The matter remained unresolved, and many people in the banquet hall were unwilling to leave.

The Shen family’s servants sent out to search returned one after another, but with no results whatsoever.

“What about the surveillance?!” Elder Shen’s heart was anxious. He asked the butler in a low voice, “Still not fixed?”

The butler’s eyes darted around, and he shook his head subtly: “They’ve tried everything, but they just can’t restore it.”

Elder Shen walked back and forth a few times with his hands behind his back: “Keep looking! Even if it takes until tomorrow, you must find them!”

Regardless of whether the person was still in the Shen family or not, as long as they had thoroughly searched, no one could say anything.

“Grandfather,” Rong Shi listened to their conversation and whispered a few words in Elder Shen’s ear.

Elder Shen’s eyes widened slightly: “You—!”

Rong Shi’s expression was calm. He put a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.

Elder He, seeing the people returning and then leaving again, stamped his foot in exasperation: “What’s the meaning of this?! Have they found him or not?!”

Zhao Chu chimed in: “The Shen family is a great noble family, after all. How can their household equipment be so backward that they can’t even find such a large person?”

“It’s precisely because he’s a person that he’s hard to find,” Rong Shi’s gaze intentionally swept over Elder He. “After all, he has his own legs; he can go wherever he wants.”

Elder He’s face immediately fell.

These words, both overtly and covertly, accused his grandson of willingly going into estrus, willingly leaving with someone, and willingly doing this disgraceful thing!

“My Nian Nian must have been coerced!”

If the person wasn’t found, the matter couldn’t be concluded.

After sparring with them for a few rounds, Rong Shi walked to the center of the banquet hall and raised his voice.

“I am very sorry for the trouble caused by tonight’s incident. The Shen family has prepared guest rooms for everyone to rest. If there are any new developments, you will be informed immediately.”

Was he planning to keep everyone here to silence them?

Everyone in their hearts thought the same.

Although the Shen family was related by marriage, their influence in the military and political spheres was almost zero. They held no advantage among the great nobles and had little say.

To silence everyone, they could only persuade them one by one.

Elder He and Zhao Chu, of course, fully approved of such a decision.

If they still couldn’t find the person after a night passed, they would have a legitimate reason to blame the Shen family.

At that time, let alone Rong Shi, even Qian Li himself wouldn’t be able to reason with them.

Most people obeyed the arrangement. They were simply too interested in the follow-up of this matter; once they left, they definitely wouldn’t get any news.

Guests successively followed the servants to the guest rooms. Rong Shi no longer participated in the remaining matters. After a word with Elder Shen, he returned to his room.

Before he even reached the door, Song Ke’s special assistant rushed over.

“Have you seen Young Master?!” The assistant ran so fast his glasses were crooked. “Was he in there just now?”

“I haven’t seen him since he finished drinking. He’s very familiar with He Nian. Did they perhaps arrange to meet somewhere privately?”

Rong Shi’s voice wasn’t low; the approaching nobles heard it.

His implication was more than just a hint; the people around immediately turned their gaze to the assistant.

The assistant had left midway to look for Song Ke and was unaware of the earlier argument in the banquet hall. Under everyone’s gaze, he cleverly tried to earn goodwill for his master.

“He should have gone out to look for Young Master He, but I searched everywhere and couldn’t find him.”

Rong Shi raised an eyebrow: “Then you might as well keep looking.”

As he spoke, his terminal rang. Seeing it was from Qin Luo, his eyes narrowed. He quickened his pace while mentally instructing 01 to report the situation.

[Patron Father’s pheromones are fluctuating greatly. The inhibitor cannot suppress them. Without effective inhibitory measures, he is expected to go berserk again within ten minutes.]

Rong Shi’s face was cold. He took a shortcut back.

---

As soon as he opened the door, he smelled Song Yu’s potent pheromones.

The elegant fruity wood scent burst forth with a fiery wine aroma. The two scents perfectly blended, leaving a lingering sweet aftertaste following a stimulating spiciness.

It was exactly like Song Yu himself: radical and flamboyant, yet deadly adorable.

