Chapter 31 Delirium

Chapter 31: Out of One’s Mind

Mu Zhang didn’t need public opinion to enhance his reputation. There were things he had indeed done and never intended to hide.

But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t exploit public opinion.

Since Lin Juangui had already appeared in the public eye, he would make full use of Lin Juangui’s existing value.

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Thus, news of Lin Juangui returning to Sailing Star and immediately visiting the orphanage to personally investigate the situation was quickly sensationalized by the media. Lin Juangui’s image was thoroughly branded with labels like selfless generosity and compassionate saint.

However, as the media continued to dig deeper and stir up discussions, Lin Juangui’s past was completely exposed. Details such as his family’s sudden misfortune, his inexplicable marriage that led to him not being able to attend school, and other matters were also brought to light.

Why he married Mu Zhang and what interests lay behind his high-profile appearance were widely speculated about.

In contrast to the incessant discussions on the Star Network, Lin Juangui, at the center of the storm, enjoyed a good nap.

The media couldn’t possibly barge onto the floating island to corner him—it was Mu Zhang’s private domain, and no one could approach without his permission.

Lin Juangui had no intention of paying attention to the rumors on the Star Network. For those who enjoyed gossip, these were merely embellishments to their lives. Lin Juangui was just a topic of conversation, and it wouldn’t affect his plans.

As long as they didn’t cross legal boundaries, Lin Juangui didn’t care about the nonsensical discussions.

After freshening up, Lin Juangui had lunch in the dining room and asked Butler Yang to prepare a shuttle for him. “I’m going to Cloud Harbor Star to visit my grandmother. Mu Zhang is recuperating at home during this time, so I should reassure the elderly.”

Butler Yang nodded but reminded him, “Won’t you go see Sir?”

Although Mu Zhang was already in stable condition, as an Omega, shouldn’t he show more concern for his Alpha?

Lin Juangui found this amusing. He scoffed inwardly but put on an embarrassed expression. “With so many people taking care of Mu Zhang’s needs at home, what could I possibly do?”

Butler Yang was the old-school loyalist type—devoted and meticulous, always guarding his master’s interests and catering to his moods.

But Lin Juangui wasn’t Mu Zhang’s dog. His world didn’t revolve around Mu Zhang. He only needed to demonstrate the value Mu Zhang required. Did he also have to constantly monitor Mu Zhang’s moods and placate him?

Plenty of people were willing to handle such trivial matters. Lin Juangui wouldn’t waste his time on them. Maintaining a pleasant demeanor around Mu Zhang was already professional enough—being the subordinate didn’t mean selling his soul.

Butler Yang’s expression was indescribable, as if he had swallowed something unpleasant, his brows furrowed tightly.

Lin Juangui maintained his polite yet distant smile. He held no hostility toward people like Butler Yang; he even admired their meticulous dedication to their work. But that was as far as it went.

As an employee, he simply couldn’t understand why anyone would willingly dedicate their entire being to another.

Prominent families adored such loyal servants. Lin Juangui only needed them to do their jobs properly without overstepping their authority based on seniority.

When Butler Yang had previously brought him the Omega Code of Conduct, Lin Juangui found it absurd. Mu Zhang hadn’t dared to dictate terms when he was involved with Alphas, but now that he had an Omega partner, he suddenly had all sorts of demands.

It was sheer madness.

Lin Juangui didn’t care whether Butler Yang would report this to Mu Zhang. It was just a matter of not visiting him—Mu Zhang didn’t need Lin Juangui’s insincere concern anyway.

As Lin Juangui had anticipated, after hearing Butler Yang’s report, Mu Zhang remained silent, staring at his light screen. Only when he looked up and saw Butler Yang still waiting for instructions did he chuckle lightly. “He and I are merely contractual partners. There’s no need for him to care about his Alpha like a typical Omega would. Uncle Yang, don’t be so rigid.”

Butler Yang had once been Bai Qujing’s driver, and his kindness toward Mu Zhang was partly due to transferred affection.

Mu Zhang knew Butler Yang was loyal, which was why he kept him around to manage household affairs.

But between him and Lin Juangui, there was only a cold, transactional relationship. No matter how well they acted in public, at home, they avoided each other whenever possible. Did Mu Zhang not see through Lin Juangui’s ulterior motives?

