They finished breakfast quickly and set off together.
Wei Yuan lived very close to Pei Siyue—just a ten-minute drive away.
After getting out of the car, Ruan Shuyang saw a male Alpha in his fifties tending to the flowers and plants in the garden in front of the villa. The man’s expression was tolerant and peaceful, his demeanor carrying an air of scholarly refinement settled by the years.
Wei Yuan noticed Pei Siyue bringing someone along. He turned his head, gave them a gentle smile, and only after finishing watering the plants did he stand up to greet them: “Siyue, you’re here.”
Pei Siyue took Ruan Shuyang’s hand and walked over, introducing them to Wei Yuan: “Uncle, this is Ruan Shuyang, whom I’ve mentioned before.”
Wei Yuan nodded politely. “Hello.”
Ruan Shuyang joined Pei Siyue in addressing him as “Uncle,” though his expression betrayed an unmistakable stiffness.
He was naturally introverted and not particularly adept at social interactions.
Wei Yuan clearly noticed Ruan Shuyang’s awkwardness. As he chatted with Pei Siyue while walking into the room, he occasionally mentioned some of New York’s delicious food and fun places to visit, suggesting Pei Siyue take him there.
Whenever he felt he’d grown up and no longer needed others to play with him, someone always treated him like a child.
But these days, feeling like a child was truly blissful.
Wei Yuan knew they’d already had breakfast, so he only prepared light refreshments.
Ruan Shuyang followed Pei Siyue into Wei Yuan’s home, finding it even more sparsely furnished than Pei Siyue’s place. The living room contained only the most basic appliances, stripped of most decorative items.
Sitting on the sofa, Wei Yuan mused, “You, you know. When you first came back to China, you said it would only be a year or two—just long enough to establish a complete professional management system for Pei Corporation before returning. But look at you now. Last time you visited me, you declared you’d be settling in China for the next five years. You change your mind faster than you flip through a book.”
Pei Siyue listened impassively to Wei Yuan’s remarks about him, offering no defense. Only after Wei Yuan finished did he reply, “Familiar surroundings are better suited for your recovery.”
Wei Yuan smiled, his gaze lingering on Pei Siyue with unspoken meaning, as if to say: I know what you’re thinking. This routine won’t work on me.
Since it was useless, Pei Siyue kept quiet. He picked up a pastry and offered one to Ruan Shuyang: “Try it.”
Ruan Shuyang took the pastry and took a bite. The slight bitterness and floral notes of the jasmine tea blended perfectly with the cream cheese filling—it was delicious.
He smiled at Pei Siyue and said, “It’s really good.”
Pei Siyue poured him another cup of warm water and handed it over.
Wei Yuan watched with a sigh of admiration. “Who’d have thought you, you wolf cub, would become so good at taking care of people.”
Ruan Shuyang looked at Pei Siyue in surprise.
Wolf cub—was he referring to Pei Siyue?
Why would someone call him that? To him, Pei Siyue seemed nothing like a “wolf cub.”
Pei Siyue reminded him expressionlessly, “I’m already 27.”
“Right, time flies—you’re that old already.” Wei Yuan sighed. “When I first met you, you were only 12. Fifteen years have passed since then.”
Pei Siyue remained silent. Ruan Shuyang sensed the other man was in a heavy mood, as gloomy as a sky thick with dark clouds—because that was precisely the feeling Pei Siyue’s water-like pheromones conveyed to him.
He lowered his eyes, unable to meet anyone’s gaze, then gathered his courage to take Pei Siyue’s hand and clasp it gently.
Pei Siyue turned his hand to meet Wei Yuan’s, placing it on his own knee.
“Siyue,” Wei Yuan said, “take him upstairs to look around. See if there’s anything in your old room you need to ship back home.”
Pei Siyue took Ruan Shuyang’s hand and led him upstairs, opening the door at the end of the hallway.
The room had been unoccupied for a long time. A dust cover lay over the bed, and the bookshelves held neatly arranged medical books—all in English, which Ruan Shuyang couldn’t quite make out.
Beside the bookshelves stood a wooden display stand holding numerous medals and certificates. Though mostly in English, the recipient’s name on each read “PEI.”
He picked up a gold medal, free of dust—likely cleaned regularly.
The medal commemorated a medical competition where Pei Siyue’s team had placed first.
Surveying the wall nearly covered in honors, he murmured, “Brother is so amazing.”
