Chapter 24 Truly Gifted

Chapter 24: Truly Gifted

In the velvet tray, the other ring shimmered with a brilliant, dazzling fire. Jiang Huaiyan's handsome young companion beside him picked it up slowly, his movements cautious and deliberate.

"Uncle Li, who is that alpha next to Mr. Jiang? I haven't seen him before." Down below, a young male omega asked, turning to Commander Li with a coquettish tilt of his head.

"Oh, a colonel promoted by the Gu family. Do you like him, Xiaoyuan? Quite promising and young, though his background isn't the best—a bit lacking to match you, but suitable if he were to marry into your family. Let's see if he comes over to toast later; if he does, I'll help you ask."

Li Yuan smiled sweetly after hearing this, thanked Uncle Li, then looked back up at the young man on the stage.

As if afraid of offending Jiang Huaiyan, he barely dared to touch his hand, carefully slipping on the ring and almost immediately letting go.

Li Yuan's father was the Chief Justice of the Empire's Supreme Court, a figure who required extra deference even among the distinguished guests. He was seated close to the stage, to be conveniently toasted by the host later, making it easy to observe those on it.

Because of his nervousness, the tips of the handsome alpha's ears on stage were crimson, his face flushed, and his eyes seemed veiled with a layer of mist.

As if enduring a long and cruel ordeal, Zhu Shinian finally finished putting the ring on Jiang Huaiyan.

"...May the gods watch over you and bless you."

The priest clasped his hands together, finishing the address.

.......

The ball following the banquet lasted a long time. Zhu Shinian huddled alone in a corner of his room, the sound of a cello playing a waltz drifting in from time to time.

A marked omega would be desperate for the alpha's pheromones. After an entire day, the alpha's pheromones left in his body were nearly gone.

An omega with a temporary mark could no longer use suppressants to get through their heat; otherwise, the interaction between suppressants and the temporary mark would only make it harder to bear.

When faced with Gu Zhen, Zhu Shinian couldn't bring himself to utter pleas, let alone to Jiang Huaiyan.

He wanted to smell the scent of cedarwood pheromones, to be held in his arms, to hear his voice.

Another voice in his head loudly voiced desires that, if spoken plainly, would make him die of shame.

He suppressed the urge to cry, tried not to think of anyone, and just wanted to fall asleep as quickly as possible.

If he slept, he wouldn't feel so terrible.

The curtain by the window seemed to be blown open by the wind, letting in a flash of bright moonlight.

But Zhu Shinian was trembling slightly under the covers, completely unaware of what was happening outside.

It was agonizing. The marked gland burned fiercely, his head was dizzy and heavy, and as his nose stung, tears streamed down.

Under cover of night, a tall figure climbed in through the window, rolling as they landed with almost no sound.

But the pheromones swept through the room first.

Zhu Shinian sat up abruptly, and the next second, his body began to shake uncontrollably, even more violently.

A clear, cool scent of cedarwood mixed with the dampness of rain rushed in, like a mountain wind crashing into a sweltering room, unfolding unabashedly, like surging tides engulfing him completely.

Zhu Shinian gasped heavily, barely able to make any comment or reaction to Jiang Huaiyan climbing in through the window.

Jiang Huaiyan didn't intend to explain why he hadn't used the front door either. He took off his coat and walked to the bedside, only to find that Zhu Shinian's face was even redder than before.

Jiang Huaiyan frowned slightly, a little puzzled.

He had given Zhu Shinian his pheromones, so shouldn't Zhu Shinian feel a bit better now?

Then, as if something occurred to him, he reached out and gently lifted a corner of the blanket.

By the time Zhu Shinian regained some rational thought and moved to cover the wet patch, it was already too late.

Jiang Huaiyan let out a very soft laugh.

Truly gifted.

Soft as it was, Zhu Shinian still heard that laugh from Jiang Huaiyan.

He didn't see Jiang Huaiyan's eyes, but he already realized just how lewd and shameful he was.

Why... why did it have to be like this.

Did being marked mean he couldn't even control his own body?

"Did you feel good just now?" Jiang Huaiyan took off his coat and climbed uninvited into Zhu Shinian's bed, holding him in his arms through the blanket. "I'll make you feel even better, alright?"

"Mr... Mr. Jiang... let go..." Zhu Shinian's voice trembled uncontrollably. "I don't want..."

Jiang Huaiyan ignored his insincere protests, skillfully releasing calming pheromones, while his other hand brushed aside the sweat-dampened hair from Zhu Shinian's forehead, revealing those beautiful peach blossom eyes.

His eyes were half-closed, misty with lust, the corners red from crying—whether from the misery before Jiang Huaiyan came or from the pleasure after, it was unclear.

"Being an omega has its benefits, doesn't it? Before, with Gu Zhen, it used to hurt a lot, didn't it? As an omega, it feels much better, right?"

A sudden kiss landed on the back of his neck. Zhu Shinian's whole body trembled. The alpha's canine teeth grazed the sensitive, fragile gland, sending a tiny, electric jolt of pleasure through him.

"As long as you behave, don't show anyone your..." Jiang Huaiyan paused, laughed softly, omitting the last two words, "and don't let anyone else bite your gland, you can still continue to be seen as an alpha in the military. Becoming an omega isn't such a bad thing."

