CH 21

I Like Your Pheromones Ch 21: Tunnel

Every Wednesday night, the english teacher arranged a weekly test.

When he was having dinner, Duan Jiayan was somewhat absent-minded. When he thought about having to stare blankly at an English test for two hours, he felt exhausted.

Just then, Shen Chilie sent a message over. Seeing that he was inviting him to surf the internet, Duan Jiayan’s eyes lit up.

He asked Song Yi: “Do you want to go back and take the test?”

“What’s up?”

“Shen Chilie invited me to go surf the internet. I’m asking you if you want to go.”

“I’m going.” Song Yi was a little happy: “What’s up with him? Didn’t he say that he planned to concentrate on his studies this trimester just a few days ago?”

Unlike Duan Jiayan and Song Yi, Shen Chilie had good scores. Although he wasn’t as strong in liberal arts, his sciences were of the top of the grade.

“His class’s weekly test was probably moved up and already happened. The teacher asked them to self-study tonight—which he considered boring.”

“Sure,” Song Yi said: “Then let’s meet him at Ionia.”

There were several internet cafes near First Middle. They were often visited by students skipping class to pass time.

Shen Chilie had already taken a seat at the internet cafe they frequented. Duan Jiayan saw a cup of iced orange juice placed each at the two seats beside him. Knowing those were the seats Shen Chilie saved for him and Song Yi, Duan Jiayan pulled out his chair and sat down.

The internet cafe was almost full with people. A thick smoke smell filled the air.

After entering the internet cafe, Duan Jiayan vaguely felt his exposed skin itch slightly and was a little dizzy.

Shen Chilie saw him frowning while motionless, and asked curiously: “It’s been a long time since you’ve been at home. Are you feeling super unfamiliar with everything happening here?

“What?”

“Internet cafe, your second hometown,” Seeing that he was still out of it, Shen Chilie reached out to press his computer’s power button: “Did you really forget how to boot up your computer? Come, let dad teach you.”

Duan Jiayan smiled as he pushed him away slightly, pressing the power button himself.

Duan Jiayan played for a long while. Although that discomforting feeling didn’t disappear, it didn’t become strong either. With the distraction of the game, he gradually forgot about it.

“Xiao-duan,” Song Yi suddenly called out his name: “Someone just informed me that Teacher Zhao is starting class in a bit, do you want to head back?”

“What?”

Duan Jiayan was wearing earphones and didn’t hear what he said clearly.

“Class meeting!” Song Yi raised his voice: “We’re probably going to go on an Autumn Overnight!”

“Oh!” Duan Jiayan looked at the time: “Why don’t we head back after this game?”

Song Yi nodded. Shen Chilie asked: “Where is your class going for the Autumn Overnight? We’re going to the Jingshan Temple… Back up, back up, Kennan’s coming! Duan Jiayan, what are you running for?! Help me block!

Shen Chilie said while moving frantically, but his character was still killed by the enemy. He turned his head and looked at Duan Jiayan: “Did you know that this behavior is considered peddling your teammates?”

Duan Jiayan laughed: “What if not that? Am I going to die with my teammates? “

Shen Chilie: “Scum.”

Duan Jiayan: “Noob.”

Shen Chilie: “What did you say?”

Duan Jiayan: “ 66666* , that was a handsome death.”

*T/N: Spamming 6666 in chat is similar to giving claps – in this case, is ironic praise.

Shen Chilie: “…”

Concerned about the class meeting, Duan Jiayan and Song Yi returned to the classroom after finishing that game.

Not knowing whether it was just an illusion, after Duan Jiayan sat down in his own seat, the previous feeling of restlessness he felt in the internet cafe disappeared. His whole state of mind became very good.

Before he could carefully think about it, Chen Yue asked him: “Did you go play games?”

Duan Jiayan turned back: “How did you know?”

Chen Yue smiled: “Both you and Song Yi have the smell of smoke. The only place nearby with that heavy a smell is the internet cafe. It was a guess.”

Duan Jiayan listened and lowered his head to sniff his wrist: “Do all you Alphas have dog noses? I can’t smell anything.”

