Ruan Shuyang didn’t speak, didn’t protest. His face flushed visibly redder, a crimson so intense it seemed ready to bleed.
He gently guided Ruan Shuyang’s shoulders, helping him lie down. His thumb softly traced Ruan Shuyang’s cheek and the soft strands of hair framing his face. His voice was low and soothing: “Don’t be afraid. I’ll help you.”
Ruan Shuyang’s eyes had been reddened by discomfort moments ago, a single tear glistening in his large, wet eyes. For a moment, he couldn’t comprehend how help would come.
It wasn’t until Pei Siyue’s hand slipped beneath the covers.
The sensation was entirely different from his earlier fumbling. He felt like someone who had walked endlessly under the scorching desert sun, suddenly encountering a gentle stream. He yearned to immerse himself in the water, to drink more, and more, as much as possible.
He sank deep into the quilt, only his small head visible. He bit down on the fabric, stifling any sound or breath, his eyes tightly shut, eyelids trembling slightly.
Later, he felt a sudden emptiness and reached out along the bedside, searching for Pei Siyue’s hand. His own hand was quickly captured by the other’s, the large palm enveloping his slender, soft fingers in silent comfort.
As he floated in the water, drifting gently with the ripples, feeling increasingly comfortable, Pei Siyue suddenly tightened his grip on his other hand. His dark eyes fixed on him as he asked, “Do you know who I am?”
At the same time, Pei Siyue slowed his pace, like scratching an itch through a shoe—never quite satisfying.
Hanging there, Ruan Shuyang felt unbearably uncomfortable and couldn’t help but whimper. With no other recourse, he could only plead with the culprit: “Brother.”
His voice was sweet and intoxicating.
Pei Siyue resumed caressing him meticulously, his voice laced with coaxing tenderness: “Very good boy.”
…
The water gently caressed the lily of the valley petals. The plant slowly unfurled its leaves and branches, trembling softly as it released a sweet, cloying floral scent….
Ruan Shuyang suddenly curled up, clutching Pei Siyue’s hand tightly. His voice broke: “Brother… Brother—”
Pei Siyue sat quietly beside the bed, accompanying him, using his other hand to gently pat and stroke his back and shoulders.
After a while, Pei Siyue withdrew his hand, wiped his fingers with a tissue, and spoke to him in a calm voice: “Wait for me.”
He walked into the bathroom, soaked a hot towel, then emerged to toss the soiled blanket into the corner of the bed. He used the warm towel to gently wipe Ruan Shuyang clean.
Throughout this, Ruan Shuyang remained curled up on his side, still trembling slightly, unable to meet Pei Siyue’s gaze.
By the time Pei Siyue returned from the bathroom with the towel, Ruan Shuyang had pulled on his underwear and pajama bottoms. Summoning his courage, he looked up at Pei Siyue.
The bedroom was brightly lit, revealing Pei Siyue’s face clearly.
His expression was calm, yet his gaze was unusually dark, as if it could swallow him whole.
His heart skipped a beat, and he felt inexplicably flustered. It took him a moment to remember what he needed to say.
Hugging his shoulders, he turned his face away and whispered, “Brother, thank you.”
But the moment the word “Brother” left his lips, he suddenly recalled the circumstances under which he had just addressed him as such.
He couldn’t help but feel frustrated with himself. Why couldn’t he manage it on his own? Why had he sought Pei Siyue’s help in such a confused state earlier?
Pei Siyue walked to the wardrobe, opened the door, and pulled out a fresh blanket, placing it beside Ruan Shuyang. He lowered his gaze to hide his complex emotions, restraining himself to merely ruffle Ruan Shuyang’s hair. “Go to sleep early.”
With that, he picked up the dirty blanket at the foot of the bed and prepared to leave.
Seeing Pei Siyue’s movement, Ruan Shuyang stammered, “I… I can throw it away myself.”
Pei Siyue only left him with a curt “It’s fine” before carrying the soiled blanket away.
Ruan Shuyang threw himself onto the new quilt in self-abandonment, burying his face in his hands. He felt utterly ashamed to look Pei Siyue in the eye.
How could he have done such a thing? Making Pei Siyue help him, dirtying the quilt, and then having Pei Siyue clean him up.
Moreover, he’d felt exceptionally uncomfortable doing it himself. But once Pei Siyue touched him, it became incredibly pleasurable—so pleasurable he couldn’t bring himself to refuse, until finally…
I’ve made a mess of Pei Siyue.
