Ruan Shuyang was still young, just eighteen, in the prime of his youth. He couldn’t sever the other’s social connections and confine him away just for his own selfish reasons.
Though he desperately wanted to do so, he also didn’t want to see Ruan Shuyang dining with another alpha.
Pei Siyue was actually in a foul mood. Setting aside Ruan Qi, who had already been tormented to the point of misery, last night the young omega had attended another alpha’s birthday party—and that alpha seemed to harbor feelings for him.
Then Chi Heng had remarked that, having graduated years ago, he had a generation gap with his students. He hadn’t responded at the time, but seeing Ruan Shuyang’s joyful expression when with his senior had unconsciously weighed down his mood.
Setting aside external factors, he seemed like a rather dull person.
From childhood onward, he’d known little leisure—only study, research, work, and such.
Unlike the fresh-faced Ruan Shuyang, brimming with curiosity and anticipation for university life.
They seemed to have little common ground.
But Pei Siyue was never one to wallow in self-pity or weep alone.
What he wanted, he would seize.
It didn’t matter if they lacked common ground—they could gradually discover and create it.
As long as he didn’t leave him.
Thus, though he disliked Ruan Shuyang dining with Chi Ye, he didn’t object when he saw Ji Huai’s message. Instead, he urged: “Take good care of Ruan Shuyang.”
Chi Ye had arranged to meet near T University. Ji Huai drove Ruan Shuyang there by 11:30 AM. After being dropped off, Ruan Shuyang saw it was still early and decided to explore the T University campus.
It was summer break, and the century-old campus felt much emptier than during the school term. Most undergraduates had gone home for vacation, with only a few remaining on campus.
In the height of summer, T University was stunningly beautiful. Graceful weeping willows lined the tree-shaded paths, carrying the sweet scent of plants on the breeze. Not far ahead stood a renowned century-old building—blue-gray bricks and black tiles evoking the style of the Republic of China era—now converted by T University into a library.
Under a clear, cloudless sky, summer sunlight spilled across a corner of the campus, creating a scene as picturesque as a painting. Ruan Shuyang couldn’t resist pulling out his phone to capture the beauty.
Just then, Pei Siyue messaged him: “What are you doing?”
Ruan Shuyang sent the photo he’d just taken: “Exploring the university of the future.”
Pei Siyue tapped the photo to view Ruan Shuyang’s shot.
The photo was indeed beautiful, with excellent composition and angle, though the low resolution made it appear slightly blurry on Pei Siyue’s phone.
Pei Siyue instructed his assistant to purchase the latest smartphone model from a nearby mall, intending to give it to Ruan Shuyang that evening.
After handling this matter, he replied to Ruan Shuyang: Beautiful shots.
Ruan Shuyang sent a cute emoji: Thanks for the compliment~
Pei Siyue stared at the message on his screen, his eyes lowered as he calmly typed: Don’t stay out too late. Head home soon.
Ruan Shuyang: Okay!
At noon, Ruan Shuyang arrived punctually at the restaurant where he had arranged to meet Chi Ye. Gu Jin was also present for the meal.
Chi Ye shot Gu Jin a disapproving look. “I invited someone to lunch. Why did you tag along?”
“Just meeting my future junior,” Gu Jin replied cheerfully. ” I really like Ruan Shuyang as a junior. I think you like him too, right?”
Gu Jin felt his liking was different from Chi Ye’s.
His “liking” was simply finding Ruan Shuyang adorable, like a little brother. Chi Ye’s feelings might be different.
Chi Ye: “…”
When Ruan Shuyang walked in, Chi Ye stopped arguing with Gu Jin and pulled out the chair beside him, gesturing for the other to sit.
After Ruan Shuyang sat down, Gu Jin pushed the menu toward him. “Little guy, see what you want to eat.”
Ruan Shuyang rarely had the chance to dine out and see a menu. He took it, flipped through it carefully for a moment, then selected a dish.
After placing their order, Gu Jin began discussing club matters with Ruan Shuyang.
“So, Ye Ge didn’t want to rely on his family to start his own business, so he founded our club. At first, a few of us core members brainstormed game ideas and made a prototype demo. Then Ye Ge took it to pitch for investment. After securing funding, we hired a few people to start developing the game over the summer. Now we realize we still need a summer intern. Little bro, are you interested?”
“Having an adorable omega like you join our club would definitely boost the work ethic of the other alphas.”
Ruan Shuyang asked curiously, “What exactly would this intern be doing?”
