TPLTMOE – Chapter 57

A gust of wind blew from beneath the trees, carrying the stifling heat of midsummer.

Yet Ling Ran felt a chill creeping over his body, his limbs frozen as if encased in ice, his soul numb to the existence of his own flesh.

Seeing him stand motionless, Ling Su felt a surge of malicious delight—mentioning Jiang Zhiyu had clearly struck a nerve.

He couldn't stand the sight of Ling Ran thriving so effortlessly after cutting ties with the family, living freely as if cradled in someone's palm, pampered and cherished.

Ever since Ling Ran became entangled with Jiang Zhiyu, misfortune had befallen the Ling family. The recent relentless blows to the Ling Corporation seemed deliberate, yet no evidence could be traced.

Ling Su's eyes burned with fury as he took a step toward that retreating figure.

Before he could move further, four black cars suddenly pulled up behind him, their ominous presence halting nearby.

Qin Chengyue, startled, grabbed Ling Ran's arm and pulled him back a couple of steps.

The door of the lead car swung open, and out stepped a tall, broad-shouldered S-rank alpha with long legs.

Recognizing the man, Qin Chengyue frowned and called out sharply, "Shang Ye!"

Shang Ye glanced at the two omegas and gave them a slight nod before striding straight toward Ling Su.

A dozen suited bodyguards poured out from the other cars, surrounding Ling Su in an instant.

Ling Ran turned back, but the crowd blocked his view. Though he couldn't see what was happening, a sudden, agonized scream pierced the air.

Qin Chengyue quickly covered his ears. "Xiao Ran, let's go upstairs first."

Ling Ran's eyes reddened slightly as he nodded, and the two disappeared into the building.

Only after they were gone did Shang Ye signal to the bodyguards.

Two men hauled up the crumpled figure on the ground, forcing him to his knees. His already broken arm, encased in a cast, had been wrenched apart again, and a gag stifled his cries.

This upscale neighborhood wasn't the place for such business. Shang Ye looked down at him, studying him for a moment before chuckling wryly.

This was the man who had slipped through Zhao Qin's grasp? Jiang Zhiyu had spared him only because he was Ling Ran's brother.

This mercy was unlike Jiang Zhiyu's usual ruthlessness—merely breaking an arm and letting him slink away like a rabid dog, only to return and lash out at Qin Chengyue's doorstep.

What had started as a favor for a friend had now escalated, all because Qin Chengyue was involved.

"Wondering why the Jiang Corporation hasn't sued you yet?"

Blood trickled from Ling Su's lips, his eyes pleading. Sweat dripped from his temples, stinging his vision.

Shang Ye continued, "You shouldn't have shown your face in front of Ling Ran again. Did you really think Jiang Zhiyu would let you off so easily? The sliver of mercy he left you—you've squandered it today with your stupidity. Be grateful it's me who came."

Confusion flickered in Ling Su's gaze. He still couldn't comprehend—if Jiang Zhiyu had taken a liking to Ling Ran, shouldn't he have treated the Ling family better?

And if he hadn't, why the relentless hostility, the utter lack of restraint?

Shang Ye pulled out a handkerchief and leisurely wiped his hands.

Others might not understand, but he wasn't surprised by Jiang Zhiyu's actions.

"Alright, take him away," Shang Ye tossed the handkerchief to the ground. "Make sure it's clean."

With that, several bodyguards quietly lifted the unconscious alpha from the floor and stuffed him into a car before driving off.

Shang Ye called Jiang Zhiyu, but Xu Guanyi picked up instead.

"Everything's been handled. No issues."

Xu Guanyi replied, "Good. I'll let Jiang know when he wakes up."

"How's his condition?"

Xu Guanyi glanced at the monitor readings. "Not great. His pheromone levels are still too high. We don't know what's going on this time—they just won't drop."

Shang Ye paused before asking, "Would marking help?"

Xu Guanyi answered, "Definitely. If he could've marked him earlier, we wouldn't be in this mess. His state is extremely unstable right now—one second he's lucid, the next his pheromones could suffocate someone. Without a muzzle, it'd be terrifying. Besides, Ling Ran is just an omega, and his constitution isn't strong. We can't take that risk."

