29: Sheng Shaoyou was thus forced to be hospitalized
After that, Sheng Shaoyou’s memory went blank.
When he woke the next morning, his hair was messy, and his body already clean. Apparently he’d showered last night, but he couldn’t recall it. The base of his thighs ached, his temple felt like it had been pried open with a blunt tool and stitched back together.
Propping himself up on the bed, he tried to sit up—only to feel the world go black and almost fall back down.
Hua Yong came in carrying a glass of warm water.
Unlike the cold, indifferent version of him from Sheng Shaoyou’s foggy memory last night, today he looked as gentle and kind as ever, his deer-like eyes soft as he gazed at him.
“Mr. Sheng was really drunk last night,” the docile young man said with concern. “I even made hangover soup for you, but you wouldn’t drink it.”
Sheng Shaoyou leaned back half-sitting on the pillow, his body slipping down despite himself. Seeing this, Hua Yong hurried to support him; his wrist was so slender and pale that Sheng Shaoyou could encircle it with just one hand.
“Next time I get drunk, don’t bother with me. Just let me sleep by myself,” the Alpha murmured, tired but gentle, as he touched his face. “Don’t wear yourself out, Ah Yong.”
Hua Yong leaned his cheek into the palm of his hand and softly hummed, obedient as ever.
Seeing him so good, Sheng Shaoyou even felt his headache ease a little.
After lying there a while longer, he got up, had breakfast, and headed to the office.
But the morning meeting had barely begun when his headache worsened dramatically. His body felt heavy and unsteady.
An overwhelming surge of pheromones began to fill the room.
One department head — a B-class Alpha — was speaking when he suddenly collapsed forward, knocking over the standing microphone with a loud thud.
Everyone — except the Betas — started to feel faint and panicked, scrambling to flee the room.
Even Chen Pinming, sitting behind Sheng Shaoyou, could smell the intense rum and bitter orange scent pouring off of him.
The S-class pheromone concentration rose so high that even Betas were suffocating under the woody undertones of his scent.
What was supposed to be a routine company meeting turned into a disaster.
Not until Chen Pinming slapped a suppressant patch on the gland at Sheng Shaoyou’s nape — staunching the relentless flood of pheromones — did the situation calm down.
But clearly, Sheng Shaoyou couldn’t keep working like this.
He was rushed to He Ci Hospital, where he was diagnosed with mid-stage pheromone disorder.
Staring at the diagnosis sheet, Sheng Shaoyou was stunned.
The doctor looked grave.
“At your age, and as an S-class Alpha, you really shouldn’t have developed this. It’s likely due to prolonged stress and irregular lifestyle. For now I’ll prescribe oral inhibitors to help prevent sudden outbursts, but we need a full inpatient evaluation before we can properly treat it.”
“Inpatient?” Sheng Shaoyou was shocked. He rarely got sick, and now it was serious enough to require hospitalization?
But this was the busiest time for the company. As the backbone of operations, there was no way he could just lie in a hospital bed.
“Can’t I just take the medicine?”
The doctor gave him a look of disbelief.
“Modern medicine isn’t as advanced as people think. We can diagnose and cure far fewer diseases than most imagine. Pheromone disorder is a serious endocrine condition with no fully understood cause. Overusing inhibitors, overwork, and chronic stress are all believed to contribute. In extreme cases it can be life-threatening.
“Mr. Sheng, you’re already at mid-stage on first diagnosis. This is serious. I don’t recommend outpatient care.”
And so, Sheng Shaoyou was forced to be hospitalized.
The doctor was right.
Even after being admitted to the pheromone-isolation ward, his condition remained severe at first, showing little improvement.
He developed persistent low-grade fevers, dizziness, fatigue, and various physical impairments, frequently experiencing pheromone loss of control.
Worse, even Little Sheng Shaoyou seemed to have lost its spirit. Each morning he woke up listless and refused to greet him.
As an S-class Alpha at the supposed pinnacle of human evolution, Sheng Shaoyou was struck like lightning. He couldn’t accept the possibility of being permanently “out of commission.”
Even Betas like Chen Pinming grew nervous around him because his pheromones sometimes leaked uncontrollably.
For a time, no Alpha or Omega dared to approach him; all his staff were replaced with Betas.
