Chapter 3

Chapter 3

In the following days, Ruan Yunchu spent all his time holed up in the study.

He couldn't show himself in public, so company matters were still handled by Chen Quan, who reported to him daily. Normally, he listened with a sense of relief, but today, after hearing the young master's words, his face turned pale.

"Young master, is what you said true or false?"

Ruan Yunchu said flatly, "It's true. What? Do you have a problem with it?"

Yan Zhuo watched with interest as Chen Quan's face flushed and then paled, also surprised by the young master's decision.

"No, it's just... Why are you selling off all these businesses?" Chen Quan wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead. "These were all built by the Ruan family."

Ruan Yunchu frowned slightly. "Uncle Chen, I didn't say I was selling everything. We're still keeping the medical company, right?"

Chen Quan hesitated, "But..."

"I know what you mean. I made it clear before that I wouldn't let the businesses my mother left behind be swallowed by others. But these businesses belong to the Ruan family. What do they have to do with my mother?" Ruan Yunchu smiled. "If the collateral branches want these businesses, by all means, let them make an offer. Better to keep the wealth within the family. I'll choose among them. It's not like I'm handing them over for free, since they're all family. Doesn't that make sense?"

"..."

Even Yan Zhuo, who never took anything seriously, was taken aback by the young master's brazen unreasonableness.

He couldn't help but laugh, but then saw Chen Quan think it over, sigh, and nod.

"Then I'll do as the young master says."

"Go ahead."

Ruan Yunchu said no more. Seeing his firm stance, Chen Quan finally stopped hesitating and left the study.

Yan Zhuo stood behind him, clucking his tongue. "Young master, you've got more guts than I thought."

If you can't hold onto something, just toss it out and let the greedy dogs fight over it. He'd been worried about Ruan Yunchu for nothing.

Ruan Yunchu glanced at him dismissively, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, with no trace of regret.

"Just some ill-omened junk."

-

After Ruan Yunchu's plan was implemented, the results were great. The collateral branches from various stars and districts rushed over, only to learn about the news of the assets being sold before they could even start fighting with Ruan Yunchu. The united front collapsed, turning into hostile competitors.

Outside, there was chaos. Inside the Ruan residence, however, it was peaceful.

With his heat period approaching in the next few days, Ruan Yunchu's mood had noticeably worsened. Already frail and delicate from being unable to walk, he became even more sickly, unable to eat or sleep well.

The kitchen tried all sorts of variations, but still a lot of food was left over each day. Yan Zhuo was anxious, but the young master was picky—he couldn't even stomach nutrient fluids and could only eat fresh food.

One day, when Chen Quan returned, before he even entered the door, he heard a loud bang from the closed door, as if something had slammed heavily against it.

Startled, he pushed open the door and saw the tall man crouched beside the wheelchair, holding a bowl of plain congee, coaxing the person in it.

But the person in the wheelchair didn't even look at him. Between his refined brows, there was a clear trace of anger.

"I told you to get lost. Don't you understand?"

Yan Zhuo shamelessly persisted, "Eat your meal, and I'll be gone immediately."

Ruan Yunchu's face was pale; under the sunlight, his skin was almost translucent. He frowned slightly, as if even the smell of food made him uncomfortable.

Seeing them at an impasse, Chen Quan finally walked in.

"Young master."

Ruan Yunchu looked up unhappily, but after hearing the news Chen Quan brought, a rare spark of light appeared in his eyes.

"Really?"

"Yes, they've come to the house already." Chen Quan looked troubled. "Not only are they arguing, but they also insist on seeing you."

Ruan Yunchu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "They actually want me to mediate. Interesting. Let's meet them then."

Chen Quan nodded. "I'll go and invite them to the front courtyard."

After Chen Quan left, Ruan Yunchu was about to move his wheelchair out when a figure suddenly blocked his way.

Yan Zhuo grabbed the wheelchair handles with one hand and leaned down, frowning. "Young master, please finish your lunch first before you go."

His good mood vanished instantly. Ruan Yunchu looked up at him coldly. "Are you giving me orders now?"

"How would I dare? I'm just worried that you might suddenly feel unwell later." Yan Zhuo leaned in a little. "Eat a bit, at least."

Ruan Yunchu was about to lose his temper when Yan Zhuo added, "If the young master eats obediently, I'll grant you one condition."

He said it seriously, but received only a scoff.

"Do I need to ask you for a condition?"

Yan Zhuo was unflinching. "Whatever it is, I'll agree to it."

"What if I want to know your real background?" Ruan Yunchu asked directly.

Without hesitation, Yan Zhuo smiled. "Sure, I'll tell you truthfully."

"Truthfully?" Ruan Yunchu laughed softly, clearly not believing him. "How do I know if you're telling the truth or not?"

Yan Zhuo smirked, leaned closer to the young master, and lowered his voice.

"If the young master doesn't trust me, you can use other means on me—detectors, truth serums, whatever you like."

Ruan Yunchu's smile deepened. This deal finally piqued his interest.

-

The Ruan family members had been waiting in the front courtyard living room for a long time. Ruan Yunchu finally arrived, late.

After eating lunch, his stomach felt a little better, but his mood was still low. He rolled into the hall in his wheelchair and glanced at the few unfamiliar faces, feeling deeply disappointed.

He had expected some formidable characters among these collateral branches, but looking at them now, they were all useless.

Were these people even worth his concern?

One of them finished scrutinizing him and immediately put on an eager smile, quickly approaching him. "Cousin."

Before the man could reach him, a hand stretched out and blocked him.

He hadn't even gotten a good look at the man, who was much taller than himself, when a clear, cold voice said, "Do I know you?"

The man coughed lightly, ignoring the slight, "We met when we were kids. Back then... you used to cling to me and play."

"Did I?"

