TPLTMOE – Chapter 79

Those long lashes trembled even more delicately, like the fluttering wings of a butterfly about to take flight.

Jiang Zhiyu reached out, gently brushing over the fragile butterfly wings before his fingertips finally came to rest at the corner of Ling Ran's eye.

Ling Ran felt his eyes itch and slowly opened them, only to meet a pair of deep, dark pupils in his dazed state.

Within them lay incomparable tenderness, like the endless depths of the ocean, surging and overwhelming him.

He blinked, unable to pretend he hadn't heard those words just now. His heart was beating a little too fast, and even deep breaths couldn't calm it.

His palm pressed unconsciously against his lower abdomen as he asked in a small voice, "Is it... because I'm carrying a baby...?"

Jiang Zhiyu kissed the corner of his eye and held him even tighter. "It's because I haven't told you enough."

Ling Ran was a little confused. "What do you mean...?"

After caressing the corner of his eye, Jiang Zhiyu's fingertips trailed down to the small, upturned tip of his nose before finally gliding toward lips glistening with moisture.

The enigma was like the most patient, tender, and considerate partner in the world, ready to carefully guide his inexperienced little omega. "

Not because of the baby, and not because of any other reason," Jiang Zhiyu said, his voice low and unhurried as he gazed at him. "It's just because you're so special, so deserving of love."

"That's why I like you, love you—or you could say, it has to be you. I can't live without you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

As he spoke, he took the little omega's hand and pressed it against his own chest, letting him feel the steady, powerful heartbeat beneath.

Ling Ran seemed stunned, his eyes slightly damp as he tilted his face up to look at the enigma without speaking—yet his expressive gaze conveyed a thousand words.

Jiang Zhiyu's heart softened under that look. He lowered his head until their noses touched and said in a tone that brooked no refusal, "Baby, say you love me."

Even his love for his little omega was domineering and obsessive, overwhelming and unrelenting—he poured it all out at once, forcing his little omega to accept it whether he wanted to or not.

Ling Ran had no right to refuse, nor had he ever thought of refusing. He simply leaned in closer to the enigma and whispered, "I love you... I can't live without you either..."

It was the first time he had ever bared his heart like this, and once the words were out, he felt too embarrassed to look at Jiang Zhiyu again, his eyes lowering shyly.

But the enigma wasn't about to let him off so easily. He cupped his face, forcing him to meet his deep gaze.

"Did I go too deep earlier? Does it hurt?"

The little omega shook his head, shyly licking his lips.

A large hand settled over his lower abdomen, the warmth in that palm hotter than any other part of the little omega's body. The heat seeped through the thin skin, as if he could almost touch the still-unformed child inside.

Jiang Zhiyu felt something indescribable—it was because he loved his little omega that he also held affection for the tiny life growing within him.

But the person in his arms was so slender, so small, making it almost impossible to believe that his even smaller reproductive cavity could hold another life.

Jiang Zhiyu's hand traced the pitifully narrow curve of his waist. "Haven't you been eating well lately? You've gotten thinner."

Ling Ran, afraid he might be angry, quickly explained, "I've been eating properly, but sometimes I can't keep it down... I end up vomiting, so I just don't feel like eating anymore."

Jiang Zhiyu recalled the doctor mentioning morning sickness earlier. Gently stroking Ling Ran's sharp, delicate chin, he asked, "How long has this been going on?"

Ling Ran murmured, "Almost two weeks."

Jiang Zhiyu probably understood Ling Ran's physical condition better than Ling Ran himself. He kissed his forehead and comforted him, "It's the baby being difficult, making you feel unwell. If the pregnancy is too hard on you, we can try for a child later—or not at all."

This was only the early stages of pregnancy, yet his symptoms were already this severe. Who knew how much worse it would get in the later months? The doctor had already started advising on ways to ease the discomfort in the later stages, which meant the Omega would only suffer more.

Had he known that carrying an Enigma's child would be so taxing on an Omega, he would never have knotted inside his little Omega. If having a child of their own meant sacrificing Ling Ran's health, he'd rather never have one at all.

But Ling Ran misunderstood his words, thinking the Enigma didn't want the baby. His already teary eyes immediately spilled over, his pitiful, aggrieved expression enough to wrench anyone's heart.

