how smoothly he said that. It had been circling his mind for a while but he had never thought to say it out loud.

  Did he regret it? Not really.

  Considering the night they’d had, it would be ridiculous to be embarrassed now.

  He turned to Chen Guiren, briefly wondering why he’d been silent for so long. He had expected some sort of response but nothing came even after he finished washing his hands.

  Before he could turn around to ask, Jun Yibai felt the pair of arms press his shoulder until his back hit the bed. Tousled dark hair was all the beta could see as Chen Guiren pressed his nose to the man’s chest, a rumbling purr echoing through his chest.

  “That enthused by what I said, huh?” He snickered, patting the alpha’s head.

  “Yes~” He rumbled, smiling into his neck before staring up at the beta. “When I woke up with you in my arms, I thought I must have been dreaming. That st night was a dream but I could smell us both on you. So deep inside…”

  “I thought you cleaned me off already?” Jun Yibai felt much less sweaty than when he went to bed.

  “You have a lot to learn about alphas, Matser.” Chen Guiren huffed, his tone mocking. “We can smell a cimed mate from miles away.”

  “What about someone who’s not your mate?” He countered, curious. As far as he knew, only omegas and alphas could be mated. Beta’s cked the biology to be bound in such a way.

  He was curious as to how he’d be perceived by others outside. Would he just smell weird or something? No matter how much he thought about it, it made no sense to a beta like him.

  Chen Guiren stared up at the beta, pouting into his pectorals.

  Master could be so mean sometimes.

  “Master doesn't have to worry about a thing.” He assured the man, though he wanted to decre his cim over the beta. He wanted everyone around to know that this man with his caustic tongue and steady gaze was his mate.

  Even if anyone caught his and Li Suren’s scent on the beta, etiquette mandated that it remain unsaid. It was embarrassing to be caught so heavily scent-marked so he was sure Master wouldn’t be confronted by anyone.

  But just in case, should he give his potential rivals something to react to?

  “Master has already cimed his rowdy alpha for himself~” He growled, traveling up the man’s torso until they were nose to nose. “So it's my job to make sure everyone knows who we belong to.”

  “So you do remember who’s ass belongs to?” Jun Yibai reached up, grabbing the alpha’s tight ass. His fingers could barely dent his muscles but he knew Chen Guiren was a masochist. He’d just have to make him rex like a proper sub. “Here I thought you were having funny ideas.”

  “I have all kinds of ideas.” Chen Guiren narrowed his eyes, his heart pounding from the thoughts circling his mind. “Dirty ideas that I’m sure Master would love to try out.”

  “Oh? Like what?”

  “Master letting me suck you off with my arms bound behind me.” He offered, running his lips across the beta’s neck. “Making me wear a binder so I don’t make a mess too quickly.”

  Jun Yibai grabbed the alpha by the hair and pulled him close.

  “Even better. Let me use your mouth like a toy. Li Suren can ride you and keep you from making a mess everywhere. Maybe he can squeeze you dry like he did me.”

  Chen Guiren shivered at the thought, his cock hardening and dripping onto Jun Yibai’s abdomen. He and Li Suren had agreed not to have sex. It was too dangerous and they both had their preferences.

  That didn’t mean Chen Guiren hadn’t fantasized once or twice about watching that alluring omega ride his shaft. Last night, he’d watched the normally elegant man break apart as their beta fucked him. His face flushed in a way his heat had never dispyed.

  The thought that he could see that again while having the taste of Master’s cum coating his tongue was maddening!

  “Master!” He called out, thrusting against the man’s hip. He didn’t dare kiss Jun Yibai.

  Jun Yibai was his master and he was a good boy.

  “I love when you behave yourself.” Jun Yibai praised, using both hands to grasp the alpha’s gyrating hips. “So get us both off.”

  Chen Guiren, ever the enthusiastic one, kissed Jun Yibai. His tongue plunged between the beta’s lips, blocking out any further orders.

  It was his small rebellion.

  Jun Yibai allowed it, promising to spank his ass red for being so brazen.

  Yet just as their breath started to get ragged, the door outside the bedroom smmed open.

  Chen Guiren’s head snapped up, staring at the slightly open bedroom door like a dog who’d caught a new scent.

  “Jiang Mi?!” He called out, looking shocked and nervous as the footsteps came closer.

  “I’m coming in, Xiao Gui. Don’t bother scrambling about.” A female voice called out, unperturbed by the mess they must have left in the living room. The door swung open, revealing a lovely older woman with hair as dark as Chen Guiren’s. “There's nothing I haven’t seen yet and-”

  She stopped, staring at the pair embracing on the bed in shock. “Huh…”

  Jun Yibai cursed under his breath, Feeling frustrated at the sudden troublesome situation.

