Chapter 33 Shattered Struggle

Chapter 33: Shattered Struggles

Lin Juangui’s words made Yao Zhi’s smile falter for a second.

As an experienced psychologist, he quickly regained his composure, asking Lin Juangui to repeat what he’d said, explaining that he hadn’t heard it clearly due to the soft tone.

Unconsciously, Yao Zhi’s expression grew much more serious. He observed Lin Juangui, noting the vagueness and unfocused nature of his gaze.

Lin Juangui suddenly looked up, and Yao Zhi felt an intense pressure. He heard Lin Juangui say, “I recall psychologists always trying to earn their patients’ trust before treatment, but trust is reciprocal. I’m curious if Dr. Yao shares the same concerns as I do.”

Yao Zhi took a discreet, deep breath. He had already sensed Lin Juangui’s influence on him from the moment he entered the room.

Yao Zhi’s momentary distraction stemmed from his belief that Lin Juangui had seen through something. Since Lin Juangui had offered an opening, he decided to follow his lead.

“Sometimes, yes. But could you elaborate a bit more?”

Lin Juangui still seemed somewhat hesitant. “Then, Dr. Yao, will you believe what I say?”

The decor of Yao Zhi’s consultation room was oppressive. The dense, saturated blue-purple hues felt overly stifling, failing to create a relaxing atmosphere and instead evoking subconscious tension and unease.

Lin Juangui could roughly discern Yao Zhi’s approach: using the discomfort of the environment to create a “suspension bridge effect,” making patients develop initial trust in him, then gradually helping them unravel their issues to achieve therapeutic results.

Whether this method worked, Lin Juangui didn’t know. Without data to support it, it was hard for him to make a judgment.

However, thanks to Zhou Yi, Lin Juangui had seen many methods. Once, while discussing business on a ferry, Zhou Yi took him to a banquet hall not open to the public, where Lin Juangui discovered a whole new world.

Although Lin Juangui didn’t engage in some of these activities himself, he quickly grasped them after learning about them and could immediately identify certain traits in people through his keen observation.

The boxes he saw upon entering the room felt familiar to Lin Juangui, so he probed bluntly. Yao Zhi’s reaction confirmed his suspicion, making Lin Juangui even more unrestrained.

Yao Zhi cleared his throat and followed Lin Juangui’s lead. “Of course, you can trust me. Your mental health assessment report indicates that nothing seems to interest you, and you experience fear in dark environments. Do you usually try to overcome these issues?”

“Yes, I do things that stimulate my senses, but mostly, they’re only interesting at the beginning. No one can engage with me fully.”

Lin Juangui was practically laying his cards on the table, eagerly anticipating Yao Zhi’s reaction. His eyes gleamed like a wolf’s in the night, dark and profound.

Meeting Lin Juangui’s gaze, Yao Zhi unconsciously swallowed.

This… aura of a kindred spirit.

When Lin Juangui first entered, Yao Zhi first noticed his leather shoes, pristine and spotless, then his trousers, the hem of his trench coat, and finally his strikingly beautiful face, with an expression of undisguised disdain.

The Omega sat there languidly, yet exuded an air of effortless control.

Lin Juangui’s first sentence had already applied a psychological suggestion to Yao Zhi. Unconsciously, the initiative in this conversation had been seized by Lin Juangui, leaving Yao Zhi to only ask questions based on Lin Juangui’s responses.

“Is it playing games? What specifically?”

“I quite like ropes of various colors. Whips are fun too, especially those with soft barbs, and…”

With each keyword Lin Juangui uttered, Yao Zhi’s hand trembled. Eventually, Yao Zhi completely lost his train of thought, simply staring at Lin Juangui’s face, his throat tightening at the sight of the other’s confident smile, forgetting what he meant to say.

The Omega was like a mischievous child, delighting in Yao Zhi’s reaction before abruptly snapping him back to reality. “Dr. Yao, I know it’s not ideal that I like these things, but sometimes they do become interesting, and I get excited. If I want to change, what should I do?”