Shang Ye pressed, "What if we find him another alpha or beta?"

Xu Guanyi: "..."

Might as well dig his own grave.

Shang Ye chuckled. "Just kidding. Let him tough it out. Isn't he good at that?"

After hanging up, Shang Ye turned and headed upstairs.

Ling Ran had already been safely brought home by Qin Chengyue, where the housekeeper had prepared dinner for their return.

But Ling Ran's face was pale, his lips colorless, his overall condition clearly poor.

Qin Chengyue poured him a glass of water, comforting him. "Ling Ran, it's okay now. Just pretend it never happened, alright? I promise you'll never see him again."

Qin Chengyue wasn't sure what he could guarantee, but he'd stake Shang Ye's head on it.

Ling Ran gave him a weak smile, even trying to reassure him in return. "I'm fine. You must've been scared too. I'm really sorry."

Qin Chengyue pinched his cheek. "Why are you talking to me like that? If you keep being so polite, I'll get mad."

Ling Ran nodded. "Okay, I won't say it again."

Qin Chengyue had heard every word Ling Suo said earlier. Though he knew nothing about the Jiang family's matchmaking banquet, he strongly disagreed with the claim that Jiang Zhiyu was just toying with Ling Ran.

"Ling Ran, I think Jiang Zhiyu treats you differently," Qin Chengyue said earnestly. "Did something happen? You can tell me. Don't overthink it alone. Maybe I can help you sort things out and make you feel better."

Ling Ran's eyes grew warm, his heartbeat erratic and unsteady. He took a few slow, deep breaths, feeling the glands at the back of his neck swell with heat. His emotions were slipping out of control.

Setting down the cup, he stood up, legs unsteady. "I think... I'm a little tired. I should go home now..."

Qin Shixing would be arriving soon, and Ling Ran didn't want to delay their dinner because of him. Besides, he wasn't feeling well—he couldn't risk an episode at Qin Chengyue's place.

Qin Chengyue grabbed his arm, refusing to let him leave. "You haven't eaten yet. At least have a few bites before you go. And my brother hasn't even arrived—I specifically asked him to bring Australian lobster and king crab. Don't you want to try some?"

Omega's previously pale face was now flushed red, and Ling Ran could feel the changes in his own body, his vision swimming before him. Qin Chengyue still held onto him tightly when the doorbell rang, and the housekeeper went to answer it.

Without even seeing who it was, Qin Chengyue called out, "Brother!"

But the person who stepped in was Shang Ye.

"What are you doing here?" Qin Chengyue frowned.

Shang Ye walked up to the two of them and gave a short laugh. "Not welcome?"

Qin Chengyue wasn't distracted by his tone. "How do you know which floor and apartment I live in? Have you been stalking me too?" Shang Ye: "..."

Was that really hard to find out?

He didn't answer, his gaze shifting to Ling Ran, who was being held by Qin Chengyue. The Omega's cheeks were flushed an unnatural red, his eyes glazed with moisture—clear signs of impending heat.

Stepping forward, Shang Ye pulled them apart, though his hand only gripped Qin Chengyue's wrist, forcing him to release Ling Ran. "Don't touch him."

A sharp pain shot through Qin Chengyue's wrist—this man clearly didn't know his own strength, gripping him with what felt like brutal force. He couldn't help but let out a muffled groan and immediately let go.

Angry and humiliated, he looked up at the tall alpha, only to find Shang Ye's eyes weren't on him at all—they were entirely fixed on Ling Ran.

Qin Chengyue froze, yanking his wrist back with all his might. "Let go of me!"

Shang Ye gave him a somewhat exasperated glance and loosened his grip slightly, though he still didn't release him.

"Can't you see he's going into heat?"

Qin Chengyue was stunned, immediately turning to look at Ling Ran. Only then did he notice the reddened cheeks, parted lips, and weak, breathless state—as if he could barely stand on his own.

Shang Ye stared at Qin Chengyue. "You're an Omega too. How can you not recognize such basic physiological reactions?"

Qin Chengyue felt a pang of guilt. His knowledge of physiology was as lacking as Ling Ran's had once been.

At least Ling Ran was a top student who had later been rigorously tutored by Jiang Zhiyu—now far surpassing him. Only Qin Chengyue's mind remained as innocent and unenlightened as ever.