As long as it doesn’t affect Mu Zhang’s core interests, Lin Juangui can do whatever he wants—Mu Zhang has no intention of interfering.

Mu Zhang’s instructions were clear, so Butler Yang had no reason to disobey. From now on, he would consider things from Mu Zhang’s perspective. He also noticed a clear shift in Mu Zhang’s attitude toward Lin Juangui—at least he no longer scrutinized Lin Juangui’s every move as before, instead adopting a more laissez-faire approach.

"Regarding your mating cycle, I’ve made some new observations about the Madam…"

-

Yungangxing remained as bustling as ever, with its magnificent architecture gleaming under the starry sky.

The area near the retirement home was still tranquil and peaceful, completely untouched by the hustle and bustle outside.

Since Lin Juangui had visited before, he didn’t need to go through facial recognition again and entered smoothly.

According to the caregiver, Geng Xuelan was currently having a skincare session with her girlfriends. Lin Juangui said there was no need to disturb her and opted to wait outside the spa.

Many people recognized Lin Juangui along the way, and his status as Mu Zhang’s partner had been discussed numerous times.

Lin Juangui maintained a modest, polite smile, explaining that Mu Zhang was too busy with work to visit his grandmother lately, so he had come to check on her instead.

"So filial! Mu Zhang is truly fortunate to have a partner like you!"

Lin Juangui had heard such remarks many times—they were just polite formalities, and he never took them to heart.

Half an hour later, Geng Xuelan emerged from the beauty salon. Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Lin Juangui, her face lighting up with joy. "Juangui! What are you doing here? You should’ve told me—I would’ve come to pick you up!"

Lin Juangui smiled warmly, his eyes curving into a gentle arc that endeared him to elders. "You had your own plans, and I didn’t want to disturb you by giving advance notice."

"Oh, what’s there to disturb?" Geng Xuelan waved off her friends and left with Lin Juangui after a brief farewell.

Instead of returning to the villa, they took a stroll along a path in the retirement home area lined with ginkgo trees.

Geng Xuelan clearly had many questions on her mind, but she knew Mu Zhang was secretive and strategic—no one could tell him what to do. It was possible that Lin Juangui’s appearances in public were also part of Mu Zhang’s plans, which made her feel especially protective of Lin Juangui.

Sensing her concern, Lin Juangui gently held Geng Xuelan’s hand and said, "Don’t worry, Mu Zhang has good judgment. I just wanted to spend time with you and bring you this."

He turned and gestured to the bodyguard Mu Zhang had assigned to him, taking a certificate framed in silver from the bodyguard’s hands.

"This is the spending money you gave me—I donated it all to a charity in your name. This is the certificate they issued."

Geng Xuelan was stunned.

She never expected Lin Juangui to donate all the money she had given him, just as he had donated the artifacts he discovered on some planet, as reported in the news. She couldn’t tell if it was big-heartedness or carelessness.

"Juangui, isn’t this… a bit too generous?"

"Generous" was putting it nicely—to be blunt, it was downright foolish.

Lin Juangui smiled brightly. "You’ve misunderstood. I genuinely feel sorry for those children and just wanted to help. Besides, I didn’t know how to spend the money you gave me without squandering it. I don’t have many expenses, so donating it felt like the right way to show I value your affection."

Geng Xuelan sighed after a moment. "There are so many places where money is needed. You’re still young—you’ll need to socialize and keep up appearances in the future."

She took the certificate from Lin Juangui’s hands and finally shook her head with a smile. "But it’s rare to see such a caring child like you."

She’d seen foolish people before, but never one quite like this.

Geng Xuelan transferred a string of codes to Lin Juangui via her light-brain. "You can use this password to access my personal assistant. Take any of my jewelry you like, and I’ll also transfer shares in some companies to you. Remember—no more donations!"

Lin Juangui naturally refused. He had already used the money Geng Xuelan gave him to establish a company and gather substantial funds. Donating the money was his way of avoiding further money ties with Mu Zhang’s family. But Geng Xuelan wouldn’t let him decline, insisting he shouldn’t be so formal with her over such trivial matters.

"You care about your grandmother, and you’re helping Mu Zhang look after me. There’s no reason I shouldn’t give you something to reassure us both. So don’t make me sad, alright?"

Since Geng Xuelan had said so, it would seem insincere for Lin Juangui to refuse further. In the end, he nodded and said with a smile, "Thank you, Grandmother."

