Chapter 8

Ling Ran was anxiously waiting for Jiang Zhiyu’s nod when the faint roar of approaching cars drifted in from outside. It seemed a few people had already arrived, their laughter and greetings growing steadily louder as they drew closer to the main hall.

A chill ran through Ling Ran’s veins, as if his blood were about to freeze. His dense eyelashes trembled slightly, as though a single blink might summon tears of grievance. Just as footsteps approached the entrance to the main hall, Jiang Zhiyu smiled softly and finally relented, stepping slightly aside in tacit consent without putting the young Omega in an awkward position.

Relieved, Ling Ran hurried up the stairs, taking three steps in two, turning sharply into a room before slamming the door shut behind him with a loud bang.

Song Yi, nearly struck by the door, stopped at the doorway, cold sweat breaking out on his back. He glanced cautiously at the figure still standing on the stairs. This Omega had run into the wrong room—Jiang’s bedroom!

Jiang Zhiyu’s expression remained composed as he glanced once at the closed door.

Several men entering the main hall saw him and immediately called out, “Ah, Director Jiang! Long time no see. I was just telling Old Tang how splendid your coastal villa is. If there are any available, be sure to save us a couple!”

Old Tang chimed in, “Driving along the coastal avenue beside the villa was breathtaking. The sea views are truly magnificent. I heard the auction prices have already soared into eight figures. Even if there were vacancies, I couldn’t afford one.”

“We’re close with Director Jiang, aren’t we? Surely he’d sell to us at an insider’s discount?”

Jiang Zhiyu, who had intended to change his clothes, casually tugged off his tie and unbuttoned two buttons at his collar, his previously stern and dignified demeanor softening into a relaxed, leisurely air.

He beckoned, and a waiter promptly appeared carrying champagne, which he offered to the guests.

“Just let me know which villa you like. The paperwork can be finalized within a week,” Jiang Zhiyu said, sipping his champagne. “I’ll give you all a 20% discount.”

A 20% reduction meant savings of over ten million—a generous concession to honor the gentlemen present.

Among them, Old Tang had made his fortune in hotels and tourism, while Liu Xiangheng specialized in commercial real estate. Jiang Corporation had just acquired a parcel of land and was planning development. Collaborating with either was mutually beneficial, so Jiang Zhiyu was happy to grant them this favor.

Owning a coastal villa would certainly give them something to boast about.

Downstairs, the number of guests was growing, and Ling Ran could faintly hear the bustling noise from above.

Yet he sat awkwardly on the edge of the sofa, barely touching its surface.

Only after locking the door behind him did he realize he had entered the wrong room. This room resembled a guest room, but the bed was wider, and a set of casual clothes lay neatly on it.

He belatedly understood that this was Jiang Zhiyu’s bedroom and that he had intended to change his clothes there.

Ling Ran wanted to slip out quietly and return to the guest room but feared being seen by those downstairs. So, he decided to wait in Jiang Zhiyu’s bedroom until the banquet ended.

He found a phone charger and plugged in his device. Suddenly, a flurry of missed calls appeared.

Ling Mo had called four times, Ling Su once, and Qin Chengyue twenty times.

Qin Chengyue’s messages popped up on the screen:

“Ling Ran!! If you’re alive, call me back!!”

“Where have you gone? Not answering calls or messages. If you don’t answer soon, I’m calling the police!!!!”

“Call me back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Annoyed by the barrage of exclamation marks, Ling Ran returned Qin Chengyue’s call.

The ringtone sounded briefly before someone picked up.

“You finally called back! I thought some Alpha had kidnapped you! I was terrified!” Qin Chengyue shouted on the other end.

“I’m fine, Chengyue. Just a little trouble. You didn’t accidentally spill anything to my brother or sister, did you?”

Qin Chengyue assured him, “Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. I told your sister you’ve been with me these past two days. They won’t suspect, but you have to be honest—where have you been? Not home, not answering your phone. You haven’t really run away with some wild Alpha, have you?!”

“No, no, don’t jump to conclusions,” Ling Ran hastened to say.

“Alright, alright. We’ll talk when we meet,” Qin Chengyue changed tone suddenly. “By the way, Ling Ran, I have to ask—do you remember Yin Chu? The head of the news broadcast department?”

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Ling Ran nodded, “Of course. Anchor Yin is famous. Many people learned broadcasting by watching his shows. I even met him at my interview; he’s gentler and more handsome in person. Why do you bring him up now?”

Qin Chengyue hesitated before speaking cautiously over the phone, “I only heard it, didn’t see it myself, so I can’t be sure. But I thought you should know since you and Jiang Shengyi are about to marry. It would be too late if you found out after the wedding…”

The more Qin Chengyue spoke, the heavier Ling Ran’s heart sank.

“Chengyue, what exactly are you trying to say?”

