Instantly tense, he didn’t know where to put his hands or feet. He dared not look at the other person, his heart racing.
Pei Siyue took Ruan Shuyang’s hand and said, “Let’s go.”
It wasn’t until they reached the underground parking garage and sat in the car that Ruan Shuyang snapped back to reality. Still unable to meet Pei Siyue’s gaze, he kept his eyes lowered to the passenger seat. “Tonight won’t work.”
Pei Siyue tapped the steering wheel with his fingers, his tone devoid of emotion. “Why?”
“I want to go back to the Ruan residence. I don’t want to complicate things,” Ruan Shuyang explained. “Everyone else is at the hospital. Dad is probably too busy to come back now. It’s fine for me to go back alone. It’s just… the last night anyway.”
Pei Siyue reminded her, “You could leave today.”
Seeing he couldn’t hide anything from Pei Siyue, Ruan Shuyang had no choice but to tell the truth. “I still have some things to take care of at the Ruan residence.”
As he spoke, he reached into the bag he carried and handed Pei Siyue a sealed brown paper envelope.
“If I don’t make it through tomorrow…”
Before he could finish, Pei Siyue’s finger pressed against his lips, his eyes darkening.
“I’ll keep this for you. But there are no ‘ifs’.”
“If anything comes up, call my cell. Got it?”
Ruan Shuyang nodded obediently. “Okay.”
Pei Siyue drove him back. Then, as if anticipating his next move, he arranged for the management of a private bank to entertain Ruan Jianchuan at a club, getting him thoroughly drunk.
The night passed quietly.
Upon returning to the Ruan residence, Ruan Shuyang found no one home except the servants, who had retired early to their rooms. He slipped into Ruan Jianchuan and Pan Lan’s bedroom to search for the video.
The video of his abuse.
Pan Lan had recorded it, often replaying it for her own enjoyment and occasionally showing it to him, as if certain he’d never rise above his humiliation.
The next morning, around ten o’clock, Ruan Jianchuan returned, barely suppressing his hangover headache. Spotting Ruan Shuyang, his mood instantly soured, and he snapped at him to return to his room and change into the clothes Pei Siming had sent.
After he changed, Ruan Jianchuan spoke in an unusually harsh tone: “I don’t care who you ask for help from the Pei family or what methods you use. You must get me what I want today. Understand?”
“If you fail, you won’t want to know the consequences.”
Ruan Shuyang nodded slightly, avoiding his father’s gaze.
Ruan Jianchuan pressed further, “Do you have a plan—”
But before he could finish, the Pei family’s chauffeur arrived to collect him. Ruan Jianchuan had no choice but to let him go.
Seated in the Pei family car, Ruan Shuyang watched the Ruan residence fade into the distance, hoping he’d never need to set foot there again.
The car arrived at the Pei family mansion shortly after eleven. After parking, a servant led him inside where Pei Siming—whom he hadn’t seen in days—awaited him at the entrance.
Though Pei Siming wore a refined smile, the warmth didn’t reach his eyes, making it eerily deep.
He approached Ruan Shuyang, took his hand, and spoke softly yet chillingly: “Are you pleased to see me confined for a week?”
“Did you have fun playing with my older brother?”
Ruan Shuyang endured the sensation of Pei Siming’s grip on his hand, as if wrapped by a cold, slimy snake. He replied, “Let’s go to the garden.”
Pei Siming didn’t object to the suggestion, pulling Ruan Shuyang along to the garden’s covered walkway.
As soon as they reached the secluded corridor, Ruan Shuyang abruptly wrenched his hand free from Pei Siming’s grasp. He pulled with such force that Pei Siming didn’t resist, releasing his hand without struggle.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at Pei Siming and gathered his courage. “Let’s dissolve our engagement.”
Having resolved to move away from the Ruan household, he reasoned that the Ruan family could no longer bind him—the engagement could be ended.
This was also another purpose for his visit to the Pei residence today: to discuss dissolving the engagement with Pei Siming.
