16: Mr. Sheng, do you drink milk?
Contrary to Sheng Shaoyou’s expectations, X Holdings’ delegation did not continue to target Shengfang Biotech after Chang Yu had been exposed to his pheromonal outburst.
On the contrary, just before summer fully arrived, Shengfang Biotech finally received the olive branch extended to all potential partners by X Holdings — Shengfang was granted admission to the World Forum on Biotechnology and Industrial Development, hosted by X Holdings and co-organized by the P-country government.
Although the forum was still several months away, being invited to such a public event hosted by X Holdings was a major shot of confidence for Shengfang Biotech, whose stock price had long languished due to excessive R&D investments.
On the day the list of forum attendees was announced, Shengfang Biotech’s stock price surged and continued climbing, hitting six consecutive limit-ups.
Sheng Shaoyou didn’t go to the office for a week. When he finally returned from a tropical island on Monday — the same day the stock hit another peak — he was in high spirits.
This susceptibility period had lasted unusually long. On the first day, fearing he’d lose control and hurt his delicate little orchid at home, he left quietly in the middle of the night with Shu Xin, heading to a familiar retreat.
When he returned home, the house was empty.
He hadn’t contacted Huayong all week due to dealing with his heat, and he missed that beautiful little orchid dearly.
It was a weekday, and assuming Huayong was at the HS headquarters working, Sheng Shaoyou decided to go to the office as well.
Chen Pinming lit up upon seeing him and enthusiastically reported all the congratulatory messages from various parties as well as the forum invitation.
In great spirits, Sheng Shaoyou was approached by Li Baiqiao near the end of the workday, who asked if he wanted to go to a motorsport club Li had invested in over the weekend.
The club specialized in go-karts and motorcycles and boasted the longest professional track in Jianghu City.
Though Sheng Shaoyou rarely rode motorcycles, he was quite the force behind the wheel of a go-kart. When serious, he could consistently lap under 36 seconds — enough to beat many professional racers.
Li Baiqiao, eager to play, egged him on. “Young Master Sheng, how long’s it been since you’ve come out to have fun, huh? What, took over the family business and now you’re abandoning all your loser friends? You’re really that heartless?”
Riding high on the wave of recent good news, Sheng Shaoyou accepted the invitation and agreed to meet at the track at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Everything went smoothly that day — except for one thing. When he rang the doorbell at home, he suddenly remembered he hadn’t showered after coming back at noon.
Hua Yong opened the door, his sharp and delicate face peeking through the gap. Upon seeing Sheng Shaoyou, his eyes lit up with joy like fresh spring water.
“Mr. Sheng!”
Sheng Shaoyou couldn’t help but smile. “Did you miss me?”
“I did.” Hua Yong leaned in for a hug, but the moment his fingers brushed Sheng Shaoyou’s shoulder, his face visibly paled.
Shit.
Sheng Shaoyou thought, Shu Xin must have gotten too close on the plane. She’d even clung to him and coyly asked for goodbye kisses. He’d been annoyed but humored her with a couple of pecks in recognition of her… services.
Now the lingering pheromone scent — that made Hua Yong’s face go ghostly — must have been from that.
Still, Sheng Shaoyou pretended not to notice, pulling Hua Yong inside by the shoulder. Only after closing the door did he quietly slip off the coat carrying another Omega’s scent and casually ask, “So, what’ve you been up to? Let me see, did you lose weight?”
“I didn’t.” Hua Yong’s mood dropped sharply. His excitement dimmed. “Worked overtime for a few days. It’s been exhausting.”
He had calculated Sheng Shaoyou’s susceptibility period and had come home early every day hoping to be there for him. But on the very day it began, Sheng Shaoyou left him alone in Jianghu without a word. Days passed, with no phone calls, no replies to texts. Just thinking about Sheng Shaoyou enjoying himself with another Omega somewhere he couldn’t see — it made Hua Yong grind his teeth nearly to dust.
When he heard Sheng Shaoyou had returned, he came home, heart aching and full of suppressed anger — only to be greeted by that same intoxicating floral scent on Sheng Shaoyou’s body.
Hua Yong was so furious he could cough blood. But his face remained calm, if pale. Even his lips had lost their usual color.
Watching him carefully, Sheng Shaoyou felt like a serpent with all seven apertures clutched in someone’s hand — powerful, but utterly paralyzed. The little orchid had stepped on his weak spot again.
He chuckled awkwardly. “I’ll go take a shower first.”
After he cleaned off, the offending scent was mostly gone. Hua Yong’s face softened, and he smiled again.
Before bed, he even brought over a glass of milk and asked sweetly, “Mr. Sheng, do you drink milk?”
Even drinking milk, Hua Yong looked refined and elegant. Each sip left a circle of froth on his lips, which he licked off with his tongue — every single time. Watching this, Sheng Shaoyou started overheating, wondering if his susceptibility period hadn’t entirely ended after all.
