Just after eleven at night, Pei Siyue had finished a cross-border meeting and was about to sleep when he received Ruan Shuyang’s call.
Ruan Shuyang’s voice over the phone was clear and soft, tinged with barely perceptible gasps and tremors.
“Brother, could… could you come stay with me?”
Pei Siyue immediately stood up. “Sure. Don’t hang up yet.”
Seeing that Ruan Shuyang hadn’t come to his room but had chosen to call instead, he feared something might be wrong with his health. He hurried over, unlocked the door, and turned on the light.
Bright, warm light flooded the bedroom. Seeing Pei Siyue standing in the doorway, all the terrifying images of dolls, corpses, and bloody scenes vanished from Ruan Shuyang’s mind. Only Pei Siyue remained, walking over and bending down to look at him curled up under the covers.
“Softie, what’s wrong?”
The affectionate nickname slowly brought Ruan Shuyang back to his senses. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks. He felt embarrassed about his own overreaction. Seeing Pei Siyue leaning over him with concern, he wished he could bury his face in the blankets and disappear.
Seeing Ruan Shuyang silent and flushed again, Pei Siyue frowned. “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Ruan Shuyang whispered, “No, nothing’s wrong, Brother.”
“Then what’s the matter?”
He grew even more embarrassed, nearly burying his head in the covers, leaving only his round eyes peeking out.
“I… I just kept thinking about scenes from movies and got too scared to sleep.”
After that, he couldn’t help himself and called Pei Siyue.
He figured he might need a bedtime story service now, though he wasn’t sure if Pei Siyue would be willing to provide it.
Pei Siyue lowered his gaze at Ruan Shuyang, then slowly sat down on the bedside. He gently pulled the little omega out from under the covers and began massaging his scalp to ease his tension.
This was nowhere near enough. Ruan Shuyang wanted more—he missed the security of being held by Pei Siyue. Buried in his embrace, he wouldn’t think about those terrifying scenes at all.
But he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud, afraid that sitting in his room with Pei Siyue would only make him yearn and suffer in silence.
Caught in this turmoil, he looked at Pei Siyue pitifully, unsure what to do.
Pei Siyue gently traced Ruan Shuyang’s cheek with his finger and murmured, “What’s wrong?”
With Pei Siyue present, Ruan Shuyang grew bolder, no longer frozen like before. He grabbed Pei Siyue’s hand and asked, “Does being in my room make you uncomfortable? Do you want to…?”
Truthfully, seeing Ruan Shuyang, so small and buried in the bedding with only his fluffy little head peeking out, made Pei Siyue want him intensely.
But his reply was simply, “It’s okay.”
Hearing this, Ruan Shuyang breathed a sigh of relief. He clutched Pei Siyue’s hand again, looking at him hesitantly. “Brother, I… I want…”
Pei Siyue asked slowly, “Want what?”
Pei Siyue knew exactly what Ruan Shuyang wanted, yet he didn’t broach the subject himself. Instead, he lowered his body, watching the other quietly as he waited.
While waiting, he deliberately released a trace of pheromones to entice her—so faint the young omega barely registered it.
Pei Siyue’s features were sharply defined, his eyes and brows piercingly intense. Up close, they made one hold their breath involuntarily.
Ruan Shuyang gazed at him with pleading eyes.
He felt as though Pei Siyue was a dictatorial monarch at that moment, holding absolute power over life and death. Whether to grant or deny was entirely up to the other—he could only beg.
“I want… I want you to lull me to sleep.”
Pei Siyue showed no surprise at this request. “Just lull me to sleep?”
Ruan Shuyang closed his eyes, recalling his recent solitary terror. He murmured softly, “It’d be best if you stayed with me for a little while longer. I… once I’m asleep, Brother can leave.”
“But don’t stay too long, brother. I’m afraid it’ll be hard for you.”
The dictator who held the power of life and death nodded at him, saying only, “If you want my help, there will be a price.”
“What price?”
Pei Siyue pulled back the covers and lay beside Ruan Shuyang. His enigmatic body drew near, tall and scorching.
Covering up again would feel too hot. Ruan Shuyang tossed the quilt aside completely. Pei Siyue wrapped an arm around his shoulder and told him in a deep, measured voice, “You must offer your pheromones.”
