chapter 2

pheromones would then slowly caress his back and soft rabbit ears, attentively taking care of this fragile little rabbit. Even if a rain of bullets and the flames of war erupted tomorrow, the emotional fluidity of romance would only be needed tonight.

That night was the most unforgettable moment in Yan Yi’s life. His alpha had marked him, and had personally put the ring on his finger, promising him with a deep and low voice next to his ear, “I will love you until my last breath, Yan Yan.”

In fact, when people grow up, they no longer take fairy tales seriously. No matter how affectionate a commitment is, it could not compare to the reality of having a cheque or a black card. In the end, not a single crumb of vigorous love and affection would be left, and one may not even have a single branch to perch on.

He still did not live as good as the life of Lu Shangjin’s new favourite omega.

Accompanying an emperor was like accompanying a tiger. It had been ten years, Lu Shangjin had abandoned the life of an outlaw and retired, leaving the world of war and chaos, and the lop-eared rabbit that followed him had also fallen out of favour.

Lu Shangjin was too powerful, able to arouse the envy and vigilance of alphas. An alpha who spent his life surrounded by flashing swords and knives no longer needed a strong omega. In contrast, a sweet and yielding omega was the preferable mate for someone as successful as him.

Yan Yi had tasted the heartlessness of Lu Shangjin.

He had pressed Yan Yi onto the operating table and surgically mended his glands, erasing any evidence of being marked. If Lu Shangjin wanted to break up with someone, he would not leave a single trace of himself on the other party.

But.

Yan Yi extinguished the cigarette. He kissed the ring on his finger with his eyes downcast.

“Jin ge, I’ll wait for you to have enough of your fun. When you turn back, I’ll always be here.”

After a stick of cigarette, the restless activity in the room still had not ended. The omega’s voice became hoarse, the initial pleasurable intimate sounds gradually turned into painful pleas.

Yan Yi didn’t stay any longer. He went into the coatroom to pick up an ironed-flat tuxedo, lifted the collar of his white shirt, skilfully tied a decent bow tie and finally tidied his coat. His slender waist fit perfectly; a butler’s uniform was spotless. After putting on a pair of white gloves, he headed downstairs to prepare tea.

(T/N: Yan Yi’s position as a “butler” and “guard” in this novel is interchangeable. The later chapters will explain this change. Here he is fulfilling his duty as a butler.)

The quartz clock in the living room pointed to four in the afternoon. Wearing the clothes left by Yan Yi outside his bedroom, Lu Shangjin followed along the solid wooden steps downstairs. He sat on the sofa, took the schedule prepared by Yan Yi and glanced through it.

A pair of eyes that could penetrate through anyone sat beneath cold, wrinkled thick eyebrows. The brow ridges and bridge of his nose are taller and more three-dimensional than the average Asian, and his body was absent of any jewellery that marked his identity and status. The elegance and calmness emitting from his bones allowed him to unconsciously become the main focus of any situation.

Yan Yi stood in front of the table and wiped the porcelain plates. There was a red rose in the vase on the table.

“Xiansheng1, a phone call came through just now. The other party spoke resolutely and refused to allow me to take the message.” Yan Yi’s tone was gentle and fitting. The only smell in the living room was Lu Shangjin’s faint pheromones, allowing Yan Yi to relax and feel comfortable.

Yuan Mi was Lu Shangjin’s captive canary, pampered in the palm of his hand and feeling free from worries, while Yan Yi was just a watchdog in the yard, a sharp henchman, loyal and quiet.

Yuan Mi sat at the table. With a neat napkin draped on his left hand, Yan Yi bowed politely and poured a cup of black tea, then arranged a knife and fork next to a plate of pancakes sprinkled with blueberries.

Propping his cheek, Yuan Mi looked at Yan Yi, and as though he was the other owner of this villa, he commanded Yan Yi, “Contain your pheromones, I’m lactose intolerant, the smell of milk candy is disgusting.”

This celebrity’s pheromones smelled like Iris perfume. A storm of vile vocabulary that could attack this little superstar appeared in Yan Yi’s mind, but he smiled politely.

In front of alphas, omegas would always break out with malicious friction. For someone like Yuan Mi who was used to being in the bubble of fame in front of the camera, he felt like he was winning. A shining diamond like himself was able to outshine all the other omegas.

Yan Yi turned a deaf ear to the omega’s provocations. With a quiet voice, he slowly introduced today’s Whittard black tea to Yuan Mi.

Yuan Mi was disinterested in the tea’s origins. He picked up the sharp silver knife, and then the sharp tip was against the back of Yan Yi’s hand that was holding the tray. Instantly, blood soaked through the white gloves, and a red flower spread from the flat edge of the knife.

“You really didn’t move your hand away,” Yuan Mi held his cheek and smiled at him, “You’re exactly the same as the butlers who serve the wealthy that I read about in my scripts.”

Yan Yi’s expression remained indifferent. He went to change a new pair of gloves and poured a cup of black tea for Lu Shangjin.

Lu Shangjin answered the phone again and left the living room.

Yuan Mi wantonly grabbed Yan Yi’s right hand and peeled off the glove. When he saw the platinum ring on his ring finger, he raised his eyes and laughed at Yan Yi, “I heard you and Jin ge once had history.”

The smile full of malice was like stepping on Yan Yi’s most fragile memory. He was most afraid of others mentioning his romantic past with Lu Shangjin, afraid that his incompatibly cherished love would be regarded as inferior and a loss. People were like that; always humbly taking to heart about what they lack.

Just as he regained his composure, Yuan Mi had fallen by the door and was holding onto his fractured leg. When Lu Shangjin heard the loud noise, he hurried back to the living room to investigate. The sofa had toppled over and the person was flipped upside down-

Yan Yi took two steps back, his eyes looking at Lu Shangjin with fear, his rabbit ears drooping. His heart rate soared to its peak, the tip of his nose turned red and trembled slightly, a sign of a rabbit’s fear.

The little celebrity was kicked eight meters away.

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