Chapter 14: Half-Brothers in Name, Purely Unrelated in Blood

The tense stillness of the office was shattered by the cacophony of a brutal skirmish just outside the door, yanking Boss Bai from his smug tranquility.

“What’s going on?” His brows furrowed in irritation, voice snapping like a whip. But before he could utter another word, a thud resounded. His guards, bruised and battered, were unceremoniously flung to the office doorway.

And then, he entered. Lu Zhanxing strode in like a war god descending from the heavens, emanating a suffocating aura that seized the room. His gaze was a blade—sharp, unwavering.

That single glance paralyzed Boss Bai. His legs buckled, his cane clattered to the ground, and his knees nearly followed.

This… this is the presence of a true apex predator.

The oppressive weight of an Alpha's peak pheromonal dominance crushed him, leaving him trembling in disbelief.

“You… You’re an Alpha?!” Bai stammered, his voice barely managing to claw its way out of his throat.

Lu Zhanxing didn’t dignify him with an answer, not even a glance. He walked past Bai as if he were a speck of dust, his focus solely on the unconscious Shao Ye. In a gesture almost paradoxically gentle for a man radiating such raw power, he scooped up the smaller figure.

Pausing briefly at the door, Lu Zhanxing threw out a parting remark, his tone cold as steel: “I hear you don’t appreciate loose ends, Boss Bai. Neither do I.”

The suffocating weight of his pheromones lingered long after his departure. Boss Bai attempted to retrieve his fallen cane but collapsed onto his knees, his body betraying his efforts to regain composure.

“Boss!” The battered guards scrambled to their feet, ignoring their injuries to help Bai back into his chair.

Boss Bai clutched his serpent-shaped cane, his lips curling into a deranged grin. “An exceptional Omega, a top-tier Alpha… It seems this slum district is suddenly becoming quite the lively place. Intriguing.”

“Boss, what do we do now?” a guard ventured cautiously. “The rebel forces expect the shipment by month’s end, but with Shao Ye taken, our—”

“No rush,” Bai interrupted smoothly, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. He swirled the liquid, savoring its aroma before taking a deliberate sip. “We have time. As long as we have his sister, he’ll come crawling back. Like a good little dog.”

The guard’s pager buzzed sharply, breaking the tense moment. After a quick glance at the message, he reported, “Boss, the lab just sent word. She’s awake.”

Bai froze mid-sip, his grin widening into something feral. “Perfect timing. Let’s see what our experiment has yielded.”

*

Meanwhile, Lu Zhanxing carried Shao Ye home with the care of someone cradling their most fragile treasure. Though unconscious, Shao Ye’s body trembled, his eyelashes fluttering as though caught in the throes of a nightmare.

Lu Zhanxing knew better than anyone—Shao Ye’s icy exterior masked a deeply fragile core. An Omega’s instinctive fear of Alphas ran deep, and for someone like Shao Ye, every encounter with exploitation or violence only edged him closer to a breaking point.

Placing him gently on the bed, Lu Zhanxing gripped Shao Ye’s hand, letting his own pheromones seep into the air—a cooling, soothing presence that blanketed the room like a spring rain. The subtle tension in Shao Ye’s features softened, his trembling eased, and his breathing steadied.

Even in his haze, Shao Ye responded instinctively to Lu Zhanxing’s pheromones. His cheek pressed into Lu Zhanxing’s palm, clutching his hand like a lifeline. Nestling his head against the larger hand, he whispered faintly, “Lu-ge…”

Lu Zhanxing brushed aside the stray locks on Shao Ye’s forehead, his gaze resting on the simple silver band encircling Shao Ye’s finger. Lightly, he tapped his own wedding ring against it.

“I promised,” Lu Zhanxing murmured, “no other Alpha will ever harm you.”

The understated design of their rings belied their sophistication. Crafted from the most advanced technology of the Federation’s top industries, these rings were far from ordinary. Not only could they track locations, but they also transmitted the Omega’s emotional state to their Alpha counterpart—a synchronized bond that brought new meaning to the phrase for better or worse.

It was the sudden spike of terror transmitted through the ring that had alerted Lu Zhanxing to Shao Ye’s predicament. Without hesitation, he’d tracked the signal to the scene and eliminated every obstacle between him and his husband.

Moments before Shao Ye lost consciousness, the ring had conveyed one final burst of emotion: longing. Even in his most vulnerable moment, the person Shao Ye thought of wasn’t himself but Lu Zhanxing.

Does this mean… he’s starting to trust me?

From the moment they met, Lu Zhanxing had known that breaking through Shao Ye’s defenses would take time and patience. But now, it seemed the walls were crumbling faster than he’d anticipated.

The next morning, as the sun crept over the horizon, the sound of the clock’s chime jolted Shao Ye awake. Panic flashed across his eyes until he registered the familiar surroundings of home. Exhaling a shaky breath, he allowed himself to relax.

For now, he was safe.

The scent of breakfast drifted into the room, mercilessly teasing a stomach that had gone empty to bed the night before. A loud growl erupted, unapologetically demanding satisfaction.

