Chapter 55

Nobody’s perfect.

Ruan Shuyang admitted he had his own share of flaws and had never expected Pei Siyue to be flawless.

Their happiness together was enough.

But some things needed to be clarified beforehand.

“But, Gege, you can’t use your pheromones to manipulate me in the future,” Ruan Shuyang said with a stern expression, looking seriously at Pei Siyue. “No sneaky tricks behind my back.”

The phrase “sneaky tricks behind my back” almost made Pei Siyue laugh. Suppressing a smile, he asked, “What if Ruan Ruan is indecisive on his own?”

Ruan Shuyang earnestly replied, “You can persuade me with words, but not with pheromones.”

Pei Siyue thought for a moment and agreed.

“Okay, Ruan Ruan, I promise.”

Ruan Shuyang broke into a happy and lively smile. “Gege, you’re so good.”

It was rare for them to have such a heart-to-heart conversation, so Ruan Shuyang took the opportunity to ask some things he had always been curious about.

“Why did you go abroad to live, Gege? Can you tell me?”

There was no reason not to. Pei Siyue told Ruan Shuyang, “After my mother passed away, my custody returned to my father. But my father has always been aloof and self-centered. Even if he considered me more important than Pei Siming, he couldn’t be bothered with me as a teenager. He had no patience to raise me and would hand me over to Zhou Wei.”

“Zhou Wei is narrow-minded and ruthless, acting without considering the consequences. At that time, I was just an undifferentiated twelve-year-old boy. If I fell into her hands, it would be easy for something to happen.”

“So I chose to go abroad.”

Going abroad meant distancing himself from these people and matters in the country.

“A twelve-year-old boy, alone in a foreign country, far from home, was easily ostracized at school. At first, I didn’t have a good time abroad either. Perhaps my mental state wasn’t right back then—I was suspicious of everyone and wouldn’t hesitate to wound them with words. Later, I met Uncle Wei, who patiently guided me step by step, and things slowly got better.”

He learned to bury those emotions deep inside, to become strong—strong enough that no one could break him.

Now, he was indeed very strong. Many people couldn’t break him, but the little omega beside him could.

Back when he first presented as an Enigma, he learned about the triggers of his rut and never thought it would be caused by an omega.

But now, the facts were right before his eyes. He had been arrogant and ignorant in the past.

Ruan Shuyang tried to gently pat Pei Siyue’s back, just as Pei Siyue had always done for him.

But the action was a bit difficult because Pei Siyue was much taller than him, making it seem like a child patting an adult.

After patting for a moment, he laughed first. “Gege, I—”

His voice cut off abruptly because Pei Siyue’s pheromones began fluctuating violently.

The next wave of his rut had arrived.

Pei Siyue closed his eyes, enduring it, and said, “Give me an inhibitor shot, then leave and don’t worry about me.”

Ruan Shuyang bit his lip, his expression a mix of worry, fear, hesitation, and shyness. Finally, he slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out something he had just bought.

It was a brand-new, unopened box of condoms.

Pei Siyue heard the movement and opened his eyes. Seeing what Ruan Shuyang was holding, he understood what the little omega meant. Fighting for control, he gripped the tungsten steel of the handcuffs, almost leaving marks on the hard metal.

“No,” Pei Siyue said without hesitation. “Too small, too few.”

Ruan Shuyang: “…?”

His face turned from bright red to puffed with anger.

The Enigma was so awful—how could he complain about it being small and few?

Pei Siyue watched as Ruan Shuyang glared at him, then threw the unopened condoms aside.

Hmph, if you’re going to complain, then don’t do it.

Pei Siyue looked at the little omega, who seemed more emotionally unstable than he was at the moment, and couldn’t help but smile.

“Don’t worry, Ruan Ruan, I won’t do it. You’re not fully grown yet.”

“If you’re willing, we can try another way. If not, you can leave. I won’t blame you.”

Ruan Shuyang didn’t quite understand these matters and asked hesitantly, “What way, Gege?”

