Su Xu raised an eyebrow.
He was supposed to meet the Zhong family to finalize the marriage agreement between him and Zhong Heng, yet the one who showed up was not Zhong Heng, but Zhong Yi?
Unbelievable.
Su Xu glanced at the message Zhong Heng had sent him. The man was still questioning him relentlessly, clearly unaware that this meeting was even happening.
Su Xu simply turned off his terminal, then asked calmly, “Where are your parents?”
Zhong Yi didn’t answer right away. His gaze burned as he looked Su Xu up and down. “White shirts suit you.”
Su Xu wore a white shirt under his suit jacket. Every button was neatly fastened all the way up to his throat, yet it did nothing to hide the elegant line of his long, swanlike neck or the small, delicate Adam’s apple.
Instead, it only made him look even more restrained, distant, and pure. His expression, always cool and detached, gave him an air of divinity, untouchable and pure as snow.
So pure, so cold, that it made people want to ruin that perfection, tear off that pristine shirt, drag him down from his pedestal, and see those cold eyes flush red, trembling as he tried and failed to resist.
Su Xu immediately caught the unrestrained look in Zhong Yi’s eyes. His brow furrowed slightly, and he subtly leaned to the side. “Let’s go. Don’t keep your elders waiting.”
“Alright.” Zhong Yi took the lead.
After a few steps, Zhong Yi sniffed the air. “What’s that smell?”
“Probably pheromones,” Su Xu said offhandedly.
Zhong Yi froze for a second, then turned to glance at him, his tone suddenly odd. “Doesn’t suit you.”
Su Xu’s eyebrow twitched.
Their eyes met, and Su Xu forced himself not to look away.
Zhong Yi’s expression was skeptical. He moved closer, leaned in, and sniffed lightly again. His brows furrowed. His gaze swept across Su Xu’s face before he said reluctantly, “I guess it’s fine.”
Su Xu fell silent. “Do you know that carelessly commenting on an Omega’s pheromone, especially in a negative way, will get you scolded?”
“Oh.”
Today, Zhong Yi wasn’t wearing his height insoles. Su Xu raised a hand and casually pressed it on top of Zhong Yi’s head, pushing him away. “Enough. Haven’t smelled enough yet? Be careful, or I’ll report you for harassment.”
Zhong Yi didn’t budge, only letting his head be tilted slightly. He gave a small hum. “How’s it harassment when I’m smelling my own wife?”
Su Xu gave him a look. Zhong Yi lifted his chin slightly and said with a straight face, “And I’m still growing.”
“What?”
“My height. I said I can still grow taller.”
“Sure, sure.”
Zhong Yi caught the perfunctory tone in Su Xu’s voice but had no way to refute him, so he could only lead the way with a sour look.
The two of them entered the private room one after the other.
As Su Xu expected, only Zhong Father and Zhong Mother were there.
They didn’t seem particularly close, sitting apart from each other as they sipped tea. When they saw Su Xu, Zhong Father was the first to rise.
“Su Xu, right? This is our first time meeting. Just call me Uncle. Your mother already explained that she couldn’t make it, so don’t feel pressured. Please, sit.”
He gestured toward the chair across from him.
Zhong Mother stood by his side with a gentle smile, nodding politely at Su Xu.
“Uncle, Aunt.” Su Xu greeted them courteously.
Zhong Yi dropped into the seat next to him without a trace of manners. One hand played idly with his accessories, his expression nonchalant. He didn’t even greet his elders.
The couple didn’t seem to mind.
Su Xu’s gaze swept lightly over the three of them before sitting down.
Zhong Father had already ordered the food. Now that everyone had arrived, he told the waiter to start serving, then got straight to the point. “Su Xu, there are some things we need to discuss face to face.”
His eyes fell on Zhong Yi. “Let me introduce him properly. This is my nephew, Zhong Yi. I believe you two have met before.”
Su Xu’s fingers brushed the rim of his teacup. “Yes.”
“Here’s the thing.”
