Chapter 22

Chapter 22

This realization made Ruan Shuyang somewhat nervous and uneasy.

The enigma standing before him was exceptionally tall, with an imposing and aristocratic presence. His features were as deep and sharp as if carved by a knife, incredibly handsome.

Pei Siyue seemed to possess a natural aura of control; those around him would instinctively defer to and trust him.

Ruan Shuyang’s heart pounded uncontrollably.

He swallowed nervously and first thanked him for the previous night's events: "Mr. Pei, thank you for what happened last night."

Pei Siyue gave a slight nod, then looked at Ruan Shuyang and asked slowly, "He tried to forcibly mark you last night. Do you still like him?"

Ruan Shuyang froze, dropping his head. His long eyelashes fluttered nervously like butterfly wings, and he unconsciously wrung his hands, the delicate fingertips turning white from the pressure.

He no longer liked him and even wanted to break off the engagement.

He had previously felt it was inappropriate to discuss such matters with Pei Siyue, but after last night, he felt there was nothing wrong with speaking up.

It was Pei Siyue who had protected him once again; otherwise, he might have been forcibly marked by Pei Siming.

He lifted his head, his eyes bright, clear and resolute.

Ruan Shuyang’s voice remained soft and gentle, but his tone carried a determination he had never had before: "I don’t like him anymore."

"I want to break off the engagement with him, but I haven’t found the right opportunity yet."

Moreover, while he was still living with the Ruan family, it wasn’t the right time to do so. If he took the initiative to propose breaking off the engagement, Ruan Jianchuan might use any means to come after him.

Pei Siyue looked at him, his gaze deep, his low voice carrying a sense of reassurance and promise: "There will be an opportunity. Definitely."

Ruan Shuyang felt that such an opportunity would be hard to wait for. The situation wasn’t simple; unless Pei Siming took the initiative to propose it, breaking off the engagement would be difficult.

Still, the other party was trying to comfort him, so Ruan Shuyang didn’t argue. He just smiled.

"Come with me."

Ruan Shuyang followed Pei Siyue upstairs.

Pei Siyue, with his long limbs, should have walked quickly, but at this moment, he kept pace with Ruan Shuyang as they ascended to the second floor.

Upon reaching the second floor, Pei Siyue looked thoughtfully at the spiral staircase below them.

During the renovation, the designer had asked if he wanted to install an elevator. He had thought it unnecessary—it was only three floors, and he wasn’t incapacitated, so an elevator wasn’t needed.

But now…

An Omega’s body seemed more delicate than he had imagined. Would climbing just one flight be too exhausting?

He pondered for a moment before asking Ruan Shuyang, "Do you find climbing the stairs tiring?"

"Not at all," Ruan Shuyang immediately shook his head. "Climbing stairs is fine."

At that moment, Ruan Shuyang had no idea that, in the future, he would struggle to climb stairs.

Pei Siyue led him to the room on the left side of the staircase landing. Opening the door, they entered a large study. Built-in bookshelves lined the walls on both sides, filled with books.

In the center was a large desk, with two ergonomic chairs placed on either side.

In front of one of the chairs was a computer setup with three screens; on the other side sat a laptop and… a gaming console?

"Apologies, I still have some work to attend to this morning," Pei Siyue said, standing at the study door. "I hope you can keep me company during work."

"I’ve prepared a computer and a gaming console for you. If you need anything else, just let me know."

Ruan Shuyang was surprised momentarily before quickly replying, "Mr. Pei, if you have work to do, I can leave first so as not to disturb you."

Pei Siyue, however, said, "No need to call me Mr. Pei."

Ruan Shuyang was stunned. "Then… what should I call you?"

Pei Siyue curled his lips, his tall frame leaning against the study doorframe. His tone carried a hint of laziness and nonchalance: "Figure it out yourself."

Ruan Shuyang scratched his head, feeling quite troubled.

Siyue?

That didn’t seem appropriate.

Brother Pei?

That felt strange.

He tentatively tried, "President Pei?"

But Pei Siyue’s expression visibly cooled.

Ruan Shuyang was at a loss, saying helplessly, "I can’t think of anything."

