Red Camellia

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/46627081.

Rating: Explicit
Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category: M/M
Fandom: 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) RPF
Relationship: Wang Yi Bo/Xiao Zhan | Sean
Characters: Wang Yi Bo, Xiao Zhan | Sean
Additional Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Omega Verse, Alpha Wang Yi Bo, Omega
Xiao Zhan | Sean, Top Wang Yi Bo/Bottom Xiao Zhan | Sean, Mafia
Boss Wang Yi Bo, Underworld, mafia, Organized Crime, Minor
Violence, Blood and Injury, Guns, Tattoos, Illegal Activities, References
to Drugs, Murder, Mutual Pining, Possessive Behavior, Explicit Sexual
Content, Smut, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Claiming Bites, Self-Lubrication,
Knotting, Barebacking, Rimming, Blow Jobs, Mpreg, Breeding,
Possessive Wang Yi Bo, Alternate Universe - Gangsters
Language: English
Series: Part 2 of Darker Shades
Collections: bjyx exchange 2023
Stats: Published: 2023-05-28 Words: 26,618 Chapters: 1/1
 Red Camellia
by Malingshu

Summary

Wang Yibo is the young mafia boss and Xiao Zhan is his right-hand man, or that’s how it’s
supposed to be.

In reality, Wang Yibo is an alpha with secrets and Xiao Zhan is the omega who’s in love with
him.

Notes

Prompt:
Gangsters/dark underworld au. Can be a comedy or drama, a heist or a romance, whatever
you're feeling. One could be an undercover agent, they could be on rival sides and fall in
love, or maybe they're in the same gang! Competitors or teaming up against the world, sugar
didi meets green tea xz or both as mafia heirs that can't stay away from each other, it's up to
you, I'm just throwing out ideas but I'm pretty open! I just want a gangster/underworld
plotline involved.

Translation note:
Laoda (老大) - leader of a group, boss, leader of a criminal gang

Notes:
- Contains explicit sexual scenes and mild violence, please read the tags as warnings.
- In this ABO world, those who can conceive (omegas, female betas) will be called wife and
mother, those who can impregnate (alphas, male betas) will be called husband and father,
regardless their first genders.
- English is not my main language, beware of the grammatical errors.

See the end of the work for more notes

Yibo was secretly reading a book under his blanket with his little flashlight when his father
suddenly called for him from his bedroom door.

It was late at night already and his father usually expected him to be asleep on his bed at this
hour like a good child, so he didn't expect his father to check his room. He slowly got down
from his bed, pretending that he had just woken up from his sleep, and walked to the door.
His father raised a brow at him, but the man didn’t say anything else as he guided him down
the hall.

Then Yibo saw him.

There was another person standing at the end of the hall and staring at him. That person
looked like a teenager, probably a few years older than him. That person was pretty tall, but
he’s a little too skinny and his torn clothes were stained with blood. His hands were also
bloody and there was even a smudge of red on his bruised face. Yibo caught the whiff of the
metallic smell and he knew the blood on this person was fresh.

Yibo knew this person most probably had committed a murder, but he had no idea why his
father would bring a bloody teenager into their house in the middle of a snowy night.

“This is my son, Wang Yibo. He is ten years old this year. I hope you can get along with him.”
His father said to the young teen who didn’t show any notable reaction to the introduction.
The juvenile’s eyes were empty, as if he had just gone through a traumatizing incident.

It should have been terrifying for anybody to see someone with so much blood on his hands,
but Yibo was used to the sight of blood. Besides, there was something about this person that
made Yibo unable to take his eyes off, such as the black collar wrapped around his slender
neck. Instead of feeling scared, Yibo was curious. He wanted to know more about this
mysterious teenager and why he killed someone.

“Yibo, this is Xiao Zhan.” His father said to him. “From now on, he will be part of our
family.”

Yibo didn’t say anything in response. All he thought about was how beautiful Xiao Zhan
looked in red. Yibo liked beautiful things and the omega in front of him was beautiful, even
with his bruised face.

It was a cold winter that night and the omega reminded him of a beautiful flower that
bloomed in winter.
A red camellia.

Yibo remains still as the car pulls over in front of the gate of his residence. The alpha only
makes a move to get out of the car once someone opens the door for him.

“Welcome home, Laoda.”

Xiao Zhan is there, holding the door open and waiting for him to come out like the good
underling he is. Yibo only looks at the omega for a brief second before he steps out of the car
and makes his way into the house, eyes looking straight ahead. Some of his underlings are
walking behind him while Xiao Zhan is the only one who’s walking next to him – because
Xiao Zhan is special, they know.

“Is there any update regarding Xuhui?” Yibo asks.

“It looks like they’re going to raid the joint in Xuhui this Friday night. I think this will be a
good time for us to pull out.” Xiao Zhan explains with a nod. “I’m going to meet with that
cop tomorrow night with some cash that he asked for.”

Yibo’s eyes twitch slightly at the last information. “That place where they often do secret
gambling? Will it be okay?”
“It will be okay. I’ve paid enough for the information.” Xiao Zhan says positively. “Though
I’m not sure how much longer I can use that cop. It seems that the drugs get to him so
quickly.”

“And why are you the one meeting that cop?”

“Because he only trusts me. I just want to clear this matter quickly.”

Yibo doesn’t say anything until he gets inside the house and sits himself in the grand living
room. The other men stay outside the door to make sure that their boss has entered the house
safely before they go back into the cars. Xiao Zhan is the only one who enters the house with
the boss and locks the door behind them.

“Don’t get too deep into drug matters, Xiao Zhan. Leave it to Yizhou, he knows what he’s
doing.” Yibo says.

“I’ll be fine.” Xiao Zhan stands next to him instead of sitting down.

“Your life is mine.” Yibo says. His eyes are stern as he looks at Xiao Zhan, almost like he’s
warning the omega. “If you want to be careless with it, I’d rather take it with my own hands.
Do you understand?”

Xiao Zhan stares at him for a moment before nodding his head. “I understand, Sir.”

Yibo seems satisfied by the answer. Without saying a word, he lifts his right hand to the
omega as if asking for something.

Xiao Zhan gets the cue though. The elder immediately takes out a pack of cigarettes and
places one of them between Yibo’s fingers. When Yibo puts the cigarette into his mouth,
Xiao Zhan quickly pulls out a lighter to light it up. He makes sure that the cigarette is lit
properly before pulling away.
Yibo blows out the first puff of smoke before speaking again. “And I think I’ve specifically
told you not to get directly involved with drugs, so what are you doing right now?”

“I’m just gathering information behind the scenes. I’m not the one selling or distributing
them.”

“Are you talking back to me?” Yibo pulls the cigarette away from his lips and looks at him,
seemingly displeased by the answer.

Xiao Zhan sucks in a quick breath at the hint of anger before dropping his head
apologetically. “No, Sir. I apologize.”

Yibo takes a drag of his cigarette and blows out another puff of smoke from his lips. “Strip.”

Xiao Zhan doesn’t flinch at all. With unhurried yet swift movements, he takes off the vest
he’s wearing and lets it drop to the floor. He keeps his eyes locked on Yibo’s as he unbuttons
his shirt and unbuckles his pants, letting every article of clothing fall to the floor. At last, he
pulls his underwear down and lets it pool around his feet, presenting his body to the alpha in
front of him.

Yibo puts the cigarette between his lips as he stares at Xiao Zhan, scanning the omega from
head to toe and enjoying the sight presented to his eyes.

“Turn around.” Yibo says as he flicks his cigarette over an ashtray on the table.

Xiao Zhan turns around, showing the blooming red camellias tattoo on his back. It starts from
the back of his waist and growing to the middle of his back, red and blooming like a beautiful
painting. Yibo trails his gaze over the full bloom flowers, to the thin stems, and over the dark
green leaves. With the pale skin of Xiao Zhan’s back, the tattoo truly looks like camellias in
winter snow.
No matter how many times Yibo looks at those red camellias, he never gets bored of them.
They’re still as breath-taking as the first time he saw them many years ago.

“Come here.” Yibo leans back against the sofa and puts the cigarette back between his lips.

Xiao Zhan walks over and without waiting for another command, he climbs onto the sofa and
straddles Yibo’s lap as if it’s the only seat he’s allowed to have. The alpha brings his other
hand down to squeeze his ass and yank him closer until their chests are touching against each
other. Xiao Zhan’s breath hitches slightly when the hint of musk mixed with tobacco smell
tickles his nose; the scent of Yibo.

“Laoda…” Xiao Zhan murmurs as he places his palm against Yibo’s chest.

“Go ahead.” Yibo tilts his head to the side and takes another smoke.

Once Xiao Zhan gets the permission, he wastes no time to loosen the tie Yibo is wearing and
start unbuttoning his vest. He then proceeds to unbutton Yibo’s shirt completely before
leaning down to kiss the younger’s neck.

Yibo tilts his head back, staring at the high ceiling of his house as Xiao Zhan kisses and
nibbles on his neck. He remains unmoving from his position, one hand holding his cigarette
and his other hand groping Xiao Zhan’s round ass cheek. He can feel Xiao Zhan’s hands
sneaking under his shirt to roam across his body, tracing the lines of muscles and each scar on
his skin.

There’s a sweet scent oozing from Xiao Zhan. It smells like flowers, like dripping nectar that
Yibo wants to drink till nothing’s left. It’s subtle, just like the scent of camellias, his favorite
flowers. Smirking so slightly, he lifts his hand and slaps Xiao Zhan’s ass, hard enough to
make the omega cry out.

“Ah…!” Xiao Zhan flinches, but then pushes his hips back against Yibo’s large hand.
Yibo’s smirk grows wider when the omega’s sweet scent starts oozing out even more. He
gives another slap over the reddened skin, wanting the scent to get strong enough to take over
his senses.

Xiao Zhan gasps at the smack as he presses himself closer against the alpha. He can feel his
body dampening in response, he can feel his slick trickling out of his hole. It was shameful at
first, but at this point, Xiao Zhan has accepted the fact that he does love it. He loves it when
Yibo leaves bruises on his body.

Yibo squeezes the reddened cheek in his hand and slowly blows out the smoke from his lips.
“You visited the brothel last night. What did you find?”

“Same old. A man was harassing one of the omegas, so I took care of him.” Xiao Zhan says
as he slides his hand to Yibo’s back, touching the dragon tattoo that’s painted over his pale
skin.

“Did you beat him up?” Yibo’s lips quirk in amusement.

“I just gave him a warning.” Xiao Zhan hums. “That man’s a celebrity. He will be more
careful next time.”

“What about the customers? Any new faces I should be aware of?” Yibo reaches his fingers
between Xiao Zhan’s legs, finding the hole wet already.

“There are new ones, but no one worth your concern…” Xiao Zhan bites onto his bottom lip
and looks down at himself, seeing his own cock pointing up to his stomach and ogling at
Yibo’s visible bulge under his pants.

“Did you have fun with any of the new faces? Did you sleep with anybody?” Yibo takes
another drag with a deep inhale.
“No, Sir.” Xiao Zhan pushes back eagerly against the alpha’s long fingers. “You can confirm
it yourself.”

“I will.” Yibo blows out the smoke and then pushes his two fingers in.

Xiao Zhan gasps at the breach. His hands are clutching onto Yibo’s shirt as the alpha starts
plunging his fingers roughly. Every jab of fingers hit his sensitive spot and Xiao Zhan can’t
help but to gasp each time. They’re rubbing his walls and spreading him open, preparing him
for something bigger.

“Seems that there’s no trace of another man or alpha over here.” Yibo says as he plunges his
fingers again.

“N-No one, Sir.” Xiao Zhan gasps as his thighs quiver. “Only you.”

“Bring your chest closer.” Yibo commands.

Xiao Zhan follows obediently. He leans forward and brings his chest closer to Yibo’s face.
Once it’s close enough, Yibo latches his mouth around a nipple and starts sucking on it.

“S-Sir—ah!” Xiao Zhan moans when Yibo sucks his nipple roughly.

Yibo alternates between rubbing his tongue against the hardened bud and sucking it hard.
Xiao Zhan cries out feebly when Yibo bites on his nipple. It leaves a lingering sting when the
alpha pulls away to play with the other nipple. Xiao Zhan trembles whenever Yibo sucks
particularly hard or whenever Yibo scrapes his teeth against the swollen bud.

He can feel his slick trickling out and he knows Yibo can feel it too, because the younger
starts plunging his three fingers in immediately. His eyelids are fluttering and his body is
growing weak from the pleasure. It feels so good, but it’s not enough. He wants more, he
wants to beg for it, but he knows he doesn’t have the right to do so if Yibo doesn’t feel like
doing it.
“Laoda…!” Xiao Zhan calls out when Yibo pulls back from his nipple, leaving him chasing
over the phantom pleasure by pushing his chest towards the alpha.

“My name.” Yibo husks.

“But…”

“My name.” The alpha emphasizes his command by slapping his ass again.

“Ah! Y-Yibo…” Xiao Zhan moans out.

“What do you want? Answer me.” Yibo turns his head to one side to take another smoke.

“I want yours… inside… please…” The omega murmurs, his voice sweet like dripping
nectar.

“Help yourself then.” Yibo says as he pulls his fingers out.

Xiao Zhan immediately unbuckles the belt Yibo is wearing and puts his hand inside the
alpha’s pants. Yibo watches quietly as Xiao Zhan pulls his cock out and holds it in his both
hands. He doesn’t give any notable reaction when Xiao Zhan lifts himself up to align the tip
of his cock against his dripping rim.

With an intake of breath, Xiao Zhan sinks down, forcing himself to take every inch of the
thick length until it’s fully inside him. Yibo is always so big and so deep inside him. He can
feel it on the base of his stomach and it always makes him feel so full, so stuffed. Xiao Zhan
closes his eyes in delight and squirms on Yibo’s lap, trying to get himself adjusted to the
intrusion.
Yibo blows out the last puff of smoke with a sigh and reaches his hand forward to stub his
cigarette against the ashtray. He then grabs Xiao Zhan’s small waist in his hands, holding the
omega steady. Without waiting for any permission, he lifts Xiao Zhan up until the tip is cock
is left inside and then pulls the elder back down, rough and hard as his skin meets with Xiao
Zhan’s with a loud slap.

Xiao Zhan gasps at the feeling, but Yibo doesn’t slow down. He thrusts harder, faster, and
deeper into him. Xiao Zhan cries out each time, his back arching and his fingers digging into
Yibo’s shoulders, clawing and grappling onto anything he can hold on to. His walls squeeze
tighter whenever Yibo is balls-deep because the alpha is hitting that spot, rubbing and
abusing it as he pleases.

“Don’t talk back to me again.” Yibo grumbles, eyes staring at Xiao Zhan who’s trying so
hard not to lose himself.

Xiao Zhan can’t seem to answer with all the sparks shooting across his vision. His body is
trembling. The only sounds coming out of his mouth are his choked moans and little gasps.
Yibo, however, doesn’t seem very pleased with the lack of coherent answers.

“Answer.” Yibo brings his hand down to smack Xiao Zhan’s ass, slapping over the red skin.

“Yes…!” Xiao Zhan cries out.

“Good.” Yibo hums in satisfaction as he massages the sore cheek, soothing the sting away.

Xiao Zhan moans in reply. Whenever he sinks down, he can feel Yibo’s knot pressing against
his rim and it makes his toes curl with want. He wants to know how it feels to have that knot
inside him, stretching him even more and plugging him up. He wants to know how it feels if
Yibo pushes his cock a little deeper with his knot inside. Will it reach all the way to the
entrance of his womb and fill it up? Will he get pregnant immediately? How deep will he feel
it inside him?

Xiao Zhan doesn’t know, because Yibo never knots him. He knows he has no right to ask
because an alpha only knots their partner with the intention of impregnating them. He knows
the reason why Yibo never knots him even though they have been doing this countless times
since the past few years. He knows he’s not worthy enough to carry the alpha’s child and he
knows he has no right to ask for Yibo’s knot.

“You’re close, aren’t you?” Yibo hums. He doesn’t need Xiao Zhan to warn him about it. He
can feel it from Xiao Zhan’s body to know whenever the omega is getting close to his peak.
After all, he’s the one who knows Xiao Zhan’s body the best.

Xiao Zhan chokes out another moan before nodding his head vigorously. His fingers are
digging into Yibo’s back, fingernails clawing against the tattooed skin and leaving red lines.

“Go ahead.” Yibo gives his permission.

Xiao Zhan lets himself go. He arches his back as a cry of Yibo’s name leaves his throat.
White strings shoot out from his feeble cock while his slick squirts all over Yibo’s pounding
length. He can feel it when Yibo comes inside him. He can feel the spurts of hot seeds
shooting inside him and spreading warmth across his lower stomach.