Yao Zhi shuddered, almost forgetting that the person before him was merely his patient. He took a deep breath, picked up the water cup on the table to calm himself, but accidentally spilled all the water onto the desk.

Lin Juangui exclaimed, “Oops! Better call a robot to clean up, Dr. Yao. I think you’re not quite yourself. Are you okay?”

Yao Zhi glanced at Lin Juangui and could see the excitement of discovering prey in his eyes.

“I’m fine, sorry for the embarrassment.”

By the time the messy desk was cleaned by the robot, Yao Zhi had composed himself, frowning slightly as if returning to his role as a psychologist.

After calming down, Yao Zhi seemed more focused. He asked Lin Juangui to what extent he could go.

Lin Juangui tapped his chin boredly, occasionally lifting his leather-shod foot. Clearly, his attention was no longer here.

“It depends on how cooperative the other party is.”

“Have you ever injured anyone?”

“What counts as injury?” Lin Juangui’s eyes suddenly lit up with a smile, even raising an eyebrow rather proudly.

Yao Zhi pursed his lips. In his circle, those who could master these things were few and far between. Most were just venting emotions and anger. Someone as calm as Lin Juangui was truly rare.

Since Lin Juangui was being so blunt, Yao Zhi could certainly delve deeper into the conversation.

“The extent of bleeding.”

Lin Juangui finally sat up straight, extending a finger toward Yao Zhi as if showing off. “At most, capillary rupture. I don’t like the feeling of flesh tearing open. What’s the difference between that and pork?”

Yao Zhi nodded, noting something on his digital device, then asked if Lin Juangui usually engaged in physical activities within his tolerance.

“Omegas are physically weaker, so it’s normal to seek mental pleasure. But since you want to change, perhaps you could use other methods to compensate for that stimulation.”

“Like what?”

“Finding prey that satisfies you enough.”

Lin Juangui raised an eyebrow but soon shrugged. “There won’t be any. I can’t bear to play these games with someone too close to me, and toys found in a hurry can’t meet my high demands. So, I often feel hungry. If Dr. Yao can help me break free from this state, my gratitude will surely satisfy you.”

The conversation lasted a full hour. When Lin Juangui noticed that this week’s psychological consultation time had been used up, he raised his hand to signal that it was time to end for the day.

“See you next time, Dr. Yao. Talking with you was truly pleasant. I rarely meet someone so in sync with me.”

Yao Zhi had indeed never encountered a patient like Lin Juangui. “Most spiritual hunger needs to be fulfilled through daily life. If possible, I’d suggest you start with exercise, diverting some of your attention. If you really can’t control it…”

Lin Juangui suddenly received a friend request. He heard Yao Zhi’s deliberately lowered voice, “You can ask me what to do.”

Exchanging glances, Lin Juangui understood his meaning, said “Okay,” and stood up to leave the consultation room.

When leaving the student activity center, Lin Juangui’s expression noticeably cooled.

Over the years, he had seen many psychologists, and he could tell who had real skill and who was incompetent with just three questions.

Yao Zhi did have some professional competence, but Lin Juangui’s evaluation of him remained low.

To be so affected by a patient’s few words, the influence of his circle on him was already evident.

Being a psychologist is a profession that can take a toll on one’s mental health, so finding ways to relieve stress is entirely normal. Lin Juangui could understand that.

But first, the casually placed props, the deliberately dim consultation room, and then the inability to control the questioning rhythm in front of the patient.

If Yao Zhi couldn’t hold himself together even at school, and if he had enough professional ethics, he wouldn’t have felt an urge under Lin Juangui’s hint.

Many times, Yao Zhi’s gaze toward Lin Juangui was utterly undisguised, almost as if he were kneeling at Lin Juangui’s feet begging for a taste.

Lin Juangui has been exposed to far more darkness than most people could imagine. Those acts that defy human ethics, slimy and unsettling, occur every day, attempting to seize Lin Juangui’s feet and drag him down.

But Lin Juangui always manages to withdraw in time—without attachment or obsession—so no one has ever been able to get any dirt on him.

