"I'm not doing it! Leave me alone!" Yibo shouted, his voice trembling slightly despite his best efforts to sound firm. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought to keep his tone steady.
He didn't want to show any sign of weakness, especially not now, when he was being pressured from all sides.
Even though he had already refused multiple times, their manager and his hyungs continued to push him, trying to convince him to follow the management's orders as if his resistance was just a childish outburst that would soon pass.
Xiang Xiu, the manager of Uniq and a female alpha, stood tall in front of him. One of her hands rested on her hip while the other hung stiffly by her side, her fingers slightly curled as if she was holding back the urge to reach out. Her sharp gaze was locked on Yibo, her brows furrowed deeply in frustration.
The usual calm and professional expression she wore was gone, replaced with something much softer… worry. It was obvious, even if she didn't say a word.
She was worried.
In fact, they all were.
The atmosphere in the room felt heavy, thick with unspoken tension. Yibo's stubborn refusal to obey was making everyone uneasy, but no one knew how to force him without making things worse. The youngest member of the group had always been strong-willed, but this time, his defiance wasn't just an act of rebellion, it was desperation.
Yibo lay curled up on the couch, his body drawn in tightly as if making himself smaller would somehow help ease the pain. His breathing was uneven, his face pale, and his forehead damp with sweat. His whole body trembled, muscles tense from the unbearable discomfort.
The omega pheromones pouring off of him were overwhelming, filling the room with an almost suffocating scent that even though his hyungs were all betas, they could still feel the effect of it, their bodies instinctively reacting to the intensity. It took effort just to remain standing without letting the thick atmosphere affect them too much.
His hyungs: Yixuan, Sungjoo, Wenhan, and Seungyeon, stood close by, their eyes filled with concern as they watched over him. None of them knew what to do, but they all wanted to help. They had been together for years, training side by side, sharing laughter, hardships, and dreams.
To see Yibo like this, so vulnerable and in pain, was difficult for them. Even though they couldn't fully understand what he was going through, they could imagine how unbearable it must be.
They knew he had been taking suppressants for a long time to avoid this exact situation, and now that they were no longer working, he had no way to stop what was happening.
The management had already made their decision clear. Now that the suppressants had lost their effectiveness, Yibo needed to let an alpha help him through his heat. It was, in their eyes, the most reasonable and necessary solution. They saw it as a simple problem with a simple answer.
But for Yibo, it wasn't that easy.
His body ached, his skin felt hot, and the discomfort ran deep into his bones. He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the whimper threatening to escape his lips. He didn't want to show weakness. He didn't want to give in.
The idea of letting an alpha take care of him during his heat made his stomach twist in discomfort. It wasn't just embarrassing, it was terrifying. The thought of being touched and subdued by someone while he's in his heat, of giving up control, made his whole body tense even more.
He didn't care if the management thought it was the best choice.
He didn't care if it was the only option they saw.
He wasn't going to agree to it.
His breathing grew heavier, his chest rising and falling rapidly as another wave of heat rolled through him. He gritted his teeth, gripping the couch cushion beneath him as he tried to push through the pain. He could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on him, waiting for him to break, waiting for him to finally give in.
But he wouldn't.
He couldn't.
Manager Xiang Xiu let out a deep sigh, shaking her head as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Yibo, this is for your own good. Can't you see how much pain you're in? The management is only trying to help you find a solution. You have so many performances and promotional shoots coming up. You can't afford to miss them just because you refuse to let an alpha take care of you," she said, her tone firm yet filled with concern.
Yibo's eyebrows drew together even more, his resistance clear in his expression.
He didn't want this.
He didn't need an alpha to take care of him.
He was about to argue, to tell her exactly that, but before he could even get the words out, Xiang Xiu interrupted him.
"You'll be the one to choose the alpha!" she insisted, her patience beginning to wear thin. "Stop being so stubborn. The management isn't forcing just anyone on you. They'll give you options, and you'll get to pick the one you feel most comfortable with."
Yibo fell silent, his mind drifting as he processed her words.
An alpha he felt comfortable with?
That was a tough one.
If he really thought about it, there weren't many alphas he could say he felt completely at ease with.
Aside from his father and his father's new wife, his stepmother, who happened to be a female alpha, he could only think of a handful of others. These were alphas who, like him, were heirs to powerful and wealthy families whom he became acquainted with due to their families being business partners. Because they came from a similar background, he never felt on guard around them.
But even then, all of them were already mated.