Pei Siyue’s eyes darkened, the muscles in his arms tensing from restraint. Looking at Ruan Shuyang, who was almost completely innocent and naive about this, he coaxed in a low voice, “Unlock my handcuffs, and I’ll teach you.”

This time, he kept his promise and didn’t use pheromones to coax.

Ruan Shuyang, his face flushed red, mustered his courage to unlock Pei Siyue’s handcuffs.

After all, it was bound to happen eventually. He tried to comfort himself, ignoring his burning cheeks, hot enough to fry an egg. He couldn’t avoid this forever—he’d heard it could be comfortable and pleasurable too.

He comforted himself this way, but the moment the handcuffs were unlocked, he still couldn’t bring himself to look at Pei Siyue.

The next second, the world spun around him as Pei Siyue pinned him to the floor of the safe room.

The safe room was made of a material harder than memory foam, with similar slow-rebound properties but tougher and more resilient. Hitting his head on it didn’t hurt, but it made him dizzy for a moment.

Once the dizziness passed, Pei Siyue’s lips pressed against the back of his neck, his voice hoarse as he said, “I might not be able to control my strength. If it hurts, you have to speak up.”

Ruan Shuyang was a little scared, but he mustered his courage and replied in a soft voice, “Okay.”

Then he was bitten.

When he caught his breath and came to his senses, he saw Pei Siyue rummaging through a nearby drawer for something.

The other pulled out several bags of nutrient solution with straws.

And a muzzle.

“I want your pheromones,” Pei Siyue said, placing the muzzle beside Ruan Shuyang. The cold metal pressed against his face, making him shiver. Pei Siyue added, “Help me put it on later.”

He didn’t know what Pei Siyue intended to do, only feeling the other’s hands bracing on either side of his neck as he leaned down to kiss him, drawing in the pheromones from his bodily fluids.

The kiss trailed downward, and Ruan Shuyang’s eyes widened slightly.

“Mmm…”

…

“Ruan Ruan, put on the muzzle.”

…

A night of pure madness.

Around 5 a.m., Ruan Shuyang had completely lost consciousness, fallen into a deep stupor, unaware even when Pei Siyue used his fingerprint to unlock the muzzle and ankle cuffs while holding his hand.

The ankle cuffs and muzzle could only restrain an Enigma who was willingly submitting.

Being restrained earlier was one thing, but now, after such a long ordeal, the little omega might want to take a bath.

Ruan Shuyang was covered in marks; not washing would make him uncomfortable.

He carefully carried him upstairs to the master bedroom’s bathroom, placed him in the bathtub, and turned to run hot water. As the water flowed, he took Ruan Shuyang’s limp arm resting on the edge of the tub and gently placed it in the warm water, carefully bathing the little omega who was too exhausted to wake up.

The little omega’s skin was as smooth and soft as jade, a delight to touch. Last night, holding that slender waist and hearing Ruan Shuyang, exhausted and feeble, pleading in a faint, kitten-like voice, “No more,” he couldn’t stop himself.

Now, seeing the finger marks and love bites covering Ruan Shuyang’s body, he felt some regret and heartache, but if given another chance, he still wouldn’t have stopped.

The lily of the valley was so fresh, sweet, and juicy—he completely lost control.

After carefully bathing Ruan Shuyang, drying his hair, and changing him into pajamas, Ruan Shuyang only let out a soft “Mmm” while his hair was being dried before sinking into an even deeper sleep.

He placed him in his own bed, lay down beside him, held him in his arms, and closed his eyes to rest.

After sleeping for a few hours, he woke up and saw it was a little past nine in the morning.

He first took out his phone to handle work matters sent by his two secretaries, then, as if remembering something, looked down at Ruan Shuyang sleeping soundly in his arms.

Ruan Shuyang had classes today—the third and fourth periods in the morning and the first and second periods in the afternoon, all core classes.

Thinking of the little omega’s dedication to attending classes, though reluctant, he tried to wake him up.

But it was difficult. Ruan Shuyang was sleeping deeply, and a few gentle pats elicited no response.

So he simply leaned down and kissed him.

