Pheromone Deficiency Syndrome chapter 5

Wind Chime Grass

Baidi Star was quite far from G6 Star, taking a day and night to reach its destination. In the afternoon, Gu Jinyi went to the lounge to take a nap and woke up in the middle of the night. He then put on his headphones to watch videos.

It was unclear whether it was because he was now with Xie Huaizhou, but he randomly scrolled and came across an interview about Xie Huaizhou.

As the youngest and most handsome family head among the noble families, Xie Huaizhou rarely appeared in public. Nevertheless, he had considerable popularity in the empire, and even his silence and few words became sexy traits, being confessed by countless Omegas.

But he seemed to be thoroughly single-minded, not even having a single scandal in all these years.

Gu Jinyi glanced at the lounge beside him. He knew Xie Huaizhou was there.

Out of curiosity, he clicked on the video.

The main content of the host’s interview with Xie Huaizhou was about the recent investment of the Xie family in new energy industries. However, in the last ten minutes, he suddenly asked about private matters.

“Mr. Xie, our backstage staff has received many letters from numerous omegas and betas, all eager to know your requirements for a partner. Would you be willing to answer?” The host showed Xie Huaizhou a screen where Xie Huaizhou had been elected as the most desired alpha in a magazine with an astonishingly high vote count. “This fanbase is truly amazing. It’s great to be liked by so many people.”

Xie Huaizhou glanced at the host, and a look of disdain was evident from the corner of his eye. It seemed he had no intention of answering the question.

But after some thought, he inexplicably changed his mind.

“I have no requirements for a partner,” Xie Huaizhou said as he twirled a ruby red signet ring on his hand, the crimson color shining. “But I hope he doesn’t dislike the pancakes I make.”

As he said this, he even briefly smiled, a smile that quickly disappeared, tinged with a hidden sadness.

But it was indeed a smile.

The host was stunned, just because of this smile and the words he said, the program’s ratings could soar.

The host vaguely felt that Xie Huaizhou had something more to say in his words, and this so-called “requirement” seemed more like referring to a specific person.

But before he could inquire further, Xie Huaizhou didn’t give him the chance, abruptly ending the interview.

The video also abruptly ended here, and the host’s scenes afterward were edited out by the uploader.

Gu Jinyi scrolled down again, and sure enough, the comments section of this video was exploding.

Omegas from across the empire had yet another reason to like Xie Huaizhou—a man who, in this age of convenience, would still personally cook. How rare!

Gu Jinyi couldn’t help feeling a strange sensation. This alpha, who was being coveted by the entire empire, had inadvertently become his partner. Although only in name as a contractual partner, it didn’t mean that countless omegas wouldn’t want to sign up for it.

But he didn’t dwell on it. After watching the video for a while, he felt tired and fell asleep with his head covered.

When the aircraft arrived at Baidi Star, it was already night.

Gu Jinyi looked down from high above, taking in the entirety of the Xie family estate.

As a collection of wealth accumulated over generations, the Xie family resembled a beautiful yet stern fortress. Just one glance could conjure images of the nobility residing within.

But what Gu Jinyi saw first was the vast expanse of wind chime grass occupying a large garden.

This was a flower he liked very much. There were many of them planted in Chu Xiaonian’s garden, visible whenever he raised his head when tired from work.

However, this flower was neither expensive nor rare. Very few gardeners would make it the centerpiece; it was mostly used as an embellishment.

Yet the Xie family had chosen to do the opposite, extensively featuring wind chime grass. Looking out, it seemed to cover the earth, with varieties of white, blue, and pale pink intertwining, gently swaying in the night breeze like little bells.

Chu Xiaonian, nestled in his arms, also saw it and pointed below, saying, “Daddy, it’s the wind chime grass you like.”

This sentence caught the attention of Xie Huaizhou across from them.

Xie Huaizhou also glanced out the window and asked Gu Jinyi, “Do you like this flower?”

Gu Jinyi nodded, “Yes, when I was young, my mother often bought them and put them in the living room.”

In fact, there was another reason why he liked wind chime grass, but there was no need to explain it to Xie Huaizhou.

Xie Huaizhou didn’t ask further.

In the meantime, the aircraft had already landed steadily on the tarmac.

The Xie family’s butler and the household staff were already waiting outside.

They all knew that Xie Huaizhou was going to G6 Star to pick up the future “madam” of the Xie family. So, although they appeared serious on the surface, they couldn’t help but be a little curious.

After all, over the years, they had never seen any omega set foot in the main residence of the Xie family. Now, their master had silently brought one back, and it was said that this omega was also previously married with a child.

This was too intriguing.

The maids approached with standard and stiff smiles, but their eyes secretly glanced at Gu Jinyi’s face.

And when they turned around, a few of them exchanged a quick glance, accurately understanding each other’s thoughts—no wonder the master was so eager to bring this person back. To be able to marry such a beauty, who would care about family background and status anymore!

Tsk tsk tsk, indeed, even the most indifferent Alpha couldn’t resist a beautiful and gentle omega.

