The morning after the Council presentation, Yifan woke to his phone buzzing insistently on the nightstand. Still half-asleep, wrapped in Tianyu's cold embrace, he fumbled for it and squinted at the screen. Twenty-three missed calls from Qingqing. Dozens of text messages. The most recent one, sent just minutes ago, made his blood run cold:
"FANFAN CALL ME RIGHT NOW. YOUR APARTMENT. PLEASE BE SAFE. PLEASE."
He was fully awake instantly, sitting up so quickly that Tianyu stirred beside him. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know. Qingqing—" Yifan was already calling her back, his heart hammering.
She answered on the first ring. "Oh thank god. Fanfan, where are you? Are you safe?"
"I'm safe. What happened?"
"Your apartment. There was a fire last night. The whole building—Fanfan, it burned down. Everything's gone." Qingqing's voice was shaking. "The fire department said it started in your unit. They're investigating but—where were you? Please tell me you weren't there."
The room tilted. Yifan's apartment—the place he'd lived for three years, all his possessions, his research, his thesis notes—gone? "I wasn't there. I've been... I've been staying with someone. But Qingqing, you need to listen to me. Was anyone hurt?"
"No, thank god. The building evacuated safely. But Fanfan, this is the weird part. The investigators said the fire was supernatural in origin. They found accelerants that don't match anything in any database. And there were... symbols. Burned into the walls around your unit. Like someone was targeting you specifically."
Yifan's blood turned to ice. Not an accident. An attack. Someone had deliberately burned down his apartment, looking for him.
Tianyu was already out of bed, pulling on clothes with swift efficiency. His expression had gone cold and dangerous, ice forming on every surface he touched. "Put her on speaker."
Yifan did, his hands trembling. "Qingqing, my friend is here. He needs to hear this."
"Your apartment was attacked," Tianyu said without preamble, his voice carrying Alpha command even over the phone. "Someone was looking for Yifan, didn't find him, and destroyed everything to send a message. Where are you right now?"
"I—who are you? What's going on?" Qingqing's voice rose with panic.
"I'm someone who can keep you safe, but only if you cooperate. Where. Are. You."
"At my parents' house. I stayed there last night after I heard about the fire. I tried calling Fanfan and when he didn't answer I got scared—"
"Good. Stay there. Don't go back to campus. Don't go anywhere alone. I'm sending someone to watch over you." Tianyu was already texting on his own phone. "Your life may be in danger because of your connection to Yifan."
"What? That's insane! Fanfan, what's he talking about?"
Yifan found his voice, though it came out shaky. "Qingqing, I promised I'd explain everything when I could. That time is now, but not over the phone. Please, trust me. Stay safe. Do what he says. I'll explain everything in person soon, I swear."
"You're scaring me."
"I know. I'm sorry. But please, trust me. Just a little longer."
After they hung up, Yifan turned to Tianyu, his mind racing. "Who would do this? And why?"
"Rival Alphas who want to destabilize you. Or supernatural hunters who see Phoenix as a threat. Or political enemies who want to pressure me through you." Tianyu's jaw was tight. "It could be anyone. The moment you were publicly revealed at the Council, you became a target."
"My research. My thesis. Three years of work—" The loss was hitting him now, waves of grief for everything that had been destroyed.
"Can be recreated. You're alive. That's what matters." Tianyu pulled him close. "I'm sorry. I should have anticipated this. Should have had guards on your apartment, protective wards, something."
"You couldn't have known—"
"I should have. I know how supernatural politics works. I know what happens to important Omegas who appear suddenly without proper protection." His voice was rough with self-recrimination. "This is my fault."
Mo Ran burst into the room without knocking, already dressed and clearly having been informed of the situation. "The apartment fire isn't the only incident. I've been monitoring channels all morning. Three separate attempts were made last night on locations associated with Phoenix—his grandmother's old house, the university archives where he accessed records, and his apartment. All three sites were attacked simultaneously."
"Coordinated," Tianyu said grimly. "This was planned."
"And thorough. Whoever did this was trying to eliminate any trace of Yifan's human life, force him to depend entirely on supernatural protection." Mo Ran's expression was fierce. "The arrogance of it. They attacked during the Council presentation, knowing we'd all be there, unable to intervene."
"Did anyone claim responsibility?" Yifan asked, trying to think through his shock.
"No. But I have suspicions." Mo Ran pulled up something on her tablet. "The symbols burned into the walls—they're claiming marks. Old magic, used when an Alpha wants to assert dominance over an unmated Omega's territory. It's barbaric and outdated, but still technically legal under ancient laws."
"Who would use old magic like that?"
"Someone traditional. Someone who believes in the old ways of courtship, where Alphas compete not just for favor but for dominance." She looked at Tianyu meaningfully. "Someone from the Northern territories, perhaps?"
Xuan Ming. The eldest Alpha, the most traditional, the one who'd offered a political alliance. Had he ordered this attack?