“Miscellaneous tasks.” Gu Jin didn’t intend to hide or exaggerate this point, speaking frankly: “Organizing our workspace, proofreading the copywriters’ drafts, fetching bubble tea and takeout—basically, nothing too technical. Just general errands.”
“As long as you don’t mind the menial work and the low pay, junior.”
Ruan Shuyang didn’t see a problem with that. He didn’t have any skills anyway, so odd jobs suited him perfectly.
For someone who hadn’t even started college yet, everything about university life was fascinating—especially a club like this, run by seniors who’d started their own business.
Ruan Shuyang was intrigued. “So, what’s the pay like?”
Gu Jin was about to say fifty a day—they’d hired for cheap labor—when Chi Ye stomped hard on his foot under the table. The pain made him grimace, leaving him speechless.
Chi Ye: “Two hundred a day.”
Gu Jin stared at Chi Ye in utter shock.
What was going on? The pay had suddenly quadrupled?
But they didn’t have that kind of budget! Their investment was limited, and they simply couldn’t spare that much money to hire an intern.
However, Chi Ye shot him a glare, and he shrank back, keeping his mouth shut.
Fine. If the second young master of the Chi family says two hundred a day, then two hundred it is. If it’s not enough, Chi Ye can cover the rest with his own pocket money. After all, he had more than enough to spare.
“That much?”
Ruan Shuyang was utterly baffled. Why were they offering such high wages for interns? He knew that part-time jobs at restaurants and convenience stores near the Ruan residence only paid a little over a hundred yuan a day.
Chi Ye replied without batting an eye, “This position doesn’t include dividends from the game’s public beta, and the work schedule is irregular. That’s why we’re offering a bit more.”
“I see.”
Come to think of it, the summer jobs he’d encountered lately all paid surprisingly well—Rui Ji offered five hundred a day, and Chi Ye was offering two hundred. Either one would earn him enough monthly to support himself, allowing him to finally move out of the Ruan household.
Lately, his luck seemed to be genuinely improving. It felt like fate was finally smiling upon him, life was finally treating him kindly.
He pressed on, “Is there an interview required?”
Gu Jin’s foot had finally stopped hurting, freeing his mind to reply, “Our president makes the call. If he says you’re in, you’re in.”
Judging by Chi Ye’s eagerness to bump up the salary, it seemed impossible for him to refuse.
Ruan Shuyang then looked at Chi Ye with curiosity, his almond-shaped eyes clear as water.
Chi Ye felt his heartbeat quicken inexplicably under his gaze. He turned his head away and said, “I’ll take you to see the club this afternoon. If you like the atmosphere there, you can stay on as an intern.”
Ruan Shuyang immediately replied, “Great! Thanks, senior.”
So after dinner, Ruan Shuyang didn’t plan to go back. Instead, he texted Ji Huai to head home first, saying he’d be going to the club with his senior.
Ji Huai first said it was fine and he’d wait at a nearby cafe, then forwarded the message to Pei Siyue.
Pei Siyue learned about it immediately. He’d planned to have the little omega move in with him and be personally cared for, but on the very first day, the little omega started running wild outside and didn’t want to come home.
He inexplicably felt a subtle sense of being abandoned by a child.
They hadn’t even started dating yet, and he was already playing dad, worrying about a child who wouldn’t come home.
He was barely in his twenties, but Ruan Shuyang was just so young.
He didn’t want Ruan Shuyang to feel like his movements were being monitored, so he didn’t ask right away. Only around 3 PM did he send a message: “Having fun out today?”
Ruan Shuyang replied: “Super super fun!”
The double “super” made Pei Siyue feel his joy through the screen. Suppressing his overwhelming urge to control, he replied: “That’s great. I’ll pick you up after work tonight.”
He’d bring a gift.
Ruan Shuyang: “It’s fine, I’m an adult. No need to trouble yourself.”
Pei Siyue: You call me big brother. Big brothers should pick up little brothers.
Is that how it works?
Ruan Shuyang had a half-brother, Ruan Qi, but Ruan Qi had never been family to him. Growing up, he never had a loving father or a doting older brother.
As a child, he dreamed of having a loving father and a mature, gentle older brother.
Now, this dream seems to be slowly coming true.
He had always thought Pei Siyue was exceptionally mature and level-headed, much like an elder to him. But the other refused to be his elder; he chose to call him “brother” instead.
He didn’t know what a real biological brother was like, but he felt Pei Siyue was an exceptionally good brother.
In his heart, Pei Siyue was both a father and a brother.
Except when he gave him pheromones and helped treat his illness.
He was so moved he wanted to cry, lowering his head to type: Thank you, Brother.