Xiao Zhan’s head is still floating in the clouds, but he is aware of Yibo pulling his face closer
to kiss him on the lips. He can smell the smoke and taste the tobacco when their tongues
meet, slightly bitter but so addicting. When Yibo breaks the kiss, he feels a little dizzy.

Yibo stares at Xiao Zhan’s dazed face for a moment before trailing his gaze down to the
collar wrapped around the omega’s neck. It’s a special protection collar that Xiao Zhan has
been wearing for years. The collar is unbreakable and the only one who can take it off is the
one who knows the 4-digit lock code.

Xiao Zhan is the only one who knows the code because he’s the one who set it up in the first
place.

As long as Xiao Zhan refuses to take off the collar in front of him, Yibo knows the beautiful
red camellia can never be his.
“Happy Eighteenth Birthday, Xiao Zhan.”

“Thank you very much, Laoda.” Xiao Zhan bowed to Mr. Wang.

“You’re an adult now, so I have prepared a gift for you.” The man said as he placed a box on
the table between them.

“You didn’t have to, Laoda.” Xiao Zhan dropped his gaze. “You saved me and took me when
I had nothing left. You didn’t have to give me anything else.”

“You’re the son of my loyal man. I have to take care of you like how he’d have wanted to take
care of you as a father.” Mr. Wang smiled. “Open it.”

Albeit hesitating, Xiao Zhan still opened the box. There was a collar inside, but it’s not like
any other ordinary collar he had ever seen before. This collar seemed to be made of high-
quality material and there was a 4-digit lock combination on the front of it. He picked the
instruction manual inside the box to find out what kind of collar this was.

“It’s a collar for omegas, but it’s not like the ordinary one you usually see in the market.” Mr.
Wang explained. “The material is indestructible. It can’t be cut, burned, torn, or anything
else. The only way to take it off is by entering the 4-digit code on the lock.”

Xiao Zhan let the information sink in before he looked up to the man. “Will you set the code
for me?”
“No, not me.” Mr. Wang shook his head. “You’re the one who should set the code. You should
be the only one who knows about it.”

“But… why?” Xiao Zhan blinked.

“So that you will be the one to decide which alpha is worthy enough to claim you. Once you
find them, you can then take off the collar and let them have you.”

Xiao Zhan stared at the black collar inside the box and then smiled softly. “Thank you very
much, Laoda.”

“Good evening, Zhan Zhan.”

“Please don’t call me that.” Xiao Zhan says as he approaches the woman who is standing
behind the counter.

“Why not? It’s cute.” Xuan Lu curls her lips into a smile as she puts her cigarette on the
ashtray next to her.

“It doesn’t suit me. I’m not cute.” Xiao Zhan leans against the counter and brings his face
closer to whisper to her. “Any news I need to be aware of?”
“You’ve heard about some yakuza members seen in Macau these days, haven’t you?” Xuan
Lu whispers, her eyes scanning the crowd to make sure that there’s no unfamiliar or
suspicious face.

“I have.”

“One of my men said that they saw a yakuza around here.”

“Why would they be in Shanghai?” Xiao Zhan frowns at the information.

“That’s what I’d like to know too.” Xuan Lu pulls back and picks her cigarette from the
ashtray to smoke again.

Xiao Zhan rubs his chin, deep in thought. The power of yakuza is growing steadily since the
past few years and none of the Chinese mafias want to start any feud with them, but it doesn’t
mean the yakuza can simply waltz into their territory without any consequences. Is there a
group who is secretly working with the yakuza?

In the middle of his deep thought, he feels an arm thrown over his shoulders. Whoever that
person is, they’re being way too close for his comfort and they’re not Yibo. Out of reflex, he
whirls around and grabs the person by the throat. Xuan Lu merely raises her brow at the
scene, seemingly used to it.

“No need to be so aggressive, Xiao Zhan.” The man says calmly, not looking threatened at
all. Instead, the man looks somewhat amused.

“Why are you here, Feiyu? This is not your territory.” Xiao Zhan narrows his eyes.

“I know, but I’m not your enemy, Xiao Zhan. Both our groups are led by the same triad after
all.” Feiyu says. “And I also believe that we’re having the same problem.”
Xiao Zhan slowly releases his hand. “What do you know?”

“My boss has noticed the yakuza’s movements too. It was from Macau at first, but now
they’re seen in Shanghai. I think it’s related to drugs.” Feiyu whispers.

“Somebody is working with them.” Xiao Zhan concludes. “We don’t touch their territory.
There’s no reason for them to do so unless there’s someone here who allows them to.”

“I also think the same. Must be someone who’s desperate for power. They throw their pride
away and beg the yakuza.” Feiyu snickers mockingly.

“We have to find them and kill them before they create trouble then.” Xiao Zhan clicks his
tongue at the possible troubles it might bring if they’re not fast enough.

Feiyu hums in agreement and then whispers again. “By the way, you smell like Wang Yibo.
Did you not shower after you two fucked?”

“Don’t fuck around spreading shit like that, Feiyu.” Xiao Zhan glares at the other man in
warning.

“Xiao Zhan, everybody in the underworld knows that you’re sleeping with him. I’m not
spreading any shit.” Feiyu laughs in amusement.

“You know nothing.” He takes a step forward, but Feiyu remains on his spot, not intimidated
at all.

“You’re right, I don’t know how Wang Yibo likes to fuck you.”

Without giving the chance for Feiyu to pull back, Xiao Zhan holds his gun out and presses it
against the other’s stomach. He adjusts his standing position so that no one will be able to see
what’s happening.
“Speak a word about my boss again and I’ll send a bullet into your stomach. Would you like
that?” Xiao Zhan asks, calm but threatening.

“I’d prefer my guts to stay the way they are, but thanks for the kind offer.” Feiyu chuckles
lightly and pulls back at the same time Xiao Zhan puts his gun down.

“Fuck off before I shoot you for real. I’m not a patient man, Feiyu.” Xiao Zhan grits his teeth.

“No need to be so angry, you’re going to ruin that pretty face.” Feiyu smirks and then takes a
step back. “Have a good evening.”

Xiao Zhan makes sure that Feiyu is out of his sight before he turns around to look at Xuan Lu
who is staring quietly at him.

“Did you not shower after you did it with Laoda?” The woman asks curiously.

“Xuan Lu.” He sighs exasperatedly.

“When are you two getting married? Laoda needs a good wife by his side to help him lead
the group.”

“I am not qualified for that position.”

“You’re his right-hand man. You manage the business and you manage the group’s income
too. Besides, you’re an omega. You can give him an heir who can be the next head of the
family. You’re the perfect candidate for his wife.”

“I’m just an orphaned teenager who was picked up by the previous head. He should marry
someone from a powerful group to gain their power, someone who’s strong and beautiful.”
Xiao Zhan says, pretending not to feel how bitter the words taste in his own mouth.
“Is that what you really want?” Xuan Lu peers at his face.

“It doesn’t matter what I want. From the moment the previous head took me into the group, I
owed the family my life. My duty is to serve the head of the family and maintain the power
of this group. I will do anything for the sake of the group.”

“But you love him.” Xuan Lu says with a look of sympathy in her eyes. “Don’t you?”

Xiao Zhan chooses not to answer the question.

Fifteen years ago, Yibo’s father took him into the group and gave him a new family after he
had lost everything. His own father was a mobster who used to work for the Wang, but was
killed during a raid when he was a child. Yibo’s father was quite close with his father, so the
man would send money every month to his mother in order to help with their living cost.

Xiao Zhan had always known that his father was involved with the underworld, but he was
never told anything about it. His mother told him that his father wanted him to live a clean
life and away from the underworld matters. His mother herself used to work as an escort
woman, but she quitted after being mated to his father. Despite the underworld background
they had, Xiao Zhan thinks his parents loved each other and they’re a happy family.

He had no idea about the underworld, even after his father passed away, and he thought he’d
live the rest of his life as a clean-living person. He just wanted to live normally and not make
his mother worry by doing dangerous stuff. That time, he even thought about pursuing an art
degree and becoming a painter or something.

One evening after he was done hanging out with his school friends, he came home to see his
mother’s dead body on the living room floor. His mother’s clothes were torn all over and her
body was abused. He knew what happened to his mother before she was stabbed to death.
There was a man in the house, someone he had never seen before, but he knew this man was
the one who assaulted and killed his mother.
He was frozen in shock, but when the man jumped on him, he struggled with all the strength
he had. He doesn’t remember what exactly happened at that time. The man hit him a few
times to stop him from struggling, but he knew he had to keep fighting. His survival instinct
was kicking him, so he did everything he could to protect himself. He remembers seeing a
knife on the floor and he remembers grabbing it with his hand. He doesn’t remember how
many times he stabbed the man, but when it ended, all he could see was red.

The assaulter was bleeding under him, the torn school uniform he's wearing was drenched in
red, his hands were dripping with blood, and the whole house smelled like blood. It was the
first time he killed someone and he didn’t know how to process it. He was deeply in shock
that he barely realized it when a group of men barged into the house nearly an hour later.

Yibo’s father was there too.

He was curled up against the wall when Yibo’s father knelt in front of him and offered his
hand. He had nothing left at that point, so he took that hand and let the man take him to his
new home.

On that same night, he met Wang Yibo for the first time.

Yibo was a very quiet child. The little alpha didn’t talk much and he had this aloof air around
him, but Yibo wasn’t exactly cold. When Mr. Wang took him in, he spent the first year
staying in the family house to get adjusted to his new life and recover from the traumatizing
incident. That time, Mr. Wang was a busy mafia head and he was left in the house with the
young alpha.

During the day, Yibo would come over and sit next to him without saying anything.
Sometimes, the alpha would carry a book with him and he would read it for Yibo. On some
quiet nights, he would find Yibo coming to his room and climbing onto his bed to sleep
together. There were some awkward moments because Yibo didn’t speak much whenever he
tried to talk to the little alpha, but he never felt lonely with Yibo around.

As he spent more time with Yibo back then, he also noticed that Yibo was a little different
than most of the kids of his age out there. Sometimes Yibo spoke like an adult and sometimes
the alpha had this look in his eyes that didn’t seem to belong to a child. He had no idea how it
felt to be born and raised in a mafia family, so he couldn’t really understand what Yibo was
feeling.

But he grew attached to the young alpha anyway. While Yibo did show his twisted moral
senses once in a while, he learned that it’s how Yibo was raised as a mafia heir, as an alpha
who would be the mafia boss one day. During that time, Xiao Zhan slowly buried his old life
away and decided to live a new life as part of the mafia family, because he wanted to stay
with Yibo and become someone who’s useful for the alpha.

He watched Yibo grow from a little boy to a full-fledged man. He watched Yibo grow from a
quiet boy to a domineering alpha who could make someone tremble just by his stare. He
watched Yibo grow from the boy who used to sneak into his room at night to a mafia heir
who would come home smelling like perfume mixed with sweet pheromones. He also
watched Yibo grow distant from him as the alpha started getting busy with the family.

He was proud seeing how much Yibo had grown, but there was also a sense of longing that
he couldn’t explain. There was a pain in his chest when he smelled the sweet scent sticking
on Yibo’s clothes when the alpha came home and he didn’t know why. His heart would skip a
beat and his breath would hitch whenever Yibo stood too close and he didn’t know why. He
would unconsciously stare at Yibo’s handsome face, at his lips, at his big hands, at his broad
back, and all the places he’s not supposed to stare at.

He fell in love with Yibo, but it was wrong. He’s nothing but an underling, a poor orphaned
omega who was taken into the family out of pity, a mafia who swore to commit his life to
Yibo. He wasn’t worthy enough to fall in love with Yibo, but he did, and he couldn’t stop it.

Even until now, he’s still in love with Yibo. It has never changed.

Xiao Zhan walks out of the brothel with a sigh. His heart feels heavy after the conversation
he had with Xuan Lu inside. She’s a good friend, but she’s really sharp and she’s also quick
to read the situation. She’s the Wang family’s skillful spy, but she’s also able to see the things
he’s trying to hide, such as his feelings for Yibo.

He’s so deep in his thoughts that he barely realizes someone approaching him until he’s
yanked into a dark alleyway and pressed against the wall. There’s a hand covering his mouth
and there are three men surrounding him. He recognizes the man in front of him as the
obnoxious celebrity that he kicked out of the brothel last week after the man tried to harass
one of the omegas. The bruises on his face are still visible even though Xiao Zhan doesn’t
remember hitting him that hard.

“How dare you hit an actor’s face. Do you know how much loss you have caused by making
my face like this?” The actor snarls angrily.

Xiao Zhan wants to say that it’s his own fault, but he can’t really speak with a hand covering
his mouth. He stares flatly at the actor and then glances at the two men on either side of him.
They look like low-class thugs, probably the little brother from another mafia group or
something.

“You messed with the wrong guy, omega. Bet you had no idea I got some friends like them.”
The actor smirks triumphantly.

Xiao Zhan blinks, showing no interest at all.

“How about we all go inside a brothel and have you strip yourself—gah!!”

Xiao Zhan punches the guy right on the gut and kicks him away. The two thugs seem stunned
for a split second, but they react at the same time. When they reach to grab him, he dodges
them skillfully and kicks one of them on the leg to knock him off balance. Once the thug
drops, Xiao Zhan strikes his knee right to the guy’s face, probably breaking his nose.

“You bitch!” The other thug grabs him from behind and slams him against the brick wall of
the dark alleyway.

The streets in this area are very busy at night, so no one really pays attention to what's
happening in the dark alleyways. Some drug dealing and unspeakable business usually
happen here, so do fights. Few years ago, a man was even stabbed to death and nobody knew
until the next morning.
Xiao Zhan grunts when the thug grabs him by the throat and lifts him off the ground. This
guy is bigger and sturdier than the other one, so he is also stronger. Knowing that he can’t
win with physical strength alone, Xiao Zhan grabs two of the man’s fingers on his throat and
bends them until he can hear the sound of bone cracking.

The thug immediately pulls his hand back with a cry of pain, seeing his index finger and
middle finger bent in the most unnatural way. Xiao Zhan immediately takes the chance to
send a kick to his face, sending the man groaning on the ground.

When he hears quick footsteps, he whips his head to see the actor holding a steel pipe in his
hand, ready to swing at him. It’s too fast and too close, he has no time to dodge, so he quickly
raises his arms in front of his head to shield himself.

Before the actor can strike him with the pipe, there’s a glass bottle flying over. It smashes the
actor right in the head before shattering into pieces. Xiao Zhan watches with wide eyes as the
man falls onto the ground while holding his bloody head. He then turns his head to the end of
the alleyway and sees Yibo stepping closer with a cigarette on his lips. There are two
underlings standing behind the alpha, but they stay on their spots instead of following the
boss.

“Laoda…” Xiao Zhan bows his head slightly and leans back against the wall. No matter how
many times he has witnessed this, Yibo’s accuracy is so great it’s almost terrifying. He has
seen how Yibo is able to shoot a target right in the head even when he’s standing far away.

Yibo ignores him. Instead, he walks over to the two thugs on the ground. One of them is
slowly getting up, but Yibo kicks his face and sends him back to the ground.

“You’re not from the Wang. Who the fuck are you and what the fuck are you doing in my
territory?” Yibo stares down at the man as if he’s looking at an insect.

The thug looks up to Yibo and the color instantly drains from his face when he realizes who
he is facing against.
“W-We’re sorry. We will never show our faces again in this area.” The thug kneels in front of
the alpha before dragging his friend to run away.

Yibo merely blows the smoke from his lips as the thugs try to run out of the alleyway. Of
course, the two underlings catch them and drag them away to make sure that they will never
step in this territory anymore.

“You useless scums! I paid you for this!” The actor yells at the thugs.

Yibo inhales his cigarette and finally walks over to the actor. When the man tries to get up,
Yibo sends him flying with a kick. Xiao Zhan presses his lips when he sees the man sprawled
on the ground with blood trickling from his head. Yibo kicks the man so hard that he thinks
he heard a crack.

“You,” Yibo crouches down to look at the actor’s beaten up face. “What were you doing with
the pipe? Were you about to hit him?”

Xiao Zhan flicks his eyes to the steel pipe that’s now laid across the ground, just half a meter
away from them.

“Why don’t I use this,” Yibo reaches over to grab the steel pipe. “And crush your face until
you can never recognize yourself in the mirror again?”

The actor trembles in fear, unable to say anything with the murderous aura Yibo is emitting.
Anybody who’s witnessing this surely knows that Yibo is serious with his words and he can
do it without any hesitation.

“Laoda.” Xiao Zhan calls out, trying to stop it from happening.

Yibo doesn’t turn his head, but he puts the pipe down and speaks to the man again. “Open
your mouth.”
The actor stares at him with terrified eyes.

