TPLTMOE - Chapter 21

The screen showed the suppressor had been set to SSS-level—theoretically capable of blocking all pheromone release and intrusion to the maximum extent.

Jiang Zhiyu pressed the switch.

With a soft click, the leg band came undone.

Freed from the suppressor's restraint, the room immediately flooded with the aggressive scent of tequila, transforming into countless needle-sharp arrows that surged toward the Omega on the bed.

As if intent on enveloping him layer by layer, devouring him inch by inch.

Meanwhile, the sweet, intoxicating aroma of rose-scented grapes spread unimpeded through the room.

Enigmas possessed terrifying self-control—almost no pheromones could affect their frighteningly calm and rational composure. But this was the first time he'd been completely surrounded by such a soft, sweet pheromone scent. The darkness in his cold eyes seemed to deepen further.

Zhao Qin returned and knocked on the door.

The room's soundproofing was excellent, preventing any pheromone leakage.

"President Jiang, there's trouble."

Zhao Qin waited, listening carefully, but heard no movement inside.

Just as he raised his hand to knock again, the door opened from within.

Jiang Zhiyu had changed into a fresh suit, his hair slightly damp where it was swept back, his handsome yet severe features radiating overwhelming authority.

As he strode toward the banquet hall, Zhao Qin hurried to keep pace while reporting: "President Jiang, in the hall—"

"Wait here," Jiang Zhiyu interrupted.

Surprised, Zhao Qin nodded in acknowledgment and remained stationed outside the room.

The banquet hall glittered with lights, crowded with guests who appeared engaged in lively small talk, yet their eyes kept darting toward the figure seated on the sofa.

Jiang Shengyi held an ice pack to his head, where a bloody gash stretched from his forehead to his brow bone like a gaping mouth. The wound had been treated and stopped bleeding, but when he'd first burst into the hall, the sight had been horrifying—his entire head covered in gruesome crimson, his white shirt soaked halfway with blood.

Ignoring the pain, Jiang Shengyi—who'd regained some clarity after being smashed with a wine bottle and had injected himself with three doses of suppressants—scanned the blood-streaked crowd. He didn't spot Ling Ran, but did see the stunned faces of other Ling family members.

He looked at the Ling family members, their faces filled with unexpected shock and panic, and felt a wave of nausea. His teeth clenched in fury—how dare Ling Su set his sights on him, serving him wine laced with a heat-inducing drug and even fantasizing about forcing him to give Ling Ran a permanent mark?!

This family was utterly disgusting.

Ling Su's father shot him a glance, prompting Ling Su to quickly stop a waiter and call for a doctor. He then rushed to Jiang Shengyi's side, feigning concern. "Shengyi, what happened? Who did this to you?"

Jiang Shengyi coldly shook him off and sneered, "Who did it? You should ask your precious little brother, Ling Ran! Where is he? Get him out here!"

Ling Su had considered countless possibilities but never imagined it would actually be Ling Ran who did this.

That obedient, docile little omega—wasn't he supposed to quietly submit to being marked by an alpha? Normally, he'd even tremble at the sight of a bug. How dare he swing a bottle at an alpha's head like a bottle opener?!

Ling Su knew things had gone terribly wrong. Now, all he could do was placate. "Xiao Ran isn't here. Did you two have a fight? No matter what, resorting to violence is wrong. I'll make sure he apologizes properly—"

Jiang Shengyi, boiling with rage, veins bulging on his temples, grabbed Ling Su by the collar and snarled, "Are you fucking playing games with me, huh? Did you really think I wouldn't notice what you slipped into my drink? Let me make this clear—this marriage is off. Got it?"

Ling Su, stunned, shoved his arm away and raised his voice. "What did you say? Off?! Jiang Shengyi, are you backing out now? Don't forget we've already signed the agreement!"

Jiang Shengyi scoffed. "So what if we signed it? I don't need your cooperation for the Southeast Asia project—I can pull it off just fine on my own! Did you really think a piece of paper could tie me down? Dream on!"

Jiang Shengyi spoke with such confidence because, days before arriving on the island, he'd already received word from Manager A.

The board had approved the additional funding request for the Southeast Asia project—exactly as he'd predicted, a full five percentage points. Moreover, the overseas division had sent good news: several leading local companies had proactively reached out, expressing interest in collaboration. Even without the Ling family's support, the project was now foolproof.

