Chapter 40

Chapter 40

He didn’t want to deprive Ruan Shuyang of the joy of friendship, especially since Ruan Shuyang had few friends growing up.

Though reluctant, he was acutely aware that Ruan Shuyang would not belong solely to him, nor be his omega exclusively.

Because having friends would make Ruan Shuyang happy.

So he made this concession—as long as Ruan Shuyang wore a GPS-tracked necklace, he could allow him to interact with others.

He turned his attention back to the documents in his inbox and selected one of the artists.

It was time to help his little omega get revenge.

His sole purpose in agreeing to Ruan Jianchuan’s investment was to acquire equity in Ruan's Jewelry.

**

On the third day of the semester, the school organized military training.

Omegas, being generally delicate, had a much simpler training regimen—just standing in the shade and marching drills.

The instructors didn’t dare push them too hard, afraid that some omega might end up in the hospital from exhaustion.

Even so, Ruan Shuyang was sore all over daily. When Pei Siyue gave him a massage after his shower, he would fall asleep from exhaustion, too tired to blush or feel embarrassed.

The ten days of military training flew by. On the weekend after it ended, Pei Siyue took Ruan Shuyang to Ruiji Hospital for a full-body skin treatment.

His skin was naturally flawless, and after the treatment, it was as soft and fair as if he had never gone through military training at all.

Classes officially began the following Monday.

The history department’s curriculum was much easier than science and engineering majors. Even advanced math, which almost every major had to take, was simplified. For Ruan Shuyang, the courses weren’t difficult, and the course load wasn’t heavy.

During the second week of classes, clubs and student government began recruiting new members.

He had already received the application form from Chi Ye and decided to join his club because he really liked the atmosphere there. Moreover, he had found something he could contribute to—

Designing jewelry for game characters.

Many jewelry designs he had imagined but were too complex to produce in real life could be realized for game characters, a way to fulfill his dreams in another way.

After sending the application form back to Chi Ye, he received a message about a gathering on Thursday.

Checking his schedule, he replied that he could make it.

That evening, when he returned home, he told Pei Siyue: "Brother, I have a club gathering this Thursday, a class gathering on Friday, and I’m going to an escape room with classmates on Saturday."

Hearing about these three social events, Pei Siyue couldn’t help but feel that his little omega was busier than he was. He might not even have three social engagements in a week, as he disliked them.

Although he didn’t want Ruan Shuyang to go to any of them, he still said, "Okay."

Then he asked, "Do you need a ride?"

Ruan Shuyang immediately shook his head. "No need, I can get home on my own."

"Don’t stay out too late." Pei Siyue walked over to Ruan Shuyang, lifted his chin up, and said, "Be home by ten at the latest."

Ruan Shuyang nodded. "I know."

"And," Pei Siyue added, his intense gaze, "you’re not allowed to drink when I’m not around."

Ruan Shuyang replied obediently, "Okay."

But after answering, he couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Brother, what does drinking feel like? Is alcohol tasty?"

Ruan Shuyang’s almond-shaped eyes were clear and filled with pure curiosity.

He had never had the chance to drink alcohol before. Even at his engagement ceremony, it was just for show in front of the media, with no alcohol served to guests. But he often heard others talking about drinking—some said it was good, others said it wasn’t—and he was curious.

Pei Siyue nodded. "I’ve tried it. It doesn’t taste good."

"People who’ve never drunk before can get drunk easily on their first try."

Ruan Shuyang, like a curious kid, continued, "What does being drunk feel like?"

Pei Siyue could tell exactly what he was thinking and gently tapped his forehead. "It’s like a patient waking up from anesthesia. The subconscious takes over the brain, and you start babbling."

"Once, Jiang Wu got drunk and kept singing 'Only Mother Is Good in the World.' He cried, saying he was still a baby, hugged a tree, and insisted it was his toy car from childhood, wanting to take it home."

Ruan Shuyang’s eyes widened in surprise. He never expected that Jiang Wu, who usually seemed so rational and gentle, would act like that when drunk. Being drunk sounded terrifying, as if it could turn someone into a completely different person.

