TPLTMOE – Chapter 74

Ling Ran wiped the faint moisture from the corner of his eyes onto Jiang Zhiyu's clothes, his cheeks puffing out slightly.

"What are you calling me for..."

A short, muffled vibration came from the chest near his ear. Ling Ran heard him laugh and tilted his head up to look at him.

Jiang Zhiyu pinched his cheek, as if caressing a piece of fine jade. "Playing dumb with me?"

As he spoke, he leaned in again as if to kiss him. Ling Ran couldn't handle it anymore and quickly raised his hands to cover Jiang Zhiyu's mouth.

His slender, pale hands had little strength, yet Jiang Zhiyu actually stopped.

"No more kissing..." Ling Ran sounded aggrieved. "My lips hurt."

Jiang Zhiyu brushed his thumb over Ling Ran's lips—still swollen and damp.

Of course, it wasn't just his lips that were swollen.

"Does your tongue hurt?" Jiang Zhiyu's voice came muffled from beneath Ling Ran's palm. "Stick it out. Let me see."

Ling Ran bargained, "Then... you can't kiss me."

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled. "Fine."

Reassured, the little Omega obediently opened his mouth, his small, pink tongue tentatively peeking out—just the very tip, glistening and flushed, like a newborn snake.

The gesture was unintentionally seductive, yet his expression remained pure and innocent. His damp eyes gazed up pitifully, the corners slightly downturned.

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze darkened. He reached out, fingers clamping around that slippery little tongue coated in saliva.

Ling Ran whimpered, nearly crying as his tongue was thoroughly inspected, turned and prodded.

It felt like an eternity—long enough for silvery strands of saliva to escape the corners of Ling Ran's mouth.

Wiping the moisture from his fingers, Jiang Zhiyu then dabbed Ling Ran's cheeks clean before concluding, "It's fine."

Ling Ran quickly shut his mouth, his jaw aching. He decided never to open it again.

Jiang Zhiyu gestured for a servant standing nearby to bring a glass of wine and a plate of freshly picked grapes.

Each grape was plump and dark purple, almost black, held between Jiang Zhiyu's slender fingers. The skin was thin, barely containing the juicy flesh beneath—ripe and tempting.

No need to peel them. A gentle squeeze, and the fruit would eagerly burst into one's mouth.

Jiang Zhiyu brought one to Ling Ran's lips.

"Open up."

Ling Ran had already made up his mind. He pursed his lips and shook his head—no.

Jiang Zhiyu applied slight pressure, and the grape split open at the corner of Ling Ran's mouth. Sweet juice splashed out, a few drops landing on his lips.

Ling Ran heard Jiang Zhiyu eat the grape, the sound of teeth crushing the flesh accompanying the fragrant scent of grapes that slowly filled the air.

It was the scent of his pheromones.

It wasn't just the grape being devoured—it felt like him.

Ling Ran parted his lips slightly, quickly licking the juice away.

An overwhelming sweetness flooded his mouth. Just a few drops were this sweet, this delicious...

Jiang Zhiyu saw through the little Omega's thoughts and picked another grape from the plate, bringing it to his lips once more.

"Want to try?"

Ling Ran's eyes were fixed on the grape, already itching to taste it. He really wanted to see how these grapes differed from the ones he'd had elsewhere.

"Most of the grapes grown here are Muscat, an improved variety. The flesh usually has a rich rose aroma—that's where the name comes from. They're high in sugar content and are often used for making wine, aside from being eaten fresh."

Jiang Zhiyu leaned down close to his neck, taking a deep breath against his skin.

"Baby, it smells just like you."

Ling Ran was like a kitten being aggressively sniffed, his soul nearly leaving his body from the intensity. So when the grape was pushed into his mouth, he didn't resist.

The enigma might not have done it on purpose, but his fingertips sank slightly into the soft, damp flesh of Ling Ran's lips.