After typing, he set his phone aside and began organizing the club’s documents and books.
Due to his family circumstances, Ruan Shuyang had never had many friends at school and struggled to fit into his classmates’ social circles. This was the first time he felt truly part of a small group of peers.
He loved it here.
The club atmosphere was great. That afternoon, he and Chi Ye walked to the activity room the club had applied for. Inside, several tables were scattered about, each holding multiple computers. Six or seven people sat in the room—some intently typing away at their screens, others whispering discussions among themselves.
When they saw Chi Ye bringing someone in, learning he might be the omega freshman who’d be spending the summer with them, everyone warmly welcomed him.
The atmosphere here was relaxed and lively. No one cared whether he was the illegitimate son of the Ruan family, and no one wanted to hear his gossip, which made him feel exceptionally at ease.
He helped organize scattered documents and books while listening to the club members discuss game development. Occasionally, Chi Ye explained unfamiliar technical terms to him, and before he knew it, hours had passed.
Around 4 PM, Pei Siyue suddenly sent him a contract—the jewelry design-related agreement they’d discussed earlier.
After sending it, Pei Siyue asked: Where exactly at T University?
After asking for the specific classroom, Ruan Shuyang sent the address to Pei Siyue.
So Jiang Wu watched as the boss, who had always been a workaholic, left the company at five o’clock sharp that afternoon.
Jiang Wu: Yay! Boss finally clocked out. This worker can officially leave too.
The door swung open, revealing the man who had stood beside Ruan Shuyang the previous night.
Tall and handsome, with an air of cool, noble enigma, he stood at the doorway. Though his expression betrayed no coldness or aggression, he exuded an inexplicable, overwhelming pressure.
Gu Jin swallowed hard. “May I ask what brings you here?”
“To pick someone up.”
Hearing Pei Siyue’s voice at the door, Ruan Shuyang hurried over and saw him standing there.
“Wait for me, we’ll leave soon.”
He turned to leave, intending to bid farewell to Chi Ye, only to see Chi Ye approaching as well.
“Senior, I’ll be heading out now,” Ruan Shuyang said with a smile. “Let’s schedule another time.”
Chi Ye opened his mouth to speak, but inexplicably felt an overwhelming pressure that silenced him.
His face paled slightly as he forced a smile. “Alright, next time.”
Ruan Shuyang followed Pei Siyue out. After a few steps, Pei Siyue glanced back at Chi Ye.
The gaze was icy cold, like a warning, like a threat.
Chi Ye felt the oppressive weight of a pheromone-level presence, an unbearable pressure. Yet he forced himself to meet the gaze, refusing to show even a hint of weakness.
Soon, Ruan Shuyang and Pei Siyue departed together. Gu Jin closed the door and whispered, “Who was that guy with Ye? His pheromone level felt incredibly high. He seemed kind of scary.”
Chi Ye exhaled involuntarily, his back drenched in cold sweat. After a moment, he murmured to Gu Jin, “He’s Pei Siyue.”
“Pei Siyue?”
Gu Jin recognized the name vaguely. It clicked almost immediately. “The eldest son of the Pei family? I’d only heard of him before, never met him. Never imagined he’d be an Alpha with such a high pheromone level. He radiates intense pressure.”
Chi Ye remained silent.
Truthfully, he suspected Pei Siyue wasn’t an Alpha at all, but rather the enigma who had marked Ruan Shuyang. He certainly seemed exceptionally dangerous. Chi Ye couldn’t fathom why Ruan Shuyang would think him a good person.
“Wait.” Gu Jin suddenly remembered something. “If I recall correctly, Ruan Shuyang was engaged to Pei Siming. Why is he being taken away by Pei Siyue now? The Pei brothers aren’t on good terms. They wouldn’t help each other take the other’s fiancée…”
Chi Ye: “…”
Congratulations, you finally grasped the crux of the matter.
After confirming Ruan Qi was out of danger, Ruan Jianchuan left the hospital.
His recent situation was dire. A single misstep in decision-making had cost Ruan Jewelry tens of millions. If he couldn’t present a viable solution before next Monday’s board meeting, he’d be stripped of his position and kicked out of management.
This crisis had him scrambling frantically, running around with little to show for it.
By evening, he emerged from yet another bank in a foul mood. Rejected by major financial institutions all day, his visible anxiety and irritability were palpable. Unable to wait until Saturday when Ruan Shuyang would visit the Pei family, he gritted his teeth and dialed Pei Siming’s number.
