Chapter 7: I Have Rights

Ran Ting’s ears were particularly sensitive. Feeling Jie Zhishen’s light breath against them made him jolt up from the carpet as if scalded, his earlobes flushing crimson at visible speed while a faint pink hue spread across his neck.

Jie Zhishen looked up at him: What’s wrong?

Jie Zhishen! Ran Ting snapped angrily. You insulting me alone is one thing, but this world definitely has more omegas than just me. Do you not think it’s excessive to insult all omegas just to target me?

Oh, right. Jie Zhishen responded half a beat slower. Then I’m sorry.

It wasn’t that he personally believed this – rather, the world truly operated this way. Every word in the biology textbooks implied that omegas were born to be played with by alphas, mere accessories to alphas. He had simply conveyed this to Ran Ting using concise words and straightforward language.

If Ran Ting couldn’t even accept this, how could he possibly accept having a reproductive cavity inside his body? Or even the potential for pregnancy.

Though the pregnancy probability was minimal, since one person couldn’t get pregnant anyway.

Ran Ting genuinely felt insulted. He wanted to kick something over to express his fury, but aside from Jie Zhishen’s indifferent face, there were only those comic books around. He couldn’t bear to damage the comics, so he bottled up his anger and stormed toward the door, shoving his feet into shoes before slamming the door with a loud BANG! that made the wall hanging shake.

Jie Zhishen didn’t pursue him, resting his cheek on one hand, unable to comprehend Ran Ting’s reaction.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t his concern anyway.

He had no reason to comfort someone he disliked.

The next day, Ran Ting woke up in his own bed.

His first action upon opening his eyes was to touch the gland on the back of his neck.

Still there.

The blocking patch Jie Zhishen had applied yesterday remained properly adhered, though he faintly detected traces of his own pheromones – probably because the blocking patch’s effectiveness had worn off.

Ahhhhhhh—

Ran Ting irritably ruffled his hair. Why am I still in this world!

He lay stiffly in bed for a while before reluctantly getting up.

Whether he returned or not, life had to go on.

Ran Ting followed his usual routine of washing up, boiling eggs and steaming bread while packing his bag and changing shoes as he chewed breakfast. Only when reaching the doorway did he remember the blocking patch on his neck had expired.

Ran Ting retreated inside.

Both boxes of blocking patches he bought yesterday were left at Jie Zhishen’s place. Now he had no replacements.

Damn, he was the one who paid for them! All given freely to that bastard!

What to do, what to do? Now that he understood pheromones were private, going out like this was practically equivalent to streaking!

After pacing in the entryway for a while, Ran Ting suddenly paused.

Since his ID and textbooks could automatically transform in this world, then as an omega, his home should probably have blocking patches or similar items… right?

Ran Ting pulled open the bedside drawer.

Holy shit—there really was.

His heart leapt with joy as he grabbed the box labeled ‘Inhibitor Patch’ and tore it open, only to find it empty.

When you’re unlucky, does even drinking water get stuck between your teeth? This was an used-up box.

But this was his home – who had used them?

Wait, before asking that question, shouldn’t he first trace back to who bought them?

Endless complications, such a headache.

Ran Ting casually tossed the empty inhibitor patch box, his attention caught by several syringes lying beneath it.

Inside a transparent disposable packaging bag lay a syringe and a small glass vial. Printed on the vial were three characters, which Ran Ting murmured aloud: Inhibitor…

Without any suppressant patches, Ran Ting didn’t want to be stared at like a pervert again like yesterday, nor did he want to endure the professor’s sarcastic remarks, and even less did he want Li Zheng to think he was deliberately releasing pheromones to seduce him.

Enough hesitation.

Gritting his teeth, Ran Ting tore open the syringe packaging, clumsily drew the liquid from the vial into the syringe, and jabbed it directly into a vein in his arm.

After injecting the medication, a sharp pain spread from the injection site, and his head felt slightly dizzy. But the effect was immediate—he could no longer detect that annoying sweet fragrance.

Finally at ease, he headed out.

