TPLTMOE – Chapter 93

 Chapter 93: Extra 10 – Marry first, love later (2)

Ling Ran could only make out a blurry face through the misty haze.

He couldn't tell whether the scorching heat had overwhelmed his senses or if the person before him was real.

His damp, flushed lips parted slightly.

"Jiang, Mr. Jiang.."

If Jiang Zhiyu hadn't initially understood why he had rushed home in such a hurry, the sight of the small Omega curled up in the wardrobe made it all too clear—that inexplicable restlessness now had a reason.

So he had remembered the Omega's heat cycle all along.

"Can you stand up on your own?"

Jiang Zhiyu extended a hand toward Ling Ran. "It's too cramped in there. Sitting for too long isn't comfortable. Come out first."

Ling Ran wasn't in any state to think for himself. Hearing that deep, soothing voice, he obediently placed his hand in Jiang Zhiyu's.

Grasping the soft, almost melting little hand, Jiang Zhiyu gently pulled him out of the wardrobe.

Ling Ran's legs were weak, barely able to support him. His dazed head knocked against the wardrobe door with a dull thud, instantly filling his eyes with tears as his body swayed forward.

But he didn't collapse onto the cold, hard floor. Instead, a warm, broad chest caught him securely.

Jiang Zhiyu wasn't the type to be overly compassionate, but this little Omega looked far too pitiful.

Just like on their wedding night.

Ling Ran leaned against the Enigma's chest, a firm hand supporting his lower back, bearing his weight so he could tilt his head up with watery eyes.

Clearly in pain, his lips trembled as he held back tears, his fair forehead now glaringly red.

His skin was far too delicate, just a bump had left such a vivid mark.

The little Omega sniffled quietly, tear tracks still glistening on his cheeks, an unbearably endearing sight.

Jiang Zhiyu raised a hand, his palm gently rubbing the reddened spot on Ling Ran's forehead.

"Does it hurt?"

The Omega bit his lip and gave the faintest nod, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

Utterly aggrieved.

Jiang Zhiyu had never been fond of fragile Omegas before, but holding this soft, warm bundle in his arms—watching him cry so pitifully—made his chest tighten as if soaked by those tears.

"Where did you hit it?" Jiang Zhiyu asked.

Only after speaking did he realize he must have lost his mind.

Ling Ran turned slightly in his arms and pointed accusingly at the wardrobe door, his voice soft and plaintive. "This... it hit me..."

Damn that cursed wardrobe door.

And then came the real madness.

Jiang Zhiyu suddenly smacked the wardrobe door hard before softening his tone, as if coaxing a child. "I hit it back for you. So no more crying, alright?"

Some things worked on kids of any age—even one who had just come of age.

The little Omega did stop crying, but the torment in his body refused to relent.

Jiang Zhiyu lifted the blanket to let the little Omega lie back down, noticing he was still clutching an old jacket Jiang had worn before, so tightly that he even curled up under the covers with it.

He knew Omegas needed an Alpha's pheromones for comfort during their heat, but as an Enigma, he wasn't sure how his own scent would affect the Omega.

He had Zhao Qin fetch Xu Guanyi. Xu only knew Jiang Zhiyu had gotten married—a business alliance—but details about his partner were tightly guarded. Outsiders only knew it was the youngest son of the Ling family, with no information on name, appearance, or even gender.

When Xu Guanyi saw the little Omega on the bed, his jaw nearly dropped.

"H-Holy—"

Jiang Zhiyu said calmly, "He's in heat."

Xu Guanyi stammered, "O-Of course I can tell he's in heat! But he—he's an Omega!"

Jiang Zhiyu remained composed. "Just tell me what to do now."

"What do you mean, what to do? What else can you do when an Omega's in heat?" Xu crossed his arms. "Figure it out yourself."

A cold glare from Jiang made Xu shrink slightly. "G-Give him pheromones. A temporary mark works, a permanent one too—but I don't recommend jumping straight to a bond mark. He looks young, right? Probably never even had a temporary mark before?"

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze lingered on the flushed face. "No."

Before marriage, Ling Ran had lived a simple life—routine schooling from elementary to university, always top of his class. He'd never dated an Alpha, his romantic history blank until meeting an Enigma.

And then, on their wedding night, he'd accidentally been sent into heat by the faintest trace of the Enigma's pheromones.

If anything, Jiang Zhiyu was the culprit here.

Xu Guanyi sighed. "Then he definitely can't handle it. I suggest starting slow, let him get used to your scent first. Once his tolerance builds, try a temporary mark. Wait until he's gone through seven or eight heats before considering a bond mark. The longer the adjustment period, the better. Don't rush this."

Jiang sat by the bed, watching as the Omega's expression twisted in discomfort. The jacket he'd been clinging to was suddenly kicked away.

Jiang picked it up—it was damp now.

The tequila scent had nearly faded, too faint to detect, replaced instead by a sweet, rosy grape aroma that seeped out relentlessly.

One whiff, and Jiang's back stiffened imperceptibly.

Xu noticed the reaction and grew uneasy for the delicate Omega.

"President Jiang? Jiang?" Xu called. "Did you hear anything I just said?"

Jiang's eyes darkened as he murmured, "Mm."

Xu pressed, "What exactly did you hear?"

Jiang: "Don't rush."

Xu: "..."

After Xu left, Jiang followed his advice—peeling off both their scent blockers, letting their pheromones mingle in the enclosed room.

Gradually merging and intertwining.

Even though he was trying to control it, the enigma's pheromones were still far too overwhelming for the little Omega.

