I once said there was a time that Gao Tu got angry at Shen Wenlang so here goes.
So before Shen Wenlang finds Gao Tu at that amusement park, before that fateful reunion, Shen Wenlang has spent the past 3 years preparing himself for the day he’ll finally be reunited with Gao Tu.
Because he knows he will be. He believes in it. He also knows that when he gets that chance to see him, there won’t ever be another one. It has to be that chance for him to fix everything and do everything to take him back. And Shen Wenlang knows he can’t fuck that chance up ever again.
So, obviously, the preparations included having some character development which we all know worked because he was reported in the news being able to partner with an omega-headed company in the future. He also had to work on how to communicate with his colleagues better like holding himself back from making snark remarks and actually addressing his concerns in a more professional setting.
Since he also knew he had a child somewhere, Shen Wenlang wanted to prepare himself for the day he would meet him. Having a kid was never on the list of things he wanted in life. Shen Wenlang never entertained the thought of having a family since his past showed him none of the good stuff about it. He grew up with an abusive alpha father while his omega father died early on, or so he thought.
But he had a kid somewhere. Gao Tu was still out there. He held on to the hope that when he found them, he could get to keep his family and that he would treat them better than how his parents did with him. He didn’t know where to begin to learn all that. Luckily, Peanut taught him.
Hua Yong and Sheng Shaoyou were two busy working parents who took their time off every two months or so depending on their susceptible cycles of the year. The first time they left him in his care, Peanut was only three months old. The child was an earful, crying at night for his fathers. The nanny, who was a beta, could not soothe Peanut. So the child stayed with Shen Wenlang who would stay up late at night, cradling him and emitting his soothing pheromones to keep him calm.
Shen Wenlang was there when Peanut took his first steps and said his first words. He never told Hua Yong and Sheng Shaoyou about it. He let them discover their son’s new skills by themselves, not wanting to steal their joy. He lets Peanut climb on his shoulders when he’s at the office still working. He lets the kid draw on the sides of his mahogany desk. Shen Wenlang has been pooped and peed on countless times, all in his expensive suits. Peanut tested his patience and also taught him how to control it. He called Shen Wenlang daddy and the alpha always beamed in pride whenever the little one did because it meant he was at least doing a good job in raising him.
But out of all the preparations, it was finding a way to deal with his Mate Seeking Syndrome that took time and great effort.
It never went away. Hua Yong had given him access to his special room at X Hotel every time Shen Wenlang’s ruts happen just so he doesn’t cause a ruckus anymore and his alpha father doesn’t lock him back up at P Country again. Since Shen Wenlang is not an enigma, the damages he caused in the special room were minimal, but it was mostly to keep him contained so as not to harm others.
During these times, Shen Wenlang has formed a special team in HS Group to research and develop a drug for this purpose. The drug was to suppress Mate Seeking Syndrome every time one’s ruts happen. It would primarily alter the way an alpha would behave. The goal was to have the alpha be more conscious of their actions so they could avoid being violent.
Hua Yong disapproved of this research at first only because it wasn’t the same as patches and inhalers. It’s a drug. To develop this, careful research and testing must be done. Human trials would be involved and where in the world would they find one willing to be tested upon for years on end?
“I’ll do it.” Shen Wenlang volunteered as if that was the easiest solution.
“Uncle Ying Yi would have me shot before I can even dissect you.” Hua Yong had replied.
“Oh please.” Shen Wenlang scoffed. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
“Then don’t dismiss the fact that there would be unfavorable outcomes from this research.” Hua Yong firmly answered. “We’re talking about altering pheromones here. Think about the long-term effects.”
But Shen Wenlang was serious about this.
“When I see him again, I don’t want to hurt him.” He only says quietly. He wants to be fully prepared for the day he’ll see Gao Tu and treating him better than before was his most important concern.
And it must have been the pain and longing in his eyes that Hua Yong finally agreed to have the research project be greenlit.
So that’s how Shen Wenlang became a test subject for HS Group’s Mate Seeking Syndrome treatment. It was a top priority project with its own special division and was highly classified. They were able to yield results in just a year. The drug suppressed Shen Wenlang’s violent alpha side brought about by the syndrome. But it also created a sort of pheromone imbalance for Shen Wenlang. His ruts were unpredictable and happened twice in a month. It rendered him weak and fatigued. Sometimes he would pass out in between meetings. Like Hua Yong said, they could not produce any results for long-term effects since clinical trials could last for ten years.