Rong Shi closed the door with a backhand, then heard Qin Luo shouting for help.

“Daddy Rong, save me!”

Snapping out of the pheromones’ influence, Rong Shi vaguely heard sounds of a struggle coming from the second bedroom.

Inside the room, Qin Luo was beaten back repeatedly.

Being suppressed by his Highness’s pheromones made him uncomfortable all over. Coupled with His Highness’s brutal attacks, it was a miracle he had held out this long.

Song Yu hadn’t completely lost his mind; his attacks had become somewhat restrained.

He was just irritated, extremely irritated. If he didn’t hit someone, he would smash things.

The fist he swung was caught. His waist was encircled, and he was pulled back into someone’s embrace.

“I’m back.” Rong Shi hugged Song Yu from behind, burying his face in his neck to sniff.

Compared to before, the intensity of the pheromone release wasn’t as strong. There was still time.

“Rong Shi?”

Hearing the voice, Song Yu’s mind cleared a little.

He turned around, his gaze fixed on Rong Shi’s face, his voice low and urgent: “You’re too slow.”

Noticing Qin Luo’s startled expression from the corner of his eye, Rong Shi led him towards the master bedroom.

“You’re done for now. Get some rest.”

Qin Luo: “…”

Using someone and then discarding them? That’s not how it works! At least give me some food! I’m still hungry!

Closing the master bedroom door, Rong Shi leaned against it, holding Song Yu close.

“01, detect.”

[Pheromone stability increased by 5%.]

Only that much.

Song Yu tried his best to endure, his voice slightly irritable, with a hint of grievance he didn’t even notice himself: “The inhibitor failed. I don’t want to mark an Omega.”

“I know,” Rong Shi wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I’ll stay with you.”

Song Yu gripped his hand, a bitter smile on his face: “You’ll stay even if I hit you?”

Rong Shi’s lips curved into a slight smile: “It’s not your first time.”

The two chatted idly, but Song Yu’s condition showed no improvement.

He couldn’t suppress his rampant emotions and once again threw a punch at Rong Shi.

The scene of domestic violence was extraordinarily brutal.

The bedroom was small, and Rong Shi was already drunk and had been through a long night. Now, with Song Yu’s pheromones filling the room, he was also nearing his limit.

In the struggle, Song Yu tripped over the foot of the bed and fell onto the bed.

Normally, Rong Shi could easily pull him back with one hand, but now, with Song Yu’s pull, he was also brought down.

Song Yu looked up and saw Rong Shi pinning him from above.

He threw a punch, aiming for Rong Shi’s face, but after swinging, he unconsciously grabbed Rong Shi’s clothes and pulled him closer.

Having endured all night, with Song Yu’s tug, Rong Shi’s rationality flew away for the most part.

He naturally lowered his head and kissed Song Yu.

Their kissing experience was close to zero, completely lacking in skill.

But even through clumsy pecks, their breathing grew heavier and heavier.

Rong Shi pressed down on Song Yu’s hand, which still wanted to hit him. His tongue brushed against Song Yu’s lips, trying to delve deeper.

Song Yu parted his lips naturally, but then instinctively bit down.

Rong Shi sensed his intention and pulled back again.

Instinct and rationality tore at each other. Instinct wanted to inflict harm, but rationality told Song Yu that this person was exactly who he wanted most.

No.

This is causing Xiao Yu too much pain.

If this continues, both of them will lose control.

Sensing his struggles intensifying, Rong Shi pulled back slightly, but his collar was gripped tightly.

“Keep going,” Song Yu frowned, highly dissatisfied.

Rong Shi’s gaze swept the room. He took Song Yu and walked to the bathroom.

He slapped the sensor, and cold water poured down from above.

Stimulated by the cold water, Rong Shi’s throbbing, hazy head cleared slightly.

Song Yu wrapped his arms around Rong Shi’s waist, kissing his face wildly. When he received no response, he urged in a low voice close to his ear, “Gege—”

When his life was constantly in danger, the Omega’s pheromones could only trigger Song Yu’s combat and self-preservation instincts. When this crisis was resolved, other desires gradually surfaced.

