TPLTMOE – Chapter 91

 Chapter 91: Extra 8 – Raising Pups (4)

Ling Ran felt like he was being melted into a puddle of water.

The room was dark, with no lights on, forcing his senses of smell and touch to become even more acute.

Enigma was heavy, fierce, as if he wanted to devour him alive.

The newly bought tie ended up wrapped around Ling Ran, binding tender, juicy flesh, twisting and tightening until it was thoroughly soaked in dripping juices before being gently undone.

Jiang Zhiyu took the Omega's hand and made him drape the tie back around his own neck.

Slender fingers lifted the tie, winding it twice before bringing it to his nose for a deep inhale. His eyes darkened further, his gaze burning with obsession as it fixed on the figure on the bed.

"Baby, you smell so good."

He leaned down to kiss the damp Omega, licking open the lightly parted lips.

Only the sounds of their intimacy echoed in the room.

The soundproofing was good—no noise could be heard from outside.

In his dazed state, Ling Ran tried to calculate whether this was really Enigma's rut period, but his thoughts were too scrambled to make sense of anything.

Just then, the door was suddenly pounded on.

Jiang Zhiyu had just picked up the boneless Omega to carry him to the bathroom when Jiang Yunyun's voice rang out from the other side:

"Papa! Papa! Open the door quick! I saved you lots of cake—come out and eat it!"

Without hesitation, Jiang Zhiyu grabbed a blanket from the closet, wrapped it tightly around the man in his arms, and strode over to open the door.

The overpowering scent of top-shelf tequila filled the air, drowning out the faint traces of rose and grape.

The pheromones were so strong that Jiang Yunyun nearly passed out on the spot. Luckily, Song Yi rushed over to steady him and quickly said to Jiang Zhiyu, "President Jiang, I'll take the young master away now. He's already had his cake. I was just running his bath when he slipped out to knock..."

Jiang Yunyun pinched his nose and looked up at the towering, imposing Enigma. His father was shirtless, and the Omega lay obediently in his arms, not even sparing him a glance.

Jiang Yunyun had missed Ling Ran terribly, and now that he'd finally seen him tonight, he barely got to say two words before Enigma snatched him away again.

Furious, he shouted, "Papa! Are you listening to me? Aren't you going to eat the cake? I picked grape jam flavor—it's so good! If you don't eat it, I'll finish it all myself!"

Ling Ran stirred at the noise, too exhausted to open his eyes fully. Just as he tried to lift his head, a large hand pressed him back down.

Jiang Zhiyu looked down at his son, the heat in his body still unquenched—what had happened earlier was merely an appetizer.

"He's not feeling well. No cake for him," Jiang Zhiyu said deliberately, letting his son see Ling Ran's flushed cheeks before commanding, "And none for you either. After your bath, go straight to bed."

But upon hearing that Ling Ran was unwell and seeing how red his face was, Jiang Yunyun grew worried. He tried to push closer, reaching for Ling Ran's leg.

"Papa, where does it hurt? Let me see, let me see!"

Jiang Zhiyu nudged him back with a knee. "Are you a doctor?"

Jiang Yunyun was left speechless, his little hands frozen mid-air. "No... I..."

Jiang Zhiyu: "Then you don't need to watch."

Jiang Yunyun: "..."

Song Yi wanted to quickly take the little master away, but Jiang Yunyun stubbornly refused to leave, clutching the doorframe tightly with both hands. "I won't go to sleep! I want to stay and take care of Papa! Daddy doesn't know how to care for people, but I do!"

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled. "You do?"

Jiang Yunyun eagerly replied, "I do, I do! First, you wet a towel with water, then put it on Papa's forehead, like this." As he spoke, he placed his chubby little hand on his own forehead to demonstrate.

"Then you wipe Papa's body, like this." He began rubbing his small chest back and forth.

"Oh, and you also need to give Papa medicine, feeding it to his mouth like this." He cupped his hands in the air as if holding a bowl, pretending to take a big sip of medicine, then frowned and said, "It's very bitter."

These were all things Ling Ran had done for him when he was sick before, and he remembered every detail.

Jiang Zhiyu held the Omega in his arms with one hand while using the other to affectionately ruffle his son's fluffy little head. He coaxed softly, "Alright, Daddy understands now. Baby knows how to take care of people and is very sensible—such a big boy now. So can my sensible baby go take a bath and sleep by himself?"

Jiang Yunyun puffed out his chest. "I can!"

