Has the Boss Bost His Temper Today? - Chapter 16

The first thing Duan Shiming did after returning to the hotel was to change his clothes and take a shower.

The smell of red wine was incredibly strong.

He carefully avoided the injury on his hand and managed to shower with one arm. Once finished, he quickly dried his hair and picked up his phone.

Unsurprisingly, he had received a “mini-essay” from his eldest father. The gist of it was a stern warning, “No fighting, no getting angry, and no getting injured while you’re out, if I see it happen again, I’m dragging you straight home.”

Duan Shiming immediately replied that he understood. At that moment, a message from Chu Yanzhou popped up.

[Cullinan: Don’t be so impulsive in the future.]

[Cullinan: Get some rest first. If you need anything, call the guest service center.]

Duan Shiming watched the screen, and after a moment, another message appeared.

[Cullinan: Or call me.]

Duan Shiming was puzzled. “Is this boss really that awkward? If he cares about me, he can just say it. Why be so indirect?”

He huffed while blow-drying his hair, raised a triumphant eyebrow, and typed back a reply.

Just as he sent the message, his heart began to thud violently. His vision went dark, his face turned deathly pale, and the chip hidden beneath the skin of his chest began to pulse with a faint red light.

His legs gave way, and he instinctively grabbed the edge of the counter for support.

Damn it.

[Little Secretary: Okay Boss, if I need anything, I’ll definitely come to you first. Thank you!]

[Little Secretary: (Cullinan heart launch.jpg)]

Chu Yanzhou leaned casually against the bar, taking a sip of red wine while holding his phone. He received the reply almost as soon as he had sent his message. Setting down the wine glass, his brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

There was even a bouncing Cullinan heart emoji.

Looking at the emoji, another face involuntarily surfaced in his mind. His thumb unconsciously brushed over the large, perked-up ears on the screen, and a smile spread through his eyes.

One stroke after another.

The wine glass reflected his relaxed brow and the upward curve of his lips.

In the next instant, as if realizing something, his expression froze. The curve of his lips flattened out inch by inch, returning to a nearly cold, hard line.

Chu Yanzhou raised his glass and downed the rest of the wine.

With a “ding,” his phone chimed again. He looked down immediately, but it wasn’t from Duan Shiming, it was from the Political Director.

It consisted of a video and several voice messages.

[Director: Yanzhou, I’ve had someone pull the surveillance footage. Since Representative Ji is your fiancé, I’m sending this to you personally. I’ve had the security department keep a backup, but the original has been deleted.]

[Director: Also, your little secretary was right to act in self-defense, but he was still a bit impulsive. If anything had happened to him, it would be hard to explain to his family. Please remind him of this, Yanzhou, there shouldn’t be a next time.]

[Director: He also shouldn’t have extreme emotional fluctuations. You can criticize him if he does something wrong, but don’t scold him, it will make him feel unwell.]

[Director: I will re-apply to the Alliance for the project and do my best to negotiate with the Galaxy Research Institute on your behalf.]

[Director: Considering your secretary is injured, tomorrow afternoon’s project briefing is canceled.]

[Director: I’ll have to trouble you to look after him.]

Chu Yanzhou listened to the messages, his expression unreadable.

“He shouldn’t have extreme emotional fluctuations. You can criticize him, but don’t scold him, it will make him feel unwell.”

“I’ll have to trouble you to look after him.”

It seemed he really was a “connected” hire, he had recruited a little ancestor.

But so what? He only cared about ability, not background.

He set his thoughts aside, messaged his thanks to the Director, and clicked on the surveillance video. He skipped past the parts involving Ji Huaichuan and the other man, dragging the playback straight to the end.

He was surprised to see that Duan Shiming actually knew how to fight, and his skills were quite impressive. He could easily take down an Alpha in a rut. His gaze froze on a specific scene.

It was the moment Duan Shiming hooked the wine bottle with his shoe, leaned down to grab it, and smashed it against the waiter’s shoulder with a wild, defiant grin.

The sound of shattering glass was crisp.

Chu Yanzhou’s heart skipped a beat.

Ding-dong—

The doorbell rang, echoing the tremor in his heart.

Chu Yanzhou looked toward the door. Room service?

Out of politeness, he walked over.

The door opened, and before he could say a word, the person outside lunged into his arms. That rich scent of citrus and lime crashed into him.

Chu Yanzhou’s body stiffened. His raised arm hovered by the other man’s waist, forgetting to actually pull him in. The sensation of that slender waist made his gaze freeze, and his heartbeat became a chaotic mess.

He slowly lowered his head, accidentally brushing against the other’s soft hair, and stared blankly at that patch of fair skin on the neck.

“You”

Before he could finish, the head in his arms slumped heavily onto his shoulder. A burning forehead pressed into the hollow of his collarbone, and the person in his arms went limp, sliding downward.