The kiss nearly stole Ruan Shuyang’s breath. Startled by the suffocating sensation, he woke up dazed, looking around like a wandering spirit with barely a breath left, staring blankly with slightly parted lips.

“Ruan Ruan,” Pei Siyue stroked Ruan Shuyang’s face, then went to the bathroom to wet a hot towel and wiped his face to help him wake up. “Wake up, you have class soon.”

Class!

Ruan Shuyang jolted upright, as if startled awake, only to nearly fall back onto the bed the next second from dizziness caused by lack of sleep. Fortunately, Pei Siyue was sitting beside him, supporting his shoulders and asking softly, “Are you okay?”

Not okay.

Ruan Shuyang almost cried. He felt terrible everywhere, completely off, and still had to go to class.

He had never found attending class so difficult.

Wait, class...

He hesitated, looking at Pei Siyue. The other was in his rut; it seemed wrong to leave his Enigma alone to go to class.

But he really wanted to go—his highlighted notes, his final exams.

He didn’t know what to do. His sleep-deprived brain couldn’t function, so he instinctively turned to Pei Siyue for help: “Gege, if I go to class, what will you do?”

“I’ll go with you,” Pei Siyue replied without hesitation, clearly having already considered what to do. “I’ll take suppressants and wear inhibitors, waiting for you outside the classroom.”

He leaned down and kissed Ruan Shuyang’s cheek. “Ruan Ruan, try to sit near the back and close to the door, okay?”

Ruan Shuyang nodded without hesitation.

Then he saw Pei Siyue open the bedside drawer, take out inhibitors, and put on a full five of them—on his hands, feet, and neck.

Ruan Shuyang: “...”

An Enigma’s pheromones during their rut were truly terrifying.

But with the inhibitors on, he couldn’t sense Pei Siyue’s pheromones anymore, which made him feel a bit lost.

Next, he watched Pei Siyue inject a suppressant into his arm.

Worried, he asked, “Gege, is it bad for you to take suppressants?”

“No,” Pei Siyue reassured him. “Don’t worry. An Enigma’s physique can fully handle the side effects of suppressants. Almost every Enigma takes them during their rut.”

Because without them, no one could endure it.

Ruan Shuyang felt somewhat relieved and thought about getting up to wash up and change clothes. As he got out of bed, he wondered what class he had and where the professor had left off—

Then, before he could even react, his legs gave way and he slipped to the floor.

He sat on the ground, his face blank from lack of sleep, his brain oxygen-deprived and struggling to think, his limbs weak and useless, many parts of his body were sore.

He covered his face as memories from last night to early this morning slowly surfaced in his mind.

Many parts of his body had been overused—his hands, his thighs...

But not the back. He had asked Pei Siyue why, and Pei Siyue said it couldn’t be entered now; they had to wait until his heat.

He understood those words, and then it rained heavily.

At that time, he had been bitten three times by Pei Siyue and had already put the muzzle on him. The Enigma’s arms were braced on either side of his neck, the muzzle lightly pressed against his cheek, and the voice coming through it carried a metallic vibration, somewhat muffled.

“Ruan Ruan, you’re so wet.”

Ruan Shuyang was so embarrassed and angry he wanted to push Pei Siyue away, but his arms were too weak to muster any strength.

He could only turn his head away, completely unaware of what was happening to his body—how just a touch from Pei Siyue could...

A pair of large hands lifted him, carrying the currently weak and limp Ruan Shuyang to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash up, then changed him into outdoor clothes.

Ruan Shuyang tried to do it himself at one point but had no strength at all—his arms couldn’t even lift—so he gave up and closed his eyes, refusing to look.

Pei Siyue quickly helped him into his clothes, changed his own clothes, carried Ruan Shuyang to the car, and handed the little omega a nutrition pack, saying, “Have this for now. I’ll have Ji Huai come cook at noon.”

“Okay.”

Ruan Shuyang drank the nutrition pack, gradually regaining some strength, and watched as Pei Siyue drove off.

Under the bright daylight, the changes to the lawn were even more obvious—it looked as if it had been turned over and loosened, with something planted there.