It was precisely this quality that Old Master Zhou held in particularly high regard, though he also grew wary of Lin Juangui as his influence expanded, precisely because Lin Juangui seemed to have no weaknesses.

Lin Juangui is clever; he quickly grasps the essence of techniques that take others much longer to learn.

He did indeed experience the kind of hunger Yao Zhi mentioned at one point, but it was later addressed through therapy—thanks to an unexpected encounter with Huo Zeshen.

The boxes in Yao Zhi’s office were specially made, varying in size, and Lin Juangui could easily guess what was inside.

So he tested Yao Zhi directly and revealed his “preferences,” because he needed Yao Zhi to see him as “one of their kind.”

After that, it became easy to get Yao Zhi to open up. Yao Zhi quickly fell into the trap Lin Juangui had set.

But Lin Juangui wasn't about to let his guard down.

What if this was just an act? After all, Yao Zhi had been in the field for many years and must have seen all kinds of people.

Lin Juangui didn’t come to Yunhang Star just to earn a diploma. Mu Zhang would evaluate his abilities on all fronts, and with hints so obvious, he couldn’t afford to drop the ball.

But this week’s counseling appointment slots were already fully booked. Not knowing which psychologist he’d meet next week, Lin Juangui planned to feel them out one by one—and the stories he’d provide would, of course, vary each time.

After all, no one expects students to confide in psychologists about anything beyond family and campus life. They’d rather use anonymous accounts online to vent than be as “honest” as Lin Juangui.

-

Just like in his younger days, Lin Juangui was looking forward to his weekend off.

However, Mu Zhang wasn't about to let Lin Juangui enjoy a peaceful campus life.

Originally, Lin Juangui wanted to visit the training base where Huo Zeshen was stationed to see how things were going, but Mu Zhang insisted he accompany him to a banquet, so Lin Juangui had no choice but to stay home waiting for the stylist to bring the formal attire.

Since it was a birthday banquet, Lin Juangui hoped to dress low-key to avoid overshadowing the host.

“Why haven’t you started getting ready yet? Waiting for me to choose?”

Lin Juangui had been using the time to handle some company matters. Hearing Mu Zhang’s voice, he looked up and smiled. “Sure.”

It would be a chance to get a look at Mu Zhang’s fashion sense—something Lin Juangui had always been curious about.

A playful smirk spread across Mu Zhang’s face. “You’ll wear whatever I pick?”

Lin Juangui closed his interface, as if already knowing what Mu Zhang had in mind, and smiled understandingly. “If you didn’t like what I chose, you wouldn’t let me wear it out anyway.”

Mu Zhang selected a purple diamond-encrusted outfit from what the stylist had brought, paired with golden dragonfly ear cuffs.

The stylist had already picked out clothes and accessories that matched Lin Juangui’s preferences, but upon hearing Mu Zhang’s words, she prepared to make another selection. However, Lin Juangui gave her a look that seemed to say, “Just leave what you’ve already picked out; no need to put them away.”

Lin Juangui changed quickly and stood before the mirror, feeling like he'd suddenly turned into a nouveau riche.

With Lin Juangui’s face, anything he wore would look good. Not to mention his long limbs, well-proportioned figure, and the way he adjusted his cuffs like a male model on display.

While Lin Juangui remained calm, the stylist turned away with an expression of barely concealed dismay.

Mu Zhang’s styling was somewhat tacky, but Lin Juangui’s unique temperament, striking features, slender waist as elegant as bamboo, and enticing hip curves unmistakably marked him as a top-tier Omega.

But his Alpha’s questionable taste was probably something few could appreciate.

"Won’t I stand out too much showing up at someone's birthday party dressed like this?"

Lin Juangui lifted his hand to adjust his ear cuff, tilting his head to glance at Mu Zhang, who was sitting there in a black suit, smirking.

After all, Mu Zhang’s attitude wasn’t much different from dolling up a pet. Lin Juangui knew he was in a passive position when it came to Mu Zhang, so he couldn’t muster any defiance.