Lu Xingci, who watched as he continued to sniff his west with focus, suddenly leaned forward: “In the internet cafe, you were sitting next to an Alpha. His pheromones smell like black tea.”

Duan Jiayan paused and immediately realized that Lu Xingci was referring to Shen Chilie.

Seeing Duan Jiayan’s shocked face because of how Lu Xingci could discern the fucking smell, Chen Yue said with a smile: “His nose is super sharp. If someone gets married to him in the future, they can only find beta to cheat with, otherwise he’ll smell it the moment they return home. “

Song Yi was originally cleaning up the desk, but as he heard the conversation reach this topic, he commented: “What kind of person would marry class president and what to cheat? They wouldn’t be that stupid.”

Chen Yue bursted into laughter.

Lu Xingci’s gaze landed on Duan Jiayan’s face. He said carelessly: “Did he hug you? Why is the smell so strong?”

“He didn’,.” Duan Jiayan said casually: “Perhaps he was just sitting a bit close.”

As soon as he said that, Zhao Minjun entered the classroom.

Her line of sight swept over the whole classroom. Most of the students had heard the news of Autumn Overnight. Now, they were looking at her with expectation, waiting for Zhao Minjun to make an announcement.

Zhao Minjun got straight to the point: “The school organized an Autumn Overnight for Saturday and Sunday. Our class and class nine are going to Xiaoyan Mountain to stay there for one night, returning the next afternoon…”

Before she even finished speaking, the phrase “Autumn Overnight” had already entered the oil pan like water, sizzling and evoking a burst of excited discussion.

“The school has arranged a holiday villa for everyone. There are standard and single rooms. After you all receive your room cards, you can pick out rooms between yourselves.” The “pick out rooms” phrase instigated quite an uproar. Zhao Minjun shook her head with a smile: “Boys and girls can’t room together.”

“Being in year two is definitely better than being in year three,” Song Yi sighed: “I heard year three’s Autumn Overnight consists of ten pages of stressful finale questions* . It’s two days and a night of swimming in the sea of exam problems.”

*T/N: The hardest questions on the GaoKao (college examination)

Duan Jiayan laughed lazily but didn’t comment. Suddenly, he remembered something and leaned backwards, asking Lu Xingci in a whisper: “Can you help me take a look if there’s any allergic reactions on the back of my neck?”

Duan Jiayan counted: more than half a month has passed since his last estrus. When one first presents as an Omega, the time of estrus is usually unstable. Him being unwell tonight might be because of the stress disorder.

But even after a short while of looking, he didn’t notice any allergic reactions. The most sensitive area of the gland couldn’t be seen by himself anyways.

“There’s none.” Lu Xingci’s gaze swept over that pale section of neck: “Are you feeling unwell?”

“A bit,” Hearing that from him, Duan Jiayan felt reassured: “It’s probably because I didn’t sleep well.”

Xiaoyan Mountain is located in the suburbs of Ning City. In early October, the skies were clear and the sunlight made one bask lazily.

On the school bus, Zhou Xingchen talked in high spirits across the aisle: “I heard there’s an abandoned train tunnel inside in the Xiaoyan Mountain where people died in the past. At night, the crying and sniffling sounds of a girl would emerge from inside the tunnel. Want to go take a look?

Duan Jiayan was feeling dizzy, feeling weak all around. He reckoned he was carsick. When he heard this, he got a little interested: “Is that true? Can we get there by foot?”

“Yes, I have a friend who went there before. He said it was pretty exciting.” Zhou Xingchen said: “We can invite a couple more people. The more the merrier.”

Duan Jiayan looked around. Duan Jiayan and Chen Yue were both sitting in front of him, separated by three to four rows. Duan Jiayan tapped on the shoulder of the girl in front of him: “Can you help me pass a message to Lu Xingci? Ask him if he’d be up to go to the train tunnel. I heard it’s pretty exciting.”

After the sports competition, the students of class ten’ impressions of Duan Jiayan have more or less been changed. Hearing that he’s looking to have fun, the girl was engrossed: “Are you guys looking for entertainment?”

