Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The young master's pheromone scent was sickly sweet, like some kind of floral fragrance, yet not overly cloying or heavy—a subtle, elegant aroma.

But Yan Zhuo had tasted too much of it, causing the scent, even though not strong, to linger around him like a shadow, nearly drowning him in its cloying sweetness.

The side waist beneath his hand trembled slightly, the protruding hip bones were thin, yet the skin felt soft and smooth. Yan Zhuo couldn't stop touching it.

It was pitch black under the covers; he could only hear the omega's barely restrained, faint gasps. The hurried sounds were like tiny hooks, drilling into his ears, stirring an itch deep inside him.

It was a side he had never seen before.

After who knows how much indulgence, the pheromone concentration in the air finally lowered a bit. Ruan Yunchu was also tired, his clothes in disarray, sweat soaking the strands of hair at his forehead, black locks sticking to his face, making his fair skin look even more delicate and pink.

Yan Zhuo licked the corner of his mouth, still unsatisfied, but he couldn't resist leaning down to kiss the young master's forehead and eyelids while the young master was exhausted.

As if sensing something, the lashes trembled slightly. Ruan Yunchu seemed about to wake, but in the end, fatigue won over everything, and he fell into a deep sleep.

He looks so well-behaved when he's asleep.

Yan Zhuo wanted to laugh, but he still changed the young master's clothes. The sweat-soaked bedding automatically replaced itself, allowing him to put the person back. He thought for a moment, then opened the smart panel beside the bed and activated the heat period healing mode.

Although the doctor said to minimize dependency gradually, there had to be a step-by-step process.

On the first day, he was already that wet. The heat period could last up to a week; with a constitution like that, he definitely wouldn't hold out.

Yan Zhuo sighed helplessly, touched the sleeping person on the bed, and felt the young master's temperature drop a little before he felt reassured.

This still wouldn't work in the long run.

His gaze fell on the legs covered by the blanket, and he frowned slightly, a plan forming in his mind.

For the following week, the Ruan family received no more guests.

-

Ruan Yunchu's consciousness remained hazy. Sometimes he felt that familiar touch holding his calf, other times he couldn't feel any sensation in his legs at all. But one thought stayed clear.

After who knows how long, his body finally returned to normal. He opened his eyes again, the heat and dampness gone, his body feeling as comfortable and normal as usual.

The room was empty. His throat was hoarse and dry. He pressed the button beside him, lifted his head slightly, and took a few sips from the cup held by the robotic arm. After moistening his throat, he lay back on the bed.

The curtains opened automatically, the sunlight perfect, but he couldn't help but recall what had happened when the room had been dark.

Belatedly, anger surged into his mind, and his face darkened.

"..."

"What did you say?"

Yan Zhuo had just returned to the Ruan residence when he was blocked at the door. Listening to the short beta finish speaking, his expression froze for a moment, then he raised a skeptical eyebrow.

Looking at this man who was noticeably taller and more imposing than himself, Wu Ming lacked confidence. But remembering that this was what the young master had personally said, he still solemnly relayed the message: "The young master said you are no longer allowed in the back courtyard. You can only work in the front yard."

"How do I know this was said by the young master himself, or if you're just making it up?"

Wu Ming was furious. "Of course the young master said it. How could I make something like that up?"

"I don't believe it. I'll have to go ask him myself."

With that, Yan Zhuo pushed the man aside and headed straight for the back courtyard.

"Hey, you can't go into the back courtyard!"

Wu Ming chased after him but ultimately couldn't catch up.

Arriving at the back courtyard building, Yan Zhuo was about to push open the door when he found it locked.

"You can't get in. The young master activated the smart lock system. It only opens with iris recognition." Wu Ming, having finally caught up, said with a hint of smugness.

Yan Zhuo's eyes were full of ferocity. He grabbed Wu Ming and pulled him over. "Then you open the door. I'll go in and ask him properly."

Pinned against the door panel, Wu Ming was humiliated. "I can't open it either. Only the young master has the authority to unlock it here. Every time I call for entry."

"Useless!"

Seeing no use in him, Yan Zhuo shoved him away and stood in front of the panel himself, pressing the call-for-entry button.

Time ticked by. Finally, the inner side connected, but the screen didn't show the young master's face—only faint background music could be heard.

Yan Zhuo, quite annoyed, leaned down and approached the screen. "Young master, why won't you let me in?"

There was a brief silence inside, then Ruan Yunchu's cold voice came through. "You know why. I won't keep unreliable people around. Get lost."

Yan Zhuo tsked, then asked, "But I did it all for your own good. If I behave from now on, will the young master let me come back?"

"You don't even know where you went wrong. What guarantee can you offer for the future?"

The cold words fell, and the communication was cut off. The person inside ended the connection.

Yan Zhuo hissed, feeling uncharacteristically troubled.

He'd overplayed his hand. The young master was really angry this time. How was he going to fix this?

For several days in a row, Ruan Yunchu stayed holed up in his room, not going out. No matter how noisy it got outside, with Chen Quan calling him on the communicator all day, he showed no sign of going out.

-

Yan Zhuo couldn't figure out what exactly the young master wanted him to do, so he just followed Chen Quan all over the district, meeting with high officials and wealthy merchants—this only made him more irritable and barely able to hold back.

