TPLTMOE – Chapter 72

Ling Ran could still vividly remember what Ling Su had told him outside Qin Chengyue's apartment.

He'd said that Mr. Jiang had bought a diamond in Bangkok—such an extravagant gift was surely meant for his future spouse.

And now, that very diamond had been transformed into a one-of-a-kind ring, resting on his ring finger.

Ling Ran's heart melted into a puddle. He felt like he was crying too easily these days, but he simply couldn't hold back now—what was he supposed to do...

The little Omega looked utterly disbelieving, his watery eyes red and pitiful.

"Don't like it?" Jiang Zhiyu asked.

After all, he had chosen the design himself, keeping the little Omega completely in the dark to surprise him.

The surprise had certainly landed, but he hadn't meant to make him cry.

Jiang Zhiyu cupped his palm beneath Ling Ran's tears, coaxing softly, "I'll have it redesigned, completely according to your taste. How about that?"

Ling Ran shook his head, tears still clinging to his lashes before rolling down his fair cheeks.

The ring was so exquisitely designed—it was clear how much thought had gone into it. How could he possibly find any fault?

Jiang Zhiyu picked up his suit jacket from the nearby cabinet and rummaged through the pocket before pulling something out. Taking Ling Ran's other hand, he slid it onto his thumb.

"What about this one? Do you like it?"

Ling Ran looked down. This time, it was an ancient family crest ring—a symbol of authority reserved only for the head of the Jiang family. He had only ever seen Jiang Zhiyu wear it once, during the news coverage of his succession as the new patriarch, and never again after that.

Jiang Zhiyu rarely wielded this ring to assert dominance. More often, he relied on his ruthless methods to force submission from those around him.

The last time he had used it was to expel Jiang Ronglian from the family registry in front of all the elders. This time, it was to propose to his little Omega.

Ling Ran was even more stunned. One ring had already felt heavy enough to weigh his hand down, and now, with this second one—the highest symbol of the family's authority—how could he possibly accept something so significant?

Instinctively, Ling Ran moved to take the ring off and return it, but both his hands were gently held in place.

"They're both yours," Jiang Zhiyu murmured, pressing a featherlight kiss to the back of his hand. "Wear whichever you prefer."

Ling Ran's voice came out weak, "B-but..."

"Ling Ran, I'm the one proposing to you."

Jiang Zhiyu met his gaze. "Of course, you can still take time to think it over. But I might not be able to wait too long."

He worried that the little Omega had been overwhelmed too quickly—first, their relationship had just transitioned into something official, then he had gone and given him a permanent mark. Now, barely having left the bed after thoroughly claiming him, he was already holding him close and coaxing a proposal out of him.

This wasn't the best timing for a proposal. There would undoubtedly be a more formal ceremony later. Right now, the little Omega's mind was likely too clouded by the tequila pheromones inside and out—he probably couldn't think straight, and reasoning with him wouldn't fully register.

But Jiang Zhiyu couldn't wait any longer. He admitted it—he was absolutely taking advantage of the moment.

He had never harbored good intentions toward Ling Ran. It was through every means possible that he snatched Ling Ran away from his destined partner and marked him thoroughly as his own Omega. Yet, why did he still feel unsettled deep down?

Perhaps only by making Ling Ran pregnant with his child, ensuring Ling Ran would never leave him, could he finally feel completely at ease.

Their progress was terrifyingly fast, but this was already Jiang Zhiyu restraining himself to the utmost.

If he were any more of a beast, he would have long since ignored the Omega's physical condition and permanently marked him countless times.

The scent of alcohol rapidly filled the air, leaving Ling Ran no time to think before he was thrown onto the bed, engulfed in the aroma of tequila.

The heat that had barely subsided earlier was now catalyzed into a raging fire, scorching his skin, flushing his cheeks, and moistening his eyes.

"Baby," Jiang Zhiyu murmured against his ear, releasing pheromones uncontrollably, "You won't refuse me, will you?"

The loosely tied sash of his robe was undone and tossed onto the disordered floor.

