TPLTMOE – Chapter 42

Ling Ran had seen those messages earlier but chose not to respond.

Not only did he not want Jiang Shengyi to know about his connection with Jiang Zhiyu, but he also had no obligation to explain his personal life to him anymore.

"I already told you—my affairs have nothing to do with you," Ling Ran said, his voice calm and composed. "Who I'm with, how far we've gone—none of that requires reporting to you."

His eyes were clear and flawless, yet they struck Jiang Shengyi's heart like the deadliest weapon.

"At the very least, I didn't cheat on someone while engaged to another."

Jiang Shengyi seemed taken aback by his words. The Ling Ran from before was always considerate, understanding, and never this sharp- tongued or aggressive.

"Xiao Ran, it's not what you think..." Jiang Shengyi opened his mouth, his face ashen, wanting to explain. But after struggling to find the right words, he realized there was no way to gloss over the foolish mistakes he had made.

"What it is doesn't matter anymore," Ling Ran said with a light laugh. "I don't care."

Jiang Shengyi was completely stunned. The Omega before him was nothing like before—his delicate features now relaxed, his lips lush and tender like plump grapes glistening with dew. It was clear he had been well taken care of, the once-hidden vibrancy within him now radiating outward.

But this dazzling, captivating Ling Ran no longer belonged to him.

Qin Chengyue, who had been waiting impatiently, called out Ling Ran's name from behind.

Ling Ran turned to Jiang Shengyi one last time. "Also, stop following me from now on."

Without a trace of reluctance, he ran toward Qin Chengyue, and the two of them walked away together.

Jiang Shengyi desperately wanted to chase after Ling Ran without a second thought, to demand why he had suddenly changed like this. Even if their engagement had been called off, he shouldn't have moved on so quickly.

Weren't they fated partners with a 100% compatibility? Didn't destiny decree they were meant to be together?

Yin Chu had heard every word of their earlier exchange. Though unwilling to believe it, he hesitantly voiced his doubt, "Shengyi, what you just said... do you really, truly..."

Regret calling off the engagement.

Jiang Shengyi couldn't explain the frustration and gloom churning inside him. Just the thought of Ling Ran turning to another alpha made him so furious he could kill.

Perhaps Yin Chu was right—he did regret it.

And now, the Yin Chu before him had lost all his former radiance. No longer gentle, no longer dazzling, he had become a jealous, hysterical madman.

"Since you've been dismissed, don't cause any more trouble at the company. This time, I caught you. If there's a next time, you might be reported for disturbing public order," Jiang Shengyi said coldly. "Stop tarnishing Jiang Zhou's reputation."

He turned to leave, but Yin Chu grabbed his sleeve, pleading.

"Jiang Shengyi, have you lost your mind? You announced the breakup in front of everyone—remember? The media was flooded with reports about it. Even if you regret it now, it's too late, don't you understand?!"

Jiang Shengyi's anger flared as he shook him off. "I don't need you to remind me."

Yin Chu's voice turned shrill. "He's already moved on! Who knows what backer he's found, whose bed he's climbed into? Who are you putting on this lovesick act for? Do you really think he still cares?!"

The words cut deep. Rage simmered in Jiang Shengyi's eyes. "Yin Chu, I never knew you were like this. If you hadn't told me Ling Ran deliberately harmed you, would I have impulsively called off the engagement?"

But it was too late for regrets now.

The garage was eerily quiet, their heated argument suddenly interrupted by the approach of a figure.

Zhao Qin greeted Jiang Shengyi with a polite smile. "President Shengyi."

Jiang Shengyi hadn't expected to see him here. He glanced around and finally spotted a black Rolls-Royce parked in the reserved spot.

The tinted windows hid whether anyone was inside.

Jiang Shengyi stiffened slightly. How long had that car been there?

"Did Uncle want to see me?"

Zhao Qin replied, "Nothing urgent. But President Jiang had already instructed that security measures be tightened—unauthorized personnel are strictly prohibited from entering and causing disturbances."

As he spoke, his gaze pointedly settled on Yin Chu.

Yin Chu's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't imagined Jiang Zhiyu could be so ruthless. A minor mistake had cost him his job, and now he was being humiliated like this.

