Chapter 25

Chapter 25

This time, the pheromones were released slowly, lacking the intense, overpowering sensation of being utterly helpless. Yet, it was all the more tormenting. He wasn't satisfied; he craved more.

He whimpered softly, instinctively tightening his grip on Pei Siyue's hand that held him.

The pheromones gradually intensified, like lily of the valley petals drifting on water, soothing and gently swaying.

Once the marking was complete, Pei Siyue gently licked the blood droplets from the gland, then helped him apply a blocking patch. Still, Ruan Shuyang couldn't fully return to reality, lost in that blissful sensation.

Pei Siyue held him close and asked softly, "Any discomfort this time? Did it feel bad?"

Ruan Shuyang slowly came back to himself, his clear voice a little hoarse. "No."

After saying this, he suddenly began to weep.

He didn't cry out loud, but tears streamed down his face like an unbroken string of pearls.

Pei Siyue fell silent, then sighed in resignation.

He had only prolonged it for a few minutes, using his pheromones to tease the little omega who had provoked him so many times tonight. Why was the other crying so heartbrokenly?

He really was so delicate.

All he could do was coax him patiently. He sat down first, then cradled Ruan Shuyang sideways in his arms like a child, pulling out a tissue to wipe his tears. "Why are you crying?"

Ruan Shuyang couldn't speak, only shaking his head.

Pei Siyue smiled wryly, then said seriously, "I'm sorry. If you didn't like it, I won't do it again next time."

You'll get it when you want it.

Using pheromones to tease someone really isn't right.

"No, it's not your fault." Hearing Pei Siyue apologize, Ruan Shuyang struggled to suppress his sobs. "It has nothing to do with you. It's my own fault."

After emerging from that incredibly blissful state, he was once again reminded of the weariness and grievances of the past few days—the anxiety of not finding a job, having no income, and being unable to move out of the Ruan family. These had always been heavy burdens on his heart.

Originally, he could endure it, but perhaps because Pei Siyue was by his side, he felt particularly secure. The bottled-up emotions seemed to find an outlet, spilling out uncontrollably.

In truth, Pei Siyue hadn't done anything wrong. He shouldn't have to be Ruan Shuyang's emotional dumping ground.

Pei Siyue's voice was gentle, a soft current continuously soothing him, his tone carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible coaxing. "What's wrong?"

An omega marked by an Enigma would instinctively trust them, dropping their defenses in their presence. Ruan Shuyang found it hard to resist this feeling, as Pei Siyue had always made him feel he could trust and rely on him.

"I'm so useless." Ruan Shuyang continued to cry silently. "I mess everything up."

Pei Siyue reached out and gently lifted his chin, wiping the tears from his cheeks while speaking in a firm tone. "You're exceptional."

"I—"

Ruan Shuyang wanted to say more but was interrupted by Pei Siyue.

"I've seen your designs—they're very beautiful." Pei Siyue wiped away the tears and suddenly brought up something Ruan Shuyang had never even dared to dream of before. "Do you want to have your own jewelry brand?"

Ruan Shuyang's eyes widened in surprise, his tears stopping abruptly. He was too stunned to speak. "My own... jewelry brand?"

When he was young and still dreaming, he had fantasized about having his own jewelry brand when he grew up, selling designs he created.

But as he got older, he gradually realized how impossible this dream seemed—he might never achieve it in his lifetime.

Now, Pei Siyue was suddenly asking him about it.

"I do," he murmured softly. "But it's so difficult."

Pei Siyue, however, said, "It's not difficult. You just need to design the styles. I'll take care of everything else."

Ruan Shuyang didn't fully understand. "You mean you want to buy my designs?"

"No." Pei Siyue shook his head without hesitation. "I mean you design the jewelry styles yourself, under your name. I'll handle the investment, production, and later sales."

"All the works will bear your name. I won't buy the designs from you."

"I'll have the law firm I work with draft a contract. You can review it and sign if there are no issues."

A contract?

Ruan Shuyang slowly began to feel that this was real.

Was Pei Siyue asking him to design the styles while he handled the investment? Were they going to start a jewelry brand together?

Starting a jewelry brand must require a lot of money. Ruan Shuyang didn't know the exact amount, but it would likely be in the eight or even nine figures.

Was Pei Siyue really willing to invest such a large sum in someone like him—a young adult who had just come of age and hadn't won any design awards?