"I—I noticed. I was going to take him back..."

Qin Chengyue used some strength to pull his wrist free, then awkwardly supported Ling Ran as he tried to head for the door. But within two steps, he tripped over Ling Ran's legs, nearly sending both of them tumbling to the ground.

Fortunately, Shang Ye swiftly stepped in from behind to steady him. Once Qin Chengyue regained his balance, Shang Ye ordered in a commanding tone, "Go get a blanket."

Confused but seeing the calm determination in Shang Ye's eyes, Qin Chengyue knew this wasn't the time to argue. He dashed into the room and returned with a large woolen blanket.

Shang Ye added, "Wrap him up."

"Okay."

Qin Chengyue bundled Ling Ran tightly in the blanket, leaving only his face exposed, then turned to Shang Ye with wide, expectant eyes. "Now what?"

Shang Ye said simply, "Now move aside."

Qin Chengyue stepped to the side, and Shang Ye helped the thoroughly wrapped Omega up, politely gripping his arm through the blanket to steady him.

"Can you walk on your own?" Shang Ye asked.

Ling Ran was barely breathing, his head dizzy and muddled, but he managed a slight nod.

"I'll take you back now."

The two headed for the door, with Qin Chengyue trailing eagerly behind, ready to follow them out.

Shang Ye glanced back at him and said, "Wait at home."

Qin Chengyue was about to protest when the door was abruptly shut in his face.

The two went downstairs, where Shang Ye had Ling Ran sit in the backseat before driving him back to Yutang Mansion.

Fortunately, the distance wasn't far—just around the corner.

After parking, Shang Ye helped him upstairs.

Yutang Mansion's security measures were significantly better than those at Longtanjing Apartments, ranking among the safest high-end residential complexes in Haishi. It was no surprise Ling Xu couldn't find his way here.

Song Yi opened the door and quickly ushered the two inside upon seeing them.

Shang Ye settled Ling Ran on the living room sofa and said to Song Yi, "Make sure he gets proper rest in bed later. Zhiyu's been quite busy recently, so I'll have to trouble you to take extra care of him."

Song Yi nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, President Shang. I'll look after Mr. Ling."

Shang Ye gave a nod and turned to leave, only to hear the figure on the sofa murmur softly, "Mr. Jiang..."

Shang Ye glanced back—the little Omega must have been so overwhelmed by his heat that he mistook him for Jiang Zhiyu.

Without another word, Shang Ye left.

Song Yi gently removed the blanket from Ling Ran, revealing clothes nearly soaked through with sweat—whether from the heat or the torment of his cycle was unclear.

Ling Ran's consciousness was hazy as his limp body collapsed onto the bed.

Not wanting to overstep, Song Yi asked softly, "Mr. Ling, should we remove the scent blockers and suppressors first?"

Ling Ran fumbled at his nape and thighs, removing the devices and placing them by the bedside.

Traces of agave pheromones lingered in the bedding. Ling Ran buried himself deep into that makeshift nest, yet it still wasn't enough.

It hurt—his body ached, his heart ached...

He wanted to cry...

Eyes tightly shut, his long lashes gradually dampened with tears that slid slowly down his cheeks onto the velvet blanket.

Song Yi hurried to the wardrobe, retrieving two more of Jiang Zhiyu's shirts and stuffing them directly into the bedding.

The enigma's pheromones grew potent again as the nest filled with clothing. The small Omega curled into himself, that necktie finding its way back between his lips.

The overpowering taste of alcohol flooded his mouth, mixing with saliva as he swallowed, soothing the unbearable tension throughout his body.

Having skipped dinner, the tiny figure soon fell asleep curled beneath the covers.

***

Though he'd managed several nights relying solely on the pheromones from the clothing—enough to cope with the heat symptoms caused by his disorder—Ling Ran carried a leaden weight in his chest that occasionally left him breathless and suffocated.

He didn't know what had kept Mr. Jiang so occupied lately—no visits, no calls, no video chats.

Ling Ran didn't reach out either, afraid of disrupting whatever important matters Mr. Jiang was handling.

Surely such consideration wouldn't earn him disdain.

