Chà Chà Novel

“Doctor, could we talk?”

After having his pheromones extracted, Min Zhi stopped the head of the research institute. A records assistant was beside him, discussing something. As it happened, the doctor also wanted to speak with Min Zhi, so all three entered his office.

Holding the report the assistant had given him, the doctor spoke first.

“Mr. Min, your routine examination wasn’t scheduled for another three days.”

“But your pheromone levels have risen rapidly lately. Can you explain what’s been happening?”

The empire kept Enigmas under strict supervision. To prevent them from losing control of their pheromones, even the slightest abnormality could not be overlooked.

Min Zhi rested his hand on the desk. He had no intention of lying.

“I recently marked an Omega.”

“A temporary mark.”

Both the doctor and the assistant glanced at him.

Almost everyone knew Min Zhi had no interest in Omegas. Enigmas might be dangerous, but who would turn down a partner even more exceptional than an Alpha? Besides, whether in appearance, family background, or ability, Min Zhi ranked among the finest in the empire. He was also unfailingly gentlemanly. Countless Omegas would fight for the chance to become his partner.

The institute’s staff had introduced him to many Omegas with compatible pheromones, partly to help regulate his pheromones and partly to benefit their own relatives. He had turned them all down.

Even Yu Yue, the hottest celebrity of the moment, known as “the empire’s most captivating Omega,” had once invited him out. In front of the public and reporters, Min Zhi had not rejected her. At dinner, however, he had explicitly told the beautiful Omega that he had no interest in Omegas. He wanted an Alpha partner.

So when Min Zhi said he had temporarily marked an Omega, the first assumption of the other two people in the office was that he had been forced into it.

The doctor quickly recovered.

“Has this person affected your pheromones?”

“Yes.”

“I’m very fond of his pheromones.” Min Zhi’s brows drew together slightly. “Sometimes I can’t control myself.”

It was more than a loss of control. It felt like giving himself free rein. Several times, he had been unable to understand why he had behaved that way.

Especially that night. Even now, he could not understand what had driven him. He knew perfectly well that Fu Baiqi was Fang Fengzhi’s husband. Making him see his husband at a time like that would only shame him and torment his conscience. Yet Min Zhi had not only encouraged him into his arms and touched him improperly, he had even made him hear Fu Baiqi’s voice just as he was about to come. It was nothing short of trampling on Fang Fengzhi’s sense of shame. Min Zhi unconsciously clenched his teeth.

And that was not even the worst of it.

Despite realizing that his pheromones were slipping out of control, he had still kept Fang Fengzhi trapped in his arms. It was incomprehensible. He did not understand why he had lost control so badly. If the suppressant he had injected beforehand had not preserved a shred of reason, he might have kept the Omega in that room until something irreparable happened.

Min Zhi drew a deep breath, ashamed of his disgraceful behavior, of taking advantage of someone vulnerable.

The doctor watched his conflicted expression and wrote something on the record sheet.

“Was the mark accidental?”

Min Zhi nodded silently, his mood oppressive.

“Do you want to mark him permanently? Or have you ever had that thought?”

This time, Min Zhi paused for several seconds, as though considering it. Then he quickly shook his head.

“I can’t.”

He eventually left the institute carrying a small vial.

It contained an extract of his own pheromones, which he had requested from the doctor. Too much could cause addiction, so the institute usually kept it carefully secured. Without his connections there, he would never have obtained it.

There was not much, but it should be enough to get Fang Fengzhi through the remaining days.

He checked his watch. Fang Fengzhi should still be at work. Min Zhi drove straight to the villa.

In fact, he had not been back for two days.

He was afraid he might lose control again and do something harmful to Fang Fengzhi. Besides, what he had done last time had frightened the Omega. Approaching him now would only make him afraid and uncomfortable.

For the moment, he could only leave his belongings to provide pheromones in his place and keep his distance.

He had intended to give the extract to the housekeeper and leave. Instead, the moment he opened the front door, he caught that chamomile scent. For an instant, Min Zhi wanted to turn around and go. But he did not, because Fang Fengzhi had also noticed his pheromones and soon appeared in the entryway.

“Mr. Min…”

Min Zhi nodded.

“You’re home early today?”

“Yes. I wasn’t feeling well, so I left early.”

