Pei Siyue grasped the fingers hanging limply at his side. The small omega’s fingers were slender and translucent, like delicate jade bamboo shoots, yet impossibly soft.
Pei Siyue pressed a kiss upon them.
Enigma pheromones instantly engulfed Ruan Shuyang. An endless tide surged around him, overwhelming him until he collapsed limp into Pei Siyue’s embrace.
Pei Siyue bit through his gland, beginning the marking.
This time, the Enigma pheromones were exceptionally abundant—so much so that he was completely submerged in them. The scent flowed not only from his gland but from every part of his body.
Ruan Shuyang went limp, so soft he couldn’t even hold onto Pei Siyue’s hand. He wanted to clamp his legs together, but he lacked the strength for even that simple movement.
At the start of this marking, he felt no pain, yet his resistance dissolved further. Like lily-of-the-valley petals submerged in water, he trembled slightly as his body unfurled.
The marking seemed to last an eternity. Ruan Shuyang felt the pheromones surging within him, growing so intense he feared he couldn’t bear it.
He whimpered, “Is it… done?”
Pei Siyue’s breath brushed against his scent glands as he replied in a hoarse whisper, “Not yet.”
The pheromones threatened to reach a dangerous threshold. He felt an intense, sour ache, unable to contain the flood. His voice cracked with tears. “No… please, no more…”
He struggled weakly, utterly unable to break free from Pei Siyue’s grip.
The next moment, his body, already teetering on the edge, spiraled completely out of control. He convulsed like a seizure, toes curling, gasps spilling from between his breaths.
It took him a long while to snap out of the dizziness and numbness, but he remained dazed, his reactions lagging half a beat.
Pei Siyue’s lips slowly withdrew from his gland, his tongue licking away the droplets of blood. He held Ruan Shuyang close, stroking his hair.
Ruan Shuyang finally snapped back to reality, yet dared not meet his gaze. Instinctively burying his face in the culprit’s embrace, he was so embarrassed he nearly cried.
His face flushed crimson, the color spreading all the way to his neck. He couldn’t fathom how he’d been capable of such an act, how he’d lost control so completely…
Pei Siyue patted Ruan Shuyang’s back, his voice low and hoarse as he spoke softly, “If you’re tired, sleep for a while.”
His voice held a hint of coaxing.
An omega freshly marked instinctively clung to the one who marked them. Though deeply embarrassed, Ruan Shuyang obeyed Pei Siyue, finding comfort in lying within enigma’s embrace.
He buried his face against Pei Siyue’s chest, breathing in enigma’s pheromones with each breath, slowly closing his eyes.
The marking had drained him, and he drifted off to sleep under Pei Siyue’s soothing strokes.
Pei Siyue stood up, cradling Ruan Shuyang, and carried him upstairs to the bedroom. He laid him down, removed his shoes and socks, tucked him under the covers, and only then looked down at his own pants.
Ruan Shuyang hadn’t realized he’d soaked through Pei Siyue’s pants.
Pei Siyue felt Ruan Shuyang was practically made of water—so much of it.
He returned to his room, took a cold shower, changed into fresh clothes, and left a note for Ruan Shuyang before stepping into the waiting car.
He had done it on purpose.
He deliberately let Ruan Shuyang experience this. That way, if the other encountered other alphas with ulterior motives during his absence, this experience would serve as a warning.
Such extreme pleasure and enjoyment could make any omega addicted.
Only he could deliver it.
After getting in the car, Jiang Wu briefed him on some business matters. Once finished, he instructed Jiang Wu: “Notify Liang Qiang to have Pei Siming participate in the Phase III clinical trial investment for Q15.”
Q15 referred specifically to the Phase III clinical trial for post-marking cleansing medication.
Once a drug enters Phase III trials, it typically signifies imminent market release. Q15’s post-marking-cleansing medication addressed a massive market need; its successful launch promised immeasurable profits.
Jiang Wu was astonished. “Young Master, this is a surefire investment. Having Pei Siming invest…”
Isn’t that a bit too cheap for the second young master of the Pei family?
As far as he knew, Pei Siming had been trying to outsmart Pei Siyue yesterday.
Pei Siyue shook his head and simply said, “It won’t make money.”
Because he planned to donate it to the government.
