Chapter 14
"You know, Jiang Li is probably the purest omega I've ever met. With a face like that, he doesn't even have a boyfriend. Maybe he's waiting until marriage… what a proud friend I am."
Guo Chen dramatically wiped at imaginary tears before turning to the short-haired Alpha beside him, clearly expecting some kind of agreement.
Instead, he was met with a flat, silver-eyed stare.
It said everything without a single word.
Stupid.
Guo Chen's expression immediately soured.
Why was it that everything he said turned into nonsense in Luo Xin's presence? He glanced at her again, lips pressed into a thin line as she continued walking beside him.
She was dressed, as usual, in loose black cargo pants and a matching hoodie, her hands buried deep in her pockets. There was nothing particularly flashy about her appearance, yet the quiet dominance she carried made people instinctively give her space.
"Then most of the omegas you've met must be trash," she said lazily, a faint grin tugging at her lips.
Guo Chen opened his mouth to argue, but then paused.
Thinking about it…
Jiang Li was strange.
Even without dating anyone, the way he acted—his boldness, his stubbornness—it didn't exactly fit the image of a "pure" omega. If anything, it leaned dangerously close to Luo Xin's definition of "trashy."
He sighed.
"It's strange," he muttered instead.
Luo Xin stopped walking.
That alone was enough to surprise him.
They had already reached the apartment building where Jiang Li lived, but at the rare seriousness in Guo Chen's voice, she actually turned to look at him.
"The way Jiang Li is acting now…" Guo Chen continued slowly. "In all the years I've known him, I've never seen him cry. Not even once—except after that accident. And now he's blushing, hesitating… acting like this."
He frowned slightly.
"Is that really Jiang Li?"
Luo Xin let out a quiet breath, her gaze shifting forward again as she resumed walking.
"I'd be questioning it too," she said, "if he hadn't been stalking that man in the first place."
They entered the building in silence.
When they reached his apartment and knocked, there was no immediate response. The hallway grew quiet, the kind of silence that made both of them exchange a brief glance.
Then—
Footsteps.
"I'm coming!" Jiang Li's voice called from inside.
The door opened.
Both Luo Xin and Guo Chen froze.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, their expressions identical—eyes wide, mouths slightly parted, as if they had just swallowed something completely unexpected.
Standing in front of them was Jiang Li.
But… not the Jiang Li they were used to.
His blond hair was neatly styled back, with a single soft strand falling over his forehead. His outfit was refined—a slim-fit blazer that accentuated his waist, paired with a silky blouse and a delicate bow at the collar. The entire look made him appear elegant, almost fragile, yet undeniably striking.
He looked like he was glowing.
Luo Xin was the first to recover.
"Li-ner…" she started, her voice betraying a hint of disbelief. "Where are you going?"
Jiang Li smiled shyly, his gaze dropping as a soft blush spread across his cheeks.
Guo Chen blinked.
Another expression I've never seen on him…
Once the initial shock wore off, they stepped inside. The apartment was small but cozy, filled faintly with Jiang Li's soft rose-like scent.
"I'm going to meet his parents," Jiang Li said quietly, turning toward the kitchenette as he poured himself a glass of water, clearly trying to steady his nerves.
His heart was racing.
This would be the first time he stepped into Shen Yu's penthouse while Shen Yu was actually there.
The address…
It wasn't just any place.
It was his home.
"Whose parents?" Guo Chen shouted suddenly. "Wait—Li, are you dating?!"
Before Jiang Li could even respond, Luo Xin smacked Guo Chen's hand sharply, earning a loud yelp.
"Do you have to scream?" she snapped.
Guo Chen clutched his hand, looking deeply wronged.
He was definitely being abused.
Jiang Li let out a small, nervous laugh as he moved to sit on the couch with them.
"Maybe… fake dating," he admitted.
The moment the words left his mouth, Luo Xin clicked her tongue sharply.
He looked up.
Her silver eyes were fixed on him, sharp and unyielding.
"And he knows you like him," she said, her tone turning colder. "Yet he still asked you to be his fake boyfriend?"
Jiang Li flinched.
"Li," she continued, her voice rising slightly, "who are you right now? Because I don't recognize you anymore."
Her words hit harder than anything else.
"How can you just agree to everything he says?" she went on. "Just because it's Shen Yu? You're being too passive. That's exactly why he'll take advantage of you."
Jiang Li lowered his gaze, his fingers tightening around the fabric of his sleeve.
"Crying over everything he does, agreeing to everything he says… acting like some perfect omega—forget that."
Her voice sharpened.
"Where's the Jiang Li who takes what he wants? The one who went to that club, risking everything—even during his heat—just to get close to the man he liked?"
Silence filled the room.
"Grow a spine, Jiang Li," she finished. "Stop settling for crumbs when you could take the whole loaf."
With that, she turned away, crossing her arms as if she hadn't just shaken him to his core.
…
Even now, standing in front of the tall building where Shen Yu lived, her words echoed in Jiang Li's mind.
She was right.
Somewhere along the way, he had become someone he didn't recognize.
Was it because of Shen Yu's pheromones… or was it simply because he liked him that much?
Jiang Li exhaled slowly as he stepped into the private hallway leading to the penthouse, the quiet luxury of the place making his chest tighten.
After taking a few steady breaths, he raised his hand and knocked.
Silence followed.
Then—
Footsteps approached from inside.
Through the narrow gap of the door, a familiar scent slipped out—whiskey and rosewood, warm and intoxicating, instantly clouding his thoughts.
"Who is it?" Shen Yu's voice called from inside, low and calm.
Jiang Li swallowed, forcing his voice to remain steady.
"It's Jiang Li."
The door opened.
And Jiang Li forgot how to breathe.
Shen Yu stood there, his dark hair damp and slightly disheveled, his expression lazy as always.
His shirt was missing.
Water droplets still clung to his skin, tracing slow paths down his toned chest, catching the light in a way that felt almost unfair. His presence filled the doorway effortlessly, like something untouchable and distant.
Jiang Li's throat went dry.
His gaze lingered for a second too long before he snapped his eyes away, his face burning.
This is impossible...
How was he supposed to "grow a spine" in front of someone like this?
His resolve crumbled instantly.
To hell with that...
"You're early," Shen Yu said, his deep voice cutting through Jiang Li's thoughts, making the heat rise all over again.
[ Mass release 2/3 ]
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A/ N Jiang Li's art when he was opening the door below at the comment section ~