TPLTMOE – Chapter 69

As soon as the words fell, Ling Ran was flipped over by a strong force, landing on top.

The bathtub filled to the brim couldn't withstand any disturbance. The warm, gentle sloshing of water grew increasingly turbulent, the surface churning like a stormy sea on the verge of breaking. Waves crashed against the slick tiles, trembling and splashing relentlessly.

The steamy mist was an intoxicating haze. Ling Ran had inhaled too much of it, and the tequila mixed with the various wines he'd consumed that evening swirled inside him, turning him into a pliant, dazed creature.

He had the privilege of witnessing the little toys Song Yi had described—though not all of them—but even the few he experienced seemed to seize and shatter his very soul.

….

Jiang Zhiyu carefully wrapped the unconscious little Omega in a bathrobe and carried him out of the bathroom.

Drops of water still clung to his damp hair, his delicate, pretty face flushed from the heat, his eyes shut softly in peaceful surrender. A few unshed tears glistened on his long, wet lashes like pearls.

Innocent, soft, utterly defenseless.

Too weak to resist however he was handled, he could only sob pitifully, burying his face against the Enigma's chest when it became too much. Though such actions only invited harsher treatment, tender, comforting kisses would occasionally follow.

He had improved a lot, but he still couldn't hold on for long before drifting into a dazed stupor in those arms.

Jiang Zhiyu laid him on the large bed, using a towel to pat his damp hair dry. After retrieving the hairdryer from the bathroom, he settled the boy's head on his lap, unconcerned about the water soaking into his freshly dried skin, and began blow-drying his hair.

His long, deft fingers combed through the silky black strands, the hairdryer set to the lowest setting to avoid disturbing him.

The process took longer, but Jiang Zhiyu didn't mind. He gently gathered the locks, feeling the dampness gradually fade, the hair turning fluffy and light beneath his touch—until it puffed up like a soft little loaf of bread, stuffed with sweet filling.

The little Omega seemed to find the pampering extremely comforting in his sleep. His cheek rubbed against Jiang Zhiyu's thigh without restraint, his breathing deep and even.

The friction ignited a scorching heat in Jiang Zhiyu. His fingers twined lightly through the silken strands, savoring the slippery smoothness.

After tucking him securely under the covers, Jiang Zhiyu returned the hairdryer to the bathroom.

When he emerged much later, he climbed into bed and pulled the boy back into his embrace.

The head nestled against his chest was adorably tousled, and those soft, rosy lips—still damp—brushed against something firm and taut.

Supple yet resilient, the texture was exquisite.

Ling Ran, half-asleep, seemed to like it. He parted his lips slightly and pressed a feather-light kiss against it.

***

When he woke in the morning, his head throbbed, and his entire body felt as though it had been dismantled.

Jiang Zhiyu had left early without waking him.

Song Yi brought in a hangover remedy, and Ling Ran struggled to sit up, his hair sticking out in disheveled tufts as he gulped down the entire bowl.

He was wearing an oversized sleep robe—clearly not his size—which hung loosely off his frame, leaving his chest exposed. Beneath the fabric, his fair, delicate skin was littered with vivid love marks, some trailing further down, hidden from view.

The two slender legs peeking out from beneath were also covered in various marks, trailing all the way up to the thighs. Around the ankles were two red, circular fingerprints, clearly left by someone gripping them tightly.

Song Yi accidentally caught a glimpse and immediately averted his gaze. It seemed last night's battle had been quite intense.

Ling Ran freshened up briefly and dragged himself through breakfast before heading to work.

Zhao Qin was waiting for him downstairs, practically his personal chauffeur now.

When they arrived at the company, Qin Chengyue was surprised to see Ling Ran. "Why are you here?"

Ling Ran slumped over his desk, looking half-asleep.

"Work, obviously."

Qin Chengyue reached over to feel his forehead. "No fever, good. Seems like President Jiang was merciful last night."

Ling Ran's cheeks were still flushed, his lips red, and when he lifted his gaze, there was an innate, unconscious allure in his eyes.

"That's not..."

Qin Chengyue concluded, "You've clearly been well-loved."

Ling Ran: "..."