Pei Siyue watched as Ruan Shuyang’s head drooped lower and lower, then softly suggested, "You can call me by my name."

Ruan Shuyang tried calling out, "Pei Siyue?"

Pei Siyue nodded.

Ruan Shuyang found it very strange and wasn’t comfortable with it.

Noticing Ruan Shuyang’s hesitant expression, Pei Siyue asked, "Is there a problem?"

Ruan Shuyang mumbled, "It just feels a bit odd. You’re quite a bit older than me, you’re working, and you have an important position. Calling you directly by your name feels somewhat disrespectful."

Pei Siyue: "…"

He closed his eyes briefly, his tone patient. "Don’t use ‘you’ (formal). I’m not much older. You’re eighteen this year, and I’m only nine years older than you."

Ruan Shuyang blinked. Could the word "only" really be used here?

Nine years was nearly half his entire life span.

Pei Siyue didn’t want to continue this topic any further and simply said, "Come in."

Though hesitant, Ruan Shuyang obediently stepped inside.

As soon as he entered the study, he felt a strong feeling the place was truly Pei Siyue's. The faint, elusive scent like flowing water lingered in the air—Pei Siyue’s pheromones.

Once inside the study, Pei Siyue walked behind him and removed the blocking patch from his gland, saying quietly, "Today is for pheromone soothing."

After speaking, Pei Siyue walked over to the ergonomic chair opposite and sat down, turning on the main computer and the triple monitors.

Ruan Shuyang sat in the chair across from him, feeling both curious and delighted.

Somehow, even though he hadn’t met Mr. Pei many times and hadn’t known him for long, living together with him always made Ruan Shuyang feel exceptionally at ease.

He wasn’t sure if it was the influence of the Mark, but he had begun to instinctively rely on Mr. Pei.

Still, he felt that Mr. Pei was genuinely kind and considerate. On Sunday, when he picked him up, he prepared a laptop and a game console to keep him from getting bored, and there was even a glass of warm water on the desk. No one besides Yu Xianpo had ever been so attentive to him.

Moreover, he truly longed for Mr. Pei’s pheromones.

Just one night without them and he would instinctively miss them—miss the feeling of being gently enveloped by the flowing water, miss the sense of security he felt around Mr. Pei.

Blushing, he turned on the computer, thinking that this wasn’t good either. He needed to restrain himself in the future and not appear overly needy.

As he opened the computer and browsed through design-related materials, a gentle flow of water began seeping from his scent glands into his body without him even noticing. The process was slow, almost imperceptible unless he focused on it, yet it felt even more irresistible.

The Lily of the Valley slowly soaked in the water, blooming more vibrantly and fragrantly.

The Enigma’s pheromones soothing made the omega feel comfortable and secure. Sunlight streamed through the study window, casting a warm, lazy glow on the floor beside Ruan Shuyang.

Unconsciously, he rested his head on the desk while staring at the computer screen. The soft sound of keyboard tapping from across the room became a lullaby. One moment he was reminding himself that this was someone else’s home and he shouldn’t fall asleep—it would be impolite.

The next moment, he was fast asleep in the study.

It was truly comfortable—the sunlight made it perfect for napping, and Ruan Shuyang simply couldn’t resist.

Not long after he fell asleep, Mr. Pei noticed that the young omega across from him had dozed off.

He stood up, walked over to Ruan Shuyang, and effortlessly picked him up, carrying him toward the bedroom.

This time, he didn’t open the guest room door but instead entered the master bedroom, placing Ruan Shuyang on his own bed. He took a pillow he often used and tucked it into the other’s arms, then helped remove his shoes and socks.

Throughout the process, he continuously soothed the young omega with his pheromones. Ruan Shuyang slept soundly, showing no signs of waking. After being tucked in, he even hugged the pillow and let out a soft murmur, nuzzling his cheek against it and mumbling quietly, as if he particularly liked holding the pillow.

Mr. Pei’s eyes darkened slightly. He reached out and gently pressed a finger against Ruan Shuyang’s lips.

The next moment, as if sensing something, Ruan Shuyang parted his lips in his sleep, unconsciously taking Mr. Pei’s finger into his mouth, his small tongue giving it a gentle lick.

