Pain.
Wan Xu instinctively reached for the back of his swollen neck.
He had a habit of applying scent-suppressing patches before his heat cycle, but the rough texture pressing against his fingers was clearly not the brand he usually used. He figured that perhaps, having just returned from abroad, he had not yet had the chance to update them.
Wait, he did not put this on.
Dormant memories were instantly awakened, and Wan Xu ripped the patch off.
Having just experienced an abnormal heat cycle the night apart, the pheromone scent on his body was exceptionally strong. Aside from his own natural citrus scent, there was also a lingering, unidentifiable trace of sandalwood.
Right now, in the room, the two scents were mixed together.
A temporary marking?
Wan Xu abruptly sat up and looked around.
This was not his apartment; it was a hotel room. Sunlight filtered through a gap in the curtains and fell onto the wooden floor.
He looked down at his own body. His suit jacket was unbuttoned and draped over a nearby chair; his tie and belt had been removed and tossed aside. His shirt was completely wide open, wrinkled beyond recognition, and his shirt stays were nowhere to be found.
Fortunately, there were no visible marks on the exposed parts of his skin, and he felt clean and fresh below.
Wan Xu paused, letting out a sigh of relief.
He kicked off the blanket, got out of bed, and walked into the bathroom to splash cold water on his face. Then, he reached back to touch the nape of his neck.
Wan Xu tried hard to fight through the lingering effects of the hormones to recall even a shred of what might have happened in this bed last night. Aside from the sharp pain at the exact moment of the marking, he felt nothing. He could not even remember the Alpha’s face.
He could remember nothing at all.
He massaged the aching skin at the back of his neck.
Thirty-six hours ago, Wan Xu was still ten thousand feet in the air.
After graduation, he had no reason to stay abroad. His jerk of a father practically wanted to call him eight hundred times a day, hinting at nothing less than rushing him back to marry an Alpha he had never even met.
His father had given him a three-month ultimatum, and Wan Xu had dragged it out for two whole months until the old man flew into a rage and cut off his financial support. His credit cards were frozen one by one. Standing in front of the supermarket checkout counter when even the last card was declined, he let out a cold laugh.
Fine. If they wanted him back, he would go back.
What fiancé? It sounded high and mighty, but in reality, they just resented that he had presented as an Omega, a troublesome hot potato who could not inherit corporate shares. They might as well sell him off to someone surnamed Nie to cash in on the meager dowry the grandfather had set aside for him.
Wan Xu sneered, muttered an indifferent that he was boarding his flight, and hung up the phone while dragging his suitcase toward customs.
Besides, he had no intention of actually getting married; he would just find an excuse to brush his family off once he got home.
Back when he was studying for his undergraduate degree in China, he had already built the foundation of an independent studio with a few like-minded classmates. Over the past few years abroad, he had pinched pennies and saved up a sum of money. More importantly, this trip back home included the latest engine technology and a semi-finished demo.
His plan was to use that savings as starting capital to get his team off the ground.
Since Omegas had no right to inherit family businesses, he would just build one of his own.
With that thought in mind, returning did not seem quite so miserable after all.
Before switching his phone to airplane mode, he sent a message to his eldest cousin, put his headphones back on, adjusted his seat, and closed his eyes.
He landed at three in the afternoon, and Wan Ting was waiting for him at the arrival gate.
Xiao Xu had lost quite a bit of weight. Wan Ting took the luggage from his hand and ruffled his cousin’s hair.
Wan Ting was the son of his eldest uncle. Among the younger generation, he was the closest to Wan Xu and the one he kept in touch with the most. Wan Xu stuck out his tongue and teased that they did not feed people well out there.
Then I will have Aunt Hao add an extra dish for you to rest up later. Wan Ting pulled out his phone as they walked, mentioning that there was a banquet that night and that Grandpa specifically asked him to bring Wan Xu along to show his face to the elders.
Wan Xu had been in high spirits, but the moment he heard about having to socialize, his face dropped. He complained about why he had to go.
Do you not want to make games? You are going to need to raise investment eventually. Plus, everyone needs to know you are back, and as for your engagement…
Wan Xu could not be bothered to listen to whatever Wan Ting said next.
