Chapter 20

　　Pei Siyue was summoned to the study by Pei Yan. He walked straight to the window and stood there, not looking at Pei Yan.

Pei Yan closed his eyes briefly, forcing himself to keep his temper in check as he asked, “What exactly are you thinking?”

　　“Nothing much,” Pei Siyue replied indifferently. “Just taking back what’s rightfully mine.”

　　“You—”

Pei Yan tried to say more, but Pei Siyue had no interest in listening. His attention was drawn to Pei Siming, who had pulled Ruan Shuyang into the garden. He half-forced his hands open and ripped off the barrier patch covering his omega gland.

　　His pupils contracted sharply. Ignoring whatever Pei Yan wanted to discuss, he immediately turned to leave.

Pei Siyue shoved Pei Siming aside, pulling Ruan Shuyang behind him. Gentle water scents silently enveloped her, forming a pheromone cage that slowly dispersed the sour lemon scent lingering on her.

　　Pei Siming stumbled back several steps, his expression twisted. After a long moment of composing himself, he glared at Pei Siyue accusingly. “Big Brother, I’m marking my fiancée! What the hell are you doing barging in?! Get out of my way. Leave this place. Don’t interfere with my fiancée and me.”

　　His emotions running high, Pei Siming’s alpha pheromones erupted uncontrollably, the sour lemon scent suddenly exploding throughout the back garden.

But the moment it erupted, it froze solid, then seemed to be pressed back into his body by something as cold as ice.

　　The sensation of his pheromones being forced back into his body was excruciatingly painful, nearly making Pei Siming vomit.

Ruan Shuyang took advantage of their conversation to reapply his barrier patch and sprayed barrier spray liberally. Only after completing these steps did he finally feel somewhat reassured.

　　Pei Siming recovered from the discomfort, staring at Pei Siyue with bewilderment and suspicion.

Had Pei Siyue just suppressed his pheromones? But why couldn’t he detect Pei Siyue’s scent? What was going on…

What level of Alpha was Pei Siyue, to forcibly push back his pheromones?

　　The innate fear of higher-ranking Alphas, hardwired into his genetic makeup, made him deeply wary. Every cell in his body screamed to flee.

He struggled to suppress that urge and pressed Pei Siyue further: “What business is it of yours, big brother, interfering in matters between me and my fiancée? Don’t you know not to meddle in others’ family affairs?”

　　Pei Siyue’s face remained expressionless, a detached calmness washing over him as he replied coolly, “They’re not married yet. It doesn’t count as family business.”

“Even if they were married, you couldn’t force yourself on his during the marriage.”

　　“This is between me and him. It’s none of your business as an outsider,” Pei Siyue retorted immediately. He tried to step forward, wanting to pull Ruan Shuyang out from behind Pei Siyue, but the few steps that usually seemed so simple felt impossibly distant today.

　　The suppression from the pheromone level was far more terrifying than he’d imagined. Taking even a single step felt agonizingly difficult.

Pei Siming couldn’t take it anymore. He screamed, his voice breaking: “I’m at least his fiancé! And you? What right do you have to meddle in our affairs? And to touch him?!”

　　Pei Siyue watched Pei Siming’s fury with a cold stare, saying nothing but standing resolutely in front of Ruan Shuyang. His posture seemed to declare: I’m protecting him. What are you going to do about it?

“This is between me and him—”

“Enough!”

　　A slightly aged voice cut through the commotion. Pei Yan stood not far away in the corridor, observing the three of them, with Zhou Wei trailing behind him, his expression grim.

Pei Yan first addressed Zhou Wei: “Contact the driver. Send Ruan Shuyang back to the Ruan residence.”

　　Zhou Wei dared not defy Pei Yan and immediately called the driver.

Pei Yan gestured toward Pei Siyue and Pei Siming: “You two come with me to the study.”

The situation had become chaotic enough; it was best for Ruan Shuyang to leave without causing further trouble.

　　On the way back, he worried about Pei Siyue and messaged him in the car: Mr. Pei, how are things on your end?