Since Papa was sick and Daddy needed to take care of him, he couldn't cause any trouble. He had to be good and put himself to sleep.

Jiang Zhiyu: "Go on then."

Jiang Yunyun, thoroughly tricked, solemnly took Song Yi's hand and returned to his room. He even managed to bathe himself with almost no help from Song Yi, except for a brief yelp when soap bubbles accidentally got into his eyes. He quickly covered his mouth afterward, as if afraid of disturbing Papa again.

Song Yi praised him repeatedly. "Little Master is so amazing! You can already bathe and sleep by yourself without needing adults to tuck you in. That's just wonderful! The other kids in kindergarten still need their parents to stay with them. Little Master really is a big boy now."

Lying in bed, Jiang Yunyun felt as if he had truly grown up. He said to Song Yi, "Uncle Song, you can go too. I can sleep by myself." With that, he closed his eyes.

Song Yi chuckled quietly to himself, surprised that Jiang Zhiyu's trick had worked so well. He turned off the light and left.

Truthfully, Jiang Yunyun was still a little scared to fall asleep alone, especially tonight when neither Papa nor Daddy was with him. Over the past few days, he felt Daddy had finally become a bit more patient with him, even willing to tell him two bedtime stories. He had been looking forward to Papa coming home so maybe both Daddy and Papa could tuck him in together and tell him stories. Wouldn't that make him the happiest child in the world?

But who knew Papa would get sick?

Ah, his heart ached for Papa.

Papa must have worked so hard. It was all Daddy's fault for making Papa do so much work. If he were Daddy, he would never let Papa tire himself out. He would earn lots and lots of money, all to bring home for Papa to spend. Because he came from Papa's belly—he was Papa's baby—so Papa was the one he loved most in the whole world.

He could love Daddy a little too, though.

Maybe he could share some of the money he earned with Daddy...

Lost in his thoughts, Jiang Yunyun successfully lulled himself to sleep.

Early the next morning, Jiang Yunyun woke up on his own without needing Song Yi to call him. He slipped on his shoes and pattered over to the master bedroom door, knocking eagerly.

"Papa, Papa, are you feeling better?"

"Papa, Papa..."

After knocking for a while, the door finally opened from the inside.

Jiang Zhiyu had casually thrown on a robe, the belt loosely tied, his hair slightly disheveled, covering his cold, displeased eyes.

Jiang Yunyun didn't even glance at him—the moment the door opened, he tried to slip through the gap beside the enigma's legs.

He had already spotted a lump under the covers on the big bed, and Papa's clothes were scattered across the floor of the master bedroom.

"Tsk..."

But he didn't make it inside. Instead, a large hand scooped him up by the belly.

Jiang Zhiyu lifted him sideways with one arm, carrying him out of the master bedroom while firmly shutting the door behind him, sealing off the lingering intimate atmosphere inside.

Last night had been intense, and the Omega was still unconscious. His rut had hit hard this time, and it probably wouldn't end for another week or so.

But now that the kid was older, he was both mischievous and clingy, immediately seeking out the Omega the moment he woke up.

Jiang Zhiyu, now fully rational, set his son down on the living room coffee table, his voice slightly cold.

"Stand properly."

Jiang Yunyun had no idea he was dealing with an enigma in rut. In fact, he knew nothing about ruts or heats—he only knew that his father seemed angry.

Obediently, Jiang Yunyun stood straight, hands pressed tightly against his pant seams, chest puffed out like a little soldier awaiting orders.

Not wanting to scare him, Jiang Zhiyu took a deep breath and softened his tone. "Yunyun, Daddy needs to talk to you about something."

Little Soldier Jiang Yunyun nodded vigorously. "Okay!"

Jiang Zhiyu ruffled his hair. "For the next few days, you'll stay at the old house with Grandpa. He's been saying he misses you and hasn't seen you in a long time. Will you go keep him company?"

Little Soldier Jiang Yunyun obeyed. "Okay!"

Jiang Zhiyu kissed the top of his head. "Good boy."

Jiang Yunyun looked up innocently. "Then you and Papa can come too! We'll all go back to the old house. Grandpa loves it when we all go back for meals—we can keep him company together!"

Jiang Zhiyu explained, "Papa and I won't be going with you this time. Uncle Zhao will take you later."

Jiang Yunyun's face fell in shock. "You're not coming?"

"No," Jiang Zhiyu said. "We still have some other things to take care of."