The grape pulp was forcibly pressed out, the thin skin bursting open inside his mouth. Juice sprayed toward his throat, flooding his senses with sweetness.

Ling Ran held the pulp in his mouth, his tongue quickly swallowing all the juice. Feeling the resistance as his lips tried to close, he lifted his eyes and gave the enigma an accusing look.

Jiang Zhiyu withdrew his hand, cupping Ling Ran's chin to help him close his lips, as if assisting him in chewing. He even applied gentle pressure under his jaw, mimicking the motion for him.

Ling Ran barely had to chew—if possible, the enigma in front of him probably wished he could chew it himself and feed it to him.

After finishing the grape, Ling Ran narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.

Aside from the natural sweetness of the grape, there was indeed an indescribable rose fragrance. The two flavors didn't clash but instead blended together beautifully.

This was the first time Ling Ran had tasted his own scent. He hadn't realized his pheromones could be so sweet and delicious.

Once he finished chewing and swallowed, a large palm opened beside his lips.

"Spit."

Ling Ran's lips twitched, and he obediently spat out a small grape seed.

Jiang Zhiyu tossed it aside and asked, "Want more?"

Ling Ran's eyes sparkled as he nodded.

Delicious. Loved it. Wanted more.

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled and fed him another grape, waiting for him to finish before letting him spit the seed into his palm to discard. One by one, he fed him. One by one, he threw the seeds away.

And from time to time, he wiped the juice lingering at the corners of the little Omega's lips.

Even the servants nearby were stunned—no parent raising a child could be this patient.

After eating over a dozen grapes, Jiang Zhiyu stopped him, worried he might feel uncomfortable if he ate too many.

But Ling Ran clearly hadn't had enough, his gaze repeatedly drifting toward the plate filled with deep purple-red grapes.

Jiang Zhiyu picked up the wine glass beside the table. The wine inside had already been decanted and was now at its best for drinking.

He took a small sip—smooth, light, sweet with a lingering aftertaste, easy to enjoy.

He brought the rim of the glass to the little Omega's lips, his voice low and coaxing.

"Try it."

Ling Ran knew his alcohol tolerance was poor, so he hadn't planned on drinking. But before he could shake his head, Jiang Zhiyu added, "Take it slow. This wine isn't easy to get drunk on."

Ling Ran caught a whiff of rose fragrance, seemingly emanating from the glass. For a moment, he was curious whether this wine would taste as good as grape juice, though he had no experience in wine tasting.

So Jiang Zhiyu patiently guided him step by step—first observing the wine's appearance. White wines transition from pale yellow to golden hues, with older vintages deepening in color, while red wines shift from purplish-red to brick red.

The red wine before them had already approached a brick-red hue, indicating excellent quality.

Jiang Zhiyu swirled the glass, instructing Ling Ran to inhale the aromas released by the wine. There were three distinct layers: the floral scent of roses, the bready aroma from fermentation, and the aged vanilla notes from the oak barrels.

"First, smell the surface, then take a deep breath," Jiang Zhiyu said, resting his other hand on the back of Ling Ran's head as the younger man nearly pressed his face against the rim of the glass. "Try to distinguish the different layers of fragrance."

Ling Ran obediently complied, but his expression remained bewildered. He couldn't detect three distinct layers—only the general scent of alcohol and flowers.

He took a small sip from the glass still held by the enigma.

"Don't swallow yet."

As Jiang Zhiyu spoke, he lightly tapped Ling Ran's slightly protruding Adam's apple.

Ling Ran shuddered abruptly, his throat tightening reflexively. With a gulp, he swallowed the wine in his mouth before he could even taste it properly.

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled. "Can't even hold a sip of wine in your mouth?"

Small mouth, shallow throat.

Ling Ran shot him a resentful look. If Jiang Zhiyu hadn't touched his throat, he wouldn't have reacted so sensitively.

It was as if some conditioned reflex had already formed.

Jiang Zhiyu patted his head and brought the glass closer again. "This time, hold it properly. Only swallow when I say so."

