Pei Siyou is a Beta who can't smell any pheromones. Even though the Pei family brought him back because of his engagement, his gloomy appearance still makes him universally disliked.
Despite that, he is happy to be reunited with his biological parents. But just after he follows them through the door, his biological older brother coldly walks down the stairs and says, "Don't bring some irrelevant person back to get in Aran's way."
He studies hard, carefully trying to give his family the very best, only to be discarded like trash.
His father thinks he's inferior to the Omega adopted son, his mother despises his gauche behavior, and his older brother thinks he's crude. Even his fiance looks on coldly.
With the Pei family's tacit approval, anyone can come along and kick him down, putting him beneath the dust.
He is ostracized at school, too. His classmates avoid him like the plague, and anything he's touched seems to need three days and nights in disinfectant.
They mock Pei Siyou in front of the popular student who has just transferred back from abroad. Their vicious words fall on his ears until his nerves go numb.
Unlike his gloomy self, this person is a born favorite of fortune. His handsome face makes him welcome everywhere, and yet he's also Pei Siyou's new roommate.
No one would ever think the two of them had anything to do with each other.
Until the tip of his nose catches a trace of Enigma pheromones.
Faint and crisp, but wonderfully fragrant.
And so close he could almost touch them.
Pei Siyou looks up without meaning to and meets the newcomer's amused gaze. The man is staring straight at him.
The powerful presence unique to an Enigma hits him, making it hard to breathe. His pupils contract, and fear creeps into his eyes. He turns to flee on instinct, only for the man to pull him into his arms.
The other's warm breath falls on the skin of his neck, sending a shiver through him.
Pei Siyou stiffens as he feels the arms around his waist tighten until he can barely breathe.
Then a soft laugh sounds beside his ear. The man's voice drops, lazy and drawling. "Teacher Pei, it's been years. How did you end up so pitiful?"
It is clearly meant to mock him, yet Pei Siyou's eyes suddenly redden. He grits his teeth and holds back his tears. "...Let go."
He struggles frantically to break free, but the man holds him even more firmly, then bites hard into the gland at the back of his neck.
The familiar scent, uniquely his own, floods into him in an instant. His legs go weak and he nearly drops to his knees, but the man catches him and holds him up.
The man seems to sigh, his voice tinged with tenderness.
"Didn't you say you'd be better off without me?"
.
Xu Wenxuan received tutoring from Pei Siyou for two years while studying in Rongcheng.
He was rebellious and wouldn't listen to anyone, giving even his family a headache.
But, to everyone's surprise, this newly hired tutor was the only person who could keep him in line.
Outsiders thought Pei Siyou was simply that capable. No one knew that Xu Wenxuan had actually discovered his secret.
Pei Siyou looked cold and taciturn, but was surprisingly obedient. Whether it was a kiss or some other command, he would do as he was told.
What annoyed Xu Wenxuan was that he couldn't smell his pheromones.
But that was all right.
His lowered eyes darkened as he thought:
Then I'll keep going until he can smell them.
Reader's note:
1. Enigma x Beta
2. Neither lead is perfect
Theme: Hide away, and don't let fate find you