Choosing not to tease him further, Qin Chengyue said, "Jiajia told me yesterday that he and Xiaofeng had already finished editing the footage they shot. The PR team has already released a statement, so we can draft the article today—plenty of time."

Ling Ran nodded drowsily and turned on his computer. "Okay."

"Oh, and the boss mentioned we could do a special feature on Dong Hui for the next episode. It'd be a good opportunity to expose all the stakeholders connected to him through the "Pearl in the Palm' incident. I also heard Dong Hui apparently fled the country last night right after the scandal broke. The police haven't tracked him down yet."

Ling Ran asked, "Does that count as fleeing from justice?"

Qin Chengyue thought for a moment. "It'd only be considered fleeing if he'd already been convicted. He reacted fast—probably realized there was no chance of turning things around, so he left to lay low."

Ling Ran had already started typing, pausing mid-sentence to let out a big yawn. "If we're doing a feature, we'll need to research thoroughly. For now, let's just focus on drafting the election article from last night."

Qin Chengyue walked over and closed his laptop. "This is too trivial for you. I'll handle it and show you the draft later. Why don't you go nap in the break room? You can barely keep your eyes open."

Ling Ran was indeed exhausted. Sitting here stubbornly wasn't doing him any good—his mind was mush.

"Fine, just a short nap."

Qin Chengyue shooed him away. "Go, go. You can trust me to handle this."

Ling Ran entered the break room, only to find an alpha from another department already sprawled inside. The guy had pulled an all-nighter and hadn't gone home, now snoring loudly in deep sleep.

The room reeked of stale, pungent cigarette smoke. Ling Ran didn't step inside, quietly closing the door behind him.

Rubbing his eyes, he wondered where else he could catch some sleep.

Then, a message popped up on his phone—

[Mr. Jiang]: Come upstairs.

Without hesitation, Ling Ran took the elevator to the 101st floor.

A secretary led him into the CEO's office, but Ling Ran didn't see Jiang Zhiyu anywhere.

The secretary explained, "President Jiang had business this morning and isn't in the office. You can go straight inside to rest—sleep as long as you like. No one will disturb you, and if you need anything, just let me know."

Ling Ran's heart softened. So he'd just been called up here to sleep.

He thanked the secretary and pushed open the door to the inner chamber himself.

The bed felt almost the same as the one at home—spacious and soft. Exhausted, Ling Ran quickly fell asleep.

Unexpectedly, he slept straight through until the afternoon. When he opened his eyes again, it was nearly three o'clock.

Ling Ran immediately got out of bed and pushed the door open, only to find someone sitting behind the office desk outside—someone who hadn't been there before.

Jiang Zhiyu was reviewing documents. Hearing footsteps approach, he didn't look up but simply reached out an arm, effortlessly pulling a soft, small figure into his embrace.

Ling Ran sat on his lap, his eyes still slightly dazed. He blinked, looking a little aggrieved.

"I overslept..."

He remembered setting an alarm, but it was as if someone had turned it off—he hadn't heard it ring at all.

"It's fine," Jiang Zhiyu stroked his face, indulgent and forgiving. "If you're still tired, go back to sleep."

Ling Ran shook his head. "No, I still have work to do."

As he tried to slide off the enigma's lap, the arm around his waist didn't loosen.

Jiang Zhiyu adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. "What work?"

Ling Ran replied, "Qin Chengyue finished his draft, and I still need to review it. Plus, I have to prepare for the next episode. There's a lot to do."

Jiang Zhiyu sent a message to someone, who replied almost immediately.

After skimming the response, he said, "I've already looked over the draft. There's no issue."

Ling Ran was surprised. Qin Chengyue had actually sent the draft directly to Jiang Zhiyu, and the man had skimmed through it at lightning speed.

"Are you still working on Dong Hui's case?" Jiang Zhiyu asked.

Ling Ran nodded earnestly. "I want to. One episode isn't enough to cover everything he's done. And after the broadcast, even more information came to light—things we hadn't uncovered before. I want to investigate it all myself so we can expose everything in the next episode."

Seeing that he already had a plan, Jiang Zhiyu didn't discourage him. Instead, he asked, "Have you noticed anything unusual around you lately?"