Mu Zhang narrowed his eyes and deliberately said, "You’re now the Federation’s celebrated new philanthropy star. Even if you dress a bit flashy, they’ll only praise you."

"Really?" Lin Juangui slightly curved his eyes, spreading his arms and turning in front of the mirror. "Then I’m a bit worried people might think I’m deliberately trying to crash the party. How about changing into something else? After all, we’re guests."

Lin Juangui knew Mu Zhang just wanted to mess with him, but he couldn’t exactly oppose Mu Zhang—instead, he had to hand Mu Zhang an easy way out.

Indeed, failing to ruffle Lin Juangui left Mu Zhang a bit displeased. But even in such a deep shade of purple, Lin Juangui looked dowdy. Standing next to Mu Zhang, he only made the Alpha appear older.

Lin Juangui’s offered way out was smoothly accepted by Mu Zhang. "Then let’s see what kind of outfit you can put together for yourself."

"Alright." Lin Juangui turned to the stylist, who picked out the outfits originally chosen according to Lin Juangui’s preferences. After selecting one, Lin Juangui went to change. When he came out, the stylist was beaming with approval.

Lin Juangui had chosen a Zhongshan-style suit jacket with a silver bamboo motif. The diagonal front closure and frog buttons added a touch of classical elegance—understated, yet showcasing unique taste.

As for accessories, Lin Juangui kept it simple. He switched to a pair of silver-wire glasses, wore his wedding ring matching Mu Zhang’s, and held a string of high-grade green jade beads—elegant yet aloofly captivating.

Mu Zhang’s eyes lit up for a moment. He had to admit Lin Juangui had a knack for dressing well. The outfit Lin Juangui wore on his first day of class, which was caught by the media, made him look every bit the college student, stirring in Mu Zhang an unexpected daydream of what it would have been like to meet Lin Juangui on campus.

But Mu Zhang wouldn’t let that fantasy linger. Every time he snapped back to reality and remembered Lin Juangui was an Omega, he felt as though he were betraying who he once was.

"Care to comment?" Lin Juangui asked the Mu Zhang, who was spacing out.

Mu Zhang’s throat moved as he pondered how to respond. Just then, Ge Miao came over to remind him, "Sir, the car is ready."

The Alpha stood up, pointed at Lin Juangui, and said, "This one."

The holographic projection was abruptly shut off. Lin Juangui took a deep breath, then smiled wryly and shook his head.

The stylist quietly gave Lin Juangui a thumbs-up.

Truly an Omega worthy of being married to Mu Zhang—able to smooth the Alpha’s temper like that.

This time, Lin Juangui was accompanying Mu Zhang to the birthday banquet of the Yungang Star governor’s wife. Mu Zhang had traveled all the way from Sailling Star to pick up Lin Juangui so they could go together.

When they arrived outside the villa, Mu Zhang frowned, as if thinking the place was too small to live in.

Lin Juangui was already fully prepared. Once in the car, he smiled at Mu Zhang and asked what gift he had prepared this time.

"Isn’t that your job to figure out?" Mu Zhang dismissively shifted the responsibility onto Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui observed Mu Zhang’s expression and realized he wasn’t joking. He sighed softly and said, "You can’t make something from nothing."

What did it matter if others knew he was Mu Zhang’s Omega? He had no real authority. Mu Zhang only gave him a hard time about these kinds of things.

Mu Zhang gave a low laugh. "The gift was sent over days ago. Did you really think I’d leave it to you? But from now on, you really should handle these matters. After all, I don’t understand what Omegas like. I’ll handle the public side; you take care of currying their private favor. Clear division of labor."

Lin Juangui nodded and said, "Understood." This was something Mu Zhang had already decided. Informing him was just a formality—a task assigned by the client to the contractor.

"Yesterday, I went to the school’s psychological counseling center. The psychologists there seemed very professional. The session flew by."

"Oh?" Mu Zhang’s eyes showed a flicker of interest. "Was it good or not?"

Lin Juangui shook his head, indicating he didn't know. "It depends on the skill level of the next psychologist I see to make a proper comparison."

