Chapter 21

Perhaps because of his late-night call with Pei Siyue, Ruan Shuyang slept soundly last night. He woke up in a good mood early this morning, but his spirits sank again during breakfast at the table.

　　Ruan Jianchuan pressed him early on about yesterday’s dinner at the Pei residence, insisting that after all this time, it was high time to try asking Pei Siming for money or investment to secure benefits for the Ruan family.

Ruan Jianchuan’s expression was unusually stern, and Ruan Shuyang sensed he couldn’t bluff his way out this time. He chose to tell part of the truth.

　　“Yesterday, Mr. Pei and his two sons got into a heated argument. They sent the family driver to bring me back early. I didn’t get to say anything, didn’t get to hear anything.”

“An argument?” Ruan Jianchuan looked thoughtful. “What was it about?”

Ruan Shuyang: “…”

　　Truthfully, it seemed like he was the reason for the argument. For some inexplicable reason, he felt like he was the source of trouble.

But he absolutely couldn’t tell Ruan Jianchuan the truth. Otherwise, who knew what the other party would try to use or force him into doing.

He whispered, “I don’t know. It seemed to be about the Pei family’s affairs.”

　　“You didn’t hear?”

Ruan Shuyang shook his head. “Right when the argument started, Old Master Pei had the driver send me away.”

Ruan Jianchuan scolded sharply, “Useless! Didn’t you try to find a way to stay?”

　　Ruan Shuyang remained silent, obediently taking the scolding. Past experience taught him that when being berated, he shouldn’t argue or defend himself. No one wanted to hear his rebuttals or explanations; speaking up would only make the scolding worse.

　　After scolding Ruan Shuyang for a few moments, Ruan Jianchuan suddenly seemed to recall something and asked him, “In your opinion, does Old Master Pei favor his eldest son or his second son more?”

　　Ruan Shuyang actually believed Pei Yan favored Pei Siyue more.

Because when Pei Siyue publicly criticized Zhou Wei at the dinner table, Pei Yan hadn’t reacted. Yet when Pei Siming spoke up for Zhou Wei, Pei Yan had silenced him.

　But the same principle applied—he wouldn’t tell Ruan Jianchuan the truth.

“I don’t know,” Ruan Shuyang said. “They’re both sons to me. It feels like there’s no difference.”

　　“Although the eldest son currently holds power in the Pei family, the son born to the old master and his current wife is the second son. The influence wielded from the pillow is not to be underestimated…” Ruan Jianchuan frowned in thought, then commanded Ruan Shuyang, “Next time you get the chance, probe deeper into the Pei family’s vulnerabilities.”

　　“Also…” Ruan Jianchuan looked at Ruan Shuyang meaningfully, “Try to find an opportunity to get close to the eldest son of the Pei family.”

After hearing this, Ruan Shuyang stared at Ruan Jianchuan in disbelief.

What did he think he was? A pawn to be tossed between the two Pei brothers, with no regard for whether he could actually do it or the danger involved?

　　Seeing Ruan Shuyang’s expression, Ruan Jianchuan’s own instantly hardened. Just as he was about to reprimand him, a servant announced, “The Pei family’s driver has arrived to pick someone up.”

　　It was obvious who they were here for.

Within the Ruan household, Ruan Shuyang was a figure of little consequence. Pan Lan had ordered the servants not to address him as young master, and when they needed to point something out to him, they usually did so vaguely. Today was no different.

　　Upon hearing it was the Pei family’s driver, Ruan Jianchuan dared not delay. He merely instructed Ruan Shuyang to gather more information from the Pei residence and, incidentally, secure investments for the Ruan family.

　　Ruan Shuyang gave a vague “Mhm” before getting into the car.

The driver was indeed the same one from the Pei household yesterday, but this time he was being taken to Pei Siyue’s residence at Lan’an Yuting.

Throughout the drive, Ruan Shuyang felt deeply downcast, unsure how to face Pei Siyue.

