Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Although Ruan Shuyang didn’t understand why Pei Siyue added that stipulation, he still complied, "Okay, Mr. Pei."

He wouldn't have accepted anyone else’s pheromones or marks anyway.

As for suppressants, if he had a mark, he probably wouldn’t need them often. If truly necessary, he could just use them first and report it later.

It was just a bit strange that even his use of suppressants was being monitored.

Pei Siyue took out his phone, opened an app, and placed it on the table. "Let’s exchange contact information so you can provide timely feedback."

That seemed reasonable, so Ruan Shuyang complied and added him.

After exchanging contact information, it was already past eight in the evening.

Ruan Shuyang felt it wouldn’t be appropriate to stay any longer. He had already imposed on Pei Siyue enough and couldn’t ask him for a place to stay overnight.

Fortunately, because of what Pei Siming had said a few days ago, the Ruan family’s attitude toward him had changed significantly. They now treated him like an invisible person and no longer casually insulted him, which made his life slightly more tolerable.

He ventured cautiously, "Mr. Pei, it’s getting late. I should go home."

After hearing this, Pei Siyue didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he asked, "Is there anything you need my help with?"

Ruan Shuyang was taken aback.

In truth, there were many things he needed help with—like escaping the Ruan family, or breaking off his engagement with Pei Siming.

But Pei Siyue had already helped him so much. They weren't that close, and he couldn’t impose on him any further.

Besides, in just over a month, he would be starting university and could escape the Ruan family on his own. As for breaking off the engagement, that could be dealt with later...

In the end, he simply said, "No, thank you, Mr. Pei."

Ruan Shuyang was driven back by Ji Huai.

He had wanted to go back on his own, but Pei Siyue said there were no buses or subways in the area, and it wasn’t easy to get a taxi, so he had no choice but to accept Pei Siyue’s kindness.

As the car drove away, he looked back at Pei Siyue’s residence—a pure white, three-story European-style villa. Under the clear night sky, its elegant silhouette stood out beautifully, much more impressive than the Ruan family’s villa. In front of it was a vast garden, with tall green vegetation and meticulously trimmed lawns separating the villa from the bustling city, making it incredibly peaceful.

After the car left the area, he saw the name of the villa district: Lan'an Yuting, a newly developed high-end standalone villa complex in recent years. He didn’t know the exact price, but he did know that Pan Lan had once wanted to buy a villa there and move the whole family, but couldn’t afford it.

When Ruan Shuyang returned home, Ruan Jianchuan and Pan Lan were both out. The servants had already retired to their rooms, and only Ruan Qi was lazily lying on the first-floor sofa, watching TV.

When Ruan Qi saw Ruan Shuyang return, he narrowed his eyes and looked him over carefully. Suddenly, he called out to Ruan Shuyang, who was about to go upstairs, "Where did you get the money to buy AETHOS?"

Ruan Shuyang froze. The clothes he was wearing were actually AETHOS?

That world-renowned luxury brand known for its exquisite materials and minimalist designs, where a single shirt could cost five figures?

It was said that AETHOS shirts were often made from rare cashmere and wild silk, with stitching woven from 18k gold thread and buttons crafted from deep-sea mother-of-pearl, hand-polished to perfection. A new-season shirt typically cost around thirty thousand.

The clothes had been prepared by Pei Siyue. Ruan Shuyang had thought they were just a simple light blue shirt and jeans, not particularly expensive, so he had put them on without thinking. While putting them on, he had noticed the fabric felt exceptionally soft and had wanted to check the brand, but there was no label.

Now, after Ruan Qi’s remark, he realized he was wearing AETHOS.

And AETHOS clothes usually didn’t have brand logos because the materials and designs were proof enough.

"No," Ruan Shuyang replied flustered. "This isn’t AETHOS."