Chu Yanzhou hooked his arm around Duan Shiming’s waist to lift him back up, only to realize the boy was deathly pale. His eyelids were fluttering as if he were about to faint, and his body was scorching hot. Something was very wrong.

He decided to pick him up horizontally, kicked the door shut, and quickly carried him over to the sofa. As soon as he set Duan Shiming down, his hand was grabbed.

The boy’s hand was burning, and the heat seemed to radiate even through the gauze wrapped around his palm.

“Help…” Duan Shiming struggled to open his eyes. He looked at Chu Yanzhou and opened his palm. “…Help me inject it into the heart.”

Chu Yanzhou looked at the miniature injector in Duan Shiming’s palm, his gaze darkening. “Isn’t this for people with”

Duan Shiming felt a sharp pain where the chip was located in his chest. He grabbed Chu Yanzhou’s hand, gasping for air. “…Quick… help me.”

Chu Yanzhou didn’t have time to think. He helped the boy sit up and lifted his white T-shirt. What met his eyes was a red glow emanating from beneath the skin above the heart, like a small fish circling a coin-sized scar.

This was a chip used by people with unstable pheromones to stabilize themselves, essentially an implanted AI system for medical monitoring.

In other words, a Pheromone Guidance Chip.

…This guy belonged to the pheromone-unstable population?!

Regardless of the implications, he pulled up the hem of the shirt and used his thumb to gently pry open the pale lower lip. “Bite down.”

Duan Shiming’s eyelashes fluttered. Lacking all strength, he could only obediently bite the fabric. Suddenly, a wave of agony washed over him. Tears fell, landing on Chu Yanzhou’s forearm.

That small drop of moisture caused Chu Yanzhou to pause.

“Inject it, quickly.”

Hearing the sob in his voice, Chu Yanzhou frowned. He knelt on one knee and skillfully snapped the cap off the injector with one hand, revealing the circular needle designed to cover the chip. He pressed it against the glowing spot on the chest, one hand gripping the boy’s thin shoulder and the other pressing the top of the injector.

“I’m doing it now.”

The needle was terrifyingly bright. Duan Shiming’s face turned even whiter, and he instinctively grabbed Chu Yanzhou’s wrist, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

He lowered his gaze, his eyelashes shivering, cold sweat pouring down his temples.

Seeing this, Chu Yanzhou suddenly clamped his palm over the back of the boy’s hot, slender neck and pulled him into a firm hug, resting his chin on the top of his head. “It’ll be fast, just a second.”

“Mm” Duan Shiming bit the cloth and instinctively shrank into the embrace.

Chu Yanzhou’s eyes dazed for a moment, his hand hovering in the air.

Quickly, he regained his composure and pulled back just enough. With his other hand steady and fast, he aimed the needle at the chest chip. While the boy was still huddled in his arms, he pressed down. The needle pierced accurately and cleanly.

“Mm” Duan Shiming had a phobia of needles, and his pupils contracted.

The pain made him lean back heavily against the sofa, clutching his chest and panting. Sweat dripped down his face, the shirt hem fell from his mouth, his lips were soaked, and the corners of his eyes were a vivid red. He had no idea how messy and vulnerable he looked.

Chu Yanzhou’s gaze deepened as he watched him, slowly lowering his hand.

Duan Shiming bit his lip hard, staring at Chu Yanzhou. Large tears rolled down his face, but he didn’t make a sound.

The usually energetic “puppy” who acted like the sky wouldn’t fall was now covered in tears.

Chu Yanzhou thought to himself, So this guy can actually cry.

It was common knowledge that the pain of a second chip injection was no less than getting stitches without anesthesia, especially when injected into the delicate flesh near the heart.

Duan Shiming was in agony.

“Wooo…”

After holding it in for so long, the pain finally subsided enough for a sob to escape.

Chu Yanzhou watched him cry for a moment. “Can a little pain like this really defeat Secretary Duan?”

Duan Shiming just stared at him while the tears kept flowing.

Chu Yanzhou’s grip on the injector tightened. The sight of the crying boy made him feel restless and irritable. He could only reach out and pull him back into his arms, his voice softening slightly. “Alright, isn’t it over now?”

The thin, trembling body felt as if it were carved to fit into his arms, a perfect match where even air couldn’t pass through.

Then, a faint scent of Freesia pheromones drifted through the air, it was an Alpha’s pheromone.

This act of soothing through pheromone release was almost an Alpha’s instinct, but it was usually reserved for an Omega partner.

Chu Yanzhou felt he was doing something futile.

Perhaps the hug worked. Duan Shiming huddled in his arms, his eyelids drooping. He felt surrounded by the floral scent, and the pain in his chest eased slightly. Chu Yanzhou’s scent was truly amazing.

It hadn’t just cured his insomnia, it could even soothe the pain from his chip.

Exhausted from crying, his head rubbed against the crook of the other man’s neck.