Though Ruan Shuyang hadn’t explicitly stated it, Jiang Wu could see the other man hoped more omegas could receive help with mark cleansing.
He already possessed sufficient wealth; a little more or less made no difference. Better to help Ruan Shuyang fulfill his wish.
Jiang Wu didn’t press further. “Then what’s the investment share?”
“One hundred million.”
The combined funds of Pei Siming and Zhou Wei totaled roughly one hundred million.
Rather than giving this sum to them, it would better serve other omegas.
**
Ruan Shuyang slept until past four in the afternoon. The slumber had been deep, leaving him disoriented upon waking—as if he’d lost track of time.
It took him a while to fully wake up. Remembering what had happened before he fell asleep, his face flushed bright red. He lay on the bed, flustered, taking a long moment to realize his underwear and pants felt dry and uncomfortable. He got out of bed, went to the bathroom to shower and change clothes.
After showering and dressing in clean clothes, he found a note left by Pei Siyue on the bedside table. It said he had left first and to call if needed.
In the basement freezer lay six bottles of Enigma pheromone extract—enough for over a week’s use.
She had also arranged driving lessons for him next week. If all went smoothly, he could get his license before Pei Siyue returned.
Ruan Shuyang patted his flushed cheeks. He had to admit that Pei Siyue leaving at this moment was a relief—otherwise, he truly didn’t know how he would have faced her.
He dared not dwell on what had happened at noon. How could he have been so sensitive? A simple mark had…
Shortly after signing the summer internship contract with Ruiji, his bank card received a deposit. Jiang Wu explained it was an advance on his internship salary—a substantial sum, far exceeding all the pocket money he’d ever received from the Ruan family.
He now possessed some wealth of his own, no longer pinching pennies when shopping. His spending had become much more generous.
By the time he finished buying the driving manual, it was past six in the evening. Feeling hungry, he headed downstairs to find something to eat.
As he reached the ground floor, Ji Huai emerged from the kitchen and said, “Mr. Pei was worried you might be scared alone, so he asked me to come keep you company.”
Ruan Shuyang didn’t refuse. Living alone in such a large house, he genuinely felt uneasy.
The next few days passed quickly. Ji Huai took care of his daily needs and drove him to driving school. Busy with his license exams, he had no time to think about anything else.
Pei Siyue was also occupied, sending only occasional messages reminding him to take care of himself.
Before he realized it, five days had passed since Pei Siyue left.
That day, after finishing his driving practice and returning home, Ruan Shuyang looked around the empty villa. Even with Ji Huai by his side, he still felt profoundly lonely. Suddenly, he missed Pei Siyue terribly.
Without realizing it, he had grown exceptionally dependent on Pei Siyue.
This wasn’t good. It might annoy Pei Siyue, but he couldn’t control it.
Perhaps because he missed Pei Siyue so much, he had no appetite for dinner. After a few bites, he felt full. Ji Huai noticed and mentioned it to Pei Siyue.
That night before bed, Ruan Shuyang received a video call from Pei Siyue.
When the call connected, he saw Pei Siyue sitting in his bedroom, bright morning light streaming in behind him.
The moment he saw Pei Siyue, his eyes stung uncontrollably. He didn’t know why, but he felt wronged.
Had he been too selfish? Yet he couldn’t control his emotions.
He missed Pei Siyue so, so much.
Pei Siyue frowned, looking at Ruan Shuyang on the screen and asked, “Why are you crying? Did something happen?”
Ruan Shuyang only shook his head, but tears welled up in his eyes.
Pei Siyue’s voice grew stern: “Remember? I told you I don’t like it when you hide things from me.”
Ruan Shuyang remembered. Daring not to conceal anything further, he whispered softly, “I miss you so much.”
“I don’t know why, but I just miss you so much.”
The thought made him feel a little sad.
Pei Siyue gazed at him for a moment. “Have Ji Huai take you to apply for a passport tomorrow. Get visas for a few countries too. That way, next time you can travel with me on business.”
He didn’t want to be apart from his omega either.
Marking didn’t just affect omegas—enigmas were affected too. He would miss his omega, miss Ruan Shuyang.
Enigma pheromones sat at the pinnacle of the pyramid, untouched by anyone else’s influence. If he hadn’t marked anyone, he’d be free as the wind.
But he had willingly marked Ruan Shuyang, willingly allowed himself to be bound.