Didn’t Pei Siming adore Ruan Shuyang? Even under house arrest last weekend, he’d specially sent a driver to fetch him. Help him out as his father-in-law—if he did this favor, he could deliver Ruan Shuyang straight to Pei Siming’s bed. Let him do whatever he wanted, leave permanent marks if he wished.
Pei Siming had been confined at home lately, his mood sour and irritability running high. He was so unnerving that the servants dared not approach him.
When Ruan Jianchuan’s call came through, he truly didn’t want to answer. He knew exactly what that fool would ask for—either help or money.
He had absolutely no desire to do either.
Handing over actual cash was meant to achieve results, not be squandered by a fool like Ruan Jianchuan. It was time to get rid of this idiot.
But then Ruan Shuyang’s clean, delicate face flashed through his mind—her gaze once filled with trust and dependence.
He answered the call anyway.
Sure enough, Ruan Jianchuan demanded money and support over the phone.
Pei Siming replied calmly, “Uncle Ruan, business is war. Even brothers must settle accounts clearly. What gives you the right to ask me for such a huge sum?”
He couldn’t even bring himself to buy a custom Wind Son model—what right did he have to hand over tens of millions for Ruan Jianchuan?
Ruan Jianchuan immediately retorted, “Young Master Pei, help me this once, and I’ll send Ruan Shuyang straight to your bed afterward.”
“Is Ruan Shuyang worth that much?” Pei Siming scoffed. “She’s just an omega. Do I really need another one?”
But as he spoke, his hand clenched the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Tens of millions?
Could an omega truly be worth that much? Pei Siming didn’t know.
“Second Young Master, there’s no need to hide behind such words,” Ruan Jianchuan stated bluntly. “You’re so fond of Ruan Shuyang—last Sunday you even had the Pei family chauffeur pick him up to accompany you. Surely you wouldn’t mind contributing a little. You don’t have to cover the entire amount; half would suffice.”
Pei Siming’s voice cracked instantly: “I had the Pei family driver pick him up last Sunday?!”
His voice brimmed with shock and fury, and he instantly realized what was going on.
Who in the Pei family could command their hired chauffeurs? And who would send a Pei family chauffeur to pick up Ruan Shuyang?
He still remembered that day when he’d wanted to mark Ruan Shuyang, only to be forcibly stopped by Pei Siyue.
The only person who could have done this was Pei Siyue.
Pei Siyue, you’re ruthless.
Just because he caused your mother, Jiang Ruowan, to divorce Pei Yan and forced you out of the Pei family—does that justify such relentless, merciless vengeance?
Pei Siming’s vision darkened with rage.
He couldn’t fathom what there was to hate about Pei Siyue. All these years, though the other had left the Pei family, he hadn’t been short of money. The shares were all left to him, while Pei Siyue got nothing.
The moment he returned, he seized control. He found one mistake and kicked him out. Having already achieved such prominence, why did he have to go after his fiancée?
Why resort to such dirty tricks—stealing his fiancée to humiliate him?
Ruan Shuyang was truly foolish to let Pei Siyue take him away.
Did he think Pei Siyue genuinely cared?
It was all about revenge.
After a long moment, Pei Siming finally suppressed his rage and forced a calm tone when addressing Ruan Jianchuan: “Have Ruan Shuyang come to the Pei residence this Saturday. I will personally discuss this matter with him.”
“This Saturday is my father’s birthday banquet. Dressing inappropriately could cause trouble. I’ll have someone send a suitable outfit to Ruan Shuyang shortly.”
Though Ruan Jianchuan was inept at business and utterly lacking in business acumen, he excelled at scheming and underhanded tactics. He sensed something amiss in Pei Siming’s words but refrained from pressing further, deciding to discreetly inquire with the Pei household servants himself. He merely agreed to send the clothes.
The Ruan household’s servants quickly received the clothes Pei Siming specified. However, when placing them in Ruan Shuyang’s room, they discovered he was absent. They promptly informed Ruan Jianchuan that the clothes had been delivered but Ruan Shuyang was not home.
Ruan Jianchuan recalled what Ruan Qi had told him earlier that morning.
When he mentioned yesterday how he’d bullied Ruan Shuyang, Chi Ye flew into a rage, throwing a glass of wine at him and kicking him.
Then someone else appeared out of nowhere and dislocated both his arms.
Finally, Chi Ye and another person’s secretary showed up to handle the aftermath.
Ruan Jianchuan also recalled the driver from the Pei family and Pei Siming’s peculiar attitude earlier.
Besides Pei Siming, who else would send the Pei family driver to pick up Ruan Shuyang?
