FOBTS CH70

Chapter 70: Are You Living with Me Now?

“:o”

“:O”

Jian Yuheng opened his mouth.

“Make-up exam. You have to pay the make-up fee,” Song Ruochen said. “Did Second Young Master pay?”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Song Ruochen didn’t mean to ruin the mood. He was just nervous.

After all, he wasn’t from around here. He was a bit afraid of this sort of thing—like a stapler snapping at your neck.

He heard Jian Yuheng chuckle behind him, and then Jian Yuheng’s hand reached out and firmly covered his mouth, clearly signaling: shut up.

“I didn’t pay,” Jian Yuheng said. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

Song Ruochen: “Mmm mmm—”

“There’s a new grilled fish restaurant in the basement level of the mall near my place. I heard from the staff that it’s pretty good,” Jian Yuheng said. “Wanna go sometime?”

Silenced, Song Ruochen raised his left hand and gave an OK gesture, then bowed his head obediently and beckoned with a “come here” motion.

Jian Yuheng immediately saw the red marks on his wrist—left behind by something that had bound him. The traces hadn’t faded yet and stood out starkly against his fair skin.

Jian Yuheng caught those slender, pale fingers and bent down to bite them.

Song Ruochen: “Mmph.”

The bite wasn’t that hard—just a little painful. What followed was a wave of warmth spreading from the back of his neck down his spine. It felt like… stretching lazily under warm sunlight. His neck tingled, and it felt so good he almost wanted to moan.

The hand over his mouth noticed his quickened breath. The Alpha’s pheromones seeped into the bitten gland, the sweet-and-sour scent of hawthorn enveloping him, full of comfort.

Jian Yuheng had expertly used his hawthorn-flavored soothing pheromones.

Their hands, resting side by side on the car seat, were tightly clasped. The pressure from Jian Yuheng’s large Alpha hand left a red mark on the tips of Song Ruochen’s fingers.

This time, the temporary mark lasted a long while—even though both of them were fully conscious. Long enough for Song Ruochen to feel like his whole body was filled with the other’s scent.

Crap, I’ve turned into a fruit salad.

Jian Yuheng’s grip on his fingers tightened slightly, gently playing with them.

His vision blurred behind a thin sheen of tears. Through that hazy lens, the world looked like it had a soft filter.

It didn’t hurt that much this time. So why was he crying again?

Song Ruochen: “Qvo?”

A small sting at the back of his neck. Jian Yuheng released his bite.

Squinting, Song Ruochen twisted his arms and legs into wavy shapes.

“…My pheromone is hawthorn,” Jian Yuheng said. “Not unripe grapes.”

Song Ruochen: “Oh oh.”

“Act normal, will you?” Jian Yuheng said.

He nearly thought his pheromones were hallucinogenic.

“Don’t move yet,” Jian Yuheng said. “Your neck’s bleeding. Let me clean it.”

He pulled out a small first-aid kit from the car and took some cotton.

“Hey.” Song Ruochen was recovering now and started talking again. “I should’ve let you bite me first, then we could’ve gone to Dr. Liu and asked for a combo deal.”

“You’re affecting my reputation,” Jian Yuheng said, gently wiping away the blood on the back of Song Ruochen’s neck. “Dr. Liu would think I’m some kind of beast.”

Song Ruochen: “?”

What? You think I wouldn’t?

“You don’t need to worry about your reputation,” Song Ruochen said. “Ever since you shouted at the kidnappers through the car window to not reverse, your image has stopped being ‘visual’ and become ‘abstract.'”

Jian Yuheng casually tore a strip of medical tape and stuck it over Song Ruochen’s mouth.

Song Ruochen: “Mmm…”

The car went quiet. Jian Yuheng unwrapped a fresh bandage and gently wrapped it around Song Ruochen’s neck.

“Go home and rest,” Jian Yuheng said. “I’ll have someone continue searching the mountain for your phone.”

Seal released.

Song Ruochen: “Okay okay okay, I’m going to enjoy my paid leave now.”

Finally, a stroke of good luck for him.

“Bye, villain,” Song Ruochen said as he limped out of the car.

Through the window, Jian Yuheng watched the back of his Omega and let out a long breath.

Song Ruochen looked cheerful. No one would guess how hard he’d had to work to restrain himself from leaving deeper marks.

Jian Yuheng could feel a strong possessiveness toward Song Ruochen. He wanted to keep him close, wanted him to belong to him forever.

This lunatic had some strange, magnetic pull—far more interesting than all the power struggles he used to crave.

His fully charged phone lit up with a call.

“Bro,” came the voice of the now-popular Jian Feng, speaking sparingly. “Late meeting. You chair it?”

Jian Yuheng: “?”

When you stop chasing power, power comes knocking at your door.