Ling Ran nodded and obediently took another sip.

"Let the wine fully coat every part of your tongue—the tip, the sides, the back, and underneath," Jiang Zhiyu commanded.

Ling Ran carefully followed the instructions, letting the wine move as directed in his mouth.

"Slowly perceive the sweetness, the acidity. You might feel a slight tingling sensation along the sides of your mouth. The tannins in aged wine are delicate and smooth, enhancing its structure and complexity."

Ling Ran began to sense something different from his usual experience with wine. Jiang Zhiyu's guidance made him feel as if he were learning how to taste wine for the first time.

He fully appreciated the wine's light, silky texture, waiting for Jiang Zhiyu's next instruction so he could finally swallow.

But the man before him remained silent, his gaze lingering—first on Ling Ran's damp, flushed lips, then drifting to his cheeks, now puffed out from holding the wine.

Ling Ran waited and waited, growing impatient. His tongue ached from the effort, and he was on the verge of losing control. Just as he blinked, preparing to secretly swallow—

Jiang Zhiyu anticipated his little trick. The moment Ling Ran was about to gulp it down, the enigma pinched his winefilled cheeks lightly before leaning in to claim it for himself.

Ling Ran's eyes widened in shock. Not a single drop of the wine—now warmed in his mouth—made it down his throat. Instead, the greedy enigma stole every last bit.

And took even more from him besides.

Finally, Jiang Zhiyu reached out to wipe the reddish-brown wine stain from the corner of his lips. Before his fingers could touch the little Omega's cheek, the boy buried his face directly into Jiang Zhiyu's chest, rubbing all the moisture from his mouth onto his clothes.

It was black anyway—no one would notice if it got wet.

Ling Ran was somewhat dazed by the kiss. The wine wasn't intoxicating, but a kiss laced with it certainly was.

He refused to lift his head, so Jiang Zhiyu let him be, one hand continuously stroking the back of his head and nape in reassurance.

Not far away, the others seemed to have finished their games and were now walking over.

Yan Xiwen noticed an unfamiliar new bottle of wine on the table and took a sip from a glass, frowning in dissatisfaction. "Seriously? Even this bottle is more expensive than the one you gave me?"

It seemed this winery was full of hidden treasures, its private cellar stocked with rare vintages. Though the bottles Jiang Zhiyu had earlier allowed the servants to bring out were fine selections, they couldn't compare to this one—or to Qin Chengyue's.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't bother explaining. This wine had been specifically reserved for Ling Ran to taste.

After two sips, Yan Xiwen reached to pour himself another glass.

Jiang Zhiyu shot a glance, and a servant promptly stepped forward to silently reclaim the bottle.

Yan Xiwen: "??"

Who exactly are you guarding it from?

Qin Chengyue walked over and patted Yan Xiwen's shoulder. "Don't be discouraged. You were pretty good at picking grapes earlier—why don't you go home and brew your own?"

Yan Xiwen turned back with an exasperated look. "Is that even human language? I don't think I understand."

Qin Chengyue pulled out his phone, searched, and read aloud: "The winemaking process generally consists of seven steps. Step one: harvesting—which you've already completed. So now you move to step two: destemming and crushing... Step three: fermentation..."

The more he read, the darker Yan Xiwen's expression grew.

Yan Xiwen snatched the phone from his hands. "Thanks so much, kind stranger. I totally didn't know how to use Baidu."

Qin Chengyue hopped around, trying to reclaim his phone, but he was neither as tall nor as long-armed as Yan Xiwen.

Annoyed, he turned to Shang Ye with a pleading look.

Shang Ye watched the two bickering with a cool expression. After a pause, he finally stepped forward, effortlessly retrieving the phone from Yan Xiwen and handing it back to Qin Chengyue.

Bolstered by the backup, Qin Chengyue grew even bolder and resumed reading. "Step four: pressing—“

Yan Xiwen was thoroughly irritated. "Keep going, and I'll call your brother over."

