Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"But... I remember you said you liked it before."

Lu Yao's face was buried deep in the pillow as Fu Yanhuai pressed down on the back of his neck. Lu Yao struggled to lift his head slightly, gasping for breath in the narrow space.

Fu Yanhuai leaned in to sniff at his neck, and Lu Yao clutched the sheets, wrinkling them.

"The pheromone scent is gone."

Fu Yanhuai clearly didn’t care about the caramel pudding. What angered him was that his mark had faded in just twelve hours. The Silver Fir scent had vanished completely from this body again, and he was displeased.

Feeling Fu Yanhuai move closer to his neck, Lu Yao said uneasily, "Wait, Yanhuai..."

Fu Yanhuai tore off the gland patch on Lu Yao’s nape, revealing a shocking bite mark. At the same time, a faint wisp of Silver Fir mingled with the thick pheromones filling the bedroom.

But Fu Yanhuai detected an intrusive scent—something that clashed with his own. He seized Lu Yao’s wrist, eyebrow arched. "What’s that smell?"

"Probably caramel," Lu Yao whispered in reply. "Maybe I picked it up at the dessert shop."

Fu Yanhuai answered with action, directly covering the foreign scent with Silver Fir. Another bite mark joined the others on Lu Yao’s nape.

Dizzy, Lu Yao clenched his teeth to keep from crying out. The flood of pheromones overwhelming his body was agony—especially since he wasn’t an omega. As a beta, the discomfort eclipsed any pleasure, and the pain even overshadowed the sting of his bleeding wound.

Spent, Lu Yao collapsed face-down on the pillow, enduring the invasive surge of pheromones. His fair nape was now littered with red bite marks, a few strands of his slightly long brown hair brushing against them. The sight marginally improved Fu Yanhuai’s mood.

The night was young. Fu Yanhuai said casually, "Don’t go out tomorrow. The third day of my rut is when pheromones peak. I’ll be home all day."

Hazy with pain, Lu Yao managed to think, *At least I already scheduled time off.*

Still struggling to adjust to the pheromones inside him, Lu Yao didn’t respond fast enough for Fu Yanhuai’s liking. The alpha demonstrated physically, forcing a pained cry from him.

Tears fell unchecked from Lu Yao’s eyes as he pleaded softly, "I understand—it hurts, can’t you—?"

Fu Yanhuai showed no mercy. Lu Yao’s crying, however, soothed the turbulent, surging pheromones that had nowhere else to go. By the time the sky began to lighten, Fu Yanhuai finally deigned to press a kiss to Lu Yao—in a rare good mood.

To be precise, it was Lu Yao’s utterly pitiful state that provoked a grudging twinge of sympathy in even someone as cold-blooded as Fu Yanhuai. After all, he was the one who had reduced Lu Yao to this debilitated state.

The kiss pressed to Lu Yao’s nape was as light as a feather’s touch. Slipping between consciousness and oblivion, Lu Yao stared blankly at the faint light seeping through the heavy curtains, unable to tell if this was a dream or reality.

But Fu Yanhuai's compassion stopped short. He gripped Lu Yao’s chin, forcing him to turn his head until their eyes met—Lu Yao’s still swimming with tears.

"Even though you’re a beta, you’re actually surprisingly compatible with me. It’s just your family that’s unbearable."

Every muscle taut, mind racing, Lu Yao asked uncertainly, "Did my mother say something again?"

His tears quelled Fu Yanhuai’s irritation. After a brief silence, Fu Yanhuai pulled the blanket over Lu Yao’s bare shoulders.

If Lu Zhongguang had merely used the marriage to the Fu family for petty advantages, Fu Yanhuai might have turned a blind eye—given how obedient Lu Yao was.

But the Lu family’s meddling had gone too far. It wasn’t just Lu Yao’s father, Lu Zhongguang—his mother, younger brother, the entire Lu family latched onto the Fu Group like parasites, sucking it dry. Appraising Lu Yao, Fu Yanhuai began to wonder if he’d chosen the wrong person.

A low-maintenance, compliant beta who could help him through his rut—that had been Fu Yanhuai’s only requirement. But now, it seemed Lu Yao had brought him endless petty annoyances.

"I don’t want to change our current understanding. Though our marriage isn’t based on emotion, I’ll still indulge your requests within reasonable limits."

Lu Yao twisted weakly toward him. "I’ll be obedient."

As promised, Lu Yao had always been obedient. Aside from the mismatch in status, Fu Yanhuai had few genuine complaints.

That faint, unfamiliar sweetness—different from Silver Fir—seeped out again. Fu Yanhuai frowned in discomfort.

"Enough for now. Get some rest."

Fu Yanhuai still seemed displeased. Lu Yao didn’t understand why he suddenly felt like crying again. He picked up the tattered pastry bag, then hurriedly left the room.

He didn’t even remember how he made it back to his own room. Utterly depleted, Lu Yao collapsed onto the bed, the ruined caramel pudding left abandoned in the corner. His breath was fever-hot.

He should have cleaned up in the bathroom before sleeping, but Lu Yao was too wrecked. Perhaps from crying so much earlier, his eyes burned, lids heavy as lead.

