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Chapter Text

Sheng Shaoyou woke to silence.

It wasn't the usual silence of early morning-the hush of curtains swaying against the glass, the distant hum of traffic muted by double-paned windows, or even the low rhythm of his own breath. 

No, this silence was heavy, the kind that pressed into his ears and made him instinctively reach for something that wasn't there.

His hand slid across the cool sheets and met nothing but emptiness.

His brows furrowed instantly. Normally, without fail, Hua Yong would still be in the bed at this hour, body curled close, arm draped across his waist with the kind of protective possessiveness that always made Sheng click his tongue in annoyance. 

It was suffocating, ridiculous even, to be treated like he was fragile glass when he was Sheng Shaoyou-Alpha, CEO, a man who could command a boardroom with a single look.

And yet-today, the space was cold.

No warm breath against his neck.

No steady heartbeat pressed into his back.

No weight pinning him into the center of the bed like he was the most precious thing alive.

For the first time in weeks, he was truly alone.

He sat up sharply, running a hand through his hair, expression tightening as though someone had committed a personal offense. "...So, he left the bed early," he muttered under his breath, tone clipped. "Good. About time."

He swung his legs out of bed and strode into the bathroom. His reflection glared back at him in the mirror: tall, broad-shouldered, sharp-eyed, with the kind of cold face that made subordinates stammer apologies before he even opened his mouth.

He washed up briskly, adjusting his tie with practiced precision, telling himself there was no reason for irritation.

Still-when he came out of the bathroom and caught sight of the untouched side of the bed, something in his chest gave the faintest twitch. He ignored it.

Breakfast. That would be the next inevitable step.

Hua Yong had turned it into a ritual. No matter how many times Shaoyou snapped at him, scolded him for hovering, told him he wasn't his servant, Hua Yong always had breakfast laid out: tea brewed at exactly the right temperature, congee simmered until it was smooth as silk.

Hua Yong would stand there too, bowing slightly, eyes lowered as if awaiting orders.

It was absurd. And Shaoyou had always told himself he hated it.

But today, the dining table was bare.

No steaming bowls.

No fragrant tea.

Not even the faint clatter of dishes being washed in the sink.

Just stillness.

Shaoyou froze in the doorway for longer than he cared to admit. His brows furrowed deeper, his jaw tightening as he crossed the room and pulled out a chair with unnecessary force. He sat, staring at the empty table as though it had personally betrayed him.

"...So. He finally listened," Shaoyou muttered, lips curling faintly. "Finally stopped pretending to be my... what? Caretaker? Guardian? Whatever ridiculous role he invented for himself."

The corner of his mouth twitched upward, a humorless smirk tugging at his lips. He even chuckled once, the sound sharp, hollow.

Good. It was good, wasn't it?

That Omega-or Enigma, or whatever he actually was-had finally left him alone. For weeks Shaoyou had felt his every movement shadowed, his every breath guarded. 

He couldn't so much as pour himself a glass of water without Hua Yong hovering, eyes shining like he was watching over the most precious treasure in existence. It was maddening, insulting even, to be treated as though he were weak.

Now, finally, he could breathe.

He leaned back in his chair, long fingers drumming against the polished wood of the table. "Peace," he said aloud, testing the word on his tongue. "This is what peace feels like."

But for some reason, he didn't feel like eating.

He glanced at the clock. It was early still-too early, really, to leave for the company-but the sight of the empty table, the still kitchen, the hollow quiet of the apartment, made his chest ache with something he didn't want to name. His frown deepened.

"...Tch."

Abruptly, he stood. He grabbed his jacket from the rack and strode toward the door with heavy, purposeful steps, like a man storming out of a room he refused to admit he wanted to stay in.

By the time he slid into the backseat of his black sedan, his irritation had shifted into something sharper, heavier. The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror, hesitated, and then asked carefully, "To the company, sir?"

"Yes." The word was clipped, final.

The car pulled out into the street, morning light spilling over the skyline. Sheng Shaoyou stared out the window, jaw tight, the city blurring past in a haze of glass and steel. He told himself this was right. That distance was necessary. That Hua Yong's absence was what he'd always wanted.

And yet-his stomach was empty.
Not just because he hadn't eaten.
But because something else was missing, something he had never wanted to need.

He closed his eyes briefly, exhaling slowly, forcing his thoughts into order. Good riddance, he told himself again. Let him disappear. Let him stop playing the part of a fragile Omega. I don't need him. I don't need anyone.

Still, in the back of his mind, an image rose unbidden: Hua Yong leaning close with soft eyes, voice gentle as he said, "Mr. Sheng, you must eat something. Otherwise you'll be tired at work."

Shaoyou's fists tightened in his lap. He willed the image away.

He didn't realize how hard his pulse was beating until the car stopped in front of his company.

He climbed out without a word, the weight of silence following him like a shadow, heavy as chains.

The doors of the Shengfang Biotech tower slid open with their usual smooth efficiency, spilling cool air onto the front steps as Sheng Shaoyou strode inside.

His employees immediately straightened, their murmured greetings blending into a chorus of, "Good morning, President Sheng." Heads bowed, eyes averted, everyone too cautious to look at him directly. 

His reputation preceded him everywhere he went-the cold Alpha, the man who could break you with a glance, the untouchable heir who built empires with steady hands and ruthless precision.

Normally, Sheng reveled in it. Power was his natural state, and fear was the language everyone understood.

But today, as he walked past the glass panels of the lobby, something caught his attention that made his steps falter.

There, standing in the middle of the gleaming marble floor as though he owned the building itself-was Hua Yong.

Sheng's breath stuttered in his chest before he could stop it.

Gone was the fragile little figure in oversized sweaters who clung to him at night. Gone was the "weak Omega" with soft eyes and trembling hands who acted like Sheng was the center of his universe.

Instead, Hua Yong stood tall in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, the kind that cost more than most people's yearly salaries.

The fabric hugged his lean frame with quiet elegance, the silk tie at his throat knotted with effortless precision. His hair was styled neatly back, revealing the sharpness of his jawline, the confident line of his nose, the faint curve of his lips.

And those lips-
They were curved into a laugh.

Shaoyou blinked, the sight almost disorienting. Hua Yong was smiling-not the gentle, deferential smile he reserved only for Sheng, but a wide, genuine smile that reached his eyes. He was talking to someone, some man Shaoyou didn't even recognize, and his voice-low, smooth, threaded with warmth-echoed across the lobby like music.

The employees nearby weren't whispering about Shaoyou anymore. Their eyes had shifted subtly, darting toward Hua Yong, recognition dawning. After all, who didn't know the heir of X Holding, the man Forbes had called the ghost king of the financial world?

The richest man in the city.
An Enigma.
A man who had chosen, for some incomprehensible reason, to curl at Shaoyou's feet every night.

Shaoyou's chest burned with a sudden, irrational fury.

He clenched his jaw, trying to smother it beneath layers of pride. He forced a smirk onto his lips, striding forward with heavy, deliberate steps. As he passed, he threw out the words in a mocking drawl

"Doesn't your X Holding Company need you, Mr. Hua? Or do you just enjoy loitering in my building?"

The words were sharp, dripping with disdain. The kind of remark that, normally, would send Hua Yong scurrying behind him like an obedient shadow, murmuring apologies, eager to prove he belonged nowhere but at Sheng's side.

But today-

Hua Yong didn't even glance at him.

The laugh he'd been holding slipped effortlessly into another, his conversation uninterrupted. His companion chuckled back, and Hua Yong leaned closer, his smile widening, his voice dropping into something Sheng couldn't hear but desperately wanted to.

Something snapped.

Shaoyou's shoulder slammed deliberately into Hua Yong's as he brushed past, the impact solid, purposeful, like a warning. He didn't even look back, didn't break stride, expecting the usual pattern to unfold.

Any second now, Hua Yong would excuse himself from whatever irrelevant discussion he'd been engaged in, trot obediently after Sheng Shaoyou, and fall into step a respectful distance behind him-just close enough to show loyalty, just far enough to show deference.

That was how it always went.

That was how it was supposed to go.

But the sound of footsteps never came.

Shaoyou's ears strained unconsciously, waiting for that familiar rhythm-
One, two, three paces behind him.
The soft, steady reminder that Hua Yong was there, orbiting his every move.

Instead-only silence.

Shaoyou slowed imperceptibly, the air around him growing heavier. His eyes narrowed, his lips parting as his mind scrambled to explain the absence. He dared a glance sideways, just enough to catch the reflection in the glass wall of the lobby.

Hua Yong was still standing there. Still laughing. Still talking.

Not even looking at him.

Shaoyou's entire body froze mid-step.

For a heartbeat, he couldn't breathe.

The great Alpha Sheng Shaoyou, feared by executives and envied by rivals, stood rooted to the marble floor because one man-one Enigma-hadn't followed him like he always did.

His hands clenched at his sides, veins standing out against his skin. His chest heaved once, sharply, like he'd been struck.

"...Unbelievable," he hissed under his breath.

Employees glanced up nervously, mistaking his expression for anger directed at them, and quickly lowered their heads again. None of them dared to notice that President Sheng's eyes kept flicking sideways, toward the tall figure in the tailored suit who hadn't spared him a single glance.

Heat crawled up Shaoyou's neck, foreign and infuriating. Was this jealousy? No-impossible. He was Sheng Shaoyou. He didn't get jealous. He didn't need anyone, least of all a man who had spent weeks pretending to be fragile just to crawl into his bed.

And yet, the sight of Hua Yong leaning closer to that stranger, smiling like he had never once smiled for Sheng-

It was unbearable.

Shaoyou forced his legs to move again, striding toward the elevators with long, powerful steps. Each click of his shoes against the marble echoed like thunder in his ears. The air in the lobby seemed too thin, too sharp, every breath burning.

But inside, beneath the layers of Alpha pride and icy composure, something small and desperate whispered a single question:

Why didn't he follow me?

The elevator doors slid shut, sealing him inside a mirrored box where his reflection stared back-shoulders tense, jaw locked, eyes blazing with something he refused to name.

For the first time in years, Sheng Shaoyou felt the ground beneath his feet shift.

And it terrified him.

Chapter Text

Sheng Shaoyou’s office was quiet.

Too quiet.

Normally, the silence of the executive floor soothed him — the soft clicking of keyboards outside his door, the occasional rustle of files, his assistants’ hushed voices as they scurried about to ensure his schedule flowed like clockwork. It was the silence of control, of authority.

But today… today, the silence pressed down on him like a weight.

He sat at his desk, hands poised over a stack of reports, eyes skimming line after line without absorbing a single word.

The graphs blurred, the numbers melted into meaningless symbols. He drummed his fingers against the mahogany surface, restless, agitated.

