TPLTMOE – Chapter 52

Having another person in bed was overwhelmingly noticeable.

The plush velvet mattress dipped under their weight, and Ling Ran kept his breathing light, occupying only the very edge of the bed.

Nearly half a meter separated them, maintaining a restrained distance—as if they hadn't been curled up together on a narrow single bed just the night before.

Ling Ran thought to himself that while he had invited Jiang Zhiyu to stay, he hadn't specified they had to share the same bed. There were several guest rooms available, but now that the man was already lying beside him, he couldn't bring himself to ask him to leave.

Besides, he could sense the enigma's mood wasn't great.

The scent of agave pheromones in the air wasn't strong, and the man beside him seemed to have fallen asleep. The room was pitch black, so quiet that Ling Ran could almost hear his own frantic heartbeat.

Slowly and carefully, he released the fragrance of rose-scented grapes, ensuring the enigma could detect it.

But before long, a dull ache began spreading from the back of his neck, as if last night's relentless demands had already drained him. Overexertion only left an Omega exhausted and overwhelmed.

Ling Ran quietly massaged his neck, turning his head in the darkness to glance at the silent enigma beside him.

Had he really fallen asleep?

Did that mean he could rest for a while...?

In the softest whisper, he asked, "Mr. Jiang... are you asleep?"

He was certain his voice was too quiet to wake anyone.

The shadowy figure remained still, seemingly deep in slumber.

Ling Ran wanted to confirm once more and murmured again, "Mr. Jiang..."

Suddenly, the heavy, oppressive scent of agave exploded in the air—like a bomb detonating in a long-sealed wine cellar. In an instant, the overwhelming assault enveloped the little Omega completely, dense and suffocating, as if countless invisible tendrils slithered across his skin, invading every inch.

"Nnh..." Ling Ran whimpered, unable to withstand the intensity.

A pair of hands abruptly seized him, dragging him from the edge of the bed straight into a crushing embrace. Solid, coiled muscles locked his slender frame in place, as if the man had reached the limits of his restraint. A scorching kiss descended upon him, urgent and relentless.

Under the overwhelming force, Ling Ran was like a boneless cat—his waist pressed relentlessly deeper while his upper body was kissed into retreating, his entire body bent into an impossibly supple arc.

Under the dual pressure of pheromones and the deep kiss, his body began to tremble faintly.

Jiang Zhiyu savored his lips and tongue for a while, but the intoxicatingly rich fragrance was far too alluring—what little he could taste in his mouth was nowhere near enough.

A hand cupped the Omega's flushed, dampened face as Jiang Zhiyu loosened his grip slightly.

Ling Ran seized the brief respite, finally able to gasp for fresh air with his mouth wide open.

But before he could fully recover, he was suddenly kneaded like dough, then flipped over and pressed deep into the mattress.

The thin blanket slid to the floor, unnoticed.

Even in the dim light, the Omega's exposed limbs were unmistakable—slender, pale, and fragile, as if they could snap at any moment.

The hem of his clothes had ridden up during the struggle, revealing a tantalizing sliver of delicate, milky skin.

A large palm, radiating heat higher than body temperature, covered it completely.

Then it slid lower, tracing the curve of his waist—

Ling Ran shuddered violently, clamping his thighs together as he desperately grabbed Enigma's wrist with a weak, tearful whimper. "N-no, don't..."

Jiang Zhiyu leaned in, inhaling deeply.

The rich scent of grapes flooded his senses—far more concentrated than the pheromones lingering in his mouth.

For an Enigma in rut, it was an irresistible temptation.

The veins on Jiang Zhiyu's arms bulged dangerously, as if on the verge of bursting.

His voice was rough with restraint. "Open your legs."

Ling Ran's eyes were red-rimmed, glistening with unshed tears.

He bit his lower lip hard and shook his head vehemently, but realizing the Enigma probably couldn't see in the dark, he quickly added in a trembling voice, "N-no, you can't..."

He wasn't ready—hadn't they agreed there would be no permanent marking?

How could he go back on his word...

Jiang Zhiyu took in his expression—the poorly concealed distress and resentment—and his gaze darkened abruptly.

