Chapter 44

Chapter 44

They finished breakfast quickly and set off together.

Wei Yuan lived very close to Pei Siyue, just a ten-minute drive away.

After getting out of the car, Ruan Shuyang saw a male Alpha in his fifties tending to the flowers in the garden in front of the villa. The man had a tolerant and peaceful expression, with a scholarly demeanor refined by time.

Wei Yuan noticed Pei Siyue bringing someone along, turned his head to look at them with a gentle smile, and after finishing watering the plants beside him, stood up to greet them: "Siyue, you're here."

Pei Siyue held Ruan Shuyang's hand and walked over, saying to Wei Yuan, "Uncle, this is Ruan Shuyang, the person I mentioned."

Wei Yuan nodded politely: "Hello."

Ruan Shuyang followed Pei Siyue in calling him "Uncle," though his expression still showed visible unease.

He was somewhat introverted and not very skilled at socializing.

Wei Yuan clearly noticed Ruan Shuyang's unease. As he chatted with Pei Siyue while walking into the house, he occasionally suggested some NYC eateries and attractions to Ruan Shuyang, saying that Pei Siyue should take him out.

Ruan Shuyang smiled sheepishly.

Just when he felt he had grown up and didn’t need others to accompany him for fun, there was always someone who still thought of him as a child.

But these days, feeling like a child had been truly blissful.

Knowing they had already eaten breakfast, Wei Yuan had only prepared tea and snacks.

As Ruan Shuyang followed Pei Siyue into Wei Yuan's home, he noticed it was even more sparsely furnished than Pei Siyue's place. The living room had only the most essential appliances, with many decorative items missing.

Wei Yuan sat on the sofa and sighed, "You, when you first returned to the country, you said it would only be for a year or two—just long enough to establish a complete professional management system for the Pei Group before coming back. But now, the last time you came to see me, you directly said you’d be settling domestically for the next five years. Changing your mind faster than flipping a book."

Pei Siyue listened expressionlessly as Wei Yuan spoke, offering no defense. Only after Wei Yuan finished did he say, "A familiar environment is better for your recuperation."

Wei Yuan smiled, looking meaningfully at Pei Siyue without saying a word, as if telling him: I know what you’re thinking, and this act won’t work on me.

Since it was useless, Pei Siyue didn’t press further. Instead, he picked up a snack and handed it to Ruan Shuyang: "Try it."

Ruan Shuyang took the snack and took a bite. The slight bitterness of jasmine tea blended with the floral scent and cheese, making it delicious.

He smiled and said to Pei Siyue, "It’s really good."

Pei Siyue poured him a cup of warm water and handed it over.

Wei Yuan watched and sighed, "I never thought this little wolf cub would become so good at taking care of others."

Ruan Shuyang looked at Pei Siyue in surprise.

Little wolf cub—was that referring to Pei Siyue?

Why would anyone call him that? He felt Pei Siyue had nothing in common with the term "little wolf cub."

Pei Siyue reminded him expressionlessly, "I’m 27 now."

"Yes, in the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so much," Wei Yuan sighed. "When I first met you, you were only 12. Fifteen years have passed since then."

Pei Siyue remained silent. Ruan Shuyang sensed that he was in a somber mood, heavy, like the sky when it’s overcast with dark clouds. Pei Siyue’s water-like pheromones gave him exactly that feeling.

He lowered his eyes, not daring to look at anyone else’s expression, mustered his courage, and reached out to gently hold Pei Siyue’s hand.

Pei Siyue clasped his hand in return and rested it on his own knee.

Wei Yuan said, "Siyue, take him upstairs to have a look. If there’s anything in your old room that you need shipped back, check for yourself."

Pei Siyue held Ruan Shuyang’s hand and led him upstairs, opening the door at the end of the hallway.

The room had been unoccupied for a long time. The bed was covered with a dust cloth, and the bookshelf was neatly lined with English-language medical books, which Ruan Shuyang couldn’t understand well.

Next to the bookshelf stood a wooden rack displaying many medals and certificates. Though most were in English, the recipient’s name on them was always "PEI."

He picked up a gold medal. There was no dust on it, suggesting someone regularly cleaned it.

The medal was for a medical competition where Pei Siyue’s team had taken first place.

