Fu Xu showed his usual polite smile as he took the tray, thanked the man, and turned upstairs to change his clothes.
The man glanced briefly inside before stepping back a few paces and pressing the back of his neck. Then he pulled out a small bottle of pheromone suppressant spray from his pocket and misted the air at the doorway several times before continuing to wait quietly.
Upstairs, Fu Xu quickly washed up and changed his clothes. As he did, he suddenly remembered the bracelet.
He had assumed it was something valuable, at least, it looked expensive, so he hadn’t dared to wear it. Instead, he had placed it carefully in the small box by his bed.
It really was beautiful. The band was cross-shaped, sleek and elegant, with a small black screen on top that glowed faintly, intricate patterns swirling beneath the surface. It looked delicate, expensive, and full of quiet sophistication.
But he didn’t have time to admire it. Afraid the man downstairs would grow impatient, Fu Xu hurriedly left the room and ran down the stairs as fast as he could.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting,” he said, blinking slightly.
The scene before him overlapped perfectly with that day, The same man waiting for him, the same quiet, desolate atmosphere, the same feeling of being sent away once more.
The man’s smile didn’t waver as he made a courteous gesture. “This way, Mr. Fu.”
Fu Xu followed them into the car.
When he came here the first time, the sky had been dark. The anxiety weighing in his chest had made everything outside the window look even gloomier, almost frightening.
Today, however, the weather was clear. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering spots of light across the ground. The breeze was soft, carrying the faint sound of rustling branches.
Leaving like this… perhaps it wasn’t so bad.
He didn’t know how much time had passed. The tension in his body never relaxed, and his hands, resting on his knees, were trembling slightly. A fine sheen of sweat gathered on his forehead.
At last, the car came to a stop.
When the door opened, Fu Xu froze. It was the same gate he had once polished countless times.
He had scrubbed it so often that he could trace every groove and line with his eyes closed. Fu Jiaze had always complained that he never cleaned the floor properly, that he even missed the cracks.
So Fu Xu had used his nails wrapped in cloth to dig into the seams, wiping until his fingers were raw.
And now, he was back here again.
Fu Jiaze had been right. He really was useless.
“Mr. Fu, our job is done. You can go in by yourself,” the man said, nodding slightly before stepping back into the car.
Normally, if an omega’s alpha wasn’t accompanying them home, they were required to return on their own. Sending him this far was already the most the escorts could do.
Fu Xu bit down on his lower lip until he tasted the faint bitterness of blood. It was a habit he had never managed to break. Whenever he grew too nervous or afraid, he would bite until the sharp, metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
Turning to face the large gate, Fu Xu took several deep breaths before pressing the doorbell.
The bell rang for a long time, but no one answered.
Yet he knew there were people inside.
At this hour, Fu Jiaze usually sat in the living room listening to private tutoring sessions, tossing pebbles and bits of rubber at him just to see him flinch.
Sometimes, when Fu Xu stumbled, he would accidentally step on the small patch of grass their mother had loved so dearly.
Now it seemed his brother had simply found a new way to torment him.
After waiting a while, dizziness began to cloud his vision. He hadn’t eaten since morning, and the hunger made his stomach churn. He felt nauseous, lightheaded, the world dimming around the edges.
He crouched down slowly, pressing his hands to his knees, breathing carefully until the ringing in his ears faded and his vision cleared again.
Just then, a warm male voice spoke behind him.
“Do you need any help?”
Fu Xu swallowed the sourness rising from his stomach, cleared his throat, and managed to say, “No, thank you. I’m fine.”
His sense of smell was keen, too keen. The alpha behind him carried the faint scent of peony blossoms. It was likely someone who knew Fu Jiaze.
And anyone connected to Fu Jiaze could only bring trouble.
The best choice was always to stay away.
“I heard you married into the Shen family a few days ago,” the man said with an easy smile. “Are you… coming home to visit today?”
Fu Xu stayed silent, his head lowered.
The alpha looked at him thoughtfully. The omega’s clothes were fine and clearly expensive, yet he was painfully thin. The faint light streaming through the trees outlined the deep scars that marred his back, pale against fragile skin.
It seemed life in the Shen household hadn’t been kind to him either.
The more pitiful the creature, the stronger the urge to protect it. Even if he was just a low-grade omega, there was something delicate and beautiful about him that drew the eye.
And truth be told, his face was striking, perhaps even more so than Fu Jiaze’s.