Seeing that his warning had achieved its purpose, Pei Siyue reiterated, "So you’re not allowed to drink when I’m not around."

Ruan Shuyang nodded eagerly. "I know, brother. I won’t drink."

With the resolve not to drink and to return home before 10 p.m., Ruan Shuyang attended the club gathering.

Compared to some large clubs with hundreds of members, Chi Ye’s club had only about twenty people. His principle was quality over quantity, especially since he didn’t want to recruit people who did nothing but hand him love letters.

During the gathering, the twenty-plus people split into two tables. Ruan Shuyang saw some new faces—members who had returned home for summer break and come back for the new semester.

Someone asked Chi Ye, "Boss, is this a new recruit? Did recruitment start already this year?"

Unlike student government, club recruitment was largely up to the club president. Gu Jin directly said, "This is a pre-approved junior. Formal recruitment hasn’t started yet. I’m still screening resumes."

Everyone knew their club had projects that could be a great addition to their resumes and might even earn them good money. Because of this, many people applied, and Gu Jin was overwhelmed with resumes, feeling even more exhausted than when he worked as an alpha volunteer.

"Wow, pre-approved," the questioner exclaimed in surprise. "What’s his background that our boss would pre-approve him?"

Gu Jin thought for a moment and could only say, "Fate."

Though it seemed more like unrequited fate.

The club gathering was quite lively. Gu Jin directly asked the staff to bring a case of beer, opened a few bottles, and poured drinks for everyone.

When it was Ruan Shuyang’s turn, he immediately said, "None for me, I don’t drink."

"So obedient?" Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. "Junior, we’re all adults here. We can drink."

Ruan Shuyang smiled. "No, thanks."

Gu Jin was about to say more when Chi Ye kicked him under the table. He immediately stopped persuading, asked a waiter for a bottle of orange juice, and moved on to pour drinks for the next person.

Chi Ye was seated next to Ruan Shuyang. After Gu Jin left, he lowered his voice and asked, "Did Pei Siyue tell you not to drink?"

Ruan Shuyang smiled sheepishly but didn’t confirm or deny it. Chi Ye understood anyway.

He closed his eyes, feeling his throat dry up as a bitter sensation swept over him.

Why? Is he really not as good as Pei Siyue after all?

At the dining table, others were drinking and chatting about games. Ruan Shuyang listened and occasionally chimed in, feeling like he was learning a lot about game development—so much so that he even had the fleeting thought that he might switch from jewelry design to game design in the future.

But Chi Ye beside him was unusually quiet, seemingly in a bad mood, knocking back one drink after another. After watching for a while, Ruan Shuyang quietly advised, "Senior, maybe take it easy on the drinks. It’s easy to get drunk."

Chi Ye forced a smile. "It’s fine, I won’t get drunk."

Actually, the more he drank, the clearer his mind became.

After several rounds of drinks, many people got up to use the restroom, and Chi Ye went along. Meanwhile, someone ordered a bubbly drink and asked Ruan Shuyang if he wanted some.

Ruan Shuyang asked curiously, "What is this?"

The person replied, "Sparkling soda."

It did have a bit of alcohol in it, though only around 2% alcohol. They usually ignored the alcohol content and treated it as a regular drink, so nobody thought to give Ruan Shuyang a heads-up.

Ruan Shuyang said thank you, poured a glass, and drank it.

By the time Chi Ye returned from the restroom, Ruan Shuyang had already finished most of the ice-cold bubbly drink. He felt dizzy, slumped over the table, and started giggling to himself.

Chi Ye frowned and immediately checked what Ruan Shuyang had been drinking. Discovering it was an alcoholic sparkling beverage, he snapped, "Who gave this to him? Wasn’t it said that he doesn’t drink?"

The club member who had given Ruan Shuyang the drink was startled. "Boss, he can't handle any alcohol at all? This is just a bit of sparkling soda."

Chi Ye knew that in their eyes, sparkling soda didn’t count as alcohol, and they hadn’t meant to get Ruan Shuyang drunk. He could only instruct, "Next time, don't give him anything that has even a drop of alcohol."

