Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Ruan Shuyang was still very young, just eighteen, in the prime of his youth. Pei Siyue couldn't, out of self-interest, sever his social ties and confine him.

Though he desperately wanted to, and he certainly didn't want to see Ruan Shuyang dining with other alphas.

Pei Siyue was actually in a foul mood. Setting aside Ruan Qi, who had been thoroughly tormented, the little omega had attended another alpha's birthday party last night, and that alpha was rumored to have feelings for him.

Moreover, Chi Hang had told him he'd graduated years ago and had a generation gap with students. He hadn't said anything at the time, but seeing Ruan Shuyang so happy with his senior made his mood involuntarily sink.

External factors aside, he seemed like a rather uninteresting person.

From childhood, he'd had little time for leisure, constantly focused on studying, research, work, and so on.

This was unlike the fresh-faced Ruan Shuyang, who was full of curiosity and anticipation for university life.

They seemed to have little in common.

But Pei Siyue was never one to wallow in self-pity or cry alone.

What he desired, he would seize, even if he had to fight for it.

A lack of common ground wasn't an issue; they could slowly discover and create it.

As long as the person didn't leave him.

So, even though he disliked the idea of Ruan Shuyang eating with Chi Ye, when he saw Ji Huai's message, he didn't object. Instead, he instructed, "Take good care of Ruan Shuyang."

Chi Ye had chosen a place near T University. At 11:30 a.m., Ji Huai drove Ruan Shuyang there. Upon arrival, Ruan Shuyang noticed it was still early and decided to explore the university campus.

He politely declined Ji Huai's company and walked into T University alone.

It was summer vacation, and the century-old university was much quieter than during the academic year. Most undergraduates had gone home for the holidays, with only a few remaining on campus.

It was midsummer, and T University was beautiful. Graceful weeping willows lined the tree-shaded paths, and the wind carried a fresh, sweet scent of grass and trees. Not far ahead stood a famous century-old building with blue bricks and dark tiles, exuding an early Republican-era charm, which T University had converted into a library.

The sky was clear and vast, with scattered clouds. The summer sun bathed a corner of the campus, creating a picturesque scene. Ruan Shuyang couldn't resist taking out his phone to capture the beautiful view.

Just then, Pei Siyue messaged him: What are you doing?

Ruan Shuyang sent the photo he had just taken: Exploring my future university.

Pei Siyue opened the photo and examined it.

The photo was indeed beautifully composed and angled. However, the resolution was a bit low, making it appear blurry on Pei Siyue's phone.

Pei Siyue instructed his assistant to buy the latest model of phone from a nearby mall, intending to give it to Ruan Shuyang that evening.

After arranging that, he replied to Ruan Shuyang: You take beautiful pictures.

Ruan Shuyang sent a very cute emoji: Thanks for the compliment!

Pei Siyue looked at the message on the screen, his expression calm as he typed: Don't stay out too late. Come home early.

Ruan Shuyang: Okay!

At noon, Ruan Shuyang arrived punctually at the restaurant where he had agreed to meet Chi Ye. Gu Jin had also joined them for the meal.

Chi Ye looked at Gu Jin and said irritably, "I invited him to eat. Why are you tagging along?"

"Just here to meet our future junior," Gu Jin said with a grin. "I really like this junior, Ruan Shuyang. Seems like you do too, right?"

Though Gu Jin felt his liking was different from Chi Ye's.

His liking was simply finding Ruan Shuyang cute, like a little brother. Chi Ye's feelings were likely not the same.

Chi Ye: "…"

When Ruan Shuyang walked in, Chi Ye stopped arguing with Gu Jin and pulled out the chair beside him, gesturing for Ruan Shuyang to sit.

After Ruan Shuyang took his seat, Gu Jin pushed the menu toward him. "Little junior, take a look and see what you want to order."

Ruan Shuyang rarely had the chance to dine out and choose from a menu. He took the menu and studied it carefully for a moment before selecting a dish.

After ordering, Gu Jin started talking to Ruan Shuyang about the club.

"So, Ye-ge didn't want to rely on his family and decided to start his own business, which is why he founded our club. Initially, a few of us core members brainstormed game ideas and created a demo. Then Ye-ge used it to secure investment. After getting funding, we hired a few people and started developing the game over the summer. Now we've realized we need a summer intern. Little junior, are you interested?"

"Having such a sweet and adorable omega junior like you working in our club would definitely greatly motivate the other alphas."

Ruan Shuyang asked curiously, "What would the intern mainly do?"

