49: You’re Addictive
When he first took over the family business and finally got a foothold, Hua Yong had thought about going straight to Sheng Shaoyou.
But he held back.
One meeting would never be enough — he needed more time, to tie him firmly to his side.
Over the past decade, whenever Hua felt down or agitated, he would travel alone from P‑country to Jianghu, staying somewhere close to Sheng.
Watching him from afar both calmed him and gave him motivation.
He wanted to settle the business in P‑country faster, fix and clean the filthy, lumbering ship his father left behind.
Faster — so he could free himself and come to Sheng.
A skilled hunter, when faced with the beloved prey he’d been eyeing for so long, had all the patience in the world.
He moved step by step, weaving an inescapable net.
Sheng had surely long since forgotten him.
But Hua knew everything about him.
He knew his brilliance, his promiscuity, his tendency to drift among lovers; and that unlike Hua himself — who had to claw his way through a horde of siblings — Sheng had always been the undisputed heir to the Sheng Group in his father’s eyes.
Hua had photos of Sheng from every stage of his life.
He knew his hobbies, his history, even his type — inside and out.
On nights when the longing became unbearable, he would take out that pocket watch and run his fingers over it, as though touching the face of the only Alpha who had ever made his heart race.
Hua had every reason to believe his unique differentiation had happened for the sole purpose of claiming this Alpha — to possess him, to dominate him, to make the proud boy who once leapt from the treetop like a savior fall into his arms.
In the spring of his second year in power, Hua overruled everyone and renamed the group to X.
That same year, he invested in HS and helped Shen Wenlang gain a foothold in Jianghu.
He even personally oversaw HS’s acquisition of an old cosmetics company, which later launched the wildly popular Drunken Branch series — because Sheng’s natural pheromone smelled too good.
Hua selfishly wanted everyone in the world to love it — but only he would truly own it.
And that slip of paper where Sheng had casually drawn an “X” was now carefully framed and hung in the chairman’s office at the top of the X headquarters — a constant reminder to Hua that he already had everything he wanted… except the one Alpha who had moved his heart.
“That’s how it is.”
For anything Hua desired, he had never failed to get it.
So, fifteen years later, here he was, sitting opposite Sheng, sitting very close, smiling at him.
Compared to when he was a child, Hua had changed a lot.
Though still cold and decisive at heart, he’d learned to smile tenderly at the one he loved, to speak softly, to act coy, and to cry when necessary.
“You’re saying… you’ve been secretly in love with me for fifteen years?” Sheng asked.
“Not secretly,” Hua corrected. “Everyone who knows me knows that I love Mr. Sheng. Without him, I can’t live a single second.”
He leaned closer, voice low but solemn, his expression deeply sincere:
“Mr. Sheng… what about you? Do you like me?”
Sheng flinched, a spark shooting through his ears, before he finally growled:
“I hate liars.”
“I’ll never lie to you again,” Hua said. “I swear. If I do, may I—”
“Enough!” Sheng interrupted, frowning. “Don’t go swearing on me — it’s disgusting.”
“Sorry,” Hua immediately softened, unbelievably good‑tempered.
Sheng stared at his face for a long while before suddenly asking:
“What exactly is going on between you and Shen Wenlang?”
Hua’s gaze was steady, his fascination undisguised, and he calmly asked in return:
“Which part does Mr. Sheng mean?”
Through gritted teeth, Sheng forced the words out:
“What the hell do you think? The injuries on you when you came back those two times — and what the fuck is ‘one against eight’?”
Hua smiled gently.
“Don’t be jealous, Mr. Sheng. I did all that to myself.”
Jealous? He was furious.
Sheng’s finger tapped the table hard:
“Explain.”
Hua leaned in to kiss him.
“You like me too, don’t you? That’s why you can’t bear to see me wronged.”
Sheng dodged his lips and snapped:
“Explain properly or get out!”
“I will,” Hua murmured, refusing to let go as the cool, orchid‑scented pheromones curled around him, impossible to stay angry at.
“I was entering a sensitivity phase combined with mating syndrome. I left so I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Mating syndrome?”
“Mm.” Hua’s voice was quiet. “When I see you, I can’t help wanting to hold you. When I don’t see you, I go crazy. Because… I like you too much.”
“I don’t think I’m that attractive.”
“You are,” Hua said simply. “You’re my poppy. My catnip. You’re addictive.”
“That kind of sweet talk expired centuries ago! Even high schoolers don’t use such cheesy lines anymore,” Sheng scoffed, his face hot. “Mr. Hua, you’re shameless, full of lies, and lousy at romantic talk.”