When he arrived at the classroom listed on his schedule, Ran Ting’s gaze immediately collided with Jie Zhishen’s from the first row the moment he stepped inside.

He had a strong suspicion that Jie Zhishen had been staring at the doorway the whole time.

Ran Ting glared at him, rolled his eyes exaggeratedly, and deliberately took a long detour to sit beside Li Zheng.

Jie Zhishen’s eyes swept over him indifferently, and for no reason, four words popped into his mind: Still not over it.

The thought startled even himself. Applying those words to Ran Ting felt utterly wrong no matter how he looked at it.

He and Ran Ting had been rivals for over three years. Just seeing the other’s face was enough to ruin his entire day. Let alone getting over it—if his anger didn’t escalate further, that was already a good outcome.

Jie Zhishen snorted coldly and averted his gaze.

Oh my god, Ting-ge! Li Zheng wailed dramatically. Finally, I can’t smell your pheromones anymore! Do you have any idea how terrified I was yesterday? Wuwuwu!

That tone, that foolishness—it was the same old Li Zheng he knew.

But ultimately, it wasn’t his Li Zheng.

At that thought, the feeling of confusion and rootlessness surged in Ran Ting’s chest again, weighing heavily on him.

What’s wrong, Ting-ge? Li Zheng asked with concern, noticing his pale expression. Are you feeling unwell?

Ran Ting shook his head and casually asked, Li Zheng, you’re an alpha?

…Ting-ge, what’s with that disbelieving tone? Li Zheng’s fragile ego was deeply wounded. I’m a pure alpha! Not a single trace of impurity!

In this world, even his bro’s gender was different from his.

But he still hadn’t figured out the exact differences between alphas and omegas, and that bastard Jie Zhishen hadn’t explained it clearly either.

Perhaps due to the inhibitor, Ran Ting’s head grew heavy during the latter half of the class, and the gland on the back of his neck felt faintly warm, accompanied by a burning ache.

Were the side effects of this inhibitor really this severe?

He forced himself to sit through the entire lecture. Just as he was about to slump over the desk to catch his breath, Li Zheng invited him to play basketball.

Ran Ting figured he had nothing else to do, and being alone would only lead to overthinking, so he let Li Zheng drag him along.

As the two reached the doorway, Jie Zhishen blocked their path.

What’s your problem? Li Zheng instinctively stepped in front of Ran Ting, tilting his nose arrogantly. Here to pick another fight with Ting-ge?

Jie Zhishen, who hadn’t even had a chance to open his mouth: …

Jie Zhishen, can you even call yourself an alpha? Bullying an omega? Do you feel proud winning a fight against an omega? Li Zheng rattled on, machine-gunning criticisms at Jie Zhishen, and finished with, Forget usual days, but on Ting-ge’s birthday, you didn’t even know when to back off?

Ran Ting quickly interjected, I don’t need him to go easy on me.

The consequence of asking Jie Zhishen to yield was met with a cold Why should I?

Oh right! Li Zheng immediately corrected himself, stiffening his neck as he declared, Our Brother Ting doesn’t need you to yield.

Jie Zhishen listened quietly as the two exchanged words, only speaking up unhurriedly after they finished: The hospital sent a text—the physical exam results are out. Want to come with me to get them?

Physical exam results? Li Zheng glanced at Ran Ting. Brother Ting, are you unwell? When did you get a check-up?

Ran Ting gave an ambiguous Mhm, avoiding Jie Zhishen’s gaze as he said, I can go by myself.

But I believe I have the right to know your exam results.

After all, they were now of the same kind, yet of different genders in this world. The medical report could help him understand this world better—the more he understood, the more likely they were to find a way back.

Li Zheng’s eyes darted between the two. Wait, what? What does that mean? Why does Jie Zhishen have the right to know your exam results, Brother Ting?

Just as Ran Ting was about to respond, a wave of nausea suddenly surged up his throat. He retched dryly, then covered his mouth and shoved past Jie Zhishen, dashing toward the restroom.

Jie Zhishen frowned and followed after him.

Li Zheng stood frozen in place.

What… did that mean?

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