Ling Ran frowned. "What do you mean...?"

Jiang Zhiyu patiently explained, "For example, have you felt like someone was following you on your way to or from work? Or like you were being watched?"

Ling Ran thought carefully. "Actually... I think there was."

It was the night the episode aired. After work, he had walked home alone and kept feeling as if someone was watching him—or even surveilling him.

At the time, he had assumed it was Mr. Jiang. But now, recalling it, he realized it probably wasn't. A chill ran down his spine, and his fingers unconsciously tightened around the enigma's shirt at his waist.

Sensing his tension, Jiang Zhiyu gently stroked his back before pulling up a short video on his phone to show him.

The person in the video, tortured to a bloody pulp, was someone Ling Ran recognized—Dong Hui's right-hand man, whom he had seen at Palm Pearl that night.

The man barely had an inch of unbroken skin left, lying in a pool of blood like a dying dog, barely clinging to life. Someone barked a few sharp questions at him, but he only laughed—a laugh that sent shivers down the spine.

"You can kill me today, but you'll never get the answers you want. I'll take everything to my grave, hahahaha..."

"Go ahead, call that Jiang guy over. Isn't he so capable? Then let him find his own people!"

"Don't think I can't find out. Doesn't he love protecting that cheap bitch? Well, I'm going to poke right at his eyeballs—"

Before the man could finish, a black-clad bodyguard wielding a stun baton entered the frame.

Ling Ran's eyes were suddenly covered by a pair of hands, shielding him from the violent and bloody scene in the video.

A piercing, agonized scream had just begun to emerge when Jiang Zhiyu shut it off.

Ling Ran understood perfectly well what those words had implied. A delayed sense of terror made his body tremble slightly.

If Mr. Jiang hadn't returned home in time that night, hadn't appeared behind him what might have happened to him?

Perhaps the person who barged into the elevator would have been that subordinate who'd just appeared in the video.

Jiang Zhiyu removed his glasses, cupped Ling Ran's face with one hand, and leaned down to kiss his lips gently.

Between kisses, he murmured, "It's alright, it's alright now, baby."

"Don't be afraid. I'll always be here."

Cradled in this secure embrace, Ling Ran felt his lips, cheeks, and earlobes being covered with warm, damp kisses.

His tense fear gradually subsided. He rested his head against the enigma's shoulder, breathing deeply of that comforting scent.

Jiang Zhiyu patted his back rhythmically, like soothing a child, each touch radiating reassurance.

"I've asked Zhao Qin to arrange protection for you. From now on, whenever possible, you'll commute with me. If you don't feel like working, you can stay home for a while."

Until Dong Hui was completely apprehended, Jiang Zhiyu's claimed lack of concern was merely pretense.

The events of that night still haunted him. Fortunately, he'd returned promptly, dealing with Ling Ran's stalker before entering the elevator.

He'd been careless before, unaware that Dong Hui had uncovered Ling Ran's background—that the omega from the Palm Jewel incident was Ling Ran—and had even located their residence.

The only reason that subordinate still drew breath was to extract Dong Hui's whereabouts, but the loyal underling hadn't uttered a single clue.

Feeling Ling Ran tremble with fear earlier had wrenched Jiang Zhiyu's heart painfully.

Once calmer, Ling Ran suddenly remembered: "And Chengyue..."

They'd appeared together on camera. Anyone coming for him wouldn't spare Qin Chengyue either.

Jiang Zhiyu said, "Someone's looking after him."

Only then did Ling Ran relax.

But he had no intention of hiding at home. If anything, this should make him more determined to expose Dong Hui's atrocities to the world as soon as possible.

Jiang Zhiyu respected his choice, though he emphasized Ling Ran must stay vigilant and report anything unusual immediately.

Ling Ran nodded in agreement.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't let him return at all, canceling his afternoon meetings to hold and comfort Ling Ran the entire time—eventually carrying that comfort to the bedroom in the lounge.

After work, Zhao Qin drove them home, updating Jiang Zhiyu on various matters during the ride.

Jiang Zhiyu made no effort to conceal these discussions from Ling Ran, so Zhao Qin spoke freely, whether appropriate or not.