Ling Ran threw himself into work with renewed vigor, as if deliberately using it to escape something.

His team of four had been immersed in preparations for the "Pearl of the Palm" feature. With all materials thoroughly gathered, they only lacked the opportunity to capture footage inside the club.

Finally, that chance arrived.

Qin Chengyue had been constantly asking his brother Qin Shixing to keep an eye on the Dong family's movements. He learned that Dong Hui was preparing to run for vice chairman of the National Chamber of Commerce again.

Before the election, Dong Hui would undoubtedly go all out to curry favor. The frequency of private banquets at his prized "Pearl of the Palm" club had noticeably increased. Through insider sources, Qin Chengyue also discovered that the club was secretly recruiting a large number of attractive, well-mannered female Omegas—though whether they were being hired as hostesses or escorts remained unclear. Ling Ran's initial idea was to infiltrate the club while they were replenishing their staff. Their team had several Omegas, but no women.

Unwilling to miss this opportunity, Ling Ran photoshopped a resume and submitted it. His striking looks and academic credentials quickly passed the initial screening. Gritting his teeth, he bought a dress and a wig online, then applied heavy makeup. After the transformation, he genuinely resembled a female Omega.

He planned to sneak into Pearl of the Palm alone to gather footage, but the other three team members—especially Qin Chengyue—strongly objected. They had no idea what was happening inside, and sending Ling Ran in alone was far too risky.

But Ling Ran was determined. They had already wasted too much time, and if they waited any longer, Dong Hui might secure his position as vice chairman, making it even harder to expose the truth. For the first time, he pulled rank as team leader, ordering the other three to stay outside and wait for him, forbidding them from barging in recklessly.

Xiao Feng attached a miniature camera to his chest. Their van was parked on a nearby street, allowing them to monitor the live feed from the camera on a laptop screen.

Qin Chengyue was deeply uneasy. "Your safety is the top priority," he told Ling Ran. "If you sense even the slightest danger, get out immediately. We'd rather scrap the footage than risk you. Or give us a signal through the camera—if we see it, we'll fight our way in to get you, no matter what."

Yang Jia nodded. "Tonight's situation is complicated. Dong Hui will probably send his most trusted men to handle the event. I checked the parking lot—there are a lot of cars, and none of those people are pushovers."

Xiao Feng was also extremely worried. "Please, please be careful. Maybe I should go instead—just give me the wig and dress—"

Before he could finish, Qin Chengyue and Yang Jia both smacked him.

Qin Chengyue scoffed, "Do you look like an Omega with that build?"

Yang Jia added, "If you can't say anything useful, just focus on your work."

Xiao Feng obediently turned back to the laptop screen.

Ling Ran adjusted the long, wavy black wig over his chest and tugged at the hem of his slightly short dress.

"Don't worry," he said with a confident smile. "Wait for my good news."

He winked at the three of them in the van, then turned and walked toward the club's entrance.

Wearing a pair of heels—only three or four centimeters high—he still walked with an awkward, stiff gait.

Finally reaching the side entrance, he showed his interview notice to the two intimidating bodyguards at the door.

The two bodyguards eyed him brazenly, scrutinizing him from head to toe several times. Their gazes lingered greedily on the pair of slender, milky-white legs before exchanging a knowing smirk. They then said to Ling Ran, "Go inside and turn left. Look for a blond-haired alpha—he'll take you where you need to go."

Ling Ran smiled sweetly, his voice ambiguously charming, "Thank you both~"

He stepped inside in his high heels, walking down a gilded corridor until he spotted a man with bleached blond hair standing outside a private room.

The blond-haired man was currently embracing a delicate Omega, the two of them making out shamelessly in the middle of the bustling hallway. There was no grace in the way they kissed—just raw, unrestrained lust.

Ling Ran paused, averting his gaze elsewhere while discreetly angling the hidden camera on his chest toward the blond's face.

Noticing someone standing nearby, the blond opened his eyes and froze momentarily.

Before him stood a soft, alluring female Omega—her face breathtakingly beautiful, the kind that effortlessly stirred desire. Yet, her demeanor carried an air of innocent purity. She wore a skirt that barely reached mid-thigh, revealing a pair of legs so pale and smooth they were almost dizzying to look at.

