TPLTMOE – Chapter 75

Ling Ran was carried back to the large bed once more, and by the time it all ended, he was already too dazed to be aware of anything.

When he woke again, he was still tightly embraced by a warm chest, a hand pressed firmly against the small of his back, ensuring his soft little body fit snugly against the other's frame.

Ling Ran shifted slightly, only to be pulled even closer into the embrace.

"Awake?"

A deep voice sounded above him. He tilted his head up and realized Jiang Zhiyu had been watching him for who knew how long.

Memories of last night's chaotic scenes flooded his mind, and Ling Ran's cheeks instantly burned red. He buried his face in the blankets.

The scent of alcohol and pheromones still lingered faintly in the sheets—a mingling of their combined scents.

A hand slid beneath the covers, gently resting over the small, rounded swell of the Omega's belly.

The lightest touch against the thin layer of skin was enough to draw a stifled whimper from Ling Ran, his eyes welling up with tears.

Flustered, he pushed the hand away, then cradled his own belly with both hands, panting softly as if guarding it from further contact.

Jiang Zhiyu reached for him again, this time exerting no pressure, merely covering Ling Ran's hands with his own.

"So full here," the Enigma murmured, his tone serious and focused. "Did you secretly get yourself pregnant?"

Ling Ran's breath hitched. His beautiful, alluring eyes lifted to meet Jiang Zhiyu's gaze, wide with innocence.

"N-no... that's not..."

Not only was this his first time being knotted, but his shrunken, underdeveloped reproductive cavity made pregnancy an absolute impossibility.

The Enigma tilted his chin up and asked again, "Then what's inside?"

What was inside? Ling Ran couldn't bring himself to say it.

Only Jiang Zhiyu knew exactly how much he had been forced to endure last night.

He had called him "husband" when told to, drunk when told to, held things in his mouth when told to—obedient and pliant beyond belief.

Jiang Zhiyu decided there was no longer any need for Xu Guanyi to prescribe medication. The thousands of bottles in the wine cellar could be slowly enjoyed between them.

Even though his belly was already stretched to the limit, Jiang Zhiyu still made sure he finished every bite of his meal.

After breakfast, Zhao Qin arrived at the estate to drive them back to Yutang Residence.

Having spent so many days indulging in reckless abandon at the estate, Ling Ran couldn't stop worrying about work—seemingly more concerned than Jiang Zhiyu, the actual CEO of the conglomerate.

But now that he was the CEO's wife, it was only natural for him to take an interest in his husband's company.

Jiang Zhiyu insisted he rest at home for two more days before returning to work. If Ling Ran disobeyed, he would ensure the Omega couldn't even walk properly for the next week.

Ling Ran obediently complied, recuperating at home while Qin Chengyue sent him work materials online. Drafting edits and writing proposals from home suited him just fine.

The two rings remained in Ling Ran's possession, but he chose to take them off, carefully storing them in the drawer of his bedside table.

When Jiang Zhiyu returned home that evening, he found the little Omega sitting on the plush rug in front of the sofa, typing away on his laptop. His slender, jade-white hands were bare, devoid of any adornment.

Narrowing his eyes, Jiang Zhiyu loosened his tie as he approached the sofa. Without warning, he bent down and scooped Ling Ran up from the floor, settling him onto the couch and into his lap.

"The floor is cold," Jiang Zhiyu said. "I'll have someone replace it with a thicker rug later. Until then, no more sitting on the ground."

Autumn had arrived, and while it wasn't yet cold enough to turn on the underfloor heating, the marble tiles were already icy to the touch. After sitting there for just a short while, the little Omega's feet had grown noticeably chilled.

Jiang Zhiyu held his feet to warm them, glancing at the document open on his laptop—still the draft for the Dong Corporation feature. It had gone through countless revisions, yet none had met his satisfaction, so Ling Ran was now working on the twenty-first version.

His expression was focused as he stared at the screen, his hands never leaving the keyboard. After typing a few words, his face scrunched up in frustration, and he deleted them all.