The butler respectfully bowed to both Xie Huaizhou and Gu Jinyi before leading them inside. As they walked, he reported to Xie Huaizhou, “The rooms are ready, and the staff to serve the Young Master are all in place.”

Xie Huaizhou trusted the butler’s competence, but finding suitable and absolutely safe staff was not easy. He almost got kidnapped by a tutor when he was a child. So, he reiterated, “Remember to verify their identities.”

After saying this, he took Gu Jinyi’s hand again and walked inside, noticing Gu Jinyi’s struggle to carry Chu Xiaonian with one hand. So, he lifted Chu Xiaonian onto his own arm.

Chu Xiaonian had never been carried by such a tall alpha before. Most of the people he interacted with were either omegas or betas. Now, being effortlessly held by Xie Huaizhou, he felt like he had acquired a new toy.

“Uncle, you’re so tall,” he looked up at Xie Huaizhou with bright eyes. “Will I be this tall in the future?”

Xie Huaizhou glanced at Chu Xiaonian. Chu Xiaonian had not yet undergone differentiation, so he didn’t know which type of ABO he would be in the future.

“Perhaps,” he gave a vague answer.

After dinner, Chu Xiaonian was taken to his room to inspect his territory, while Gu Jinyi followed Xie Huaizhou upstairs.

His room was arranged next to Xie Huaizhou’s room.

Although they were two separate rooms, they were actually connected as a suite, with a common living room in the middle

But even such a room was not where Gu Jinyi normally lived.

“Please, take a seat,” Xie Huaizhou gestured for Gu Jinyi to sit on the sofa.

He turned around to pour a cup of hot milk for him, adding honey to it, while he himself drank tea.

He also sat down.

“The doctor should have told you that the more you interact with me, the more beneficial it is to my condition,” Xie Huaizhou took a sip of tea, his pale lips gaining a touch of color. “So, your room is just a lounge for you, providing you with a private space. At night, you still have to sleep with me. And if I need contact such as hugs, you can’t refuse.”

“I understand.”

These were clearly stated in the regulations, and Gu Jinyi was mentally prepared long ago. In fact, Xie Huaizhou could have waited for the Chu family and the Gu family to crush him completely before appearing in a benevolent manner, demanding him to surrender his gland.

But Xie Huaizhou didn’t.

Just for this, Gu Jinyi was already grateful.

Xie Huaizhou paused for a moment before adding, “During our marriage, I won’t restrict any of your freedoms. You can work, socialize, travel, do whatever you want. If you need my help, you can also tell me.”

This exceeded Gu Jinyi’s expectations.

Considering Xie Huaizhou’s condition, he as an important “medicine,” it would be best for him to be on standby 24/7, following Xie Huaizhou’s every move.

But unexpectedly, Xie Huaizhou was willing to give him freedom…

“Thank you,” Gu Jinyi almost wanted to give Xie Huaizhou a “Good Person Card,” but he restrained himself.

He took a sip of milk, which was already warm, with a light and sweet taste, just to his liking.

Xie Huaizhou’s gaze, however, fell on Gu Jinyi’s hand holding the cup. He noticed that Gu Jinyi had not been wearing a wedding ring all along, and his fingers were bare. On the other hand, in various photos taken of Chu Miyun, there was always a plain platinum ring on her hand.

But he thought Gu Jinyi’s fingers were very beautiful, and wearing a ring would probably look good on him.

Everything that needed to be explained had been explained, but Xie Huaizhou seemed to have no intention of going to bed yet. The two sat in silence for a while.

After a while, Gu Jinyi cautiously asked, “So tonight, where should I sleep?”

He didn’t know if he was supposed to fulfill the contract tonight.

Xie Huaizhou’s thumb rubbed against the porcelain cup.

“For these few days, you can sleep in your own room to get used to it.”

Gu Jinyi breathed a sigh of relief.

Apart from Chu Xiaonian, he hadn’t shared a bed with anyone for many years, especially not with such a powerful and unfamiliar alpha. He really needed to prepare himself mentally.

But he soon saw Xie Huaizhou standing up and walking towards him.

Xie Huaizhou was very tall, and his standing shadow almost enveloped Gu Jinyi entirely.

Gu Jinyi then caught a whiff of the sea breeze. The aggressive S-class alpha pheromones were highly invasive. Even if Xie Huaizhou did nothing, his pheromones were like a dormant beast, impossible to ignore.

Gu Jinyi didn’t know what Xie Huaizhou was about to do, so he raised his head a bit bewildered.

But soon he found out.

Xie Huaizhou’s fingers gently pinched his chin, the fingers were cold, just like himself.

But his kiss was warm.

Xie Huaizhou kissed his forehead, pure like a bedtime fairytale, fleeting.

Compared to the stiff Gu Jinyi, Xie Huaizhou seemed relaxed and natural.

“I hope you can adapt quickly. This time it’s the forehead, but you should know that I won’t always give you goodnight kisses,” Xie Huaizhou said.

Gu Jinyi understood his implication and blushed uncontrollably.

He nodded shyly, “I know.”

Xie Huaizhou took two steps back. “Goodnight.”

The lights in the living room went out.