Originally, Jiang Shengyi hadn't planned to call off the engagement so soon. But the bottle Ling Ran smashed over his head without hesitation shattered the last thread of restraint in his heart.

Thinking of Yin Chu, still hospitalized because of Ling Ran, he couldn't wait another second.

So, under the gaze of everyone present, Jiang Shengyi strode onto the central stage, took the microphone, and dropped the bombshell—the engagement was over.

The moment Jiang Zhiyu stepped into the banquet hall, several people swarmed around him. Some eagerly asked where he'd been, others fawned over him, hoping to discuss business collaborations with the Jiang Corporation, while a few simply lingered nearby, silent but batting their eyes coquettishly.

He ignored them all and walked over to stand by the sofa.

Jiang Shengyi had calmed down somewhat by now. The suppressants had begun to take effect, dulling the restless discomfort in his body. Sensing the oppressive aura above him, he looked up.

With everyone watching, Jiang Shengyi could only force out a stiff, "Uncle."

"Mn."

Jiang Zhiyu was somewhat surprised to see the bloody gash on his forehead.

That little Omega looked frail and delicate, but he sure packed a punch.

"Broken off the engagement?" Jiang Zhiyu asked.

Jiang Shengyi nodded with a reckless defiance. "Yeah, I just told my parents too. No point in them screaming their heads off now—everyone already knows I dumped the Ling family's youngest son."

Jiang Zhiyu pressed further, "Did you even consider the consequences?"

Jiang Shengyi tossed aside the ice pack in his hand dismissively. "What consequences? The Ling family and I were just using each other. Now that we've secured deals with several local giants in Southeast Asia's overseas market, and the board has approved my proposal for additional investment, what's there to worry about?"

He believed he had thought everything through. Agreeing to the engagement with Ling Ran had only been for the Ling family's support. But now that he had gained some power—even managing to snatch a share of the pie from Jiang Zhiyu's grasp—what did he have to fear? Jiang Zhiyu, who had always looked down on him, hadn't even managed to secure that hidden goldmine in Southeast Asia.

So why should he be afraid?

Jiang Shengyi stood up, though slightly shorter than the man before him, his face brimming with arrogance. "Uncle, shouldn't you be the one worrying about consequences? The people at headquarters seem even less competent than my branch's team. How could they fail to secure such a small partnership? Looks like Jiang Corporation won't be under one person's control for much longer."

Jiang Zhiyu didn't argue. His deep-set eyes merely concealed a storm of unreadable emotions.

Youthful ambition and drive were good things.

Too bad they came with no brains.

"Alright," Jiang Zhiyu replied with a faint smile. "Let's see you try."

With that, he turned, picked up a glass of champagne, and walked toward Yan Xiwen and the others, who had been watching them from a distance.

Jiang Shengyi watched as he was immediately surrounded again, his noble, aloof demeanor ensuring he remained the center of attention no matter where he went.

A waiter arrived with a doctor in tow. The doctor took one look at the wound on Jiang Shengyi's forehead and immediately understood how it had happened—but he knew better than to comment. Silently, he began treating the injury.

Once his head was wrapped in layers of bandages, Jiang Shengyi stepped out of the banquet hall onto the terrace for some air. He pulled out his phone and dialed Tang Jun, hoping to ask him to send people to search the island for Ling Ran—after all, this was Tang family territory. But no one picked up.

That damn little Omega who had cracked his skull open was hiding somewhere. If he found him, he wouldn't let him off easy!

Another call came through. Jiang Shengyi answered irritably, "Spit it out."

The manager on the other end sounded panicked, struggling to string his words together. "Yi-ge, it's—it's bad. There's a problem with the Southeast Asia deal…"

Jiang Shengyi nearly jumped up. "What did you say? What could possibly go wrong?!"

Manager A stammered, "Those partners had already signed contracts with us, but somehow they found some issues in our branch company's financial reports. They're using that as grounds to collectively demand contract termination. Also, the board's proposal for additional investment was just rejected again—the largest shareholder has veto power, so the proposal was shot down..."

Jiang Shengyi angrily tore off the freshly wrapped bandage, his eyes burning with fury.

The person holding the largest stake in Jiang Corporation at the moment was none other than Jiang Zhiyu.