"I've already knotted inside your reproductive cavity. You can only belong to me, and you can only marry me. Understand?" The deep voice was like a spell, luring the little Omega deeper into his heat while forcing him to remember these words. Ling Ran's breathing grew heavier, his vision blurred. His lips parted slightly, but all that escaped was a helpless whimper. The doctor's advice had been clear: a permanent mark on a young Omega shouldn't be completed in one go. It was best to control the duration each time and repeat the marking multiple times over a period.

Jiang Zhiyu remembered this well.

***

But this time, it didn't seem like just a simple marking—there was an undertone of unrestrained punishment.

The Enigma yanked the little Omega, who was trying to escape, back forcefully. His large hand pressed against the soft flesh of the thigh, letting the tender, pale skin—marked with mottled red traces and bite marks—spill helplessly through his fingers.

"Do you know you were wrong?"

The only response was muffled sobs.

So the Enigma reached for the medicine bottle on the bedside, pretending to pry open his mouth to force another dose down his throat.

Now aware of the consequences, the little Omega tightly sealed his lips, shaking his head with eyes squeezed shut, refusing to take it no matter what.

Back in the car, he had recklessly stuffed so many pills into his mouth purely because he was in a terrible mood, treating the Enigma's embrace as a comforting refuge. He had been spoiled rotten, knowing that no matter what mess he created, someone would always clean up after him.

Besides, he hadn't been permanently marked back then and didn't realize just how torturous it could be.

But the Enigma seemed to have endless patience now, ready to teach him a lesson slowly.

Seeing him stubbornly keep his mouth shut, the Enigma raised his hand and landed a light slap.

A crisp smack.

It didn't hurt, but shame and grievance surged in his heart. The little Omega whimpered, trembling violently as if on the verge of convulsing.

The Enigma still didn't let up, delivering another slap.

"Open your mouth."

Sobbing, the little Omega parted his lips, only to have a candy pellet forced inside. Unwilling to swallow, he curled his tongue around it, slowly licking off the sugary coating.

Who knew the enigma would pinch another candy and bring it to his lips: "Have another."

The little Omega seemed utterly terrified, trying in vain to dodge before being forced to accept yet another one.

When that hand attempted to push yet another into his mouth, the little Omega trembled and sobbed: "N-no more... please..."

The enigma then asked, "Do you know what you did wrong?"

The little Omega: "Y-yes..."

Enigma: "What was it?"

Sniffling pitifully, utterly adorable with his damp, reddened eyes, he stammered between sobs: "I-I won't... won't do it again... sob..."

Even if he knew exactly what he'd done wrong, he couldn't string the words together coherently now—only crying and begging for mercy.

The enigma cared most about his health, knowing how fragile he was. Not only were his three daily meals meticulously fed to him, but no nutritional supplements were ever neglected. To quickly treat his hormonal imbalance and atrophied reproductive system, he often needed pheromone soothing.

Except for that one time during his last rut when he'd been given a few extra pills, the dosage had since been strictly controlled during each session, lest it harm him.

Yet, shockingly, the little Omega showed no regard for his own well-being, heedless of the risks of taking so many at once.

Every time the enigma lost his temper, it was over his health. This wasn't truly about forcing more pills down his throat—just teaching him a lesson.

In the end, the enigma relented, stopping after just two.

The last one, he popped into his own mouth.

***

Ling Ran felt as though he'd been burning up for an eternity. He'd sobbed and pleaded, only for a deep voice to sigh against his ear:

"Baby, you're so hot."

He was. The bed beneath him felt like a furnace, threatening to reduce him to ashes.

He lost count of how many times he drifted in and out of consciousness, his mind a muddled haze, relentlessly jostled and shaken.

When awareness returned, he found himself in the bathroom, being thoroughly cleansed inside and out.

Afterward, he was swaddled tightly in a plush blanket and carried out of the bedroom.

This was the first time since arriving here that Ling Ran had left that room—though "left" wasn't quite accurate, since his feet never once touched the ground.

