Marked by an Enigma After a Pheromone Disorder - Chapter 4

Sheng Yansheng had shot to fame with Ten Nights, clinching first place in international film festivals and staying in the top ten for overseas viewership for two consecutive weeks. However, because the film’s themes weren’t widely accepted by traditional society, it had been pulled from domestic platforms within twenty-four hours of its release.

Despite the years that had passed, Little Uncle was still breathtakingly handsome. Aside from his inability to walk, his face hadn’t changed at all. While he often wore a cold expression, Tang Shi realized he wasn’t truly terrifying, though the young Alpha still genuinely feared making him angry.

Quickly tucking the discs away, Tang Shi took advantage of his uncle’s limited mobility to help push his wheelchair. He figured that if Little Uncle’s heart softened once, it would surely happen a second time.

“Do you want to go out and get some sun?” he asked softly, leaning down toward the man.

Sheng Yansheng was entirely unaccustomed to having anyone this close. As he reached up, Tang Shi proactively leaned in further. The contact was soft and inexplicably comfortable.

“Does it feel good?” Tang Shi squinted his eyes and beamed at his uncle.

Since Little Uncle rarely smiled, Tang Shi decided he would be the one to provide the sunshine. Sheng Yansheng pulled his hand back as if he were simply at a loss for what to do with the boy.

The little Alpha was fascinated by the garden. He observed every flower with meticulous care, clearly itching to touch them, but he kept looking back at Sheng Yansheng. His eyes silently asked, Can I pick them?

He really was like a child. These flowers were sensitive to pheromones; Sheng Yansheng’s presence influenced their growth, allowing them to flourish even in the biting cold.

Sheng Yansheng gave a silent nod of permission. Flowers were of no consequence; they would grow back. Besides, these had been planted by his mother.

As he went to turn his wheelchair, the little Alpha was already holding a bouquet out to him. “For you, Little Uncle.”

Sheng Yansheng froze. It had been years since anyone had given him flowers. Looking at the colorful cluster presented to him, his deep eyes flickered slightly. His gaze moved from the blossoms to Tang Shi’s face—pale, clean, and earnest. As the boy leaned in, the floral scent mingled with the aroma of green citrus. It was the scent of an unripened orange.

“Throw them away,” Sheng Yansheng said, continuing back toward the house.

Tang Shi blinked, then pushed his luck by arranging the flowers in a vase in the living room anyway. Nearby, the housekeeper clicked his tongue. This cold, silent estate had suddenly been invaded by a noisy, colorful bird, and it seemed Mr. Sheng was powerless to stop it.

******

Tang Shi managed to sneak out for a bit to tell Ji Zhicen about being adopted by his uncle. Ji Zhicen was ready to be indignant on his behalf, wondering why a fake young master was still occupying Tang Shi’s place in the main house.

“I think it’s actually quite nice,” Tang Shi laughed. “Sheng Yansheng is just a bit of a tsundere. He’s not that hard to get along with.”

Ji Zhicen nodded, but then stopped short, his eyes wide with shock. “Wait, who did you say your uncle was?”

“Sheng Yansheng.”

Ji Zhicen pinched his own cheek to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. “Sheng Yansheng? The Film Emperor Sheng Yansheng? My god, you’ve struck gold!”

Tang Shi didn’t feel like he’d struck gold, but he did appreciate the newfound sense of having a real relative. At least the man was actually his uncle. “How do you know him?” Tang Shi asked, puzzled. “Aren’t you the same age as me?”

“I…” A faint blush crept over Ji Zhicen’s face. “Someone showed me his work before. They said watching those kinds of films helps with differentiation. I think he’s incredibly charismatic.”

Tang Shi grew more confused. How could those kinds of films help someone differentiate? This little Beta had definitely been scammed.

Ji Zhicen quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, since you aren’t actually his son, I haven’t touched the money you gave me. I’m keeping it safe for you.”

Tang Shi pushed it back. “No need. I have a place to stay now. I’ll work hard to earn my own way.”

“But…” Ji Zhicen pulled up the [Tang Xiao Tang] streaming account. “Your ranking is plummeting because of the missed broadcasts. The Fengjing platform is launching a celebrity streamer selection contest. If you get picked, they’ll clear the records of the smaller accounts.”

Tang Shi leaned in to look at the poster. It was essentially a training camp designed to turn popular streamers into professional artists. They could even land supporting roles alongside top-tier stars. Free training was included, but the catch was that participants had to cover their own entry fees.

No wonder Ji Zhicen wanted to give the money back.

“It’s fine. Little Uncle isn’t actually mean to me; he treats me well. I’m not worried about money.” Tang Shi knew Ji Zhicen was in poor health and needed the funds for medicine. If he took the money back, the boy would likely look for dangerous illegal work to make ends meet.

After some hesitation, Ji Zhicen finally nodded. “Thank you, Brother Tang. I’ll pay you back later. Oh, by the way, two major ‘Whales’ from the top ten rankings have invested in this show.”

Tang Shi went stiff. The top donor on his list had tried and failed to ask him out, and the second-place donor sent him “good morning” and “good night” messages every single day. If the training camp had cameras everywhere, his identity would be completely exposed.