Gu Jinyi returned to his room, locked the door, and collapsed onto the bed like a deflated balloon.

Because he was still immersed in the shock of what had just happened, he didn’t realize that this room was completely arranged according to his preferences.

He touched his forehead; the sensation of that kiss seemed to linger there.

He had never been so clear about it until today: his future was tightly intertwined with an alpha.

His life had been completely rewritten, starting from this moment.

On the other side, Xie Huaizhou also returned to his room. Just as he undid his cuffs, removed his tie, the hologram on the table beeped.

He glanced at it, and his cousin Xie Ke’s silly face eagerly popped up.

Xie Huaizhou had quite a few relatives in his generation, but only Xie Ke had a good relationship with him since childhood, so Xie Huaizhou’s tolerance for him was always higher than others.

Considering that he had recently delegated some of his work to Xie Ke, Xie Huaizhou patiently pressed the answer button.

As expected, as soon as the holographic call connected, Xie Ke was shouting on the other end.

“Xie Huaizhou, you heartless jerk, finally answered the phone,” Xie Ke complained indignantly. “Do you know where I am? I’m still working in the Xie Group building at this hour. Doesn’t your conscience ache a bit?”

Xie Huaizhou coldly buttoned up his robe, “No, speak quickly, or I’ll hang up.”

“Don’t hang up, don’t hang up,” Xie Ke squinted mischievously from the holographic screen, glanced around Xie Huaizhou’s room, but didn’t see the figure he wanted to see or any personal belongings of an omega, and wondered, “Strange, where’s my in-law? Didn’t you rush to G6 star today to pick him up?”

Xie Huaizhou paused for a moment, “He’s sleeping next door.”

“Huh??” Xie Ke doubted his own ears.

Damn, why did he work until midnight? Wasn’t it because he sympathized with his cousin Xie Huaizhou being single for so many years and finally getting out of singlehood that he selflessly shared the workload?

But now Xie Huaizhou told him that his newly appointed in-law was sleeping next door.

“Xie Huaizhou, are you kidding me…?” Xie Ke’s face contorted, “If you need, I can recommend a doctor to you, really, don’t be shy.”

Xie Huaizhou instantly retorted: “Get lost!”

Xie Ke rolled his eyes.

“No, are you kidding me? You’ve been secretly in love with him for so many years. Now that you’ve finally managed to win him over, why aren’t you taking the opportunity to develop your relationship? What kind of man are you?” Xie Ke felt like he was preaching, “Moreover, you really are sick. Oh, I’m not insulting you, but you know how severe your condition is.”

Xie Huaizhou fell silent for a moment.

When his condition had flared up in the past, Xie Ke had run around like a headless chicken trying to help him.

Xie Huaizhou sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette.

“I don’t want to scare him. He knows nothing about me. To him, I’m just a strange and dangerous alpha,” Xie Huaizhou retorted, “Would you like someone who forces you into marriage? Especially just two months after your partner’s death.”

Xie Ke was speechless and muttered, “Usually, when it comes to snatching business deals, you don’t have this much integrity. Yet, when faced with Gu Jinyi, you suddenly become so principled.”

But he couldn’t do anything about Xie Huaizhou, so he just scratched his head irritably.

“Suit yourself, I can’t help you with your love life,” he grumbled, but after a moment he chuckled,, “So when are you going to introduce him to me? I’m really looking forward to meeting him. Do you want me to put in a good word for you then?”

Xie Huaizhou flicked the ash from his cigarette, “Shut up. If you dare to talk nonsense in front of him, I’ll kill you.”

Xie Ke clicked his tongue. Love-struck alphas were indeed unreasonable, even to their beloved younger brothers.

But after pausing for a moment, he realized that Xie Huaizhou was not having an easy time either.

He had only found out last year that Xie Huaizhou had been silently in love with an Omega all this time, and what’s worse, that Omega was already married. Just thinking about it made him sympathize with his cousin.

“Ge,” his tone became serious, “Congratulations, you finally got what you wanted.”

But Xie Huaizhou didn’t respond.

Got what he wanted?

He remembered the day at the Chu family’s villa four years ago, when Gu Jinyi was exchanging rings with Chu Miyun — dressed in a well-fitted white suit, elegant and noble, like a budding white rose, so beautiful that people couldn’t forget it with just one glance.

Even the guests couldn’t help but look at him a few more times, secretly lamenting Chu Miyun’s good fortune.

And he, sitting at the most special table, the most distinguished guest present, remained cold-faced, only watching from afar as Gu Jinyi and Chu Miyun exchanged rings.

No one knew that at that moment, he was thinking — what if he just took this omega away in front of everyone?

No one could stop him.

Even if Chu Miyun staked the entire Chu family, it would just be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

He could have hidden this omega away, placed him on a planet only he could find, and made him smile only at him.

But in the end, he did nothing.

He quietly observed the entire wedding and then returned to Baidi Star alone.

It was also that year that his garden suddenly became filled with wind chime grass.

Author’s Note:

When I wrote this, I looked up the meaning of wind chime grass and found it very suitable for Xie Huaizhou – gentle love and jealousy.