Mr. Pei leaned closer, his cool voice carrying a hint of temptation as he whispered softly into Ruan Shuyang’s ear, “Do it again.”

But whether because he was deeply asleep or because he found the foreign object in his mouth uncomfortable, Ruan Shuyang didn’t continue licking. Instead, he began to push it away.

Mr. Pei withdrew his finger, the tip glistening slightly.

He reached out with his other hand and gently booped Ruan Shuyang’s nose, his voice filled with affection and helplessness.

“Little one.”

So enticing, yet so irresponsible after stirring desire.

**

Ruan Shuyang slept until noon before waking up. When he opened his eyes, he lazily stretched, but halfway through, he suddenly realized something was off.

He opened his eyes and found himself holding a large pillow that took up almost half his body, lying on an enormous bed.

The bed appeared to be 2.5 meters by 2.5 meters in size. He, so small, looked especially tiny lying on it.

He struggled to sit up from the cloud-like pillows and blankets. The room was spacious, almost empty, with only a bed, a wardrobe, a bedside lamp, and a few other pieces of furniture—minimalist yet made of expensive materials.

The black bed beneath him had a smooth, warm surface with natural wood grain patterns. The white sheets and pillows were almost cool to the touch yet as comfortable as clouds.

This wasn’t the guest room he had stayed in last time. Ruan Shuyang faintly sensed that this must be Mr. Pei’s own room.

Which meant he had been carried into Mr. Pei’s room after falling asleep?

The realization made him flush.

It was indeed comfortable to sleep here, filled with pheromones, which he instinctively liked. He couldn’t help but nuzzle into the bed again.

After doing so, he realized what he was rubbing against and quickly sat up, embarrassed. He straightened the bedding, got out of bed, and opened the door.

The hallway was quiet. The study door where he had been earlier was open, so he walked to the entrance.

Mr. Pei was sitting inside, holding a silver-white necklace.

The necklace showed signs of design, with three vine-like patterns intertwined and inlaid with a highly saturated, precious red gemstone.

However, from a jewelry designer’s perspective, Ruan Shuyang felt the necklace was poorly designed. The gemstone was set simply and crudely, wasting such a precious stone.

He hadn’t been standing at the study door for long when Mr. Pei pulled out the chair beside him, looked up, and said, “Come here.”

Ruan Shuyang walked over and sat down next to Mr. Pei. When not handling work matters, Mr. Pei seemed more relaxed than usual, with the top button of his shirt undone, revealing his broad, firm chest and faintly visible abs.

Once he was seated, Mr. Pei held up the necklace and asked, “Do you like it?”

Ruan Shuyang hesitated.

“You can speak your mind. Don’t hold back.”

“I think this necklace isn’t designed very well,” Ruan Shuyang said. “Setting the red gemstone so simply and roughly is a waste. It would look much prettier with a proper design.”

Mr. Pei looked at him thoughtfully. “Can you design?”

Ruan Shuyang paused briefly before answering, “Yes.”

Although Yu Xianpo had always warned him not to casually reveal his design talent to avoid being used as a tool, he was willing to trust Mr. Pei.

Mr. Pei had helped him countless times without asking for anything in return, never inquiring about his skills or demanding payment.

He was willing to design something for him.

“I made this necklace. The materials are special. I originally planned to give it to someone, but I’m not skilled in jewelry design, so the result isn’t appealing.”

Ruan Shuyang looked at the piece and asked softly, “Is it for someone very important?”

Mr. Pei admitted, “Yes, very important.”

His deceased mother.

Ruan Shuyang: “Then let me design it for you, okay? That way, the necklace will be much prettier, and the person receiving it should be happier.”

Mr. Pei looked down at the necklace for a moment before finally placing it around Ruan Shuyang’s neck.

The moment the necklace was put on, Ruan Shuyang was utterly surprised.

“Mr. Pei, why are you putting it on me?”

“You need to redesign it,” Mr. Pei said. “Wearing it will help you understand the material and its characteristics better, making it easier to design.”