But it was enough for Shen Wenlang that when he finally found Gao Tu and Lele, when he finally made amends with the omega he had been looking for for so long, he was confident that he would not be able to hurt them and that was all that mattered.
Or so he thought.
Even though they were living next door to each other, they still had access to the other’s apartments. Gao Tu had Shen Wenlang’s spare key and vice versa. They had developed a sort of routine by now. Breakfasts at Gao Tu’s. Dinners at Shen Wenlang’s place. Afternoons spent in either one’s living room playing with Lele. That sort of thing.
It felt like they were living together, in a way. So it didn’t take long for Gao Tu to pick up that something was wrong with Shen Wenlang.
Sometimes Shen Wenlang would take days all holed up in his apartment. Gao Tu would bring him food and leave, knowing that the alpha was in his rut cycle judging by the strong smell of iris in his place. Sometimes Shen Wenlang’s eyes would look sunken. Sometimes he’d suddenly start sweating out of nowhere.
And Gao Tu knew what this was. Because he had gone through the same thing when he used to have pheromone imbalance. He’s still healing from it, and it made him wonder why Shen Wenlang had it in the first place when he knew the S-class alpha was in his prime. Gao Tu was his secretary for years. He knew everything there was about Shen Wenlang, including his personal affairs such as his medical conditions. The alpha rarely got sick. Gao Tu wondered if something happened to him during the 3 years he was away.
Shen Wenlang never mentioned anything either. He only excused himself when he looked like he wasn’t feeling well and then he’d leave a message for Gao Tu that he’s going to take a nap. He’d come back looking refreshed but the scent of iris and sweat would cling to him faintly.
Gao Tu finally finds out what exactly is going on when Shen Wenlang collapses in his apartment right before they’re to pick up Lele together from school. Shen Wenlang was opening the door for him when he suddenly just leaned forward, eyes rolling back before he fainted. Gao Tu was thankfully able to hold him, making sure the alpha is cushioned in his arms before they both sink to the ground.
Panic filled Gao Tu for a split second before his maternal instincts kicked in. How many times has he dealt with Lele being sick out of the blue? How many times has he cared for his sister in the hospital? He knew what to do in this situation. But it was a little disconcerting to have the alpha he was with for so long suddenly pass out in front of him.
He is able to lug Shen Wenlang to his couch where he gets him in a comfortable position. Gao Tu then rushes to the alpha’s apartment for any medication he could be taking so as to administer it to him, all the while calling Ma Heng on the phone to ask if he could be the one to pick up Lele from school instead.
And that’s when Gao Tu finds it. The medical documentation. The records. The logs that Shen Wenlang has to fill up every time his ruts occur and when he would inject himself with the special drug. Gao Tu has worked with HS Group for so long that he understood the documentation very well upon reading all of it.
He heals Shen Wenlang back to consciousness by using natural means. A cooling pad to his forehead. Homemade soup. None of that injectable suppressant the alpha was supposed to take. It took awhile. Lele had to spend the night with Ma Heng and Song Feifei because Shen Wenlang is crashed out on their couch and Gao Tu didn’t want Lele to see his father like this.
When Shen Wenlang finally wakes, he sees Gao Tu all hunched over on the dining table with his medical records all around him. The omega has been studying every single one of them for hours, not even caring that it was almost past midnight.
Shen Wenlang slowly sits up, clutching his head.
“How long was I out?” He asks.
Without looking up from the papers, Gao Tu answers in a dry and stiff tone. “Hours.”
Shen Wenlang looks around for their son. “Lele?”
“With Ma Heng.”
This did not sit well with Shen Wenlang who still didn’t like that alpha.
Frowning, he gets up from the couch. “I’m picking him up now.”
Gao Tu finally looks up at him. “Sit back down.”
But Shen Wenlang ignores him in favor of getting his jacket.
“Shen Wenlang.”
