Lu Siyan forced himself to read a couple of lines.
The book had a European vintage cover design—red background with gold lettering and a French inscription on the title page. It felt substantial in his hand. About two fingers thick, with embossed velvet roses and gilded edges, it looked every bit like a serious work of literature.
He never expected… the content to be so wild and bold.
A crimson flush crept into the Omega’s eyes. He truly couldn’t go on reading and tossed the book aside.
“This… this one isn’t good. I’ll change it.”
Because he had just been fished out of the bathtub, he was still soaking wet. Lu Siyan’s arm, radiating heat, slowly extended past the man’s face. As his body leaned forward, there was a soft splat.
A drop of water slid down his arm and dripped right into the hollow of the Alpha’s neck, where blue veins were visible beneath the skin. The moisture sliding off his body turned into a mist that carried a sweet, clear scent of bergamot, brushing against pores dampened by steam. The fragrance bloomed against the skin…
Xiao Yanxiu froze slightly and instinctively turned his head. The man’s eyes, swirling with dark fire, landed on the protruding white nape of the Omega’s neck—the gland.
That was the spot where pheromones were most concentrated.
Completely unconscious of it, the Omega had brazenly displayed his most private and fragile part right before the Alpha’s eyes. It was tinder meeting a flame.
With his fingers hooked over the man’s shoulder, Lu Siyan picked a new book with a Prussian blue cover from the floor-to-ceiling huanghuali wood bookshelf behind Xiao Yanxiu.
“This one then.”
Lu Siyan’s eyes were bright and spirited, like a little cat’s. He firmly believed he couldn’t be so unlucky as to pick two books in a row with that kind of content…
His playful movement of shaking the book was adorably fatal. The Alpha just watched, unable to suppress a doting smile. As for the wall behind him—Xiao Yanxiu knew exactly which book was in which spot and exactly what was written inside.
The Omega was naive and innocent, and if he was willing to read to him, the Alpha was more than happy to listen.
But… that restless little fellow wouldn’t keep his feet on the ground. He was treating the man like a cat tree, moving up and down against him.
Xiao Yanxiu could truly bear it no longer. The man reached out, gripping the Omega’s waist tightly and pulling him into his lap. In a strained, breathy tone, the Alpha whispered:
“Stop moving.”
The hot breath fanned against the side of Lu Siyan’s neck—scorching, boiling to a peak temperature that felt like it could burn. Thrown defenselessly into the Alpha’s arms, the Omega silently felt the rush of their intermingling body heat. His heartbeat skipped a beat.
Their gazes locked instantly, inches apart, until even their breathing became hurried. An intimate atmosphere diffused recklessly through the air.
Panicked for a moment, the Omega covered his face with the book and slumped back into the space between the Alpha’s legs. Only when he realized the awkward positioning did he hurriedly flip open the pages.
“I… I’ll read to you.”
“In the red sorghum field… bronze-skinned…”
“Pinned her down…”
“In the mud…”
Lu Siyan’s face turned a deep scarlet. He didn’t know how his luck could be this bad.
Clap. He slammed the book shut. “I’ll change it again.”
This time, however, the man’s attitude was firm. “Don’t change it.”
He pressed his palm over the back of the Omega’s hand. “Read this one.”
Xiao Yanxiu’s voice was low, carrying a hint of suggestion. The Alpha captured the Omega’s slender white fingertips and pressed them onto the page, tracing a small line of text. His lips brushed past the boy’s ear, almost touching.
“Good boy, read it carefully.”
“Read how they do it…”
“And we… will do the same…”
Outside the window, a cluster of magnolia branches was delicate and pinkish-white. The saturated afternoon sun poured into the room, falling on the Omega’s slightly frowning face, making even the tiny peach fuzz on his skin visible.
Lu Siyan’s skin was naturally translucent; bathed in the warm light, his pupils turned a glassy, pale hazel, looking unfocused. Xiao Yanxiu held his hand, fingers interlaced, and tilted the Omega’s chin up, forcing him to look straight ahead.
The Omega’s skin flushed deep pink, even down to his ankles, and a thin layer of sweat formed on his forehead. The Alpha simply couldn’t take his eyes off him, unwilling to look away for even half a second, finally sighing with genuine feeling:
“So beautiful.”
The short three-day heat period was drawing to a close. The scent of pheromones from the gland on the back of Lu Siyan’s neck was gradually fading.
Xiao Yanxiu was usually very busy. Even while accompanying him, he had to find time to process emails and return calls. Taking advantage of the man’s busy schedule, Lu Siyan got up early and applied an isolation patch. While checking the position of his gland in the mirror, he accidentally saw the marks.
Deep and shallow, large and small, a mottled trail of marks led from his nape all the way down his back.
The Omega’s cheeks burned again. He repeatedly pressed his hands to his face to cool down and took a deep breath, constantly warning himself not to get too immersed in the “role.”
