TPLTMOE – Chapter 33

"Can you still walk on your own?" Qin Chengyue first helped him sit on a chair at the side of the studio, fanning him with a script.

Ling Ran's body was burning up in waves. He wasn't sure if it was because of the inhibitor he took yesterday. He should have gone back to the hospital for a follow-up check-up long ago, but his busy schedule had delayed it. To ensure today's recording went smoothly, he had taken another inhibitor to forcibly suppress his heat, even though his body couldn't handle it anymore.

Now, the side effects of recklessly using inhibitors had kicked in. He had never experienced such terrifying intensity before—a dense, surging tide of desire seemed to have gathered inside him, starting from his scalp and rapidly consuming his body at an alarming speed.

The fragile gland at the nape of his neck felt as though countless invisible tendrils had sprouted, desperately grasping for any pheromones in the air that could soothe him.

What he craved intensely now wasn't the destined snow-pine pheromones of a fated mate, but the strong, intoxicating scent of tequila.

His skin burned as if scorched by flames, but this time, for some reason, Ling Ran also felt a dull ache in his lower abdomen. It wasn't an unbearable stabbing pain, but rather a tearing sensation, as though something had taken root inside him and was now breaking through the soil.

Ling Ran kept his head bowed low, his fingers resting on his knees—pale and delicate, yet the backs of his hands bore a faint bluish tint. He was struggling hard to endure it.

Someone from the team, growing impatient, came looking for them in the studio. Seeing the two still lingering, they hurried over to pull them along.

"What are you two waiting for? The boss said he's treating us today—we can eat as much as we want! Hurry up!"

"All thanks to Xiao Ran. When has the boss ever been this generous? We have to celebrate Xiao Ran's success today, then milk the boss dry!"

"Even the entertainment department came by earlier, insisting on taking Xiao Ran up to their 21st floor. I refused right away. They just want to snatch him away—dream on! Xiao Ran is ours!"

The one who came to pull Ling Ran was a buzz-cut alpha, a cameraman from their team. The moment his fingers touched Ling Ran's shoulder, Ling Ran stiffened violently, nearly sliding off the chair.

He avoided the hand, forcing himself to lift his head. His thin, pale eyelids were already glistening with moisture, as if he were on the verge of tears.

The buzz-cut alpha froze on the spot, his outstretched hand hesitating, unwilling to withdraw yet not daring to touch him again.

There were other Omega hosts in the station, not to mention the entertainment department upstairs, teeming with celebrities. They should have been used to seeing beautiful faces by now, but Ling Ran was different from all of them.

Like a fruit trembling with dewdrops on a branch, one bite could easily release its sweet nectar.

"Sorry..." Ling Ran's voice was completely different from how it sounded on the live broadcast—soft, gentle, tinged with a hint of nasal congestion. "I... I'm not feeling well today, so I won't be joining everyone..."

Qin Chengyue noticed the buzz-cut alpha's hand nearly landing on Ling Ran and immediately stepped forward, subtly pushing the others aside. With an apologetic smile, he said, "Really sorry, everyone. You all go ahead and celebrate. Xiao Ran's been exhausted lately and isn't feeling well. I'll take him to the hospital now so we don't hold you up."

Of course, no one wanted to leave. How could they go celebrate knowing Ling Ran was unwell? They insisted on accompanying the two to the hospital, refusing to rest until they saw Ling Ran was alright.

Ling Ran didn't want to make a fuss or ruin the mood. He tugged lightly at Qin Chengyue's sleeve, and after some persuasion, Qin Chengyue managed to coax the group away, promising a belated celebration once Ling Ran recovered.

Once everyone had left, Qin Chengyue helped Ling Ran out of the studio. Since there were still others in the office, he first took Ling Ran to the dressing room.

"There are too many people outside. You won't make it to the hospital like this. Let me find you an inhibitor first—wait here."

With that, Qin Chengyue hurried out.

Ling Ran sat on the sofa, his slender frame ravaged by the overwhelming heat surging through him like a flood. He tried to stay rational, but his fingers had already unlocked his phone and opened a chat window.

His vision blurred further, fingertips trembling uncontrollably as he fought the urge to message the person on the other end.

He wanted him back—wanted to be enveloped in that embrace saturated with the scent of an enigma's pheromones.

He wanted to be seized, claimed, and fiercely filled.

A soft ding sounded, as if the chat had read his mind. A new message appeared.

Ling Ran wondered if the feverish haze had clouded his judgment—how else could words suddenly appear at the bottom of his screen?

[Mr. Jiang]: Finished recording?

