38: Mr. Sheng, You’re So Dumb – You Can’t Even Tell When It’s a Joke
Recently, Shen Wenlang had been incredibly unlucky.
First, he’d been forced to witness a noble, two-way love story unfold in the hospital parking garage. Then he’d played the role of the stupid villain trying to break up the couple—unsuccessfully. If Hua Yong hadn’t mercifully held Sheng Shaoyou back, Shen Wenlang would probably have been beaten to a pulp right there in the garage by a dozen of Sheng’s men.
Worse still, his ever-reliable right-hand man had gone missing.
Shen Wenlang hadn’t been able to reach Gao Tu for nearly 72 hours.
Since that banquet night, Gao Tu had simply vanished, and Shen Wenlang hadn’t seen him since.
The politician from P country was a notorious drunk and had kept Shen drinking till the very end of the night. Anxious to leave and look for someone, Shen had downed glass after glass, and by the end his memory was a blur. Worst of all, in his muddled state, he seemed to have ended up in bed with an Omega in heat.
Not even a proper bed, really.
At dawn the next day, he woke up in the staff lounge of Tiandi Hui. The cramped room was thick with the warm, bitter scent of sage, mingled with the aggressive aroma of iris—so potent it made him click his tongue. The sofa bed in the corner had one leg broken, the whole place a wreck, with what looked like bloodstains.
The scattered fragments of memory left Shen Wenlang, who had always despised Omegas, both furious and humiliated. Faced with such undeniable evidence, he couldn’t just dismiss it all as a dream. And even in silence, his first instinct was to blame his missing Beta secretary.
Where the hell had that Beta gone?! Leaving him to inexplicably tumble with some random Omega—what a damn disgrace!
After calling Gao Tu over a dozen times with no answer, his vague worry turned into fury.
In all the hundreds of banquets Gao Tu had accompanied him to over the years, he had never once disappeared midway like that.
Shen Wenlang scowled, trying to recall that night’s events. He couldn’t remember the Omega’s face at all; the alcohol had drowned everything. He only remembered the Omega wasn’t the usual delicate type—broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, body decent, reactions clumsy. At the end, the Omega had sobbed, voice hoarse, tears slowly sliding down to wet Shen Wenlang’s fingers as he gripped their jaw.
Goddammit! Why the hell was I gripping their jaw like that?
The mental image made Shen’s face darken even further.
He vaguely recalled kissing that person—again and again—deep, tangled kisses, as though addicted to those soft lips, desperate to drink from their mouth or die of thirst then and there.
Fuck! Even if they smelled okay and felt decent to hold, at the end of the day they were still a filthy Omega! And I… actually held one without thinking! I’m insane!
With a loud snap, he slammed shut the file that had been sent up to the CEO’s office for his signature, scaring the temp secretary beside him.
“M-Mr. Shen… is there something you need?”
“Is Gao Tu back yet?” he demanded, expression like stone.
“Ah! Secretary Gao just called,” the secretary stammered. “He said… he’s requesting a week off.”
“A week off? After already skipping work for so long? Why?” Shen narrowed his eyes dangerously. “How many times has he taken leave in the past six months? What’s his excuse—his partner’s heat again?”
The secretary, who’d only overheard rumors in the break room, nodded nervously. “I think so, but I’m not sure. Should I check?”
Shen Wenlang threw the file onto his desk with a thud. “No need. I won’t approve his leave. Tell HR to forward any calls from him to my office.”
“But… Secretary Gao—”
“But what? If he doesn’t call me within 24 hours, he can pack up and never come back.”
As if the world would end without a secretary! His old classmate was such a lovesick fool—couldn’t even focus at work because he was worried about some Omega in heat.
Hmph. These filthy, disruptive Omegas…
His mood already terrible, it only got worse when that little madman called him that evening.
“That medicine. Send a few more months’ worth.”
Shen, simmering with frustration, sneered: “Send? What am I, a courier?”