“Unless you want me to put this on your face. It might be difficult to be an actor with the scar
though.” Yibo holds his cigarette with fingers.

Albeit still trembling, the actor eventually opens his mouth and sticks his tongue out. Without
a slightest change of facial expression, Yibo presses his cigarette against the other’s tongue to
put it out. The alpha doesn’t even twitch at the pained cry from the man.

“If I see you in my territory again, I’ll kill you.” Yibo says before standing up and walking
away.

Xiao Zhan remains on his spot until Yibo grabs his arm and pulls him away from the wall.

“Why are you here alone? I told you not to wander on your own.” Yibo furrows his brows.

“Wenhan is in the car waiting for me.” He says.

“Why is he not with you?”

“I told him to stay in the car. I was only checking up quickly here.”

Yibo doesn’t seem happy at all. He yanks Xiao Zhan by the arm and walks out of the
alleyway. “Tell Wenhan to go back. You’re coming home with me.”

“Yes, Sir.” Xiao Zhan says obediently.

“Where did those men touch you?”

“Nowhere. I didn’t let them.”

Yibo looks at him. “I’ll check it myself once we’re home.”

“Yes, Sir.” Xiao Zhan nods his head.

“You called for me, Laoda?” Xiao Zhan asked as he stepped into the room.

“Yes, Xiao Zhan. Sit down.” Mr. Wang pointed his eyes at the empty seat in front of him.

Xiao Zhan did as he’s told and sat down. “I’m still trying to get my hand on the ledger.
Please give me another three days.”

“I didn’t call you here to talk about that.” Mr. Wang took a smoke from his cigar. “There’s
just something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

“Please ask away, Laoda.”

Mr. Wang placed his cigar on the ceramic ashtray before looking at him again. “Are you
sleeping with my son?”
Xiao Zhan could feel his blood turning cold and his stomach sinking, but he remained calm.
“Yes, I am.”

Mr. Wang didn’t seem angry, but his face looked thoughtful. “Since when?”

“Since he turned twenty.”

“Two years ago?” The man raised his brows in surprise, but then his face turned thoughtful
again. “Did my son force himself on you?”

“No, not at all.” Xiao Zhan shook his head quickly.

“Then how did it happen the first time?”

Xiao Zhan hesitated for a moment before he answered. “I was accompanying him to
Shenzhen that day, three months before his birthday. I asked him if there’s any birthday gift he
wanted and he said…”

“He said he wanted to sleep with you?” Mr. Wang continued the story.

Yibo said that he wanted his virginity, but Xiao Zhan knew it would be too much information
if he gave the details, so he just nodded his head.

The man blew out a long, exasperated sigh.

“I apologize for my insolence, Laoda. It was inappropriate of me.” Xiao Zhan said, prepared
for all the consequences he might receive.
“No, it’s not your fault, Xiao Zhan.” Mr. Wang lifted a hand. “I just didn’t think… my son…”

“He did not force me at all. Your son is a respectable alpha, so you don’t have to worry,
Laoda.”

Mr. Wang stared at him for a few long seconds, like he’s trying to figure something out. Xiao
Zhan was fiddling with his thumbs, but he’s sure Mr. Wang couldn’t see his nervous movement
from where he’s sitting.

“That camellia flowers on your back. Didn’t you get them done around two years ago?” Mr.
Wang asked suddenly.

Xiao Zhan’s breath hitched for a second before he nodded his head. “Yes, I did.”

“Yibo’s favorite flower is red camellia.” Mr. Wang hummed, his face seemed somewhat
amused this time. “Does it have something to do with it?”

Xiao Zhan knew he might get kicked out of the group or even killed for this, but there’s no
way he could lie to the man who had saved his life and gave him a new family. When he slept
with Yibo for the first time, he had been prepared for this moment.

“The camellia flowers on my back is part of his birthday gift.” He said honestly.

Mr. Wang’s first reaction was surprise, then his face changed into a look of understanding as
he connected the dots in his head, and at the end, he looked relieved for some reason.
Surprisingly, the man didn’t seem angry at all, unlike what Xiao Zhan had expected.

“Well, then.” Mr. Wang picked his cigar from the ashtray to smoke it again. “I’m planning to
step down from my position as the head in two years’ time and Yibo will be the next successor
of the Wang family.”
“I understand.” Xiao Zhan nodded.

“He’s six years younger than you, so he still has some childish tendencies and a bad temper.
That’s why I need you to take care of him and support him.” Mr. Wang took another deep
smoke from his cigar. “Whatever he decides to do in the future for the family, are you ready to
commit your whole life to him?”

“Yes.” Xiao Zhan said without the slightest doubt.

Mr. Wang seemed pleased by the answer. There’s a faint smile on his face as he nodded his
head in approval. “I’ll look forward to it then.”

“The Bai family might be the one who’s working with the yakuza.”

“Do you have proof for that?” Yibo asks.

“The drugs they’re distributing are not created in China.” Zhang Lanxin, the boss of the
Zhang family, says confidently.

After the words about wandering yakuza members are spread across the cities, the Zhang
family calls Yibo to meet in order to discuss the matter. It seems that they’re not the only
ones who feel disturbed by the yakuza’s presence. Right now, the other families have been
meeting up in groups in order to find the culprit behind this.
Xiao Zhan licks the inner side of his cheek as he listens to the conversation. He flicks his
eyes to Feiyu who is standing next to Lanxin as her right-hand man. It seems that the reason
Feiyu came to their territory last week was truly because he’s gathering information.

“You noticed that?” Yibo looks up to the female alpha.

“I see you’ve noticed that too. I’d be glad if we can work together on this matter and kick that
pest out of our territories.” Lanxin smirks and crosses her legs.

Xiao Zhan furrows his brows lightly as he looks at the alpha. Yibo didn’t tell him anything
about the drugs they’re selling. As the boss’ right-hand man, he’s supposed to be the first one
to know this kind of matters, but he had no idea about it until now. Why didn’t Yibo tell him?
Is it because Yibo told him not to get involved in drug matters?

“As long as we’re targeting the real culprit, I’d be grateful to get your help.” Yibo hums
thoughtfully. “Bai family is under the Lin group, isn’t it? Do they know about this?”

“We need to gather enough proof to back it up. I’m sending one of my men to spy on them
and try to capture them during the transaction.” Lanxin blows out the smoke from her pipe.

“Their group members and scale are hard to grasp. It’s hard to fish them out unless they’re
making a move. Do you have bait?”

“I have one for drug dealing, but it would be great if we have one for the brothel.” Lanxin
smiles. “They’re also running a brothel business after all, similar to your business.”

Yibo remains silent.

“A strong omega who knows how to navigate the underworld. One who is smart enough to
be a spy, but also enticing enough to seduce those who need to be seduced. I believe you have
one like that.” Lanxin doesn’t say a name, but her gaze flicks to Xiao Zhan for a moment.
“It’s not wise to send my right-hand man for something so risky.” Yibo says sternly. “But I’ll
find someone from my side for that.”

“I’ll follow you, Mr. Wang.” Lanxin smiles, her eyes scrunching up in a somewhat unnatural
way. “Speaking of omegas, have you considered getting married, Mr. Wang?”

Xiao Zhan feels his heart sinking a little, but he doesn’t let it show on his face. Yibo is an
adult after all, so it’s not weird for the alpha to find a partner. It’s for the sake of the group
too.

“What is the intention you have behind that question, Mrs. Zhang?” Yibo asks back.

“My daughter is twenty-two this year. I believe you’ve met her before.”

“Yes, I’ve met Zhang Jingyi, your daughter.” Yibo nods. “Isn’t she still a little too young for
you to consider her marriage?”

“She doesn’t have to get married right away unless that’s what she wants. I’d like her to meet
some alphas and get to know them better.” Lanxin curls her lips into a smile. “And regarding
her young age… I fathered her when I was twenty, so I personally don’t find her to be too
young.”

Xiao Zhan swallows the knot in his throat. The Zhang family is quite powerful and they’re
technically working under the same triad, so he knows Yibo can’t turn the offer down
completely without the risk of offending Lanxin. After all, Lanxin is talking about her own
daughter and not any other woman.

“I don’t mind befriending her. She’s your daughter, I believe she’s just as great as you even if
she’s not an alpha.” Yibo says.
Xiao Zhan knows Yibo might not refuse for the sake of maintaining their good relationship,
but what if Yibo doesn’t refuse because he’s truly interested in Jingyi? He has seen Lanxin’s
daughter before and she’s a beautiful lady with a strong gaze. She will definitely be a great
wife who can help to lead the group and considering that she’s from the Zhang family, Yibo
can gain their power too.

Zhang Jingyi is a good candidate and if Yibo’s father was here, he’d definitely agree too.
Xiao Zhan is aware of that, but his heart refuses to accept it.

“My right-hand man over here has been talking about marriage too, actually.” Lanxin smiles
teasingly at Feiyu. “Isn’t that right?”

“That’s not wrong.” Feiyu tugs the corner of his lips into a smirk as he stares at Xiao Zhan in
the most obvious way.

“Touch a strand of his hair and I’ll cut all the ten fingers in your hands.” Yibo says, almost
growling low in his throat.

“No, thank you. I still need my fingers.” Feiyu raises his hands in defeat.

“How terrifying.” Lanxin chuckles, seemingly amused by the threat. “I believe your right-
hand man almost sent a bullet through Feiyu’s stomach when they met last week.”

Yibo’s eyes twitch slightly and Xiao Zhan can sense the menacing aura from the alpha.

Once the two families finish the discussion and reach an agreement regarding the plan, they
head back with the car. Xiao Zhan is sitting on the front seat, his eyes glancing at Yibo
through the rearview mirror once in a while as the chauffeur drives them home. Yibo doesn’t
say anything during the whole ride and there’s a scowl plastered across his face.

As usual, the men wait until Yibo gets inside the house safely before leaving. Xiao Zhan also
makes sure that everything is clear before locking the door. Now that they are starting to track
the Bai family and the yakuza, he has to be extra alerted. Yibo is the head of the group and if
someone is going to target a person from the Wang, it will be Yibo.

“You didn’t tell me you’re meeting with that guy.” Yibo takes off his suit and hands it to him.

“You mean Chen Feiyu?” Xiao Zhan holds the suit in his hand.

“Who else?” Yibo clicks his tongue and walks to the wall window of the living room.

“I met him on Wednesday night. I was visiting the brothel to gather information and he was
there, in our territory.” Xiao Zhan walks over to the alpha.

“I met you too that night.” Yibo frowns at him. “You didn’t tell me about him.”

“I apologize. It slipped off my mind since I didn’t think it was something important.”

“Did he lay a hand on you? Did he touch you anywhere?”

“No, Sir.” He shakes his head.

Yibo sighs audibly, but the next time he speaks, he sounds calm. “What did you talk about
with him?”

“About the sighting of yakuza members in the area.”

“Stay out of this, Xiao Zhan. You have no idea about the yakuza and the drugs business. Just
stay home for the next month.”
Xiao Zhan stares incredulously at Yibo’s back. “I can’t do that, Sir.”

“Why can't you?” Yibo turns around to face him.

Xiao Zhan takes a second to come up with an answer. “I need to protect you.”

“Protect me?” Yibo scoffs. “Are you hearing yourself? Do you think I’m not capable of
protecting myself?”

“You’re our boss. There’s a target on your back.”

“I’ve always had targets on my back. Unlike you, I was born and raised as a mafia. Do you
think I’m not aware of this?”

“I know you’re fully aware of that, Sir.” Xiao Zhan nods. “But if somebody is shooting at
you, I’ll be your shield and take all the bullets for you.”

Yibo’s eyes flash in anger and before Xiao Zhan can register what’s happening, he finds
himself being whirled around and slammed against the wall. It’s not particularly painful, but
Yibo slammed him hard enough that he can feel the air getting knocked out of his lungs.

“You’re saying you will die for me?” Yibo grits his teeth and Xiao Zhan has no idea why the
alpha looks so furious.

“Yes.” He murmurs.

After he spent the first few years in the family, he had come to understand that he was taken
into the family in order to commit his life to protect the young alpha and he would willingly
do so.
He didn’t come from the underworld and he was raised like any other child, but he owed the
Wang family his life, so he tried to learn everything in order to navigate the underworld. He
knew some members of the group underestimated him at first for being nothing but an
orphaned omega teenager, but he learned fast and he proved himself to be useful to the group.

Now that he’s strong and capable enough to protect Yibo, why wouldn’t he do it? After all,
Yibo is not only a mafia boss whom he swore his loyalty to, Yibo is also the man he’s in love
with. If he could use his life to protect Yibo, he’d do it in a heartbeat. He’s not afraid of death
because without the Wang family, he would have died long ago.

It’s more than an obligation. It’s something he is willing to do from the bottom of his heart,
because who in this world wouldn’t want to protect the person they love?

“Stay away from this matter. Don’t get yourself involved any more than this.” Yibo wraps a
hand around his throat. It’s not hard enough to choke him or disturb his breathing, but the
pressure is there, warning him that Yibo can simply strangle him if he wants to.

“The previous boss entrusted me to you. I am your right-hand man and it is my duty to
protect you with my life. Why are you preventing me from doing that?” Xiao Zhan asks,
looking straight into Yibo’s fiery eyes.

He has noticed that Yibo always forbids him from carrying out the dangerous tasks. Yibo
doesn’t let him join an ambush plan, doesn’t let him handle the drugs dealing business,
doesn’t let him go to places where open fire might happen, and doesn’t even let him sneak
into other group’s territories. Yibo only allows him to handle the paperwork and the business,
the things that are mostly done behind the desk.

It makes him feel worthless and useless, like he doesn’t have any value in Yibo’s life.

“Is it because I’m an omega?” Xiao Zhan husks, feeling his heart aching. “You think omegas
have no value in the underworld?”

“There are plenty of powerful omegas down here. You’ve heard of them.” Yibo says.
“Then why? What’s wrong with me?”

“There’s nothing wrong with you. I just want you to stay out of it.” Yibo loosens his grip
round the elder’s collar and then brings his face closer. “If you don’t want to listen to me, I’ll
fuck you so hard that you won’t be able to walk or even get out of the bed. I’ll fuck you so
hard until your hips break and maybe you’ll stay put that way.”

It’s supposed to be a threat, but it’s difficult for Xiao Zhan to feel threatened when those
words sound like dirty promises in his ears. When Yibo crashes their lips together in a rough
kiss, he closes his eyes and wraps his arms around the alpha to hold him close.

“You’re mine.” Yibo growls into the kiss. “So listen to my words and obey me.”

“Yes, Sir.” Xiao Zhan whispers in reply.

“It will be your twentieth birthday soon.” Xiao Zhan looked at Yibo who was standing in
front of the window of the hotel room.

“Yeah.” Yibo mumbled in reply.

“Any gifts you’re looking forward to?”

“Not really.” Yibo turned over his shoulder to look at him. “Are you going to give me
something again this year?”

“Of course.” Xiao Zhan smiled. “Is there anything you specifically want from me? It will
help me to find a gift for you, young head.”

Instead of answering, Yibo turned back to the window.

They were in Shenzhen and Xiao Zhan was assigned to keep the young alpha company and
made sure of his safety. There was a quick meeting with an affiliated family here and as the
future successor of the family, Yibo was told to attend and learn something from it. He was
happy to be trusted with this task and it was nice to be able to spend some time with Yibo.

“Have you ever had sex, Xiao Zhan?” Yibo asked suddenly.

Xiao Zhan was taken aback by the question. He had always known that the alpha was blunt
with his words, but this was unexpected.

“No, I have not.” He still answered honestly. Maybe it’s weird coming from a mafia of his
age, but he never sought for someone to spend the night with. He didn’t think it was
necessary and he couldn’t really imagine having sex with someone else.

“I want it.”

“What is it that you want, young head?”

“Your virginity.” Yibo turned around to look at Xiao Zhan, his eyes demanding. “Give it to
me on my birthday.”

Xiao Zhan opened and closed his mouth, unable to come up with a response. He was already
taken aback by the question and he didn’t understand what’s happening now.
“You can refuse.” Yibo said, perhaps sensing his mental struggle. “But if you ask me what I
want, that’s the answer. I’ve always wanted that, actually.”

It took a while for Xiao Zhan to calm down and give his answer. “I will give it to you.”

“Will you?” Yibo raised a brow, doubting him.

“I will.”

“You actually agreed easily. I was surprised.” Yibo tilted his head, seemingly amused.

There’s no way Xiao Zhan could tell Yibo that he had feelings for the alpha. He had no right
to feel this way about Yibo and he knew his place in the family. The fact that Yibo actually
wanted to sleep with him made him happy.