His mind wasn’t on quarterly earnings or research development updates.

It was on him.

That damn Enigma.

That bastard who was supposed to hover outside his office door, waiting with a fresh cup of tea brewed just the way he liked it. That bastard who was supposed to murmur reminders like “Mr. Sheng, don’t skip lunch,” as though Shaoyou were some forgetful child.

That bastard who was supposed to follow when Shaoyou stormed off, shadowing him without question.

But today? Nothing.

No knock. No hovering presence. No soft voice cutting through his irritation.

Only silence.

Shaoyou’s pen snapped in his grip. Ink smeared across his fingers, blotting the pristine report. He slammed it down with a growl, his chest heaving.

“I know you’re doing this on purpose,” he hissed into the empty office, eyes narrowing at the polished glass walls as though Hua Yong were hidden behind them. “You manipulative bastard. Testing me. Playing games.”

His voice rose, echoing in the cavernous room. “What, you think you can ignore me? Me? Sheng Shaoyou?”

The words hung in the air, but there was no response. No amused chuckle, no calm rebuttal, no insufferable cheesy line.

Just silence.

Shaoyou’s chest tightened. His breath came out harsher, ragged. He raked a hand through his hair, gripping the strands until it hurt.

And then — before he could stop himself — a sound escaped his throat.

Not a growl. Not a bark of fury.

A whine.

High-pitched, broken, desperate.

The noise froze him in place. His blood ran cold.

He was an S-class Alpha. The pinnacle of dominance. The kind of man whose pheromones could silence a room, whose glare could make rivals buckle.

And yet — because of that freakin’ Enigma — he had just whined.

His heart thundered. His face flushed with humiliation, but beneath it all was something worse: the ache of need.

He slammed his palms flat on the desk, leaning forward, eyes blazing. “...Fine. You want to play silent? I’ll make you break first.”

By the time he shoved away from his desk, Shaoyou’s lips had curved into a smirk. If there was one thing he knew, it was that Hua Yong was whipped. To another dimension. That man couldn’t stand seeing him so much as yawn without fussing like the world was ending.

So if Shaoyou wanted his attention… he’d get it.

He straightened his jacket, schooled his expression, and strode toward the elevator with long, confident steps. But as the doors slid shut, his mind was already whirring, his plan forming.

A limp.

Yes. He’d force a limp. Subtle at first, then obvious. Hua Yong wouldn’t be able to ignore it. He’d rush over instantly, all concern and panic, breaking that infuriating silence with pleas like, “Mr. Sheng, are you hurt? Let me help.”

The image alone soothed the ache in his chest.

Shaoyou smirked at his reflection in the elevator mirror. “Let’s see how long you can keep this up, Hua Yong.”

The elevator doors opened with a soft chime. The lobby stretched out before him, gleaming marble floors reflecting the morning light. Employees bustled quietly, heads down, voices hushed.

And there he was.

Hua Yong stood in the center of the lobby, as though he owned it — which, technically, he could. Perfectly tailored In the fucking charcoal suit, hair styled perfect, posture radiating elegance and control. The person who acted like weakest fragile omega alive was nowhere to seen.

He was speaking with Wenlang, who lounged with his usual careless grin, and Gao Tu, who stood with his hands folded neatly behind his back.

The three of them looked infuriatingly at ease.

Shaoyou’s pulse quickened. His smirk sharpened. Showtime.

He stepped forward, deliberately slowing his gait, dragging one leg slightly. The limp was subtle enough at first, just enough to catch the eye.

No reaction.

He exaggerated it, letting his weight fall heavily on one side. His brow furrowed theatrically, a faint grimace twisting his lips.

Any second now, Hua Yong would notice. His eyes would soften, his composure would shatter, and he’d be at Shaoyou’s side in an instant.

But instead—

A calm, even voice broke the moment.

“Are you unwell, Mr. Sheng?”

Shaoyou froze.

It wasn’t Hua Yong.

It was Gao Tu.

Shaoyou’s head snapped toward him, fury flashing in his eyes. Gao Tu adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable, but his gaze sharp as it scanned Shaoyou’s posture.

“You appear to be limping,” Gao Tu continued. “Do you require medical attention?”

Shaoyou’s ears burned. His jaw clenched so tightly it ached. “I’m fine,” he snapped. “Mind your own business.”

Wenlang snorted, crossing his arms. “Oh, this is good. Shaoyou putting on a show and the wrong audience claps first.”

Shaoyou’s glare could have set him on fire. “Shut it, Wenlang.”

But the real blow came when he dared a glance at Hua Yong.

The Enigma hadn’t moved.

He was still standing there, calm, composed, his expression unreadable. Not a flicker of concern, not a step forward.

His eyes met Shaoyou’s briefly, dark and steady — and then slid away as if he were nothing more than another executive passing by.

Shaoyou’s chest constricted violently. His breath caught. For a split second, the proud Alpha felt like the ground had vanished beneath him.

He forced his face into a mask of disdain, lifting his chin. “Tch. Forget it.” He strode past them, abandoning the limp, his steps sharp and angry against the marble floor.

Behind him, Wenlang’s laugh echoed. “Oh, he’s suffering. Hua Yong, you cruel bastard.”

And Gao Tu’s sigh followed, quiet but knowing, “Perhaps this is what Mr. Sheng needs… to realize what he actually wants.”

Shaoyou’s fists clenched at his sides as he pushed through the doors, the silence heavier than ever.

Because for once, it wasn’t him controlling the game.

It was Hua Yong.

Chapter Text

The night pressed heavy against the penthouse windows, rain streaking silver trails down the glass.Inside, the lights were low, warm, quiet-except for the noise coming from Sheng Shaoyou's bedroom.

"Stupid Enigma," he muttered for what had to be the tenth time, his voice muffled against a pillow.

He rolled onto his back, one arm flung over his eyes. "Thinks he can make me bow? Me?"

A bitter laugh escaped him, rough and hollow. "He can ignore me all he wants, I won't give him the satisfaction."

His stomach disagreed, letting out a loud, hollow growl.

Shaoyou glared at the ceiling. "Traitor."

He tried to ignore the ache spreading through his chest-half hunger, half something else he didn't want to name.

He'd spent the entire day pretending not to notice that Hua Yong hadn't hovered behind him, hadn't scolded him for skipping lunch, hadn't called his name in that quiet tone that somehow always pulled him back from the edge.

But he Even refused to cook dinner?

"Devoted,my ass. Here I am starving and you dare to sit downstairs smug"

Downstairs, that same silence stretched through the living room like a soft blanket. Hua Yong sat perfectly still on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, his silk robe draped lazily around him.

The faint lamplight traced the elegant line of his throat, catching on the chain resting against his collarbone which was gifted by his Mr. Sheng.

He exhaled through his nose, setting the tablet he'd been reading aside.

From upstairs came the muffled sound of a curse. Another. A groan.

He closed his eyes and sighed. "Mr. Sheng will starve before admitting he's hungry."

After a moment, he rose, robe whispering around his ankles, and padded barefoot into the kitchen. The sound of drawers sliding open, water running, and metal against ceramic broke the quiet.

Hua Yong moved with practiced precision-chopping, stirring, tasting, never rushing. He didn't even need to look at the recipe he'd memorized the ratios long ago.

Sheng Shaoyou is always picky with the food, So Hua Yong learned how to cook just for his Mr. Sheng.The fragrance of chicken and ginger filled the room, delicate and comforting.

He ladled the soup into a porcelain bowl, wiped the edge clean, and set it carefully onto a tray beside a small plate of steamed buns.

Just as he turned to leave, a voice drifted from the hallway. "Mr. Hua?"

Hua Yong looked up to see Chen Pingming, standing respectfully at the doorway, tablet tucked under his arm. The Beta's eyes flicked toward the tray, then back to Hua Yong's face.

"Yes, Pingming." Hua Yong's tone was calm, almost lazy. "Take this upstairs to Mr.Sheng."

Pingming hesitated. "He... wasn't in good mood earlier, sir."

A faint curve touched Hua Yong's lips.

"He won't open the door for me. But you, might still consider it a professional inconvenience."

Pingming's shoulders stiffened,he wasn't sure whether that was an order or a joke. Living between an Alpha and Enigma isn't itself less than a joke so he bowed slightly. "As you wish, Mr. Hua."

He lifted the tray carefully, the warmth seeping into his palms. As he made his way up the staircase, the scent of the soup rose in gentle waves-rich, savory, impossible to ignore.

At the bedroom door, he paused and knocked softly. "President Sheng?"

A sharp, muffled growl answered him from inside.

"You fucking bastard, I won't open!"

Pingming blinked, glanced down at the tray, and then back at the closed door. "President Sheng," he said again, tone tentative, "it's me. Chen Pingming."

Silence. Then a muffled pause, followed by something that sounded suspiciously like a throat clearing.

"...Chen Pingming?" came the voice, lower now, rough with embarrassment. "Why the hell are you knocking at this hour?"

Pingming swallowed a nervous laugh. "Mr. Hua prepared something for you. I was asked to deliver it."

"I don't need it," Shaoyou snapped. "Tell that manipulative-tell him-that I'm not hungry."

Pingming looked at the tray, then at the door again. He could almost feel Hua Yong's gaze in the back of his mind, patient and amused. The Beta offered a small, sheepish smile to the closed door as though Shaoyou could see it.

"Understood, sir," he said softly. "But if you change your mind, I'll leave it here."

He set the tray down gently by the door.
For a moment, Pingming lingered-half expecting the handle to turn-but the silence remained. With a respectful bow to the empty hallway, he turned and descended the stairs.

Downstairs, Hua Yong hadn't moved far. He was back on the couch. His robe had slipped slightly off one shoulder, revealing a stretch of smooth skin and the edge of an old scar near his collarbone.

Pingming approached quietly, bowing as he entered. "He refused, Mr. Hua."

Hua Yong's smile deepened into something almost fond. "Of course he did."

Pingming hesitated, glancing up. "Should I insist?"

"No." Hua Yong leaned back, stretching an arm along the backrest. "He'll come down on his own once pride stops choking him."

The Beta nodded but couldn't stop the question bubbling up. "If you'll forgive me, sir... why go to such trouble, if you're determined to ignore him?"

Hua Yong's gaze drifted toward the darkened staircase, his eyes softening for the briefest moment. "Because, Chen Pingming," he said quietly, "I can ignore Mr. Sheng tantrums. But I can't ignore his heartbeat."

The answer silenced the Beta. He bowed once more and retreated, leaving Hua Yong alone with the faint hum of the city and his own thoughts.

Upstairs, behind the closed door, the scent of soup teased at Shaoyou's senses until his stomach betrayed him again.