During the engagement, he hadn’t received a single gift from Pei Siming. The engagement ring had only been worn at the banquet before being confiscated by Pan Lan.
Pei Siming’s entire engagement had been a transaction with Ruan Jianchuan and his wife—it had nothing to do with him.
He never owed Pei Siming anything—it was Pei Siming who owed him.
Pei Siming’s expression turned icy in an instant. He leaned in close, gripping Ruan Shuyang’s shoulders tightly. “What? You think hooking up with my big brother means you can just dump me?”
“You think he genuinely likes you and wants to be with you? Dream on! Let me tell you, he’s only doing this to get back at me!”
“As soon as you break off our engagement, he’ll toss you aside like a piece of trash the very next day.”
“No, no…” Pei Siming was so close, his alpha dominance overwhelming. Ruan Shuyang felt suffocated, his words stumbling out, “It has nothing to do with him. I’m breaking off the engagement because… because you once tried to give me away to Lu Zheng…”
“That’s your reason?” Pei Siming looked utterly flabbergasted, as if hearing the most ridiculous joke. “Lu Zheng didn’t even do anything to you, and this is why you’re breaking off our engagement?”
Ruan Shuyang stared at Pei Siming in disbelief, unable to comprehend how someone could be so shameless.
He clearly intended to give him away, yet felt justified because nothing had happened to him.
He wasn’t merchandise—he was a living, breathing human being.
Had Pei Siyue not intervened that night, who knew what the outcome would have been.
He struggled fiercely, trying to break free from Pei Siming’s grip. “Let go of me, or I’ll call for help.”
Pei Siming slowly released him, took two steps back to adjust his collar, and his expression suddenly grew calm.
“It’s about time. We should go in for lunch.”
“You’ll soon see whether my older brother’s intentions are genuine. If he truly persuades him to break our engagement, don’t come crawling back to me when you’re discarded. I won’t pity you.”
Ruan Shuyang frowned slightly, sensing something off in Pei Siming’s words. It felt like something was unfolding, and he was unaware of it.
Pei Siyue still hadn’t appeared.
He followed Pei Siming into the Pei family mansion with a heavy heart. The once-empty living room was now filled with people—mostly distant relatives of the Pei family and their children from arranged marriages.
It was said Pei Yan disliked grand celebrations, so today’s birthday banquet was kept extremely small, attended only by the Pei family.
As Pei Siming’s nominal fiancé, he was considered half a member of the Pei family and thus permitted entry.
He had met some of the Pei relatives when he and Pei Siming became engaged. He recognized a few familiar faces but couldn’t recall their names.
As soon as Pei Siming entered the grand mansion, Zhou Wei pulled him away. Ruan Shuyang, unfamiliar with anyone here, took a drink and retreated to a corner, trying to minimize his presence.
He sipped his drink slowly when suddenly he sensed someone approaching. Instinctively turning his head, he saw Pei Siyue with a calm expression and couldn’t help but let out a look of surprise and delight.
It felt as though wherever Pei Siyue was, he could be completely at ease.
He knew this dependence wasn’t good—it might cause trouble for others—yet he couldn’t help but lean on him.
He lowered his head and whispered, “You came.”
His voice was soft, yet brimming with uncontrollable joy.
Pei Siyue stood beside Ruan Shuyang, noticing he wore a tailcoat today. The fabric and cut were fine, but the outfit didn’t suit Ruan Shuyang.
At only eighteen, the tailcoat made him look prematurely old, dulling his natural beauty and fresh charm.
Through the tailcoat’s collar, he could see the silver-white necklace Ruan Shuyang wore, which softened his expression considerably.
“Wait for me after the birthday banquet. I’ll take you to meet my father.”
Ruan Shuyang asked in surprise, “Why?”
Pei Siyue’s gaze deepened as he reminded him, “To dissolve the engagement.”
Ruan Shuyang was astonished that he and Pei Siyue had arrived at the same conclusion. This must have been why Pei Siyue had subtly encouraged him to come today.
