After the New Year, Ying Zhiyu and Lì Xi moved out of the LI Group’s garden villa as planned.
Now that they had a clear suspect, they needed to go over their past files carefully.
Of course, Panda and Zhōu Shèn’s backgrounds had been thoroughly checked before they entered the Li family.
Panda: Beta, 27 years old, assigned as Lì Xi’s personal bodyguard five years ago.
His father, Pán Mùqiáo, is an Alpha, chief security officer of the Li family’s central office. Five-star loyalty, military demeanor, extremely low risk of betrayal.
Pán Mùqiáo didn’t have Panda until he was forty. Panda was trained rigorously and assigned to Lì Xi at age twenty-two. Some in the Li family office thought this was Pán Mùqiáo investing in the next generation of the Li family, paving the way for his son’s future.
Others said Lì Xi specifically requested Panda as his bodyguard to gain favor with Pán Mùqiáo.
Lì Xi had told Ying Zhiyu that when he returned to the country five years ago, Panda’s file was among the bodyguards arranged by Lì Sòngqian. Choosing him partly for his father’s status made sense.
In other words, both theories about why Panda became Lì Xi’s bodyguard had some truth.
Lì Xi’s evaluation of Panda’s performance over the past five years: professional, loyal, highly principled—an exemplary bodyguard.
This matched Ying Zhiyu’s impression from his past life.
If Panda’s position made certain things easier to manipulate, Ying Zhiyu still didn’t want to suspect him.
Even someone like Ying Zhiyu, confident in his IQ and EQ, could drop pretenses around Lì Xi and simply assess things.
If Panda had been pretending to be “honest and straightforward” for so many years, flawlessly, that would be nearly impossible.
As for the Li family’s head butler, Zhōu Shèn:
Beta, same age as Miss Lì Qìn, 45, unmarried.
Betas have the highest rate of remaining single in ABO society, so Zhōu Shèn’s celibacy wasn’t unusual.
Initially, Ying Zhiyu suspected that the act of sending the wedding-ring finger might involve some “resentment” or “jealousy” about his status as a son-in-law.
But Zhōu Shèn was much older than Lì Xi—fifteen years older. Waiting until Lì Xi was married for over a decade to act would be far-fetched.
The same applied to Panda. If he secretly loved Lì Xi, acting now would lack sufficient motive.
So Lì Xi’s initial judgment was likely correct: the person attacking Ying Zhiyu wasn’t motivated by personal feelings.
Eliminating private vendettas left his research as the more likely reason.
“Zhōu Butler…” Ying Zhiyu thought for a moment. “He graduated from the École hôtelière de Lausanne?”
Graduating from one of the world’s top hotel management schools, entering the Li family directly at 23, and working twenty years to reach head butler—his trajectory was clear.
Ying Zhiyu asked, “What about his parents?”
Lì Xi answered: “He was adopted. His foster parents’ background is clean. His biological parents…”
He paused, expression turning serious. Then, suddenly: “Zhōu Shèn is indeed a suspect.”
Ying Zhiyu was taken aback—he hadn’t expected Lì Xi to say that.
Lì Xi furrowed his brow, recalling details. “His biological parents divorced. Father is Alpha, mother Beta. Father married her during his struggling days, later got rich and abandoned her. Custody went to the father, but after remarrying, he eventually cast Zhōu Shèn aside. He has half-siblings—one Alpha, one Omega.”
If Ying Zhiyu’s guess was correct, the person targeting him cared about the AO differentiation research.
Then Zhōu Shèn’s background could indeed be a motive for confronting him.
But… why send the finger?
Ying Zhiyu still didn’t understand.
Lì Xi couldn’t consider this from a past-life perspective, but Ying Zhiyu reasoned: if it wasn’t jealousy or resentment, it had to be intimidation.
Threatening Lì Xi?
For what purpose?
What connection could the AO differentiation research have with the LI Group heirship battle?
In his past life, during the heirship battle, Lì Xi should have also been in the phase of developing and launching a new drug…
At that time, what pheromone product was Ying Zhiyu overseeing?
Damn it. Back then, to avoid any suspicion that he—the “son-in-law”—might have ambitions toward the LI Group, Ying Zhiyu hadn’t paid the slightest attention to Lì Xi’s work.
Lì Xi had been busy lately.
The clinical trial and evaluation of the artificial pheromone had just been completed. After the New Year, LI officially began the application process for launching the new drug.
Little Love Letter’s current feeding schedule followed the expert-recommended “mixed breastfeeding and formula” approach.