"Odd jobs," Gu Jin said, not intending to hide or sugarcoat it. "Helping us organize the workspace, proofreading documents written by the planners, fetching milk tea and takeout, etc. Basically, it's not highly technical—mostly odd jobs."

"As long as you don't mind doing odd jobs and the low pay, that's fine with us."

Ruan Shuyang thought that wouldn't be a problem. After all, he didn't have any technical skills yet, so odd jobs suited him just fine.

For someone who hadn't started university yet, everything about college life was fascinating, especially a club where seniors were starting their own business.

Ruan Shuyang was very interested. "What's the pay?"

Gu Jin was about to say fifty a day—the position was originally intended to hire cheap labor—but Chi Ye stomped hard on his foot under the table. The pain made him grimace, and he couldn't speak for a moment.

Chi Ye: "Two hundred a day."

Gu Jin looked at Chi Ye in shock.

What was going on? The pay had suddenly quadrupled?

But they didn’t have that much in their budget. The investment they secured was limited, and they really didn't have the money for that.

However, after being glared at by Chi Ye, he shrunk back and kept quiet.

Fine, if Second Young Master Chi said two hundred a day, then it would be two hundred. If there wasn’t enough, Chi Ye could make up the difference from his allowance—after all, he had more than enough to spare.

"That much?"

Ruan Shuyang was surprised. Why was everyone offering so much for intern positions? He had seen part-time job postings at restaurants and convenience stores near the Ruan family, and they only paid a little over a hundred a day.

Chi Ye said without batting an eye, "This position doesn't include dividends from the game's public launch, and the working hours are unstable, so the pay is slightly higher."

"I see."

Ruan Shuyang was just an eighteen-year-old who hadn't started university yet and was an easy sell. He found Chi Ye's explanation reasonable.

Come to think of it, the summer jobs he'd come across lately all offered surprisingly high pay—Ruiji offered five hundred a day, and Chi Ye was offering two hundred a day. With either of these, the money he earned in a month should be enough to support himself, allowing him to move out of the Ruan house.

It seemed his luck had really been turning around lately. He was starting to be favored by fate and blessed by life.

He then asked, "Is an interview required?"

Gu Jin's foot finally stopped hurting, freeing him up to answer, "Our club president decides. If he says you're in, you're in."

Judging by how Chi Ye had proactively offered a higher salary, it seemed unlikely he would say no.

Ruan Shuyang then looked curiously at Chi Ye, his almond-shaped eyes clear as water.

Chi Ye felt his heart inexplicably beat faster under that gaze and turned his head away, saying, "I'll take you to the club this afternoon. If you like the atmosphere there, you can stay as an intern."

Ruan Shuyang immediately replied, "Okay, thank you, Senior."

So after the meal, Ruan Shuyang didn’t plan to go back. Instead, he sent Ji Huai a message asking him to return first, saying he was going to visit the club with his senior.

Ji Huai first said it was fine and that he would wait at a nearby café, then relayed the message to Pei Siyue.

Pei Siyue soon found out. On the very first day he planned to have the young omega move in and take care of him personally, the young omega was already out enjoying himself and didn’t want to come home.

He inexplicably felt a subtle sense of abandonment, like a child leaving him behind.

Before they’d even started dating, he was already acting like a parent, worrying about a child who didn't want to come home.

He was only in his twenties, not even thirty—it was just that Ruan Shuyang was too young.

Not wanting Ruan Shuyang to feel like his whereabouts were being monitored, he didn’t ask right away. Instead, he sent a message around 3 PM: "Did you have fun today?"

Ruan Shuyang replied: So, so happy.

With two "so's," Pei Siyue could feel Ruan Shuyang’s joy even through the screen. Holding back his controlling urges, he told Ruan Shuyang: "Then have a good time. I’ll pick you up after work tonight. I'll bring a gift."

Ruan Shuyang: That's alright, I’m an adult, no need to trouble you.

Pei Siyue: You call me gege, and a gege should pick up his didi.

Is that how it is?

Although Ruan Shuyang had an older half-brother, Ruan Qi, Ruan Qi had never been family to him. He’d never had a loving father or a doting older brother growing up.

As a child, he often dreamed of having a caring father and a mature, gentle older brother.

Now, that dream seemed to be slowly coming true.

He had always thought Pei Siyue was very mature and rational, like an elder, but the other didn’t want that elder role—he chose to be called gege.

He didn’t know what a real older brother was like, but he felt Pei Siyue was a very, very good one.

