TAHDO Chapter 75

So, Mr. Ji immediately did as he was told.

This clingy side of Liang Yan’s wouldn’t last forever once these few months were over, it would probably disappear.

But what made Ji Qiu’s heart race even more was the way Liang Yan addressed him.

Suppressing the wild joy bubbling inside him, he leaned forward as well, gently pressing the tip of his nose against Liang Yan’s before smiling.

“Mr. Ji says… as you wish.”

Every emotion that had built between them dissolved into a soft, lingering kiss.

The next morning, Ji Qiu left the house looking exceptionally refreshed.

With both love and life going his way, “Mr. Ji” practically radiated happiness as he headed to the genetic testing institute.

Without the formal clothes he’d worn during the livestream, the sharp, imposing aura he’d projected that day had disappeared. When he pushed open the office door, the staff almost didn’t recognize him.

“Mr. Ji, correct?”

Fortunately, his striking features were memorable enough. The staff member quickly recognized him and nodded politely.

“The genetic testing results for your partner and your friend are ready. We could have mailed them to you, but we thought you might have questions, so we asked you to come in personally. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

The words “Mr. Ji” and “your partner” instantly lifted Ji Qiu’s mood another level.

Fortunately, he managed to maintain his composure on the outside as he calmly followed the staff member into the office.

The deputy director of the genetics department, a relatively young man, received him.

Without wasting time, he handed Ji Qiu two thick, color-printed reports.

“We’ve verified everything. Take a look.”

As Ji Qiu flipped through the pages, the deputy director explained.

“The earlier results are all normal. They’re essentially identical to those of any healthy Omega.”

“The real issue is on the third page from the end.”

He picked up a standard report for comparison.

“Normally, inhibitors work by activating the inhibitory receptor of the C4 receptor. As antagonists, they suppress the biological activity responsible for heat.”

“But in the two samples you submitted, we discovered a mutation at the target site of this receptor gene.”

“Unfortunately, this mutation also affects the respiratory center, which explains the severe adverse reactions they experienced.”

“As for the 3.0 inhibitor…”

“They changed the target organ in an attempt to bypass this problem.”

“However, because the mutated receptor gene can also bind perfectly with the new compound, it actually becomes even more activated.”

“So instead of suppressing heat…”

“…Version 3.0 essentially functions as an aphrodisiac.”

The deputy director sighed.

“To put it simply, it’s a genetic mutation.”

“Our institute can only identify the cause—we can’t solve it.”

“We don’t perform many tests like this, and KB never informed us there might be issues with their inhibitors.”

“So everyone naturally assumed the medication was safe.”

He looked Ji Qiu in the eye.

“We’ve already sent copies of both reports to the Drug Regulatory Department.”

“We asked you to come because we wanted to hand these to you personally.”

“This wasn’t an especially complicated problem.”

“We just never imagined they’d be arrogant enough to completely ignore questionable test samples…”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Ji Qiu reread the reports over and over in the office before finally thanking him and preparing to leave.

“Oh, one more thing.”

The deputy director stopped him before he reached the door.

“We’ve recently received quite a few calls from Omegas with similar symptoms requesting genetic testing at their own expense.”

“So we’re planning to establish a dedicated genetic database for this receptor mutation.”

“If your partner and your friend agree…”

“…we’d like them to become part of the first group of registered cases.”

Ji Qiu stopped in his tracks and turned around.

“…Really?”

“I think they’d be willing.”

The middle-aged man smiled warmly.

Compared to the composed person everyone had seen on television, the young man standing before him was still just someone in his early twenties.

“Of course.”

“We’re a national research institution.”

“And once KB is officially ordered to stop developing these inhibitors…”

“…new research will inevitably begin.”

Watching Ji Qiu’s expression slowly change from surprise to joy, he spoke with emotion.

“It’s going to be a long process.”

“When that day comes…”

“…we’ll need people like you.”

He placed a reassuring hand on Ji Qiu’s shoulder.

“You’ve walked through darkness for so long.”

“It’s time to run in the sunlight.”

Something surged inside Ji Qiu’s chest.

In the end, he simply nodded firmly, bowed deeply once more, and said,

“Thank you.”

The official investigation order against KB was soon issued.

Yu Zhenghao happened to uncover evidence of the company’s previous scandals, turning what had initially been a temporary shutdown of one manufacturing plant into a complete suspension of operations and a mandatory investigation.

Rumor had it the executives were in total chaos.

Some even spread gossip claiming that a powerful official had secretly backed Ji Qiu’s actions to seek justice for his own daughter.

But regardless of the rumors, every one of KB’s planned projects was forced to stop.

The first batch of 3.0 inhibitors, which had been scheduled for clinical release, was completely recalled.

Since the scandal broke, KB’s stock price had continued to plummet.

The entire pharmaceutical industry was shaken.

Some celebrated.

Others despaired.

But what drew the most public attention was the discovery that there was an entire group of Omegas living with this condition.

As of now, over 60,000 Omegas nationwide had been identified with similar symptoms.

As more people became aware of the issue, Ji Qiu and the others no longer had to shoulder everything themselves.

More and more volunteers joined their cause.

Major news outlets began covering the story one after another.

Some even praised Liang Chen, calling him “the first person brave enough to speak out in support while everyone else remained lost in the fog.”

President Liang had something to say about that.

Yes, he had known the truth in advance.

Yes, he was very satisfied with Ji Qiu’s plan.

But that didn’t mean he wasn’t still angry.