"Where is Zhiyu? I want to see him!" Yin Chu demanded loudly.

Zhao Qin smiled. "Mr. Yin, President Jiang is busy. He has no time for you. As for Jiang Corporation and the Jiang family—you need not come again."

Jiang Shengyi was somewhat stunned. Jiang Zhiyu was different from him—while he had been spoiled and allowed to run wild growing up in the second branch of the family, making an enemy of Yin Chu would at most be a personal matter between them.

But Jiang Zhiyu was the head of the Jiang family, and his words and actions represented the entire Jiang clan's stance. Thus, he had always prioritized social connections—wielding an iron fist when necessary, but also knowing how to win people over. Jiang Shengyi had never seen Jiang Zhiyu so openly disregard the Yin family's dignity before.

Silently firing Yin Chu already seemed like a declaration of war, but now he was planning to openly clash with the Yin family? Even if the Yins weren't industry leaders in business, they had deep roots in Haishi, with a complex web of connections. Offending Old Master Yin was no small matter.

What was this all about?

Jiang Shengyi glanced at Yin Chu, who stood frozen in place, and asked Zhao Qin suspiciously, "Did my uncle really say that?"

Zhao Qin replied, "That was the gist of it."

Tears welled up in Yin Chu's eyes, his face flushed with disbelief. His body seemed to lose all strength as he slumped against the car beside him.

He muttered under his breath, "No... no, I didn't do anything wrong. Why is everyone treating me like this? Zhiyu wouldn't say that... he wouldn't!"

Zhao Qin merely gave him a sympathetic look. "Mr. Yin, you know what you've done. Also, President Shengyi, Mr. Jiang has stated that the incident at Jiangzhou was extremely serious. Therefore, headquarters will be implementing a custodial management system over Jiangzhou from now on. All matters, big or small, no longer need to be reported to the second branch—direct communication with headquarters will suffice."

Jiang Shengyi roared, "What did you say? Jiangzhou is under my name, it belongs to the second branch! Who gives anyone else the right to interfere?"

"President Shengyi, that's not quite accurate," Zhao Qin said impassively. "Headquarters' directives take precedence above all else."

In other words, within the Jiang family, Jiang Zhiyu's word was law.

***

Ling Ran and Xu Guanyi had already coordinated in advance. Upon arrival, Qin Chengyue accompanied him through the full examination.

The test results came out quickly. Xu Guanyi reviewed the various indicators, then glanced at the two young Omegas sitting stiffly before him and couldn't help asking, "Did you two come alone?"

Both Omegas nodded in unison.

Xu Guanyi pressed, "No adults accompanying you?"

Qin Chengyue patted his chest. "I'm an adult."

But with his naturally youthful baby face, though he was two years older than Ling Ran, they looked about the same age.

Xu Guanyi turned to Ling Ran. "Why didn't President Jiang come with you this time?"

Ling Ran's ears burned. "Ah... he, he's very busy..."

Qin Chengyue immediately caught the unusual implication and turned to stare at Ling Ran, scrutinizing him with a gaze sharp enough to interrogate.

So the person who had accompanied him to the hospital before was Jiang Zhiyu. No wonder Jiang Zhiyu knew so much about his condition—some details even Qin Chengyue himself wasn't aware of.

For a man as busy as CEO Jiang to remember everything so clearly...

Xu Guanyi pointed at a small black shadow on the scan, about the size of a red date, and explained to the two Omegas, "Here, look at this first. This is your reproductive cavity."

Qin Chengyue seemed even more curious than Ling Ran, widening his eyes to examine the tiny shape. "Why is it so small?"

Xu Guanyi nodded. "Exactly, you noticed it too. But this is actually an improvement—last time it was even smaller, barely the size of a peanut. It's developed quite a bit since then."

Ling Ran's cheeks flushed as he asked in a soft, obedient voice, "Dr. Xu, does that mean my condition has improved too?"

Xu Guanyi pulled out several more reports, spreading them out in front of the two, and spent a while explaining each indicator in detail.

"Your gland has also developed somewhat. From this, it seems your hormonal imbalance disorder has indeed improved significantly. Have you been taking any medication recently?"

Ling Ran shook his head. "No."