Ruan Shuyang thought despairingly. What made him even more desperate was that he hadn’t learned how to handle it yet. If something like this happened again, he truly didn’t know what to do.
**
Pei Siyue noticed Ruan Shuyang was avoiding him.
During breakfast, he avoided his gaze, spoke in vague, muffled tones, and kept his words to a minimum. On the way to work, he sat stiffly in the passenger seat, trying to make his presence as small as possible.
Pei Siyue understood Ruan Shuyang. He knew that for a young omega experiencing physical intimacy for the first time, shyness was the most likely reason. He could wait patiently—after all, he wasn’t going anywhere.
But when he saw the little omega avoiding him even at lunch, his patience snapped.
He’d never been one to take a beating passively. He preferred to strike first.
Coincidentally, that afternoon Jiang Wu brought an urgent document to Ruan Shuyang, asking him to deliver it to Pei Siyue for the boss’s input.
Ruan Shuyang now hesitated to even look at Pei Siyue. He considered suggesting Jiang Wu deliver it himself, but remembering the substantial payment and his job responsibilities, he mustered his courage and carried the documents to Pei Siyue.
After navigating around the potted plants to enter Pei Siyue’s office, he saw the boss standing by the floor-to-ceiling window making a call. Holding the documents, he waited quietly without speaking.
When Pei Siyue finished his call, Ruan Shuyang, keeping his head bowed, noticed the boss’s feet shift direction. He then whispered, “Brother, there’s a document you need to review.”
Pei Siyue sat back down in his office chair and tapped the desk with his hand. “Put the documents on the desk.”
Ruan Shuyang walked over, lowered his gaze, and placed the documents on the desk, intending to wait quietly until Pei Siyue finished reviewing them before taking them back.
But Pei Siyue didn’t immediately open it. He watched Ruan Shuyang, only the top of his head visible beneath his black hair, and asked, “Why aren’t you looking at me?”
Pei Siyue’s tone was calm, devoid of any accusation, yet Ruan Shuyang instantly tensed, stammering, “I am looking at you.”
Pei Siyue pointed out directly, “You haven’t even lifted your head.”
Ruan Shuyang, reminded, reluctantly raised his gaze. Yet the instant he saw Pei Siyue’s face, he flashed his eyes downward again, unable to meet his stare. His cheeks flushed crimson, like the rising sun.
“You dare not look at me,” Pei Siyue’s voice betrayed no emotion. “Do you find me repulsive? Loathsome?”
Ruan Shuyang felt cornered by Pei Siyue’s words. Hearing such accusations, he hastily lifted his head in panic to explain, “No, I don’t. I don’t find you repulsive.”
Pei Siyue watched him quietly, neither urging nor speaking further.
Ruan Shuyang took a deep breath, his gaze shifting nervously before he mustered the courage to say, “It’s just… I feel awkward looking at you.”
“Why?”
He bit his lip, his voice barely audible. “Last night… it was so embarrassing.”
Pei Siyue leaned forward, reaching out to pull Ruan Shuyang closer. With gentle movements, he lifted him onto his lap. Ruan Shuyang didn’t resist, burying his head in Pei Siyue’s chest like an ostrich, unable to meet his gaze.
Pei Siyue patted Ruan Shuyang’s back as he asked, “Why did you feel embarrassed? ”
“It’s just… I don’t know how to do it myself.” Buried in the familiar scent of his pheromones, Ruan Shuyang instinctively felt relaxed. Though still embarrassed, he began to speak haltingly, “Watching videos doesn’t seem to help me learn. I’m so clumsy. I have to trouble you to help me, and then there’s that kind of reaction…”
“Last night’s reaction was perfectly normal.” Pei Siyue’s voice was low and gentle as he comforted him, soothing softly, “There’s no need to feel embarrassed. I’m your enigma.”
Ruan Shuyang slowly lifted his head, blinking in confusion as he looked at Pei Siyue.
Could Pei Siyue truly be considered his enigma?
“Besides, you always seem so calm, rational, and mature,” Ruan Shuyang said, his mood sinking a little. “But I feel so immature and inexperienced.”
Pei Siyue took Ruan Shuyang’s slender, soft, pale hand into his own palm and told him, “You don’t need to feel that way. Maybe when I’m in my sensitive period, I’ll need your help too.”