　　The Pei family was indeed a colossus, with vast holdings spanning real estate, finance, entertainment, and manufacturing. Only the Chi family in the north could rival them to some extent. The name Pei Hanfeng Group resonated globally, with numerous overseas ventures.

　　It was a titan the Ruan family could never hope to rival.

Even a trickle from such a family could sustain the Ruan household for years. Had Pei Siming not been ousted from Hanfeng Group, desperately seeking new ventures to secure his position by entering the jewelry industry, the engagement to Pei Siyue would never have fallen to Ruan Shuyang.

　　But he didn’t want to be Pei Siming’s fiancée now. If he hadn’t become his fiancée, he wouldn’t have met Lu Zheng, nor would he have developed pheromone dependency.

　　The title of Pei Siming’s fiancée brought him nothing but trouble. Now, he was being ordered by Ruan Jianchuan to do those things. He could get away with it once or twice, but if it happened too often, he didn’t know how Ruan Jianchuan would punish him.

Thinking about this, his mood remained heavy when he arrived at Pei Siyue’s house.

　　Yet seeing Pei Siyue standing at the villa entrance, he couldn’t help but smile.

The summer sky stretched high and cloudless. Outside the villa, sunlight bathed the grass and trees in a luminous glow. Pei Siyue waited at the doorway, his deep-set features and handsome face radiating an air of authority in every gesture—distant and aloof.

　　The driver dropped him off at Lanyan Yuting and drove away. The vast garden villa was quiet, so quiet it felt as if only he and Pei Siyue existed.

Pei Siyue looked at him for a moment before asking, “Have you had breakfast?”

Ruan Shuyang smiled and nodded. “I have.”

　　“Come in.”

Pei Siyue walked to the door and opened it for him.

“Okay.”

Ruan Shuyang obediently followed Pei Siyue inside.

**

The next morning, just after nine o’clock, Zhou Wei took advantage of Pei Yan’s absence to visit Pei Siming.

　　The room reeked of alcohol when she entered. Pei Siming sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, his expression unusually cold and grim.

Zhou Wei felt a pang of pity and couldn’t help but step in to persuade him, “Why not go apologize to your father? Show some humility. You’re still his biological son. He can’t possibly disregard family ties.”

　　“Son? Family ties?” Pei Siming sneered. “If he truly considered me his own flesh and blood and valued that bond, how could he have given me not a single share of the group? How could he beat me without warning, never once caring about me?”

　　Zhou Wei was speechless.

Pei Siming ruthlessly shattered Zhou Wei’s illusions without hesitation. “Don’t delude yourself. He never had you in his heart. Back then, if he hadn’t been acting out of spite toward that woman, he wouldn’t have cheated or married you. The only ones he truly cares about are that woman and his son.”

　　Zhou Wei’s face drained of color as she listened. After a long moment, she finally managed, “If you knew this all along, why provoke him last night?”

　　“I couldn’t hold my anger back,” Pei Siming said, suddenly hurling an empty wine bottle at the opposite wall. The sharp crack of shattering glass echoed as his voice thickened with resentment. “Pei Siyue meddles in my relationship with Ruan Shuyang, yet he turns a blind eye. He even uses Pei Siyue’s words to lecture me…”

　　Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei cursed Ruan Shuyang: “That shameless omega! Being your fiancée wasn’t enough—when did he start seducing Pei Siyue?”

Pei Siming’s face darkened. After a long pause, he said, “We need a way to pull Pei Siyue down from his current position.”

　　Zhou Wei was equally troubled by this. “Didn’t you say we can’t find fault with his work?”

Pei Siming’s tone turned sinister, like a lurking demon waiting for its moment. “If we can’t find fault with his work, then we’ll find fault with his private life.”

　　“He doesn’t seem allergic to omegas. Find an opportunity when he returns to the Pei family mansion. Figure out a way to lock him up with an omega in heat. I bet he won’t be able to resist.”

　　Zhou Wei pondered for a moment, then steeled herself and blurted out, “Why not use Ruan Shuyang? Let everyone see what kind of scum Pei Siyue really is—entangled with his own brother’s fiancée, all murky and indecent.”