Ling Ran was completely enveloped by the rich, intoxicating scent of alcohol, and before long, his entire body was drenched in sweat. Exhausted, he could barely keep his eyes open, biting the corner of the blanket as he drunkenly drifted into a deep slumber.

Jiang Zhiyu took another lingering sniff of the faint, sweet fragrance lingering in the air before finally allowing Song Yi to enter and clean up.

When Ling Ran woke up the next morning, his head was still foggy, but his body felt refreshingly clean—clearly, someone had wiped him down.

A sudden realization struck him, the enigma who had appeared before him last night, the one whose pheromones had lulled him to sleep... Could it have been Mr. Jiang who changed his clothes for him...?

Ling Ran's ears instantly burned red.

Song Yi knocked and entered, urging him to get up for breakfast. He also informed Ling Ran that Mr. Jiang had already arranged for him to take a leave from school, so he could rest at home for the next couple of days.

Wrapped in the blanket, Ling Ran asked hesitantly, "Um... about last night... my clothes..."

Song Yi smiled warmly. "Your clothes were completely soaked, so I helped you change them. They've been washed and hung up to dry. Would you like to wear them now?"

Thank goodness—it wasn't Mr. Jiang after all.

"No, no need. Thank you," Ling Ran replied with a relieved smile.

"Don't mention it, Mr. Ling. From now on, you can ask me for anything. Mr. Jiang has made it clear—my job is to take care of you."

Ling Ran had never received such special treatment before, and it left him feeling a little uneasy. As he slipped on his shoes and stepped onto the wooden floor, his body still weak from the lingering heat of his heat, his legs felt as if they were treading on cotton.

"Has Mr. Jiang already gone to the company?" he asked, following Song Yi downstairs. "Wasn't he supposed to still be on a business trip? Why did he come back so suddenly?"

Song Yi explained, "According to Assistant Zhao, he was indeed supposed to be away longer, but Mr. Jiang said there was an urgent matter at home and rushed back. Though Assistant Zhao didn't know the specifics."

As they passed by the study on their way to the dining room, faint voices could be heard from behind the slightly ajar door. Startled, Ling Ran instinctively hid behind Song Yi.

Song Yi chuckled. "Mr. Ling, you're so timid. That's just Mr. Jiang and Mr. Sheng Yi inside. I forgot to mention—Mr. Jiang isn't going to the office today. He had his work brought home instead."

Ling Ran asked, "Mr. Sheng Yi... as in Jiang Sheng Yi, the head of Jiangzhou?"

"That's right. And by the way, Mr. Sheng Yi should be calling you 'Auntie'."

As Song Yi went to fetch two glasses of water from the kitchen, a sharp hissing sound suddenly erupted from the pot on the stove.

"Oh no, the seafood porridge!"

Seeing Song Yi's frantic expression, Ling Ran, who was empty-handed, quickly took the glasses from him.

"Go check the pot. I'll deliver these."

This was Jiang Sheng Yi's first visit since Jiang Zhiyu's marriage.

He was endlessly curious about the mysterious "Auntie" who had only made a brief appearance at the wedding. Unfortunately, he hadn't gotten a clear look at his face back then—nor had he expected his uncle to guard his spouse so fiercely, keeping even family members at a distance and rarely allowing anyone to interact with him.

He had come today under the pretense of work, though business was the least of his concerns—his real aim was to pry into his uncle's personal affairs.

"Uncle, what do you make of the Ling family's stance this time? Wasn't your election as the Chamber of Commerce president practically guaranteed? As the Jiang family's in-laws, how could they openly support someone else? You and Auntie have only been married for just over a month—is your business alliance already falling apart?"

Jiang Zhiyu leaned back in his chair, his gaze lazy yet exuding an undeniable authority as he regarded his nephew coldly.

Jiang Shengyi suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine.

"Who said it was a business alliance?"

"Wasn't it?" Jiang Shengyi's expression turned incredulous. "Uncle, don't tell me you're actually serious about this? I may call him 'Auntie,' but that doesn't mean he's really my aunt! He's just a kid, isn't he? And an Omega at that—I thought you hated Omegas?"

The moment the words left his mouth, a faint sound came from the door.

Jiang Zhiyu's eyes sharpened as he glanced at Jiang Shengyi before calling out to the person outside, "Come in."

Ling Ran, holding two glasses of water, took a deep breath and pushed the door open slowly, pretending he hadn't heard the earlier remark.

Jiang Shengyi hadn't fully grasped his uncle's meaning—until he saw the young Omega stepping into the study. His gaze immediately fixed on him, unblinking.

Ling Ran set the glasses down on the table in front of them, acutely aware of the unfamiliar Alpha's brazen scrutiny. The attention made him uncomfortable, so he subtly shifted half a step closer to Jiang Zhiyu.

"Mr. Jiang, Song Yi said dinner will be ready soon. I came to remind you."

Jiang Shengyi quickly interjected, "Perfect, I'm starving. Song Yi must've prepared enough for me too, right, Uncle? I'll stay for dinner."

His eyes lingered on Ling Ran, trailing down from the delicate curve of his pale, slender neck—until he was abruptly interrupted.

Jiang Zhiyu reached out, grasping a slender wrist with just enough force to pull the small Omega straight into his lap. He adjusted his position effortlessly, pressing his thighs flush against his own before wrapping an arm around his waist—a possessive, protective gesture, like a beast marking its territory.

And the little Omega belonged unquestionably within his domain.

Before Ling Ran could react, he was pressed against a firm, broad chest. His eyes widened slightly, breath hitching as the steady, powerful heartbeat beneath his ear drowned out all other sounds.

Jiang Zhiyu stroked his cheek affectionately, but the look he shot Jiang Shengyi was ice-cold with warning.

Where do you think you're looking?

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