Chapter 24: Let Me Go

Lu Zhanxing’s willpower? Off the charts.

Say no to marking? He actually does it.

Most Alphas wouldn’t even last a heartbeat. Forget a high-compatibility, grade-A Omega like Shao Ye. Even during a rut, they'd lose control over a low-grade Omega—or hell, even a Beta—and wouldn’t walk out unscathed.

They went at it in that dungeon for who knows how long. Long enough that by the end, Shao Ye’s arms were so shot he couldn’t lift them anymore.

Right before he passed out, he vaguely registered something soft and fuzzy under him. Warm. Comforting. It lulled him into the kind of sleep he hadn’t had in years.

The next morning, Shao Ye’s internal clock rudely yanked him awake.

These days, thanks to Ye Li's "shock therapy" wake-up calls, sleeping in was a non-option. He’d practically been conditioned to bolt upright as soon as the clock struck.

Rubbing his temples, still woozy, he took in a deep breath. That same scent was lingering in the air, grounding him in an unfamiliar way. For a moment, he just sat there, letting it settle before swinging his legs out of bed.

Then it hit him—this wasn’t his room.

Gone was the over-the-top luxury he was used to. Instead, this place had a clean, minimalist vibe. Models of warships and mechas lined the shelves, cold and clinical yet oddly personal.

His brain was still scrambling for answers when a voice—deep, smooth, and way too familiar—cut through the haze.

“Morning, sweetheart.”

Shao Ye shot up like a spring, only to trip over himself and crash to the floor.

Lu Zhanxing didn’t miss a beat. Calm and composed as ever, he scooped him off the floor like it was routine and carried him back onto the bed.

Lu Zhanxing looked... normal again. That same unreadable, ice-cold mask was back in place. Meanwhile, Shao Ye was pure chaos, his mind running circles around the previous night.

Was it real?

A fever dream cooked up by too many biology vids and not enough restraint?

Speechless, Shao Ye just stared at him, wide-eyed and motionless.

Lu Zhanxing chuckled, reaching out to ruffle his hair like it was the most natural thing in the world. “What’s with the look? Still cranky from waking up?”

Shao Ye swallowed hard, silent for a long beat before finally blurting out the one thing clawing at his throat: “Lu Zhanxing, let me go.”

The room shifted. Lu Zhanxing’s hand froze mid-air, the faint smile slipping from his face like shattered glass.

He tilted his head down just enough to hide his eyes, voice dropping an octave, hoarse and rough.

“Alright.”

That wasn’t the reaction Shao Ye was expecting. Not even close.

It should’ve felt good—victory, freedom. But the hollow ache that opened up in his chest was anything but. Like something vital had been ripped out and taken with Zhanxing.

Without another word, Lu Zhanxing slid off the bed, his back to Shao Ye as he moved toward the door. “You didn’t eat last night,” he said, tone cool, distant. “Get up. There’s food.”

And just like that, he was gone.

Lu Zhanxing stormed out, his strides brisk and unapologetically sharp, leaving Shao Ye stunned in bed for a moment, too dazed to process what had just happened.

Dragging himself up, he found the maids already waiting, their hands full with freshly pressed clothes and toiletries. He dressed quickly, every move deliberate, the weight of the day ahead pressing on his shoulders.

Led into the dining hall by one of the maids, Shao Ye expected the usual—a simple breakfast, maybe a moment to breathe. But no, today wasn’t a casual affair. It was a full-blown family banquet, the kind where every member of the Lu dynasty showed up dressed to kill, their silent presence more oppressive than the food-laden table.

By the time Shao Ye stepped through the door, everyone else was already seated. No one touched their plates. No idle chatter. Just silence. And then, as if choreographed, every gaze locked onto him, pinning him in place like a bug under glass.

He froze. Hands clammy, heart pounding, his brain scrambled for a playbook he didn’t have. This kind of scene? Completely out of his depth.

Thankfully, the maid didn’t falter. With professional grace, she guided him to the empty seat next to Luzhanxing.

