Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Ruan Shuyang was browsing part-time jobs in his room that morning when he received a message from Pei Siyue. He immediately replied, "I'm feeling great today; no stomach ache or any other discomfort."

Pei Siyue sent another message: What are you doing? Do you have a specific schedule for your senior year summer break?

Pei Siyue: I need to plan the treatment around your availability.

Upon seeing it was about the treatment plan, Ruan Shuyang cooperatively replied: I don’t have any other plans for the summer after high school. I was just looking for a part-time job, but I haven’t found one yet.

It was difficult for an eighteen-year-old omega with only a high school diploma to find work, even part-time.

Most short-term part-time jobs involved physical labor, and these roles often rejected omegas due to their perceived physical weakness and higher risk of incidents.

If a blocking patch wasn't applied correctly, an inhibitor wasn't injected properly, or a spray wasn't used effectively, it could easily agitate nearby alphas, leading to significant trouble.

As for entry-level positions at large corporations, there were plenty of students from prestigious universities vying for them, leaving no room for an 18-year-old omega like him.

In truth, Ruan Shuyang possessed exceptional skills. He had inherited Yu Xianpo’s talent, but his mother’s tragic experiences made him terrified to reveal it.

From childhood, he had a keen eye for beauty and could effortlessly sketch exquisite designs. After Yu Xianpo discovered this, she became frantic, forcing him to swear never to reveal his ability to draw. He was very young then and so frightened by Yu Xianpo’s desperate demeanor that he never dared to draw again.

As he grew older, he finally understood why Yu Xianpo had acted that way.

Exposing one’s talent prematurely, before having the means to protect it, was incredibly dangerous, especially within an environment like the Ruan family.

If he revealed his ability to draw designs, the Ruan family would undoubtedly treat him as they had treated Yu Xianpo—forcing him to become a cash cow for Ruan's Jewelry, controlling him with every dirty and underhanded method imaginable, and draining him of all his worth.

Just like his mother, Yu Xianpo, who was exploited by the Ruan family until she could no longer draw, withering away like a flower and slowly fading from this world.

Until he could leave and break free from the Ruan family, he would keep this ability hidden.

Therefore, finding a part-time job was incredibly difficult for him.

After seeing his message, Pei Siyue discussed with Ruan Shuyang: One marking per week and two pheromone soothing sessions. Is this frequency acceptable?

Pei Siyue: Additionally, we'll need to check the development of your gland and reproductive cavity every other week.

Whenever the topic of treatment arose, Ruan Shuyang always felt embarrassed. He tried his best to overcome it, replying with a flushed face: That’s fine.

Ruan Shuyang: Mr. Pei, I have no other commitments. I can work around your schedule.

Ruan Shuyang: Thank you for your trouble.

After receiving Ruan Shuyang’s affirmative reply, Pei Siyue first handled official business at the Pei Corporation headquarters. At noon, he had the HR department at Ruiji send over the summer internship recruitment plan.

Pei Siyue reviewed the positions and requirements and realized there were indeed no jobs Ruan Shuyang could do.

Even the simplest secretarial roles required current university students from prestigious schools in relevant majors. Ruan Shuyang, however, hadn’t even started college yet.

He was not one to abuse power for personal gain or turn the company into a family business.

The situation was tricky, but it wasn't enough to stump him.

Pei Siyue always believed that if you truly wanted to achieve something, nothing was impossible.

The same applied to people.

If he desired something, there was nothing he couldn't obtain. Even if it belonged to someone else, he would simply take it.

**

At noon, Ruan Shuyang received a message from Pei Siming, who informed him that he would pick him up on Saturday evening to go to the Pei family for dinner.

He didn’t want to go, but he knew that if Pei Siming brought it up with Ruan Jianchuan, he wouldn’t be able to refuse, as Ruan Jianchuan was eager to get closer to Pei Siming.

So he first asked: Who will be there?

Pei Siming: My parents and my elder brother.

Pei Siming: When you're there, watch what you say. Don't say anything inappropriate in front of my parents, and don't get close to my elder brother. Otherwise, if something happens, I won't be able to help you.

Pei Siming’s elder brother… was that Pei Siyue?

If Ruan Shuyang remembered correctly, only Pei Siyue could be referred to as "elder brother" by Pei Siming.

Thinking that Pei Siyue would be there, Ruan Shuyang felt inexplicably less nervous about Saturday evening.

So he replied to Pei Siming: Understood.

Pei Siming indeed told Ruan Jianchuan about taking him to the Pei family for dinner on Saturday, because that evening, Ruan Jianchuan looked at him with a strange gaze, as if seeing his son for the first time.

"Never thought…" Ruan Jianchuan said meaningfully, "you’d actually manage to catch the Second Young Master’s special attention. Make the most of it."

Perhaps this engagement, originally just a show for outsiders, might actually lead to marriage.

If he could win over the Second Young Master of the Pei family and truly become his wife, Ruan's Jewelry could survive for at least another ten years.

