Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Yan Zhuo took a moment to remember that when he had sent the young master back earlier, his mood had been sour, and though he had turned on the bedside lamp before leaving, he had forgotten to play the music.

No wonder he had felt like something was missing after he left—that was why he was up and wandering around in the dead of night, only to stumble upon the young master's nightmare.

His mood became conflicted as he looked at Ruan Yunchu's damp and pale face, guilt belatedly rising in his heart.

"I was wrong. I'll turn it on now."

Ignoring the faint ache still lingering on one side of his cheek, he got up and accessed the smart home panel, selecting the piece the young master usually liked best.

It was soft and melodious, barely audible if there were other people in the room, only clear when the environment was completely silent. Yan Zhuo had never understood it before, but now he realized this music might be the young master's own method for dealing with nightmares.

Couldn't stay in an overly quiet environment for too long?

Before he could dwell on it further, the person on the bed wearily collapsed back onto the mattress, staring blankly at a certain spot in the room before uttering a single cold word in a breathy voice.

"Get out."

Yan Zhuo was never one to obey, but this time he didn't want to use force. He crouched by the edge of the bed without overstepping his bounds.

"Young master, you can't sleep like this. Let me change your clothes?"

Ruan Yunchu suddenly curled his lips into a sneer, turning his head to look at him. "You want to change my clothes?"

He spoke slowly, each word soft and deliberate.

Yan Zhuo had a bad feeling.

Before he could say anything to stop him, Ruan Yunchu flashed an utterly mocking smile.

He said, "Yan Zhuo, every time you change my clothes, you end up * that way. Do you think I can feel safe about it?"

"..."

Yan Zhuo rarely found himself at a loss for words. He stared at the young master's cold smile for a few seconds, silent for a moment, then his cheek was patted twice with moderate force.

"You're such a pervert."

Ruan Yunchu stopped looking at him and reached to take off his clothes, revealing his pale, slender body. But before he could pull the blanket over himself, Yan Zhuo stepped forward and wrapped him in a blanket, then lifted him up.

"Physiological reactions can't be controlled. I'll try not to make you uncomfortable."

He said it without a hint of embarrassment, acting as proper as could be.

Ruan Yunchu wanted to laugh, but he didn't say anything more. After being cleaned up and put back in bed, he recalled Yan Zhuo's unabashed behavior and furrowed his brows in frustration.

This couldn't go on like this forever; it was no solution.

-

The Qin family's scandal continued to brew on the StarNet, inevitably linking them to the Ruan family in public discussion, which also brought more attention to Ruan Yunchu's series of reforms.

The company's situation was improving day by day, and Chen Quan no longer wore that worried frown; instead, he always had a kindly smile.

But with the business stabilizing, Chen Quan, as the only elder in the household who had watched Ruan Yunchu grow up, couldn't help worrying about the young master's marriage matters.

That day, Yan Zhuo had just finished a task and was heading home to check on the young master. As he reached the door, he heard Chen Quan's earnest persuasion from inside.

"I know you're not using this as an excuse, but... the doctor said a while ago that your health is not good. If you keep relying on healing pods and suppressants to force down your heat periods, your gland will only get worse. Even if you can't bring yourself to be with an alpha, you could try something else."

Chen Quan was a beta, thoroughly familiar with alpha and omega physiology, but he couldn't grasp the deeper nuances.

When Ruan Yunchu stayed silent for a long time, he changed his approach. "I heard that I-Star has developed a new technology with excellent results for limb rehabilitation, but it's not fully rolled out yet. Even if it's for treating your leg condition in the future, you should start paying attention to your health now. The gland is the most important thing for an omega."

"..."

Yan Zhuo's heart leaped. He was about to push the door open and rescue the young master when he heard that cold voice.

"Uncle Chen, do you have any suitable candidates?"

His expression shifted, and he gave up the idea immediately, pressing closer to the door to catch every word.

Inside the study.

Chen Quan had never imagined the young master would agree. He had been prepared to spend the next few months persuading him, so now he was overjoyed, producing a list he had prepared long ago.

"Take a look at these. I've investigated their family backgrounds and personalities. I know you like people with a gentle temperament. These few may not have the best backgrounds, but their personalities and conduct are top-notch."

He spoke in an old-fashioned way, as if from a bygone era. Ruan Yunchu had long learned to ignore it and simply glanced at the list, already forming his own judgment.

"In your eyes, Uncle Chen, are these people worthy of me?"

Chen Quan was taken aback. "To be honest, any beta here would be presumptuous to be with you, but given your special circumstances and all the restrictions, it's unavoidable..."

