When Zhou Yi placed the watch into the drawer, he suddenly remembered the one given to him by Liang Xianzhang, which he had hidden in the closet. It was a valuable item, and he knew it should only be returned to Liang Xianzhang when Shang Yichen wasn’t around.

As for the perfume, Zhou Yi really liked it. He planned to keep it and thank Liang Xianzhang again when he returned the watch.

Lately, Liang Xianzhang had developed the habit of checking the video from his video doorbell as soon as he returned home from work. It was the only way he could see Zhou Yi.

However, today was different. In addition to seeing Zhou Yi in the video, Liang Xianzhang saw another man entering the apartment.

His expression immediately darkened. He recognized the man as Shang Yichen—the financial sponsor of Zhou Yi. He had even seen his face in the information just a few days ago.

Liang Xianzhang watched as Shang Yichen skillfully entered the door, punching in the code. He had always known that Zhou Yi had a contractual relationship with someone else, but seeing it unfold before his eyes felt like a harsh reality check.

What bothered Liang Xianzhang even more was his inability to acknowledge the relationship between Zhou Yi and Shang Yichen. He pulled at his tie in frustration, staring at the video playback.

As he watched Zhou Yi, his figure appeared in the second half of the video. Zhou Yi paused at the door, looked up in the direction of Liang Xianzhang’s home, lingered for a moment, then went inside.

Liang Xianzhang didn’t know how to describe the look Zhou Yi had on his face. If he had been standing across from him, he might have grabbed him and kept him from entering the door.

He couldn’t know what happened inside the apartment, but he couldn’t help but think back to the soft kiss Zhou Yi had given him, the tear-shaped mole under his eye, the peaceful expression he wore while sleeping in his arms, and the sweet scent of mint pheromones that lingered in the air. The memories stirred a whirlwind of emotions.

All sorts of conflicting feelings surged within him. Just the thought of Zhou Yi showing any emotion for anyone other than himself filled him with such irritation that he almost wanted to lash out.

The emotional turmoil affected his body. His pheromones flared up uncontrollably, and the glands at the back of his neck ached with a deep, stabbing pain—like blunt knives repeatedly scraping against him. It didn’t draw blood, but it was still a painful reminder of his inner conflict.

Liang Xianzhang broke into a sweat, but as the Omega pheromones soothed his body, he found it difficult to rein in his emotions. His pheromones flooded the room, filling it with his scent, and his physiological reaction intensified.

The combination of physical and mental strain made Liang Xianzhang smile bitterly. He grabbed the pajamas Zhou Yi had worn before—the ones with his faint scent still clinging to them—and took a deep breath. He focused on calming his emotions, forcing himself to regain control.

Eventually, he managed to compose himself, slowly exhaling as the video continued to loop. He watched Zhou Yi walk into the room, his figure softening as it replayed again and again. The atmosphere in the room became heavy with a sense of misery.

Zhou Yi, for his part, had been trying to find a chance to return the watch to Liang Xianzhang for days, but they never crossed paths in the corridor. Feeling frustrated with the lack of opportunity, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

One weekend, while Shang Yichen was working overtime, Zhou Yi rang the doorbell of Liang Xianzhang’s apartment, the gift bag in hand.

He stood at the door, pressing the button for a long time, but no one answered. He was starting to wonder if Liang Xianzhang wasn’t home and was considering waiting for another chance.

Just as he was about to give up, the door opened.

Liang Xianzhang stood there, his appearance disheveled. His hair was tousled, his eyes heavy with exhaustion, and his overall demeanor was weak and decadent. The strong scent of orange blossom pheromones wafted from him.

Zhou Yi quickly realized what was happening. Based on his appearance and the pheromones, it seemed like Liang Xianzhang was in his Q period—just like him.

Zhou Yi swallowed, unsure of what to do. It seemed like he had come at the wrong time.

But Liang Xianzhang, noticing his hesitation, spoke first. “What’s wrong? Is there something you need to talk about?”

Zhou Yi, hearing the hoarse quality of Liang Xianzhang’s voice, felt a strange heat in his ears. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Mr. Liang, the watch you gave me a few days ago is too expensive. I can’t accept it.”

Liang Xianzhang leaned against the doorframe, his expression unreadable. “Why? This is a gift in return. Didn’t you give me something, too?”

Zhou Yi shook his head. “The pajamas and ties I gave you don’t compare to the value of this watch. I can’t accept it.”

Liang Xianzhang’s gaze softened a little, and he sighed. “Take it. If you see something you like in the mall, just buy it. It’s not expensive.”

“No,” Zhou Yi replied firmly. “It’s too expensive for me, and you’ve already helped me so much. How can I have the nerve to take something from you?”

Zhou Yi’s thoughts were clear: if the watch had come from Shang Yichen, he would have accepted it without hesitation. It would have been his future security. But because it came from Liang Xianzhang, someone who had shown him so much kindness and warmth, he felt it would be wrong to accept such a valuable gift.

The two men stood locked in a quiet stand-off, each determined in their own way. The tension in the air grew thick.

Just then, a familiar voice called from the corner. “I’m already out of the elevator…”

Zhou Yi froze. Wasn’t Shang Yichen supposed to be working overtime? Why is he back so soon?

As the footsteps approached, Zhou Yi unconsciously looked toward Liang Xianzhang. What he didn’t realize was that his gaze was filled with trust and dependence.

A surge of emotions crossed Liang Xianzhang’s face. Without thinking, he stepped forward, pulled Zhou Yi into his arms, and took a few steps back, quickly kicking the door shut.

Just as the door closed with a soft click, Shang Yichen appeared in the corridor, his secretary trailing behind him. “Which documents did I leave behind?” Shang Yichen asked, still distracted.

Secretary Fu nodded. “There are two documents in total. One is data statistics, and the other is…”

Zhou Yi, still pressed against the door and half in Liang Xianzhang’s arms, could hear their conversation clearly.

But his attention wasn’t on the conversation. His focus was entirely on Liang Xianzhang, who was holding him tightly.