Pei Siyue captured Ruan Shuyang’s lips, sucking them as if they were a delicate cherry. He held it in his mouth, slowly drawing out its juices before biting through the skin and sliding his tongue inside.
Ruan Shuyang was lost in the blissful sensation of exchanging pheromones with Pei Siyue, letting out a soft, low whimper.
Pei Siyue’s other hand moved to the back of Ruan Shuyang’s neck.
Before bed, Ruan Shuyang hadn’t applied the barrier patch for comfort. Now, his glands were exposed to the air, looking as tempting and delicious as snow-white pudding.
Pei Siyue gently pressed a finger against it.
Ruan Shuyang immediately let out a soft “whimper,” completely drained of strength, surrendering to Pei Siyue’s touch.
Pei Siyue also removed his own barrier patch, his pheromones slowly seeping into Ruan Shuyang’s body.
The kiss suddenly intensified, growing so fierce Ruan Shuyang couldn’t bear it. His breath was stolen, his chest felt crushed, his heartbeat racing faster and faster. He didn’t notice Pei Siyue gripping his wrists.
Just as his heart reached a critical threshold, Pei Siyue abruptly released his lips, returning his breath to him, then gently licked the soft edge of his mouth.
A roar echoed in Ruan Shuyang’s ears, his vision swirling with countless golden specks, dizziness washing over him.
Pei Siyue’s pheromones cradled him, carrying him through the sea, drifting with the ebb and flow of the waves.
After the recent exertion, his body felt utterly exhausted. Ruan Shuyang slowly closed his eyes. Beside him, Pei Siyue gently patted his back while soothing him in a low, husky voice: “Sleep now. I’ll stay with you.”
Ruan Shuyang drifted off, his fear dissipating. A faint smile even touched his rosy cheeks, as if he were dreaming sweetly.
Pei Siyue stayed by his side for a while longer, ensuring the young omega was sound asleep before leaving.
If he didn’t leave now, Ruan Shuyang wouldn’t sleep at all.
He’d just stay up keeping him company.
Ruan Shuyang slept straight through until the next morning. Seeing the golden beams of sunlight streaming through the curtain slits, he suddenly covered his face, unable to control himself.
Though selfish, he found Pei Siyue’s lullaby from last night incredibly comforting. If only he could be rocked to sleep like that forever.
But he was actually an adult omega who didn’t need to be rocked to sleep.
Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to let Pei Siyue rock him to sleep again?
Ruan Shuyang agonized over this as he went downstairs.
When Pei Siyue brought out breakfast, he noticed Ruan Shuyang’s troubled expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Brother, I feel like I’ve become so dependent on you,” Ruan Shuyang said with a frown. “Like I’ve turned into a helpless child who can’t do anything or take responsibility for anything.”
The tall enigma lowered his gaze to look at him, showing no surprise at this outcome.
Facing Ruan Shuyang’s distress, he simply offered comfort: “Then keep depending on me.”
Ruan Shuyang: …?
Is that really okay?
**
The blissful weekend flew by. Sitting in the lecture hall on Monday morning, Ruan Shuyang wondered why he had to attend classes at all—why couldn’t every day be a weekend?
Sigh. This comfortable, idyllic life was making him lazy. Suddenly, he longed to be a freeloader.
The morning Party history lecture was so tedious it made him drowsy and weary. He couldn’t help but zone out, pulling out a pencil and blank paper to sketch ring designs.
He could sketch designs, but he couldn’t craft the barrier material himself. Giving it to Pei Siyue directly would spoil the surprise, so he planned to privately commission an 18K gold ring from a manufacturer.
But after contacting several, none would take his small personal order. Left with no choice, he had to bother Wen Yusheng, who knew more about such things.
After hearing his plan, Wen Yusheng recommended a manufacturer. He thanked him and proceeded to make contact.
During this period, several minor incidents occurred.
Upon hearing of his engagement to Pei Siyue, Pei Siming drowned his sorrows at a bar. Drunk, he caused a scene outside the establishment.
The drug to block the transmission of the alpha-omega bond had advanced to Phase III clinical trials. Ruiji’s advertising slogan proclaimed: “Keep lifelong bonding away from sweet troubles.”
This drug sparked anticipation among countless alphas and omegas.