Looking at the almost wall-full of honors, he murmured, "Gege is amazing."

Seeing these, it wasn’t hard to imagine how outstanding and brilliant Pei Siyue must have been during his student days.

As he said this, he turned to look at Pei Siyue and noticed his expression was just as somber as it had been downstairs.

He quietly watched him for a moment, then tried holding Pei Siyue’s hand and peeled off the blocking patch on the back of his neck.

An Omega’s pheromones have a calming effect on the one who marked them. He wanted to comfort Pei Siyue, who seemed unexplainably sad.

He also had to fulfill his responsibility as Pei Siyue’s Omega.

He tried releasing a bit of his pheromones. The room began to fill with the elegant scent of Lily of the Valley, and Pei Siyue didn’t refuse.

Encouraged, Ruan Shuyang released a little more.

Pei Siyue took the medal from his hand and placed it back on the wooden rack, then gently lifted his chin and asked, "Why are you releasing your pheromones?"

Ruan Shuyang felt somewhat shy, but his gaze was firm. "Because I want to comfort you, gege. You’re unhappy."

Pei Siyue reached out with his other hand and gently stroked Ruan Shuyang’s face, saying nothing.

Enigma pheromones are unique. Many people can’t sense their pheromones—they can only feel the pressure.

If pheromones grant others the ability to perceive, then it’s easy to detect an Enigma’s emotions through their pheromones.

An Enigma’s pheromones feel different depending on their mood.

When he met Ruan Shuyang, his pheromones, for the first time, granted a stranger the ability to sense them and perceive his emotions.

Perhaps his pheromones had realized sooner than he did that he would come to like Ruan Shuyang.

Pei Siyue’s dark eyes were like boundless, deep seas as he looked down at Ruan Shuyang and said, "If you want to give me your pheromones, there are other ways."

Ruan Shuyang’s lips were captured, the kiss starting gently before growing more intense.

He felt as if he were sinking in an ocean. Pei Siyue pressed down from above, completely enveloping him in his embrace, stealing his breath. Ruan Shuyang whimpered softly, his tongue numb from the suction.

It seemed he was born knowing how to receive Pei Siyue, trembling lightly as he surrendered completely.

At some point, Pei Siyue released his pheromones. Ruan Shuyang’s waist went weak, and he collapsed into the other’s arms.

The Enigma’s lips moved to his scent gland, gently licking away the transparent liquid that had seeped out at some point.

His breath brushed against Ruan Shuyang’s neck, making him shiver sensitively. Then Pei Siyue pulled him fully into his embrace and said in a low voice, "Ruan Shuyang, I’m not a good person."

Ruan Shuyang's whole body was soft, but he still tried hard to lift his arms, attempting to embrace the tall Enigma.

His voice was exceptionally earnest: "Brother, I don’t expect you to be a good person."

Just be good to me.

He was also a selfish Omega, not hoping for Pei Siyue to be good to everyone—as long as he was good to him, it was enough.

By the time they finished viewing the room and went back downstairs, lunch was almost ready. A Chinese chef was placing the cooked dishes in the dining room.

Wei Yuan saw them coming down and smiled, saying, "You’re finally down. Siyue, go make some twice-cooked pork and stir-fried cabbage. It's been so long since you cooked for me—I’ve really missed your cooking."

Pei Siyue didn’t say anything but turned to look at Ruan Shuyang.

Ruan Shuyang was at a loss, not understanding what the Enigma next to him meant by that.

Pei Siyue smoothed his slightly disheveled hair and asked, "Shall I go cook?"

Ruan Shuyang nodded, still unsure why Pei Siyue was asking him.

"You can go watch TV in the living room or see the flowers in the garden," Pei Siyue told him. "I’ll call you when the food is ready."

Ruan Shuyang obediently replied, "Okay."

After Pei Siyue entered the kitchen, the Chinese chef came out to say goodbye. Wei Yuan led Ruan Shuyang to the living room to sit down and turned on a Chinese variety show.

A few minutes later, Ruan Shuyang heard Wei Yuan say, "He was concerned about you, which is why he asked for your opinion just now."

He looked at Wei Yuan with confusion.

