FOBTS CH8

Jian Yuheng, who was naturally not fond of smiling, withdrew the faint smile from his lips and crumpled the diagnosis paper in his pocket that labeled him as a “poet” into a ball.

“Yuheng,” the protagonist gong called out to his younger brother, “have some food.”

“The Second Young Master isn’t very hungry today,” Assistant Gong said. “A small taste will suffice.”

Jian Yuheng nodded and took the entire plate of salted egg yolk chicken wings.

Song Ruochen, who was about to turn the table, froze.

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[Archive Coin Pouch balance: 30 seconds.]

[Daily archive limit has been increased to 5 uses.]

The sound of coins clinking echoed in Song Ruochen’s ears as he expressionlessly picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of green leafy vegetable.

Damn villain, took all the chicken wings.

What, trying to grow wings in a hurry by eating them?

[Do you want to rewind again?]

“No,” Song Ruochen replied. “There’s less than two minutes left in the balance; I need to save it.”

At least for today, he wouldn’t rewind again.

Although this stingy system had its flaws, its functionality was excellent. The earlier rewind corrected his OOC mistake, and now those old foxes weren’t staring at him anymore.

Wait.

Song Ruochen: “?”

Why was Jian Yuheng now staring at him?

Song Ruochen calmly returned the gaze.

“Brother,” Jian Yuheng put down his chopsticks and picked up a nearby wine glass. “We haven’t seen each other in a long time because of my studies abroad. Let me toast to you.”

[Secretary~ You need to block alcohol for your boss~ Time to build your persona.]

The system’s voice trembled.

“Second Young Master,” Song Ruochen picked up his own glass and volunteered, “President Jian has to drive later. I’ll drink on his behalf.”

Jian Yuheng’s gaze lingered briefly on the omega’s pale lips. “Alright.”

Song Ruochen: gulp gulp.

Hmm, the wine in this ABO world was delicious—sweet, with only a faint hint of alcohol.

The omega’s lips, moistened with the wine, shimmered beautifully under the light. Jian Yuheng’s lips curled slightly as he raised his glass again.

He didn’t consider himself someone with a peculiar hobby of forcing a beautiful omega to drink, but suddenly, he wanted to see Secretary Song have a second glass.

“On my first day back at the company, I was rather rude to you, Brother,” Jian Yuheng said. “This glass is an apology.”

Jian Feng nodded approvingly. “It’s no—”

“It’s no problem,” Song Ruochen interrupted, raising his glass. “Let’s drink.”

Jian Yuheng: “:)”

Song Ruochen: gulp.

Delicious. More, please.

“Second Young Master was two minutes late to today’s dinner, which wasn’t very polite,” Song Ruochen said. “Another glass as an apology.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Song Ruochen treated the wine like juice and drank until he was half-full.

When he sat back down, his dessert plate had gained two walnut pastries, an osmanthus rice cake, a chocolate cake, and two cherry tomatoes.

Yan Ci had somehow switched seats with Jian Feng and was now sitting beside him, smoothly sliding over like a piece in a match-three game.

“Secretary Song, this wine has a high alcohol content. Don’t drink anymore,” Yan Ci said. “Eat more food. Your wrists are so thin.”

Song Ruochen, who had looked like this even before transmigrating, never considered himself skinny. He suspected that in this world, surrounded by tall and burly alphas, he only seemed slender by comparison.

“But your waist-to-hip ratio is great. You’re perfectly proportioned where it counts,” Yan Ci whispered. “Secretary Song is also very good-looking. You must be popular with alphas.”

“No, I don’t want an alpha,” Song Ruochen said. “I want a job with two days off per week and labor laws.”

Yan Ci: “…”

“The annual meeting for Xiaoshi Group is next week,” Jian Feng announced at the table. “The final plan incorporates both my and Yuheng’s input. Preparations can begin.”

“The Xiaoshi Group has many signed streamers and creators,” Jian Yuheng added. “Why not broadcast the annual meeting live so the public can see it?”

“Secretary Song,” Jian Feng said, “handle it.”

Secretary Song couldn’t handle it anymore. As soon as the dinner ended and the protagonist gong and shou left, he watched helplessly as the walnut pastries on his plate doubled from two to four.

“A cornucopia?” Song Ruochen asked.

[You *%￥… It’s the alcohol messing with your vision *%￥…zzz]

Jian Yuheng walked over with his coat in hand, stopping beside Song Ruochen. His sharp, hawk-like gaze pinned the omega in place.

He hadn’t been mistaken earlier. That strange phenomenon had happened again—time rewinding, resetting everything.

But now there was a variable in the scene.

The variable sat primly at the table, sporting two fuzzy rabbit ears on his back, staring intently at the walnut pastries.

Assistant Gong had gone to move the car. The private room was now empty except for Jian Yuheng and Secretary Song.

Perfect for interrogating someone.

Jian Yuheng raised his hand, pinching the omega’s cheek and forcing Song Ruochen to tilt his head up to meet his gaze.

“Song Ruochen, was it you who pushed me into the pool?” Jian Yuheng asked.

“You’re the one framing me first!” Song Ruochen said. “You pushed me into the pool!”

“Stop playing dumb.” Jian Yuheng lightly patted the omega’s cheek. “And the company’s elevator doors—was that your doing?”