It’s the way Gao Tu calls his name that has the alpha stop in his tracks. Gao Tu sounds angry. Furious. And Gao Tu is never like that. Gao Tu is always filled with a certain kind of calmness that Shen Wenlang knows the omega is truly truly angry for him to sound like that.
Shen Wenlang watches as Gao Tu picks up a piece of paper to show to him.
“Explain to me why you’re taking an injectable suppressant that hasn’t even passed clinical trials and isn’t government approved.”
Dread fills Shen Wenlang. He wasn’t prepared for Gao Tu to find out what he had been doing.
Gao Tu removes his glasses, squeezes his eyes shut, and rubs the bridge of his nose. “Why are you doing all this?”
“It’s for you and Lele.”
Gao Tu glares at him in response. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“Gao Tu, I'm sorry. But I can’t stop now. I’m doing so well-”
“Because fainting in my arms meant you were doing so well.”
Shen Wenlang stares at him in surprise. He fainted? He didn’t remember that. He remembers preparing to leave with Gao Tu to pick up Lele. And hadn’t he said he was going to take a nap?
It wasn’t his plan to let Gao Tu see him in this state. He could only imagine the stressful situation he made the omega go through.
Gao Tu picks up another piece of paper and begins reading out loud. “Causes fatigue and nausea. Can lead to pheromone imbalance. No results for long term effects. A high percentage of it could lead to gland cancer.” Gao Tu looks him straight in the eyes. “Did you even read any of this before giving your consent to take it?”
Shen Wenlang did not care for the long-term results. He only cared for Gao Tu and Lele’s safety.
Gao Tu gives a deep sigh. “We agreed to give things a chance between the two of us.”
“Yes.” Shen Wenlang responds at once.
“For what?”
“For our future.”
“What kind of future would that be if you’re not going to be alive in it?”
Guilt and shame fills Shen Wenlang. He knew Gao Tu was right. He knew deep in his heart that the drug was causing him harm. But it has been months living right next door to his family and he hasn’t hurt them. Not once.
But as he looks at Gao Tu, he knows he wasn’t at all successful.
Shen Wenlang is hurting him now.
“I stopped what I was doing for Lele.” Gao Tu says in a quiet voice, recalling the way he lived his own life and causing his own pheromone imbalance. “At least do it for him too. Otherwise, there’s just no point to all of this.”
And Shen Wenlang realizes he’s ruining it now. This chance he fought so hard to keep. He promised - he swore! - that when he had the chance to fix things with Gao Tu, he would never fuck it up.
He closes the gap between them, sinking to his knees and grabbing onto Gao Tu’s legs.
“Gao Tu,” He pleads. “Gao Tu, I’m sorry. I’ll stop. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. Please don’t be angry. I won’t do it anymore.”
Shen Wenlang buries his face in Gao Tu’s knees. “I’ll fix it. I’ll fix me.”
He’s aware that he’s trembling. From fear. From desperation. Shen Wenlang is so afraid that he’s destroying what he just built with Gao Tu and that the omega would run away again. And he can’t bear to have him disappear from his life. Not when he just had him and his son again. He can’t.
He feels Gao Tu slowly crouching down, taking his face in his hands. Shen Wenlang looks up at him, tears blurring his vision. Gao Tu wipes them away.
“Nothing is wrong with you.” He says.
Shen Wenlang continues to sob quietly as he holds on to Gao Tu. He wants to learn how to love him so he can treat him better. So Gao Tu can stay and deem him a suitable mate someday. But why does he keep messing it up? Why does he keep hurting him?
“That night,” Shen Wenlang breathes, recalling that first night he took Gao Tu forcefully. “I hurt you. And I didn’t even know. I couldn’t even remember. And then I did it again. I went to your place. Gao Qing kept telling me you weren’t there. But I didn’t believe her. If I had broken that door down. If you were there and I found you… I don’t know what would have happened.”
It’s the fear of hurting Gao Tu and Lele that cripples him over and over again. Shen Wenlang would cut off his gland for them if it meant not being able to have a violent side to him ever again.
“That first night. That was on me.” Gao Tu says.
“No.”
They never talked about that night but he refused to blame it on Gao Tu.
“I wasn’t being honest with you. And I’m sorry.”
“Gao Tu, that was never your fault.”