"This is so hard," he murmured softly, almost like a whine.

Jiang Zhiyu skimmed through the structure of his draft and offered a few concise suggestions.

"Don't use this case at the beginning—it's not compelling enough. I remember Zhao Qin gave you some materials on the Dong Corporation, including evidence of Dong Hui operating underground brothels in multiple cities and engaging in bribery with high-ranking officials. Use that instead."

With that, Jiang Zhiyu pulled him into his arms, wrapping his hands around the little Omega's waist to reach the keyboard. He began typing rapidly, revising the draft while explaining his changes and occasionally asking for Ling Ran's input.

Jiang Zhiyu's words were always sharp and to the point, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. Ling Ran had sensed this before when reading his edits, but watching him craft the text in real time was an entirely different experience.

Ling Ran had no objections—his heart was pounding too hard. He was in awe of the enigma before him, filled with admiration and reverence. Even if Jiang Zhiyu hadn't been born into the Jiang family or become the head of the corporation, Ling Ran was certain he would have risen to prominence on his own merits. He seemed capable of anything, excelling effortlessly at everything he did.

If Jiang Zhiyu were a news anchor, Ling Ran would sit in front of the TV every day just to watch him.

"Stop daydreaming." A finger tapped lightly against the little Omega's forehead, pulling his wandering thoughts back to reality.

Blushing, Ling Ran quickly turned his attention back to the screen.

Jiang Zhiyu had already restructured the draft, laying out the framework all that remained was filling in the details.

"Start with the case I mentioned earlier, then reference past incidents to reinforce the impact and resonate with the audience. After that, you and your co-anchor can share your perspectives on the two cases. I've written your part—go over it later and make sure it flows."

Ling Ran read through it carefully and found it flawless—not a single punctuation mark needed changing.

Thrilled with this twenty-second revision, he turned around happily and wrapped his arms around the enigma's neck.

"Mr. Jiang, you're amazing."

Jiang Zhiyu kissed his lips. "What did you call me?"

Ling Ran repeated, "Mr. Jiang..."

A smirk tugged at Jiang Zhiyu's lips. "Last night you were calling me 'husband.' Are we strangers now?"

Not bringing it up was fine, but once mentioned, Ling Ran felt that bloated, almost-bursting sensation in his stomach again.

Seeing him blush and hesitate to speak, Jiang Zhiyu took his hand, interlacing their fingers, and asked, "Where's the ring?"

Ling Ran answered in a very small voice, "I didn't lose it. I kept it safe."

"I wasn't saying you lost it," Jiang Zhiyu kissed the back of his hand again. "Even if you did, it wouldn't matter."

Ling Ran quickly shook his head. "Absolutely not! I'll definitely take good care of it. It's such a beautiful diamond—it can't be lost."

"You like it that much?" Jiang Zhiyu said. "I'll buy you a few more in the future, okay?"

He squeezed the little Omega's soft fingers and added, "One for each finger."

One was already enough to weigh Ling Ran's hand down. If all ten fingers were adorned, wouldn't that be a bit too extravagant?

Ling Ran said, "No, no, one is enough."

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled. "Being so frugal for your husband."

Ling Ran muttered softly, "But it's really expensive..."

Suddenly, as if remembering something, his eyes lit up brightly as he looked at the enigma. "Oh! I have a gift for you too."

Jiang Zhiyu grew intrigued and stopped restraining him, helping him put on his shoes before letting him slide off his lap.

Ling Ran dashed back to the bedroom in his slippers, rummaging through a small cabinet until he finally pulled out a long-hidden little box. He held it carefully in both hands and opened it with great care.

Inside was nothing more than a broken ankle inhibitor and a handmade seashell bracelet.

The seashells were ones he had painstakingly collected over a long, long time on the beaches of Lanalia Island—picking only the cleanest and most beautiful ones before stringing them together into a lovely bracelet.

But compared to what Mr. Jiang had given him, this gift seemed too plain, too cheap... almost embarrassing to present.

Ling Ran suddenly regretted it. He wanted to put the bracelet back into the box, but before he could, a hand reached over and took it, examining it closely in the palm.

