EN Chapter 1

Omega Chi Sui was a wild child, untamed and left to his own devices.

After his parents passed away unexpectedly, their company was taken over by his uncle, Chi Yang. As Chi Yang became his legal guardian, his entire family naturally moved into the villa to live with Chi Sui.

Chi Sui’s life was far from comfortable.

His cousin, Chi An’an, was only a year younger than him—a spoiled Omega with a rum-and-caramel scent. Chi An’an was raised like a precious gem: sweet-talking, adorable, and adept at acting coy. Compared to Chi An’an, Chi Sui’s pheromones were bland and unremarkable. He was like a wild dogtail weed, growing wherever the wind carried it, never pleasing to anyone.

Back when Chi Sui’s parents were alive, they had arranged a marriage for him with the Shang family. The Shang family’s young master, Shang Lin, was a strikingly handsome Alpha with a haughty demeanor. However, Shang Lin treated Chi Sui decently, maintaining politeness and respect. While their pheromone compatibility wasn’t particularly high, Chi Sui didn’t mind. Shang Lin never joined in mocking him and had once even defended him at school. Although Shang Lin occasionally lost patience with him, Chi Sui was grateful nonetheless. Few people ever stood up for him.

Chi Sui always looked forward to becoming an adult. He thought, Once I marry Shang Lin, I can move out of this oppressive old house. I won’t have to live by watching people’s moods or endure seeing everyone else’s perfect little family anymore.

What he wanted most was a home of his own.

On his eighteenth birthday, the Chi and Shang families arranged to have dinner together. All the elders were present, and the venue was a high-end Western restaurant.

Chi Sui couldn’t hide his excitement—today’s dinner had to be about finalizing his marriage to Shang Lin. He had been anticipating this moment for a long time.

“You’re holding the knife and fork all wrong. The fork should be in your left hand, and the knife in your right,” Chi An’an suddenly scolded, tapping his arm lightly. “Hasn’t anyone taught you? It’s so rude to eat like that.” With a smile on his face, Chi An’an even reached out warmly to reposition Chi Sui’s hands.

Chi Sui felt a wave of embarrassment and quickly pulled his hand away.

“What’s that attitude toward your cousin? Can’t even learn proper table manners and have the nerve to give An’an attitude?” Chi Yang, ever the critic, jumped in to scold him.

Chi Sui looked up and realized all the elders at the table were staring at him. The air grew thick with awkwardness. No one spoke up for him, not even Shang Lin, who sat beside him with a furrowed brow and an expression of disapproval.

Swallowing his frustration, Chi Sui lifted his chin stubbornly and retorted, “I’m left-handed. Is there a problem with me holding the knife in my left hand?”

“Did I make any noise to disturb others?”

“Am I somehow causing a scene just by holding my utensils differently?”

“Assuming everyone is right-handed—that’s the real rudeness, the real discrimination.”

Chi Sui had never been one to endure quietly. He didn’t care that Shang Lin was sitting next to him; all he could feel was the hypocrisy and bullying from this group. His defenses shot up instinctively.

“You’re left-handed?” Chi An’an, flustered by the rebuttal, raised his voice sharply.

“I’m not,” Chi Sui replied flatly. “I just find it more comfortable this way.” He didn’t even bother addressing Chi An’an anymore, nor did he look at Shang Lin. All he wanted was to escape.

Chi An’an’s eyes reddened. “I was just trying to help, and you treat me like this. Lin-ge, look at him!” The Omega softened his tone, looking pitifully at Shang Lin while tugging at his sleeve.

Compared to Chi An’an’s delicate and pitiful demeanor, Chi Sui’s sharp edges made him seem overly aggressive. He suddenly regretted speaking out. Why couldn’t he learn to endure? Maybe it was just his nature—unlikeable and abrasive.

Shang Lin patted Chi An’an’s hand comfortingly and even helped him wipe his tears. Just as Shang Lin was about to say something, his mother intervened, and Chi Yang uncharacteristically chose not to pursue the matter. The ever-diplomatic adults swiftly smoothed things over, moving on to polite conversations and toasts.

Chi Sui finally noticed something: Chi An’an was seated between him and Shang Lin. Today wasn’t about his marriage at all. It dawned on him—the engagement was doomed.

On his eighteenth birthday, at a dinner serving Western food he didn’t even like, his fiancé was busy comforting someone else. Just like everyone else, Shang Lin chose to side with others.

Chi Sui had foolishly believed that Shang Lin would stand by him. Turns out, they were all the same.

