TPLTMOE – Chapter 64

When Ling Ran arrived at the company, his face was still slightly flushed. He and Jiang Zhiyu had come separately again, with Zhao Qin practically becoming his personal chauffeur.

During the team discussion, Ling Ran looked utterly exhausted, yawning widely as he listened.

Qin Chengyue came over and rapped his knuckles against Ling Ran's head. "Team leader, do you really think this attitude is appropriate?"

Ling Ran rubbed his eyes. "Sorry, I've been listening the whole time."

"Did you not sleep well last night? Maybe you should go home and rest for a bit. We can continue later."

"No need," Ling Ran said. "I'm fine. About this part here—I think the wording could be adjusted a bit more..."

Just as he was speaking, his phone rang.

It was Zhao Qin calling to inform him that the Omega in the hospital had woken up.

Ling Ran's drowsiness vanished instantly. He slammed his hands on the table and stood up abruptly. "Got it. We'll head over right away."

Qin Chengyue drove Ling Ran and the other two to the hospital. Several bodyguards were stationed outside the ward but stepped aside to let them in upon their arrival.

At first, the Omega was extremely wary of them, shrinking back under the bed and refusing to say a word.

Ling Ran realized this wouldn't work—the Omega was too guarded to open up. He asked the other three to wait outside for a while.

"Do you remember me? I saw you at the club that day."

Ling Ran's gaze was gentle and kind as he extended a hand toward the bed, offering an innocent, harmless smile. "My name is Ling Ran. I'm a news anchor for Jiangzhou Spotlight. Here's my work ID."

"Will you give me a chance to help you?"

Ling Ran stayed in the ward for over two hours. When he finally emerged, his eyes were red and swollen.

His empathy ran deep, and he had cried alongside the young Omega as he recounted his ordeal.

But the truth was, this Omega wasn't the only one with such a tragic experience.

Back at the company, Ling Ran organized the details of their conversation and methodically assigned follow-up tasks.

"Xiao Feng and I will go back to the hospital tomorrow. Chengyue and Jiajia, stay here and keep revising the draft while compiling other materials. The Omega has agreed to an interview. We'll blur his face and alter his voice in the broadcast."

"That's amazing—he actually agreed! Including the victim's testimony will make our report far more credible. As long as we can steer public opinion, the bigger the scandal, the better. We need everyone to know so Dong Hui won't be able to silence it," Qin Chengyue said.

Yang Jia nodded. "Once you've finished the interview, I can edit the footage and submit it along with the other evidence we've gathered to the authorities."

Ling Ran hesitated, then cautioned, "Let's hold off on sending the evidence for now. After the report airs, we should gauge public reaction before deciding our next steps."

Qin Chengyue understood his concern. "Xiao Ran, are you worried that even if we submit the evidence, it won't make a difference?"

Since Dong Hui could win over both political and business circles and even have someone like Qian Lao safeguard his interests, his methods were certainly not simple. There had been news reports about his "treasured daughter" before, but they would always be taken down and censored across the internet shortly after. It was impossible to claim there wasn't any underhanded manipulation involved.

But even if Dong Hui had extensive influence, this time he was up against Jiang Zhou, which meant going up against the entire Jiang family—and Jiang Zhiyu.

Ling Ran had an indescribable trust in Jiang Zhiyu.

After some thought, he said, "Right now, we can't predict whether Dong Hui will make arrangements with various parties before the election. His guard will definitely be at its highest during this period, so it's best we don't alert him prematurely. Everything we do must remain confidential—even from other employees in the company. We'll report directly to the boss. Everything will be revealed when the program airs."

Qin Chengyue was surprised by his words and couldn't help but look at Ling Ran with renewed admiration. He had always known Ling Ran was exceptional, but after this short period of experience, Ling Ran was already starting to resemble those seasoned team leaders.

"Alright, we'll follow your lead," Qin Chengyue said with concern. "But you've been pushing yourself too hard these past few days. Tomorrow, Xiao Feng and I will handle the hospital interview. You should get some rest."

Ling Ran shook his head. "It's fine, I'll go."

He was worried that the trust he had just built with that Omega today might waver if someone else showed up tomorrow.

With the broadcast just two days away, they couldn't afford to take that risk.