“Mm. Then I’ll change.”
Hua’s warm hand pressed against the gland at the back of his neck, forcing his face close.
“Whatever Mr. Sheng wants to hear, I’ll say. If I don’t know, I’ll learn. Just… let me stay by your side.”
“Stay by my side?”
Sheng tried to pull back, but that slender hand was like soft iron welded to his neck — impossible to shake off.
“What, Mr. Hua wants to come down to earth and be my secretary?” Sheng sneered.
Hua’s gaze didn’t waver — he actually nodded.
“If Mr. Sheng is willing, nothing could be better.”
“You want to take Chen Pinming’s job? Being my secretary isn’t like being master of X Holdings — you have to listen to me. If I tell you to go east, you can’t go west.”
Hua smiled again.
“I’m very good at listening to Mr. Sheng. I’ll stay by your side and protect you.”
“You think I need protection?”
Hua tactfully retracted:
“No. I’m too weak — I need Mr. Sheng to protect me.”
…That’s more like it.
Thus, “Secretary Hua” successfully self‑promoted, returning to work at Sheng Fang Biotech.
— —
Lately Sheng Shaoqing had been extremely unlucky.
He spent a fortune to have something done, yet it was a mess.
Even worse, the hired “Alpha hunters” vanished into thin air.
Rumor had it that Sheng Shaoyou had been kidnapped recently — but returned unharmed.
Which only made Sheng Shaoqing more irritable.
After all, he’d paid top dollar for the best — how could Sheng come back unscathed?
Frustrated, he fled to a VIP casino lounge and promptly lost millions.
That night, drunk in his hotel room, he waved away the Omega who tried to coax him.
“Piss off — I’m not in the mood.”
The Omega tried to soothe him anyway.
“You’re upset over a little money? That’s nothing for someone like you.”
“You think I care about money?” Sheng slurred.
When pressed, he finally admitted bitterly:
“It’s that brother of mine — always in my way. Even I can’t deal with him. What the hell could you do?”
The Omega prodded him for details, then slyly concluded:
“Your brother’s the type who’s hard outside, soft inside. To take him down, don’t use force — use a soft rope.”
— —
Lately Sheng Shaoyou really had been tied up tightly with “soft rope.”
Every morning when he opened his eyes, there was Hua, right on time, giving him a good morning kiss.
He’d never imagined that two Alphas could have such high pheromone compatibility.
Hua’s natural scent drove him even crazier than the adjusted Omega one.
One morning, overwhelmed, Sheng angrily shoved him:
“Take your scent away!”
“Mr. Sheng doesn’t like it?”
“I’m not a pervert! I only like Omegas.”
Hua watched him thoughtfully.
That afternoon, when Sheng returned from a meeting, Hua wasn’t there.
Chen Pinming brought him iced latte.
Sheng frowned. Hua had always forbidden him from drinking coffee, especially iced.
Now he was nowhere to be seen.
“He’s on leave,” Chen explained.
“Sick leave.”
Sheng gritted his teeth. That damn clinger — better off gone.
…But he left work early anyway, rushing to the hotel.
When he arrived, the door to the suite opened before he could finish punching in the code.
Hua stood there, pale but smiling faintly:
“Mr. Sheng, home early today?”
Sheng’s anger evaporated the instant he saw his face.
Inside, a doctor and assistant stood in the sitting room.
Hua exchanged a glance with Chang Yu, who quickly ushered them out.
On his way out, the doctor gave Hua a sharp look.
“You keep this up and I won’t treat you anymore,” he warned.
Hua’s smile turned cold:
“Fewer words won’t kill you, Dr. Cai. Please see yourself out.”
Cai snorted, throwing Sheng a curious look as he left.
Hua pulled Sheng behind him.
“What? Can’t even look at him?” Cai teased.
“That’s right,” Hua replied flatly. “If you look at him, you won’t be able to look away.”
“I’m an Alpha too, you know,” Cai reminded him.
That earned a dangerous flash of pheromones from Sheng, who glared.
“S‑class?” Cai raised a brow at Hua. “You really play with fire.”
“I can play even bigger,” Hua said silkily. “For example — murder a talkative half‑brother. Want to try?”
Cai smirked.
“Love how you want. But don’t kill yourself over it, or I won’t be able to face Mom when I join her.”
“Don’t worry,” Hua said. “With Mr. Sheng here, I can’t bear to die.”
Cai snorted and shook his head.
“Fine. Call me when you get married. You’ll be the death of me otherwise.”
“I’m not playing,” Hua corrected him gently. “I’m always serious about Mr. Sheng.”