Ye Yumeng’s blessing was given reluctantly, and Xiao Zong lost his appetite.

After venting his frustration, he felt full from anger alone.

The table of exquisite dishes hadn’t been there for long, but Gu Yin was eating fast. This guy wasn’t picky about food, the type of child who didn’t need his parents to chase after him to feed him. What a worry-free child.

Xiao Zong, carrying the mindset of a first date, hadn’t eaten much before his mood was completely ruined.

When it was time to sign the bill, Gu Yin was still eyeing him expectantly.

Once the boss’s temper flared up, no one could talk him down. He didn’t need to lose his temper; just standing there with a cold face, the aura of a leader spread out, making people too afraid to say another word.

On the way back, Xiao Zong didn’t even bother driving. He opened the door and sat in the passenger seat, leaning back against the seat. Gu Yin, without being told, took the driver’s seat and started the SUV, quickly merging into the evening traffic.

Both of them were preoccupied with their own thoughts, so neither noticed the few unfamiliar vehicles trailing behind them from a distance of about a hundred meters. After following for a while, the cars made a sharp turn, disappearing into other roads amidst the bustling neon-lit night.

The atmosphere in the car was silent, with only the faint hum of the engine, quieter than even their breathing.

When they arrived at the underground parking lot of the city center apartment, Gu Yin turned off the engine and, in a pitiful tone, said, “Zong-ge…”

He only called him that when he was either trying to act cute or admitting defeat.

Xiao Zong looked into the rearview mirror, where his striking features, sharp and cold as a sculpture, were reflected.

Was he really that intimidating right now? Why was the little secretary acting so timid?

Finally, Xiao Zong spoke. “Do you know why I’m angry?”

Gu Yin knew, which was exactly why he didn’t dare to speak.

“If we hadn’t run into Ye Yumeng today, how much longer were you planning to keep this from me?”

The door to the study in the villa was half-open, with servants walking in and out packing luggage. Gu Yin, like a cat, moved silently, and after overhearing the conversation inside, he quietly snuck downstairs.

Earlier, Xiao Zong had said, “Now the whole world knows I like someone like you.”

At first, Gu Yin hadn’t fully understood, but he quickly figured it out—Ye Yumeng knew too, which was why she deliberately showed traits similar to Gu Yin’s when she was in front of Xiao Zong’s mother.

Fang Runjin had heard that Xiao Zong and Ye Yumeng had once been together, so naturally, she assumed Xiao Zong’s preference hadn’t changed.

Everyone knew what kind of person he liked, yet Gu Yin himself was clueless.

And worse, he hadn’t even told Xiao Zong about it.

Gu Yin didn’t know whether to feel bitter or sweet.

When Xiao Zong got angry, he was like a hedgehog. His usually alluring peach-blossom eyes now appeared cold and distant, with a hint of grievance, as if the words “come on, coax me” were written all over his face.

Gu Yin quickly said, “Uncle Lu told me you can’t get mad… I won’t dare do it again.” As he spoke, he was holding his earlobes between his thumbs and forefingers, looking utterly pitiful.

Seeing this pathetic display only made Xiao Zong angrier. “Where’s the strength you had when you hit the central console? The guts you had when answering my grandfather in front of everyone?” And what about the nerve you had climbing up balconies in the middle of the night?

“One Ye Yumeng, and without even showing up in front of me, she’s got you holding onto this secret for so long,” Xiao Zong said. “Gu Xiaoyin, don’t you think you should reflect on that?”

“I know I was wrong. Please stop being mad, okay?” Gu Yin’s eyes were full of worry, afraid Xiao Zong might get seriously worked up.

Finally, Second Young Master Xiao turned to glance at him, sighed, and softened his tone. “I’m your boyfriend now, and I’ll be your husband in the future. If you have any problems, you should tell me directly instead of keeping them to yourself.”

Gu Yin became even more uneasy under his gaze. Xiao Zong reached out and pulled him close, and Gu Yin instinctively leaned into his embrace.

Xiao Zong’s long fingers threaded through Gu Yin’s hair, pressing his head against his chest. In this not-too-cramped but not spacious enclosed space, the scent of their pheromones intertwined—a pleasant woody fragrance with a hint of sweet locust honey.

Gu Yin could hear Xiao Zong’s strong heartbeat.

“Gu Yin, I’ll only say this once.” Xiao Zong gently rubbed his earlobe. “I’ve been broken up for eight years. If I had any lingering feelings, there’s no way I wouldn’t have crossed paths with Ye Yumeng during those eight years.”

One was the heir of a financial empire, the other a rising star in the design world—neither of them were the kind of people who could get lost in a crowd of billions.

Xiao Zong paused for two seconds before continuing, “You should know what kind of person I am by now.”

“I know,” Gu Yin muttered. “You’re all talk but no action…”

Xiao Zong raised an eyebrow. “What did you say?”

Gu Yin quickly changed his words. “I meant, Zong Ge spoils me the most…”

Xiao Zong almost laughed in exasperation.

“My mom and I are both pretty busy. We don’t talk much, sometimes going months without even a phone call,” Xiao Zong explained, his fingers pausing on Gu Yin’s earlobe for a moment before resuming. “Because of some unresolved issues, she thinks I’m going down the same path as my father, so she’s a bit sensitive about things like this.”

Xiao Zong’s hand moved along Gu Yin’s jawline, tilting his chin up so he had to look him directly in the eyes. “Even if you’re not close to her, you should trust that I can handle these things and protect you.”

Gu Yin stared at Xiao Zong in a daze.

His fiancé was still a little upset, his expression tight and his gaze full of reproach, but his tone remained gentle.

Gu Yin had been self-reliant from a young age. After joining the military, he became a squad leader in special forces within two years due to his outstanding performance. He planned missions, commanded, and protected his team during operations.