He cursed softly, dragging himself upright. His hair was a mess, his eyes bloodshot. The sight of the untouched reports scattered on his desk only deepened his irritation.

He paced once, twice, glaring at the door like it had personally offended him.

Finally, with a muttered, "I hate him," he yanked it open.

The tray sat there, steam still rising from the bowl, the faint scent of ginger curling into the hall. A note rested beside it in Hua Yong's tidy handwriting

For You Mr. Sheng,when your pride runs out faster than your energy.
- H.Y.

Shaoyou stared at it for a long moment, the corner of his mouth twitching despite himself. "Smug bastard," he whispered.

He crouched, picked up the tray, and carried it back inside. He didn't sit at his desk or at the table,he perched on the edge of the bed, spoon in hand, trying very hard not to think about how the warmth of the soup felt exactly like being cared for.

Downstairs, Hua Yong glanced up as the faint clink of a spoon against porcelain reached him through the silence. His lips curved into a satisfied smirk.

"What shall I do with you, Mr. Sheng..." he murmured, voice low, rich, threaded with something dangerously close to affection.

He leaned back, eyes half-closed, letting the city's glow wash over him.

For a man who claimed to be done chasing, Hua Yong still counted every sound from the floor above-the scrape of a chair, the muffled sigh, the soft, rhythmic tapping that meant Shaoyou was finally eating.

And when that tapping faded into silence, Hua Yong whispered, almost to himself,

"Sleep well, Mr. Sheng. Tomorrow, you'll make me prove I still belong to you."

~~~~

Next Day Sheng Shaoyou had told himself he wasn’t going to go.

He’d repeated it all morning while signing documents, while his assistant recited the day’s schedule, while he stared at the clock and pretended the empty side of his office didn’t itch at him.

But at noon, the ache won.

By the time his car stopped in front of X Holding’s glass tower, his pulse was already too fast.

The security guard stepped forward immediately. “President Sheng, do you have an appointment?”

Shaoyou’s jaw flexed. “I don’t need one.”

“Sir, I—”

A low growl cut him off, the sound sharp enough to make the man step aside. Shaoyou didn’t even slow down. The elevator recognized his access card anyway—Hua Yong had never revoked it.

The doors opened to the executive floor.

And there he was.

Hua Yong, in black,Perfectly cut suit, every line precise, one hand in his pocket as he listened to a presentation from two clients. A woman—Omega, elegant, clearly smitten stood close beside him, smiling too brightly at something he’d said.

Something sharp twisted low in Shaoyou’s chest.

His steps slowed. His breath came rougher, quieter. The woman leaned in again, laughter soft against Hua Yong’s shoulder, and the world tilted.

How dare she stand that close to his Enigma.

He didn’t remember deciding to move, one moment he was at the doorway, the next he was striding across the carpet. His shadow cut through the conversation like a blade.

The woman looked up, startled. Hua Yong’s eyes flicked toward him, expression unreadable.

“Mr Sheng,” Hua Yong said evenly, voice calm enough to make Shaoyou’s pulse spike harder. “You’re far from your building today.”

“I needed to speak to you.” His tone was clipped, sharp. He didn’t look at the woman, but the angle of his shoulders said everything.

The Omega hesitated, glancing between them. “President Hua, should we-”

Shaoyou turned slightly, the faintest edge in his voice. “You should give us a moment.”

It wasn’t a shout. It was quiet, cold, perfectly polite. But the air changed.
The woman stepped back at once, murmuring something about a call she needed to make, disappearing toward the corridor.

Only when she was gone did Shaoyou realize his heartbeat was a drumbeat in his ears.

Hua Yong regarded him in silence for a long moment. The faintest twitch touched the corner of his mouth..amusement, maybe, or victory.

“Mr Sheng,” he said at last, soft but formal. “What happened?”

The question landed like a strike. It wasn’t Are you all right? or Why are you here?It was simple, detached, the exact opposite of what Shaoyou had expected.

“Nothing happened,” Shaoyou snapped. “I came to discuss the Biotech merger, but clearly you’re busy.”

“Busy?” Hua Yong’s brows lifted just slightly. “You mean working?”

“I mean entertaining people who cling to you in the middle of business hours.”

The calm in Hua Yong’s expression didn’t break. “She’s the head of our marketing division.”

“I don’t care what she is.”

“Evidently.”

That single word -gentle, perfectly placed made Shaoyou’s composure splinter.

He exhaled sharply, turning away. “Forget it.”

“Mr Sheng”

“Don’t ‘Mr Sheng’ me,” he cut in, voice low but shaking. “You can ignore me all you want, Hua Yong, but don’t pretend this is professionalism. You’re enjoying this.”

Hua Yong’s eyes softened. “Enjoying watching you walk into my building unannounced and scaring my staff?”

Shaoyou glared at the floor, throat tight. “Maybe.”

A small silence stretched between them, full of things neither dared name.

Then Hua Yong said smilin, “You could have called.”

“You wouldn’t have answered.”

“I will never ignore your call Mr. Sheng.”

Shaoyou laughed once, brittle and humorless. “You’re impossible.”

“And you,” Hua Yong said smug smile, “are jealous.”

Shaoyou froze.

His breath caught, shoulders going rigid. For one second his pride collapsed under the weight of being seen so clearly.

Then he turned toward the door, the only defense left. “Enjoy your meeting, Mr Hua.”

“Mr. Shen-”

But he was already gone, footsteps echoing down the corridor, leaving Hua Yong standing in the quiet with the faintest, almost smug smile.

~~~

The elevator doors slid shut behind him, reflecting his pale face back at him.
He pressed a hand against the railing, steadying his breath, fury and shame tangled in his chest.

He’d come here to prove control.
Instead, he’d only proved how deeply he’d lost it.

To be continued

Chapter Text

The elevator doors slid shut, cutting off the faint echo of Sheng Shaoyou’s footsteps. For a long moment Hua Yong didn’t move.Behind him, someone gave a low whistle.

Wenlang.

The man leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, grin sharp. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

Hua Yong turned his head, eyes calm. “Am I?”

“Don’t act innocent. You practically lit up the moment he walked in here ready to bite your head off.” Wenlang said teasing.

“You love watching him lose control, don’t you?”

Hua Yong’s mouth curved, faint smirk. “It’s… interesting.”

“Interesting,” Wenlang repeated, shaking his head. “You mean entertaining. The mighty Sheng Shaoyou...Your proud Alpha storming into your building because you ignored him for two days. You’re cruel, Yong.”

Hua Yong’s gaze drifted to the now-empty hallway. His voice, when it came, was soft. “It’s fun to watch him find his way back to me.”

“Find his way back?” Wenlang snorted. “You mean crawl back.You are sick Hua Yong. Might as well seek treatment in Hospital till Your Alpha comes back”

Hua Yong didn’t reply, but the corner of his jaw tightened “Might as well Use your Mouth to some good things Wenlang. I don't think I need to remind you that Secretary Gao Hasn't forgiven you yet”

“HUA YONG” Wenlang growled and Hua Yong look at him with His Sick smile

“You started first”

Wenlang showed him his middle finger then was about to leave when Hua Yong started talking again.

“He hasn’t eaten properly since yesterday. He’s exhausted. He’ll rage until he burns out, then—” He stopped, catching himself. The smile returned. “Then I’ll cook.”

Wenlang groaned. “You really are psycho.”

“Possibly,” Hua Yong murmured, glancing toward the floor numbers on the elevator panel that still glowed with Shaoyou’s last direction. “But he’s mine.”

Then Footsteps sounded from the reception area.

“President Hua, should I reschedule the client meeting?”

“No,” Hua Yong said. “Proceed as planned. And one more thing-”

He turned fully, the composure slipping into something colder, sharper, the kind of tone that made entire departments hold their breath. The One Which Reminds People That He's Enigma.

“The security guards on duty this afternoon...fire them.”

The Receptionist blinked. “Sir?”

Hua Yong’s eyes narrowed slightly. “They stopped my Mr Sheng at the entrance.”

“But..President Sheng arrived without appointment, they were just-”

“They stopped him,” Hua Yong repeated, voice quiet enough to chill the air.

“Replace them by tomorrow.Any further questions then Might as well Plan your farewell along with the secretary”

The secretary hesitated only a second before nodding quickly. “Understood, sir.”

When she disappeared down the hall, Wenlang exhaled an exaggerated sigh.

“You’re unbelievable. Do you even hear yourself?”

“What?”

“My Mr Sheng? Do you even realize how whipped that sounds?”

Hua Yong’s answer was a smirk. “It’s accurate.”

Wenlang stared, then threw up his hands. “You know what? I’m not saving you when he finds out you fired half the lobby for him.”

“I don’t need saving,” Hua Yong said mildly, already walking toward his office. “He’ll yell, and then he’ll eat.”

“Eat what?”

“The soup I’m going to make.”

Wenlang groaned again. “You’re hopeless,” he muttered, following only long enough to see Hua Yong’s shoulders shake once with silent laughter before he gave up and left.

Meanwhile Outside, the afternoon sun glared off the chrome of a black sedan parked at the curb. Inside, Sheng Shaoyou sat rigid in the back seat, hand over his face.

“President Sheng, are we heading back to Biotech?” the driver asked carefully.

“Just drive,” Shaoyou muttered.

“Yes, sir.”

The car merged into traffic, the hum of engines filling the silence. Shaoyou dropped his hand at last, staring out the tinted window.

Mortification burned in his chest like acid. He could still see the Omega’s startled face, Hua Yong’s calm eyes, Wenlang’s smirk somewhere behind them.

Perfect, he thought bitterly. I made a fool of myself in front of half his staff.

He leaned back, pressing his head against the seat. “Idiot,” he muttered to himself. “You absolute idiot.”

He could imagine Hua Yong now.. definitely still standing there, unbothered, maybe even smiling. The thought made his stomach twist.

He wanted to be angry. He wanted to blame Hua Yong for every flicker of embarrassment crawling through his veins. But underneath the anger was something softer, humiliatingly tender.

He didn’t even look surprised to see me.

The words echoed in his skull. The calm in Hua Yong’s voice, the polite “Mr Sheng” that sounded like any other formality, had cut deeper than any argument.

He groaned quietly, dragging a hand down his face. “He’s enjoying this,” he whispered. “That bastard is enjoying this.”

His driver pretended not to hear.

Shaoyou closed his eyes. The rhythmic motion of the car should have been soothing, but all it did was trap him inside his own thoughts.

How dare that Omega leaned in too close. Doesn't She Know that Shaoyou' owns Hua Yong. It's his Enigma. How dare she?His pulse spiked again.

