TPLTMOE - Chapter 1

The blanket still carried traces of a crisp, cold mist-and-snow scent.

Ling Ran buried himself deeper into it, his feverish, restless breaths gradually soothed by the chill surrounding him.

He didn't rush to emerge. In his dazed state, he instinctively tightened his legs around the blanket—the familiar alpha pheromones helped him endure the unbearable heat of his estrus.

Though he had injected himself with a suppressant that morning, lately, it seemed to be losing its effectiveness.

He was an Omega who needed his partner's pheromones for comfort and solace. His partner, Jiang Shengyi, was tall, imposing, and strikingly handsome—a natural standout among alphas. His refreshing frost-covered pine pheromones made many Omegas involuntarily swoon.

Their pheromone compatibility was a perfect 100%, and everyone said they were a match made in heaven—destined soulmates.

They had been engaged for two years, and in just two more months, after his official graduation, they would hold the grandest wedding in Haishi.

But until then, Jiang Shengyi refused to mark him—not even a temporary mark.

Ling Ran understood. Shengyi wanted to wait until after their wedding to perform this romantic and sacred marking ritual.

Shengyi was doing it for his sake.

So Ling Ran had no choice but to rely on suppressants to endure the long, unbearable heats.

This time, Jiang Shengyi had been away on a month-long business trip to Southeast Asia. Ling Ran missed him terribly—missed his presence, missed his pheromones.

So when he visited Grandma Jiang, he took the opportunity to sneak into Shengyi's room and, without realizing it, built a small nest on his bed.

His slender body curled into it, fitting snugly like a seamless embrace in the crisp coolness of snow, his overheated temperature slowly subsiding.

Ling Ran closed his eyes, forgetting he was still in the Jiang household, so comfortable he nearly drifted off to sleep.

Then, suddenly, Grandma Jiang's voice floated up from downstairs—though it was unclear who she was speaking to—followed by footsteps ascending the stairs, gradually approaching the room where Ling Ran lay.

By the time the person reached the door, Ling Ran jolted awake. Before he could even sit up, he heard the sound of the door being pushed open from the outside.

Flustered, Ling Ran scrambled off the bed, his back to the door as he hastily explained, "I'm sorry, Grandma Jiang, I was feeling a bit tired and lay down on Shengyi's bed for a while. I'll tidy it up right away, I'm really sorry—“

No one answered.

A faint sense of unease crept in. Ling Ran paused in his frantic bed-straightening and turned around—only to freeze in place.

The person at the door wasn't Grandma Jiang.

It was a tall, imposing man in a tailored suit, his aura sharp and commanding.

The man had sharp, phoenix-like eyes that, when silently fixed on someone, carried an aloof, aristocratic arrogance. His chiseled, coldly handsome features exuded an overwhelming pressure that made it impossible to meet his gaze.

He leaned lazily against the doorframe, his expensive suit perfectly fitted, yet unable to conceal the powerful musculature beneath—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and the latent, terrifying strength coiled within.

Just one fleeting glance was enough to make Ling Ran stiffen, unable to move.

He must be an alpha, Ling Ran thought silently.

But Ling Ran hadn't visited the Jiang household often enough to recognize him.

"May I ask... who are you—?"

The petite Omega instinctively took two steps back, his legs bumping against the edge of the bed before he could steady himself enough to maintain a semblance of composure.

Jiang Zhiyu had no intention of answering.

Before even stepping into the room, he had already caught the faint, delicate sweetness lingering in the air.

Like the lightest, softest rose petals mingled with the intoxicating richness of ripe grapes—two cloying fragrances intertwining, forming a rose-grape pheromone.

Just a few wisps carried by the breeze through the window were enough to evoke images of clusters of purple-red grapes hanging ripe and glistening on the vine, trembling slightly in the wind.

Not quite fully ripe, bursting with juice yet still carrying a hint of tartness.

He had never met this young Omega before, but just by looking at his fair, flushed cheeks and those mesmerizing peach-blossom eyes shimmering with moisture, he could guess who it was.

Probably the youngest Omega son of the Ling family, the one engaged to Jiang Shengyi.

"No scent patch?"

The man's voice was deep and rich, intoxicating like aged liquor.

Yet the question sent a sudden shiver down Ling Ran's spine.

Flustered, Ling Ran reached up to touch the back of his neck—the small scent patch was still firmly in place, though the edge had curled up slightly from rubbing against the blankets earlier.

"I have one on."

He smoothed the patch back into place and pressed it down firmly.

But for some reason, his scent gland felt slightly swollen, and pressing on it sent a faint sting through him.

Tears nearly welled in Ling Ran's eyes. When he looked up again at the man by the door, he realized with a start that the other had already stepped into the room.

Jiang Shengyi's bedroom was spacious, and Ling Ran was still a fair distance away from the man.