He couldn't do it, especially not with Jiang Huaiyan. No way.

He had already wronged Jiang Huaiyan so much. How could he wrong Gu Zhen again?

Zhu Shinian struggled to push the alpha away, but his arms were limp, completely powerless, and Jiang Huaiyan easily pinned him down.

"Don't... don't touch... mm..."

A sweet, panting moan escaped his lips. Realizing what sound he had made, Zhu Shinian immediately bit his lip, but Jiang Huaiyan was faster, using his hand to hold his chin.

Zhu Shinian naturally wouldn't bring himself to bite his hand, so he just shook his head desperately in refusal.

Jiang Huaiyan released more pheromones. Already nearly defenseless, Zhu Shinian's body softened even more, almost melting into a puddle in his arms.

"Why do you always like to hurt yourself? Yesterday you were a mess too. Is that how Gu Zhen taught you?" Jiang Huaiyan said in a mock-stern tone.

"Let me teach you some rules." Jiang Huaiyan sighed, letting Zhu Shinian wrench himself out of his embrace.

Zhu Shinian panted heavily, his sweat-drenched bangs plastered to his face, too weak even to push them aside.

"Open your mouth a little, be good. I don't want to hurt the corner of your mouth."

Something was shoved into Zhu Shinian's mouth, and then a lock clicked into place behind his ears.

"Mmm..." Saliva immediately gathered uncontrollably in his mouth, seeping out through the small holes on both sides of the gag.

Zhu Shinian closed his eyes in shame, feeling a drop of warm liquid slide down his chin.

The loss of control over his own body was a profound humiliation for Zhu Shinian, but Jiang Huaiyan held him from behind, and the refreshing cedarwood pheromones soothed his nerves, making him feel so comfortable he was almost floating on clouds.

Even the low moans could no longer be suppressed. Jiang Huaiyan loved hearing him make these sounds and would reward him with a bit more pheromone.

Feels so good.

Zhu Shinian couldn't help but turn over, wanting to get closer to the source of the pheromones.

"Such a good boy," Jiang Huaiyan praised, letting him nestle into his arms, his chin lightly resting on top of his head. "Doesn't this feel good? I just want to make you feel good."

Zhu Shinian's tense body gradually relaxed, unconsciously leaning into Jiang Huaiyan's warm embrace.

Jiang Huaiyan's fingers traced down his spine, from his shoulder blades to his tailbone. His palm was broad and warm, each caress bringing a slight shiver.

...I like this.

It feels so good.

Zhu Shinian could really feel that his alpha was holding him, soothed by his alpha's pheromones.

Tended to where it hurt with his fingers, kissed on the hot, aching gland at the back of his neck.

Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably; Zhu Shinian's whole face was soaked.

Jiang Huaiyan fondly grabbed a tissue, dried his face, and gave him a kiss on the lips.

This was... his alpha.

His alpha was so good to him; he was a very happy omega.

Before his eyes was Jiang Huaiyan's suit lining, dampened by his own tears and saliva. Zhu Shinian remembered how Jiang Huaiyan looked in this suit during the day—refined, elegant, and breathtakingly handsome.

This suit... where had he seen it before?

A flash of clarity passed through Zhu Shinian's mind.

This identical white suit had once belonged to another—to Jiang Huaiyan's fiancé, witnessed by the gods, family, and friends.

He was also... someone I loved.

Someone I've loved since I was sixteen.

The bedsheet beneath him was soaked through. Zhu Shinian suddenly realized that just now, while fully conscious, he had crawled into Jiang Huaiyan's arms, hugged him, rubbed against his neck, and been comforted by his fingers.

It wasn't right after he presented, nor was he... forced.

...No.

This shouldn't be like this.

He had been Gu Zhen's lover for four years; he owed Jiang Huaiyan for that.

Now he had betrayed Gu Zhen, and owed Gu Zhen too.

Zhu Shinian was almost swallowed by this anguish, yet pleasure enveloped him without pause, lifting him to the clouds.

He gasped heavily, feeling as if he might fall from a great height at any moment, crash and shatter into pieces.

This was the punishment he deserved.

The tears flowed even more fiercely, big drops rolling down. One tear landed on the back of Jiang Huaiyan's hand that had been raised to wipe his face.

"Why are you crying so hard?"

Jiang Huaiyan seemed to see through his thoughts, dropping a feather-light kiss on his tear-damp lashes.

"It's my fault. I forced you into this."

"I'm the one who forced you. I turned you into this. You're not inherently wanton."

Zhu Shinian, feeling bound and unable to speak, lifted his face as if to shake his head, but soon slumped back into Jiang Huaiyan's arms, couldn't even manage that motion.

Jiang Huaiyan bent down and kissed the corner of his mouth, was about to say something when a knock cut him off.

"Open the door." Gu Zhen's voice came from outside, cold and biting, like the ghostly knight you'd find in a haunted mansion story.

Author's note:

I'll be featured on the promotion list the day after tomorrow. I want a good spot on it, so I'll take the day off tomorrow, sorry T_T. I'll update at 11 PM the day after tomorrow.