Chapter 42 Gone Girl

Chapter 42 The Missing Partner

After receiving full medical treatment, Liang Shanyue's grandfather gradually regained clarity.

His two uncles were thoroughly ousted, leading to a major reshuffle within the Liang family—an event unseen in decades.

Thanks to Liang Shanyue's actions, his father's status within the family rose significantly, and he was transferred from a subsidiary back to the headquarters of the group.

The strategy Lin Juangui suggested to Liang Shanyue was a risky move—merely putting on a tearful performance in front of the media, which was somewhat embarrassing—but the payoff was exceptionally high.

After succeeding, Liang Shanyue struggled to contain his joy.

Had he stayed on Yun Gang Xing, he would have undoubtedly missed this opportunity to gain merit in his grandfather's eyes. Liang Shanyue felt genuine gratitude toward Lin Juangui; without his help, he might still be hung up on Yao Zhi.

When Liang Shanyue mentioned that his grandfather was preparing to be discharged from the hospital, Lin Juangui said with relief, "The old man is blessed with great fortune and resilience. It’s truly a relief that nothing serious happened."

"But…" Liang Shanyue still had doubts, "Grandfather absolutely refuses to tell me the specifics of that key project. He only said that such matters would no longer affect Yun Gang Xing and that he would have a lawyer sign the documents. I feel this situation might be more complicated than it seems."

After all, it was a confidential group matter, and given that Liang Shanyue had no desire to involve himself in Sword Group’s affairs, his grandfather’s silence was a form of protection.

Lin Juangui had a hunch: the old man might have long wanted to purge Liang Shanyue’s two uncles but lacked a pretext and opportunity.

As the founder of the Sword Group, he would never allow himself to be passive. He had to wait for his two sons to make mistakes first so he could "uphold justice by cutting off family" without leaving any room for criticism.

Otherwise, how could the old man recover his health so quickly and decisively resolve the Liang family’s chaos in such a short time?

Lin Juangui figured this out but simply smiled, not intending to flaunt his cleverness.

So he comforted Liang Shanyue, "As long as we successfully break the deadlock and resolve the crisis, that’s what matters. Jin Qi has been very active on Yun Gang Xing lately. When do you plan to return?"

Liang Shanyue couldn’t help but laugh heartily, "That bastard can wait. I’ve already told Grandfather—I’ll bring a lawyer back to settle the score with him properly."

After hanging up with Liang Shanyue, Lin Juangui came out from the bedroom to the hallway and heard Mu Zhang talking to someone in the living room.

He approached the staircase on the second floor and saw Mu Zhang on a video call with Jin Qi.

"It’s over, I’m completely finished! You have no idea how terrifying Liang Shanyue’s vengefulness can be. After what I’ve done to him this time, he’s definitely going to divorce me!!"

Mu Zhang smiled lightly, appearing entirely uninterested in Jin Qi’s marital issues. "Weren’t you both doing your own thing anyway? Why are you suddenly so attached?"

Jin Qi shook his head as if resigned. "Back then, he was too busy managing things on Yun Gang Xing to pay attention to me. I stepped out because I needed Omega pheromones! He never cared during my rut period—is he even my Omega? But no Omega’s pheromones affect me the way his do. My rationality tells me I don’t need him, but my body won’t listen!"

Only during intimacy with Liang Shanyue could Jin Qi experience true pleasure—a feeling no one else could provide.

Most Alphas are still controlled by pheromones; an Omega’s scent is a sweet sanctuary for them.

During an Omega’s heat, they need an Alpha’s help and comfort, and Alphas similarly rely on Omegas. Only by merging can they find happiness.

Mu Zhang narrowed his eyes and offered Jin Qi a suggestion, "In that case, get down on your knees before Liang Shanyue and apologize. Or have a complete outburst—tell him why you strayed. Then…"

Lin Juangui slowly descended the stairs, and Mu Zhang cut off his half-finished advice.

Jin Qi waited expectantly for Mu Zhang to continue, but Mu Zhang teased him, looking somewhat smug. "Figure it out yourself. I don’t want anyone accusing me of corrupting you."

Mu Zhang ended the call. Lin Juangui pushed his glasses up, seeming puzzled by Mu Zhang’s approach. "Are you sure that isn’t just teaching him how to get divorced faster?"

"I’m trying to save their marriage. They’re both obsessed with these games. And you—how did you learn all this?"

