Chapter 11: Wounds Exposed and Redemption in Dreams

Lu Zhanxing’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Maybe she doesn’t want you marrying Lu Zhanxing, huh?”

Shao Ye, mid-bite, almost choked. He forced the food down his throat, glaring in disbelief. “What? Are you telling me Lin Na has a secret crush on me?”

Lu Zhanxing’s expression didn’t shift. His silence spoke volumes.

Shao Ye sighed deeply, rubbing his temple as if this were all some cosmic joke. “Look, yeah, she’s beautiful. And sure, she’s a girl. But let’s be real—our worlds couldn’t be more different. What kind of monster would I be to drag her into my mess just because I couldn’t keep my selfish desires in check? I’m nothing but a broke bastard, better off sticking with you and making the best of it.”

Lu Zhanxing shot him an incredulous look, finally breaking the silence. “Don’t forget—even if she’s a girl, she’s still an Omega. The Alliance explicitly bans same-gender marriages involving anyone other than Betas. Especially Omega-to-Omega unions. They catch you, and it’s straight to the Breeding Camps for both of you.”

“Fuck!” The word burst out of Shao Ye like a loaded gun. “What kind of sick, twisted world is this? How the hell can something as barbaric as Breeding Camps even exist?”

Lu Zhanxing didn’t answer right away. His gaze drifted toward the window, where the sky hung heavy and gray, mirroring the weight in his chest. When he finally spoke, his voice was somber. “This system was never fair to Omegas. Stripped of rights, treated like property. It’s a relic from an interstellar civilization that only cared about maintaining control.”

He paused, the bitterness in his voice rising. “And the Alphas? The so-called benefactors of this system? They’re too drunk on their own power, too enamored with their goddamn superiority. They don’t see a problem—because for them, there is no problem. They’ll never lift a finger for anyone but themselves.”

A shadow crossed Lu Zhanxing’s face. He hadn’t forgotten the day he dared to propose an emancipation act for Omegas.

The council—stacked with Alphas from elite families, each hoarding a dozen secret Omegas like trophies—shot it down before he could finish his pitch.

To free the Omegas?

To grant them equal rights?

That would mean ripping away Alpha privileges. No more easy dominance. No more unchallenged exploitation. And god forbid they’d have to face their own vulnerability during a rut without a compliant Omega to lean on. So, they buried the idea, along with any hope of change.

Shao Ye stood motionless, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles went white. His shoulders trembled under the weight of unspoken rage, the kind that simmered until it boiled over.

Lu Zhanxing moved closer, wordlessly handing him a glass of liquor. Shao Ye threw it back in one go, the burn of the alcohol doing nothing to extinguish the inferno raging inside him.

It was only then that Lu Zhanxing noticed the tears glistening in Shao Ye’s eyes, pooling and threatening to spill.

“You don’t get it, Lu-ge,” Shao Ye muttered, his voice cracking under the strain of years spent fighting an unwinnable battle. “Ever since that fucking test told me I was an Omega, every single day has felt like walking a tightrope over a pit of knives.”

He grabbed the bottle, pouring himself another glass with a shaky hand. The liquid swirled like the storm inside him.

“When I was a kid, we had this neighbor—a male Omega. Kind, gentle. I trusted him enough to watch over my little sister while I worked. But one day...” His voice broke, and for a moment, he seemed lost in the memory.

“One day, his husband got murdered on the way home from work. Shot dead. No justice. No closure. And there he was, an Omega alone in the slums. You can’t imagine what that’s like. But he refused to remarry. I found out later it was because he was already pregnant. If he got married again, the baby wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Shao Ye’s tears finally broke free, streaming down his face as he continued, voice barely above a whisper. “He had no job, no money, no way to survive. Omegas aren’t allowed to work once they’re married. So I worked three jobs just to keep food on his table. But then... then one day, his heat hit. No money for suppressants. His pheromones drew the Alphas in like vultures...”

His words faltered, crushed under the weight of his grief. He slumped into the chair, silent now, his anguish filling the room.

He slumped over the desk, his body convulsing violently as gut-wrenching sobs ripped through him. The sound was raw, hopeless, and utterly shattering, reverberating through the silent room like a requiem for the damned.

"When I got there, he was already ruined," Shao Ye choked out, voice ragged from crying. "Those Alphas had taken turns breaking him, grinding him down to nothing. He barely clung to life, but even so, he hid my sister in the basement to keep her safe. He bore it all himself. And then he died." His voice cracked, but he pushed on, his words venomous with grief. "Those bastards who killed him walked away unscathed, parading their so-called ‘victory’ as if it were some badge of honor."

The weight of Shao Ye’s words pressed down on Lu Zhanxing, suffocating and relentless. His heart felt like it was being crushed under the enormity of what he’d just heard.

He’d known Omegas lived hard lives, but this?

This was something else entirely—something monstrous.

Lu Zhanxing stayed beside Shao Ye, silent, uncertain. Watching him unravel, broken and despairing, he realized he had no words to mend what couldn’t be fixed. All he could offer was his presence, his muted solidarity.

Shao Ye drained the bottle of liquor in his hand, his eyes hollow and distant. "We moved away from that place, but it follows me. The fear, the despair—it clings like a shadow, something I can’t shake, can’t forget. And then I found out I’m an Omega too." His voice dropped to a haunted whisper. "Every night, I dream of him. Naked. Drenched in his own blood. Just lying there, lifeless."