It couldn’t possibly be Old Master Pei or Zhou Wei.
That leaves only the eldest son of the Pei family, Pei Siyue.
Could this also involve the Pei family’s eldest son, Pei Siyue?
Had Ruan Shuyang even gotten involved with Pei Siyue?
Pei Siyue, Pei Siming, the second young master of the Chi family, or that unknown person—it didn’t matter. He wasn’t picky. He’d hand Ruan Shuyang over to anyone, as long as it brought in money.
Keeping this useless omega who can’t design for so long was just to give him away to pay off debts.
Maybe he should have a serious talk with Ruan Shuyang to find out what’s going on—how many people he’s been messing around with.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Ruan Shuyang’s number.
After hanging up, Pei Siming was so furious he hurled his phone against the wall, shattering it into a large crack.
The hatred for stealing his father. The hatred for stealing his wife.
Peiyi might have forgotten that when the other party had returned to the country after being separated, they had undergone pheromone testing. Samples of their pheromones were still stored in the Pei family hospital. He could easily smooth things over, arrange a compatibility test, and find an omega with over 90% compatibility.
Peiyi would be unable to resist such an omega in heat.
**
Pei Siyue drove Ruan Shuyang downstairs in his car. Throughout the ride, Ruan Shuyang seemed still immersed in the club activities from earlier. His beautiful almond-shaped eyes shone brightly, his cheeks flushed rosy, his spirit and complexion remarkably vibrant—a stark contrast to the utterly despairing omega he’d first encountered at the club. He was also worlds apart from the second omega he’d met outside the club, whose face had been filled with cautious wariness, withered and lifeless omega we encountered outside the club.
Ruan Shuyang loved university life and adored his club. Here, he radiated the vibrant energy of a true eighteen-year-old, unrestrained and brilliant.
He barely remembered what his own university days had been like.
Roughly recalling, it seemed he had just undergone his second differentiation not long before. He was still adapting to the enigma’s potent and chaotic pheromones while developing suppressants and barrier patches. He was exceptionally busy and spent very little time on campus.
His college life was barren—he never joined clubs, rarely socialized with classmates, and buried himself in research and building his company. By the time the company was finally on solid footing, he had already graduated.
And so, he continued straight through to his PhD.
His memories of college were sparse, like a lifetime ago.
Seeing Ruan Shuyang now, he felt like he was watching a child he’d raised go off to college.
He asked softly, “Do you like it there?”
“I love it.”
“Come visit often.” He asked while driving, “What do you want to eat tonight?”
After a busy afternoon, Ruan Shuyang was genuinely hungry. Rubbing his stomach childishly, he said, “I want a feast.”
After speaking, he felt a bit childish and looked at Pei Siyue sheepishly, “Was that inappropriate?”
“Not at all.” Pei Siyue drove intently, his expression calm. ” You don’t need to hold back around me.”
Ruan Shuyang slowly lowered his head, feeling a fleeting illusion that he too was being indulged and cherished.
He could let his guard down because Pei Siyue allowed it.
Pei Siyue was truly very good to him. Why was he so good?
Was it because Pei Siyue disliked Pei Siming and wanted to raise a younger brother?
Ruan Shuyang’s thoughts drifted aimlessly.
The car soon arrived at the restaurant. While waiting for the food to be served,
Pei Siyue suddenly asked, “What do you want to eat tonight?”
Was it because Pei Siming wasn’t good, and he wanted to raise a younger brother?
Ruan Shuyang drifted into aimless thoughts.
The car soon arrived at the restaurant. While waiting for the dishes, Pei Siyue asked him, “Did you look at the contract?”
“Not yet,” Ruan Shuyang replied honestly. “Sorry, I was too busy this afternoon.”
Pei Siyue: “No problem. We’ll go over it together tomorrow morning.”
Ruan Shuyang suddenly remembered he had an interview at Ruiji tomorrow morning. After a moment’s pause, he caught on and asked Pei Siyue, “Did you know I have an interview at Ruiji tomorrow morning?”
Pei Siyue raised an eyebrow, thinking he wasn’t too slow on the uptake, then admitted directly, “Yes.”
Ruan Shuyang’s thoughts raced. “You didn’t even arrange the interview…”
“No.”
Ruan Shuyang breathed a sigh of relief. If Pei Siyue had come to interview him, it would have been incredibly awkward. He suspected he’d be so nervous he wouldn’t be able to speak.
But his relief didn’t last long before Pei Siyue added, “Jiang Wu will be interviewing you.”
Ruan Shuyang: …?
“That position suits you perfectly.”