Ruan Shuyang’s attention shifted. Surprised, he asked, “Is that okay? Won’t I bother you if I travel with you?”
Pei Siyue replied firmly, “Not at all.”
“You’re still on summer break now, with plenty of time. Traveling with me means you can visit lots of places.”
This suggestion thrilled Ruan Shuyang. “Then I’ll go get my passport tomorrow.”
Pei Siyue shifted the topic: “How’s learning to drive? Finding it difficult?”
“Pretty easy.” Ruan Shuyang beamed proudly, finally having something to show off to Pei Siyue. “Don’t forget I’m a top student. Learning to drive is simple. I’ll definitely get my license before you return. Then I can drive you around.”
He had been admitted to T University and was considered a top student by his professors, though he simply didn’t fit in socially.
Pei Siyue watched Ruan Shuyang’s radiant, confident smile and responded in kind, “Alright.”
Whether he drove him or not didn’t matter. He preferred seeing Ruan Shuyang smile with such vibrant confidence, no longer wanting to witness the sorrow and despair he’d seen when they first met.
After chatting for a bit, Ruan Shuyang asked with concern, “How are things on your end?”
“Alright,” Pei Siyue replied. The elders just had surgery yesterday. It was successful. They’re recovering now and might return home for convalescence in a few months.”
“That’s wonderful.”
A delighted smile spread across Ruan Shuyang’s face.
Pei Siyue watched him for a moment before saying, “If you feel uncomfortable, you can sleep in my room tonight. That’s where the pheromones linger the most.”
“Is that okay?” Ruan Shuyang hesitated. “Wouldn’t it be awkward for me to go to your room when you’re not there?”
Pei Siyue assured him with certainty, “It’s perfectly fine. You need to rest well at night so you’ll have the energy to eat and learn to drive during the day.”
Since Pei Siyue was busy, the video call ended shortly after.
After hanging up, Ruan Shuyang went to the bathroom to wash up. Sitting on his bed afterward, he found himself inexplicably drawn to Pei Siyue’s earlier suggestion, his heart racing wildly.
Pei Siyue was right—a good night’s sleep meant more energy to eat and practice driving during the day. He wanted to get his license early so he could drive for Pei Siyue.
He came up with countless reasons to justify it, but ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation. He opened the door to Pei Siyue’s room.
The moment he stepped inside, he felt enveloped by Pei Siyue’s pheromones. That uncomfortable sensation that had been gnawing at him eased considerably.
He lay down on Pei Siyue’s bed, covered by his blanket, sinking into the flowing pheromones. It felt incredibly soothing. For the first time since Pei Siyue had left, he felt completely at ease and drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
He had a very strange dream.
Lily of the valley flowers were submerged in water. The flowing current soothed him, wave after wave washing over him. He unconsciously opened his mouth, biting down on the quilt, then clenched his jaws shut.
He felt incredibly comfortable, as if Pei Siyue were holding him, his hands gently caressing his back…
He gasped sharply, jolting awake. Realizing what he’d done, his entire body was steaming hot.
Pei Siyue’s bed and quilt were ruined—he’d made a mess of them.
Panicked and at a loss, he stared at the bedding before stripping it off himself. Taking advantage of the early hour before Ji Huai woke, he carried it downstairs to the laundry room and tossed it into the washing machine.
He had intended to remove the duvet cover, but none of the bedding in Pei Siyue’s home seemed to have separate covers—they were all one-piece sets. With no other option, he tossed everything into the machine.
By the time Ji Huai rose to prepare breakfast for Ruan Shuyang, the bedding was already washed and dried.
Hearing the noise, Ji Huai walked into the laundry room. “Mr. Ruan, what are you washing? Let me handle it.”
“The comforter and sheets,” Ruan Shuyang replied. “It’s fine, they’re already done.”
As he spoke, he reached to open the washing machine, only to hear Ji Huai’s surprised voice: “But you can’t wash the comforter at home.”
“Huh?” Ruan Shuyang froze. “Why can’t they be washed?”
Ji Huai explained, “The material is special. Washing them will cause them to clump together and become unusable.”
“Oh…” Ruan Shuyang murmured, “Then what do we do if they get dirty?”
Ji Huai replied without batting an eye, “Just replace them.”
