CHAPTER 8 : OLD TALE: BLOOMING

Zedong was confused and asked, "Excuse me, Sir, did we meet somewhere?"

The man laughed and took his smoke pipe by his sleeves, he lit it up using the torch by the wall.

"Depends on you," he said

Zedong became more confused.

"Need some help?" the man offered

Zedong immediately refused, "I'm okay Sir. Thank you." he then turned and went to the back door to take the trash out but the man also followed him.

"Do you remember the moment you were on sale on the market? With two more servants?" the man started, leisurely following him

That made Zedong stop and turn to him, his eyes widened, "You...." that merchant who's working in an alpha-producing organization!

The man immediately noticed his expression and smiled, "Bingo!"

But Zedong isn't pleased and steps away from him, "What do you want?" he asked warily.

But the man just laughed and took the smoking pipe on his mouth, "I'm Gun Xi, the doctor in charge for the Alpha-producing Organization and yours?"

Zedong didn't reply.

Gun Xi just smiled and said, "I'm a retired one by the way."

He continued, "Those two servants I brought died many years ago, due to intense experimentation taking their alpha cells until they dried out resulting in them to acquire the different disease."

"I retired after their death," he added

Zedong was terrified both on the information and how the man leisurely talked it out.

"Lucky you, you survived." he exhaled, white smoke coming out from his mouth and nose.

"So how're your pheromones?"

Zedong didn't want to engage in a conversation with him but this is something that piqued his attention, "D-Do you know something?"

"Of course! A lot of failed experimentations are like you, becoming half and half. It's not new anymore." The man leaned on the wall, the outside breeze brushing on their skin.

"And I could smell that you're state didn't change since last time. Maybe you haven't fallen in love yet or, haven't found your mate." He said

Zedong finally let go of his guard and asked, "Why? What will happen if I fall in love or...found my mate?"

The man inhaled his pipe and blew the white smoke to Zedong, "Your identity will finalize, if you mated with an omega, you'll be his alpha and when you mated with an alpha, you'll be an omega."

Zedong didn't mind his situation since the moment he got experimented but he didn't know it was like this, "So you mean..."

"Yes, it's solely base on your mate. That's why you're a failed experiment, your cells got altered, even mutation occurred, I don't know exactly." Gun Xi explained

Zedong finally understood, he was once an omega but haven't experienced heat or any symptoms after he got experimented.

So that means that currently, he's still an alpha.

"Young man don't get contented yet, some twists may happen." The man said

Then suddenly, the backdoor swung open.

Their heads turned just to see a familiar figure.

Yu Yan.

But Yu Yan has an ice-cold stare as he stares at them.

"Y-Yu Yan! Why are you here?" Zedong was surprised since at the current hour before midnight, a celebratory feast for the musicians were served in one of the VIP room upstairs.

Yu Yan didn't answer him.

But Gun Xi just smiled teasingly, "A dominant omega I must say." he said staring at Yu Yan's icy glare which Zedong didn't notice at all.

He laughed and patted Zedong before walking out.

Zedong had a lot of questions and query but the man just left like that.

"You." Yu Yan turned to glare at him.

Zedong gulped and turned towards him, "Y-Yes."

"Do you wear any scents? Specifically, magnolia scent," he asked him, eyes cold

Zedong nervously replied, "N-No."

Yu Yan frowned deeper as if he couldn't believe him.

"I-I-I don't wear any and I'm not fond of wearing." he defended himself thinking that Yu Yan lost a scent and is questioning him because he's a suspect.

As if reading his mind, Yu Yan cleared, "I am just curious since you're robe smelt like Magnolia." he said and turned away.

Zedong was confused but soon sighed in relief, he really couldn't take to having a conversation with a noble person.

....

Morning came and Zedong was tasked to become Xun Xi's assistant of the day again.

"Come, come, massage my shoulders, it's been aching for days and that stupid monkey didn't know how to do things properly," he complained lying on the bed with his inner robe hanging loosely on his elbow.

His pure white and jade shoulders were exposed to air.

"Do it right Zedong!" Xun Xi warned

"Alright, alright." Zedong took the ointment and rubbed it on his palms. He then spread his legs on Xun Xi's waist so that he can massage his back and shoulders.

"Ugh...that's nice." Xun Xi indulged as Zedong immediately found the aching spot.

"Harder..." he mumbled

"I think you should take off all of your clothes," Zedong suggested

"Alright...." he mumbled, his face buried on the soft bedsheets.

Zedong then helped him to take them off when suddenly, Xun Xi's door banged open.

Their heads abruptly turned in its direction just to see a very familiar figure.

"Yu Yan?" Zedong asked

He kept appearing, by the door.

Yu Yan had a usual cold and unmoved expression but his current expression was more terrifying than ever.

Zedong involuntarily gulped.

"Ah? Why are you here Mr. Ice Queen? Wanna get some massage?" Xun Xi spoke

Yu Yan's glare intensified and flipped his sleeves away as he exclaimed, "Shameless!" then walked away just like that.

The two stared at each other and both shrugged.

But these kind of moments weren't just coincidental because every time Zedong do some works in Xun Xi's room or even assist the beauty for a whole day, Yu Yan will appear from time to time, glaring but wouldn't utter a word.

Zedong didn't notice any abnormalities because he just thought that Yu Yan was just bored or irritated on how they do things.

One morning, when he was tasked to take some herbs from the place he usually goes to, an idea popped inside his head.

He walked towards the second floor, braced himself, and knocked on Yu Yan's room.

It took a long while before the door finally opened.

"G-Good Morning!" Zedong greeted Yu Yan who had just woken up, hair messy and his swollen, reddish face from the sleep was something to behold.

But hearing his voice made the other go stiff and shut the door close again.

Zedong panicked, "U-Uh, Yu Yan---"

"Wait a minute!" Yu Yan called inside

Another long time passed before the door opened again but now, Yu Yan was dressed beautifully, his hair half-tied and is completely refreshed. He also noticed that the man wore some beautifully carved pins on his hair today which added to his elegant and noble features.

Zedong was stunned again.

"What is it." Yu Yan asked, looking sideways, fingers playing on a strand of his long hair.

Zedong smiled nervously, "Uh, I... I am going to pluck some herbs this morning and I... The place I'm going to has a lot of magnolia trees. A lot, lot of them so...if you would like...."

He thought it thoroughly and seeing that the beauty somewhat liked magnolia since he once mentioned it, he wanted to invite him so that he can also refresh his mind and to also befriend him.

But Yu Yan didn't respond, he just stared at Zedong with an unreadable expression.

"Well, if you don't---"

"Okay, I'll go."