Zhong Father leaned back slightly, folding his hands on the table. His voice was low and steady. “Zhong Yi and I have always been close. He’s an elite Alpha, top-tier, and he’s not married yet. Since you’re a rare top Omega, I thought it might be a good idea to match the two of you together.”
Su Xu blinked in surprise. “What about Zhong Heng?”
“My son…”
Zhong Father frowned, shot a quick glance at Zhong Yi, then said flatly, “He’s not suitable. He’s just a high-level Alpha. The match between you two isn’t cost-effective enough. I’ll talk to him about it later.”
At that, Zhong Mother gave her husband a sharp glare, clearly displeased.
Su Xu took a sip of tea, concealing his amusement.
It was the first time he’d heard someone use the term “cost-effective” when talking about marriage. In that sense, Zhong Father and people like Su Dianlin or Zhu Pan would probably get along very well.
Still, at least Zhong Father had the decency to say his ugly reasoning out loud. The Su family, by contrast, would have dressed it up with sweet words and then tried to make him thank them for selling him off.
“I’m two years older than Zhong Yi,” Su Xu said mildly. “It doesn’t seem appropriate.”
“I don’t care about that,” Zhong Yi said immediately.
“Exactly. Age doesn’t matter,” Zhong Father agreed. “What’s important is that Zhong Yi genuinely likes you. Besides, didn’t the reports say that when two top-tier Alphas and Omegas are together, their children have a very high chance of being top-tier as well? I believe the two of you could have a very gifted child.”
Su Xu nodded slowly.
So that was the real reason.
The Zhong family wanted to swap out Zhong Heng for Zhong Yi because a pairing between two top-tier individuals would produce better offspring.
If Su Xu didn’t already know that the Su family intended to demand a massive sum of money from the Zhongs, that reasoning might almost sound logical.
“Just say it if you’re willing,” Zhong Yi said bluntly.
“It’s not impossible,” Su Xu replied.
He wasn’t sure why the story had suddenly shifted, changing his betrothed from Zhong Heng to Zhong Yi, but it didn’t matter. To him, the name didn’t change the outcome, the engagement would never actually happen.
“Then it’s settled,” Zhong Father said decisively.
“Wait. There’s one thing I need Uncle and Aunt’s help with… ” Su Xu interjected.
Both elders paused.
Just then, the waiter knocked and entered with the food, giving them a convenient excuse to pause the conversation.
Zhong Yi, clearly impatient, reached over and grabbed Su Xu’s wrist, tugging him closer. His brows knit together. “What do you need help with? You can just tell me.”
“Don’t make trouble,” Su Xu said in a low voice.
He tried to pull his hand free, but Zhong Yi’s grip was firm. After two failed attempts, Su Xu gave up, letting the younger man hold on.
Zhong Yi made a soft sound of annoyance but didn’t let go.
When the waiter left, no one moved their chopsticks.
Zhong Father finally broke the silence. “So, what kind of help do you need?”
Su Xu’s expression was calm. “Please don’t worry, Uncle. This won’t cause you any loss.”
Zhong Father raised a brow.
Su Xu drew in a slow breath, straightened his posture, and spoke with quiet determination. “I believe you’re already familiar with how the Su family operates. Negotiating the price for a marriage involving me must not have been easy.”
The entire room fell silent.
Su Xu kept his eyes lowered. His long lashes trembled, casting faint shadows on his cheeks. His voice grew softer.
“I don’t want to hide the truth from you. Ever since I was young, my parents never saw me as their child. All they cared about was how much profit I could bring to the family. I’d already grown used to it, but when I heard that you and Aunt were willing to pay such a high price for Zhong Heng’s future, I could feel how much you care for your child. That kind of love… it touched me deeply.”
He smiled faintly, a sad curve of his lips. “Even though things changed a little and I’m now engaged to Zhong Yi instead, those feelings of love and responsibility can’t be ignored. Not every couple who gives birth to a child deserves to be called parents.”
As he spoke, the grip on his wrist tightened slightly, Zhong Yi’s hold had grown stronger.
