Chapter 17

After a while, Ruan Shuyang felt much better. Not wanting to trouble Pei Siyue any longer, he said, “I feel much better now.”

Pei Siyue withdrew his hand, observing the renewed flush and luster in Ruan Shuyang’s cheeks. “Get ready for dinner,” he instructed.

Ruan Shuyang blinked. “Dinner already?”

“Mhm.” Pei Siyue nodded, then asked, “Have you eaten?”

“No.”

Ruan Shuyang shook his head immediately. It was only after Pei Siyue mentioned it that he realized he was starving, his stomach growling loudly.

The meal arrived quickly, brought by Ji Huai, whom he’d met once before. Ji Huai smiled kindly at him, placing the prepared dishes before him—a generous spread of vegetables, rice, and hot soup. After the meal, he even had a delicious pudding prepared as dessert.

By the time they finished eating, it was past nine in the evening. Ruan Shuyang was full and feeling a bit sleepy from the meal.

The table had been cleared away at some point. Pei Siyue stood up and moved to the position behind him, his fingers lightly resting on the gland covered by the barrier patch.

Ruan Shuyang looked up at Pei Siyue in confusion, his eyes glistening with the lingering moisture from his recent yawn. He asked softly, “Mr. Pei?”

Whether it was because he’d been marked just yesterday or not, his glands were extremely sensitive now, throbbing at the slightest touch of a finger.

The tall figure leaned down slightly to look at him, Pei Siyue’s eyes dark and deep.

“You need to receive some pheromone treatment.”

He spoke as he gently removed Ruan Shuyang’s gland barrier patch.

Ruan Shuyang grew tense. “Do I need to be marked again today?”

With the patch gone, the pale, tempting gland was fully exposed before Pei Siyue.

The gland possessed excellent self-repair and healing capabilities, and the enigma pheromone also promoted wound recovery. Thus, in just a single day, yesterday’s bite marks were no longer visible. The gland now appeared smooth and fair, appearing to enigma as perfectly suited for another bite.

Yet, what Pei Siyue actually said was: “No marking. Just pheromone soothing. To ensure the treatment’s effectiveness, you’ll need frequent exposure to my pheromones.”

“Oh.” Ruan Shuyang exhaled in relief, yet an inexplicable, faint disappointment welled up inside him. It felt as though, in such a short time, he had already begun to depend on Pei Siyue’s pheromones. The bond formed through marking was exceptionally powerful.

Pei Siyue’s hand rested on Ruan Shuyang’s shoulder, carrying both soothing and restraining pressure. Gentle pheromones, like a rising tide, slowly flowed from the omega’s glands into Ruan Shuyang’s body.

This sensation differed from yesterday’s marking. Yesterday, he’d been subjected to wave after wave of pheromones, a forceful baptism that felt like being possessed and branded by Pei Siyue’s scent.

The lily of the valley trembled uncontrollably as it was drenched.

But this pheromone felt like a gentle, large hand, slowly soothing the discomfort and craving within his body—somewhat like the sensation when Pei Siyue had just massaged his stomach.

It felt incredibly good, so good that he couldn’t help but let out a muffled “murmur.”

He closed his eyes in bliss, unable to see Pei Siyue’s expression.

As if observing prey certain to be captured.

Several more minutes passed. The enigma pheromones gradually diminished, and the barrier patch was reapplied to Ruan Shuyang’s neck. It was nearly ten o’clock at night.

It was very late.

Ruan Shuyang snapped back to awareness and realized how late it was. He should leave.

He stood up to take his leave from Pei Siyue, but Pei Siyue spoke first: “I’ll send a car to take you back.”

“Alright.” Ruan Shuyang always felt flustered at moments like this. “Thank you, Mr. Pei.”

Yet Pei Siyue’s next words came casually: “Pei Siming probably won’t be able to drive you home today.”

This was the first time Ruan Shuyang had heard Pei Siming’s name from Pei Siyue’s lips. His tone was cold, as if discussing a stranger.

He twisted his fingers, saying nothing.

This time, Pei Siyue didn’t let it go. Instead, he pressed on, looking down at Ruan Shuyang with a tone laced with pressure.

“Still so fond of him? Even after he left you alone in the banquet hall today?”

Ruan Shuyang’s expression was desolate, unsure what to say.