Ling Ran's already frantic heartbeat seemed to skip, as if a hand had gently squeezed his heart before it began pounding even harder. Curling his fingers, he carefully typed a reply, afraid of making a mistake.

[Little Grape]: Yes. Did you watch the show?

[Mr. Jiang]: I did.

Ling Ran bit his lower lip, wishing for a phone that could transmit scents.

Maybe then he could catch a whiff of that intoxicating agave pheromones through the screen.

[Little Grape): Did... did you like it?

His breathing was so heavy he could barely hold the phone steady.

[Mr. Jiang]: For a first episode, it was quite well done.

Jiang Zhiyu rarely praised anyone. His standards were high, his expectations for those under him strict. To earn even a "quite well done" from him was already high praise.

Ling Ran's already rosy cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red. A sweet, relieved sensation welled up in his chest—it seemed all his hard work during this period hadn't been in vain.

Before he could even process what he was doing, his fingers moved faster than his brain, sending a message out.

[Little Grape]: Then... can I have a reward?

The moment Ling Ran saw what he'd sent, his damp, red eyes widened in shock. His trembling fingers immediately tried to recall the message.

This was something he had only secretly thought about—how could he have mindlessly sent it out?

Damn it.

His finger missed the "recall" button, and before he knew it, an incoming call popped up on the screen.

Startled, Ling Ran accidentally hit the answer button.

Hanging up now would be even ruder. Gritting his teeth, he pressed the phone to his ear, biting his lip hard.

Afraid that speaking would reveal his current... condition, he stayed silent, even forcing himself to hold his breath.

Had Jiang Zhiyu seen that message? Why was he calling all of a sudden? Couldn't they just text?

The other end of the line was silent too, the quiet punctuated only by the occasional crackle of static.

Ling Ran struggled to hold back, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his soft lower lip bitten until it glistened red.

Finally, the voice on the other end spoke. "Talk."

Ling Ran was on the verge of tears, clutching the phone tightly, curling into a ball on the sofa.

His voice was tiny, pitifully meek. "Wh-what should I say...?"

Just those few words, transmitted through the cold distance of the call, yet Jiang Zhiyu immediately picked up on the distress in his tone. Amid the sound of car horns in the background, Jiang Zhiyu's deep voice was calm and steady, carrying a reassuring strength.

"Are you feeling unwell again?"

Now that he'd been seen through so easily, Ling Ran couldn't keep pretending. He let out a soft, muffled "Mm."

The other end of the line was filled with incessant honking—was Jiang Zhiyu driving? The noise only made Ling Ran's head spin more. "Running a fever?"

"A little..."

"Ling Ran." Jiang Zhiyu suddenly said his name sharply. "Are you still at the office? Who's with you? Put the nearest person on the phone." Just then, the door to the dressing room burst open. Qin Chengyue rushed in, clutching an inhibitor syringe.

"Borrowed it from a coworker. Take this first—it'll take at least half an hour to get to the hospital, and with rush hour traffic, maybe even an hour."

With practiced efficiency, Qin Chengyue rolled up Ling Ran's sleeve, prepping the syringe to administer the dose.

Ling Ran suddenly called out to him, "Chengyue, answer the phone first..."

Seeing that the exposed collarbone had already turned pink, Qin Chengyue hurriedly said, "Whose call is it? Let me finish giving you the injection first."

But a cold, authoritative voice suddenly came through the phone, commanding with undeniable pressure, "He can't take suppressants."

The sharp needle stopped two inches away from Ling Ran's arm. Qin Chengyue looked up in confusion, glancing between Ling Ran and the phone in his hand before picking it up.

"How do you know he can't take them? He's feeling unwell now—what else can we do if not give him suppressants?"

The person on the other end seemed to know Ling Ran's body better than he did himself, asking bluntly, "Is he in heat?"

"Yes, that's exactly why he needs suppressants!"

"He has hormone dysregulation syndrome. Suppressants will only worsen his condition."

Hearing this, Qin Chengyue immediately threw away the syringe and looked at Ling Ran with concern. "Xiao Ran, did you know you couldn't take suppressants? Then why did you inject yourself yesterday? Is that why you're feeling so terrible today?"

After a brief silence, the voice on the phone spoke again, "About ten minutes. Take him downstairs now and wait for me at the building entrance using the private elevator."

Qin Chengyue found himself unconsciously following the instructions, holding the phone in one hand while helping Ling Ran up from the couch with the other.

"Alright, alright, we're coming down right away."

Before hanging up, the voice added, "It's windy outside. Put a coat on him."