Shao Ye stepped out of the bathroom, towel slung over his shoulder, and greeted Lu Zhanxing, who stood in the kitchen.

"Morning, Lu-ge."

“Morning to you too,” Lu Zhanxing replied casually, setting a steaming plate of breakfast on the counter between them.

Shao Ye raised an eyebrow. “You made this yourself?”

“Yeah. Try it. If you don’t like it, I’ll head out and grab your favorites from the diner.”

“Oh, if that’s the case, I better savor every bite.” With a grin, Shao Ye grabbed a spoon and dove straight into the piping hot porridge, his enthusiasm outracing his common sense.

A sharp hiss followed immediately, his tongue searing in protest.

“Hot, huh? Are you scalded?” Lu Zhanxing’s face creased with guilt. “Should’ve cooled it down for you first.”

“Nah, no biggie!” Shao Ye stuck out his tongue, frantically fanning it with his hand.

Lu Zhanxing hesitated, then blurted, “Want me to help with that?” The words barely escaped his mouth before realization struck: 'What the hell was that offer?'

Before he could backtrack, Shao Ye, equally startled but oddly compliant, nodded, “Sure.”

They froze, locking eyes, the silence thick with regret and embarrassment. But after a beat too long, Lu Zhanxing leaned in, visibly reluctant but committed. Shao Ye parted his lips slightly, the pink tip of his tongue shyly peeking out.

Lu Zhanxing exhaled carefully, the cool breath soothing the fiery sting on Shao Ye’s tongue. The heat faded, but another kind of intensity surged between them. Face to face, so close their breaths intermingled, their gazes flickered to each other’s lips.

For a fleeting second, temptation hung in the air. But they both held back, clinging stubbornly to a boundary neither was ready to cross.

“Better?” Lu Zhanxing asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Shao Ye blinked, suddenly snapping back to reality. He pulled away and cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah. Much better. Thanks, Lu-ge.”

They carried on with breakfast as though nothing happened, though Shao Ye’s mind buzzed with unspoken questions. Between bites, Lu Zhanxing casually mentioned, “Oh, by the way, I picked you up yesterday. Nothing else happened.”

Shao Ye stiffened, recalling the danger he barely escaped and the debt he owed to Bai Boss. The weight of his sister’s fate crushed any thoughts of hesitation. He had to do whatever it took to protect her.

“I’m heading to work,” Shao Ye announced, grabbing his jacket.

“Hold up,” Zhanxing called after him, shrugging on his coat. “I’m coming with you.”

“With me? Where are you going?”

“To your factory.” Zhanxing’s tone was matter-of-fact. “Talked to Bai Boss yesterday. He’s hiring me as your bodyguard.”

Shao Ye froze, suspicion immediately flaring.

Bai Boss, who had always viewed Lu-ge as a threat, now wanted him close?

It didn’t add up.

The man was ruthless and manipulative, with a knack for turning situations to his advantage.

“You can’t,” Shao Ye said firmly. “If it’s about money, I’ll cover the debt and give you my entire paycheck. Just don’t step foot in that factory.”

Lu Zhanxing wasn’t fazed. “This isn’t about money, Shao Ye. It’s about you. If anything like yesterday happens again, I need to be there. I can’t stand the thought of you being hurt while I’m not around to protect you.”

Shao Ye hesitated, torn between his instincts and the safety Lu Zhanxing’s presence brought. Deep down, he wanted him there. Lu Zhanxing’s calm, unyielding presence was his shield against a world teeming with threats.

But he couldn’t ignore the obvious risk. Bai Boss wasn’t the type to let things slide. If he had allowed Lu Zhanxing in, there had to be an ulterior motive—one that probably involved getting rid of him.

“Lu-ge, this doesn’t feel right,” Shao Ye said, his voice tinged with desperation. “Bai Boss isn’t stupid. If he’s letting you in, it’s because he’s planning something.”

Lu Zhanxing’s expression softened, though his resolve didn’t waver. He ruffled Shao Ye’s hair with a rare gentleness. “And if that’s the case, so be it. I’d rather face whatever comes head-on than watch you live in fear every day. That would kill me faster than anything Bai Boss could do.”

Shao Ye bit his lip, trying to steel himself against the onslaught of emotions. The words shouldn’t have struck a nerve, but they did.

It almost sounded like… a confession.

His face flushed at the thought, and he quickly shook his head to banish the absurdity. They were family. Lu-ge was like a brother to him—protective, reliable, and definitely not interested in men.

Right?

With a final mental slap, Shao Ye convinced himself there was nothing to overthink. They were two guys who looked out for each other. End of story.

“Fine,” Shao Ye relented at last, slinging an arm around Zhanxing’s shoulder as they walked out together. “But if you get yourself killed, I’m not paying for your funeral.”

Lu Zhanxing smirked, his hand resting lightly on Shao Ye’s back. “Fair enough. But don’t think I’m letting you off easy if you screw up.”

Their banter filled the morning air, the tension melting into something that felt almost normal.

Almost.