The two agreed to meet on Saturday at the office of Liang Xianzhang’s company. Shang Yichen was escorted by his secretary into the executive elevator and brought upstairs.

Liang Xianzhang seemed to have been waiting for a while. He was sitting behind his desk, and when Shang Yichen entered, he paused his work and stood up.

This was the first time Shang Yichen had such close contact with Liang Xianzhang. Though both were Alphas, and Shang Yichen was of average height, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he appeared smaller standing before him. The aura emanating from Liang Xianzhang was overpowering, and his gaze alone carried an undeniable weight. Despite this, he was polite and gestured for Shang Yichen to sit on the sofa.

Shang Yichen couldn’t help but feel a slight shift in his confidence. Liang Xianzhang seemed more approachable than the rumors suggested. This gave him some encouragement for what he was about to say.

As they sat across from each other, Shang Yichen noticed the familiar minty floral scent surrounding Liang Xianzhang. He began trying to place the fragrance when Liang Xianzhang interrupted his thoughts. “Secretary, please go to the tea room and pour us two cups of coffee.”

Shang Yichen didn’t think much of it; more important matters were at hand. Once the secretary left, Shang Yichen spoke first. “Mr. Liang, is there something you wanted to discuss with me?”

Liang Xianzhang glanced at him coolly. “Didn’t Mr. Shang call me first?”

Shang Yichen hesitated for a moment before speaking bluntly, “I came here to talk about Zhou Yi…”

Liang Xianzhang looked at him expressionlessly, remaining silent.

Shang Yichen gritted his teeth and continued, “I’ll get straight to the point. Mr. Liang, you must already know what’s going on. I’m here to ask you, kindly, to return Zhou Yi to me.”

“Return him to you?” Liang Xianzhang repeated slowly, his voice low and filled with a suppressed anger. After a beat, he sneered softly.

But Shang Yichen, seeing the corners of Liang Xianzhang’s mouth curl, took it as an opportunity and rushed to explain. “Yes, an Alpha like you surely has no shortage of Omegas. I don’t know what means Zhou Yi—a Beta—used to get your attention, but I believe you might have kept him by your side on a whim. After all, he originally followed me. So I’m asking you to return him to me.”

He added, “And someone like him—so unromantic and boring—is certainly not as appealing as an Omega. If you need one, Mr. Liang, I can introduce you to other partners.”

After Shang Yichen finished speaking, Liang Xianzhang remained silent, his gaze unwavering and expression unchanged. He looked at Shang Yichen with the same emotionless stare, making Shang Yichen feel increasingly uncomfortable.

It was as if Liang Xianzhang was scrutinizing him from head to toe, and this caused a chill to run down Shang Yichen’s spine. He quickly turned his gaze away, unable to meet Liang Xianzhang’s eyes.

Just then, the secretary knocked and entered, bringing the coffee.

Liang Xianzhang took a sip of his coffee and, once the secretary had left, he finally spoke, his tone measured. “Is this everything you wanted to say?”

Shang Yichen nodded. “Yes.”

“Who told you that I was with Xiaoyi on a whim?” Liang Xianzhang asked, his eyes cooling as he put his cup down. “Xiaoyi has never used any means to seduce me. It’s I who have been deliberately seducing him.”

Shang Yichen’s pupils dilated, and he quickly suppressed the shock in his chest. “Mr. Liang, do you realize what you’re saying?”

Liang Xianzhang chuckled softly, his voice dripping with disdain. “Compared to Gu Shuning, you’re really quite stupid. Honestly, I don’t even think you’re worthy of being a rival to someone like me, which is honestly embarrassing. But fortunately, your stupidity worked to my advantage. I threw out the bait, and you took it, making it easier for Xiaoyi to be with me. I have to thank you for that.”

The words left Shang Yichen reeling. His face flushed with anger and confusion, but Liang Xianzhang, sitting calmly on the black leather sofa, exuded a quiet confidence that only added to Shang Yichen’s unease.

Shang Yichen’s mind raced, especially when Liang Xianzhang casually mentioned Gu Shuning. What did she have to do with any of this? Why had he brought her up now?

His mind whirled with questions. His thoughts kept circling back to the recent return of Gu Shuning, and a realization—one he didn’t want to believe—began to surface. “What… what do you mean? You brought her back from abroad, didn’t you? Was it to make me drive Zhou Yi away?”

But Liang Xianzhang, seeming to relish in his discomfort, said nothing further. He leisurely added a sugar cube to his coffee and stirred it, watching Shang Yichen with a knowing smile.