"Oh..." Ruan Shuyang scratched his head, "But this is meant to be a gift for someone else. Is it okay for me to wear it?"

Pei Siyue shook his head and said firmly, "Not at all."

"The material of this necklace is very special—it’s a type I developed that can block Alpha pheromones. As long as you wear it, it offers protection. With this necklace, even without a blocking patch, an Alpha cannot forcibly temporarily mark an Omega, nor can they force an Omega into heat. The necklace is sturdy and can't be broken even by an Alpha’s strength. The clasp is a small lock that can only be opened with a key."

As he spoke, Pei Siyue placed a small key on the table.

This necklace was something he had specially designed and crafted, intending to place it on Jiang Ruowan’s grave on the anniversary of her death.

An Omega’s weaknesses are very obvious. Back then, Jiang Ruowan had been controlled by Pei Yan through her weaknesses, costing her everything. She was ultimately destroyed by the aftereffects of the mark removal surgery and died from depression.

If she had had a necklace like this back then, Jiang Ruowan would not have been forcibly induced into heat by Pei Yan’s pheromones, would not have been permanently marked, and he wouldn't even exist.

Without him, there would have been no tragedy affecting two generations.

Though it was late, he still hoped Jiang Ruowan could see this necklace and make up for what was missing back then.

But after seeing Pei Siming try to forcibly mark Ruan Shuyang yesterday, he suddenly felt that Ruan Shuyang needed its protection more right now.

Due to the special nature of the material, the production cycle took a month. Since Jiang Ruowan’s anniversary of her death was still some time away, he could make another one for her. This finished one would be given to Ruan Shuyang for now.

Pei Siyue looked into Ruan Shuyang’s eyes and told him, "Wear it, so even if I’m not around, Pei Siming won’t be able to mark or force you."

Ruan Shuyang’s hand rested on the necklace, and his eyes involuntarily stung with tears.

He truly needed a necklace like this. If he had had it earlier, he wouldn’t have been induced into heat by Lu Zheng’s pheromones, and he wouldn’t have had to deal with all the subsequent troubles.

Although blocking patches work well, they are too easy to remove. Once removed, they offer no protection.

The necklace, however, gets around this problem completely. It’s sturdy and effective as long as it’s worn, and it can only be opened with a key.

This necklace is ideal for Omegas to protect themselves from pheromone harm.

Pei Siyue is a true gentleman, a genuinely good person, who considers things from an Omega’s perspective and creates what Omegas truly need.

With red-rimmed eyes, he said, "Thank you."

Tears hung in his eyes, as if they were about to fall at any moment.

Pei Siyue sighed softly, seeming somewhat helpless, then lifted Ruan Shuyang onto his lap. His tone was gentle, as if worried he might startle him.

"Why are you crying?"

Ruan Shuyang only then realized that his tears had already fallen, even landing on Pei Siyue’s hand.

He quickly wiped away the tear and explained softly, "I just think you’re really good, able to think from an Omega’s perspective and create what we truly need."

Pei Siyue looked at Ruan Shuyang, his eyes deep and his tone calm, as he said, "I’m not a good person."

"No." Ruan Shuyang shook his head, his voice tearful. "You are already very good."

Better than most Enigmas and Alphas in this world.

Pei Siyue didn’t say anything more, only held Ruan Shuyang and gently patted his back, silently comforting him.

After a little while, Ruan Shuyang slowly calmed down and realized he was sitting sideways on Pei Siyue’s lap, being cradled like a child, with his back being gently patted in comfort.

He felt very embarrassed and slid off Pei Siyue’s lap, taking two steps back to try to hide his earlier moment of vulnerability and childish behavior.

But before he could say anything, his stomach suddenly let out a loud growl, which was especially noticeable in the quiet study and was immediately heard by the Enigma with his enhanced senses.

Ruan Shuyang’s face turned bright red. He glanced at the clock on the table and saw that it was almost 1 p.m.—no wonder his stomach was growling.

Just as he was about to say something, he caught sight of the faint smile on Pei Siyue’s face, and his face turned crimson.

Pei Siyue stood up and asked, "What would you like to eat?"

Ruan Shuyang wasn’t sure what he wanted to eat, but he felt so hungry he could eat a whole cow.

