52: “Flooding” the Office – Is That Really Okay?
This time, Sheng Shaoyou’s susceptibility phase came with obvious signs.
So, two days in advance, he already started using pheromone suppressant patches.
But Hua Yong was terribly clingy, constantly circling around behind him like a cat, sniffing his nape under the pretense of:
“I’m just checking the quality of our company’s products.” — After all, X Holdings did monopolize the global production technology of pheromone suppressants.
In other words, all suppressant-related products worldwide were made by manufacturers directly or indirectly controlled by X Holdings — including those patches.
Sheng Shaoyou was so annoyed by his harassment that he slammed the stack of papers in his hand onto the desk with a smack, and shot him a cold look:
“Secretary Hua, during work hours, please stay at least one meter away from me. Otherwise, you’ll be fired!”
Hua Yong just smiled and wrapped an arm around his waist, whispering:
“Then can I still get part of this month’s salary? Mr. Sheng, I’m pursuing a mate, planning to support a future family — I really need the money.”
Sheng Shaoyou regretted not smashing that stack of papers straight into this beautiful scoundrel’s face. He shoved him away with his elbow, sneering:
“Oh really? Then to keep such a precious job, you’d better stay far away from your boss.”
Damn it! Since when did workplace harassment include employees harassing the boss?!
The restlessness of susceptibility made it hard for him to stay calm, and Hua Yong’s constant teasing only made it harder to focus.
During a video conference that afternoon, when Hua Yong leaned in again and left his brain completely blank, Sheng Shaoyou finally lost it and barked:
“You — out. Get Chen Pinming in here instead.”
Hua Yong got up reluctantly, looking back every few steps toward the door, holding onto the frame as if he couldn’t bear to leave:
“Then I’ll go, Mr. Sheng. Work hard, okay?”
Sheng Shaoyou didn’t even look up as he pressed his headset and waved him off impatiently.
Hua Yong left, still smiling.
Sheng Shaoyou’s flushed face and pounding heartbeat betrayed him — after a permanent mark, an Alpha’s first susceptibility phase couldn’t be endured alone.
So Hua Yong wasn’t worried at all. He just needed to wait — wait for his Alpha to need him and call him back.
Close to the end of the workday, an uninvited guest arrived at the top floor of Shengfang Biotech.
Sheng Shaoqing hadn’t made an appointment and wasn’t allowed up at first. He loitered restlessly in the lobby until the receptionist got hold of Chen Pinming, and after Chen gave the nod, the receptionist finally escorted him to the chairman’s floor.
Chen greeted him at the elevator and led him to the reception room.
It had been a long time since Sheng Shaoqing last came here. The previous time was when he’d dropped out of college — Sheng Fang had been furious but couldn’t leave home to scold him, so he summoned him to the office and let him have it.
Since then, Sheng Shaoqing had never returned — though he had no problem spending the huge fortune Shengfang Biotech generated for the family.
He had just returned from the Outer Territory, the scent of casinos still faintly clinging to him.
On this trip, he’d lost over thirty million gambling on credit.
Sitting in the reception room, he racked his brain, planning how to act pitiful enough to trick his soft-hearted brother out of more chips.
But as he plotted, a playmate Omega’s words suddenly sliced into his mind:
“Your brother, ah, is the classic hard outside, soft inside type. If you really want to deal with him, you can’t confront him head-on — you’ve got to tie him up with soft ropes. How about…”
Sweat started beading on his back, the thought both nerve-wracking and thrilling.
Among the Sheng clan, children were plentiful — but among his siblings, only Sheng Shaoqing was close in age and status to Sheng Shaoyou. The others were still young, the oldest still in university.
If Sheng Shaoyou were gone, and Sheng Fang still unconscious, then Sheng Shaoqing could go from a mere gold-digger waiting for scraps to the rightful master of Shengfang Biotech.
With no Sheng Shaoyou in the way, he could come and go freely in the company without being interrogated like a thief by the receptionist.
This tantalizing idea made his body heat up and his breathing quicken.
If others couldn’t, then he would take matters into his own hands. Sheng Shaoyou was guarded against outsiders but careless inside — so it would be much easier if he made a move.
All it would take was enough caution and decisiveness. Soon, he’d remove this thorn in his side and claim the crown.
But after waiting forty minutes, Sheng Shaoyou still hadn’t shown. Sheng Shaoqing grew increasingly impatient, pacing restlessly around the room. Finally he barked at Chen Pinming:
“Where’s my brother? What’s taking so long?”
Chen, ever respectful, replied:
“Mr. Sheng is still in a meeting. As soon as it ends, I’ll inform him you’re here.”