Jiang Zhiyu asked, "This is for me?"

Ling Ran, belatedly shy, nodded lightly.

Each tiny shell on the bracelet had been carefully washed, dried, polished, and pierced—clearly a gift made with great effort.

It was something the little Omega had crafted by hand without him knowing.

Jiang Zhiyu returned the bracelet to him, undid his cufflink, and extended his wrist. "Put it on me."

Ling Ran gently fastened it for him, visibly delighted and a little proud.

Mr. Jiang's hands were naturally elegant—long, strong, and well-defined. Even wearing such a childish seashell bracelet didn't look out of place; instead, it made him seem a bit adorable.

And Ling Ran's sizing was impeccable—the bracelet fit perfectly, neither too tight nor too loose.

Jiang Zhiyu pulled him into his arms, nuzzling the tip of his nose. "When did you make this?"

Without hesitation, Ling Ran answered, "When we came back from Lanalia! The seashells on the beach there were so, so pretty. I picked up so many of them."

"Is that so?" Jiang Zhiyu smiled. "Why didn't you give it to me back then?"

"At that time..."

Ling Ran immediately covered his mouth as if he'd said something wrong. Continuing would likely expose his little secret completely.

Back then, he and Mr. Jiang weren't nearly this close. Giving someone a handmade gift when you're not even familiar would have been far too presumptuous.

Even if he didn't say it, Jiang Zhiyu could easily see through him.

"Did you already like me back then?"

Ling Ran still refused to answer, pressing his forehead against Jiang Zhiyu's chest, his ears turning slightly red.

Jiang Zhiyu pressed on: "When did it start?"

"Was it when I gave you that temporary mark?"

"Or was it that time on the beach?"

Ling Ran raised a hand to cover the enigma's mouth, pleading, "Stop asking..."

If he really had to pinpoint it, he didn't know the exact answer either.

Maybe it was that time on the island beach, or perhaps even earlier.

As early as when Jiang Shengyi stood in for Jiang Zhiyu at the film academy's lecture hall—when he sat in the audience and fell for the soul behind that speech.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't press further, instead taking the hand covering his mouth and planting careful kisses along it.

"Thank you, baby. I love it."

Ling Ran felt his palm tingle from the kisses. It was just an ordinary bracelet, yet it was being treasured like this.

Ling Ran wrapped his arms around Jiang Zhiyu's waist in return. "I'll give you more expensive gifts in the future. I can earn my own money now."

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled in agreement. "Alright, baby can support me."

Ling Ran looked up at him, and they naturally leaned into a kiss.

One kiss led to another, tumbling onto the bed—though they couldn't go further. Jiang Zhiyu simply carried him to the shower instead.

Like washing a kitten, he cleaned him thoroughly inside and out, dried him off, and tucked him back into bed.

Ling Ran, warm and pliant, curled up in his arms as Jiang Zhiyu stroked his hair, the comfort nearly lulling his soul right out of his body. Jiang Zhiyu asked why he'd kept the broken ankle suppressor for so long without throwing it away.

Half-asleep, Ling Ran mumbled that he couldn't throw it away—it was the first gift Jiang Zhiyu had ever given him.

The enigma froze for a few seconds at that answer before pulling his little omega even tighter against his chest.

***

After two days of rest, Ling Ran felt recovered enough to return to work. He missed his team after being away for so long. Zhao Qin drove him to the office as usual, with two bodyguard cars trailing behind the Porsche.

Jiang Zhiyu had the first chamber of commerce meeting to attend that morning, so they kissed goodbye downstairs.

Zhao Qin, long since used to this, updated Ling Ran on company affairs and the latest developments in Dong Hui's case as they crossed the river bridge.

"Dong Hui has likely returned to the country, but he hasn't dared to show his face all this time. The police still haven't located him, though Mr. Jiang has people searching too. We should have news soon."

The prolonged goodbye kiss made Ling Ran leave a bit late today, right in the middle of the morning rush hour. The queue of cars waiting to cross the bridge stretched back two intersections, and the two security vehicles that had been following closely were now separated by several cars.