He had just announced the annulment of his engagement with the Ling family, and now the company was hit with trouble. Could it be that Jiang Zhiyu and the Ling family had conspired together?

Were they trying to corner him until he had no choice but to give up?

Furious, Jiang Shengyi hurled his phone at the steel railing of the balcony, shattering it instantly.

***

The banquet showed no signs of ending anytime soon. Jiang Zhiyu had already wrapped up the key discussions about collaborations—what remained was just the usual social niceties.

He finished his champagne and politely excused himself from the group of corporate executives.

A little tipsy, the men grew bolder in their banter.

"President Jiang, leaving in such a hurry—do you have another engagement to rush to?"

"You didn't bring a companion tonight. Need me to introduce someone? You'll be on this island for three days—wouldn't it be too boring alone?"

"President Jiang hardly needs our introductions. With so many people throwing themselves at him, the real question is—does he prefer Omegas, betas, or even alphas?"

"Personally, I'd say betas are best—durable and reliable."

"Alphas aren't bad either. President Jiang is exceptional even among alphas—he'd have no trouble finding an alpha partner."

They had no idea that the tall, imposing man before them was actually an enigma—far more formidable than any alpha.

Jiang Zhiyu's smile faded slightly, as if recalling something. "Omegas... aren't bad either."

The men chuckled suggestively. "Omegas are great, of course. Just a bit clingy sometimes. And you've got to be extra careful when, well, you know—especially during their heats. Wouldn't want to accidentally give them a permanent mark. Once that happens, they'll stick to you like glue—no shaking them off."

They exchanged knowing laughs.

Jiang Zhiyu set down his glass, excused himself, and left the hall.

Walking down the corridor back to his suite, he found Zhao Qin still standing guard outside the door.

After the incident with Tang Jun, it was better to be cautious—who knew what other dangerous individuals might be lurking on the island? "Has he woken up?" Jiang Zhiyu asked.

Zhao Qin opened the door for him. "No movement. Probably still asleep."

Jiang Zhiyu stepped inside but paused at the threshold. Without turning, he said to Zhao Qin, "Don't come in."

Though still standing in the hallway, Zhao Qin caught a whiff of something—a thick, sweet blend of roses and grapes. As a beta, he only found the scent overpowering, almost suffocating, but nothing more.

"Go back first."

Jiang Zhiyu issued the command, and Zhao Qin didn't dare to glance into the room again. With a quick "Yes," he turned and left in haste.

As the door closed once more, the scent—like hundreds of pounds of crushed grape blossom honey—began to envelop the enigma, winding around him, seeping into his body through his skin, mouth, and nose.

Even someone with self-control as strong as an enigma was momentarily overwhelmed by the intensity of the pheromones, though his lapse lasted only a second.

Jiang Zhiyu walked to the bedside, where the little Omega, who had been lying obediently just moments ago, had now completely burrowed under the blankets. Only a small mound was visible, with just a tuft of soft, fluffy hair peeking out.

Without the suppressant, the Omega could no longer restrain the flood of pheromones surging from within.

Jiang Zhiyu pulled back the covers, and an even more potent wave of sweetness rushed over him. Beneath the blanket, the little Omega lay with his eyes closed, his cheeks flushed a deep pink. Clutched tightly in his arms was the white robe Jiang Zhiyu had worn earlier. His slender legs, like newly sprouted vines, rubbed and coiled around the fabric, as if trying to press himself deeper into it to absorb more of the agave pheromones.

He had used the robe like a small animal building a nest, creating a tiny refuge for himself.

His delicate neck curved slightly, the scent-blocking patch that had once been there now peeled off and stuck to the sheets. The swollen, vulnerable gland was fully exposed, the dried blood leaving only two small puncture marks.

The cloyingly sweet pheromones in the air were emanating from this very spot.

The enigma reached out and tugged at the robe. The Omega, as if suddenly stripped of his sense of security, let out a muffled whimper, gripping the fabric even tighter. His eyelids fluttered, and slowly, his eyes opened.

But his gaze was hazy, intoxicating, unfocused—his peach-blossom eyes, glistening with unshed tears, stared blankly, trying to discern who had come to invade his nest.

His delicate brows remained tightly furrowed, the pain inside him not subsiding but instead growing more intense.

