“Who said that? Who?!” Mrs. Jiang’s tone was aggressive as she glared at Jiang Yunxing. “Was it you? Huh?!”
Jiang Yunxing remained silent, his face pale.
“Jiang Yunxing, you heartless child. You just can’t wait for your father and me to get divorced, can you? You’re hoping I’ll die soon, aren’t you?!” Mrs. Jiang’s voice choked with emotion, her eyes turning red. “You’re just like your father, black-hearted. All you Alphas are the same!”
Mrs. Jiang screamed in anguish, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. Her whole body trembled as her fingers clutched the blanket so tightly they almost tore it.
“Auntie…” Lin Yao called out worriedly.
“Get out,” Mrs. Jiang said in a low voice.
She wouldn’t even give Lin Yao face anymore, shouting emotionally at all three of them, “Get out! All of you get out!”
Mrs. Jiang seemed to have lost all reason. Lin Yao pressed his lips together tightly, and Jiang Yunxing kept his head down motionlessly. Only Lu Heng turned around first, saying, “Let’s go.”
The three left the hospital room. Lin Yao closed the door behind them and peered through the transparent window.
Mrs. Jiang was curled up, hugging her knees, looking utterly miserable.
“When did the domestic violence start?” Lu Heng suddenly asked.
“A long time ago.”
“Twenty years ago.”
Jiang Yunxing and Lin Yao answered simultaneously, then fell silent at the same time.
Lin Yao glanced at Jiang Yunxing before continuing, “Twenty years ago, right after Uncle and Auntie Jiang got married, the domestic violence tendencies started. It wasn’t too severe at first, and Auntie Jiang endured what she could. Later, Uncle Jiang’s behavior became increasingly violent, even using weapons to attack her. Auntie Jiang would fight back, but that only made things worse with Uncle Jiang.”
Lu Heng looked at Jiang Yunxing, who appeared equally confused, confirming these details weren’t in the book.
He turned to Lin Yao, feeling something strange.
Lin Yao seemed to know these matters too well, but he hadn’t even been born twenty years ago. Why did he know so much about Jiang Yunxing’s family affairs?
It was too unusual.
“Ah.” As if sensing Lu Heng’s doubt, Lin Yao suddenly exclaimed, then smiled apologetically at Jiang Yunxing. “You told me this before, is it okay if I tell Lu Heng?”
Jiang Yunxing hesitated before nodding awkwardly.
“Even when she was pregnant, Auntie Jiang wasn’t spared,” Lin Yao continued. “When she learned the baby was an Alpha, she nearly broke down. She didn’t even breastfeed… She’s brought up divorce many times since then, but it never succeeded.”
“Why not?” Lu Heng asked. “In twenty years, couldn’t she save enough money for a mark removal?”
Lin Yao shook his head. “It’s not about the money. After mark removal, Omegas are left with a visible mark on their neck that anyone can see. Even if they cover it up, the record stays in their file forever.”
“After mark removal and divorce, finding another mate becomes almost impossible. Even if they do, it’s usually someone inferior, and their situation might become even worse. Finding work becomes difficult too. There are already few jobs that accept Omegas, and even fewer would take someone with a divorce record.”
“What about Alphas?” Lu Heng asked. “What happens to Alphas after divorce?”
Lin Yao paused briefly before breaking into a smile. “Nothing much. They might even become more popular. Many Omegas see it as a sign of maturity. They believe divorced people know how to cherish relationships better.”
Lu Heng frowned, feeling uncomfortable with Lin Yao’s words. He glanced at Jiang Yunxing, who caught his eye and shook his head slightly.
Jiang Yunxing wasn’t clear about these settings either. Originally, this was just a sweet campus novel, short in content with only a few characters and no career plotline.
However, the story had hinted at many problems in this world. His parents were barely described in the book, with their toxic relationship only briefly mentioned through domestic violence. Most of the content focused on Jiang Yunxing and Lin Yao. The ending only showed Jiang Yunxing escaping his family, but never truly resolved the family issues.
And Lu Heng in the book, despite being born into a wealthy and powerful family, was easily handed over to an abusive Alpha by his family, not even knowing how to resist.