“Ah Ye…” Zhanxing pulled him close, wrapping strong arms around the trembling man. He rubbed gentle circles on Shao Ye’s back, his voice soft, soothing, almost pleading. “Don’t be scared. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

The alcohol and exhaustion finally won out, and Shao Ye collapsed into a restless sleep.

In his dreams, the darkness engulfed him again. Thick, choking fog swirled around him, dragging him back to the nightmare. This time, it felt more vivid, more cruel. The familiar, unrelenting scene played out before him, but this time he didn’t run. He faced it, each step heavy as lead, his lips trembling with whispered apologies.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

He had been too young back then, too powerless to protect their kindhearted Omega neighbor. That failure had etched itself into his soul, an unhealing wound. If only he’d worked harder, earned more money, gotten the suppressant for him sooner—maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t have ended in tragedy.

This time, as he stepped closer, the blood-soaked body on the ground wasn’t his neighbor’s.

It was his own.

Panic surged through him, stealing the strength from his legs. He crumpled, terror gripping him as grotesque laughter filled the air.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” The Alphas’ voices dripped with malice, their words slithering through his mind like poison. “A sweet little Omega all for us. Come here, baby. Let’s have some fun.”

Shao Ye’s blood ran cold. His body locked up, every nerve screaming at him to run, but he couldn’t move. The Alphas loomed closer, their leering faces twisting with predatory glee.

“Get away from me!” he screamed, voice cracking under the weight of his fear. “Don’t touch me! Stay the hell away!”

His defiance only excited them more. “Fiery little thing, huh? We’ll enjoy breaking you in. Don’t worry, sweetheart, we’ll make it last.”

They pounced, pinning him down like wolves tearing into helpless prey. Rough, calloused hands gripped his wrists and ankles, their strength unyielding, their intentions vile. Shao Ye fought with everything he had, but it wasn’t enough.

He felt their hands on his clothes, the fabric ripping away as icy sweat drenched his skin. His chest heaved as he gasped for breath, his mind teetering on the brink of an abyss. Darkness surged around him, pulling him under, drowning him in despair.

“I’ll kill you,” he rasped, his voice a guttural snarl of desperation and rage. “I’ll kill every last one of you…”

“Ah Ye…”

Just before plunging into the abyss of darkness, Shao Ye caught the faint echo of a voice. It wasn’t just any voice—it was hauntingly familiar, distant yet cutting through the void like a blade. Unreal, like a dream you’re desperate to wake from.

"Ah Ye..."

The voice grew stronger, its timbre seductive yet unyielding, like a lover whispering promises in your ear. Gentle, yes, but laced with undeniable authority.

"Ah Ye, don’t be afraid."

Shao Ye’s heart clenched. He could hear it clearly now.

Lu-ge.

In that moment, the void wasn’t endless anymore. That voice became his lifeline, his final straw to cling to.

"Lu-ge, save me..."

And then—just like that—a pair of hands tore through the suffocating darkness and seized Shao Ye as he spiraled down. Light, blinding and fierce, burst through the dreamscape, shredding the nightmarish shadows.

Those looming Alphas? Gone.

Scorched by the intensity of the light, as if they’d never even existed.

Shao Ye’s eyes fluttered open. His breath hitched as he focused on Lu Zhanying, shaking him with palpable urgency. The man’s gaze was sharp, laced with worry, his usual cool demeanor cracked wide open.

"Ah Ye, you had a nightmare."

Shao Ye exhaled shakily, shutting his eyes briefly to steady himself. "Thanks, Lu-ge."

But the reprieve was short-lived. The alarm blared, tearing through the calm like an unwelcome intruder.

Duty called. Shao Ye dragged himself out of bed, shoving the remnants of his terror to the back of his mind. He splashed cold water on his face, resetting. By the time he was done, he was ready to face the day.

Before leaving, his eyes caught the dining table—a simple breakfast already set.

It wasn’t fancy, but it hit him right in the chest. Warmth bloomed there as he sat down, taking his time with the meal.

Lu-ge’s hands might be better suited for deals and commands, but this? This was personal. It was sweet. It was home.

Shao Ye cleared the plate and looked up, gratitude softening his features. "Thanks for the breakfast, Lu-ge. It was really good. Take it easy today, okay? This afternoon, we’ll go furniture shopping. Dinner’s on me."

Lu Zhanying hesitated, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. “Actually… uh, I didn’t make it. I just grabbed it from the shop down the street.”

Shao Ye froze, fork suspended midair.

Figures.

Lu Zhanying, of all people, dirtying his hands in a kitchen?

Impossible.

Nobles like him didn’t mess with things as mundane as cooking. Still, the thought counted, right?

"It’s fine," Shao Ye shrugged, brushing it off. "We’re family, aren’t we? As long as I can cook, it doesn’t matter. Once I clear that debt with Boss Bai, maybe we can even hire a maid. No need to stress yourself."

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed his bag and bolted out the door. Work didn’t wait for anyone, after all.

When Shao Ye was gone, Lu Zhanying’s easy smile faded. He cleared the dishes, then pulled out his unassuming watch. With a tap, the analog face transformed, light cascading into a high-tech holographic screen. Data flickered across the display—a message he’d sent to the Alliance military headquarters a week prior.

Leaning back, Lu Zhanying spoke into the interface, his tone cold, precise. "Pull up the background on this Boss Bai."