"Haven’t you noticed?" Wei Yuan reminded him. "Siyue is very protective of you."

Ruan Shuyang’s face slowly turned red, somewhat like the vibrant cotton rose hibiscus blooming in the garden.

Although Wei Yuan didn’t show anything, Ruan Shuyang felt that Wei Yuan seemed to know what he and Pei Siyue had just been doing in the room.

Well, kissing, exchanging pheromones.

He tried hard to ignore his flushed face: "It’s...it’s fine."

"This little wolf cub is much more direct than I was back in the day," Wei Yuan chuckled lightly, then added, "Siyue must have told you about me and his mother."

Ruan Shuyang nodded: "He did."

"His mother and I back then... it just wasn’t meant to be. Often, I wonder—if we hadn’t been so fixated on obtaining our research results before getting married, but instead cherished each other and got together earlier, would the outcome have been different?"

Ruan Shuyang listened quietly, unsure how to respond to matters concerning elders.

But Wei Yuan didn’t expect an answer and continued, "Because of what happened with our generation, Siyue had a very difficult childhood. When I first met him here, he was filled with a fierce demeanor, wary and hostile toward everyone. It took a long time to slowly calm him down."

"Because of past events, Siyue might act radically. If he bullies you—"

Ruan Shuyang listened quietly, recalling what Zhou Wei had said during their engagement.

"Our Siming has been the rightful young master of the Pei family since he was a child. You must serve him well."

He initially thought Wei Yuan would say something similar, but instead, Wei Yuan said—

"Tell me, and I’ll set him straight for you."

Ruan Shuyang looked at Wei Yuan in surprise.

Wei Yuan smiled gently at him. "You’re so young. Him being with you is already having the upper hand. If he doesn’t treat you well, he deserves a beating."

He felt that Wei Yuan was very serious, not just making polite conversation—he really would help him teach Pei Siyue a lesson.

Embarrassed, he lowered his head and whispered, "Brother treats me very well; he doesn’t bully me."

Well, helping treat my condition doesn’t count as bullying.

Not long after he spoke, Pei Siyue walked out of the kitchen, took off his apron, turned to those sitting in the living room, and said, "Lunch is ready."

This was the first time Ruan Shuyang had eaten Chinese food made by Pei Siyue.

Pei Siyue was very busy; when he cooked for Ruan Shuyang, it was mostly breakfast or Western food. This was the first time he had made Chinese food for him.

He took a bite and found it so good he could’ve eaten his own tongue.

He immediately smiled and said, "Brother’s cooking is really delicious."

Wei Yuan added, "He’s strong and really good at wok-flipping. He’s especially skilled at dishes that require wok hei, that 'breath of the wok' flavor. You can ask him to make it for you more often when you have time."

Pei Siyue asked, "Do you like it?"

Ruan Shuyang nodded immediately: "I like it; it’s so delicious."

"Then I’ll make it for you more often in the future."

After the meal, the house staff came to clean the dining room and kitchen. Pei Siyue wiped Ruan Shuyang’s mouth, took him to wash up, and then asked, "Are you sleepy?"

Ruan Shuyang shook his head; he had slept a lot yesterday and wasn’t tired now.

Pei Siyue said, "Then I’ll take you out."

Before leaving, Pei Siyue told Wei Yuan the location of the private plane and asked him to have the luggage loaded onto it. Then he took Ruan Shuyang out to have fun.

He drove Ruan Shuyang around the city, showing him the downtown streets full of giant neon signs and the remote, bleak, and oddly eerie slum districts. Ruan Shuyang was astonished, wondering how one city could have two such completely different faces.

Sitting in the passenger seat, he listened as Pei Siyue introduced the area. After a while, he curiously asked, "Brother, do you know this area very well?"

"Yes," Pei Siyue didn’t hide it. "I lived here for over ten years—longer than I’ve lived back in China."

When Pei Siyue said this, Ruan Shuyang suddenly felt a distance between them and couldn’t help but place his hand on Pei Siyue’s leg to feel his presence.

The car stopped near a square. Pei Siyue got out and took him out for a walk. After a few steps, he suddenly said, "Actually, I never planned to return to China initially."

He had lived here for over ten years, with a career, family, and friends. He was completely settled here and hadn’t thought about going back.

