Liang Xianzhang still walked Zhou Yi to the door. Unlike their previous parting, Zhou Yi was clearly more reluctant this time.

Although it was his own decision to return to Shang Yichen, he couldn’t help but feel conflicted. It wasn’t as if he wanted to be this emotional, but the thought of separating from Liang Xianzhang made him feel a deep sadness.

Over the past days, Zhou Yi had grown closer to Liang Xianzhang. He had initially thought he would never be able to adapt to this kind of closeness, but the respect and warmth Liang Xianzhang had shown him had slowly torn down the walls Zhou Yi had built around his heart.

Being with Liang Xianzhang felt like a person who had been cold for a long time suddenly stepping into warmth. It was an irresistible temptation.

Zhou Yi found himself developing a dependence on Liang Xianzhang, one that he had never felt for anyone else. At certain moments, he found himself wanting to stay with Liang Xianzhang forever, greedy for the connection.

In just a few steps, Zhou Yi moved farther away, his mind filled with thoughts of Liang Xianzhang. Unable to resist, he turned around and looked back at him.

Liang Xianzhang stood at the door, his face warm with a smile. Zhou Yi felt an inexplicable impulse surge within him. He took a breath, turned back, and walked straight into his arms.

Liang Xianzhang froze momentarily at his action but quickly embraced him, gently stroking his hair. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine…” Zhou Yi buried his face in Liang Xianzhang’s chest, speaking in a muffled voice. “I just… want to hug you again…”

Liang Xianzhang’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, his Adam’s apple rolling as he tightened his hold around Zhou Yi’s waist. His eyes grew deeper.

They lingered in the embrace for a while before reluctantly separating. Liang Xianzhang watched as the door closed, and his smile faded instantly. With a sigh, he pulled out his phone and dialed his secretary. “Are all the arrangements I asked for ready?”

“All documents are ready, and the accompanying lawyer has confirmed. The flight takes off in two hours. I’ll pick you up in fifteen minutes.”

Back at the apartment, Zhou Yi laid down on the sofa after spraying the pheromone remover. He glanced around and noticed the cleaning in the study and other areas. It was clear who had done it.

Zhou Yi already missed Liang Xianzhang just after leaving. The sensation of being in his arms lingered, and he couldn’t help but curl up, hoping to hold onto that warmth.

He was so relaxed that he didn’t even notice when Shang Yichen entered the room.

Shang Yichen, still unsettled from his time away, had struggled to shake thoughts of Zhou Yi from his mind. Despite spending time with beautiful Omegas during his growth phase, Zhou Yi’s face haunted him, especially the moment when he lost control and pinned Zhou Yi down. It played in his mind repeatedly, as if some force beyond his control was driving him.

He had expected to stop thinking about Zhou Yi after the Q period, but even now, he couldn’t escape the image of Zhou Yi. He stayed out longer, distracted by his thoughts, trying to fill the void but finding none of the Omegas could compare.

Returning home, Shang Yichen found the apartment quiet, just like Zhou Yi himself. As he opened the door, he spotted Zhou Yi curled up on the sofa, lost in thought. His long, thick lashes rested gently against his skin, and his lips carried the faintest of smiles.

Shang Yichen was momentarily stunned. He had seen Zhou Yi smile before, but now, this smile was different. It was warmer, filled with something more, something that made Zhou Yi seem softer and more inviting. Shang Yichen realized he was staring and felt an odd mix of embarrassment and confusion.

Zhou Yi, noticing his gaze, quickly sat up, the smile fading from his face. Shang Yichen couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. Why did Zhou Yi seem so nervous and guarded around him? He had never treated him this way before.

“Why were you laughing so happily just now?” Shang Yichen asked, his tone sharper than he intended.

Zhou Yi shook his head, his voice faltering. “Nothing, Mr. Shang… It’s nothing.”

This response made Shang Yichen feel a sense of suffocation. Zhou Yi had always been talkative, always sharing random thoughts. But now, he was distant, almost avoiding him. Why was Zhou Yi acting this way? It frustrated him, but even more, it unsettled him.

“Why didn’t you say anything when I asked you earlier?” Shang Yichen pressed, his voice softer now, sensing Zhou Yi’s discomfort.

Zhou Yi hesitated, then offered an excuse. “I remembered a funny video I saw earlier. I just laughed. It wasn’t a big deal. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”

Shang Yichen’s face stiffened for a moment as he remembered his past complaints about Zhou Yi’s chatter. He had always thought Zhou Yi was too talkative, too annoying. Yet, now, it seemed strange that Zhou Yi had stopped talking to him.

Shang Yichen couldn’t explain why, but it bothered him that Zhou Yi had become so distant. He frowned, irritated by his own feelings. “You used to talk to me all the time. Why is it different now?”

Zhou Yi didn’t know what to say. He had become accustomed to handling such situations with ease. He widened his eyes slightly, pretending to be nervous, then lowered his voice. “I thought… you didn’t like when I talked too much. I didn’t want to bother you with silly things.”

Shang Yichen’s expression tightened. He had once complained about Zhou Yi’s constant chatter, but now that he was silent, it felt… wrong. Something had shifted, and he couldn’t figure out why.

Before he could speak, the atmosphere between them thickened with unspoken tension. Silence fell heavily.

Later that evening, as Gu Shuning was preparing his coffee, he heard a knock on the door. Without thinking, he opened it to find two men standing there. One appeared to be a bodyguard, and the other an elite-looking gentleman.

“Can we speak with you, Mr. Gu?” the man with the polite smile asked, handing over a business card.

Gu Shuning glanced at it, surprised. “What is this about?”

“We have a business proposal we would like to discuss with you in detail,” the man replied.

Gu Shuning paused, staring at the card, then nodded in agreement.