Mu Zhang wondered how many surprises Lin Juangui had in store.

Lin Juangui replied casually, "The Star Network has everything. It seems you’ve never explored it."

The Omega was dressed in white and blue athletic casual wear today, wearing a baseball cap that made him look youthful and energetic.

He had an exam to attend and no time to chat further with Mu Zhang.

Mu Zhang stood up and walked over to Lin Juangui, adjusting his cap. His fingers brushed lightly through Lin Juangui’s soft black hair, leaving a lasting impression that made Mu Zhang momentarily dazed.

"Your grades don’t matter. After the exam, we’ll visit Grandmother and then go home."

"Alright, got it."

After Lin Juangui left, Mu Zhang recalled what Liang Shanyue had said earlier:

—No Omega’s pheromones affect me the way his do.

At some point, the scent of white fir that Mu Zhang detected from Lin Juangui had gradually faded.

This change happened subtly, especially after the time Lin Juangui provided pheromones despite his inflamed scent gland.

Mu Zhang couldn’t pinpoint the exact scent—Mu Yuanqing’s influence on him was still deep and indelible.

But he suddenly wondered what Lin Juangui’s own scent was like.

He began subconsciously performing small, caring gestures for Lin Juangui, who accepted them naturally without reading any romantic undertones into them.

Mu Zhang suddenly felt that he might be in a worse spot than Jin Qi.

After all, his Omega partner had made it clear that things would never return to how they were during their first meeting.

The exam went smoothly. Lin Juangui finished early every time—it seemed cramming at the last minute had paid off.

-

After the exam, Huai Fu came to compare answers with Lin Juangui but gave up halfway. "Maybe I’m just not cut out for business studies."

"These are just my answers. Your brother won’t be hard on you based on your grades. Why worry?"

Huai Fu pouted. "But I came here to prove myself to him. Now I can only prove that I’m incapable."

Speak of the devil—Huai Fu’s brother, Huai Jun, came to pick him up. When he saw Lin Juangui, he smiled with narrowed eyes. "Long time no see, Juangui. How have you been?"

Huai Jun often used to pick up Huai Fu from school, and Lin Juangui had met him many times.

Lin Juangui replied, "I’ve been fine." "I’ll head out now. Have a good holiday."

Huai Fu waved to Lin Juangui. "You too! If anything’s bothering you, talk to me. I might not be able to help, but I’ll always listen!"

"Okay."

It seemed Lin Juangui’s state couldn’t be hidden from those who knew him well.

When Mu Zhang drove to pick up Lin Juangui to visit the retirement home, he noticed Lin Juangui seemed low-spirited and asked if the exam had been too difficult.

Lin Juangui shook his head. "It was fine for me. The results won’t be out until next week. We’ll see then."

The retirement home wasn’t far from the school—just a ten-minute drive away.

Mu Zhang hadn’t visited Geng Xuelan in a while. She asked how he’d been and if he’d encountered any danger. "I heard Yun Gang Xing has been in turmoil lately—everyone's jumpy. If I weren’t too old to travel, I’d get away to avoid getting caught up in it."

Jin Qi was busy reclaiming his power as the "Governor" of Yungang Star, hoping to diminish the influence Liang Shanyue had built over the years there.

He could indeed leverage his status to sign all sorts of bizarre documents, and some people would humor him, but it was all superficial—workers just didn’t want to make things awkward or offend anyone, essentially humoring Jin Qi’s nonsense.

Jin Qi couldn’t access the core of power and could only play the role of a shouting clown on stage.

Having been in charge of Yungang Star for so many years, Liang Shanyue had long known that Jin Qi was a paper tiger—all bark and no bite, with nothing commendable except his looks and high-quality pheromones.

So during this period, Liang Shanyue didn’t have anyone stop Jin Qi’s antics. Since Liang Shanyue intended to fully replace Jin Qi, he wanted everyone on Yungang Star to see exactly what their so-called Lord was capable of.

Jin Qi certainly wouldn’t be able to keep it up for long. Knowing what Liang Shanyue planned to do next, Lin Juangui comforted Geng Xuelan, "Things will get better soon. If you’re really worried, you can ask Mu Zhang to send someone to protect you."

Geng Xuelan laughed heartily, "His people are rough and unreliable—I can’t count on them. I know you care about me, but it’s fine. I’m just grumbling a bit."