Xu Guanyi smiled in satisfaction. "Then it seems my suggestion worked well. I've always said that compared to medication, an Enigma's pheromone therapy is far more effective. Your gland and reproductive cavity are undergoing secondary development in a much healthier way—far superior to drugs, at least with fewer side effects."

Qin Chengyue's eyes sparkled with innocent confusion. "What's an Enigma?"

Ling Ran also asked, "Are there any side effects?"

Xu Guanyi replied, "There are some, of course, but nothing too serious. The main one is that you might develop a dependency on the Enigma's pheromones, leading to pheromone dependency syndrome. But compared to hormonal imbalance, it's negligible. No need to worry too much."

Qin Chengyue pressed again, "What's an Enigma?"

Ling Ran still seemed uneasy. "But, Dr. Xu, I actually came to ask for some medication this time. I think I'd prefer to rely on drug treatment."

Xu Guanyi raised an eyebrow. "Why? Did the Enigma's pheromones not suit you? That shouldn't be the case—all your indicators are normal, and development is progressing well. If we could test your compatibility, I'd bet it's very high."

Ling Ran lowered his head, licking his lips as if recalling something. "I'd still like some medication. It's... more convenient."

Otherwise, he'd have to keep troubling Mr. Jiang, and he already felt terribly embarrassed.

Besides... besides, he'd noticed his growing craving for Jiang Zhiyu's pheromones. Maybe it wasn't just the pheromones.

He also craved his embrace, his hands, his warmth, his kisses...

Ling Ran shook his head vigorously, forcing himself to stop. His fair cheeks were now burning hot.

Qin Chengyue, nearly dying of curiosity, tugged at Ling Ran's arm. "What the hell is an Enigma? Can someone please explain it to me?"

Ling Ran blushed and stayed silent, so Xu Guanyi kindly explained to him, "An enigma is a gender that transcends alpha, beta, and Omega. Their pheromone levels typically surpass all alphas, and they can use their pheromones to catalyze alphas and betas into becoming their own Omegas. They are naturally born with the temperament of formidable leaders."

Qin Chengyue's jaw dropped in astonishment. "Then... isn't that kind of cheating?"

Xu Guanyi chuckled. "You could say that. After generations of breeding among pure-blooded high-ranking alpha families, there's a small chance—maybe one in ten million—that an enigma might be born."

Qin Chengyue immediately understood and glanced at Ling Ran. "So... President Jiang is an enigma?!"

Ling Ran nodded lightly. "Yes."

Qin Chengyue felt like many things suddenly made sense. No wonder Jiang Zhiyu could separate two people who were destined mates, and no wonder Ling Ran could remain calm and rational even when faced with Jiang Shengyi, whose compatibility with him was a perfect 100%.

It was because he had an even more powerful support.

In the end, Ling Ran asked Xu Guanyi to prescribe him some medication—both for daily use and to manage his heat symptoms.

Xu Guanyi also explained to Ling Ran that the heats triggered by his pheromone disorder episodes were actually pseudo-heats. A real Omega's heat cycle wouldn't be that frequent, usually occurring once a month and lasting about five or six days.

An alpha's rut cycle, on the other hand, would happen every two to three months, with a duration similar to an Omega's heat.

Noticing that Ling Ran's face was no longer flushed and the swelling on his lips had subsided, Qin Chengyue grinned and asked, "Dr. Xu, what about enigmas? How often do they go into rut?"

Xu Guanyi replied, "I can only answer that based on textbooks since I've never actually encountered an enigma seeking medical treatment in real life. They probably have private doctors or go to exclusive medical institutions."

He looked at Ling Ran as if giving him a warning. "According to the books, an enigma's rut occurs roughly every three months and lasts about two weeks, though longer durations aren't out of the question."

***

On their way home from the hospital, both Omegas wore solemn expressions, each lost in their own worries.

Qin Chengyue was torn over which side to support—his own brother or his boss. Neither was someone he could afford to offend.

Ling Ran lined up the medications he'd brought back from the hospital on the sofa. There were over a dozen boxes of varying sizes, all quite expensive.

Fortunately, he now had some money, but he didn't know how long he'd need to keep taking these medications. If this continued indefinitely, it would become a significant financial burden.

