Is he threatening me?
Lu Sili hated being threatened more than anything.
What, Su Yuan? You’re going to threaten me too?
Why does everyone think an Omega’s career doesn’t matter, that everything else in his life matters more than his career?
No one respects an Omega’s career or dreams.
“Then I guess we can’t reach an agreement. I’m full. Take your time.” Lu Sili set down his bowl and chopsticks, got up, and went back to his room.
After several minutes of silence, the sound of dishes being cleared came from the living room. Standing in front of the balcony, Lu Sili let out a deep sigh.
From the temperature-controlled medicine cabinet, Lu Sili took out a disposable syringe, Type 5-3 Omega suppressant powder, diluent, sterile gauze, and gloves.
With practiced ease, Lu Sili mixed the injection, drew it into the syringe, and expelled the air. He had already removed his shirt. With his back to the full-length mirror, he reached both hands behind himself to prepare the injection.
Current injectable suppressants were administered in the lower back. That area was connected to the gland at the nape, so the drug worked well without directly irritating the gland, and it also avoided leaving obvious injection marks on the neck.
An Omega’s heat came one to three times a month. Lu Sili’s had stabilized at twice a month, while the needle marks and bruising around the injection sites took three or four days to fade.
In the full-length mirror stood a man whose skin was pale to the point of looking unhealthy. His frame was broader than that of the average Omega, and despite his poor physical condition, a thin layer of muscle still covered his back.
His prominent shoulder blades and spine gave the body a certain beauty all the same.
Only the needle marks and bruises at his lower back, which never seemed to fully disappear, looked shocking.
Three injections each time, twice a month. Six injections in total.
Lu Sili no longer feared the pain of injecting suppressants. He gently slid the needle in and was just about to press the plunger when someone knocked softly on the bedroom door.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” Su Yuan said from outside.
Lu Sili did not answer. He brought his gaze back to the mirror and, expressionless, slowly pushed the medication into his body.
One injection, two, three. The coldness of the drug spread outward from his lower back. Lu Sili knelt on the carpet and breathed slowly, waiting for the discomfort to ease.
“Lu Sili.”
Lu Sili had assumed Su Yuan would leave after getting no response. He had not expected him to still be outside the door.
Lu Sili spoke softly. “There’s no need to apologize.”
Su Yuan said, “Can we talk?”
Lu Sili said, “There’s no need for that either. Let’s talk after the gala. I need to rest.”
After a moment of silence, Lu Sili heard Su Yuan’s footsteps moving away. He had recovered somewhat too. The calm brought by the sedative medication spread through his body. He could no longer feel his pheromones stirring, no longer feel hunger, and no longer felt angry.
After washing up, he went to bed and slept fitfully, full of dreams.
He woke several times during the night, but the medication kept him from becoming fully conscious. He drifted in that muddled state until it was time to get up, then forced himself out of bed.
Thinking about the unpleasant exchange with Su Yuan the night before made his head throb. He sighed at himself in the mirror.
Lu Sili’s master bedroom had an en suite bathroom. By the time he finished washing up and came out, Su Yuan was already gone, and food had been left on the dining table.
When he walked closer, he found two croissants, a cup of milk kept warm in a milk warmer, and sliced kiwi.
There was even a sticky note on the table.
Lu Sili picked it up. Written on it in neat, square handwriting were the words: Remember to eat breakfast.
He smiled. What era was this? It was not as though they did not have WeChat, yet Su Yuan was still doing the whole sticky-note-boy routine.
He had no idea what Su Yuan had thought through the night that made him decide to apologize, nor did he understand why Su Yuan was so fixated on his health.
Yes, they had an agreement. Su Yuan would help him get his health back on track. But Lu Sili had also said that the year-end gala in a few days was extremely important, especially now that he knew the Asia regional office would be established next year in one of China, Japan, or Korea.
Lu Sili sighed.
He believed Su Yuan meant no harm, but what he needed was respect and support.
Lu Sili sat down at the dining table, thinking he really should eat something. But after picking up a croissant and taking several deep breaths, he eventually set it back down.
No appetite. None at all. His body even involuntarily remembered the sensation of vomiting from the suppressant reaction.
In the end, he ate only two slices of kiwi.
Because vomiting or getting dizzy in the middle of a busy work morning was hardly a pleasant experience.
Work did not go smoothly that day. Fans of two actors had either somehow seen the real seating chart or happened to guess correctly. Each fandom believed their own star should occupy the center seat, and they started fighting across major social-media platforms, dragging the “F&A Year-End Gala” topic onto the trending list.
No matter how much content was deleted, it never ended. Fans of other celebrities joined the fight over the so-called “center position,” and eventually the staff could only ask Lu Sili what to do.
F&A was not trying to hold an awards ceremony that was nothing more than a popularity contest. Lu Sili thought for a moment, then moved his own seat into the center position.
His own name was pasted there. Whether he actually sat in it on the day could be decided later.
He had no interest in indulging fans who ignored actual achievements and fought over a seat someone would occupy for two or three hours.
“Director Lu, but we already sent the previous seating chart to them…” one of the event-planning employees asked timidly.
Lu Sili had never seen the employee before. She had probably only joined recently and clearly did not yet understand Lu Sili’s style within the industry, or she would never have asked that question.
Lu Sili said, “Send them the new seating chart directly. Add a note saying I made a new adjustment. If they have even a little emotional intelligence, they won’t ask why.”
The young planner had not expected Lu Sili to answer so patiently, much less explain in such detail. She nodded vigorously, hugged her laptop to her chest, and hurried away to redo the chart.
“Thank you, Director Lu.”
Lu Sili made one final inspection of the outdoor waiting area. Since there would be a red-carpet segment, if the vehicle holding area was badly arranged, they would inevitably be criticized.