It ensured that the Omega could maintain normal work and rest after giving birth, while the baby received the most scientifically optimal nutrition.
Around eight in the evening, Lì Xi hadn’t returned home due to urgent work tasks.
The nanny prepared to take Little Love Letter to the LI Group headquarters to find him.
She explained to Ying Zhiyu that the milk Lì Xi had pumped before leaving in the morning was already used up, and Little Love Letter was accustomed to having breast milk right before bedtime.
Normally, Lì Xi would have made it home before the baby’s sleep. But these past two days he had been too busy, so tonight he probably wouldn’t make it in time.
Ying Zhiyu thought for a moment. “I’ll go with you.”
With both the Omega and the baby away from home, leaving a lone Alpha there felt awkward, useless, and… strangely pitiful.
At LI Group headquarters, even past nine at night, the building remained brightly lit. Many floors had offices still occupied.
A large corporation with generous benefits demanded proportional effort.
They took the executive elevator straight to the floor where Lì Xi’s office was located.
Upon entering, Lì Xi paused his work and first went to the lounge to feed the baby.
Since Ying Zhiyu had participated in developing LI’s artificial pheromone drug in the lab, he didn’t feel the need to avoid being in Lì Xi’s office this time.
When he greeted Lì Xi, his eyes casually flicked to the spreadsheet on Lì Xi’s computer. He remarked casually, “Do you still need to organize these reports yourself?”
To submit a new drug for launch, all preliminary R&D data, plus Phase I, II, and III clinical trial results, must be compiled.
LI Group’s artificial pheromone project was top secret.
Until the new drug was officially released, the final files of all research data were consolidated under Lì Xi’s control; even his personal assistant, Zhang Jingrui, didn’t have full access to every research document.
Li Xi gently soothed the little love letter nestled in his arms as it happily drank its milk, explaining, “Once artificial pheromones hit the market, there will inevitably follow synthetic simulations, customized matching pheromones, even self-mixed formulations.”
“To prevent their misuse in crimes, the new formula must remain confidential before release, and we need to put in place measures to curb any potential abuse. Only when everything is fully prepared can it officially be launched.”
Online, the LI Group had earned the nickname “The Pheromone Business Empire” from netizens—a title not given lightly.
In the ABO world, pheromones wield immense influence over Alphas and Omegas alike, touching every facet of life. Every new pheromone product LI Group developed could potentially reshape the social landscape, alter future trends, and even influence structural adjustments in society.
The greater the influence, the heavier the responsibility.
Caution and thoroughness were paramount.
By the time the little love letter had finished its pre-bedtime milk, it was already half-dreaming, its round eyes half-closed and glazed over. Ying Zhiyu had recently spent more time playing with the baby, practicing parent-child interaction, and could tell at a glance that the little one was “milk-drunk” and about to fall asleep.
Because the baby was still so young, a few months old, trips required a dedicated infant seat, making sleep on the go often restless. Li Xi couldn’t leave until work was done, so after the feeding, the nanny took the little love letter home first.
It wasn’t until 11:30 p.m. that Li Xi finally left the LI Group headquarters.
Stepping out of the elevator, a shadow emerged from the security corridor.
Li Xi’s bodyguards nearly leapt into action, but the shadow spoke just in time: “It’s me.”
Li Xi paused, studying the face.
Alphas had remarkable learning abilities; they mastered anti-tracking and reconnaissance skills, even extrapolating beyond what they’d learned. Hidden in the shadows, Ying Zhiyu had evaded even Li Xi’s notice.
He’d somehow gotten a baseball cap, changed into another outfit, and pulled the hoodie over his head.
…Somehow he looked part-dangerous, part-handsome—how was that possible?
Seeing Li Xi stare without moving, Ying Zhiyu approached, “Director Li kept me waiting, you know.”
Before moving out of the Li family’s garden villa, Ying Zhiyu had left some “clues” of their school research projects in his usual study. But whether out of caution or because his earlier guesses were wrong, the Li household showed no unusual activity.
Ying Zhiyu’s work and life remained completely calm.
Recently, he and Li Xi hadn’t exactly been “at odds”—after all, with the other party delaying action, staying apart indefinitely wasn’t practical.
But even if they “reconciled,” a fractured relationship couldn’t be mended overnight, and public displays of affection would still be minimal.
Thus, it seemed natural that the young Alpha had gone home with the little love letter.
What Li Xi hadn’t expected was that just over an hour later, Ying Zhiyu would reappear, in a completely new outfit, waiting downstairs at LI Group.