For some reason, he felt like crying even more.

He said, voice choked, "It'll cost a lot of money."

"Mm." Pei Siyue didn't comfort him by saying it wouldn't cost much. Instead, he said, "I believe in your ability, and I believe in mine. I can afford it, and I can absorb the loss."

"Besides, I don't think we'll lose."

Ruan Shuyang's designs had impressed even him, someone who wasn't particularly fond of jewelry. He believed in Ruan Shuyang's talent—he just needed an opportunity.

And Pei Siyue was willing to give it to him.

"But, but..."

He knew Pei Siyue might not lack the money for investment, but he didn't want the other to shoulder such a huge risk.

"Don't rush to refuse." Pei Siyue gently pressed a finger to Ruan Shuyang's lips, his voice calm, his gaze as deep as the ocean. "Think carefully. Don't you really want a jewelry brand of your own—one that completely outperforms Ruan's Jewelry?"

Ruan Shuyang couldn't refuse Pei Siyue's words.

He had always dreamed of having his own jewelry brand, to show the world that his design talent was inherited from Yu Xianpo, and to prove that without Yu Xianpo's outstanding design skills, Ruan's Jewelry would never have achieved its current success.

Ruan's Jewelry had used Yu Xianpo and allowed the world to brand her as the other woman, tormenting her emotionally until she died broken-hearted and depressed.

Yet it was Ruan Jianchuan who had actively pursued Yu Xianpo, claiming he was single.

He wanted revenge against the Ruan family—desperately.

He couldn't refuse Pei Siyue's offer.

He trusted Pei Siyue. If he said it, he would do it. Pei Siyue was true to his word, deeply trustworthy, and had always been good to him.

Ruan Shuyang suddenly began to cry again, tears utterly uncontrollable.

For the first time in his life, he felt that he might actually have good luck.

"For the first time, I feel like luck might finally be on my side."

Pei Siyue wiped his tears and looked at him seriously, promising, "Luck will always be on your side."

The one he loved was destined to be blessed by fate.

Because he had enough ability to make the other person happy.

It took Ruan Shuyang a while to stop crying. With eyes still glistening with tears, he asked Pei Siyue, "Why are you helping me? Is there anything I can do for you?"

Pei Siyue looked at Ruan Shuyang and calmly said, "Well, there are a few things you could help me with."

Ruan Shuyang said immediately, "Tell me, I’ll agree to anything."

"Don’t agree so quickly." Pei Siyue said with a gentle smile at Ruan Shuyang. "Aren’t you afraid I might ask for something you can’t do?"

Ruan Shuyang was taken aback for a moment, then seriously promised, "No matter how difficult it is, I’ll try my best to do it."

Pei Siyue looked at Ruan Shuyang and asked, "Then, can you promise to let me use my pheromones on you?"

Ruan Shuyang went still.

Pei Siyue said with a slight smile and stroked Ruan Shuyang’s hair. "Don’t worry, I’m just joking."

"Just don’t treat me like an elder from now on."

As he spoke, he threaded his fingers through Ruan Shuyang’s soft hair, gently combing it.

Ruan Shuyang was confused, unsure why Pei Siyue would say that. If not as an elder, then how should he treat him?

He thought back to their earlier conversation: "Then, should I treat you like a big brother from now on?"

Pei Siyue thought that was acceptable and nodded. "Okay."

Ruan Shuyang looked at Pei Siyue with hesitation, his eyes full of curiosity.

Pei Siyue said, "If you have something to ask, just ask directly. Don’t hesitate."

Ruan Shuyang hesitated for a moment, then softly called out in a clear, gentle voice, "Brother."

Pei Siyue’s eyes widened, and he almost lost control, wanting to pull Ruan Shuyang into his arms and kiss him hard.

Fortunately, Ruan Shuyang’s next question brought him back to reality.

"How old are you, really?"

Based on appearance, Pei Siyue seemed very young, standing out among the middle-aged, gray-haired wealthy crowd. But he also carried an air of maturity, making it hard for Ruan Shuyang to guess his age.

Pei Siyue took a deep breath, barely suppressing the stirring inside him, and told Ruan Shuyang, "I’m twenty-seven this year."

Ruan Shuyang said "Oh," then added, "That’s really young."