Duan Jiayan made a noise of agreement: “Are you coming? It’s more fun with more people.”

Before she could nod, the girl besides her also leaned over: “Duan Jiayan, I want to come too.”

Caught up in the conversation, the girl absent-mindedly patted the guy in the row in front of her: “Can you do a favor and pass a message on? Duan Jiayan plans to look for entertainment. Ask the class president if he’s going or not.”

“What? He wants to look for entertainment with Brother Lu?”

The girl was busy discussing with Duan Jiayan so she casually nodded her head despite the guy’s astonished expression.

Just like this, the message was passed along. At the end, even the guy who was passing the message to Duan Jiayan was a bit speechless.

“Brother Lu,” That guy hesitated, but still said: “Duan Jiayan asked you… if you were interested in going with him to entertain yourselves.”

Chen Yue was originally searching for his lighter. Hearing this, his hand slipped and the lighter fell and hit the floor.

Lu Xingci paused: “Did he really ask that?”

Exactly at this time, the bus arrived at the holiday villa the school arranged. When the bus stopped, Duan Jiayan yelled from the back: “Lu Xingci, will you come or not?”

Chen Yue looked back, wearing a subtle expression. Duan Jiayan thought that this was Chen Yue feeling that he was being left out so he immediately continued: “Chen Yue! Let’s go together! It’ll be super exciting!”

Chen Yue: “…You can go do this together?” Are you sure nothing’s going to go wrong?

Duan Jiayan was confused: “Why couldn’t we go together? It’s more fun with more people.”

Lu Xingci reacted and asked him: “Where exactly are you going?”

Duan Jiayan: “The train tunnel! The kind that has ghosts!”

Zhou Xingchen: “Whoever gets scared is the dog!”

The two of them echoed each other, and those around them began to be interested: “Oi oi oi! Bring me!”

“I want to go too, me too!”

“That tunnel of Xiaoyan Mountain is very famous. Pretty sure it even made the news before. But Zhou Xingchen, are you sure you’re not scared? Last time we were watching the horror movie, you were wailing like a ghost and howling like a wolf, how miserable.”

“…Just because Laozi is scared of horror movies, that doesn’t mean Laozi is scared of tunnels.”

After getting off the bus, Duan Jiayan felt a bit uncomfortable and rubbed his temple. He looked at himself but didn’t find any allergic reactions for the time being. Song Yi originally already started rushing forward, but seeing Duan Jiayan still standing in the same place, he reached out and pulled at him: “Xiao-duan! What are you spacing out for? They’re distributing the room cards! The rooms are first-come first-server!”

Because of this nudge, Duan Jiayan’s attention was attracted by the matter of room cards. He sped up and started running. In the end, he became the one pulling Song Yi along.

Song Yi’s arm started to hurt because of his pulling: “Duan Jiayan, slow down a bit! My arm’s going to snap because of your pulling!”

Duan Jiayan: “I can’t. The single room is beckoning me.”

Song Yi: “…”

The villa the school arranged was located on the mountainside. After allocating the rooms and putting down their luggage, Zhao Minjun gave them free time.

The students who had previously planned to go to the tunnel gathered outside the villa. A boy excitedly urged: “Let’s go! Which way is it?”

Zhou Xingchen: “My friend said that the train tunnel is in the section of Qingling. If you set Qingling as the destination, you’ll be able to see it when you walk over. But what the heck are these directions…”

Duan Jiayan heard him and was cheerful: “Are you directionally challenged?

Zhou Xingchen pushed his phone in front of Duan Jiayan: “I am directionally challenged. Here.”

Duan Jiayan couldn’t understand the directions either so he poked the shoulder of the person besides him: “Lu Xingci, take a look at this. Which way should we walk?”

Zhou Xingchen watched all his actions: “You took what seemed like half a day and you can’t make sense of it either?”

Duan Jiayan casually replied: “But I know how to ask for help. If he understands it, it also counts as me understanding it. The true wise people are people like me who aren’t ashamed to learn from those below us.”

