“Was it fun?” Lucas said coldly. “First the First Prince, then that duke’s son or whatever his name is. Did you have a good time?”
“…” Luo Ran stared blankly at Lucas.
“I’m asking you a question!”
Luo Ran felt that Lucas was like a lion roaring because someone had invaded his territory. He helplessly explained, “The First Prince invited me to dance. I couldn’t refuse. Both the First Prince and the Second Prince have been trying their hardest to win you over. Since I rarely had the opportunity to dance with the First Prince tonight, I was worried that people might make unnecessary assumptions and think you’d made your decision, which was why you accepted Xie Ancheng’s invitation. Everyone knows that Xie Ancheng’s entire family are supporters and allies of the Second Prince.”
Lucas sneered. “Secretary Luo certainly thinks things through.”
Luo Ran was just about to say something when, in the next instant, his whole body suddenly went limp, and he collapsed uncontrollably.
Lucas instinctively caught him. Luo Ran crashed right into his arms, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
Lucas’s first reaction was actually: Fuck, is this little brat trying to seduce me?!
Then he remembered Zhou Mingkai’s description of Xie Ancheng’s methods—secretly drugging people.
…
Lucas’s eyes darkened.
Xie Ancheng… Did he have a death wish?
………………………
Luo Ran felt as though the world were spinning around him.
He took a deep breath and tried hard to brace himself against the chair and stand up.
That couldn’t be right…
When Xie Ancheng had suddenly offered him a drink just now, Luo Ran had sensed something was wrong and refused it.
He hadn’t eaten or drunk much of anything all evening, either.
But this wasn’t estrus. He simply felt weak all over, unable to move properly, and his head was a little hazy.
“Xia…”
Lucas had more or less guessed what was happening and knew what Luo Ran was about to say. Supporting him, he interrupted, “I know. I’ll take you to find Xia Zhi.”
Luo Ran nodded and said softly, “Okay…”
Lucas’s expression was rather unpleasant.
After all, whenever something happened to Luo Ran, the first person he thought of was Xia Zhi.
Luo Ran had originally wanted to sort out what he’d eaten and drunk that evening, but his mind was such a muddle that he couldn’t think clearly.
“General, I’m sorry… I’ve caused you trouble.”
“It’s fine. You’re not a bother.” Lucas frowned slightly. He found Luo Ran’s words rather grating.
Luo Ran had initially only felt a little tired, but his body suddenly began to grow hot.
His estrus period had only just ended. How could this be happening now\…?
As he felt himself approaching another heat, Luo Ran immediately tried his best to endure and suppress it, not daring to let his pheromones leak out.
An Alpha’s pheromones could make an Omega more aroused, but that was when the Alpha deliberately used them that way.
Now, however, Lucas’s unintentionally released pheromones had the opposite effect, making Luo Ran feel calmer.
At that moment, Luo Ran leaned against Lucas, his head resting on Lucas’s shoulder. Surrounded by the heavy scent of tobacco and earth, he managed to suppress the strange stirring inside his body.
“General, could you… let go first?” Luo Ran said. “I’ll sit leaning against the chair.”
Lucas kept a stern expression and didn’t move.
Luo Ran had no strength in his limbs at the moment. If Lucas didn’t move, he couldn’t move either.
“Don’t move,” Lucas said. “Just stay still.”
Naturally, Lucas was in a bad mood. Someone had drugged his secretary with something resembling a mind-altering drug, and when something happened to Luo Ran, the man hadn’t thought of him at all.
Before the incident, he’d even been dancing with the First Prince and Xie Ancheng.
Was work all he ever cared about? Was work the only thing that ever made him think of Lucas?
Did this man have no feelings at all?
Hadn’t he said he liked him?
Meanwhile, Luo Ran had no idea what kind of drama was unfolding inside Lucas’s head. With his head buried against Lucas’s shoulder, he was so dazed that he couldn’t resist the temptation of the pheromones. He opened his mouth and bit down on Lucas’s shoulder.
So fragrant.
So comfortable.
Lucas’s entire body stiffened.
Fuck.
Lucas frowned slightly, but seeing that Luo Ran seemed somewhat restless, he instinctively reached out and gently rubbed the back of Luo Ran’s head.
Most of Lucas’s hand was made of metal. Even though he tried hard to use less force and controlled it stiffly, Luo Ran could still feel how hard and unyielding it was. It wasn’t particularly comfortable.
But it made him feel safe.
Lucas didn’t stop moving his hand. He simply let Luo Ran bite him. His skin was thick, and it didn’t hurt that much anyway.
Not long afterward, Luo Ran gradually fell asleep in his dazed state and released his bite.
The aircraft flew smoothly toward the outskirts of the city, heading for Xia Zhi’s little wooden house.
Throughout the journey, Lucas simply held Luo Ran in his arms. It never even occurred to him that he could let go and lay the man down on the bed inside the aircraft.
The person in his arms was warm and soft, resting against his shoulder with his eyes closed. His eyelashes were long, and his expression was quiet and gentle.
He said he likes me…
Holding him like this, with a bite mark on his shoulder, Lucas only now began to think about it belatedly.
To be honest, this was the first time in his entire life that Lucas had ever thought about matters of the heart.
Dating would probably be particularly troublesome. Then there was marriage. And if he died on the battlefield one day, that would be even more troublesome.
Lucas lowered his eyes and glanced at Luo Ran.
What would it be like to date Luo Ran?
Would Luo Ran show him an expression different from his usual professional demeanor?
Would Luo Ran act spoiled? Would he get angry and throw a tantrum?
Suddenly, Lucas really wanted to see Luo Ran acting spoiled, as well as the sight of him looking all huffy and angry.
Compared with Luo Ran’s usual habit of solving his problems and handling his work, Lucas had also become curious. If this man were in a relationship, would he make those unreasonable and troublesome demands, too?
“Beep—beep—”
The aircraft’s system sounded an alert.
They had arrived at their destination.
…
When Xia Zhi saw Luo Ran being carried inside unconscious again, his eyes widened like saucers. His hair practically stood on end.
“W-What happened this time?!”
Lucas placed Luo Ran on the sofa and looked at Xia Zhi with a dark expression.
“He was drugged.”