Even if they would only do it once, it would be enough to have Yibo as his first.

“Because I belong to you. My life is yours.” Xiao Zhan said as a matter of fact.

Yibo smirked and walked closer to him. “That’s right.”

Once they were close enough, Yibo grabbed his face to pull him closer until their lips
touched. Xiao Zhan closed his eyes, feeling his feet floating off the ground at the kiss. He had
imagined kissing these lips before and this felt like a dream come true.

“You’re mine.” Yibo whispered into the kiss.

“So, it is only the Bai family who’s involved in this.” Yibo hums into the phone.

“There has been a talk that they failed to smuggle drugs in from the Golden Triangle and
now Bai Yu is up to his neck in debt. They’ve been selling drugs in large quantities and using
his connection with the yakuza to get the drugs.” Lanxin explains from the other line.

“The Lin group has gotten rid of him, hasn’t they?”

“They have cut ties with Bai Yu. They do not want to cause unnecessary conflict with the
yakuza.”

“That’s good. They made a wise decision.”

“No, it’s not wise. They didn’t kill Bai Yu.” Lanxin clicks her tongue. “He’s a cunning
bastard. He must have gathered his loyal men and created a plan.”

“Knowing Bai Yu, he’ll probably try to attack a group and seize the drugs.”

“And once the group is weakened, he’ll take over.” Lanxin hisses, sounding very pissed. “I
can’t let that bastard live. You know he might go after us. We hold the best territories in this
city. If the yakuza also cut ties with him, then he’ll be on suicide mission.”

“Add more men to guard your daughter. Bai Yu might go after her in order to subdue you.”
Yibo suggests.
“I’m sending her out of the country with my best underlings. Can’t let her stay in the same
land as that bastard.”

“What about you then?”

“I wouldn’t be the head of this family if I was scared of getting shot, Yibo.” The female alpha
says confidently.

“Hope you won’t die.” Yibo huffs out a chuckle.

“You too.” Lanxin laughs.

Yibo puts his phone aside after ending the call and looks at Xiao Zhan who is sleeping
soundly next to him.

Xiao Zhan is still naked under the blanket, his soft skin littered with hickeys that Yibo crafted
during the frenzy sex they had earlier. Whenever Xiao Zhan is asleep like this, Yibo thinks he
can spend hours just staring at his peaceful face. Xiao Zhan has always been beautiful, ever
since that night where they first met. Xiao Zhan was covered in blood that night, but it was
clear that the omega was not meant to be a killer, he was not meant to live in this dark side of
the world.

Yibo was born and raised as a mafia. Ever since he was young, he had been exposed to his
father’s business and lifestyle, and he quickly understood that his family was a little different
than other families out there. His father did give him the freedom as a child, but his father
also made sure that he’s aware of who he’s going to be in the future. His father raised him to
be the next successor of the Wang family.

He has known about where his life is going to take him and he walks down the path his father
laid for him. He’s a low-life in society, the one who runs illegal businesses and keeps the city
under control in his own way, the one who has no sentiment towards other people, and the
one who can simply take someone’s life with no remorse. He is cold and heartless, because
that’s how he can survive in the underworld.

But Xiao Zhan is different.

Although his father was the one who took Xiao Zhan in the family, Yibo knows his father can
also see that Xiao Zhan doesn’t belong here. Although Xiao Zhan’s father was an underworld
person, the omega was raised to be a clean-living person. Xiao Zhan’s mother quitted her job
and dedicated her life to raising her omega son as a good man. Xiao Zhan’s father also tried
everything to keep his omega son out of the underworld matters.

When Xiao Zhan’s parents were killed, they knew those people wouldn’t stop until they
could kill Xiao Zhan too, which was why his father took the omega into the family to protect
him. His father didn’t want Xiao Zhan to be one of them, his father just wanted to protect the
son of a good friend, his father just wanted to raise Xiao Zhan the way his friend would have
wanted to. But Xiao Zhan felt indebted to the family and he tried to be useful in any ways
possible. Xiao Zhan jumped into the underworld and did all the things that his parents never
wanted him to do.

Yibo knows his father was feeling conflicted when Xiao Zhan proved to be good at what he’s
doing. Xiao Zhan is smart, quick-witted, and can be manipulative when he needs to. Xiao
Zhan is quick to size up a situation and knows what’s going on at a glance, which is a really
useful skill to smooth things over during a discussion. His father eventually let Xiao Zhan do
the things he’s good at, but prevented the omega from getting directly involved in the ground
level.

When Yibo took over his father’s place as the head, he kept things the same for Xiao Zhan.
He made Xiao Zhan live with him in this house so that he can always keep an eye on the
omega. He doesn’t let Xiao Zhan get too deep into risky matters such as drugs and illegal
gambling. He doesn’t let Xiao Zhan take care of debt collecting or interrogation. He doesn’t
let Xiao Zhan put himself in a situation where he might get harmed. He only lets Xiao Zhan
work around the office with the paperwork and phone calls.

It’s actually not enough for Yibo though. He actually wants to lock Xiao Zhan up and keep
him away from the world so that no one can touch his red camellia. He wants to keep Xiao
Zhan locked in his room and tied to his bed so that the omega will always be here whenever
he comes home. It’s a sick thought, it’s an obsession, but maybe he has been obsessed with
Xiao Zhan since the start.

When they first met, he had thought about how beautiful Xiao Zhan was and throughout the
years, he got more and more obsessed to the point where he wanted to have the omega all for
himself. He wants to keep Xiao Zhan in his arms, fucking him open and knotting him and
breeding him full until Xiao Zhan can’t think of anything else. When he finally got his hand
on Xiao Zhan on his twentieth birthday, he knew there’s no going back, because he won’t let
Xiao Zhan go anywhere.

He knows Xiao Zhan can’t be completely his. He knows Xiao Zhan will never take off that
collar and he knows he can never claim the omega. He knows he can find a way to take off
the collar by force. That collar was made by a tech company and he can simply pay them
enough to get a way, but what’s the point of doing that?

What’s the point of claiming Xiao Zhan’s body if he can’t have Xiao Zhan’s heart?

What’s the point of binding the omega to him if Xiao Zhan will not be happy?

What’s the point of locking Xiao Zhan up if the omega will spend the rest of his life trying to
run away from him?

He slowly brings his hand to Xiao Zhan’s face, brushing his fingers against the omega’s
cheek in the gentlest way possible. Xiao Zhan is so serene and vulnerable right now and Yibo
wishes he can lock the elder in a safe cage so that he will always be protected from any harm.
“Does it hurt?”

Yibo looked down at the omega under him, eyes trailing over the blooming red camellias on
his back before moving down to the place where they’re connected. He could see Xiao Zhan’s
poor little hole straining to accept his thick length, but it’s arousing to see him spreading the
omega open forcefully like this.

“N-No…” Xiao Zhan said, but his voice was strained.

“No? So you’re used to this?” Yibo rocked his hips forward, ripping out a cry from the
elder’s throat. “I thought you said this is your first time.”

“It is…!” Xiao Zhan gritted his teeth when the pain flared up from the rough movement.

“Does it hurt then?” Yibo stopped to repeat his question.

“It does… a little…” Xiao Zhan was finally honest.

It was really his first time and Yibo was much bigger than he thought. He didn’t even think his
body was capable of spreading so wide and taking something so big, but here he was stuffed
full with the alpha’s cock. He gave this to Yibo for his birthday and he didn’t want the alpha
to hold back just because it's painful on his side. What Yibo wanted, he would give, whatever
it was.

“I prefer it when you’re honest.” Yibo leaned down and started kissing the red flowers on the
omega’s skin.

Xiao Zhan clutched onto the bed sheet beneath him, his breathing stuttered at every kiss Yibo
planted on his back. Yibo’s lips were hot, but they’re so soft and his kisses were gentle. It
made his heart flutter even though he knew he knew he’s not supposed to feel this way.
“I didn’t know you got my favorite flower painted on your back.” Yibo hummed as he brought
his hands to Xiao Zhan’s chest, squeezing the pecs and playing with the perked nipples.

“A-Ahh… Not there, young head…” Xiao Zhan squirmed, but unable to move away from the
touches.

“Call my name.” Yibo used his fingers to pinch and rub the nubs.

“I can’t…”

“My name.” Yibo growled and pinched harder.

“Ohh!” Xiao Zhan gasped, yet his hips twitched in response.

“I get turned off when someone calls me that instead of my name.” Yibo scraped his teeth
against one of the blooming camellias, as if he’s trying to rip a petal off from the tattoo.

“Yibo…” Xiao Zhan gasped out.

“That’s it.” Yibo smirked and then started rolling his hips.

Soon enough, Xiao Zhan was moaning at each thrust. There was a little pain because Yibo
was rough, but it was fine. If anything, it seemed to heighten the pleasure he was feeling. Yibo
was all over him; groping every part of his body, pinning his hands against the bed, pounding
into his awaiting body, kissing his tattoo, and biting onto the collar he was wearing.

The 4-digit code was hanging on the tip of his tongue, but he thought better of it. The boss
gave him this collar for a reason and he should have known better than asking Yibo to take it
off and bite his nape.
Yibo was the heir and if the alpha needed to find a mate, he should find someone who’s
worthy to be the wife of a mafia boss.

His life belonged to Yibo, but Xiao Zhan wondered if the alpha knew that his heart also
belonged to him.

He wondered what Yibo would say if he knew.

“Why are you in China?”

“Is that how you speak to your mother, Yibo?”

“No, I didn’t mean it that way. Things are not really safe these days, so you shouldn’t stay
here.”

“It’s about Bai Yu and the yakuza, isn’t it? I’ve heard.”

Yibo twitches his brows. His mother, Yang Mi, left the family many years ago and had
washed her hands of the group. He doesn’t hold any hatred towards his mother though. His
mother was a great woman who raised him well, but being a wife of a mafia was not an easy
responsibility to carry and she eventually decided to leave. It took her great pains to make a
clean break from his father and Yibo knows that too.
His mother moved to Singapore after leaving the family and she has been staying there since
then. There are times where she comes back to China and they always try to meet up, but this
is not the right time for her to return. Although his mother is no longer involved in the family,
she’s still his mother. If they can’t hit the target on his back, they might try to aim at his
mother.

“How did you know? I thought you don’t want to be involved anymore.” Yibo asks.

“I don’t want to be involved with that fool of your father anymore, but I still want to be
involved in my son’s personal life.” Yang Mi blows out the smoke from her lips and sets her
cigarette on the ashtray.

Outside the restaurant, his underlings are already waiting with the cars. Since things have not
calmed down yet, Xiao Zhan asked them to increase the overall security around the alpha.
Yibo makes a note to tell Xiao Zhan to send more guards on his mother while she’s in the
country.

“Your father is still alive, huh? I’m surprised to see him live this long.” Yang Mi says
sarcastically.

“Do you want to see him? He’s staying in his private villa in Hainan now.”

“No, thanks. I might stab him if I see his face again. Unless that’s what you want, of course.”

Yibo can’t help but to chuckle a little at his mother’s harsh words. So many years have
passed, but she never changes at all.

“You really shouldn’t stay here for long, Mom. Bai Yu’s men tried to kidnap the daughter
from the Zhang family when she was on the way to the airport two days ago. The daughter is
safe, but Zhang Lanxin is furious.”

“I see that Bai Yu bastard is as crazy as his father.” Yang Mi says calmly.
“You know his father?”

“I do. Before you were born, our group used to be in a longtime dispute with the Lin group.
There’s a man from our family who advocated peace and tried to smooth things over, but that
man was stabbed by Bai Yu’s father, the previous head of the family.” Yang Mi smokes her
cigarette as she tells the story from the past. “Your father asked the Lin group to hand that
man over along with compensation money, so they did by kicking Bai Yu’s father out of the
group too.”

“So Bai Yu holds a grudge against us?” Yibo comes up with a conclusion.

“His father was the one at fault for breeding hostility between the families, but the son must
be a crazy bastard too based on your story.” Yang Mi says simply. “Protect yourself well,
Yibo. Crazy bastards like him can do things without thinking about the risk, especially when
they’re desperate.”

“I’ll be fine, Mom. You’re the one I’m worried about.”

“I’ll go back to Singapore in three days.” Yang Mi sets her cigarette in the ashtray again and
leans slightly forward. “By the way, that man who’s sitting five o’clock from you, is he one
of your underlings?”

Yibo doesn’t have to turn his head to know that his mother is talking about Xiao Zhan who is
currently pretending to be one of the customers sitting in the restaurant. Xiao Zhan is good at
acting and people normally won’t notice his presence, but his mother used to be the wife of a
mafia boss. It seems that despite being away for many years, her senses haven’t dulled at all.

“He is.” Yibo answers.

“Your underling or… your lover?” Yang Mi hums, obviously noticing the collar Xiao Zhan is
wearing.
Yibo is sometimes amazed at how sharp his mother’s senses are. “No, not my lover.”

“I don’t see any reason for you to keep an omega as your underling.” Yang Mi leans back
against her seat. “Don’t get me wrong. I think omegas are amazing in their own ways, but
this is your world that we’re talking about. Why did you take him in?”

“He’s the son of father's good friend. He was orphaned when he was a teenager, so father
took him in and now he’s working for me.” Yibo explains.

His mother stares at his face for a long minute, examining his expression carefully as if she’s
trying to read his mind. His mother is a beta, but Yibo knows how intimidating her aura can
be. It’s not rare for her to be mistaken as female alpha sometimes.

“You’re the one who can’t let him go.” Yang Mi says once she figures it out. “You want
him.”

Yibo closes his eyes and sighs in defeat, knowing that he still can’t hide anything from his
mother. “He can’t be with me.”

“Why not? He’s an omega. Make him your wife and let him bear your children.”

“He doesn’t belong in this world. His hands are clean and he was raised by his parents to be a
clean-living person. He’s supposed to be an upstanding citizen, not a mafia.”

“But he stays with you anyway. He’s a mafia now, whether you like it or not.”

“He feels indebted to father and the family. He does it to repay us for saving his life.”

“Then let him go.” Yang Mi says clearly. “Let him go like how your father let me go.”
Yibo looks up to his mother, but does not say anything. He knows it’s the best way to make
Xiao Zhan leave the underworld and that’s what Xiao Zhan deserves, but he’s not willing to
let go. Once they separate ways, they might never cross paths ever again.

“If you’re a pathetic asshole who can’t make up your mind and do what’s right, don’t call
yourself my son anymore, Yibo. I did not give birth to a weak and pathetic man.” Yang Mi
clicks her tongue and stubs the cigarette into the ashtray. “Well then, I have to go to another
appointment now.”

“I’ll take you to the car.” Yibo places some cash on the table and stands up to his mother.

“I’m not that helpless.” Yang Mi sighs, but she doesn’t stop Yibo from doing what he wants.

When they walk towards the door, Xiao Zhan is still pretending to be busy with the book in
his hand, not aware that Yang Mi has figured out his identity. The omega freezes in surprise
when Yang Mi suddenly places a hand on his shoulder and smiles at him.

“What’s your name, young man?” Yang Mi asks.

Xiao Zhan takes a quick glance at Yibo before looking up to the woman. “My name is Xiao
Zhan, Madam.”

“Don’t call me that. I’ve washed my hands of it.”

“I apologize, Ma’am.” Xiao Zhan lowers his gaze.

“Well then, Xiao Zhan. It’s nice meeting you.” Yang Mi flashes him another smile before
walking out of the restaurant with Yibo.
Xiao Zhan stays on his seat for another minute before leaving the restaurant too.

That same night, after finishing her business, Yang Mi heads back to the hotel in one of the
family’s cars. It’s late and the streets are pretty quiet since it’s not the weekend. Yang Mi
looks out of the window, watching the buildings move across her vision as the car takes her
down the road.

“How have you been, Xiaoming? It’s been a while.” She says to the man who’s sitting behind
the wheels.

“I’ve been well, Madam.” The man answers.

“Quit calling me that. I am no longer that bastard’s wife.” Yang Mi hums. “I heard you had
your second child recently.”

“Yes, we had a baby girl six months ago.”

“That’s wonderful.” Yang Mi smiles.

“Madam, please refrain yourself from sneaking around on your own, at least not when things
are still messy.” Xiaoming sighs, recalling how he caught the lady wanting to sneak out of the
hotel on her own earlier. He has worked for the Wang family for many years and he knows
what kind of person the previous boss’ ex-wife is. She’s ruthless and fearless, but also very
reckless with her own safety.

“I don’t like being surrounded by you guys, I wanted some me time. My son must have gotten
his worrywart personality from his father for asking you all to keep an eye on me.” Yang Mi
chuckles lightly. “Sorry for dragging you with me. I should have taken a cab.”