To free him from the engagement, to no longer bear the title of Pei Siyue’s fiancé.
He nodded firmly. “Alright.”
When Pei Siyue had mentioned the possibility of dissolving the engagement before, he hadn’t dared to believe it, afraid that greater hope would only lead to greater disappointment.
But now that the opportunity was within reach, he began to believe that perhaps fate truly favored him.
Everything would gradually improve.
Lunchtime arrived quickly. The entire Pei family and their extended relatives slowly made their way to the dining hall. Pei Siming and Zhou Wei, who had been absent for a while, reappeared to mingle with the Pei family members.
When it was time for lunch, Pei Siyue led Ruan Shuyang over. Ruan Shuyang felt it was inappropriate to walk with Pei Siyue in front of so many members of the Pei family, fearing others might misunderstand him. Yet he was abruptly pulled close and made to walk beside him.
Ruan Shuyang whispered a warning, “This… isn’t quite right…”
Pei Siyue curled his lips. “Nothing’s wrong about it.”
He always owned up to his actions.
And so, Ruan Shuyang followed Pei Siyue into the dining hall. The Pei family members kept shooting them curious glances. Some wanted to approach and ask questions, but Pei Siyue’s icy expression deterred them all.
After returning to China, Pei Siyue seized control of the Pei Corporation and implemented a series of hardline reforms. One particularly shocking move was firing Pei Shiming within a week of joining the group, leaving many feeling fearful and intimidated.
Those seeking to curry favor with Pei Siyue found no avenue to do so. They rarely saw him, and even when they did, they could scarcely exchange more than a few words. Having left China in his teens and lived abroad ever since, Pei Siyue remained an elusive figure. Thus, no one dared to question him directly.
Only after observing Pei Siyue’s actions did they discuss it privately. Truly, no one dared to ask him anything face-to-face.
Thus, Ruan Shuyang followed Pei Siyue to the restaurant and took a seat.
Pei Yue sat to Pei Siyue’s left, with Ruan Shuyang to his right.
Pei Siming then sat to Ruan Shuyang’s right.
Ruan Shuyang: “…”
Why was this happening again? But this time, perhaps because he was wearing the necklace, he didn’t feel quite as suffocated. The alpha’s oppressive aura seemed significantly lessened for him.
The necklace was truly wonderful.
He couldn’t help but touch the chain around his neck.
During the meal, the Pei family members engaged in casual conversation. Most used this opportunity to curry favor with the direct descendants, hoping to secure positions for their children within the company or extract more funds from the family trust.
Occasionally, someone would approach Pei Siyue. He usually responded with brief answers, refusing to elaborate if the questions became too intrusive.
Ruan Shuyang kept his head down, eating quietly.
Pei Yan frowned. “Go change. Your old room still has clothes.”
Pei Siyue glared coldly at the maid, who dared not meet his gaze, trembling nervously.
“No need,” Pei Siyue said simply. “I have clothes in my car.”
He stood up and walked toward the exit, discreetly patting Ruan Shuyang’s shoulder in reassurance before leaving the dining room.
He walked to the garage, opened the trunk, wiped himself down with a towel stored inside, changed into a clean black T-shirt, and headed back toward the mansion.
He recalled that only an abandoned servant’s quarters stood at the end of that corner.
Pei Siyue narrowed his eyes and walked toward the corner.
The door to the servant’s quarters—which should have been locked year-round—was unexpectedly ajar. Faint sounds drifted out from within.
Enigma’s senses were exceptionally sharp. He could detect lingering traces of sour lemon and lily-of-the-valley pheromones.
Pei Siyue pushed open the door to the abandoned servant’s quarters. An overwhelmingly potent grapefruit pheromone hit him like a wave. On the bed lay an omega, flushed and writhing in agony.
Judging by this omega’s state, he had clearly entered full heat.
Such potent omega pheromones could profoundly affect an alpha. Without strong willpower or a highly compatible bond, an alpha might lose control.