He couldn't explain the rut to him now—that conversation would have to wait until he was older and had presented.

Jiang Yunyun clearly wasn't ready to accept this. His lips trembled, and his eyes began to redden.

"But... but I want you to come with me..." he whimpered pitifully. "What if... what if I miss you? What if I miss Papa...?" Jiang Zhiyu gently pinched his chubby cheek. "It's just a few days. I'll come get you soon."

For Jiang Yunyun, this was a huge challenge—he had never been away from home alone before.

During Jiang Zhiyu's previous ruts or Ling Ran's heats, Jiang Yunyun had always stayed at home under Song Yi's care. But back then, he was still too young to—

When he was younger, he wouldn't casually knock on the master bedroom door.

But now it's different. Though small in stature, he's full of ideas and mischief. If they're not careful, he might barge in on them one day.

To prevent any awkward encounters, Jiang Zhiyu had to "reluctantly" send his son away.

He first called the old family residence. The old man was overjoyed, eager to have his grandson keep him company—better yet, he wished the whole family of three would move back to the old house. Having his grandson by his side every day would be the greatest joy in life.

The old man said there was no need for Zhao Qin to bring Jiang Yunyun over—he would immediately send someone to the villa to pick him up. He even arranged for delicious food, drinks, and fun activities to welcome his beloved grandson.

Jiang Yunyun initially pouted in reluctance. During the video call with his grandfather, he clung tightly to Jiang Zhiyu's neck, refusing to face the camera properly.

The old man, heart aching for his grandson, showed Jiang Yunyun all the new treasures at the old residence.

True to his childish nature, Jiang Yunyun only needed a glance at the screen before his eyes widened in amazement—an eight-tiered cake castle, an entire room filled with teddy bears and toy cars, all his favorites.

"Wow!" Jiang Yunyun held the phone with both hands, his eyes sparkling. "Grandpa, you have to save the cake for me! I'm coming right now—don't let anyone else eat it! And the teddy bears and toy cars too!"

The old man laughed. "Of course, of course! Everything is saved just for you. No one will take them from you at the old house."

Unable to resist the temptation of the cake, Jiang Yunyun eagerly changed his clothes, even packing his own backpack and water bottle.

"Daddy, I want to say goodbye to Papa."

Jiang Zhiyu agreed, opening the master bedroom door and carrying him inside.

The Omega lay peacefully asleep on the snow-white bed, half of his delicate face hidden under the covers. The visible half still glowed with a soft pink hue, his long, thick lashes glistening faintly, as if dotted with dewy tears or traces of moisture left behind.

Jiang Yunyun leaned over the bed, stretching out a small hand to touch the Omega's forehead before turning back to the Enigma. "Daddy, Papa still feels a little warm."

Jiang Zhiyu gently pulled him back. "Mhm. Don't disturb his rest."

Jiang Yunyun then rested his cheek against the bedside, gazing at the Omega before whispering in his sweet, childish voice, "Papa, I'm going to stay with Grandpa for a few days. If you miss me, I'll come back, okay?"

"Bye-bye, Papa."

Jiang Zhiyu carried him out of the master bedroom. The car from the old residence was already waiting downstairs.

Too excited to see his eight-tiered cake castle and toys, Jiang Yunyun didn't even need Jiang Zhiyu to escort him. Holding Zhao Qin's hand, he walked out the door, waving back at Jiang Zhiyu.

"Bye-bye, Daddy!"

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled. "Bye-bye, sweetheart."

Jiang Yunyun climbed into the car, thrilled beyond words.

Without his parents around to supervise, he would be the little tyrant of the old house.

The old man doted on him endlessly, treating him completely differently from how he had raised Jiang Zhiyu. Perhaps this was the inexplicable affection between grandparents and grandchildren—unconditional and boundless.

Perhaps having one Jiang Zhiyu at home was enough—there was no need to raise another.

Jiang Yunyun was having the time of his life at the old family estate. Every day after school, his grandfather would prepare a new surprise for him—today, a miniature cake castle; tomorrow, a kid-sized sports car. Fortunately, the estate was spacious enough for Yunyun to zip around the lawn in his little car, having the time of his life.

He hadn't done his kindergarten homework for days, but it didn't matter—Grandpa never scolded him anyway.

What Yunyun didn't expect, however, was for his teacher to call Jiang Zhiyu directly.