That night, when he returned to the Ruan residence, he was nursing a grudge. He took a stroll around the back courtyard, hoping to run into the young master by chance or find a way to sneak in. Who would have thought that as soon as he reached the back garden, he spotted a suspicious figure lurking.

The relaxed demeanor instantly vanished. His eyes sharpened, and he quietly approached.

The person was clearly alert, back tense, as he looked around, seemingly studying how to unlock the door. But before he could tap the screen, a sudden rush of air came from behind.

He instinctively dodged, about to instinctively release a suppressing pheromone, but then hesitated as if remembering something.

Given Yan Zhuo's habits, he naturally seized this moment of hesitation. He swiftly pinned the man's arms behind his back and pressed him against the door. The heavy body slammed into the door panel with a thud, and Yan Zhuo slapped the communicator button.

The next moment, a piercing alarm went off inside and outside the house, and the lights in the courtyard and on the balcony turned on instantly.

"Let me go!" The man clearly felt humiliated but didn't seem too panicked.

Yan Zhuo didn't know him at all, so naturally he wouldn't let go. He quickly locked the man to the railing beside the door.

"Take your time figuring it out."

Soon, Chen Quan rushed over with the bodyguards.

"What's going on here?"

Yan Zhuo was about to respond when the door that had been tightly shut slowly opened. Ruan Yunchu, wrapped in a shawl, came out in his wheelchair, his gaze falling on the tall man with his head lowered.

Having not seen him for days, Yan Zhuo’s eyes instantly turned dark, as if he wanted to devour someone. This feeling grew even heavier when he noticed that the young master hadn’t even given him a single glance.

He said impatiently, “I was on patrol and saw him sneaking around trying to pick the lock.”

It was just the truth, but the man reacted fiercely, “Who said I was picking a lock?”

Seeing that he dared to argue, Yan Zhuo lost his patience. “You want me to check the surveillance footage? I’ll just report it directly to the Allied Forces.”

Hearing this, the young master finally cast a faint glance at him. But before Yan Zhuo could send a meaningful look, the other shifted his gaze to Chen Quan.

“Uncle Chen, you guys head back first. I know this man.”

Chen Quan looked at the figure in black, who kept his head down as if he didn’t want to be seen. After a moment’s hesitation, he chose not to defy the order.

“Alright. Give me a shout if you need anything.”

Ruan Yunchu gave a slight nod, and the group that had rushed over quickly departed.

With everyone else gone, Yan Zhuo remained standing there, oblivious to the mood, staring intently at Ruan Yunchu, his deep, dark eyes as if they could swallow him whole.

Ruan Yunchu felt a headache coming on and frowned. “You still here?”

“I have to stay here and protect the young master,” Yan Zhuo said with righteous conviction.

“Scram.”

Yan Zhuo still didn’t move. He glanced at the alpha who was eager to turn back but didn’t dare, then deliberately coughed lightly and said, “Young master, you can’t just use me and throw me away. I’ve been reflecting for days. If you keep ignoring me, that’s not fair at all.”

Ruan Yunchu’s face flushed, alternating between red and pale. “Are you crazy?”

He’d never realized before that Yan Zhuo had such thick skin. It was Yan Zhuo who had taken advantage of him during his heat, yet now he put on this act as if his own innocence had been stolen.

“I’m lovesick,” Yan Zhuo said with utter seriousness.

“...”

The topic they were discussing clearly caught the attention of the third wheel. He couldn’t help but lift his head and coldly look him over.

What are you looking at?

Yan Zhuo raised an eyebrow, glaring back defiantly.

Ruan Yunchu took a deep breath, having no energy to continue this nonsense with him, and afraid that Yan Zhuo might blurt out something provocative again.

“Unlock his cuffs and come inside.”

Yan Zhuo’s face lit up with joy. He instinctively tried to follow, but halfway, he reluctantly went to release the man. The man rotated his sore wrist and cast Yan Zhuo a cold glance, clearly pissed off.

The two entered the house one after the other. The interior was warm. Ruan Yunchu took off his shawl and placed it on the armrest. He wore only a thin, soft sweater, the skin at his neck was pale and smooth, catching the eye.

Yan Zhuo’s eyes darkened.

But before he could speak, the man beside him said coldly, “Yunchu, who is he?”

Without looking at anyone, Ruan Yunchu gave the same old line: “Found him outside.”

“And who’s he?” Yan Zhuo disliked the way that man was sizing him up—cold and wary, as if he and Ruan Yunchu were a pair, and Yan Zhuo was an intruder barging in.

Ruan Yunchu looked at both of them, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

“Lin Zheng, come upstairs with me.” Then he glanced at Yan Zhuo. “Wait downstairs.”

Yan Zhuo: “...”

Watching the two enter the elevator and leave, he instinctively wanted to dash up the stairs after them.

But as soon as he took a step, he remembered what the young master had said to him in the communicator a few days ago.

If you don’t listen, you won’t be able to come back.

His face darkened. After a long moment of contemplation, he curled his lips and let out a quiet chuckle.

Long as I don’t get caught, it’s fine.

Without further thought, he took the stairs in long strides, no longer hesitating.