Yan Zhuo looked at Ruan Yunchu with interest, unable to help imagining the scene.

"Of course, I still remember. Back then you loved playing on the grass; we all said you didn't think the grass was prickly at all."

"..."

Everyone's gaze fell on Ruan Yunchu's legs, and for a moment they all fell silent.

"I-I didn't mean that, cousin. Medical technology is so advanced now, your legs will get better one day." Realizing his slip, the man immediately tried to backtrack.

Ruan Yunchu, however, was unfazed. "You came to see me for something?"

At the mention of business, they all looked wary and moved forward as a group.

"Cousin, we wanted to say, how about you just transfer your company shares to me alone? You know..."

"Yunchu, do you remember me? When you came to Sector C, we met. Our family is in the energy business; it's only right for us to take them over."

"..."

Everyone was talking over each other, none giving way, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

Ruan Yunchu, however, leaned back relaxed in his chair and said calmly, "The shares aren't mine to decide on. I already put the word out that they go to the highest bidder. Suddenly changing my mind wouldn't be appropriate."

"We are family after all, Yunchu. You have to think of Grandpa Ruan and Uncle Ruan, who've passed away. If they saw what you're doing now, they would be really angry!"

One of them said.

Yan Zhuo's face darkened, but Ruan Yunchu replied casually. "It's not too late for me to change my surname now."

Their faces stiffened. Seeing that he was impervious, they all dropped their pretense of patience.

"You'd better think it over. If you sell off all these assets, can you still hold your ground in Sector A in the future?"

"You should worry about yourselves first."

Talking to these people was pointless; Ruan Yunchu found it boring, so he simply turned his wheelchair and left.

But just as he was about to enter the elevator, a strong scent suddenly filled the air.

His body stiffened. A surge of pheromones spread from the gland at the back of his neck, flowing through his limbs and torso, immediately making him uncomfortable.

Yan Zhuo's expression changed dramatically; his casual demeanor vanished. He turned his head and quickly locked onto one of the young men, whose face was full of anger.

"How could our Ruan family have someone as selfish as you!"

In a flash—almost in the blink of an eye—a blur shot in from a distance. The air in the living room was sucked away, and all sounds and movements became extremely slow.

When they came to, they saw one of their group collapse heavily to the ground. The man convulsed, instinctively reaching for his neck, which was in agonizing pain, only to touch the warm blood gushing out.

The aggressive alpha pheromone scent in the air completely disappeared.

"His... his gland!"

Someone screamed.

Yan Zhuo sheathed his dagger, looking down at the half-dead alpha with a malevolent expression, as if looking at a lifeless corpse.

"If you can't control your pheromones, you don't need the gland."

Without waiting for the others to speak, he strode over to the wheelchair. Seeing that Ruan Yunchu's pale cheeks had flushed slightly, his brows immediately knitted.

"Uncle Chen, show the guests out. Don't let anyone into the back courtyard."

Chen Quan was also stunned by the gory scene. Hearing Yan Zhuo's words, he hesitated for a moment but still obeyed.

The path from the front courtyard to the back was not long. By the time they returned to the fully sealed back courtyard room, the omega's clear, gem-like eyes were filled with hazy mist, his cheeks flushed, and his breath rapid.

"Young Master." Yan Zhuo crouched down, at a rare loss for words.

He had only recently been promoted to serve at Ruan Yunchu's side. Although he had seen him sent into the healing pod during his heat, he hadn't forgotten the doctor's instructions.

"The doctor said your gland is underdeveloped, so you should cut down on the use of suppressants and the healing pod."

Ruan Yunchu frowned, panting slightly. "It's none of your business. Send me into the healing pod, then get out!"

But Yan Zhuo was even more stubborn than he was.

"If you don't take care of your body, I can't just stand by and watch."

Ruan Yunchu got angry and reached out to grab Yan Zhuo's collar.

He had little strength to begin with; Yan Zhuo could have easily broken free, but he didn't. Instead, he allowed himself to be pulled forward, one hand on the wheelchair's armrest, his dark eyes calmly watching the omega in heat.

"If you don't obey, get out! I don't need people who defy me by my side."

Yan Zhuo's face darkened as he heard him say, "Send for Wu Ming."

Wu Ming—Yan Zhuo knew this man. Clumsy and taciturn, unable to read the room, his only virtues were loyalty and discretion, but he had no skill whatsoever. Before Yan Zhuo came, he had been one of the young master's most trusted people.

His eyes narrowed, and his face darkened like a storm cloud. Unable to listen any longer, he bent down, lifted the slender yet burning-hot body, and placed him on the bed without further ado.

"Get out!"

Ruan Yunchu grabbed a pillow and threw it at his head without hesitation.

Yan Zhuo didn't dodge at all. His short black hair was disheveled, which only added to his wild, rebellious look.

"No suppressants, and no entering the healing pod. Whether the Young Master scolds me or tells me to leave, from now on, I'm in charge."

After all this struggle, Ruan Yunchu was panting. Even though he was not fully lucid, his eyes still held a fierce glare.

"Yan Zhuo, if you dare do anything, you're dead!"

The large space was filled with the thick scent of omega pheromones. Yan Zhuo was close to him, and the rich fragrance clung to him, like a shadow, giving his teary eyes a different kind of fragile beauty, easily stirring an intense urge to dominate.

He leaned down, feeling the young master's slight trembling, and couldn't help but get closer under the pretense of tucking him in, taking a deep sniff of his scent.

Before the young master could lash out again, he got up from the bed, moved to the foot of the bed, knelt on one knee at the edge, and curled his lips into a smile.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything. I'll just serve the Young Master."

With that, he lifted the corner of the blanket and slipped under the covers. His broad, hot hand gripped the slender ankle and slowly moved upward.

"..."