In his heart, the other played the role of both father and brother.

Except when he gave him pheromones to help with his illness.

So moved he nearly cried, he lowered his head and typed: Thank you, gege.

After sending the message, he put down his phone and began helping organize the club's various documents and books.

Due to his family situation, Ruan Shuyang had never had many friends at school and never fit into his classmates’ social circles. This was the first time he felt like he was part of a small group of peers.

He really liked it here.

The club’s atmosphere was great. That afternoon, he followed Chi Ye to the activity classroom the club had obtained. Inside, a few tables were scattered about, each with several computers. Six or seven people were in the room—some typing intently on their computers, others discussing something in low voices.

When they saw Chi Ye bring someone in and learned it might be the omega underclassman who would spend the summer with them, they all warmly welcomed him.

The atmosphere was casual and lively. No one cared if he was the Ruan family’s illegitimate child, no one wanted to gossip about him—it made him feel completely at ease.

As he helped organize scattered documents and books, he listened to the club members talk about game-related work. Occasionally, Chi Ye explained terms he didn’t understand. Time flew by.

Around 4 p.m., Pei Siyue suddenly sent him a contract related to the jewelry design they had discussed earlier.

After sending the contract, Pei Siyue asked: Where at T-Da?

Ruan Shuyang asked for the specific room number and sent the address to Pei Siyue.

So, Jiang Wu saw his boss, who was usually a workaholic, leave the office at 5 p.m. that afternoon.

Jiang Wu: Hooray, the boss is finally off work. As an employee, I can also leave work openly now.

A little after 5 p.m., while Chi Ye was explaining how to conduct game tests and mapping to Ruan Shuyang, someone knocked on the activity room door.

Gu Jin walked over to open the door and asked, "Who is it?"

The door opened, and Gu Jin saw the man who had been with Ruan Shuyang the previous night standing at the entrance.

Tall, handsome, with a cold and noble demeanor, the enigma stood at the door with an aloof expression. Though he showed no signs of coldness or aggression, he radiated immense pressure.

Gu Jin swallowed and asked, "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to pick someone up."

Ruan Shuyang heard Pei Siyue’s voice at the door and hurried over, seeing him standing there.

"Wait for me, I’ll leave right away."

He turned to say goodbye to Chi Ye and saw Chi Ye walking over as well.

"Senior, I’m heading out," Ruan Shuyang said with a smile. "Let’s schedule another time."

Chi Ye wanted to say something but felt an overwhelming pressure and couldn’t get the words out.

His face slightly pale, he managed a weak smile and said, "Okay, next time."

Ruan Shuyang left with Pei Siyue. After a few steps, Pei Siyue glanced back at Chi Ye.

His gaze was icy cold, like a warning or a threat.

Chi Ye felt the pressure from the pheromone level, deeply uncomfortable, but he stood his ground and met the other’s gaze without showing any weakness.

Soon, Ruan Shuyang and Pei Siyue left together. Gu Jin closed the door and asked quietly, "Chi, who was that? His pheromone level seems really high—seemed kind of scary."

Chi Ye unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, his back soaked in cold sweat. After a moment, he said softly to Gu Jin, "He’s Pei Siyue."

"Pei Siyue?"

Gu Jin found the name familiar and soon remembered: "The Pei family’s Young Master? I’ve only heard of him—never seen him before. Didn’t expect him to be an alpha with such a high pheromone level. The pressure was intense."

Chi Ye didn’t respond.

In fact, he suspected Pei Siyue wasn’t an alpha but the enigma who'd marked Ruan Shuyang. He indeed seemed incredibly dangerous, and Chi Ye couldn’t understand why Ruan Shuyang thought he was such a good person.

"Hold on." Gu Jin suddenly remembered something, "If I'm not mistaken, Ruan Shuyang was supposed to be engaged to Pei Siming, so why was he picked up by Pei Siyue? The Pei brothers don't get along—they wouldn't do favors like picking up the other's fiancée, would they…"

Chi Ye: "…"

Well, look who finally gets it.

**

After confirming that Ruan Qi wasn't badly hurt, Ruan Jianchuan left the hospital.

His situation had been pretty bad lately—a single misjudgment had cost Ruan's Jewelry tens of millions of dollars. If he couldn't find a reasonable solution before the board meeting next Monday, he would be stripped of his position and kicked out of management.

He had been running around like crazy trying to resolve this, but with little to show for it.

