He lowered his head, carefully observing the area around my gland, muttering to himself:

“No wonder I never hit the uterine cavity… turns out…”
I hastily broke free from his grip and stood at the door.

“Lu Ci, we’re no longer connected.”

Lu Ci’s expression changed, as if he wanted to devour me on the spot:

“Who said we’re no longer connected?”

I sneered, “I’m a beta now. You, an alpha, still want to be with me?”

“Besides, I’ve been gone for three years. The Lu family is powerful enough to find a mere beta like me, right?”

That remark only made things worse.

At my words, Lu Ci’s expression grew even more terrifying, dark enough that I dared not meet his gaze.

My heart pounded in my chest, and sweat dripped from my temples, slowly sliding down my chin before falling to the ground.

I knew I was deliberately provoking Lu Ci, but I had no other choice.

The atmosphere grew tense, and Lu Ci, in his anger, let out a bitter laugh.

As an alpha, his arms were strong and powerful. He pulled me into his embrace, effortlessly restraining all of my movements.

Holding me close, his lips pressed once again against my gland.

The warm breath he exhaled on my skin made my body shudder.

“Qiu Shui, who the hell left me a note threatening me before running away?”

“Who the hell made a bet with me, saying that after three years of no contact, if they succeeded, they’d agree to my proposal?”

“And now you’re using your beta status against me, is that it?”

His hands tightly gripped my slender waist, and the familiar touch sent my mind into a haze.

I didn’t dare speak.

Lu Ci continued his actions, biting at my skin, grinding his teeth:

“Qiu Shui, whether you’re an omega or a beta, even if you were an alpha,”
“I, Lu Ci, will never let you go again.”
“You’d better stay obediently by my side, or I’ll go mad.”

Lu Ci threatened.

The pheromones from his body fluctuated with his emotions, gradually filling the entire bedroom.

But I didn’t know.

As a beta, I couldn’t smell his scent; I could only sense his emotions.

After a brief silence, the powerful alpha leaned dejectedly against me.

His voice was low and sad:
“Why?”
“Why can’t you smell my pheromones?”

Five—

The day after making his threats, Lu Ci sent me back to my workplace.

Before we parted, Lu Ci carefully adjusted my clothes.

His eyes lowered slightly, focusing on the area around my neck:

“I’m letting you go for now to give you time to think. Either agree to be with me, or be imprisoned by me.”

“You only have these two options.”

After saying this, as if afraid of hearing my response, he quickly left.

I smiled silently.

Even after three years apart, Lu Ci was still that same cautious and timid person.

Collecting my thoughts, I turned around, only to see my concerned boss standing at the entrance to my office.

He looked at me with pity:
“Did Mr. Lu bully you?”

“When he raised his hand just now, I was afraid he’d strangle you.”

Hearing such an exaggerated statement, I replied: “…”

Unable to control my curiosity, I asked, “Why would you think Lu Ci would hurt me? After all, he and I…”

My boss quickly covered my mouth:
“Be careful! Walls have ears!”

“If someone hears you calling Mr. Lu by name like that, we might lose this collaboration!”

“Collaboration?”

I had only stayed at Lu Ci’s place for a day, but could something have happened that I wasn’t aware of?

Noticing my puzzled expression, my boss had a mixed look of laughter and tears. He whispered:

“Mr. Lu actively sought out our publishing house, saying he wanted to observe Editor Qiu Shui’s interviewing skills! For the next month, you’ll have to follow him around every day, observing his schedule.”

“Huh?”

“Lu Ci wants to write an autobiography! And he specifically requested you to be the chief editor!”

My boss sighed, “I think he’s just using this as an excuse to make things difficult for you!”

It’s not really that difficult.

I raised my head and straightened my clothes.

No wonder Lu Ci let me out of the apartment. He had already planned how to handle things.

I fear the autobiography is just a pretext, and his true goal is to win me back.

A lovestruck fool is still a lovestruck fool, and he still does things in the most adorable way.

My boss didn’t understand the little games between me and Lu Ci.

Seeing the smile on my face, he assumed I was unaware of the difficulties Lu Ci might throw my way and was even hoping to use this opportunity to get a promotion.

He earnestly advised me, “No matter what happens, if Mr. Lu makes things difficult for you, just bear with it.”

“Losing your job is one thing, but offending Lu Ci is serious business.”

I smiled and nodded.

Satisfied, my boss transferred a large sum of money to me:
“Take this as compensation from the company. Use it to do a good job.”

Before he could continue chatting, a powerful burst of pheromones suddenly interrupted us.

Lu Ci, who had just left, returned in a new suit, looking impeccable as he walked up to me.

First, he stepped to my left, putting distance between me and my boss, then he stepped to my right, standing close to me.

Lu Ci glanced at my boss, bowing slightly:
“Hello, I’m Lu Ci.”

Then, under my boss’s nervous gaze, he slowly took my hand:
“Editor Qiu Shui, long time no see.”

“I hope you’ve been well.”

We smiled politely at each other, but neither of us let go of the other’s hand. In fact, we gripped even tighter.

Worried someone might notice, I quickly shifted my gaze, using the opportunity to glare at Lu Ci when no one was looking.

Meeting my threatening gaze, Lu Ci calmly stroked the back of my hand before finally releasing it, somewhat reluctantly.

I thought he would stop there, but then I heard him teasing:

“Editor Qiu Shui is so good-looking; you must have many admirers, right?”

I paused mid-step and almost tripped.

Looking back, I saw Lu Ci standing there with a playful smile, his gaze sweeping over me and the nearby colleagues, especially the more handsome male ones.

I felt helpless inside.

I knew this alpha was afraid I’d found a new lover behind his back.

Yet his affection was genuine.

Lu Ci, truly, was the original lovestruck fool.

He never judged my attractiveness based on pheromones.