Though Qin Chengyue wasn't afraid of his brother, his gaze flicked to the two practically fused together on the bench, and he quickly shut his mouth.

He couldn't let his brother come here just to suffer.

After an afternoon of playful antics, the sky gradually darkened.

The group stayed for dinner before leaving, each taking a few bottles of wine with them.

Yan Xiwen lingered reluctantly. "I think your cellar must be impressive. Next time, I'm going straight there for a tour—I want to see what real luxury looks like."

In truth, he just wanted to demand more wine outright. After all, Jiang Zhiyu had bought this estate seemingly just for fun.

But Jiang Zhiyu, still holding the little Omega in his arms, replied, "It's not up to me. You'll need the owner's permission."

"Master? What master? Wasn't this estate just bought at a high price?"

"Not under my name." Jiang Zhiyu was meticulously wiping the little Omega's lips.

Everyone looked somewhat confused, except for Shang Ye who already had one foot out of the ancient castle's door.

"If not under your name, then whose? Why spend so much money buying it? Or did you really buy it just to give it away as a toy?"

At these words, Jiang Zhiyu shot him a look that clearly said "Got a problem with that?"

Yan Xiwen glanced at the little Omega who had been sitting on Jiang Zhiyu's lap all evening being fed bite by bite, and asked incredulously, "Is it under his name?"

Even Qin Chengyue was taken aback. Did he hear correctly? This estate was bought by Jiang Zhiyu for Ling Ran?!

Ling Ran was equally shocked, his eyes widening slightly as he stared unblinkingly at Jiang Zhiyu, momentarily at a loss for words, his heart pounding rapidly.

When had this vineyard been purchased? And when had it been transferred to his name?

Why was Mr. Jiang giving him such an extravagant gift again? How could he possibly thank or repay him?

Only after everyone else had left was Ling Ran carried away from the dining table.

Instead of taking him back to the bedroom on the second floor, Jiang Zhiyu led him down a long, dimly lit corridor to the wine cellar in the castle's basement.

Soft amber light diffused across the wooden arched ceiling. The vast space was lined with rows of tall, neatly arranged oak wine racks, standing like silent sentinels in the subdued lighting, solemnly displaying countless rare vintages.

These racks, deep in hue and exquisite in craftsmanship, bore the mottled marks of time in their grain, adding an air of ancient mystery. Bottles of wine rested quietly in their designated slots, their rounded surfaces gleaming faintly under the light, even the handwriting on each label appearing elegantly antiquated.

In one corner of the cellar, a small fountain trickled softly. The air was thick with the intoxicating aroma of wine—a captivating blend of grape fragrance, oak richness, and the musk of age.

Ling Ran's nose was constantly teased by this heady scent. Looking around, he hadn't expected so many wines to be stored here. No wonder Yan Xiwen had been so eager to visit—it truly was an eye-opener.

Jiang Zhiyu carried him between the racks, examining the descriptions on each label as they passed. Several rows yielded nothing satisfactory until they finally stopped at one particular spot, his gaze lingering on a few select bottles.

The bottle chosen for Ling Ran earlier in the day didn't seem to his liking—he'd only taken one sip before setting it aside. So now Jiang Zhiyu had come personally to select a different variety.

Another reason for purchasing this vineyard had been its cellar. While others only knew the buyer had paid a premium, they were unaware of the collection's true value. Many of these wines were highly collectible, with some brands already discontinued, destined only to appreciate further. It was, in essence, a sound investment.

Cradling Ling Ran with one arm, Jiang Zhiyu picked up a bottle from the shelf with his free hand and held it up for inspection. "Do you like this one?" he asked.

The label was covered in fancy, cursive English that Ling Ran couldn't decipher. Even if he could read it, he wouldn't know how to pick wine properly. But the enigma was still watching him, waiting for his response, so he could only nod vaguely.