“Judging by his actions today, he does seem to care about that Ruan Shuyang.”

　　Otherwise, given Pei Siyue’s cold nature, he wouldn’t even help an omega who fainted in front of him, let alone offer assistance proactively.

However, Pei Siming instinctively rejected this approach, immediately finding an excuse: “This won’t affect others’ business dealings with him. Frankly, it’s just a moral issue—not illegal. If there’s profit to be made, who would care about such trivialities?”

　　“Look at Lu Zheng—he’s still living it up, with plenty of people lining up to partner with him.”

Zhou Wei: “…”

“What we should do is make him permanently mark an omega we can control, then force him to marry that omega. Everything will fall into place naturally.”

　　Once someone discovers Pei Siyue has permanently marked an omega, they can capture photographic and video evidence. Leaking this to the media would severely damage his reputation if he refuses to marry. This would deal a massive blow to the entire Hanfeng Group, potentially triggering stock market volatility.

　　He was certain Pei Siyue wouldn’t want to pay that price. Therefore, once the lifelong mark was applied, he could be forced into marriage.

This way, the man’s newlywed wife would be one of their own, making control far easier.

Zhou Wei’s expression shifted several times after hearing this. Finally, she gritted his teeth and said, “It’s possible… but when? He never comes here normally.”

　　She had found it peculiar when she heard Pei Siyue was coming yesterday, surprised he would actually show up.

But now it was clear—he’d come for that bitch Ruan Shuyang. These two likely knew each other long before.

　　A fierce glint flashed in Pei Siming’s eyes. “The old man’s birthday banquet is in a week. Since it’s not a milestone birthday, it won’t be a grand affair. Only some collateral branches of the Pei family and in-law families will be invited. Even if Pei Siyue doesn’t usually come here, he’ll show up that day. We can take advantage of that opportunity…”

　　Zhou Wei sucked in a sharp breath, fear creeping into his voice. “Isn’t that too dangerous? What if plans change that day? What if the old man finds out…”

　　The memory of Pei Yan’s ruthless methods sent a chill down his spine. She knew she held no standing in his eyes. If she made a mistake and he found his weak spot, she believed he’d discard his as easily as shedding an old, unworn garment.

　　She hesitated, but Pei Siming was determined to proceed.

“If we’re forever afraid of wolves ahead and tigers behind, then this Pei family will never grant us, mother and son, any standing.” “Pei Siming was far more ruthless and resolute than Zhou Wei. ”If you want to live your entire life in this pathetic state, living under Pei Siyue’s thumb, trembling in fear every day, wondering when he’ll exact his revenge, then consider this never said.”

　　Zhou Wei recalled the twelve-year-old boy who lost his mother—a boy she once could toy with at will, before his transformation. After his mother’s death, he had resolutely left for overseas.

She also remembered Pei Siyue’s return as an Alpha with an overwhelming pheromone level, standing like an immovable pillar, a mountain crushing his beneath its weight.

　　She’d noticed the look in Pei Siyue’s eyes whenever he caught sight of her—a chill so deep it made his feel like a lifeless object.

Jiang Ruowan had once regarded his with the same expression, his voice devoid of emotion: “A cheap trick.”

　　So what if the methods were low-grade?

As long as they worked.

“Suming.” Zhou Wei took a deep breath, lowering his voice. “Do as you said earlier, but we need a solid plan. We must ensure this succeeds without leaving any loose ends.”

　　Because if we slip up, we’re dead.

Entering the villa, Ruan Shuyang suddenly felt an eerie silence. It was so quiet it seemed only he and Pei Siyue were present. He asked softly, “Is Ji Huai not here?”

“No,” Pei Siyue shook his head. “He’s off today.”

　　Enigma had a strong sense of territoriality; unless absolutely necessary, Jiang Wu and Ji Huai wouldn’t appear at his residence.

Today wasn’t a necessary occasion, so Ji Huai wouldn’t show up.

Ah, so that’s how it is.

Ruan Shuyang blinked, suddenly acutely aware that he’d be alone with Pei Siyue today.