Shao Ye stole a glance around the table. These weren’t just people; they were pedigree. Aristocrats with bloodlines as old as their egos. Ordinarily, he’d have shrugged it off, done his thing, let them deal with it. But this wasn’t just any table; this was Lu Zhanxing’s table. The Lu family’s table. He couldn’t afford to screw this up. Not here. Not now.

Drawing from the etiquette drills beaten into him by that “witch” of a tutor, Shao Ye moved carefully, each step measured, each motion deliberate. But nerves got the better of him. Halfway to his seat, his foot caught—on what, he had no idea—and down he went, face first, landing in the most humiliating sprawl imaginable.

Laughter erupted from the younger crowd, quick and merciless. The elders, though, shot them sharp, warning looks. Too late. Lu Zhanxing’s brow furrowed, his glare slicing through the room like a whip.

In an instant, his bodyguards moved. No words. No hesitation. They dragged the laughing offenders out of the room, their protests drowned by the deafening tension that followed.

Shao Ye swallowed hard, his throat dry.

What the hell kind of medieval dictatorship was this?

Lu Zhanxing wasn’t a patriarch; he was a goddamn tyrant.

And what about him?

The disgraceful “plus-one”?

What punishment was waiting for him?

But then, something completely unexpected happened. Lu Zhanxing rose from his chair, his expression unreadable. He walked over, calm yet commanding, and extended a hand to Shao Ye, his voice low and steady. “Get up. It’s fine.”

Fine? Was he serious?

Shao Ye clambered to his feet, muttering under his breath as he leaned in close, his words a sharp whisper, “Didn’t you promise to let me leave? What the hell is this circus?”

Lu Zhanxing didn’t answer. He simply gripped Shao Ye’s wrist and led him back to his seat without a word.

Across from Shao Ye sat Alice, her polished smile cool and detached. To his left was Lu Zhanxing’s brother, Lu Xinglan, whose gaze carried a strange, icy weight.

Something was off. Shao Ye remembered their first encounter—polite, even warm. But now? That warmth had frozen into something hostile, almost venomous.

“Let’s eat,” Lu Zhanxing said, his tone leaving no room for argument. The banquet began, but Shao Ye couldn’t shake the feeling that this family drama was far from over.

Shao Y’s stomach was screaming for food. The second his hand gripped the chopsticks, he was ready to pounce—but then, the cursed etiquette lessons kicked in.

Awkwardly, he put them back down.

This wasn’t just any meal—it was a family feast. And the head of the family hadn’t made a move yet.

So, he sat there, swallowing hard as his mouth watered, practically shrinking into his own collar.

Finally, Lu Zhanxing picked up his chopsticks and—of course—grabbed a piece of the lamb Shao Ye loved most, holding it up like an offering. “Eat,” he said.

Shao Ye froze.

What was this? He wasn’t a kid anymore, and he sure as hell didn’t need someone spoon-feeding him.

But refusing? Yeah, that felt like a one-way ticket to rebellion. And if Lu Zhanxing didn’t care, the rest of the family would definitely see it as disrespect.

So, he did the only thing he could—obediently opened his mouth and let Lu Zhanxing feed him.

The heat rushed to his ears as he avoided the nosy stares from everyone else around the table. But then, there was Alice, sitting right across from him, her gaze locking onto his.

She smiled—not the sweet, polite kind, but something regal, teasing, like she was a queen basking in the drama. To Shao Ye, though? It was the exact definition of an auntie’s smirk.

The meal was winding down when Lu Zhanxing tapped his teacup, commanding the room’s attention like a conductor.

“Today,” he started, his voice calm but brimming with authority, “I want to take this opportunity to officially introduce someone.”

He gestured toward Shao Ye, who, completely caught off guard, shot up from his seat like a nervous student called on in class.

Lu Zhanxing chuckled, indulgent and warm. “No need to stand.”

“Oh…” Shao Ye muttered, scratching the back of his head, sinking back into his chair.