“If you insist on thinking of yourself that way, I won’t stop you.”
Motherf—!
“Not sending it. Pick it up yourself!”
“You should deliver it in person. Mr. Sheng is furious—might feel better after beating you up a bit.”
“Why not beat you?”
“He can’t bear to.”
Dammit, enough already. Let the world burn!
Stuffing another mouthful of dog food he couldn’t swallow, Shen hung up furiously.
Then came a text: ‘A few days ago, you slept with an Omega. Want to know what they looked like?’
Shen’s pupils contracted. That hit his sore spot instantly. He gritted his teeth and called back: “You saw?”
“Mhm. Even took a picture.” The other chuckled softly. “Wanna see it?”
“Send it!”
“Deliver the medicine first.”
…
After bringing Hua Yong home, Sheng Shaoyou’s spirits lifted just enough to start investigating what happened that night at the banquet.
He’d encountered some bastard who deserved to be drawn and quartered—but couldn’t publicize it. Even checking the security footage had to be done under the pretext of a stolen valuable.
But because it had been rumored that UKW of X Holdings would attend in person, the internal cameras at Tiandi Hui had been off the whole time. Over a thousand cameras, and not a single useful image.
Sheng had swallowed that bitter humiliation silently and contacted the Jianghu Disease Control Center to follow up on the high-risk encounter, taking preventive medication himself.
During that time, he forced himself to attend several bidding meetings.
Unexpectedly, HS Group—Sheng Fang’s fiercest competitor—kept withdrawing voluntarily, letting Sheng easily secure several lucrative contracts he’d been eyeing for ages.
After that night in the garage, both X Holdings and HS Group seemed to leave Sheng Fang alone, easing the external pressure.
But Sheng Shaoyou’s mood didn’t improve.
Every one of those contracts, each worth hundreds of millions, seemed signed with the scent of orchid tears.
Hua Yong had fed himself to the wolves to save him. The smoother things went for Sheng, the more suffocated he felt by the memory of that sacrifice.
His father’s life and the company’s future had been bought with the dignity and body of an Omega.
An S-class Alpha—supposedly at the pinnacle of evolution—yet he couldn’t even protect the only one he loved.
What a sick joke.
That day in the garage, he had ultimately brought Hua Yong back.
Shen Wenlang had feigned magnanimity, shrugging: “I’m a man of my word. I said one night, so one night it is. If he wants to go back with you, go ahead.”
Sheng’s bodyguards blocked Shen from leaving, and Sheng rolled up his sleeves, ready to teach him a lesson. But Hua Yong gently grabbed his arm, dissuading him: “Let it go, Mr. Sheng.”
His earnest eyes seemed to plead with Sheng not to be reckless—after all, they still needed Shen Wenlang for the medicine.
That tiny grip on his sleeve was enough to sway him.
Sheng let go of Shen’s collar and glared coldly. “Lucky for you. But watch yourself—sooner or later, you’ll get what’s coming to you.”
Shen just twisted his lips into a bitter smile. Lucky? There’s no one on earth more unlucky than me.
“Thanks for the warning. But you’d better keep your precious Omega close. With that scent, the line of people wanting a taste stretches all the way to P country.”
Sheng’s fists clenched again, and if not for Hua Yong holding him back, Shen would’ve left with his face rearranged.
In the end, no blows were exchanged.
On the way home, Sheng pretended nothing had happened—but held Hua Yong’s hand the whole time.
His emotions churned, his neck burned, but the faint orchid scent soothed him.
Hua Yong was home. Thank goodness.
Sheng believed that as long as Hua Yong was back, everything could return to normal.
But things didn’t go as he wished.
That very night, Hua Yong moved into the guest room.
Sheng, blood rising in his throat, waited at the bathroom door.
When Hua Yong came out, towel in hand, he froze, then softly called, “Mr. Sheng,” his eyes clear and cautious, as though afraid to wake from a fragile dream.
Sheng leaned in, wanting to hug and kiss him, but Hua Yong quietly dodged.