Curious, he asked, “Gege, what did you plant on the lawn?”

“Lily of the Valley,” Pei Siyue replied while driving. “I had soil brought in and planted Lily of the Valley. Next year, we’ll see them bloom here, and we can even brew nectar from them.”

Ruan Shuyang took small sips of the nutrition pack, color slowly returning to his face.

When the car arrived at the school, Pei Siyue opened the door for Ruan Shuyang and helped him out, murmuring low in his ear, “Ruan Ruan, I really like lily of the valley.”

Ruan Shuyang didn’t dare to look at Pei Siyue’s expression, only lowering his head and walking quietly, but he felt like he’d already drunk the nectar of the lily of the valley.

As he braced against the wall while entering the classroom, he glanced back at Pei Siyue, who was leaning against the wall by the back door.

The tall and handsome Enigma leaned lazily against the wall, radiating cool detachment and a clear “keep-your-distance” aura.

The inhibitors on his wrists and ankles were hidden under his clothes, while the silver-white inhibitor on his neck glimmered beneath his collar.

It was said that many Alphas refused to wear muzzles and inhibitors even during their rut, feeling that wearing them made them feel like tamed pets.

But Pei Siyue never seemed to show such thoughts; he even wore them willingly, afraid of truly hurting Ruan Shuyang or letting his chaotic pheromones harm others.

Pei Siyue was actually a person with a cold exterior but a very gentle and kind heart.

No matter what others thought of Pei Siyue, Ruan Shuyang believed he was exactly that kind of person.

Suddenly, he grinned, eyes crinkling, and said, “Gege, I really like you.”

After saying that, he ran into the classroom.

Even when the professor arrived to start the class, his face was still burning, and he couldn’t help but fan his cheeks.

What he had just said felt impulsive, but he didn’t regret it.

He had thought it through clearly—he liked Pei Siyue.

He liked him so, so much.

This feeling was completely different from his previous affection for Pei Siming. He wanted to be with Pei Siyue all the time, to live together, and to face everything side by side.

However, he had indeed spoken impulsively, because Pei Siyue was struggling to restrain himself outside the classroom, almost wanting to drag Ruan Shuyang back home right then.

But seeing the quiet and orderly classroom, he could only suppress the impulse.

When class ended at noon, Ruan Shuyang was immediately taken by Pei Siyue to their apartment near the school.

Ji Huai had already been there earlier and prepared a meal, leaving it on the dining table. The moment Ruan Shuyang entered, he could smell the delicious aroma.

After all the physical exertion and having only consumed nutrition shakes, Ruan Shuyang’s stomach growled at the smell of food. He wanted to head to the dining table, but Pei Siyue grabbed his hand.

Seeing that familiar, hungry look, Ruan Shuyang swallowed nervously, feeling a bit scared.

He wasn’t exactly uncomfortable, but it felt like too much—more than he could handle or endure.

With wide, pleading eyes, he looked at Pei Siyue and said, “Gege, I... I want to eat.”

Pei Siyue began stripping off his clothes while saying, “Later, I can’t hold back any longer.”

Ruan Shuyang’s shirt was stripped off, and a kiss mark was planted on his bare shoulder.

“Gege, didn’t you take the suppressant?”

“Yeah, it failed.”

Failed... failed?

Ruan Shuyang was too stunned to say anything.

After his poor thighs endured another assault, Pei Siyue carried him to the dining table to eat. His hands trembled as he picked up the utensils.

Pei Siyue kindly asked, “Ruan Ruan, should I feed you?”

Ruan Shuyang glared at Pei Siyue and spoke slowly, as if venting his frustration, “No! I can do it!”

“Alright,” Pei Siyue said patiently. “If you feel tired, just let me know.”

Ruan Shuyang sulked over his porridge.

An Enigma in rut was really too much, so annoying.

Where was the cool and collected Pei Siyue from before? Could he please come back?

**

But it seemed he wasn’t coming back soon.

After two afternoon classes, the three-day New Year’s holiday began, so Pei Siyue boldly took Ruan Shuyang back to Lan'an Yuting.