Jiang Zhiyu wiped his tears away, pressing soft kisses to his cheeks between each stroke.

"Why are you crying, baby? Are you feeling unwell somewhere, hm?"

Ling Ran shook his head, still sobbing. "Y-you don't like the little baby in my belly..."

Jiang Zhiyu, unfairly accused, quickly cupped his face to explain, "No, I do like them. It's just that carrying them is making you suffer so much. I can't bear to see you in any pain, baby."

He kissed his damp eyelids. "Don't cry, alright? If you want this child, we'll keep them. I'm their father—of course I love them. But I love you more. You'll always come first for me."

The little Omega continued crying heartbrokenly, leaving Jiang Zhiyu helpless. "Alright, baby, no more tears. We'll do whatever you want, okay?"

If he loved this child so much, then Jiang Zhiyu would do everything in his power to take care of them both—mother and child.

Though worried, he couldn't stand to see Ling Ran upset. After repeatedly swearing that he did love the baby in his belly, Ling Ran finally believed him and stopped crying. His long lashes were still damp with tear tracks as he exhausted himself and fell asleep in Jiang Zhiyu's arms.

Jiang Zhiyu held him close, cushioning his head with his arm as a pillow while keeping him securely wrapped in his embrace, letting the wet streaks on his face smear against his chest.

In truth, the little Omega had also been venting his long-suppressed emotions in his arms, finally finding an outlet. After all, there would always be warm arms to hold him, someone to kiss his tears away, and even his unreasonable demands would be indulged.

Jiang Zhiyu gently rubbed his back. Truthfully, Ling Ran had been doing remarkably well lately—balancing fear, hard work, and self-care despite now carrying another life, with so many new things to be mindful of.

The little Omega had truly grown so much, becoming more and more outstanding and radiant.

Today at the restaurant entrance, Jiang Zhiyu spotted him standing with a blond, blue-eyed alpha. Even from a distance, he could instantly discern what that well-dressed white alpha was thinking about the little Omega.

The pregnant Omega had become even more delicate and alluring.

***

Ling Ran hadn't slept this soundly in a long time. Before this, relying on pheromone extracts for comfort had never truly eased the restlessness in his heart.

But last night, he slept dreamlessly, unusually peaceful.

When he opened his eyes in the morning, the room was empty.

The alarm hadn't gone off yet. He lay motionless in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

The sheets beside him still held a lingering warmth, so why was no one there?

Had last night just been another figment of his wishful imagination? Had Mr. Jiang never actually appeared, and had he simply dreamed up that absurd fantasy?

Ling Ran's eyes gradually grew unbearably sore. If he had never experienced it, it would have been one thing—but last night's sensations had felt so real. To now be told it was just a dream—how could he possibly accept that?

When Jiang Zhiyu returned to the room with a glass of water, he found the little Omega buried under the blankets, completely still.

He walked over and gently pulled the covers down, revealing a flushed little face and a pair of red-rimmed eyes.

Jiang Zhiyu's heart clenched. He bent down, scooped Ling Ran out from under the blankets, and settled him onto his lap, brushing away the dampness around his eyes.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Ling Ran blinked up at him, the warmth against his cheek confirming that this wasn't an illusion—the enigma before him was real.

"I... I thought you'd left..."

Ling Ran flung his arms around Jiang Zhiyu's neck, burying his face against his shoulder, nuzzling lightly and inhaling his scent with deep reliance.

Jiang Zhiyu held him close, soothing him. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay with you."

Ling Ran lifted his head. "Not even tomorrow?"

"No."

"And the day after?"

"Still not leaving," Jiang Zhiyu chuckled. "I'll be with you the whole time."

Ling Ran still seemed hesitant. "But... what about your work back home?"

"Everything can be handled remotely." Jiang Zhiyu pinched his cheek. "Nothing is more important than my treasure."

Of course, Ling Ran knew he was the "treasure" in question.

The little treasure was overjoyed—no more separation. His study abroad program was only a third of the way through, with two months left, and Mr. Jiang would be staying with him in London the entire time.

Jiang Zhiyu brought the glass to his lips. "Drink some water."

Ling Ran obediently parted his lips and drank half the glass in one go.

Jiang Zhiyu had stepped out earlier to prepare warm water for him, intending for him to drink it as soon as he woke up to the alarm.

