Bo Xiyun's thoughts were in disarray. Although his physical condition was slightly better than when he was tired last night, his spirit had not fully recovered. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly felt a pressure behind him.
The arm wrapped around the young man's waist moved upward, encircling the slender back. Skin pressed against skin, the warmth from the other person brought a more comfortable warmth to the naturally cold young master.
Wen Xiusen usually woke up earlier than Bo Xiyun, especially after the nightly sessions, when the young master tended to sleep deeply. Today, Bo Xiyun was awakened by his own inexplicable changes, causing him to open his eyes earlier than usual, catching Wen Xiusen still in bed.
Wen Xiusen noticed that the omega in his arms had opened his eyes, and the lingering pheromones in the air intertwined. Wen Xiusen's gaze fell on the long lashes of the young master. He stayed silent for a moment before lowering his head.
It was a very gentle kiss, so light that it didn't even disturb the tiny water droplets on the tips of the young master's lashes.
However, to this extreme tenderness from an alpha, Bo Xiyun's body stiffened, instinctively avoiding it. The surroundings fell silent for a moment.
A beat later, Bo Xiyun realized that something was amiss. It was purely his own issue. He had developed a dependence on the alpha's pheromones, and there was no reason to blame Wen Xiusen. Moreover, Wen Xiusen was the one who had been hurt.
Bo Xiyun remembered the words Wen Xiusen had spoken softly before.
He used to forbid him from kissing.
The young master opened his mouth to explain, but he didn't know how to start. However, Wen Xiusen didn't show any abnormal reactions to his obvious avoidance. The man didn't say anything and even rose from the bed, helping the young master into a thick robe before leaving the room as usual. [TN: Bro apologize... now!]
Left alone in the bedroom wearing his fluffy home pajamas, Bo Xiyun sat on the bed alone. He covered his face with his hands, sighing silently.
After a brief emotional adjustment, Bo Xiyun went downstairs. In the dining room, a hearty breakfast had been prepared by the housekeeper.
The young master had mentally prepared himself to talk to Wen Xiusen during their meal. Unexpectedly, Wen Xiusen seemed unusually busy today, as if there were urgent matters to attend to. He left without even having breakfast.
Bo Xiyun, who had little appetite to begin with, now felt even less inclined to eat. The housekeeper mentioned that Mr. Wen had instructed her to ensure the young master had breakfast before he left.
So, in the end, Bo Xiyun sat alone at the dining table, facing a tempting breakfast that he found hard to enjoy.
In reality, Bo Xiyun didn't have any particular feelings toward Wen Xiusen. It was just that he strongly disliked the sense of being dominated by pheromones, and after experiencing the impact of pheromones on himself last night, the young master couldn't help but react more intensely.
He also realized that his attitude was not correct.
Stirring his breakfast, the young man sighed silently again.
Perhaps he had been overly concerned about the heat cycle recently, making his nerves too tense.
Because of his current state, Bo Xiyun decided to give He Jianqing a call.
They had originally planned to meet today to discuss how an omega could control themselves during the heat cycle. He Jianqing was on his way, and they had decided to have the meeting at the place where Bo Xiyun was staying.
[TN: If this was a dramatic ABO then og this will be the moment where the misunderstandings start and intensify]
Initially, Bo Xiyun had thought about discussing this in a cafe outside, as the doctor had advised him to minimize going out due to the current state of his omega pheromones. Additionally, the situation in Hong Kong had been quite restless lately. Therefore, in the end, the young master chose the safest option: a meeting at his residence with a friend.
Bo Xiyun was well aware of the recent unrest in Hong Kong. His business on the mainland had no connection to Hong Kong, especially in recent years. After collecting a considerable number of people from the mainland, Bo Xiyun had retreated into the shadows. Even in the affairs of the incense trade, he rarely showed his face.
The Bo brothers, who were always vigilant, were unaware that Bo Xiyun had made significant gains on the mainland. They were not concerned with the mainland, let alone with Bo Xiyun.
So, until today, they still didn't know the performance of the Incense Trade Group, and they couldn't connect the recent anomalies in the Hui Feng Group with Bo Xiyun.
However, even though Bo Xiyun held a winning hand, he hadn't planned to close the net so early. He knew that the Bo brothers would definitely have some reactions.
But even the young master didn't expect that the second brother would act so ruthlessly.
When He Jianqing arrived at the standalone villa, Bo Xiyun was in a serious expression, listening to something through his headphones. He Jianqing didn't rush to disturb him, waiting until Bo Xiyun had finished replying to emails and removed his headphones.
He Jianqing asked, "What's wrong?"
The young master sat behind the desk, supporting his cheek with one hand. The fair side of his face formed a soft curve.
After staring at the screen for a while, Bo Xiyun said, "It's about the situation in Hong Kong."
He Jianqing frowned, and his immediate response was, "What is Bo Er up to again? Is he planning to disclose your gender to the public?"
[TN: I am tired of writing Second young master so it's Bo Er from now on]
Bo Xiyun nodded.