Seeing all this, it wasn’t hard to imagine how outstanding and brilliant Pei Siyue had been during his student days.
He spoke, then turned to look at Pei Siyue, only to find his expression still as subdued as it had been downstairs.
He observed him quietly for a moment, then reached out to take Pei Siyue’s hand and peel off the gland barrier patch at the nape of his neck.
An Omega’s pheromones had a soothing effect on those they had marked. He wanted to comfort Pei Siyue, who seemed inexplicably sad.
He also needed to fulfill his responsibility as Pei Siyue’s Omega.
He released a small amount of pheromones, filling the room with the delicate scent of lily of the valley. Pei Siyue showed no resistance.
Encouraged, Ruan Shuyang released a little more.
Pei Siyue took the medal from his hand and placed it back on the wooden shelf. He gently lifted Ruan Shuyang’s chin and asked, “Why did you release pheromones?”
Ruan Shuyang looked shy yet resolute. “Because I wanted to comfort you, Brother. You seemed unhappy.”
Pei Siyue reached out with his other hand to gently stroke Ruan Shuyang’s cheek, saying nothing.
Enigma pheromones were unique. Many couldn’t perceive them at all, only sensing an oppressive presence.
If pheromones granted the power of perception, one could easily discern Enigma’s emotions through their scent.
Enigma’s pheromones carried different sensations depending on their mood.
When they met Ruan Shuyang, their pheromones granted a stranger the power to perceive them for the first time—to sense their emotions.
Perhaps his pheromones sensed it before he did—that he would come to like Ruan Shuyang.
Pei Siyue’s dark eyes resembled an endless, shadowy sea as he looked down at Ruan Shuyang and said, “There are other ways to give me your pheromones.”
Ruan Shuyang’s lips were captured, the sucking starting gentle before growing fierce.
He felt as if submerged in a vast ocean. Pei Siyue pressed down from above, enveloping him completely in his embrace. His breath was stolen away, and he whimpered softly, his tongue root numb from the intense suction.
He seemed to instinctively know how to accommodate Pei Siyue, trembling softly as he accepted everything.
Pei Siyue’s pheromones had released at some point, causing Ruan Shuyang’s lower back to go limp as he collapsed into the other man’s embrace.
Enigma’s lips moved to his gland, gently lapping up the clear liquid that had seeped out unnoticed.
His breath brushed Ruan Shuyang’s neck, making him flinch sensitively. Then Pei Siyue pulled him completely into his embrace, murmuring, “Ruan Shuyang, I’m not a good person.”
Ruan Shuyang was limp all over, yet he still strained to lift his arms, trying to embrace the towering Enigma.
His voice was unusually earnest: “Brother, I don’t expect you to be a good person.”
Just be good to me.
He was a selfish omega too, not wanting Pei Siyue to be good to everyone—just good to him was enough.
By the time they finished inspecting the rooms and returned downstairs, lunch was nearly ready. A Chinese chef placed the stir-fried dishes in the dining room.
Wei Yuan saw them coming down and smiled. “You two finally made it down. Siyue went to stir-fry twice-cooked pork and Chinese cabbage. After so long without your cooking, I really missed your skills.”
Pei Siyue remained silent, glancing sideways at Ruan Shuyang.
Ruan Shuyang stared blankly, unaware of the enigma beside him, unsure what it meant.
Pei Siyue smoothed his slightly disheveled hair and asked, “Shall I cook?”
Ruan Shuyang nodded, still unsure why he was being asked.
“You can go watch TV in the living room or admire the flowers in the garden,” Pei Siyue told him. “I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
Ruan Shuyang obediently replied, “Okay.”
After Pei Siyue entered the kitchen, the Chinese chef excused himself. Wei Yuan led Ruan Shuyang to the living room, sat him down, and turned on the TV to a Chinese variety show.
A few minutes later, Ruan Shuyang heard Wei Yuan say, “He’s worried about you, that’s why he asked your opinion just now.”
He looked at Wei Yuan with confusion.
“Didn’t you notice?” Wei Yuan prompted. “Siyue keeps a close eye on you.”
Ruan Shuyang’s face slowly flushed, resembling a hibiscus in full bloom in the garden.
Though Wei Yuan gave nothing away, Ruan Shuyang couldn’t shake the feeling that Wei Yuan knew what he and Pei Siyue had just done in the room.