The alpha smiled slightly and extended his hand. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Li Xin.”
Fu Xu’s gaze flickered with wariness. He was already a married omega. If someone saw him speaking so closely with another alpha, especially one familiar with his family, the consequences would be disastrous. Everyone knew what that would mean.
He took a step back immediately, putting distance between them.
Better not to provoke anyone.
Li Xin’s smile deepened, amused by the omega’s caution. With one long stride, he moved closer.
At that exact moment, the door finally opened.
Fu Jiaze stood there, smiling brightly as he threw himself into the alpha’s arms. “Baby, you finally came.”
As he spoke, his eyes slid toward Fu Xu, his smile curdling into contempt. His lips barely moved as he mouthed, “Aren’t you going to get inside?”
Lowering his head, Fu Xu stepped forward, trying to slip past them. But Fu Jiaze grabbed him halfway through, his grip tight enough to crush bone.
“Brother,” Fu Jiaze said sweetly, his tone syrupy but his eyes cold, “you’ve been gone for only two days, but I already missed you so much.”
Fu Xu tried to pull his hand free, but Fu Jiaze’s nails dug harder into his palm, all the while keeping that innocent smile on his face.
“Oh my, Mr. Li, you’re here!”
Bai Yunting came bustling out of the house in quick, delicate steps.
She cast Fu Xu a sharp glance before switching to a gracious smile. “I didn’t know you’d arrived. I’ll have someone prepare refreshments right away.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Li Xin said gently, though his gaze lingered on Fu Xu, still held tightly by Fu Jiaze. His tone was casual, distracted. “I just came to discuss the wedding date.”
Bai Yunting’s heart leapt in excitement. She had been worrying about when the engagement would become official. With so many omegas available, the Li family could easily change their minds at any time.
Securing the marriage quickly would strengthen their family’s position, one of the few reasons she had ever agreed to take Fu Jiaze in.
Back in the room, Fu Jiaze finally released Fu Xu’s hand, glaring at him with venom. “Why are you still alive? Didn’t the Shen family beat you to death yet?”
As long as Fu Xu was alive, it felt like a thorn lodged deep in his throat.
Fu Xu blinked. From the moment he had returned to this house, he had never once thought of taking anything from Fu Jiaze.
All he had wanted was to be part of the family. But to Fu Jiaze, his very existence was intolerable. Sending him to the Shen family had been nothing more than a way to get rid of him, for good.
Fu Jiaze sneered. “No matter. I’ll be marrying into the Li family soon. You just wait and see.”
Fu Xu tilted his head slightly, watching the arrogance in his brother’s expression. It was true, Fu Jiaze had the right to be proud. Even if this alpha didn’t want him, there would always be another.
Though the world still practiced monogamy, the sharp decline in alphas had changed everything. Society desperately needed more alpha births, and many alphas secretly took lovers despite the law.
Only omegas from powerful families could afford such confidence. Even if they couldn’t outshine the mistresses, they would never be abandoned outright. Appearances, after all, mattered to the families involved.
It must be nice, Fu Xu thought.
He had heard whispers about the Li family from the other servants. They were old money, wealthy and powerful, with only one heir. People said Young Master Li Xin was unlike most alphas, gentle, refined, and a true gentleman.
From what he had seen today, that seemed to be true.
Someone like that would surely give Fu Jiaze a peaceful life.
The thought made Fu Xu’s chest ache slightly.
And then, unbidden, the image of Shen Louchen appeared in his mind.
That cold, expressionless face, those deep eyes that revealed nothing. Standing near him had felt suffocating, his presence a silent weight pressing down.
But Shen Louchen hadn’t been as terrifying as people claimed. He had prepared a room for him, tended his wounds, even made him dinner.
Was Mr. Shen truly as cruel as everyone said?
Fu Jiaze suddenly yanked on his arm, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Your alpha didn’t even bother to come back with you,” he sneered. “Why did you even return? Are you hoping to cry your way out of being sent to the breeding institute? Keep dreaming. You should just get lost.”
His grin was bright and triumphant, already imagining how satisfying it would be to see Fu Xu’s life crushed beneath everyone’s feet.
He wanted to be the only young master in this house. And for that to happen, Fu Xu had to die.
Fu Xu understood perfectly well what awaited him here, more taunts, more humiliation, more of the same slow torment. If that was the case, it was better to get what he needed and leave as soon as possible.