Wasn't it Ling Ran who had asked him to stay? Wasn't it Ling Ran who had provoked him first?

He had intended to endure the rut with just a trace of his pheromones, but now he was pushed to the brink.

Ling Ran sniffled, hastily explaining, "I—I got hurt today, my legs are in so much pain, I can't move…"

He wasn't lying—it really did hurt.

Jiang Zhiyu understood. "Bruised?"

Ling Ran whispered, "M-maybe…"

A large hand covered him again. "Let me check."

Ling Ran hadn't expected that admitting his injury would only make things worse—now there was no way to avoid being examined.

The man leaned in closer, his tall nose nearly brushing against him, as if genuinely intent on inspecting the wound.

He wanted to take a thorough look at that sweet, tender, damp marsh—to see if any grapes had been crushed inside.

"No blood," Jiang Zhiyu said.

When that breath began drifting in the wrong direction, Ling Ran's heart nearly stopped. He struggled to break free, desperately scooting toward the headboard.

Jiang Zhiyu effortlessly pinned him in place, his low voice carrying an eerie, almost sinister tone.

"Didn't you promise to help me?" he murmured, leaning closer. "Trying to back out now?"

Tears welled in Ling Ran's eyes. "N-no, I'm not..."

He hadn't meant to go back on his word—he just hadn't expected this kind of help.

Jiang Zhiyu kissed the corner of his eye. "Don't be afraid, baby."

He wouldn't go inside. He was just thirsty.

Because of that one promise, the Omega was trapped within a feverish, suffocating web.

Ling Ran clenched his teeth, a sharp breath caught in his lungs, unable to escape. The overwhelming stimulation made his vision blur in

waves.

Grapes were squeezed into juice, and the parched man treated it like divine nectar, holding it reverently in his mouth as if it were heavenly dew.

Ling Ran's consciousness had already dissolved into chaos, so he didn't see the Enigma suddenly straighten up and pull out a suppressor from the nearby drawer.

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze darkened as he looked at the man on the bed. With the last shreds of his restraint, he pushed the plunger and slowly, firmly injected it into his own arm.

The suppressant was necessary. He wasn't sure how long this rut would last—he'd already been injecting himself for five days, yet the waves of heat only grew more violent and frequent.

Tonight, he had deliberately injected himself in front of Ling Ran. He wanted to force him to take the initiative, to make him speak, to step closer.

Once the injection was done, Jiang Zhiyu exhaled deeply before pulling the little Omega back into his arms.

He whispered in his ear, "When will you stop running from me?"

In front of others, Ling Ran always pretended not to know him, as if their relationship was something shameful.

Ling Ran's eyes were still wet when his face was cupped and turned toward the man.

"Baby, answer me."

But the little Omega's gaze was dazed, his long lashes fluttering weakly. His soft hair was slightly damp with sweat, clinging to his pale cheeks.

He was utterly exhausted, as if he'd been treated like a spring.

Jiang Zhiyu could still taste the sweet, overwhelming flood on his tongue. He lowered his head and kissed Ling Ran's cheek. "Sleep."

Next time, he wouldn't let him off so easily.

***

When Ling Ran opened his eyes again, the clock on the wall glaringly displayed 3:00 PM.

His head was foggy, his mouth and tongue sore and numb. Worst of all, his legs felt weak and unsteady, as if he'd spent the night doing splits.

He rubbed his hair and forced himself to sit up. The room was empty—he was alone.

A glass of water sat on the bedside table. He was parched—last night, all his moisture had gone to quenching someone else's thirst.

Only after downing the entire glass did Ling Ran's mind finally clear. His eyes widened in sudden realization, and he stumbled out of the bedroom.

"Song Yi!" he croaked. "I'm late for work!"

Song Yi was busy in the kitchen when he heard the call and hurried out. Seeing the little Omega pacing anxiously in the living room, he reassured him, "Mr. Ling, Director Jiang has approved two days off for you. You can rest well at home."

Ling Ran finally stopped in his tracks, his cheeks flushing crimson as if he'd suddenly remembered something.

"Oh... okay."

Song Yi smiled warmly. "Besides, it's already afternoon now. Even if you were going to work, it wouldn't be a matter of being late—it'd be a matter of skipping work entirely."