He was the only idiot here, still clinging to scraps of affection like a stray dog hoping for a bone. But it was them who had intruded into his life, turning him into this stray. And even then, very few people were willing to toss him even a scrap.

Swallowing his tears, Chi Sui buried the hurt deep inside and forced himself back into his usual indifferent facade.

The topic of breaking off the engagement never came up, but Shang Lin spent the rest of the meal doting on Chi An’an—cutting his steak, peeling his shrimp, and whispering gently to him.

Chi Sui didn’t care what game they were playing. Once he was full, he pushed back his chair and left the dining hall to get some air.

Fine. Let them plan whatever schemes they wanted.

Chi Sui wandered to the corner of the lounge and curled up behind the heavy curtains, pressing his face against the cool glass of the window to watch the nightscape outside.

He liked being in small, enclosed spaces. It made him feel safe.

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard footsteps and voices approaching.

“Uncle, why are you here? Didn’t you just get off a plane? I thought you’d be resting,” said Shang Lin.

It turned out that Shang Lin’s infamous uncle, Shang Jingyan, had arrived. Chi Sui didn’t want to see Shang Lin, so he froze in place, hoping they’d leave soon after exchanging pleasantries.

“What’s the deal tonight? Are you calling off the engagement with Chi Sui or not?” Shang Jingyan’s tone was cold and laced with impatience.

“My mom won’t allow it,” Shang Lin muttered, his voice shrinking.

“Of course, she won’t,” Shang Jingyan scoffed. “She’s colluding with Chi Yang. The plan is for you to marry Chi Sui, grab control of the Chi family shares, then divorce him and marry Chi An’an instead. The shares would be split between our family and Chi Yang. Isn’t that right?”

Chi Sui’s breath hitched.

Shang Jingyan let out a mocking laugh. “Conning an orphan like this. Aren’t you afraid of karma?” His voice carried an undercurrent of dominance, and his pheromones unconsciously pressured Shang Lin. Shang Lin’s voice trembled, “I don’t want to marry Chi Sui. I only want to marry Chi An’an.”

“Shang Lin, you’re truly spoiled. Always wanting everything, blessed with fortune others can only dream of, yet still making stupid choices.”

“There’s no way you’ll marry him. You don’t deserve to.”

“You’re overthinking it. Chi Sui will marry me. He’ll be your elder.”

“Drop your little schemes. Stop targeting his inheritance.”

Blow after blow of truth struck Chi Sui like a hammer.

Shang Lin dared not defy Shang Jingyan. His uncle was a high-ranking Alpha general with overwhelming authority and a notorious temper. Whatever he said, went.

Still unwilling to back down, Shang Lin tried, “But Chi Sui is a thief, you know that?”

Shang Jingyan frowned and shot back without hesitation, “No, he isn’t.”

“Stop spreading lies and get lost. If you want to marry Chi An’an, go ahead. Stop wasting everyone’s time,” Shang Jingyan snapped.

Chi Sui stood there stunned, recalling the time he was falsely accused of theft at school. Unable to clear his name and unwilling to admit guilt, he had stubbornly refused to back down. It was Shang Lin who had stepped in, paying for the missing money and brushing it off with, Is this small amount even worth stealing?

Chi Sui had been grateful, thinking Shang Lin believed in him. But now he realized—Shang Lin only found the situation bothersome. He didn’t believe him at all.

The politeness was fake. The protection was fake. It was all to deceive him for money.

“Come out,” Shang Jingyan suddenly commanded as the curtain was pulled back. Chi Sui’s face was streaked with tears. Embarrassed, he hurriedly wiped at them with his sleeve.

“What do you want?” Chi Sui glared at Shang Jingyan, full of hostility.

“What do you think?” Standing against the light, Shang Jingyan didn’t resemble a savior at all. His deep-set brow and heavy gaze made him look intimidating.

“What do you want from me? My shares, too?” Chi Sui snarled, baring his teeth like a cornered animal trying desperately to defend itself.

“You heard me. I want to marry you.”

“Don’t you remember? Your parents named you Chi Sui because they hoped you’d have a smooth life. I’m here to set things right.”

“What do I have that’s worth marrying? I’m neither pretty nor gentle,” Chi Sui retorted, his neck stiff with disbelief and fear of being lied to again.

“You’re not pretty, but I like your looks. You’re not gentle? Perfect. Neither am I.”

“Come on out, little kitten. The glass is cold,” Shang Jingyan said, reaching out a hand.

His temper wasn’t bad at all. His eyes, contrary to his words, were filled with kindness and care.