He had a series of preposterous arguments. Zhou Xingchen couldn’t help saying: “Brother Lu, do you hear what’ he’s saying? You shouldn’t help him.”

Lu Xingci had to decipher the navigation and was stuck in a quarrel between them. Without raising his head, he replied: “What’s the disturbance for?”

Duan Jiayan: “He’s asking you, what’s the disturbance for?”

Zhou Xingchen: “…Brother Lu, you’re so partial!”

Duan Jiayan looked at Zhou Xingchen’s weak expression and said with a smile: “He’s just partial towards me. So what?”

When he spoke, his amber eyes narrowed unconsciously, making him appear a little arrogant, but not offensive.

Seeing Duan Jiayan almost leaping up into the sky, Lu Xingci lightly patted his head: “You can also say a couple words less.”

Chen Yue couldn’t hold back, and let out a laugh from the side: “What is being impartial? This is being impartial.”

After confirming the direction, the vast group of people headed towards the tunnel.

As Zhou Xingchen’s friend described, the train tunnel was very conspicuous and its outside was covered with green plants. Looking in from the entrance, it was pitch black so there was no way to see where the exit was.

When entering the tunnel, Duan Jiayan’s steps halted and he frowned slightly.

Just then, he saw a red section of skin on the back of Duan Jiayan’s neck. However, he wasn’t sure if it was just an illusion because it was of the dim light.

Lu Xingci slowed down and walked behind Duan Jiayan.

The closer he was, the better he could better smell Duan Jiayan’s pheromones. Even though that fragrance was very light, under normal circumstances, Omegas who are using scent blockers shouldn’t have the smell of pheromones on them.

He wanted to see whether the back of Duan Jiayan’s neck had turned red, but it really was too dark in the tunnel. Even after walking for a good while, Lu Xingci still couldn’t see it clearly.

The girl walking beside them couldn’t hold back and asked quietly.

“Between you two… who’s scared of ghosts?”

Although she didn’t say it loudly, inside the silent cave, her voice sounded particularly clear, so everybody’s gaze turned to land on them.

“Class president, you don’t have to worry about Xiao-Duan.” Song Yi said: “He’s not scared of ghosts.”

Hearing Song Yi say that, Duan Jiayan turned back, just in time to see Lu Xingci standing a couple steps behind him.

Duan Jiayan’s gaze shifted, he smiled: “Are you scared?”

Before Lu Xingci could answer, a shriek suddenly sounded from within the group.

“Something fell onto my neck!” The girl quickly pulled on the arm of someone besides her: “Help take a look for me!”

“Is it a bug?” Someone said half-jokingly and half-seriously: “In this kind of cave, perhaps the walls are covered with critters.”

Seeing that the girl who asked was almost scared into crying, Zhou Xingchen nudged the boy: “Enough. Don’t talk so much.”

The sound of water dripping and hitting the ground was mostly hidden by the sound of people. Chen Yue listened for a while: “It should be water. Use your phone to take a look with the flashlight.”

They’ve almost reached the center of the tunnel. In the pure darkness, they were almost unable to see the people around them.

After confirming it was water that landed on the girl, everyone continued to stride forward. Seeing Duan Jiayan immediately walking forward, Lu Xingci was worried Duan Jiayan would get lost, so he subconsciously grabbed his arm.

After grabbing him, he felt something was amiss. Just when he was about to let go, the person he grabbed turned back.

Duan Jiayan suddenly hooked his lip and grinned evilly. He leaned forward a little and spoke quietly: “If you’re scared, you can tell me secretly. I won’t laugh at you or tell others.”

In the dark, Lu Xingci could almost feel his warm breathing.

A trace of sweet pheromone leaked out. It’s flavour was faintly discernible, but it felt as fierce as its master, making it hard to ignore.

“Hm?” Duan Jiayan leaned in more: “Say something.”

Feeling the other’s anticipation, Lu Xingci felt somewhat unable to help laughing. Duan Jiayan was still focusing on him. Lu Xingci was silent for a moment before, as if it was the doings of ghosts and gods, saying: “Scared… probably.”