He glared at the message Ji Qiu had sent him:

Dad, Dad, Dad! Yanyan and I won’t be coming home this week either! Please take good care of yourself! Thank you!!

President Liang silently vowed that the next time the two of them came over together, he would throw Ji Qiu straight into a hot pot and cook him alive.

The same day Ji Qiu received the reports, he tried to contact Xu Yishu to deliver his copy.

The call didn’t go through.

Instead, Jiang Xinglan called in a panic, hurried over to collect the report himself, and rushed off again with a deeply furrowed brow.

Watching his former romantic rival lose his usual composure amused Ji Qiu tremendously.

Humming what he jokingly called a “crematorium heartbreak song,” he packed up plenty of delicious snacks for Liang Yan and happily returned home.

Liang Yan was asleep, hugging his blanket.

But the moment he heard the front door open, he immediately sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes as he waited expectantly for the food.

Still half-asleep, the Omega looked at Ji Qiu standing in the doorway, blinking groggily as he quietly waited for him to come closer.

“Yanyan, come eat outside, okay? It’ll be easier to clean up if nothing gets spilled in here.”

Liang Yan took a moment to process what he’d said.

“Oh.”

Then he quietly refused.

“I don’t want to eat right now.”

Ji Qiu set the food down in the living room before returning.

“Not hungry? Or are you in a bad mood?”

Neither.

Without answering, Liang Yan—still wearing his little bear pajamas—wrapped his arms around Ji Qiu.

He just…

Wanted to be close to him.

Holding him made him feel safe.

Ji Qiu said nothing more and simply let him cling to him.

But before long, something felt off.

Normally, pregnancy made Liang Yan clingy.

He loved hugging him.

But…

He didn’t usually let his pheromones leak out while his body kept getting warmer.

Ji Qiu gently placed a hand against Liang Yan’s cheek and felt the heat in his skin, along with the warmth of his breathing.

Hesitantly, he asked,

“Yanyan… don’t tell me…”

“…your pregnancy heat has started?”

Pregnant Omegas didn’t experience regular heats, but they did go through something similar known as pregnancy heat.

The symptoms resembled a normal heat, except emotionally they became even more dependent on—and needed—their Alpha even more.

Liang Yan looked up at him, licked his lips lightly, and a faint mist gathered in his eyes.

He already knew what was happening.

“…Mm.”

Ji Qiu could feel Liang Yan’s pheromones filling the room, while his own instincts slowly responded in return.

Thinking it over, Ji Qiu said with an awkward smile,

“Judging by the timing… things should be stable enough by now. As long as we’re careful and don’t overdo it… it should be okay.”

Liang Yan’s face flushed even deeper.

“…You get such good grades just so you can memorize things like this?”

Ji Qiu lightly nipped his lower lip before leaning closer.

“I’m teasing you.”

“So…”

“…I’ll stop before we go all the way.”

Liang Yan rested quietly in his arms, his head against Ji Qiu’s shoulder as he breathed in the familiar scent surrounding him.

In truth…

He wanted to say that even if they did go all the way…

…he wouldn’t mind.

But even if he had ten mouths, he probably still wouldn’t be able to say those words aloud.

Ji Qiu carried him back onto the bed.

He had only just stood up to turn on the air conditioner when Liang Yan hugged him from behind.

Ever since becoming pregnant, Liang Yan felt as though he’d developed an endless craving for physical contact.

If he couldn’t hold Ji Qiu close or rub against him, he felt unbearably restless.

The moment Ji Qiu released his pheromones, Liang Yan’s legs went weak.

Whether it was simply an Omega’s instinct…

Or because he’d become so accustomed to relying on Ji Qiu…

He almost wanted to hang his entire body on him.

He wanted more.

He wanted to be completely enveloped in Ji Qiu’s presence.

At moments like this, Omegas naturally became especially gentle.

Under the influence of pheromones, they instinctively yielded, trusting their Alpha completely.

“Ji Qiu…”

Liang Yan called his name softly.

“I’m uncomfortable.”

“…Kiss me more.”

His own pheromones slowly spread through the air.

Parting his lips slightly, he breathed unevenly beneath Ji Qiu’s affectionate kisses before whispering,

“If we’re not going all the way…”

“…then bite me.”

Ji Qiu’s mark was a little painful this time, but Liang Yan barely noticed.

All he felt was that he was being held within the small space of Ji Qiu’s embrace, and the only thing he longed for was the pheromones slowly being infused into the gland at the back of his neck.

This marking lasted a little longer than usual.

Only when Ji Qiu worried that Liang Yan might become uncomfortable did he finally loosen his hold.

Liang Yan’s body was still limp and pliant as he rested against him, warm and quiet.

“Yanyan…” Ji Qiu called softly, wanting to turn and look at him.

But before he could, he suddenly felt something warm land on the back of his hand.

It seemed scorching hot…

Yet somehow, it also felt ice-cold.

Panic instantly gripped him.

He quickly looked at the Omega in his arms.

“Yanyan? Yanyan… what’s wrong?”

Liang Yan didn’t know what was happening to himself either.

He wasn’t particularly sad.

Nor did he feel wronged.

But simply looking at Ji Qiu made something swell painfully inside his chest.

There were so many words he couldn’t put together.

So many emotions he had no way of expressing.

Perhaps pregnancy really had made him strange.

For no reason at all, his nose stung with the urge to cry.

Silent tears slipped down his cheeks, one after another,

falling gently onto Ji Qiu’s hand…

and into his heart.

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