Noticing the beautiful weather outside during his free time, he took a watering can downstairs to water the flowers. He then received a call from Mu Yi.
His best friend remembered his allergy to suppressants and knew that every heat period was a life-or-death ordeal for him. Counting the days, Mu Yi called to check on his condition.
“Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? If you need help, you must speak up. Don’t be shy.”
Lu Siyan gripped his phone, his palms sweaty. He looked up toward the massive floor-to-ceiling window of Xiao Yanxiu’s study. Although he couldn’t see anything, after thinking it over, the Omega decided to confess the truth of his marriage to his only friend.
“You said WHAT!”
A sharp, explosive cry erupted from the receiver. At the same time, the sounds of a crowded street and honking cars burst through as he spoke.
Lu Siyan straightened his back nervously. “Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi, are you okay?”
Mu Yi snapped back to reality. “I’m fine, I’m fine, the light just turned green and I was rushing across the street. But what did you just say? You’re married? To whom? You married Xiao Yanxiu?”
Lu Siyan understood the impact of this news. Even he found it hard to believe.
On the other end of the line, Mu Yi was silent for two seconds before asking, “Then… can I come see your husband’s giant mansion?”
Of course, Lu Siyan wanted his friend’s company. But he didn’t dare agree immediately. He went upstairs, knocked, and poked his head through the crack of the study door to ask for Xiao Yanxiu’s permission.
To his surprise, the man barely glanced up, casting an indifferent look before saying calmly, “This is your home. You can invite whoever you want.”
Half an hour later, Mu Yi arrived at the Emerald Garden luxury district. Lu Siyan, wrapped in a scarf, went out specifically to meet him.
As the friend followed him inside, he let out a string of gasps. “Oh my god! Oh my god!”
From the moment he entered, he circled the magnificent crystal chandelier twice. He looked through the living room, the tea room, the flower room, the lawn large enough for golf, and the outdoor pool… he saw it all.
When the two little Omegas got together, they were exceptionally excited. They went to the kitchen to make tiramisu and, with hot cocoa in hand, sat in the sunroom where the roses were in full bloom.
“Yanyan, I am so happy that you can be happy.”
“Now you’ll have an Alpha to accompany you every heat period. No more emergency room visits in the middle of the night, no more pain, and no more living under someone else’s roof and dealing with the Lu family’s attitude. It’s just wonderful.”
“Xiao Yanxiu really stood up for you and gave them what they deserved. Just thinking about those three eating dirt—unable to speak out and having to swallow their anger—makes me feel so refreshed.”
“Especially that Lu Shiyuan. I’ve hated him for a long time. He actually dared to team up with outsiders to drug you. I think he should be locked up for a few days.”
Mu Yi recounted everything that had happened, feeling both happy for him and indignant, wishing he could personally strike those who bullied Lu Siyan.
Enjoying his friend’s protection, Lu Siyan felt complicated. He gently poked the cream on his white porcelain plate with a small spoon.
He whispered, “I told you already. My marriage with Xiao Yanxiu is just a business alliance, a contract marriage. Eventually… we will separate.”
Mu Yi took a huge bite of cream, unconcerned. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
With his cheeks stuffed, he said, “If you ask me, Xiao Yanxiu must have had a crush on you for ages. He probably used the contract as an excuse because he was afraid you wouldn’t accept him otherwise. That way, you could accept his kindness without any burden.”
“Think about it, the Xiao family is so rich. Would he really care about the small change in your pocket? Even if one-third of the Lu family assets were transferred to your joint names after marriage, it’s peanuts to him.”
Mu Yi knew Lu Siyan was sensitive and lacked confidence, so he offered a plan.
“If you really don’t believe it, go ask him. Ask him: if we gave him all the Lu family’s money right now, would he be willing to divorce you and marry Lu Shiyuan instead? He definitely wouldn’t.”
Mu Yi said decisively, “He just likes you.”
Hearing the word “like,” Lu Siyan’s ears felt numb, and his heart hammered like a drum, trembling heavily.
“It’s really… not like that.”
The Omega denied it with difficulty, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. “He’s likely not after the money. But… he’s not after me either.”
Mu Yi was frustrated. “Why are you so certain?”
Lu Siyan didn’t want to reveal too much of Xiao Yanxiu’s privacy, but his heart felt heavy, and he feared those around him would misunderstand. The more blessings and envious looks he received now, the harder the blow would be when they eventually divorced.
It was like the hugs from the kids at the orphanage—if the kindness was only a one-time thing, he would rather not have it at all.
Lu Siyan gripped his cup tightly. “Xiao Yi, you’re my best friend. I don’t want to hide things from you, and I hope you can understand how I feel. At least when the time comes to leave Xiao Yanxiu and this house, I want to have a place to go and a friend to cry to.”