They worked overtime until nearly 8 p.m., finalizing the interview outline for the next day's shoot before finally calling it a day.

The company building was still brightly lit, with many departments bustling with activity.

Ling Ran checked his phone and realized Jiang Zhiyu had sent him a message half an hour ago, asking him to come upstairs once he was done.

Qin Chengyue packed up and came over to ask Ling Ran to leave together—he wanted a ride home since his own car was at the dealership for maintenance.

To his surprise, Ling Ran hesitated, stammering that he wasn't heading home just yet.

Qin Chengyue: "?"

Qin Chengyue: "Don't tell me you're staying behind to keep working?"

Ling Ran simply handed him the Porsche key. "Chengyue, take my car. You go ahead first."

Qin Chengyue crossed his arms, eyeing him suspiciously. "Then how are you getting home later?"

Ling Ran fidgeted with his fingers, lowering his head sheepishly. "I, uh... still have to go upstairs for a bit..."

Qin Chengyue:"."

Damn these insufferable lovebirds.

He snatched the keys and stormed off without another word, deeply regretting ever playing matchmaker for them. Now, Ling Ran's free time was almost entirely monopolized by that shameless Enigma.

Apart from work, he hardly saw Ling Ran anymore. Ling Ran used to have only him as a close friend, sticking together whenever they had free time. But now that he was in a relationship, Qin Chengyue couldn't help feeling neglected.

Was this just because he was single? Fine, he'd find himself a partner too.

Only after Qin Chengyue left did Ling Ran take the elevator straight to the 101st floor.

The secretary wasn't surprised to see him arrive, picking up the cup of hot cocoa prepared in advance and leading him to the door of the CEO's office.

Pushing the door open, they saw the enigma standing by the massive floor-to-ceiling window, talking on the phone.

The secretary quietly placed the hot cocoa on the table in front of the sofa and then retreated.

Ling Ran didn't disturb him either, obediently making his way to the sofa and sitting down. He picked up the cup of hot cocoa and took a sip, the rich, sweet aroma filling his mouth.

Sweets really did lift one's mood—it felt like the exhaustion from the day's work had been swept away in an instant.

The Omega happily narrowed his eyes, cradling the cup in both hands as he took another big gulp.

How did Mr. Jiang know he liked hot cocoa? Last time, he'd prepared a cup for him, and now again.

Jiang Zhiyu, listening to the report on the phone, had already caught sight of the petite figure curled up on the sofa in the reflection of the window. Turning around, he indeed saw a little cat licking his lips contentedly.

The furrow between his brows eased as he strode over to the sofa, bending down to gently wipe the corner of Ling Ran's mouth with his fingers.

Ling Ran was forced to tilt his head back to look up at him, his moist eyes blinking lightly, his plump, damp lips not only exuding the fragrance of hot cocoa but also impossibly soft.

How could he be so docile? Even when fingers pressed into his mouth, he didn't resist, only holding them tenderly.

It felt like he was about to melt.

The person on the other end of the call waited for a while without hearing Jiang Zhiyu's response and asked again, "President Jiang, what should we do next?"

Jiang Zhiyu withdrew his hand, his tone calm and composed. "No need for hesitation. Proceed as planned."

The other end seemed stunned for a moment.

This wasn't a simple decision—it concerned the Second Branch, even the entire Jiang family's interests.

Aside from the influential First, Second, and Third Branches, the Jiang family's direct lineage also included the gradually declining Fourth and Fifth Branches, along with numerous collateral branches and distant relatives. The Jiang family genealogy alone could fill a book.

The First Branch's Old Master Jiang was the previous head of the family. Under his leadership, the Jiang family hadn't declined, but its growth was far from what it was now. The old man had placed great emphasis on family traditions and maintaining blood ties, lacking the boldness of his youth, which allowed the Second Branch to seize a significant portion of the First Branch's shares and assets.

The old man had fathered a son late in life, and only when he was on the verge of losing control of the Jiang family and its enterprises did he finally realize his regret. He then poured all his efforts into grooming his successor—Jiang Zhiyu.

Coincidentally, Jiang Zhiyu was an exceptionally rare enigma, so Old Master Jiang had been extremely strict with his upbringing from childhood, bordering on harsh, demanding that he excel in every way, stand head and shoulders above the rest—otherwise, punishment would follow.

