1122 - Chapter 43.1

The two were like dry wood meeting a blazing fire after a long separation, passionately kissing each other in the entryway.

Shirts had already been impatiently tugged out from the waistbands of their suit pants, revealing slivers of skin in different shades one cold and pale, the other a light wheat tone along with contrasting waistlines.

Pale ivory and sun-kissed tan.

Toned and muscular.

This was the eventual physical divergence between an Omega and an Alpha. Though their heights were similar, the differences would gradually become more pronounced as their secondary genders developed.

Jiang Yi loosened the buttons at Yan Nanchen’s collar but before he could proceed further, he felt a series of tender, lingering kisses trail down his neck especially over his tattoo.

Warm breaths accompanied each kiss, sending shivers down his spine.

“That tickles.” He laughed, trying to squirm away, only for Yan Nanchen’s fingers to brush against the sensitive dip of his waist, making him even more ticklish.

Thinking back, this man really could kiss him from head to toe without missing a single spot.

The more tender and clingy the kisses were, the more his heart ached. If this had happened when he was single, he might have endured it silently for the sake of survival.

But now, he didn’t have to.

He had Yan Nanchen someone he could confide in freely, someone different from a friend. This was his lover.

“It’s fine. If that person upset you, I’ll handle it for you.” Yan Nanchen pressed a kiss to his ear, his voice low and husky as he coaxed gently, “Trust that your Alpha has the ability. He dared to reject Neptune because he didn’t know you’re the president’s spouse at Galaxy Group. If he knew, he’d be groveling at your feet with an apology tomorrow.”

Jiang Yi had always been susceptible to Yan Nanchen’s sweet talk not in a deceptive way, but the soothing tone had always worked on him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so thoroughly enchanted by Yan Nanchen, even though they saw each other every day, never suspecting that puppy was Yan Nanchen.

He chuckled, running his fingers through the slightly coarse strands of Yan Nanchen’s hair at the back of his head. “No need. If he’s smart, he’ll come to apologize to me himself. Losing the chance to work with Neptune is his loss.”

“But he said something that upset you, didn’t he? That upsets me.”

Their foreheads pressed together as they spoke softly, their words like whispered sweet nothings in each other’s ears.

Jiang Yi smiled faintly. Listening to Yan Nanchen’s almost childish words, he lifted his gaze slightly, fingertips tracing from Yan Nanchen’s cheek to his earlobe, then down to the nape of his neck. Without his glasses, his vision was slightly blurred, but it didn’t stop him from finding Yan Nanchen with perfect accuracy.

“Puppy, it’s fine. Seeing you here already made me feel better. You’ve already comforted me.”

As he spoke, he cupped Yan Nanchen’s face and kissed him again, their lips and tongues entwined, neither willing to let the other go.

For him, Yan Nanchen’s presence truly was like this. He was an adult now, and he had long since experienced the darker sides of the workplace during his time as an assistant especially during Neptune’s rise, a particularly exhausting phase where he had seen it all.

Of course, he would get angry, but after the anger passed, he would remind himself that these were inevitable trials on the path to success, experiences he would face sooner or later, it all depended on how he chose to perceive them.

Now he had Yan Nanchen. The past was in the past, and his present was filled with family happiness his own Alpha and a daughter. This little family was the psychological anchor that supported him.

Yan Nanchen felt the legs wrapped around him tighten further. He lifted Jiang Yi into his arms and carried him steadily toward the large bed.

What should have been a short walk from the entryway to the bed turned into several minutes of lingering kisses.

The moment they tumbled onto the bed, they immediately clung to each other.

“That won’t do. If someone makes my wife angry, I’ll make sure they go bankrupt.”

“How tacky.”

“But I have the power to do it. Doesn’t that feel great?”

“It does, but it’s such a waste of money.”

“Jiang Yi, you have to understand, an Alpha with too much money is a dangerous thing. Think about it. If I had 2 billion in liquid assets right now, how many people would throw themselves at me to seduce me? Tell me, wouldn’t that be risky?”

“…”

“But then think about this, if I spend that money to deal with whoever upset you, you’d be happy, and I’d be happy spending it. And once it’s all gone, I’d be safe again. No one would scheme to seduce me, and our family would stay happy and perfect, wouldn’t it?”

Before long, a black shirt was tossed to the floor.

Jiang Yi’s shirt still hung precariously from his arm as he sat on Yan Nanchen’s lap, hands resting on his shoulders. He looked down, meeting Yan Nanchen’s gaze, and couldn’t help laughing at his words. “Yan Nanchen, I’ve heard of people being gaslit, but this is the first time I’ve heard someone gaslight themselves.”

“I just want you to be happy. I don’t want you upset.” Yan Nanchen pressed a kiss to Jiang Yi’s shoulder. “Jiang Yi, should I help you secure this project?”

Jiang Yi shook his head. “What kind of help would that be? If Director Duan finds out.”

“Even if you were once his assistant and now you’re his deputy, what can he say if I insist on doing this? He still has to call me ‘Second Brother’ and you ‘Second Sister-in-Law.'”

Just as Jiang Yi was about to respond, a sudden movement made him gasp. His fingers dug into Yan Nanchen’s shoulders as he lowered his head. “Don’t waste your money. I can handle this myself. I refuse to believe I can’t secure it with 800 million.”