  ***

  “If you would just listen to me for a second I-” Chen Guiren tried once again to speak but found himself silent with a single look from the older woman before them.

  This woman, a stranger to Jun Yibai, seemed very close to Chen Guiren. If not for the fact that he knew for a fact that Chen Guiren was an only child, Jun Yibai would have assumed she was his older sister. She was certainly pretty enough, looking like a runway model despite her mundane businesswear.

  Damn alphas with their good genes. He silently cursed, feeling disgruntled. Despite both of them being caught in a compromising situation and fresh out of bed, only Jun Yibai looked like a mess. Chen Guiren somehow looked more groomed despite them making out minutes before.

  Was it some kind of Alpha thing? Then again, Li Suren also somehow came out looking good, regardless of the circumstances.

  So maybe it was just the fate of betas to be subject to the ws of physics.

  Yet why was he stuck listening to this?

  “It’s only been a few weeks into your engagement being announced and you already fucked it up!?” The woman, who he assumed was Jiang Mi, scolded, pacing the floor. “It’s bad enough that you got involved in the mass gathering yesterday but now I have to somehow deal with a scandal on top of it? Are you my enemy? Do you want to send me to an early grave?!”

  “How could I dare try and do something like that?” Chen Guiren rolled his eyes, though he remained on his knees lest he get another smack to the head. ”Who's crazy enough to challenge someone like you?”

  “Isn’t that crazy person you? Why else are you cheating on your fiance with some random guy? Couldn’t you have been more discrete? Why are you so bad at this?”

  “Are you scolding me for cheating or for getting caught?!

  “Obviously the tter! I’m your wyer. I’m here to keep you from getting into trouble, regardless of your guilt.”

  Is that the mentality a wyer should be having!?

  “I get that some men like to drink from various steams but can’t you at least refrain from doing so in your man’s home?” Jiang Mi mented, shaking her head. “Isn’t it just too brazen? There are dozens of hotels to choose from but why use a property under his name.”

  And now she was giving him advice on how to be unfaithful! What a wonderful wyer to have, making sure their client is well educated and secure. Would she also help him bury the body?!

  “This is my pce.” Jun Yibai spoke up, feeling bad for Chen Guiren. Their situation was complex so it was easy to assume there was infidelity. While he was still somewhat upset about their clusterfuck of a retionship, he felt he should at least alleviate some of the guilt on the man’s shoulders. “I live here with Li Suren and-”

  “You fucked your fiance’s roommate!?” She interjected, gring daggers at the younger alpha.

  Despite being a regur alpha, Jiang Mi was still Chen Guiren’s elder and he’d been taught to give respect to elders. That and before he presented, Jiang Mi had established dominance over him, making the objectively stronger cousin automatically submit when pressed.

  “It’s really not like that! Master and I-”

  Not wanting to get in between these two, he left as she was tearing into him about all the trouble he’d caused yesterday. He didn’t know the details but from the snipits he caught, there was quite an event that occurred and Chen Guiren had added onto it.

  He felt pity for the man but if you cause trouble, a little scolding is warranted.

  More importantly, he needed to get ready for the day. By the time he’d emptied his bdder, took a shower, and got dressed, Chen Guiren was still being lectured, though the subject was now on something he’d done when he was seven.

  This woman was obviously taking the opportunity to clear all of her grievances at once.

  His options were to either stay and defend the honor of a man who had made trouble outside or leave to do his own thing.

  Was it really worth asking what choice he made?

  He gave the alpha a casual salute and slipped away, ignoring the pleading look on the man.

  He did have other things to do after all.

  …

  Perhaps he’d bring back something nice to ease the alpha’s mood when he came back. Just to be nice.

  ***

  Jiang Mi watched the door close, her animated scolding ceasing as soon as the two were alone.

  “That guy…”

  “Don’t call him that!” Chen Guiren snapped, gring up at his cousin. “Master is mine and I won’t let you refer to him like that.”

  The growl of a dominant alpha usually would make one cower but Jiang Mi had been dealing with Chen Guiren since he presented so she was much more resistant to his pheromones than others.

  More importantly, as his elder, she had to set things straight.

  “That's what others will call him if anyone but I walked in on you two.” She snapped back, giving him a hard look. “Did you forget how public your engagement announcement was? You two are practically celebrities yet this is what you do after causing a ruckus?”

  “…We’re working on that.”