Zhao Qin honked the horn and continued, "So it's really better if you avoid appearing in public these days. Dong Hui holds grudges fiercely. Even going to work carries some risk. Although we have security vehicles following us, if anything unexpected happens, it's hard to say. You absolutely cannot afford even the slightest injury."

Ling Ran asked, "Am I the one he wants to retaliate against?"

Zhao Qin replied, "Not just you, but you're definitely on the list—along with Anchor Qin. President Jiang doesn't want to keep you locked up at home like a canary, so he's been accommodating all your wishes. He agreed to let you come to work, but he's still uneasy. Tomorrow, I'll arrange two more cars. With four vehicles following, it'll be much safer."

Ling Ran was surprised. "Isn't that a bit too much..."

Without traffic, the drive to the office would only take twenty to thirty minutes. If four cars followed him, it would look like a motorcade—way too conspicuous.

But Zhao Qin didn't think it was excessive. If he failed to protect Ling Ran, it would be a dereliction of duty.

He immediately made a call to arrange for more capable personnel to join Ling Ran's detail.

Ling Ran sat quietly in the backseat, listening. If this would put Jiang's mind at ease, he had no objections.

The distant traffic light finally turned green, and the congested flow of cars showed signs of easing.

Zhao Qin stepped on the gas while still on the phone via his earpiece.

Just as the Porsche began to move, a black van suddenly cut in from the side street, blocking their path with precision.

Zhao Qin glanced at the vehicle, his expression instantly turning cold. He quickly dialed another number.

But before the call could connect, two burly male alphas stepped out of the van and approached the Porsche, knocking on the passenger- side window.

Ling Ran inhaled sharply. Even if he were slow to react, it was clear these men weren't ordinary people—they looked like ruthless enforcers.

A glint of cold steel flashed at their waists. Ling Ran's eyes widened when he realized what it was.

A machete, tucked into their belts.

The traffic on the bridge had already moved forward by several hundred meters, but they remained stuck in place. The cars behind them grew impatient, honking furiously.

One of the enforcers, his face twisted with aggression, grew irritated by the noise. He strode to the car behind the Porsche, yanked the machete from his belt, and slammed it into the windshield.

Bang!

The glass shattered outward from the point of impact.

Ling Ran flinched violently, his hands clutching the seatbelt across his chest. He turned to look at Zhao Qin.

Zhao Qin had no time to finish his call. Through the rearview mirror, he could see the security team from the trailing vehicles running toward them—though the traffic jam still held them back.

But the alpha standing by the car also grinned savagely, seemingly ready to strike from the passenger side where Ling Ran was seated. Zhao Qin quickly said to Ling Ran, "Hold on tight, Mr. Ling. I need to try and break through!"

With that, Zhao Qin suddenly slammed on the accelerator. The Porsche, now out of control, crashed directly into the black van parked diagonally ahead.

The people in the other vehicle clearly hadn't expected such recklessness and were caught off guard. The van spun several times on the empty bridge before, with a loud bang, slamming into the guardrail on the side. The impact was so severe that it cracked the barrier, leaving half the van's wheels dangling precariously over the sea.

Ling Ran's body lurched violently forward from the collision. An arm blocked his chest before the seatbelt yanked him back harshly, the force causing a sharp pain in his stomach. He pursed his lips silently as tears welled up in his eyes from the physical shock.

The alpha who had been standing outside Ling Ran's window with a knife only hesitated for a moment before raising his blade and giving chase.

Zhao Qin's right arm seemed to have hit something—his bone appeared slightly deformed—but he acted as if he felt nothing. He pressed the accelerator again, and the Porsche, its front end already mangled, roared to life before speeding past the van and racing across the bridge at full throttle.

Ling Ran was thrown back against his seat by the momentum. Then, he heard another loud "bang." Turning around, he saw a gleaming machete embedded in the rear windshield, its force so great that it had pierced through the glass and lodged itself into the car's frame.