The temperature remained below freezing. The moment Lu Sili stepped outside, he felt unwell, as though the exposed skin of his neck had instantly gone numb.
“Director Lu, what’s wrong?” Xiaxia, who was accompanying him, asked.
Fiona had something else to handle today, so Lu Sili had come with her assistant, Xiaxia. Of course the employees had no idea that their director overdosed on suppressants during his heat every month, or that his body became especially fragile during the two days when the medication took effect.
Lu Sili steadied himself. “I’m fine.”
“The shuttle vehicles will wait here. To make sure the artists don’t have to stand outside, while also preventing too many cars from making dispatch difficult, we’ve prepared thirteen in total. Once they reach the red-carpet entrance…”
The event-planning manager walked beside Lu Sili, explaining the arrangement. This was one of the segments Lu Sili had emphasized earlier. After describing the space, the manager moved on to security for that part of the event. “For outdoor security, we ultimately decided not to use the hotel’s staff. A lot of the artists have huge fanbases, so there will definitely be a lot of fans there that day… Director Lu! Director Lu! Hurry, call someone!”
Lu Sili suddenly collapsed in the middle of the outdoor inspection, terrifying everyone accompanying him. Fiona was not there, and for a moment the entire scene descended into chaos.
Fortunately, Xiaxia immediately thought to call Fiona, but Fiona was in the middle of an important discussion and could not leave.
Fiona could not get away, and they could not tell Grandma either.
After messaging Lu Sili’s private physician, Luke, Fiona gave Xiaxia Su Yuan’s number and told her to notify him to come over. She emphasized, “Most importantly, tell PR immediately. Lock down the news that Director Lu fainted.”
With the event approaching, rehearsals underway, and fans already staking out spots, the gala venue had been surrounded by media lately. There was at least an eighty-percent chance a reporter had photographed what happened.
Xiaxia normally just handled errands for Fiona and rarely dealt with situations like this, so she was flustered. Only one thing went smoothly: she called Director Lu’s husband, Su Yuan, and he said he would arrive soon. Then several of them moved Lu Sili into the nearest red-carpet shuttle van.
“Don’t call 120! The private hospital’s car is already on the way!” Xiaxia argued with the event-planning manager, who was panicking beside her and kept wanting to call emergency services.
Elio’s Notes: 120 is the emergency medical/ambulance number in China.
Xiaxia was frightened too. PR did not seem to be handling things particularly well, and Fiona was still in talks with government officials.
“Open the door!” Someone suddenly pounded on the van window.
The business manager and Xiaxia both jumped. Outside stood an unfamiliar man who looked as though he had run all the way there. His hair was disheveled, and he was anxiously peering through the window while raising his hand to knock again.
Xiaxia lowered the window slightly. “Who are you?!”
She had never met Su Yuan. She only knew Director Lu was married, that his husband’s name was Su Yuan, and that the man she had just called had said he would be there right away.
“Su Yuan.” Su Yuan had no attention left for gentlemanly composure. His anxiety drove his voice louder than usual. “I’m Lu Sili’s husband!”
The door was opened immediately, and Su Yuan climbed inside.
As he raised his leg, Xiaxia noticed he was wearing an odd pair of pale-blue trousers that looked a little like hospital work clothes.
“What’s his condition right now?” Su Yuan asked.
Xiaxia said, “I don’t really know… Director Lu fainted, and we didn’t dare move him around too much. The private hospital said they’re on the way.”
Su Yuan said, “We’re not waiting. Tell the driver to take us to the hospital.”
“But…”
“I’m a doctor. Go to the hospital now.”
When Lu Sili woke, it was already completely dark outside. Judging by the room, he was in a ward at the private hospital where Luke worked.
He had an IV in his hand, and his body actually felt much better.
Unsurprisingly, it was the suppressants again.
Lu Sili sighed. The next second, he saw Li Ya walk in.
“You’re awake. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?” Li Ya hurried over.
Lu Sili’s voice was hoarse. When he opened his mouth, he almost could not get the words out. “No.”
Li Ya happened to be in rut and did not dare get too close to Lu Sili, so he sat on the sofa about two meters away.
His face was full of worry and exasperation. “And you’re saying you’re fine. I just heard your husband talking with the doctor about your condition.”
Lu Sili said, “Su Yuan?”
“Yeah. After they finished discussing your condition, the two of us chatted for a while.” Li Ya looked a little nosy. “Did you two have a fight?”
Lu Sili said nothing and merely looked at Li Ya.
Li Ya said, “I was the one who thought something seemed off with Su Yuan and asked him. I’m his old classmate too. What’s wrong with asking?”
Lu Sili said, “What did he say?”
“He said you were angry with him.” As Li Ya spoke, a trace of gossip crept onto his face. “But he didn’t say what it was about. You tell me.”
Lu Sili said, “I’m a patient. I don’t have the strength.”
Li Ya pretended to stand up and move closer. “Tell me or I’ll mark you.”
“…”
This was one of Li Ya’s usual “desensitization” tricks. Every time he used it, Lu Sili wanted to smack him in the face with a slipper.
But he still told Li Ya what had happened. After all these years, Li Ya was still the only person he could really speak his mind to, the one person around whom he could occasionally throw the kind of childish temper he had back in school.
“Did I do anything wrong?” Lu Sili asked after explaining everything.
Li Ya said, “Lu Sili, aren’t you being a little too difficult?”
Even though they had grown up together, this time Li Ya, who had always worried about Lu Sili’s health, could not take his side.
Li Ya started to speak and stopped several times. In the end, he could only say helplessly, “If you don’t care whether you live or die, at least don’t make the poor guy a widower less than a month after getting married!”