"So, what should we eat?" After a long pause, Lu Jin cleared his throat, finally breaking the silence.
The two of them had suddenly gone quiet, making the atmosphere feel strangely tense.
Enola's lashes fluttered as he bit his lower lip lightly, looking at Ruan Ruan, who was in Jackson's arms. "Ruan Ruan, what do you want to eat?"
Ruan Ruan tilted her head and looked up at Enola, her eyes sparkling. "Enola, your ears are red!"
Young as she was, she adored the "nice-smelling and gentle" Mr. Enola, giggling with crescent-shaped eyes as she reached out her arms. "I want Enola to carry me…"
Enola, who was equally fond of the sweet little girl, held her tiny fingers for a moment and gently squeezed them. "Of course."
But Jackson said nothing, simply holding Ruan Ruan close and walking ahead. Enola was a bit taken aback but quickly picked up his pace to follow, leaving Lu Jin standing alone, forgotten yet again.
He watched the three of them with a curious expression.
The tall, commanding alpha held a small child with features that somewhat mirrored his own, while the slender and refined omega walked a few steps behind, gazing softly at the child in Jackson's arms.
With the assistants and restaurant manager trailing respectfully, they appeared every bit a family.
Lu Jin clicked his tongue, shaking his head with a chuckle. No way, he thought. Jackson was known for his integrity and would never cheat. Plus, this omega didn't seem like the type to come between people, and Jackson wasn't the sort to allow it.
He shrugged and quickly caught up with the group.
They arrived at a nearby restaurant they frequented, Yaoyuan.
Yaoyuan was owned by one of the circle's "crown princes." Known for its exclusive reservations and steep prices, it offered a serene environment in the city center—a peaceful retreat from the hustle.
After a ten-minute drive, the Maybach pulled up in a quiet alley. As they stepped out, a low-key young man approached with a friendly smile, patting Lu Jin on the shoulder and nodding toward Jackson. "You're in luck! Old Chen just perfected a new Huaiyang dish."
"Mr. Gu, we've kept the Yulan Pavilion reserved for you as always. I see your niece is here today as well?" The young man gave Ruan Ruan a friendly smile, then turned to Enola.
They were all from the prestigious families of A City, but Jackson, being a Gu, held the highest standing. Naturally, the young man showed him the utmost respect.
He was also aware of Jackson's recent engagement to the Bai family. But today, the omega by his side was someone he didn't recognize, standing close in a way that implied familiarity.
With Jackson's usual aloofness, it was surprising enough that he would have an omega beside him at all. And if this were… that kind of relationship, it didn't seem to fit. After all, that kind of relationship wouldn't involve bringing along a child and one's closest friends.
The omega exuded an air of cool refinement mingled with a warm gentleness—a far cry from the kind of person who'd engage in something improper.
Setting aside his curiosity, the young man turned to Enola and asked, "You seem unfamiliar. May I ask who you are—?"
Just as Enola was about to respond, a low voice cut in from above. "Enola."
Interesting.
The young man noted that Jackson, usually so reticent, had addressed him by name. Whether or not there was more between them, the young man mentally elevated Enola's status.
"Mr. Enola," he said, shaking Enola's hand.
As they were shown inside, he took the time to ask Enola about his food preferences before heading off to make arrangements with the kitchen.
Lu Jin couldn't help but chuckle. "It pays to be with Mr. Gu himself—when does Chen ever greet anyone personally?"
Jackson shot him a look but didn't reply.
The food, while of high quality, wasn't particularly to Enola's taste, so he only sampled a bit.
Yaoyuan's service was attentive, and staff were available to look after children, but Ruan Ruan, feeling shy around strangers, sat quietly with a hint of tears in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Lu Jin was discussing a new property development with Jackson, frowning over a bidding issue. "They've been telling me the location's ideal, especially with the upcoming line eight metro extension. But Lin Huan's team is also fighting for the bid."
"I'd like to secure it, but taking on the whole project would stretch my liquidity," he admitted.
Jackson, looking unfazed, shook his head slightly.
Lu Jin paused, surprised. "What do you mean?"
Jackson replied, "Provincial experts are due to examine it. They believe it's a Song Dynasty burial site."
Lu Jin inhaled sharply, immediately downing his drink. "Thanks, brother. That was close."
As the two continued discussing business, Enola glanced at his phone, checking a new message. He set it down and looked at Ruan Ruan, who still had teary eyes.
"Want a hug?"
Ruan Ruan's face lit up immediately, nodding as she nestled into his arms, pressing her chubby cheeks against his and giving him a kiss. "Nice smell… kiss for Enola!"
Enola smiled and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. "Ruan Ruan is such a good girl."
Suddenly, he realized the table had gone silent. Looking up, he found both Lu Jin and Jackson watching him.
Feeling a bit flustered, Enola asked, "Did Ruan Ruan and I interrupt? Should I take her for a little walk?"
Lu Jin quickly shook his head, "No, no, we were just admiring how cute Ruan Ruan is…"
Enola rose, gently holding Ruan Ruan's small hand. "We just finished eating. I'll take her for a short walk."
"Alright," Jackson said with a nod.
With that, the two of them left the private room.