The member quickly replied, "Understood."

Chi Ye looked at Ruan Shuyang, who was slumped over the table giggling, and asked carefully, "You still with us?"

Ruan Shuyang reacted slowly. After lying on the table for a moment, he finally realized Chi Ye was asking him something and mumbled, "Sober."

Chi Ye wasn’t convinced. He waved his hand in front of Ruan Shuyang’s eyes. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Ruan Shuyang stared intently at Chi Ye’s hand, frowning as if it were a difficult question.

Chi Ye: "..."

He sighed in frustration. "Where do you live? How about I get you home?"

At these words, Ruan Shuyang seemed to perk up and quickly shook his head. "No."

Chi Ye was taken aback. "Why not?"

Ruan Shuyang put on a serious face and said earnestly, "I promised my brother I wouldn't get too close to anyone."

Chi Ye: "..."

He gritted his teeth in frustration. "Then give him a call to come get you. Let’s see if he has time."

He refused to believe that Pei Siyue, as busy as he was, would actually have time to come pick up a college student.

Even when he himself occasionally drank too much outside, his own older brother couldn’t be bothered to pick him up—he’d just have the family driver come drag me home.

Ruan Shuyang’s mind wasn’t clear, and he couldn’t process complex thoughts. Hearing Chi Ye’s words, he instinctively fumbled around in his pocket for a long time before finally managing to get his phone out to call Pei Siyue.

The call connected quickly. Pei Siyue's side was pretty noisy.

"What’s wrong?"

"Brother..." Ruan Shuyang’s voice was even more soft and slurred than usual. He lay slumped on the table, his eyes dazed, and said, "I can't really walk. Can you come get me?"

"Okay," Pei Siyue agreed immediately, then asked, "Where are you?"

"I’m at... I’m at..." Ruan Shuyang tried to answer, but his thoughts were all jumbled. He only mumbled, "At the restaurant."

Then the phone slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.

It must've hit something on the way down and hung up.

Chi Ye, who'd heard everything, just: "..."

He was near enough to catch the voice on the other end of the call.

Pei Siyue had asked where Ruan Shuyang was but hadn’t gotten a specific answer.

Without knowing the location, no way he's coming to get him.

He reminded him, "You didn't tell him where you are."

As he spoke, he picked up the phone, figuring if Pei Siyue called back, he would answer and tell him Ruan Shuyang’s location.

But five minutes passed, and Pei Siyue still hadn’t called back.

Chi Ye frowned and suggested, "Pei Siyue might not come. Why don't I just take you home instead? I can drop you at your dorm, okay?"

Ruan Shuyang shook his head. Even though his mind wasn’t clear and his limbs felt as weak as noodles, he still remembered the promise he had made to Pei Siyue.

"I'm okay, Senior. Don't worry about me. I'll just rest here a minute and then head out."

Chi Ye looked at Ruan Shuyang, who looked like he could barely stand up, and just couldn't leave him like that.

After all, he'd been the one to bring him to the gathering, and he didn't keep a close enough watch to prevent him from drinking. He couldn’t just take off without doing anything.

By then, most of the club members had already left. Gu Jin walked over, saw Ruan Shuyang slumped on the table, and asked Chi Ye, "Boss, what’s up with the junior?"

Chi Ye: "He’s drunk."

Gu Jin quickly said, "We should get him home then."

Chi Ye: "...He's waiting for Pei Siyue. He says no one else can take him."

Gu Jin was shocked. "Junior, are you dating Pei Siyue?"

Otherwise, why wouldn’t he let anyone else take him home?

Ruan Shuyang lay on the table, looking at Gu Jin with a confused expression, not getting what he meant.

Was he dating Pei Siyue?

Why would he be dating Pei Siyue? What did "dating" mean again?

It seemed to mean being in a romantic relationship.

Him and Pei Siyue? In a relationship?

Ruan Shuyang was so startled that he sat straight up, but the next second, he slumped weakly back onto the table.

How could this be? Why would outsiders think he's dating Pei Siyue?

