Chapter 19: A Match Made in Heaven

"I want to see Lu Ge—no, Lu Zhanxing." Shao Ye's eyes burned with urgency.

Alice frowned slightly. "That's not possible right now."

"Why not?"

Frustration bubbled up in Shao Ye. Despite his anger at being deceived about Lu Zhanxing’s true identity, the memory of seeing him in agony during his susceptibility period outweighed his rage.

Yes, he’d invited trouble into his own home. But who was really to blame? All he wanted was for Lu Zhanxing to recover so they could settle this score properly.

Alice explained patiently, "He's in his susceptibility period, dealing with a severe and incurable pheromone imbalance disorder. The only option is to isolate him and let him ride it out on his own. I understand you're worried, but even as a premium Omega, your glandular defect prevents you from releasing pheromones. Even if you see him, you can’t help him beyond basic physical comfort. Worse, in his current state, he might not recognize your scent and could attack you. The risk of violence—perhaps even fatal—is real."

Shao Ye listened in silence, unease gnawing at him.

An Alpha in their susceptibility period was nothing short of a rabid, uncontrollable beast. If Lu Zhanxing couldn’t recognize him, if he succumbed to those raw instincts like when they were captured—Shao Ye shuddered at the thought. Maybe it was better to leave him to endure alone.

His mind shifted to practical matters: the approaching deadline with Boss Bai, the nearly finished house he’d built for his sister. Everything was finally falling into place—until the Empire dragged him to the capital star.

"I need to get back to the Dust District," he said bitterly. "Even if things have gone okay between us these past months, he's Lu Zhanxing. I won’t agree to a real marriage with him."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Shao Ye, the Lu family is one of the most prestigious in the Alliance. Marrying Lu Zhanxing is a dream come true for countless Omegas. Plus, your pheromone compatibility is 99.9%. Do you realize what that means? Cases like yours are so rare they're practically legends. You’re perfect for each other."

"So what? That’s not my problem." Shao Ye’s irritation spiked, and he decided to cut to the chase. "Honestly, I don’t like men, and I don’t like Alphas. Besides, didn’t you already figure it out? My defective glands mean I can’t do a thing for him."

Alice paused, processing his words before asking, "Is this a matter of sexual orientation?"

Shao Ye: "…"

The problem wasn’t him—it was this world.

But he went along with it anyway. "Yeah, that’s exactly it. So even with high compatibility, it’s never going to happen."

Alice mulled it over. "Shao Ye, an Omega's attraction to an Alpha is deeply ingrained in their nature. Perhaps your upbringing lacked proper sex education, which led to this misconception. But don’t worry— the Lu family has access to the Alliance’s top medical and technological resources. These issues can be resolved."

Shao Ye stared at her, incredulous. Memories of stories he’d heard in his past life flashed through his mind—parents sending their kids to "corrective" institutions, only for them to endure abuse or even take their own lives.

He fixed Alice with a wary gaze. "I’m fine. I don’t need fixing. Just let me go, or I’ll find a way to escape."

If he could escape from O'Dell Academy, he sure as hell wasn’t staying trapped here.

"You won’t leave the Lu family," Alice said suddenly, standing up. Her tone turned cold and sharp.

A moment ago, she spoke with the warmth of a nurturing mother. Now, she stood there like an untouchable queen, radiating authority.

"Shao Ye, let me make this clear. You have no right to resist. Lu Zhanxing seems to like you and is willing to protect you—that's a blessing you should be grateful for. Face reality. Your best bet is to secure your position by giving him an heir as soon as possible."

Shao Ye: "..."

He stared at her, wide-eyed, struggling to believe what he'd just heard. Was this real life or some ridiculous palace drama?

"What the hell? Give him an heir? I'm a man!"

"You’re an Omega. Of course, you can bear children," Alice replied flatly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

After all, high-grade Omegas had a near-perfect fertility rate.

Shao Ye froze.

The determination to escape this nightmare grew even stronger in his heart.

"Until Lu Zhanxing gets through his rut, I’ve arranged for you to receive one-on-one counseling and etiquette training. I suggest you cooperate. If not..." Alice didn’t bother to finish her sentence. She simply gave him a meaningful smile, then turned to the door and instructed the guards and maids, "Watch him closely. Don’t let him out of your sight."

"Yes, ma’am," the guards and maids answered in unison.

Shao Ye realized he was now under house arrest. A wave of helplessness and fury surged within him.

He tried reaching out to the outside world, but every attempt failed.

Several times, he attempted to sabotage the electronics in the room, hoping to access the network and find his location, but each effort was discovered.

