Marked by an Enigma After a Pheromone Disorder - Chapter 2

Sheng Yansheng was the youngest son of the Sheng family’s “Second Master.” In his younger years, the Second Master had been notoriously philandering, eventually settling down with a beautiful woman who, even now, was only in her early forties. However, tragedy struck shortly after Sheng Yansheng was born; a car accident claimed his mother’s life, and Yansheng himself was only brought back to the main family in his teens.

To any observant outsider, placing a delicate Omega in the care of a disabled man was effectively a way for the family to abandon their biological son.

A deathly silence hung over the sprawling living room for two full minutes before the “Little Uncle” spoke in a voice laced with frost. “You’re giving him… to me?”

Tang Shi shuddered. He hadn’t expected this cold, gloomy man to possess such a commanding presence, nor a tone that sounded as if he intended to swallow a person whole. It was as if he were already claiming Tang Shi as his personal property.

The expressions of everyone present soured. He Xiangyi swallowed hard; Tang Shi was indeed her flesh and blood, and simply “giving” him away felt somewhat forced. However, she was a woman who valued her pride above all else. Gritting her teeth, she glared at Tang Shi before lifting her chin, meeting Sheng Yansheng’s intensity with her own.

“Yes,” she declared. “I’m giving him to you.”

*****

Just like that, Tang Shi was whisked away to his uncle’s private villa. Throughout the journey, the man remained in his wheelchair, maintaining a deliberate distance.

The courtyard was elegant, leaning heavily into a classical Chinese aesthetic. Green vines wound around carved moon gates, and while the air outside was biting, the interior of the villa felt like a lush, nurtured conservatory. For a moment, Tang Shi felt a wave of comfort. His dry lips regained their fullness, and he wanted to take a deep breath of the air, but the feeling was snatched away as quickly as it had come, retracted with extreme stinginess.

Inside, the decor was even more traditional, featuring an old-fashioned gramophone—though it lacked a record. A projector sat silently in the center of the living room, and the shelves were lined with what looked like limited-edition discs with bold, provocative covers. They were clearly not meant for a kid like him.

The generation gap is real, Tang Shi thought.

Upon their return, his uncle didn’t spare him a single glance. Instead, he instructed the housekeeper, “Reorganize the shelves. Arrange a room for him—somewhere far away from me.”

Tang Shi figured the man must have caught the sour scent of his pheromones and wanted to stay away from the “stench.” This uncle really isn’t a nice person, he noted.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached from outside. The click of high heels was particularly distinct, seemingly timing itself to someone else’s pace. Tang Shi, acting out of a sudden spike of nerves, instinctively ducked behind a tall bookshelf filled with volumes. His slender frame was completely hidden, making him look small and helpless.

As the doors opened, two elderly figures were led inside. The old lady wore a qipao and low heels, while the old gentleman wore a traditional Tang suit, thumbing a string of prayer beads. They were accompanied by the eldest sister, who had been silent in the main house, and the Alpha with the icy mint pheromones, who looked thoroughly displeased.

The elders called out for their “little grandson” with an affection that felt foreign to Tang Shi. He didn’t dare come out to greet them; Alphas aren’t naturally inclined toward instant familiarity with strangers.

Even though Sheng Yansheng was confined to his wheelchair, his gaze managed to pierce through the gaps in the books, locking onto Tang Shi with pinpoint accuracy. The intensity of the stare made Tang Shi’s heart flutter with unease. He dodged the gaze as best he could, wondering why, despite both being Alphas, his uncle’s look felt like it could grind him into dust.

“Grandson! Where is my little grandson?” the old man shouted urgently, as if he had just missed out on something monumental.

Sheng Yansheng moved to intercept them. “Uncle, have you come to my home to demand someone?”

Knowing Sheng Yansheng’s icy temperament, the old man brushed off the woman’s hand and spoke in a voice that was both raspy and booming: “That is my biological grandson!”

The emphasis on “biological” was pointed. Beside them, the fake young master’s expression twitched, and he suppressed his pheromones, not daring to speak.

“However,” Sheng Yansheng countered, “he belongs to me now.”

He Xiangyi stood nearby, frantically gesturing to Sheng Yansheng to drop the subject. Instead of stopping, however, Sheng Yansheng beckoned toward the small shadow hiding behind the shelf. “Come here.”

Knowing he had been caught, Tang Shi walked over with hesitant, small steps. The two elders rushed forward to grab him, patting him down as tears welled in their eyes.

“Too thin,” the old man lamented. “What do you usually eat?”

Tang Shi mentally tallied his life in the rental: staying up late, eating takeout, and snacking on whatever was available just to survive. Before he could answer, the old man continued, “Now that you’re home, you’ll have everything. We can nurse you back to health. But… do you want to come back? What your mother said earlier doesn’t count.”

The Alpha behind them huffed in dissatisfaction, tugging at the old man’s arm. “Grandpa, Mom already gave him to Little Uncle. It’s not like he’ll starve here. Besides, Little Uncle is so protective of him; I’m sure he’ll be treated well.”

It was obvious the fake young master was terrified of losing his status. For now, he still seemed quite pampered. But the elders remained hopeful. “You’ve been alone all these years,” the old man said to Sheng Yansheng. “Now that someone of a similar age is here, can’t you two get along?”

