TPLTMOE – Chapter 45

Before Ling Ran could react, the tongue that had merely been tracing his lips suddenly slipped between them, invading without leaving the slightest gap.

Forced to tilt his head back, the sticky, drawn-out sounds from Ling Ran's throat were all swallowed whole.

The tequila scent grew overwhelming, nearing the limit of what an Omega could endure—yet for the enigma who'd just discovered this new pleasure, this was merely the appetizer.

The car's airtight interior soon allowed the potent alcohol aroma to completely overpower the delicate rose and grape notes.

The sheer disparity in their strength made Ling Ran's slender frame tremble violently against the seat. He desperately needed fresh air, but his mouth and nose were already thoroughly saturated with the enigma's pheromones.

After less than ten minutes of this immersion, Ling Ran felt every pore on his body saturated with the heavy, intoxicating liquor scent. No... he couldn't take anymore...

Small tremors wracked his body, his feet arching involuntarily.

He was about to faint...

So this was what a conscious kiss felt like—like bubbles continuously rising from the depths of his heart, each one bursting midair to leave him dizzy and disoriented, as thoroughly intoxicated as if he'd drunk too much.

His tongue was still being held in the other's mouth, slowly ground between sharp canines until the root tingled faintly, making him fear it might be bitten off and swallowed at any moment.

Ling Ran couldn't take it anymore and tried to turn his face away. Finally finding a gap, the enigma released his tongue, attempting to teach him to suck and lick in return.

But the moment the restraint loosened, the omega suddenly lowered his head, dangerously exposing his fair nape—the suppressant patch on his gland barely clinging on.

Seizing the chance, Ling Ran gasped for air, fingers clutching the enigma's shirtfront into crumpled folds, trembling uncontrollably. Jiang Zhiyu pressed the suppressant patch back into place, giving him no time to recover before gripping his nape to tilt his head up, one large hand cradling the back of his skull.

His gaze fell on the omega's slightly parted lips—glistening, flushed, unbearably enticing, with silvery strands still clinging to the corners.

Ling Ran's eyes were unfocused, as if pushed to his limit, tears pooling and trembling on the verge of spilling.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't let him rest. He dipped down again, capturing those lips as if unable to get enough of the sweet, pliant little tongue, licking away the traces before leisurely transferring overpowering pheromones into his mouth.

Time blurred until the omega in his arms had gone silent, body limp as boneless, held up only by the enigma's grip lest he collapse onto the seat.

Finally releasing him, Jiang Zhiyu reclined the backseat, laid out a coat as padding, then settled the dazed, trembling grape—damp with sweat—onto it.

The omega lay unconscious, eyes shut. Bracing himself above, Jiang Zhiyu gazed down, dark eyes simmering.

Logically, he shouldn't continue. His pheromones teetered on the edge of control, and the omega had already passed out from overstimulation.

Yet, desire overruled reason.

Leaning down, he kissed him again, this time with deliberate gentleness.

***

Ling Ran's consciousness swam hazily. The enigma's pheromones were too thick, too much—his last memory was blacking out.

The car engine rumbled back to life, letting in crisp sea air that gradually dispersed the lingering heat.

He felt adrift on a swaying boat, the world tilting dizzyingly until motion finally stilled.

He wanted to open his eyes and sit up, but his body refused. Instead, he was lifted, a firm hand under his thighs as the car door shut behind them.

They had already returned to his residence.

Jiang Zhiyu moved with practiced ease, carrying him into the building and taking the elevator upstairs.

Once they reached the door, the person in his arms finally spoke in a soft, muffled voice against his shoulder, "I want... to get down..."

Jiang Zhiyu asked quietly, "Can you walk?"

Ling Ran nodded slowly and was gently set down.

But he hadn't expected his body to feel so weak—his legs trembled as he barely managed to steady himself against the doorframe.