“Sensitive period?”
Ruan Shuyang recalled learning about susceptibility periods in biology class. Alphas seemed to have theirs every six months, but what about enigmas?
“When is your next susceptibility period?”
Pei Siyue shook his head. “I don’t know. Enigmas don’t have fixed susceptibility periods. It only triggers during extreme emotional fluctuations or intense emotional states.”
Ruan Shuyang froze for a moment before replying earnestly, “Then maybe it’s better if you never have a vulnerable period.”
Pei Siyue flashed a faint smile, gently stroking Ruan Shuyang’s cheek. “Alright.”
Ruan Shuyang felt awkward continuing the topic. He pulled the documents back toward him and whispered, “Can I look at them now?”
“Mhm.”
Pei Siyue responded casually but didn’t open it. Instead, he peeled off Ruan Shuyang’s gland barrier patch, exposing the soft gland.
Ruan Shuyang tensed, swallowing hard. “Are… you going to mark me?”
It seemed like it had just happened last Wednesday, and today was only Monday.
Pei Siyue didn’t confirm whether it was marking. He merely tapped Ruan Shuyang’s gland lightly and asked, “After the last marking, do you still feel any discomfort?”
“No,” Ruan Shuyang murmured. Then, curiosity got the better of him. “Is this change in sensation really related to the drug development?”
He’d taken high school biology and couldn’t shake the feeling something was off.
But biology class didn’t cover drug development, so he couldn’t tell if Pei Siyue was right.
“It is,” Pei Siyue replied calmly, his expression betraying no hint of unease or confusion. “This relates to how quickly patients’ discomfort from the medication subsides.”
After hearing this, Ruan Shuyang found it quite reasonable. It seemed to make sense.
In the matter of healing, Pei Siyue was his medicine. How long it took for the discomfort to fade when Pei Siyue treated him was how long it would take for the corresponding medication to fade in a patient.
But… was that truly the case?
Before Ruan Shuyang could fully process this thought, he felt Pei Siyue’s breath draw near his gland, lips lightly grazing the skin.
Then came the bite.
The initial bite stung faintly, but swiftly transformed into an intoxicating pleasure—irresistible, overwhelming.
Pheromones flowed in, light and slow, making Ruan Shuyang feel as if he were drifting in water, bobbing and sinking. He closed his eyes without realizing it, leaning limply into Pei Siyue’s embrace. Before he knew it, he’d fallen asleep, unaware even when the marking had ended.
Pei Siyue used his tongue to lick away the droplet of blood and reapplied the barrier patch.
He had wanted to do this last night while helping him, but had held back until now, afraid of frightening the little omega.
He opened the document Ruan Shuyang had brought, gave it a cursory glance, and sent the results to Jiang Wu.
After sending it, he tried to lift Ruan Shuyang to carry him to the bed in the rest area. But the moment he moved, the small omega in his arms let out a displeased “hmmph” and clung to his clothes, as if terrified he would leave.
Ruan Shuyang nestled against Pei Siyue’s chest, surrounded by the comforting scent of enigma pheromones. He slept soundly, his small hand instinctively clutching Pei Siyue’s shirt, unwilling to let go.
Seeing this, Pei Siyue simply adjusted Ruan Shuyang into a more comfortable position, continuing to hold him close. He extended a finger and gently tapped Ruan Shuyang’s delicate nose.
“You avoid me when you’re awake, but once you’re asleep, you cling to me like this,” he murmured with a soft chuckle. “You ungrateful little thing.”
When Ruan Shuyang awoke, he was still nestled against Pei Siyue’s chest. Pei Siyue was browsing documents on his computer, occasionally tapping the keyboard with barely audible clicks.
At first, he felt disoriented, unsure why he was nestled in Pei Siyue’s embrace. Then, slowly, he remembered the mark.
It had been so comfortable—so utterly comfortable that he hadn’t noticed when sleep had overtaken him.
He cautiously glanced at Pei Siyue, who was intently handling work and seemed unaware he had woken. Slowly, he slid down from the other man’s lap. As he moved, his eyes inadvertently caught sight of Pei Siyue’s shirt, one button undone. Beneath the fabric lay an exceptionally well-defined torso—muscles not exaggerated, yet solid and powerful.
Actually, leaning against it felt incredibly comfortable.
