The next morning, Ruan Shuyang woke up groggy from the alarm.
He sat up in bed, taking several minutes to slowly realize his memory was hazy after drinking that fizzy drink last night.
He vaguely recalled feeling weak and unsteady after drinking it, unable to walk properly. Chi Ye had offered to drive him home, but he’d refused and called Pei Siyue instead.
Pei Siyue had come to pick him up, clearly annoyed, demanding to know why he’d been drinking.
He… had been drinking?
But that was just sparkling drink, right? Could it have contained alcohol?
Ruan Shuyang scratched his nose, thinking it probably did. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt so weak all over, and his memory would have gone completely fuzzy afterward.
Feeling guilty, he brushed his teeth and washed up. When he came downstairs and saw Pei Siyue making breakfast in the kitchen, he stood obediently at the doorway and admitted his mistake: “Brother, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have drunk last night.”
Pei Siyue was frying salmon. Without turning to look at him, he only asked, “You know you drank?”
Ruan Shuyang hung his head dejectedly. “I didn’t know while I was drinking. I know now.”
Pei Siyue placed the cooked salmon on the table, washed his hands, untied his apron, and walked over to Ruan Shuyang. He gently traced his finger over Ruan Shuyang’s lips, which were indeed more swollen than usual.
He hadn’t controlled his strength last night and had sucked a little too hard.
Ruan Shuyang felt a slight sting and instinctively flinched.
Pei Siyue asked, “Does it hurt?”
“It’s okay,” Ruan Shuyang replied, assessing the sensation. “Not too bad.”
Pei Siyue pulled him to sit at the table and asked again, “Does your head hurt?”
Ruan Shuyang answered truthfully, “It hurt a little when I first woke up, but it’s fine now.”
Pei Siyue pushed a plate of salmon toward him. “Eat breakfast.”
Ruan Shuyang looked surprised and confused.
“Brother, you’re not punishing me anymore?”
Pei Siyue only said, “I punished you last night.”
Last night?
Ruan Shuyang tried to recall what happened after returning last night, but found he couldn’t remember much.
Seeing his puzzled expression, Pei Siyue kindly reminded him, “When I was feeding you water last night, you wouldn’t let me leave. You grabbed me and kissed me.”
The words sent a flush spreading across Ruan Shuyang’s face.
He stammered, “I… I grabbed you and kissed you last night?”
Pei Siyue gave a soft “Hmm,” as if confirming it.
“You kissed so hard my lips are swollen.” “ he pointed out the crucial detail calmly. ”So I won’t punish you.”
Ruan Shuyang: “…”
He nearly buried his head in his tray, unable to face Pei Siyue.
How could he have done such a thing—grabbing Pei Siyue and kissing him relentlessly, especially since Pei Siyue had… gone along with it.
He knew himself well enough—if Pei Siyue hadn’t played along, he never could have held on.
As he walked to school with his backpack, he slowly emerged from the shame, last night’s memories slowly returning.
Pei Siyue would initiate kisses, and he’d respond to his own.
Were they… dating?
But Pei Siyue hadn’t said it outright, leaving him to figure it out on his own.
He couldn’t make sense of it.
By the time he reached school, the first class was about to start. He sat in the lecture hall, listening attentively.
After the first two history classes, he received a message from Chi Ye. The tone was serious, inviting him to lunch with something important to discuss.
Ruan Shuyang assumed it was about some serious club business and agreed.
Chi Ye had been studying Ruan Shuyang intently since he entered the restaurant.
To be honest, there was no outward sign that Ruan Shuyang was being watched or mentally controlled.
He looked healthy, his large eyes sparkling with vitality, his smile playful and lively. Getting him to meet up hadn’t been difficult—he didn’t seem like someone whose freedom was restricted.
If pressed, Chi Ye actually felt Ruan Shuyang seemed much more at ease than during their first meeting, when he’d been cautious and stiff.
Back then, he resembled a lily of the valley on the verge of wilting—his eyes devoid of any spark or light, his entire being tense and constrained.
The Ruan Shuyang of today radiated far more confidence and poise than that version, as if these past days had treated him well.
Was he overthinking this? Had he misunderstood?
But whether it was a misunderstanding or not, he felt it necessary to warn Ruan Shuyang.
Seeing Chi Ye sitting across from him, silent and only staring at him, Ruan Shuyang asked somewhat uncomfortably, “Senior, what exactly is it?”