"Your voice is so sweet; it always makes me happy when you call me that."

Lin Juangui stayed for dinner with Geng Xuelan at the orphanage.

When leaving, he walked leisurely by the lake, lost in thought.

He had actually intended to use that donation certificate to trade for a spot for Huo Zeshen to study at the Alpha Training Base on Yungang Star.

But what Geng Xuelan had given him was clearly too much, leaving him unsure how to get the most out of it.

On the day Huo Zeshen presented as an Alpha, Lin Juangui got the full picture from Wen Rui before leaving the orphanage.

"It's standard for Alphas to go to military school, but the quality varies greatly between institutions. The orphanage under the charity association can only get him into the military high school on Chensha Star. If Mr. Lin hopes for Little Huo to attend a better school, he'll inevitably have to test in."

However, Lin Juangui had done some homework. He remembered that the best military high school in the entire federation was on Yungang Star. Coincidentally, someone from the Alpha Association was also present. He asked the minister, "Little Shen's situation is quite special. He has never received formal education before. I was wondering if we could send him to the Alpha Training Base. With such a high pheromone level, he definitely has great potential for the future."

During Lin Juangui's absence, Huo Zeshen had begun trying to fit in, but Wen Rui noticed that he could barely read, and his literacy level might not even reach elementary school standards.

If Huo Zeshen wanted to attend the best military high school, he would undoubtedly have a tough road ahead. If Lin Juangui truly had Huo Zeshen's best interests at heart, he couldn't let him be left to his own devices.

The minister hadn't expected Lin Juangui to have such high expectations for Huo Zeshen, but it was true, as Lin Juangui said, that an Alpha with such a high pheromone level had a duty to society.

"The training base can be contacted, but better ones require connections, and it’s pricey. After all, everyone wants to test into a better military high school, and the environment in poorer schools is pretty rough."

These issues could be addressed as long as Huo Zeshen could successfully enroll.

Before leaving, Lin Juangui said to Wen Rui, "Please tell Little Shen about the training base matter. Leave me out of it to avoid putting too much psychological burden on him."

Children from orphanages often feel like they owe something after receiving help. Lin Juangui didn't need Huo Zeshen to repay him now, as Huo Zeshen was the most important card he held, and he needed to keep that card close for the time being.

Geng Xuelan now lived in a retirement home on Yungang Star. Using her connections to get Huo Zeshen into a training base would be straightforward. In the future, Lin Juangui could also use visits to Geng Xuelan as an excuse to check on Huo Zeshen, killing two birds with one stone.

But Geng Xuelan's enthusiasm and trust was a lot to handle for Lin Juangui.

He knew that Geng Xuelan acted this way hoping Lin Juangui would tolerate Mu Zhang's pheromones as much as possible, fearing he might leave Mu Zhang.

However, his contract with Mu Zhang was only for three years, and Lin Juangui was destined to disappoint Geng Xuelan.

For some reason, Lin Juangui always found it hard to be firm with elders. They certainly cared about their interests, but at times, their warmth and concern were real.

While lost in thought, he suddenly felt something heavy on his foot.

Lin Juangui looked down and saw a cat that had somehow come over to him, using his shoe as a comfortable resting spot.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be the same Colorful Cat that had darted out when Lin Juangui and Mu Zhang were walking by the lake with Geng Xuelan last time.

Lin Juangui couldn't help but laugh, bending down to stroke the Colorful Cat's glossy fur. "I saw you last time. Why are you rubbing against me again?"

When managing Zhou Corporation, Lin Juangui allowed employees to keep cats in the office and even allocated a budget for pet supplies.

Working for others with no personal time was hard enough; if they couldn’t even keep cats, people would be driven mad by work.

Lin Juangui often saw various breeds of cats from his subordinates. Those cats seemed to like him too, since his appearance usually meant they could immediately get tasty treats like canned food, cat treats, and freeze-dried snacks.

Because of this, Lin Juangui was great at petting cats. The Colorful Cat lifted its neck for Lin Juangui to scratch its chin, eventually rolling onto its back with all four paws in the air, belly exposed.

Lin Juangui was both amused and exasperated. He gently patted the Colorful Cat's belly and said, "Alright, I have to go now. I'll bring you some cat treats next time I come."

The appearance of the Colorful Cat had lifted Lin Juangui's spirits considerably, but his expression turned somber when he received a call from Zhuang Xi on his way back.