“If I had told you who I was in the first place, then you wouldn’t have…”
No. No. Shen Wenlang holds Gao Tu tighter. “No. All of it. That night was mine.”
“And that second time.” Gao Tu continues. "That happened because I wasn’t there. I kept running away and hiding from you.” Gao Tu then strokes his cheek and gives a small smile. “I’m here now, aren’t I?”
Like a lost child finding hope at that smile, Shen Wenlang holds on to it.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to risk it. I promised myself that when I find you, I’ll do whatever it takes to fix things. But I wasn’t doing it right, was I? I’m sorry, Gao Tu.”
They both stay there on the floor in the middle of Gao Tu’s kitchen, just holding each other. Gao Tu, wished he too had soothing pheromones to give out to the love of his life to assure him that even though he was angry, even though he had raised his voice at him, he would never think any less of him.
He will always always love him.
When the tears have finally stopped, when Shen Wenlang is no longer shaking and Gao Tu has assured him he won’t run away, the omega tells him in a firm voice.
“Stop taking that drug.”
“I won’t.” Shen Wenlang promises at once.
“Stay alive.”
“For you and Lele, I will.”
“No. For yourself.” Gao Tu corrects.
Shen Wenlang shakes his head. “Everything I do from this point onwards is for you and Lele. No one and nothing else matters.”
His hands find Gao Tu’s and the omega clasps back tightly.
“Then,” Gao Tu looks at him. “Stay alive for me and Lele.”
Shen Wenlang nods. “I promise.”
And that’s how Shen Wenlang stopped taking the drug and stopped that high priority and highly classified HS Group research for good. Hua Yong was only pleased to hear it coming from him that it wasn’t working and that he didn’t need it anymore. And since he only started using the drug for the first 3 years, Shen Wenlang didn’t suffer from it for so long. His healing abilities as an alpha has made him recover fast and within 6 months of staying clean from it, he was back in shape in no time.
As for his Mate Seeking Syndrome, it turns out that Shen Wenlang had nothing to worry about. Being with Gao Tu everyday and knowing where he is at all times did not awaken his violent side.
Gao Tu assures him he’s here to stay only if Shen Wenlang wants him to.
And Shen Wenlang makes sure to show him he does- want him, need him- every single day, for the rest of his life.
Hua Yong ong released his soothing pheromones into the air, and Shaoyou swore under his breath. His eyelids grew heavy again, and he hated it. He pushed Hua Yong's chest away and left the bed.
"You can't always win this game, Mr. Hua. Being an Enigma doesn't mean you can overpower me."
Hua Yong stood up as well, pushing his tongue to the inside of his cheek. Why does his Alpha play this game? Oh, maybe his Alpha wanted some power back. Hua Yong didn't care, as long as he could get his mouth full of the Alpha's sweet taste; he would do anything.
Shaoyou's eyes followed the Enigma as he knelt, never breaking eye contact. He felt Hua Yong's arms clenching his naked thighs, encircling them.
"Then if I beg, can Mr. Sheng bless me with a kiss? Hm?"
Shaoyou made a mental note that the fucker in front of him was a fucking maniac. Hua Yong could have increased the intensity of his pheromones and forced Shaoyou into surrendering. Instead, he was begging on his knees. Shaoyou felt his own hand move to push Hua Yong's hair back. The latter closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. He craved more.
"No. You took enough from me."
With that, Shaoyou broke free from the Enigma's grasp, grabbing his pants and putting them on. He had already been in his boxers when he woke up—not his own; Hua Yong must have bought them for him. He was fixing his belt when he faced Huayong again, who was still on his knees.
"You're acting as if I'm the one who used you for your body and then tossed you aside, Mr. Hua."
Hua Yong stood up to face his Alpha. Silent tears fell down his face, endless as he approached Shaoyou and initiated a hug. He hid his face in the crook of Shaoyou's neck, holding him dearly. Shaoyou felt Hua Yong's clothes against his naked chest, felt his hands on his shoulders, felt the Enigma's tears on his neck. He lifted his hands to push him away, but the other man wouldn't let go.
"You're a strange being, Mr. Hua. What's the meaning of this fuss?"
Hua Yong could not bear to be separated from Shaoyou. He felt as if yesterday was a dream, and it was coming to an end. He moved his head back to look into Shaoyou's eyes.