But the alarm still hadn't sounded. Jiang Zhiyu checked his phone—five minutes left.

"Want to sleep a little longer?"

Ling Ran shook his head against Jiang Zhiyu's chest, then let out a big yawn.

"I can't sleep anymore, it's almost time to get up for work..."

He was actually still very tired, feeling lazy all over. Although they hadn't gone as far as knotting in the bathroom last night, it had still exhausted him thoroughly.

Seeing the exhaustion on his delicate face, Jiang Zhiyu said, "If you're tired, take a day off and rest at home today. Or if you want to end your visiting study early, that's fine too. You need to take extra care since you're pregnant. After the baby is born, if you still want to continue the program, I'll arrange it for you again."

Ling Ran refused without hesitation: "I can't leave now. There's still one very important episode left to record, and I haven't finished revising my script yet. Oliver said he needs to see the revised version today."

Jiang Zhiyu caught the key information in his words: "Oliver?"

Ling Ran nodded: "Oliver is my mentor, and he's also a very famous news anchor at BTC News, mainly covering international news. He's really amazing, knows so much. Although he's quite strict with me and Chengyue, he's actually pretty nice in private..."

The more Jiang Zhiyu listened, the more his expression darkened. It seemed Ling Ran thought highly of this Oliver—he'd praised him as "amazing" twice already, and even knew about his private demeanor. Had they spent time together beyond just dinner last night?

Jiang Zhiyu picked him up from the bed and carried him to the wardrobe, selecting clothes for him to wear that day. After comparing a few options against him, he returned to the bed, untied Ling Ran's robe, and began dressing him piece by piece.

This wasn't the first time Ling Ran had been treated like a doll and dressed on the bed, but the first time he had been barely conscious, completely at the mercy of someone else, so he hadn't felt embarrassed.

Now, fully aware, with his arms and legs being maneuvered and even his underwear changed for him, he was utterly mortified. He tried several times to get up and dress himself, only to be gently pushed back down.

"Be good, don't move."

"Lift your leg higher."

"Your arm."

"Your foot."

All the while, Jiang Zhiyu continued the conversation without missing a beat.

"Is that Oliver married?"

Ling Ran bit his lip, his cheeks flushed red, and after a moment's thought, replied, "I think... no... um..."

Jiang Zhiyu pressed further: "Does he often take you out to eat?"

Ling Ran shook his head: "Not really. Last night was the first time. After work, he treated me and Chengyue to dinner. But we sometimes run into each other at the company cafeteria at lunch and sit together."

Ah, so it was premeditated.

Jiang Zhiyu asked, "Are you close?"

Ling Ran smiled: "Yeah, he tells us some company gossip too—real insider stuff. He made us promise not to tell anyone else."

Jiang Zhiyu leaned in closer: "Can you tell me?"

Ling Ran was startled by the sudden proximity of that handsome face. No matter how many times he saw it, he couldn't help but stare.

Finally, he nodded: "I can."

For Jiang Zhiyu, the confirmation was enough—he didn't actually care about the gossip itself.

Once dressed, Jiang Zhiyu carried him to the bathroom to freshen up, then dried his accidentally damp hair before taking him to the dining room for breakfast.

Ling Ran usually let his hair air dry after washing his face, rarely bothering with a hairdryer.

As the two sat together having breakfast in the dining room, Qin Chengyue was still lazing in bed—he was notoriously difficult to wake in the mornings, preferring to skip breakfast for a few extra minutes of sleep. In the end, he'd grab the sandwich Song Yi prepared for him and take it to the office, making do with a quick bite.

In contrast, Ling Ran was almost too well-behaved and obedient. Jiang Zhiyu noticed he had lost weight again recently, so he sat beside him during breakfast, making sure he ate properly while keeping an eye on his nutritional intake.

At first, Ling Ran ate without issue, but after just a few sips of porridge, his face suddenly paled. A wave of nausea surged uncontrollably in his throat, and he turned away from the table, doubling over as dry heaves wracked his body.

This was the first time Jiang Zhiyu had seen him experience morning sickness. In an instant, he pulled Ling Ran onto his lap, one hand supporting his waist while the other gently rubbed his back in soothing motions to ease the discomfort.