“Ah,” Qin Chengyue closed her eyes and confessed, “I heard Jiang Shengyi actually returned to the country yesterday but didn’t tell you. Last night, he celebrated with a group of people outside. Yin Chu was apparently there too. I saw it on a fan’s Weibo post, though the photo might be photoshopped…”

Ling Ran’s voice was barely above a whisper: “Send me that photo.”

Sensing the change in his tone, Qin Chengyue said, “Maybe you shouldn’t look at it. Where are you? Want to come to my place now?”

“No need. Just send it. I’ll come see you when I’m free.”

He hung up.

Opening the chat with Jiang Shengyi, the nickname “Dear A Yi” still showed no reply.

Qin Chengyue sent a dim, blurry photo.

The lighting was poor. The private room’s sofa was crowded with people. Several posed for the camera in the foreground, flashing peace signs. Behind them, two silhouettes embraced intimately—though indistinct, Ling Ran recognized the figure clutching Yin Chu: Jiang Shengyi.

At that moment, his blood seemed to freeze, breath constricted as if gripped by a giant hand, leaving him gasping.

Why did Shengyi and Yin Chu appear so close? What was their relationship? Why had Shengyi never mentioned this?

Ling Ran was never one to suspect the worst. Despite the pain tightening his chest, he resolved to confront Shengyi face-to-face when the chance arose.

He stared at the photo repeatedly, his eyes reddening, his heart aching as if torn apart.

Feeling unwell, he slowly lay down on the large bed, burying his flushed eyes and heavy breaths in the covers.

Song Yi had cleaned thoroughly. No strange odors or residual pheromones lingered in Jiang Zhiyu’s room.

Ling Ran lost track of time, unsure if his growing dizziness was from lack of oxygen or overwhelming sorrow. His limbs weakened, body burning with a faint fever.

His mouth parted slightly as he breathed shallowly, pale cheeks tinged with a gentle blush.

Two delicate glands, tightly sealed behind pheromone blockers, stirred silently, ready to release a rich fragrance of rose and grape.

*

Downstairs, the crowd swelled. Nearly every socialite in the coastal city had gathered tonight.

When Jiang Shengyi arrived, he felt a surge of pride at the grand occasion. His achievements at Jiang Corporation over the past two years were well known. These elites had come to curry favor, knowing he was the guest of honor at this celebration.

Yin Chu accompanied him. As they stepped into the main hall, their eyes landed on Enigma, surrounded by several magnates.

Jiang Zhiyu appeared calm and composed, handling the gathering with ease. Amid jokes with the tycoons, he deftly secured future cooperation agreements.

Yin Chu led Jiang Shengyi to the group.

A few recognized Shengyi, greeting him warmly but clearly hoping to leverage his connection to Jiang Zhiyu. Few cared whether the banquet was a celebration or a mere drinking party. They came for Jiang Zhiyu’s name and Jiang Corporation’s reputation.

After exchanging only a few words, Shengyi’s expression darkened and he turned to leave.

Yin Chu grasped his arm. “Shengyi, why leave so soon? Tonight’s celebration is for you. How can the guest of honor leave early?”

Shengyi’s handsome face twisted into a grimace. He glared at Jiang Zhiyu amid the crowd, teeth clenched. “Look closely and see who the real star is! I must have been out of my mind to believe he’d throw me a party out of kindness. It’s just to humiliate me publicly.”

Yin Chu gently urged, linking arms with him. “Don’t be so impulsive. Zhiyu means well. You two never sit down to talk things through. He wants you to grow quickly so you can help him.”

Though furious, Shengyi didn’t pull away.

“Chu Chu, not everyone is as understanding as you.”

Yin Chu refused to loosen her grip, softly shaking his arm. “He’s your uncle by marriage. You two are always at odds, and I’m caught in the middle. Why not take this chance to have a good talk?”

Shengyi scoffed, “No thanks.”

“Come on, just for me, please?”

Yin Chu smiled warmly, her soft hair brushing against his arm, melting his cold heart slightly.

“Fine, for your sake.”

But when they looked up again, Jiang Zhiyu had already vanished from the crowd.

*

Ling Ran found himself trapped in a suffocating tide of heat he had come to know too well, yet could not resist.

Wave after wave of overwhelming sensation threatened to engulf him completely. He suffered, struggled, and cried, desperate to awaken from the darkness.

Yet tears soaked his body, and he could not open his eyes.

Suddenly, in a daze, a large hand reached out, firmly grasping him and pulling him from the abyss.

Bright light flooded his vision. The hand traced along his body to the nape of his neck. Long, strong fingertips pressed lightly through the barrier onto his slightly swollen glands, eliciting a strained, almost altered-pitch cry from his throat.

His body trembled violently, inside and out consumed by a fine, relentless gnawing. He shivered and wept, overwhelmed by unbearable pain.

At that moment, like a long-awaited rain upon parched earth, an immensely potent and fiercely possessive pheromone surged through him, invading every limb and sinew.

The scent of agave liquor grew stronger, rich and intoxicating.

Just the aroma was enough to make one drunk.

*