25: Do You Think I’m Dirty
“I’ll wait for Mr. Sheng to come back before I eat.”
The housekeeper said, “You haven’t had breakfast either. If you keep starving, I’m afraid you’ll hurt yourself.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“But the young master is on a business trip. He won’t be back for several days.”
Hua Yong paused with the pruning shears in his hand and asked, “Is Mr. Sheng entering his rut?”
The housekeeper, an older Beta, froze and said nothing.
Hua Yong smiled slightly, placed the pruned flower branches into a woven wicker basket, then bent down to water the orchids and hibiscus in the flowerbed.
The housekeeper and two maids stood nearby, passing him tools and holding an umbrella. Even though Sheng Shaoyou wasn’t home, they treated Hua Yong like the master of the house, with full respect and diligence.
Because Hua Yong was the only Omega Sheng Shaoyou had ever brought home.
He looked young but was incredibly patient with solitude. He rarely went out, spoke little, spent his time reading or gardening, and only occasionally left the house to visit Ci Ci in the hospital.
Sheng Shaoyou had never spoken of Hua Yong’s background.
The housekeeper knew very little about him—only that he had a chronically ill younger sister living in the most expensive private hospital in Jianghu.
The housekeeper suspected Hua Yong came from a privileged background. Not only because of his family’s hospital expenses but also because this stunning Omega, despite being served attentively, was always polite yet relaxed—clearly used to being waited on like a young noble.
By usual routine, Sheng Shaoyou should’ve taken Shu Xin to a remote island to ride out his rut. But for some reason, before he left, he suddenly recalled how Hua Yong’s eyes turned red instantly last time he smelled another Omega’s scent on him.
After a moment of hesitation, Sheng Shaoyou told Chen Pinming to arrange for Shu Xin to wait at the airport basement instead.
One week later, Sheng Shaoyou returned home.
This time, Hua Yong didn’t cry, nor did he speak. He simply stood at the doorway, expressionless. Perhaps because several rainstorms had hit Jianghu after Sheng Shaoyou left, the gray, cold light made the silent orchid look as sharp as a sword—its beauty edged with frost.
Sheng Shaoyou could tell Hua Yong was upset, but nothing he did worked. Not even his undefeated tactics of telling jokes or tickling him had much effect.
That night, half-asleep—
Hua Yong suddenly asked, “Do you think I’m dirty?”
Sheng Shaoyou woke up instantly, his insides churning. He gritted his teeth. “For god’s sake, you’re the one who won’t let me touch you!”
What did he expect him to do? Become a monk just because he couldn’t permanently mark him?
The bed was huge, and Hua Yong lay far away. Even though they shared the same blanket, it felt hollow.
“Sheng Shaoyou.” For the first time, Hua Yong called him by full name, and asked flatly, “Does it have to involve sex? Aren’t hugs, kisses, and sleeping in the same bed enough?”
Of course it’s not enough???????
Sheng Shaoyou felt his patience evaporating.
He had been chaste for Hua Yong long enough. He simply didn’t want to give too many promises or explanations—afraid it would be misunderstood as “he only wanted Hua Yong and no one else” when even he hadn’t sorted his feelings.
With any other Omega playing hard to get like this, Sheng Shaoyou would’ve flipped the table long ago. But this was Hua Yong—he was different.
So Sheng Shaoyou softened his voice and reached over to hug him. “Don’t overthink everything.”
Hua Yong didn’t speak again. He turned and cast a cold glance at him, his expression equally chilly.
That glance stabbed Sheng Shaoyou’s heart. He let go and, seeing Hua Yong’s attitude unmoved, turned over and buried himself under the covers.
Parents often serve as templates for love.
Watching his parents’ love end in disaster, Sheng Shaoyou had never even considered maintaining a stable romantic relationship. Even if Hua Yong had no trauma with intimacy, his current condition meant Sheng Shaoyou dared not mark him permanently.
Still, as someone who had seen it all, Sheng Shaoyou knew he couldn’t maintain a platonic relationship with Hua Yong forever.
Yet for Hua Yong, he endured the hellish rut alone.
Sheng Shaoyou had never been in love, but he was trying to learn. He wanted to understand and accommodate Hua Yong but couldn’t understand why Hua Yong couldn’t do the same.