Hmm, kissing, exchanging pheromones.
He tried to ignore the heat rising from his face. “It’s… it’s fine.”
“That little wolf cub is far more direct than I was back in the day,” Wei Yuan chuckled softly before continuing, “Siyue must have told you about me and his mother.”
Ruan Shuyang nodded. “He has.”
“His mother and I… were destined to be apart. I often wonder—if we hadn’t insisted on marrying only after achieving our research goals, but had cherished each other and come together sooner, might the outcome have been different?”
Ruan Shuyang listened quietly, unsure how to address matters concerning elders.
But Wei Yuan didn’t expect a response. He continued, “Because of our generation’s issues, Siyue had a difficult childhood. When I first met him here, he was filled with aggression, guarded and hostile toward everyone. It took a long time to help him stabilize emotionally.”
“Due to past events, Siyue might act impulsively. If he ever mistreats you—”
Ruan Shuyang listened quietly, his mind drifting back to Zhou Wei’s words during their engagement.
“Our Siming has been the rightful young master of the Pei family since childhood. You must serve him well.”
He’d expected Wei Yuan to say something similar, but instead, the other man offered—
“Tell me, and I’ll teach him a lesson for you.”
Ruan Shuyang stared at Wei Yuan in surprise.
Wei Yuan smiled gently at him. “You’re so young. Him being with you is bullying you to begin with. If he doesn’t treat you well, he deserves a beating.”
He sensed Wei Yuan’s words carried genuine weight—not mere platitudes, but a real intention to discipline Pei Siyue.
Embarrassed, he lowered his head and whispered, “Brother treats me well. He doesn’t bully me.”
Well, helping him with his illness didn’t count as bullying.
Shortly after, Pei Siyue emerged from the kitchen, removed his apron, and turned to the people sitting in the living room. “Lunch is ready.”
This was Ruan Shuyang’s first time tasting Pei Siyue’s Chinese cooking.
Pei Siyue was usually busy, so when he cooked for him, it was mostly breakfast or Western meals. This was the first time he’d made Chinese food for him.
He took a bite and found it so delicious it made him want to eat his own tongue.
He immediately smiled and said, “Brother, your cooking is amazing.”
Wei Yuan chimed in from the side, “He’s got strong arms and is a pro at tossing the wok. He’s actually really good at dishes that need that wok hei. You should ask him to cook for you more often when you have time.”
Pei Siyue asked, “Did you like it?”
Ruan Shuyang nodded immediately, “I liked it. It was so good.”
“Then I’ll make it for you more often.”
After dinner, the servants rushed in to clear the dining room and kitchen. Pei Siyue wiped Ruan Shuyang’s mouth clean, then took him to wash his hands before asking, “Are you sleepy?”
Ruan Shuyang shook his head. He’d slept a lot yesterday and wasn’t sleepy now.
Pei Siyue said, “Then let’s take you out to play.”
Before leaving, Pei Siyue told Wei Yuan the private jet’s landing location, instructing him to load the packed items onto the aircraft. Then, he took Ruan Shuyang out for an adventure.
He drove Ruan Shuyang around the entire city—the downtown district teeming with neon-lit behemoths, the remote, desolate, and inexplicably eerie slum neighborhoods. Ruan Shuyang watched in utter astonishment, unable to comprehend how a single city could possess such starkly contrasting faces.
Sitting in the passenger seat, he listened as Pei Siyue described the city. After a while, curiosity prompted him to ask, “Brother, you know this place really well, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” Pei Siyue didn’t hide it. “I’ve lived here for over a decade—longer than I spent back home.”
As Pei Siyue spoke, Ruan Shuyang suddenly felt a great distance between them. Unconsciously, he placed his hand on Pei Siyue’s thigh, seeking reassurance of his presence.
The car pulled up near the square. After getting out, Pei Siyue led Ruan Shuyang down to walk together. After a few steps, he suddenly said, “Actually, I never intended to return to China in the first place.”
He’d lived here for over a decade, built a career, family, and friends. He was completely settled and hadn’t considered returning.
But later, he realized that if he didn’t go back, those people back home would seize what rightfully belonged to him. They’d mock him as a coward, too scared to return.
What was his, he would reclaim.
That was his nature—combative and possessive.
So he returned. His original plan was to take control of Pei Enterprises, establish a robust professional management system, and then leave. But now, he’d encountered an unexpected turn.