Across the table, Zhong Father and Zhong Mother exchanged a glance. A flicker of sympathy softened Zhong Mother’s eyes.
“My request is actually very simple.”
Su Xu’s voice was quiet, but firm. “I don’t want to be a pawn for the Su family anymore. I don’t want to be their tool for making money. They never treated me like a son, only as a product to sell. I’ll repay the debt of being raised by them, but I refuse to let them profit from my marriage.”
Zhong Father frowned. “You mean…”
“I’ll repay what I owe them, but not through this marriage,” Su Xu said. “I know that once Zhong Yi and I are together, we’ll have far greater wealth than anything they’re fighting for now. I’m not short-sighted, and I don’t want to make enemies with my parents. But what matters to me is not the money itself, it’s what that money represents.”
By the end, his jaw had tightened, the words almost trembling with restrained emotion.
“This…” Zhong Father hesitated.
“Is it difficult to arrange?” Su Xu asked anxiously.
“Not exactly,” Zhong Father admitted.
He glanced subconsciously at Zhong Yi, who was still gripping Su Xu’s wrist, his expression unreadable, brows furrowed slightly as if lost in thought.
As a businessman, Zhong Father knew there were plenty of ways to adjust the contract, enough loopholes to quietly divert the funds if he wanted to. It would take some planning, but it wasn’t impossible.
Still…
His gaze lingered on Su Xu again.
The young man was slender, sitting beside Zhong Yi, who was two years younger yet broader in the shoulders. Su Xu’s frame looked almost fragile in comparison.
Maybe it was because Zhong Father hadn’t said anything, but Su Xu’s lips pressed together, his expression dimming slightly, as if he could already sense rejection settling in the air.
At Zhong Father’s age and standing, he had met countless people and seen through even more situations. More often than not, he could tell at a glance whether someone was lying or telling the truth.
But this time, the young man sitting across from him, Su Xu, was difficult to read.
Still, his instincts told him Su Xu wasn’t lying.
Just as Su Xu had said, if he and Zhong Yi truly ended up together, what they could gain together would far exceed the value of that sum of money. There was no need for him to wrestle with the Su family over a trivial portion.
After all, Zhong Yi’s true identity was………
At that moment, Zhong Yi looked up, his gaze locking with his uncle’s.
“Alright.” Zhong Father nodded without hesitation. “Uncle will help you figure something out.”
“Really? That’s wonderful!”
Su Xu’s eyes lit up, the dullness from before vanishing in an instant. “I’m sorry, Uncle, Aunt. I was a bit emotional just now. Please forgive me for losing my composure and showing you an unpleasant side of me.”
He stood up, pressing a finger to the corner of his eye. “Excuse me, I’ll just go to the restroom for a moment.”
When he stepped out of the private room, his lips curved slightly.
Although there had been some unexpected turns, things had gone far more smoothly than he’d imagined. It seemed he wouldn’t need to activate his second plan after all.
Su Xu washed his face, looking at his reflection in the mirror.
As the “villainous supporting character” of this story, his presence in the original plot had been minimal.
Once his inferior Omega identity was revealed, his role quickly shifted toward exile. Before long, he would be cast off to a remote border planet, his name only occasionally mentioned later in the story, always as a foil to Su Rui.
And after that, he would finally be free.
A faint, quiet smile lifted the corners of his lips.
When he returned to the private room, the group was already discussing the arrangements for his and Zhong Yi’s wedding.
“Our thought is to settle this quickly,” Zhong Father said. “So we’ll skip the engagement ceremony altogether. What do you think, Su Xu? Is that alright with you?”
Su Xu nodded. “That’s fine with me.”
“We’ll discuss the exact date with your mother later,” Zhong Mother added gently. “If you have any preferences, feel free to tell us. You can also let Zhong Yi know, and he’ll pass it on to us.”
Su Xu smiled. “Of course.”
Meanwhile, Zhong Yi sat there with the air of someone entirely uninvolved, playing a casual puzzle game on his terminal.
No one called him out on it. Everyone silently agreed to ignore his behavior.