Ling Ran retched a few times before finally stopping, his stomach clenched as if squeezed by an invisible hand, twisting and churning in spasms that left him weak and curled against the enigma's chest, his back arching slightly in distress.

He pressed a hand tightly over his mouth, trying to suppress the rising urge, but his body trembled uncontrollably. Tears of frustration welled in his eyes, threatening to spill over.

Jiang Zhiyu lifted the hem of his shirt and slipped a hand inside, pressing warm, calloused palms against the delicate skin of the small Omega, kneading gently until the heat seeped into him. After a while, Ling Ran felt much better, the nausea subsiding.

When the enigma wasn't around, he had no choice but to endure these difficult moments alone.

But now, Jiang Zhiyu wiped the corners of his lips clean and murmured softly in his ear, "Baby, listen to me. Breathe slowly."

Following the enigma's instructions, Ling Ran took a few deep breaths before opening his damp, reddened eyes to look up at him.

Jiang Zhiyu signaled for the breakfast to be cleared away—despite being prepared with mild flavors, it seemed the little Omega couldn't stomach it.

"You barely ate anything. Are you still hungry?"

Jiang Zhiyu rested a hand on his soft belly and asked directly, "What do you want to eat?"

Ling Ran thought for a moment before answering, "I want... green vegetable seafood egg noodles..."

The same kind Jiang Zhiyu had made for him before.

Glancing at the time and seeing it was still manageable, Jiang Zhiyu agreed. He lifted Ling Ran into his arms and stood from the table, dismissing the staff before heading straight to the kitchen.

Without needing any help, he soon emerged with a bowl of noodles in one hand and Ling Ran cradled in the other.

Returning to the dining table, he sat down and, under the astonished gazes of the servants, began feeding the small Omega himself.

What shocked the onlookers wasn't just the fact that someone of Jiang Zhiyu's status would personally cook—but that even the simplest dish could be transformed into something so fragrant and visually appealing. More astonishing was the level of care he showed Ling Ran. And miraculously, this time, there was no morning sickness at all!

Every bite Jiang Zhiyu fed him was carefully prepared—the noodles were cut into smaller pieces with a spoon first. After watching him eat most of the bowl in small, comfortable bites without any discomfort, Jiang gave him a few sips of warm soup.

Only then did the little Omega say he was full. Jiang Zhiyu glanced at the remaining portion, recognizing it as his usual, slightly larger appetite, and gently wiped his mouth before pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips, praising him for doing so well.

After breakfast, Ling Ran and Qin Chengyue still had to leave for work.

London had been blanketed in snow all night, and though the streets had been mostly cleared by morning, the air remained bitterly cold.

Before heading out, Jiang Zhiyu bundled Ling Ran in his thickest coat—a beige mink fur with a plush, silky-soft collar that provided exceptional warmth.

Holding Ling Ran's hand, he led him to the car, insisting on dropping him off right at the company entrance.

Ling Ran leaned happily against him, their fingers intertwined, brimming with joy.

Qin Chengyue settled into the passenger seat, and the driver set off for their offices.

Along the way, they could see street cleaners still working to clear the snowdrifts. The entire city of London was draped in white, like an exquisite castle inside a snow globe.

The car soon pulled up in front of BTC Tower. Ling Ran stepped out, walking toward the entrance with Qin Chengyue, but he kept glancing back every few steps.

Jiang Zhiyu also got out, standing by the car to watch him.

After the slender figure had only taken a few steps into the snowy landscape, Jiang couldn't take it anymore and called out, "Ling Ran."

Ling Ran immediately stopped and turned, his heart skipping when he saw the tall figure in the black coat still standing there, gaze burning into him.

His pulse raced as he said to Qin Chengyue beside him, "Go ahead first. I'll catch up."

Qin checked his watch and reminded him, "You've got ten minutes. Don't be late." Then he walked off alone.

Ling Ran was about to run back to the car when Jiang's voice stopped him: "No running."

"Walk slowly," Jiang instructed.

Obediently, Ling Ran slowed to a careful pace until he stood before him again.

Jiang reached out, adjusting the fur collar until it nearly covered the little Omega's entire face. Then, under its concealment, he lifted him slightly and captured his lips.

They had kissed countless times since reuniting, yet it never seemed enough. Every time, Ling Ran melted under the intensity—especially now, right in front of his workplace, where anyone could see.