He hated it..hated the jealousy, the helplessness, the way his body reacted before his brain could command it otherwise. He is a S-Class Alpha and Jealousy doesn't suit him

He thumped the back of his head lightly against the seat. “Get a grip.”

The city lights blurred past. He exhaled slowly, forcing his heartbeat to slow, but the ache in his chest stayed.

Pride wouldn’t let him turn the car around and Need wouldn’t let him forget.

~~~~

The elevator doors opened on the top floor of Shengfang Biotech.

The usual noise of people working filled the air, but everyone went quiet when they saw Sheng Shaoyou walk in. His face looked cold and serious.

Only one person dared to speak to him.

“President Sheng!”

Chen Pingming rushed up, holding his tablet tightly.

“Are you alright, sir? You didn’t answer any calls, and people said you went to X Holding.what happened? Did something-

Shaoyou’s jaw twitched.

Pingming kept talking. “We heard Mr. Hua was there too. Did something happen between you two? Are the companies-”

“Pingming.”

Shaoyou’s voice was soft but dangerous.

The Beta froze.

“Stop asking questions.”

Pingming quickly nodded. “Y-yes, sir.”

Shaoyou walked past him without another word, the sound of his shoes echoing through the hall.

~~~~

Inside his office, Shaoyou shut the door hard.

The noise filled the room, then disappeared, leaving silence behind.

He dropped into his chair and covered his face with his hands.

“He’s never going to let me live that down,” he muttered.

He sat like that for a while, elbows on his desk, forehead resting on his palms.

The scene from X Holding kept replaying in his mind..the laughing woman, Hua Yong’s calm face, Wenlang’s smirk.

It burned.

Then there was a soft knock on the door.

“President Sheng. You called Me?”

He looked up.

Chen Pingming stood at the door, looking nervous but trying to stay calm.

“Come in,” Shaoyou said, sounding gentler than usual.

Pingming blinked. “Sir?”

“I said come in.”Shaoyou pointed to the chair across from him.

The Beta sat down carefully, as if the chair might explode.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Shaoyou tapped a pen against the desk, then sighed. “About earlier.”

Pingming sat up straight. “Sir, I’m sorry for asking too many questions. It was unprofessional-”

“No,” Shaoyou interrupted quietly. “You were just doing your job. I overreacted.”

Pingming blinked. “Sir?”

Shaoyou rubbed his face. “You were worried. I shouldn’t have snapped. I’m… not proud of it.”

For once, the Alpha didn’t look scary.
He looked tired and a little embarrassed.

Pingming relaxed. “It’s alright, sir. I’m sure Mr. Hua will forgive you soon.”

Shaoyou winced at the name. “Don’t call him ‘Mr. Hua.’ You make him sound like some saint.”

Pingming hesitated, then said carefully, “He did save you a lot of times.”

“Exactly!” Shaoyou sat up and waved his hand. “He always calm, perfect while I’m… this mess. And he looks at me like I’m a child who needs help.”

Pingming tried not to laugh. “I’m sure he doesn’t mean it like that.”

Shaoyou gave him a look that said he didn’t believe a word of it.

Then Shaoyou leaned back, arms crossed.

“He used to fuss over me. Every morning..‘Mr. Sheng, your tie,’.. ‘Mr. Sheng, eat something,’.. ‘Mr. Sheng, stop glaring so much.’”

Pingming coughed softly, not sure if it was safe to agree.

“Now?” Shaoyou said with a frown. “Now he barely looks at me. He talks to everyone else even that Stupid Wenlang, His secretary Gao Tu, even that idiot from Finance but not me.”

He went quiet for a moment, then suddenly leaned forward.

“I need your help.”

“My help?” Pingming repeated, confused.

“Yes.” Shaoyou leaned on the desk. “You’re smart. Neutral. Observant. I need a strategy.”

“A strategy?”

“To get his attention.”

Pingming blinked. “Sir… are you asking me to help you flirt with Mr. Hua?”

“It’s not flirting,” Shaoyou said quickly. Then paused. “Okay, maybe a little. But mostly it’s a plan. A battle.”

Pingming just stared. “Sir, what?”

“He’s testing me,” Shaoyou said seriously. “He’s pretending not to care, waiting for me to crawl back. But two can play that game.”

Pingming rubbed his temples. “You want to make him jealous.”

“Jealous, guilty, impressed—anything that works. So, ideas?”

“Sir, I handle reports, not love plans.”

“Then consider this a new assignment,” Shaoyou said.

Pingming sighed. “You could just talk to him like a normal person.”

“That’s not a plan,” Shaoyou said. “That’s surrender.”

“Maybe honesty would work better than games.”

“No, no,” Shaoyou said quickly. “That’s what he wants to make me admit defeat.”

“Then what is your plan?”

A slow smirk spread across Shaoyou’s face. “We’ll make him notice me.”

Pingming groaned. “That sounds bad.”

Shaoyou ignored him and started writing on a notepad.

“Step one - make him curious. Step two will be to make him worried. Step three is remind him he likes me.”

Pingming read over his shoulder. “With all Due Respect Sir. Mr. Hua is Crazy In Love after you so Why Bother with all this"?

“just Help Me”  Shaoyou repeated firmly

“Step one says ‘make him curious.’ How?” Pingming ask with a sigh

“Easy,” Shaoyou said. “I’ll ignore his calls. Cancel meetings. He’ll start wondering what I’m up to.”

“That might work,” Pingming said slowly, “unless Mr. Hua just appreciates the peace and quiet.”

Shaoyou frowned. “That won't happen. He's too down bad for me that if I don't glance at him, he will go Mad. He is a possessive bastard. He always -

"Uh... Sir?Then we move to step two.” Pingming said cutting of Shaoyou and read again. “‘Fake injury’? Sir, please tell me you’re not going to limp again.”

Shaoyou hesitated. “Maybe something smaller this time.”

Pingming groaned. “This isn't the Best Idea, sir.”

The Alpha ignored him. “Step three will be make him jealous.”

“Jealous how?”

Shaoyou grinned. “You’ll help me.”

Pingming froze. “Sir!no.”

“You’re perfect,” Shaoyou said. “A loyal Beta, good-looking enough to seem like competition, but not a real threat.”

“President Sheng!” Pingming’s face turned red. “That’s inappropriate!”

“It’s just a plan,” Shaoyou said. “He’ll walk in, see you leaning close, and assume something.”

“Mr. Hua will kill me! You know that! He doesn't like anyone even glancing at you”

“No, he won’t,” Shaoyou said confidently. “He’s possessive, not violent. Usually.”

“This is madness,” Pingming muttered.

“It’s strategy,” Shaoyou said proudly. “Now, tell me that what does he react to most? Concern? Jealousy? Compliments?”

Pingming sighed. “All of it.”

“Perfect.” Shaoyou leaned back, pleased. “Tomorrow we start phase one. You’ll adjust my schedule so it looks suspiciously full.”

“Can I at least have breakfast first?” Pingming asked weakly.

Shaoyou grinned. “You’ll need the energy.”

Later, when Pingming escaped into the elevator, he leaned against the wall and groaned.

“Out of all the jobs in the world, I had to work for a lovesick Alpha.”

A quiet laugh came from beside him. Chang Yu leaned against the opposite wall, smiling.

“He got you involved, didn’t he?”

Pingming sighed. “He wants a full ‘make-Hua-Jealous’ plan.”

Chang Yu chuckled. “Typical Sheng Shaoyou. Pride first, logic never.”

“If this fails, Mr. Hua will kill me,” Pingming muttered.

“Don’t worry,” Chang Yu said, stepping closer with a teasing smile. “If he does, I’ll protect you.”

Pingming blinked, red creeping up his neck. “You..why?”

Chang Yu shrugged. “Because you’re cute when you panic.”

Pingming went even redder. “I-I should go.”