"My secretary has given the first dose to your father's doctor. It should yield positive results. You'll soon hear good news regarding his health."
Shaoyou, still in Hua Yong's arms, nodded.
"Am I not a good boy? Can't I have a kiss for delivering the dose without you having to worry about it?"
Shaoyou scoffed. His hands pushed Hua Yong's arms down, breaking free from that possessive embrace.
"You took more than a kiss yesterday."
Shaoyou said as he put on his shirt and started buttoning it. Hua Yong's eyes fell on the Alpha's fingers. He remembered how the Alpha had moaned his name the previous night, how he had shaken beneath him. Hua Yong could still feel Shaoyou's embrace and shy whispers. He wanted to pin Shaoyou to the bed and fuck him relentlessly again. He wanted to have Shaoyou begging for more this time. He wanted him for another night, and all the nights that followed. His aroused pheromones leaked out, and his eyes turned wine-ish under Shaoyou's gaze.
Shaoyou smiled at the scene. He didn't understand why or how he had ended up liking this horny, dependent manifestation in front of him, but he did. Shaoyou did not know that, besides being an S-class Alpha, he was now Huayong's exclusive Omega. The Omega was as crazy as the Enigma, but Shaoyou rationalized it—until his own hands moved to hold Hua Yong's cheek, his thumb gently brushing the skin under his eye.
He approached Hua Yong, opening his mouth as he took the desperate Enigma's lips with his own. Hua Yong closed his eyes and let Shaoyou lead the kiss as he pleased. He got the full taste of Shaoyou's orange blossom scent; it was even sweeter now that he had marked him. Their lips moved with quiet intensity as their hearts grew heavier under each other's pheromones. Shaoyou pulled back, admiring the sight of Huayong's glowing, wine-colored eyes.
"See you soon."
He stepped back, grabbed his suit coat, and left the Enigma reminiscing in a room full of the remnants of what they had, and what could have been theirs.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
“There’s a junior Omega model from Hua Yong’s ex-agency who filed a police report. It was for sexual assault.”
Shao You’s body tensed, though he kept his expression still. “Is the report public?”
Pin Ming shook his head. “No. It didn't make it to the press. The model withdrew the complaint after just a few days. The case was closed quietly. But this wasn’t the only one. Three Omega and Beta employees left that agency within a six-month period, each under unclear or suspicious circumstances. All of them filed short-lived complaints against different senior Alpha figures. None of the cases were pursued.”
Shao You’s fingers curled slowly into a fist on the table. His voice dropped.
“And Hua Yong got dragged into a scandal, accused of hitting his Alpha co-star, right after an event neither of them should have attended?”
“Yes. The event was meant to connect debut actors and models with sponsors. Hua Yong wasn’t supposed to be there. As you know, he’s a senior talent...”
Shao You leaned back, his brows knit tightly in thought. “Who arranged the final list?”
“A Beta named Lin Lin. He used to work in PR at the agency, now he moves like an independent fixer. His signature approved Hua Yong’s participation.”
Shao You’s gaze turned sharper.
“I want everything on him. Where he is, who he talks to, how often he meets with Han Ning or anyone from that agency.”
Pin Ming nodded, already taking notes. Then his voice softened. “Do you think Hua Yong was… one of the victims?”
Shao You looked down for a long moment, remembering the dark circles under Hua Yong’s eyes, the silent tears on the balcony, the bruise blooming across his thigh.
“I don’t think I can handle it if that is the scenario,” he said to himself.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Hua Yong was seated quietly while the makeup artist was gently removing the last traces of his look. The door creaked open, and Sheng Shao You stepped in, utterly silent.
He looked toward the artist with a subtle glance, one she clearly understood. She whispered an apology and stepped out, leaving the two alone. Hua Yong opened his eyes at the sound of her leaving, his gaze meeting Shao You's reflection in the mirror.
The Alpha moved calmly to the sink, rolled up his sleeves, and began washing his hands with the kind of precision that made the room feel slower. Hua Yong watched from the corner of his eye, a little tense.
"What are you doing here, shouldn’t you be working?" he asked
The Alpha replied without looking up, "I finished all my work before coming."