Although the guards and maids never entered, he felt as though the entire house was under constant surveillance. The moment he made even the slightest move, a voice over the speakers would call him out.

Shao Ye couldn’t take it anymore. He shouted in frustration, "Who’s the bastard spying on me? Show yourself if you’ve got the guts!"

The next second, a ghostly figure materialized out of thin air, startling him.

"Sir, all the smart devices in the ancestral home are under my control, including the security system. Do you have any questions for me?"

A small boy hovered in midair, his upper body human-like, his lower body mechanical. His translucent form exuded a futuristic aura.

Shao Ye recognized it as a cutting-edge holographic projection but couldn’t spot any projection equipment in the room.

"Are you a robot?" Shao Ye asked.

"I’m an extension of the Skynet 5.20 system. When you called, I appeared as a photonic composite. You may call me Yeli."

"So you’re just some high-tech butler?" Shao Ye pressed.

"You could say that, but my capabilities surpass ordinary AI assistants by tens of thousands of times," Yeli replied with a calm smile, devoid of emotion.

"Can you tell me where this place is?" Shaoye asked, testing his luck.

"I’ve detected your desire to leave, so I’m unable to provide exact coordinates. However, I can share the ancestral home’s map. As Lu Commander’s partner, you have the right to move freely within the estate," Yeli responded smoothly.

As soon as Ye Li finished speaking, a map materialized in front of him. Shao Ye took one glance at the scale and felt his vision go dark.

This was just a family estate, yet it was bigger than the entire Dust District where he’d grown up.

Security personnel, surveillance cameras, patrolling drones, and guard dogs were everywhere. Escaping from this place was as difficult as breaking out of a maximum-security prison.

"Where is Lu Zhanxing now?" Shao Ye asked, a little dejected. He knew there was no other option but to wait until Lu Zhanxing’s susceptibility phase ended before lowering himself to beg for mercy. The Lu family certainly wasn’t going to help him leave.

The map zoomed in, and live surveillance footage popped up—completely black.

"Commander Lu is in the isolation dungeon," Ye Li explained coldly. "He smashed the cameras recently, and no one dares enter the area until his phase ends. Repairs will have to wait. If you need to see him urgently, I can send a drone inside."

Shao Ye's emotions were complicated. The Lu family was one of the most powerful forces in the Alliance, equipped with cutting-edge technology. Yet, even they couldn’t treat Lu Zhanxing’s pheromone imbalance?

A young family head, locked away in a dungeon during such a vulnerable time—it was pitiful, really.

"I want to see him," Shao Ye said firmly.

"Understood. Please wait a moment."

In less than a minute, a drone moved toward the dungeon. The closer it got, the colder Shao Ye’s sweat became.

The dungeon seemed to descend endlessly, layer upon layer, like it reached the very core of the earth. Each of the dozen iron gates was reinforced to withstand missile strikes, and all doors opened automatically under Ye Li's control.

"For Commander Lu's safety, no one is allowed into the dungeon until his phase ends. Since you’re his mate, I’ve granted you access," Ye Li informed him.

Shao Ye didn’t bother arguing with the AI about whether or not he was actually Lu Zhanxing’s mate. If the title gave him more leverage within the Lu family, he might as well use it for now.

Finally, the drone reached the final gate.

"I can project your image to Commander Lu through the drone," Ye Li said. "You can talk to him and encourage him to hold on."

The gate opened. The drone’s lights cut through the darkness, revealing walls covered in savage claw marks, as if a beast had ripped into them with raw fury.

A low, guttural breathing echoed—agonized, feral, primal.

Shao Ye’s chest tightened as if pricked by needles.

Then the drone’s light landed on a hulking figure curled up in the corner.

A wolf.

It was massive, far larger than any ordinary wild wolf. The moment it heard the drone, it whipped its head around, baring its teeth with fierce vigilance.

Its eyes glowed like a blood moon in the pitch-black night.

Shao Ye froze, his throat dry, his heart racing. He opened his mouth, his voice barely a whisper.

“Lu Zhanxing… is that you?”

The drone transmitted his words into the dungeon.

The giant white wolf's eyes narrowed sharply the moment it saw Shao Ye’s holographic image. It stood up instantly, sniffing the air around it as if trying to confirm something.

But this is just a holographic projection of the past, not the real person. The wolf couldn't catch any scent and started getting restless.

"Lu Zhanxing, you better hang in there and recover fast," Shao Ye said sharply. "I'm waiting for you—do you hear me?"