Fresh from his shower, shrouded in light steam, lips pale and pressed together, Hua Yong murmured: “I’m dirty.”
His wandering gaze and self-loathing expression were painfully obvious.
Sheng feigned calm, heart aching, and forced a smile: “Think I’m dirty? Then I’ll shower too, okay?”
Hua Yong gave a little laugh, but it was more bitter than amused, like he thought Sheng’s words absurd yet didn’t refute them.
Water dripped from his hair as he stood there silently, head lowered.
Sheng longed to kiss his smooth forehead, those timid lips, those tear-streaked eyes—but didn’t dare.
Every time Hua Yong evaded him, it felt like a blade cutting them both.
Sheng had always hated difficult lovers—yet he was powerless against this proud, quiet, stubborn Omega.
He’d thought he would never meet someone who could undo him like this—never be so lovesick.
But reality proved him wrong.
In the past, Li Baiqiao used to say that love was complicated.
Sheng didn’t believe it—he’d never fallen, never wanted to.
But Hua Yong had taught him every flavor of love in just one year.
The first time his beloved Omega was taken from him, Sheng felt the sting of loss. This time, seeing Hua Yong sacrifice himself, he felt even more defeated.
He prided himself on being an S-class Alpha, yet he couldn’t even protect his fragile Omega.
What a sin.
Forced to sleep apart, Sheng’s insomnia was worse than ever.
More than once, Hua Yong woke to find Sheng curled up at his bedside like a clingy dog—pathetic yet endearing.
Hua Yong stared for a while, then gently pushed him awake. “Mr. Sheng, the floor is cold.”
When Sheng opened his eyes and saw Hua Yong, his mood lifted slightly.
“Morning.”
Hua Yong blushed and murmured back: “Morning.”
After a week of this, Hua Yong finally couldn’t stand seeing him sleep there anymore.
“Mr. Sheng… this is unfair to you,” he said, his care and love impossible to hide.
That hit Sheng right where he wanted. His ploy had worked. He immediately clasped Hua Yong’s hands and coaxed softly: “Then have pity on me—come sleep in the master bedroom again, okay?”
Hua Yong’s face flushed deeper, his eyes darting everywhere. “You… you…”
Sheng had had enough of being a gentleman. He scooped Hua Yong up and grinned: “Time to carry my bride to the wedding chamber.”
Hua Yong struggled, flustered and shy. “Put—put me down!”
Striding into the master bedroom, Sheng dumped him on the bed.
The slender young man fell, neck arching into a graceful curve, his face dazed and panicked.
“Mr. Sheng,” he whispered, eyes glistening.
Sheng’s heart pounded like a boy in love for the first time, and before he could play the gentleman, he pressed down, kissing him urgently.
Hua Yong’s hands hovered weakly against his chest but were quickly pinned. Feeling the Alpha’s heartbeat beneath his palm, he couldn’t bring himself to resist. He obediently opened his mouth, sharing breath and warmth.
When Sheng’s fingers slipped under his shirt, Hua Yong startled, blurting: “No.”
Sheng froze, cursing himself, then pulled his hand out and cupped Hua Yong’s soft cheek gently: “Okay. If you say no, we won’t.”
Hua Yong’s eyes grew wet as he buried his face in Sheng’s chest, mumbling: “Sorry.”
Sheng wished he could carve out his heart and give it to him. Pressing his lips to Hua Yong’s forehead, he promised: “Don’t say sorry. It’s my fault—I was too impatient. From now on, even if I just want a kiss, I’ll ask you first, okay?”
That made Hua Yong laugh—a soft, sad, self-mocking laugh.
Sheng cupped his face and asked seriously: “Can I kiss you now? Will you let me?”
But Hua Yong didn’t want Sheng to always take the lead.
So he tilted his head up, his glistening lips brushing Sheng’s firm jaw, and whispered:
“Mr. Sheng, you’re so dumb—you can’t even tell when it’s a joke.”