But they wouldn’t affect Pei Siyue.
Only one omega’s pheromones could affect him in this world—and it wasn’t the one before him.
He paused at the doorway, noticing the omega wore the same tailcoat as Ruan Shuyang. Instantly, everything clicked into place.
He started to leave, but a powerful shove came from behind.
**
Shortly after Pei Siyue departed, Pei Siming also excused himself from the table, claiming he needed to use the restroom.
Seeing Pei Siming leave and Pei Siyue still not returning, Ruan Shuyang felt an inexplicable unease.
Recalling Pei Siming’s pointed words from that morning, his unease grew. He couldn’t help but lower his head to send a message asking where Pei Siyue was.
But Pei Siyue didn’t reply.
Glancing around to ensure no one was paying attention, he rose and left, intending to search for Pei Siyue near the garage.
Pei Siming positioned himself in a blind spot behind the wall of the servants’ quarters, hidden from view. Upon hearing footsteps and sensing the door open, he darted out with the lightest possible stride. Sure enough, Pei Siyue stood in the doorway.
He threw all his strength into shoving Pei Siyue’s back, but the moment his hands touched Pei Siyue’s back, the other suddenly turned around, his expression cold and detached.
Pei Siming couldn’t believe it. An omega with such a high compatibility match to Pei Siyue, and yet the other showed absolutely no reaction?
The next second, Pei Siyue grabbed his wrist and flung him aside. With lightning speed, he ripped off the alpha gland patch from the back of his neck, snatched the suppressant, and tossed him into the abandoned servant quarters.
After slamming the door shut, Pei Siyue spotted the lock Pei Siming had prepared in advance and immediately locked him inside.
Standing at the doorway, he listened to the muffled thuds and the omega’s moans echoing from within, his expression cold and mocking.
He hadn’t intended to seek revenge on Pei Siming from the start.
When the events involving the previous generation unfolded, Pei Siming was merely a newborn infant, a pawn pushed forward by Zhou Wei.
Through their few brief encounters growing up, Pei Siming appeared clever but was utterly foolish. Pei Siyue couldn’t be bothered with such stupidity. After returning to China, he expelled Pei Siming from Hanfeng Group precisely because Pei Siming had exploited his position to line his own pockets, causing significant losses to the company.
If Pei Siming were smart enough, he wouldn’t keep scrambling for attention after being kicked out. He could tolerate the other guy continuing to draw money from the family fund every year.
Given that, he didn’t mind cutting off all of Pei Siming’s avenues for survival.
Especially after discovering Pei Siming genuinely liked Ruan Shuyang.
It was just that his foolish younger brother was forever blinded by a single leaf, unable to see what he truly desired, always pushing away the very things he cherished most.
Fortunately, Pei Siming was foolish.
Otherwise, snatching Ruan Shuyang away would have been difficult, since Ruan Shuyang had once liked Pei Siming.
He’d just felt his phone vibrate and was about to pull it out to reply when footsteps suddenly reached the villa entrance.
It was Ruan Shuyang.
He recognized his footsteps—light and quick.
As soon as Ruan Shuyang stepped out of the Pei residence, someone covered his mouth, grabbed his waist, and pulled him into a nearby corner. He tried to struggle, but the familiar scent enveloping him made him go still.
Once they reached the corner, he saw Pei Siyue standing beside him, unharmed. He exhaled in relief and whispered, “Did something happen? You took so long to change.”
“Something did happen,” Pei Siyue admitted without denial. “Wait, I’ll show you a scene.”
Ruan Shuyang felt both worried and confused, unsure what had transpired.
Pei Siyue said nothing more, only lowering his gaze to stare intently at Ruan Shuyang, his index finger gently tracing the soft, pink curve of his lips.
Ruan Shuyang lifted his head and suddenly met Pei Siyue’s gaze, unusually deep and dark. His face flushed involuntarily, his heart racing.
At the dinner table, Zhou Wei grew increasingly uneasy as Pei Siming still hadn’t returned.