"Such a shame…" Lu Jin sighed as he watched them leave.
Jackson looked down at his cup of sake, saying nothing.
Lu Jin nudged him. "You don't think so?"
"Think what?" Jackson asked indifferently.
Lu Jin shrugged. "It's a shame about Enola. Such a beautiful omega—cool, elegant, with a kind of warmth that makes him perfect for family life."
Jackson frowned slightly. "What are you trying to say?"
Lu Jin smirked. "Someone as well-suited to being a spouse as he is… it's a shame he's already married."
Clink— Jackson's porcelain cup rolled onto the carpet.
Lu Jin glanced at Jackson in surprise. "What's wrong? Don't tell me the drink's that bad?"
He continued with a sigh, "Seriously, though, whoever convinced Enola to marry him is incredibly lucky."
Jackson stared at the cup on the floor, silently agreeing.
Finally, he looked up and asked quietly, "How do you know he's married?"
Lu Jin clicked his tongue. "You haven't noticed, have you?"
"He's been checking his phone throughout dinner, clearly sending updates to his husband. I mean, if I had a spouse that beautiful, I'd want to keep tabs on him too. And with how well he's getting along with Ruan Ruan, I'd bet they're even thinking of starting a family."
"And didn't you see the ring on his left hand?"
Jackson glanced down at his newly poured sake, his silence stretching for a long moment before he finally replied, "Hmm."
Seemingly oblivious to Jackson's reaction, Lu Jin sighed again. "Wonder which guy got so lucky…"
An idea suddenly occurred to him, and his eyes brightened. "Hey, what if I arranged for him and his husband to get divorced? I could compensate the guy, then build a life with Enola myself. You might even end up as a godfather to our kids, huh?" he joked, getting more excited by the idea.
But as he raised his head, he found Jackson staring at him with an icy gaze, and he faltered. "Uh… you…?"
Jackson's strikingly handsome features appeared sharper than ever, though his usual commanding presence masked his emotions. This time, the intense focus of his gaze made Lu Jin shiver slightly.
Before he could say anything else, Jackson turned away, standing and heading for the door.
"Where are you going?"
Jackson, holding a handkerchief and casually wiping his fingers, replied, "The restroom."
Lu Jin blinked, then raised a brow. "Wait, isn't there a restroom right in the suite? Why go out—"
But Jackson was already at the door, casting him a brief glance. His tone was low and calm, but there was an edge to it. "Don't let me hear you joke about that again."
With that, he left.
"…"
Lu Jin blinked, feeling as though he'd stumbled onto something he shouldn't have.
Yaoyuan's city-center location made it both serene and prestigious, and its clientele were typically high-society figures. The place was quiet and private.
It was already evening by the time Enola had taken Ruan Ruan to wash her hands. They were about to return when a group of guests, smelling of alcohol, approached them.
The group was young, dressed in the latest trends, with one tall, handsome young man standing at the front. His hair was dark, with a streak of silver, and he wore a confident smirk. "Hold on—what's your name?"
The noisy chatter behind him stilled as seven or eight others turned their eyes to Enola—a stunning, refined omega, who bent down to chat softly with the child by his side.
Upon hearing their leader's words, Enola turned his head slightly.
That single glance took everyone's breath away.
His face was porcelain white, with sharp, delicate features—like an ink painting come to life, holding an allure so intense it could cut through the air.
"Hello?" Enola asked softly, his voice cool yet gentle, with a quality that matched his unearthly beauty.
The leader, his smile widening, approached with a mischievous look. "I'm Xia. Can we be friends?"
"Add me on WeChat?" He offered his phone, open to the QR code. "Are you free tomorrow?"
Tomorrow was Valentine's Day—his intentions couldn't have been clearer.
"I'm sorry," Enola said politely, tightening his hold on Ruan Ruan's hand. "That might not be possible."
The man beside Xia grinned and added, "Hey, you should know our boss Xia—"
"Shut it," Xia cut him off, then smiled at Ruan Ruan. "Want some ice cream, little one?"
Enola pulled out his phone reluctantly. They exchanged contact information, and Xia, true to his word, didn't push further.
As they parted, he offered, "Let me walk you back."
"No need," Enola replied with a polite smile. "It's just a few minutes."
Xia glanced at Ruan Ruan. "Want me to carry her?"
"No, thank you—"
"Enola?"
The calm, deep voice interrupted from the hall.
Enola and Xia turned to see Jackson approaching, his eyes scanning Enola to ensure he was unharmed. Jackson then wordlessly took Ruan Ruan from Enola's arms and stood by his side. "Let's go," he said in a commanding tone.
Enola gave a quick nod and was about to follow when Xia spoke up. "Mr. Gu, long time no see."
Jackson paused, giving Xia a polite nod before intending to leave.
But Xia's gaze lingered on Enola before turning back to Jackson. "Is he yours?"
"Yours?" Xia's words carried a hint of intrigue and obvious interest, questioning the nature of their relationship.
"Mr. Xia, I don't—"
Before Enola could finish, Jackson interrupted, looking down at him. "Are you coming?"
Enola's lashes fluttered as he met Jackson's gaze, their eyes locked in silence.
Finally, Enola lowered his gaze, softly murmuring, "Let's go…"