After the Corporate Slave Beta and the Top Alpha Married - Chapter 29

What exactly do Shang Yuanzhou’s pheromones smell like?

When this question surfaced in his heart, Ji Yu instinctively pursed his lips. Even though there was an Omega right in front of him looking at him with gossip-filled eyes the perfect person to ask—he didn’t.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t curious. It was just… Ji Yu couldn’t say why.

To his surprise, An Nian spoke up with a beaming smile in the next second: “Is it your boyfriend? He left such a strong scent of wine on you.”

Ji Yu’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this. Learning the scent of Shang Yuanzhou’s pheromones from An Nian’s mouth made him feel a strange, inexplicable discomfort. It wasn’t as if the little Omega had said anything offensive. He couldn’t figure out the reason for this bizarre unease, so he quickly pushed the subtle emotion to the back of his mind.

Ji Yu reached out to touch the back of his neck, where the scabbed bite mark was already starting to reveal tender pink skin. “Wine… is it?”

An Nian tilted his head as he led the way toward the studio. “It’s a very mellow wine scent. It’s not unpleasant, but…” He paused. “I can faintly smell a hint of bitterness as well.”

“But your boyfriend’s pheromones are incredibly domineering,” he winked, teasingly. “It’s practically telling everyone within a hundred-meter radius to stay away from you.”

Ji Yu was embarrassed, a faint pink flush coloring his face. He was powerless against this kind of well-meaning banter and ribbing.

An Nian continued, “I was actually afraid to get close to you at first, but once I did, I realized I don’t seem to find this pheromone scent repulsive at all.”

Ji Yu gave a smile of relief, only wanting the topic to end. “That’s good, then.”

The Omega’s eyes hid a trace of an unidentifiable expression as he sized Ji Yu up. An Nian quickly waved his hands and proactively explained:

“Ah, I didn’t mean anything else! It’s just that there are very few Alpha pheromones I don’t find repulsive, so I just mentioned it casually.”

Ji Yu blinked blankly. Even if he hadn’t realized there was anything “wrong” with An Nian’s statement before, seeing him explain so hurriedly made a realization faintly click.

Does that mean… An Nian and Shang Yuanzhou might have a high pheromone compatibility?

As they spoke, An Nian led Ji Yu to the door of an office. He stuck out his tongue apologetically. “Sister Ji is inside. I won’t go in.” He lowered his voice, gossiping sneakily, “Sister Ji is very fierce; I’m a bit afraid of her. I’ll head out now! Hope your interview goes well so we can be colleagues.”

An Nian had many small gestures, which, paired with his good looks, didn’t feel annoying; instead, they felt quite cute. Ji Yu watched him leave but didn’t ask the question on his mind.

He let out a slow breath, pushed the messy thoughts away, and opened the door.

No matter how many times he did it, interviews always made a “social animal” nervous.

Inside sat a woman looking down at some photos. Her long hair was tied back neatly, and she wore a sharp, professional suit. Hearing the door open, she looked up. “You’re here?” She pointed to the seat in front of her desk. “Sit.”

Ji Yu immediately became even more nervous. He sat down with his back ramrod straight, looking serious and professional on the outside while his mind was in absolute chaos.

Crap, I should have addressed her before sitting down! Should I speak now? That might be rude. What do I say? Panic, panic, panic… it’s so quiet.

“Sister Ji, I am ”

Ji Yu’s sentence was cut short by Sister Ji. “Even though President Shang isn’t my direct boss, more than half of our studio’s photography work is related to the Shang Group’s advertisements.”

She looked up, rubbing her chin. “So strictly speaking, President Shang is my benefactor my ‘Sugar Daddy’ boss.”

“Since you married President Shang, that makes you my third ‘Daddy.’ So, you don’t need to be nervous.”

Ji Yu stood up with a start.

Thanks, now I’m even more nervous.

Sister Ji gestured for him to sit back down. “However, this is my studio. It’s not a place where he can just shove people in as he pleases. If your skills aren’t up to par, you won’t be staying.”

As Ji Yu slowly sat back down, she continued: “In our line of work, photography skills and Photoshop are the basics. Come over here and process this image on my computer for me to see.”

She didn’t specify how it should be edited. Photography and PS are tests of a photographer’s aesthetic sense; it’s not a job where you can just follow instructions step-by-step. She got up to give Ji Yu her seat. Ji Yu settled his heart and focused on the image.

A moment later, Sister Ji slapped him heartily on the shoulder. “Not bad at all.”

“How about starting as an intern? For now, you’ll mostly be doing odd jobs. Learn more, watch more, and hone your skills. You won’t be handling the main shoots yet; that’s just how the work goes. Even if you belong to Shang Yuanzhou, you’re no exception here.”

Ji Yu nodded. “I understand.” This Sister Ji, despite her “Sugar Daddy” jokes, was actually very principled in her actions.

Sister Ji: “With that kind of awareness, you truly deserve to be my Third Daddy!”