Jiang Zhiyu's rut had hit him hard, but after the first few days, it had begun to ease. When the teacher's call came through, he had his Omega pinned in his arms, kissing him deeply.

The teacher's voice came through the phone: "Mr. Jiang, I was wondering if you've been helping Yunyun with his homework lately? He hasn't completed the recitation tasks I assigned for several days, and he seems to have forgotten all the English words we taught him recently. The foreign teacher mentioned this to me, and I thought—since Yunyun is such a bright child—maybe he's just been a little distracted lately?"

Ling Ran, overwhelmed, let out a soft whimper. Hearing the teacher's words, he mustered all his strength to push at the head buried against his chest.

In a weak, breathy voice, he pleaded, "S-stop... answer the phone first..."

Jiang Zhiyu simply held the receiver to Ling Ran's ear without lifting his head. "Go ahead."

Ling Ran had no choice but to clear his throat, his voice slightly hoarse as he spoke. "Hello, teacher. This is Yunyun's father." "Oh, Mr. Ling! Hello, hello," the teacher replied. "Is Yunyun at home right now?"

Ling Ran answered, "He's been staying with his grandfather at the old estate these past few days. The old man might not have been keeping a close eye on his homework. I apologize for that."

The teacher quickly reassured him, "Oh, Mr. Ling, there's no need to be so polite. It's perfectly normal for a child Yunyun's age to get a little carried away with play. It's just that Yunyun has always been such an outstanding student—his homework used to be the best among all the children in the class. So this sudden change has been a bit surprising to us teachers."

Ling Ran bit his lip. "Once Yunyun returns from the estate, I'll make sure he catches up on all the missed assignments."

The teacher went on to discuss Yunyun's recent behavior in class—overall, he was still doing well, but he seemed to have grown a bit unruly, interrupting lessons more frequently.

Ling Ran promised to have a serious talk with Yunyun before hanging up.

The call ended, but the Enigma didn't stop.

After they were done, Jiang Zhiyu carried Ling Ran to the bathroom to clean him up. They hadn't planned on having another child and had taken all the necessary precautions.

But when the Enigma's rut took over, rationality often slipped away, and he couldn't help but press into the Omega's slender belly, knotting him over and over.

Ling Ran's reproductive system was now fully developed—healthy, mature, and all too suitable as a cradle for new life. Jiang Zhiyu cleaned him thoroughly inside and out, doing everything he could to prevent another pregnancy.

Ling Ran was so exhausted he didn't want to move a single finger. When his ankles were grabbed and his legs pried apart, he weakly kicked the enigma with his other foot.

"How could you send Yunyun back to the old house? He's still so young... how could he be away from us..." Ling Ran protested weakly.

Jiang Zhiyu grasped both slender, pale ankles and lifted them onto his shoulders. "He's doing just fine without his parents around," he remarked casually.

Ling Ran's breathing hitched, his moist eyes fluttering shut. His long, dark lashes trembled like delicate feathers shedding dewdrops, resembling scattered fragments of crystal.

After giving birth to Jiang Yunyun, the once youthful Omega had noticeably matured. Combined with the constant nourishment from the enigma's pheromones, even the most tender vine could bear the sweetest, most tempting fruit. Plump and luscious, it hung from the branch as the most beautiful and delicate among the leaves, its thin skin barely containing the juicy flesh within—utterly irresistible.

Jiang Zhiyu took a bite, and indeed, abundant juice sprayed in his mouth.

Ling Ran kicked at him again, though the force was feather-light—less like anger and more like flirtation. "I haven't seen our son in so long... I miss him..."

Jiang Zhiyu frowned. "Don't you miss your husband?"

Ling Ran reached out to embrace him. "I do... I do…"

Jiang Zhiyu nipped at his lips. "You should miss me the most. Everyone else comes second."

Ling Ran argued, "Our son isn't everyone else.' He's our child."

"Anyone besides me is 'everyone else," Jiang Zhiyu murmured in his ear. "I'm the one who'll grow old with you. Only me."

Ling Ran nodded obediently. "Mhm, I know. Our son will have his own life someday. You're the only one who'll stay with me forever. Hubby, I love you most."

Jiang Zhiyu stroked his smooth, delicate back, pulling him even closer until not a sliver of space remained between them. "Baby, I love you most too." More than anyone else in the world.

The moment the enigma's rut ended, Ling Ran couldn't stay still. Even before fully recovering, he was already eager to return to the old house to see their child.