After discovering that Ruan Shuyang could endure seven to eight hours of strain, he no longer retreated to the basement but chose to work through his needs with his omega.

An effective outlet could help an Enigma’s rut end faster.

On New Year’s Eve, Ruan Shuyang lay naked on the bed, quivering faintly, his voice hoarse from shouting.

Pei Siyue held him up to drink water, and Ruan Shuyang, unable to contain his anger, bit Pei Siyue’s shoulder.

Pei Siyue took the biting without complaint, and after he was done, continued to feed him water before massaging Ruan Shuyang’s aching limbs.

In truth, seven to eight hours of relief couldn’t fully satisfy an Enigma, but he was afraid that continuing would land his little omega in the hospital, so he restrained himself and focused on other tasks.

Like cleaning up their “battlefield,” changing the sheets and blankets, and feeding Ruan Shuyang, giving him a bath, and massaging his aching limbs—all of which helped burn off some of his energy.

Ruan Shuyang lay on the bed, exhausted, and before he knew it, he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, it was past 11 p.m.

Remembering it was New Year’s Eve, he roused himself and said, “Gege, I want to look outside the window.”

Pei Siyue stopped massaging him, drew the curtains, and dimmed the lights inside.

The New Year’s Eve scenery flooded the room through the large floor-to-ceiling window. Ruan Shuyang saw bright fireworks in the distance.

Huge, colorful fireworks exploded in the sky, their brilliance and beauty reflected in his eyes.

“It’s gorgeous,” he breathed softly.

Snowflakes began to fall, one by one, gradually covering the lawn outside the villa in white.

The pure white snow lit up the darkness outside. After watching the snow fall for a while, Ruan Shuyang suddenly let go of his anger.

He smiled and said to Pei Siyue, “Gege, ‘A timely snow promises a good harvest.’”

“Yeah,” Pei Siyue replied, kissing his forehead. “Next year will be a great year.”

“Get some rest, Ruan Ruan.”

Ruan Shuyang watched the snow fall and, before he knew it, fell asleep.

Outside, snowflakes drifted down, symbolizing next year’s bountiful harvest.

Inside, it was as warm as spring, with a pair of lovers sleeping neck-to-neck.

But by the time they woke again, the warmth and tenderness were gone.

Ruan Shuyang was woken by the heat; Pei Siyue was holding him from behind, and he felt overwhelmingly hot, so saturated with pheromones he felt overwhelmed.

Angry, he clawed at Pei Siyue’s back.

Pei Siyue nuzzled his cheek with his prominent nose and said affectionately, “Little wildcat.”

Furious, Ruan Shuyang bit Pei Siyue’s shoulder again.

Unbothered by the bite marks or the scratches on his back, Pei Siyue picked Ruan Shuyang up and carried him to the floor-to-ceiling window. “Ruan Ruan, it’s snowing heavily,” he said.

The residential complex was unusually quiet on New Year’s Day.

Many homeowners had gone south for the winter, and those who remained seemed unwilling to venture out in the heavy snow.

Outside the villa, everything was blanketed in silver, with large, feather-like snowflakes continuously falling, covering the vast lawn in pure white. In the distance, tree branches were weighed down, bent by the snow.

The snowy scene was beautiful and serene.

Pei Siyue held him and asked, “Do you like watching it?”

Ruan Shuyang nodded.

“Then watch a little longer.”

…

By the third day of the New Year holiday, Pei Siyue’s pheromone fluctuations had stabilized, and his rut was nearing its end.

Ruan Shuyang curled up on the bed, trying to stay as far from Pei Siyue as possible.

He had been exhausted these past few days, feeling like every time he opened his eyes, he was dragged back into the throes of passion—and he couldn’t even refuse, his body betraying him with its honesty.

When he couldn’t take it anymore, he tried crawling to the edge of the bed, only to be pulled back by the waist.

Afraid of damaging Ruan Shuyang’s gland, Pei Siyue wore a muzzle most of the time. But while the muzzle prevented him from biting, it didn’t stop Pei Siyue from having his way with Ruan Shuyang.