Chi Ye took a deep breath and asked first, “Has Pei Siyue been treating you well?”
Ruan Shuyang answered without hesitation, “Very well.”
“Does he frequently demand you report your whereabouts? Has he sent people to monitor you or placed a tracking device on you?”
Ruan Shuyang’s expression darkened as his smile vanished.
“Senior, what exactly are you trying to say?”
Chi Ye closed his eyes briefly before explaining, “Here’s the thing. Last night when you called Pei Siyue to pick you up, you didn’t tell him your location. He didn’t call back to ask, yet he found you in no time.”
“I suspect he had someone track your movements or planted a tracking device on you. Do you have anything he gave you?”
Ruan Shuyang was startled and immediately shook his head. “Impossible!”
Chi Ye’s expression was grave. “Don’t dismiss it so quickly. If he didn’t do those things, how did he find you last night?”
Ruan Shuyang fell silent, murmuring, “Maybe I mentioned the location but you didn’t remember, Senior. Besides, gatherings usually happen near campus—it’s easy to find.”
Chi Ye shook his head. “I’m certain I didn’t hear you say it, and I never mentioned it either.”
Ruan Shuyang fell silent.
Chi Ye knew Ruan Shuyang didn’t believe him—that he was even resisting his mention of it—and his concern deepened.
He didn’t know how to persuade him on this matter, nor how to wake someone who might be pretending to sleep. Frowning deeply, he pondered for a long moment before finally stating plainly: “You need to be careful. Protect yourself. Don’t let someone slowly control your mind like boiling a frog in water. Don’t let them gradually lock you up at home until you can only depend on them.”
If Chi Ye dared to say these words, it meant he wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t afraid of Pei Siyue retaliating against him or anything like that. The second young master of the Chi family wasn’t someone who feared anyone.
Ruan Shuyang was particularly sensitive to matters of mental control, and his face instinctively paled at the mention.
His lips trembled slightly as the words “mental control” stirred up unpleasant memories.
Yu Xianbo had been nearly mentally controlled by Ruan Jianchuan before his death, ultimately losing his mind.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and push the past from his mind.
Chi Ye had just mentioned “being gradually confined at home, forced to rely solely on the other person.”
Ruan Shuyang lowered his head in silence for a moment before replying softly but firmly, “No.”
Not only that, Pei Siyue encouraged him in his career, gradually familiarizing him with the company, and never restricted his schooling or normal interactions with classmates.
Chi Ye looked at him with exasperation: “You refuse to let anyone else drive you home because of him, yet you claim you’re not mentally controlled?”
Ruan Shuyang replied with perfect composure, “But once an omega has an enigma, they should keep their distance from other enigmas or alphas.”
Because an enigma wouldn’t want to smell another’s pheromones on their omega.
Had Ruan Shuyang truly ended up with Pei Siyue?
These two were so mismatched. Pei Siyue’s mind was too convoluted, like a sheet of paper dyed pitch black with no trace of white, while Ruan Shuyang was a pristine blank canvas.
Pei Siyue would devour Ruan Shuyang down to the last bone fragment. He might genuinely be mentally controlled by Pei Siyue, manipulated and exploited.
It was said that enigma could easily achieve mental control through pheromones.
After a long moment, his voice hoarse, he asked, ” Would Pei Siyue keep his distance from others for your sake?”
Ruan Shuyang tilted his head, pondering. He hadn’t made such a request, but…
“I haven’t detected anyone else’s pheromones on him.”
He paused, then added, “Senior, thank you for your concern, but this is between my brother and me.”
After finishing his meal, he left quickly. On the way to the classroom, he carefully recalled last night’s events.
When he made that call last night, he hadn’t actually said where he was, yet Pei Siyue had found him almost immediately.
He did indeed have things Pei Siyue had given him—all his clothes were gifts from him. But he changed clothes daily, and Pei Siyue wouldn’t know which one he planned to wear the next day.
The only things he always carried with him were his phone and the necklace.
Unconsciously, Ruan Shuyang touched the Thorn Rose necklace he wore around his neck and tightened his grip on his phone.
The only things he always carried were his phone and the necklace.
Ruan Shuyang unconsciously touched the Thorn Rose necklace he always wore, tightening his grip on his phone.
He stood still for a moment before continuing forward as if nothing had happened.
Upon entering the classroom, another worry began to trouble him.
Was he really dating Pei Siyue?
Why did nearly everyone around them assume it?
What did Pei Siyue think? Did he want to date him?