This kidnapping incident, combined with the recent internal mole problem and fierce competition from rivals, couldn’t be seen as unrelated.

After all this, the upper management of Xiaoshi needed reshuffling. Tonight’s meeting was the starting signal.

But—

“Do you just not want to do any work?” Jian Yuheng asked.

“No,” Jian Feng said. “I just don’t feel like talking this week.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

“Fine, I’ll chair it,” Jian Yuheng said. “I’ll have Assistant Gong notify everyone.”

“I’m going to spend some time with Yan Ci,” Jian Feng said. “He might still be shaken. You should also spend some time with Song Ruochen.”

Jian Yuheng: “He’s not shaken.”

If anything, Song Ruochen is the one who startles others.

The elevator stopped. Song Ruochen entered his anti-theft code and stepped into his warm home. He took a few running steps and flopped comfortably onto the floor.

Wait.

“Where’s my bed and sofa?” he asked.

【I sold them.】

【Traded them for respawn coins.】

“Huh?” Song Ruochen was stunned. “Didn’t we already earn a bunch of coins?”

【Whistling emoji.jpg】

【I put too much into term deposits earlier, and when I fought the kidnappers, funds were a bit tight. So I liquidated some of your stuff.】

“You sold my furniture?” Song Ruochen asked.

【Also sold a bit of the home appliances.】

Song Ruochen: “…”

The external threat had passed, but now came internal strife.

He lay on the floor like a peaceful corpse.

A few seconds later, Song Ruochen sprang up in the empty apartment, clutching his only remaining possession—a laptop—and dashed out.

At this hour, Jian Yuheng was probably still driving. He needed to get the property management to call him.

This system had pulled a home invasion.

Outside, by the roadside near the community, a familiar black car sat with its window down. Jian Yuheng was staring at the sky.

Why was he reluctant to leave?

Because he liked Song Ruochen so much he’d also fallen in love with the community gate?

Ridiculous. Go. You think waiting here will make him come out?

Is this road yours? Why are you honking? What’s wrong with parking a few minutes?

“Don’t fight,” Jian Yuheng muttered.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached. He turned his head, and their eyes met.

“Second Young Master, help!” Song Ruochen cried. “Please take me in!”

Jian Yuheng: “?”

“What happened?” he asked.

“Take me to your place,” Song Ruochen said. “I want to hang out at your home.”

【He wants to live with you~~】

Song Ruochen: “…”

—

Half an hour later, Song Ruochen looked around the private villa in awe.

【So big.】

“It’s really big,” Song Ruochen said. “If I sold my university, could I afford this?”

“Jian Yuheng,” he asked, “do you need GPS just to get from your bedroom to the front door?”

“I usually stay in an apartment,” Jian Yuheng said. “But now that you’re here, I’ll open up this space.”

Song Ruochen: “0.0*”

Why did he say “open up the space” like that?

“Besides, this place is better for two people living together,” Jian Yuheng said.

“I… I’m just staying for a day or two,” Song Ruochen clarified. “Not moving in or anything.”

“Sure, a day or two is fine. A lifetime is fine too,” Jian Yuheng said with a cheerful smile. “Stay as long as you like.”

He pulled open the drawer and took out a whole bunch of snacks, piling them up beside Song Ruochen. “President Song, here you go. Time to pay your re-exam fee.”

“So many?” Song Ruochen was shocked.

There were tons of snacks he had never even seen before. He had no idea when Jian Yuheng had prepared all these.

“You don’t need to pay this much for a re-exam,” Song Ruochen’s conscience stirred.

“That’s ten re-exam fees,” Jian Yuheng said. “I’m a top student. I hold myself to high standards. Upon reflection, I feel like I didn’t do that well this time, so I’m applying to take it again to improve my score.”

“You…” Song Ruochen subconsciously rubbed his tightly bandaged neck. “You’re taking it again…”

His legs still felt a bit weak. The Alpha pheromones were still lingering strongly in his body, making him feel as though he was about to be claimed by an alpha at any moment—a terrifying illusion.

Something deep in his body seemed to have changed too, making him gradually more expectant than repulsed by Jian Yuheng’s proximity.

He wasn’t sure what, exactly, he was expecting—and didn’t really want to figure it out.

“Xiao Jian, I’m going to take a shower,” Song Ruochen said.

“Your neck and leg can’t get wet. Be careful,” Jian Yuheng reminded.

“It’s fine,” Song Ruochen replied. “I’ll fold myself into a tuck position like a diver, enter the water back-first, and minimize the splash.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

What is this—trying out for the Olympics in my bathtub?

Crap. He’s invited this little god into his house.

“I’m actually quite flexible.” Song Ruochen hummed a tune as he headed to the bathroom and closed the door.