Lin Juangui still seemed concerned, "Please don’t overexert yourself."

Mu Zhang followed quietly behind them, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his face.

He had only ever seen such heartwarming family scenes in other people’s lives—never imagining it could happen to him.

In the past, he had brought Mu Yuanqing to meet Geng Xuelan a few times, but she never thought they were a couple. Instead, she remarked that someone as aloof as Mu Zhang had finally found an Alpha friend he appreciated—truly a cause for celebration.

That was just the old lady’s style—sarcastic but good-natured. Mu Zhang was long used to it.

He knew Geng Xuelan wasn’t that broad-minded and never considered coming out to her, but years later, he was still willing to enter a marriage of convenience with an Omega to ease her worries.

Marriage had always been optional for Mu Zhang, even a negotiating tool, but now he felt it wasn’t so bad—and was glad the Omega he married was Lin Juangui.

After all, no one else could be as capable and attentive as Lin Juangui.

When they returned to Geng Xuelan’s dormitory, Mu Zhang took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and headed straight to the kitchen. Lin Juangui followed Geng Xuelan to the balcony at the back, while her housekeeper robot, Xiao Ting, expertly prepared tea in the tea room and brought it over.

Geng Xuelan gently held Lin Juangui’s hand, her face full of concern, "Don’t think you and Mu Zhang can hide what happened recently from me. I didn’t ask because I didn’t want to trouble you, but seeing you both here today puts my mind at ease. How are you? Are you okay?"

Lin Juangui smiled, "Don’t believe those unscrupulous media reports online—aren’t I standing right here in front of you? I just finished my exams at school this morning. Everything’s fine."

"You have a good heart, and I don’t want to see you taken advantage of. But you’re all grown up now—there’s not much left for me to teach you. As long as you’re well, that’s what matters."

"Mu Zhang and I will take care of ourselves. Your happiness is the most important thing every day."

Lin Juangui always knew how to cheer up elders. Though he hid some things, older people didn’t need to know disturbing news—it would only cause unnecessary worry.

After the meal, the three went for a walk by the lake. Geng Xuelan had an event planned for the afternoon and was about to cancel, but Lin Juangui asked Mu Zhang if he wanted to join.

Mu Zhang was surprised. Geng Xuelan also looked surprised at Lin Juangui, but before she could defuse the situation, Mu Zhang said, "Alright."

Her eldest grandson was finally catching on—all her years of sincere advice hadn’t been in vain.

The lake sparkled with ripples. A small cat suddenly emerged from the bushes and approached Lin Juangui, whose eyes lit up instantly.

Geng Xuelan took a step back. She didn’t like these furry creatures with sharp claws and instinctively frowned.

"Hey, Xiao Lin, here to feed the cats again?" An elderly man who often fished by the lake frequently saw Lin Juangui feeding the cats nearby.

Lin Juangui smiled at him, "I came with my husband to visit my grandmother. We’re just taking a walk."

The man, holding fishing gear, noticed Geng Xuelan’s discomfort and exchanged a few more pleasantries before leaving.

Lin Juangui turned to Geng Xuelan, who said, "Do you only come to see me to feed the cats?"

Mu Zhang was stunned by his grandmother’s line of thinking. Lin Juangui was both amused and frustrated, unsure what she was jealous about. "Every time I leave, I pass by the lake, and this cat comes to rub up against me. I found it cute and fed it a few times. If you don’t like it, we can leave right away."

Mu Zhang stepped forward to help Geng Xuelan, saying, "Juangui tends to attract small animals. You know how kind-hearted he is."

Lin Juangui glanced at Mu Zhang, surprised to receive such praise from him.

The three soon left the lakeside. Realizing she had spoken incorrectly, Geng Xuelan looked guiltily at Lin Juangui and said, "I was scratched by a cat when I was little, so I really don’t like them... I blurted it out earlier."

Lin Juangui shook his head, "It’s fine. Shall we still go to the afternoon activity?"

"Never mind, never mind. I’ll just take a nap at home."

Lin Juangui looked apologetic, "I’m sorry for spoiling your fun."

Mu Zhang patted Lin Juangui’s shoulder, "It’s not your fault. Let’s have Xiao Ting take care of Grandmother. We should leave—she needs quiet to sleep."

"Okay."

As if worried Lin Juangui might dwell on Geng Xuelan’s reaction, Mu Zhang explained, "Grandmother has always had a deep-seated fear of cats. She wasn’t doubting your sincerity in visiting her."