In the darkness, staring at the Alpha’s broad, uncommunicative back, Hua Yong said nothing. He already knew Sheng Shaoyou had gone to the island with Shu Xin.
Thinking about Sheng Shaoyou spending seven days with another Omega during his rut, his lips flattened, turning cold.
At 4 a.m., in Jianghu’s most upscale villa district, a thick floral scent drifted on the southwestern wind.
That unnatural fragrance came from the largest villa in the neighborhood.
Sheng Shaoyou’s garden had many flowers, but none smelled like this. —The overwhelming orchid scent came from the master bedroom on the third floor.
Inside, Sheng Shaoyou woke in a sweat. The suffocating scent alarmed him. He reached out—and caught a limp arm.
“Hua Yong,” he called out.
No response.
The intense orchid scent was so strong it made his heart pound. Sheng Shaoyou’s face paled. He turned on the lights and saw Hua Yong lying there unconscious, drenched in sweat, his lips tightly pressed together.
“Hua Yong!” His mind went blank.
But he had experience. With trembling hands, he pulled a syringe from the bedside drawer and broke an ampoule filled with pale blue liquid. He filled the syringe.
Hua Yong’s palm was cold, clammy. Veins stood out against his pale skin.
Sheng Shaoyou gently turned his hand and injected the medicine.
Hua Yong was usually afraid of needles and would whimper when poked, his voice soft and nasally, almost cute. But today, he lay still, lashes lifeless, no sound of breathing.
After the shot, Sheng Shaoyou stroked his bloodless cheek, filled with regret.
Had he not gone to sleep angry, had he held him close, he would’ve noticed the signs earlier. —High-risk intimacy had worsened Hua Yong’s pheromone disorder, triggering severe complications.
The doctor had warned: any delay in treatment could be fatal.
The first episode happened the second day after Hua Yong returned.
While eating lunch, he suddenly lost consciousness.
Sheng Shaoyou had never smelled such tragic orchid scent—it was like the last bloom before death. That stubborn Omega insisted on releasing every drop of pheromone in his gland before fainting.
Sheng Shaoyou was terrified. He rushed him to He Ci hospital.
…
Late at night, the hospital corridor bustled with quiet cries that made one anxious.
“He’s not out of danger yet,” the doctor said grimly.
Sheng Shaoyou had rushed out in pajamas and slippers—his rare moments of disarray were all thanks to Hua Yong.
The emergency curtain glowed faintly from within. Noises from unfamiliar machines filled the hall, irritating Sheng Shaoyou.
Eventually, the doctors came out one by one.
“Vitals are stable, but he’ll need to stay hospitalized for observation,” the lead physician finally said. “As his partner, you need to be more careful. And during treatment, absolutely no intimacy! You’re both young and probably want kids in the future?”
Sheng Shaoyou froze, then blurted out, “Yes.”
“Then listen carefully. You’re an Alpha. You must think clearly! You want your Omega to bear children someday? Then control yourself now—no impulsive behavior, understand?”
Sheng Shaoyou looked like he’d just been hit. After a pause, he nodded. “I understand. I’ll be careful.”
He had been holding back every day—his blood vessels felt like they would burst. Yet he never crossed the line.
But the doctor blamed him. His Omega blamed him.
They made Sheng Shaoyou—who once believed himself the pinnacle of Alpha genetics—feel like the worst partner in the world.
He had disappointed many beautiful Omegas, including Shu Xin.
At the airport, he didn’t keep her. He gave her a big sum and a downtown apartment, bluntly ending it.
Shu Xin cried a lot, but Sheng Shaoyou was immune to such tears. He thought, If it were Hua Yong, he’d cry too—but he’d never take the money.
If he insisted on giving it, that proud orchid would cry even harder—maybe even slap him.
Unknowingly, Sheng Shaoyou had started viewing Hua Yong as his partner. Compared all others to him—and found them all lacking.
His rut made him even less tolerant of weepy Omegas. He told Chen Pinming to handle the rest and flew to the island alone.
For Hua Yong, Sheng Shaoyou felt like he was becoming a saint.
He spent his rut with a pheromone-scented doll, all alone.