Jiang Zhiyu accompanied him. Coincidentally, a small gathering was being held at the old house, attended by close friends and relatives—including Shang Ye and Qin Chengyue.

Jiang Yunyun was currently in Shang Ye's arms, clutching an exquisitely crafted race car model, his excitement evident as he planted two loud kisses on Shang Ye's cheeks, his eyes practically glued to the toy.

Spotting his son's shameless display from afar, Jiang Zhiyu called out sharply, "Jiang Yun."

The use of his full name had an effect more terrifying than any curse. Jiang Yunyun immediately stiffened, turning in Shang Ye's arms to see his radiant Papa and Daddy standing at the entrance like a picture-perfect couple.

Unfortunately, his handsome, dignified father's expression was far from pleased—a clear warning Jiang Yunyun knew all too well.

He quickly wriggled out of Shang Ye's arms and toddled over to them, still clutching the race car model. "Daddy! Papa! You're finally here!"

Ling Ran had worried their son might be struggling without them, but it seemed Jiang Yunyun had been thriving at the old house—his little face had even rounded out.

He nuzzled against Ling Ran's leg like a puppy: "Papa, Papa, are you feeling better now?"

Ling Ran was completely baffled. He had no idea how Jiang Zhiyu had been comforting their son, so he crouched down and responded, "I'm better now, all better."

Jiang Yunyun beamed with joy, "Yay! Papa look, this is the gift Uncle Shang gave me. Isn't it super cool? The car doors can open, the sunroof works too, and the seats inside can recline like this..."

Excitedly explaining before he could finish, the toy car was suddenly snatched away by a large hand reaching from the side.

The little boy jumped trying to reach it, but the height difference with the enigma was too great, so he quickly burrowed into the Omega's arms instead.

"Papa, hold me up! I can't reach! Hold me up to get it!"

Ling Ran's sore waist and weak legs nearly gave way from the sudden impact, but fortunately the enigma leaned over to support his waist, lifting him back upright.

Then Jiang Zhiyu looked down at the little bundle standing before him, "Are you allowed to accept gifts from others without permission?"

This had been their established rule—given how many people tried to curry favor during outings. When adults proved difficult to approach, some would shift their attention to the child.

Just from a few gatherings at the old residence, Jiang Yunyun's pockets had already been stuffed with various items.

Thus Jiang Zhiyu had forbidden him from accepting gifts without checking with either parent first.

Head bowed obediently, the boy answered, "No, I'm not."

"What should you have done?"

"I should've said "Thank you Uncle' and given the car back to Uncle Shang."

Lifting the pouting little face, Jiang Zhiyu asked, "Do you want to return it?"

Jiang Yunyun mumbled, "Don't wanna... but I have to."

"Good," Jiang Zhiyu placed the model back in his hands, "You may keep this one."

Having thought he'd have to bid farewell to the toy car, the boy was astonished by the permission. "Really Daddy? I can keep it?"

Jiang Zhiyu smiled, "Don't want it?"

"Want it! Want it!" Jiang Yunyun cheered, circling them with the car held high. "Yay! Got another toy car!"

As the boy dragged Ling Ran to continue showcasing his new treasure, Jiang Zhiyu went to greet acquaintances while Ling Ran led him to a table for juice.

After too long apart, Jiang Yunyun's chatter flowed endlessly.

Qin Chengyue made his way through the crowd, first pinching the boy's soft cheeks before asking Ling Ran, "What kept you two so busy lately? Leaving the kid at the old residence without a second thought—have you truly become forgetful parents?"

After a quiet explanation, Qin immediately understood, "I see. What's your plan then? Dumping Yunyun on the old man every time?"

Ling Ran sipped his juice, "Probably. There's no one else to temporarily care for him."

Qin coughed pointedly, giving Ling Ran meaningful looks.

Puzzled, Ling Ran asked, "What is it?"

"Me! Me!" Qin interjected, "You could send Yunyun to me! I'll take care of him. We're best buddies—he'd love staying with me, right Yunyun?"

The boy nodded vigorously, "Yes! I like Uncle Qin! I'd love staying at his house! And Uncle Shang always gives me toy cars when I visit—he's really nice too!"

Qin Chengyue and Shang Ye had been living together for quite some time when Ling Ran asked, "Haven't you two considered getting married yet?"

Qin Chengyue crouched down and held out his hand to Jiang Yunyun, who obediently placed his toy car in his palm for inspection.