“I left something behind here. May I take it with me before I go?” he asked softly, his voice humble, almost pleading.
It was a small keepsake that had been placed beside him when Bai Shudie abandoned him as an infant, a jade safety charm, tucked into his swaddling cloth.
Perhaps she had once imagined her child would be an alpha. When she realized he was an omega, and a defective one at that, she had simply thrown everything away, him included.
Yet Fu Xu still clung to that tiny object. To him, it was proof, however faint, that his mother might have once felt even the slightest trace of affection for him.
The last time he left in a hurry, he had been unable to take it. Now, at least, he could use this chance to retrieve it.
Fu Jiaze was distracted for a moment, trying to keep Li Xin entertained. He had noticed the way Li Xin looked at Fu Xu earlier and didn’t like it one bit.
If Fu Xu went to fetch his things, he would have to pass through the hall again. How could he allow that, allow that filthy omega to appear in front of Li Xin a second time?
Absolutely not.
“Go ahead,” Fu Jiaze said at last, his tone deceptively mild. Then he followed Fu Xu toward the small shack at the back of the property, a rundown structure surrounded by gleaming iron fences that made its shabbiness stand out all the more. “Get what you need and get out.”
Fu Xu lowered his gaze and quietly stepped inside.
It had rained lightly the night before. The rough cement floor was still mottled with water rings, and the walls were peeling in thick flakes. The few clothes left hanging were stained with damp and dirt.
Someone had clearly come in after he left. Things had been smashed, broken, thrown across the floor. Nothing remained intact.
Even though everything here was worthless, the sight of the wreckage made the place look more like an abandoned kennel than a room once used by a human being.
No one had bothered to clean it, of course. To the others in the household, this was a place too filthy to touch. It would stay this way until the hired cleaners arrived to deal with it. That negligence, at least, gave Fu Xu a chance to search freely.
He crouched down and began to sift through the mess, moving aside boxes and torn fabrics. Dust clung to his sleeves, and he quickly pulled his arm back, wiping away the gray smear with the cleaner hand.
His clothes didn’t belong in this place at all. The fine, pressed fabric looked absurd among the grime.
If he sold this outfit, perhaps he could get enough money to run. Maybe, if luck was on his side, he could make it to one of the omega settlements and find a way to survive there.
Just then, he heard a sharp metallic click.
He turned abruptly. The iron gate had been locked.
Outside, Fu Jiaze twirled the key between his fingers, grinning with cruel satisfaction.
He had changed his mind. He wasn’t going to let Fu Xu leave so easily. He wanted him trapped here, forced to watch, to see with his own eyes what it meant to fall while others rose.
“How could I let you wander around in front of Li Xin again?” Fu Jiaze said, his smile twisted and bright. “You stay right here and wait for death. The Shen family doesn’t want you anymore, but that just means I can keep tormenting you myself.”
Fu Xu didn’t answer. He simply stared at the locked gate, silent. When Fu Jiaze finally left, his footsteps fading down the hall, Fu Xu lifted his head again.
The fence was high, but not impossible. If he gathered his strength, he might be able to climb over it.
In the main hall of the Fu residence, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Bai Yunting stood by the kitchen doorway, her lips curved in a satisfied smile as she instructed the servants to prepare more dishes.
On the sofa, Li Xin sat talking with Fu Xingchao, the patriarch of the house, while Fu Jiaze leaned close to Li Xin’s side, brushing lightly against his arm, his expression full of carefully calculated sweetness.
It was a picture of harmony and refinement, and not a single person spared a thought for the “unwelcome guest” who had just been locked away. It was as if Fu Xu had never existed.
“Where’s that omega from earlier?” Li Xin asked suddenly, his tone calm, but his eyes flickered with mild curiosity. “Where did he go?”
Fu Jiaze’s expression froze for a second, and then he clung tighter to Li Xin’s arm, pouting like a spoiled child. “Baby, don’t pay so much attention to other omegas, okay?”
Li Xin glanced down at the hand holding him, a faint shadow of irritation passing through his eyes. “I was only asking casually.”
At that moment, Bai Yunting stepped out of the kitchen, eager to ease the tension. “Young Master Li, dinner will be ready in just a moment. Is there anything special you’d like to have? I can have it prepared right away.”
“There’s no need,” Li Xin replied, standing up smoothly. “Since the wedding date is mostly settled, I’ll be leaving now.”
The only thing that had piqued his interest in this visit, the fragile little omega, was gone. Without that, there was nothing here to keep him entertained.