"These people only have good tempers. What would I do with someone so meekly submissive by my side?"

"Two of them have good family backgrounds..."

"Too good of a background. What if they're like Qin Jingli, after my money?"

"Then what does the young master mean? You don't have to get married right away, but you still need someone by your side."

"If all I need is someone for physical relief, why would I look for people who might cling on forever? Uncle Chen, you're older and probably not familiar with such channels. Have Wu Ming look into it."

With that, Ruan Yunchu dragged the list into the trash and didn't look at it again.

Chen Quan was a bit confused at first but eventually found the young master's reasoning quite sound.

That was true. Having inherited so much wealth, even those from good families might be tempted. With the young master's leg condition and his elders had all met with misfortune, if something happened, there would be no one to take charge. It really wasn't wise to bring in strangers with uncertain backgrounds. Choosing a few who were easy to control would be much simpler and less troublesome.

Soon enough, he accepted Ruan Yunchu's argument and nodded apologetically.

"I didn't think it through. I'll tell Wu Ming about it."

"Mm."

Seeing that he was finally leaving, Ruan Yunchu let out a subtle breath of relief, turning his wheelchair to face the window.

Chen Quan took two steps, then stopped as if remembering something. "Young master, can you tell me your specific preferences? That way I can find the right person."

Ruan Yunchu thought for two seconds and said, "Good looks. I don't need to say anything else."

"Understood."

Chen Quan mused as he strode out of the study. The moment he stepped out, he saw Yan Zhuo standing outside with a dark expression. Startled, he was about to speak when Yan Zhuo quickly closed the study door.

"Uncle Chen, what a coincidence."

Chen Quan's face turned cold. "Yan Zhuo, if you eavesdrop again, I'll report this to the young master."

Yan Zhuo's eyes were still cold, but he flashed his usual frivolous smile. "Don't be so rigid, Uncle Chen. I just came back, and I didn't hear a thing."

Chen Quan naturally wouldn't believe him, frowning as he stared at him, clearly still pondering another issue.

After hesitating for two seconds, Yan Zhuo couldn't help but ask, "Where are you planning to find a suitable candidate?"

"You said you didn't hear anything?"

"I only caught the last few lines. Just curious." Seeing Chen Quan repeatedly glance at the closed door, suspecting he might push it open to report him any second, Yan Zhuo sidestepped to block the door and explained with a smile.

"The young master saved my life and gave me a job to make a living—that's a huge debt of gratitude. I want to help him out too. Since you're having trouble, how about we discuss it? I move around a lot, so I know a thing or two about that scene."

"You?" Chen Quan was clearly unconvinced.

Yan Zhuo hummed in agreement. "Back when I was at the Qin residence, Qin Jingli went to those kinds of social venues a lot. I saw plenty of people from private clubs. I heard the new, untouched ones need to be snapped up first, through special channels."

"What channels?" Chen Quan was indeed intrigued.

"Internal channels, of course." Yan Zhuo paused, then changed his tone. "But those places are full of fakes. I've heard of some who've been working for months but get passed off as newbies—a total scam, right?"

Just thinking about it annoyed Chen Quan. How could they let the young master end up with someone like that? He naturally nodded in agreement.

"Is there any way to tell them apart?"

"Too hard. Medical tech is so advanced these days. So if you ask me, you need to go with someone familiar."

Chen Quan knew that all too well, letting out a heavy sigh. "The young master probably wouldn't like that. He always likes to keep his relationships clearly defined."

Yan Zhuo: "What do you think of me, Uncle Chen?"

"You?"

Chen Quan looked at him, confused, and it took a while for him to catch on. There was a long silence.

"..."

Yan Zhuo narrowed his eyes into a smile, the corners of his lips curling up slightly, looking a bit mischievous. "I'm a beta, and I'm absolutely loyal to the young master. As for the requirements he just mentioned, I heard them too. Do you think I pass in terms of appearance?"

Chen Quan nearly choked, but following his words, he took a serious look at the man in front of him. His expression gradually turned solemn.

To be fair, Yan Zhuo's appearance was flawless by any standard. Tall and robust, with proportions good enough to be a model and debut on the Star Network homepage, his sharp, aggressive features were formidable.

"He's handsome, sure, but... the young master probably wouldn't like your type." Chen Quan said with some difficulty, and sure enough, saw Yan Zhuo's face darken instantly.

"Why?"

Chen Quan hesitated a moment, then told the truth. "You look too intimidating."

"..."

Fierce? He was always gentle and kind to the young master. How could he be fierce?