Exhausted beyond measure, he slumped against the enigma's shoulder, damp hair still dripping, his delicate face flushed and dewy with moisture.

Though intensely curious about his surroundings, he was simply too spent to lift his head for a proper look.

All he could glimpse were the walls of the long corridor adorned with medieval European-style oil paintings, the floor covered in an ornate, intricately patterned carpet.

This place seemed like an ancient, beautiful castle—and he had no idea where he was being taken.

Suddenly, voices called out in greeting from behind them, their English crisp with a refined British accent.

Ling Ran shivered faintly, startled—but more than that, he was overwhelmed with bashfulness and embarrassment.

So there were others here after all. Which meant... every sound they'd made in that bedroom must have been heard by outsiders...

Just the thought of such a possibility made Ling Ran's ears burn so red he couldn't bear to show his face, burying his cheeks even deeper into the enigma's shoulder and neck, refusing to lift his head no matter what.

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled softly, knowing how thin-skinned the little Omega always was, and dismissed the other servants first.

Only after carrying the person in his arms to the dining table and sitting down did Jiang Zhiyu tug at the fleece blanket to make him raise his head.

Ling Ran first glanced around, making sure there were only the two of them in the area before relaxing slightly.

The castle's dining hall was also ancient, with a massive crystal chandelier casting brilliant light that illuminated an entire lavish long table and luxurious spread. The walls were adorned with exquisite murals, while the carved chairs and tables exuded mysterious elegance. Not far away was a stained-glass window that let in soft sunlight from outside.

Ling Ran only needed one glance out that window to freeze in stunned silence.

Outside was an unobstructed view of the mountainside—vast stretches of grapevines swaying gently like green waves in the breeze, clusters of plump, round grapes hanging from the vines, shimmering like amethysts and emeralds under the sunlight. Winding gravel paths meandered through, lined with bewitchingly crimson roses that shouldn't have been in season.

The sky, freshly washed by the storm, was crystal clear with playful clouds against the blue. The sweet fragrance of grapes seemed to drift on the air.

Everything was beautiful as a painting.

So they were in a vineyard.

His eyes filled with astonishment and delight, he turned back to look at Jiang Zhiyu, his gaze sparkling with starlight.

Jiang Zhiyu knew what he wanted to do. Keeping one arm firmly around his waist to prevent any sudden movements, he said calmly, "Eat first."

Ling Ran asked, "Can we go out and look around after eating?"

Jiang Zhiyu smiled. "Yes."

Overjoyed, Ling Ran cooperated obediently during the meal, eating whatever Jiang Zhiyu fed him without fussing or complaining about being full.

He was fed quite a lot in one go, even finishing an entire bowl of soup, until his stomach and lower belly were visibly rounded.

Jiang Zhiyu gave it a satisfied pat before finally setting down the utensils.

Thinking the meal was over, Ling Ran eagerly wanted to go explore, but was still held firmly in place on those muscular thighs.

Puzzled, he looked up just as two servants wheeled over a massive three-tiered cake.

"Making up for your birthday," Jiang Zhiyu said. "Try it."

With that, he scooped a small bite of frosting with a fork and brought it to the little Omega's lips.

Ling Ran hadn't planned to eat more—his stomach was painfully full, and any more might actually make him sick.

But the rich, sweet creaminess wafting from that tiny bite tempted him all over again.

Knowing his fondness for cream cakes, Jiang Zhiyu had specially hired a pastry chef from France just to prepare this birthday cake for him.

The little Omega still parted his lips, a crimson tongue cautiously peeking out to give the snowy-white frosting a delicate lick.

An extraordinary sweetness exploded in his mouth like biting into cotton candy, making Ling Ran's eyes instantly light up.

"Good?" Jiang Zhiyu asked.

Ling Ran nodded vigorously. "Mhm!"

He also used a fork to scoop out a small piece, intending to feed it to Enigma's mouth. Unfortunately, his fingers had been weak all along—otherwise, he wouldn't have needed someone to feed him earlier.

A bit of cream accidentally smeared onto his fingers, but Ling Ran didn't mind. He stretched his hand out with effort, offering the fork. "It's really delicious," he added.