Without questioning it, Qin Chengyue rushed to grab Ling Ran's jacket from his seat, draped it over him, and quickly led him to the CEO's private elevator.

Normally, this elevator didn't stop on their floor, but surprisingly, the doors opened immediately.

Seizing the moment when no one was around, Qin Chengyue helped Ling Ran inside.

As the elevator descended rapidly, Ling Ran barely managed to follow Qin Chengyue's steps, relying solely on sheer willpower.

Once outside the building, they stood on the bustling Lengshan Road. Though the sky wasn't completely dark yet, the streetlights along both sides of the Puyu River had already lit up, stretching for miles.

A gentle breeze picked up, and Ling Ran buried his face deeper into his collar, swaying slightly as if he was nearing his limit.

Qin Chengyue anxiously scanned the surroundings but saw no sign of the black Rolls-Royce.

He wasn't stupid—when he answered the phone earlier, he had seen the caller ID: Mr. Jiang.

Ling Ran naturally wouldn't be in contact with that scumbag Jiang Shengyi again. Combined with Ling Ran's unusual behavior when they had encountered Jiang Zhiyu in the elevator before, Qin Chengyue was certain the familiar voice on the phone belonged to Jiang Zhiyu.

Ling Ran must have been too feverish to think straight, otherwise he wouldn't have slipped up so quickly and let Jiang Zhiyu find out.

If it weren't for Ling Ran's critical condition and Jiang Zhiyu's apparent deep understanding of his health, Qin Chengyue would never have agreed to bring Ling Ran down.

Before searching for the suppressants, he had already messaged his older brother. Right now, he would much rather it be his brother who showed up for Ling Ran.

Lost in thought, Qin Chengyue was about to call Qin Shixing when he suddenly noticed a group of their colleagues walking out of the building together.

"Oh no, oh no, now that they've seen us, it's even harder to explain," Qin Chengyue helped Ling Ran sit down on a round stone bench by the roadside. "Xiao Ran, can you hold on a little longer?"

Ling Ran's gaze was dazed, but he obediently sat on the stone bench and nodded at him.

Qin Chengyue said, "I'll lead them away. Don't wander off. I can keep an eye on you from inside. I'll be right back."

With that, Qin Chengyue immediately ran toward the building entrance, turning back every few steps to make sure Ling Ran was still sitting there safely.

He managed to steer his colleagues toward a side exit, his eyes never leaving the street outside.

Ling Ran kept his head drooped weakly. He could feel his entire body burning up, his throat scorching with every exhale. The gland suppressed by the scent patch throbbed incessantly, the pain so intense he thought he might die from it.

A sharp screech of tires against pavement suddenly pierced the air.

A sleek, aggressive black Bugatti Divo came to a smooth stop right in front of the stone bench, its low-slung posture like a predator ready to pounce. The powerful engine remained running, its deep growl impossible to ignore.

Ling Ran lifted his unfocused eyes to see the passenger door of the hypercar automatically swing open. A deep voice called from inside, "Ling Ran."

For a brief moment, the feverish Omega seemed to regain some clarity. His glistening eyes grew even wetter as they met a pair of bottomless dark ones.

Jiang Zhiyu was looking at him: "Get in."

The last taut thread of restraint in Ling Ran's mind snapped. His eyes welled up with uncontrollable grievance as he slowly rose from the stone bench.

His slender legs looked almost lost in his trousers, appearing far too fragile.

Though it was only a few steps, the little Omega seemed to take an eternity to cross them.

His sweet scent had already begun leaking uncontrollably—rose and grape notes of his pheromones struggling against the scent patch, dispersing into the breeze on trembling legs, he climbed into the car without resistance.

Once the door closed, Jiang Zhiyu leaned toward Ling Ran.

A wave of warm, dry scent washed over him. Ling Ran inhaled deeply, then froze—his tear-dampened eyes wide with confusion as he stared at the man now nearly pressed against him.

Jiang Zhiyu seemed to chuckle softly as he reached for the seatbelt, fastening it around Ling Ran but not straightening up.

He gazed down at the bewildered little Omega, knowing exactly what he'd been trying to catch a whiff of. His fingers drifted to the back of Ling Ran's neck, tapping lightly over the swollen gland beneath the scent patch.

"What reward do you want, hmm?"

At these words, the already dewy eyes trembled, long lashes fluttering as if about to shed tears.

Ling Ran bit down hard on his rosy lower lip, struggling to hold back.

He knew Jiang Zhiyu must have seen that message, wu…

"Don't want it?" Jiang Zhiyu said. "Then forget it."