Fortunately, Ling Ran couldn't fully grasp the convoluted details or discern Jiang Zhiyu's true intentions.

He caught mentions of Lanyali Harbor, West Harbor Wharf, and even the Ling Corporation.

He didn't ask any more questions, obediently nestling in Jiang Zhiyu's arms while watching the scenery outside the window.

Jiang Zhiyu lowered his gaze, observing Ling Ran's reaction.

When Zhao Qin mentioned the recent situation of the Ling family, Ling Ran showed no particular expression, as if they were unfamiliar strangers.

Ling Ran had been away from home for so long and had even appeared on the news several times, yet apart from Ling Su who had repeatedly come to cause trouble for him, the rest of the Ling family seemed to have completely forgotten about him.

An Omega who contributed nothing to the family could be discarded at will.

Since the ties had already been completely severed, there was no need to hold back anymore.

Jiang Zhiyu briefly replied to Zhao Qin, who glanced at Ling Ran through the rearview mirror and understood.

For the next two days, Ling Ran indeed commuted to and from work with Jiang Zhiyu.

Knowing Ling Ran was afraid of being seen, Jiang Zhiyu drove him in his Porsche while Zhao Qin followed at a distance in the Rolls-Royce, with two more cars carrying bodyguards to protect Ling Ran.

No further incidents occurred; everything appeared calm on the surface.

Even when Jiang Zhiyu had to travel for work, he would first arrange matters for Ling Ran, leaving Zhao Qin by his side.

In the mornings, Zhao Qin would drive Ling Ran to work.

Upon arriving at the company, Ling Ran noticed something different about his colleagues—they all looked at him with smiles in their eyes.

When he reached his workstation, he saw his desk covered in flowers and a large birthday card signed by everyone in the department. At the bottom, written in gold ink, were the words:

"Happy Birthday to the Best Anchor, Ling Ran!"

The scent of the flowers made his eyes moisten.

Perhaps he had been too busy with the show lately, but he had completely forgotten it was his birthday.

He picked up the card, examining it carefully before treasuring it in his bag.

This was the first time he had received so many birthday wishes, filling his heart with a bittersweet sensation, as if overflowing with happiness.

Just as he was about to sit down, Qin Chengyue suddenly appeared out of nowhere, grabbing his hand and pulling him into a quiet meeting

room.

Yang Jia, Xiao Feng, and Ning Xinqiao were already inside, gathered around a large cake with two candles on it. All three looked at him with joyful eyes.

Once the door closed, Qin Chengyue softly began, "Ready, sing!"

"Happy birthday to you—"

“...”

The four of them surrounded Ling Ran, singing the birthday song. Ling Ran smiled throughout, wearing a birthday hat and with cream smeared on his face, looking like a little painted kitten.

After the song, Qin Chengyue held the cake in front of him. "Make a wish first, then blow out the candles."

Ling Ran clasped his hands together, obediently made a wish, then puffed his cheeks and blew out both candles in one breath.

The four cheered for him. Qin Chengyue said, "Baby Ling Ran, I hereby officially declare you twenty years old—now of legal marriage age. You're an adult now."

Xiao Feng was astonished. "You—you just turned twenty? How old were you when you started university?"

Qin Chengyue slung an arm around Ling Ran's shoulders. "Our little Ran has always been a top student—he skipped grades, you know?"

Ling Ran pinched Qin Chengyue's arm, signaling him to tone it down and not boast about him in front of others.

But Qin Chengyue usually couldn't help himself. Bragging about Ling Ran's achievements felt like bragging about his own. There wasn't a single thing about Ling Ran that he couldn't proudly show off.

"Good looks, top grades, and still so young. And despite his age, he's incredibly diligent at work," Qin Chengyue lamented. "Sweetheart, do you even have any flaws? If I were an alpha, I'd marry you in a heartbeat."

Oh, there was one flaw.

The only flaw was that he already had a husband.

Not only could Qin Chengyue not compete, but he also had to bow down respectfully to him.

"This cake took me half a day running across the city to get for you. It has grape jam in the middle—super delicious. You have to finish every last bite," Qin Chengyue said.

Ling Ran took a big mouthful of the cream cake and praised, "It really is amazing."