“There’s no way I can leave you alone without security, Madam.”

The car suddenly comes to a stop. Yang Mi looks to the front and sees a delivery truck in the
middle of the 3-way intersection in front of them. It’s late at night already, so it’s a little odd
to see a delivery truck still wandering at this hour.

“What happened?” Yang Mi squints.

“I don’t know.” Xiaoming rolls the window down and pokes his head out. “Hey! Move it out
of the way!”

A man, who seems to be the delivery guy, appears from behind the truck. “Sorry, let me
unload something really quickly.”

“Can’t you park somewhere else at least? This is a fucking intersection!” Xiaoming growls,
trying to be threatening.

“Xiaoming, just let him be.” Yang Mi whispers from behind.

“I really apologize for this.” The delivery man says as he rounds the truck with a package box
in his hands.

“I don’t fucking care. Move the damn truck away.” Xiaoming grits his teeth.

When Yang Mi catches an unusual hand movement from the delivery guy, she realizes what’s
happening. “Xiaoming! Duck!”

Before Xiaoming can do that, the delivery guy grabs the gun that he has hidden behind the
package box and shoots at him.

“Shit!” Yang Mi ducks down and reaches her hand forward to grab the gun Xiaoming keeps
in the holster on his belt. Once she grabs ahold of it, she pushes the rear door open,
distracting the enemy and luring him in.
The fake delivery guy immediately runs towards the back seat, thinking that she’s trying to
run away, but Yang Mi stays inside the car with the gun pointed in front of her. As soon as the
enemy appears in her sight, she shoots him right in the chest three times. She knows there are
other guys hiding inside the delivery truck, so she has to be quick in order to get out of here.

She shuts the rear door closed again and then leans forward to the driver seat. “Xiaoming, are
you alright?”

“Ugh… Madam… I’m sorry…” Xiaoming grunts as he presses a hand against the bullet
wound on his shoulder. He pulls his phone out with his other hand to inform the other men
about the attack.

“Move aside, Xiaoming. I’ll drive.” Yang Mi flicks her eyes to the front window, seeing other
two men getting out of the delivery truck.

While Xiaoming moves himself to the passenger seat, Yang Mi jumps to the driver seat and
turns the steering wheel in order to turn the car around. The two men are shooting at the car
and she knows it’s just a matter of time before they break the bulletproof windows. She floors
the gas pedal once she turns the car around and drives down the road, only to hit the brake
when another truck appears to block the other end of the road.

Yang Mi grits her teeth when she recognizes one of the men who’s getting out of the other
truck.

“Now I know why you used to be the wife of a mafia boss.” Bai Yu smirks as he walks closer
to the car with his men behind him.

“Son of a bitch…” Yang Mi mutters under her breath.

Xiao Zhan stirs awake when he hears rustling noises in the room. He cracks his eyes open
and stares dazedly at Yibo who is striding towards the door, already fully clothed in his dark
buttoned shirt and plaid coat. The alpha looks like he’s in a rush and Xiao Zhan knows
something is wrong.

“Laoda?” He immediately sits up from the bed.

Yibo only spares him a glance before walking out of the door and closing it behind him.
Ignoring his naked state and his aching hips, Xiao Zhan jumps out of the bed and runs to the
door, only to realize that Yibo has locked it from outside.

“Laoda!” He pounds his fist against the door. “What’s happening?”

“Bai Yu took my mother hostage.” Yibo says from outside the room.

“What?” Xiao Zhan mutters in shock before pounding the door again. “Please open the door!
I’m coming with you!”

“No, stay here.”

“Yibo!” Xiao Zhan pounds his fist harder.

There’s a beat of silence. Xiao Zhan hears footsteps coming closer and then Yibo is standing
right behind the door.
“I should have said this from the start, but I was selfish.” The alpha says, his voice unusually
soft.

“Said what?” Xiao Zhan rests his forehead against the door.

“You should leave this family.”

It takes Xiao Zhan a second to react because of the shock. “…What?”

“You don’t belong in the underworld. You’ve never been and you will never be. You don’t
deserve to live in the dark, Xiao Zhan.”

“What are you saying, Yibo?”

“You feel indebted to this family because my father took you in and saved your life, but you
deserve to live another life. Your parents never wanted you to come down here and I
understand why they kept you away from this side of the world.” Yibo places his palm
against the door and closes his eyes. He should have said this a long time ago, from the
moment he became the new head of the family, but his mother was right, he’s a pathetic
asshole who couldn’t do what’s right.

Back then, he couldn’t understand why his father let his mother go without fighting for their
marriage. He couldn’t understand why his father would break his own heart when he clearly
knew that his father was still in love. He was mad at his father for letting his mother go so
easily, but he just didn’t understand anything at that time.

Now, he understands why his father let her go. Just because you love someone, it doesn’t
mean you need to bind them to you by force. When you truly love someone, you’ll let them
go for their own happiness. His father understood and made his decision, so it’s his turn now.

“You committed your life for me all these years, but it’s enough now. I don’t need you
anymore.” Yibo feels an unfamiliar ache in his chest when he says those words. Turns out,
his heart is still there after all. “You’re still thirty-one, it’s not too late to start over and live
the life your parents would have wanted for you. Pick up your old hobbies, paint something,
draw whatever you like…”

“What are you saying…?” Xiao Zhan can hear his own voice shaking. His heart is sinking
and his hands are trembling in fear. What is Yibo planning? Why does this sound like a
farewell?

“I might come out alive after this, but I might not. No matter how it ends, you should live the
life you deserve.” Yibo takes a deep breath and takes a step back from the door. “Thank you
for the past fifteen years. I’m setting you free now, Xiao Zhan.”

“Yibo?” Xiao Zhan calls out, but then he hears the footsteps getting further. “Yibo! Open the
door! Please!”

Yibo can hear the omega pounding and kicking the door, but he keeps walking until he gets
out of the house. His men are already waiting outside with the cars, ready to face Bai Yu
head-on and settle the matter once for all.

“We have contacted the Zhang. They’re also on their way.” Yixuan informs.

“Make sure to tighten the noose for Bai Yu.” Yibo says before getting inside the car. “Did
anybody contact my father?”

“Yes, we did. They have also reported this to the triad. They’re going to eliminate the entire
group.” Yixuan nods and gets into the car too.

“Alright, let’s go.” Yibo orders.

Xiao Zhan runs to the window and sees the cars driving away, taking Yibo to wherever his
mother is held hostage. He presses his palms against the glass as tears trickle down his
cheeks.
Yibo told him to leave the family and be free, but what’s freedom if Yibo is no longer by his
side? During the past fifteen years, he has never felt imprisoned here, not even once. It’s true
that his parents kept him away from the underworld, but they’re no longer around now and
he’s the one who will decide his own life.

He has decided to stay with Yibo and dedicate the rest of his life for the alpha. He will be
Yibo’s shield and take any bullets for him, but Yibo said that he doesn’t need him anymore.
In Yibo’s eyes, he holds no value at all.

Xiao Zhan chokes on his tears and drops his head between his shoulders. He loves Yibo so
much and he can’t imagine living the rest of his life without the alpha. He doesn’t need
freedom when he’s never imprisoned in the first place. He doesn’t need to live another life
when he’s happy enough just to be able to serve Yibo. He doesn’t need to chase his forgotten
dreams when Yibo is all he wishes for.

If Yibo loses his life tonight, Xiao Zhan doesn’t think he can go on living without the alpha in
this world.

…Like hell he’ll let Yibo die.

Like hell he’ll stay here and weep like some kind of damsel in distress.

Once the thoughts sink in, Xiao Zhan wipes away the tears in his eyes and grabs his phone on
the table. He scrolls through his contact list and presses the call button once he finds who he
needs.

“Xiao Zhan, we’ll reach there in twenty—”

“Give me the location.”

“You’re not with your boss?” Feiyu asks, obviously confused.

“It’s a long story, but I’m heading there.” Xiao Zhan rummages through the closet to pull out
some clothes he can wear.

“I’ll give you Bai Yu’s location.” Feiyu says.

“Thank you.” Xiao Zhan hangs up and quickly puts his clothes on.

He then grabs a chair in the room and slams it against the door handle in order to break it
open. He’ll apologize to Yibo later for breaking the bedroom door, but right now, this is an
urgent situation. Once he manages to break the door open, he grabs the gun that Yibo keeps
in a hidden spot in the house.

When he gets out of the house, there are no vehicles left except the motorbike that Yibo likes
to ride sometimes. Yibo had taught him how to ride a motorbike, many years ago before the
alpha became the head, but he has never actually ridden one on his own. There’s a chance
that he might die in an accident on the way there instead of dying from protecting Yibo.

Xiao Zhan puffs his chest with a big intake of breath and strides over to the motorbike.
There’s no time for him to hesitate.

When they arrive at the old warehouse in an abandoned port, Bai Yu’s underlings are already
there waiting for them. It seems that the Zhang family managed to take down some of his
men, seeing that only a few of them are left. It won’t be too difficult for his men to kill them
and force Bai Yu to surrender, but it’s a different case now with his mother’s life on the line.

His underlings come out of the cars while holding their guns, but Bai Yu’s men are also
pointing the gun at them.

“Try to shoot and there will be a hole on her head.” One of the guys says threateningly.

“Lower your guns.” Yibo says to his underlings.

“But, Laoda—”

“I said lower them.” Yibo repeats his words.

Albeit hesitating, they eventually lower their guns. Bai Yu’s men snicker mockingly before
one of them steps closer to Yibo to search his body, taking out the gun he’s hiding and
throwing it to the other guys.

“Our Laoda is waiting for you inside.” The other man smirks while pressing the muzzle of
his gun against Yibo’s chin.

“Take me inside then.” Yibo says with no fear in his eyes.

“You guys stay here if you don’t want me to shoot your Laoda.” Bai Yu’s man yells at the
underlings before forcing Yibo to get inside the warehouse by pressing the gun against his
back.

Once Yibo is inside the warehouse, one of the guys closes the rolling door from outside to
block the escape route. His mother is sitting on the ground with her hands tied to her back
and a gun pressed against the side of her head. Yibo then flicks his gaze to Bai Yu who is
holding the gun.
“Stupid brat, why did you come here?” Yang Mi hisses at him.

“Don’t say that. Your son loves you.” Bai Yu lets out a cynical laugh.

“What do you want?” Yibo asks.

“What do I want, I wonder?” Bai Yu hums thoughtfully and then smirks. “First, kneel down.”

Yibo narrows his eyes, refusing to move.

“Kneel down!” One of Bai Yu’s underlings punches him across the face.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to.” Bai Yu coos and presses his gun harder against Yang Mi’s
head.

Yibo spits the blood out of his mouth and slowly gets on his knees. Seeing that, Bai Yu lets
out a satisfied laugh and pulls Yang Mi closer against him, holding the woman by the throat.

“I’ve hated you since the first time we met. You were nothing but a brat, but you were all
high and mighty. You looked at people as if they were trash. I’ve always wanted to gouge
your eyes out, Wang Yibo!” Bai Yu spits.

Yibo stays quiet as he watches Bai Yu laughing like a madman.

“I actually hope that your father is still the head. That way, I can make that old man watch as
I shoot his son right in front of his eyes.” Bai Yu grits his teeth, but his lips are stretched into
an unsettling smile.
“What happened to your father was his own fault. We are mafias, we have our own unspoken
rules and your father broke that.” Yibo says bluntly.

“Shut up!” Bai Yu barks at him. “Even with me being the boss, you still butt your nose into
my matters! You and the Zhang family are such a pain in the ass!”

“You worked with the yakuza and invaded our territories. We have rules.” Yibo retorts.

“I said shut the fuck up!” Bai Yu snarls and grabs Yang Mi a little tighter around her throat.
“Don’t forget your place now that I got your mother in my hand!”

Yibo lets out a quiet growl and flicks his eyes to his mother.

“You noisy bastard, barking like a mad dog.” Yang Mi huffs out a laugh, though her face is
showing obvious pain. “You’re underestimating me. Do you think I’ll drag my son down?
Shoot me if you want. Let’s see if you got the guts to do it.”

“Mom. Stop.” Yibo hisses lowly. This isn’t the right time to provoke a crazy and desperate
man like Bai Yu.

“You bitch.” Bai Yu growls at her. “How about I rape you in front of your son to see how he
will react?”

“You fucking bastard—” Yibo makes a move to stand up, only to be kicked down by one of
Bai Yu’s men who is standing behind him the whole time.

“Stay on the ground, Wang.” The man crouches down and presses the muzzle of his gun
against the back of Yibo’s head.

“The fearsome Wang Yibo is actually a mommy’s boy! How interesting!” Bai Yu throws his
head back with a laugh.
“So what? Are you jealous?” Yibo chuckles jeeringly.

“What?” Bai Yu stops laughing and furrows his brows.

“Are you jealous because your own mother wishes that you were never born?” Yibo smirks at
him, eyes full of mockery.

That successfully provokes Bai Yu. Yibo can see the man’s face turning red in anger and
finally, Bai Yu points the gun at him.

“You motherfucker!” Bai Yu roars.

In that moment, Yang Mi uses her whole strength to shove Bai Yu with her body, messing
with his aim and causing a momentary distraction. At that same moment, Yibo twists his
body until he can strike his elbow against the man behind him. When the man groans in pain,
he seizes the gun and shoots him in the chest.

Yang Mi makes a run, but Bai Yu is quick enough to point the gun at her and shoot, grazing
her arm with the bullet.

Yibo gasps when he sees his mother falling on the ground with blood gushing out of her
wound. He’s about to make a run when he catches another one of Bai Yu’s men from the
corner of his vision. Before the man can shoot at him, he lifts his gun and shoots him in the
stomach.

“You fucking bitch.” Bai Yu stands up and points his gun at Yang Mi.

Suddenly, there are gunshot noises from outside the warehouse. Bai Yu whips his head to the
rolling door and a second later, a car comes crashing in through the rolling door. For a split
second, Yibo wonders if the car is going to run over him, but luckily, it misses him by half a
meter. Using the distraction, Yibo points his gun to another one of Bai Yu’s men and shoots
him, this time right in the head.

Bai Yu quickly points his gun at Yibo, but a bullet comes flying and hits him on the shoulder,
causing him to drop the gun he’s holding. Yang Mi immediately uses one of her legs to kick
the gun away from reach.

Zhang Lanxin slowly steps out of the car, followed by Feiyu who is holding a gun in his
hand, still smoking from its muzzle.

“You will die tonight, you fucking bastard.” Lanxin says through gritted teeth. No one can
remain alive once they lay a hand on her daughter.

Bai Yu glares at Yibo when he realizes what’s happening. “You son of a bitch, you were
buying time until help arrives.”

“Took you long enough to notice.” Yibo smirks.

“Your life ends tonight, Bai Yu. You can’t run away anymore. Our triad has been informed
and they’re on their way.” Lanxin says. Her underlings slowly walk into the warehouse after
shooting the guys outside, all pointing their guns at Bai Yu. There are six of her men and with
Yibo’s underlings joining forces, there’s no way Bai Yu can escape from here alive.

“My life ends tonight?” Bai Yu laughs. “I have no problem taking everyone here with me.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Lanxin narrows her eyes.

As if realizing something, Yibo whips his head to the two men he had shot earlier. They’re
both pulling out something that looks like hand grenades. Bai Yu is planning to blow this
place up with everybody here.
“Get down!” Yibo yells and runs over to his mother who’s on the ground.

“Watch out!” Feiyu rushes over to cover Lanxin.

“Laoda!” The other underlings immediately rush over to protect their bosses.

The grenades roll on the ground and explode, but only white smokes come out to fill the
room. When the underlings realize what’s happening, they immediately rush over to beat up
both Bai Yu’s men who tricked them.

“It’s a smoke bomb?” Lanxin coughs as Feiyu helps her to get on her feet.

“It’s a trick.” Yibo looks around, trying to see through the thick smoke. “Bai Yu is not here.”

“Go find him!” Lanxin orders her men.

Outside the warehouse, Bai Yu gets onto one of the motorbikes and rides away into the night.
Blood is still gushing from the gunshot wound in his arm and it will leave a trail of blood
along his run, but it will take time for them to track him. He had paid some people to get him
out of the country tonight, so he will be able to escape.

“Fucking bastards.” Bai Yu growls and makes a turn to exit the port.

There’s another motorbike coming from the opposite direction, the headlight flashing at him.
Bai Yu’s eyes widen when he realizes that the other motorbike is coming right at him at full
speed; it must be either the Wang’s or the Zhang’s underling. He tilts his motorbike in order
to avoid the crash, but he doesn’t manage to do anything much before they crash in the
middle.

