Liang Xiao, unwavering in his integrity, was escorted out of the hotel by the Huo family’s security in a flawlessly airtight manner.
Duan Ming and his assistant were waiting at the entrance. When he saw Liang Xiao get into the car, he let go of the steering wheel and walked over. “What happened?”
“It’s hard to explain,” Liang Xiao replied, feeling a bit complicated. “Boss Huo and I have developed a relationship that stems from business but surpasses business.”
Duan Ming’s life flashed before his eyes. “…What?”
Liang Xiao raised his hand to show him something.
It was only then he realized he was still clutching an exquisitely printed, high-quality contract. Duan Ming froze for a moment, snatched it, and flipped through a few pages. After rubbing his eyes, he looked up.
Liang Xiao nodded heavily, then reached into his pocket and pulled out the hefty check that Huo Lan had casually sent over.
Duan Ming, dazed, took the check, glanced at it, and stumbled back into his seat.
Liang Xiao felt a bit guilty. “Wealth and honor cannot lead to debauchery.”
“Bullsh*t,” the manager decisively overturned his previous moral standards for his artist, clutching the contract tightly. “Three million! I’ll book you a photon skin treatment for your neck later.”
Liang Xiao: “…”
Duan Ming double-checked the contract, then took out a pen and marked a few key clauses.
Xingguan was already an industry leader, with clear departmental divisions, well-defined processes, and contracts that were detailed and fair—nothing like the predatory traps found in many other film companies.
The company promised to handle all coordination. The production’s budget exceeded fifty million yuan, backed by Xingguan’s exclusive film production team, and the lead cast was absurdly high-profile.
While Liang Xiao’s role wasn’t particularly prominent, landing a spot in this production meant breaking into the mainstream film industry—a foot in the door. Even if his current company sidelined him later, he could leverage this exposure and popularity to secure decent roles.
Duan Ming, overwhelmed with joy, reread the contract three times before snapping out of it and grabbing Liang Xiao. “What did Mr. Huo do?”
“Strictly business,” Liang Xiao replied.
Duan Ming already knew about the temporary marking arrangement. He also knew, through some private gossip, that Huo Lan was likely both a germaphobe and emotionally detached. Liang Xiao carefully reviewed the events, ensuring his explanation was upright and clear. “Nothing else happened.”
Duan Ming squinted suspiciously. “What about three days ago?”
The situation from that day was too convoluted. Until Xingguan had fully resolved the matter, Liang Xiao hadn’t shared the details with anyone—not even his own manager.
Xingguan Entertainment’s success was closely tied to Huo Lan’s modus operandi. He was infamous in the industry as being both shrewd and calculating. Not only did he never take a loss, but if he seized a resource, he’d make others compensate, all while maintaining a PR advantage.
It was hard to imagine that Huo Lan had suddenly developed a charitable streak.
Since Huo Long paid the compensation, it means that the matter has been completely resolved. Liang Xiao thought about it and cut off the beginning and the end: “His pheromones got out of control.”
Duan Ming froze for two seconds, his eyes widening before he lunged to grab Liang Xiao’s collar.
“Brother Duan, brother Duan,” Liang Xiao clutched his neckline protectively, politely reminding him, “This isn’t appropriate. Xiao Gong is still here…”
The assistant quickly vanished beneath the car to give them space.
“Ancestor!” Duan Ming was so anxious his tone changed entirely. “This isn’t a trivial matter! Let me see! A lone Alpha and a solitary Omega—”
Liang Xiao, fully aware of the gravity of the situation, pressed him back into his seat, speaking calmly. “I signed a non-disclosure agreement, Brother Duan. Please keep quiet about this.”
Duan Ming was covered by his mouth and glared at him.
“It’s really nothing,” Liang Xiao patiently explained. “There was an emergency call button in the bedroom, and the bodyguards and butler were all right outside. I just ran too fast and didn’t have time to grab my jacket.”
Duan Ming moved Liang Xiao’s hand off his mouth. “You ran, and he just let you go?”
Duan Ming was a Beta, but even he understood what it meant when an Alpha’s pheromones spiraled out of control. In terms of physical dominance, it was leagues above the periodic vulnerabilities that Omegas experienced—especially when the Alpha in question was someone like Huo Lan, an indisputably top-tier Alpha.