It was strange. He never felt anything when Song Yu called him ‘Gege’ before, but this time, it almost cost Rong Shi his life.

Rong Shi pinched his own thigh hard to barely remain conscious.

“Xiao Yu,” he whispered into Song Yu’s ear, “I want to mark you.”

“Mark?” This was the second time Rong Shi had said the word tonight, but Song Yu didn’t understand. “How do Alphas mark each other?”

Rong Shi buried his face in his neck, kissing the pheromone gland. The person in his arms trembled slightly, whether from fear or excitement.

“As long as it’s pheromones, they can interact. Between opposite sexes, it manifests as attraction; between the same sex, it manifests as suppression.”

Rong Shi explained softly, “As long as my pheromones suppress yours, it can help you get through this agitation. It’s just—it will be very painful.”

Marking between two Alphas was completely different from marking between an Alpha and an Omega.

When multiple Alphas competed for an Omega, if one Alpha’s pheromones were strong enough to suppress the others, it could forcibly calm the other Alphas from their estrus state and withdraw them from the competition.

But the essence of this process was deprivation, akin to a fierce struggle. The deprived party would experience immense pain.

Rong Shi could no longer distinguish whether he was acting out of selfishness or because he didn’t want to see Song Yu suffer. He just wanted this person to belong to him now.

He had explained all the potential consequences. Given Song Yu’s pride, he probably wouldn’t accept, even if he liked him.

“Then what are you waiting for?” Rong Shi watched him pull open his collar, cold water tracing a path down his pale neck past his scent gland. “Come on.”

Rong Shi’s eyes darkened. He confirmed again: “It will hurt a lot.”

Song Yu scoffed, “It’s fine. I like you leaving your mark on me.”

The single word “like” completely shattered Rong Shi’s remaining rationality. He turned Song Yu around, having him brace his hands against the wall.

Rong Shi licked his gland, his voice hoarse: “I’m biting.”

Song Yu tilted his head slightly, chuckling softly: “Hurry up, don’t dither—hiss—!”

A sharp pain shot through his neck. Unfamiliar pheromones invaded from the vulnerable spot. Song Yu gritted his teeth, his fingers clenching, knuckles turning white.

He could feel his active pheromones instinctively resisting, then slowly being suppressed.

“Rong Shi—” Song Yu’s voice trembled slightly, barely able to stand.

Rong Shi controlled his strength, pulled Song Yu’s hands, and intertwined their fingers in front of him.

After confirming the pheromones were suppressed, Rong Shi immediately let go. Although reluctant, he didn’t want Song Yu to suffer too much.

As soon as he let go, Song Yu collapsed limply into Rong Shi’s arms, utterly exhausted.

Rong Shi’s nerves were also stretched to their limit. He slid down to the floor, letting Song Yu lean against him.

The pheromones in the air gradually dissipated.

In the quiet, small space, only the patter of cold water remained.

After an exhausting night, Song Yu leaned wearily against Rong Shi, a soft chuckle escaping him with his recovered energy: “I didn’t expect your pheromones to be even more intense than mine, Gege.”

Rong Shi’s fingers gently brushed the mark he had bitten onto the gland, softly asking: “How is it?”

Song Yu: “It hurt a lot. You almost made me go limp.”

Rong Shi: “…”

Song Yu looked up, his head heavy as if filled with lead, and forced a bitter smile: “However, it seems I have a masochistic tendency.”

“Talking nonsense again.”

Rong Shi’s gaze lingered on the drop of blood on his lip: “You bit your lip.”

Song Yu’s tongue flicked, tasting a hint of metallic sweetness.

“It’s all your fault.”

Rong Shi’s eyes darkened. He hooked Song Yu’s chin and leaned closer: “Then I’ll take responsibility—”

---

Author’s Note:

Rong Bunny: Month X, Day X, Sunny weather. Today, achieved many firsts with my wife. [Happy spinning in circles]

Song Cat: You make it sound so impressive. It was just a bite and a kiss.

Rong Bunny: …………