Bai Yu groans when he’s thrown to the ground. He turns his head to the side and sees another
man sprawled across the ground a few meters away from him. The other man is wearing a
helmet, but it’s clear that he also took significant damage from their crash earlier.

That crash was a suicide move. This motorbike rider must be a crazy bastard himself. That
man was prepared to die when he crashed his motorbike.

“Fucking hell.” Bai Yu groans as he rolls to his back, trying to get up from the ground. His
head hurts and his vision is spinning. He must have injured his head from the crash.

The other man also does the same thing, though he’s the one who manages to stand up first.
Bai Yu watches as the man staggers over to him while pulling a gun out of his holster.

“Which family are you from?” Bai Yu looks at him.

The man points the gun at Bai Yu and uses his other hand to take off the helmet.

“The Wang family.” Xiao Zhan says.

“Oh, I know you.” Bai Yu’s eyes light up in interest as if he’s not on the brink of death right
now. “You’re that motherfucker’s omega bitch.”

Xiao Zhan shoots Bai Yu in the right leg and watches him groan in pain. “Do not address our
boss in such a disrespectful way.”

There are cars approaching from a distance and Xiao Zhan knows both families have caught
up. He’s glad he managed to stop Bai Yu even though he had to risk his life. He wouldn’t
even mind dying in that crash earlier if he managed to stop this man. Right now, his vision is
spinning and every part of his body hurts. He most likely got a concussion from his fall and
he probably broke something on his left leg. He won’t be surprised if he suffers an internal
injury too.

“Xiao Zhan!” Yibo gets out of the car and runs over to him.
“Look, he’s running after you. How romantic.” Bai Yu laughs sarcastically.

“Shut your mouth.” Xiao Zhan aims the gun to his head.

“I know about you, Xiao Zhan. You’re the pretty flower that Wang Yibo keeps away from
anybody else. You only show your face in discussions and conferences as Wang Yibo’s bitch.
I don’t think you’ve ever killed anybody before.” Bai Yu snickers.

“I have killed someone before.” Xiao Zhan says as a matter of fact.

“Can you kill another one? Can you pull the trigger? I don’t think you have it in you.” Bai Yu
says challengingly.

Xiao Zhan swallows and grips the gun tighter in his hand. His brain tells him to pull the
trigger and kill this man in a single shot, but his body refuses to move. He’s a mafia. He’s
Yibo’s right-hand man. Killing a bastard like Bai Yu should be an easy task, yet his hands are
trembling for no reason.

There’s a hand placed over his gun to lower it down. Xiao Zhan looks up to see Yibo
standing beside him.

“Give it to me.” Yibo says as he takes the gun from Xiao Zhan’s hand.

Xiao Zhan keeps his eyes on Yibo’s face as he lets the younger take the gun.

“Turn around.” Yibo says softly.

Xiao Zhan obeys the words and turns around so as to not witness what the alpha is going to
do next.
“Your bitch can’t even pull the trigger.” Bai Yu snickers.

“See you in hell, motherfucker.” Yibo pulls the trigger.

Xiao Zhan flinches slightly when he hears a gunshot, followed by the sound of a bullet shell
dropping to the ground. He knows Yibo just killed a man. Even though this isn’t his first time
witnessing a murder, Yibo still doesn’t let him see the gruesome sight.

“Why are you here? I told you to stay home.” Yibo steps in front of him.

Xiao Zhan can’t think with his pounding head and spinning vision. All he can see is Yibo’s
face and the blood staining the corner of his lips. He should have come here faster. He
shouldn’t have let them hurt Yibo at all.

“You’re… hurt…” He mutters dazedly, feeling his consciousness wavering.

“Xiao Zhan?” Yibo frowns when he senses something is wrong.

Xiao Zhan feels his body losing strength before his vision turns completely black.

When Xiao Zhan wakes up, he’s in the hospital room. He stares dazedly at the white ceiling
as he tries to gather his memories from before he passed out. He remembers how he rode
Yibo’s motorbike to the port and crashed into Bai Yu to stop him. He also remembers how
Yibo shot Bai Yu in the head before he finally blacked out.

As he slowly registers the feelings all over his body, he realizes that his hand feels oddly
warm. He glances over and sees another hand holding onto his own. It takes him another
second to realize that Yibo is the one holding his hand and the alpha is now asleep with his
head resting on the side of the hospital bed he’s lying on.

“Laoda…” He calls out softly while moving his hand slightly.

Yibo immediately snaps his eyes open as if he was never asleep. The alpha then stands up
from his chair and leans closer to him. Yibo looks a little surprised, like he didn’t expect him
to wake up so fast.

“How are you feeling?” Yibo’s eyes scan around his body, counting every visible wound and
searching for any source of pain.

“You’re hurt…” He stares at the cut on Yibo’s lip.

“How are you feeling? Answer me.” Yibo says impatiently, not liking the way Xiao Zhan
gets concerned over his small cut when the omega is in a much worse state.

“I feel… much better than I thought.” Xiao Zhan says, slightly amused. He could feel himself
being thrown to the air and slammed to the ground from the impact of the crash. He thought
he would wake up feeling like he got run over by a train, but he was pretty much fine.
There’s pain and everything, but it’s not as bad as he thought.

“What are you smiling about?” Yibo furrows his brows in anger. “You nearly died. Who the
fuck would ride a motorbike in full speed and crash someone head-on like that? Did you even
think about it before you did that stupid thing? Where the fuck did you put your brain?”
Xiao Zhan doesn’t remember if Yibo has ever scolded him like this before. Yibo usually spits
a word or two, short and straight to the point, and the alpha has never been the type who
would talk this much just to scold someone. Yibo always says that he doesn’t want to waste
his words and energy at stupid people.

“I managed to jump before we crashed, that’s why the injuries aren’t so bad.” Xiao Zhan tries
to explain.

“Not so bad?” Yibo stares at him incredulously, brows furrowed. “You got a light concussion,
fracture on your left shin, road rash on your left forearm, nasty bruises on the left side of your
ribs and all over your body.”

“Those are not so bad.” Xiao Zhan says in all honesty. “I could have punctured an organ or
sustained internal injuries, but I didn’t get that. I was actually surprised and amazed.”

“You’re just lucky. You could have died from that crash.” Yibo says sternly.

“I know.”

Yibo doesn’t seem happy at the calm response. “I told you not to be careless with your life. If
you’re going to act like this, then I’ll take it with my own hand right now.”

“Take it then.” Xiao Zhan looks fondly at the alpha. “My life has always been yours.”

Yibo looks stunned, like he can’t believe what he just heard, but Xiao Zhan can see the anger
dissipating from the younger’s eyes. With an exasperated sigh, Yibo brings a hand to his face.

“Why didn’t you stay home? Why did you risk your life for me? I told you to leave the
family and start your own life. I told you I’ve set you free…” Yibo mutters softly.

“I don’t need freedom when I’ve never felt imprisoned to begin with.”
“Can’t you see that I’ve been imprisoning you this whole time?” Yibo drops his hand to stare
at him. His usual cold eyes are now showing emotions that Xiao Zhan is trying to figure out.
“I drag you down to this filthy world and lock you here. I keep you like a flower in a jar
without letting you grow into a tree. I take advantage of your loyalty to bind you to me.”

He has no idea Yibo thinks that way this whole time. Yibo is the smartest man he has ever
known, yet the alpha looks so foolish right now. How can Yibo not see that he dedicated his
life for the alpha on his own will?

“I stay with you because I want to, not because I’m forced to.” He says softly.

Yibo, however, shakes his head. “You’re naïve, Xiao Zhan.”

“That is the last word you should use to describe me.”

“I don’t want you to risk your life and put yourself out in danger. It’s not your place. What do
I have to say so that you’ll understand?” Yibo blows out another exasperated sigh.

“My place is by your side. I’ll obey your commands, but if there’s a risk of you being in
danger, I’ll use my life to protect you.”

“That’s something I really don’t want to hear. I don’t want you to throw your life away so
easily. I don’t want you to do this.” Yibo sighs into his hand again, looking so exhausted and
frustrated. “What do you want from me?”

Xiao Zhan swallows the knot in his throat when his heart starts to ache. There’s only one
thing that he wants, something that he has always wanted for years, but it’s something
impossible. He knows that, which is why he decides to bury his feelings deep within him and
serve Yibo like what he’s supposed to do.
He wants to tell Yibo that there’s nothing that he wants, that he’s happy just being able to stay
by his side and be a part of the family, but it’s hard when Yibo is looking at him like this.
Yibo’s eyes are uncharacteristically tender and it makes him want to cry. His feelings are
overflowing like a broken dam and he can’t hold them anymore. He loves Yibo so much and
his heart wants to scream it out to the world.

“What I want… is something unattainable…” Xiao Zhan’s voice cracks as tears begin to brim
in his eyes. His heart is tightening, like it’s preparing itself to be crushed.

“I can get anything for you.” Yibo leans closer. “Say it and I’ll give it to you. Anything.”

With tears trickling from his eyes, Xiao Zhan brings his hand to touch Yibo’s face, fingers
brushing over the other’s cheekbone. “I want your heart, Yibo… that’s the only thing I
want…”

The alpha looks visibly taken aback by the answer and Xiao Zhan can feel another set of tears
dripping down his cheeks. When he makes a move to pull back, Yibo grabs his hand and
presses it against his face. For a second, Xiao Zhan swears that Yibo’s eyes are glazed.

“You’ve had my heart a long, long time ago.” Yibo whispers softly.

This time, it’s Xiao Zhan’s turn to be stunned. He starts to wonder if he’s dreaming right now.
Maybe he’ll open his eyes and wake up in a place where Yibo is not there. He can’t believe
that he’s actually holding Yibo’s heart in his hand. All this time, it always seems unattainable.

“Really…?” Xiao Zhan murmurs as tears continue to fall from his eyes.

“Yes.” Yibo whispers and leans in to peck his lips. “What about you? Where’s your heart
now?”

“It’s always been yours… All of me is yours…” Xiao Zhan pulls Yibo’s face closer to press
their lips again. “So please don’t tell me to leave your side ever again…”
Yibo takes a quick breath and presses his lips harder. Xiao Zhan closes his eyes, feeling
himself melting with the deep kiss Yibo is giving him. His arms come up to wrap themselves
around Yibo to pull him even closer, but when he puts a little force on them, he feels pain.

Yibo immediately breaks the kiss when he hears the hiss of pain. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, it just hurts a little…” Xiao Zhan winces as he slowly places his arms back on the
bed. “How long have I been unconscious?”

“Almost five hours.”

That’s actually shorter than he thought. With how dizzy he felt last night, he thought he had
been unconscious for a whole day. “What happened after last night?”

“The triad took care of it. The yakuza had cut ties with the Bai since they knew the triad
would be involved and they didn’t want to create conflicts.”

“That’s good.” Xiao Zhan hums.

“You stopped Bai Yu when he tried to escape.” Yibo looks at him. “He still got some minions
who would help him escape to Japan, but you failed his plan. You did good.”

“Glad to be a help.” Xiao Zhan smiles pleasantly, happy that he can prove himself to be
useful.

“But I will never let you put yourself in such a dangerous situation again.” Yibo’s gaze
hardens suddenly. “I will not forgive you if you get yourself hurt again.”

“I’m sorry.” He lifts his hand to stroke Yibo’s cheek gently.

Yibo opens his mouth to say something else, but stops when he hears knocks from the door.
Xiao Zhan perks up and then freezes when Yibo’s father enters the room. Ever since Mr.
Wang handed his position to Yibo a few years ago, he hasn’t been around much, so it’s a
surprise to see him here.

“Xiao Zhan, how are you feeling?” Mr. Wang walks over to the bed.

“Sir.” Xiao Zhan tries to sit up, but Yibo keeps him in place.

“Don’t move around. You’re still injured.”

“Yes, please don’t move. I heard about the crash and I’m really glad you didn’t lose a leg or
an organ.” Mr. Wang sighs, but he looks relieved.

“How’s mom?” Yibo turns to his father.

“Feisty as always, but she’s fine.”

“You’re taking her back to Hainan with you once she’s discharged?”

“Yes.”

“By force?”

“Yes.” Mr. Wang smirks.

“She’s going to kill you in your sleep.” Yibo sighs.

“It’s not going to be her first attempt.” Mr. Wang says casually and looks at Xiao Zhan again.
“When are you going to get discharged, Xiao Zhan?”

“I think I can leave the hospital today.” The omega says confidently.

“In your dreams.” Yibo clicks his tongue at Xiao Zhan before answering his father. “He needs
to stay here for at least a day.”

“How bad is his leg?” Mr. Wang looks at the plaster wrapped around the omega’s left shin.

“A small fracture, four to six weeks recovery.”

“Not so bad. That’s good.” Mr. Wang nods lightly and then looks at Yibo. “Make sure to take
care of him, alright?”

“I-I can take care of myself, Sir. There’s no need to trouble Laoda.” Xiao Zhan sputters
quickly.

“You’re still calling him Laoda?” Mr. Wang laughs as if it’s something funny. “And you need
to be well taken care of or else I won’t have the face to see your father in the afterlife. I’ll
make sure Yibo does exactly that.”

“Don’t you need to be with Mom right now?” Yibo sounds a little annoyed.

“She’s asleep. I better not wake her up.” Mr. Wang hums and then beckons at his son. “But I
do need to speak with you for a moment regarding the police investigation. Come with me.”

Yibo turns to him. “Do you need me to call the nurse before I go?”
“No, I’m fine.” He says reassuringly.

“I’ll be back.” Yibo gives his hand a light squeeze before leaving the room with his father.

Xiao Zhan watches the door close and then turns to look at the window. He doesn’t know
how big the impact is, but Bai Yu did cause some troubles in the territory. The number of
casualties is not that high, so hopefully they didn’t lose any great deal. He wonders if he
could have prevented it if he paid more attention to the drugs distribution.

He closes his eyes when he realizes that his mind is going all over the place. Yibo said that he
suffers a concussion, so that must be why he can’t seem to focus on one thought. He blows
out a sigh and looks down at his left leg. Although it’s good to know that his injuries aren’t
that severe, it will be a pain to not be able to walk properly for the next one to two months.
He doesn't want to be a burden.

Xiao Zhan barely realizes it when he’s starting to fall back to sleep, but he can feel a gentle
touch on his face and a kiss pressed on his forehead. He can faintly smell Yibo’s scent as he
drifts off to slumber.

Xiao Zhan witnesses a little chaos when Yibo’s father tries to drag his ex-wife back with him
to Hainan after she’s discharged. It’s concerning to see how hostile Yang Mi is acting, but
seeing that she eventually agrees to go back with her ex-husband, he figures that everything
will be fine. Yibo’s parents were no longer together when he arrived in the family fifteen
years ago, but he has heard many stories about Yibo’s mother and what kind of tough woman
she is.
When Yang Mi first spoke to him in the restaurant, he felt a little nervous, but the woman was
nice to him. When they shared some talks during their stay in the hospital, Yang Mi was
actually very nice and sweet towards him, reminding him of his own late mother. Yang Mi
asked him about his family and his past, to which he told the woman everything about what
happened to his parents and how he ended up being taken by Yibo’s father.

This whole time, Xiao Zhan had imagined Yibo’s mother as a ruthless and cruel woman, but
she’s actually a good mother with a strong personality. He can see why Mr. Wang fell in love
with her and why he’s still in love until now. Seeing the way Yang Mi is acting, maybe she
doesn’t hate her ex-husband as much as she claims to.

Still, Xiao Zhan thinks there’s a possibility of Yang Mi trying to kill Mr. Wang in his sleep.
For some reason, both Yibo and his father don’t seem to be worried about it.

“I guess I’ll see you two around.” Mr. Wang says to them after he’s done taking care of the
matters regarding his ex-wife.

“Tell me if Mom stabs you.” Yibo says flatly.

“I’ll tell you the weapon she uses to stab me. You know she’s very creative with her choices
of weapon.” Mr. Wang says before turning to Xiao Zhan. “Wishing you a speedy recovery,
Xiao Zhan.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Xiao Zhan bows his head.

Mr. Wang briefly glances at Yibo before looking at the omega again. “You know, the guys
told me that Yibo didn’t let you out of his embrace during the whole ride to the hospital. He
also held your hand through the whole night while you were unconscious on the hospital
bed.”

Xiao Zhan’s eyes widen at the information and he can feel blush creeping to his cheeks. He
slowly flicks his eyes to Yibo, seeing the alpha standing beside him with no particular
expression on his face.
“Nothing’s wrong with that. He’s mine.” Yibo says assertively.

“He sure is yours.” Mr. Wang nods lightly. “Alright, I need to get going now before my ex-
wife escapes. See you.”

“Have a safe journey, Sir.” Xiao Zhan bows again while Yibo remains silent.