They clearly have a doctor-patient relationship; Pei Siyue is his older brother.

But a small voice inside him quietly reminds him that Pei Siyue isn't his biological older brother, yet treats him better than anyone else in the world.

He once asked Pei Siyue why, but the other told him to figure it out himself, and he still hasn't understood.

Now, one after another, people are misunderstanding his relationship with Pei Siyue.

Perhaps to outsiders, his closeness with Pei Siyue looks like they're dating.

Then, does Pei Siyue think that way too?

Before Ruan Shuyang could think it through, someone walked into the restaurant. The person glanced around briefly and headed straight toward their table.

Ruan Shuyang was very familiar with Pei Siyue's presence. As soon as he approached, Ruan Shuyang sensed it, and when he looked up, Pei Siyue was already beside him, holding his shoulder with one hand.

Ruan Shuyang sensed that Pei Siyue's pheromones were like cold water, indicating his displeasure, so he asked, "Gege, are you unhappy?"

Pei Siyue looked down. "Why did you drink?"

Ruan Shuyang replied in a coquettish tone, "Gege, I didn't drink alcohol, I only had the bubbly drink."

Pei Siyue looked at the half-empty bottles of bubbly drink on the table.

Great, even 2% ABV could take down an omega. He must never let him drink alone outside again.

Not wanting to argue with someone drunk, he simply scooped him up, nodded slightly to Chi Ye and Gu Jin, and turned to leave.

Gu Jin breathed a sigh of relief watching Ruan Shuyang being taken away by Pei Siyue, and said to Chi Ye, "Boss, it seems like the junior really is dating the Young Master of the Pei family. Otherwise, Pei Siyue wouldn’t have come personally and carried him off."

Given Young Master Pei Siyue's status, countless people wanted to see him every day; he was extremely busy. If he didn’t truly care, he could have just sent a driver or secretary.

Just like how Chi Hang handled a drunk Chi Ye.

But after speaking, he didn’t get a response from Chi Ye.

He turned to look at Chi Ye and saw him frowning deeply, his expression unusually serious.

Chi Ye clearly remembered that Ruan Shuyang never said where he was, yet Pei Siyue found him in such a short time. Obviously, he knew Ruan Shuyang was here from the start and came directly.

Was he tracking his movements, or did he place some kind of tracking device on Ruan Shuyang?

Thinking of how Ruan Shuyang was completely unsuspecting of Pei Siyue, Chi Ye felt a headache brewing. He needed to find a time to warn him.

Otherwise, he was afraid Ruan Shuyang might be mentally controlled or PUAed by Pei Siyue.

**

After leaving the restaurant, Pei Siyue helped Ruan Shuyang into the car, adjusted the seat for him to lie down, then went around to the driver's side. After fastening both their seatbelts, he didn’t start the car immediately. Instead, he tenderly stroked Ruan Shuyang's cheek with his thumb and asked in a low voice, "Why didn’t you listen?"

"Not listen?" Ruan Shuyang lay on the passenger seat, tilting his head to look at Pei Siyue beside him. The car's interior was dim, and Pei Siyue's expression was unclear, only his tall figure leaning over him.

Ruan Shuyang frowned, thinking confusedly for a while before defending himself, "No, I was very obedient."

"Obedient how?" Pei Siyue retorted, "You drank alcohol."

"I didn’t," Ruan Shuyang said, somewhat wronged. "It was bubbly drink."

He just didn’t understand why, after drinking it, his limbs felt weak and his mind slowed down.

Pei Siyue finally understood how Ruan Shuyang ended up drinking—he thought it was just bubbly drink, not alcohol.

Silly thing, believing whatever others said without checking the label himself.

Not wanting to argue with a drunk, he was about to drive them home when he suddenly heard Ruan Shuyang murmur, "Gege, I was very obedient."

The omega, clearly drunk and barely rational, still spoke softly, "I always remembered what I promised you—to keep a social distance and not let them take me home. If you hadn’t come, I planned to walk back myself."

Pei Siyue's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his heart softening uncontrollably.

Though filled with a desire for control, he couldn’t bring himself to cause harm.