Duan Jiayan got the answer he wanted, turned his head and was about to share the secret with everyone: “The class president said he’s–“

Lu Xingci sharp-sighted and deftly covered his mouth.

“What?”

“What about Brother Lu?”

The mobile flashlights were almost shining over at them, so Lu Xingci softly said: “I’m fine. Please light the path.”

Seeing how others were so easily swayed away by Lu Xingci, Duan Jiayan widened his eyes incredulously: “MmMMmmMmm??” Son of a bitch??

Lu Xingci asked, sticking close to besides his ear: “Didn’t you say that you wouldn’t tell them? Did you trick me?”

When he spoke, his breath brushed against his ear. Such an intimate distance made Duan Jiayan want to break away from his arms reflexively: “MmmMMmMMmmmmm!!!” Fuck off!!!!

Lu Xingci noticed him struggling fiercely, knowing that if he continued to do so, Duan Jiayan’s face would be rubbed red because of him.

He looked away and felt his throat tightened.

“I’ll let you go. Don’t talk nonsense.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Duan Jiayan nodded quickly, however no matter how one looked at it, there was an evil look in his eyes.

Lu Xingci hesitated, but still let go. Duan Jiayan recovered his freedom, and immediately turned against him: “Lu–“

Already prepared, Lu Xingci pressed his hand back again.

Duan Jiayan had been caught twice and he itched to kick him. However, he wasn’t as strong as Lu Xingci. The latter pressed his hand over his mouth from behind with one hand. He was almost completely stuck inside the other’s embrace, with no strength to struggle at all.

“Is it fun?”

Duan Jiayan knew he was in the wrong, so he didn’t say anything.

It was a rare sight for him to behave himself. Suddenly, something occurred to Lu Xingci and he laughed.

The unidentified chuckle coupled with being in the pitch-black tunnel made Duan Jiayan feel like the person holding him was not his classmate, but more like a perverted homicidal maniac.

He heard Lu Xingci ask: “Why don’t we walk out like this?”

“…” Ha?

“Since I’m afraid. This will give me a sense of security. What do you think?”

“…” Are you crazy?!!

After all this torment, when Lu Xingci released him, Duan Jiayan was not in the mood to bother him.

He glared at Lu Xingci ferociously, but the latter didn’t say anything when he received his almost substantial vicious gaze.

Suddenly, Duan Jiayan reached out his hand.

“Take it.”

Lu Xingci looked at the too-fair arm that he could vaguely see in the dark tunnel and gave him a blank stare.

“Hold it. Aren’t you scared?” Duan Jiayan urged: “Quickly, they’ve already made a lot of distance.”

Lu Xingci noticed that he had been stretching out his hand, though a little impatient, he was still waiting for him.

He suspected that if he told Duan Jiayan the truth now, perhaps Duan Jiayan would directly rush forth and fight him.

He grabbed his wrist and put his fingers around it very discreetly. The moment his fingers wrapped around it, he was slightly stunned.

He didn’t expect that he could completely encircle Duan Jiayan’s wrist with one hand. Compared with an Alpha’s broad and sturdy arm, the wrist in his hand could almost be considered meager.

Duan Jiayan saw that he grabbed onto himself and lifted his leg to walk forward.

During the time when they were bickering with each other, the others had already walked a large distance. When they caught up with the rest, the atmosphere was relaxed, probably because they had adapted to the darkness.

Along the way, the sound of dripping water was particularly distinct.

Seeing that everyone was talking and laughing and that there was no atmosphere of exploration, Duan Jiayan blinked his eyes.

“Have you guys noticed that the water seems to be red?” Duan Jiayan pretended to smell his fingers and said: “Really, there seems to also be a smell of blood.”

After he said that, the person who was already a little scared answered: “I also wanted to say that the smell in this tunnel is strange.”

Song Yi was frightened by their words: “Xiao-Duan, don’t scare people on purpose.”

“Look up. I thought I was mistaken,” Duan Jiayan said: “but isn’t there something up there?”

“Fuck, Brother Duan, can you stop speaking?”

