Qin Shuang also felt uneasy, unsure whether Chi Yin truly intended to break off the engagement.
The next moment, Yun Changsheng turned to Qin Shuang and said, “Call Yun Xingze first thing tomorrow morning and tell him to return to Capital Star this weekend. That’s right after the NCLM group stage ends we’ll finalize their marriage then.”
So, the next day, Qin Shuang made the call to Yun Xingze early.
“What is it?” Yun Xingze frowned at Qin Shuang.
With sharp eyes, Qin Shuang immediately noticed the bite mark on Yun Xingze’s neck and asked, “What happened to your neck? Did someone give you a temporary mark?”
“That’s my business,” Yun Xingze replied coolly. “It has nothing to do with you.”
“You fool,” Qin Shuang gritted her teeth. “Don’t tell me you’re involved with that boy from the wasteland planet. What’s his name, Luo something Chuan.”
Yun Xingze pressed his lips together. “It’s definitely not Chi Yu.”
Qin Shuang frowned. “Come back to Capital Star this weekend after the group stage ends.”
“I don’t want to,” Yun Xingze refused outright.
“Because of your outstanding performance, your father has decided to reward you with a mecha,” Qin Shuang said calmly. “It’s worth about six million.”
Yun Xingze knew full well that the Yun family wasn’t calling him back just to give him a mecha.
He sneered and said, “Tell me the real reason you want me back.”
Qin Shuang knew she couldn’t hide it from him, so she spoke plainly:
“We need to discuss your engagement with Chi Yu with the Chi family. Even though you’ve broken it off, this involves the interests of both families and the future of the company. You have to come back.”
Yun Xingze raised an eyebrow. “And if I refuse?”
“Then we’ll have no choice but to come to Noah Star to find you,” Qin Shuang said coldly. “You wouldn’t want to embarrass everyone, would you?”
Yun Xingze fell silent.
Then, softening her tone, Qin Shuang said, “Xingze, whether you accept this marriage or not, you should at least make your stance clear in front of both families. The choice to reject or accept Chi Yu is entirely yours.”
She had expected Yun Xingze to refuse outright, but after a few seconds, he agreed. “Fine, I’ll come back.”
Qin Shuang looked at him in surprise. “Have you finally come to your senses?”
Yun Xingze didn’t answer and ended the call.
The reason he agreed to Qin Shuang’s request wasn’t because of the mecha or Chi Yu; it was because of Luo Wenchuan.
Qin Shuang was right; this marriage alliance involved the interests of both families.
The reason Chi Yu had been relentlessly pursuing Yun Xingze was because the Yun and Chi families were still deeply entangled in business, giving him the audacity to act so boldly.
But now, Yun Xingze was certain that the person he loved was Luo Wenchuan.
Before confessing his feelings to Luo Wenchuan, Yun Xingze wanted to personally sever the ties between the Yun and Chi families.
He didn’t want Luo Wenchuan to get dragged into this mess.
As for how to do it…
While Yun Xingze was deep in thought, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Startled, he wiped his face and headed to the door.
The person most likely visiting him this early in the morning was Luo Wenchuan.
For some reason, Yun Xingze suddenly felt nervous.
The tension grew overwhelmingly intense the moment his fingers touched the doorknob.
Yun Xingze swallowed hard, hesitating for a long moment before slowly opening the door.
Standing outside was a tall, slender figure.
Instinctively, Yun Xingze met Luo Wenchuan’s gaze, and the air seemed to freeze for a second when their eyes locked.
Luo Wenchuan hadn’t slept well last night. Faint dark circles lingered beneath his eyes.
His features were as coldly handsome as usual, with no trace of last night’s disheveled state.
Yet the faint flicker in his eyes when he saw Yun Xingze betrayed him.
After a brief silence, Luo Wenchuan’s gaze dropped to Yun Xingze’s neck.
Yun Xingze instinctively raised a hand to cover it, but a large palm swiftly caught his wrist.
“Last night,” Luo Wenchuan pressed his lips together before speaking, breaking the awkwardness, “did I… hurt you when I bit you?”
Yun Xingze swallowed, his voice slightly hoarse:
“…A little.”
At this, Luo Wenchuan’s fingers unconsciously brushed over Yun Xingze’s scent gland.
After being marked by an Alpha, an Omega would instinctively feel the urge to submit and depend on them.
Though a temporary mark wasn’t as potent, Yun Xingze still shivered reflexively.
Luo Wenchuan’s calloused fingertips gently traced the gland, his gaze tinged with guilt. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Yun Xingze felt the skin there burn, growing hotter than even last night.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied his trembling voice and uttered two words: “Don’t…”
Luo Wenchuan froze.