Jiang Zhiyu set it down and picked up another bottle. "This one?"

Ling Ran nodded again.

"Choose carefully," Jiang Zhiyu gave his butt a playful squeeze, "I'll feed it to you later."

Ling Ran quickly shook his head. "No..."

His alcohol tolerance was poor. That small sip during the day hadn't affected him much, but any more and he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't get drunk.

Jiang Zhiyu stopped asking for his opinion, selecting a bottle with only 10% alcohol content before carrying him out of the wine cellar. "You don't need to take medicine tonight."

….

True to his word, Jiang Zhiyu didn't give Ling Ran any medication.

He was extraordinarily patient. After all these days of restraint, he could afford to take things slow now.

Guiding him step by step, advancing gradually.

The chosen bottle was opened first. Under the pretense of teaching him wine tasting, Jiang Zhiyu coaxed him into drinking nearly half. The enigma finished the rest himself, until both of them were thoroughly steeped in the same intoxicating aroma.

The drunken little Omega resembled an overripe grape about to burst with juice, even more tender and tempting than the freshly picked ones from earlier. Jiang Zhiyu never seemed to get enough, handling him like squeezing that nearly bursting fruit.

At some point, a mirror had been installed in the bedroom—or perhaps it had always been there. These past days, Ling Ran had been too dazed, either asleep or with his vision blurred by tears, so he'd never noticed.

Now it was impossible to miss, as it had been repositioned directly opposite the foot of the bed. A massive floor-length mirror nearly two meters wide, perfectly matching the European-style decor.

Occasionally, Jiang Zhiyu would grip his cheeks, forcing him to meet his own flushed, disoriented reflection. But in his muddled state, he couldn't comprehend much—only to have his ears nibbled while sweet nothings were whispered.

"Baby, open your eyes."

Then he'd meet those watery, glistening eyes in the mirror, only to cry them even redder and wetter.

….

Later, Ling Ran felt the urgent need to use the bathroom again.

He didn't want to wet the bed a second time, but no one heeded his pleas. Though the enigma indulged him excessively, even telling him it was fine to go right there—they could always change the sheets—the little Omega resisted stubbornly.

Between hiccuping sobs, he shook his head vehemently. "N-no... don't... wan-wanna use... toilet..."

He'd already passed his twentieth birthday, legally old enough to marry—a proper adult now.

So this absolutely couldn't happen.

The enigma pretended not to hear. Only after a long while did he mercifully lean down to kiss away those tears.

"Still want the toilet?"

The little Omega nodded with all his might, his entire body like a steamed red shrimp, the shell ready to slip right off.

"Call me husband. Let your husband carry you there, hmm?"

The words stuck in his throat. The little Omega bit his lip, his peach-blossom eyes damp and helpless, long wet lashes trembling as fresh tears rolled down.

He... how could he bully him like this...

Wuwu...

Enigma kissed away his tears with endless patience: "If you don't call me that, then just wet the bed."

"No... don't..."

The little Omega shook his head, biting his swollen red lips until faint creases appeared. His voice came out soft and wispy, laced with an unbearably sweet coquettishness that seemed impossible to dissolve.

"H-husband..." he sobbed twice, pleading, "Need... to pee…"

The broad, muscular back stiffened noticeably for a moment. The enigma's eyes darkened intensely, the veins at his temples bulging prominently as if struggling to roar, attempting to surge forth along with the overwhelming torrent of tequila pheromones.

Ling Ran's eyes widened instantly. The excessively fierce pheromones were too much for him to handle, and tears burst forth uncontrollably like a breached dam.

The enigma could only soothe him while lifting him from the large bed.

"Alright, no more tears, baby."

The enigma carried him into the bathroom but didn't set him down, holding him in a posture reminiscent of potty-training a child.

The little Omega was exhausted to the extreme, without even the strength to lift a finger, and indeed didn't need to do anything himself. Pressing close against his back, the enigma finally spoke in a gentle tone.

"Go ahead."

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