The pheromones on the robe were too diluted—they could no longer satisfy him. He desperately craved something stronger, more potent, to ease his suffering.

Jiang Zhiyu brushed a finger against the Omega's thin eyelid. Suddenly, as if sensing something, Ling Ran's mind instinctively registered one thought:

The scent on this man is intoxicating—richer, deeper.

His body acted on instinct. Ling Ran released the white robe and stretched out his slender arms toward the man at the bedside, his dazed eyes fixed unblinkingly on him.

He was waiting for an embrace—one far more comforting than his makeshift nest.

Jiang Zhiyu reached out, but instead of pulling him close, he tossed the damp robe off the bed.

The mist in Ling Ran's eyes thickened. His arms remained outstretched, his lips pursed as he continued to stare.

Jiang Zhiyu rubbed his fingertips together, then lifted them to his nose.

He had always found Omega pheromones too cloying, too sickly sweet. But this grape-like fragrance seemed a perfect match for the agave scent—destined to intertwine.

Far more compatible than cedarwood.

The two scents intertwined, forming a mildly fermented richness with a sharp bitterness—not too cloying, nor too intense—like a long-aged tequila wine brimming with intoxicating allure.

Finally, he also opened his arms and effortlessly lifted the little Omega from the bed, pulling him snugly into his embrace.

The Enigma's pheromones were no longer restrained, surging forth even more fiercely, spreading like an overwhelming net that ensnared the Omega from head to toe, leaving no room for resistance.

The potency of this tequila-like scent was enough to knock any Alpha unconscious, let alone the already delicate Omega, who could hardly endure it.

Ling Ran had only intended to absorb a small amount of pheromones, but the scent was far too concentrated, far too much—he could barely breathe. Panicking, he began to thrash wildly, kicking and flailing.

Jiang Zhiyu seized both of his slender wrists in one hand, pinning them behind his lower back.

The Omega's hands were still wrapped in bandages; any further struggle would surely reopen the wounds and make them bleed. According to Xu Guanyi's instructions, the Enigma's pheromones needed to completely overwrite the Alpha's temporary mark.

Jiang Zhiyu gripped the Omega's chin, tilting his face aside.

Ling Ran, his cheeks held firmly in place, could only move his lips weakly, like a fish stranded on the shore, gasping for air—no matter how desperately it flapped its tail, escape was impossible. Tears streamed down his face like scattered pearls.

Jiang Zhiyu's palm grew damp from his tears. Frowning, he turned the Omega's face further to the side, fully exposing the back of his neck. The overwriting mark began.

The Omega's pupils constricted violently, his entire body trembling like a butterfly ready to take flight.

But its wings were trapped in someone's grasp, leaving no chance for escape.

All it could do was flutter helplessly, again and again—

Before plummeting abruptly from the sky.

Noticing the Omega's head slump weakly, Jiang Zhiyu stopped the marking and let him collapse onto his shoulder. He lifted the bandaged hand to check—no blood had seeped through.

Overwriting a mark couldn't be completed in one go. The other pheromones had to be entirely purged from the Omega's body—a long and torturous process.

As expected, the excessively dense Enigma pheromones induced the Omega into heat by midnight.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't sleep. Seated at his desk, he worked on his computer with the restless little Omega curled in his lap. The Omega would wake up crying, only to be bitten on the neck again and pass out once more. After a brief, feverish slumber, the heat would torment him back to consciousness, and the cycle repeated—bitten, crying, fainting—over and over throughout the night.

By the time Jiang Zhiyu finished the day's backlog of work, dawn was already breaking outside.

The person in his arms still burned with fever, but not a trace of any other Alpha's scent remained.

The swollen gland on the back of his neck was in an even worse state now, covered in countless bite marks, some deep enough to draw blood. Tear stains still lingered on his pitiful little face, his eyes tightly shut in unease. His long, raven-black lashes were damp, and his fair cheeks had flushed into a ruinous shade of red.

Jiang Zhiyu lifted him into his arms. The petite Omega nestled his head completely against his shoulder, arms looped around his neck in a gesture of trusting dependence.

He walked to the window and opened it. The cool, damp sea breeze, tinged with a faint briny scent, rushed in instantly, dispersing most of the overly intimate and lingering fragrance in the room.