He followed Pei Siyue downstairs and watched as the other man entered the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and took out ingredients. Surprised, he asked, "Are you going to cook?"

"Yes." Pei Siyue nodded and asked Ruan Shuyang, "Is seafood bake okay?"

"Sure." Ruan Shuyang replied instinctively, then watched as Pei Siyue took out ingredients from the refrigerator and began to cook.

...Pei Siyue was actually cooking?

He walked over and said, "Let me help you."

"No need." Pei Siyue turned around and started working. "If you’re bored, you can think about how to design the necklace."

Ruan Shuyang stood in the kitchen for a moment, watching. Seeing that Pei Siyue was handling everything well on his own, and that he might only mess up his rhythm if he tried to help, he sat down at the dining table. Gazing at the necklace around his neck and the large red gemstone, he began to search for inspiration.

Half an hour later, a fragrant seafood bake was served, so good it made you want to swallow your tongue.

Unfortunately, Omegas have small frames and smaller appetites. Although Ruan Shuyang had felt he could eat an entire cow before the meal, he was full after just one small bowl. Rubbing his belly, he said, "I’m full."

He was even a bit too full.

Pei Siyue frowned, thinking Ruan Shuyang had eaten very little.

"You’re still growing. You should eat more."

Ruan Shuyang opened his bright almond eyes. Perhaps because he had just eaten and replenished his energy, his cheeks were flushed as he asked in a puzzled tone, "Growing?"

He seemed to have passed the age for growing.

Pei Siyue reminded him, "Secondary development."

Ruan Shuyang’s face turned even redder. Rubbing his belly, he stammered, "But I... I’m really full."

Pei Siyue didn’t push it. Instead, he quickly finished his meal, placed the dishes in the kitchen, and said to Ruan Shuyang, "Come with me. I’ll give you a physical examination."

Ruan Shuyang followed Pei Siyue to the basement of the villa.

The basement was equipped with a complete medical setup, even including an ECMO machine. Of course, he also saw the familiar ultrasound machine.

He asked dryly, "Um, are we doing an ultrasound today?"

He hadn't prepared by drinking water.

A glint of amusement passed through Pei Siyue’s eyes as he said unhurriedly, "If you want to, we can."

Ruan Shuyang immediately shook his head. "I don’t want to."

"Then we won’t." Pei Siyue put on gloves, disinfected his hands, and motioned for Ruan Shuyang to sit on the chair.

After disinfection, a disposable lancet pricked Ruan Shuyang’s fingertip, which stung slightly. After drawing blood, Pei Siyue put on a small bandage to the spot.

The blood sample was placed in the analyzer, and Pei Siyue took out a soft tape, walking behind him.

"Hang in there a little."

As he spoke, Pei Siyue leaned close to Ruan Shuyang’s neck, his breath gently brushing over the gland. A gentle pressure slowly applied.

Only then did Ruan Shuyang realize he had forgotten to put on his blocking patch, leaving his gland exposed in Pei Siyue’s space. The entire villa was filled with the scent of Lily of the Valley.

It seemed that here, he instinctively felt at ease—so much so that he hadn’t even remembered to wear his blocking patch.

The soft tape pressed gently against Ruan Shuyang’s gland, bringing a slight pain, a tingling numbness, and a tingling sensation that spread behind his ears.

He shivered slightly.

The tape was quickly removed. Ten minutes later, the blood test results came out. Pei Siyue placed both reports in front of Ruan Shuyang.

Ruan Shuyang still couldn’t understand them, so Pei Siyue explained, "Your pheromone fluctuation levels have improved a bit compared to last time, but there’s no significant change in the size of your gland."

Ruan Shuyang tilted his head and asked, "Does that mean the treatment is working or not?"

"It’s working," Pei Siyue replied with certainty. "It’s just that the treatment process will be long."

Ruan Shuyang froze. "How long will it take?"

"At this rate, at least six months."

"S-six months?"

Ruan Shuyang was stunned into silence, unable to speak for a long time.

The situation was far more complicated than he had imagined. He thought that accepting the mark and pheromone soothing would cure him in a month at most, but Pei Siyue said it would take six months.