He tried to hurry back to his room, but his body hadn’t fully recovered, and he couldn’t walk fast. Ruan Qi, being a tall and long-limbed alpha, caught up to him in just a few steps. He grabbed Ruan Shuyang on the staircase and looked him up and down as if he were some kind of commodity up for sale.

"I just realized... little brother, you’re already an adult omega," Ruan Qi said, his tone and expression disgustingly suggestive. "And you’ve grown so pretty, no wonder even Second Young Master Pei is willing to speak up for you."

In the past, Ruan Qi had always seen Ruan Shuyang—the child of his father’s affair—as scrawny and small, wearing dull, shabby clothes, always cowering and timid, utterly unremarkable and repulsive. He had rarely paid any real attention to this brother, only insulting or harassing him when he was in a bad mood. But today, he suddenly noticed that Ruan Shuyang had changed somehow.

It was like a flower on the verge of withering had been carefully nurtured, now exuding a delicate and enticing freshness from the inside out.

His skin was snow-white, his lips lush and inviting, his large eyes clear and bright with a hint of shy resistance—even more captivating than the most popular omega in his class.

Especially dressed in such well-tailored luxury clothing, he carried the aura of a pampered young master from a wealthy family.

Ruan Qi leaned in close to Ruan Shuyang’s ear and whispered maliciously, "This outfit you’re wearing probably wasn’t a gift from Second Young Master Pei, was it?"

Ruan Shuyang was young and not very good at hiding his feelings. His body shivered slightly at the question, and he looked at Ruan Qi in alarm and anxiety.

"Are you wondering how I know?" Ruan Qi sneered. "It’s not hard to figure out. If Second Young Master Pei were giving you gifts, he’d definitely choose Gloaming, which is under the Pei Group, not AETHOS, which you’re wearing now. So, behind our family and Second Young Master Pei, who else have you been involved with?"

"No," Ruan Shuyang shook his head desperately. "I haven’t been involved with anyone."

But Pei Siyue was ultimately a subject he couldn't discuss.

The other had been helping him—helping him at the club, kindly treating him—and the least he could do was cooperate by providing feedback on his physical data and sensations, not cause him more trouble.

Even though he didn’t understand many things, he knew that the fewer people who knew about his connection with Pei Siyue, the better. After all, he was still Pei Siming’s fiancée, and the engagement hadn’t been called off yet.

If others found out about their relationship, they would criticize Pei Siyue, saying awful things like he was stealing his brother’s fiancée or being a homewrecker...

Having been insulted for years, Ruan Shuyang knew all too well how filthy people’s mouths could be.

He didn’t want Pei Siyue to be subjected to that kind of slander.

Pei Siyue was so good, like a solitary, cold moon hanging high in the night sky—pure as frost and snow, someone who should always stand in the brightest of places.

"You think I’m stupid? You really haven’t been involved with anyone?" Ruan Qi said disdainfully. "If you’re going to lie, at least consider my intelligence. Since you claim you haven’t, I’ll just tell Mom and Dad about the brand of clothes you’re wearing and let them figure out what’s going on."

"Don’t!" Ruan Shuyang shook his head frantically, his voice trembling with tears. "Please don’t tell them."

He knew Pan Lan’s personality all too well. If she found out about this, she would do everything in her power to interrogate him.

Just thinking about Pan Lan’s methods made him shiver uncontrollably.

Why was he so foolish? How could he not have noticed that the clothes were AETHOS? Wearing them would only bring trouble.

And today was just his unlucky day—running into Ruan Qi.

If it had been Pan Lan or Ruan Jianchuan, they wouldn’t have cared about something like this.

Ruan Qi watched Ruan Shuyang’s tearful expression, scrutinizing him for a long time before saying slowly, "If you want me to keep quiet, that’s possible. But I have a condition."

Ruan Shuyang immediately asked, "What condition?"

"A friend’s birthday is next week. You’ll come with me to the birthday party."

"Birthday party?" Ruan Shuyang grew wary. "What kind of party? Will there be... strange alphas there?"