“President Song,” Jian Yuheng raised his voice, watching his little secretary move away, “did you bring your grape skin?”

“Ah, no.” Song Ruochen leaned his head out through the bathroom door. “Jian-ge, lend me one, I’ll wear yours.”

Jian Yuheng: “:D”

He called me Jian-ge. Sounds nice.

But… why does it feel like Song Ruochen really doesn’t have a concept of alpha and omega dynamics?

Specifically, he treats Jian Yuheng as a man—but not really as an alpha?

Where in the world do they have customs like that?

Jian Yuheng opened his computer, accessed Xiaoshi’s employee database, and pulled up Song Ruochen’s personnel file.

Song Ruochen, born in City A, delivered at City A First Hospital, educated at City A First Kindergarten, Second Primary School, Third Middle School, and Fourth High School.

Jian Yuheng frowned.

What a… flawless yet perfunctory résumé?

Does this résumé even match his Song Ruochen?

Then again—how many employees are really as capable as their résumés claim?

An hour later, freshly bathed and squeaky clean, Song Ruochen emerged from the bathroom wearing the pajamas Jian Yuheng had lent him.

“…improve Xiaoshi’s internal promotion and selection mechanisms, and then…” Jian Yuheng was in a video conference. When he looked up, he saw the person coming out of the bathroom.

The pajamas were obviously too big. Song Ruochen was facing him, leaning over to examine the bouquet on the coffee table, the collar drooping to one side and exposing a large expanse of snow-white chest.

Jian Yuheng: “…and then, and then, ran then…”

Jian Yuheng: “.”

“There are some things we need to settle with Nanzhi. Next week, during the first quarter summary meeting, we’ll launch the new product developed by the Xiaoye subsidiary and announce a new batch of partners,” he continued. “The Q1 meeting is open to the public, and all management must attend.”

“That’s about it,” Jian Yuheng said. “Any questions?”

“Meeting minutes recorded,” Assistant Gong reported.

“Second Young Master,” someone asked, “when will Secretary Song be back at work?”

“Yeah!” another voice chimed in. “Is he doing okay? We couldn’t get in touch. Hope he’s back soon!”

Jian Yuheng: “?”

“I’m doing great,” Song Ruochen spoke up. “I’ll be back soon.”

The meeting channel fell silent for a second, then burst into a flurry of whispers.

Song Ruochen: “Hmm…”

[Ding. Ding ding.]

[What’s the big deal, it’s just cohabiting. No need to act like it’s such a shock.]

[You scared our Grape Baby into deleting their message.]

Jian Yuheng stifled a laugh and quickly ended the meeting.

“President Song, beloved by the people?” Jian Yuheng raised a brow.

“It’s nothing,” Song Ruochen said modestly. “I’m the first one to bolt after work every day. A very popular trailblazer.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

He really is the company’s trailblazing sheep.

The “trailblazing sheep” now sat at Jian Yuheng’s desk, wrapped in oversized pajamas and hugging his laptop.

Jian Yuheng watched him shuffle over. His beloved sitting in his house, wearing his clothes—it was a deeply satisfying sight.

Group Chat [Zao Zao Zao] (3 Members)

[Yan Ci]: @Song Ruochen, Lu Yunye’s short drama blew up. Everyone knows about it now. No need for our mini-game promo.

[Meng Yumian]: Let’s find a new sponsor.

[Meng Yumian]: President Song, what do you think we should promote?

[Song Ruochen]: I’ll think about it.

[Song Ruochen]: Let’s pick something useful for working folks—earn money with work, spend money on work.

[Yan Ci]: Da Song, I found this amazing milk tea shop. I’ll order some for you.

[Song Ruochen]: Sure, Zao.

“Hey, friend,” Song Ruochen turned around. “Give me your home address.”

“I’ll do it,” Jian Yuheng walked over and leaned down behind him, typing in the address.

[Song Ruochen]: Building 07, XX Manor, XX District, City A

[Yan Ci]: Whoa.

[Yan Ci]: Little bro?

[Yan Ci]: I’ll order two servings then.

[Song Ruochen]: Just write my number down, sis-in-law.

[Yan Ci]: No problem.

[Yan Ci]: So are you two living together now?

[Song Ruochen]: 0.o? Yes!

[Song Ruochen]: 0.o? Second Young Master is great!

[Song Ruochen]: 0.o? Second Young Master’s house is great too!

Song Ruochen: “…?”

“Jian Yuheng!” he scrambled to grab Jian Yuheng’s hand. “What are you doing?!”

__

Author’s Note:

The First Annual “Secretary Song Imitation Contest”

Let’s welcome our contestant—Jian Yuheng!

Remove the lowest score (0.1 from Song Ruochen) and the highest score (10 from Jian Yuheng himself), and Jian Yuheng’s final score is: ______.