Even so, the Betas treated him like a ticking bomb.
Only Hua Yong still came to visit daily. But he was so frail that even with Sheng Shaoyou wearing suppressant patches, he worried he might hurt him.
“I’m not afraid,” Hua Yong said. “Mr. Sheng won’t hurt me.”
Sheng Shaoyou, worn and weary, couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Why not? Someone like you… I could snap ten orchids with one hand.”
Hua Yong’s face dimmed slightly. After a long silence, he asked quietly:
“Isn’t one enough?”
Sheng Shaoyou teased him:
“With flowers, the more the better.”
Hua Yong didn’t get angry. He simply lifted his gaze and looked at him calmly.
“I understand.”
Sheng Shaoyou almost asked, Understand what? — but the doctor came in and interrupted.
“Your levels improved slightly today. If your free pheromone concentration stays stable, you can be discharged in about a week.”
That cheered him up.
He found that as long as Hua Yong stayed nearby, his headaches and fevers eased.
What a treasure this orchid was — even worked like a placebo!
And to think Shen Wenlang wanted to trade him for that worthless technology! Let him dream.
The next afternoon, while Sheng Shaoyou and Hua Yong were discussing whether to plant more hydrangeas in the garden, Chen Pinming entered smiling.
“We received an invitation from the head of X Holdings for you to attend their private post-forum gathering.”
The forum was that Friday.
Although he was still in the hospital and considered having a deputy go in his place, a private meeting was different from a public forum — an opportunity too good to miss.
Even lying in the ICU, anyone from his company would have “sat up on their deathbed” for this chance.
So long as he was alive, Sheng Shaoyou was going in person.
Friday, P Country.
The forum went smoothly.
Sheng Shaoyou took suppressants and wore patches, feeling tired but managing not to lose control and make a scene.
X Holdings’ private salon began between 3:00–3:30 PM.
After resting in his business car and holding a brief strategy meeting with his team, Sheng Shaoyou reviewed his key points one last time.
Glancing at his watch — still fifteen minutes to go — he called Hua Yong.
The call rang several times before Hua Yong picked up.
“Mr. Sheng?” His voice was uncertain. “You’re done?”
“Mm, just got free. What are you doing?”
“Watching TV.”
Sheng Shaoyou pictured him sitting properly on the couch with a pillow, eyes fixed on the screen, and couldn’t help smiling.
“What are you watching?”
“…You.” Hua Yong’s voice softened, shy but still audible. “Today’s forum was live-streamed. I cast it to the TV. Mr. Sheng looked so handsome. Though… even more handsome in person.”
No flattery was ever unwelcome. Sheng Shaoyou’s heart soared and he regretted not bringing him along.
“Everything going okay there?”
“Mm.” Sheng Shaoyou closed his eyes and reclined. “Should’ve brought you — we could’ve stayed a few days. Have you been abroad before?”
“No,” Hua Yong said. “I’ve never left the country.”
Remembering his orphan status and sick sister, Sheng Shaoyou’s chest ached a little.
“When you’re feeling better, I’ll take you traveling. Whenever I go abroad, I’ll bring you. Okay?”
Hua Yong didn’t seem especially excited — just politely thanked him.
“Thank you, Mr. Sheng.”
His soft tone made Sheng Shaoyou’s heart even softer.
After a few more words, he hung up, checked the time, and got out of the car for the salon.
At X Holdings’ venue in P Country, the grandeur was astonishing.
Sheng Shaoyou had heard that this place revered capital above all and that X Holdings was unrivaled here — but still, he was surprised by the police cars and armed royal guards lined up outside.
Even a visiting president wouldn’t merit this.
Was the elusive head of X Holdings a king?
Well — even Sheng Shaoyou had to bow under such a roof.
At the door, Chang Yu extended a hand.
“Mr. Sheng, long time no see.”
“Thanks to Secretary Chang.” Sheng Shaoyou shook hands with him, eyeing the police and pretending to praise, “Quite the welcome.”
Then he noticed the P Country police chief himself was here commanding the scene — and the row of officers in front all held ranks no lower than lieutenant colonel.
Alright. He took it back.
Even a visiting president wouldn’t get this level of pomp.
That mysterious X Holdings boss really was like an emperor — if he stamped his foot, all of P Country would quake.