As the Enigma started to pull away, a gentle tug suddenly caught the front of his shirt.

Those rosy lips parted slightly before him, the voice soft and slow, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible reproach and resentment: "I

want..."

Fearing he might truly be stingy enough to withhold everything, Ling Ran hastily added, "I want it... I do..."

Jiang Zhiyu pressed his thumb against that distracting lip peak, first gently kneading it with slow movements until the little Omega couldn't help but whimper softly, then increasing the pressure slightly as if to entice.

"Want what? Say it clearly."

Ling Ran tried to speak, but as his lips barely moved, a small part of the enigma's fingertip slipped into his mouth.

Thin breaths came in shallow pants.

"I want... a reward...

His cheeks flushed so red they seemed about to drip blood. If not for the heat overwhelming most of his rationality, he probably still wouldn't have been able to voice his true desires.

"Alright," Jiang Zhiyu peeled off both inhibitor patches at the back of his neck, "just a little reward first."

The previously fresh air inside the car began to fill with an intense, heady aroma of alcohol—the slightly bitter yet powerfully intoxicating scent of tequila pheromones weaving a fine, dense net that completely enveloped the flushed little Omega leaning against the seat.

Ling Ran was like a man who had trekked thirstily through the desert for thousands of kilometers, suddenly encountering sweet rain from heaven. All the heat, exhaustion, and desperate longing in his body were instantly soothed and eased.

He treated the strong liquor like life-giving dew, using his entire being to desperately feel and absorb it.

Jiang Zhiyu stroked his burning cheek and lowered his head, about to give him a temporary mark on his scent gland when several sharp, piercing honks suddenly came from behind the Bugatti, brutally interrupting the quiet intimacy within the car.

Jiang Zhiyu settled the little Omega back against the seat and glanced in the rearview mirror.

Cold Mountain Road during evening rush hour had begun to jam up. Just a few car lengths behind the Bugatti was a Bentley, unable to move and resorting to frantic honking to signal.

Several cars between the two vehicles had already started showing displeasure, but considering the price tags of these two cars, any grievances could only be swallowed back down.

Some bold drivers honked back in retaliation. As the traffic light in the distance turned green and the flow of cars began moving, the Bentley seemed to go mad trying to change lanes and cut in, just to get closer to the supercar as quickly as possible.

Jiang Zhiyu's eyes darkened—that Bentley was all too familiar to him.

It was Jiang Shengyi.

***

When Jiang Shengyi saw Ling Ran on Jiangzhou News, he was visiting Grandma Jiang in the hospital's VIP ward, with Yin Chu seated beside him.

Grandma Jiang was chattering about various matters, but Jiang Shengyi wasn't really listening.

Almost all of his attention was completely absorbed by the rectangular TV screen.

The focus of his gaze was Jiang Zhou's new prime-time program. Lately, he had been swamped with cases in Southeast Asia and a pile of other headaches, so truth be told, he hadn't paid much attention to it.

At first, Yin Chu had said he wanted to be the host for the show's premiere. Jiang Shengyi didn't think much of it and simply agreed. But who would've guessed that in the end, it was Ling Ran who ended up on the program?

It had been a long time since he'd last seen Ling Ran—why did he seem so different now?

There he was, sitting upright on stage, speaking in that smooth, professional broadcaster's tone, yet his delicate, alluring face seemed even more radiant than before.

Lips red, teeth white—both pure and seductive.

It was as if his entire being exuded a kind of pampered, enchanting charm, so beautiful it was impossible to look away.

Jiang Shengyi stared unblinkingly, barely registering the news being reported.

As the program neared its end, the TV suddenly clicked off with a sharp snap.

Yin Chu tossed the remote aside and said to him, "Stop watching. Spend more time talking with Grandma instead."

For the first time, Jiang Shengyi felt a flicker of irritation at Yin Chu's actions. He already knew all the things Grandma was saying—what was the point of listening?

"I'll watch a little longer."

As he reached for the remote, Yin Chu suddenly exploded in anger, hurling it to the ground with such force that it shattered into pieces. Forgetting they were in front of Grandma Jiang, he shouted accusingly, "Jiang Shengyi! Are you watching the news, or are you watching him?!"

Jiang Shengyi looked at him silently. The usually gentle and elegant Omega before him now wore a twisted expression of fury, the flames of jealousy burning cracks through his fragile facade.

"Yin Chu, what's gotten into you? I just wanted to watch some TV. Was it really necessary to smash the remote? Grandma is right here." "Don't think I didn't notice! You were staring at Ling Ran just now. Do you regret breaking off the engagement with him? Jiang Shengyi, tell me the truth! Do you regret it?!"