The Omega in the blond's arms, displeased by his distraction, whined and squirmed against him, only to be shoved roughly against the door.

"Get lost for now."

The Omega shot Ling Ran a glare filled with jealousy and resentment before scurrying away.

Wiping his mouth, the blond grinned and sauntered toward Ling Ran.

"New here?"

Ling Ran nodded obediently, handing over his resume. "I'm here for the interview."

"Ah, you're already hired," the blond said, pushing the resume aside and reaching out to grab his waist. "Now you've moved on to the third round of interviews—and I'm your interviewer."

Ling Ran subtly sidestepped his touch, maintaining a sweet smile as he fluttered his lashes. "Really? I passed just like that? When can I start working?"

The blond rubbed his hands together, his expression openly lecherous. "Right now, pretty thing. But aren't you even gonna ask about the salary or the job? Aren't you afraid this place might be shady?"

Ling Ran blinked in confusion, his red lips parting slightly. "Oh... is it?"

The blond could barely contain himself. In all his years recruiting for the club, he'd never seen someone so tender—like a fresh college graduate. That face looked like it could be pinched until it blushed, and those legs... just imagining how they'd feel wrapped around him was enough to drive him wild.

Sending such a delicacy straight to the VIP rooms to serve those old bastards would be a waste. He ought to enjoy her first.

"Of course not. This is a legitimate establishment. We're just hiring hostesses—entertaining guests, selling drinks, nothing more," the blond said, reaching for Ling Ran's hand again. "And I decide the pay. Why don't you come inside with me? We can... discuss the details properly."

Ling Ran could smell the foul stench clinging to him and nearly lost his composure. He took another step back, still trying to fish for more information. "This is my first job... I might not have any experience. What exactly does a hostess do? I'm not very smart... I'm afraid I won't learn fast enough..."

The blond guy saw the aggrieved look on his face and felt his heart twist in pain. "It's simple. You're so pretty, you don't even need to learn. Just sit there. If nothing else, have a drink with the customers. You might even earn more in tips than your salary. We pay per session, meaning the more clients you entertain, the bigger your cut. Don't worry, you won't be shortchanged."

Ling Ran recoiled sharply when the guy accidentally brushed his hand, his brows knitting tightly together as he backed into someone's

chest.

He quickly turned to apologize, only to see the blond guy's face pale in shock.

"Director Dong! Wh-what brings you here in person?"

President Dong, Dong Hui?!

Ling Ran's heart skipped a beat as he turned to look.

Standing behind him was a kind-faced alpha in a tailored suit, his appearance calm and refined, exuding an air of meticulous calculation and shrewdness that was skillfully concealed to avoid any sense of intimidation.

Dong Hui merely cast a silent glance at the blond-haired man before walking away without a word.

Following close behind was his most trusted subordinate, who strode up to the blond man and, without hesitation, delivered a vicious kick to his chest.

The blond man was knocked to the ground but scrambled up quickly to apologize.

The subordinate ordered coldly, "President Dong is personally hosting guests here tonight. Send over the best batch to serve them. If you lay hands on a newcomer again, I won't wait for President Dong's orders—I'll deal with you myself."

Clutching his chest, the blond man bowed repeatedly. "Understood, understood! I was wrong, I won't dare do it again, never again!"

Only after the subordinate left did Ling Ran finally avert his gaze.

Too afraid to touch him now, the blond man had to select a group to send to one of the private rooms. Short one person, he hastily ordered Ling Ran to change clothes and join them to make up the numbers.

Still confused, Ling Ran was shoved into the dressing room by a few female Omegas.

He had thought the dress he was wearing was already revealing enough, but the new one in his hands made his ears burn.

Thankfully, he was slender enough—otherwise, he might not have fit into it. Calling it a dress was generous; it was practically just two flimsy black fabric panels, tied together with thin straps at the neck and lower back, leaving most of his back completely bare.

The skirt was outrageously short, clinging tightly to the soft flesh of his thighs. The slightest misstep would risk exposing him, though fortunately, it came with built-in shorts.

But when Ling Ran finished putting it on, he froze in disbelief.

These shorts... why did they have an open crotch?!

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