Zhuang Xi already knew that Lin Juangui intended to use connections to get Huo Zeshen into the Alpha Training Base. Lin Juangui hadn't discussed this with Zhuang Xi, as Zhuang Xi had been busy planning the auction of the cultural relics and dealing with the media. It would have been too much to ask him to handle Huo Zeshen's affairs on top of all that.

Regarding why Huo Zeshen had suddenly undergone presentation, Zhuang Xi said he bore some responsibility.

"Cai Yu isn't young anymore. The only solution I could think of was to accelerate his presentation so he could leave the welfare home smoothly. This was an established rule, and no one would see anything wrong with it. But he was too fond of picking on Huo Zeshen, so Huo Zeshen must have been exposed to a lot of the presentation-accelerating drug he used, which led to Huo Zeshen presenting not long after him..."

A few days before Huo Zeshen presented his secondary gender, Cai Yu presented as a Beta and immediately moved out of Yixin Welfare Home. After that, he would complete his studies at an ordinary high school on Sailing Star. His future path would depend entirely on himself. If he continued to complain and cause trouble in a new environment, no one would be willing to help him again.

Lin Juangui hadn't expected Zhuang Xi to be involved in Huo Zeshen's presentation. But since it had already happened, there was nothing he could say except to ask Zhuang Xi, "Will that presentation-accelerating drug harm his body?"

"No, it won't," Zhuang Xi assured him quickly. "This drug is meant for children who are of age but haven't presented yet. If it had any side effects, the people at the Pharmaceutical Bureau would be out of a job."

Lin Juangui raised his hand beside them and said, "I used it too, and in quite a large dose. But presenting at seventeen is considered very late by ordinary standards. Anyway, after becoming an Omega, my health has been declining day by day. I get winded just from running a short distance. I don't know if it's because I used too much of that drug back then."

Lin Juangui fell silent for a moment before taking a deep breath to suppress his emotions. "Since he's already presented, there's nothing we can do. I just think that with such high-level pheromones, Huo Zeshen shouldn't be handled carelessly. If he can spend some time at the Alpha Training Base on Yungang Star, it might help him with his high school entrance exams later."

"You've really planned everything out for him. Yungang Star... that's a bit tricky, but not impossible. Don't worry, I'll handle it."

With Zhuang Xi's assurance, Lin Juangui felt relieved. It was even better if he didn't have to use Geng Xuelan's connections. What Geng Xuelan had given him wasn't just the affection of an elder for a younger relative—it also came with surveillance everywhere.

If he casually used Geng Xuelan's private butler, everything he did afterward would get back to Geng Xuelan and Mu Zhang, leaving him with no privacy whatsoever.

Lin Juangui had experienced enough of this in the past and wouldn't make the same mistake again.

No matter how much Geng Xuelan cared for Lin Juangui, her biological grandson was Mu Zhang. No matter how outrageous Mu Zhang's actions were, Geng Xuelan would always take his side. She would never favor an outsider with no blood relation to her.

It was already late at night when Lin Juangui returned to Sailing Star. Butler Yang had been waiting at the estate entrance for a long time.

When Butler Yang mentioned some suggestions regarding the layout of the basement, the memories Lin Juangui had deliberately suppressed came flooding back.

Recalling the darkness he had experienced during those days, Lin Juangui's expression turned grim. "What kind of suggestions?"

Butler Yang maintained a polite smile. "Some that you dislike and feel need improvement. Mr. Mu's requirements are clear to me. The next step is to gather your requests and integrate them."

Thoughtful, Lin Juangui walked with Butler Yang toward the main residence. "That basement was used by Mu Zhang during his rut, right? He dislikes light, is highly aggressive, and makes a lot of noise. In that case..."

Lin Juangui pulled up his lightbrain and sketched a diagram on the virtual screen for Butler Yang. He preferred to be concrete rather than abstract when handling matters.

"I don't want to be on the same level as the Alpha. The commotion would disturb me. I don't want to be exposed to the Alpha's pheromones either—it could trigger my heat. I need light; it makes me feel secure. So the best solution is to split it into upper and lower levels. My pheromones would naturally descend, while his would be extracted. While helping him through his rut, I could still take care of my own things—reading, sleeping, studying, and so on. It shouldn't be too difficult to arrange, right?"