Ruan Shuyang’s eyelashes fluttered as he lowered his gaze. The room’s light cast a pallid glow on his face, making it appear almost translucent.

After a long moment, he murmured, “I think I’ll head back, Mr. Pei.”

This time, Pei Siyue didn’t insist. He merely studied Ruan Shuyang for a few more seconds before replying, “Alright.”

Rui Ji Technology’s car transported him back to the Ruan residence. Upon arrival, he encountered Ruan Jianchuan waiting on the sofa as expected. The latter inquired about the events that unfolded at the banquet.

“What happened at the banquet today?” ”

Rui Ji Technology’s car drove him back to the Ruan residence. Upon arriving home, he unsurprisingly encountered Ruan Jianchuan waiting on the sofa. The latter inquired about what had transpired at the banquet that evening. Ruan Shuyang deflected by explaining that Pei Siming had been discussing business deals and projects with others the entire time, which he couldn’t understand.

“If you don’t understand, listen carefully, take notes, and recite them to me next time,” Ruan Jianchuan said sternly. “Remember any promising projects. Don’t forget you bear the Ruan surname—you’re family. When opportunities arise, think of the Ruan household.”

Ruan Shuyang replied obediently, “I understand. Next time I’ll listen attentively and memorize everything.”

His attitude was so cooperative that Ruan Jianchuan dismissed him after just two sentences.

Ruan Shuyang breathed a huge sigh of relief, carrying his small bag upstairs, grateful Ruan Jianchuan hadn’t searched it.

Because his bag was already stuffed with the barrier patches, suppressants, and barrier spray given to him by Pei Siyue.

**

Pei Siming had been drinking with Liang Qiang all evening. He seemed to have heard about numerous projects, but in reality, he hadn’t grasped any specifics. He’d drunk quite a bit and was heavily intoxicated. As he struggled to maintain his composure and press further, Liang Qiang suddenly stood up, saying it was getting late and they should continue another time.

Pei Siming nearly lost his temper. He’d downed a bellyful of baijiu and was on the verge of vomiting, yet Liang Qiang told him to talk another time?!

If it weren’t for that bastard Pei Siyue returning to seize power, when had he ever endured such humiliation?

But considering the “next time” he’d mentioned, Pei Si Ming reluctantly swallowed his anger, took his leave, and agreed to meet again.

Liang Qiang summoned a waiter to escort him out. As Pei Si Ming reached the doorway, his senses returned enough for him to think of Ruan Shuyang. Leaning against the doorframe, he struggled to steady his alcohol-addled body and told the waiter, ” There’s an omega who came with me named Ruan Shuyang. Find him and bring him over.”

The waiter nodded and turned back toward the banquet hall.

By the time the waiter returned, Pei Siming was nearly collapsing, struggling to hear as the waiter explained that Ruan Shuyang, unfamiliar with the evening’s proceedings, had already been sent home by car through Ruiji Technology.

Something felt off to Pei Siming, but his nearly drunken state prevented clear thought. He was simply lifted into the car and laid across the back seat.

Before the driver could reach home, he had passed out completely.

**

The next morning, he awoke in his bedroom at home. Soon after, Zhou Wei knocked and entered, asking how he was. She was deeply worried about his son being driven home nearly unconscious last night and had come early to check on him, bringing hangover medicine and watching him take another pill.

“What happened?” Zhou Wei asked anxiously. “How did the project negotiations go? Why did you drink so much?”

Pei Siming didn’t want to discuss business matters with Zhou Wei and gave a perfunctory reply: “Mom, you wouldn’t understand. Did Dad come home last night? How was it?”

“He went straight to his study as soon as he got home. I don’t know.”

Mentioning this only made Zhou Wei feel worse. Though she had achieved his goal of becoming Mrs. Pei, she held only the title. his husband never gave his a proper glance, the Pei family relatives treated his with disdain, and even his own son showed his little affection.

Not to mention the son Jiang Ruowan had left behind—he treated him like he was invisible, sometimes even worse than air.

After washing up and taking his hangover remedy, Pei Siming felt irritable too.

Zhou Wei studied his expression. “Is it business troubles? Your elder brother is heartless—kicking you out the moment he returned. We must find a way to get him to let you back in, or get rid of him.”

Pei Siming knew this well. “I’ve tried everything you suggest. It won’t work.”