Shang Yichen’s frustration began to boil over. He wanted to grab Liang Xianzhang by the collar and demand the truth, but the man’s imposing presence and status kept him restrained. With no other choice, he grit his teeth and said, “If Zhou Yi hadn’t admitted his relationship with you, I would never have believed he would be with you. The person he loves is… me.”

Liang Xianzhang raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a sarcastic smile. “He loves you?” He said, clearly amused by the idea.

The sarcasm in his voice was biting, and it caused Shang Yichen to freeze. His own insecurities about Zhou Yi’s feelings for him came rushing to the surface, and he fought to keep his composure. “Yes, he loves me. He would stay up all night to care for me when I was sick. He’d worry if I didn’t come home. He practiced his cooking for me because the food wasn’t to my taste…”

Shang Yichen recounted all the things Zhou Yi had done for him. In the past, he hadn’t thought much of these acts of kindness, but now, looking back, they seemed like monumental gestures. Zhou Yi had given so much, without asking for anything in return. How could he not love someone so selfless?

Feeling slightly emboldened, he looked at Liang Xianzhang. “Has he done that for you?”

“No.” Liang Xianzhang replied calmly.

Shang Yichen felt a rush of victory. He believed that, despite Liang Xianzhang’s wealth and power, Zhou Yi was only so kind to him.

However, Liang Xianzhang interrupted his thoughts. “After everything you’ve said, it seems Mr. Shang is in need of a nanny,” he remarked lightly.

Shang Yichen’s eyes widened. “You…! You’re jealous of me.”

Liang Xianzhang’s eyes were cold, his voice icy. “Jealous of you? What exactly would I envy? You take his care for granted. You waste his kindness. You don’t respect or cherish him. Have you ever done anything for Zhou Yi? You’re just a selfish Alpha.”

Shang Yichen was speechless, his anger and confusion rising. He opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words to defend himself. The truth of Liang Xianzhang’s words sank in. He had given Zhou Yi money, but that was it. He hadn’t treated him with the same care Zhou Yi had shown him. He hadn’t been there for him in the way he should have.

The realization left him cold, as though a part of him was dying. He hadn’t treated the one person who had given him everything with the respect he deserved. Could Zhou Yi ever come back to him?

“I’ll make it up to him,” Shang Yichen said hoarsely, scrambling to salvage something. “Whether it’s money, a house, a car—whatever he wants, I’ll give it to him… as long as he comes back to me…”

“Have you said enough?” Liang Xianzhang interrupted coldly. “Do you really think he lacks those things now?”

Liang Xianzhang casually raised his hand, revealing the mark left by Zhou Yi the previous night. “He agreed to my proposal last night. This is the ring he left for me. He’s my partner now.”

Shang Yichen’s world seemed to collapse. His body trembled as he looked at the mark, his heart breaking. “Impossible…”

Liang Xianzhang’s gaze was steady and unrelenting. “It’s clear now, isn’t it? You’ve been deceiving yourself.”

Shang Yichen clenched his fists. “You’re cheating on me! This is a secret affair! It’s shameful!”

Liang Xianzhang’s expression remained calm, unbothered. “You? You’re the one who’s never been loved. You’re the mistress in this situation.”

Shang Yichen’s blood boiled. “If you want me to believe it, let me see Zhou Yi. I won’t believe it until he admits it himself!”

Liang Xianzhang glanced at him, his voice calm. “I’m just informing you. I don’t need your approval.”

Shang Yichen lunged at him, grabbing his collar. “Let me see Zhou Yi! Let me see him!”

In the chaos of his fury, he yanked at Liang Xianzhang’s collar, tearing several buttons loose. His eyes fell to Liang Xianzhang’s neck, and what he saw made his heart stop. There, marking the skin, were red, bruised traces—clearly left by Zhou Yi.

The sight of them sent a wave of agony through Shang Yichen. His worst fear was now laid bare before him. His hands trembled, and he could barely hold on to Liang Xianzhang’s collar.

Liang Xianzhang, unfazed, met his gaze coolly. “Are you satisfied with what you see? Xiaoyi is too unwell to meet you.”

Shang Yichen’s body stiffened. He stared at the marks on Liang Xianzhang’s chest, words failing him. The pain in his chest was unbearable, and the realization hit him with full force.

“Zhou Yi is an Omega.” Liang Xianzhang’s voice was a final blow.

Shang Yichen’s mind went blank. His world shattered. Zhou Yi is an Omega.