That evening, in a foul mood, he walked out of yet another bank. He had been rejected by one major bank after another, clearly stressed and irritable. He simply couldn't wait until Saturday for Ruan Shuyang to go to the Pei family. Clenching his teeth, he called Pei Siming directly.

Didn't Pei Siming really like Ruan Shuyang? Even under house arrest last weekend, he had specifically sent a driver to pick him up. If he helped him out this time—his future father-in-law—he could directly send Ruan Shuyang to Pei Siming's bed, to do whatever he wanted with and permanently mark however he pleased.

Pei Siming, recently confined to his home, was in an extremely bad mood, frightening the servants so much they were afraid to come near him.

When he received Ruan Jianchuan's call, he really didn't want to answer. He knew exactly what that idiot would say—asking for help or money.

He didn't want to do either one.

Spending real money had to yield results, not be wasted on an idiot like Ruan Jianchuan. It was time to cut ties with such idiots.

But then Ruan Shuyang's clean, delicate features flashed through his mind—the way he used to look at him with such trust and dependence.

In the end, he answered the call.

As expected, Ruan Jianchuan once again asked him for money and support.

Pei Siming said unhurriedly, "Mr. Ruan, business is war—even brothers keep clear accounts. Why should I give you such a large sum of money?"

He couldn't even bring himself to buy a custom Pagani Zonda—why would he fork over tens of millions for Ruan Jianchuan?

Ruan Jianchuan immediately replied, "Second Young Master Pei, do me this solid, and I'll send Ruan Shuyang to your bed right after."

"Is Ruan Shuyang worth that much?" Pei Siming thought it was ridiculous. "He's just an omega—it's not like I can't get other omegas."

But as he said this, his hand clenched the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Tens of millions.

Whether an omega was worth that much, Pei Siming didn't know.

"Second Young Master, there's no need to hide it with talk like that," Ruan Jianchuan said bluntly. "You like Ruan Shuyang so much—last Sunday, you even had the Pei family driver pick him up to keep you company. Surely you wouldn't mind paying a little. It doesn't have to be the full amount—even half would do."

Pei Siming's voice changed immediately: "I had the Pei family driver pick him up last Sunday?!"

His voice was full of shock and rage, and he almost immediately realized what had happened.

Who else in the Pei family could order the hired drivers? And who else would have the Pei family driver pick up Ruan Shuyang?

He still remembered that day when he tried to give Ruan Shuyang a mark, but Pei Siyue forcibly stopped him.

There was no one else who could have done this besides Pei Siyue.

Pei Siyue, you're ruthless.

Just because I caused your mother Jiang Ruowan to divorce Pei Yan and made you leave the Pei family—was your grudge so deep that you'd resort to any means for revenge?

Pei Siming was so angry his vision went blurry.

He didn't understand what Pei Siyue had to be resentful about. All these years, even though he left the Pei family, he never lacked money—the shares were reserved for him, while Pei Siming got nothing.

The moment he returned, he took power, seized on a single mistake of Pei Siming's to kick him out. He was already so successful—why did he have to go after his fiancée too?

Was it necessary to use such low blows, stealing his fiancée to humiliate him?

And Ruan Shuyang was truly foolish, willing to be picked up by Pei Siyue.

Did he think Pei Siyue genuinely liked him?

It was just for revenge.

It took a while for Pei Siming to get his anger under control. He forced a calm tone and said to Ruan Jianchuan, "Have Ruan Shuyang come to the Pei family on Saturday. I'll discuss this with him personally."

"This Saturday is my father's birthday banquet. Wearing the wrong thing could cause trouble—I'll have someone send an outfit over for Ruan Shuyang later."

Though Ruan Jianchuan was bad at business and not too bright, he was exceptionally skilled in scheming and underhanded tactics. He picked up on something strange in Pei Siming's words but didn't press further, planning to ask around privately with the Pei family servants later. He simply agreed to the outfit delivery.

The Ruan family servants soon received the outfit Pei Siming mentioned. However, when placing it in Ruan Shuyang's room, they noticed he wasn't there and informed Ruan Jianchuan that the outfit had been delivered and Ruan Shuyang was absent.

Ruan Jianchuan recalled what Ruan Qi had told him that morning.

He said that when he mentioned how he had bullied Ruan Shuyang yesterday, Chi Ye lost his temper, throwing a glass of wine at him and kicking him.

Then, someone else appeared out of nowhere and pulled both his arms out of socket.

Finally, Chi Ye and another person's secretary showed up to clean up the mess.