After that, Fang Fengzhi did not know what else to say. He stood awkwardly without moving aside. Min Zhi approached and handed him the vial.

“I got this from the hospital. Mix it with water and drink it. It works much like my pheromones.”

Still a little concerned, he added, “Don’t take too much at once.”

Although Fang Fengzhi did not know what it was, he accepted it.

“All right. Thank you, Mr. Min…”

“It’s what I should do.”

Min Zhi slipped his hand into the pocket of his wool coat, a sign that he was about to leave. Fang Fengzhi’s heart gave an anxious flutter.

“Mr. Min…”

Min Zhi looked at him.

“Was there something else?”

Fang Fengzhi lowered his head. He knew Min Zhi had been avoiding him these past few days. He also knew it was for his sake. Thinking Fang Fengzhi was afraid of him, the man had deliberately kept his distance.

Fang Fengzhi remained silent for a long while. Min Zhi did not hurry him, simply standing there and waiting.

“Mr. Min, were you… were you planning to have dinner at home today?”

Min Zhi paused. He had not been. But he noticed that the Omega’s fingertips had gone slightly white around the small vial.

“Yes.”

Suddenly taking off his coat, he began changing his shoes in the entryway.

“There’s nothing much going on today. No need to eat out.”

Fang Fengzhi blinked, inexplicably relieved. Out of habit, as though he were in his own home, he took the coat Min Zhi had removed and hung it on the rack beside them.

The man behind him went quiet. Fang Fengzhi turned and found Min Zhi watching him, though he looked away as soon as Fang Fengzhi faced him. Only then did Fang Fengzhi realize how intimate his gesture had been.

At a loss, he stood there and awkwardly searched for something to say.

“Dinner should be nearly ready. I’ll go and check.”

He hurried away. Min Zhi remained where he was, turning his head to look at the coat on the rack. It was a long time before he looked away.

After dinner, Min Zhi received a call from a business partner.

He answered briefly and prepared to go out. Turning, he saw Fang Fengzhi standing nearby. What had happened that night must have affected the Omega deeply. At dinner, Min Zhi had intended to take his usual seat beside him, only for Fang Fengzhi’s whole body to stiffen immediately.

That was understandable. Whether concealing his true designation or ignoring his resistance and subjecting him to humiliating acts, Min Zhi had been at fault. His behavior had been terrifying for an Omega. It was no wonder Fang Fengzhi felt averse to him. Yet he had also noticed Fang Fengzhi stealing glances at him, as though he had something to say.

He went to the door and took his coat from the rack. Hearing the Omega’s footsteps behind him, Min Zhi unconsciously slowed his movements, as though giving Fang Fengzhi a chance to speak.

But even after he had changed his shoes, the Omega remained silent.

Min Zhi opened the door and glanced at him.

“I’ll be going, then.”

Fang Fengzhi nodded blankly.

“…All right.”

He clearly wanted to say something, yet stubbornly kept it to himself.

Min Zhi lifted a foot to step outside, then drew it back.

He looked at Fang Fengzhi’s face.

“Your gland should recover in a few more days.”

“What I gave you earlier will help you get through it…” He paused. “After this, I won’t be coming back.”

Seeing Fang Fengzhi’s hands clasp together, Min Zhi took a few steps toward him.

“I’m sorry.”

He had apologized many times already. But thinking that they might go their separate ways after this, that even if they met on the street the Omega would probably pretend not to know him to avoid suspicion, Min Zhi felt he should say it once more.

After all, the responsibility was entirely his.

He was about to leave when Fang Fengzhi stopped him again.

“Mr. Min!”

He looked into Min Zhi’s eyes, then lowered his head.

“Mr. Min…”

Fang Fengzhi also knew they might never see each other again. He wanted to say something.

“Thank you so much… for looking after me all this time…”

He still believed Min Zhi was a very good person.

Min Zhi remained motionless for a long time. Fang Fengzhi looked up to find him staring directly at him. The moment their eyes met, Min Zhi smiled.

“You’re welcome.”

Min Zhi left the villa.

Expressionless, he walked toward the garage. How strange. His mind had gone blank for a second just now, for no apparent reason.

In that instant, all he had noticed was a tiny mole on Fang Fengzhi’s eyelid, just above the outer corner of his eye.