Shen Yaojin woke to the faint hum of the city outside the mansion.
The sheets smelled faintly of Zhiyuan—warm, slightly musky, impossible to ignore. He blinked, heart thudding, trying to convince himself that last night had been… normal. That it hadn't mattered.
But of course, it had mattered.
He pushed himself up, muscles stiff, and realized he was still in Zhiyuan's room. The alpha was sitting at the edge of the bed, eyes on his phone, utterly calm—as if Yaojin's intrusion into his personal space was nothing, and yet…
"You're awake," Zhiyuan said without looking up.
"I'm awake," Yaojin replied, voice flat, even though his stomach was twisting in knots.
"You didn't go back to your room," Zhiyuan observed casually, not lifting his gaze.
"I didn't feel like it," Yaojin muttered, trying to mask the way his pulse had jumped at that simple observation.
Zhiyuan finally glanced at him, expression unreadable. "You stayed in my room voluntarily. That's… unusual behavior for an omega."
Yaojin narrowed his eyes. "And why does that concern you?"
Zhiyuan smirked faintly. "Because you're mine. That's why."
The words were soft, almost gentle, but Yaojin felt them like a whip against his chest. His hands trembled slightly, though he didn't dare show it.
Mine.
He hated how much that word made him want to surrender, even when he tried not to.
Breakfast in the mansion was quiet. Maids moved silently, setting out plates that looked like they belonged in a magazine. Bodyguards lingered at the edges, watchful. Zhiyuan sat across from Yaojin, eyes following every small movement—how Yaojin poured his tea, how he picked at his food, how his sleeve slipped too far down his wrist.
"You've been spacing out," Zhiyuan said finally, voice low.
"I'm just tired," Yaojin muttered, though his ears burned.
"You slept eight hours," Zhiyuan pointed out, calm as ever. "Yet here you are, mentally absent."
Yaojin swallowed, wishing he could think of a clever retort. There wasn't one. Not today.
Meanwhile, across town, Bai Lianyi's office was tense.
Han Zexu straightened, adjusting his tie nervously. "I'm not sure about this, President Bai…"
"You're my assistant now," Bai Lianyi said smoothly, sitting back in his chair. "I've decided. That's final."
Zexu blinked. "Since when?"
"Since I said so," Lianyi replied, leaning forward, eyes sharp. "And you'll follow my instructions exactly. No exceptions."
Zexu felt the heat rising in his chest. Something about the way Lianyi spoke made him feel… small. And yet, he also felt that maybe he belonged here. That maybe this alpha wasn't just demanding, but… protective.
He hadn't admitted it to anyone, not even himself, but he liked the way it made him feel.
Back at Lu Group, Lin Meiqi was already scheming. She had heard about Yaojin staying in Zhiyuan's room overnight. The perfect opportunity.
"So predictable," she muttered, tapping her nails against her desk. "The omega's too attached. And the alpha… oblivious? Or maybe too clever to care."
Her assistant hesitated. "What do you want me to do?"
"Invite Shen Yaojin to the charity project dinner personally," Meiqi said. "Make sure he attends. I want him under my eye."
The assistant nodded nervously. "Yes, Ms. Lin."
Lin Meiqi leaned back, eyes narrowing. "Zhiyuan thinks he's in control… Let's see how long that lasts."
That evening, Yaojin wandered the mansion halls, restless. Zhiyuan had meetings to attend, and the house felt impossibly quiet without him.
I'm not clingy, Yaojin told himself. I just… don't like being alone.
But when the soft click of a door made him tense, his pulse quickened.
Zhiyuan appeared in the doorway, jacket in hand, hair slightly mussed, eyes catching Yaojin mid-step.
"You didn't eat dinner," he said softly.
"I wasn't hungry," Yaojin replied, forcing a shrug.
"You're lying," Zhiyuan murmured, stepping closer. The air between them thickened. "You feel tired, dizzy… something's off."
Yaojin swallowed hard, heart thudding in a rhythm he couldn't control. "I'm fine," he said, though his body said otherwise.
Zhiyuan didn't answer. He simply reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Yaojin's forehead, thumb lingering slightly.
Too close… Yaojin's pulse jumped. He had to step back, had to remind himself this was fake. This was a contract. And yet… every nerve screamed otherwise.
Later, on the balcony, Zhiyuan leaned against the railing, eyes on the city lights. Yaojin joined him silently, hands tucked in his pockets.
"You think Lin Meiqi is dangerous," Zhiyuan said quietly.
"I know she is," Yaojin muttered, voice low.
Zhiyuan smirked faintly. "Good. Then you're paying attention."
Yaojin's chest tightened at that smirk. Not the arrogance. Not the dominance. Not even the possessiveness. But the quiet certainty that Zhiyuan would always claim what's his.
"I… I don't know if I can deal with her," Yaojin admitted, voice softer than he intended.
"You will," Zhiyuan said. Calm, patient, dangerous. "Because you're mine."
Yaojin shivered, even though the night air was warm.
Mine, he thought again. And this time, he didn't argue.