He had been angry when he arrived—Ruan Shuyang wasn’t wrong about that. He was unhappy seeing Ruan Shuyang drinking alone outside to the point of being unable to stand. He wanted to punish him, but now he couldn't stay mad.

He tenderly placed his hand on Ruan Shuyang's cheek, releasing pheromones to soothe him. "Sleep for a while."

Ruan Shuyang closed his eyes without realizing and was asleep by the time the car reached the parking garage.

Pei Siyue carried him upstairs, laid him on the bed in the master bedroom, removed his shoes and socks, brought a warm towel from the bathroom to wipe his hands and feet. After finishing, he covered Ruan Shuyang with a comforter and was about to leave when he felt Ruan Shuyang tugging at his shirt.

Ruan Shuyang seemed awake, looking at him with clear, doe-like eyes glistening with moisture.

Pei Siyue heard him ask, "Gege, are we dating?"

But before Pei Siyue could answer, Ruan Shuyang closed his eyes again, breathing evenly as he lay in bed, covered by a soft comforter with only his small head visible.

Ruan Shuyang was out cold, his cheeks flushed. It was unclear whether he was truly awake when he asked that question.

Pei Siyue watched him for a moment, then went out to get hangover remedies.

At first, he thought Ruan Shuyang should experience the discomfort of a hangover so he’d be more careful at future gatherings.

But then he couldn’t bear the thought.

The omega was becoming more sensitive; a hangover headache might make him cry.

And honestly, he was the one who spoiled him this way.

He returned with hangover remedies and a glass of warm water, gently lifting Ruan Shuyang to lean against his chest.

This time, Ruan Shuyang seemed deeply asleep, didn't stir even as he was moved, his head nuzzled against Pei Siyue.

He pressed the pill in Ruan Shuyang's mouth and raised the cup to feed him water, but Ruan Shuyang was too deeply asleep to swallow on his own.

Pei Siyue looked down for a moment, then took a sip of water himself, held Ruan Shuyang's head, and gave him water mouth-to-mouth.

As he fed, his tongue gently pushed the pill to the base of Ruan Shuyang's tongue to help him swallow.

With the pill pushed back and water in his mouth, Ruan Shuyang swallowed instinctively, and the pill went down his esophagus to his stomach.

After feeding the medicine, Pei Siyue made to break the kiss, but Ruan Shuyang's small tongue entwined with his.

Ruan Shuyang was gently sucking on his tongue, so faintly it was almost negligible.

But Pei Siyue's gaze instantly turned intense, his grip on Ruan Shuyang's waist tightening as he kissed the omega's lips.

Ruan Shuyang yielded against him, oblivious to the kiss, his breath being stolen.

Pei Siyue was filled with the pheromones Ruan Shuyang loved most. Kissing him meant receiving those pheromones, which felt wonderful, so he completely accepted the kiss, and craving more.

He really liked Pei Siyue's pheromones, and once he discovered he could get them through kissing, he kept wanting to kiss.

But kissing would leave him breathless, and having so much taken, he felt short of breath and instinctively struggled.

Pei Siyue slowly released Ruan Shuyang and gently laid him back down on the bed.

After the kiss, Ruan Shuyang resembled a carefully tended flower, its petals tinged with alluring hues. His cheeks and lips were flushed with a vivid crimson, and his breathing carried the fresh, sweet scent of lily of the valley.

Pei Siyue closed his eyes for a moment, his breathing heavy.

In truth, his self-control wasn't that good, which was why he never dared to stay too long in Ruan Shuyang's room.

The room was filled with Ruan Shuyang's pheromones, and staying too long would make him crave more, afraid he might lose control.

He couldn't lose control—if something happened now, it would truly harm the young omega's body.

Too young.

So he always left quickly. This time was supposed to be no different, but Ruan Shuyang had pulled him in for a kiss, making it hard to refuse.

Looking at Ruan Shuyang, who was just sleeping soundly and unaware, he smiled bitterly and glanced down at himself, helplessly returning to his room to take a cold shower.

Really, it was hard to tell who was the one who had done something wrong.