When an Alpha performs a lifelong marking on an Omega, it involves forming a bond within the Omega’s reproductive cavity—a process that cannot be interrupted by condoms. Consequently, each lifelong marking carries a high probability of resulting in pregnancy.
Taking emergency contraception often takes a heavy toll on the body, so lifelong marking typically means pregnancy and childbirth. This reality has deterred many couples considering lifelong marking.
They haven’t had enough time to enjoy their sweet, intimate world and don’t want a little bundle of joy disrupting their lives. Yet, without permanent marking, both alphas and omegas often feel insecure, fearing the other might leave. Before alpha contraceptives emerged, permanent marking was a sweet dilemma.
Alpha contraceptives are now in Phase III clinical trials, sparking immense anticipation among many couples.
Even if not used for permanent marking, it could enhance everyday intimacy—no one wants to wear a raincoat during exercise.
Equally noteworthy is the post-operative medication for omega marking removal surgery. Reports indicate highly promising results in ongoing Phase III trials. Given the massive market demand and omegas awaiting treatment, approval for market release may come as early as year-end.
Some joke that Ruiji has cornered the market on AO couples’ intimate lives—first selling their contraceptive pills for permanent marking, then offering post-operative medication for removal surgery if dissatisfied. They’ve got the whole process covered.
Despite the jokes, no one can deny the massive market demand for both drugs developed by Ruiji. Once approved, they promise enormous profits.
With no comparable competitors currently on the market, Ruiji has achieved true technological monopoly.
Curiosity soon spread about the identity of Ruiji’s chairman. It later emerged that the company was originally registered in M Country before partnering with the Chi family’s offline pharmacies to enter the domestic market and establish a local subsidiary.
Many assumed the chairman was a fair-haired foreigner, though rumors circulated that he might actually be Chinese.
Upon seeing the news, Pei Siming felt unusually energized. The Phase III clinical trial results for the post-operative medication had been unexpectedly positive, meaning he should soon be able to afford the Wind Child.
**
In late October, Ruan Shuyang received a call from the police. They informed him that Ruan Jianchuan, Pan Lan, and Ruan Qi all wished to see him.
He asked why, and the officer explained that Ruan Jianchuan wanted him to sign a plea agreement, which could significantly reduce his sentence.
Ruan Shuyang responded immediately: “Signing a plea agreement is out of the question. However, I can meet with Ruan Jianchuan and Pan Lan.”
After making his decision, he messaged Pei Siyue: Brother, they want to see me. I’ve decided to go and ask Mom some questions.
Pei Siyue replied quickly: Okay, when will you go?
Ruan Shuyang: Let’s go tomorrow afternoon. I don’t have class then.
Pei Siyue called back immediately. His calm voice came through the receiver: “I’ll go with you.”
“No need, Brother,” Ruan Shuyang said. “I can go alone. You focus on your work.”
Pei Siyue’s tone brooked no argument: “We’re going together.”
In the end, they went together.
Pei Siyue was busy until past 1 PM before he could make it to Ruan Shuyang’s school. In the car was a rare sight for the two of them—a driver.
Even when Ruan Shuyang got in, Pei Siyue was still handling work on his laptop.
She whispered, “Brother, if you’re really busy, you don’t have to come.”
Pei Siyue: “Several new drugs have launched recently. Things will ease up a lot after this busy period.”
Pei Siyue: “Several new drugs are launching soon. Things will ease up after this busy period.”
Once these new drugs were launched, he planned to step back from hands-on drug development. He’d delegate related projects to the R&D team, freeing himself up considerably.
He’d also have time to spend the winter break with his little omega.
Winter break…
The thought made Pei Siyue narrow his eyes slightly.
Having learned from last time, he’d preemptively purchased an island and had it prepared for the holiday. He planned to spend the New Year there.
When the car pulled up to the detention center, Pei Siyue finally snapped his notebook shut and got out.
Ruan Shuyang entered the visiting room alone while Pei Siyue waited outside.
He sat in the visiting room for about ten minutes before the police brought in Ruan Jianchuan, his hands cuffed.
When Ruan Jianchuan entered, Ruan Shuyang barely recognized him.
The Ruan Jianchuan of the past had carefully maintained his appearance—his physique was still decent, his hair regularly dyed black, presenting the image of a respectable middle-aged alpha.