Not even thirty, yet so impressive—able to establish Ruiji and invest in a jewelry brand for him. If Ruan Shuyang were even half as capable as Pei Siyue, he wouldn’t have been bullied so badly by the Ruan family.

Seeing that Ruan Shuyang seemed somewhat downcast, Pei Siyue didn’t say anything. He simply continued to gently comb through his hair while soothing him with his pheromones.

A few minutes later, he suddenly heard Ruan Shuyang whisper, "You can."

Pei Siyue was surprised for a moment but quickly realized Ruan Shuyang was referring to the earlier mention of using pheromones on him.

"I can?"

He asked again, "Really?"

Ruan Shuyang’s face flushed, too embarrassed to say it a second time.

He felt that since Pei Siyue had been so good to him, it wouldn’t matter if he was used on a little with pheromones. It might be a bit hard to handle, but once he got through it, it would feel good.

Just then, his phone pinged with several consecutive message alerts. As if seeking an escape, he took out his phone to check the messages, avoiding answering Pei Siyue’s question.

Gu Jin had sent him a few photos and messages. In the photos, Ruan Qi looked a mess, his hair and face wet, his expression equal parts furious and terrified.

Gu Jin: Are you still here? Do you want to come see what's going on?

Gu Jin: What he said was absolutely vile. Brother Ye dumped a drink on him.

Ruan Shuyang: What did he say?

Ruan Shuyang: Was it about me?

Gu Jin: Sort of. Anyway, it was really vile—I couldn’t even stand listening to it.

Gu Jin: Brother Ye just dumped a glass of wine on him and knocked him to the ground, but it happened outside the banquet hall, so not many people noticed.

Ruan Shuyang: Where are you? I’ll come over.

After seeing the address Gu Jin sent, Ruan Shuyang turned to Pei Siyue and said, "Something happened. I want to go down and check."

This wasn’t the first time Ruan Qi had told others how he bullied Ruan Shuyang and mistreated his omega younger brother at home, but it was the first time someone had his back.

Ruan Qi was a sophomore in college, only two years older than him. They had often attended the same school, and whenever Ruan Qi was in a bad mood, he would go to Ruan Shuyang’s classmates and brag about how he bullied and humiliated him at home.

Some classmates got a kick out of it, some were indifferent, and of course, those with a sense of decency would say it was wrong and shouldn’t be done.

But no one had ever actually done something like Chi Ye—splashing wine in Ruan Qi’s face and kicking him to the ground.

Ruan Shuyang felt he couldn’t just stay hidden while others stood up for him.

He needed to cherish everyone who was good to him.

He was still sitting in Pei Siyue’s lap when he said this. After speaking, he tried to slip off his lap but Pei Siyue's arm tightened around him.

"Where are you going?"

"Downstairs to check it out." Ruan Shuyang checked the specific address Gu Jin had sent. "By the pavilion to the left of the villa’s entrance."

Pei Siyue let him stand up but also stood up, saying, "I’ll go with you."

Ruan Shuyang was surprised and quickly said, "I can go alone. No need to trouble you."

"It’s no trouble. Let’s go."

But Ruan Shuyang didn’t start moving right away, looking at him uncertainly.

Pei Siyue: "What is it?"

"Is it inconvenient for you to be seen at a banquet like this? I can go down alone. It’s fine."

The two times Ruan Shuyang encountered Pei Siyue at banquets, the latter either had his secretary call him away or made a brief appearance before leaving. They were always alone together privately, never in the main banquet hall.

Pei Siyue only said, "No, let's go."

As they reached the door, Pei Siyue suddenly pulled Ruan Shuyang back, gently tapping his gland with a finger and saying, "Blocking patch."

Ruan Shuyang flinched sensitively as the finger brushed over his gland. Just as he was about to take out a blocking patch to apply himself, he heard the sound of packaging being torn open beside him. Pei Siyue gently applied the blocking patch for him.

It seemed like Pei Siyue had done this for him many times, Ruan Shuyang thought. The other man seemed to carry blocking patches on him.

While waiting for the elevator, Pei Siyue asked Ruan Shuyang, "Why did you think I might not be comfortable appearing in these kinds of events?"

"Because you always have someone call me away," Ruan Shuyang explained. "I thought there might be some inconvenience for you."

Pei Siyue said with certainty, "There's no inconvenience."

Enigmas are naturally territorial, highly exclusive, and dislike crowded places, preferring to stay quietly in their own domain.