He had suppressed rebellions on distant planets and rescued hostages from space pirates. His hands had been stained with the blood of criminals, and once he set his mind on something, he never wavered.

Even after his omega transformation, he had never been treated so seriously, nor had anyone told him they’d protect him.

There’s no greater joy than having your feelings reciprocated.

The atmosphere softened, but Xiao Zong, noticing the moist sheen in Gu Yin’s eyes, suddenly frowned. “Are you about to go into another heat?” How could it be happening again? Didn’t he just go through one recently?

Gu Yin snapped out of his daze, burying his head in Xiao Zong’s neck. “No, no heat.”

Xiao Zong kissed his hair, resisting the urge to bite him. “Come on, let’s head back. You’ve got exams tomorrow.”

**

That night, while Gu Yin was studying in the living room, only a desk lamp was on, in line with Xiao Zong’s habits. Gu Yin’s shadow stretched long across the wall as he read. Xiao Zong sat behind him on the sofa, wearing an analysis headset connected to a computer, doing something.

He looked just like a teacher watching over evening self-study.

Xiao Zong was inputting leaked data from Henghua into the analyzer, pulling up the relevant experimental data for Xiao Sinian.

[Failure of Reactor No. 623…]

[Failure of Space Simulation Chamber No. 2042 at Stage 4 due to circuit overload…]

[Energy purification conversion failure on the 13,889th attempt…]

…

The group invested vast sums in research every year, and in recent years, they had expanded to hundreds of large laboratories conducting experiments and recording results daily. Even Xiao Zong was stunned by the overwhelming amount of data.

Compared to the money spent on research, a few high-tech fiber material clothes were nothing.

Every failure had its value, and if Xiao Sinian hadn’t died, success might have come in a few years. But in the meantime, he had to endure enormous pressure to keep the experiments going.

Xiao Zong had never understood why his father insisted on such a thankless task—after all, the Xiao family could have remained a purely commercial entity like the Fang family, just focusing on making money.

But once he took over, he realized that the tangled web of interests was like a tidal wave. There were things far more tempting than money—power.

Beyond the glamorous high society of the capital star, there was another layer in the Federal Star System: the “privileged class.”

That invisible hand that gripped their throats lay on another planet, ready to manipulate the fate of both the capital and the colonies. Like a cloud hanging over the Xiao family, it had once loomed over Xiao Sinian.

Now, 24 years later, all the waves stirred up had been swallowed by the river of time, and that hand was now reaching for Xiao Zong.

Xiao Zong glanced at Gu Yin’s slim figure from behind.

He had someone to protect, so he couldn’t back down.

**

Around 12:30, Gu Yin noticed the lack of noise behind him and turned to see Xiao Zong asleep on the sofa, still wearing the analysis headset.

Gu Yin had seen photos of Xiao Sinian in various reports: shoulder-length hair, wearing frameless glasses.

Dressed in a fine, gentlemanly tailcoat, he wasn’t looking directly at the camera but glancing sideways, his lashes lowered, a subtle smile on his lips. The expression seemed both mocking and tender, like he was listening to a lover’s whispered words.

This candid shot had spread far and wide, making countless omega swoon.

Second Master Xiao had been a contradictory yet charismatic alpha, like a poppy flower—addictive, despite the inevitable downfall.

Xiao Zong didn’t sleep soundly, and waking up would be difficult. He had a bit of a grumpy wake-up temper too.

Gu Yin brought over a thick blanket, carefully tucking it around Xiao Zong. He then gently smoothed out the creases on his brow, planting a soft kiss on his forehead.

He picked up his phone and saw a message, prompting him to step out onto the balcony to make a call.

The early spring chill made him shiver as soon as he opened the sliding glass door. He quickly closed it behind him.

On the other end of the line, a man’s low voice answered, “Hello?”

“Sir, it’s Gu Yin.”

The voice on the other side was direct, in the typical commanding tone of a superior. “The matter of your discharge has been approved. You can start your new position by the end of this month at the earliest.”

The wind bit at Gu Yin, and he pulled his jacket tighter around himself, glancing back at the peaceful scene inside: the person he loved, asleep in a warm, safe environment. He needed to ensure that this environment stayed stable, safe, and enduring.

He said, “I don’t need it.”

A long silence followed after he said this.

The invisible tension of their standoff was suffocating. Back in the military, Gu Yin would have obeyed his superior’s orders immediately, not daring to disappoint his commanding officer.

But Gu Yin remained silent.

The silence stretched on, every second feeling like an eternity. The wind rustled the branches outside and tousled his hair.

From above, the streetlights below looked like tiny stars.

Finally, a sigh came from the other end. The officer’s tone softened as much as he could, though it still sounded firm. “I know you’re upset that the organization erased your records and took back your rank and insignia.”

“But the organization understands your family situation. You’re the only child, and your grandfather is getting old. The retirement benefits are barely enough to cover basic living expenses, and your mother is the sole breadwinner. Under such circumstances, you can’t afford to act on impulse.”

“Even though the discharge process took a few months longer than expected, the organization has been working hard to secure it for you, and the compensation will be approved soon…”

“When news of the terrorist attack at the Fu Hua Hotel reached the Southeast Military District, and your name appeared on the suspect list, General Cheng personally vouched for you. You should know that Lin City is in the north, outside our jurisdiction. We had to pull quite a few strings.”

The crew-cut soldier had once said: the entire 200,000-strong Southeast Military District was like Gu Yin’s extended family.

Gu Yin’s eyes reddened slightly.

After a long pause, Gu Yin finally spoke. “I don’t need those things anymore, sir.”

His gaze was clear and calm.

“[UNNAMED] Shen Yuan wants me dead. How much help can the military really offer?”