Yibo doesn’t say anything else until they get into the car. Despite the heartfelt conversation
they had a few days before, Yibo’s behavior doesn’t seem to change a lot, but it’s fine. He
doesn’t want Yibo to change into a completely different person anyway. Yibo is fine the way
he is and Yibo is still the same alpha that he fell in love with.

Besides, he knows that Yibo loves him too, so his heart is at ease now. He has always been
Yibo’s since the start, but now Yibo is all his too.

“Do you think your parents will be alright?” Xiao Zhan asks as the car takes them back
home.

“They’ll be fine. They’re always like that.” Yibo says, looking very nonchalant.

“Do they love or hate each other?”

“Both.”

Xiao Zhan nods, trying to understand it. “Do you want them to get back together, Sir?”

Yibo turns to him with a frown. “Why are you still calling me that?”
Xiao Zhan doesn’t know how to answer that. Ever since he joined the family, he has never
called Yibo with anything but honorific – except when Yibo specifically asks him to call him
by his name during sex.

“Since you chose to come home with me, don’t expect that you’ll still be my underling.”
Yibo says sternly.

“Then what will I be from now on?”

“My wife, of course.”

“Laoda!” Xiao Zhan flicks his eyes to the rear view mirror to look at the driver, but it seems
that the man is pretending not to hear anything.

“I told you not to call me that.” Yibo squints.

“I’m sorry.” Xiao Zhan drops his gaze, but he can feel his face growing hot. He doesn’t need
a mirror to know that he’s blushing. He’s sure Yibo can see it too.

When the car pulls over in front of the gate, Xiao Zhan quickly uses his crutches to step out
of the car, but Yibo is obviously faster. The alpha gets out on his own and even rounds the car
to help Xiao Zhan get out of the vehicle.

“I’m fine.” Xiao Zhan gets himself up with the crutches.

“I didn’t tell you to use the crutches.” Yibo stares down at the crutches as if they're something
that get in his way.

Xiao Zhan blinks, confused. “I don’t think I can walk yet without these.”
Without saying anything else, Yibo scoops his body and sweeps his feet off the ground. Xiao
Zhan gasps at the unexpected action and lets go of the crutches to hold himself against the
alpha.

“P-Please put me down.” Xiao Zhan flusters as he looks at all the other men who are trying to
look elsewhere.

“Open the gate and bring the crutches inside.” Yibo commands his underlings and carries
Xiao Zhan to the house, ignoring the omega’s words.

Xiao Zhan keeps his gaze down as Yibo carries him all the way in, not wanting to look at any
of the underlings. He doesn’t know what kind of face he should put on the next time he sees
them. He’s aware that these guys have their own assumptions about their relationship, but
having Yibo showing it off is embarrassing.

Thankfully, the men leave after unlocking the door and bringing the crutches into the house.
Yibo takes him to the grand living room and sets him down on the couch.

“Wait here.” The alpha says before pulling away.

Xiao Zhan sits up carefully and looks at Yibo who is locking the door. Yibo then grabs the
crutches and sets them against the coffee table in the living room.

“Thank you.” Xiao Zhan whispers softly. While he has seen Yibo’s unexpected sweet sides
that made him fall deeper for the alpha each time, he still can’t get used to having Yibo
showing them so blatantly. It’s like Yibo is no longer holding back from all the things he has
always wanted to do.

“I’ll get you some water to drink.” Yibo turns away, so Xiao Zhan quickly throws his hand to
grab his wrist, stopping the younger.
“Sir—I mean, Yibo, there’s something I want to tell you.” He looks up, eyes determined and
unwavering.

“What is it?” Yibo stares back at him, waiting.

“The lock code for my collar—”

Before he can finish his words, Yibo suddenly places his hand over his mouth to stop his
speech.

“Don’t.” Yibo says lowly.

Xiao Zhan gives a questioning look.

“You’re still injured. If you tell me the code right now, I won’t be able to hold back.” Yibo
removes his hand.

“But—”

“Are you aware of how much I want to fuck you right now? How much I’m holding back?”

Xiao Zhan opens and closes his mouth without any word uttered. In the end, he presses his
lips and nods his head in understanding. Although he claims to be fine, he knows it’s not a
good idea to do it while he’s at this state. He knows how rough Yibo can get during sex and
he might end up in the hospital again by the end of it.

“I don’t want to send you back to the hospital, so be good.” Yibo says before walking away
to get the drink.
Xiao Zhan doesn’t know if he can actually get used to their new relationship. He still finds it
hard to believe that he really is Yibo’s lover now. It still feels surreal.

“Thank you.” He mutters softly when Yibo hands a glass of water to him.

“You should rest in my room after I bathe you.”

Xiao Zhan nearly sprays the water out his mouth. “What?”

“Just because you’re discharged, doesn’t mean you don’t need to rest. You’re still
recovering.” Yibo says with a stern look on his face.

“No, the part where you’ll bathe me or something…”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I can do it on my own.”

“With that?” Yibo looks at his plastered left leg.

“…I can manage.” Xiao Zhan nods confidently.

“I’m sure you can, but I’m still going to do it.” Yibo stares at him with his domineering aura.
“I need to check every bruise and wound on your body, from head to toe.”

As much as he wants to argue about it, he knows Yibo will get upset if he keeps talking back,
so he closes his mouth and nods his head. Besides, it’s not like he completely hates the idea.
Yibo seems pleased by the obedient response. With a careful hand, he places his fingers
under Xiao Zhan’s chin to tilt his face up.

“It will be nothing I’ve never seen before. I know every nook and cranny on your body
already.” The younger says with a smirk tugged on his lips.

“Welcome home.” Xiao Zhan says as he opens the door of the car.

“You don’t need the crutches anymore?” Yibo steps out of the car and looks at the elder’s left
leg.

“It’s completely recovered now.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am very sure.” Xiao Zhan smiles reassuringly.

It’s been almost two months since that incident and he’s fully recovered now. In fact, his
other injuries had recovered long ago and his fractured leg was the only thing that took longer
to recover. He was getting impatient about it, so when the doctor finally cleared him this
morning, he felt like a free bird flying out of his cage.

Things have gotten back to normal after they had settled it with the police. Yibo is going back
to his work as a mafia boss while Xiao Zhan… is also doing the same thing.
Even though their feelings are mutual and they have become lovers, he doesn’t think there
are any significant changes in their relationships. Aside from Yibo being more
straightforward with his feelings and getting overly protective, things are almost the same.
They still kiss like before, still sleep on the same bed like before, still touch each other like
before, and still live together under the same roof.

No, there’s actually something different.

Even since he was discharged from the hospital, Yibo has never gone all the way during sex.
Yibo claims that he’s still injured and the alpha doesn’t want to take a risk, but Xiao Zhan
knows he’s far from fragile. Despite being an omega, he’s also a man and he has been part of
the mafia for more than a decade. He knows Yibo is aware of that too, yet the alpha only uses
his mouth and fingers to satisfy him and that’s all.

Yibo is holding back and it doesn’t really make Xiao Zhan happy. They’re lovers now, yet the
distance between them seems to remain the same.

Xiao Zhan blows out a sigh as he looks at himself in the mirror. He brings a hand to touch his
collar, tracing over the thick leather that has been protecting his nape for so many years. He
remembers how Yibo would sometimes bite on this collar during sex, but it’s never broken
until now.

Tonight, he’s going to say goodbye to this collar.

Making up his mind, he steps out of the bathroom and sees Yibo standing behind the window.
The alpha is shirtless after his shower and he can see the dragon tattoo on his full back. It’s
painted on the alpha’s skin in such an intricate way and Xiao Zhan has admired the inkwork
long enough to have the picture burned into his mind. He has spent some nights brushing his
fingers against the tattoo, tracing the head of the dragon on Yibo’s upper back and down to its
claws on the back of the younger’s waist.

Every time Xiao Zhan looks at the tattoo, he can feel his breath taken away. He knows Yibo
got it done after he turned eighteen as part of his coming of age ceremony. The first time
Xiao Zhan saw that roaring dragon on Yibo’s back, he felt something that he was not
supposed to feel at that time.

Hearing footsteps, Yibo slowly turns around to look at him. Once their eyes meet, Xiao Zhan
pulls the knot that holds his night robe together and lets everything fall to the floor. He can
see Yibo staring at his naked body, but the alpha doesn’t make a move as he walks over and
pulls Yibo into a kiss.

It takes less than a second for Yibo to pry his mouth open and lick the inside of it. Xiao Zhan
gasps into the kiss and brings his hands to Yibo’s broad shoulders, squeezing them lightly as
the alpha takes his breath away. Yibo is not taller than him, yet the alpha is always so
domineering, so aggressive, and so strong.

As they kiss passionately, Yibo roams his hands across Xiao Zhan’s back, following the curve
of his waist until he can squeeze the round buttocks in his both hands. Xiao Zhan moans into
the kiss and pushes back against the big hands.

“You smell sweeter than usual.” Yibo bites the omega’s tongue, drawing out a soft mewl
from the other. “You didn’t take your suppressant, did you? You’re trying to drive me wild.”

Xiao Zhan always keeps track of his heat cycle and takes his suppressants on time. He was
born as an omega and he knows what kind of things he needs to do to protect himself. He
knows how his heat cycle can put him in serious danger, especially when he’s living in the
underworld as a mafia. The only rare times where he didn’t take his suppressants were when
Yibo told him not to.

Yibo had satiated his heat before, but it’s only on rare occasions and it’s been too long since
the last time Yibo did that. He’s a cunning omega for seducing Yibo this way, knowing that
the alpha will go crazy soon from his pheromones, but his cunning personality is something
that helps him navigate the underworld. He knows his heat is close and if they do it tonight
without the suppressants, his heat will come early.

“I’m fully recovered now. I can take it.” Xiao Zhan murmurs into the kiss.
“Is that so?” Yibo huffs out the softest chuckle that sends a shudder down Xiao Zhan’s spine.

“Yes.” Xiao Zhan drags his lips down to Yibo’s neck, nuzzling at his throat to inhale his
scent, and then going down to the collarbone.

He slowly gets on his knees as he kisses the way down until his face is right in front of Yibo’s
bulging crotch. His loins grow hot just by looking at it and without even asking for the
alpha’s permission, he pulls the pants down until he can see Yibo’s hard cock hanging heavily
in front of him. He takes in a shuddering breath and wraps his hand around the length to hold
it up to his mouth.

He takes a quick glance at Yibo, seeing the alpha staring expectantly at him, and then leans in
to take the tip into his mouth. He recognizes the scent of Yibo’s pheromone very well and he
knows the scent gets really strong in this area. Yibo is so hot and so big in his mouth. It’s
stretching his lips almost painfully but he loves it.

Yibo looks down with darkened eyes as Xiao Zhan takes his cock deeper into his pretty little
mouth. He braces himself against the window with one hand while his other hand is holding
Xiao Zhan's head, switching between running his fingers through the black hair and tugging
it lightly. There’s something enticing about watching Xiao Zhan sucking on his cock, seeing
the way his lips stretch obscenely and the way his cheek bulges as he rubs the length with the
inside on his mouth.

Xiao Zhan can feel his jaw aching because Yibo is too big for his mouth and he can’t really
take the whole length in without choking himself. He lifts a hand to rub the base part where
his mouth can’t reach, teasing the thicker area where a knot will form. Even though he’s the
one doing this, he can feel his body reacting. Maybe because Yibo’s musky scent is so thick
here, maybe because he can taste the alpha in his mouth, maybe it’s the way Yibo pulls his
hair, or maybe it’s the way Yibo breathes heavily above him.

Without permission, he brings his other hand down between his legs, brushing past his own
leaking cock and down to his rim. His slick is already dripping out and trickling down his
inner thighs. He presses a finger against the slicked rim, ready to push it in to finger himself
open.

“Stop.” Yibo commands and gives a light tug on his hair.

Xiao Zhan freezes momentarily and then pulls his head back. Spit and precome is dripping
from his lips, so he quickly rubs the back of his hand against his mouth to clean it before
looking up to Yibo.

“Stand up.” Yibo commands again as he fixes his pants, covering his uncomfortably hard
cock.

His legs feel a little wobbly, but he still stands up to his feet and lets Yibo yank him closer.
Yibo’s hands are on his waist suddenly, sliding down to his ass and spreading the cheeks
apart as if wanting to expose his dripping hole. He lets out a soft mewl when Yibo rubs his
fingers against his rim.

“I haven’t even done anything, yet you’re already this wet.” Yibo murmurs lowly in his ear.
“So hungry for my cock already?”

“Yibo…” Xiao Zhan murmurs breathlessly as he presses his face against the crook of Yibo’s
neck. Yes, he’s so hungry. He’s been hungry for a long time and he has lost all sense of shame
now.

Yibo hauls the elder up to his shoulder suddenly, just enough for Xiao Zhan’s feet to dangle
above the floor, and then takes the omega to his bed. He puts Xiao Zhan down on the bed and
wastes no time to kiss him. He grabs both of Xiao Zhan’s wrists and holds them on either
side, pinning them there as he takes the omega’s breath away with the kiss.

When Xiao Zhan starts gasping into the kiss, he breaks the kiss and drags his lips down to the
other’s neck. His lips brush against the thick collar around Xiao Zhan’s neck before going
down to his chest.

Xiao Zhan moans when Yibo sucks his nipple. He squirms against the bed and tries to move
his hands, but Yibo is still pinning them in place. Yibo alternates between flicking his tongue
against the hardened bud and tugging it with his teeth. Xiao Zhan gasps and mewls
helplessly, loins aching and legs twitching at the pleasure.
“Ah…!” He cries out feebly at the sudden sting. He looks down as Yibo pulls away, seeing
his nipple all red and swollen, circled by an evident bite mark.

Yibo only flashes him a smirk before he starts playing with the other nipple. Xiao Zhan
arches his back and pulls at his hands, but Yibo doesn’t let him go anywhere. His body is
growing hotter and he knows his heat will strike sooner or later, and it seems that Yibo wants
to see how long he can last. He can feel his slick trickling out and at this rate, he might
drench the bed beneath them with slick.

“Yibo… no more… please…” He husks softly when Yibo rolls his tongue around the swollen
bud. He’s so wet and his hole is starting to ache from how much it’s twitching.

There’s a low chuckle before Yibo pulls away. The alpha finally removes his hand and Xiao
Zhan immediately takes the chance to reach down and touch Yibo, running his hand through
the younger’s dark hair and squeezing his shoulder.

Yibo drags his lips lower, following the line of his abs and down to his crotch. Yibo curls a
hand around his length and kisses the soft skin around the base. Xiao Zhan looks down,
seeing how feeble his cock looks in Yibo’s big hand. Yibo then uses his other hand to spread
his legs open before leaning in to play with his hole.

He screws his eyes shut as his toes curl. There’s a dirty slurping sound from down there and
Xiao Zhan can feel tears of shame brimming in his eyes. While this isn’t the first time Yibo
does this, he still can’t stop feeling embarrassed to have the alpha using his mouth there. Yibo
is a powerful alpha, a mafia boss, he’s not supposed to lower himself and go down on
someone like this.

“Y-Yibo… it’s dirty—ah…!” He cries out when Yibo pushes his tongue in to lick his inside.

Yibo ignores the words though. He starts moving his tongue inside, making sure to rub and
lick the soft walls. Xiao Zhan is dripping all over, filling his mouth with the sweet nectar. It
tastes better than any wines or honey he has ever tasted before. He can spend all night just
worshiping and pleasuring his beautiful omega.
As if it’s not enough, Yibo starts stroking the feeble cock in his hand, enjoying the way Xiao
Zhan moans and the way his hips twitch. He knows Xiao Zhan is strong. He knows Xiao
Zhan can beat someone up and he’s skilful enough to handle a physical fight, but when Xiao
Zhan is on the bed with him, he’s delicate like a camellia flower with tender petals.

“N-No, I’m coming…!” Xiao Zhan yelps when he feels it. His toes are curling tightly and his
stomach is tightening. With another stroke of Yibo’s hand, he comes undone.

Yibo keeps his mouth there, licking and slurping the slick that’s spilling out as the omega
reaches his peak. Yibo only pulls away once he is satisfied. He licks his lips like he just
finished a meal and looks down at Xiao Zhan who is panting beneath him. He then looks
down at his own hand, seeing the seed Xiao Zhan spilled from his cock. It’s so thin and
almost clear, and it’s barely staining his entire palm; how cute.

“Yibo…” Xiao Zhan tugs on his arm.

Yibo moves closer to him, waiting for a word.

“The code for my collar—”

“Stop.” Yibo stops him right there. “Do you understand what will happen once your collar is
off?”

“You’re going to bite my nape.” Xiao Zhan answers with no hesitation or doubt.