Mu Zhang gave an "Hmm" but offered no further instructions. Lin Juangui then propped his chin in his hands and asked, "When is your next rut?"

"It used to be about once every three months, but I don’t know about the future."

A look of confusion appeared in Lin Juangui’s eyes. Mu Zhang turned to look at him. "That's why you need to be available at all times."

According to Lin Juangui’s description, Mu Zhang had developed a resistance due to long-term use of inhibitors.

As an Alpha ages, his need for an Omega increases. If he wants to soothe the irritability and aggression brought on by his rut through Omega pheromones, he must apply through the Alpha Association. This way, he can help Omegas through their heats when needed, in exchange for their pheromones.

How could Mu Zhang tolerate being controlled by an Omega? So he took the initiative and sought out Lin Juangui as the perfect stand-in.

Lin Juangui nodded thoughtfully. "It seems I need to prepare in advance."

"Prepare what?" Mu Zhang narrowed his eyes. "Didn’t Old Yang already get everything an Omega needs?"

Lin Juangui felt Mu Zhang was a bit overconfident. Pursing his lips, he spoke with a hint of frustration, "That rut of yours was my first time experiencing heat. Those inhibitors seemed to have no effect at all on me. I’m not used to that feeling of... lack of control."

Mu Zhang seemed as if he had been touched on a nerve. He averted his gaze. "So what do you plan to do?"

"When I visited Zhuang Xi’s home before, I saw he used a strong inhibitor. I plan to buy some."

Mu Zhang frowned. "Long-term use of strong inhibitors leads to resistance. Eventually, you’ll crave Alpha pheromones even more."

Lin Juangui let out an "Ah," as if unaware of such severe side effects.

"Otherwise, why do you think I insisted on finding an Omega to help me through my rut?"

In a rare moment of honesty, Mu Zhang watched as Lin Juangui lowered his head, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment, Lin Juangui said, "I don’t know when you started using strong inhibitors, but I don’t want to experience that loss of control induced by heat again."

"Do what you want."

Lin Juangui sensed Mu Zhang was somewhat displeased. Was it because he was reminded of the loss of control when strong inhibitors failed him, making him particularly irritable?

He decided to bring up such topics less in the future to avoid triggering Mu Zhang’s sensitivities and suffering for it.

The two soon arrived at the banquet.

In the past, Mu Zhang attended such events alone, but this time he made a high-profile entrance with Lin Juangui, almost as if showing off.

Lin Juangui was indeed quite a prize—his strikingly beautiful face alone was unforgettable.

The Omega placed his hand on Mu Zhang’s arm, carried himself gracefully with humility and politeness. His clear, bright eyes were exactly as people had recently seen on television.

Those planetary lords who often teased Mu Zhang for lacking a partner finally shut their mouths, their eyes glued to Lin Juangui as they praised Mu Zhang: "You’ve really found a treasure!"

Mu Zhang wrapped an arm around Lin Juangui’s waist, pulling him closer and making his claim clear. "He certainly brings me many surprises."

After introducing Lin Juangui to everyone, Mu Zhang let him socialize and chat with the other guests.

As someone who had dominated the stellar network search trends lately, Lin Juangui naturally became the center of attention. The group of ladies surrounded him, questioning him so enthusiastically that they almost pushed the host of the banquet aside.

This was getting out of hand. Lin Juangui quickly spoke up to stop them: "Please, don’t tease me anymore. We’re here today to celebrate Mr. Liang Shanyue’s birthday. How can such a wonderful day be spent making fun of me?"

Liang Shanyue was the partner of the lord of Yungang Star. He had contributed greatly to the planet’s current prosperity, boasting both connections and capabilities.

Originally, Liang Shanyue had been somewhat annoyed by the guests, but Lin Juangui’s thoughtfulness earned him an appreciative look.

Mu Zhang’s luck was incredibly good to marry such an outstanding Omega.

Liang Shanyue raised his glass and said, "Thank you all for coming to my birthday banquet. I invited everyone here to have fun, so no need to be reserved—just enjoy yourselves."