  So Li Suren will be doing all the hard work then. She concluded, rolling her eyes.

  “Then until you do, be more careful. PR isn’t just about what the media says about you.” She warned. “The internet is ruthless and won’t wait or care for the truth of things.”

  The st time they had a scandal was back when the pair presented as teens. Their family had used a lot of connections to suppress the picture of the trio dancing together. While it wasn’t anything vulgar, people had clear views on alpha/omega dynamics.

  Betas were not to be part of the picture.

  Hell, the only reason the Li family allowed one of their own to marry a beta was because she was adopted. Had she been of their bloodline, things would not have gone as smoothly.

  Jiang Mi had only truly realized how much of a divide there was between betas and the rest of the world after seeing the reaction to that photo.

  “More importantly, how do you know that guy?”

  “Master? We’ve been close for years.”

  “Is he the guy who danced with you back when you had your first rut?”

  The rut of an alpha was bothersome to most. The first rut of an alpha was hectic but the first of a dominant was a hellscape. Chen Guiren was young but he was strong for his age. His instincts were running wild and it took both his dads and a few uncles to keep him from destroying the house.

  Jiang Mi didn’t dare to get involved. Alpha or not, she was still female and would only get in the way. With the way he was cwing and biting, she’d have ended up with scars all over and she was thinking about the future.

  Their uncles still had marks from that night she was not willing to risk her face.

  Honestly, the only reason she’d tagged along was to give him the bear mask his dance partner had dropped that night. Considering that everyone was calling him Cinderel, it was only fitting for the prince to receive the ‘gss slipper’.

  That mask….

  Jiang Mi’s head snapped up, the thought jogging her memory. She had been wondering why that guy seemed so familiar. It had only been that one time but she definitely remembered seeing that beta the day Chen Guiren and Li Suren presented.

  But that wasn’t why she remembered him so clearly.

  “Does that guy know anyone from the Song family?”

  “Stop calling him that!” Chen Guiren grumbled, shaking his head. “He’s sorta friends with the youngest one cause we went to school together but not super close.”

  “He’s never met any of the others?”

  “Where could he possibly meet those crazy fucks?” Chen Guiren stood up, giving her a strange look. “Most of them are in their 30’s. The other has been abroad for almost a decade now and only came back recently, right?”

  Yes, the only Song brother to be sent abroad had come back recently. The town was buzzing with curiosity about what he’d do. Jiang Mi was the same, since that guy had come to her twice.

  Once a few days ago and the other many years ago, both times asking about the same thing.

  Asking about Cinderel from that night.

  ***

  At OO University.

  Li Han knocked on his roommate's door, frowning as he realized the beta still hadn’t come back.

  “Shit.” He cursed under his breath.

  His little sister had asked him to make trouble for the guy cause he’d harassed her. While he usually would just have his friends give the guy a ‘warning’, Li Min seemed determined to get rid of him outright.

  Jun Yibai was a schorship student, so he had higher expectations pced upon him than regur students. Constant compints about his character and academics were a surefire way to get him expelled.

  But he couldn’t pin anything on a guy who was never around!

  He left the dorm, feeling annoyed that nothing was going his way. That beta was still coming to school regurly but going home off campus. The few times he tried to follow the guy, some hulking figures in bck warned him away.

  Where had a guy who needed a schorship gotten bodyguards?!

  Just when he thought things couldn't get worse, the hot omega he’d met had vanished after he’d gotten stomach problems.

  He had no idea why such a handsome guy was lurking in front of their dorm room but Li Han wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to get such a beauty in bed. Heck, the omega seemed really interested in him so he thought it was a sure thing.

  Then he got sick and had to spend the whole evening on the toilet. By the time he’d recovered, the omega was long gone.

  It was the worst!

  Li Han walked into a cafe, wanting to get a coffee before css. The pce wasn’t crowded, as it was just after the morning rush. Not thinking much of it, he gnced up, spotting a familiar head of white hair.

  The alpha smiled, feeling his luck had finally made a turn as he closed in on the handsome man. While it had been weeks since they’d seen each other, how could Li Han forget someone as lovely as this?

  Smooth skin, wet lips, and eyes that set one's blood bze. God, if he could get such a man beneath him, he’d know what true happiness was.

  “Hey!” He called out, getting the omega’s attention. Upon closer inspection, he noted the sultry air around him. His nose twitched as he caught just a hint of his heat.

  Damn, he’d missed his heat!? It would have been a great chance to get in his pants.