Lin Juangui smiled and nodded, seemingly not bothered. "I know. It’s a small thing—I’m not as sensitive as you think. But are you afraid of cats?"

Mu Zhang shook his head, "Nothing scares me."

A rather arrogant statement. Lin Juangui’s eyes curved playfully as he said in a playful tone, "Then shall we go feed the cats together?"

This was almost a routine whenever Lin Juangui left the retirement home. Mu Zhang was amused by this little rebellious streak. Though he hadn’t been an obedient child in his youth, he agreed readily and went to the lakeside with Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui unzipped his backpack, and Mu Zhang glanced inside, surprised to find it filled with cat cans and freeze-dried treats.

The Alpha couldn’t help but find it amusing, but as he watched Lin Juangui skillfully call over the little Colorful Cat, squat down to open a can, and pet the cat while it ate, he felt a moment of reflection.

According to Wei Yan, Lin Juangui needed something to anchor him in life to keep him going.

For Lin Juangui, charity work was a way to compensate for the possibility of not being able to have children in the future, and his bond with these small animals was proof of his kindness and soft heart.

Mu Zhang leaned quietly against a tree, as if he had come to a realization, and prepared to squat down and feed the cat with Lin Juangui.

But as soon as he approached, the little Colorful Cat backed away and hissed at him.

Lin Juangui withdrew his hand, looking surprised between the cat and Mu Zhang before concluding, "So the reason you’re not afraid of animals is that they’re all afraid of you."

Truly the overbearing aura unique to a protagonist—ordinary people and animals didn’t dare get close.

After the little Colorful Cat finished the can and was happily licking its paws, Lin Juangui picked up the empty can and tossed it into a nearby trash bin. The two then left the retirement home together.

On the day Lin Juangui’s final exam results came out, Liang Shanyue returned to Yungang Star.

Faced with the mess Jin Qi had made during this time, Liang Shanyue swiftly dealt with his tasks before returning home with his lawyer.

The housekeeper robot warmly welcomed them and even hinted at a "surprise" an Alpha had left for Liang Shanyue.

Liang Shanyue wore a cold smile, expecting nothing good from Jin Qi’s surprise, and simply asked the robot to take him to Jin Qi.

The robot seemed to process for a moment before suggesting, "It might be better if you open this surprise alone."

The lawyer cautioned Liang Shanyue, "You should be careful—it could be a trap. Alone time between an Alpha and Omega whose relationship has soured isn’t likely to be pleasant. If Mr. Jin tries to do something harmful, you might not be able to resist."

Liang Shanyue's expression turned completely serious. He glanced at the lawyer and asked if he was confident about winning a case against an Alpha. The lawyer, a Beta, looked troubled and said, "If it were up to me, I’d advise against opening that 'surprise.' Of course, if you're really curious, I can accompany you."

The lawyer was quite service-oriented. Liang Shanyue understood the underlying meaning and eased up a bit.

"Then let's go together and see what he’s up to."

The butler robot had already warned Liang Shanyue—it had done its duty. Since Liang Shanyue insisted on bringing someone along, there was nothing it could do to stop him.

The group arrived on the fifth floor. Liang Shanyue remembered that most of the rooms here were used for storing miscellaneous items. It seemed Jin Qi indeed had ill intentions; otherwise, why would he choose such a remote place for his "surprise"?

When the robot led them to a certain room, Liang Shanyue widened his eyes slightly and smiled like he was looking at an idiot.

The lawyer couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!" before quickly turning around, saying he’d rather not see anything indecent. "I'm sorry to interrupt at a time like this, but given Jin Qi's recent actions on Yungang Star, I'd suggest you two sit down and have a proper talk before considering your future life as an Alpha and Omega couple."

-

Mu Zhang and Lin Juangui received their grade reports from the school at the same time.

Lin Juangui just glanced at his before dismissing it and continuing with his own tasks. As he grew older, he cared less about rankings.

But Mu Zhang was delighted. After all, Lin Juangui's excellent results made him look good, indirectly proving that the recent incidents hadn’t deeply affected Lin Juangui—otherwise, he wouldn’t have achieved such good grades.

For some reason, Mu Zhang messaged Ge Miao, asking him to adjust the birthday plans for Lin Juangui.