Jiang Zhiyu reached out to hold him again, but Ling Ran stopped him, "I can do it myself, really. I'm not lying."

Even if he couldn't walk properly, he absolutely couldn't let Mr. Jiang carry him inside—Chengyue was definitely still home.

No sooner had he spoken than the door suddenly swung open from the inside.

Ling Ran quickly put on a bright smile, "Chengyue, Mr. Jiang brought me back..."

But the moment he saw who was standing inside, his smile froze for a brief second.

Qin Shixing's gaze swept over the two of them, suspicion and scrutiny burning in his eyes. He hadn't forgotten what he had witnessed that night downstairs—the shock and intimidation had kept him from contacting Ling Ran all this time.

But now, the Omega leaning against the doorframe, his face flushed like spring water, was breathtakingly beautiful. The damp redness at the corners of his eyes unconsciously exuded a seductive allure, as if ripened by force, not to mention those plump, rosy lips—slightly swollen.

Qin Shixing's arm, hidden behind the door, clenched tightly, veins bulging as he struggled to maintain his composure, resisting the urge to slam the door shut.

Jiang Zhiyu remained expressionless, standing silently behind Ling Ran, his overwhelming and icy aura enveloping the small Omega like an impenetrable shield. Every inch of him bore the mark of his possession—anyone who dared covet even a fraction of him would be courting death.

Two pairs of eyes locked in a silent standoff, neither willing to yield an inch.

Qin Shixing could sense that the other man's pheromone level far surpassed his own, but he refused to back down.

It was because he had yielded too much before that his relationship with Ling Ran had never progressed further.

If only he had mustered the courage to pursue Ling Ran earlier—perhaps he would have been the one engaged to him now.

Caught between them, the Omega was oblivious to the tension, only sensing that the usually gentle Shixing gege had suddenly become aggressive—terrifying, even—making him want to take a step back, preferably into the enigma's embrace, where he could be tightly shielded.

From inside, Qin Chengyue's cheerful voice suddenly rang out, "Brother! Is that Xiao Ran? Can we eat now?!"

When no one answered, Qin Chengyue ran over to check, "What are you all standing around for? Xiao Ran, why are you back so late? And why aren't you coming in?"

As he spoke, he reached out to pull Ling Ran inside, only to look up and see the tall, cold-faced man standing behind him.

Qin Chengyue's expression stiffened for a second before he quickly switched to an ingratiating smile, "Mr. Jiang! What brings you here?"

Ling Ran's cheeks flushed slightly as he whispered, "Mr. Jiang... gave me a ride home…"

Qin Chengyue immediately understood and hurriedly said, "Ah, then we really must thank Mr. Jiang for the trouble. Xiao Ran is safely home now, so you don't have to worry."

Ling Ran was pulled inside by Qin Chengyue, but an inexplicable sense of loss suddenly welled up in his chest.

He turned back to look at Jiang Zhiyu, who remained standing in place, watching him as well.

The lights in the hallway suddenly went out, and his dark silhouette loomed like a tall, silent mountain.

Ling Ran withdrew his hand from Qin Chengyue's arm and returned to the doorway. His eyes sparkled, bright as spring water.

"President Jiang," he suddenly asked, "would you like to stay for dinner?"

Qin Chengyue froze for a moment before silently applauding Ling Ran in his heart.

Ling Ran really knew how to handle people—he had completely forgotten about this courtesy.

It was only proper to extend a polite invitation to a superior, though of course, someone of Jiang Zhiyu's status would never deign to stay for a meal in such a modest place.

"Yeah, President Jiang, why don't you join us? It's so late—you haven't had dinner yet, have you?"

Qin Chengyue smiled, oblivious to the icy glare his own brother shot his way.

When no answer came from the doorway, Ling Ran hesitated, then took a step forward, standing right in front of Jiang Zhiyu. He tilted his head up to meet his gaze, his tone earnest and sincere.