Ruan Jianchuan also remembered the Pei family driver and Pei Siming's weird reaction earlier.

Besides Pei Siming, who else would send the Pei family driver to pick up Ruan Shuyang?

It couldn't possibly be Mr. Pei or Zhou Wei.

That left only the Pei family's eldest son, Pei Siyue.

Was this also connected to Pei Siyue?

Had Ruan Shuyang even gotten involved with Pei Siyue?

Pei Siyue, Pei Siming, Second Young Master Chi, or that unknown person—he wasn't being choosy. He could send Ruan Shuyang to any of them, as long as it brought in money.

He had raised this useless omega who couldn't design for so long precisely to pimp him out for money.

Maybe he should have a good talk with Ruan Shuyang to find out what was really going on—just how many people he had gotten involved with.

He took out his phone and dialed Ruan Shuyang's number.

After hanging up, Pei Siming was so enraged he slammed his phone against the wall, leaving a large crack.

To have your father stolen, your fiancée taken.

Perhaps Pei Siyue had forgotten—when he first differentiated and returned to the country, he underwent a pheromone test. The Pei family hospital still had his pheromone sample on file. He could easily call in some favors, do a compatibility test, and find an omega with over 90% compatibility.

Pei Siyue wouldn't be able to resist such an omega in heat.

**

Pei Siyue took Ruan Shuyang to the car parked downstairs. Throughout the ride, Ruan Shuyang seemed still immersed in the earlier club activities, his beautiful almond eyes exceptionally bright, cheeks flushed, looking energetic and healthy—a complete opposite to the utterly desperate omega he had first met at the club, and much more lively than the nervous, worn-out omega he encountered outside the club the second time.

He seemed completely different from when he was at Ruan Shuyang's home; he seemed full of life.

It was as if a Lily of the Valley, under careful nurturing, had finally found the right soil and environment, blooming vibrantly with rich fragrance.

Ruan Shuyang really loved university life and the club. Here he seemed as spirited, unrestrained, and radiant as a true eighteen-year-old youth.

He could hardly remember what he was like during his own university days.

Thinking back roughly, it seemed he had just undergone his secondary differentiation back then, still adapting to the powerful, turbulent pheromones of an enigma, while simultaneously developing inhibitors and blocking patches. He was extremely busy and spent very little time on campus.

His university experience was pretty barren—he never joined any clubs, rarely socialized with classmates, and instead was completely immersed in research and building his company. By the time the company was slowly becoming established, he had already graduated.

He went on to complete his doctorate.

His memories of university were fragmentary, like from another lifetime.

Seeing Ruan Shuyang like this gave him a feeling of watching a child you raised go off to college.

He asked softly, "Do you like it there a lot?"

"Very much."

"Come visit often in the future," he said while driving. "What would you like to eat for dinner?"

Ruan Shuyang, having been busy all afternoon, was indeed very hungry by now. He rubbed his stomach like a child and said, "I want a big meal."

After saying this, he felt a bit immature and looked at Pei Siyue a little embarrassed. "Was it inappropriate for me to say that?"

"Not at all," Pei Siyue replied calmly, focusing on the road. "You don't have to be so careful in front of me."

Ruan Shuyang slowly lowered his head, with the feeling that he, too, was being indulged and cherished.

He could afford to be less cautious because Pei Siyue allowed it.

Pei Siyue was truly very good to him—why was he so kind?

Was it because Pei Siming was inadequate, and he wanted to raise a younger brother instead?

Ruan Shuyang's mind wandered.

The car soon arrived at the hotel restaurant. While waiting for the food to be served, Pei Siyue asked him, "Have you looked at the contract?"

"Not yet," Ruan Shuyang answered honestly. "I'm sorry, it was too busy this afternoon."

Pei Siyue: "It's alright. We'll look at it together tomorrow morning."

Ruan Shuyang suddenly remembered he had an interview at Ruiji tomorrow morning. He paused for a second before asking Pei Siyue, "Did you know I have an interview at Ruiji tomorrow morning?"

Pei Siyue raised an eyebrow, thinking he wasn't totally oblivious, and admitted directly, "Yes."

Ruan Shuyang put it together. "It couldn't be that even the interview was set up by you…"

"No."

Ruan Shuyang let out a sigh of relief. If Pei Siyue were the one interviewing him, it would be really strange—he suspected he would be too nervous to speak.

But his relief didn't last long before Pei Siyue added, "Jiang Wu will be speaking with you."

Ruan Shuyang: "...?"

"That position is a great fit for you."