It really was a long time.

"Your reproductive cavity is only about two fingers wide, while a normal omega’s reproductive cavity is typically fist-sized when not pregnant," Pei Siyue told him calmly. "The development of bodily organs takes time. It might not even fully develop in six months."

"So long?" Ruan Shuyang felt discouraged and worried. "I’d be putting you out for so long..."

He really felt guilty.

"It’s fine," Pei Siyue’s voice was soothing. "I don’t mind."

Ruan Shuyang hung his head, his voice muffled. "Even if it’s to cooperate with your experiment and provide feedback, it’s such a long time. It really will be hard on you."

Marking an omega must take a lot out of you.

He wasn’t an enigma or an alpha, so he wasn’t clear on what it meant to mark someone, but seeing Gu Jin’s efforts made him realize it was taxing. Making Pei Siyue go through this for six months filled him with guilt.

He tentatively asked, "Is there any medicine I can take?"

"No," Pei Siyue shook his head slowly, crushing that idea. "Currently, artificially synthesized drugs cannot replace genuine pheromone therapy."

"I see..."

Ruan Shuyang seemed even more dejected.

Pei Siyue looked at the little omega sitting across from him, slumped over, looking defeated, his soft hair drooping, making him look utterly pitiful.

His voice lowered slightly, and the pheromones surrounding Ruan Shuyang gently soothed and coaxed him, without a trace.

In truth, marking wasn’t just about dominance and submission—it could also be about gentle persuasion, completely subtle.

Ruan Shuyang didn’t realize Pei Siyue was using the bond from the mark between them.

"Do you mind me treating you?"

Ruan Shuyang immediately shook his head. "No, not at all."

In fact, he even liked it a little.

Because it felt really good after each treatment.

"Then let’s continue the treatment."

Pei Siyue’s tone was firm. Ruan Shuyang was stunned for a moment but unconsciously obeyed.

"Okay, then... I appreciate it."

After the examination, Ruan Shuyang followed Pei Siyue upstairs to the living room. He had just sat down on the sofa when Pei Siyue suddenly picked him up and placed him sideways on his lap, cradling him against his chest.

Perhaps because he had sat like this several times before, Ruan Shuyang wasn’t uneasy, just a little confused. "What’s wrong?"

Pei Siyue’s warm hand rested on Ruan Shuyang’s lower abdomen, and he asked softly, "Does it still hurt here?"

Ruan Shuyang admitted obediently, "A little."

Perhaps because it was still growing, his lower abdomen occasionally ached with a dull ache. It wasn’t severe, but it was uncomfortable enough to be hard to ignore.

Pei Siyue’s left index finger gently brushed over the omega’s gland. The fair, tender skin still retained the sensation of his touch, and Ruan Shuyang shivered at the sensitivity. Then he heard Pei Siyue ask, "Does it hurt here too?"

"It... it does," he stammered, unsure why he was blushing again. He always seemed shy around Pei Siyue. "It tingles and swells occasionally."

Pei Siyue’s gaze darkened slightly. "You didn’t tell me before."

Ruan Shuyang remembered he had agreed to report back and quickly said, "I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I needed to mention this. I’ll pay attention next time."

Pei Siyue said, "Then remember to tell me next time."

Ruan Shuyang nodded like a little chick pecking at rice. "Okay."

After agreeing, he felt Pei Siyue’s large hand gently rubbing his lower abdomen. The pressure was gentle and soothing.

Then Pei Siyue turned his head and gently licked his gland.

An enigma’s bodily fluids also contained pheromones. Ruan Shuyang felt the pheromones slowly flowing in, and his body instinctively welcomed and gladly accepted them.

This seemed like pheromone soothing...

He thought hazily, but then remembered something and touched the necklace on Pei’s chest, asking, "Shouldn’t this be removed?"

Pei Siyue looked at the necklace. "No need."

Ruan Shuyang’s gaze was curious and puzzled.

"This necklace can’t block my pheromones," Pei Siyue explained. "I’m not an alpha."

"I’m an enigma. Enigma pheromones are more unique and harder to block. The materials are still under development."