“See you tomorrow, strategist,” Chang Yu said as the doors closed.

~~~~

Meanwhile

Back in his office, Shaoyou sat alone, staring at his scribbled plan.
The messy notes connected words like fake indifference and accidental touch.

After a while, he started laughing softly, helplessly.

Because deep down, he knew the truth

He just missed Hua Yong.

He leaned back in his chair, looking at the night city outside the window.
“You’ll notice me, Enigma,” he murmured. “Even if I have to make a fool of myself.”

Just as he said that, there was another soft knock.

“President Sheng?” Pingming’s voice sounded uncertain.

Shaoyou frowned. “What now?”

The door opened a crack. Pingming peeked in, holding his tablet. “Sir, I just realized that I never asked earlier.”

“What?” Shaoyou said, annoyed.

Pingming tilted his head. “What did you do that he started ignoring you, Mr. Sheng?”

Shaoyou froze, then sighed, leaning back tiredly.

“It’s a long story,” he muttered.

To be continued

I love Pinming so Had to include him in the chaos

Chapter Text

Flashback

Shaoyou had been feeling strange for days.

It wasn’t the usual kind of tired.Not something that food or sleep could fix. His chest felt heavy, like a hand pressing down on him, and his thoughts moved too fast to catch. Everything at work irritated him. Every message, every sound, every little thing that didn’t go right.

He felt naseous every morning. Moreover He had skipped breakfast three times this week, and the coffee he drank only made the pounding in his head worse.

His body ached, his mind felt foggy, and every time Hua Yong smiled at him.That soft, steady smile,it made something twist inside his chest.

It wasn’t Hua Yong’s fault.

It was never his fault.

But Shaoyou didn’t know how to explain what was wrong with him. He only knew that every touch, every gentle question, every moment of care made him want to either cry or scream.

He was getting too Moody and He know that. He thought he would get over this but Happiness doesn't comes so easily.

That Night.Hua Yong was sitting by the couch, going through some papers for work while Shaoyou sat by the window, staring at nothing.

“Mr. Sheng,” Hua Yong said softly. “You didn’t eat again.”

Shaoyou didn’t answer.

“I made soup,” Hua Yong continued, voice calm as always. “Just a little. You should at least-”

“I said I’m not hungry,” Shaoyou cut him off.

Hua Yong looked up, blinking. “You haven’t eaten all day.”

“So what?” Shaoyou muttered, turning away. “I’m not a child.”

“I didn’t say you were,” Hua Yong said gently. “I just-”

“Then stop treating me like one!”

The sudden sharpness in his voice made Hua Yong freeze.

Shaoyou wasn’t usually loud. He didn’t like shouting, didn’t like scenes. But something inside him cracked.

“I’m tired, Yong,” he said, dragging his hands through his hair. “Every time I come home, you’re there, asking me what I ate, if I slept, if I drank enough water. You don’t have to keep doing that!”

Hua Yong’s eyes softened. “I just want you to take care of yourself.”

“I don’t need you to take care of me,” Shaoyou snapped. “I can handle my own life.”

The silence that followed was thick. The kind that filled the air like smoke.

Hua Yong didn’t answer. He only looked at him with calmness and Soft Eyes.

That look made Shaoyou angrier. Maybe because it wasn’t angry. Maybe because Hua Yong was too kind, too patient, and Shaoyou didn’t know how to deal with that kind of softness when he was breaking inside.

“You act like I can’t do anything without you,” Shaoyou said, voice shaking. “Like I’d fall apart if you’re not here.”

“I don’t think that,” Hua Yong said quietly.

“Then stop hovering over me like I’m going to collapse,” Shaoyou shot back. “Stop looking at me like I’m some fragile thing you have to fix.”

Hua Yong stood up slowly, setting the papers aside. His face still stayed calm, but something behind his eyes flickered.

“Mr. Sheng ,I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

“Then stop!” Shaoyou said. His throat felt tight. “Just stop, Yong. Stop waiting for me, stop calling me when I’m late, stop coming over every time I’m quiet. Mr. Sheng this, Mr. Sheng that. Why are you so fucking clingy.You ruined me. You ruined my life. I was a S class Alpha but now I act like a fucking clingy pathetic Omega. I don’t need y-”

He stopped mid-sentence, but the words were already out there.

Hua Yong’s hands, which had been resting by his sides, curled slightly. But he still didn't said anything.

Shaoyou’s chest hurt. He wanted to take the words back, but he couldn’t. They were too sharp, too real.

“I don’t need you,” he finished, quieter now. “You don’t have to stay just because I’m broken or difficult or whatever it is you think I am.”

There it was,the worst possible thing he could have said.

For a long time, Hua Yong didn’t move. He didn’t speak. He just looked at Shaoyou with a kind of tired tenderness that made it worse. Then, very slowly, he nodded once.

“Alright,” he said softly.

Shaoyou’s heart dropped. “Yong-”

“I understand,” Hua Yong said, still calm. “I didn’t mean to overstep.”

He turned away. Picked up his jacket.Shaoyou wanted to say something. Anything. But his throat felt locked.When Hua Yong finally walked past him, he felt naseous. He wanted to say something, atleast apologize but then Hua yong stopped at the door. “You should eat, Shaoyou.”

Then he left.

The door clicked shut.

And the apartment felt impossibly quiet.

For a long time, Shaoyou didn’t move. He just stood there, staring at the space Hua Yong had been standing in moments ago.

His stomach twisted. His chest ached. He had said awful things ,things he didn’t even mean. All because he don't know the fuck is wrong with his body. All because of these unwanted emotions and instead of talkin' out, he ended up snapping at Hua Yong.

With trembling legs,He sat down slowly, burying his face in his hands.

Why did he always do this?
Why did he always push away the one person who never left him?

He thought back to every morning Hua Yong had been there, making coffee for two, teasing him for frowning at his emails, quietly fixing his tie before meetings.

He remembered the nights Hua Yong stayed up when Shaoyou worked too late, waiting on the couch just to say, “You should sleep soon.”

And now

Now he’d told him to stop.

He’d told him to leave.

Shaoyou tried to tell himself it was good. That he needed space. That Hua Yong deserved someone easier, someone less moody, less stubborn.

But the silence around him said otherwise.

He looked at the soup Hua Yong had made, still on the table, steam gone cold. The smell made his eyes sting.

He reached out, tracing the rim of the bowl with his fingers.

“I didn’t mean it,” he whispered.

But Hua Yong wasn’t there to hear it.

The next day, Shaoyou waited. He told himself Hua Yong would text. He always did. Even when Shaoyou was being difficult, he’d send something small like “Don’t skip lunch,” or “I’m outside. Come down.”

But that day, there was nothing.

No message.
No call.
No sign.

By the day endyShaoyou’s chest felt hollow. He sat at his desk, staring at his phone, pretending to work. Every vibration made his heart jump, but it was never him.

So he tried Limping, thinking he will get some attention. but everything in Vain

He saw Hua Yong once, across the lobby of X Holding, surrounded by a few colleagues. Hua Yong looked the same.Calm, polite, composed. But when his eyes met Shaoyou’s, he only nodded once, a formal greeting, and looked away.

That single moment hurt more than any fight.

Now, sitting in his own office days later, Shaoyou couldn’t stop thinking about it. About how he’d broken something gentle without meaning to. About how Hua Yong didn’t even get angry.. INSTEAD he just stopped trying.

And that was worse than anger.

Because anger meant there was still emotion.

Silence meant there was none.

Shaoyou leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. His eyes burned, his chest felt too tight.

“I didn’t mean it,” he whispered again, voice cracking this time. “You idiot. You know I didn’t mean it.”

But the air didn’t answer.

The world went on, the city lights outside, the steady hum of work while inside, the only thing Shaoyou could hear was the echo of his own voice the night Hua Yong walked away.

And now, every time he saw him from a distance , always smiling politely, talking with others, never looking his way

It felt like punishment.

A punishment he’d earned.

Because maybe Hua Yong still cared.

But he had finally learned to stop showing it.

Or Maybe he finally got over his obsession with Sheng Shaoyou

The room went quiet after Shaoyou finished speaking.He hadn’t planned to tell the whole story. It just… came out.
One sentence after another, until even the air between them felt heavy.

Pinming sat across the desk, still holding his tablet, looking unsure what to say. The silence stretched. The hum of the air conditioner was the only sound.

Finally, he let out a long sigh. “That’s… quite a story, sir.”

Shaoyou pressed his fingers to his temple. “Don’t sound like that. I already feel stupid enough.”

“I’m not judging,” Pinming said quickly. “Just” He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “That was harsh, President Sheng.”

“I know.” Shaoyou groaned softly. “You don’t have to remind me. I said awful things. And now he won’t even look at me.”

Pinming tilted his head. “Mr. Hua Yong sounds like someone who feels deeply but hides it well. Maybe he’s just… giving you space.”

“Space,” Shaoyou repeated, voice dry. “You mean ignoring me politely while acting perfectly fine in public. He was obsessed with me. Do you even understand? Now he doesn't give a fuck?”

Pingming didn’t answer. The Alpha’s sarcasm was sharp, but his voice had no real edge. It sounded tired.

Shaoyou leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. “You know what’s worse? He didn’t even get angry. If he shouted, or called me out, or threw something, I’d know what to do. But he just” He gestured helplessly. “He just stopped.”

Pingming watched him for a long time.

“President Sheng,” he said slowly. “Can I ask something?”

Shaoyou glanced at him. “What now?”

“Are you feeling alright?”

Shaoyou frowned. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” Pinming said, keeping his tone light but firm. “You’ve been pale for days. You keep pressing your hand to your stomach like it hurts, and you’re sweating even though this room is freezing.You avoid breakfast and Say You have been feeling naseous”

Shaoyou blinked. “You’ve been observing me like a nurse?”

“Like a responsible employee,” Pinming replied. “It’s my job to make sure my boss doesn’t collapse mid-meeting.”

Shaoyou scowled. “I’m not going to collapse.”

Pingming raised an eyebrow. “Last week, you nearly fainted after skipping lunch.”

“That was one time.”

“And yesterday, you looked dizzy after walking out of X Holding.”

Shaoyou’s jaw tightened. “That was stress.”

“Stress can still kill you, sir,” Pinming said bluntly.

Shaoyou stared at him, caught off guard by the Beta’s serious tone.

Pinming softened it a bit. “Look, I understand you’re upset about Mr. Hua. But being sick won’t help you fix anything.”

“I said I’m fine,” Shaoyou muttered again, but the words sounded weaker this time.

Pinming tilted his head. “When was the last time you had a proper checkup?”

Shaoyou looked away. “Does it matter?”

“Yes,” Pinming said simply. “Because you don’t seem fine to me. You’ve been short of breath, moody, and unfocused. That could be emotional stress, but it could also be something medical.”

“I don’t have time for a doctor,” Shaoyou said sharply.

Pinming crossed his arms. “You also didn’t have time for food. And we all saw how that went.”

“Pinming,” Shaoyou said warningly.

“Sir,” Pingming replied in the same tone.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

Then, unexpectedly, Shaoyou sighed. He rubbed his face with both hands. “You’re persistent, you know that?”

“It’s in my job description. Comes along with being secretory of a stubborn S Class Alpha,” Pinming said.

Shaoyou lowered his hands slowly, his expression softening just a little. “I don’t need a doctor. I just need to stop thinking so much.”

Pingming studied him quietly. There was a faint flush on Shaoyou’s skin ,not a healthy color but fever warmth. His breathing was too shallow. Even his voice sounded weaker than usual, though he tried to hide it behind his usual authority.

“President Sheng,” Pinming said after a pause, “please don’t take this the wrong way, but you look like you could use a nap and a doctor more than a plan to make Mr. Hua jealous.”

Shaoyou groaned and covered his face again. “You’re supposed to help me win him back, not nag me like him.”

“Maybe he nags you because you need it,” Pinming said softly.

That hit harder than either of them expected. Shaoyou’s hands froze halfway through rubbing his eyes.

Pingming watched the Alpha’s expression shift from frustration melting into quiet guilt, guilt into something like sadness.

“Do you think,” Shaoyou said slowly, “he’ll talk to me again?”

Pingming hesitated. “If you mean genuinely talk like not work talk or limping then yes. But not if you keep pretending you’re okay when you’re not.”

Shaoyou looked down at his hands. His knuckles were pale. “I just… didn’t mean it, you know?”

“I know,” Pinming said gently. “He probably knows too.”

Shaoyou gave a small laugh, bitter and self-mocking. “Then why does it still feel like I ruined everything?”

“Because you care,” Pinming replied. “And when people care, guilt hits harder than anger.”

Shaoyou let out a quiet breath. The tension in his shoulders eased a little. For once, he looked smaller, not the cold, untouchable CEO everyone saw, but just a man trying to figure out what to do next.

Pinming stood up and walked around the desk. He stopped beside Shaoyou and placed the tablet down gently. “Alright. We’re going to the doctor.”

Shaoyou blinked. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“I have meetings.”

“I’ll reschedule them.”

“Pinming.”

“Sir.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“This is necessary,” Pinming said calmly. “You can’t fix your relationship if you’re burning out. You’re pale, dizzy, and your body is probably screaming for rest. Let’s handle that first. And if something happens then I am not ready to Die early from Mr. Hua hands”

Shaoyou frowned deeply but didn’t argue. He stared at the pen on his desk, tapping it once, twice, three times before setting it down.

Finally, he said quietly, “Fine. Just a quick visit.”

“Good,” Pingming said.

Shaoyou muttered under his breath, “You sound more like Hua Yong every day.”

“Thank you,” Pinming said dryly.

Shaoyou shot him a look, but there was no real anger behind it. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“A little,” Pinming admitted. “It’s not every day I get to boss my boss around.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

“Noted.”

They walked out together. The office staff glanced up, surprised to see President Sheng leaving early .When they reached the elevator, Shaoyou leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “You really think this will help?”

Pinming pressed the button. “It’s a start. Sometimes fixing things begins with taking care of yourself.”

Shaoyou made a small sound not quite agreement, not quite refusal. “You sound like him again.”

“Then maybe he was right,” Pinming said quietly.

Shaoyou’s expression softened at that, almost reluctantly.

Halfway down, Shaoyou spoke again, voice quieter than before. “You think he still worries about me?”

Pinming looked at him, then smiled faintly. “If he really cared for you, he probably still does. People like that don’t stop worrying just because they stop showing it.”

Shaoyou’s chest ached at those words. “Then maybe I’ll stop giving him reasons to.”

“That’s a good start,” Pinming said. “Now let’s make sure you don’t pass out before your apology.”

Shaoyou gave a small, tired laugh. “You’re too calm about all this.”

“It’s easier to stay calm when you’re not the one in love,” Pingming replied.

Shaoyou turned his head sharply. “Who said I was-”

Pinming raised an eyebrow.

Shaoyou sighed. “Fine. Maybe a little.”

The Beta smiled. “More than a little, sir.”

The Alpha didn’t reply. He just stared at the elevator doors, hiding the faint color rising to his face.

They stopped at the parking area, and that’s when Shaoyou froze.

Because leaning casually against the sleek black car, wearing his signature all-too-serious face, was Chang Yu.

“What the hell,” Shaoyou blurted. “Why is he here?”

Pinming, of course, blushed. Actually blushed. “He… offered to drive us. I thought-”

“You thought wrong,” Shaoyou cut in flatly, his eyes narrowing. “He’s Hua Yong’s cousin. And secretary. So explain to me why you of all people are suddenly accepting favors from him?”

Pinming opened his mouth, but his brain clearly short-circuited halfway. “He’s… nice?”

Finally Updating sighhh

This chapter is longer than usual.. maybe?

Your Thoughts??

Next chapter is already written ;)

Chapter Text

The car ride was quiet at first.

Too quiet.

Shaoyou sat in the back seat, his head leaning against the cold glass. The city lights blurred outside, lines of gold and white running past his tired eyes. He didn't say anything. He just breathed slowly, trying not to think, not to feel.

Pinming sat beside in passenger seat, tablet on his lap, sneaking worried looks every few seconds. Chang Yu was driving, one hand on the wheel, humming softly to fill the silence.

Then, after a few minutes, Pinming turned his head again and froze.

Because Shaoyou's eyes were full of tears.

"B-Boss?" Pinming said quickly, voice high with panic. "President Sheng, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Shaoyou blinked, confused for a second. He touched his cheek and felt the wetness. "I-" He tried to speak, but his voice came out thin and rough. "I don't know. I just feel... sick. And tired. Everything feels heavy."

Pinming's worry doubled. "You're pale. You're shaking. Oh my god, should I call the hospital right now-"

"Stop fussing," Shaoyou said weakly. "I'm just nauseous. My stomach keeps turning, and I feel... anxious."

"Anxious?" Pinming repeated softly.

Shaoyou gave a small, humorless laugh.

"You ever feel like your body's not listening to you anymore? Like it's angry, but you don't even know why?"

Before Pinming could answer, Chang Yu reached one hand back without looking away from the road. He held out a cold water bottle. "Here," he said calmly.

"Drink. Breathe. Or Mr. Hua is going to kill us both for letting you cry in my car."

Shaoyou blinked at him, then let out a shaky laugh. "You're not helping."

"Not trying to," Chang Yu said lightly. "Just staying alive."

Still, Shaoyou took the bottle. The cool water soothed his throat a little. He leaned back, closing his eyes, trying to breathe through the tightness in his chest.

Pinming watched him nervously. "Are you sure you don't want me to call the doctor right now?"

"We're already going there," Shaoyou muttered, one hand pressed over his stomach. "Just let me rest."

The car went quiet again. Only the soft hum of the engine and the city outside filled the space.

Then something small caught Shaoyou's eye.

A white handkerchief, neatly folded, lay on the seat beside him. The fabric looked old but clean, faintly smelling of that same lavender scent he used to wake up to. It was Hua Yong's.

He picked it up slowly, fingers brushing over the edge suddenly realising something."This is mine," he said suddenly, frowning.

Chang Yu glanced in the rear-view mirror, one eyebrow rising. "Is it?"

Shaoyou nodded, studying the small stitched initials in the corner. "Yeah. I gave this to Hua Yong once. He was pretending to cry to make me stop working one night. I threw this at him so he'd shut up."

Chang Yu chuckled quietly. "Then you just found a lost treasure. That's been sitting in Hua Yong's Car for months. He kept it."

Shaoyou blinked. "He... kept it?"

"Mhm. He even washed it himself. Said it was a reminder."

"A reminder?" Shaoyou repeated, his voice smaller.

"That you actually cared, even when you pretended not to," Chang Yu said with a grin."You should've seen his face the day you gave it to him. I've never seen a man so happy over a stupid piece of cloth."

Shaoyou stared at the handkerchief for a long moment. His lips trembled before a small smile pulled at them. "Sick bastard," he muttered, half-laughing through his nose. "He probably slept with this thing under his pillow."

"Wouldn't surprise me," Chang Yu said. "He's a sentimental fool under that calm face."

Shaoyou shook his head, smiling a little. The smile didn't erase the tiredness in his eyes, but it softened it.

He hated admitting but He was Missing Huayong more than he expected.

Then, from the passenger seat, Pinming spoke quietly, almost shy. "It's... kind of sweet, though."

Chang Yu smirked. "You like possesive fools?"

Pinming's ears turned pink instantly. "That's not what I meant."

"Oh? Because you sound like someone who falls for someone possessive like Hua Yong," Chang Yu teased.

"I would not!" Pinming said, voice jumping higher than he meant. "I just meant that it's sweet when people remember small things."

Chang Yu's grin widened. "So if I kept something you gave me, would that be sweet too?"

Pinming blinked. "Why would I give you anything?"

"Oh, I'll find a reason." Chang Yu's voice was low and smooth, half serious, half playful.

Pinming's face went from pink to full red. "Stop flirting while driving!"

"I multitask well," Chang Yu said.

Shaoyou groaned loudly from the back seat. "Please, for the love of everything, stop before I throw up again."

Both of them went quiet immediately.

"Sorry, sir," Pinming mumbled, still red.

Chang Yu chuckled. "Apologies, President Sheng. Your secretary's too easy to tease."

"I'm right here!" Pinming snapped.

"Exactly," Chang Yu said, smiling.

Shaoyou sighed and rubbed his forehead. "If you two start dating, keep it out of office hours. I have enough drama already."

Pinming almost choked on air. "We're not-! I mean-he's just- oh my god!"

Chang Yu laughed softly. "Relax, I'm kidding. Maybe."

Shaoyou rolled his eyes. "Why is everyone around me insane?"

Pinming muttered under his breath, "Maybe it's contagious. Started from your possessive Fake Omega though"

Shaoyou shot him a look, but there was no anger Because well This was True. He still remembers how That Bastard acted like a fragile Omega in starting. For the first time in days, Shaoyou actually smiled.

The car passed through the main gates of Hua Yong's private hospital. Shaoyou's smile vanished the moment he realise he's in Hua Yong Hospital.

He groaned and covered his face with one hand. "I can't believe I'm walking into his hospital. He'll find out in five minutes and never let me live it down."

"He'll find out in two," Chang Yu said cheerfully, parking the car. "The whole building reports to him."

"Perfect," Shaoyou muttered. "If he shows up, I'm jumping out a window."

Pinming sighed and opened the door. "Please don't. I'm not explaining that paperwork."

They helped Shaoyou out of the car. He stood for a moment, staring up at the glowing sign like it was mocking him.

"Come on," Pinming said gently. "Just a quick checkup."

"Fine," Shaoyou muttered. "But if Hua Yong shows up, I'm pretending I'm dead."

Chang Yu laughed again, walking ahead to handle the registration. "I'll tell the staff to play along but don't be surprised if He actually did something crazy. The man will follow you to the grave."

And shaoyou went silent.

He regretted every word he said to Huayong now. With a sigh,He followed the nurse down the hall, one hand on his stomach, the other clutching his phone like it could save him.Every step echoed too loud. Every white wall looked the same.

Pinming trailed nervously behind him, clutching his tablet like a shield. "Sir, you don't have to glare at every nurse. They're just trying to help."

"I'm not glaring," Shaoyou said, though his tone made three nurses flinch as they passed.

Even the nurse leading them looked nervous. "Th-this way, President Sheng. We've prepared a private examination room for you."

Of course they had.

It was Hua Yong's hospital. Yes his hospital, which meant every doctor and nurse here probably had orders like 'If Sheng Shaoyou even sneezes, alert the director immediately.'