Ruan Shuyang, as always, acted obedient and well-behaved, like an invisible presence in the household.

At noon on Saturday, a moderately significant event occurred—he received a message from Chi Ye inviting him to his birthday party.

Seeing Chi Ye’s invitation, Ruan Shuyang replied: Thank you for the invitation, senior.

Ruan Shuyang: I’ll probably be going with my family’s brother that day. See you then~

Chi Ye: Okay, see you then.

A little after five in the afternoon, Pei Siming drove to pick up Ruan Shuyang. A blue Lamborghini sports car stopped at the entrance of the Ruan residence, and Ruan Jianchuan and his wife immediately went out to greet him.

When Ruan Shuyang received the message and came downstairs, he overheard Ruan Jianchuan asking if the investment share and stake could be renegotiated and adjusted.

Though Pei Siming appeared polite and refined, he carried an air of superiority, looking down on the Ruan family. Upon hearing Ruan Jianchuan’s words, he coldly replied, "Uncle Ruan, we’ve already agreed on this."

Ruan Jianchuan, having been rebuffed, stiffened with embarrassment and couldn’t help but glare at Ruan Shuyang as he descended the stairs.

Ruan Shuyang, accustomed to enduring scorn and verbal abuse at home for years, remained silent and simply took his seat in the passenger side.

As Pei Siming started the car, he glanced sideways at Ruan Shuyang in the passenger seat.

Ruan Shuyang was wearing an off-white shirt embroidered with verdant bamboo patterns. The young omega had strikingly clear almond-shaped eyes, bright as autumn water. His porcelain-like skin accentuated his delicate features, and his lips were the color of freshly bloomed cherry blossoms. The simple, elegant clothing made him appear exceptionally pure and lovely.

Ruan Shuyang was indeed a very beautiful omega. He had been even more captivating in the past when he would look at him with a naive smile, full of trust.

But why couldn’t he see that expression anymore?

Pei Siming felt somewhat irritated and couldn’t resist leaning over to touch Ruan Shuyang’s shoulder.

Ruan Shuyang immediately stiffened, asking nervously and warily, "What’s wrong?"

No alpha wanted to see their fiancée more guarded against them than against a stranger. Pei Siming was no exception, but he didn’t want to frighten Ruan Shuyang further. Suppressing his inner frustration, he said in a low voice, "Just adjusting your seatbelt."

Ruan Shuyang sat rigidly the entire time Pei Siming adjusted the seatbelt, only letting out a relieved sigh once Pei Siming’s hand returned to the steering wheel.

The weather was beautiful, the sky a clear, cloudless blue.

The car soon arrived at the tree-lined avenue of the Pei family’s private residence. After passing through the wrought-iron gates, a grand fountain came into view, its water droplets creating a rainbow shimmer under the bright sunlight. Behind the fountain lay a classical French garden, with snow-white winding corridors flanked by lavender imported from Provence.

At the end of the garden was an artificial lake, connected to a pavilion at its center by a creamy white marble bridge.

After a few more minutes of driving, they finally reached the main Pei residence.

The main house was a Baroque-style villa blended with modern elements, with a parking garage beside it.

Perhaps by coincidence, as Pei Siming parked, a custom Pagani Zonda pulled into the spot next to them.

Seeing the custom deep blue Pagani Zonda—a supercar exuding both artistic flair and mechanical beauty—Pei Siming’s expression contorted briefly.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford such a car, but buying one would put a serious dent in his finances. After all, he held no shares in the group and received no dividends; his money came solely from the family trust and what he had managed to skim from the group over the years. Spending over twenty million on a sports car would be a significant financial blow, especially since he had many expenses.

But Pei Siyue was different. He had inherited numerous group shares upon coming of age, receiving substantial dividends. Buying a custom Pagani Zonda was nothing to him.

This filled Pei Siming with intense jealousy.

He had always disliked Pei Siyue. Having an elder half-brother who outperformed him in every way, seized assets that should have been entirely his, and even presented as a higher-grade alpha was enough to make anyone resent him deeply.

As Pei Siming stepped out of the car, the iconic scissor doors of the Pagani Zonda swung open beside him, rising like wings—a flashy and eye-catching display that made his expression contort once more.

However, as the Lamborghini’s passenger door opened, Pei Siming suddenly felt less jealous and bitter.

At least there was one thing he could best Pei Siyue in: he had a fiancée. Pei Siyue was still alone, claiming to be "allergic to omegas"—as if he planned to find an alpha instead.

Ridiculous.

Thinking of his fiancée, he deliberately walked over to Ruan Shuyang, slung an arm around his shoulders—ignoring Ruan Shuyang’s stiff posture and uneasy expression—and smiled at Pei Siyue. "Big brother, it’s rare to see you back today."

Pei Siyue glanced at Pei Siming’s hand on Ruan Shuyang’s shoulder, gave a light chuckle, then turned his gaze back to Pei Siming and asked leisurely, "Aren’t you going to introduce us?"