Jackson held the documents in his hand as he entered his home, noticing Bai Li had already returned. His grip on the ointment tube in his hand faltered momentarily before he nodded at Bai Li and headed straight to the guest room. He didn't notice Bai Li's slightly stiff expression as he closed the door behind him.
Inside, Jackson placed the tube of ointment on the desk. After taking a shower, he returned, intending to resume working on his emails. However, his gaze involuntarily drifted to the ointment sitting on the desk.
He hesitated for a moment before finally acknowledging the faint discomfort at the back of his neck—a sharp but minor pain, like the prick of a needle. Now that he was aware of it, the discomfort seemed to amplify.
His emails remained untouched, the screen frozen on the same page.
Finally, Jackson picked up the ointment.
Click—
He opened it, finding almost no resistance. His sharp eyes noticed the inner seal of the foil had already been broken.
He paused, a strange thought surfacing: Enola must have opened this.
There was no logic to the thought, but it lodged itself in his mind.
Picking up his phone, Jackson snapped a photo of the ointment and sent it to his friend Lu Jin. As soon as the message was sent, Jackson frowned, considering recalling it, but Lu Jin replied almost immediately.
[J: What does this mean?]
[L: ?? Showing off? Did Bai Li give this to you? Seems like he's trying to win favor. At least he's thoughtful. I need to find someone as considerate as him!]
[J: It wasn't Bai Li.]
[L: ??? If it wasn't Bai Li, then who? An omega? Or a beta? If an omega gave you a pheromone-soothing ointment, that's a pretty clear signal—they're seducing you, no doubt!]
Jackson's gaze lingered on the words "pretty clear signal" and "seducing."
The image of Enola emerged unbidden in his mind: the delicate, reserved beauty, his quiet tears when misunderstood.
Enola wasn't the type to seduce. His boundaries were well-maintained, and he was always cautious, afraid of causing misunderstandings. His nature was caring, not manipulative. Besides, Enola was married—he already had his own alpha.
[J: Shut up.]
[L: …Whoa, someone touched a nerve, huh? Who upset you today, Mr. Gu?]
Jackson put the phone down, annoyed, before instinctively opening Enola's messaging profile. His avatar was still the same as before—a chubby ginger cat basking under the sunlight, exuding an air of arrogant satisfaction.
Jackson frowned at the cat. It really did look like a small orange car.
Before he could fully process what he was doing, his phone rang. The caller ID displayed the word "Mother."
"Hello?" Jackson answered.
His mother's calm voice came through. "Tomorrow looks like good weather. Come with me to Wuling Mountain to pray."
Madam Gu had long been devout, visiting Wuling Mountain regularly to pray and make offerings. Jackson had accompanied her on a few occasions but usually sent an assistant in his place.
"I'll have Chen Lin go with you," Jackson replied curtly, referring to his capable assistant.
Madam Gu was unimpressed. "What? You're too busy to accompany your mother now? You're the one getting married, not Chen Lin. I want you to come and pick an auspicious wedding date."
Jackson's brow furrowed. Before he could decline, she added, "Bring Bai Li along too."
Knowing his mother's intentions to foster their arranged marriage, Jackson sighed and agreed, "I'll let Bai Li know."
The next day, the skies were clear and bright, perfect for an outing.
The ancient town near Wuling Mountain was teeming with tourists, drawn by its historic charm and the mountain's reputation for blessing marriages.
Enola, opting for comfort, wore loose clothing as he strolled through the town with Jay. They sampled local snacks and explored the winding streets. By the afternoon, they decided to visit Wuling Mountain's temple to pray.
As the weather shifted, dark clouds rolled in, and the crowds thinned. After a thirty-minute trek uphill, they reached the temple. The winds picked up as they approached the towering locust tree near the South Gate. Red prayer ribbons adorned its branches, fluttering against the gray sky.
A young monk greeted them with a bow. "It is said that couples who make a wish here under the locust tree will receive divine blessings."
He glanced at Enola and Jay, noting their compatibility—the alpha, tall and handsome, and the omega, ethereal and gentle in demeanor.
"Shall I fetch a ribbon?" Jay offered, his mood surprisingly buoyant that day. The pheromone compatibility between the two had left him in good spirits.
Enola nodded softly. "I'll wait here for you."
Jay glanced at the increasingly overcast sky. "It looks like it's going to rain. You should wait at Bi Yu Pavilion. I'll meet you there."
Enola hesitated but finally smiled. "Why don't I come with you? If it rains, it'll be a memory—a little romance to look back on years later."
His words, rare in their sentimentality, startled Jay. For a moment, he was lost in the dimples that appeared on Enola's cheeks as he smiled.
"Alright."
The two retrieved their prayer ribbons, writing their names and tying them to the tree. Just as they finished, a low rumble of thunder echoed.
Boom—
Rain poured down in sudden, stinging drops. Jay shielded Enola as they ran toward the covered corridor.
"You'll catch a cold," Jay said, looking at Enola's drenched form. "I'll borrow an umbrella or jacket for you."
"I'm fine," Enola said, though his wet hair clung to his face, accentuating his delicate features. His lashes, heavy with rain, framed eyes filled with quiet concern. "Stay here with me until the rain lightens. Then we can go together."
Jay brushed a damp lock of hair from Enola's forehead. "Wait for me here. I'll be back soon."
Though reluctant, Enola nodded. "Alright. Don't be long."
As Jay walked away, Enola's worried expression faded. Jay's concern wasn't for him—it was for Bai Li, who was also at Wuling Mountain today. Enola had deliberately orchestrated this scenario.
Settling onto a stone bench in Bi Yu Pavilion, Enola waited patiently. Minutes later, familiar footsteps echoed in the rain.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
He turned, a bright smile forming instinctively. "You're here!"
But the sight of Jackson stopped him cold. His ears burned red as he stammered, "Oh… it's you."
Jackson's sharp eyes took in Enola's drenched figure. His wet clothes clung to him, highlighting the slender curve of his shoulders and back. The faint scent of his pheromones lingered in the humid air.
Rainwater trailed down Enola's pale skin, his dark hair plastered to his neck. He looked like a mythical creature emerging from water—bewitching, untouchable. A single droplet hung on the tip of his long lashes, poised to fall.
Jackson's Adam's apple bobbed. He took a step closer, his gaze lingering on the omega's exposed collarbone. Without thinking, he reached out.
"You—"
Startled, Enola flinched, stepping back. Jackson's hand froze midair.