~~~~

When Shaoyou stepped into the examination room, he could feel it. The quiet tension, the stolen glances. The medical team stood straighter, like soldiers waiting for inspection.

This is so fucking ridiculous

One of the senior doctors stepped forward with a polite smile that looked more like fear. "Good afternoon, President Sheng. I'm Dr. Liu. Please, have a seat. We'll just run a few tests."

"I'm fine," Shaoyou said shortly.

"Yes, sir," Dr. Liu said automatically. "But we'll still check."

Another doctor gently took his wrist, checking his pulse. "Any nausea?"

Shaoyou hesitated. "A little."

"Headaches?"

"Sometimes."

"Fatigue?"

Shaoyou gave a dry laugh. "All the time."

The doctors exchanged glances.

Dr. Liu cleared his throat. "Mood swings?"

Shaoyou frowned. "What kind of question is that?"

"I-It's standard procedure," Dr. Liu said quickly. "Just for understanding hormone..uh, stress responses."

Pinming coughed quietly behind him. "Maybe just answer honestly, sir."

Shaoyou shot him a glare. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Pinming raised both hands. "Not at all."

The youngest intern in the room who was barely out of medical school,looked like he wanted to vanish. He was holding a clipboard and whispering something to another nurse.

Dr. Liu leaned forward carefully. "Sir, you mentioned feeling nauseous and dizzy for a few days?"

"Yes," Shaoyou said shortly. "And I'm tired, but that's because I have a company to run, not because something's wrong."

Dr. Liu nodded politely, but his eyes darted toward the monitor. "And have you noticed any... sensitivity to smell? Food?"