"Marry? What's the point? Getting married would just mean more control from him. At least now I still have some freedom. Who knows, maybe one day I'll just dump him and be free as a bird—going wherever I want, dating whoever I want. Let's see who can stop me then."

Ling Ran could tell he was venting again. "Another fight?"

Qin Chengyue grinned. "Nope. Why would I fight with him? Only an idiot would argue with that guy."

Clearly, the fight had been intense.

Qin Chengyue turned the toy car over in his hands, examining it carefully before handing it back to Jiang Yunyun, who clutched it protectively as if afraid it might be snatched away.

"Yunyun, let me ask you something," Qin Chengyue said. "Do you like me more, or do you like Uncle Shang more?"

Jiang Yunyun scratched his head. "That's... a tough question..."

Qin Chengyue rephrased it. "Then do you prefer playing with me or with Uncle Shang?"

Jiang Yunyun pointed at Qin Chengyue. "I like playing with you, Uncle Qin."

Even though Shang Ye often gave him gifts, Qin Chengyue was the one who really understood him.

"That's more like it," Qin Chengyue said, pulling the little boy into his arms and planting a loud kiss on his chubby cheek. "Next time your dad and papa are busy, come over to my place. I've got tons of toys and cakes—all yours if you visit."

Jiang Yunyun's eyes lit up as he wrapped his arms around Qin Chengyue's neck. "Can we go now?"

Qin Chengyue chuckled and booped his nose. "Next time, you little glutton."

As he stood up, however, a sudden wave of dizziness hit him. He barely managed to steady himself against the table, fighting back a dry heave. Ling Ran and Jiang Yunyun stared in shock. Qin Chengyue quickly glanced around—thankfully, no one else had noticed—and ushered them both into the inner courtyard.

"Phew, no one saw that, right?" he asked nervously.

Ling Ran shook his head. "I don't think so."

"If he finds out, I'm dead. Ugh, this is so annoying. I knew this would happen. No matter how many times I told him, he never listened. Sure, I like kids, but I never said I wanted to have one myself. I hate this. I hate him so much..."

Grumbling under his breath, Qin Chengyue slumped onto a bamboo bench in the corridor. Ling Ran followed, still holding Jiang Yunyun's hand.

"Chengyue,"Ling Ran said firmly, "you're pregnant."

Qin Chengyue rested a hand on his still-flat stomach, unwilling to accept the truth.

"Does President Shang not know yet?" Ling Ran pressed.

"Don't you dare tell him," Qin Chengyue warned. He pinched Jiang Yunyun's cheek. "And you—not a single word to Uncle Shang, got it?"

Jiang Yunyun nodded blankly, though he had no idea what Qin Chengyue's reaction meant.

Ling Ran explained, "Yunyun, Uncle Qin has a little baby in his belly now. You're going to be a big brother. Understand?"

Jiang Yunyun suddenly understood upon hearing this and happily moved closer to touch Qin Chengyue's belly.

"Is there really a baby inside?"

Ling Ran nodded. "Yes, just like when I gave birth to you, Uncle Qin will also have a baby."

For Jiang Yunyun, this was the best news ever. Since his daddy and papa weren't planning on having a second child, he had thought he might never get to experience being an older brother in his lifetime.

But now things were different—Uncle Qin's child could call him "big brother"!

"Uncle Qin," Jiang Yunyun said with utmost seriousness, "can you give me a little sister? I want a sister, not a brother. Sisters are cute and well-behaved. I like sisters."

Ling Ran couldn't help but laugh. "What's wrong with a brother? Wouldn't you like a little brother to play with?"

Jiang Yunyun shook his head. "No, no brothers. Uncle Qin, promise me—I only want a little sister, a cute one."

Ling Ran ruffled his hair. "Yunyun, that's not very polite. Whether it's a brother or sister, you'll still be their big brother. As an older brother, you should be responsible. You'll need to protect them in the future. If your little brother hears you say you don't like him, he'll be very sad, and Uncle Qin will be sad too. Do you want Uncle Qin to be unhappy?"

Jiang Yunyun thought carefully again.

"Fine, a brother is okay too, or a sister—as long as someone can play with me. Uncle Qin, can't you give me a brother and then a sister?"

With that, Jiang Yunyun looked expectantly at Qin Chengyue, then at his belly, as if already imagining the future where he'd lead his siblings in play.

Qin Chengyue glanced at Ling Ran, then muttered while covering his belly, "I wasn't even planning to keep it..."