Ling Ran stammered, "I—I was just too tired from riding horses yesterday... Really, don't get the wrong idea..."

Song Yi nodded understandingly. "Horseback riding can be exhausting. Taking two days to rest at home is perfectly normal. There's nothing strange about it, don't worry, Mr. Ling."

The more Song Yi spoke like this, the redder Ling Ran's face became. In the end, he looked like a boiled shrimp, scurrying back to the master bedroom with his legs slightly apart.

Before long, Song Yi brought in some ointment for Ling Ran, saying it was on Director Jiang's orders.

After applying the ointment himself, Ling Ran had no choice but to put on a pair of loose pants.

As expected, Qin Chengyue had bombarded him with a flurry of messages—though all sent in the morning.

Given how long Ling Ran had gone without replying, Qin Chengyue had probably already assumed the worst.

The moment Ling Ran sent back a pitiful kitten emoji, Qin Chengyue immediately called.

"Hey, Chengyue..."

"This is just too much!"

Ling Ran lowered his voice. "I'm sorry, Chengyue, I didn't tell you in advance about taking leave. Is everything okay at the company? What about Yang Jia and Xiaofeng?"

Xiaofeng was the buzz-cut Alpha cameraman who had been working under him. Now that Ling Ran was a team leader, he had to take responsibility for his group.

Qin Chengyue repeated, "It's just too much!!"

Ling Ran felt guilty. "I know the pressure from the pitch meeting is high, but I've already drafted the script for the next episode. I'll send it to you in a bit, okay..."

Qin Chengyue continued ranting, "How can someone like him even exist?! It's not like I walked into the wrong place on purpose! He even bit my neck—what more does he want?!"

Ling Ran was confused. "Chengyue, who are you even talking about?"

It didn't sound like she was scolding him—more like someone he didn't know.

Qin Chengyue couldn't contain his anger. "No one, just some rabid dog who likes biting people."

Ling Ran asked cautiously, "Do I know him?"

Qin Chengyue seemed to hesitate for a moment. "Forget it, let's not talk about this annoying stuff—it just makes me mad. How are you? When can you come back to work?"

"Probably... the day after tomorrow."

Ling Ran shifted uncomfortably, the memory of being forcibly spread open last night still vivid in his mind.

The help he thought he was giving to the Enigma seemed increasingly disproportionate to what he was actually receiving.

And they hadn't even done much yet—he already felt like he was falling apart.

What was he going to do in the future?

Ling Ran was frustrated. Why couldn't he have been a stronger Alpha, or at least a more resilient Beta?

But no, he had to be the most delicate and pampered Omega.

"The day after tomorrow?" Qin Chengyue calculated the timing. "That might be cutting it close. The boss gave our team some inside info today—have you heard of 'Palm Jewel'? That famous high-end entertainment club in Haishi."

"I've heard of it," Ling Ran said. "Last time, there were rumors that they were training some Omegas to provide improper services for the upper class. But despite several public reports and police raids, no issues were ever uncovered."

Qin Chengyue nodded. "Right. The owner probably has connections higher up, so someone always vouches for them. This time, the boss hinted that we can investigate—but we need to be strategic. Ideally, we take down Palm Jewel in one go. Otherwise, we might be advised to never touch this topic again."

Hearing this, Ling Ran's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Does that mean our program can air this story?"

Qin Chengyue could barely contain his own enthusiasm. "Yes!"

"Fantastic!" Ling Ran was already on his feet. "Maybe I should head back to the office now. If we're really doing this, there's so much preparation needed."

Qin Chengyue tried to stop him. "Aren't you feeling unwell? Just rest at home today. Tomorrow would be fine too—half a day won't make a difference."

"I'm fine," Ling Ran insisted. "I'm going now. We'll discuss the details when I get there."

Qin Chengyue knew it was pointless to argue. While Ling Ran was usually easygoing in other matters, once he set his mind on work, nothing could pull him back—not even eight horses.

When news about Palm Jewel first broke, Ling Ran and Qin Chengyue had already considered pursuing the story. But back then, Jiang Zhou was still under Jiang Shengyi's control, and the proposal was rejected by Ning Xinqiao as soon as it reached him, knowing the higher-ups would never approve.