Yun Xingze took a small step back, his tone uneasy. “Don’t touch there.”
This was Luo Wenchuan’s first time marking an Omega. He had no idea his actions would unsettle Yun Xingze.
But his rut wasn’t over yet, and the moment he saw Yun Xingze, his instincts pulled him closer.
Luo Wenchuan stepped forward, looking down at him.
Yun Xingze lifted his gaze, realizing the distance between them was dangerously close, close enough to see the clarity in Luo Wenchuan’s eyes, his own reflection in them, and…
Affection.
The next second, a faint scent of tequila drifted into Yun Xingze’s senses.
Probably residual pheromones lingering on Luo Wenchuan’s clothes.
The moment the scent hit him, Yun Xingze’s legs nearly gave out.
He hastily retreated, panic flashing across his face.
Seeing Yun Xingze keep avoiding him, Luo Wenchuan frowned. “Yun Xingze, why are you dodging me?”
Yun Xingze had no time to explain. He was terrified he’d throw himself into Luo Wenchuan’s arms.
In their push-and-pull, Yun Xingze’s legs suddenly bumped against the edge of the sofa.
“Careful!”
Luo Wenchuan’s warning came too late. Yun Xingze was already falling backward.
In the next instant, Luo Wenchuan lunged forward, but Yun Xingze, in his panic, grabbed his collar and dragged him down onto the sofa.
Thud.
A soft sound later, Yun Xingze lay sprawled on the couch while Luo Wenchuan braced his arms on either side of his neck, careful not to crush him.
Their eyes met again, both filled with shock and disbelief.
Luo Wenchuan’s throat bobbed.
The sofa was soft.
Luo Wenchuan wasn’t.
Yun Xingze stared into Luo Wenchuan’s eyes for a moment before awkwardly looking away.
Luo Wenchuan asked softly,
“Are you okay?”
Yun Xingze gave a quiet “Mm” in response and said, “Maybe you should get up first.”
After a brief silence, Luo Wenchuan slowly rose to his feet. In the process, their legs brushed against each other, making the atmosphere grow even more ambiguous.
A moment later, Yun Xingze said to Luo Wenchuan, “You should probably avoid physical contact with me…”
Luo Wenchuan lowered his gaze slightly, a trace of disappointment flickering in his eyes.
The next second, Yun Xingze explained, “After being marked, an Omega becomes very sensitive to the Alpha who marked them.”
Only then did Luo Wenchuan realize that every move he had made just now had been teasing Yun Xingze.
Swallowing hard, he replied in a hoarse voice,
“I understand.”
Once both of them had calmed down, Luo Wenchuan looked at Yun Xingze and asked, “Want to have breakfast together?”
“Sure,” Yun Xingze nodded.
Just before stepping out, Luo Wenchuan suddenly called out to him.
Yun Xingze turned back and asked, “What is it?”
Luo Wenchuan hesitated for a moment before finally letting his gaze settle on Yun Xingze’s head, saying slowly, “Your hair is messy.”
That wasn’t what he had wanted to say.
But for now, he couldn’t reveal his true feelings.
Before his status as the heir was confirmed, any confession from Luo Wenchuan would only draw the Federation’s attention and bring trouble to Yun Xingze.
He had to protect him.
Yun Xingze absentmindedly smoothed his hair and left with Luo Wenchuan for breakfast.
At that moment, Yun Xingze was equally troubled.
It was the first time he had fallen for someone, yet he couldn’t confess right away.
He didn’t want his family’s messy affairs to become Luo Wenchuan’s burden.
Once they arrived at the cafeteria, Luo Wenchuan set aside his thoughts and curved his lips into a smile. “Do you want red bean buns, Xingze?”
“Those are too sweet,” Yun Xingze replied with a light chuckle, feigning nonchalance. “Let’s have soup dumplings instead, Wenchuan.”
The two sat together to eat, and the rest of the team remained unaware of what had happened the night before.
The bite mark on Yun Xingze’s neck had faded to near invisibility.
Still, the subtle yet undeniable tension between them made Chi Yu seethe with irritation.
Sitting in a shadowed corner, his fingers clenched as he suddenly let out a cold laugh and muttered, “After this weekend, Yun Xingze will be mine.”
Chi Yin had told Chi Yu that it wouldn’t be long before the “Alpha-Omega Pairing Mandate” would be enforced nationwide.
The deadline was this very weekend.
All he had to do was lure Yun Xingze back to the Imperial Capital, and then he’d have no choice but to submit to Chi Yu.
Even the Yun family knew nothing about this.