He Jianqing asked, "Didn't he abandon this idea before?"
He Jianqing was somewhat aware of the crisis Bo Xiyun had faced before. Although Bo Xiyun hadn't explained it in detail, He Jianqing had a rough idea. He knew that Bo Er had originally planned to sell the rare top-level omega Bo Xiyun to wealthy and influential S-level alphas. However, later, due to concerns about potential retaliation, Bo Er had canceled this plan.
But why was he considering it again now?
Bo Xiyun said, "I heard that he has increased contact with our uncle recently."
"Uncle..." He Jianqing said, "Bao Yingxin?"
"What does Bo Er want with him?"
Bo Yingxin was Bao Yingcheng's younger brother. Although he was an alpha and had not yet bonded, Bo Yingxin had settled overseas years ago and hadn't returned for a long time.
Overseas...
He Jianqing realized something and asked, "Is Bo Er trying to find someone overseas?"
Bo Xiyun nodded and clarified, "It's an overseas buyer."
Leaning back in his chair, the young master rested against the backrest.
"I guess Bo Er thinks that if he sells me overseas, I won't be able to come back to retaliate against him."
Upon hearing terms like "buyer" and "selling off," He Jianqing involuntarily furrowed his brows.
"Why is he so confident that going overseas means you won't come back?" he asked. Hong Kong was a world-class bustling port city, and aside from its transportation advantages, its financial and trade activities were closely connected to overseas markets.
"Based on the information I've gathered," the young master replied.
He turned the swivel chair, revealing his face hidden behind the large computer screen.
"This time, he might have actually found a suitable party."
He Jianqing asked, "What kind of arrangement?"
Bo Xiyun glanced at the screen again and said, "He found a local S-class alpha in a country in the southern hemisphere that doesn't implement monogamous marriage but has a tradition of shared spouses."
"...," He Jianqing's immediate reaction made him think he might have misheard.
"Shared spouses?"
He Jianqing wasn't completely clueless; in fact, he had heard of this concept before. Due to the scarcity of omegas globally and varying marriage laws and customs in different countries, in some regions, when alphas within a family struggled to find suitable matches, they would share the same omega with other members of their clan.
However, this custom didn't elevate the status of omegas; quite the opposite, in those places, omegas were not treated as independent individuals. They were seen merely as tools to provide comfort.
Knowing this, He Jianqing was shocked at the audacity of Bo Shang's plan.
How could Bo Shang be so malicious?
If Bo Er truly sold Bo Xiyun to an S-class alpha preparing for a shared spouse arrangement, then Bo Xiyun wouldn't have to worry about retaliation. In such a society, Bo Xiyun wouldn't be considered a person, and no one would stand up for him.
Bo Shang's scheme surpassed the normal limits of human comprehension.
Unable to contain himself, He Jianqing exclaimed, "How could he..."
Young Master Bo nodded in agreement, "Exactly, second brother [Er Ge] is really ruthless this time."
He Jianqing frowned. It was unbelievable that the other party could be so calm at a time like this, as if he wasn't the one who had been hurt.
"What do you plan to do?" He Jianqing asked.
The young master's face still bore signs of anxiety. He touched his delicate chin and replied, "I haven't thought about it."
Indeed, Bo Xiyun hadn't anticipated Bo Shang's unusually secretive actions this time. If he hadn't received a warning from an overseas friend early in the morning, he might not have known about it at all.
"Come back," Bo Xiyun said to He Jianqing. "I'll talk to him."
During these days, although Wen Xiusen had spent less time in the study, the two of them had been jointly handling the tricky issues in Hong Kong.
Bo Xiyun had gradually shown trust in Wen Xiusen.
Hearing this, He Jianqing remained silent for a moment before saying, "I don't recommend telling him about Bo Er's actions today directly."
Bo Xiyun looked up at him. "Why not?"
He Jianqing explained, "Consider it from a different perspective. If you heard that Bo Er did something like this to someone you cared about, how would you feel?"
Bo Xiyun responded straightforwardly, "Thinking that Er Ge is a purebred idiot."
"...," He Jianqing choked for a moment.
In reality, Bo Xiyun had never harbored any expectations from Er Ge. Therefore, he didn't experience the emotional pain that might come from being hurt by a family member. In a way, that was a relief for him.
He Jianqing phrased it differently, "If Wen Xiusen hears this news, he might have a more intense reaction, especially concerning matters like shared spouses."
"Why?" Bo Xiyun was a bit surprised. He thought for a moment, following He Jianqing's words, and asked, "Because it would hit his alpha pride?"
An S-class alpha losing the omega that should belong to him, and to several others at once.
Through these days of reviewing AO sexuality, the young master had gradually learned to approach problems from the alpha's perspective.
Without waiting for He Jianqing's response, Bo Xiyun thought of something else and asked curiously, "By the way, Ah Qing, why do I feel like you care so much about Mr. Wen?"