…
The next afternoon, Hua Yong regained consciousness.
Sheng Shaoyou wasn’t there. But another tall S-class Alpha was—Shen Wenlang.
Seeing him, Hua Yong frowned. Pale from illness, his expression turned annoyed. “Why are you here?”
“If I didn’t come, should I let Chang Yu? That’d be harder to explain to Sheng Shaoyou.” Shen Wenlang put down his phone, turned, and asked, “What happened to you?”
“I got sick.” Hua Yong lifted his hand, showing the IV, and asked lightly, “Can’t you tell?”
Wearing striped hospital clothes, he did look like a beautiful but sickly patient.
Shen Wenlang gritted his teeth. “I meant, how did this happen?”
Hua Yong calmly removed the IV. “I increased the dose of pheromone modifiers.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Mm.” He lifted his head. “Mr. Sheng went to an island with another Omega for seven days during his rut.”
“He’s a damned scumbag.” Shen Wenlang was furious.
“He just beat you up a few times,” Hua Yong said casually. “Didn’t cost you any flesh. You’re an Alpha—why so petty?”
“And you’re generous? Why do you care which Omega he sleeps with?”
“That’s different.”
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
“Mr. Hua, are you awake?” a bodyguard asked.
“I’m awake. Don’t come in,” Hua Yong replied weakly.
“I’ll have the doctor check on you in ten minutes, alright?”
“Alright.” Hua Yong turned to Shen Wenlang. “How did you get in?”
Shen Wenlang’s face soured. He pointed at the window.
“You climbed in?” Hua Yong looked at his pristine suit and shiny shoes. “Fourth floor. You really were worried about me?”
Shen Wenlang snapped, “I was worried you’d die and mess up my plans!” He glared at the beautiful young man. “Sheng Shaoyou must be going mad. He’s ruined half my projects! What are you going to do to make up for it?”
“Mr. Sheng is quite capable.” Hua Yong’s tone softened at the mention of him. “But he’s always been that way. What’s that got to do with me?”
“Real prey doesn’t fly away. Wenlang, maybe you just didn’t bite hard enough. Why blame me? Just because I picked a better Alpha?”
“Better my ass!” Shen Wenlang exploded. “Open tenders and he still dares price dump! Malicious competition! I’ll sue if you agree!”
“No.” Hua Yong shook his head. “I won’t hurt my Alpha over money.”
“I’ll cover the losses personally. But you—avoid Mr. Sheng from now on.”
He didn’t need reminding. Since the last beating at a gala, he’d avoided that mad dog completely.
“And your team should revise your bidding strategy. Even if someone tries collusion, you should be able to counter it. Post-mortem wisdom is useless. If you want something and can’t get it—it’s incompetence.”
Shen Wenlang was speechless. Normal logic didn’t apply to Hua Yong.
Because whatever Hua Yong wanted, he always got.
Hua Yong’s phone buzzed. He tapped the screen and said, “Mr. Sheng’s on his way. Got anything else? If not, go.”
Shen Wenlang had come to check on Hua Yong’s condition. Seeing he was fine, he left quickly—for his own blood pressure.
He opened the window and vaulted out.
S-class Alphas had superb physical abilities. Four floors? Child’s play.
But the air conditioner frame wobbled. Shen Wenlang lost his footing and nearly fell.
Just as he braced for impact, a hand grabbed his arm.
Looking up, he saw Hua Yong’s pale, lovely face.
Those glassy eyes sparkled, expression unreadable.
The slender arm reached from the window. That dainty hand gripped the Alpha’s muscular forearm tightly. The fragile-looking youth said sweetly, “Wenlang, you’re useless.”
Then he grabbed Shen Wenlang’s chin. “I saved you. Don’t hit Mr. Sheng again. Last time, his injuries took half a month to heal. I don’t like it.”
He hit me first! I was hurt for half a month too!
Shen Wenlang roared, trying to pull away. “Next time you’re in love, don’t come asking for my help again!”
“No,” Hua Yong’s thin wrist felt like steel. “You’ll help me. And I’ll help you.”
“I don’t need your help!” Shen Wenlang growled.
“Don’t you?” Hua Yong blinked innocently.
Please. You’ll never catch that secretary without me.