Ling Ran was stunned. "What do you mean? Are you thinking of getting an abortion?"

Qin Chengyue silently confirmed.

Ling Ran asked, "Something this big—you're not going to discuss it with President Shang?"

Qin Chengyue adjusted his clothes to cover his belly.

"No. If I tell him, he'll definitely make me keep it. He might even use the baby to force me into marriage. This child was his idea in the first place—I never agreed to it."

Ling Ran knew Qin Chengyue's personality—the more someone pressured him, the more he'd resist. If he pushed Qin Chengyue not to abort now, Qin Chengyue might secretly schedule the procedure tomorrow.

So he could only advise indirectly—abortions were extremely harmful to an Omega's reproductive system, so Qin Chengyue needed to think carefully before making a decision. Besides, he felt President Shang had the right to know, as the child's father. Even if this was a mistake, he was partly responsible—Qin Chengyue shouldn't bear all the consequences alone.

Qin Chengyue held Jiang Yunyun and only followed the two back to the main hall after listening to Ling Ran's words.

As for what Qin Chengyue would ultimately decide, that wasn't something Ling Ran could interfere with. But no matter the outcome, Ling Ran would stand by him.

After returning home from the old residence, Jiang Zhiyu made Jiang Yunyun finish all the homework he'd missed over the past few days before allowing him to go to bed.

But—

Jiang Yunyun, with his hidden potential suddenly unleashed, managed to memorize three ancient poems and two English songs in one night—completing a week's worth of tasks in just a few hours.

This proved that his previous undone homework wasn't due to inability, but sheer laziness.

After returning home, Jiang Yunyun could no longer live like a carefree little tyrant, but the upside was that he could sleep cuddled up to Papa again.

Papa was so soft and fragrant—perfect for hugging.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Yunyun entered elementary school.

His personality began to change from his childhood self—he spoke less, never shed tears anymore, but one thing remained the same: he still loved acting spoiled with Ling Ran.

Having inherited the intelligence of both Jiang Zhiyu and Ling Ran, he skipped several grades and was admitted to a top university at just 15, leaving for another city alone to attend college.

He grew tall quickly, and his face became more and more like Jiang Zhiyu's, though with a touch of Ling Ran's delicate softness. Because of this, Ling Ran had always assumed his son would present as a handsome Omega.

But on Jiang Yun's 16th birthday, he did present—as an Enigma, a higher classification than Alpha.

The probability of an Enigma's offspring also presenting as an Enigma was practically negligible, but Jiang Yun resembled Jiang Zhiyu so much that even his secondary gender turned out the same.

Jiang Yun rarely came home, even during breaks, as he was constantly flying around the world for exams and competitions. Jiang Zhiyu kept his schedule packed and his expectations sky-high, yet Jiang Yun always delivered flawlessly.

Outwardly mature and composed, dressed in tailored suits, Jiang Yun carried the same commanding presence Jiang Zhiyu had in his youth. But the moment he returned home to Ling Ran, he seemed to revert to that clingy, coquettish little pup who loved doting on his Omega.

Jiang Zhiyu saw right through these little acts of attention-seeking, but since Ling Ran was always genuinely amused by them, he never called his son out.

The problem was, the kid was cunning. Enigmas harbored an intense possessiveness over their Omegas, and after presenting, Jiang Yun's pheromones also carried a liquor scent—though unlike Jiang Zhiyu's tequila, his was peppermint liquor.

Every time he clung to Ling Ran like a puppy, his peppermint scent would linger on him.

Jiang Zhiyu couldn't stand the smell of another's pheromones on Ling Ran—even if it was his own son's. So within minutes of Jiang Yun talking to Ling Ran, Jiang Zhiyu would drag his mate into the bedroom and drench him in tequila before letting him out again.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yun also felt irritation and pressure from another Enigma's pheromones.

The father-son rivalry led to endless underhanded tactics, until Ling Ran—dizzy from the overpowering liquor scents at home—finally intervened, forcing both to wear suppressors in his presence.

One mountain cannot shelter two tigers; one household can't peacefully house two Enigmas.

Before Jiang Yun even turned 18, his own father "kicked him out"—though not without provisions, settling him in a distant villa far from home.

Jiang Yun knew his dad just didn't want him hovering around their Omega all the time.

After all, his father had forcibly claimed Ling Ran when he was even younger.

Seems like he plans to keep him claimed for a lifetime.

<<Chapter List