The effects of the pheromones and the heat both wreaked havoc on Zixuan, forcing him to accept his fate. He couldn't help but smirk mockingly—who would have believed that the once arrogant enigma whom nobody could touch was going to be manhandled? And the worst part? He couldn't resist.
The old man's face came closer to Zixuan's. He could feel every breath the man took in and out as he approached.
"You smell so nice," the old man murmured, his saliva touching Zixuan's face as his lips neared his, eyes already closed in defeat.
One, two, three—
Ahhhhhh!
Zixuan opened his eyes in shock, only to see the old man on the floor, just as stunned as he was.
---
Flashback
"Where the fuck is that enigma?" Haoran cursed silently in his mind as he surveyed the party, but no sight of him could be found.
Or was he tricked by his assistant?
Haoran couldn't help but be suspicious. Taking his phone from his pocket, he dialed his assistant's number.
"Boss, what happened? Miss me already?" Tianyu whistled on the other side of the phone.
"What's there to miss? I thought you told me Zixuan was going to be here, but he is not."
Tianyu, on the other side, was a little surprised. "What do you mean? I saw Zixuan go into the event some hours after you."
As Haoran guessed, Zixuan was going to come late. "I don't know. I haven't spotted him at all." Maybe it was when Haoran went to the top floor that he missed him."
He ended the call and decided to wait a few more minutes.
"Why don't we clink our glasses?" a cute alpha's voice came from nowhere as she raised her glass.
Out of respect, Haoran clinked glasses and excused himself, saying he needed to go to the restroom. Reluctantly, the alpha nodded her head.
Feeling the alpha's gaze at his back, he had no choice but to actually head to the restroom.
The male restroom was directly down the hallway. As he approached, he couldn't help but notice that people were covering their noses and avoiding the restroom area.
Curious, he entered, and the scent that wafted into Haoran's nostrils made him feel giddy. The scent entranced him until he fully stepped into the restroom—and what he saw shocked him to his core.
Haoran froze at the sight before him.
The alpha was holding a guy by the jaw as he struggled.
He could already guess where the scent was coming from. Moving closer to get a clearer look at the person being molested—
It was Zixuan.
Zixuan?
Haoran cursed internally.
He might have hated the guy, but that didn't mean he was going to stand by and let him be raped. Without thinking, Haoran grabbed the old alpha by the collar and threw him off. With no support Zixuan fell straight to the floor.
He couldn't stand the sight—the arrogant enigma he knew was now lying limp on the ground.
"You bastard!" the old alpha cursed from the floor as he clutched his aching back.
"What did you call me?" Haoran asked as he walked toward the old man and threw him a punch.
It hurt so badly.
"Nothing," the old man shook his head, trying to plead.
"You're begging now, but when you were bullying him, did you stop?" Haoran asked, punching the old man again.
Zixuan laid limply on the floor, trying desperately to grasp what was going on.
After seconds of struggling, he finally managed to open his eyes. His mouth trembled as he saw his savior.
The last person he expected to save him.
"Haoran..." Zixuan muttered Haoran's name.
Hearing his name being called, Haoran rushed to his side.
He was in a bit of a dilemma as he reached Zixuan. How was he supposed to help him without being affected by his scent?
No matter how kind or strong-willed he was, he was still an alpha with primal instincts. Just a few minutes of breathing that scent and he was already intoxicated.
Why were enigma pheromones so sweet?
Haoran looked around anxiously for something he could use. Then his eyes landed on the moaning alpha lying on the floor.
And he spotted a handkerchief in his pocket.
He went over, took it, and quickly wrapped it around his nose. The old man was at least useful for something.
"Mmm..." Zixuan moaned as he thrashed on the floor. He was obviously uncomfortable.
Haoran picked up his phone and dialed his assistant. Before Tianyu could say a word, Haoran raised the handkerchief so he could speak clearly.
"Tianyu, I don't need to hear your shit. Go get a suppressant and book a hotel closest to the hall."
"What?" The call got cut off instantly.
Haoran rushed over to Zixuan and scooped him up into his arms. Surprisingly, he wasn't heavy at all. Instead, his body felt fragile, light—too light for someone who had always carried himself with arrogance and pride.
Feeling the warm, secure embrace, Zixuan instinctively snuggled closer, his face burying against Haoran's chest, as if searching for shelter from the storm raging inside him.
"Mm…" he moaned softly, a sound that sent a strange twinge through Haoran.
Haoran shook his head, more to shake off the strange heat crawling under his skin than at Zixuan's behavior. He sure knows how to take advantage of someone, he muttered under his breath, adjusting his grip and stepping out of the restroom.
As he emerged into the hallway, heads turned instantly. The pheromones Zixuan emitted wrapped around everyone like invisible tendrils, fogging their thoughts and amplifying their instincts. Lust clouded their eyes. Men and women alike, irrespective of whether an alpha, Omega or a beta, stared at the figure in Haoran's arms like predators spotting prey.
Haoran's grip on Zixuan tightened, jaw clenched as he noticed the lustful stares following them as a possessive irritation bloomed in his chest. He didn't like the way they looked at zixuan—as if he were something edible.
He quickened his pace, eyes scanning the hall until they landed on a door labeled "EXIT." Without hesitating, he pushed it open and stepped into the cool night air, letting it hit his skin like a splash of water. His steps were brisk as he walked toward where his assistant had parked the car.
Outside, two omega reporters stood by a camera setup, gossiping casually about the celebrity guests that had attended the event. Mid-laughter, both of them suddenly froze, nostrils flaring slightly.
"…Do you smell that?" one of them asked, voice dropping.
"That scent… wait— isn't that Mr. Li?" the other said, already turning her camera.
"It's him! And… who's that in his arms?" Her voice tingled with curiosity as she squinted toward the bundle Haoran carried.
Instantly, their instincts as reporters activated. Without a second thought, they began moving closer, cameras ready, eyes wide and sparkling with the promise of a breaking headline.