But later, he felt that if he didn’t return, those people back home would take what was rightfully his and call him a coward too afraid to return.

What was his, he had to take back.

His nature was to fight and compete.

So he returned to China, originally planning to take control of the Pei Corporation, establish a proper professional management system, and then leave. But now, he had encountered an unexpected surprise.

Perhaps the most beautiful surprise of his life.

He turned to look at Ruan Shuyang, who seemed somewhat uneasy, and said with a light smile, "But now, I’m very glad I returned."

Ruan Shuyang felt Pei Siyue lowering his head to kiss him—a surprisingly gentle kiss for an Enigma known for his predatory instincts.

**

That night, Ruan Shuyang lay in bed, once again unable to sleep.

It wasn’t jet lag keeping him awake—it was the events of the day.

As soon as he closed his eyes, the words from earlier echoed in his mind.

Pei Siyue said he hadn’t originally planned to return home. Wei Yuan said if they had gotten together back then, maybe there wouldn’t be regrets now.

He suddenly felt terrified—afraid that his own hesitation and fear might cause him to lose Pei Siyue, so afraid it kept him awake.

What should he do?

He wanted to be with Pei Siyue, but he was instinctively afraid of dating.

He tossed and turned in bed for a long time before sitting up, hugging his knees, feeling lost and helpless.

There was a knock at the door. When he heard it, Ruan Shuyang wondered if he’d been waiting for that very sound.

He slipped out of bed and opened the door for Pei Siyue. Seeing the tall Enigma standing outside in light-colored casual wear, not yet ready for sleep, Ruan Shuyang suddenly threw his arms around him, buried his face in his chest, and drank in his scent deeply.

Pei Siyue looked at the little Omega who had thrown himself into his arms, patted his shoulder soothingly, and calmly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ruan Shuyang clung to him. “Brother, I’m… I’m scared.”

Pei Siyue looked down at the fluffy little head buried against his chest, then simply picked him up, placed him back on the bed, sat beside him, and gently patted his back as he asked, “What’s scaring you?”

“I’m so scared we might end up missing each other too.”

So scared he couldn’t sleep.

When he thought about it, it felt silly, but he had always been this silly.

Pei Siyue looked at him and asked a question: “Do you like me?”

Ruan Shuyang looked blank.

He had never really considered it before.

He had liked Pei Siming, feeling as though the other was a ray of light in his dark life.

Back then, he thought that feeling was love, but now it seemed different—he hadn’t really wanted to be with Pei Siming.

He didn’t know what his feelings for Pei Siyue were, but he really, really wanted to be with him, to stay by his side forever.

He wanted to give to him, to feel happy when he was happy, and sad when he was sad.

This feeling was different from what he had felt for Pei Siming before. He didn’t know which one was true love.

He didn’t want to hide anything from Pei Siyue. Grasping his hand helplessly, he said, “Brother, I don’t know either, but I really, really want to be with you, always together. I’ll be very, very good to you.”

His large almond eyes were full of worry and panic, as if he were afraid Pei Siyue would leave because of his answer.

Pei Siyue didn’t leave. Instead, he patiently continued to soothe him.

Ruan Shuyang heard Pei Siyue say in a calm, gentle voice, “You’re afraid of relationships because your mother said dating is all a scam and never ends well, right?”

Ruan Shuyang nodded.

Yu Xianpo had said that dating was just an Alpha’s trick to deceive Omegas into permanent marks, and warned him not to fall for it—especially not to become a mistress again.

Mistresses never ended well—Yu Xianpo had proved it with his life.

He had also specifically told him not to get married or allow a permanent mark.

“Then let’s not date,” Pei Siyue said, looking into Ruan Shuyang’s eyes slowly. “Let’s get engaged directly, and marry when you turn 20.”

Ruan Shuyang was completely stunned, as if the information overload had crashed his brain—his CPU overheated and shut down.

No dating, direct engagement, marry at 20?

“Ruan Shuyang,” Pei Siyue said solemnly, his firm tone sounding like a promise. “I won’t use you.”

Ruan Shuyang gradually calmed down, instinctively leaning into Pei Siyue’s embrace, seeking comfort in his familiar pheromones.