  Li Han sighed with disappointment but said nothing about it. The omega hadn’t been scent-marked so he was sure that the heat was spent alone. He’d just have to get close to the omega and make the offer ter.

  The omega frowned at him. “Do I know you?”

  “Eh? D-don't you remember me? We went to my dorm a few weeks back?” He offered, hoping the beauty recalled him as the handsome alpha who might be spending his heat with ter rather than the guy who spent their ‘date’ on the toilet.

  “Oh.”

  The response told him nothing, making him panic a bit. There was none of the interest he’d seen that time. Only the vague acknowledgment of a stranger's greeting.

  Had he missed his chance?!

  The omega, seemingly ending the ‘conversation’ uniterally, turned back to the counter and collected his order. Three coffees with wildly different tastes so it couldn’t have been for him alone.

  “That’s an interesting order.” He said, trying to reenage with the man. He might not run into a guy this hot again so he didn’t want to give up just yet.

  A vague rejection wasn’t as concrete as a firm one so he still had a chance!

  Much to his surprise, the omega smiled, sipping one of the coffees. The foam stuck to his upper lip, leaving a film of white on his pink lips.

  Li Han swallowed at the sight.

  “Yes, I suppose so but as the only morning person, I have to get it.” He replied, his eyes glittering with delight as he packed the other two drinks. “I can’t let my mates wake up without some coffee on hand, right?”

  Li Han was too dazed to pay much attention to the omega’s words. He was too distracted by the deep purr that radiated from the omega as he spoke. Instinctually, he felt like he was in front of a bonded omega but the ck of a marking was confusing.

  All he knew was that he wanted to be the one who mated this omega.

  He opened his mouth to ask the man out, sure he could entice the handsome man but never even got the first sylble out. Before he could voice his desire, the omega’s gaze moved past him and exploded with delight.

  “Sweetie!” He called out, sounding ecstatic. “What are you doing up so early?!”

  “I have css today.”

  Li Han’s back stiffened, recognizing the voice of the man he hadn’t seen in weeks.

  Jun Yibai hadn’t noticed him, having been intercepted at the door. “I wanted to get some breakfast.”

  Their exchange was casual, intimate even. Like how an old couple would talk about the mundanities of their day and leave others envious of their affection.

  Li Han felt nothing akin to envy at that moment.

  He watched them go, their conversation fading into muffled noise.

  Those two… they were close.

  He thought back to the day he saw the omega lurking around their dorm. He’d seemed more interested in getting inside than Li Han himself but he’d assumed it was because the omega wanted to get into bed with him.

  Yet he left soon after getting inside, not even asking Li Han for his name before leaving.

  Was it all a trick? Had that beta set him up just to ugh at his failed attempt?

  Li Han smmed his fist on the counter, ignoring the chattering that echoed afterward. Whatever was said was drowned out by his anger.

  Those two had made a fool out of him!

  He stormed out, angrily dialing a number he’d been considering deleting before today.

  “I need your help with something.” He snapped, feeling his head buzz with frustration. He had only agreed to help out his little sister cause she was the baby of the family.

  He had nothing against Jun Yibai personally. The boring fuck was just a beta who got lucky after all. He’d fade back into the background where he belonged sooner or ter so he just sought to give him a little push.

  But now, he saw the arrogance Li Min had told him about before. The bastard had dared to humiliate him like this?

  “You wanted to know what that bastard was doing recently, right? As long as you fuck it up, I’ll give you all the access you need.”

  *****

  AN: For those confused, Jiang Mi only appeared once in the middle school arc. She's Guiren's older cousin and was present when both he and Suren went into heat together. She is his unofficial chaperone.

  Some comic suggestions:

  I got teased by Mr. Wonderful on Hot Search again: MC has been in love with his roommate/friend for 8 years, trying to turn this straight guy gay. After all this time, he's decided to try and let go, to move on to greener pastures. Problem is that his bestie makes that really hard to do because rather than suddenly realizing his true feelings, the man doubles down. ML is the gayest straight man to exist, making it hard for MC to move on when he's so doting (feeding him by hand) and casually sleeps naked next to his 'bro'. The whole world wonders if he's gay but MC knows that he's always been like this.

  MC's a thirsty bitch, practically throwing himself at the dense af ML. ML is a caring man but steadfastly decres himself straight, regardless of what kind of 'totes normal bro activities' he does with MC.

  The comic is funny since the scenarios that occur just keep getting bigger until you wonder just how gay this straight man can get before something gets through.

  Note: Slightly more steamy for a Chinese BL. No mysterious leaves, butterflies or fshes of light when the pair kiss. No smut but some steam.