Once everything was roughly settled, Zhong Father and Mother stood up.
“Su Xu, spend some more time with Zhong Yi,” Zhong Father said. “We have a few things to take care of, so we’ll be heading off first.”
Su Xu gave a modest smile. “I’ll see you out.”
“No need,” Zhong Father waved it off good-naturedly. “Stay here and talk with Zhong Yi. You young people have your own ways of getting along. Maybe you two can catch a movie tonight or something, help build a little chemistry.”
He gave Su Xu’s shoulder a reassuring pat. “You’ve suffered enough before. Just wait for some good news from me.”
“Thank you.”
Su Xu’s eyes curved into a soft, obedient smile that made him look even more well-behaved.
After the elders left, only Su Xu and Zhong Yi remained in the quiet room.
Zhong Yi arched his brow. “So? How do you feel?”
Su Xu tilted his head. “Feel about what?”
Zhong Yi leaned back with a smirk. “About us, obviously. We’re basically official now, right? A serious relationship, with marriage as the goal.”
Su Xu paused. “Mm.”
“Then shouldn’t you call me husband?” Zhong Yi said expectantly.
Su Xu let out a low laugh.
Of course. The childish man still held a grudge over the last time they spoke, when Su Xu had made him call him “sister-in-law.”
Su Xu sat back down, picked up his chopsticks, and said casually, “Not calling you that.”
The dishes on the table had long since gone cold after their long discussion with Zhong Father and Mother, but Su Xu didn’t mind. He was hungry enough not to care.
Zhong Yi’s expression darkened.
But when his gaze fell on Su Xu’s face, his irritation softened. He finally asked with as much patience as he could muster, “Why not?”
“That kind of title can only be used after marriage,” Su Xu said matter-of-factly.
“You’re such an old-fashioned person,” Zhong Yi muttered.
Su Xu didn’t take the comment to heart. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Zhong Yi didn’t answer. He simply sat there, watching Su Xu eat.
Su Xu ate with elegant, graceful motions, every movement refined yet efficient, making even the act of eating look pleasing to the eye.
Before long, Zhong Yi couldn’t resist joining in.
Soon, the two of them were competing for food, chopsticks clashing lightly. The final piece of meat was snatched by Su Xu. He waved his chopsticks with an air of triumph. “You still need more practice.”
“I’ll let you have it!”
Zhong Yi gave a derisive snort and set his chopsticks down with a sharp click. “I’m an Alpha, top-tier, at that. How could an Omega possibly outmatch me? Obviously, I was going easy on you.”
Su Xu popped the piece of meat into his mouth and squinted with a satisfied smile. “Yes, yes, you let me win. You’re so kind.”
Zhong Yi was rendered speechless by the “nice guy” card.
When they were full, Zhong Yi still seemed unsatisfied. He nudged Su Xu’s chair with his foot. “Come on. We’ve already agreed to get married. Can’t you just call me once in advance?”
Su Xu said lazily, “We’ll be married in two months at most. You can tell me what to call you then, and I’ll say it.”
He glanced up, catching the way Zhong Yi was staring at him. “Why are you so obsessed with this? Are you still hung up on that conversation from last time?”
“…No. I just want to hear it.”
Zhong Yi tried to sound casual, then added through gritted teeth, “Besides, I’m the one paying your parents that money.”
Su Xu blinked, genuinely surprised.
So Zhong Yi was that rich?
That must mean the shiny, extravagant card Zhong Heng had been using earlier came from Zhong Yi as well.
When he thought about it that way, the boy had indeed bled quite a lot for this arrangement.
Su Xu thought of the results of his two differentiation tests, both confirming his inferior Omega status, and of how the pheromones he was currently using came from his younger brother.
And in the future, not only would he never actually marry Zhong Yi, but he also planned to take the money and disappear before anyone could retaliate.
With that in mind, the way Su Xu looked at Zhong Yi softened, almost tender, like he was gazing at a naïve child.