“I’m afraid of ghosts,” Song Ruochen said. “I wouldn’t mess with anything spooky.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

“Song Ruochen, who do you think I am?” Jian Yuheng asked.

“A paper person,” Song Ruochen replied.

Jian Yuheng: “…”

The air carried the aroma of wine. The omega’s breathing was faster than usual, and his gaze gradually became unfocused.

The perfect little secretary was drunk.

“Second Young Master, the car is ready,” Assistant Gong interrupted, “Shall I take you home?”

“Mm.” Jian Yuheng nodded, grabbing the long rabbit ears on the back of Song Ruochen’s clothes and lifting him off the chair. “Bring this one along.”

No matter how much they usually despised each other, it was common sense not to leave a drunken omega wandering around outside.

Assistant Gong watched in alarm as his boss grabbed Secretary Song by the rabbit ears on his outfit and shoved him into the car.

“You finally got your retribution,” Assistant Gong said with a grin.

“Say it louder, and you won’t survive the night,” Secretary Song retorted.

Assistant Gong shrank back.

Song Ruochen: “Zzzzz.”

System: “Zzzzz.”

“Address?” Jian Yuheng asked. “Never mind. Assistant Gong, pull up the company database.”

“Accessing now.” Assistant Gong input the name of a residential complex into the smart map. “Secretary Song’s address is Building 21, Yuzhu Courtyard.”

“This guy’s hitching a ride with us again,” Assistant Gong muttered. “Tomorrow, we should make him reimburse us for gas money.”

As Assistant Gong prepared to step on the gas, the smart map announced:
“You have arrived near your destination. Navigation stopped.”

Assistant Gong: “?”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

“Is this thing glitching?” Assistant Gong re-entered the destination.

“Starting navigation. Distance to destination: 10 meters. Estimated driving time: 2 seconds. Estimated walking time: 10 seconds.”

“Why didn’t he just book the dinner in his own living room?” Assistant Gong grumbled.

Jian Yuheng remained silent for a moment, looking at the residential building next to the hotel. His eyelid twitched.

“Wait here,” Jian Yuheng said. “I’ll take him up.”

Assistant Gong hesitated. “But—”

“Don’t worry,” Jian Yuheng said. “He wouldn’t dare try anything. I’ll be quick.”

Jian Yuheng grabbed the “drunken rabbit” and walked into the residential building’s elevator.

Song Ruochen was thoroughly drunk but surprisingly docile, letting himself be led by the wrist. This compliance gave the alpha a deep sense of control, which he found satisfying.

Jian Yuheng glanced at the person he was holding.

Whether this guy was the culprit still needed confirmation. But tonight, with him this drunk, it wasn’t the time to press further.

The elevator stopped on the fifth floor, and an alpha resident stepped in. From the moment he entered, his eyes lingered on Song Ruochen’s face.

Because of the alcohol, the omega’s pale cheeks were tinged with a rosy hue, and his lips looked more vibrant than usual. His dazed eyes carried a slight sheen of moisture.

Jian Yuheng lifted Song Ruochen’s hand and rested it on his own shoulder, pulling the omega closer to his side. He shot a warning glance at the other alpha.

Since this was a rival—and a potentially mischievous one at that—he’d personally deal with him. No one else could touch him.

The alpha resident gave a sheepish smile, waved his hand, and retreated to the corner of the elevator.

The elevator stopped on the 30th floor, and Jian Yuheng guided the omega to the fingerprint lock of a particular apartment.

He grabbed Song Ruochen’s hand and pressed it against the lock. The door opened.

Song Secretary’s small apartment came into view.

“Get inside,” Jian Yuheng said, giving Song Ruochen a light push.

The omega stumbled forward in a zigzag pattern, landing on the sofa and hanging off its armrest, motionless.

His back was slender, and the loose sweatshirt he wore lifted slightly, revealing a sliver of pale waist.

Jian Yuheng’s gaze swept over the omega’s exposed skin, catching the faint scent of grapes in the air.

The omega’s pheromones were leaking slightly due to the alcohol. It was time for him to leave.

“I’ll let you off for now,” Jian Yuheng said. “But if it’s confirmed that you’re the culprit, I’ll definitely punish you.”

Whether it would be “eliminating the problem” or “a small warning” would depend on his mood.

The grape wine in this ABO world had a delayed kick. Dizzy from the alcohol, Song Ruochen blinked blearily, feeling proud of himself for making it home. He struggled to his feet and stumbled into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water.

With a crash, the glass slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor.

Song Ruochen stared at the shards for a moment, mourning his newly purchased glass.

Ding!

As Jian Yuheng’s body temperature began to return to normal, he was abruptly pulled back into the room. The glass was whole again, filled with water, and back in Song Ruochen’s hand.

Jian Yuheng: “???”

The scent of grapes enveloped him.

Jian Yuheng slammed the door shut with a bang and stood in the hallway, taking a deep breath of fresh air.

“This is hot!” Song Ruochen yelped as he let go of the glass, which shattered on the floor again.

Ding!

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Jian Yuheng: “………”

He stiffly turned his head back.

“This is hot!” Song Ruochen exclaimed again, dropping the glass.

The omega’s grape-scented pheromones washed over Jian Yuheng repeatedly.

A sudden wave of homesickness hit Jian Yuheng.

He wanted to go home.