Shaoyou sighed. "Coffee smells disgusting lately. And so does perfume. Even yours."

Dr. Liu froze. "Ah. I see. You missed your this Month Rut as well."

"so what?"

"Hmm," Dr. Liu said, frowning slightly. "We should... perhaps, uh, run a few extra tests."

"Extra tests?" Shaoyou repeated, narrowing his eyes. "For what?"

Dr. Liu's smile tightened. "Just to rule out a few possibilities."

The doctors exchanged silent looks that made Pinming uneasy.

Shaoyou crossed his arms. "Fine. Just hurry up."

They did but the longer they took, the stranger their faces became.

The nurses whispered. One doctor checked the chart twice, then three times. Another rubbed his temples like he was about to faint.

Finally, Dr. Liu looked at his colleagues helplessly. "Who's going to tell him?"

The nurse shook her head. "Not me."

The intern swallowed hard. "Sir, please-"

Dr. Liu sighed and looked at the others. "Alright, on three."

They didn't make it to three.

One of them blurted out, voice trembling, "You're pregnant, sir!"

The words hit the air like a thunderclap.

Silence followed.

Pinming's mouth fell open.

Shaoyou blinked once. Then twice. "...I'm what?"

Dr. Liu adjusted his glasses nervously. "You're pregnant, President Sheng."

Shaoyou stared at him for a full five seconds. Then he started to laugh.

It wasn't a happy laugh, it was more like the disbelieving kind people give who aren't ready to accept that they are fucked up in all ways.

"Pregnant?" he repeated. "You're joking, right?"

The doctors shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm an Alpha," Shaoyou said, pointing at himself. "Do I look like someone who can get pregnant?"

The intern, pale and trembling, whispered, "Sir, Mr. Hua is an Enigma..."

Shaoyou froze mid-laugh. "...So?"

"So..." The intern's voice grew smaller with every word. "He can... change biology. It's rare, but theoretically, it's possible."

Shaoyou blinked again. Then his jaw dropped. "You mean that freak of nature actually-"

Dr. Liu winced. "We prefer to say 'unique physiology,' sir."

Pinming made a tiny choking sound behind him. "Oh god."

Shaoyou leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "No. No, no, no. This hospital must be insane. Hua Yong's doctors are as crazy as he is."

Dr. Liu held up the report nervously. "The tests don't lie, President Sheng."

Shaoyou snatched it out of his hand and skimmed it, his eyes darting over the numbers and strange words. "I can't even read half of this. You could be lying for all I know."

"We're not lying," said the intern in a very small voice. "You're... definitely expecting."

Shaoyou dropped the paper onto the table, rubbing his temples. "This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous."

Pinming took a hesitant step closer. "Sir... are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?" Shaoyou snapped.

Pinming flinched. "No, sir."

Shaoyou groaned and pressed his hands to his face. "He's going to laugh when he hears this. That smug bastard will never let me forget it."

The doctors all exchanged terrified looks.

Dr. Liu cleared his throat nervously. "Mr. Hua doesn't, uh, know yet, does he?"

Shaoyou glared at him. "If he did, you'd see fire raining from the sky."

"Right," Dr. Liu said quickly. "Then maybe you should-"

"No." Shaoyou's voice was sharp. "Don't tell him. Not a word."

"Sir, he technically owns this hospital," the doctor said gently.

"Then make something up," Shaoyou hissed. "Say it's a research experiment or I'm allergic to your stethoscopes. Anything. Just don't tell him."

The intern squeaked quietly. "But if he finds out we-"

"If he finds out," Shaoyou said through clenched teeth, "you'll all be fine. I'll be the one dead."

No one dared argue.

Pinming finally spoke again, trying to sound calm. "Sir... maybe it's not as bad as you think."

Shaoyou turned his glare toward him. "I'm an Alpha who's pregnant, Pinming. How bad do you think it can get?"

Pinming smiled weakly. "Pretty bad."

"Exactly."

A nurse gently pushed a small cup of water toward him. "You should drink something, President Sheng."

Shaoyou took it and gulped it down, still muttering under his breath. "That Enigma's dead. He's actually dead. I'll find him and strangle him with this hospital's nameplate."

Pinming rubbed the back of his neck, not sure whether to laugh or hide. "Maybe we should head back?"

Dr. Liu nodded quickly. "Yes, please. We'll send the full report later. Just... rest, President Sheng. Try not to get angry. It's not good for-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," Shaoyou growled.

"Yes, sir," Dr. Liu said instantly.

Pinming helped him stand, guiding him out of the room like someone leading a very explosive, very expensive bomb.

As they walked down the hallway, Shaoyou could still hear the doctors whispering behind them

"You tell Mr Hua."

"No, you tell him!"

"I already did to Mr. Shaoyou! I'm lucky to be alive!"

Outside, Chang Yu was leaning casually against the wall, two coffees in his hands. He looked up, smiling. "How was it? Nothing serious, I hope."

Shaoyou stared at him. "I'm pregnant."

Chang Yu froze mid-sip.

He blinked once, slowly, then said, "...Well, that's not something unexpected."

Shaoyou groaned. "So that Fucked up bastard was already planning something. You know what!!I told you this place is full of lunatics. They think I'm pregnant because Hua Yong's some Rare Biological freak."

Chang Yu raised an eyebrow. "You do realize they're his top specialists, right?"

Shaoyou glared at him. "Don't start."

"Wasn't planning to," Chang Yu said lightly. "But if you faint again, I'm calling him."

"Over my dead body," Shaoyou snapped.

"That can be arranged," Chang Yu muttered under his breath, then smiled when Shaoyou glared harder.

Pinming tried to cut the tension. "Boss, maybe we should just go home first. You need rest."

Shaoyou pressed his palm over his face. "I need a new life."

Chang Yu grinned. "You and the Enigma already made one."

Shaoyou threw him the angriest look yet. "You're fired."

"You can't fire me," Chang Yu said easily. "I don't work for you."

Shaoyou groaned again and stalked toward the exit. "You both are impossible."

Pinming hurried after him, trying to catch up. "Sir, wait-what are you going to do now?"

To be continued

Your thoughts?

And maybe..maybe if I feel generous enough

I’ll update the next chapter tomorrow.
But that’s just me thinking about it.

*Evil Smirks*

Chapter Text

The second they stepped out of the hospital doors, the air hit them like a slap. Cool, quiet, peaceful. It didn’t match the chaos storming through Sheng Shaoyou’s chest.

He stood there for a moment, fists clenched, trying to breathe but the calm only made it worse.

Pinming hovered close, wringing his hands. “Sir, how about we calmly think this through-”

“CALM DOWN MY ASS!” Shaoyou exploded. His voice echoed off the glass walls of the building.

“That freak,” Shaoyou shouted, pointing wildly toward the sky as if Hua Yong himself was up there watching. “That sick, smug, manipulative, supernatural FREAK made me pregnant! ME! A S-CLASS ALPHA!”

Pinming jumped back like someone had set off a bomb. “Sir, please, people are watching-”

“I DON’T CARE!” Shaoyou yelled, throwing his arms up. “They can take a picture! Let the whole city know that the mighty Sheng Shaoyou has been-been-”

He choked on the next words, half from fury, half from disbelief.

Chang Yu, who had been leaning against the car door this whole time, finally pushed himself off it with a long sigh.

“Alright,” he said calmly. “Stop yelling before you give someone a heart attack. The staff are staring.”

Shaoyou spun toward him, eyes fuming with anger. “Don’t you tell me to calm down!”

“I didn’t,” Chang Yu said smoothly, “I said stop yelling.”

“Same thing!” Shaoyou snapped.

“No,” Chang Yu said with the saint patience. “One of them involves less noise.”

Pinming stepped between them before Shaoyou would choke Chang Yu. “Sir, maybe we should just go home-”

“NO!” Shaoyou barked. “We’re not going home.”

Pinming blinked. “Then where—”

“DRIVE ME TO THAT BASTARD’S COMPANY. NOW!”

Chang Yu groaned quietly. “Here we go.”

“Chang Yu!” Shaoyou barked. “Get in the car!”

“I was already in the car,” Chang Yu said dryly, opening the driver’s door.

“Then drive!”

Pinming hurried into the back seat beside Shaoyou, clutching his seat belt like it might save his soul. “Sir, maybe this isn’t the best time-”

“I don’t care about timing!” Shaoyou snapped, slamming his palm against the window. “I’m going to tell that man exactly what he’s done!”

Chang Yu started the car with a sigh. “If we die, I want it known that I was only the driver.”

“Shut up and drive faster!”

“Maybe you should stop talking before you make him crash!” Pinming cried.

The car lurched forward into the night, tires screeching slightly as they pulled out of the parking lot.

Inside, the silence was anything but calm.

Shaoyou sat straight, eyes blazing, his hand drumming furiously against his knee. He was practically vibrating with anger and something else underneath it. Something nervous. Something almost scared.

Pinming glanced at him carefully. “Sir, maybe shouting at him isn’t the best way to start—”

“I’m not shouting,” Shaoyou muttered through gritted teeth.

“You’re literally shouting,” Chang Yu said.

“I’m EXPRESSING.”

“Loudly,” Chang Yu added.

Shaoyou glared at the back of his head. “Drive faster before I express my fist into your face.”

Chang Yu smiled faintly. “There’s the Sheng Shaoyou we all know.”