The evening banquet was indeed a great opportunity to raise funds.
Although the Wan family was wealthy enough that squeezing out pocket money for him to start a business would not hurt them, doing so would make them a laughingstock for ages. Wan Xu did not want to rely on family influence anyway, because any success he achieved that way would just invite gossip behind his back.
Yet the little bit of money he had managed to save was just a drop in the bucket when it came to game development.
As the designated heir, Wan Ting looked much further ahead.
What he had in mind was that Wan Xu’s fiancé would also be there. He wanted to give the two of them a chance to interact before the engagement, hoping to make Wan Xu less resistant to the match.
After all, as the only Omega among the younger generation, his value as a marriage alliance partner for the conglomerate was high. It was said that the Nie family’s bride price was exceptionally generous.
As for starting a business? The current market was so cutthroat. Once the kid had his fun and got it out of his system, he would naturally drop the foolish idea. The family had enough money for him to squander, so they might as well let him toss it around.
Wan Ting glanced up at Wan Xu, who was dozing against the window in the passenger seat. He slightly adjusted the AC vent and said no more.
After getting home, Wan Xu took a short nap. Taking advantage of the window, the family housekeeper, Aunt Hao, cooked him his favorite braised beef with radishes.
The focus of a business banquet was never the food, so Aunt Hao, worried he would not eat enough, scooped him a massive bowl of rice, stuffing the young master to the brim.
After finishing, Wan Xu changed out of his hoodie and jeans into a sharp, tailored suit.
He admired his reflection in the mirror. Combing his hair back to expose his forehead made him look quite a bit more mature. He already had good features, and the high-end suit accentuated his tall, lean frame.
You really look like a young gentleman now, Aunt Hao said with a smile, straightening his collar.
Wan Xu felt immensely pleased with the praise.
Aunt Hao had been working as a housekeeper for his family since he was very little. Having never married or had children of her own, she naturally treated Wan Xu like her own child.
Wan Ting had been waiting at the door for a while, urging him not to be late. Aunt Hao smoothed down the hem of his jacket and nudged him outside, telling him to go on.
Everyone attending the banquet was a prominent figure in the city’s business community, and social pleasantries were inevitable. It was etiquette they had been taught since childhood. Wan Xu, having grown accustomed to the more relaxed pace abroad, felt a bit out of place being thrown right back into this environment.
Fortunately, Wan Ting was a social butterfly. With the spotlight entirely on the young heir, no one paid any attention to Wan Xu lingering in the corner.
Wan Xu observed his cousin’s every move, his ears perked up to listen to how his Alpha cousin could sweet-talk people so effortlessly.
Just as he watched Wan Ting throw an arm around a young man’s shoulders and chat away with a smile, an unfamiliar yet vaguely familiar face abruptly appeared before him.
Well, well, if it is not Young Master Wan?
The newcomer looked to be around his age, and from his tone, they seemed well acquainted. Unfortunately, there were simply too many scions of wealthy families for him to keep track of names.
Wan Xu instinctively felt a wave of aversion toward the person before him, but his upbringing prevented him from frowning in disgust.
He could only put on his signature fake smile, extend a hand, and exchange a superficial handshake.
Look at you, such a busy person to forget old acquaintances, the man said, his smile equally devoid of sincerity as he introduced himself as Teng An.
Wan Xu had a vague impression of the name. Were they not from the same high school?
What did Teng An want with him?
Even though their hands were still clasped, Teng An’s grip was clearly a bit too tight, making his hand ache.
Wan Xu’s fake smile began to crack. His mind raced with only one thought regarding how to shake off this clingy leech.
Noticing other people’s gazes turning toward them, Teng An finally released his hand with a hint of reluctance. Wan Xu politely said that if he would be excused, he had somewhere to be.
Hey, since you are already here, it has been ages. Keep me company for a drink. Teng An smoothly picked up a glass of wine from a nearby champagne tower and shoved it into his hand.
Wan Xu frowned in genuine disgust this time and waved a hand to refuse, but Teng An had already forced the glass into his grasp.
In a fleeting, flashing moment, something dropped into the wine glass.