And indeed, Jiang Zhiyu grew into the ideal successor—strategic, decisive, and ruthless. Compared to his father, he was nearly tyrannical. Not long after taking power, he had already established absolute authority within the Jiang family. Anyone who dared dissent would meet a fate worse than the last.

The old man had told him that he must seize complete control of the Jiang family's lifelines, but at the same time, he shouldn't enforce such tyranny among the group's upper echelons. It was best to adopt a conciliatory approach and avoid straining relationships.

The facts proved Jiang Zhiyu had only taken the first half to heart. He gradually expanded his shares from 10% to nearly 60% under his name.

So what if it was a one-man show? The "Jiang" in Jiang Corporation could only be his―Jiang Zhiyu's Jiang.

Perhaps his sanctions against the second branch had been too harsh recently. Jiang Zhisong had protested to the old master more than once, and the old master had also approached him multiple times, both overtly and covertly, believing he had gone too far. After all, they were family—at the very least, he should leave some dignity for the second branch.

Though Jiang Zhisong was technically Jiang Zhiyu's elder brother by seniority, he was nearly twenty years older, making them practically two generations apart.

But Jiang Zhiyu seemed to lack the humility to respect his elders. Jiang Zhisong had tried to meet him multiple times, only to be turned away. This time, he intended to wipe them out completely, targeting the second branch's last remaining overseas assets. According to the original plan, he would swallow all of them in one go.

His subordinates knew Jiang Zhiyu's temperament well and didn't dare ask further. With a quick "Understood," they hung up and set to work.

If all went smoothly, the matter would be settled by tomorrow night—or at the latest, the morning after.

Jiang Zhiyu tossed his phone onto the table with a loud clang, startling Ling Ran. In the moment Ling Ran looked down, the sofa cushion beside him sank deeply under the weight of the enigma.

Tall and imposing, the enigma left deep creases in the soft sofa, while the lightweight Omega tilted and tumbled into the indent. Jiang Zhiyu opened his arms and pulled him in, burying his face against Ling Ran's neck to inhale.

Beyond the rich cocoa scent, the Omega always carried a faint, sweet fragrance.

Perhaps it was a trace of his pheromones leaking unintentionally. Jiang Zhiyu knew it wasn't deliberate—his skin was just too thin, allowing the scent from his blood and flesh to seep through the delicate membrane covering his bones and muscles, only to be drawn into the enigma's lungs.

The aroma was irresistible, too alluring. Forget alphas—even an enigma with formidable self-control found it hard to resist. To saturate himself with that scent, he had to inhale deeper, press closer, even let his tongue flick out to taste.

Ling Ran still wore a suppressant patch on the back of his neck, his gland lying dormant. If not deliberately provoked, he might have finished that entire cup of hot cocoa in peace.

But the patch was useless now. The damp adhesive clung pitifully to his gland, its blocking effect gone, as the scent of rose-flavored grapes slowly unfurled in the air.

Ling Ran heard the sound of licking. Trapped in the embrace, he could only cover his mouth, terrified of making the same shamefully coquettish noises as in the videos.

There were still people outside. If they heard, it would be over.

No one would ever guess that their ruthless, decisive CEO now resembled a ravenous beast of the jungle, mercilessly trapping a trembling little employee in his arms, forcibly inhaling his pheromones.

After being held and scented for a while, Jiang Zhiyu finally loosened his grip slightly, turning Ling Ran around to sit him on his lap.

The clothes he had personally dressed Ling Ran in that morning were now disheveled, crumpled against his impossibly slender frame.

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze was dark and inscrutable as he reached out to measure the distance from his thumb to middle finger—almost enough to span the other's waist.

Could such a small belly truly contain all the internal organs... and his own things as well?

Or perhaps Omegas were simply too delicate of creatures.

Ling Ran blinked, his cheeks flushed a rosy hue as if painted with vibrant color.

He didn't understand why Mr. Jiang had called him upstairs—was it just to scent his pheromones and measure his waist?

"Mr. Jiang..." Ling Ran ventured hesitantly, "Has your rut not ended yet?"

Jiang Zhiyu leaned back into the sofa, his long legs casually bent. At the question, he arched a brow and looked at him.

"What, tired of me already?"

Ling Ran choked slightly. "I didn't mean it like that..."