“Alright then. I can’t call you that title yet, but I can at least use one that fits our current relationship,” Su Xu said, rising from his seat.
He took a slow step forward, close enough that one leg brushed against Zhong Yi’s knee. Then he leaned down, his soft hair sliding across Zhong Yi’s cheek. His breath brushed against Zhong Yi’s ear, light and warm.
For just a second, Su Xu could see it clearly, Zhong Yi’s skin flushed red, spreading rapidly across his face.
Su Xu chuckled softly, lowering his voice. “Boyfriend.”
Zhong Yi froze.
Straightening up, Su Xu tilted his head with a teasing smile. “Was that worth at least part of your money?”
Zhong Yi opened his mouth but said nothing.
“Come on,” Su Xu said, glancing at his terminal. It was already past three in the afternoon. The earlier meeting had eaten up quite a bit of time.
“Besides the movie idea, do you have anything else in mind? I don’t usually do much in my spare time, so I’m not sure what young people like you enjoy, ”
“Wait.” Zhong Yi stopped him.
Su Xu turned back. “Hm?”
Zhong Yi was still sitting there, his gaze unsteady, refusing to meet Su Xu’s eyes. “You’re my boyfriend now,” he said, voice a little rough. “So if I kiss you again, that wouldn’t be too much, would it?”
He hesitated for half a second, then added quickly, “Or… you could kiss me instead. I’m not picky.”
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The chapter is finished. The chaos is not.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · The Inner WorldChapter 2 · Pheromone Testing CentreChapter 3 · Low Grade OmegaChapter 4 · Faking to be Top tier OmegaChapter 5 · Zhong YiChapter 6 · The culprit behind the videoChapter 7 · Lecture ticket of powerful military OfficerChapter 8 · Zhong Heng acting like a thugChapter 9 · General ChuChapter 10 · Do you really like that good for nothing, Alpha?Chapter 11 · Chen TingyiChapter 12 · Class AssessmentChapter 13 · Call me HusbandChapter 14 · Almost Like AffairChapter 15 · Lantern BloomChapter 16 · Mild Pheromone overflowChapter 17 · Hi, WifeChapter 18 · Or you can kiss me. I’m not pickyChapter 19 · It’s not too late for you to call off the engagementChapter 20 · My BoyfriendChapter 21 · Kidnapped?Chapter 22 · Sister in LawChapter 23 · So you didn’t differentiateChapter 24 · PrinceChapter 25 · That Alpha… is none other than His MajestyChapter 26 · My mom said you’re too oldChapter 27 · Do you still have me in your heart?Chapter 28 · You Can call me Brother in law or sister in lawChapter 29 · I fell in love with you at first sight.Chapter 30 · What kind of friend? Alpha, Beta, or OmegaChapter 31 · Your current boyfriend is hereChapter 32 · I can protect youChapter 33 · Mental suppressionChapter 34 · It doesn’t matterChapter 35 · Watched another horror movie?Chapter 36 · Did you hear thatChapter 37 · You’d know what it tastes like once you try itChapter 38 · He is my boyfriend, his name is Zhong YiChapter 39 · This is what I just received from your father todayChapter 40 · Who did you return the photos of me and Su Rui to?Chapter 41 · As a result, Rui Rui ran away with meChapter 42 · Constitutes accomplice behaviorChapter 43 · You can’t stay in the second bedroomChapter 44 · No one will think you are inferior anymore.Chapter 45 · I am inferior, what’s it to you?Chapter 46 · Let’s wait until the debt collectors come knockingChapter 47 · Focus on your studiesChapter 48 · Am I that valuable?Chapter 49 · From now on, call me MasterChapter 50 · I have always been tolerant of beautiful MenChapter 51 · Don’t be so recklessChapter 52 · He’ll only get more excitedChapter 53 · Call him sister in lawChapter 54 · You haven’t even fulfilled your obligations yetChapter 55 · What? Grandma Su Xu is sick?Chapter 56 · That