Perhaps the most beautiful surprise of his life.
He glanced sideways at Ruan Shuyang, who seemed uneasy, and smiled faintly. “But now, I’m glad I came back.”
Ruan Shuyang felt Pei Siyue lower his head to kiss him—a rare, gentle kiss from someone as predatory and enigmatic as him.
That night, Ruan Shuyang lay in bed, insomnia setting in once more.
It wasn’t jet lag keeping him awake; it was the events of the day that kept sleep at bay.
The moment he closed his eyes, the words he’d heard that day echoed in his mind.
Pei Siyue had said he never intended to return to China. Wei Yuan had wondered if they’d been together sooner, would they have avoided this regret.
Suddenly, he was overcome with fear—fear that his own indecision and cowardice would cost him Pei Siyue. The fear kept him awake.
What should he do?
He wanted to be with Pei Siyue, yet instinctively felt terror at the thought of being in a relationship.
He tossed and turned in bed for a long time, then sat up hugging his knees, feeling lost and helpless.
The knocking sounded again outside the door. Hearing it, Ruan Shuyang wondered if he’d been waiting for this very knock.
Sliding off the bed to open the door for Pei Siyue, he saw the tall enigma standing outside in light-colored casual clothes, not yet ready for sleep. Suddenly, he threw his arms around Pei Siyue, burying his face in the other’s chest and inhaling his scent deeply.
Pei Siyue looked down at the small omega clinging to him, gently patting his shoulders as he asked calmly, “What’s wrong?”
Ruan Shuyang clung tightly to Pei Siyue. “Brother… I’m scared.”
Pei Siyue looked down at the fuzzy little head nestled in his arms, then simply lifted him onto the bed. Sitting on the edge, he patted his back soothingly and asked, “What are you afraid of?”
“I’m so scared… scared we’ll miss each other too.”
So scared I can’t sleep.
Thinking about it carefully, it was actually silly, but he’d always been this silly.
Pei Siyue looked at him and asked a question: “Do you like me?”
Ruan Shuyang looked blankly at him.
He seemed to have never considered this question before.
He had liked Pei Siming, feeling that the other was like a ray of light in his dark life.
At the time, he thought that feeling was liking, but now he realized it wasn’t, because he hadn’t really wanted to be together with Pei Siming.
He didn’t know what he felt for Pei Siyue, but he desperately wanted to be with him, to cling to his side forever.
He wanted to give to him, to feel joy when he was happy and sorrow when he was sad.
This feeling was different from what he’d felt for Pei Siming before. He didn’t know which was true affection.
He disliked hiding things from Pei Siyue. Clutching his hand helplessly, he said, “Brother, I don’t know either, but I want so badly to be with you. Always together. I’ll treat you really, really well.”
His large almond-shaped eyes brimmed with anxiety and panic, as if terrified Pei Siyue would leave because of his answer.
Pei Siyue didn’t leave. Instead, he patiently stroked him gently, stroke by stroke.
Ruan Shuyang heard Pei Siyue speak in a steady, soothing voice: “You’re afraid of falling in love because your mother said all relationships are lies, that they never end well, right?”
Ruan Shuyang nodded.
Yu Xianbo had said that romance was nothing but a deceitful trick from alphas, tricking omegas into lifelong bonds. He told Ruan Shuyang not to fall in love, not to be deceived.
Especially not to be a mistress again.
Mistresses never ended well—Yu Xianbo had proven that with his life.
He’d specifically instructed him never to marry or accept a lifetime bond.
“Then don’t date at all.” Pei Siyue gazed into Ruan Shuyang’s eyes and spoke slowly, “We’ll skip dating and get engaged directly. Once you turn 20, we’ll marry.”
Ruan Shuyang froze completely, as if the sheer volume of information had exceeded his brain’s processing capacity—CPU overload causing a system crash.
No dating, just an engagement, and marriage at twenty?
“Ruan Shuyang.” Pei Siyue called his name solemnly, his firm tone like a promise. “I won’t use you.”
Ruan Shuyang slowly calmed down, instinctively leaning into Pei Siyue’s embrace, seeking comfort in the familiar pheromones.
When he’d been engaged to Pei Siming before, it hadn’t felt very real. Perhaps he’d known deep down that their business-arranged marriage wouldn’t last. He’d dreamed of a future, but it had always been just that—a dream.