But now, after whatever he’d endured in detention, his hair was streaked with gray, his frame hunched over. There was no trace left of the pampered corporate chairman he once was.
The moment he saw Ruan Shuyang, his face twisted into a vicious grimace. He erupted into a torrent of curses: “You ungrateful bastard, betraying us like this—”
The police officer standing nearby snapped impatiently, “Keep it down.”
Ruan Jianchuan immediately fell silent, like a rooster whose throat had been clamped shut. After a long pause, he fixed Ruan Shuyang with a venomous stare and demanded, “What will it take for you to sign the reconciliation agreement?”
Ruan Shuyang closed his eyes briefly, mimicking Pei Siyue’s composure—unruffled by emotion or chaos—as he looked at Ruan Jianchuan and said, “Under no circumstances.”
What goes around comes around.
Back then, Ruan Jianchuan had deceived Yu Xianbo into becoming his third wife without ever marrying her. Legally, Yu Xianbo had only Ruan Shuyang as her blood relative.
Only he could sign the release agreement.
Had it not been for this, Ruan Jianchuan might not have been able to sign his own release agreement, but he could have signed Pan Lan’s.
Fury twisted Ruan Jianchuan’s face. He slammed his fist on the table, ready to rise and shout, but the clanking of his handcuffs jolted him back to reality. Remembering his predicament, his expression contorted, veins throbbing on his forehead. After a long moment, he slowly sank back into his seat.
He tried negotiating with Ruan Shuyang: “If you agree to sign the letter of understanding, I’ll give you the password to a private bank card. All the money in there is yours—enough to last you a lifetime.”
Ruan Shuyang blinked, curiosity piqued. “How much is in there?”
Seeing the illegitimate son he’d always despised and treated like a tool now asking about his wealth filled Ruan Jianchuan with fury and disgust. Yet, considering his predicament, he forced himself to endure and replied, “A full five million. Enough to last you a lifetime.”
“Hmm…” Ruan Shuyang pondered for a moment before replying earnestly, “It probably wouldn’t even cover the cost of a car.”
Ruan Jianchuan: “???”
He glared at Ruan Shuyang, eyes bulging and bloodshot, nearly popping out of their sockets. If not for the bulletproof glass and the handcuffs restraining him, he would have charged over to beat the insolent bastard senseless.
“I currently drive a top-of-the-line Maybach S580. Five million definitely won’t buy that.” He offered a faint smile to Ruan Jianchuan. “You might not know my current situation. I now own a luxury car, a penthouse duplex in the city center, and oh, right—a very successful jewelry company called Yu’s Jewelry.”
“And Ruan Jewelry will be mine too,” he stated matter-of-factly, as if announcing an inevitable outcome. “Perhaps it will be renamed Yu Jewelry someday. In a few years, no one will even remember Ruan Jewelry.”
If there was anything in this world that was Ruan Jianchuan’s lifeline, it was Ruan Jewelry.
To become the chairman of Ruan Jewelry, he had spent half a year groveling before an omega he despised, only barely securing the position. For him, the sunk cost was enormous.
He craved power and wealth; taking those two things away was tantamount to taking his life.
So when he heard that Ruan Shuyang intended to seize Ruan Jewelry and rename it Yu Jewelry, he flew into a rage, cursing viciously as his face contorted in fury, blood rushing to his head.
Ruan Shuyang rose to his feet, unfazed. Watching Ruan Jianchuan’s expression, he felt not a shred of pity or remorse.
Ever since Ruan Jianchuan wielded a whip against him when he was merely ten years old, he had known exactly what kind of man he was.
He added, “I came here only to let Mom see how miserable you’ve become.”
“Knowing you’re suffering would surely make Mom very happy.”
“Also, I will never sign that forgiveness agreement.”
After saying this, he calmly turned and left the meeting room.
Having spent so much time with Pei Siyue, he had gradually learned the other man’s composure and equanimity.
His visit today was indeed only to show Yu Xianpo just how wretched Ruan Jianchuan had become.
He would not sign the settlement agreement. He intended to make Ruan Jianchuan rot in prison.
The father who once held his life in his hands, lofty and arrogant, was now reduced to a muddy mess.
What goes around comes around.
Ruan Jianchuan raised him only to sell him.