Lu Zhanxing’s tone shifted, sharp and declarative. “This is Shao Ye. My Omega. My one and only lawful partner. From this day forward, he is the Lu Family’s little madam. I expect everyone to treat him with respect. And if anyone dares to cross him or undermine him…” He paused, eyes scanning the room like a predator stalking prey. “They’ll have to deal with me.”

Everyone except Alice looked utterly dumbfounded.

Sure, they all knew this scrappy little Omega from the slums had an off-the-charts compatibility with Lu Zhanxing. But no one—not a damn soul—thought he’d end up as the actual official spouse of the Lu family’s top dog.

Every move Lu Zhanxing made screamed one thing loud and clear: he was all in for this guy. That alone was enough to ruffle feathers.

Seriously, how could some filthy street rat from the gutter waltz in and snag a title that put him above everyone else in power and rank?

To the nobles, most Omegas were nothing more than pretty little outlets for their baser needs. High compatibility? Who cared. Without family clout, an Omega’s future in a noble household was doomed to neglect, at best.

No aristocratic Alpha would dare admit their legally bound partner came from a dirt-poor, uncultured slum. But Lu Zhanxing? Oh no, he was flipping the script. Challenging the rules. Ready to break tradition wide open.

And that? That was a direct hit to every Alpha’s privilege, another notch off their gilded pedestal.

This wasn’t just some private household matter anymore. Lu Zhanxing was the head of the Lu family, the figurehead of the Alliance Army. Every decision he made could spark a seismic shift in the status quo.

Naturally, the disgruntled Lu uncles and aunties—who’d never been fans of his to begin with—were itching for a showdown. But when it came time to speak up, not one of them had the guts to step forward. All their simmering frustration stayed bottled up, festering.

Alice, sensing the rising tension, clapped her hands, her voice cutting through the silence like a whip. “Congratulations to our Commander Lu for finding such a perfect partner. Truly, a blessing for the Lu family and an occasion worth celebrating. Let’s pick an auspicious date for a grand wedding. I’m sure everyone here will be more than happy to help with the preparations. That’s enough chatter for today—time to get moving.”

Her sharp tone left no room for argument. The disgruntled relatives swallowed their complaints and slunk away, leaving without another word.

Shao Ye, though? He stood there like a damn statue, stiff and shell-shocked.

Lu Zhanxing, exhaling a long breath, grabbed Shao Ye's hand and made a beeline for his quarters.

The moment snapped Shao Ye back to reality. “Wait—what the hell is this? You promised you’d let me go! Now what? You’re reneging on your word? Really, Lu Zhanxing? Is that how a man keeps his promises?”

Inside the room, Lu Zhanxing finally turned to face him, calm but resolute. “Shao Ye, I know I lied about who I was. I betrayed your trust, and I’m sorry. I know you value your freedom—how you’d rather grind yourself to the bone in a tiny slum apartment than live as some pampered noble’s spouse. I promised you I wouldn’t mark you without your consent, and I’ll keep that promise. If you want to leave, I’ll let you go. But you’ll leave as my partner.”

Shao Ye blinked, incredulous. “I don’t accept that. I’ve told you before—I’m not into men. I’m going back to my sister, and someday I’ll find a kind, beautiful woman to settle down with. Just a simple, ordinary life.”

Lu Zhanxing’s gaze, once warm, turned icy as steel. “You won’t have any other partner but me.”

Shaoye’s temper flared. “The hell I won’t!”

Lu Zhanxing stepped closer, his voice a deadly calm. “The tension between the Alliance and the rebels is at an all-time high. The slums are a war zone waiting to happen, and now that they know you’re my Omega, you’re a target. I can’t let you go back there, not now.”

Shao Ye clenched his fists, undeterred. “And my sister? She’s still with the rebels! I don’t care how dangerous it is—I’m going back for her!”

Lu Zhanxing’s words landed like a hammer. “Your sister isn’t with the rebels. She’s been moved to a secret lab by Boss Bai. The Alliance scouts are already on his trail. Soon, we’ll have a lead. When the time comes, I’ll take you there myself, and we’ll get her back together. All right?”