And that was the main reason he felt comfortable around them in the first place, they had never looked at him the way other alphas did.
At his young age, Yibo was already one of the most sought-after omegas. His natural beauty and graceful charm had made him the center of attention in the entertainment industry and beyond. Many alphas would do anything to claim him as their mate.
But the alphas he was used to being around?
They had no interest in him in that way.
To them, he wasn't the omega to chase after. He was simply someone they treated like a younger brother. And that was what made it easy for him to relax around them.
But wait. Speaking of brothers...
There was actually one alpha Yibo felt truly at ease with.
Someone who never made him feel nervous or uncomfortable. Someone he could spend time with without worrying about being pressured or forced into submission. Unlike most alphas, this person never tried to overpower him.
Yes. If he really had to choose... then maybe, just maybe, there was one alpha who fit that description.
The only alpha who always pampers him, gives in to his every little demand, protects him from harm, stands up for him no matter what, and makes him feel safe no matter the situation.
His stepbrother.
The young, incredibly talented, and unfairly handsome CEO of Xiao Corporation.
President Xiao Zhan.
His Zhan-ge.
Yibo closed his eyes, a small, unintentional smile appearing on his lips. He tried his best to block out the voice of their manager, who was still going on and on, scolding him about something he wasn't even paying attention to. He had more important things on his mind right now, and no amount of nagging could make him focus on anything else.
He was trying to make a decision.
A very difficult one.
His fingers twitched slightly against his knee as he thought about whether or not he should ask for the alpha's help. His mind was a mess, torn between hesitation and desperation. He knew Zhan would never refuse him, not once had he ever turned him away.
But this time, what he was about to ask for wasn't something simple. It wasn't like asking for a ride home, borrowing money, or even seeking comfort after a long day.
This was different.
Yibo wasn't even sure how he truly felt about his gege.
Sure, they got along well. More than well, actually. They had a special bond, one that others might not fully understand. They bickered constantly, throwing playful insults at each other, but it was always good fun. They teased each other relentlessly, sometimes flirting in a way that was supposed to be a joke but always left Yibo feeling a little too warm.
And despite all of that, Zhan always treated him with kindness and patience, never making him feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
But what about Zhan?
How would he react if Yibo suddenly asked him for this?
Would he hesitate?
Would he feel awkward?
Or… would he feel disgusted?
This wasn't something Yibo could take back once it was said. He was about to ask his stepbrother… his gege, to help him through his heat.
The thought alone made Yibo's breath hitch, his fingers clenching slightly before relaxing again. His entire body felt weak, his limbs heavy, and he knew he was running out of time.
If he didn't act soon, he wouldn't even have the strength to make the call.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, he reached into his pocket, his fingertips brushing against the smooth surface of his phone. He pulled it out slowly, his hands trembling slightly as he stared at the screen. His vision blurred for a moment, his body screaming at him to rest, but he forced himself to stay awake.
For a few minutes, he simply laid there, staring at his phone.
Doubt crept into his mind again.
Should he really do this?
Would it be too much?
But then another sharp wave of pain struck him, sending a shiver through his body. His breathing turned shallow, his lips parting slightly as he struggled to hold back a sound of discomfort. He didn't have a choice anymore.
With the little energy he had left, he unlocked his phone and scrolled weakly through his contacts, his thumb moving slower than usual. He wasn't looking for just any number, there was only one person he wanted to call right now.
The only one who could make him feel safe.
Before he could second-guess himself, he pressed the call button.
"What are you doing, Yibo? Did you even hear what I just said?" The sudden voice startled him slightly, making him blink. He turned his head toward Xiang Xiu, who was staring at him with frustration. But he didn't move from the couch.
He didn't even answer her.
Instead, he just looked at her with tired eyes, his expression weak and drained, before slowly lifting the phone to his ear.
The call had already gone through.
And it only took five seconds.
Five seconds… before a familiar voice filled his ears, calm yet firm.
"Yibo? What's wrong?" The moment he heard Zhan's voice, something inside him relaxed.
It was like a breath of fresh air, like a lifeline pulling him out of deep water.
His lips curled into a faint smile, but just as quickly, another sharp pain tore through him, making his whole body tense. He clenched his jaw, biting down on his lip to stop any sounds from slipping out, but it was hard. So, so hard.
His breathing was uneven now, his vision swimming slightly, but he forced himself to stay strong, at least for a little longer.
Summoning the last bit of strength he had left, he whispered, "Zhan-ge… come get me, please."