The bed was a mess beyond recognition. Remembering how much Ruan Shuyang enjoyed watching the snow from the floor-to-ceiling window, Pei Siyue held him there for a long time. The cold muzzle brushed against his cheek, making him shiver, and it wasn’t long before Pei Siyue pulled him into another round of pleasure.

When he had nothing left, Pei Siyue would still feed him water and energy biscuits to keep him going.

Over these days, he often felt like a ragdoll—posed however Pei Siyue wanted, with no strength to move on his own.

Wuwu, an Enigma’s strength is terrifying—can an omega ever escape?

He regretted staying with Pei Siyue during his rut. Could he have the old Pei Siyue back, the one who wouldn’t even stay in the same room with him for too long?

He curled up in the corner, a small ball of wronged pitifulness.

“I have class tomorrow,” Ruan Shuyang said, looking at Pei Siyue with pleading eyes. “Gege, exams are next week. Tonight, can you please not exhaust me anymore?”

Pei Siyue didn’t think these past few days counted as “exhausting,” but he let Ruan Shuyang have his way.

“Okay,” he agreed generously, ruffling Ruan Shuyang’s hair. “If you’re tired, lie down a bit longer.”

Ruan Shuyang felt like he hadn’t left the bed these past few days. The only times he did were when he was carried to the window or to the bathroom.

Though he had developed a psychological aversion to the bed, his exhausted body had no choice but to stay there.

Seeing Pei Siyue stand up again, he asked, “Gege, aren’t you tired? Do you need to rest?”

Pei Siyue took his hand and pressed it against his body, lazily curling his lips as he asked, “Are you sure you want me to rest?”

Ruan Shuyang immediately pulled his hand back, shaking his head frantically. “No, no, no more.”

How does he still have energy? Enigmas are terrifying.

He now fully believed those stories about going at it for a full day and night.

But he couldn’t handle that—a full day and night would break him, really break him.

Lying in bed, he watched Pei Siyue cleaning the glass.

...The floor-to-ceiling window glass.

He bit his lip, his ears turning bright red, and asked softly, “Why haven’t you cleaned that part yet?”

Pei Siyue looked both amused and helpless. “Ruan Ruan, you just slept for over an hour. In that time, I had to change the sheets and comforter, bathe you, and give you a massage. I didn’t have time to wipe the glass.”

Ruan Shuyang couldn’t bear to look at the mess on the glass. “You could’ve… wiped it first.”

After wiping the glass, Pei Siyue put the cloth back in the bathroom, washed his hands, returned to the bedside, and sat down. He looked at Ruan Shuyang with amusement and reminded him, “Ruan Ruan, most of that is yours.”

Ruan Shuyang flushed with shame and anger, kicking Pei Siyue from under the covers.

Okay, fine, most of it was his—because he couldn’t hold back—but how could Pei Siyue just say it out loud?

After kicking him, his face felt burning hot, and he buried himself completely under the covers.

Pei Siyue laughed softly and pulled the shy little omega out from under the covers. As he massaged Ruan Shuyang’s scalp, he said, “Don’t be shy.”

“There will be plenty more of this in the future.”

Ruan Shuyang: “...”

He didn’t dare think about it.

Pei Siyue whispered to him, “Sleep a little more. You’re still very tired.”

He really was exhausted. With Pei Siyue massaging his scalp, he soon fell comfortably asleep.

This time, he slept for a long time without disturbance. When he woke again, it was already the next morning.

The pillow beside him was warm, but the room was empty except for him.

He reached out to grab his phone to check the time, but instead, he noticed a silver-white bracelet on his left wrist.

The bracelet was made of a familiar blocking material, with a small key attached.

Thoughtful, he glanced toward the nightstand. Next to his phone was a familiar blocking necklace—the one Pei Siyue had made initially.

He tried to remove the bracelet and used the key on it to unlock the necklace around his neck.

The key slid gently into the necklace’s lock, and with a soft “click,” it opened.

Pei Siyue had given him the key to the necklace.