He shook his head. He couldn’t worry about that now. He could always borrow some money from his uncle and pay him back later. It would make leaving the Sheng house easier when the time came.

The Beta tugged at Tang Shi’s sleeve, his voice full of longing. “Will your uncle… ever make a comeback? There are so many people waiting for him. The reach of his old films is no less than the most popular R-rated movies out there today.”

Tang Shi gave a muffled hum. His uncle’s situation was a far cry from the past. Even if his face was still flawless, his disability meant the perfect image created by his films now only existed in people’s imaginations.

“Don’t get your hopes up,” Tang Shi smiled. “We’ll see what happens.” During his stay, he planned to do his best to make his uncle happy. He had heard that happiness could help a person heal faster.

“Um, Brother Tang, actually…” Ji Zhicen looked like he had done something wrong. He fidgeted with his fingers. “I already signed you up using your ID. Tomorrow is the offline image showcase, so…”

Tang Shi’s face puffed up with annoyance, ready to scold his “younger brother” for being so impulsive. But then Ji Zhicen blinked at him with puppy-dog eyes. “It’s okay, right?”

Tang Shi’s clenched fist softened instantly. He gave a helpless sigh. He would have to pack his things and prepare his makeup. This offline meeting would determine whether his fans would stay or if he would be “dead on arrival” the moment they saw him in person. He needed this career to work.

As they talked, Ji Zhicen caught a whiff of something. He hadn’t been able to smell pheromones before, but as his differentiation approached, his nose was becoming sharper. There was a sweet, sugary orange scent coming from Tang Shi.

“Brother Tang, are you in your rut?”

Tang Shi sniffed the air. Was his rut still not over? After the injection Sheng Yansheng gave him, he hadn’t felt that bad. He assumed it had passed.

******

Not long after Tang Shi left, his biological mother called. She sounded elegant yet impatient, her tone sharp as she asked if he was trying to run back to his “poor” mother. Tang Shi felt that if he wanted to go home, it was none of her business. As difficult as Mrs. Li could be, he didn’t think this biological mother was any better.

“Where did Sheng Yansheng take you?” He Xiangyi asked when Tang Shi didn’t respond.

Little Uncle isn’t at home? Tang Shi’s eyes flickered. His irises were a very pale, almost bluish color that became striking when they lit up. “Mhm, Little Uncle took me out.”

He Xiangyi hung up, sounding displeased.

That night, Tang Shi felt a surge of heat. He didn’t attribute it to his rut; his head was filled with scenes from his uncle’s movies. He even dreamed of the man. In the dream, his uncle pinned him down until he couldn’t breathe, licking the skin of his calves and calling him “baby.”

Tang Shi woke up in a cold sweat. He pinched his own cheek and gave it a light slap. “Tang Shi, have you gone mad?”

*******

The image showcase was held at the Fengjing Building. Among the artists signed to Fengjing was Luo Wenyu, a star Tang Shi actually liked unlike Ji Zhicen, who was obsessed with the previous generation’s icons.

The venue was packed. Streamers were assigned dressing rooms to wait for their turn. Tang Shi finished his makeup and changed into a professional-style skirt suit. Because his legs were long, the black stockings made them look slender and sexy. The outfit was tight, accentuating his waist and hips.

He used padding for his chest and let his long black wig fall around his face, making his features look small and adorable. Since this was his first offline meeting, he was incredibly nervous, his palms turning white from clenching his hands. What if the fans were disappointed?

Outside, the roar of the crowd grew louder. Some fans were disappointed by other streamers, while others felt they had hit the jackpot.

The Fengjing Building was like a luxurious sky garden, allowing those on the upper floors to look down at the showcase below. He Xiangyi had surprisingly called Sheng Yansheng several times; though she acted indifferent toward her son, she was clearly anxious. He only found out from the housekeeper that Tang Shi hadn’t come home last night.

The boy was treating his place like a hotel—coming and going as he pleased. He had been so warm and enthusiastic before, and now he had vanished.

Sheng Yansheng found the showcase uninteresting. While some streamers were attractive, they were nothing compared to the countless young stars he had worked with in the past. Just as he was about to leave, his friend Ming Ge stopped him.

“A-Sheng, stay a bit longer. You might actually find someone you like.” Whether Sheng Yansheng would participate in the program depended entirely on his mood, and so far, nothing had caught his eye.

“Xiao Tang baby! Why hasn’t he come out yet?”

“I really want to see my goddess. I have to get close today! I want to smell how sweet she is.”

“If only she’d release some pheromones, I’d tackle her on the spot!”

“Goddess! Goddess!”

The crowd below erupted into a frenzy, pushing toward the center of the red carpet. Security scrambled to maintain order. Ming Ge and Sheng Yansheng’s attention was drawn to a banner featuring an Omega in a pinafore dress.

Then, a stunning figure stepped out.

“AHHHH! XIAO TANG BABY!!!”

In the middle of the crowd, the keen Enigma caught a familiar scent. Tang Shi was there, in the middle of it all, dressed as a woman and thinking he was perfectly disguised.

Ming Ge watched the screen, then glanced at the Film Emperor’s focused gaze. “Interested now?”

He heard the distinct sound of the man’s knuckles cracking. “Yes,” Sheng Yansheng replied. “I’m very interested.”

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