His mind was both hazy and alarmingly clear. Eventually, the weight of his body dragged him into a deathlike sleep.

The scent of caramel in the room slowly faded like mist. Lu Yao’s pale face gradually flushed red as he curled tightly into himself, seeking warmth.

After days of exhaustion without proper rest, Lu Yao had succumbed to fever.

The third day of Fu Yanhuai’s rut was the most severe, but the previous night’s relief had stabilized his pheromones after some rest.

The lingering caramel pudding scent in the bedroom had been completely overtaken by Silver Fir. Today, Fu Yanhuai had even dressed in casual homewear before heading downstairs.

Breakfast time had long passed. His rut's demands were metabolic, so Fu Yanhuai called for steak for lunch.

The silk fabric tempered his sharp features slightly. Noticing only his own meal set at the table, he tossed to the butler, "Where’s Lu Yao? Still asleep?"

"Yes," the butler replied respectfully, setting the plated steak before Fu Yanhuai. "He hasn’t left his room since returning from yours this morning."

Fu Yanhuai frowned. "Go get him."

He’d cleared his calendar specifically for the day—not to wait around for Lu Yao to sleep in.

The butler bowed and hurried to knock on Lu Yao’s door.

In truth, this room had once been a storage space. The second floor and above were reserved for the family, leaving Lu Yao with no choice but to stay here.

"Mr. Lu Yao, are you awake?"

The butler rapped precisely, but the expected flustered response never came. His brow furrowed slightly, he knocked again, firmer this time.

"Mr. Lu Yao, the CEO is waiting for you."

Silence. The butler went alert. Though he knew the passcodes for every room on the first floor and basement levels, protocol stayed his hand from entering without permission.

He returned to the dining room to consult Fu Yanhuai. After all, Lu Yao was his responsibility—the butler didn’t dare risk displeasing him by acting rashly.

Fu Yanhuai had only eaten half his steak. Pushing the plate aside, he glanced up. "Where’s his room?"

Understanding his intent, the butler answered promptly, "The last door on the left of the first floor."

Leaving his unfinished meal, Fu Yanhuai stood. He hadn’t eaten enough yet, but he’d find a way to make up for it later.

Fu Yanhuai rarely paid attention to the first-floor rooms. That Lu Yao lived in such a remote corner didn’t register as significant. He turned to the butler. "What’s the passcode?"

The butler recited the villa’s default code—Lu Yao lacked the authority to change it.

Fu Yanhuai entered directly. Discreet as ever, the butler stepped back, avoiding any unnecessary glances.

The sight gave him pause. Lu Yao still wore the clothes he’d hastily thrown on that morning, the hem of his shirt riding up to expose a large stretch of skin along his waist—marked with glaring red bruises.

Curled tightly into himself, Lu Yao faced away from the door. Fu Yanhuai first ensured the butler hadn’t seen anything, then dismissed him with a gesture.

Fu Yanhuai closed the door behind him and walked to the bedside, looking down at Lu Yao.

Lu Yao's disheveled hair was scattered across his face, and his body trembled slightly. The blanket lay kicked aside by Lu Yao, but Fu Yanhuai didn’t move it.

"Lu Yao," Fu Yanhuai said calmly, "You’ve been sleeping too long."

The figure on the bed didn’t respond. Fu Yanhuai frowned and strode forward. He pressed the back of his hand against Lu Yao’s neck, and the scorching temperature finally made him raise his brows in surprise.

Lu Yao had a fever? Why? He’d never gotten one during past ruts.

Fu Yanhuai sat on the bed and turned Lu Yao toward him. Lu Yao was light, so Fu Yanhuai easily adjusted his position, but once lying flat, Lu Yao’s whole body began to convulse.

Fu Yanhuai frowned deeply and just scooped Lu Yao up into his arms.

He did it without hesitation—he and Lu Yao had gone through three ruts since their marriage, and each time had only increased his familiarity with carrying Lu Yao.

If Lu Yao were awake now, he would surely be embarrassed. But as it was, he remained unconscious, leaning against Fu Yanhuai’s shoulder, his scorching breath brushing against the gland on Fu Yanhuai’s neck.

This new, slightly intrusive sensation made Fu Yanhuai a little uneasy, yet he didn’t loosen his hold.

He grabbed the blanket and bundled Lu Yao up, then pressed the call button in the room.

Unaware, Lu Yao had briefly gotten something he had always longed for. Dazed, he faintly caught Silver Fir’s scent and, at ease, he drifted deeper into sleep in Fu Yanhuai’s arms.

Fu Yanhuai spoke into the intercom, "Call the family doctor. He has a fever."

Once he got a reply, he promptly ended the call, then let his gaze wander around the room.

Finally, his gaze landed on the torn bag tossed in the corner. Fu Yanhuai vaguely remembered it as the dessert Lu Yao had brought back.

The caramel smell in the air probably came from that dessert.

Lu Yao’s eyes stayed shut, but he’d stopped shaking in Fu Yanhuai’s arms.

Fu Yanhuai murmured softly, "If you were an omega, caramel would fit your scent perfectly."