He recalled that kiss, the frequent confusion, and how whenever he asked why Pei Siyue was so kind to him, Pei Siyue always told him to figure it out himself.
Now he was starting to understand.
If they weren’t a couple, they wouldn’t kiss.
If they weren’t a couple, he wouldn’t be so kind to him.
If they weren’t a couple, he wouldn’t give him so many gifts.
No wonder Pei Siyue disliked being treated like an elder—was it because he wanted to be his boyfriend?
Even as class began, he still wasn’t sure if his thoughts were correct.
He decided to ask Pei Siyue tonight.
He found it hard to hide things from Pei Siyue anyway—especially since the other guy was so smart and sharp that he didn’t even want to try. Might as well just ask.
Pei Siyue liked people to speak their minds; he hated secrets.
After afternoon class, he got a message from Pei Siyue saying he’d be home around nine tonight and not to wait up for dinner.
He texted back: “Don’t forget to eat dinner yourself, okay? Take a picture and show me.”
Since starting school, he no longer had time to deliver documents, but he still insisted on reminding Pei Siyue about his three meals a day. Without someone reminding him, Pei Siyue would skip meals when busy, thinking eating was a hassle that wasted work time.
Ruan Shuyang wouldn’t tolerate Pei Siyue harming his health like this either. After noticing he skipped meals, he started making him send photos of what he ate.
When he first made this request, he felt audacious—how dare he manage Pei Siyue’s affairs? But then he reminded herself that this was precisely the duty of a personal assistant: to look after Pei Siyue’s daily life and prevent him from starving himself.
Receiving the message while in the lab, Pei Siyue sighed helplessly. He had someone fetch him a boxed meal from the cafeteria, then snapped a photo to show Ruan Shuyang as if completing a task.
Since Ruan Shuyang became his assistant, this was the first time he’d felt truly managed—someone keeping tabs on his every meal.
He should have resented this oversight, but being watched over wasn’t as unpleasant as he’d feared.
This was the authority he’d granted Ruan Shuyang.
He accepted it willingly.
Giving him the position of personal assistant was precisely to let the little omega handle this.
He just hadn’t expected that the role, initially created to give the little omega some pocket money, would be taken so seriously by her—that she’d actually managed to keep him in check.
Seeing Pei Siyue’s cooperative response, Ruan Shuyang inexplicably recalled Chi Ye’s words.
The reason he had countered so firmly was that he felt free, without any sense of being controlled.
He even dared to manage Pei Siyue.
He had seen people under mental control and knew what it was like—they dared not manage their controllers.
Moreover, he’d heard that those subjected to P-U-A were constantly undermined, becoming increasingly insecure until they could only rely on their controllers.
While he did grow increasingly dependent on Pei Siyue now, he hadn’t lost confidence. On the contrary, he felt far more self-assured than before.
He even dared to sell items worth millions—something utterly unthinkable in the Ruan household.
That’s why he trusted Pei Siyue.
**
When Pei Siyue arrived home around nine, Ruan Shuyang was sitting on the sofa watching an anime series, laughing out loud at the funny parts.
His laughter rang like silver bells caught in the wind—clear and delightful.
Pei Siyue set down his things, washed his hands, and sat on the sofa. “What are you watching?”
Ruan Shuyang smiled. “A cooking anime. I think a lot of cooking shows are super exaggerated—you couldn’t actually make those dishes in real life.”
As he spoke, he grabbed the remote to turn off the projector, then sat down on the couch and mustered his courage to look at Pei Siyue.
Although Pei Siyue had never treated him harshly or spoken angrily to him, Ruan Shuyang still felt immense pressure whenever he tried to have a serious conversation with him.
Enigma’s pheromone level far surpassed his own, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure—an instinctive fear he struggled to control.
Rumor had it that after lifelong bonding, an Enigma’s dominance over an Omega lessened.
Oh, no. What was he thinking?
He slapped his cheek to snap out of it, lifting his gaze to Pei Siyue seated beside him.
Pei Siyue’s expression remained as serene as ever, his jet-black eyes as deep and profound as the ocean.
He swallowed hard, unsure how to begin.
Pei Siyue gently brushed his cheek. “What did you want to tell me?”
Suddenly less tense, Ruan Shuyang rubbed his cheek against Pei Siyue’s hand before clasping that long, strong, knuckle-bony palm. “Brother, I don’t think I told you where I was last night. How did you find me so quickly?”