Lin Juangui stayed close to Liang Shanyue, skillfully kept the conversation going and preventing any awkward silences. Before long, he moved from the outer circle to Liang Shanyue’s side, and Liang Shanyue’s address for him changed from "Mr. Lin" to "Juangui."

"Juangui, didn’t you donate all the artifacts discovered on Bada Star? I saw the charity auction list yesterday and there are a few pieces I like. Could you keep an eye out for updates?"

Wealthy people were no fools—they hoped to promote goodwill through charity auctions while also acquiring items they desired, making them more willing to spend.

Lin Juangui smiled and nodded. "You can send me the specific item numbers of the artifacts you like. I’ll check when the auction is scheduled and let you know as soon as I have updates."

Liang Shanyue agreed with a smile. Mid-conversation, he asked Lin Juangui when his birthday was. "You must have Mu Zhang throw a grand celebration for you."

"It’s coming up soon. It depends on what Mu Zhang thinks. If he doesn’t want to make a big deal, I’ll go along with it."

In reality, Mu Zhang wouldn’t put any effort into celebrating Lin Juangui’s birthday. Lin Juangui didn’t want to make promises he couldn’t keep, avoiding embarrassment for both sides. He also didn’t want to see Mu Zhang’s face on his birthday.

Lin Juangui’s seemingly inexperienced approach toward Alpha-Omega relationships made Liang Shanyue a bit anxious.

Liang Shanyue tsked and lowered his voice, speaking earnestly to Lin Juangui. "An Omega shouldn’t always put an Alpha first. Over time, he’ll take you for granted. Listen to me—this is your first birthday after marriage. You must uphold your dignity."

Lin Juangui seemed to have an epiphany, his expression giving Liang Shanyue a sense of accomplishment.

Liang Shanyue suddenly took matters into his own hands. "You seem too reserved. Don’t worry, I’ll bring it up later."

No wonder Liang Shanyue was so well-liked—he was truly loyal. He directly brought Lin Juangui to his husband and introduced him as Mu Zhang’s spouse.

Jin Qi quickly remarked that the couple was a perfect match, barely daring to let his eyes linger on Lin Juangui for fear of upsetting his own spouse.

Liang Shanyue smiled contentedly, while Mu Zhang once again witnessed Lin Juangui’s terrifying social skills.

"Juangui’s birthday is coming up soon, Mu Zhang. You can’t disappoint your newlywed treasure."

Mu Zhang chuckled lightly, holding his glass. Watching Lin Juangui’s embarrassed and reluctant expression, he said casually, "Of course, I’ll prepare everything. I hope you both will honor us with your presence."

Liang Shanyue shot Lin Juangui a triumphant look, as if saying, "See? Learned something, didn’t you?"

Lin Juangui smiled, eyes curving, and nodded. Holding Liang Shanyue’s arm, he beamed. "You’re truly amazing."

The banquet ended in the early morning hours. Lin Juangui and Mu Zhang stood on the hotel balcony, watching the grand light show Jin Qi had prepared for his spouse.

Lin Juangui wore a smile but didn’t seem particularly envious.

When Mu Zhang asked what kind of birthday celebration he wanted, Lin Juangui said, "Anything is fine. Whatever you arrange, I’ll like it."

"Didn’t you ask Liang Shanyue to demand a birthday party from me?" Why play hard to get now?

Lin Juangui didn't bother to look back at Mu Zhang. "This year, when I make a birthday wish, I’ll tell the candles that I hope Mu Zhang can set aside his prejudice against me. But wishes don’t come true if you say them out loud, so I know this one definitely won’t."

Mu Zhang’s voice suddenly turned husky. "You’re saying this deliberately for me to hear."

Lin Juangui turned around, leaning on the railing, and spoke to Mu Zhang with resignation. "Mu Zhang, perhaps you could try seeing me as just an individual person, not an Omega."

As his words faded, golden fireworks soared into the sky. The lingering, brilliant lights reflected on Mu Zhang’s face, and in his eyes, Lin Juangui saw a struggle starting to show.