Jiang Zhiyu wasn't particularly fond of sweets, but he didn't want to dampen Ling Ran's enthusiasm.

However, the thin layer of cream coating those two slender, pale fingertips seemed to emit an inexplicable fragrance, drawing his gaze until it darkened with heat. Instead of taking the cream from the fork, he—

Ling Ran flinched as if burned, immediately retracting his hand. The fork slipped from his grasp, and the cream on it tumbled onto his thigh.

His skin was even fairer and softer than the cream, dotted with faint blemishes like vivid, dewy cherries.

Jiang Zhiyu's eyes darkened further, the lingering sweetness of cream still on his tongue.

Ling Ran's heart trembled violently.

As if savoring the indulgence, he soon found himself coated in cream all over.

Of course, it was all meticulously cleaned off afterward.

Jiang Zhiyu soothingly stroked his cheek. "Still want to go?"

The blanket around Ling Ran had slipped to the floor at some point. Wrapped in Enigma's robe and nestled against his chest, Ling Ran shook his head weakly against him.

So tired, so drowsy—he had no energy left for anything else. All he wanted now was sleep...

Jiang Zhiyu lifted him and carried him back to the bedroom.

A servant hurriedly knocked on the bedroom door. After a long pause, it was finally opened from inside.

The Enigma standing at the doorway wore only a loosely draped robe, his sharp eyes narrowed slightly, clearly displeased at being interrupted.

The servant didn't dare look at his exposed chest, keeping his head bowed as he spoke quickly. "Mr. Jiang, several cars have arrived at the gate. It seems your friends are here."

Jiang Zhiyu: "Tell them to leave."

Servant: "..."

Wasn't it you who invited them?

Of course, he didn't dare say that. Instead, he replied respectfully, "I'm afraid it's too late... Mr. Shang has already driven in. If we hadn't opened the gate just now, it looked like he was about to ram through it..."

Jiang Zhiyu: "Understood. You may go."

After the servant left, he stepped back into the bedroom, took a cold shower, and changed into fresh clothes.

Approaching the bed, he found the little Omega deeply buried in the blankets, already asleep again. Jiang Zhiyu had no intention of waking him. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to his plump cheek before striding out of the bedroom.

***

Qin Chengyue bolted out of the car the moment Shang Ye parked, swearing never to ride shotgun with him again—if he ever got in his car at all.

By the time he had sprinted a fair distance, Shang Ye finally stepped out of the car, watching him from afar.

Running so fast—as if he'd eat him alive.

Yan Xiwen and the others had arrived in a separate car. The moment they got out, they erupted into excited chatter, marveling at what a spectacular place this was.

Qin Chengyue, however, was too preoccupied with thoughts of Ling Ran to appreciate the scenery.

Ling Ran had been gone for nearly a week now. He feared the silly boy might get devoured down to the bones and still thank the person responsible.

That was exactly the kind of thing Ling Ran would do.

Dashing through the castle gates, Qin Chengyue grabbed a servant by the entrance and demanded, "Where's Xiao Ran?"

The servant was baffled by his question, not understanding a word, and replied in English, "I'm sorry, sir, what did you say?"

Qin Chengyue repeated in English, "The Omega who arrived here a few days ago—very beautiful, about my height, named Ling Ran. Where is he now?"

The servant realized he was referring to the Omega gentleman in the bedroom and was about to answer when Qin Chengyue spotted the enigma descending the spiral staircase.

Jiang Zhiyu wore a simple black shirt, loosely buttoned, whether intentionally or not, with several conspicuous red marks boldly displayed at the collar, as if flaunting them.

Qin Chengyue rushed to the staircase. "President Jiang, is Xiao Ran upstairs? I'm going up to see him."

Without waiting for a response, he made for the second floor as if it were his own home.

But as he passed the enigma, his collar was abruptly yanked from behind.

Jiang Zhiyu lifted him as effortlessly as one would a chick, glanced at the newcomer below the stairs, and with a slight exertion, tossed the "chick" down unceremoniously.