Pei Siyue lowered his gaze to meet his eyes, his tone neutral as he countered, “How do you think I managed it?”
Ruan Shuyang shook his head honestly. “I don’t know.”
Pei Siyue traced a finger along Ruan Shuyang’s pale cherry lips, his touch sliding downward to rest at the hollow of his collarbone.
Ruan Shuyang was slender; any shirt with a slightly wider neckline revealed his delicate collarbone, now adorned with a thin silver-white chain.
Ruan Shuyang asked earnestly again, “Brother, will you control me?”
He tilted his head back, revealing a graceful swan-like neck and a delicate Adam’s apple. Pei Siyue’s hand lightly brushed over it. Ruan Shuyang showed not a trace of fear or resistance, his face still filled with trust as he looked up at him.
Ruan Shuyang’s beautiful almond-shaped eyes were clear as water, easily revealing every emotion.
Pei Siyue still didn’t answer the question directly, only murmuring in reply, “What do you think?”
Ruan Shuyang shook his head without hesitation, his clear, soft voice brimming with trust. “Brother, you’re so kind. You wouldn’t control me.”
“I believe you won’t hurt me.”
Pei Siyue extended his other hand to gently cover Ruan Shuyang’s eyes.
Faced with such pure, trusting eyes, he felt utterly tainted.
He wasn’t a good person. He never had been.
He moved his lips, his voice low and hoarse. “Don’t think too highly of me.”
Ruan Shuyang gently grasped Pei Siyue’s hand resting over his eyes, slowly pulling it away and clasping it with his delicate fingers.
“As long as you’re a good person to me, that’s enough.”
He didn’t want to pursue this topic further, wanting to bring up something else instead, yet he couldn’t find the words.
He flushed involuntarily, his gaze shifting restlessly.
Pei Siyue asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Well, I…”
This time, Ruan Shuyang genuinely didn’t know how to express himself. His voice faltered, his expression timid.
Pei Siyue didn’t press him, waiting patiently.
After a long moment, Ruan Shuyang finally gathered his courage and looked at Pei Siyue. ” Brother, a lot of people at school see us together and think we’re dating. Are we… actually dating?”
To his utter surprise, Pei Siyue actually smiled upon hearing this.
Pei Siyue flashed a faint smile, his voice low and gentle.
“You finally figured it out.”
Ruan Shuyang looked both surprised and confused.
Immediately after, Pei Siyue gently lifted his chin.
Pei Siyue leaned closer to him. He was completely enveloped by the enigma pheromone, the other’s handsome face mere inches away.
He heard Pei Siyue tell him plainly and clearly for the first time: “Ruan Shuyang, I like you.”
“Not the way a brother likes his younger sibling, but the way an enigma likes an omega—the way a mate likes their partner.”
Ruan Shuyang’s mouth fell open, completely frozen in place.
A deafening roar of meaningless noise echoed in his mind, and it took him a long time to process what Pei Siyue had said.
He liked him—the kind of liking reserved for a mate.
When had it started? Had Pei Siyue been helping him because he liked him?
Too many thoughts raced through his mind, leaving him utterly unable to think rationally or calmly.
He wanted to ask for time to think, to retreat to his room and sort things out, but Pei Siyue wouldn’t allow it.
Pei Siyue’s hand clasped his slender shoulder blade, leaving no room for escape. Yet, in stark contrast to his forceful, domineering gesture, Pei Siyue asked in a perfectly polite tone: “Can we start dating?”
The words struck like a spell, shattering Ruan Shuyang’s compliant demeanor.
Startled, his body jerked violently before he began shaking his head, shaking it frantically.
“No, don’t… I don’t want to date…”
His subconscious fiercely resisted the idea of dating, which was why he’d never considered it before.
Pei Siyue’s expression darkened instantly, yet he didn’t immediately lose his temper. He merely closed his eyes briefly before calmly asking, “Why?”
Ruan Shuyang’s mouth hung slightly open. His clear, handsome face was filled with confusion and helplessness. For a long moment, he didn’t know what to say or how to say it.
Pei Siyue waited patiently for a response, appearing composed yet never releasing his grip on Ruan Shuyang’s shoulder.
Ruan Shuyang slowly came to his senses, looking at Pei Siyue who had been sitting beside him waiting. He pressed his lips together, feeling he should at least muster the courage to tell Pei Siyue everything.
Pei Siyue had been so kind to him, helping him so much. At the very least, he had to let him know why he wanted to refuse.