Pei Siyue not being back was one thing, but why hadn’t Pei Siming returned? Had something happened?
To avoid complications, only she and Pei Siming had orchestrated today’s scheme. Logically, Pei Siming should have returned by now to signal the outcome, yet he still hadn’t shown up.
Her unease grew until she could no longer sit still. Summoning her courage, she turned to Pei Yan beside her: “Siming still hasn’t returned. I want to go check on him.”
Pei Yan shot her a cold glance—utterly devoid of warmth, icy to the bone, as if he saw right through her and despised her to his core.
Zhou Wei received no reply from Pei Yan, but she couldn’t wait any longer. She hurriedly stood up and walked out.
People kept leaving the dinner table one after another, and none had returned yet, drawing the attention of the other Pei family members.
Pei Yue’s second cousin, the second uncle of Pei Siyue’s brothers, asked, “What’s going on? Why are they all leaving and not coming back?”
Aunt Pei chimed in, “Let’s go check it out too.”
Pei Yan neither agreed nor disagreed, watching as Uncle Pei and Aunt Pei rose and headed toward the garage.
Pei Yan simply stood up as well, joining them.
As soon as they reached the doorway, they heard a stifled cry and immediately headed toward the source.
In the corner beside the garage, Zhou Wei listened in terror to the sounds coming from the abandoned servant quarters. Pei Siming’s hoarse voice bellowed, “Let me out!”
Uncle Pei and Auntie Pei drew closer, clearly recognizing Pei Siming’s voice. Their expressions darkened.
Only Pei Yan remained composed. He ordered a man who looked like a butler, “Get an axe. Chop the lock off.”
The steward swiftly produced an axe and severed the lock. The moment it was open, Pei Siming burst out, blood streaking his temple, eyes bloodshot and wild. He grabbed Uncle Pei and demanded, “Suppressant! Give me the suppressant!”
Uncle Pei, an Alpha, immediately handed over the suppressant he carried with him.
Only after two injections did Pei Siming gradually calm down.
By then, members of the Pei family’s collateral branches had slowly gathered to see what had happened.
But upon witnessing the scene, everyone fell silent, none daring to speak first.
Pei Yan instructed the butler, “Show them out.”
“You,” he pointed at Zhou Wei, “take care of that omega in the servants’ quarters.”
Zhou Wei was completely frozen in shock. She didn’t understand why Pei Siyue, who should have been locked inside, had become Pei Siming. Why was Pei Siming injured on the head? What exactly had happened in there just now?
But Pei Yan’s icy words snapped her back to reality. Trembling, she stepped inside, fearful of what she might find.
To her relief, the omega inside the room, though writhing incessantly with a flush of heat across his face, remained fully clothed. Nothing seemed to have happened.
She stepped forward and administered three shots of the strongest, most potent suppressant directly into the omega. He twitched a few times, rolled his eyes back, and collapsed unconscious.
Everything appeared normal.
Stepping back outside, he saw Pei Siming, now calm but with blood on his forehead. Worried, he wanted to ask what happened and tend to his wound, but in front of Pei Yan, he dared not say anything.
Pei Siming slowly regained his composure, touching the wound on his temple he’d caused himself, furious beyond measure.
Pei Siyue had taken his barrier patches and suppressants, locking him up with a heat-driven omega. Their compatibility was surprisingly high, nearly driving him to lose control.
Yet his subconscious knew he couldn’t lose control. He fought desperately to stay lucid, shaking off the clinging omega. To maintain clarity, he even slammed his head against the wall, using the pain to keep his sanity.
Fortunately, the door was smashed open quickly. Otherwise, he had no idea what might have happened.
He snapped back to reality, seeing Zhou Wei’s panicked face and Pei Yan’s cold, ruthless expression. Behind the crowd that hadn’t fully dispersed yet, he spotted Pei Siyue and Ruan Shuyang.