"President Jiang, I'd like to invite you to stay for dinner. Would you be willing?"

The overhead lights flickered back on, casting a golden glow that shimmered around them.

The enigma's features were too striking—chiseled like a flawless statue, his deep-set eyes shadowed, unreadable.

But Ling Ran thought he heard him exhale a soft, almost imperceptible laugh.

"Alright."

Qin Chengyue had never felt more awkward during a meal in his life. It was so uncomfortable that he barely touched the dishes Song Yi had prepared, his gaze flitting between Ling Ran's face, Jiang Zhiyu's imposing figure, and his brother's unreadable expression.

The atmosphere was downright eerie.

The dining table wasn't large to begin with. Ling Ran sat on Jiang Zhiyu's side, while Qin Shixing occupied the seat across from them.

The omega ate quietly, taking small, delicate bites, his long lashes lowered demurely. Only his cheeks puffed out occasionally as he chewed before settling back into soft curves.

Ling Ran didn't dare look up. He could feel two pairs of eyes—one beside him, one above—alternately resting on him.

He didn't dare show any sign of discomfort, even though swallowing was difficult. His entire tongue still ached from being kissed so thoroughly, tender and sore. As he chewed, he fought back the urge to cry—that would have been far too humiliating.

Fainting from a kiss was already embarrassing enough.

The food on Ling Ran's plate never seemed to diminish. Every time Qin Shixing added a portion for him, Jiang Zhiyu would pile on three more. Then Qin Chengyue would stretch his arm over to contribute as well.

Ling Ran took a bite of this, a bite of that, until he was nearly stuffed—yet his plate remained just as full, if not fuller.

"That's enough," Ling Ran said, nearly tearful. "I'm full."

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at his slender waist. No wonder he felt even lighter when he held him—eating like a little bird, his mouth so small it filled up after just a few bites.

If a kiss could make him faint, how long would it take to prepare him for an enigma's mating mark?

"Have a few more bites," Jiang Zhiyu said. "Finish what's left on your plate."

Ling Ran turned to him with a pleading look.":<"

Jiang Zhiyu remained unmoved. "Take your time."

Ling Ran sighed. ":< Fine..."

He slowed his pace of eating but no longer resisted, chewing each bite thoroughly before swallowing carefully.

Qin Shixing remained silent, watching the scene quietly before getting up to pour a glass of water and placing it in front of Ling Ran.

Ling Ran looked up gratefully, to which Qin Shixing responded with a gentle smile, "Have some water. You're too thin—you should eat more."

Ling Ran nodded. "Thank you."

Qin Chengyue pushed his own cup forward. "Brother, I want water too."

Without even looking up, Qin Shixing replied, "Get it yourself."

Qin Chengyue: "..."

Fine.

The meal finally came to an end, with Ling Ran being the last to put down his chopsticks. Only Jiang Zhiyu remained at the table with him—Qin Chengyue had long since finished eating and escaped to the living room to watch TV, while Qin Shixing had gone to his study to take a work call.

Ling Ran didn't waste any food, cleaning his plate completely before lifting it up to show Jiang Zhiyu, as if to prove he had eaten everything. Jiang Zhiyu reached out and ruffled his hair, rewarding him like a well-behaved kitten or puppy.

Ling Ran closed his eyes slightly, enjoying the comforting touch.

An enigma's hands always seemed to carry an irresistible magic. Every time Jiang Zhiyu touched him, Ling Ran found himself reluctant to let go—as if he wanted to be stroked, held tight, possessed, and filled by those hands...

"Mmm..."

Ling Ran let out an unconscious sound before immediately covering his mouth in embarrassment upon realizing what he had done. Jiang Zhiyu chuckled and withdrew his hand.

Flushing crimson, Ling Ran quickly stood up, hands still over his mouth, and stammered, "I need to use the restroom."

He hurried off, checking himself in the bathroom mirror only to find his face burning red.