This world’s treatment of Omegas went beyond mere “discrimination.”
Lu Heng wanted a cigarette but couldn’t find his pack after searching his pockets. He must have left it in his office.
He took a deep breath to ease the frustration in his heart and stopped in the hallway. “Aren’t there laws protecting Omegas? Domestic violence involving weapons should be grounds for calling the police.”
“Laws exist, but they’re made by Alphas and enforced by Alphas,” Lin Yao stood beside Lu Heng, speaking calmly as if making a simple statement. “Even if police are called, they just mediate. They’ll tell the Omega about the consequences of divorce. The reconciliation rate is 100%.”
Lu Heng glanced at Lin Yao, who maintained his composed expression, but his deep eyes held unfathomable secrets.
Lu Heng stared into Lin Yao’s eyes. “By your logic, Omegas aren’t even considered human.”
“That’s right.” Lin Yao blinked, showing his usual gentle smile. “In this world, Omegas exist solely for reproduction.”
–
Their conversation didn’t last long. Mrs. Jiang came out of the hospital room on her own, appearing calmer except for her swollen eyes.
Her wound wasn’t deep and could be treated at home with medication. She could leave once she was awake.
Lu Heng had an online meeting to attend and needed to return to the company. Since Mrs. Jiang didn’t want to see him after what happened, he left without saying goodbye.
Fan Zaiqi’s draft was already on his desk. Lu Heng read it once, made brief edits, and set it aside.
There was still much work to do. Even that one hour at the hospital was a waste of time. Lu Heng made several work calls and reviewed some project files when his phone vibrated twice.
After finishing the last few lines of the document, Lu Heng picked up his phone and saw Jiang Yunxing’s message.
-Ge, I’m home
-My mom doesn’t want to see me right now…
Lu Heng looked at the message, his expression unchanged.
Jiang Yunxing often spoke in vague terms, but his meaning was easy to guess.
Lin Yao had also helped send Mrs. Jiang home. If Jiang Yunxing wanted to avoid his mother, he could have gone to Lin Yao’s place.
In the novel, Jiang Yunxing frequently visited Lin Yao’s home, so going there now would have made sense.
Moreover, Lu Heng disliked being disturbed while working.
He hated having people around during work hours, even if they were just sitting quietly.
When he first arrived at the company, he had emphasized this to Fang Zaiqi, so Fang Zaiqi spent most of his time in the adjacent office, only entering Lu Heng’s office when work required it.
But now, seeing Jiang Yunxing’s message, Lu Heng hesitated.
The hesitation didn’t last long. Lu Heng opened the reply box and sent his company address.
Half an hour later, Jiang Yunxing arrived. Since the security was notified in advance, he smoothly made his way to the top floor.
The company was nearly empty on weekends. The top floor had only Lu Heng and Fang Zaiqi, making it so quiet that even footsteps on the floor seemed intrusive.
Carrying his familiar backpack, Jiang Yunxing walked carefully forward, looking around for Lu Heng’s office. Soon, a door opened nearby.
Lu Heng poked his head out, and Jiang Yunxing immediately smiled, jogging over. “Ge.”
“Come in,” Lu Heng said.
Jiang Yunxing obediently entered, his eyes sparkling as he looked around the office with curiosity.
He turned back to Lu Heng. “Do you manage this whole big company?”
“For now,” Lu Heng replied casually. Seeing Jiang Yunxing’s eyes sparkle even more, he asked with slight exasperation, “Haven’t you heard of Lu Corporation in real life?”
Lu Corporation had always been famous in reality. In recent years, their subsidiaries had grown significantly, and they frequently made news headlines.
Although Lu Heng rarely gave interviews, he had appeared on TV several times and had millions of followers on Weibo.
“No…” Jiang Yunxing scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “I don’t pay attention to these things.”
Lu Heng fell silent as he stared at Jiang Yunxing. He was curious about Jiang Yunxing’s real-life experiences, but judging by his demeanor, Lu Heng felt that he wouldn’t get any answers now.
He let it go and walked to his desk. “Sit wherever you like, just stay quiet. I have work to do.”