Qin Chengyue's eyes widened in shock, his footing unstable as he was hurled straight into a broad, sturdy embrace.

A pair of hands mercifully caught him by the waist, preventing him from crashing to the floor.

Yet, after being lifted, he wasn't immediately set down.

His head pressed against someone's chest, and the voice that spoke next sent a faint tremor through his eardrums.

"Don't push it."

The speaker was Shang Ye.

The words were directed at the enigma on the stairs. Jiang Zhiyu's gaze swept over the two of them before he smiled faintly. "My apologies. My hand slipped."

Qin Chengyue: "?!"

How slippery could a hand be to fling someone down a staircase?!

That was clearly intentional!

Just then, Yan Xiwen and the others happened to enter from outside, and the quiet hall instantly grew noisy.

Qin Chengyue quickly struggled free from Shang Ye's arms, shooting Jiang Zhiyu an indignant glare and Shang Ye a resentful one as well.

The group marveled at the wine estate, agreeing it was perfect as a personal collection asset, provided one wasn't aiming for profit.

They all noticed the red marks on Jiang Zhiyu's collarbone but tactfully refrained from mentioning it.

Jiang Zhiyu invited them to sit in the hall and ordered a servant to fetch a wine cart from the cellar.

Yan Xiwen and the others gaped at the cart laden with wines of various vintages and flavors, their eyes nearly popping out.

Jiang Zhiyu selected a fine vintage red wine. Through the bottle, the brick-red liquid appeared clear, glossy, and of exceptional quality. Once decanted, the wine was shared among them. Despite their extensive tasting experience, they found it delightfully sweet with a lingering finish, its light body reminiscent of skim milk, leaving an unforgettable impression from the first sip to the last.

While the others savored the wine, Qin Chengyue showed no interest. Unwilling to drink recklessly in unfamiliar surroundings, he excused himself to use the restroom and, seizing the moment when Jiang Zhiyu wasn't looking, sneaked up to the second floor.

The servant immediately reported to Jiang Zhiyu, who didn't pay much attention and simply said, "Let him be."

Qin Chengyue ran up to the second floor and searched several rooms, all of which were empty.

Just as he began to think he might have guessed wrong, he accidentally pushed open the door to a bedroom.

The room had already been cleaned by the servants, with the window open and the air fresh.

The furnishings inside the room looked like they belonged in an oil painting. Qin Chengyue spotted a figure lying on the large bed and immediately recognized that fluffy little head—it was Ling Ran.

Overjoyed, he hurried to the bedside and gently patted the blanket, calling out, "Ranran, Ranran, why are you still sleeping? The sun's already up!"

The person on the bed showed little reaction, only a faint furrow between his brows that smoothed out almost imperceptibly as he continued sleeping peacefully.

Qin Chengyue noticed his flushed cheeks and swollen lips, as if from an allergic reaction. He reached out to touch Ling Ran's forehead and found it burning hot—he was running a fever.

Worried sick, Qin Chengyue called Ling Ran's name a few more times, but there was no waking him. He quickly turned and dashed toward the door.

How could Jiang Zhiyu have the leisure to drink downstairs with those good-for-nothing friends while Ranran was burning up like this?! Absolutely heartless!

Just as he stepped out of the bedroom, he collided headfirst into a solid wall.

Looking up, he saw the ringleader of those so-called friends.

Shang Ye steadied him and reached over to close the bedroom door.

Fuming, Qin Chengyue snapped, "Ranran has a fever! I need Jiang Zhiyu to call a doctor right now. How could he take care of Ranran like this? He doesn't care about Ranran's health at all!"

As he spoke, he tried to push past, but Shang Ye blocked his way. "No need for a doctor."

"You don't understand the situation. Ranran's health is fragile—he needs constant attention. What if it gets worse without a doctor? Move aside!" Qin Chengyue shoved him but was abruptly grabbed by the wrist.

"He's not sick," Shang Ye said, his gaze steady. "An Omega's body temperature rises during knotting."

"He's just been permanently marked."

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