Now, things were different. With powerful backing, Jiang Zhou was unstoppable—even Ning Xinqiao had grown bolder, personally assigning Ling Ran to lead a team on this investigation.

Overcome with excitement, Ling Ran didn't even finish his meal. After hastily telling Song Yi there was an emergency at work, he drove straight to the office.

By the time he arrived, Qin Chengyue had already gathered Yang Jia and Xiao Feng in the small conference room. The three had compiled and printed every scrap of news about Palm Jewel over the years, pinning each piece to a blackboard for systematic analysis.

Qin Chengyue had never been so motivated before. Now that Ling Ran was their team leader—the fastest-promoted and youngest news department team leader in the company—he noticed the skepticism surrounding Ling Ran and it weighed heavily on him.

After the incident at the equestrian club with Jiang Shengyi and Jiang Ronglian, although Ling Ran appeared to be the victim of harassment, it inevitably fueled rumors that he had entered the company through connections with Jiang Shengyi and skyrocketed up the ranks unfairly.

Qin Chengyue had known Ling Ran's capabilities since their school days—he was no less competent than the seasoned employees. This wasn't just about proving themselves; it was about shutting up those who looked down on Ling Ran. Their team of four had to nail this news story and slap those doubters right in the face.

Ling Ran didn't act like some high-and-mighty boss. He discussed everything with the team.

First, they analyzed the rise of "Pearl of the Palm," whose backing came from the Dong family, which had only begun making waves in Haishi over the past two years.

The head of the Dong family, Dong Hui, had built his empire from scratch. Pearl of the Palm was his first major success in Haishi, but his business soon expanded, opening chain clubs in other cities and investing in various enterprises.

This year, Dong Hui had shifted his focus to politics, cozying up to several Haishi power players. Through elections, he became the chairman of a certain business association in the city. Though not an official government position, the title sounded impressive enough to mark him as an insider.

Qin Chengyue stood in front of the small blackboard. "That's the gist of it. The tricky part is we can't just waltz into Pearl of the Palm with cameras. If they spot us, they'd probably beat us to a pulp. I heard their security guys are trained fighters—real vicious."

Their team consisted of four members: one alpha and three omegas.

They wouldn't stand a chance in a fight.

Yang Jia suggested, "Then don't let them see the cameras."

Xiao Feng pointed at himself. "So the three of you go in while I wait outside? No way. I have to go in to protect you guys. Who knows what could happen in there?"

Ling Ran pondered for a moment. "We're just going in as customers. It'll be fine."

Qin Chengyue immediately objected. "No, no. You're on the news every week—someone might recognize you. Absolutely not. Maybe Yang Jia and I can go in."

Xiao Feng shook his head. "You two won't pass either. You're obviously omegas. Who'd believe you're there for fun? More like you'd become the fun."

Yang Jia punched him, and Qin Chengyue rolled his eyes.

Ling Ran's thighs still ached slightly. He swung his legs under the table, then suddenly grinned, eyes crinkling.

"I've got a brilliant idea."

***

Their heated discussion at the office lasted until nearly 11 p.m., yet none of the four felt tired. They were buzzing with excitement, itching to storm into Pearl of the Palm that very night.

But Ling Ran insisted on thorough preparations first. They agreed to meet at the office the next evening before heading out together.

After the discussion ended, Ling Ran left the company feeling utterly exhausted. Driving back to Yutang Mansion, he glanced at his phone downstairs and noticed a missed call.

8:00 PM—from Mr. Jiang.

Ling Ran: "!"

Damn it, how could he have forgotten the most important thing?

Ignoring the lingering soreness between his thighs, Ling Ran sprinted upstairs.

Pushing open the door, he found the living room pitch-black, the lights off.

He hadn't seen Jiang Zhiyu's car downstairs, so he assumed he wouldn't be coming tonight.

As he closed the door and bent down to change his shoes, an almost imperceptible footstep sounded beside him.

His back stiffened instantly. Before he could even lift his head, a pair of hands seized his waist and pinned him against the door behind him.

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