Jiang Yunxing agreed, went to sit on the couch, and took out his homework to work on at the coffee table.
He perfectly embodied the meaning of “obedient,” and did not make a single sound all afternoon.
After returning to his seat, Lu Heng hadn’t had a moment of rest. He barely finished his work before jumping into a two-and-a-half-hour online meeting. Due to Zhang Pu’s task, he had to generate more income in a short time, which meant taking on more projects. After the meeting, his workload only increased.
He finished reviewing an electronic document and made some revisions before sending it out. When he glanced at the time, it was already four in the afternoon.
Lu Heng let out a long breath. His eyes were beginning to feel strained. He closed them and rubbed his brow while leaning back in his chair.
He had school tomorrow, which meant significantly less time for work. Even if he sneaked peeks at documents during class, the efficiency would be low.
Although Zhang Pu gave him a week, Lu Heng knew the F City investment couldn’t wait that long. It needed to be done by Thursday at the latest.
With an exam on Wednesday and planning to take Thursday off, he could only make up for lost time by sacrificing his rest hours.
Between preparing for exams and studying, various tasks were piling up. Lu Heng suddenly felt exhausted, both mentally and physically. As his mind drifted, his consciousness began to blur.
He shouldn’t rest now, but he wanted to take a short break, even if just for five minutes.
Suddenly, the door opened. Lu Heng snapped awake and sat up straight, looking toward the entrance.
Jiang Yunxing stood there with one foot in the doorway. Seeing Lu Heng look over, he hesitated. “Did I disturb you? I just went to the bathroom.”
“It’s fine,” Lu Heng said, reaching for his cigarettes. “Come here.”
Jiang Yunxing obediently walked over. Lu Heng lit a cigarette and casually looked at the files on screen, saying nothing.
He always smoked while working, lighting up unconsciously until the ashtray filled with butts.
After finishing one cigarette, Lu Heng reached for another when he noticed Jiang Yunxing’s gaze.
He was staring at the cigarette in Lu Heng’s mouth, his face full of concern.
Lu Heng took the cigarette out and tossed it on the desk, pulling Jiang Yunxing closer.
“Release some pheromones,” Lu Heng said.
Jiang Yunxing paused briefly before obediently letting his pheromones flow.
The tobacco-scented pheromones slowly approached, wrapping around Lu Heng like an invisible guide. It couldn’t be seen, but it felt like phantom hands gently brushing his glands, sending a tingling sensation to his brain that was more relaxing than smoking.
As the pressure eased, Lu Heng felt lazy. He leaned back in his chair again and asked, “Do you know how to massage?”
“I’ve never done it before…” Jiang Yunxing said.
“Try it,” Lu Heng said, patting his shoulders. “Just apply some pressure.”
Jiang Yunxing had a natural talent for taking care of others. Although he had never learned massage techniques, his pressure control was quite good.
“Ge, have you finished your work?” Jiang Yunxing asked.
Lu Heng’s brows furrowed in displeasure. “No, I’ll have to work overtime today.”
“Take a break,” Jiang Yunxing said worriedly. “You’ve been working non-stop, and you haven’t even had lunch.”
The mention of lunch reminded Lu Heng that he had been in a meeting during lunchtime. Fang Zaiqi had brought him food, but he hadn’t had time to eat it.
He belatedly realized he was hungry. After checking the time and thinking for a moment, he stood up.
“Let’s go eat now.”
Work was still piling up, and logically he shouldn’t waste time on eating, but Lu Heng had other plans.
He had Fang Zaiqi make a reservation at a restaurant and took Jiang Yunxing there. They followed the waiter to a private room for four.
Jiang Yunxing was confused on the way. He thought they were just going out for a simple meal, but Lu Heng brought him here instead.
After the waiter left, Jiang Yunxing asked, “Ge, why are we here?”
“I need to discuss something,” Lu Heng said while looking through the menu. He looked up at Jiang Yunxing. “You have Lin Yao’s contact information, right?”
Jiang Yunxing was stunned. “Yes, why?”
“Call him and tell him to come here now.”