“How is that possible!” the fake young master snapped. “He’s an Omega. Father doesn’t like Omegas!”

“Jiaying!” the old man barked, though he didn’t pursue the argument. Instead, he turned gently to Tang Shi. “What do you think, Xiao Shi?”

Tang Shi took a timid step back, unsure of what to say. As he retreated, a large hand clamped onto his waist with sudden, formidable strength. It was a practiced, effortless hold.

Tang Shi instinctively shrank, glancing back at the man in the wheelchair like a startled kitten. As the grip tightened, Tang Shi reached out and brushed his uncle’s shoulder. “I… I want to stay with Little Uncle.”

Had Sheng Jiaying said such a thing, it would have been considered inappropriate given Sheng Yansheng’s reputation. But since this was the “true” young master speaking, everyone took it as his sincere wish.

“But how can Yansheng take care of him in his condition?”

Sheng Yansheng chuckled softly, his hand never wavering. “Uncle, Xiao Shi seems easy to look after. His waist is thin…” and very soft. His hand drifted toward Tang Shi’s stomach. “His appetite seems small too. As an Omega, he’s quite docile.”

While the docility of Omegas was a common stereotype, Tang Shi knew he was anything but. The ease of raising an Omega had nothing to do with him! He shot the man a glare and pouted, though his words remained compliant. “That’s right, Little Uncle.”

The hand brushed against his smooth skin one last time before pulling away, as if the man were unwilling to touch him a moment longer.

The old man hesitated. “Fine, then. But only for a while. He is my biological grandson, so keep your mind clean—and don’t let him watch those films of yours. Don’t lead him astray.”

Films? What films? Tang Shi wondered. The ones on the shelf?

The old man continued, “Also, I want to be able to visit whenever I like. You must arrange a driver to take him to school, and make sure he gets nutritious soup every week to build up his strength.”

Tang Shi looked at the gloomy man and nodded in vigorous agreement. Hear that? Make me soup! Or else!

Sheng Yansheng caught the arrogant look on Tang Shi’s face. His lips curled slightly as he agreed. “Very well.”

As the others left, Tang Shi felt a sudden wave of heat wash over him. It felt as though moisture were swelling within his body, and his scent gland began to itch, as if it were on the verge of a growth spurt.

Sheng Yansheng returned to his usual cold indifference. “Take him to his room,” he told the housekeeper.

*******

Once his uncle was gone, Tang Shi straightened his back and let out a sigh of relief as he followed the housekeeper. His room turned out to be small, dim, and poorly ventilated. Still, it was much better than his old apartment. Since he wasn’t close with his uncle anyway, staying far away felt like a good plan.

The Alpha dove headfirst into the soft bed and fell into a heavy sleep.

He woke up craving a cigarette and decided to head outside to smoke. Suddenly, he caught a scent—a wonderful fragrance like sunlight hitting flowers and grass. It was a rich, beautiful pheromone.

He followed the scent to a bathroom with a door left ajar. His uncle was lying in a transparent bathtub with his eyes closed. His long, powerful body nearly filled the entire tub. The “shark lines” on his sides were beautifully defined, and his lean abdominal muscles extended down toward legs that looked full of tension and strength. Despite his disability, his physique was easily on par with any top-tier actor.

Tang Shi swallowed hard. His uncle’s body seemed to radiate a surging, overwhelming energy. He suddenly covered his eyes, a deep blush creeping over his cheeks. Don’t be shy, Tang Shi. He’s your uncle. What’s wrong with looking? I’ve heard of families where uncles and nephews even bathe together.

“Come in,” Sheng Yansheng’s voice came, low and raspy.

Thinking he had been caught, Tang Shi pushed the door open. He didn’t dare call out to the man, keeping his eyes squeezed nearly shut as he approached so it wouldn’t look like he was staring on purpose.

“Help me wash,” his uncle commanded.

Tang Shi dithered. His pale, delicate hands were turning pink from the unusual warmth of the bathroom. He’s disabled, so helping him wash isn’t taking advantage. Right? We’re relatives, so this isn’t a crime.

He went to reach out, but as he looked down through the clear water, his eyes widened. Before his hands could even touch the water, his uncle’s eyes snapped open with a sharp, guarded look.

“Little Uncle, you… you you you…!” The Alpha was incoherent, as if he had stumbled upon a terrifying secret.

Sheng Yansheng looked at him with a sinister glint. He reached out and easily clamped a hand around the Alpha’s throat. The temperature in the room spiked again, and Tang Shi’s body began to ache. His youthful lips turned pale, and he was drenched by a sudden splash of water.

Tang Shi could smell the scent of sour oranges on himself growing more intense and wilted, as if he were being squeezed dry. He pleaded for mercy in a ragged, broken voice: “Let… let me go… please, Little Uncle.”

His eyes were red, and a few fresh tears escaped, dripping one by one into the bathtub.

Sheng Yansheng’s grip loosened as he realized he had been too rough. He was an Enigma, after all— capable of crushing anything weak with ease. Especially an Alpha who seemed to be looking for trouble.

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