The Omega paused, bracing himself.
“I… accidentally heard his friend talking the other day. He has a ‘White Moonlight’ [an unforgettable past love]… He probably married me to block the marriage with the Rong family’s granddaughter and to satisfy some Alpha needs. In short… when the White Moonlight returns, I’ll have to leave.”
Mu Yi pressed, “What White Moonlight? Have you asked him? Could it be a misunderstanding?”
Lu Siyan shook his head. “No.”
Besides, they were just a contract couple. It would be intrusive to pry into someone else’s private affairs.
The Omega touched his gland. “Moreover, every time we’ve been together, he only gave me temporary marks.”
An Alpha’s instinct was to possess. If he only gave temporary marks after marriage, the sense of boundaries was indeed very strong…
In a way, the man had a conscience; he didn’t harm the Omega’s body for his own desires. But he wasn’t exactly a “good” guy either—having a White Moonlight while looking for a surrogate was poor “Alpha ethics.” If the White Moonlight found out, it would be disgusting.
Mu Yi’s face changed instantly as he comforted Lu Siyan. “It’s okay, Yanyan, don’t be sad.”
“It’s actually a good thing he hasn’t given you a permanent mark. That way, when the White Moonlight comes back and you divorce, you won’t have to go to the hospital to have the gland ‘cleaned.’ That hurts so much.”
“Your health isn’t great to begin with, and your gland has suffered slight damage over the years. To be permanently marked for a fake marriage would be a total loss.”
The friend felt regretful but also tried to be lighthearted.
“Since we’ve confirmed it’s just a contract, just take what you need from each other. If he gives you any benefits in the future, just take them. Don’t be polite, and don’t let yourself be used for nothing.”
Lu Siyan listened and nodded quietly. “Yeah, I know. I need to save some money for myself. I’ve completely cut ties with my family now, so I can’t bet my entire future on another Alpha. I need to make my own plans for the road ahead.”
Mu Yi squeezed Lu Siyan’s hand, his eyes full of heartache but putting on a brave face.
“It’s fine! I’m anti-marriage anyway. After you divorce, we’ll live together. I’ll find the best hospital and the best research labs. There has to be a genius in this world who can develop a suppressant specifically for sensitive Omegas. By then, you won’t need an Alpha at all. Let all the scummy Alphas get lost!”
The two Omegas were in total agreement. They decided to spend their lives together. Lu Siyan had never been so firmly “chosen” by someone before; it felt like he finally had his own support system.
The Omega’s eyes welled with tears, his heart warming up.
Mu Yi grabbed his hand. “Yanyan, if you need money, the Yin Wu Studio is still hiring. Would you consider going back?”
Because of the conflict with his family earlier, his parents had forced him to quit, leaving a mess behind. Lu Siyan felt very guilty. Although he loved the job, he hesitated, afraid of causing more trouble.
“I’m afraid Yin Wu won’t want me back.”
Mu Yi knew he was overthinking again and jumped up excitedly. “How could that be? Your scripts are so good, and the whole screenwriting team recognizes your talent. Yin Wu was just complaining the other day about why you left; she knows the resignation wasn’t your choice. Yanyan, if you’re willing, I’ll go back and talk to her. You can earn some money, we can work together, and we can commute together. Wouldn’t that be great?”
Lu Siyan was tempted. He struggled with it but decided he should take responsibility for his actions. No matter what, he should apologize to Yin Wu in person.
“Xiao Yi, then I’ll trouble you with that.”
Mu Yi patted his chest. “Leave it to me! It won’t be a problem.”
They talked about everything under the sun, even planning which nursing home they would live in when they got old.
The sunlight, filtered through the camphor tree branches, slanted across the large window of the second-floor study.
Xiao Yanxiu stood there silently, a cigarette between his fingers, his eyes lowered as he watched the Omega in the sunroom, surrounded by flowers.
The boy was crying and laughing.
Behind him, Shen Zhiyan had delivered all of Lu Siyan’s medical records from childhood to the present—not even a common cold was missing. Having just picked out a bottle of red wine he intended to “borrow,” Shen Zhiyan walked to the window. Seeing the deep, affectionate look in the Alpha’s eyes, he cried out in despair:
“Enough, enough. This is way too mushy.”
Xiao Yanxiu calmly flicked his ash. “What do you know?”
Shen, a lifelong bachelor, naturally had no interest in understanding. Furthermore, “the wise do not fall in love; the lonely pursue PhDs.”
A mere Xiao Yanxiu—what was his degree compared to that? How dare he speak to him like that?
Shen Zhiyan followed the Alpha’s gaze to the Omega, who didn’t seem particularly special other than being small and cute. He asked curiously:
“So… the fact that you two have known each other since you were kids…”
“You really don’t plan on telling him?”