On the ship from Hong Kong to the mainland, Bo Xiyun noticed that He Jianqing had frequently brought up Wen Xiusen.
Back in the day, three years ago, He Jianqing had helped treat Wen Xiusen when he experienced sudden differentiation.
Bo Xiyun felt like he had discovered something, "Are you a fan of him?"
He Jianqing: "..."
He Jianqing finally realized that the young master, who could do anything, was oddly stuck in this aspect.
If it wasn't stated directly, he wouldn't understand.
"I care about him getting married to you."
Since learning about the news of their impending marriage, He Jianqing found it hard to accept.
"What's wrong with getting married?" Bo Xiyun was puzzled. "That was our agreed-upon condition."
"Just a condition?"
He Jianqing frowned.
"You've been so concerned about him even before. It's been three years, and nothing has changed."
This was also the reason why He Jianqing had frequently brought up Wen Xiusen before.
During the years Bo Xiyun had invested in the entertainment industry, there were more than just one artist who had connections with him. Yet, it was only this alpha who concealed his true gender that had stuck by his side.
"Now he's not seeking revenge against you, but instead, he wants to marry you—"
He Jianqing paused.
He had just refrained from saying it, but deep down, he vaguely felt that, given Wen Xiusen's character, he might have already known about Er Ge's manipulations today.
"Don't you find it strange?"
He Jianqing asked Bo Xiyun.
He spoke directly to his friend, "It's like you have a special fondness for him."
"He doesn't seem to like you back."
[TN: Don't even start with that bullshit...]
Bo Xiyun was momentarily stunned by the statement, and after a brief pause, he spoke.
Under He Jianqing's gaze, Bo Xiyun said, "Really?"
The young master didn't see it that way.
To say that he had a special fondness for Wen Xiusen—
Bo Xiyun sighed inwardly; just this morning, he had treated Wen Xiusen so stiffly.
Feeling a bit guilty in his heart, the young master explained, "I asked him about the reason for getting married, and I didn't feel like it was because he liked me."
When Wen Xiusen had responded, he mentioned that the reason was the same as three years ago when Bo Xiyun was taken care of.
At that time, the young master had thought that Mr. Wen had a thing for him.
But this so-called "thing" wasn't romantic. It was merely that their conditions were exceptionally compatible.
Alpha and omega were a perfect match, and a top-tier omega was so precious.
Moreover, the benefits Wen Xiusen could gain from the marriage would undoubtedly be more valuable than the straightforward hatred and revenge.
It was a highly cost-effective and clear-cut transaction; anyone would know how to choose.
Analyzing it this way didn't mean that Bo Xiyun was overly indifferent towards Wen Xiusen. He just felt that, for an S-class alpha, asking whether he liked an S-class omega was an extremely absurd question.
Would there be any alpha who would say no?
[TN: He was with you when you were a beta, stupid!]
He Jianqing seemed to not fully believe Bo Xiyun's analysis. He wanted to say something, but the computer on the table received several urgent emails. Bo Xiyun had to divert his attention to the screen, and given his busy state, He Jianqing refrained from disturbing him.
After leaving behind the items he had brought today and offering a few more words of advice to the young master, He Jianqing left.
Bo Xiyun stayed in the study all day, and it wasn't until Wen Xiusen returned in the evening that the young master went to the living room.
The night was deep, and Wen Xiusen's return time was indeed not considered early. Bo Xiyun knew that the man was very busy, handling matters for the Bo family and overseeing the preparations for their engagement ceremony. Despite the workload, Wen Xiusen always made sure to come back every day.
If, before, Bo Xiyun hadn't paid much attention, after last night, he understood everything.
Wen Xiusen, despite being busy, always rushed back, partly because he needed to provide soothing pheromones for Bo Xiyun every day.
Thinking about this, especially considering the events of the morning, Bo Xiyun found it difficult to bring up the topic. Nevertheless, he mustered the courage and mentioned Er Ge's new plans.
"Do you know about Er Ge's new scheme?"
Wen Xiusen, who had just entered the room, was taking off his coat. Taking advantage of his movements, Bo Xiyun briefly briefed him on the information he had received.
As discussed with He Jianqing, the young master intended to discuss countermeasures with Wen Xiusen.
Perhaps startled by Er Ge's malicious plan, Wen Xiusen, after hearing the details, furrowed his brows, and his expression became even colder.
When he spoke, however, he asked about another matter.
"Did an S-class alpha come today?"
Bo Xiyun was momentarily taken aback by the sudden change of topic but nodded.
"Yes, Ah Qing came."
Wen Xiusen raised an eyebrow at him. The well-defined contours of his brows were deepened by the shadow cast by the room's overhead light, making his expression even more inscrutable.
"Did he get close to you?"
Bo Xiyun was surprised.
He now noticed that Wen Xiusen's demeanor seemed off.
It resembled Bo Xiyun's own restlessness from the previous night, caused by the lack of sufficient pheromones.
The young master, somewhat belatedly, asked, "Are you...?"