Hua Yong nodded and reached for the makeup wipes, intending to finish the job himself, but Shao You gently took them from his hand.
"Let me do it. There are places you'd miss." Hua Yong hesitated, his eyes searching Shao You's face, but he eventually gave in and closed his eyes.
Shao You leaned in with careful fingers, wiping the edges of Hua Yong’s eyes and down the sides of his face, tracing the line of his cheek with silent attention.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
“Here,” he said softly, sliding the cup toward him. “One sugar, no pearls. Just like before.”
Gao Tu froze. “Before?”
Wen Lang blinked, realising his slip. “Ah— I mean, just how I thought you’d like it.”
Gao Tu studied him curiously for a moment but didn’t press. Instead, he took a sip, letting the warmth settle his nerves. “Thank you,” he murmured.
Wen Lang smiled faintly and looked out the window. The morning sun had lifted higher, scattering golden light across the courtyard. For the first time in this new life, he felt peaceful.
Anywhere is home next to Gao Tu.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
The words sliced through the air like a blade. The entire class, who had been watching as if it were a drama scene, fell silent. The B-class Alpha froze, hands dropping instantly. He hadn’t expected that call to belong to Shen Wen Lang—the heir of Shen Business, an S-class Alpha.
“Everyone, out.”
Wen Lang’s grey eyes glimmered with menace. His tone left no room for argument. Within seconds, the classroom emptied, leaving only the three of them.
“I believe I asked you a question,” Wen Lang said, stepping closer. “What exactly were you doing to him?”
The trembling Alpha stammered. “I—I was just playing with him, can’t I?”
At that, Wen Lang’s expression darkened. He grabbed the Alpha by the collar and slammed him against the wall, his forearm pressing into the boy’s throat.
“Wen Lang! Shen Wen Lang!” Gao Tu cried, rushing forward. “You’ll kill him! Let him go!”
But Wen Lang was lost in instinct—his hunting nature consuming him whole.
“If I ever see you lay a finger on him again,” he hissed, voice low and lethal,
“you’ll be dead before you realise it. Next time, I’ll take your heart out myself.”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Wen Lang was on the verge of killing the man when Huayong intervened, shoving him away. He had nearly committed murder, but the wretched man scrambled to his feet and fled, leaving Wenlang enraged and Hua Yong struggling to calm him.
"He's pregnant with my child. He is pregnant, Huayong. He must have been pregnant when he lost his sister. He handled the funeral alone. He hid everything from me. Why? I would have—"
Wen Lang destroyed his office in a storm of anger and desperation, realizing the depth of his cruelty. Then, a memory struck him like a physical blow.
"If you got your Omega pregnant, what would you do?"
He remembered his own callous answer. His eyes dilated, his shoulders slumped, and the chair he was about to smash slipped from his grasp. Gao Tu had tried to tell him. Gao Tu had tried to let him know. He had just been too stupid, too utterly unreliable, to see it. Of course Gao Tu was an Omega. He had fainted when caught between two S-tier Alphas. Of course he was an Omega; he always carried the subtle scent of wood sage. Of course he was an Omega; Wen Lang had never seen or heard from this supposed Omega partner. He had simply invented a rival to justify his own distance.
Wen Lang's pheromones grew stronger, smelling like a field of iris set ablaze, burning to ash. Huayong observed the scene, detached. He wanted to tell Wen Lang the rest—that Gaotu was in Country V, that he was carrying a boy, that his health was failing with no chance of recovery. But he had made a promise to the man he called Uncle Ying Yi, and that promise, to him, mattered more than his friendship with Wen Lang.
Wen Lang lingered by the door for a moment. He wondered if his Alpha father had ever felt about his Omega father the same way he felt about Gao Tu. Did it hurt when Ying Yi hid himself under that false death declaration? Would it change anything if he told Shen Yu that Ying Yi, in fact, was alive somewhere? Did he know anything at all about his parents’ relationship?
No, he couldn’t step into the role of a son again. Not when he had already cut them both off in his past life; not when he himself had become a parent and realized how easy it is to love your child and want to protect them even from yourself. Something his own parents had never cared to show or provide.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
“You shouldn’t have stayed. It’s late. It's not comfortable here and I'm afraid you'll get sick.”