Zhao Qin didn't slow down. Instead of heading to the company, he took a sharp turn after crossing the bridge and drove straight to the hospital with Ling Ran.

Only upon arriving at the hospital did Ling Ran notice Zhao Qin's arm hanging at an unnatural angle. Panicked, he exclaimed, "Assistant Zhao, your arm—!"

Zhao Qin had already called Xu Guanyi in advance. Xu Guanyi was waiting for them in the lobby and rushed over as soon as he saw them. His first instinct was to quickly scan Ling Ran from head to toe, ensuring he hadn't lost any limbs. Only then did Xu Guanyi relax slightly. "Are you hurt anywhere?" Xu Guanyi asked.

Ling Ran hurriedly replied, "I'm fine, but Assistant Zhao's arm seems badly injured. Dr. Xu, please check on him right away."

Seeing that Zhao Qin's arm was indeed fractured, Xu Guanyi handed him over to a colleague for X-rays and treatment before taking Ling Ran upstairs for a full examination.

Ling Ran didn't think there was anything wrong with him—just some soreness in his chest and stomach from the seatbelt—but Xu Guanyi insisted.

As he conducted the examination, Xu Guanyi comforted him gently, "No need to cry. You're fine, and Zhao Qin's arm isn't serious either. Just rest well."

Ling Ran looked puzzled. "I'm not crying."

Xu Guanyi helped him sit up and handed him a small mirror. "Your eyes are red as a rabbit's. Don't worry—I've already called President Jiang. He's on his way and should be here soon."

No sooner had he spoken than the door was flung open from the outside.

Jiang Zhiyu strode in, covering the distance to Ling Ran in a few quick steps. His stern brow was tightly furrowed, his eyes brimming with worry and fear. Despite his overwhelming anxiety, he hesitated to touch the little Omega's body recklessly, his outstretched hand frozen awkwardly mid-air.

"Was he hurt anywhere?" Jiang Zhiyu turned to ask Xu Guanyi.

Xu Guanyi glanced at Ling Ran's medical report and rubbed his chin. "No injuries, actually."

Jiang Zhiyu remained unconvinced. "Did you give him a full-body scan? Are you absolutely sure he wasn't hurt anywhere? No bleeding?"

Xu Guanyi simply waved the report in front of him to make it clear: "If you don't believe me, take a look. I promise he's really fine. At most, he might have scraped or rubbed some skin somewhere, but his bones are definitely intact, and there are no signs of bleeding."

Ling Ran heard the enigma before him suddenly exhale in relief, and then he was lifted from the medical equipment, pulled into a tight, secure embrace.

Jiang Zhiyu's heart finally settled. Ever since receiving the call, he had shown an uncharacteristic loss of composure for the first time—rising abruptly from an ongoing high-level meeting and speeding over in his car. The entire way, a crushing weight had pressed against his chest, suffocating him.

Now, holding the small Omega in his arms, he could smell the familiar sweet scent and even recall the warmth of their morning kiss when he had cradled him close.

Jiang Zhiyu buried his face deeper into Ling Ran's neck, inhaling deeply.

Xu Guanyi, recognizing the moment, tactfully excused himself and left.

Ling Ran felt the damp, warm breath against his neck, tickling him slightly. The embrace was so tight that breathing became a little difficult. His chest and stomach were surely reddened from the seatbelt, and now the enigma's firm torso pressed against him with such force that tears welled up in his eyes.

Yet at this moment, the enigma resembled a large feline, burying itself against him as if seeking solace from some unseen distress. Ling Ran's scent seemed to be the only comfort—inhaling wasn't enough, and the enigma's tall nose nearly dipped beneath his collar.

Ling Ran's toes barely touched the ground; his entire weight rested in the enigma's arms.

The petite Omega struggled to support the tall, muscular enigma.

But Ling Ran didn't resist. Instead, he raised a hand and gently stroked the enigma's hair—just as the enigma often did to soothe him.

Then, in a soft, tender voice, he murmured:

"It's okay."

"Don't be afraid."

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