Suddenly, Qin Chengyue rushed over and patted his shoulder. "Xiao Ran, I have a serious question for you."

Ling Ran, who was sitting on the carpet with his arms resting on the sofa, looked up at him. "Mm, go ahead."

"Have you fallen for President Jiang?"

Ling Ran's eyes widened abruptly, as if he'd been caught off guard. He sprang up from the sofa, stammering, "Wh-why would you ask that?"

Qin Chengyue pressed urgently, "Never mind why—just answer me. Yes or no?"

Ling Ran felt restless, his gaze flitting about—looking at the ceiling, the plush carpet—anywhere but meeting Qin Chengyue's steady stare. Seeing his guilty reaction, Qin Chengyue understood somewhat and said, "Alright, let me rephrase. Do you still like Jiang Shengyi?"

"Not anymore," Ling Ran blurted out almost instantly.

"Then do you remember why you liked him in the first place?"

That was a long time ago. Ling Ran had fallen for Jiang Shengyi during his freshman year of college. Back then, Jiang Shengyi, as a representative of the Jiang Corporation, had given a speech in the university auditorium. The Jiang Group had just fully funded the construction of a broadcasting hall for the school, donating all the equipment and large screens inside. During the ceremony, the school administrators had specially thanked Jiang Shengyi, and Ling Ran had been sitting among the crowd of students.

Watching the confident alpha on stage, listening to his insights and perspectives on journalism, Ling Ran felt as if his heart had been struck in that very moment.

But later, after spending more time with Jiang Shengyi, Ling Ran no longer saw that dazzling brilliance in him. Yet their pheromone compatibility happened to be a perfect 100%. That initial spark of attraction, combined with the influence of their pheromones, was why he had liked Jiang Shengyi for so long.

"Alright," Qin Chengyue continued, "then do you like my brother?"

Ling Ran was puzzled. "Of course I do."

Qin Chengyue waved his hand. "No, no—not because he's my brother. I mean, do you like him as an alpha, as a potential life partner?"

Ling Ran froze slightly, not because the question was difficult to answer, but because he sensed that someone had asked him the same thing before.

How had he answered then?

Hesitation flickered in his eyes as he said, "Chengyue, my relationship with my own brother isn't good, so I only see Shixing as an older brother. If it weren't for you, we probably wouldn't have crossed paths at all."

Though the truth stung, Qin Chengyue understood completely.

His brother and Ling Ran simply weren't meant to be—otherwise, Jiang Zhiyu wouldn't have even entered the picture.

Perhaps some things were destined to happen, while some people were never meant to have a connection.

"Xiao Ran, you're my best, best friend," Qin Chengyue said earnestly, his gaze intense as he stared at Ling Ran. "I want you to be happy in the future."

Ling Ran smiled, his eyes crinkling. "What's gotten into you?"

"Back then, with your family situation, there wasn't much I could do to help. But now it's different. If someone can make you happy, don't worry about what others think—just focus on yourself."

Ling Ran rarely saw him so serious and wanted to ask more, but the man smoothly brushed him off with a laugh.

Soon, it was time to return to campus for the freshman orientation ceremony. Ling Ran and Qin Chengyue took leave in the afternoon to head back to school together.

The Film Academy's freshman orientation was always grand and spectacular, inviting successful alumni—now big stars—to share their experiences and motivate the newcomers.

Qin Chengyue drove Ling Ran to the school gate, where a dense crowd had already gathered in line, including many students from other schools who had come to join the excitement.

Qin Chengyue asked Ling Ran to wait for him at the entrance while he found a parking spot.

Ling Ran stood beside the stone monument at the school gate. Even surrounded by beautiful and handsome faces, he was always the one who drew attention.

Some even recognized him as the rookie host from Focus Vision, excitedly running over for autographs and photos. They gushed about watching both episodes of his show and loving it.

Ling Ran smiled gratefully and obliged their requests.

After signing and posing for photos, Ling Ran checked the time—it was about time to head in. They had also agreed to visit Professor Li first. "Ling Ran."

A familiar voice called from behind, but it froze Ling Ran's blood in an instant.