Ruan Shuyang had never experienced such a luxurious lifestyle. He hadn’t realized that when quilts got dirty, they weren’t washed—they were simply replaced with new ones…
No wonder Ji Huai changed his quilt every few days—he’d assumed it was frequent laundering, not outright replacement.
“Then… then what should I do?”
He felt like he’d caused trouble.
“Don’t worry,” Ji Huai reassured him. “I’ll just get you a new one.”
“But these belong to Pei Siyue’s room.”
Ji Huai suddenly hesitated.
Strictly speaking, Pei Siyue wasn’t a particularly strict person. He paid well, the work wasn’t exhausting, required only daytime hours, and rarely demanded live-in service—with extra compensation for occasional overnight stays. He was actually a very good employer.
It was just that this employer had such an imposing presence. Often, Ji Huai didn’t dare speak much to Pei Siyue, and he certainly didn’t dare enter his room to change the sheets and quilt without permission while he was away on business.
He steeled himself and suggested, “Why don’t you talk to Mr. Pei about it first?”
Ruan Shuyang looked glum and hesitant, but remembering Pei Siyue’s dislike for secrecy, he resolved to confess his mistake during their next video call.
That evening, Pei Siyue called him on video. Seeing Ruan Shuyang’s anxious expression on the other end, he asked, “What happened?”
Ruan Shuyang timidly replied, “I messed up.”
He bit his lip, his large eyes brimming with unease.
Pei Siyue’s expression remained calm, as if his mistake wasn’t a big deal. “What kind of mess?”
This expression gradually eased Ruan Shuyang’s fear. He spoke slowly, “Last night… I accidentally stained your sheets and quilt. I put them in the washing machine, but the quilt got ruined.”
“I’m really sorry.”
Pei Siyue knew the family’s quilts weren’t meant for machine washing; they were usually replaced when soiled.
“It’s fine.” Pei Siyue told him. “Have Ji Huai replace it with a new set.”
Ruan Shuyang breathed a sigh of relief and obediently replied, “Okay.”
“But…” Pei Siyue paused, then looked at Ruan Shuyang and asked, “How did you get them dirty?”
Ruan Shuyang froze, his face instantly flushing crimson. His grip loosened, and the phone slipped from his hand. The screen shook violently, and a series of thuds echoed through the receiver.
It took nearly a minute before Pei Siyue saw the image stabilize again. Ruan Shuyang appeared in the video, his gaze shifting nervously as he replied, “It… it just got dirty like that…”
Pei Siyue asked, his expression unchanged, “Did you get it wet?”
Ruan Shuyang: “!”
Pei Siyue, you’re so mean—how did you guess?
“Like how you got my pants wet on Sunday afternoon?”
Ruan Shuyang’s eyes widened. Had he really wet Pei Siyue’s pants that Sunday afternoon?
He genuinely couldn’t recall…
But when he woke up, he’d felt that sticky, dried-out discomfort all over himself. He must have soaked Pei Siyue’s pants too.
He dared not meet Pei Siyue’s gaze, stammering frantically, “I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“No need to be careful,” Pei Siyue told him. “This is a normal physiological reaction. There’s no need to hide it or feel embarrassed.”
Pei Siyue’s unusually composed demeanor gradually calmed him down. He couldn’t help whispering a defense to himself: “I never used to be like this before.”
He hadn’t had any thoughts like this before. He never would have dreamed of it. At most, he’d felt an unfillable void inside his body, unsure how to fill it.
It wasn’t until later that he learned that was a side effect of the suppressant. But after Pei Siyue treated him, that emptiness vanished.
But now it seemed like new problems had cropped up. Ruan Shuyang
Later he learned that was a side effect of the suppressant, but after Pei Siyue treated him, that void vanished.
But now it seemed like a different problem had emerged. Ruan Shuyang thought with frustration, unconsciously asking Pei Siyue, “Why is this happening now…”
His tone carried a hint of grievance and dependence.
“Because your primary sexual characteristics are developing,” Pei Siyue explained. “The maturation of primary sexual characteristics is often accompanied by the awakening of bodily self-awareness.”
Ruan Shuyang blinked, his voice filled with confusion. “Bodily self-awareness?”
“Similar to what happened to you last night.”
So that was bodily self-awareness? His body wanted it?