Out of patience but with no other choice, Sheng Shaoqing kept waiting, grumbling.
Chen left the reception room and went to the nearest private office, knocking lightly.
To accommodate that young man who held X Holdings’ lifeline, Chen had specifically cleared this office for him.
“Come in.”
“Mr. Hua,” Chen entered, faint worry on his face. “Mr. Sheng has been in the lounge for almost two hours now. He’s not answering calls or the door. His susceptibility phase—”
Before he could finish, Hua Yong was already standing, frowning:
“I’ll go check.”
Even though just one wall apart, Hua Yong had felt the heavy anxiety all afternoon.
The first susceptibility phase after a permanent mark would always come with intense separation anxiety.
He’d been glued to his phone all day, waiting for Sheng Shaoyou to call.
Only now did it hit him — perhaps Sheng Shaoyou didn’t actually believe Hua Yong had truly marked him.
The lounge door was locked. Hua Yong knocked a few times, but no answer.
He felt the thickened door and asked:
“This is one of those pheromone-isolation doors too?”
Chen nodded:
“Yes, just replaced last week. Mr. Sheng’s pheromone level is too high and aggressive. When he’s agitated, he won’t suppress his scent or use patches. To protect others, the door was upgraded.”
Pressing his nose to the seam, Hua Yong caught a faint whiff of rum mixed with wood.
His pupils contracted, and his face flushed with uncontrollable longing — his exclusive “Omega” was in heat.
He gripped the handle and called out:
“Mr. Sheng, are you in there? Can you open the door?”
No reply — until he caught a low, hoarse groan.
“—Get in here.”
Even though Chen couldn’t hear it, he saw Hua Yong’s satisfied smile, and felt inexplicably stunned.
Before Chen could say anything, the lock clicked open.
Chen instinctively moved to enter, but Hua Yong blocked him with surprising force, sending him staggering back.
“Secretary Chen.”
For the first time, Chen was struck by how much power was hidden in this graceful, delicate-looking young man.
Hua Yong still spoke politely but left no room for argument:
“Mr. Sheng is not in a condition to see visitors. Please excuse yourself.”
Chen fell silent — how had he suddenly become an outsider? But then he thought, of course, pillow-side people were closer.
He remembered how frantic Sheng Shaoyou had been when Hua Yong felt unwell, how he’d signed documents with Hua Yong’s name by mistake when he went missing, how he’d secretly read Hua Yong’s letters when he thought no one was looking.
There was no hiding poverty, a cough, or love.
And Sheng Shaoyou’s love for Hua Yong blazed openly — the only one fooled was himself.
As the door opened, thick pheromone scent spilled out.
On the bed lay a tall, lean figure that made Hua Yong’s heart race just to look at.
The permanent mark made them both suffer — his own gland burned hot, his blood surged, saliva pooling in his mouth.
Swallowing hard, he stepped in, gazing at his Alpha lost in heat.
Sensing him, Sheng Shaoyou rasped out after a pause:
“Get over here.”
The mattress dipped as Hua Yong climbed on, his flowery scent drawing closer. Sheng Shaoyou grabbed him, startled by how hot his breath was.
“Mr. Sheng, I missed you so much,” Hua Yong whispered.
Was this a joke? The little maniac had left just three hours ago!
“And you? Do you miss me too?”
Sheng Shaoyou, burning and hazy, gritted out:
“Hah? Miss you? If you beg me to, maybe I’ll consider it.”
“Please,” Hua Yong murmured, brushing his lashes and breath against his cheek. “You want me too, don’t you, Mr. Sheng?”
His pale fingers traced the Alpha’s throat, the heady orchid scent mixing with heat and sweetness in the air.
Hua Yong’s hand slid down over shoulders and back.
In the myth, when the continent that had never seen the sun rose from the sea, a dazzling sea serpent representing desire also awoke.
It slithered toward the untouched land, seducing it until it became wet and warm, a shallow sea.
The fantasy broke.
Hua Yong kissed his cheek, sighing indulgently:
“Mr. Sheng is so adorable.”
The honey was harvested, yet the flower still hung high, releasing its fragrance.
Behind tightly closed curtains, skin glimmered like silk in the dark.
Satisfaction bloomed like summer flowers.
Better to channel the flood than block it, the ancients said — and they were right.
Trying to dam the river would only make the banks collapse and the waters overflow.
According to a passing secretary, that day Hua Yong went in carrying two packs of tissues, as if he’d accidentally spilled a glass of water.
But judging by his sweet, happy expression when he came out, it didn’t look like the boss scolded him for it.