In a rational state, Huo Lan would obviously never cross any lines. But in a state of loss of control, where instincts took over, a freshly showered and defenseless Omega nearby…
After pondering this for a while, Duan Ming asked worriedly, “Does Mr. Huo always have… issues?”
“…” Liang Xiao blinked. “No, everything works just fine.”
Duan Ming wasn’t sure whether to feel reassured or disappointed. “Oh.”
Liang Xiao, who hadn’t been able to see much at the time due to the chaos, now reflected and added, “Actually, it works very well.”
The memory resurfaced: the overwhelming strength of a top-tier Alpha pinning him down, his sturdy frame and rough breathing, and the avalanche of pheromones engulfing him in a tundra-like storm, with searing heat cascading from his nape to his lower back.
The powerful arms and chest exerted such force that Liang Xiao had nearly fallen apart under the pressure.
If it weren’t for the strictly professional monetary arrangement between them, the scene could have easily turned into material for a steamy novel.
Liang Xiao, determined to remain professional, mentally censored the memory and explained to his manager, “He’s actually quite reasonable. I communicated with him, and he let me go.”
Staring in disbelief, Duan Ming blurted out, “You communicated with an out-of-control Alpha? How?”
Liang Xiao thought for a moment, then patted his shoulder. “Through modern medical knowledge.”
—
Huo Lan adjusted his sleeve cuffs.
“Mr. Huo’s pheromone levels are very stable now.”
The private doctor folded the cuff strap, packed up the instruments, and stepped back, bowing slightly to the butler. “It’s clear that this Omega has a very high compatibility with Mr. Huo. The temporary marking was highly effective.”
The butler breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for your efforts.”
“Actually,” the doctor hesitated for a moment, “if it’s an omega with such a high compatibility, Mr. Huo might consider—”
“Thank you for your hard work.” The butler handed him a cup of coffee. “Please have a seat.”
“Thank you.” The doctor was briefly stunned but quickly responded politely. “I mean, based on our research, fusing with the omega’s pheromones could have a significantly positive impact on the alpha—”
The butler interrupted, “Would you like a cookie?”
Doctor: “…”
“There’s even a possibility it could completely resolve the loss-of-control issue.” The doctor balanced the coffee in one hand and the cookie in the other. “Mr. Huo might consider a permanent marking—”
The butler was too late to stop him. He could only watch as the temperature in the room visibly dropped by a degree.
The doctor shivered.
“Thank you for coming.” The butler swiftly packed the untouched coffee and cookies into a bag and escorted the doctor to the door. “We’ll contact you if needed.”
—
The startled doctor left, clutching his coffee and cookies. Inside, the pheromones in the room had turned icy, scraping against one’s spine.
The butler tightened his coat, held his breath, and went back to adjust the central heating by two degrees.
Huo Lan kept his gaze lowered, flipping through documents one by one.
It seemed as though the previous conversation had no effect on him. His expression remained indifferent as he swiftly worked through the files. Soon, he’d gathered several reports full of redundant nonsense and unceremoniously tossed them aside.
The butler walked over, picked them up, and sent messages to the department heads, instructing them to report to the vice president for a scolding. He hesitated for a moment before speaking up. “Actually…”
A file slapped onto the desk right in front of him.
The butler fell silent.
“Don’t bring it up again,” Huo Lan said coldly. “Don’t worry about it.”
The butler dared not argue further and nodded. “Understood.”
The personal doctor was relatively new and didn’t know about the past, nor did he fully understand Huo Lan’s character.
Huo Lan was the epitome of a top-tier Alpha in every respect. After taking over Xingguan, he had been decisive and efficient, restructuring departments, reforming practices, and elevating the company to the industry’s forefront within a few years, leaving established production companies struggling to compete.
But in his private life, president Huo was as cold and unapproachable as a block of ice.
The butler had once worried that he might have accidentally frozen an omega to death in bed, which was why he was so resistant to emotional matters.
However, the information network of Xingguan was strong enough on its own. After a thorough investigation, no one found any record of President Huo having any contact with an Omega from his youth to adulthood.
“Actually—”
The butler nervously awaited President Huo’s pheromones to stabilize. “Even if you’re not planning to permanently mark him, shouldn’t you at least try to get along with Mr. Liang?”
“Why?” Huo Lan asked.
“Well, he’s an outsider who knows a lot,” the butler said, walking over to tidy the files on the desk. “If things turn sour…”
Even with a confidentiality contract in place, Liang Xiao still had control over his own mouth.