The little Omega hadn't slept well all night. The moment he was placed back on the bed, his hands immediately clung to the enigma's neck, refusing to let go no matter what.

An Omega after being marked would become extremely dependent on their mate—especially one like Ling Ran, who had previously relied solely on suppressants to endure his heats and had even damaged his scent glands and reproductive system in the process. Such an Omega would cling even more desperately to the pheromones now coursing through his body.

Jiang Zhiyu forcibly pried his hands from his neck, only for the Omega to wake up from the disturbance. His bleary, tear-damp eyes brimmed with immense grievance as he stared up at the man before him.

Jiang Zhiyu stroked his head, his voice slightly hoarse. "Wait a moment."

Tears immediately spilled from the Omega's eyes, silent yet overwhelming, like a raging tide threatening to drown him.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't look at him again. He got up and headed to the bathroom, returning shortly after in fresh clothes, his demeanor composed and refreshed.

In that short time, the little Omega on the bed had already buried himself completely under the covers, as if throwing a tantrum—not even a single strand of hair was visible.

The behavior was laughably childish, something only an Omega in the throes of heat-induced delirium could pull off.

Jiang Zhiyu, magnanimous, didn't hold it against him. He pulled back the covers to pick him up, but the Omega inside squirmed away, curling toward the other side of the bed.

Reaching in, Jiang Zhiyu hauled him back into his arms, gripping Ling Ran's chin to force his gaze upward, refusing to let him evade. "Do you recognize me?"

Ling Ran sniffled twice before nodding pitifully.

Jiang Zhiyu seemed somewhat satisfied. He stroked his cheek and asked, "Don't want me to hold you?"

Ling Ran nodded—then, realizing his mistake, quickly shook his head. But the grievance in his heart remained, so he nodded again, his eyes reddening.

Jiang Zhiyu retrieved an ointment from the bedside table, dipped his fingers in it, and applied it carefully to the swollen gland on Ling Ran's neck.

Ling Ran slumped against his chest, trembling faintly. Only when the ointment had been applied and a fresh scent patch was placed over his nape did Jiang Zhiyu finally withdraw his hand.

The temporary mark from the enigma worked better than any medication. Ling Ran's feverish discomfort gradually eased, and this time, he fell into a deep, undisturbed sleep.

Seeing that he had finally settled down, Jiang Zhiyu laid him back on the bed. Then, retrieving the thigh-band suppressor, he fastened it back onto Ling Ran's leg himself, adjusting the setting to its maximum.

He returned to his desk and connected to headquarters, convening a brief corporate meeting.

The secretary reported to him that the branch office had nearly flooded the headquarters' phone lines last night. Early this morning, employees from the branch had even gathered at the group's entrance, demanding an explanation for why the additional investment for the Southeast Asia collaboration project had been rejected.

Jiang Zhiyu listened in silence, then instructed the secretary to provide him with the names of the main troublemakers.

After the meeting, he sent the list to Zhao Qin.

What Jiang Shengyi had told Ling Ran earlier was true—in his younger years, Jiang Zhiyu had indeed handled such people personally and had even publicly shattered someone's leg.

But over the years, he had mellowed, his emotions no longer showing on his face, and he no longer dealt with matters like this himself. Such trivial affairs could be left to his subordinates.

Last night's incident with Tang Jun had been an exception, and he regretted afterward that he hadn't held back.

Hitting him too hard would make future negotiations with the Tang family difficult.

Zhao Qin noted down the names and immediately arranged for the matter to be dealt with.

No sooner had the call ended than the suite door was violently pounded from outside.

Jiang Zhiyu seemed to have anticipated this early morning visit, fueled by rage.

The lingering scent of pheromones in the room had already dissipated. He opened the door to find the corridor crowded with a group of burly bodyguards and Tang Bei, his face twisted with fury, slamming the door with his gold watch.

Tang Jun was Tang Bei's only son. If Tang Bei could stomach his son nearly being beaten into a vegetative state, he wouldn't deserve to be called a father.

Last night, Tang Jun had been airlifted by helicopter to a mainland hospital for emergency treatment. The doctors said that if he had arrived any later, he might have truly ended up in a vegetative state.

Upon hearing this, Tang Bei had immediately ordered a review of all surveillance footage on the island.

But he was too late—the footage had already been destroyed, rendering it useless.