Jiang Yunxing was even more confused, taking a while to realize Lu Heng was serious.
He hesitated. He did not want to have too much contact with Lin Yao, since Lin Yao was the protagonist of this book and they had that kind of relationship. But he couldn’t disobey Lu Heng, so he reluctantly made the call.
The other end picked up quickly. “Yunxing? What’s up?”
“Ah, um.” Jiang Yunxing snuck a glance at Lu Heng. “Are you free right now? Want to come out for a meal?”
There was a pause on the other end. “Just you and me?”
“No, Lu Heng is here too.”
“Okay, I got it,” Lin Yao replied promptly. “Send me the address.”
After hanging up and texting the address, Jiang Yunxing’s confusion didn’t clear up at all. Instead, it only grew.
Why did Lu Heng want to have a meal with Lin Yao? Why did Lin Yao agree so readily? When did they become so close?
He was not in the right state when he was in the hospital and didn’t hear much of the conversation between Lu Heng and Lin Yao. He wanted to ask Lu Heng about it, but when he turned his head, he saw Lu Heng’s serious expression. Although he was looking at the menu, he was clearly thinking about something else.
Jiang Yunxing pressed his lips together and stayed silent.
Ever since transmigrating into the book, Lu Heng had found Lin Yao’s behavior strange.
According to Jiang Yunxing, Lin Yao and he were childhood friends who grew up together. Lin Yao should have developed feelings for him long ago. After Jiang Yunxing’s soul was replaced, he barely paid attention to anyone else, but Lin Yao seemed completely unconcerned about this.
The original Lu Heng in the book had done those things to Lin Yao, but after he transmigrated in, Lin Yao never mentioned it, as if it had never happened.
Besides that, Lu Heng had a gut feeling.
He didn’t like Lin Yao’s smile. It always felt like something was hidden behind it, as if he wore a fake mask.
Their conversation this morning only confirmed his suspicions.
If he remembered correctly, Lin Yao had used the phrase “this world” toward the end of their chat.
Why would someone use those words when talking to someone from the same world?
The way Lin Yao spoke back then didn’t seem like casual conversation either. Instead, it felt premeditated.
Those words weren’t just about Mrs. Jiang. They carried his own agenda.
He wasn’t merely stating facts; he had an ulterior motive.
When most of the dishes were served, Lin Yao arrived.
He greeted them with a smile and sat down across from them.
“I’m surprised you invited me to dinner,” Lin Yao said.
“Really?” Lu Heng replied coldly. “From how quickly you got here, it seems like you were all prepared and left as soon as you got the message.”
Lin Yao’s smile didn’t waver. “Was it that obvious?”
Lu Heng didn’t respond, and Jiang Yunxing couldn’t say anything. From the moment Lin Yao walked in, he felt like he’d been sidelined.
He couldn’t understand a word of their conversation.
Lu Heng didn’t seem to want Jiang Yunxing to understand either. He placed a fish dish in front of Jiang Yunxing and said, “Pick out the bones.”
Jiang Yunxing: “…”
As he obediently started removing fish bones, Lin Yao chuckled. “You two are quite close, aren’t you?”
His tone was so sincere, like an outsider looking in. Lu Heng frowned, staring into Lin Yao’s eyes but couldn’t read anything.
Lin Yao’s smile masked everything. Lu Heng had rarely met anyone like him in real life.
Lu Heng closed his eyes briefly before saying coldly, “Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me what you want.”
“What do you mean?” Lin Yao looked confused.
“What was your purpose in saying those things at the hospital?” Lu Heng’s tone remained cold as he asked directly. “It didn’t sound like you were defending Mrs. Jiang. You were speaking for yourself, weren’t you? You’ll present as an Omega too. What do you want me to help you with?”
Lin Yao smiled at Lu Heng, staying silent for a few seconds that felt like an eternity.
His smile unchanged, he replied, “I don’t have any purpose. I just think you two are a bit unusual.”
“Funny, I think you’re unusual too.” Lu Heng narrowed his eyes, staring at Lin Yao’s fake face. “But you don’t seem like someone from our side. So what exactly is your identity?”
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