wasn’t what he meant at all!Chapter 57 · I could actually share him with youChapter 58 · Why was someone added at the last minute?Chapter 59 · You can’t record videos here.Chapter 60 · I like it tooChapter 61 · Distinguish between two similar pheromones.Chapter 62 · Why do you think I blocked you?Chapter 63 · Why hasn’t Su Xu replied yet?Chapter 64 · His Majesty never comes back to eatChapter 65 · Hide your things wellChapter 66 · Connection?Chapter 67 · Maybe I can even inhale it for some comfortChapter 68 · So you don’t run awayChapter 69 · Will you be with His Majesty?Chapter 70 · Take itChapter 71 · Who is this person?!Chapter 72 · Who did you just call worthless?Chapter 73 · Weren’t we talking about Mr. Su and His Majesty?Chapter 74 · Aren’t you very capable?Chapter 75 · As expected of Wu ChuChapter 76 · Help him sleep?Chapter 77 · Su Xu’s Alpha was His MajestyChapter 78 · You really are something, playing favorites like thatChapter 79 · World of a novelChapter 80 · I simply… know them inside outChapter 81 · Wait for meChapter 82 · But I think you’ve become a lot cuter latelyChapter 83 · The feeling of me kissing you?Chapter 84 · Our Xuxu… is finally becoming an adultChapter 85 · Rare stolen moments for an affair like this.Chapter 86 · What kind of death-level love triangle battlefield was this!?Chapter 87 · It was practically torture!Chapter 88 · What sinful karmaChapter 89 · You weren’t worried I’d get angry?Chapter 90 · I’m going to mark youChapter 91 · Who did you go with?Chapter 92 · Chu Xian….. You really aren’t humanChapter 93 · Did this man actually know how to kiss?Chapter 94 · After all, he’s still the current boyfriendChapter 95 · Did they mark you again?Chapter 96 · It’s not my bloodChapter 97 · Did you seduce another alpha??Chapter 98 · After that, don’t use that kind of thing anymoreChapter 99 · Even at this point, Su Xu is still lying to him!Chapter 100 · What’s wrong with you?Chapter 101 · Don’t tell anyoneChapter 102 · I Think my hear startedChapter 104 · A wedding?Chapter 104 · You’re Wu JiChapter 105 · Exceptionally Beautiful OmegaChapter 106 · If you’re with him, aren’t you afraid of being cheated on?Chapter 107 · “Am I the same person as him?”Chapter 108 · What important matter could Chu Xian possibly have to do?Chapter 109 · Did the boss actually steal someone else’s partner?Chapter 110 · Wu Chu is preparing for his weddingChapter 111 · I know better than you what’s so great about Su XuChapter 112 · Chu Xian had gotten a bit tannedChapter 113 · Su Xu, your boyfriend is here!Chapter 114 · I’ve completely lost face!Chapter 115 · Don’t you think your sister-in-law is interesting too?Chapter 116 · I will definitely tell Wu Chu the truth.Chapter 117 · Didn’t you already meet your boyfriend today?Chapter 117 · Why do I need to take a day off on Saturday?Chapter 119 · This is a TrapChapter 120 · This is the future queen chosen by their monarch!Chapter 121 · Could it be that Su Xu went directly to the scene?Chapter 122 · Slipped the ring on Su Xu’s ring fingerChapter 123 · You have no experienceChapter 124 · I haven’t even mentioned your lover in Galaxy A yetChapter 125 · He suddenly had a strong urge to kiss Qi YanChapter 126 · May I ask what you encountered?Chapter 127 · It’s not Jiang Cang, it’s Jiang CangxingChapter 128 · Where does the money come from for a single line of code?Chapter 129 · This is unbelievable!Chapter 130 · Su Xu slammed the box shut.Chapter 131 · This is so weird!Chapter 132 · This person and Teacher Sang are mutual followers!Chapter 133 · I can finally keep my promise and come see youChapter 134 · Extra 1: He’s mango FlavouredChapter 135 · Extra 2: Boyfriend meets ParentsChapter 136 · Extra 3: The Game (1)Chapter 137 · Extra 4: The Game (2)