He turned stiffly and saw Ling Su standing not far away, waving at him warmly, gesturing for him to come over.

It had been a long time since Ling Ran last contacted his family. He thought he had moved on, that those dark, suffocating memories wouldn't resurface.

Yet Ling Su's appearance still triggered an inexplicable panic—his heart raced, and an oppressive anxiety crawled up from his feet, threatening to drag him back into the unseen darkness.

For a moment, Ling Ran stood frozen. Seeing this, Ling Su simply walked over himself.

"Xiao Ran, has it been so long that you don't even recognize your own brother?" Ling Su smiled. "We all miss you. What Dad said before was just anger—you didn't really think we'd let you stay away forever, did you?"

Ling Ran parted his lips slightly, careful not to let others notice his unease. "I should go in now."

He turned to leave, but Ling Su grabbed his wrist.

"Not even a few words with your brother? That eager to avoid me?" Ling Su pulled him toward a nearby private restaurant. "Let me treat you to a meal. We'll talk things out properly today—clear the air, and everything will be fine."

Ling Ran struggled to break free, but Ling Su was determined, turning back to add, "By the way, don't you want to know how Mom and Dad arranged a match for you with the Qin family's eldest son?"

Ling Ran's resistance faltered. "Me... and Shixing-ge?"

Ling Su quickly dragged him into the restaurant. "Yes, Qin Shixing. Since things with Jiang Shengyi fell through, you'll have to come home and marry eventually. The Qins are a good choice—especially since you're already close with Qin Chengyue. It'd strengthen family ties."

A sharp, suffocating pain spread through Ling Ran's chest. Even after pushing him this far... they still wouldn't let him go?

Seeing that he no longer resisted, Ling Suo led him to follow the waiter and took a seat.

"Of course, things aren't completely settled yet. The Qin family said they'd only agree to the engagement after hearing your opinion. Fortunately, Qin Shixing seems to have some interest in you—otherwise, negotiations wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

Ling Suo seemed to be in a decent mood, taking a sip of champagne before looking at Ling Ran across the table with a faint smile.

"If you'd just listen to your brother, you'd go home and get married already. What exactly have you achieved by struggling on your own out here? Omegas don't need to work—once you're married, your husband will take care of you. All you need to worry about is how to cure your condition quickly and then focus on bearing the Qin family a few children. That's what really matters."

Ling Ran's fingers trembled helplessly, his eyes reddened from the pressure as he met his brother's gaze with stubborn defiance. "In your eyes, am I just a breeding tool for a political marriage? Is that it?"

Ling Suo shrugged indifferently. "If that's how you want to see it, fine. But we never said that."

A sharp pang twisted in Ling Ran's chest. All this time he'd been away, his family hadn't cared whether he lived or died. Now that they wanted an alliance with the Qin family, they'd cornered him outside his school.

He stood abruptly, his slender fingers pressing against the table, knuckles whitening from the force.

"I won't go back to get married. I have a job—a career I love. If others can succeed, so can I."

Ling Suo let out a sudden scoff, eyeing the Omega with disdain. "You? Don't overestimate yourself. Honestly, I'm not even thrilled about you marrying Qin Shixing. What does the Qin family amount to compared to the Jiangs? Just a bunch of nobodies."

Leaning forward, he lowered his voice. "I know you've been in contact with Jiang Zhiyu. If you could latch onto him, maybe I could convince Mom and Dad to reconsider. How about it?"

Ling Ran caught the shift in his brother's tone—it seemed Ling Suo had finally revealed his real motive for seeking him out today.

"President Jiang is just my superior."

"Cut the act. You can fool others, but not me—I'm your own brother." Ling Suo's expression turned ingratiating. "If you could do me a favor, put in a good word for me with Jiang Zhiyu... Even the scraps from his fingertips would be more than I could earn in years. What do you say?"

Ling Ran frowned. "But as far as I know, the Ling Group has no business dealings with the Jiang Corporation."

"Not before, no. But I pulled some strings recently—you probably know Yan Xiwen. He, Shang Ye, and Jiang Zhiyu are working on a new project. I went through hell to secure a stake, but then, out of nowhere, one of our suppliers got shut down over licensing issues. An entire batch of newly produced hardware failed inspection. The Jiang Group is the biggest client on this project—they're demanding delivery next week, or we'll owe billions in penalties. On top of that, I still owe Jiang Zhiyu money, and none of my connections can get me through to him. After racking my brain, I figured you might be the easier route."

