The ride home was swift as the driver almost made the car fly, anxious just like everyone else.
No one dared waste a second while their Young Master was left in such visible distress, each moment passing without care only adding to their uneasiness.
And as soon as they arrived at the Wang estate, Xiao Zhan composed himself, setting aside the tension that gripped his chest.
Without waiting for help, he swiftly gathered Yibo in his arms and carried him inside.
His voice raised halfway through the corridor as he barked vague but urgent instructions to the staff. "Bring what's needed! I don't care what—just hurry!"
The specifics hardly mattered.
Everyone understood what to do.
Whatever would ease their Young Master's suffering, they were prepared to deliver it without question.
The household responded with absolute obedience.
Zhan did his best to ignore the lingering discomfort on his own as he gently settled Yibo into the bed, making sure his younger brother was at least resting comfortably. He adjusted the pillows and smoothed the sheet.
Only minutes later, a group of maids entered the room in a hurry, carrying a basin filled with cool water and fresh towels.
Yibo's clothes were damp with sweat, the side effect of his unstable heat, and they knew he needed to be cleaned. Whether they were expected to help or to quietly allow their Young Master Xiao to do it himself, they didn't ask.
It didn't matter.
All that mattered was what would make Yibo feel even a little bit better.
"Yibo," Zhan said softly, crouching beside the bed, his voice low and patient, "Can you sit up a little? We need to get you cleaned up."
But Yibo didn't have the strength to respond, let alone argue.
He simply let his gege do whatever needed to be done. His eyelids fluttered, heavy and exhausted, and he sank against the bed as if every movement was too much.
The maids exchanged a glance before quietly exiting the room, allowing Zhan the space to care for him.
By the time they returned, the scent of the room had lightened slightly, and Zhan had already helped Yibo out of his uniform, replacing his shirt with a soft, oversized t-shirt that looked much more comfortable.
He hadn't changed Yibo's pants, but that didn't matter right now.
A glass of water and a tray of carefully prepared medicine—suppressants—were handed to Zhan without anyone saying a word.
He took them, nodding his thanks, and gently lifted Yibo's shoulders. "Yibo," he said using his soft voice, "You need to drink this. It'll help you feel better."
"…Okay," was all Yibo managed to whisper in response.
After helping Yibo drink the suppressant, the maids quietly withdrew from the room, leaving Xiao Zhan alone to care for his younger brother.
"Please call us if you need anything, Young Master Xiao," the bodyguard who had accompanied Zhan earlier said respectfully before stepping out and gently closing the door behind him.
Zhan responded with only a brief nod, his gaze never leaving Yibo for even a second.
Once the room had settled into silence and only the two of them remained, Yibo softly murmured, "Gege."
Zhan turned to him right away, his voice gentle. "Hmm? Do you need something?"
Yibo shook his head, his eyes still a bit cloudy from the medication.
"No… I just wanted to say thank you," he whispered.
Zhan's brow creased, his expression both puzzled and tender.
"There's no need to thank me, little one," he said, brushing a hand lightly across Yibo's hair. "I'll always come to you whenever you need me. That's a promise."
Yibo pouted faintly. "Gege… I'm not little anymore."
Zhan let out a soft chuckle.
"That's true. Our Yibo has grown into a proper young omega now," he replied with an indulgent smile, "But no matter how big you get, you'll always be our little one."
"Don't tease me," Yibo mumbled, frowning.
"I'm not teasing," Zhan assured him gently. "I wouldn't tease you like that, didi."
"Good," Yibo murmured, settling back into the pillows with a small sigh.
"Are you feeling better now?" Zhan asked, watching him closely.
"A little," Yibo answered honestly. "My whole body still aches, gege. But I think the medicine is starting to work. Slowly."
"That's good," Zhan replied softly, his eyes filled with concern. "I've been really worried about you."
"I'm sorry," Yibo said, his voice small and full of guilt. "I didn't mean to worry you. I should have paid more attention to my body. I didn't even notice the signs… and now I've made everyone anxious because of me."
"No," Zhan said firmly, cutting him off before he could spiral further. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault, alright?"
Yibo nodded slowly, lips pressed together as he blinked back a mix of emotion. "Hmm…"
For a brief moment, an almost eerie silence settled over the room.
The only sound that lingered was Yibo's slightly uneven breathing, soft but strangely loud in the stillness, echoing in a way that seemed to drown out everything else.
Xiao Zhan didn't speak either.
He remained quiet, simply watching over his younger brother as Yibo finally let his heavy eyelids close and allowed himself to rest.
Minutes passed, slow and steady, until Yibo's expression eased and his breathing evened out, drifting into a more peaceful sleep. Only then did Xiao Zhan allow himself to exhale, a quiet breath of relief escaping his lips as the chaos of the moment began to catch up with him.
What if something had gone wrong?
What if he hadn't been home?
What if no one had been there to take care of Yibo in time?
The mere thought of it tightened something in his chest.
And yet, what weighed most heavily on his mind was the overpowering scent still lingering in the air.
Yibo's pheromones had been unusually strong—far too strong.
Xiao Zhan had always been praised for his near-impossible control when it came to resisting pheromones, yet even he had felt the pull, the dizzying effect that had nearly weakened his knees. It was unlike anything he'd ever encountered.
Now that Yibo was finally asleep, Zhan could more clearly register the fragrance that filled the room.
He mentally reprimanded himself when he realized that his own alpha pheromones were slipping involuntarily. He knows that it wasn't only Yibo's scent because he knows his own pheromones.
Smoked lotus, gunmetal, and forest floor.
Yibo's scent was so unique that it was impossible to miss.
A blend of wild lilac and deep sandalwood.
It was soft, but carried an underlying intensity, sweet but alluring in a way that sent shivers down his spine.
It wasn't just a rare combination.
It was dangerously captivating.
And it hit him then: he would have to be even more careful.
Alphas, especially the arrogant, impulsive kind, wouldn't stand a chance against a scent like Yibo's if it ever slipped out by accident.
If this was how it affected him, someone who prided himself on control, how much worse would it be for others?
They'd come crawling, desperate, willing to do anything just to get closer to Yibo.
That thought alone ignited something fiercely protective in Xiao Zhan.
He wasn't going to let anyone near Yibo.