But his lips were even redder—not just flushed, but swollen and tingling, his tongue sore... Oh no. It was too obvious. Had Chengyue and Shixing noticed anything strange just now?

Images of being held on someone's lap, kissed with a hand pressing against his waist, flashed through his mind, making his entire body feel like it was on fire.

He pulled out his grape-flavored lip balm and slathered a thick layer over his lips.

He had no idea where he had found the courage to take such initiative with Mr. Jiang earlier.

Maybe he had been out of his mind.

After splashing cold water on his face for a while, he finally felt the heat in his cheeks subside. Only then did he step out of the bathroom.

As soon as he entered the living room, Ling Ran noticed Jiang Zhiyu was no longer at the dining table.

He froze momentarily, quickly scanning the room but finding no trace of him.

Pursing his lips, he couldn't suppress the wave of disappointment. Had Mr. Jiang already left...?

Qin Chengyue coughed twice and pointed toward the balcony.

Looking over, Ling Ran spotted a tall, imposing figure leaning against the railing, casually taking in the riverside night view. Song Yi stood beside him, the two engaged in conversation.

Ling Ran's expression immediately brightened—he hadn't left after all.

Qin Chengyue observed the rapid shift in his emotions, from disappointment to joy, all too transparent...

"Xiao Ran, come here," Qin Chengyue said seriously.

Ling Ran approached. "What's up?"

"What were you doing all afternoon?" Qin Chengyue asked. "The ceremony ended ages ago. I told you to message me when you got home, but not only did you ignore my texts, you came back even later than I did."

Ling Ran stammered, struggling to explain. "I... I wasn't doing anything... just stayed out."

"Obviously you were out. Were you with President Jiang the whole time?" Qin Chengyue eyed his lips. "Don't tell me you spent the whole afternoon kissing..."

Ling Ran's eyes widened in shock, his words stumbling. "N-no, I... you..."

Qin Chengyue pointed at his mouth. "And don't say it's allergies. Was last time allergies too? I don't buy it."

Ling Ran: "..."

Right... he should've just said it was allergies...

Qin Chengyue sighed. "Honestly, I don't mind. As long as you're happy, I'll support whoever you're with. It's just my brother... Ah, forget it. It's his own fault for missing his chance."

Ling Ran blinked in confusion. "What about Shixing? Did he miss something?"

Qin Chengyue exhaled heavily. "Big time."

But he had no intention of guilting Ling Ran over it. His earlier words were sincere—he genuinely wanted Ling Ran to be happy.

Sure, President Jiang seemed stern, intimidating, with a gaze that could freeze people on the spot. He didn't exactly radiate approachability, more like the type to randomly terrify any Omega within a ten-mile radius...

But he seemed decent enough to Ling Ran.

Qin Chengyue probed, "So... how far have things gone with President Jiang? Care to share?"

Ling Ran thought for a moment. "Well... he said he can help cure my condition, so I won't need medication anymore. And I'll assist him during his rut."

Qin Chengyue: "Huh? Wait, how exactly would you help?"

Ling Ran fidgeted with his fingers, too embarrassed to elaborate. "There are... several ways..."

"Xiao Ran, you're braver than I thought," Qin Chengyue said, genuinely impressed. "President Jiang's so fierce—you're the only one who'd dare get close to him."

Ling Ran glanced toward the balcony, tilting his head. "Actually... he's not that bad..."

Qin Chengyue silently pointed at his lips again.

Ling Ran: "...Except for that part."

When they kissed, Jiang Zhiyu was downright ferocious, as if he wanted to devour Ling Ran whole. His tears, his trembling—it only excited the enigma further.

But during normal interactions, he'd gently stroke Ling Ran's hair, hold him, soothe his back, praise him when he did well, reward him…

***

Song Yi was giving Jiang Zhiyu a detailed report on Ling Ran's daily meals and routine, leaving nothing out.