But it's just a preference, not an inability.

When they took the elevator down and arrived at the place Gu Jin mentioned, Chi Hang had also rushed over. He pulled Chi Ye, who was still trying to keep lecturing someone, aside and said quietly, "Stop fighting. Even if he was in the wrong, this isn't the time to make a scene. Come back with me quickly—Mom and Dad are looking for you."

Gu Jin also whispered in persuasion, "Yeah, Brother Ye, you should go back soon. Uncle and Aunt are waiting for you."

Chi Ye struggled a couple more times but couldn't break free from Chi Hang's steel grip. He said irritably, "You always side with Mom and Dad to pressure me. You know I don’t like this matchmaking/arranged meeting, yet you still came to drag me back."

Chi Hang paused.

He looked at Chi Ye with the expression of someone dealing with an annoying but unavoidable younger sibling and scolded coldly, "You're already in your twenties. Can't you think about the consequences before acting impulsively? Mom and Dad invited so many omegas from old friends' families today. Even if you don’t like it, you should at least make an appearance and play along. Otherwise, how will all those people not be embarrassed?"

Chi Ye actually wanted to say that it wasn't his idea to host this, and he didn’t invite all those people, so why should he bear the consequences? But in the end, he kept it to himself.

His family had given him a comfortable and privileged upbringing, so he really should consider his parents' situation.

He said coldly to Ruan Qi, "If I hear you say those things again or find out you’re bullying Ruan Shuyang, I’ll make it worse for you than today."

Ruan Qi trembled all over, not daring to speak, but his eyes were full of malice and resentment.

Chi Ye was dragged away by Chi Hang. Gu Jin breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave as well when he noticed Ruan Shuyang standing not far away, accompanied by the tall man he had seen earlier in the banquet hall.

He had initially called Ruan Shuyang over hoping the latter could hold Chi Ye back and prevent things from escalating. But now that Chi Ye had been taken away, he walked over and said, "Junior, it's alright now. Brother Ye has warned him. He probably won’t dare to mess with you again after this."

He paused here, considering whether to ask Ruan Shuyang to come inside with him. But upon seeing the tall, stern "alpha" beside him and sensing the other's seemingly much higher pheromone level, he changed his mind and said, "I'll head in first. If you need anything, junior, you can always find me."

Ruan Shuyang said gratefully, "Thank you, senior."

After Gu Jin left, only Ruan Shuyang, Pei Siyue, and Ruan Qi remained.

Chi Ye's kicks were vicious, and Ruan Qi couldn’t get up for a while. Lying on the ground, he thought maliciously: What's Second Young Master Chi's problem? How would he even know if I bullied Ruan Shuyang? Could he really actually come find me?

Damn Ruan Shuyang—it's all because of him that I got beaten up by Chi Ye.

If I can’t mess with Chi Ye, can’t I still make Ruan Shuyang suffer?

He had plenty of ways to make Ruan Shuyang suffer until he couldn’t even cry, Ruan Qi thought viciously.

Pei Siyue stood beside Ruan Shuyang for a moment before saying quietly, "Wait here."

Ruan Shuyang was startled but nodded obediently.

He didn’t know what Pei Siyue intended to do, only watching as the other man walked over to Ruan Qi under the moonlight.

This place was some distance from the banquet hall, and the bustle and noise of the party didn’t reach here. The night sky was clear and tranquil, with only the occasional chirping of insects or birds.

Ruan Qi felt a shadow fall over him and instinctively turned his head. He saw an imposingly tall "alpha" standing beside him whom he hadn’t noticed before.

The man had an imposing figure and was expressionless, looking at him as if he were lifeless.

His genetic instincts made him naturally fear alphas with high pheromone levels. The greater the disparity, the greater the fear.

The moment Ruan Qi saw the person beside him, the hairs on his back stood on end. It felt like being targeted by a predator at the top of the food chain—his brain screamed at him to flee, but he couldn’t move.

He was suppressed by the highest-level Enigma pheromone, completely immobilized.

He asked in a trembling voice, "Who are you? What do you want?"

The next second, he saw the man lift his foot and step on his shoulder.

Blinding pain shot through his shoulder. His eyes rolled back in pain, and he couldn’t help but scream.

He didn’t know how much time passed before that terrifying pressure left his shoulder, but he was horrified to find that his right arm couldn’t move.