After hearing the full story, Ling Ran's expression cooled. "So you want me to help you contact President Jiang?"

Ling Xu added, "Anyway, you're quite close to him. Just help me negotiate directly—see if we can delay the delivery and waive the penalty. Who knows how close our relationship might become in the future? It's not impossible for him to call me 'brother-in-law' someday."

Ling Ran found the overly ingratiating smile before him utterly repulsive. "I can't help you with this," he said coldly. "I'm not familiar with President Jiang. If you have a way, contact him yourself."

With that, Ling Ran turned to leave, but Ling Xu took two quick steps to block his path.

"Is it that you can't help, or that you won't?" Ling Xu's eyes flashed with anger. "Or has Jiang Zhiyu already gotten tired of you and kicked you to the curb?"

Ling Ran's eyes widened in shock. "Wh-what are you talking about...?"

Ling Xu sneered. "Relax, I haven't told anyone else. You were hiding at Jiang Zhiyu's place on the island, weren't you? Did you climb into his bed long ago? He's Jiang Shengyi's uncle, you know. Sleeping with him behind Jiang Shengyi's back—how shameless. Though I suppose it's impressive he didn't mind you being secondhand goods."

Seeing Ling Ran's face turn deathly pale, Ling Xu thought he had him cornered and pressed on. "You've put on quite the act at home. Mom and Dad have no idea how bold you are, playing the Jiang uncle and nephew like puppets."

With a mocking grin, he asked, "So, who's better in bed—Jiang Shengyi or Jiang Zhiyu? Come on, I'm curious—"

Before he could finish, a sharp crack echoed through the restaurant.

Ling Ran had struck with such force that his entire palm stung, numb with pain. His whole body trembled, his eyes reddening at the corners, but he stubbornly held back the tears threatening to fall.

Ling Xu's head snapped to the side from the impact, his cheek burning so fiercely it nearly went numb. He stood frozen in shock, as if he couldn't believe an Omega would dare hit him.

Since childhood, he had always been the one to strike Ling Ran—when had the tables ever turned?!

Eyes blazing with fury, Ling Xu clutched his face and straightened up. "You've got some fucking nerve now, huh?! Hitting me?! You goddamn—!"

His fist swung straight for Ling Ran's face, packed with full force—a blow no Omega could withstand.

Panicked, Ling Ran jerked backward, only for his retreat to be cut short as his back collided with something solid and unyielding.

Just as the punch was about to land, an arm suddenly wrapped around his waist, spinning him halfway into an embrace. His face buried itself in a familiar chest, the scent enveloping him completely.

It wasn't the cold, hard wall he'd expected, but an embrace radiating warmth.

Scalding tears instantly rolled down, soaking through the black silk tie.

The towering enigma held him with one arm while effortlessly catching the incoming punch with his other hand. His fingers clamped down like unshakable steel pincers, twisting the alpha's arm into an unnatural angle with minimal effort.

Ling Su's pupils trembled as he looked up at the newcomer. Excruciating pain instantly drenched his back in cold sweat, his face contorting as he let out an agonized scream.

Jiang Zhiyu casually tossed him backward like a dirty rag, sending him crashing onto a nearby table. Champagne bottles, glasses, and plates shattered across the floor, the alpha collapsing onto the sea of broken fragments.

Jiang Zhiyu glanced disdainfully at the pathetic heap on the ground, his lofty expression like an emperor surveying worthless insects trampled into the mud.

"You dare lay hands on him?"

Ling Su could barely scream anymore, looking up in terror at the man he'd desperately tried to meet. The pain blurred his vision, stealing even the words to beg for mercy.

Jiang Zhiyu's voice was dangerously low: "Three days. Either deliver the goods with compensation, or wait for court summons."

Then he turned, protective arm around his precious cargo as they left.

Ling Ran's face remained buried against his chest, practically carried out of the restaurant entrance.

A car waited by the curb. Jiang Zhiyu opened the door one-handed and guided him inside.

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