“This…” Bai Yunting hesitated, caught off guard. She had gone to great effort to arrange this dinner, and now her guest was leaving before even sitting down.
But Li Xin’s tone left no room for argument. The Fu family could only smile awkwardly, forcing cheer as they escorted him to the door.
The moment he left, before the servants had even closed the gate, the doorbell rang again.
Fu Jiaze, walking at the rear of the group, glanced at the monitor, and froze.
On the screen stood a man in uniform, with a government car parked behind him. The license plate gleamed with the numbers 00001, a mark reserved for only the highest level of officials.
Printed on the side of the vehicle were four bold characters: National Alpha Security Division.
The most powerful and untouchable government department in the country.
Fu Xingchao came forward immediately, his expression tightening before he smoothed it into a welcoming smile and opened the door himself.
From the sleek black car, a man stepped out, tall, poised, his face so striking it made everyone catch their breath.
Fu Jiaze’s eyes went wide, fixed on the man as he descended slowly from the vehicle. The perfectly tailored black uniform outlined his broad shoulders and long legs, and the golden insignia on his shoulder shone brilliantly under the sunlight.
It was the mark of the highest honor.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(╯°□°）╯︵ ☕ — deploy caffeine!
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Substitute MarriageChapter 2 · PleaseChapter 3 · Thank you, Mr. ShenChapter 4 · Mr. Shen, are you going to throw me away?Chapter 5 · You don’t have to please me in everythingChapter 6 · Is This For Him?Chapter 7 · Do you know you don’t have long to live?Chapter 8 · But what about you? What will you be then?Chapter 9 · That’s a vehicle from the logistics department.Chapter 10 · What do you take my Shen family for?Chapter 11 · Can I bite your gland?Chapter 12 · He is not my “medicine catalyst”Chapter 13 · Who is that Alpha?Chapter 14 · Perfectly matched omegaChapter 15 · Perhaps you could call him, baby?Chapter 16 · That’s… Fu Xu’s scent?Chapter 17 · It was made by the masterChapter 18 · Abusing a pregnant omega is a serious crime.Chapter 19 · Mr. Shen is the best alpha.Chapter 20 · Family elderChapter 21 · Shen Louchen’s berserk periodChapter 22 Part 1 · You are my wifeChapter 22 Part 2 · You are my wifeChapter 23 · Aren’t we mutually in love?Chapter 24 · Which alpha did you go to see?Chapter 25 · Fu Xu, tell me you like meChapter 26 · Could Mr. Shen possibly have a little crush on him?Chapter 27 · Get out!Chapter 28 · Stay close to meChapter 29 · Mr. Shen and I are a legally married coupleChapter 30 · Spit it outChapter 31 · He’s been acting increasingly strangely latelyChapter 32 · Do you listen to everyone except me?Chapter 33 · Monthly ExamChapter 34 · Parent Teacher MeetingChapter 35 · The classroom was cold at nightChapter 36 · Court deathChapter 37 · Wife, Kiss meChapter 38 · This omega trying to steal a kiss from him?Chapter 39 · His omega turned out to be a little cunning.Chapter 40 · Is this little omega taking advantage of him?Chapter 41 · “Madam Shen” is your trump card, understand?Chapter 42 · Mr. Shen, I don’t know how to wear it…Chapter 43 · HusbandChapter 44 · Why is Shen Louchen acting like a peacockChapter 45 · I won’t abandon you, and I never willChapter 46 · Omega with a 92% match rateChapter 47 · Are you waiting for him?Chapter 48 · How can someone magically transformChapter 49 · Now it’s all good, two kids.Chapter 50 · Mr. Shen, will you regret it then?Chapter 51 · What is regret?Chapter 52 · If you’ve got the guts, say it again!Chapter 53 · That’s my milk teaChapter 54 · What he wanted to replace was the alphaChapter 55 · How do you know I’m not part of Mr. Shen’s plan?Chapter 56 · Why don’t you just kill me?Chapter 57 · Are we sending him away?Chapter 58 · Are you angry?Chapter 59 · Inhibitor or marker?Chapter 60 · Let Fu Xu mark himChapter 61 · There should be limits to joking, right?Chapter 62 · Do you really not like Young Master Lian?Chapter 63 · Will you still love me after I go to school?Chapter 64 · You are the best husband in the worldChapter 65 · Extra 1Chapter 66 · Extra 2