Wan Xu took a symbolic sip, but Teng An had no intention of letting him off. He downed a large gulp of his own drink and urged Wan Xu to continue.
Wan Ting seemed to notice the commotion over here and started walking in their direction.
Wan Xu’s mouth twitched. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to completely abandon all decorum and punch Teng An in the face.
Teng An’s smile was repulsive, slowly overlapping with that wretched, leering grin from several years ago.
Right there in a momentary daze, Wan Xu suddenly remembered what this scumbag had done. Back in high school, Teng An had harassed a female classmate, and Wan Xu had caught him red-handed. He beat Teng An to a pulp, landing himself a disciplinary warning in the process, but Young Master Teng’s reputation had been ruined ever since.
He was here for revenge.
Wan Ting arrived just in time. Wan Xu took two quick strides forward, shoved the wine glass into his eldest cousin’s hands, and briefly informed Wan Ting that his drink had been spiked, asking him to run a test on it. When he turned back around, the man surnamed Teng had already vanished without a trace.
Just as he finished speaking, his body suddenly went limp, and Wan Ting caught him by the arm.
Xiao Xu? Xiao Xu, what is wrong with you?
Wan Xu shook his head, steadying his stance, and managed to say that he was going to the restroom and would just slip out first if things felt off.
No, I will call the police first. You wait here.
Wan Xu waved a hand, a wave of nausea rising within him. Covering his mouth, he stumbled toward the washroom.
No, this cannot be happening.
Why did his heat come early?
It had to be because of that drug.
The drug’s effects hit faster and fiercer than he had imagined. His consciousness was quickly swallowed up, and at that moment, he cursed himself for turning into a mere slave to hormones.
Wan Xu had barely taken two steps before his left foot tripped over his right. The gland at the back of his neck felt like it had been set on fire, burning until the entire back of his skull went numb.
Fortunately, he was far enough away from the main banquet hall by now that no one could witness his pathetic state.
He had no idea if he was even heading in the direction of the restrooms, stumbling blindly forward.
His body was burning hot, and his vision was blurring. He could smell the intense scent of pheromones radiating from his own skin, and it felt like there were plenty of lurking Alphas waiting to pounce nearby.
The heavy scent of pheromones made him feel deeply nauseous.
He finally brushed against the restroom door, turned on the faucet, and splashed cold water over his face. Managing to clear his head just a fraction, he realized he needed to find a safe place to ride it out. After taking a few steps back outside, he collapsed onto the floor.
A blurred shadow appeared out of nowhere. As if grabbing onto a lifeline, Wan Xu desperately clutched at the person’s trouser leg, forcing out two strained syllables through gritted teeth to ask for help.
The scent coming off that person was very faint, almost undetectable. But his instincts told him with absolute certainty that this was an Alpha.
His last shred of reason was completely obliterated. He felt certain that if no one else could alleviate this sudden heat, he would die right here.
The dark figure paused. The moment he crouched down, Wan Xu threw his arms around him and bit fiercely into the back of his neck.
A wave of citrus pheromones washed over him.
The intense pheromone awakened the Alpha’s primal instincts, and he instinctively scooped the delirious Omega straight up into his arms.
Not far away, following the trail of pheromones, Wan Ting tracked Wan Xu down just as his cousin was locked in an entanglement with an Alpha.
A surge of blood rushing to his head, Wan Ting ripped off his suit jacket, ready to teach this reckless Alpha a lesson. But before he could act, he caught a whiff of a familiar sandalwood pheromone, and he froze dead in his tracks.
The man did not seem to notice him. He scooped up the completely limp Wan Xu and carried him away.
After catching a clear glimpse of the man’s face, Wan Ting raised a hand to stop the security guards who were rushing forward.
President Wan, this is… The security guard trailed off, hesitant.
It is fine.
They had a marriage pact; whatever happened between them did not matter.
Wan Ting watched the man’s retreating figure vanish down the end of the corridor, then bent down to pick up his discarded suit jacket from the floor and patted the dust off.
Today’s events are strictly confidential, Wan Ting instructed. Go, take that reckless punk down to the police station.