But what Pei Siyue was saying felt strangely real.
He would get engaged to Pei Siyue, then marry him, and stay together for the rest of their lives.
For the rest of their lives…
He was only eighteen. Could he really decide something that would last a lifetime?
A lifetime felt so distant, so far away he couldn’t even see the end of it now. Marriage felt incredibly premature to him. His upbringing had left him utterly bewildered—he didn’t know what a normal family looked like, nor did he understand how to build a stable relationship with another person.
But he knew one thing: Pei Siyue wouldn’t use him.
There seemed to be nothing about him that Pei Siyue could exploit.
Pei Siyue wasn’t the incapable Ruan Jianchuan. He managed an enormous business empire, with bank accounts holding sums beyond his wildest imagination. Ruan Jianchuan didn’t need the money he earned from drawing blueprints; he certainly didn’t need to use him.
He leaned against Pei Siyue’s chest, lost in thought for a long moment before whispering softly, “Brother, I don’t know what marriage truly is, nor do I understand what constitutes a stable relationship, but…”
“I’m willing to be engaged to you.”
After speaking, he buried his face in Pei Siyue’s chest, embarrassed, afraid the other would see his flushed cheeks.
Pei Siyue, however, wouldn’t let him off. He gently lifted Ruan Shuyang by his slender shoulder blades, pulling him out of his embrace. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he watched him for a moment before suddenly standing up and kneeling halfway on the floor.
Even half-kneeling, the tall enigma towered only slightly above the petite omega seated on the bed. Pei Siyue tilted his head back slightly, adopting a posture of half-submission as he gazed earnestly at Ruan Shuyang and asked, “Ruan Shuyang, will you agree to be my fiancé?”
Ruan Shuyang froze, unsure why Pei Siyue was doing this after he’d already agreed. Still, he answered earnestly, “I’m very willing.”
After speaking, the pheromones radiating from Pei Siyue seemed to boil over. He was pushed back onto the bed, the towering enigma instantly pinning him down. Hands braced against the sides of his neck, arms taut with muscle, Pei Siyue lowered his head, stealing all his breath and light.
Just as he could bear it no longer, the kiss ended. Pei Siyue turned his body and gave him a brief marking.
The wound from his gland had healed, and his mind went blank during the marking. He felt as if he were soaring through the sky, forgetting all troubles, leaving only pure pleasure.
Afterward, he unconsciously rubbed against the sheets, growing increasingly fond of Pei Siyue’s mark. It felt more and more comfortable.
Pei Siyue quickly flipped him over again, bracing his hands on either side of his head. Gazing at his flushed cheeks and glistening eyes, he murmured, “An engagement gift for you.”
Seeing Pei Siyue kneel halfway by the bed once more, his expression flashed a hint of panic. Pei Siyue reassured him, ” Don’t worry. I understand the human body. I’ll make it feel good for you.”
At first, Ruan Shuyang didn’t know what Pei Siyue intended to do. He’d never imagined anyone would do this for him.
The lily-of-the-valley scent grew exceptionally sweet and intoxicating. Each breath felt like sipping nectar.
Later, he found himself softly sobbing, covering his face in embarrassment.
Pei Siyue truly understood the human body—he was too fast.
Waaah, why couldn’t omegas last longer?
But if it did last longer, wouldn’t Pei Siyue get exhausted? His mind wandered wildly again.
Pei Siyue emerged from the bathroom with a warm towel to wipe Ruan Shuyang clean. Noticing the young omega seemed lost in thought, he asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Ruan Shuyang answered instinctively, “I was wondering if I lasted longer, would Brother get too tired.”
After finishing, Pei Siyue returned the towel to the bathroom. Upon exiting, he picked up the warm water from the bedside table. Supporting Ruan Shuyang as he sat up to drink, he said, “Don’t overthink it.”
Ruan Shuyang sipped the water, his large eyes glinting with confusion. Yet when he caught sight of Pei Siyue’s lips, he quickly looked away.
He now dared not look at Pei Siyue’s sharp, thin lips at all. He’d never imagined such softness could exist on Pei Siyue’s body.
“You couldn’t have lasted three minutes,” Pei Siyue’s voice pulled him back to reality. “I know the human body well.”
Ruan Shuyang: “…”
Damn it, Brother was picking on him again.
If omegas could last that long, what would Enigma be needed for?
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