Li Xi couldn’t show too much closeness to the young Alpha in public; his bodyguard Panda hadn’t fully cleared the suspicions. He forced himself to look away.
His Adam’s apple moved as he said coldly, “Why are you waiting here?”
Without a word, he brushed past the Alpha and got into the car.
Ying Zhiyu obediently followed and got in as well.
Once inside, Li Xi raised the partition between the front and back seats, still scowling.
Ying Zhiyu, still in character as the “playful little Alpha,” smiled up at him. “Calm down, Xi. How about we play a card game tonight…”
Before he could finish, Li Xi grabbed his chin.
Ying Zhiyu froze.
Li Xi narrowed his eyes at the clear, youthful face of this Alpha who was already a father, even noting how his midnight outfit still radiated that “young college guy” charm.
He thought of all the netizens joking online: “If I had money, I’d raise a handsome college-aged guy too.”
Li Xi mused: yes, if you have money, you should absolutely raise a pretty boy. Eye candy that lifts your spirits.
With Ying Zhiyu’s chin held, Li Xi buried his face in his neck and inhaled deeply. The reassuring scent of Alpha pheromones filled him, followed by a furtive, passionate kiss.
Before returning to his seat, Li Xi even fastened the young Alpha’s seatbelt. When he went to buckle his own, Ying Zhiyu beat him to it, clicking the belt into place with a satisfied “snap.”
On the road, the young Alpha kept glancing at Li Xi’s chest.
Li Xi glanced down at his own clothing, then back at Ying Zhiyu. “What are you looking at?”
Curious, Ying Zhiyu asked, “Does it… get engorged?”
Earlier, as the car began moving, they’d stolen a kiss, pressed close. Ying Zhiyu noticed something different in Li Xi’s chest—subtle changes he hadn’t seen before.
Male Omegas were rare, and many of these physiological questions were foreign to him. He’d hesitated to ask before, worried about Li Xi’s postpartum sensitivity.
Even during baby feeding, Li Xi had gone out of his way to shield himself from Ying Zhiyu’s view. Today, it was the first time he’d seen it firsthand.
Li Xi paused. “…Sometimes.”
Unlike female Omegas, male Omegas had limited lactation, though engorgement still occurred.
Ying Zhiyu blinked innocently, but his words were mischievous, “Want me to massage it for you?”
Li Xi: “….”
He read in the young Alpha’s eyes not a real offer, but the gleeful curiosity of a researcher, eager to explore.
Yet the expression also carried an innocent, almost scholarly fascination.
Li Xi’s mind flashed to the image of Ying Zhiyu waiting in the security corridor.
Early spring lingered in the air—cold yet thawing—and he wondered if the security exit at LI Group was poorly heated.
Ying Zhiyu’s neck looked chilled. Perhaps the clothes were too thin, or he’d waited too long.
Li Xi fell silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth. “Reach out.”
Ying Zhiyu raised an eyebrow. “Now?”
He had actually planned to wait until they got home…
Glancing at the simulated clock on the car’s center console, Li Xi realized it was already past midnight by the time they got home. If he let the young Alpha “massage” him now, neither of them would get any rest tonight.
Reluctantly, the Alpha still extended his hand, careful yet obedient.
The area in question was extremely sensitive during lactation; Ying Zhiyu barely touched it through the clothing.
Li Xi instinctively clenched his fists and turned his head, avoiding the young Alpha’s gaze.
The luxury car’s soundproofing was excellent; only their breathing filled the quiet, cramped space. More precisely, Li Xi’s breath deepened and quickened in sync with the subtle movements of the Alpha’s hand.
Ying Zhiyu’s touch was gentle and precise; it was obvious he wasn’t doing it randomly, as though he had studied this in advance.
But just as Li Xi was at the edge of losing control, almost wishing he could bite the seemingly innocent yet thoroughly mischievous Alpha’s hand,
the young Alpha froze mid-motion.
Ying Zhiyu suddenly remembered something and asked, “After artificial pheromones hit the market, will they be sold under real-name restrictions?”
Li Xi froze. High-IQ minds often leap unpredictably, but an Alpha bringing up work at this moment…
Though baffled, Li Xi nodded, conceding, “It’s being considered.”
Ying Zhiyu finally understood what the last experimental drug developed by the LI laboratory in his past life had been!
To prevent misuse of the new formula once released, it had to be sold under real-name registration with monthly purchase limits.
During the peak of the Li family heir succession war in his previous life, Li Xi had advocated releasing a new formula—what, in this life, would be a decade-early successful artificial pheromone even Betas could sense!