Jiang Shengyi stood up. "You're tired today. Go home and rest."

Yin Chu's eyes widened. Not only had Jiang Shengyi avoided answering his question, but he was also kicking him out.

He thought he could pretend everything was fine. He had already lost face at the company, and now even Jiang Shengyi was starting to look at that little Omega differently.

Why?!

Why did everything—his job, the Enigma he liked—have to be snatched away by Ling Ran one by one?

Now even Jiang Shengyi, who had always been completely devoted to him, was turning against him for Ling Ran's sake and sending him away.

"Have you forgotten what kind of person Ling Ran really is? He's the one who made me fall down the stairs! He's nothing like the innocent act he puts on. With that fox-like face of his, all he wants is to climb the social ladder! That 'pure and kind' image is all just an act!" Yin Chu's voice turned shrill, his emotions teetering on the edge of hysteria.

Grandma Jiang listened with a cold expression before finally speaking. "I know exactly what kind of person Xiao Ran is. There's no need for you to badmouth him here. Yin Chu, leave. And don't bother visiting me again in the future."

Over the past two years, Granny Jiang had seen clearly how Ling Ran treated her. The old lady never cared for Yin Chu's pretentiousness to begin with, and now that her grandson could see through the facade, it was all for the better.

Jiang Shengyi was deeply unsettled. "Grandma isn't wrong—Ling Ran really isn't the type to harm others."

Yin Chu's eyes welled up as she gazed at him mournfully. "Shengyi, do you really think I've been lying to you all this time?"

Grabbing his coat, Jiang Shengyi headed for the hospital door. "I didn't say that. You should go home first. We both need time to cool off."

Once outside, he drove aimlessly through the streets.

Almost unconsciously, he reopened the live stream, just as the two hosts were wrapping up.

On screen, the little Omega smiled sweetly, his peach-blossom eyes shimmering with moisture, his fair cheeks tinged with a delicate flush—truly the picture of a bewitching enchantress.

Yet this enchantress carried himself with grace and courtesy, every gesture poised and refined, his rosy lips curved in a faint smile as he bid the audience farewell until next time.

Only when the screen went black did Jiang Shengyi snap out of his daze.

Ling Ran's radiant, spring-like glow didn't seem like something mere makeup could achieve.

It was more like... a withered vine soaked in rich nutrients, sprouting plump, luscious grapes that hung heavy on the branch, exuding an intoxicating fragrance.

—Had he already been marked by another alpha?!

Jiang Shengyi immediately swung the car around and sped toward the Jiang Corporation building.

Regret gnawed at him—why had he hesitated for so long to mark Ling Ran? All he'd given him before the annulment was a shallow, temporary mark, one that probably hadn't even taken effect properly.

Why hadn't he exercised his rights as a partner during those two years? If he'd fully claimed the little Omega as his own, even after the breakup, wouldn't Ling Ran still be clinging to him, chasing after him like before?

Lost in thought, he pressed the accelerator harder.

But the evening rush hour on Cold Mountain Road was merciless—no matter how urgent his heart was, he could only inch forward with the sluggish traffic.

By the time he finally neared the building, he spotted a lone figure perched on a stone bench.

He recognized Ling Ran instantly, and a flicker of relief stirred in his chest—until the next moment, when the figure stood up.

The slender silhouette looked almost pitiful, swaying unsteadily as he took a few steps forward... and then, right before Jiang Shengyi's eyes, climbed into the passenger seat of a black Bugatti Divo.

Jiang Shengyi's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the automatic door glide shut.

That hypercar was a limited-edition masterpiece—only five existed worldwide, and no amount of money could secure one. He'd never even heard of anyone in Haicheng owning it.

Had that little Omega secretly latched onto someone far more powerful behind his back?!

***

Jiang Zhiyu made no effort to restrain his pheromones. Ling Ran was still wearing a suppressor, which blocked most of the scent, but an Enigma's pheromones were potent enough that traces could still reach an Omega.

The little Omega seemed absurdly easy to please—just a whiff was enough to settle him into docility.

Perhaps it was because he was naturally well-behaved—even when feeling so miserable he was nearly in tears, he refused to let it show over the phone.

The traffic light turned green, and the Bentley attempted to charge through.

Jiang Zhiyu gently ruffled the fluffy head of the Omega in the passenger seat. "Hold on tight."

Ling Ran gazed at him with dazed eyes, then extended his slender, pale hands to lightly clutch the hem of his shirt.

"I'm holding on..."

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