"Then what did you mean?" Jiang Zhiyu pulled him into his lap, studying his eyes intently. "Tell me."

Ling Ran met his gaze, carefully considering his words to avoid misunderstanding.

"I know an Enigma's rut is painful and difficult to endure, so I want to help you however I can. But lately, you seem to have returned to normal—you're even handling work during the day. It feels like your rut symptoms have already faded..."

His voice grew quieter toward the end, and he couldn't bring himself to meet the Enigma's eyes. "If you've recovered... then, then... could we maybe do that a little less..."

As Ling Ran spoke, Jiang Zhiyu's hand traced slow, deliberate strokes along his back—starting from the slender nape, gliding down the straight spine, all the way to the delicate tailbone at the base.

He adored the way the smaller man trembled helplessly under his touch, especially with those flushed cheeks and the faint mist clinging to the upturned corners of his eyes.

Utterly endearing.

But the Omega's words were far less pleasing. He hadn't even done anything too excessive—just twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, with an agonizing wait in between.

If even twice was too much, would once a day be acceptable?

That might as well be nothing.

"No," Jiang Zhiyu stated bluntly. "I'll listen to anything else you ask, but this isn't negotiable."

Ling Ran bit his lip lightly, his mouth downturned in a pout. Tears glistened in his eyes, as if he'd been thoroughly wronged, ready to spill like pearls at any moment.

"But... I haven't even agreed to your courtship yet..."

He didn't understand how things had escalated like this. Weren't they still not officially together? Hadn't Mr. Jiang said he could take his time to consider?

Could people who weren't even in a relationship sleep in each other's arms and do that every day?

It slightly exceeded Ling Ran's moral standards.

Seeing his tears, Jiang Zhiyu's heart trembled. He wanted to hold him close, soothe him, promise him anything—yet at the same time, he longed to torment him further, to let those tears drip onto his own skin.

With a calloused thumb, he gently brushed the damp corner of Ling Ran's eye before leaning down to press a featherlight kiss to his lips. Softly, he murmured, "That is part of courting you."

Different males typically have various courtship methods, and showcasing exceptional reproductive prowess is one of them. In many animal species, males compete for dominance through exclusive possessiveness over females and superior fertility. In nature, reproduction is the foundation of all behaviors.

Ling Ran's eyes widened slightly, as if rendered speechless, though his eyelids grew redder and damper.

"This... this isn't right."

Jiang Zhiyu explained to him, "Premarital sexual activity is important and necessary. The attraction between two people is inseparable from physical chemistry—it's an innate magnetism, beyond conscious control or sheer willpower."

He spread his legs slightly. "Like right now, with you sitting on me while we talk, all I can think about is making love to you."

Ling Ran could feel the truth in his words, his backside shifting nervously in response.

"But... we're at the office..." he whispered in reminder.

Jiang Zhiyu pulled him back. "We need to test compatibility before marriage—it's the simplest and most beneficial choice. Discovering incompatibility after tying the knot would only lead to mutual suffering. Platonic love won't exist between us."

Though Enigmas possessed strong self-control, once unleashed, their desires ran deep.

Ling Ran considered it carefully. Mr. Jiang's reasoning wasn't entirely without merit.

"Then... how long do we keep... testing?"

"Until we marry," Jiang Zhiyu said casually.

Ling Ran's fingers curled slightly against his chest, his thoughts already swept into the rhythm of Jiang Zhiyu's logic, drifting toward the idea of their future marriage.

If they maintained this frequency before marriage, wouldn't it only intensify after?

He was already struggling to keep up now—what would he do then?

Near tears, he buried his face against the Enigma's shoulder with a whimper. "I... I don't want to..."

He didn't want to be left sore.

Jiang Zhiyu knew Omegas were delicate—low stamina, sensitive to pain. Lifting Ling Ran's face, he spoke in a reassuring tone. "I'll be gentler from now on, alright?"

Tears shimmered in Ling Ran's eyes. "You say that... but you never are. I've told you—softer, slower—but you never listen. It's always too fast, too rough... Hngh..."

He had tried to adapt, but once overwhelmed by passion, the Enigma's restraint shattered. Every time, he pushed Ling Ran to exhaustion without stopping.