Ji Yu closed his eyes in pain. “Sister Ji, please just call me Ji Yu.” And… “Why ‘Third Daddy’? Who’s the other one?”

Sister Ji gave him a strange look. “My biological father.”

Ji Yu: “…” I want to die.

Since the gala Shang Yuanzhou mentioned wasn’t until later and Ji Yu had nothing else to do, he decided to stay at the studio to observe the work.

The people in the studio were mostly young; even Sister Ji was only thirty-five. What surprised Ji Yu was An Nian, who was only twenty. He was the youngest, had a silver tongue, and everyone in the studio liked him.

An Nian had only joined a few days before Ji Yu. Although the others liked him, they had already formed a professional rapport over time. Once Ji Yu arrived, An Nian acted as though he’d found a fellow outsider to bond with and followed him around constantly.

By the end of the day, he was already calling Ji Yu “Brother.”

As everyone was finishing up for the day, Ji Yu checked the time. He needed to head back to the villa to prepare for the gala. His phone chimed with a message:

Shang Yuanzhou: “Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

Ji Yu stared at the message for a moment before typing back slowly: “At the studio.”

The reply was instantaneous, as if he’d been waiting: “Wait for me there.”

Ji Yu stood at the entrance waiting. Footsteps sounded behind him as An Nian poked his head out. “Brother, who are you waiting for?”

“Your boyfriend?” Before Ji Yu could speak, An Nian grew curious. “I’ll wait with you! I want to see what your boyfriend looks like.”

Ji Yu hurriedly declined. “No need. You should head off; I’ll wait here.”

“Brother,” An Nian tugged at his sleeve. “I’ll keep you company. I’m just a bit curious.”

Ji Yu sighed helplessly and agreed, rescuing his sleeve in the process. After a day together, he knew exactly how gossipy and clingy An Nian could be. Despite only being there a week longer, he’d already told Ji Yu all the studio’s secrets. But he was also helpful, explaining work matters with detail and patience. Ji Yu didn’t dislike him.

They didn’t wait long before Shang Yuanzhou’s car pulled up. As they walked over, An Nian whispered to Ji Yu: “God, your boyfriend is so handsome. And he drives a Maybach! Brother, he’s rich and handsome!”

Shang Yuanzhou: “I’m not his boyfriend.”

He reached out his hand toward An Nian. “Hello, I am Ji Yu’s husband.”

Having been caught gossiping, An Nian was clearly embarrassed. He hurriedly shook Shang Yuanzhou’s hand, his face flushed. “He… hello, I’m An Nian.”

Ji Yu stood by, watching their joined hands with a bit of a daze. He remembered that when Shang Yuanzhou first picked him up at Sun Caicheng’s office, he had ignored Jiang Yibai’s outstretched hand. This time, he was the one who reached out first.

Ji Yu didn’t speak or interrupt. He waited for Shang Yuanzhou to tell him to get in before saying goodbye to An Nian.

In the car, Shang Yuanzhou patted his lap. “Come here, let husband hold you for a bit.”

Ji Yu cast a discreet glance at the driver. Realizing it was the “snitch” driver, he obediently straddled Shang Yuanzhou’s lap. Even in a luxury car, space was limited, and since Ji Yu wasn’t short, he had to tuck his head down.

Shang Yuanzhou gripped his waist and turned him around, burying his face in the nape of Ji Yu’s neck. Ji Yu couldn’t see his actions, but he could see the driver sitting ramrod straight in the front. Ji Yu’s face grew redder by the second, and he bit his lip until it turned white.

Even for an act… this is a bit much for a car ride…

Something slightly cool brushed against his neck. Ji Yu could feel Shang Yuanzhou’s breath and sense the man inhaling the scent of his neck.

“Wife is covered in an Omega’s scent,” Shang Yuanzhou’s eyes darkened, and his expression soured. “Wife is being naughty.”

Even though Shang Yuanzhou knew this would happen, he still nearly lost his composure.

“Let husband take a bite. Just to deepen it and cover these other scents, hm?”

Shang Yuanzhou’s nose grazed against Ji Yu’s nearly healed neck. “Be good. I’ll be gentle.”

Before Ji Yu could respond, a sharp pain shot through his neck. He couldn’t help but let out a short, muffled gasp. He had spent the day with An Nian, who had many small physical habits; it was inevitable that he’d be left with the Omega’s scent.

Is Shang Yuanzhou doing this because the driver can smell it?

While thinking this, his eyes unexpectedly met the drivers in the rearview mirror.

Every thought in his head screamed and shattered instantly. Within seconds, Ji Yu was red from his face to his neck, his ears, his collarbones, and likely everywhere else. Like a boiled shrimp, he slumped weakly into Shang Yuanzhou’s embrace.

How do the leads in those dramas kiss like no one is watching? I can’t do it… teach me… I just got bitten on the neck and I’m so ashamed.

By the time the car stopped, Ji Yu’s legs were still weak. He stumbled as he got out, falling right into the arms of Shang Yuanzhou, who had turned to catch him.

Help me.