Chu Yanzhou froze at the sudden, intimate gesture and didn’t dare to move.

In the ensuing ten minutes of silence, only their soft breaths overlapped. Unspoken emotions were hidden in the gaps between breaths, and neither of them moved.

Finally, a muffled voice spoke.

“I’m better.”

Duan Shiming felt a bit of strength return to his body. He held onto Chu Yanzhou’s arm and shakily sat up. “Thank you.”

That “thank you” sounded incredibly shy and sweet, a total departure from his usual self, enough to give one goosebumps.

Chu Yanzhou suppressed the inexplicable tingling sensation. Seeing the boy’s watery eyes, red nose, and flushed eyelids, he looked like a pitiful puppy. “Does it still hurt?”

Duan Shiming’s voice was raspy. “A little better.”

“Why did you suddenly feel unwell?”

Duan Shiming lowered his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know, it just happened suddenly.”

“Do you have any strength now?”

Duan Shiming nodded. “Yes.”

“Can you move?”

“Yeah, I can.”

“Are you dizzy, nauseous, or uncomfortable anywhere else?”

Duan Shiming shook his head. “No.”

Chu Yanzhou couldn’t help but marvel at how patient he was being. “I’ll take you back first.”

“Oh.” Duan Shiming looked down at his clothes and noticed a wet patch where he had bitten it, along with a stain. He frowned.

“Eww. It’s dirty.”

Chu Yanzhou saw it too.

Duan Shiming didn’t really want to wear it. “My shirt is dirty, I probably got it messy when I fell earlier.” After saying that, he just took the shirt off.

Chu Yanzhou was speechless. Truly shameless. He sighed and asked, “Where did you fall?”

Duan Shiming replied, “In the hallway while I was walking to your room.”

“I’m not asking where you fell, I’m asking if you hurt yourself anywhere.”

Duan Shiming pulled up his left pant leg and saw some redness on his knee. “Here.”

Chu Yanzhou knelt in front of him and touched the knee.

Duan Shiming flinched reflexively.

Chu Yanzhou asked, “Does it hurt?”

Duan Shiming gave an embarrassed smile. “It tickles.”

Probably because he had just cried so hard, his youthful face looked damp and flushed from his chest to his ears, a sight that was quite provocative.

Chu Yanzhou stood up. “Stay here, I’ll get you a shirt.”

“I’ll just run back.”

Chu Yanzhou countered, “Listen to yourself. Sit still.”

Duan Shiming made a face. “Oh.” He sat back down obediently.

Within a minute, Chu Yanzhou returned with a black athletic top. He unfolded it and pulled it straight over Duan Shiming’s head.

“Mph”

Duan Shiming’s head popped out of the collar, his hair a bit messy.

Chu Yanzhou settled the shirt around his neck. Seeing that the boy was just sitting there dazed, his pale arms exposed, he asked, “Are you too weak to even put on a shirt?”

“No.”

Duan Shiming slowly slid his arms into the sleeves. His chest still hurt, so he kept his movements small. Once it was on, he realized the shirt was huge, the sleeves reached his elbows.

The corner of Chu Yanzhou’s mouth twitched.

After putting on the shirt, Duan Shiming’s nose twitched, and his eyes sparkled.

He lowered his head and sniffed the sleeve. “It smells like flowers.”

Seeing him suddenly sniffing his clothes, Chu Yanzhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “What flower?”

“Freesia.” Duan Shiming looked at Chu Yanzhou and smiled. “It smells so good, it’s the scent on you.”

Chu Yanzhou was stunned.

Does this guy… know what he’s saying?

Duan Shiming didn’t notice anything strange. He stood up and touched his chest. “Thanks, Boss. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t helped me.”

Chu Yanzhou suppressed his inner turmoil. “You’re not in pain anymore?”

“It was bad just now, but it’s okay once the medicine is in,” Duan Shiming said. “I think that Alpha’s pheromones affected me. I can’t smell pheromones, so I’m more susceptible. Luckily, I carry the medicine with me.”

Chu Yanzhou was silent for a moment before asking, “How did you end up with pheromone instability?”

Duan Shiming froze. Remembering his family’s instructions, he immediately changed the subject. “I think your project is great, it’s perfect for people like me who suffer from pheromone disorders. Maybe I can take it too, so I don’t have to deal with that intense pain when something happens.”

“Son, don’t tell anyone you have pheromone instability.”

“Don’t randomly show off your absolute five senses.”

“If you weren’t living next door, I’d be in real trouble.”

Duan Shiming touched the shirt he was wearing. “President Chu, I’ll head back now. I’ll give the shirt back after I wash it.”

“No need.”

Duan Shiming was confused.

Chu Yanzhou said, “I don’t like other people washing my clothes, so don’t give it to the hotel staff. Just give it back to me when you change tomorrow.”

He stood up. “I’ll walk you back.”

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