Duan Jiayan remained unmoved: “Ah, what is that?”

As he said that, he tugged lightly at Lu Xingci.

Lu Xingci heard Duan Jiayan use a quiet voice that only the two of them could hear: “Run.”

The moment he said that, Duan Jiayan pulled him: “There’s really–something–up–there–! JustkiddingLuXingciisadog!”

Lu Xingci: “…”

Lu Xingci was truly impressed so much so that he was speechless.

Seeing how they really started running, the frightened people followed them.

Their behaviour seemed to have pressed a button for the rest of the students. The students who were hesitating whether they should believe Duan Jiayan also more or less started running now.

It was unknown who but a girl finally screamed, unable to hold back.

“Ahhhhhhh–!!”

“Fuck fuck fuck!!”

“No, what are you guys running for?? What’s the running for??!!”

“Brother Lu also ran! Brother! Lu! Also! Ran! Why aren’t you also running?!”

This sentence was so convincing that Chen Yue, who had no intention of running originally, also hesitated when he heard it.

Lu Xingci ran as well?

After hesitating for a bit, Chen Yue stepped and rushed forward. The last few boys who didn’t run couldn’t stand still when they saw this.

Zhou Xingchen said anxiously: “Chen Yue, what are you getting scared for?! Whoever gets scared is the dog!”

Chen Yue yelled as he ran: “Laozi is just a dog! Even dog lives are important, don’t you know?!”

Zhou Xingchen was suddenly enlightened: “That makes sense! Wait for Laozi, Chen Yue!!”

Listening to the messy footsteps and screams behind him, Duan Jiayan tried so hard not to laugh that he almost caused an internal injury. If it weren’t for the help of Lu Xingci pulling him forwards, he might not have been able to hold on until he reached the end of the tunnel.

The moment he ran out of the tunnel, Duan Jiayan couldn’t hold on any longer and began to laugh wildly.

“Lu Xingci, what should be done now… hahahahaha… You really became a dog now… hahahahahahaha…”

Lu Xingci had no choice but to look at him. Meeting Duan Jiayan’s smiling gaze, he couldn’t help but also start smiling.

At first, he only curved his lips, however, the more he thought about it, the more funny it was. He lowered his head and his shoulders started trembling. Finally, he was unable to hold back a burst of hearty laughter.

When the students of class ten ran out, they saw these two people laughing.

Now everyone knew what was going on.

Zhou Xingchen taunted: “Duan Jiayan, you made such a fortune. It was such realistic acting.”

“And Brother Lu, what was up with you? Why didn’t you watch after this evil creature?”

The girls who ran out last were still in shock, patting their chests: “For real, I was almost scared to death by you. Although it was pretty fun…”

After laughing his fill, Duan Jiayan said to the girls: “Sorry. Who was the one who shrieked before? That really made the atmosphere.”

One of the girls pointed at herself and said: “That was the fear that evolved from the innermost corner of my heart.”

“Sister, you’re amazing.” After saying that, Duan Jiayan couldn’t help but laugh, and that girl also started laughing with him.

Suddenly, someone said: “It’s so beautiful.”

Following her gaze, the others looked one after another: “It’s actually already sunset.”

The exit of the tunnel was just facing the west of Ning City. When they ran out, they just caught up with the last wave of twilight.

The faint yellow sunset spread in the sky, sinking layer after layer into the clouds, like the mixture of orangish-red sea water.

It was both magnificent and rich.

The group gradually quieted down.

A girl was taking pictures. She couldn’t help but ask in a low voice: “Can we do this again after graduating?”

Her question was a little sensitive. The boys looked at each other and didn’t know what to say.

“Of course.” Duan Jiayan broke the silence and looked at the girl: “If I plan to play a scare again next time, I’ll let you know first.”

“I don’t want to be a dog next time.” Patting him on the shoulder, Lu Xingci asked, “can you be the dog yourself?”

“If you bark once, I’ll consider it.”

Laughter came from the group one after another.

The girl who asked the question looked at them, pursed her lips and smiled along with them.