After speaking, he noticed that the male omega in his arms didn't show any surprise or confusion, as if he had already known this.

He asked thoughtfully, "You knew?"

"Yes, I did." Ruan Shuyang compliantly explained, "When I went to see the doctor before, the doctor suggested I receive pheromone treatment, so I went to the government-operated treatment center to request a volunteer for a temporary mark. But the volunteer couldn't mark me. They speculated that I had been marked by an enigma before, and the residual pheromone made it impossible for him to proceed."

Pei Siyue thought of the message from Chi Hang; the volunteer who couldn't mark Ruan Shuyang was likely Chi Hang's younger brother, Chi Ye.

After Ruan Shuyang finished speaking, seeing that Pei Siyue stayed quiet, he keenly sensed something was off and asked softly, "What's the matter?"

"It's nothing." Pei Siyue reached out and gently lifted his chin, looking at him with deep, dark eyes. "Next time, you can't use another's pheromones, understand?"

Ruan Shuyang remembered their previous treatment and feedback agreement and immediately nodded. "Understood."

But he felt that Pei Siyue's attitude seemed to go beyond just their treatment and feedback agreement.

"If there's anything else you want to know, you can ask me. About enigmas, I know more than anyone."

Ruan Shuyang was indeed curious about enigmas. He looked at Pei Siyue's expression; the other seemed calm, without any sign of anger, so he tentatively asked, "How do enigmas actually come about?"

He had looked up information about enigmas online before, but there was very little, mostly just advice to avoid and stay away from them, with no clear explanation.

"From secondary differentiation in alphas."

"Secondary differentiation..." Ruan Shuyang expressed genuine envy. "I never underwent secondary differentiation. If I had, I wish I could have differentiated into an alpha."

Pei Siyue stroked Ruan Shuyang's hair, silently comforting him.

"Before... when you dominated me, was it because you're an enigma?"

"Yes." Pei Siyue nodded. "An enigma's pheromone level is above all alphas and omegas."

"What about compatibility?" Ruan Shuyang asked curiously. "Do enigmas also need to go to the hospital for a matching test, like alphas and omegas?"

He and Pei Siming were engaged but hadn't done a compatibility test. It seemed everyone had silently overlooked it.

Perhaps because everyone thought this engagement was just for show and would soon end, so there was no need for a compatibility test.

This time, Pei Siyue shook his head slowly. "No."

Ruan Shuyang blinked.

"Enigmas are highly compatible with all alphas and omegas because enigma pheromones can reshape the marked alpha or omega into the most compatible form."

Ruan Shuyang gasped in surprise, feeling both confused and a little scared.

He wrapped his arms around himself and asked softly, "Is my body being transformed by you?"

What would it become?

Ruan Shuyang's mind wandered—would it turn into something strange?

"Don't overthink it." Pei Siyue immediately cut him off. "It's just pheromone compatibility. Your body will gradually stop rejecting my pheromones."

Ruan Shuyang sighed in relief. "That's good."

Thinking back, during these past few pheromone sessions, he had indeed slowly stopped feeling uncomfortable and only felt at ease.

Was this change complete, or was it still in progress?

He felt fine; his body didn't feel any different.

Some changes were hard to perceive, and Pei Siyue hadn't told him.

As their pheromones became more compatible, each marking would become more comfortable and enjoyable.

Other older enigmas had told him that even a simple temporary mark could make their partner climax.

This was one of the perks of being an enigma's partner—the feeling of perfect compatibility was addictive.

But on the flip side, parting hurts.

Those marked by an enigma couldn't be with anyone else unless the enigma's pheromones completely disappeared from their body. Even if the pheromones wore off and they tried to be with someone else, the initial experience would be painful and feel incompatible. Whether they could continue was uncertain.

At this moment, Ruan Shuyang was being held by Pei Siyue and had unconsciously snuggled fully into his embrace. Pei Siyue's hand rested on his waist.

The waist under his palm was incredibly slim, as if it could be fully grasped with one hand. The slight omega leaning against him was also petite, completely enveloped by him.

Pei Siyue held Ruan Shuyang's waist, his voice laced with persuasion. "Do you have something bothering you today? Besides the matter with Pei Siming."