Gao Tu shook his head immediately.
“I'm fine, I’ll stay until morning.”
Wen Lang inhaled sharply. His throat tightened. He wanted to argue, he really did. But the warmth around his fingers, the earnestness in Gao Tu’s eyes… everything felt like something his exhausted heart had been longing for without knowing.
“did you have something to eat at least?” Wen Lang whispered.
A small, sleepy smile curved on Gao Tu’s lips.
“I was thinking we could have light dinner if you woke up late.”
Wen Lang let his head rest against the pillow again. His expression softened as he gently pulled Gao Tu’s hand closer, grounding himself through the warmth of that touch.
Silence settled between them, warm and fragile.
“Gao Tu,” Wen Lang murmured, his voice low, “Thank you for not leaving.”
Gao Tu’s eyes shimmered.
“You're welcome, Wen Lang,” he whispered, “Thank you for trusting me.”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
“Mr. Shen,” the doctor began, “the last time I saw Wen Lang, I told you he was an Enigma with a mate-seeking mutation. I’ve never studied a case like his before, and it has been weighing on my mind ever since. Now he’s here again with different symptoms, but there’s one thing I’m particularly frustrated I still can’t understand.”
Shen Yu raised an eyebrow.
“Enigmas’ pheromones take a toll on anyone exposed to them, regardless of secondary gender. Last time, I told you that your son’s pheromones were scentless, but today they weren’t for any of us. Even I, a Beta, reacted to them. But your son’s friend, the boy who came with him, seemed completely unaffected. Do you know who he is to your son?”
Shen Yu scoffed. He couldn’t believe that the Omega he met at the convenience store possessed such resistance. But if he were truly that strong, why was Wen Lang trying to protect him? Then he remembered the line Wen Lang had told him:
He marked me.
“His friend is an Omega pretending to be a Beta. He’s been on suppressants for a few years now. I remember Wen Lang telling me that Gao Tu marked him.”
The doctor leaned back in his chair.
“Mr. Shen, it’s impossible for an Omega to mark an Alpha. It’s always the other way around.”
Shen Yu scoffed again.
“That’s exactly what I told him. But he seemed certain.”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Shen Yu placed his cup on the table and crossed his arms. There was much he could gain from a strategic marriage, but since his son had manifested as an Enigma, he was willing to listen. He already knew Wen Lang had special feelings for that supposed Beta—now Omega—from the convenience store.
“He’s everything I have,” Wen Lang replied quietly.
That kid is all I have.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
"Gaotu, you said in your diaries that you believed he would have my eyes. My love, each time I look into our baby's eyes, I find you staring back at me.
I'm sorry. No matter how much I apologize, my heart only grows heavier. Three years have passed; thirteen years I loved you, all for you to leave believing I hated you. I never did, and I never will. Gao Tu, all the memories we shared are engraved in my heart, forever.
You are forever alive in me. Take my soul as the site of your next reincarnation. Bloom within me with the everlasting, enchanting love I hold, but will never be able to tell you."
"Gaotu, I love you. Let's meet again in our next life. I promise to hold you then."
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
It has been several months since I've last seen you. Even now, recalling the sharp lines of your face, I find myself fearful as I write to you, despite the miles that stretch between us.
Wen Lang, in the ten years I have loved you, I miss you most today. The doctor has told me that Lele will be visiting our world soon. I have nothing to offer him. My own presence is not guaranteed, and perhaps all I will be to Lele is a mere passage to life—a life I am certain I cannot be part of.
Wen Lang, do you remember the lemon juice you gave me at the convenience store? Do you remember the paper airplane? Do you remember the look in my eyes every time we met? I could swear I see you standing before me now as I write. Your ghost stares back at me, expressionless, as my tears fall on this paper you will never read. And if you do, I will not be here to receive your response.
Wen Lang, Lele is innocent. I have dragged my child into this mess of a life, though I was willing to devote the rest of mine to him. I had hoped to recover, but months into this pregnancy, it was confirmed that this road ends with my departure for eternity. I have no one else to entrust my Lele to but you. I suppose you were right when you accused me of planning to trap you. Yet, I hope you grow fond of Lele when you meet him.
Wen Lang... I never hated you. I hope you do not hate me, either..."
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
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