Hua Yong looked too innocent, dressed in casual loungewear that accentuated his youthful, unformed air. Though his face was sharp and narrow, he still had a trace of baby fat in his cheeks. His eyes were crystal clear, but carried a subtle, inexplicable allure — enough to make anyone hard just from his gaze.
Sheng Shaoyou was no exception. A man utterly ruled by those eyes.
He wasn’t even thirsty but leaned against the kitchen island and reached out. “Sure, I’ll have a glass.”
Hua Yong smiled. “I’ll pour it for you.”
Sharing warm milk and stories before bed was a surprisingly comforting ritual. Sheng Shaoyou had never experienced moments like these in his adult life. The last time he’d felt anything remotely similar was probably twenty years ago, back when he nestled in his mother’s arms, worry-free and babyish.
Hua Yong was like a treasure chest full of surprises. He taught Sheng Shaoyou how to fall in love starting from handholding and kissing, showed him that affection could exist even without sleeping together. Just looking at him brought waves of tenderness and attachment — without any lust-based fantasy.
Sheng Shaoyou thought, Hua Yong might be the closest he’d ever come to true love. Someone he wanted to keep by his side forever — even if he couldn’t embrace or mark him. A soft, beautiful, harmless, delicately scented, and stubborn Omega.
Li Baiqiao’s racing club was in the outskirts of Jianghu City, near a famous golf course. Built on a hilltop, the lounge offered a panoramic view of the lush green fairways below.
Opposite the green was the city’s best-equipped motorcycle track. The go-kart track sat right beside it, along the eastern slope of the mountain.
Work at HS Group had been intense lately, and Huayong worked all Saturday morning. Sheng Shaoyou had lunch with him before heading to the track. By the time he arrived, Li Baiqiao, Cheng Zhe, and another friend were already waiting.
“So slow,” Li Baiqiao teased when Sheng walked in. “I heard you’re going to that big-deal forum in a few months? My dad’s been bragging about it for days. He’s so jealous his eyes turned red — says he’d trade ten useless sons like me just to get one of you.”
Sheng laughed. “One of you is bad enough. Ten? You trying to give your dad a stroke? Can’t you wish your elders some peace?”
Everyone burst into laughter — it was rare to see Sheng Shaoyou in such a good mood.
Hua Yong entered a few moments later, having just finished a work call. Sheng was at the counter with Li Baiqiao picking a go-kart.
Among Sheng’s friends, only Cheng Zhe was a motorcycle enthusiast. He was sitting alone on a sofa, cradling his helmet and reading a magazine. Hearing the door, he looked up and froze.
So did Hua Yong — Cheng Zhe looked familiar, but he couldn’t place where he’d seen him before. Still, since he was clearly one of Sheng’s friends, Hua Yong gave a polite smile and nod.
That smile left Cheng Zhe stunned. The Omega’s beauty had clearly left a deep impression — he’d dreamed about him for days after that banquet.
Cheng Zhe had never seen an escort Omega wear a faded sweater to an elite banquet. But Hua Yong was so stunning that he made even the plainest clothes look like a royal ensemble — the kind of Omega only a true aristocrat Alpha could have at his side.
After that party, Cheng Zhe even messaged Sheng Shaoyou, jokingly asking about the Omega. He even risked angering Sheng by probing if he could have the Omega’s number once he’d lost interest.
Sheng had never replied. Eventually, Cheng gave up.
He’d seen Shu Xin with Sheng a few times after that — but never the Omega.
So seeing him now felt surreal. It took a while before he greeted the Omega now seated across from him.
“Hi, I’m Cheng Zhe. We met before, at the Gemini Towers. Do you remember?”
The beautiful Omega clearly didn’t. He looked at Cheng with a gentle, apologetic smile. “Sorry, it was very crowded that day. I’m Hua Yong. A pleasure, Mr. Cheng.” He extended his hand — pale, slender, graceful.
Cheng Zhe felt oddly honored. He wiped his palm on his leg before lightly shaking Huayong’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“What are you two chatting about?” Sheng Shaoyou had picked his kart and walked over, brushing off Li Baiqiao’s hand on his shoulder.
“Just introducing myself,” Hua Yong said. “Mr. Sheng, did you decide? Motorcycle or go-kart?”
Li Baiqiao’s eyes lit up when he saw Hua Yong. “Hey, little beauty! You came too?”
“Hello.”
Seeing Hua Yong wasn’t very familiar with Li either made Cheng Zhe feel a little better.
Sheng didn’t like Hua Yong talking to someone as libido-driven as Li Baiqiao. He pushed Li aside and introduced him bluntly. “This is Li Baiqiao. You met him at the last party. He’s no good — avoid him if you see him on the street. Don’t talk to him without my permission.”
“Hey! Sheng Shaoyou, what the hell? Why are you throwing me under the bus?”
“Did I lie?” Sheng sneered, then turned back to pinch Hua Yong’s soft cheek. “Be good. Otherwise, you’ll get eaten and not even know it. Got it?”
Hua Yong obediently nodded, smiling softly — enough to make both Li Baiqiao and Cheng Zhe’s hearts itch.