“You’ll be mine forever after that.” Yibo’s hand comes up to wrap along the collar. “I’ll bind
you to me. I’ll lock you up here. I won’t let you out of my sight at all. Even if you change
your mind one day, I will never let you go. Are you prepared for that life?”

Instead of getting terrified, Xiao Zhan smiles softly, as if those words are what he has always
wanted to hear. “I wouldn’t trade that life for anything else.”
Yibo takes in a shuddering breath and brings his hand to the lock combination on the front of
the collar. “Tell me.”

Still with a smile on his face, Xiao Zhan finally says it. “It’s 0805.”

Yibo freezes for a moment. There’s no particular expression on his face, but Xiao Zhan
knows what’s on the younger’s mind.

“It is your birthday indeed.” He says, answering the question that hasn’t been asked.

Yibo shifts the four number disks and with a click, the collar is unlocked. His breathing stops
momentarily when he looks at Xiao Zhan’s bare neck and within a second, he’s kissing and
nipping at the skin, crafting his first hickey as if marking his possession.

Xiao Zhan moans softly and tilts his head to the side. No one has ever touched his neck
before since it was always protected by a collar, so he didn’t know it’s also sensitive. He can
feel Yibo sucking on a patch of skin and scraping his teeth against it. It prickles, but it feels
so intimate to have Yibo touching something that he doesn’t show to anybody else.

“You’re mine now, Xiao Zhan.” Yibo growls between the kisses. “There’s no going back.”

“I don’t want to go back.” Xiao Zhan whispers with a smile.

Still kissing all over the omega’s neck, Yibo reaches a hand down between Xiao Zhan’s legs
and slowly pushes his fingers in. Xiao Zhan complies by spreading his legs wider and
moaning when the fingers reach all the way inside.

“A-Ahh…! Yibo…!” Xiao Zhan throws his head back as Yibo thrusts his fingers vigorously.
“So wet.” Yibo hums, not slowing down at all. There’s a squelching sound every time he
moves his fingers and he can feel the slick dripping all over his knuckles, accompanied by
Xiao Zhan little moans.

Xiao Zhan’s vision is flickering with sparks. Yibo is rubbing against that spot he likes so
much, his long fingers are pressing and kneading at it, making his body tremble in pleasure.
He can feel it when Yibo shoves three fingers into him, spreading him open and rubbing all
his spots.

Right when he’s about to warn Yibo about how close he is getting, the alpha pulls his fingers
out and whispers in his ear. “Show me your beautiful camellias.”

Xiao Zhan doesn’t waste any second as he turns to his stomach, showing Yibo the full bloom
camellias on his back. Without even waiting for the next command, he sets his knees on the
bed and lifts his hips up, presenting himself to Yibo.

Yibo’s hands are on his ass immediately, groping and squeezing the cheeks as he pleases. Just
as he pushes back against those hands, Yibo suddenly slaps one of the cheeks, hard enough to
make him jerk.

“Ah…!” He cries out when Yibo smacks the other cheek, getting both of them equally red.

“You like it, don’t you?” Yibo hums from behind him.

Xiao Zhan takes a shuddering breath before answering softly. “Yes.”

He can hear the low chuckle from the alpha, something that makes his spine tingle every
time, and he can also feel something hard pressing against his hole. He clutches his hands
against the bed sheet to brace for it, but still screams when Yibo shoves his whole length in a
single thrust. It goes right to his pleasure spot and his world seems to spin for a second.
Yibo’s warm chest is pressing against his back suddenly. His strong arm wraps itself around
his torso to hold him close. Xiao Zhan tilts his head slightly to see Yibo’s other hand placed
on top of his own hand, holding it tightly. It’s so close, so intimate, and he doesn’t think they
have ever done it this way before.

“I’m going to move.” Yibo only gives a short warning before he starts ramming in.

Xiao Zhan can’t seem to catch his breath with how hard and fast Yibo is thrusting. His breath
gets knocked out of his lungs, yet his mouth is hanging open with moans spilling out. He
feels weak, like all the strength is leaving his body, but Yibo is still holding him up, forcing
him to accept the thick cock pounding into him.

“Ahhh! Yibo—ohh!” Xiao Zhan cries out as he pulls onto the sheet. Yibo’s arm around his
body is as strong as steel and his thrusts are so rough. He can feel his entire body jerking
whenever Yibo drives into him.

Yibo breathes heavily as he stares at Xiao Zhan’s unmarred nape under him. His mouth is
watering and his teeth are itching to bite on it, to tear the skin and dig into the flesh until a
permanent mark is created. His alpha instinct is telling him to claim this beautiful omega as
his mate and make him carry his children, and Yibo will do exactly that.

“I’m going to get you pregnant.” Yibo snarls. “I’m going to knot you and spill everything of
me until you’re full and dripping.”

Xiao Zhan gasps at the filthy promise. A male omega like him is only fertile during his heat
cycle. They didn’t do this often when he’s in heat and even if they did, he’d always take an
emergency contraceptive to avoid unwanted things. Now though, Yibo is whispering all the
dirty words in his ear, telling him about how he’s going to breed him so well that he won’t be
able to walk away without a full belly.

“Yes…!” Xiao Zhan cries out, his slick gushing at the thought of being bred until he’s full
with the alpha’s children.

Yibo smirks and without warning, he pushes his knot in, locking their bodies together.
Xiao Zhan screams at the newfound feeling of being knotted. This is the first time Yibo knots
him, which means that Yibo is serious about impregnating him. His cock slides deeper and
Xiao Zhan swears it’s now pressing against the entrance of his womb, ready to pump it full
with seed.

Yibo doesn’t stop there though. He grinds his hips, pressing his cock even deeper, and then
bites on the omega’s nape.

“Ahhh!” Xiao Zhan lets out a pitched scream. He can feel Yibo tearing the skin and biting
into his flesh. It hurts, he knows he’s bleeding, but it feels so good. There’s a rush of pleasure
hitting his body, so strong that he can barely do anything before the orgasm hits him.

Yibo keeps his mouth there and rocks his hips, fucking the omega through it and drawing his
orgasm longer until Xiao Zhan is a trembling mess beneath him. When he feels his own
orgasm approaching, he pulls away from Xiao Zhan’s bleeding neck and groans as he shoots
his seed inside, filling the elder up to the brim.

He rests his forehead against Xiao Zhan’s back afterwards, trying to catch his breath and
waiting for his knot to go down. The omega is still panting hard under him, so he squeezes
Xiao Zhan a little tighter and plants some kisses on the flowers on his back.

Then he smells a sudden burst of sweet scent from Xiao Zhan.

His own body reacts immediately. He pulls back with wide eyes, feeling his knot shrinking
but his cock growing hard again inside the omega. He knows what’s happening and he can’t
help but to lick his lips in excitement.

“Your heat…” He murmurs lowly.

“Yibo…” Xiao Zhan turns over his shoulder to look at him. His eyes are glossed with tears,
but they’re dark with arousal.
Yibo leans back and pulls Xiao Zhan along to sit the omega on his cock. He hooks an arm
around Xiao Zhan’s front and seizes him by the throat, keeping his head upright as the omega
cries out. He can feel the slick gushing out as Xiao Zhan tightens around his cock. With one
hand gripping onto Xiao Zhan’s hip to keep him steady, Yibo snaps his own hips up.

“You want to get pregnant, Xiao Zhan? Want to carry my child? Want to become the mother
of my children?” Yibo murmurs senselessly as he thrusts into his omega.

Xiao Zhan seems too incoherent to answer with words, but he can feel the elder nodding his
head. He stares at Xiao Zhan’s nape, seeing the bleeding wound from his bite earlier and
watching a drop of blood trickling down to the red camellias on his back.

Xiao Zhan truly looks beautiful in red.

“I love you.” Yibo bites down on Xiao Zhan’s shoulder and the omega moans in response.

The pleasure has driven Xiao Zhan nearly into delirium, to an altered state of consciousness,
but he hears everything. His heart is swelling with love and tears are trickling from the
corners of his eyes. He slowly reaches a hand until he can touch Yibo’s head, until he can feel
the soft hair between his fingers.

“L-Love you…” He gasps out between his moans and turns his head slightly until he can feel
his cheek pressing against Yibo’s head that’s resting on his shoulder.

There’s a growl coming from Yibo before Xiao Zhan finds himself being knotted once again.
His thighs tremble and there’s no strength left in his body, but Yibo is holding him up the
whole time, his strong arm secured around his body like a steel bar.

They do it again and again, throughout the whole night, until Xiao Zhan’s body doesn’t feel
like his own anymore. Until Xiao Zhan feels like everything of him has become Yibo’s to
own, to mark, to worship, and to love.
“Did you set my birthday as the lock code since the start?”

Yibo asks once both of them are laid on the bed. Xiao Zhan’s heat is fully satiated and Yibo
was kind enough to clean him up and bandage his nape. He feels tired after the intense rounds
of sex. He is actually surprised he could remain conscious till the end, but Yibo still looks
very refreshed.

“I did.” He rests his head on Yibo’s shoulder and places his hand against the younger’s chest
where his heartbeat is.

“Why my birthday?” Yibo glances at him. “You only saw me as a brat at that time. You never
looked at me.”

“I have always looked at you, Yibo, but it’s true that you were still a child when I received
the collar from your father.” Xiao Zhan smiles softly at the memories.

“Then why my birthday? You could have set your own birthday.”

“It would be too easy, wouldn’t it?” He chuckles lightly. “When I joined the family, your
father wanted me to commit my life to you, the heir. Since my life had been handed to you, I
thought you would also be the one who can decide whether I was allowed to have a mate or
not, so I set it as your birthday.”
“You’re not wrong. You’ve always been mine and I’m the only one who can decide whether
to let someone claim you or not.”

Xiao Zhan closes his eyes with a smile. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Back in the hospital, you said that I’ve had your heart for a long time, but when was it?”

Yibo doesn’t answer immediately. He keeps his eyes on the ceiling, arm still looped around
Xiao Zhan’s waist to keep the omega close to his side. He never really thought about the
exact moment he fell in love with Xiao Zhan, he just knew that he wouldn’t let anybody else
have Xiao Zhan. Was it love at first sight when he was a ten-year-old brat? He isn’t sure.

“Do you remember that snowy winter morning where you caught me standing under the
snow in the garden?” Yibo says softly after a long silence.

When he doesn’t hear any response, he turns his head to see Xiao Zhan sleeping soundly in
his embrace. He stares at the elder’s sleeping face for a moment and then huffs out a chuckle.

“How dare you fall asleep without even waiting for my answer.” He mutters under his breath,
but there’s a contended look on his face as he slowly closes his own eyes.

There’s a soft, warm feeling in his chest and Yibo wonders if this tender feeling is what
people often call happiness.
Yibo could hear footsteps approaching him from behind, but he didn’t turn his head. When he
felt something warm and heavy draped over his shoulders, he glanced over his shoulder and
saw Xiao Zhan holding an umbrella above his head.

“It’s cold and snowing, young head. You might catch a cold.” Xiao Zhan smiled at him.

“I’ll be fine.” He said softly, but still clutched the coat a little tighter around himself. It’s too
big on his body and he knew this coat belonged to Xiao Zhan. He could smell the subtle sweet
scent of nectar.

“Were you looking at the camellias?” Xiao Zhan looked at the red flowers blooming on the
tree in front of them.

“They’re covered in freezing snow, but they’re still blooming. Impressive.”

“But their flowering season will end in spring.”

“All flowers bloom in spring, but these camellias are different. I like them more. They’re
growing strong and steady despite the harsh winter.”

Xiao Zhan smiled and looked at the teenager. “Young head, you’re very mature.”

“I am fifteen. I am not a child.” Yibo said as if it could prove something. Fifteen was still
considered a child, but Yibo didn’t like having adults talking to him the way they talk to
another child.

“I apologize, I didn’t mean to offend you in any way.” The omega bowed his head lightly, but
the small smile remained on his face. “I like camellias too. They look really beautiful even
with the snow. They’re so strong, unaffected by the cold.”
Yibo watched as Xiao Zhan reached a hand to touch a flower. He watched as Xiao Zhan’s
slender fingers brushed the snow off the red petals. Xiao Zhan’s gaze was tender and there
was a soft smile gracing his beautiful features.

Despite having his life turned upside down after his mother’s murder, Xiao Zhan remained
the same. He spread his roots on the ground, steady and strong, and he still bloomed
beautifully in this harsh world. It was very precious to see.

“It looks like you.” He muttered.

“Pardon?” Xiao Zhan looked at him.

“The camellia looks like you.”

Xiao Zhan blinked at the comment, confused, but still gave the alpha an appreciative smile.
“Thank you, young head.”

Yibo looked at that smile and thought to himself that he’d keep this one flower as his own, as
something that other people could never touch. He felt the urge to keep Xiao Zhan locked
away so that he would be the only one who could see the omega.

It was a terrifying thought, but it felt right.

“Find the guy who knows where the money is. The longer he’s on the run, the more money
we’re going to lose. Do you understand how serious the situation is going to be if we stall on
this?” Xiao Zhan speaks sternly into his phone.

“Just because it’s not a big amount of money, don’t think that it’s not serious. That guy
managed to steal our client list.” He grits his teeth, one hand tapping impatiently against the
railing of the cruise. “Find that guy and make him speak.”

When he feels a hand sneaking from behind to touch his waist, he ends the call and turns to
Yibo who is now standing beside him.

“What are you so angry about while we’re enjoying the cruise?” The alpha hums as he looks
at the calm sea in front of them.

“They haven’t found the guy. He doesn’t seem to be part of a group. He’s probably a street rat
who’s crazy enough to mess with us.” Xiao Zhan leans against Yibo when the younger pulls
him closer.

“He’s probably young. A guy who’s abandoned by his parents and left school to survive on
the street. I’d like to meet him if they catch him, tell them not to kill him just yet.” Yibo says.

“You’d like to meet him?”

“If he’s a smart one, I might take him into the group. If he’s able to sneak all over the place
when he’s alone, imagine what he can do once he gets a family.”

“That might be true, but you don’t know whether he’s worthy of your trust.”

“That is something I’ll figure out later.” Yibo says, still looking at the sea. “It’s about time for
me to recruit more people. My father has been really noisy about it even though he’s far
away.”
Yibo’s father is still staying in his private villa in Hainan and it seems that Yibo’s mother is
also there, which is surprising. He has heard stories from Yibo about their parents’ prickly
relationship and the reason for their divorce, but it seems that they get along slightly better
now.

They’re actually heading to Hainan right now and instead of taking the plane, Yibo chose to
take the cruise and brought him along. While he has traveled to places before as Yibo’s right-
hand man, this is the first time they’re traveling as lovers. It makes him feel giddy, especially
when Yibo said that the reason for visiting his parents is to tell them about their relationship.

“I don’t want to keep you too busy, especially with you carrying my child now.” Yibo says as
he places his hand over Xiao Zhan’s stomach.

Xiao Zhan smiles and places his own hand over the alpha’s. They’re also going to tell the
parents about his pregnancy. “It’s still three months. I’m perfectly fine.”

“You know I’d prefer to keep you locked in my room and tied to my bed, spread open and
dripping for me.”

“Yibo.” He blushes at the shameless words.

Yibo chuckles lightly, sounding very pleased to make his omega flustered. “Give me your left
hand.”

Xiao Zhan blinks at the command, but still gives his left hand. Yibo covers the hand with his
own and he can feel something cold brushing against his finger. When Yibo removes his hand
a second later, there’s a silver band looping around his left finger. He stares dumbly at the
ring as if he’s trying to figure out what exactly it is.

“You’re my wife. It only feels right to put a ring on you.” Yibo says simply.
When Xiao Zhan looks at Yibo’s left hand, he notices that there’s an identical ring on the
alpha’s finger too. He lets out a stuttered gasp at the realization and looks up to Yibo, still
stunned.

With a smirk tugging on his lips, Yibo holds his hand and pulls him away from the railing.

“Let’s get inside. The sea breeze will get really strong and cold in the evening.” Yibo says as
he takes him down to the hall.

“Yes.” Xiao Zhan smiles and lifts his other hand to wipe the brimming tears in his eyes.
End Notes

There’s a tracking device on xz’s wedding ring but you shouldn’t be surprised at this point
since yb is a protective and possessive alpha here yeahhHHH

I originally wanted to break this into 2 chapters since it's getting sO LONG but I feel like I'm
going to break the story flow awkwardly so yeah, let's just post it as one-shot

// pretending that I'm not nervous at the fact that this is my first ever mafia AU cause there's
always first time for everything and you gotta try new things once in a while right !?!?!?? //

My Twitter in case you want to curse at me cause why tf is it so long I also have no idea

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