"It could also be a false flag," Tianyu countered. "Make us suspect Xuan Ming while the real culprit operates freely. Yuchen is cunning enough for such tactics. Or Haoyu, who presents as gentle but is ruthlessly strategic."
"We need proof before we accuse any major Alpha," Mo Ran said. "But regardless of who's responsible, the message is clear—Yifan's human life is over. He can't return to university, can't live in normal society, can't maintain his previous existence. The supernatural world has claimed him completely."
The finality of it hit Yifan like a physical blow. His apartment was gone. His possessions were gone. His thesis research was destroyed. And he couldn't even safely visit his best friend without putting her in danger.
Everything that had made him Shen Yifan, ordinary student, was being systematically erased.
"I need to see Qingqing," Yifan said. "In person. I owe her an explanation."
"Too dangerous," Tianyu said immediately. "If they're willing to burn down buildings to get to you, they'll certainly target anyone you visit. You'd be leading danger straight to her."
"Then bring her here. To the estate. Your wards are strong enough to keep her safe, aren't they?"
"Bringing a human here, revealing the supernatural world to her—" Mo Ran shook her head. "That's a significant violation of secrecy protocols. The Council would need to approve it."
"The Council can approve it or I'll do it anyway," Yifan said, his voice harder than he'd ever heard it. "She's my best friend. She's in danger because of me. I'm not abandoning her to face that alone. And I'm done letting Council protocols dictate my personal relationships."
Tianyu studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "You're right. Your friend, your choice. I'll handle the Council and any political fallout. Mo Ran, can you arrange secure transport for her?"
"I'll send a team. But Yifan, you understand what you're asking? Once she knows about our world, she can't unknow it. Her life will change permanently too."
"She's already in danger because of my world. At least this way she'll understand why." Yifan was surprised by his own certainty. "And Qingqing's strong. She can handle the truth."
Two hours later, Yifan watched from the estate's windows as a black car pulled through the gates. Qingqing emerged, flanked by two of Tianyu's security personnel—both dragons, though they appeared human enough to not alarm her. His friend looked small and scared, her usual confidence shaken by the night's events and the mysterious summons to a remote mountain estate.
Yifan met her in the receiving room, and the moment she saw him, she burst into tears and ran to hug him. "You're okay. Oh god, I was so scared. When they said your apartment burned and I couldn't reach you—"
"I'm okay. I'm safe." Yifan held her tight, feeling his own tears threatening. "I'm so sorry you were worried. I'm sorry for all the secrets. I'm sorry for disappearing."
"What's going on? Who are these people? Fanfan, this place is like a palace. And that man from the phone—" She pulled back, looking around nervously. "What have you gotten involved in?"
"The truth. Sit down. This is going to sound impossible, but I need you to believe me."
What followed was the most difficult conversation of Yifan's life. He told her everything—starting with his grandmother's death and the letter she'd left, moving through the revelation of his Phoenix nature, the supernatural world, the heat, the Council presentation, and finally the attacks on his apartment. He spoke carefully, watching her face cycle through disbelief, shock, fear, and finally a kind of numb acceptance.
Tianyu joined them partway through, demonstrating his ice powers when Qingqing demanded proof. Mo Ran showed her official supernatural documentation. And finally, Yifan manifested his own flames, his wings, showing her irrefutably that everything he was saying was real.
"You're serious," Qingqing said faintly. "This is all real. Magic. Dragons. Phoenix. The supernatural world hidden alongside ours."
"I know it's a lot—"
"A lot? Fanfan, you just told me you're a legendary reincarnating bird-person who goes into heat and is being courted by ancient Alpha creatures for political reasons. That's not 'a lot.' That's completely insane." But despite her words, Qingqing's journalist instincts were clearly engaging. "Wait. If this is all real, then the apartment fire wasn't random. Someone attacked you specifically."
"Yes. Which is why we brought you here. You're in danger because you're associated with me." Yifan took her hands. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. You got dragged into supernatural politics because you're my friend."
"Stop apologizing. You didn't ask to be a legendary Omega or whatever." Qingqing squeezed his hands. "But Fanfan—you can't go back to normal life, can you? University, graduation, your thesis—all of that's over."
The truth of it hit fresh. "No. I can't go back."
"What happens to me? Do I get memory-wiped like in the movies? Forced to forget all this?"
"No," Tianyu said firmly. "You're under Phoenix's protection now. That gives you certain rights, including the right to retain knowledge of our world. You'll need to sign confidentiality agreements and accept some security restrictions, but you won't be forced to forget."
"Security restrictions?"
"You can't tell other humans about what you've learned. You'll need security escorts if you leave protected areas until the current threat is neutralized. And you'll need to be careful about your digital footprint—supernatural enemies might try to track Yifan through you."
Qingqing processed this, then looked at Yifan seriously. "Are you happy? With all this? Because from where I'm sitting, it sounds like you got pulled into a world you didn't choose, surrounded by powerful beings who all want something from you."