“What about your dad? Doesn’t he intervene?”

“What could he do?” Pei Siming scoffed coldly. “In his eyes, I’m probably the only son who matters—besides my older brother.”

Zhou Wei gritted his teeth. “We need a way to leverage Pei Siyue.”

Pei Siming asked hopelessly, “How exactly?”

“If the omega he marries is on our side, we’ll have no trouble manipulating him.”

Pei Siming retorted irritably, “You forgot what he said last time when we suggested introducing him to an omega?”

Zhou Wei: “…”

Just recalling that incident made his heart ache with fury.

Last time, she’d finally spotted Pei Siyue returning to the Pei family home during a family banquet. Seizing the chance, she’d proposed arranging his marriage and introducing an omega. Their father, Pei Yan, remained silent, while other relatives listened curiously. Yet Pei Siyue had bluntly delivered a line that left no room for face-saving—

“I’m allergic to omegas.”

Recalling the looks the other relatives shot his then, his face burned fiercely.

An alpha allergic to omegas? Who would believe that?

It was clearly just an excuse.

But he couldn’t even come up with a decent one, showing zero regard for his dignity.

“But…” Pei Siming mused thoughtfully, ” If Dad sees me bringing someone home, he might think my older brother should settle down too and start pressuring him to marry.”

In this household, only Pei Yan dared to speak to Pei Siyue in a commanding tone—though whether Pei Siyue would heed Pei Yan’s words was another matter.

“Who are you bringing?” Zhou Wei asked. “That omega from the Jin family?”

“Of course not,” Pei Siyue shook his head. “The one engaged to me now is Ruan Shuyang. I can only bring him back.”

“Him? A bastard child?” Zhou Wei’s tone dripped with contempt. “He’s worthy of entering our Pei family? Worthy of being brought in as your fiancé?”

Pei Siming frowned instinctively at Zhou Wei’s contemptuous tone and retorted, “Regardless of his background, he is the omega engaged to me now. If I bring someone else home and the media finds out, who knows what they’ll write? If this gets public, what about our partnerships? Will the company even survive?”

Zhou Wei had no retort, ultimately seething inwardly: “It’s all your older brother’s fault. If he hadn’t returned to China and kicked you out, you wouldn’t have ended up engaged to someone of such a filthy background like Ruan Shuyang.”

“Don’t say these things in front of others, especially not in front of my father.” “ For some reason, Pei Siming felt an inexplicable surge of anger. ”Don’t speak like that in the future either. Trouble comes from loose lips.”

Zhou Wei froze at the unusually stern look on Pei Siming’s face, then retorted resentfully, “Fine, you two think I’m easy to push around. You just love taking your frustrations out on me.”

At breakfast, Pei Siming finally saw his biological father, Pei Yan.

During breakfast, he tentatively asked if they should invite Pei Siyue back for dinner this weekend. Pei Yan neither objected nor agreed, simply saying, “If you can get him to come, it’s up to you.”

Pei Siming smiled and agreed, then called Pei Siyue after breakfast.

At that moment, Pei Siyue was messaging Ruan Shuyang, asking how he was feeling today—whether his stomach still hurt or if anything else was bothering him.

The message had barely been sent when Pei Siming’s call came through.

Pei Siyue stared coldly at the name on the screen before tapping to answer.

“Big Brother.”

Pei Siming’s voice came through the phone, sounding slightly distorted and inexplicably irritating.

“Dad asked me to see if you’d like to come home this weekend* for dinner.”

Just as Pei Siyue was about to refuse, Jiang Wu knocked and entered, handing him a document. Pei Siyue looked at it and remained silent for a moment.

Pei Siming continued on the other end: “I plan to bring my fiancée home to meet Mom and Dad this weekend. After all, we’ve been engaged for several months now. It’s about time to bring his home for dinner with us.”

“Come to think of it, big bro, you’ve always been single. Don’t get too jealous of an alpha like me who’s got an omega. Of course, if you are jealous, you can always find one yourself—”

By then, Pei Siyue had finished reviewing the document and signed it, cutting off Pei Siming’s words.

“Saturday night? I’ll be back. Gotta go, got stuff to do.”

Pei Siming stared at his phone in surprise as the dial tone sounded.

Had he… agreed?

Something felt off, yet he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.