The words were barely out before he was overwhelmed.

Perhaps it was this stubbornness that left him thoroughly worn out by Yan Nanchen.

The entire afternoon was wasted like this.

Strangely enough, the signs of his Heat had been there all along, but it stubbornly refused to arrive. Even after half a year of being with Yan Nanchen, nothing had triggered it.

It had almost made Yan Nanchen doubt his own abilities.

“Did my antidepressants ruin my kidneys?”

Jiang Yi lay lazily on top of Yan Nanchen, listening to his self-doubt, too exhausted to stay awake. “If this is what you call ‘ruined,’ I’d be the one ruined when you’re not.”

“So you think I’m strong?”

Jiang Yi laughed at Yan Nanchen’s damnable pride. “Obviously. I’m exhausted.” He closed his eyes. “Hold me while I nap. I’ll talk to that Robert again tonight.”

Yan Nanchen rubbed his waist. “Sure you don’t want me to handle it?”

“Don’t underestimate me. Back when I was an assistant, I secured plenty of major projects. People called me the ‘Bargaining Silver Tongue.'”

Yan Nanchen seemed to recall something and lowered his head to kiss him. “Mmm, true enough. Otherwise, how could you have haunted my thoughts until I couldn’t live without you?”

“Stop overthinking. You’re getting too worked up.”

Yan Nanchen chuckled. “Youthful vigor, my dear. Forgive me.”

Jiang Yi: “…” He didn’t want to engage further and closed his eyes for a nap.

As night fell, the two had dinner at the hotel before video chatting with Qiao Qiao. Not long after, Jiang Yi received a message from Robert.

[Mr. Jiang, I hear you have quite the tolerance for alcohol. Care to make a wager? If you can finish all the liquor I bring, the equipment batch is yours for 800 million.]

Drinking?

Jiang Yi frowned. He wasn’t as good at holding his liquor as before, but wasn’t this condition rather flippant? Deciding such expensive equipment over drinks?

“Who are you messaging?”

Jiang Yi heard Yan Nanchen’s voice by his ear and subtly turned off his phone screen. Calmly, he replied, “Nothing important. Just a drinking gathering later.”

“You’re not going.” Yan Nanchen’s expression darkened. “In your current condition, how could you drink? You haven’t fully recovered you can’t even have coffee, let alone alcohol. Whose gathering is it? Cancel it.”

“It’s Robert’s.” Jiang Yi had no intention of hiding it. He handed his phone to Yan Nanchen. “He said if I can finish all the liquor he brings, he’ll let me have the equipment for 800 million. But my thought is. I just want to see what he’s really up to.”

“I don’t see any reason to go. His words clearly show he has ulterior motives toward you.” Yan Nanchen took the phone, his face growing stormier as he read. “I know you wouldn’t entertain any ideas, but he’s an Alpha. I’d be worried.”

“Then come with me.”

“Hmm?”

Jiang Yi looked at Yan Nanchen sitting beside him, stood up, and walked over. He straddled Yan Nanchen’s lap, placed his hands on his shoulders, and leaned in to whisper by his ear, “Come protect me.”

Perhaps because such requests were rare, Yan Nanchen’s eyes flickered.

“Anyway, I’ve already prepared for the possibility of not securing this deal. I’ve been upfront with Director Duan this guy wouldn’t just hand over equipment worth 1.26 billion for 800 million. Director Duan said it’s fine if we don’t get it; there’s another channel to acquire the batch.” Jiang Yi continued, “Since he’s offering himself up, it’d be a shame not to do something, especially since you’re here.”

Yan Nanchen caught his implication. “You want to beat him up?”

Jiang Yi shrugged, smiling innocently. “Just a little drinking. If I get drunk, who knows what I might do.”

“You’re an Omega now, not an Alpha. It’s still risky.”

“It’s fine. I trust you to watch over me.”

“And what identity would I have accompanying you?”

“Bodyguard.”

Yan Nanchen: “…”

Jiang Yi laughed again, patting Yan Nanchen’s firm chest hard enough to make a sound. “Mmm, so strong. Bodyguard suits you.”

And so, Jiang Yi brought his personal bodyguard to Robert’s drinking party.

It was indeed a proper gathering, with many high-ranking officials and dignitaries from M Country mingling, glasses clinking, and major deals being struck every minute.

The host of the gala was none other than Robert, the wealthiest man in Country M.

“Mr. Robert, I heard you have a batch of highly advanced medical equipment. Would you be interested in collaborating with us? Price is negotiable.”

Robert, dressed in a navy blue casual suit, held a wine glass with an indifferent expression. His gaze occasionally drifted toward the venue’s entrance, subtly masking the anticipation in his eyes. “That batch has already been claimed.”

“Hahaha, that fast? It’s been less than a month since production, hasn’t it? Mr. Robert is famously demanding who managed to convince you so easily?”

Robert showed no intention of elaborating. Just then, a familiar figure appeared at the door, lighting up his deep blue eyes before they dimmed again the next second, replaced by wariness.

Since when did Jiang Yi have an Alpha bodyguard like this?

“Yi Yi, that Alpha keeps staring at you. I’m jealous.”

“Hmm, that’s Robert. Don’t be jealous, I only love you.”

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