When he was engaged to Pei Siming before, he hadn’t felt much sense of reality. Maybe he knew deep down that their marriage of convenience wouldn’t come true—though he had dreamed about the future, it was only a dream.

But what Pei Siyue said felt profoundly real to him.

He would get engaged to Pei Siyue, then married, and stay together for a lifetime.

A lifetime…

He was only 18—could he decide something for a lifetime?

A lifetime felt so far away, too distant to grasp. Marriage seemed too early for him. His upbringing left him lost—he didn’t know what a normal family looked like or how to build a stable relationship with someone.

But he knew Pei Siyue wouldn’t use him.

There didn’t seem to be anything about him that Pei Siyue could use.

Pei Siyue wasn’t like the incapable Ruan Jianchuan. He managed a vast business empire, and the money in his bank account was probably a fortune beyond Ruan Shuyang’s imagination. The money he earned from his design work—he was sure Pei Siyue didn’t need it. There was no reason to use him.

He leaned against Pei Siyue’s chest and thought for a while before saying softly, “Brother, I don’t really know what marriage is, or what a stable relationship should be like, but…”

“I want to get engaged to you.”

After speaking, he buried his face shyly in Pei Siyue’s chest, afraid the other would see his flushed cheeks.

But Pei Siyue wouldn’t let him hide. Holding him by his thin shoulder blades, he pulled him out of his embrace, sat by the bed looking at him for a moment, then suddenly stood and knelt on one knee.

Even kneeling, the tall Enigma wasn’t much shorter than the little Omega sitting on the bed. Pei Siyue looked up slightly, in a half-submissive posture, and asked solemnly, “Ruan Shuyang, will you be engaged to me?”

Ruan Shuyang was stunned. Hadn’t he already agreed? Why was Pei Siyue doing this again? But he answered earnestly, “I’d love to.”

After he spoke, Pei Siyue’s scent seemed to intensify. He was pushed down onto the bed, the tall Enigma pressing over him instantly, hands braced on either side of his head, muscles taut in his arms as he leaned down and stole all his breath and light.

Just as he couldn’t take it anymore, the kiss ended. Pei Siyue turned him over and gave him a quick mark.

The wound on his gland had already healed. When he was marked, his mind went blank again—he felt like he was flying, forgetting all his worries, leaving only pleasure.

After it was over, he unconsciously nuzzled against the sheets. It seemed he was liking Pei Siyue’s marks more and more—each one felt more comfortable than the last.

Soon, Pei Siyue turned him back over, hands on either side of his head, looking at his flushed cheeks and teary eyes as he said in a low voice, “I’ll give you an engagement gift.”

He watched as Pei Siyue knelt by the bed again. Seeing his anxious look, Pei Siyue reassured him, “Don’t worry, I know the human body. I’ll make you feel very comfortable.”

Ruan Shuyang didn’t understand what Pei Siyue was doing at first, never really imagining someone would do this for him.

The scent of Lily of the Valley grew exceptionally sweet and intoxicating, as if breathing it in was like drinking nectar.

Later, he began to sob softly, covering his face in embarrassment.

Pei Siyue truly understood the human body well—he was too fast.

He whimpered, "Why can't Omegas hold out longer?"

But if it lasted longer, would Pei Siyue get tired? His thoughts wandered again.

Pei Siyue took a warm towel from the bathroom to wipe Ruan Shuyang down, noticing the Omega seemed to space out. "What are you thinking about?" he asked.

Ruan Shuyang answered without thinking, "I was wondering if brother would get tired if I lasted longer."

After wiping him down, Pei Siyue returned the towel to the bathroom. When he came back, he picked up the warm water by the bedside, helping Ruan Shuyang sit up to gulp it down while saying, "Just don’t overthink it."

As he drank, Ruan Shuyang’s large eyes shone with confusion, but he quickly looked away when his gaze landed on Pei Siyue’s lips.

He didn’t dare look at Pei Siyue’s sharp thin lips now, never having imagined there could even be such a soft part on him.

"You wouldn’t last three minutes," Pei Siyue’s voice brought him back to reality. "I know the human body well."

Ruan Shuyang: "..."

"Damn it," he muttered, "brother’s teasing me again."

If Omegas could last that long, what would we need Enigmas for?