Given their president’s temperament, it wasn’t hard to imagine things falling apart one day. If Liang Xiao were to act out of spite, he could reveal Huo Lan’s secrets at any time.
Huo Lan’s situation was unique. Even with Xingguan’s PR team ready to manage crises, competitors could easily exploit a scandal by sending a heat-induced omega to ambush him. The risks were far too high.
The butler didn’t spell out all the details. He stacked the files neatly and said no more.
Huo Lan raised his hand to press his temple. He didn’t lose his temper but instead closed his eyes.
“Actually, Mr. Liang is a good person—polite and easygoing. After the incident, he even told us to take care of you first,” the butler added, trying to build a positive atmosphere. “What’s your impression of him?”
“I don’t know,” Huo Lan replied. “I didn’t pay attention.”
The butler: “…”
Liang Xiao’s profile was sitting in the drawer. Huo Lan pulled it out and flipped through it, his gaze landing on that particularly exquisite face.
In this industry, he’d seen countless attractive men and women. Liang Xiao’s looks were outstanding, but they weren’t so breathtaking as to leave an indelible impression.
Huo Lan held the file, leaned back in his swivel chair, and thought it over.
If it weren’t for the doctor repeatedly warning him that failing to take action would harm his health and that the loss of control would become more and more serious, he wouldn’t have considered this solution at all.
Even if it was just a temporary mark that would eventually fade, it still wasn’t something he desired.
This was purely a transactional relationship: Liang Xiao needed money, and Huo Lan needed stable pheromones. It was a simple matter of mutual benefit.
Arranging for Liang Xiao to join Xingguan’s production crew was merely a practical decision. Given how extreme his last episode of losing control was, it seemed likely it would happen again. Keeping Liang Xiao somewhere he could be easily reached made emergency responses much more manageable.
There was no need to involve feelings, so there was no need to pay unnecessary attention.
But after mulling it over, Huo Lan realized that his few clear impressions of Liang Xiao boiled down to how he looked every time he exposed the back of his neck for a temporary mark.
Despite his outward calm and composure, he was clearly much more nervous than he let on.
His shirt would always slip down to his shoulders and upper back, but beyond that, everything was carefully covered, leaving nothing visible.
The exposed stretch of Liang Xiao’s slender neck was pale and delicate, almost youthful in its vulnerability. At the slightest touch, he would flinch, his entire body tensing with a faint tremor.
…
It almost seemed like Huo Lan had done something unforgivably excessive.
He wasn’t someone who never carried suppressants. Initially, he had planned to make a perfunctory attempt at containment and leave it at that. He hadn’t expected the other party to be so earnest—even enthusiastic enough to provide him with a little “professional guidance.”
Huo Lan opened his eyes, placed the file back in the drawer, and shut it.
The butler stood silently at the side, observing the subtle relaxation in his employer’s brows. Sensing an opening, he seized the opportunity: “Do you have any questions you’d like to ask?”
“That time,” Huo Lan said, “when I lost control—how did he escape?”
The butler: “…”
Huo Lan had little memory of that incident. He vaguely recalled being completely unable to control himself and couldn’t even remember Liang Xiao’s reaction.
Later, after being sedated and regaining consciousness, he had been told by the butler that Liang Xiao was unharmed. Though initially skeptical, his doubts vanished when he saw Liang Xiao alive and well, trending on social media.
This time, taking advantage of the salon dinner as an excuse, he specifically called Liang Xiao over. Judging by his appearance, there didn’t seem to be anything amiss.
Still, Huo Lan knew better. Handling him during an uncontrolled episode would not have been easy. The period between his initial loss of control and the administration of the sedative was the most dangerous. It was during this time that Liang Xiao could have suffered either reversible or irreversible harm.
Since it was a transactional relationship, Huo Lan felt obligated to compensate for any unintended damage caused.
The butler hesitated. “Perhaps you could ask about something else…”
Huo Lan’s gaze turned icy. “Even you’re hiding things from me.”
“It’s not that,” the butler quickly straightened up, recognizing the anger in his tone. “Do you remember that deluxe, hardcover, 10-centimeter-thick, 2-kilogram copy of The Contemporary Medical Kn
owledge Encyclopedia on your desk?”
Huo Lan frowned. “He used it to find a method to suppress my episode?”
“…Not exactly.” The butler closed his eyes and said through gritted teeth, “He smashed it over your head.”
