Chapter Text
Out of breath, clutching his chest from that all too familiar feeling of a near heart attack, Gao Tu rights himself with a supportive tug from Wenlang.
“What the hell are those low lifes barking around here for anyways?” entirely unaware of just how dire his rescue had been. Wenlang scoffs at the losers running away with their tail between their legs, tripping over themselves and each other to avoid the oppressive sensation emanating from Wenlang’s aura.
S-Class pheromones were lethal if used at full force. Thankfully for Gao Tu this had only been about half the exposure he could have had.
“They were looking for-- my father.” he chokes out, eyes rolling slightly as he catches an accidental whiff. Holding his breath might work for a little bit but Wenlang was stubbornly remaining far too close for any real relief.
“President Shen, I can’t breathe.” he finally admits.
“Huh? Oh.” his forehead creased in obvious confusion, the words he was thinking coming out from his mouth in a habitual way of speaking to himself. “That’s weird, betas aren’t supposed to feel this much from my--”
Gao Tu sighs, his head hanging low once the wave of intensity had faded from his aura and he could finally think somewhat clearly again. He lies like it’s a habit. “Asthma attack.”
“If it’s your father they want, then why don’t they go after him!” Wenlang continued to roar, as usual, quite oblivious to the fact he’d been on the brink of a major discovery.
“I…attracted them by mistake. With my…” and he can’t finish the sentence. The feverish feeling from before only made it harder to swallow the truth that Gao Tu had just narrowly avoided a blatant assault during his heat. “Pheromones.” he looks completely defeated, shaking his head, unable to look at his best friend of ten years.
The award for ignorance belonged solely to the CEO of HS Group, Shen Wenlang as he suddenly curiously steps close and takes-- a big whiff around Gao Tu’s shoulder.
“You do smell differently than usual. The lingering sage aroma is stronger on you today, not that it’s ever a bad thing to smell, but I see what you mean and--”
“President Shen!” Unable to bear the proximity, Gao Tu in exasperation looks near to tears, lightly shoving his companion at a reasonable distance from his person. His eyes shine with vulnerability, something Wenlang can’t recall he’s ever seen before.
Wenlang cannot remember a time when his secretary and best friend had ever shouted at him, let alone physically acted out. It takes him entirely by surprise now as he balks, gaping at Gao Tu.
“I’m in heat.” As if finally saying the words relieved years of tension, Gao Tu visibly goes slack, bracing himself against the wall as the suppressant medicine he’d taken earlier was wracking through his system in unhealthy ways as it wore off.
He’d been warned by numerous medical officials, but the cost of revealing his gender identity was too vast to slip, and he’d ignored medical advice…again.
Taking suppressants during a heat or rut was practically illegal for anyone, let alone someone who already overdosed on injections throughout the rest of the days.
He does it for him. He does it for the oblivious man in front of him, to make him comfortable. He does it for his sister, to protect his family, so he’s not recklessly gambled as a human prize amongst his father’s shady circle of connections. Who would take care of her if he was gone?
He did it to feel safe, but there was a cost and it was finally time to let go.
No one says anything for a moment.
Wenlang looks like a freeze frame, a picture of pure shock and confusion. Gao Tu can’t even look at him, instead focusing on not falling over with his dizzy spell, staring into the brick wall as if it could hide him from the truth he’s just revealed.
“Impossible…” comes the first thing either of them has said. Gao Tu spares a glance over his shoulder.
Wenlang looks like he downright refuses to believe it, even now. “No you’re…a beta and, betas don’t--” the recognition forms as a slow thought process, ideas lodging in place.
That time he’d abruptly canceled plans to have a sleepover when they were teenagers. That time when Gao Tu had run home sick from school and refused to tell Wenlang what was wrong with him. That time he’d gone into his first heat and ignored Wenlang’s phone calls until the man showed up on his front porch and Gao Tu had to pretend he had an omega in his room because the aroma was too pungent not to notice. That time when Wenlang was in his first rut and refused to go to an omega, choosing instead to whine to his presumed beta best friend until the boy of iron willpower had nearly caved in and offered to help, refusing to meet Wenlang’s gaze for days after that…
“Gao Tu…”
Of all the possible reactions he’d been expecting, the twinge of hurt in Shen Wenlang was by far the most surprising. He almost sounded tender, confusion paving way to a blatant misunderstanding in seconds.
“All this time…you lied to me?”