The thought made Ruan Shuyang’s ears flush slightly, his heartbeat quickening.
Perhaps because the work at hand was urgent, Pei Siyue didn’t react to his sliding down. Only when Ruan Shuyang was about to leave did he gently tap the desk.
Ruan Shuyang froze instantly upon turning around, unable to move.
With his back to Pei Siyue, his expression hidden, Ruan could only hear the other man’s voice—slightly hoarse and weary—ask, “Finished using me and want to leave?”
It sounded like a rebuke for his scumbag behavior.
Ruan Shuyang didn’t understand how he’d become a scumbag. He slowly turned to explain, “I… I saw you working and didn’t want to disturb you.”
Pei Siyue turned from his computer to look at him. “When have you ever not been the one disturbing me?”
Ruan Shuyang thought of his job responsibilities and dared not argue.
It seemed like every time, it was him disturbing him.
Waaah, now he felt deceived by Jiang Wu. Jiang Wu had said this job was perfect for him and made it sound so simple—just reminding him to eat, delivering documents, or occasionally driving. He never imagined the real hardship involved.
He would have to interrupt Pei Siyue many times.
Each time he did, he could sense Pei Siyue’s displeasure.
A seasoned office veteran had misled a newbie, glossing over the job’s real demands and never mentioning anything that might upset Pei Siyue.
Though Pei Siyue never raised his voice or even looked stern, he could sense the oppressive atmosphere, his pheromones thick and heavy like water.
He felt a bit scared.
His thoughts scattered, and he stammered, “I interrupted you… What should I do now?”
He’d completely forgotten what exactly Pei Siyue meant by “use.”
Pei Siyue watched him for a while. Only when Ruan Shuyang’s heartbeat quickened and he began to suspect something strange on his own face did he hear Pei Siyue say, “Don’t hide from me next time.”
Ruan Shuyang sat back down, frustrated. Oh no, was it that obvious?
He didn’t think so—he just hadn’t dared to look.
But Pei Siyue noticed.
It seemed nothing could be hidden from him.
Pei Siyue was so clever, while he was so clueless.
**
After the villa incident, Pei Siming sank into a slump for days.
He drifted through his days in a haze until a phone call from Liang Qiang jolted him awake. Only then did he slowly realize he couldn’t wallow in despair like this.
If—if he worked hard and built a successful career, would Ruan Shuyang finally see him as a worthy person? Would he stop looking at him with such cold indifference?
Would he see his merits and fall for him again?
This thought suddenly reignited his drive.
So he joined Liang Qiang at several business dinners. By the third one, when they were both drunk, Liang Qiang revealed a project: post-marking-cleansing medication.
This medication aided omegas who had undergone marking removal surgery in restoring glandular and reproductive cavity function, significantly reducing postoperative complications.
It was easy to imagine how popular this drug would be once it passed Phase III clinical trials and successfully launched—the immense market potential and profit margins it held.
Nearly every omega who had undergone or was about to undergo marking removal surgery would require this medication.
Though lacking business acumen, Pei Siming possessed basic common sense. He grasped the drug’s significance instantly and asked incredulously, “You want me to partner on this project?”
Liang Qiang, still reeking of alcohol, remained composed. “If you doubt this project, Mr. Pei, visit Ruiji’s official website. The R&D progress is publicly disclosed there.”
Pei Siming felt the offer was too good to be true. Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone in front of Liang Qiang to check the progress on the website. He discovered the project dated back seven years, had been in development for a long time, and had only recently advanced to Phase III clinical trials.
Of course, Phase III clinical trials also meant a funding gap.
Volunteers had already been recruited, and Phase III trials were set to commence in two weeks.
After reviewing the details, Pei Siming confirmed the project’s legitimacy. Yet he remained puzzled as to why Liang Qiang had approached him.
They weren’t particularly close, were they? Pei Siming grew concerned that some deception might be at play.
But Rui Ji had spent seven years developing this project, investing tens of millions. It seemed unlikely they’d pour so much time and money into it just to scam him out of a small investment.
Liang Qiang presented the investment agreement to Pei Siming, saying meaningfully, “Mr. Pei, opportunities like this don’t come often. You should seize it.”
After Liang Qiang left, Pei Siming forced his drunken mind to review the agreement. Finding no immediate issues, he had his hired private lawyer examine it.