Qin Chengyue: "We specifically came to the office to celebrate your birthday. We figured you'd be busy tonight—President Jiang must've already arranged some romantic dinner for you, right?"

Worried that Ling Ran might feel uneasy about revealing too much, Qin Chengyue reassured him, "Don't feel awkward in front of them. All three of them already know—no need to hide it."

"He's on a business trip," Ling Ran admitted honestly. "And... I didn't tell him today's my birthday..."

Qin Chengyue was stunned. "President Jiang doesn't know your birthday? No way. I wouldn't believe that even if you swore up and down. You two must have some other plans and just don't want me to know."

Ling Ran shook his head. "He really doesn't know. Work has been crazy lately, and I didn't want to bother him. Besides, it's just a birthday. Having you all here with me is more than enough."

Qin Chengyue still refused to believe it. "How could he not know? He's always so attentive toward you. If he cares, wouldn't he at least ask when your birthday is? Or shouldn't Assistant Zhao have reminded him?"

Ling Ran set down his cake and wiped his mouth. "There's just been so much going on recently...

Qin Chengyue cut him off angrily. "That's no excuse. Stop making justifications for him. Seems to me he's not treating you well enough. And to purposely schedule a business trip today? That's just outrageous!"

The other three, hearing them start to gossip about President Jiang's personal affairs, didn't dare stick around. Quietly, they slipped out of the room.

Ling Ran gently tugged Qin Chengyue's hand. "Chengyue, are you mad?"

Qin Chengyue sighed in exasperation. "You're the one who should be upset! It's not my birthday that got forgotten—why would I be mad?"

Ling Ran smiled understandingly. "It's really fine."

Qin Chengyue seemed to have a sudden realization. "Little Ran... you're not in love, are you?"

Ling Ran froze for a moment before Qin Chengyue pressed further. "With President Jiang gone, don't you feel even a little disappointed? Or sad?"

Ling Ran lowered his head. "A little, maybe..."

Back at home, he never really celebrated his birthday much.

Maybe he'd just gotten too spoiled lately. Deep down, he really wished President Jiang hadn't gone on this trip—that he could come back and spend his birthday with him.

But he couldn't ask for that. President Jiang was already swamped with work every day, exhausted. Ling Ran didn't want to add to his burdens.

Qin Chengyue looked at him and said, "How could you ever be considered a bother?"

Ling Ran didn't know how to respond. He used to think of himself as a nuisance, but now he was gradually realizing his own worth. Perhaps... he wasn't a burden anymore.

Ling Ran remained in good spirits throughout the day. Though Jiang Zhiyu's absence brought him some loneliness and sadness, he still had Chengyue, his team members, and other colleagues at the company.

He was enveloped in a warm sense of love, gradually growing new flesh and blood day by day.

If only he hadn't received that phone call after work.

Since it was from an unregistered number, Ling Ran answered without much suspicion.

"Xiao Ran, it's me," the voice on the other end sounded weary and aged. "It's Dad."

The wound he thought had healed was merely a temporary scab—the bleeding had only stopped for now.

Hearing that familiar yet distant voice, Ling Ran instinctively stiffened, his nerves on high alert.

After all this time without contact, they had to call him on his birthday.

Ling Ran remained silent, his breathing shallow.

On the other end, his father spoke in a tone of friendliness he had never used with Ling Ran before: "Xiao Ran, today's your birthday. Your mom, your sister, and I have reserved a restaurant. It's been so long since we've seen you. Let's have a meal together—consider it a celebration for your birthday."

Ling Ran instinctively resisted. "No, I don't want to go."

His father paused, seemingly taken aback by Ling Ran's cold and heartless refusal. "If you don't want to come on your own, we can pick you up from your company. You've been doing well in Jiangzhou, haven't you? You're often on TV. Do all the employees at Jiang Corporation know you now?"

Hearing this, a chill ran down Ling Ran's spine, and his throat tightened. "No, don't come."

He didn't want his family showing up at his workplace. If they came, who knew what kind of scene they might cause? Ling Sui had already chased Qin Chengyue to his home—he couldn't guarantee the others wouldn't do something equally deranged.

Taking a deep breath, Ling Ran said, "Where's the address? I'll go now."

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