He wanted to warn him, but the moment his lips parted, Jiang's tongue slipped in, teasing and nipping at his own in a relentless, intoxicating rhythm.

Trembling with nerves and an involuntary physical response, Ling Ran let out soft, breathy whimpers before finally being released, gasping for air.

It was as if Jiang wanted this kiss to linger in his mind all day, leaving no room for thoughts of any other alpha.

Clearly not satisfied with just that kiss, but with time being limited, he could only let his little Omega go upstairs first.

Pressing a thumb against those vividly red lips, he said in a husky voice, "Go on."

Ling Ran quickly stood on his tiptoes but couldn't reach those thin lips—only managing to plant a light kiss on the enigma's chin instead. His face flushed as he murmured, "I'm off to work now."

With that, he dashed into the building as if fleeing.

After the young Omega's figure had completely disappeared, Jiang Zhiyu instructed the driver to park the car in the underground garage before stepping into the BTC building himself.

The receptionist, upon hearing his name, immediately escorted him to the top-floor office.

Jiang Zhiyu had arranged for Ling Ran to be mentored by someone experienced and capable, but he hadn't expected the mentor to try and steal his partner away.

The head of BTC was familiar with Jiang Zhiyu. After listening to the situation, he quickly issued a notice to the television news department: Ling Ran would now be personally mentored by the department head, and Oliver was no longer to interfere. He also expressed interest in a long-term collaboration with the Jiang family, offering Ling Ran and Qin Chengyue opportunities to serve as news anchors if they were willing.

Jiang Zhiyu agreed on the surface, then casually mentioned that Ling Ran was already pregnant, so any fieldwork assignments would need to be reassigned. In short, Ling Ran's workload had to be just right—not too heavy, not too light, not too much, not too little. He couldn't be overworked, but he also couldn't be left feeling bored or unchallenged.

The BTC head looked troubled and finally suggested Jiang Zhiyu just draft Ling Ran's work schedule himself.

Without hesitation, Jiang Zhiyu mapped out a detailed plan and handed it to the head to distribute to the team, instructing them to follow it exactly.

Though exasperated, the head had no choice but to comply.

After settling Ling Ran's work arrangements, Jiang Zhiyu went to the television news department floor. Standing before a transparent glass wall, he watched Ling Ran present a report to several executives in the conference room.

Ling Ran remained unaware that just beyond the glass, someone's gaze lingered on him—filled with admiration and tenderness, utterly unable to look away.

Ling Ran's presentation was thorough, and his competence clearly impressed the executives. With a polite smile, he gathered his materials and returned to his seat.

When he glanced up again, the space beyond the glass was empty, as if no one had ever been there.

That afternoon, Ling Ran received notice of his transfer. To his surprise, he was reassigned to the department head's team, with the head personally mentoring him. Even Oliver was stunned and tried to appeal the decision, but the higher-ups were adamant—almost as if they intended to groom Ling Ran for something greater—and swiftly moved him.

With the new team, Ling Ran's workload increased slightly. He spent the entire afternoon researching topics for an upcoming news segment, as the department head hinted that if his pitch was selected, he might even get to join the broadcast in the studio.

Ling Ran was brimming with motivation. But as he waited downstairs after work for Qin Chengyue, Oliver approached him again, this time inviting him to dinner. Ling Ran politely declined.

Oliver seemed unwilling to give up. His blue eyes locked onto Ling Ran as he said, "Ling, you must know by now—I really like you. Even though you have a partner, I don't mind. Maybe you could give me a chance. Who knows? I might not be any worse than him."

Open relationships might be more common abroad, but Ling Ran clearly wasn't one to entertain such ideas.

"Sorry, Oliver, I only see you as my colleague, nothing more," Ling Ran adjusted his collar, covering the lower half of his face. "Besides, my partner is far from lacking. He's exceptionally capable and outstanding—no one in my heart could ever compare to him."

As the words left his lips, Ling Ran suddenly felt an arm wrap around his waist. Turning his head, he met the stern profile of the enigma, Jiang Zhiyu.

Pulling him into an embrace right in front of the blond alpha, Jiang Zhiyu leaned down and pressed a kiss to his lips, then gently stroked his cheeks, chilled by the cold wind.

“Sweetheart, why are you out so late?”

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