He decided to be more direct. "Are you trying to give me away to someone?"

The painful memory of Pei Siming taking him to the club last time, only to hand him over to another alpha, was still fresh in his mind. He was now extremely cautious about any kind of gathering.

"What are you thinking?" Ruan Qi scoffed disdainfully, "Take a look at yourself in the mirror. With your timid and shrinking demeanor, even if I wanted to give you away, I wouldn’t be able to present you properly. Besides, it’s Second Young Master Chi Ye’s birthday party—do you think it’s some sketchy place?"

Chi Ye?

The familiar name reminded him of the future upperclassman he had met earlier that day.

That upperclassman was very kind, patiently explained things to him and offered help. If it were that upperclassman’s birthday party, he felt he might actually go.

But he didn’t trust Ruan Qi.

"Are you sure it’s really just Chi Ye’s birthday party?" Ruan Shuyang asked again, double-checking, "If that’s the case, then I’ll go."

"Of course, I’m sure." Ruan Qi flashed a knowing smile, though Ruan Shuyang didn't catch the meaning. "In fact, I can even give you the address, and you can go by yourself. If anything seems off, you don’t have to go in."

This reassurance made Ruan Shuyang feel better. "Alright then, give me the address. I’ll go on my own when it's time."

"Fine, but you must go." Ruan Qi said warningly, "If you don’t show up, I’ll tell Mom and Dad what happened today."

Ruan Shuyang nodded. "If the address is legit, I’ll definitely go."

After reaching an agreement with Ruan Qi, Ruan Shuyang finally went upstairs and lay down in his room.

Omegas were naturally delicate, often lacking in physical stamina. Exhausted and weighed down with worries, he couldn’t help but feel the pillow and bed were exceptionally soft. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

**

After receiving Ji Huai’s message confirming that Ruan Shuyang had returned home safely, Pei Siyue went back upstairs to his study to take care of some work.

Once he finished, he noticed a message from Chi Hang urging him: "What’s going on?"

Pei Siyue asked, "How'd you find out? He came to you?"

Moments later, Chi Hang called.

"It was my brother who told me," Chi Hang explained. "I asked him for details earlier. The little omega from the Ruan family went to see a doctor because he wasn’t feeling well. The doctor said his glands and reproductive tract were stimulated by pheromones, causing secondary development, and he needed ongoing pheromone exposure. The doctor also suggested that if he couldn’t find an alpha, he should look for a volunteer. He probably had no other choice, so he went to look for a volunteer. Coincidentally, he ran into my brother there. They tried, but he couldn’t be marked. That’s when he remembered enigmas, asked about the time and place, and came to me for information."

"So, did you really mark that little omega from the Ruan family that night? Are you planning to take him from your brother?"

Pei Siyue didn’t deny it, only asking thoughtfully, "He even considered going to a volunteer?"

So disobedient.

"Why are you focusing on that?" Chi Hang was exasperated. "The point is, what exactly happened between you two? And according to my brother, it seems the omega from the Ruan family doesn’t know you and has no way of contacting you."

But now he knows, and he can reach out.

Pei Siyue replied indifferently, "This is between him and me."

Chi Hang sensed a hint of warning in his tone and frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"Outsiders shouldn’t interfere."

Pei Siyue ended the call after saying that.

On the other end of the line, Chi Hang listened to the dial tone, feeling that the situation was rather peculiar.

It didn’t seem like revenge against Pei Siming—more like an enigma's possessive streak.

After hanging up, Pei Siyue sent a message to Ruan Shuyang: "Remember to tell me what the marking felt like today."

Pei Siyue: "If you notice any physical changes during the treatment, tell me about that too."

Pei Siyue: "If you need pheromones, just come to me."

It was time to make sure the little one knows of his existence, to be thinking about him every day, and not go looking for other alphas or alternatives.

However, he received no reply to his messages before going to bed, leaving Pei Siyue in a bad mood.