Aware of his own transgressions, Jiang Zhiyu could only press a kiss to his eyelids, swallowing his tears before defending himself. "That's because your pull on me is irresistible, baby."

"Every time I see you, I can't hold back."

"I want to hold you, kiss you, mark you over and over. I want to claim you completely—make you mine, whether you can take it or not."

His gaze dropped to Ling Ran's lips, and he leaned in for a slow, tender kiss.

"I want to stay inside you forever."

This time, the kiss was truly gentle—soft, unhurried, a quiet exchange without conquest or force.

It was a tender tug-of-war, a sharing of love and desire, an exchange of pheromones through their lips.

Ling Ran gradually lost himself in the haze. He had never been kissed like this—so delicate, so maddening.

It wasn't just gentle; it was a drenched, torturous temptation.

His body melted into liquid under those kisses, and he couldn't even make out the low murmur in his ear from the Enigma. All he knew was that his cheeks burned, his breath grew ragged, and he began to crave nothing less than a full conquest—an invasion that would claim him completely.

Jiang Zhiyu kissed him for a while before pulling back, his gaze deep and unreadable.

The little Omega's fair, delicate face was already flushed, his plush lips glistening and parted, as if still waiting for more.

But his little face showed more fatigue than before, with faint dark circles appearing under his eyes.

His body hadn't fully recovered from the previous ordeal, and these past few days, he had been relentlessly pushed beyond his limits. Even when told not to come to work, he stubbornly refused. Now, looking utterly pitiful, just a few kisses left him breathless, as if on the verge of fainting.

It seemed his pleas for mercy weren't entirely unreasonable.

Jiang Zhiyu wiped his lips clean with a thumb, waiting for his breathing to steady before lifting him off his lap and placing a cup of hot cocoa in his hands.

Everything was kept restrained, just as he had intended.

"Let Zhao Qin take you home first," Jiang Zhiyu said, already rising from the couch. He ruffled Ling Ran's hair, his voice rough. "Go back and rest properly."

With that, he walked behind his desk, settling the gold-rimmed glasses back onto his sharp nose, and called Zhao Qin before diving back into work.

Ling Ran, still sitting dumbly on the couch, clutching his cocoa: "..."

Whimper...

Zhao Qin soon arrived at the office and approached Ling Ran. "Mr. Ling, shall we head back now?"

Ling Ran set down his cup and glanced at the man behind the desk.

The gold-rimmed lenses reflected a cold, almost indifferent light, beneath which a pair of noble, striking phoenix eyes gazed with a depth that always left him dizzy.

But now, even as he prepared to leave, the enigma remained composed, reviewing documents without the slightest intention of asking him to stay.

Ling Ran could only stand up and murmur in the direction of the desk, "I'll go back first."

"Mm." The enigma didn't look up, merely acknowledging with a faint hum.

Ling Ran set down his cup—his hot cocoa still unfinished—and followed Zhao Qin out, glancing back every few steps.

Only after the office door clicked shut, the once-sweet fragrance in the air abruptly vanishing, did Jiang Zhiyu's eyes darken with intensity.

He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a slow drag, the smoke curling beneath his glasses.

He wasn't a habitual smoker—only indulging when bored or when emotions proved too turbulent to suppress.

Glancing down beneath the desk, he realized this agitation wouldn't settle anytime soon. The veins on the back of his pale hand stood out starkly, and he could only pinch the bridge of his nose in resignation.

If he hadn't sent Ling Ran away just then, nothing else would have gotten done tonight—just him.

The little Omega's constitution truly wasn't the best. Earlier, the scant weight of his body under Jiang Zhiyu's hands had been concerning. No wonder he always cried so pitifully and fainted so easily. He'd have to take him to the hospital for a check-up soon.

Calling him up tonight hadn't been for sex—just to see him, maybe steal a kiss or two.

But once their lips met, restraint had slipped away. Even the words he'd spoken were just polished versions of far darker thoughts.

Pinning Ling Ran beneath him, Jiang Zhiyu had more than once considered giving him a permanent mark. The fact that he'd mustered enough self-control to use protection during his rut already made him something of a saint.

By then, the little Omega had melted into a pliant mess—utterly at his mercy.

Yielding and warm, even when his fragile womb was invaded with ruthless force, he would only submit sweetly, letting the intruder ravage its tender depths.

<<Chapter List