The lawyer confirmed the investment agreement was sound, stating the primary risk lay in the project failing to generate profits.
Pei Siming was convinced this project couldn’t fail. Once the drug was successfully developed and approved for market release, it would be the only medication capable of repairing glands and reproductive cavities after marking and cleaning surgery. The market potential was enormous, and the profit margins were massive.
The capital investment required at this stage was one hundred million yuan.
One hundred million yuan.
He gritted his teeth, pulling out his entire personal fortune. Combined with Zhou Wei’s savings, it should be close enough.
The drug was already in Phase III clinical trials. If things went smoothly, it could gain approval within six months to a year. Soon, he’d be able to afford the Wind Child.
It would just mean a year or so of tight finances, relying solely on funds from the family foundation. He could endure that.
Though recently, Pei Yan had cut his monthly allowance to a tenth of what he used to receive—just over a hundred thousand yuan—because of his past actions, enduring this was manageable.
As long as this drug gained approval, he would have an endless stream of income. By then, he would undoubtedly be wealthier than Pei Siyue.
Then, he would surely make Ruan Shuyang see him again.
He had made a mistake—he shouldn’t have been so foolishly tempted to give Ruan Shuyang to Lu Zheng. Once he made big money, he would sincerely apologize and admit his fault.
He was certain of it.
Still, before investing, he called Liang Qiang to ask about the whole thing.
“Such a great project—I don’t have much connection to Ruiji. Why would it come to me?”
“The Group develops so many drugs, and our annual R&D investment is enormous,” Liang Qiang sighed, lowering his voice. “This year, we’re pouring significant funds into that TMI inhibitor project, leaving this one underfunded. We tried securing a bank loan, but the terms were too stringent. Other local investors demanded exorbitant profit-sharing percentages.”
“Mr. Pei, frankly speaking, private investors with your financial strength are rare.”
These words were vague yet revealing, and Pei Siming understood their meaning.
As a private investor, he demanded a smaller dividend share, making him easier to work with, while other companies were asking for exorbitant terms.
At this point, Pei Siming had no lingering doubts and resolved to invest his entire fortune.
He immediately withdrew every available cent and even urged Zhou Wei to contribute her personal savings.
Zhou Wei was extremely reluctant, warning him not to be deceived. He showed her the contract, insisting this was a hard-won project—missing this opportunity meant who knew when another such chance would arise.
Seeing Pei Siming’s unwavering determination, bordering on obsession, Zhou Wei relented. After all, he was her only son. She obediently withdrew the funds.
Three days later, Pei Siming secured the full 100 million yuan and signed the contract with Ruiji.
Another three days passed before the Phase III clinical trial officially commenced.
**
On Thursday, Jiang Wu delivered a package to Ruan Shuyang. Inside were prototypes of his designs. He eagerly unwrapped them, eager to see how his creations had been rendered.
Beautiful.
The actual pheromone-blocking material was difficult to produce and unsuitable for prototyping. Instead, samples made from matching-colored materials sufficed for visual evaluation.
He gazed at the stunning silver-white necklaces—some adorned with delicate colored gemstones, others featuring large pieces of black jade. Each piece was exquisitely beautiful.
Ruan Shuyang finally began to savor the joy of running her jewelry store.
Admiring such beautiful jewelry truly lifted her spirits.
This was his first time seeing his designs materialize into tangible pieces. He couldn’t resist picking up the samples, standing before the mirror, and trying each one on. Witnessing his sketches transformed into reality brought a joy akin to seeing seeds he’d nurtured with care finally blossom.
He desperately wanted someone to share this with.
But he didn’t really have any particularly close friends. Would it be inappropriate to share these things with seniors like Chi Ye or Gu Jin…?
As for Pei Siyue, he’d left on an urgent business trip last night and was likely swamped with work now—Ruan Shuyang didn’t want to disturb him.
But before long, Pei Siyue messaged him: “Got the prototypes?”
Ruan Shuyang replied instantly: “Got them. They look great.”
Pei Siyue: Take a picture for me.
Ruan Shuyang snapped photos of several sample necklaces and sent them to Pei Siyue.
Pei Siyue: Take pictures while wearing them.
Ruan Shuyang: Okay.
He recalled how Pei Siyue had asked him to wear the necklace for photos last time too.
Familiarity breeds ease; this time he wasn’t as stiff as before. He tried on each necklace and took separate photos for Pei Siyue.