He instinctively wanted to reach Ruan Shuyang, to explain something, to say this was all Pei Siyue’s scheme. But then he saw Pei Siyue take Ruan Shuyang’s hand and shake it gently.
Ruan Shuyang turned to look at Pei Siyue, her eyes holding the trust and dependence he once knew. Those eyes had once belonged to him. Now…
He saw Pei Siyue say something to Ruan Shuyang. After a moment of silence, Ruan Shuyang slowly walked over to Pei Yan.
He heard Ruan Shuyang say, “Mr. Pei, I wish to dissolve my engagement with Pei Siming.”
Her voice was soft, but the area around the servants’ quarters was quiet. Everyone present, including the distant Pei family members who hadn’t yet left, heard her words.
Pei Siming felt as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown in his face, drenching him to the bone and jolting him completely awake.
He suddenly realized that when he had given Ruan Shuyang to Lu Zheng, he had already ceased to care for him.
He felt like a clown who had staged a farce.
Pei Siyue followed Ruan Shuyang over to stand beside Pei Yan, saying only, “We’ll be leaving now.”
Uninterested in the ensuing farce, he pulled him away the moment Ruan Shuyang finished speaking.
Even after settling into Pei Siyue’s car, Ruan Shuyang still hadn’t processed what had transpired.
He vaguely sensed that Pei Siming seemed to have tried to scheme against Pei Siyue but failed, and in the end, it appeared Pei Siming himself was the one who got the short end of the stick.
He frowned, his face full of confusion.
Pei Siyue asked him while driving, “What’s wrong?”
Ruan Shuyang murmured sheepishly, ” I didn’t quite understand what just happened.”
Pei Siyue shrugged it off casually, “Just a farce.”
“Was Pei Siming trying to scheme against you?” Ruan Shuyang asked curiously, “But he failed?”
Pei Siyue nodded, not denying it.
Ruan Shuyang puffed out his cheeks in displeasure. “He’s so mean, trying to scheme against everyone.”
Just then, the light turned red. Pei Siyue glanced sideways at Ruan Shuyang’s indignant expression and found it rather adorable.
Truthfully, he didn’t want to discuss Pei Siming at all. He simply remarked, “He’s both stupid and wicked.”
Completely spoiled rotten by Zhou Wei.
After passing another traffic light and slowly driving away from the Pei residence, he asked Ruan Shuyang, “Did you eat enough earlier?”
Ruan Shuyang hadn’t eaten much since leaving Pei Siyue’s place and answered honestly, “No.”
“What do you want to eat?”
This time, Ruan Shuyang thought for a moment before saying, “I want some delicious eel rice.”
Pei Siyue took him to eat eel rice. Just as they arrived at the restaurant, Ruan Shuyang received a message from Ruan Jianchuan asking how things were going with the Pei family. He stared at the screen for a few minutes before replying directly: I won’t be returning to the Ruan family. Don’t contact me either.
After sending the message, he blocked all Ruan family contacts. Then, looking at Pei Siyue, he asked, “Can I go somewhere after we finish eating?”
Pei Siyue nodded. “Where do you want to go?”
“I want to get a new SIM card.”
Change the number, say goodbye to everything from before.
After enjoying delicious eel rice, Pei Siyue and Ruan Shuyang went to get a new SIM card. When they returned to Pei Siyue’s home, Ruan Shuyang saw him take out a brand-new, unopened phone and hand it to him.
Ruan Shuyang looked at the phone curiously. “Is this for me?”
Pei Siyue nodded.
Ruan Shuyang felt it was too expensive. “My current phone still works. I don’t need a new one.”
Pei Siyue ruffled Ruan Shuyang’s hair. “I heard every kid who lands a job gets a gift. Consider this your welcome present.”
It felt like Pei Siyue was treating him like a child again, Ruan Shuyang thought—but being seen that way brought such happiness.
He held the new phone, unable to put it down. He explored its new features, transferred all the data from his old phone, and updated every account to the new number.
It felt like he was truly starting a brand-new life.
Ruan Shuyang thought.