His right arm had been forcibly yanked out of socket.

The man did the same to his left arm, dislocating both of his arms.

The force stepping on his shoulder was immense, so much so that he broke out in a cold sweat all over, almost certain his bones would shatter.

Ruan Qi, terrified to the extreme, shrieked rawly, "Who are you? What did you do to me?"

"Someone, help—!"

Ruan Shuyang was stunned. Seeing that something seemed to have happened, he wanted to walk over, but Pei Siyue shook his head at him, signaling him not to come closer.

Ruan Qi’s piercing screams soon attracted patrolling security guards. They rushed over and found Ruan Qi lying on the ground with both arms dislocated, his clothes crumpled and covered in dirt—a complete mess.

The security guard looked at the person who had dislocated Ruan Qi’s arms—a man of commanding and cold demeanor, with an unmistakable authoritative presence. Feeling not equipped to deal with the situation, he quickly called Chi Hang.

So Chi Hang was called out again. When he arrived, he saw Pei Siyue standing nearby while Ruan Qi lay on the ground in a miserable state, both arms dislocated, moaning in pain incessantly.

His headache grew, and he couldn’t help but demand of Pei Siyue, "How old are you, still impulsively hitting people? Why are you even more of a troublemaker than my younger brother?"

Pei Siyue said indifferently, "This matter has nothing to do with you. I’ll handle it."

Chi Hang replied, "...Then handle it yourself."

Pei Siyue continued looking down at Ruan Qi from above. Ruan Qi’s face was twisted in terror. He thought of countless ways to seek revenge and numerous vicious curses, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

Jiang Wu arrived quickly. Pei Siyue moved away, unwilling to say more to someone like Ruan Qi.

Upon arriving, Jiang Wu first offered a very sincere apology, then placed his hand on Ruan Qi’s shoulder, locating the joint.

Ruan Qi only felt a "crack" as intense pain struck again. The spot where he had been stepped on earlier seemed to suffer secondary damage—the pain of being dislocated and reset made him almost lose bladder control.

Trembling, he wanted to say something—to tell Jiang Wu not to relocate his joints—but he was in too much pain to speak. He could only watch as Jiang Wu used the same method to set the other bone as well.

Sweat and tears covered his face. Enduring repeated waves of agony throughout the night had drained his already not-especially-robust alpha constitution.

After the other bone was set and the worst of the pain passed, he rolled his eyes and blacked out.

"Whoa," Jiang Wu looked at the unconscious Ruan Qi, said in an exaggerated, surprised voice, "It was just a bone setting, how did he end up passing out? I really didn’t do anything unnecessary—the surveillance can prove it."

Of course, he refused to admit that he had deliberately twisted the bone during the setting to make Ruan Qi suffer more.

His movements were incredibly subtle, impossible to detect on camera.

Chi Hang looked on with a headache, watching Ruan Qi, who had passed out from the pain. "What do you plan to do now?"

"Let him stay here tonight," Pei Siyue told Chi Hang. "Notify Jiang Wu when he wakes up. He’ll handle it."

Jiang Wu also said to Chi Hang, "Mr. Chi, I’ll stay here tonight as well. If he wakes up, have someone notify me. I’ll take care of the follow-up and won’t cause you any trouble."

"It’s not really trouble," Chi Hang shook his head. After all, Ruan Qi from the Ruan family was hardly any trouble at all. "It’s just that you all are so impulsive…"

Pei Siyue walked over to Ruan Shuyang, took him by the hand, and left together.

After getting into Pei Siyue’s Pagani Zonda, Pei Siyue didn’t start the car right away. His expression was cold as he asked Ruan Shuyang in an unreadable tone, "Has Ruan Qi often bullied you?"

Ruan Shuyang wanted to say no. He was afraid that telling the truth would lead Pei Siyue to take further action against Ruan Qi, causing more trouble. But he couldn’t bring himself to deny it either.

He had endured too much bullying since childhood and truly couldn’t bring himself to lie and say "no."

The car was filled with Pei Siyue’s pheromones. Ruan Shuyang was familiar with this scent and relied on it. He unconsciously let his guard down, and memories of past experiences flooded his mind. His eyes stung and his nose tingled.

Seeing his expression, Pei Siyue naturally understood what was going on.

A moment later, Ruan Shuyang heard Pei Siyue say to him in a commanding tone, "Move out of the Ruan family."