Ruan Shuyang: If needed, I can explain to Mr. Pei that none of this is your fault—you were just helping me.

But the message went unanswered for a while.

　　The three Pei family members were gathered in the study. Zhou Wei dared not utter a word in such a tense atmosphere, silent as a mouse.

Pei Yan reprimanded Pei Siming without mercy: “You have indeed made a mistake today.”

Pei Siming protested loudly in dissatisfaction: “Dad, it was my older brother who interfered with my relationship with my fiancée!”

　　Pei Yan watched his son’s outburst with a cold stare, his eyes devoid of much emotion. It was as if Pei Siming wasn’t his own flesh and blood, but rather an irritating subordinate.

Once Pei Siming finished shouting, Pei Yan asked in a flat tone, “Are you done?”

　　Pei Siming was deeply dissatisfied with Pei Yan’s attitude. Once again, he felt the stark injustice within this household—Pei Yan’s heart was hopelessly biased.

He had argued with Pei Siyue, and Pei Siyue had interfered with his relationship with his fiancée. Yet Pei Yan’s criticism was directed solely at him.

　　“No,” Pei Siming protested. “Dad, it was my older brother who interfered with my fiancée and me first. Why are you only blaming me and not him?!”

Pei Yan’s gaze toward Pei Siming held no warmth as he replied, “Because the Pei family has never had a tradition of forcing omegas.”

　　Hearing this, rage surged through Pei Siming. Blood rushed to his head, and his vision darkened in fury.

You did it yourself, yet you have the nerve to say there’s no tradition of forcing omegas?!

His anger made him lose all restraint, tearing away the veil of pretense: “If you truly don’t force omegas, then how did my eldest brother come to be?”

　　The room froze. Pei Yan’s expression darkened to the extreme, while Pei Siyue’s face was cold and mocking.

Zhou Wei opened his mouth to defend Pei Siming, but ultimately dared not speak.

　　Seconds later, a sharp slap echoed through the study. Pei Siming turned his head away as his cheek stung, swelling rapidly.

“Stay indoors for seven days and reflect. If you fail to reflect properly or leave without permission, you won’t receive any money from the family trust.”

　　Pei Yan left the study after delivering this sentence.

　　Pei Yan, unable to contain his anger, glared at Pei Siyue and reminded him, “She is your younger brother’s fiancée.”

Pei Siyue seemed to hear a laughably absurd joke, revealing a cold smile. “You know it’s only an engagement, right? It holds no legal weight, doesn’t it?”

　　“Besides, stealing someone else’s fiancée is indeed a tradition of the Pei family.”

Pei Siyue climbed back into his custom-made Wind Son vehicle, drove out of the Pei residence, and pulled over to the side of the road. He picked up his phone to call Ruan Shuyang but saw a message from his first.

　　He asked: How do you plan to explain this?

Ruan Shuyang: I’ll clarify everything with Mr. Pei. If there’s any fault, it’s entirely mine. Tell him not to blame you.

Ruan Shuyang: You were just helping me.

　　Pei Siyue sat quietly in the driver’s seat, staring at his phone screen. After a moment, he replied: It’s late. Go to sleep. Don’t worry about me.

Pei Siyue: Have the driver pick you up tomorrow morning. It’ll be time for your pheromone treatment.

After seeing the message, Ruan Shuyang still couldn’t shake his unease. Pei Siyue: Mr. Pei, are you really okay?

　　Shortly after sending this message, he received a call from Pei Siyue.

Pei Siyue’s background was quiet. His cool, slightly hoarse voice came through the receiver.

“I’m fine. I’ve already left the Pei family mansion.” After saying this, Pei Siyue asked Ruan Shuyang, “Have you arrived home?”

　　“Yes,” Ruan Shuyang replied immediately, exhaling in relief. If he’d left, then nothing serious could have happened. “I’m in my room now.”

“Alright. It’s late. Get some rest.”

After saying this, Pei Siyue hung up and drove back alone. On the way, he pondered—

　　If an omega resists an alpha’s marking, could they still love that alpha?