But the sudden intrusion of another, far more dominant Alpha into his fiancé's territory made Ling Ran's skin prickle with discomfort.

"Are you a guest?" he asked politely, trying to remind him. “Grandma Jiang is downstairs."

"A guest?" Jiang Zhiyu's lips curled slightly as he took two deliberate steps toward the fragile-looking Omega.

Sure enough, the sweet, cloying scent of grapes mixed with roses grew stronger.

Jiang Zhiyu had never liked Omegas.

They were too delicate, too frail, their pheromones overwhelmingly floral or fruity—cloying. They were only suited to be mates for Alphas or Betas.

For an Enigma, who stood above all secondary genders, what was needed was an Alpha—someone with the physical strength and endurance to withstand an Enigma's overwhelming intensity.

A sturdy Beta might barely suffice.

But an Omega? For an Enigma, they were never a good choice.

The disparity in size and compatibility was too great.

An Enigma wouldn't hold back—they might break an Omega partner.

This Omega before him was far too exquisite, his delicate beauty both innocent and alluring. His bright, clear peach-blossom eyes tilted slightly upward, his plump, rosy lips like budding roses, the small cupid's bow standing out vividly on his doll-like face.

No matter how well he tried to hide it, Jiang Zhiyu could see at a glance the disheveled state of the bed behind him, the blankets piled up like a nest.

"Is this how you go into heat in front of guests?" he asked in a low voice.

Ling Ran felt as if his filthy thoughts had been abruptly exposed. He was just a pitiful Omega in desperate need of his mate's pheromones for comfort, yet now he had humiliated himself in front of the Jiang family's guest.

His cheeks flushed even redder as he reflexively shook out the blanket in a flustered manner, his voice barely above a whisper, "I didn't... I wasn't...

He wasn't in heat—he just wanted to catch a whiff of his destined mate's pheromones.

Jiang Zhiyu also caught the revolting scent of an alpha lingering in the bedding, mingling with the sickeningly sweet grape fragrance in the air.

Just then, Granny Jiang's voice floated up from downstairs.

"Xiao Ran, lunch is ready. Come down and eat."

Ling Ran hurriedly called back, "I'll be right there!"

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze swept over him twice before his voice turned colder. "Clean yourself up before coming down."

With that, he turned and left the room.

Ling Ran exhaled in relief. He quickly pulled out a pheromone suppressant from his pocket, spraying it liberally over himself and the bed. After hastily straightening the sheets, he scrambled downstairs in a panic.

To his surprise, the man from earlier was already seated at the dining table, looking rather familiar with Granny Jiang.

Spotting Ling Ran frozen on the stairs, Granny Jiang gave him a warm smile. "Xiao Ran, come eat. I had them make all your favorites today." Hearing this, the man also lifted his eyes to glance at him, though his phoenix-like gaze was heavy with scrutiny and curiosity.

Ling Ran forced an awkward smile and reluctantly shuffled over, taking a seat beside Granny Jiang.

She personally ladled him a bowl of soup and chided gently, "Xiao Ran, you must eat more. Don't go starving yourself for the wedding—you're still too thin. You need to put on some weight."

Ling Ran accepted it with a smile. "Thank you, Granny."

Granny Jiang's heart swelled with affection as she patted his head. "You don't visit this old woman enough. Have you never met Zhiyu before?"

Ling Ran stiffened, stealing a glance at the man across the table—only to meet his faintly amused eyes.

Granny Jiang continued without noticing, "But Zhiyu rarely visits me either. He's always busy managing the company, hardly ever seen. Come to think of it, you should call him 'Uncle,' just like Shengyi does."

Ling Ran nearly choked on his soup. His eyes widened in disbelief, and his ears burned crimson with embarrassment.

This man—so young, handsome, and noble—was actually the ruthless, power-hungry uncle Shengyi always complained about?

And he had just been nesting in front of him?!

The rest of the meal passed in a daze. Ling Ran quickly made an excuse and bid Granny Jiang goodbye.

As he stepped out of the villa, rain began to fall.

Today was truly cursed. Not only had he embarrassed himself in front of Shengyi's uncle, but now he had to trek home in the rain.

He had barely taken two steps when the downpour intensified, soaking his hair.

Pulling his collar tighter, he was about to make a run for it when a black Maybach slowly pulled up beside him.

The sleek and luxurious car cut through the rain with a fierce momentum, like a vicious beast ready to pounce. Ling Ran was momentarily stunned. Luxury cars weren't uncommon in this villa district, but he didn't recognize this one. The rear window slowly rolled down just a crack, and an oppressive gaze peered out from within, piercing through the rain.

Ling Ran's back stiffened instantly. That penetrating stare—he had just witnessed it moments ago.

A deep, resonant voice broke through the rain and reached his ears.

"Get in."

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