No one knew who had beaten Tang Jun to such a state, but some claimed to have seen the young master Tang getting close to an Omega named Ling Ran—the very same Ling family's youngest son who had been publicly rejected by the Jiang family.

Tang Bei had immediately gone after the Ling family, only to find that they, too, were searching for Ling Ran. Not a single one of them knew his whereabouts.

How could a living, breathing person just vanish from the island as if they'd sprouted wings?!

Even if he had to tear the island apart, Tang Bei was determined to drag that little Omega out and make him pay for what he'd done to his son.

Every corner of the island had been searched last night, even the rooms of every guest, yet there was no trace of Ling Ran.

Only one room remained unchecked.

Tang Bei fastened his gold watch back onto his wrist and said to Jiang Zhiyu with a dark expression, "President Jiang, my apologies. Last night's incident was serious, so I won't mince words—my son was played for a fool by an Omega, and now he's lying unconscious in the hospital. I will catch him, no matter the consequences. No one can stop me. Just step aside, let my men search the room, and this ends here."

With that, he gave a signal to the men behind him. The towering bodyguards immediately moved to force their way inside.

Zhao Qin rushed down the corridor at that moment, blocking the path of the bodyguards as he addressed Tang Bei, "President Tang, I've already explained to you—there's no way the person you're looking for is in President Jiang's room. Don't you think barging in like this is beyond disrespectful?"

Tang Bei couldn't be bothered with his words. "Respect? My son nearly lost his life—do you even understand that?! If anything happens to my boy, I couldn't give a damn about offending your Jiang family! Search the room now!"

Zhao Qin tried to block them again, but the bodyguards were no pushovers. A sharp horizontal punch was already aimed straight at his face.

Zhao Qin barely dodged it, only for another fist to come from the side—this time targeting his temple, delivered with lethal intent. Clearly, this was on Tang Bei's orders.

A hit like that would have sent Zhao Qin straight to the hospital.

But the fist never connected. A hand intercepted it mere millimeters from his temple.

Jiang Zhiyu's expression was unreadable, his deep eyes revealing nothing. With a slight exertion of force, the bones in the bodyguard's fist creaked audibly under his grip.

The bodyguard's face twisted in pain, his expression contorting along with his hand.

A crisp snap echoed through the corridor—his wrist had been dislocated, and he crumpled to the ground, powerless.

Heart still pounding, Zhao Qin glanced at the cold profile of the man beside him.

"President Tang, Jiang Zhiyu said coolly, "you've crossed the line."

It wasn't just Tang Bei who had overstepped—Tang Jun had too.

They had trespassed, violated boundaries, and laid hands on someone they shouldn't have. This was the consequence.

But Tang Bei failed to grasp the underlying message. All he saw was Jiang Zhiyu obstructing his search, which only deepened his suspicion that something incriminating must be hidden inside.

"President Jiang, if you're so determined to stop us, does that mean the Omega really is in your room?" Tang Bei raised his voice, eyebrows arched. "Wasn't he Jiang Shengyi's ex-fiancé? Now he's getting involved with his uncle? Is this how your Jiang family operates—just a mess of tangled relationships?"

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze darkened. The oppressive aura unique to an Enigma began to seep out, forming an invisible net that engulfed the entire corridor, pressing down on everyone within it until they could barely lift their heads or breathe.

Tang Bei, a mere low-tier Alpha, stood no chance against the suffocating pressure of an Enigma. But his mind was consumed with avenging his son, his eyes burning with fury—today, he was ready to fight to the death.

"If you won't let us in, it proves the Omega is in there! The Tang family isn't unreasonable—just hand him over, and I'll let everything else slide!"

From Jiang Zhiyu's stance, Tang Bei had already pieced together most of the truth. He knew his son's character all too well—it was highly likely Jiang Zhiyu had been the one to act. But there was nothing he could do to Jiang Zhiyu directly. Venting his rage on the Omega was his only option. If Jiang Zhiyu refused even this concession, then all bets were off.

Jiang Zhiyu remained unmoved in front of the door, the corners of his lips curling into a faint, icy smile.

"President Tang," he said, "are you still interested in the West Harbor project? The Jiang Group might consider a partnership."

Tang Bei seemed momentarily stunned. After the Jiang Corporation secured the lucrative West Harbor project, numerous companies had been eyeing it, hoping to collaborate and get a slice of the pie.