Ruan Shuyang leaned against Pei Siyue's chest, feeling inherently secure and relaxed. It was a very comfortable position, more so than anywhere else.

At times like this, he would naturally open up. When asked about his worries, he didn't resist, but after a moment of silence, he said softly, "It's really nothing."

"I hope you'll tell me." The enigma's voice was cool but deep, like a glass of chilled red wine—crisp yet captivating. "I can help you."

Ruan Shuyang's expression was subdued. His light pink lips were pressed together, and his large almond-shaped eyes were dull, like a lonely, abandoned little animal.

"My family... isn't very good." Ruan Shuyang's voice was soft, like clouds that couldn't be grasped. "They push me to do some bad things."

"I can guess." Pei Siyue's voice was calm, without a trace of other emotions. "What do they want you to do?"

Ruan Shuyang was surprised but felt it wasn't strange that Pei Siyue could guess. The other was very capable and seemed to understand everything.

"My father... wants me to find a way to advance the Ruan family's interests."

Led by Pei Siyue's line of thought, Ruan Shuyang inadvertently shared.

But there were some things he still couldn't bring himself to admit, like what Ruan Jianchuan had asked him to do.

Pei Siyue looked at Ruan Shuyang's expression and continued in a calm tone, "Did he also give you a warning?"

Ruan Shuyang looked up at Pei Siyue in surprise, only to meet his deep, dark eyes. He was momentarily stunned and didn't look away until a while later, asking awkwardly, "How... how did you know?"

"I guessed."

Pei Siyue thought it wasn't hard to guess.

Given Ruan Jianchuan's personality, he would surely give Ruan Shuyang the same speech each time, but Ruan Shuyang was only down today, which meant Ruan Jianchuan had given him a warning or a deadline.

Ruan Shuyang was both surprised and puzzled. "How... could you guess that?"

Pei Siyue partially explained, "Ruan Jianchuan is greedy but lacks ability. When he can't achieve success in his career, he turns to other means."

This was already a tactful way of putting it, out of consideration for Ruan Shuyang.

In truth, he thought Ruan Jianchuan was insatiably greedy but lacked the corresponding ability. In terms of capability, he was far inferior to even Lu Zheng and only knew how to use shady tactics.

Over a decade ago, Ruan Jianchuan was lucky enough to tie down Yu Xianpo, giving Ruan's Jewelry a lifeline for more than ten years.

Now that his extended time is running out, Ruan Jianchuan must be desperately seeking ways to prolong his life. At a time like this, he would seize every opportunity. Given his character and tendency to resort to dirty tricks, he would definitely make Ruan Shuyang do something.

Hearing Pei Siyue's assessment of Ruan Jianchuan, Ruan Shuyang scratched his nose and muttered softly, "You're absolutely right."

"What does he want you to do?" Pei Siyue asked. "I can help you."

"No," Ruan Shuyang shook his head firmly this time. "You've already helped me so much. I can't impose on you anymore."

Moreover, he knew what Ruan Jianchuan wanted—money. Ruan Jianchuan's cooperation with Pei Siming came at a cost. Although Pei Siming provided investment, he took away a significant number of shares, nearly putting him on equal footing with Ruan Jianchuan, and even placed his own people within Ruan's Jewelry to participate in management and decision-making.

Ruan Jianchuan was not satisfied with this arrangement. He wanted Ruan's Jewelry to be entirely under his own command, so he needed sufficient funds—or for Pei Siming to return the shares to him.

To achieve this, Ruan Jianchuan would, without hesitation, offer up his own son, as long as he got what he wanted.

Pei Siyue looked at Ruan Shuyang, gently stroked his hair, and his voice softened and deepened.

"I marked you, so you instinctively desire my pheromones and feel safe and dependent when you're with me, right?"

Ruan Shuyang couldn't deny it and nodded, his face flushed.

"That's the effect of the mark on an omega," Pei Siyue explained. "Similarly, the mark also affects the enigma. After an enigma marks an omega, they develop a protective urge and sense of possessiveness toward that omega. I, too, instinctively want to protect you and help you."