"It's complicated. I didn't choose this initially, but I'm choosing how I respond to it. And I'm choosing him." Yifan gestured to Tianyu. "He's been good to me. Protected me. Respected my autonomy even when it would have been easier to just claim me."
"The Dragon King," Qingqing said, looking at Tianyu with new assessment. "The one who went mad with grief and killed hundreds of people when Phoenix died last time."
"You've been paying attention," Tianyu said dryly.
"I'm a journalist. I listen." She turned back to Yifan. "Are you sure about him? Because best friend duty requires me to threaten him if he hurts you, even if he could freeze me solid."
Despite everything, Yifan laughed. "I'm sure. Or as sure as I can be about anything right now."
"Then I support you. And I'll help however I can." Qingqing stood up, squaring her shoulders. "So what's the plan? How do we keep you safe from supernatural attackers?"
Over lunch, they discussed practical matters. Qingqing would take a leave of absence from university, claiming family emergency. She'd stay at the estate temporarily, under protection, until the threat was better understood. Yifan's professors would be notified of his withdrawal from the program—his thesis left incomplete, his degree unfinished.
"Three years of work," Yifan said quietly, staring at his untouched food. "Just gone."
"Not gone. Interrupted," Mo Ran corrected. "Once you're bonded and your position is secure, you could return to academic work. Supernatural universities exist. You could complete your research there, perhaps even expand it to include supernatural history."
"Supernatural universities?"
"Did you think we relied solely on oral tradition? We have institutions, libraries, research facilities. All hidden from human notice, but very much active." Mo Ran's expression softened. "Your scholarly instincts don't have to be abandoned, Yifan. They just need to be redirected."
It was small comfort, but comfort nonetheless. Maybe his human life was ending, but a different life—one where he could study his own kind's history, learn about supernatural cultures—might be beginning.
That evening, after Qingqing had been settled into a guest room and was sleeping off the emotional exhaustion of the day, Yifan stood on the estate's terrace looking out at the darkening mountains. Tianyu joined him, as always, bringing cold comfort and steady presence.
"Everything's changing so fast," Yifan said. "A month ago I was just a student. Now I'm Phoenix, my apartment's destroyed, my best friend knows about the supernatural world, and I have three ancient Alphas courting me."
"Too much, too fast. I know." Tianyu's arm wrapped around his shoulders. "If I could slow it down, give you time to adjust, I would."
"Would you? Or would you prefer to just bond me now, claim me completely before your rivals get a chance?"
"I'd prefer that, yes. Every instinct I have demands it. But what I want and what's right for you aren't always the same thing." Tianyu turned him gently, meeting his eyes. "You need time. You need to feel certain. Rushing you would only make you resentful later, and I won't risk that."
"Even though waiting means watching other Alphas court me?"
"Even then. Your certainty is worth more than my comfort."
Yifan leaned into him, drawing strength from the Alpha's solid presence. "My apartment's gone. My research is destroyed. My normal life is over. Everything that made me just Shen Yifan has been taken away."
"Not everything. You still have your mind, your personality, your capacity for learning and growing. You still have your friend, who loves you enough to accept the impossible. You still have choices, even if they're different choices than you expected." Tianyu's cold hand cupped his face. "And you have me, if you still want me."
"I still want you. That's the one thing I'm certain about in all this chaos."
"Then hold onto that. Let it ground you while everything else shifts." Tianyu pressed a kiss to his forehead. "We'll get through this. We'll find who attacked your apartment. We'll keep you and Qingqing safe. We'll navigate the courtship month. And at the end of it, you'll make your choice freely, with no one able to claim it was forced or rushed or politically motivated."
"One month feels like forever right now."
"I've waited a thousand years. I can wait thirty more days."
Later that night, lying in bed with Tianyu's arms around him, Yifan thought about everything he'd lost. His apartment, his possessions, his research, his normal life trajectory. Everything that had defined his human existence.
But he'd gained things too. Understanding of his true nature. Powers he was still learning to control. A community of supernatural beings who recognized him as one of their own. And Tianyu—ancient, powerful, devoted Tianyu, who'd proven over and over that he valued Yifan's autonomy above his own desires.
Maybe losing his old life wasn't entirely tragedy. Maybe it was clearing space for something new, something that honored both who he'd been and who he was becoming.
Shen Yifan the student was gone. But Phoenix, carrying Yifan's soul and memories and personality, was just beginning to understand what he could be.
And that beginning, terrifying and uncertain as it was, held possibility.
He fell asleep thinking about new beginnings, about choosing his own path even when that path led through fire and ice and political intrigue. About staying true to himself even as everything around him changed.
Tomorrow would bring the first official courtship date with Bai Yuchen. Next week, probably meetings with the other Alphas. A month of being pursued, assessed, courted like a prize.
But he'd face it. With Tianyu's support, Qingqing's friendship, and his own growing strength, he'd face whatever came.
He was Phoenix. And Phoenix always rose from the ashes, transformed but unbroken.