Pinming groaned quietly. “I’m too young to handle this.”

~~~~

By the time they reached X Holding, Shaoyou had Yelled 5 times, threatened to kill Hua yong 10 times and Cried 2 times and Almost Punched Chang Yu One time.The car screeched to a stop in front of the building.

Shaoyou didn’t wait. He threw the door open and jumped out, marching straight toward the entrance.

Pinming stumbled after him, shouting, “Sir! Please! Think first!”

Chang Yu followed more slowly, locking the car with a sigh. “I give it five minutes before someone calls security.”

They entered the lobby, the same one Shaoyou had visited days ago. Employees froze mid-step when they saw him - face flushed, jaw tight, eyes sharp enough to cut glass.

The receptionist stammered, “P-President Sheng, good evening. Do you—”

“Where’s Hua Yong?” Shaoyou demanded.

“Uh—”

“His office. Now.”

Pinming grabbed his arm quickly. “Sir, maybe—”

Shaoyou jerked free. “Don’t ‘maybe’ me, Pinming. I’m not leaving until I’ve thrown at least one thing at his perfect face!”

Chang Yu walked in behind them, rubbing his temple. “Everyone relax. He’s not going to throw anything. Probably.”

The receptionist looked terrified. “Mr. Hua is… in the boardroom. But—”

“Perfect,” Shaoyou growled, turning sharply toward the elevator.

But as he reached it, his steps suddenly slowed.

His anger didn’t fade, but something else slipped through...a tremor that softened his expression for a moment.

Pinming noticed immediately. “Sir?”

Shaoyou stopped walking. His breath came out uneven, his fingers curling slightly around his sleeve. His lips trembled before he whispered, “Why am I shaking?”

Pinming blinked. “What do you mean?”

Shaoyou stared down at his hands. “I don’t know what the freak did to me. My body feels strange. One second I’m furious, the next I’m-” He pressed his hand over his chest, his voice breaking. “I don’t even know. I want to scream, but I also want to cry. And I never cry.”

Pinming’s eyes widened. “Sir… it’s probably because of the-uh-situation.”

Shaoyou frowned. “You mean the part where I’m apparently carrying a tiny life-form from that walking science experiment?”

“Exactly,” Pinming said gently. “Hormones. Mood swings. All normal. Well, as normal as they can be in your case.”

Shaoyou blinked. “Mood swings?”

“Yes, sir. That’s why you’ve been emotional lately. Angry one minute, quiet the next.”

Chang Yu joined in, smirking. “Also explains why your face has been glowing these days. I thought it was highlighter. Turns out it’s pregnancy.”

Shaoyou turned his glare on him instantly. “Say one more word and I’ll make sure you glow next.”

Chang Yu raised both hands. “See? There’s that rage again. Classic mood swing.”

Pinming, trying not to laugh, nodded seriously. “He’s right, sir. No wonder you’ve been acting off. You’ve been having all the signs.”

Shaoyou groaned and dragged his hand down his face. “This is ridiculous. I’m Sheng Shaoyou, S-Class Alpha, CEO of Biotech, not some emotional omega crying in an elevator!”

“Sir, you’re not crying,” Pinming said quickly.

“I feel like I might!” Shaoyou snapped.

Chang Yu patted his shoulder as the elevator doors opened. “Deep breaths, warrior mama.”

Shaoyou froze. “What did you just call me?”

“Nothing,” Chang Yu said smoothly. “Just… hurry before you lose your nerve.”

Shaoyou stepped inside the elevator, muttering curses under his breath the entire way up.

Pinming followed nervously, glancing between the two men. “Maybe we should come up with a plan before you see him-”

“I have a plan,” Shaoyou said coldly.

Chang Yu raised an eyebrow. “Does it involve murder or confession?”

Shaoyou didn’t answer.

“That’s what I thought,” Chang Yu said quietly.

As the elevator doors slid open again, the hallway stretched before them - quiet, sleek, and intimidating.Pinming swallowed hard. “Sir, maybe we should calm down a little before-”

Shaoyou spun around, glaring. “If you say ‘calm down’ one more time, I’m firing you.”

Pinming held up both hands. “Noted.”

Chang Yu checked his watch lazily. “We should hurry. He’s in the meeting room. If you wait too long, he’ll leave.”

Shaoyou straightened his jacket, brushing invisible dust from his sleeves. “Good. I want him to see me. I want him to know exactly what he’s done.”

Pinming sighed. “Sir, please just… don’t start yelling immediately. Try words first.”

Shaoyou shot him a sharp look. “Do I look like someone who yells without reason?”

Chang Yu and Pinming said together, “Yes.”

Shaoyou ignored them, walking toward the boardroom doors with a mix of fury and nerves twisting inside him. Each step echoed through the hall, louder and louder, until even he wasn’t sure if it was anger or fear shaking him.

When he reached the tall double doors, he stopped again. His reflection stared back at him in the glass - pale, tired, and somehow… softer.

Pinming stood beside him, whispering, “You sure you’re ready for this?”

Shaoyou swallowed, eyes still fixed on his reflection. “No.”

Chang Yu tilted his head. “Then why are you doing it?”

Shaoyou gave a small, humorless smile. “Because if I don’t, I’ll start crying in your car again.”

Chang Yu smirked. “That’s fair.”

Pinming nodded quickly. “Okay, then… deep breaths. Remember what the doctor said. Try not to-”

Shaoyou exhaled once, then pushed the door open without another word.

The boardroom went silent.

Every executive inside turned to stare.

And at the far end of the table, calm as ever, stood Hua Yong.

Their eyes met across the room - calm versus chaos, silence versus storm.

And just for a second, even Shaoyou’s anger faltered. His throat tightened, his breath caught. Because no matter how furious he was, that man still looked at him like he hung the stars.

Pinming whispered behind him, “Oh no.”

Chang Yu muttered, “Here we go again.”

Shaoyou clenched his fists and took a step forward. “You.”

"Mr. Sheng"

Shaoyou had come in ready to shout,ready to throw every word he’d been holding back since that night Hua Yong left but the moment he saw him, everything cracked.

Hua Yong didn’t even flinch at his sudden arrival. He just turned, calm as always, those dark eyes softening slightly at the sight of him.

“Mr. Sheng,” he said again evenly, his voice low and polite. “You should have called. I would have-”

Shaoyou didn’t let him finish.

He took three sharp steps forward, grabbed Hua Yong by the collar, and slammed him back against the edge of the meeting table. The sound echoed like thunder.

The executives gasped. Chairs scraped backward. Pinming nearly dropped his tablet.

Hua Yong didn’t resist. He just looked down at the trembling Alpha gripping his suit,eyes filled not with anger, but quiet concern.

“You,” Shaoyou said, his voice cracking on the single word. His chest heaved, his eyes burning. “You’re so… so fucking cruel!”

The words tore out of him like a wound splitting open.

Hua Yong blinked once, slow and calm. Then he saw the tears streaking down Shaoyou’s cheeks, the way his hands shook even as he clung to him.

Hua yong ordered immediately. “Everyone. Leave.”

Within seconds, chairs scraped back, footsteps hurried. Pinming hesitated near the door, glancing helplessly at Shaoyou, but Chang Yu caught his wrist.

“Come on,” Chang Yu whispered. “They need this.”

“But-”

“Trust him,” Chang Yu said firmly, tugging him out.

When the doors closed, the silence that followed felt too big for the room.

Shaoyou’s chest rose and fell with each shaky breath. His hands were still clutching Hua Yong’s collar, knuckles white.

“You…” he whispered again, voice trembling. “Do you even realize what you did to me?”

Hua Yong didn’t speak. His hand came up slowly, resting against Shaoyou’s shoulder- a soft, grounding touch.

Shaoyou shoved it off. “Don’t touch me!” His voice broke halfway through. “You… you just disappeared! Like I meant nothing!”

“Shaoyou,” Hua Yong said quietly.

“Don’t say my name like that,” Shaoyou snapped, tears blurring his vision. “You think you can just vanish after I said those stupid things? You know I didn’t mean them! You know I didn’t!”

“I know,” Hua Yong said softly.

“Then why?” Shaoyou shouted. His voice cracked again, hoarse and raw. “Why did you leave me like that? I waited every night, like an idiot. I thought you’d call, that you’d yell or argue or anything !!but you didn’t. You just stopped!”

Hua Yong stepped closer, slow and careful, like approaching something fragile.

Shaoyou’s breath hitched. He tried to keep yelling, but his words came out as sobs instead. “You’re a bastard. A sick, perfect, heartless bastard.”

He hit Hua Yong’s chest weakly once, twice more frustration than force before Hua Yong caught his wrists gently, holding them still.

“Enough,” Hua Yong said softly.

“Don’t tell me—”

“Enough, Shaoyou.”

The tone was different. Not sharp, not cold but deep, commanding. His Enigma voice. The kind that hummed beneath the skin, quieting everything it touched.

Shaoyou’s breath stuttered. His body went still before he could stop himself.

Hua Yong sighed and, in one smooth motion, pulled him closer, his arms circling around the trembling Alpha. Shaoyou resisted for a second, then broke, collapsing into his chest.

“You’re cruel,” Shaoyou mumbled into his shoulder, voice muffled by tears. “You’re so fucking cruel.”

Hua Yong’s hand slid up to the back of his head, fingers threading through his hair. “I know,” he murmured. “I’m sorry.”

“You should be,” Shaoyou said, though it sounded more like a plea than an accusation.

“I am.”

“Then why did you leave?” Shaoyou whispered again, smaller this time. “Why didn’t you come back?”

“Because you asked me to,” Hua Yong said softly.

“I didn’t mean it.”

“I know.”

“Then why listen?”

Hua Yong smiled faintly, though there was nothing amused by it. “Because Your Command is My Order Mr. Sheng. Whatever you say, I must follow it.”

A/n - ( Shakal Bholi si lekin Lomdi ha pura
Looks innocent but he's a Fox )

Shaoyou’s throat tightened. He wanted to shout again, to argue, to call him an idiot. But all that came out was a broken whisper. “You’re supposed to be smarter than me.”

“Not when it comes to you,” Hua Yong said quietly.

Shaoyou blinked through his tears. The room blurred and swam around them
Hua Yong lifted Shaoyou onto the edge like he was made of glass. “Sit still,” he murmured, brushing the wetness from his cheeks with his thumb. “You’ll make yourself sick.”

Shaoyou sniffed, glaring weakly through the tears. “You don’t get to act like you care now.”

“I never stopped caring,” Hua Yong said. His hand rested lightly against Shaoyou’s stomach without thinking.

Shaoyou froze. “What are you doing?”

Hua Yong looked at him, calm as ever. “It’s not good for our Peanut when you get upset.”

Shaoyou blinked. For a moment, he didn’t process the words. Then his mouth fell open.

“...You know?”

“Of course I know,” Hua Yong said gently. “You went to my hospital.”

Shaoyou’s jaw worked soundlessly. “They told you?”

“They didn’t have to,” Hua Yong said. “I felt it.”

“You felt-what are you, psychic?”

“Enigma,” Hua Yong reminded softly. “We’re connected, remember? The moment I heard your heartbeat at the same rhythm as mine, I knew.”

Shaoyou stared at him, torn between disbelief and anger and something dangerously close to relief. “You…” He swallowed hard. “You knew. And you didn’t come?”

“I was waiting,” Hua Yong said quietly. “I wanted you to come when you were ready.”

“Ready?” Shaoyou’s voice cracked. “You made me pregnant, disappeared, and you wanted me to schedule when I was ready to talk?”

Hua Yong’s lips twitched, the faintest ghost of a smile. “I wanted you to come because you wanted to, not because I chased you.”

Shaoyou stared at him, chest heaving, face flushed from anger and heartbreak.

“That was pathetic!” he yelled, voice shaking. “You wanted me to chase you? That’s what this was? You just wanted me to crawl back so you could feel like the bigger man?”

"Mr. Sheng - "

To be continued

Ending up writing half of ch 8 already but Who's gonna complete it. Hehe

I'm Lazy af