He had gone out of his way to hover around Jiang Zhiyu for this very reason, but since Jiang Zhiyu had already reached a preliminary agreement with Liu Xiangheng, Tang Bei had assumed the opportunity was lost.

"West Harbor?" Tang Bei confirmed, "Exclusively with me?"

"Deal," Jiang Zhiyu said, looking at him, "on the condition that this matter ends here."

A massive windfall had suddenly fallen from the sky, and though it had left his head spinning, Tang Bei couldn't help but feel a surge of joy beneath his forced anger.

The profits from that project alone could easily surpass ten other plots of land. His son was already lying in the hospital—no amount of retaliation would change that. Might as well seize this chance to squeeze a hefty sum from the Jiang Corporation.

Moreover, Tang Bei hadn't expected Jiang Zhiyu to be willing to bleed so much for that Omega.

Afraid Jiang Zhiyu might change his mind, Tang Bei immediately called his secretary to draft an electronic contract. The two signed it right there in the doorway before Tang Bei finally relaxed, leaving with his bodyguards in high spirits.

Once everyone had left, Zhao Qin followed Jiang Zhiyu back inside, voicing his confusion along the way. "Boss Jiang, isn't this too much of a loss?"

In the near future, municipal departments would relocate to West Harbor, making it the new development hub of the city. The surrounding growth potential was immeasurable.

Jiang Zhiyu had gone to great lengths to secure that land, and now he was handing the partnership to the Tang Corporation so easily—it was practically letting them walk away with a golden opportunity.

"Don't worry," Jiang Zhiyu said, glancing toward the quiet bedroom, "it's not a loss."

He assigned Zhao Qin a few tasks before the latter left, first arranging for room service to deliver food to the door.

It was almost noon. The daytime schedule was free for guests to rest in their rooms, explore the island, or go boating, fishing, or diving in the surrounding waters—there were plenty of activities to choose from.

But the little Omega on the bed was still fast asleep, showing no signs of waking.

The staff set out an array of lobster and seafood dishes on the coffee table before quietly wheeling the cart away.

Jiang Zhiyu stepped into the bedroom and saw the figure on the bed sleeping soundly, completely unaware of what had transpired at the door.

He ran his fingers over the soft, delicate cheek—the Omega's fever had subsided, and his complexion had returned to its fair, healthy glow. Now, there wasn't a trace of cedar scent left in his body. Instead, it had been replaced by the rich, intoxicating aroma of tequila. Jiang Zhiyu pulled back the covers and patted the sleeping man's cheek.

Ling Ran remained oblivious, lost in a sweet dream. Last night's dreams had been fragmented and surreal, far less pleasant than the current one.

In his dream, he was surrounded by a lush vineyard, the grapevines intertwined with vibrant red roses—their combined fragrance mirroring his own pheromones.

He frolicked through the vineyard, rolling around in pure delight.

But as he tumbled, a sudden whiff of alcohol reached him.

It was slightly cool, slightly bitter, but mostly an intoxicatingly fragrant aroma that seeped into one's soul—so addictive you'd crave more after just one whiff.

Ling Ran inhaled deeply, tracing the source of the wine-like scent to a plump, beautiful little grape nestled beneath the grapevine.

He leaned closer, closer, closer...

Thud.

His forehead bumped into something hard.

Dazed and confused, Ling Ran slowly opened his misty eyes, the shimmering tears still glistening in them as he looked up.

The moment he saw the strikingly handsome face mere inches away, awareness seemed to slam back into him. His rounded eyes widened in shock, and he jerked backward violently—only for the back of his head to be caught firmly in a large palm, cradled so securely there was no escape.

Then, his body suddenly went weightless as he was lifted from the bed like a child.

A voice, rich as aged wine and laced with faint amusement, spoke before him.

"Shy now?"

His fair cheeks instantly burned crimson. Ling Ran's mind short-circuited for a moment as he stared blankly at Jiang Zhiyu, blinking slowly, unable to process what had just happened.

Why had he woken up in Jiang Zhiyu's bed?

Why did the sight of Jiang Zhiyu stir such an inexplicable urge in him—to press closer, to cling, to twine around him like vines? And why... why did his gland hurt so much?

Whimper...

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