Originally, they had planned to book the most luxurious hotel on Sailing Star and invite Lin Juangui's friends and classmates. But now, Mu Zhang felt it needed to be even grander to be impressive enough.

Based on his recent observations, Mu Zhang noticed Lin Juangui liked places with water. Since Sailing Star lacked oceans, Yungang Star was the better choice—renting out a ferry would show more sincerity.

After sharing his idea with Ge Miao, the latter said he would arrange it immediately. Mu Zhang breathed a sigh of relief, quite pleased with his plan and certain Lin Juangui would love the surprise.

The news of Liang Shanyue and Jin Qi's divorce quickly spread across the star network.

Jin Qi resigned, and the executive council held a meeting, voting unanimously to approve Liang Shanyue as the new Governor of Yungang Star. The month-plus-long drama finally came to an end.

Many had assumed Liang Shanyue was at fault due to earlier rumors of his infidelity. But Liang Shanyue held a press conference, and the lawyer handling their divorce clearly explained the reasons behind their separation.

Jin Qi had affairs with at least three Omegas barely a year into their marriage. At that time, Liang Shanyue was busy with Yungang Star's aerospace track construction and planning, working day and night with little sleep, while Jin Qi found the leisure to flirt with other Omegas.

Liang Shanyue initially didn’t want to make things ugly. As Jin Qi's Omega, he handled matters for him and even let him have the glory—it wasn’t a big deal. But Jin Qi blamed his infidelity on Liang Shanyue's busy work schedule, clearly making excuses for his own incompetence.

"I will not respond further regarding my personal relationships. Over the years, I’ve devoted my youth to Yungang Star, not to an Alpha. I believe I’ve come this far by divine blessing, and I will continue leading Yungang Star forward. I hope everyone will trust me."

Sometimes, there’s no need to hide anything—reality is shocking enough. Showing sincerity to the public can turn public opinion around.

When people learned that Liang Shanyue had been the one behind it all in Yungang Star's development all these years, many were disappointed in Jin Qi. Since the divorce, Jin Qi had disappeared from public view, his reputation tarnished. Even relatives and friends avoided him, not wanting to be associated with the scandal.

The conflict ended with Liang Shanyue's victory. Mu Zhang suffered no losses and even found a new location for his laboratory. The Sword Group weeded out two radical factions leaning toward the military, while Mu Yuanqing, representing the military, remained unclear in his stance.

The power dynamics had shifted, and no one knew when the next upheaval would occur.

Soon, it was Lin Juangui's birthday. When Mu Zhang mentioned holding the celebration on Yungang Star, Lin Juangui was surprised. "Liang Shanyue is the Governor of Yungang Star now—aren’t you afraid he might make things difficult for you?"

Mu Zhang didn’t seem worried about Liang Shanyue's retaliation. "I’ve sent people to inspect the laboratory site you suggested. Both sides are very satisfied and had nothing but praise for you. We’ll sign the contract soon. Liang Shanyue and I were never enemies. Besides, his ex-husband probably suits him just fine now—he should thank me."

Sometimes, Lin Juangui truly envied Mu Zhang's innate confidence—he never second-guessed himself.

After arriving on Yungang Star, they drove for a while longer. Suddenly, Lin Juangui was asked to wear a blindfold. Mu Zhang's subordinates all smiled at him, their expressions screaming, "Our boss is giving you a surprise—just accept it!"

Lin Juangui didn’t have high expectations, but since it was carefully prepared by Mu Zhang, he felt he should respond appropriately.

Seeing Lin Juangui remove his glasses and obediently put on the blindfold, Mu Zhang couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

The Omega looked fair and clean, dressed in a white suit, very much like a fairy-tale prince.

The blindfold covered most of his face, leaving only his perfectly shaped lips visible.

Mu Zhang held Lin Juangui's hand and led him onto the yacht, telling him when to step and when to stop. He seemed to enjoy the feeling of controlling Lin Juangui, a constant smile on his face.

Lin Juangui heard the sound of waves hitting the ship and smelled the slightly salty, briny breeze.

His grip on Mu Zhang's hand tightened, even trembling slightly.

When Mu Zhang removed the blindfold, he expected to see Lin Juangui's surprised delight. Instead, Lin Juangui's eyes were slightly red, and his face had turned pale.

Since Huo Zeshen's death, Lin Juangui had avoided looking at the ocean.

That was where his lover had vanished.