An omega from a prominent family could fetch a good price if sold well, so Ruan Jianchuan kept him, treating him like merchandise.
Goods had no rights. He lived in the attic, where rain leaked in summer and wind blew through in winter. He was malnourished from years of inadequate meals, and no money was ever given to buy suppressants or barrier patches. He could only afford the cheapest suppressants with money saved from before—which led to all those incidents.
He wasn’t a saint. He wouldn’t forgive.
After Ruan Jianchuan left, he went to see Pan Lan.
Pan Lan was more sensible than Ruan Jianchuan. Upon seeing him, she only glared with venom and resentment, refraining from immediate verbal attacks.
Ruan Shuyang had only one question: “When Ruan Jianchuan was pursuing my mother back then, did you know?”
Pan Lan froze, her eyes darting away as she hesitated to answer.
But her expression was the clearest answer.
Ruan Shuyang turned and walked away.
Pan Lan knew. She had even tacitly approved of it—the entire family clinging to Yu Xianbo, sucking him dry.
As he exited the meeting room, tears fell silently. Pei Siyue had approached unnoticed, wrapping his arms around Ruan Shuyang and cradling his head against his warm chest.
Tears fell one by one onto Pei Siyue’s chest. Ruan Shuyang whispered, “Brother, I want to see Mom.”
Yu Xianpo’s grave lay in an ordinary cemetery outside the city. After her death, many mourned the talented designer, and Ruan Jianchuan, pressured by the outpouring of grief, had purchased the plot.
Yet it was just an ordinary plot—despite all the money Yu Xianpo had earned for him.
Pei Siyue had asked if he wanted a better burial site, but he felt it wasn’t necessary. He didn’t want to disturb Yu Xianpo’s peace.
She was gone now. Anything he did was merely to soothe his own heart.
As the car pulled up outside the cemetery, Pei Siyue instructed the driver to wait at the entrance while he walked over with Ruan Shuyang. Seeing weeds growing beside the tombstone, they began weeding and tidying the area.
Ruan Shuyang stood before Yu Xianpo’s tombstone, tears streaming down like beads from a broken string, utterly unstoppable.
Yu Xianpo was the first person in this world who truly loved him. Pei Siyue was the second.
Yu Xianpo was gone, and he was powerless to protect her. Fortunately, Pei Siyue was still here.
He whispered to Yu Xianbo, “Mom, Ruan Jianchuan and Pan Lan have been punished. The Ruan Jewelry he coveted his entire life will be ours.”
“I’m truly happy now. I’m engaged. If you’re watching over me from above, you can rest assured.”
He sniffed again as he spoke, his voice breaking toward the end like biting into an unripe apple. He’d expected it to be sweet, but instead, the tartness made his eyes well up with tears.
He lived so well now, yet Yu Xianbo could never see it.
Yu Xianbo had endured a lifetime of hardship. An orphan as a child, she finally enjoyed a few years of decent life after graduating and starting work, only to be dragged back into hell by Ruan Jianchuan.
Why did someone as good as Yu Xianbo never find happiness?
After clearing the weeds beside the grave and wiping the dust from the tombstone, Pei Siyue looked at Ruan Shuyang, who was still crying. He gathered the young omega into his arms, silently patting him to comfort him.
After a while, gazing at Yu Xianpo’s portrait, he murmured a promise: “Rest assured, I’ll take good care of Ruan Shuyang.”
Though this promise contained no grand vows, it spoke volumes more than any thousand words.
I’ll take care of you.
You will always be my child.
On the way back, Ruan Shuyang kept crying. Fei Siyue feared he might damage his eyes from sobbing, so he reluctantly peeled off the barrier patches on both their necks. Using pheromones to gradually soothe him, Ruan Shuyang finally calmed down, though his mood remained low.
Once home, Ruan Shuyang clung to Pei Siyue like a little pendant. When Pei Siyue said he was going to the kitchen to cut fruit for him, Ruan Shuyang followed right behind, even wrapping his arms around the tall enigma from behind. He pressed his face against Pei Siyue’s back, rubbing against the thin fabric of his shirt, soaking in his warmth.
With the fruit now impossible to slice, Pei Siyue simply turned and embraced the little omega back. His voice held a mix of resignation and indulgence as he murmured, “Why are you being so clingy today?”
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