He gripped Pei Siyue’s arm, his clear, soft voice slightly hoarse. “Brother.”
Pei Siyue looked down at Ruan Shuyang, his expression unusually dark.
Ruan Shuyang swallowed hard, struggling to speak. “You should know… I’m the child born from Ruan Jianchuan’s affair with my mother, Yu Xianpo, during his marriage.”
Pei Siyue nodded.
Ruan Shuyang took a deep breath and continued, “By conventional standards, Mom is the unforgivable mistress who destroyed another family. We owe an apology to Pan Lan and her son for the pain we caused them. But that’s not the whole truth.”
“When Ruan Jianchuan pursued Mom back then, he claimed to be single. Mom didn’t like him at first—she thought he lacked ability and talent, and had a rather volatile temper. But Ruan Jianchuan pursued her for half a year, constantly revolving around her, groveling and humbling himself. Eventually, Mom was moved and thought she could give it a try, so they started dating.”
“But just one week into dating, when Mom invited Ruan Jianchuan to our home, he deliberately removed her pheromone barrier and used his own pheromones to lure her…”
Ruan Shuyang couldn’t continue. His hand trembled as he gripped Pei Siyue’s, his lips bitten until they turned pale.
Pei Siyue seemed to sense what he was about to say. He released Ruan Shuyang’s shoulder blades, took his trembling hand, and whispered softly, “If it’s too painful, you don’t have to tell me.”
Ruan Shuyang shook his head, tears welling up. His voice choked as he continued, “After that, Mom was permanently marked and conceived me.”
“Ruan Jianchuan coaxed her into carrying the child to term, promising responsibility but refusing to marry. By the time Mom realized something was wrong, I was too far along for termination.”
“After Mom gave birth to me, Ruan Jianchuan used his status as my father to take me to Pan Lan in the hospital. He exploited me and Mom’s lifelong mark to control her into drawing designs for him for free, making money for him.”
“Only then did Mom learn that Ruan Jianchuan was actually the third son of the then-chairman of Ruan Jewelry—the least capable one. But later, the jewelry made from Mom’s designs sold exceptionally well, generating massive net profits. That’s how he became the true heir.”
“That’s how Ruan Jianchuan controlled me. He exploited the dominance and submission within the lifelong mark to force my mother to draw designs for him until her health deteriorated, leaving her unable to draw anymore. She passed away.”
Throughout this entire affair, Pan Lan and her son seemed innocent, bearing little fault.
But Yu Xianpo didn’t believe Pan Lan was unaware of Ruan Jianchuan’s actions.
His relentless pursuit lasted half a year—buying breakfast daily, accompanying her through late nights at the office, staying at home during her early pregnancy to monitor Yu Xianpo and prevent her from terminating the pregnancy.
All these actions required time. Yu Xianpo refused to believe Pan Lan remained unaware of what her perpetually absent husband was doing—she had clearly acquiesced to his actions.
She was aiding and abetting the villain.
The Ruan couple conspired in collusion, exploiting the omega’s vulnerability and the child to manipulate Yu Xianpo.
That pursuit had been a conspiracy from the very start.
In her final days, Yu Xianpo’s mental state deteriorated severely. She would often cling tightly to Ruan Shuyang’s arm with her emaciated hands, warning him never to date an alpha or accept a mark. She warned him he would be manipulated, dominated, and instinctively submit.
These words left an indelible mark on Ruan Shuyang’s heart.
Consequently, he dreaded the dominance and submission inherent in marking, and feared romantic relationships altogether.
He feared being driven into heat by pheromones—which was precisely why he felt such profound gratitude when he discovered Pei Siyue had crafted a necklace made of blocking material.
Ruan Shuyang held Pei Siyue’s hand, his voice so soft it seemed it might vanish with the slightest breeze.
“Brother, Mom told me not to fall in love with anyone, because once you do, that person changes.”
“I’m so afraid.”
During Yu Xianbo’s final moments, his hoarse voice relayed many things—among them, never to trust an Alpha’s promises of romance. It was all deception. If they were truly sincere, they would propose marriage outright.
Though he knew this wasn’t right, the fear still overwhelmed him.
Tears streamed down Ruan Shuyang’s face like beads from a broken string.
He wept silently, his expression filled with sorrow and guilt.
He knew his mental state was unstable, that perhaps he shouldn’t resist Pei Siyue so fiercely, but he couldn’t help it.
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