Butler Yang saved Lin Juangui's diagram and nodded, indicating that he would arrange for a designer to come and plan it out the next day.

The designer probably never expected to receive such a strange request. Conventionally, Omegas would stay by an Alpha's side during their rut, with both parties wanting to stick together every second. Such a separation was highly unusual.

Lin Juangui had a sharp mind, and his diagram was simple yet clear enough to convey his intentions.

The next day, when Lin Juangui went to the dining room for breakfast, Mu Zhang was already there.

It seemed he had recovered well and was already able to move around.

The memories of what had happened were still vivid in Lin Juangui's mind. He adjusted his glasses and sat down opposite Mu Zhang, greeting him politely.

Mu Zhang responded with an "Mm." His gaze darkened slightly when it landed on Lin Juangui's eyes, but he quickly schooled his expression. "You did well by having Gu Mi keep the news of my injury under wraps earlier. Your side was also airtight. I'm satisfied."

Lin Juangui's strategic thinking had taken Mu Zhang by surprise. He hadn't expected Lin Juangui to be so decisive when handling matters—a level of assertiveness many couldn't achieve.

"Thank you, I just made the decision that was most beneficial to me."

Mu Zhang and Lin Juangui are now tied together by marriage, like two grasshoppers tied to one string. If anyone were to find out that Mu Zhang was injured and unconscious, they would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to cause trouble, which would only create more problems for Lin Juangui. Although he has the ability to handle such situations, he is in no hurry to seize power just yet.

Lin Juangui’s unflappable composure is hard not to admire. A faint smile crossed Mu Zhang’s face as he recalled Butler Yang’s troubled expression this morning and the schematic Lin Juangui had provided, his eyes glinting with even more amusement.

"You don’t like my pheromones."

Lin Juangui slowly stirred the fish chowder in his bowl with a spoon and nodded gently. "Didn’t you see my allergen report during the pre-marital checkup at the hospital? I’m allergic to asphalt, but your pheromones are fine—I just have difficulty tolerating them. You won’t force me to endure them, will you?"

Mu Zhang wasn’t bothered. In fact, he had long since come to terms with this reality.

"I’ve known since I first differentiated that my pheromones aren’t exactly likable. No need to remind me. But about that schematic you gave Butler Yang yesterday—won’t our pheromones mix and be extracted together? Wouldn’t that require you to release twice the amount of pheromones?"

Lin Juangui’s gaze went blank for a moment, and he tapped his temple with a hint of helplessness. "Are technical issues like this really my responsibility to solve? Do you really think I’m capable of that?"

Mu Zhang was amused by Lin Juangui’s response, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly.

A man of power and influence like Mu Zhang exudes charm even in his wrinkles. If Mu Zhang hadn’t done all those unpleasant things, Lin Juangui might have taken a few more moments to appreciate the male protagonist's face.

But sometimes a person’s actions can easily overshadow their appearance. So, in Lin Juangui’s eyes, no matter how much charm Mu Zhang unconsciously radiated, it left him completely unmoved, failing to stir even the slightest ripple.

After all, Lin Juangui only saw Mu Zhang as a client. Who could possibly have any fondness for a demanding, difficult client?

After a moment, Mu Zhang finally brought up a serious matter: "Your school sent a warning email to your parents, and they forwarded it to me. I took a look—it basically says that if you don’t start attending classes again, you’ll be forcibly expelled."

If Mu Zhang hadn’t reminded him, Lin Juangui had almost forgotten that he still had another identity: that of a clear-eyed and foolish university student.

He couldn’t be bothered to dig into why Lin’s parents had forwarded the email to Mu Zhang—whether they were trying to curry favor with him or subtly hoping Lin Juangui would return to school.

Lin Juangui set down his spoon and smiled calmly at Mu Zhang. "Do you need me to attend classes, my husband in name only? Should I go gild myself with a degree to make things easier for you in social and business circles?"

Mu Zhang raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. "Do you want to? If I remember correctly, someone once went on a hunger strike for a long time to avoid attending art school."

Lin Juangui’s past had long been thoroughly investigated by Mu Zhang, leaving no detail uncovered. Lin Juangui wasn’t surprised.

The young Omega’s gaze was clear and transparent, as if he were devoting all his attention to the Alpha before him.

"I do. So, I want to attend the best business school in the Federation. You’ll arrange that for me, won’t you?"