Ruan Shuyang felt his face burning hot enough to fry an egg. He couldn’t bear to discuss this topic further. “Can we not talk about this?”
“Alright.” Pei Siyue shifted the subject. “I’ll be able to return in five days.”
Ruan Shuyang exhaled in relief, his face lighting up with anticipation. “Great. ”
He had lain in Pei Siyue’s room for several days, and the pheromones there had already faded considerably.
Perhaps more traces remained in the office at Ruiji.
But to his disappointment, Pei Siyue was rarely in the office to begin with. After another ten days or so, the lingering pheromones had diminished even further, becoming almost imperceptible.
With Pei Siyue absent, he sat alone in the small cubicle next to the office. After sketching a design, he slumped listlessly over his desk, his head drooping.
Jiang Wu had driven Pei Siyue to the airport but hadn’t accompanied him on the business trip. He stayed behind at Ruiji to handle Pei Siyue’s affairs. Passing by the open office cubicle, he noticed Ruan Shuyang looking rather listless. After a moment’s thought, he paused at the doorway and asked, “Why do you look so down?”
Too embarrassed to admit he missed Pei Siyue, Ruan Shuyang offered another reason: “I’m just feeling a bit bored.”
As a renowned soap opera enthusiast, Jiang Wu thought this problem was easily solved.
He immediately suggested enthusiastically, “You could watch some soap operas.”
“Soap operas?” Ruan Shuyang sat up straight, tilting his head curiously. “You mean watch TV shows?”
“Right.” Jiang Wu nodded. “I know a few really good ones I can recommend.”
Ruan Shuyang perked up.
After leaving the Ruan household, he felt like a bird freed from its cage. He was curious about and eager to try many things he’d only heard about before but never actually done or seen.
Back in school, classmates would discuss the latest dramas. He was intrigued but never had the chance to watch them.
He’d been too busy studying to find the time, and he didn’t have the equipment to watch them either. His old phone was too outdated—installing video apps would make it lag. Now that he had a laptop and a tablet, he could finally make up for lost time.
But he hesitated. “It’s work hours now. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to watch a show?”
“Nothing wrong with it,” Jiang Wu replied immediately. “You’re Mr. Pei’s personal assistant. When he’s not around, it’s like you’re on break. Just being here in the office shows how dedicated you are—you totally can watch shows.”
He even used himself as an example: “Look at me—I occasionally slack off and scroll through my phone at work. It’s perfectly normal.”
Besides, he believed that even if Pei Siyue were present, Ruan Shuyang could still watch dramas—Pei Siyue wouldn’t object.
Ruan Shuyang had indeed seen Jiang Wu playing with his phone before and was persuaded.
To pass the time and stop dwelling on Pei Siyue, he decided to watch dramas to distract himself.
Jiang Wu immediately enthusiastically recommended several classic soap operas. Ruan Shuyang installed a video app on his tablet, purchased a membership, and began watching.
Before he knew it, evening arrived. He was still engrossed in the show while Ji Huai picked him up and drove him home. He couldn’t stop watching even during dinner, completely captivated by the melodrama, his attention fully diverted.
He’d started watching and found himself unconsciously hooked. Even before bed, he clutched his tablet, watching and crying emotionally as he went—
“Why won’t this alpha trust his omega—”
“Why can’t this misunderstanding be cleared up!”
“Waaah, poor little omega…”
For the first time, Ruan Shuyang watched so recklessly that he lost track of time, eventually falling asleep with the tablet in his arms.
The next morning, his eyes were red and puffy like a rabbit’s when the alarm woke him.
He startled himself in the mirror and panicked, rushing out to ask Ji Huai to take him to the hospital. Instead, he collided head-on into a familiar, broad embrace.
Pei Siyue steadied Ruan Shuyang and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ruan Shuyang grabbed Pei Siyue’s hand and stammered, “My eyes are red.”
Pei Siyue examined him for a moment before pulling Ruan Shuyang downstairs. “Don’t panic. I’ll take a look.”
Ruan Shuyang recalled that Pei Siyue was a doctor himself and could treat him, gradually calming down.
Once composed, he gazed in surprise at Pei Siyue beside him, his large hand as warm as ever. Tall and imposing, his stride was elegant and composed.
Pei Siyue had returned.
His eyes crinkled with a smile. “You’re back.”
It truly brought such joy.