"He usually wakes up at 7:30 in the morning and eats very little for breakfast. He likes the seafood porridge I make, but even then, he only has a small bowl at most, along with a fried egg or two small slices of lean sausage—and that's only when he has an appetite. If he's busy, he might skip breakfast entirely and leave right after waking up at seven."

"For lunch, I prepare two meals for Mr. Ling and Mr. Qin in insulated lunchboxes to take to the office. On rare occasions, they might eat out or order takeout instead..."

Jiang Zhiyu interrupted him, "How much does he eat for lunch?"

Song Yi thought for a moment. "Both meals are the same portion—a bowl of rice and four side dishes. I usually balance the nutrition, adding steak, fish, or shrimp. Sometimes I'll make braised ribs or chicken soup and pack an extra serving of nourishing broth. Mr. Qin always finishes his meal, and he's even complained a few times that I didn't give him enough. But Mr. Ling always leaves some behind. On good days, it's just a little, but when his appetite is poor, he barely touches half of it."

Jiang Zhiyu asked, "Has that been happening often?"

Song Yi nodded. "A lot lately. Mr. Ling has clearly lost some weight."

It was the side effects of the medication, suppressing his appetite.

Jiang Zhiyu studied Song Yi. "You know about the medication?"

Song Yi quickly explained, "No, no! I only just found out. Otherwise, I would've reported it to you immediately."

Jiang Zhiyu didn't press further. If Ling Ran had deliberately kept it hidden, it made sense that Song Yi hadn't noticed.

After giving Song Yi a few more instructions—mostly about taking good care of Ling Ran—the two stepped back inside from the balcony.

In the living room, the two Omegas were whispering to each other, their conversation too quiet to make out.

When they noticed Jiang Zhiyu, they immediately stood up.

Qin Chengyue asked, "President Jiang, is there anything else you need?"

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze settled on Ling Ran. "It's getting late."

Isn't it time for that damn Alpha in the study to get lost?

Ling Ran asked, "Are you heading back?"

Jiang Zhiyu's expression darkened, but he didn't answer.

Qin Chengyue, ever the eager sycophant, chimed in, "President Jiang, do you have other matters to attend to? Why don't you let Xiao Ran walk you downstairs? It's late—please drive carefully on your way back."

Ling Ran nodded and walked over to the Enigma. "I'll see you out."

Jiang Zhiyu's expression was visibly stormy, but Ling Ran had already moved to the door, slipped on his shoes, and was holding it open, waiting.

Jiang Zhiyu strode out, Ling Ran following behind as they closed the door and descended the stairs.

The Rolls-Royce was parked downstairs. Jiang Zhiyu paused beside the car and glanced back at the thirty-something-story apartment building.

The location isn't bad, but the developer lacked foresight. The units don't command high prices. They should've combined floors into spacious penthouses—better planning could've elevated the whole complex. More space would've made living here far more comfortable.

Noticing him looking up, Ling Ran followed his gaze. The scattered lights from the windows didn't seem particularly noteworthy to him. When Ling Ran turned back, he realized Jiang Zhiyu's attention had shifted to him.

"Mr. Jiang," Ling Ran said with a soft smile, "drive safely on your way back."

Omega's face was soft, his eyes sparkling like starlight, radiating an adorable gentleness and obedience.

Jiang Zhiyu suddenly cupped the back of his head and pressed down, capturing his lips.

Ling Ran barely had time to push weakly against his chest before his already swollen lower lip was bitten hard. Tears welled up in his eyes as he whimpered, "I put medicine on it..."

Besides, hadn't they already comforted each other in the car earlier? Why did he want to kiss again now...

Jiang Zhiyu's tongue caught a hint of the sweet, grape-flavored ointment, the cool, slippery taste sliding down his throat.

Abruptly, he opened the backseat door, wrapping an arm around the slender waist of the little Omega. With a slight exertion of force, he pushed him down onto the seat.

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