The Omega boy, led from the left to the right, stood dazed for a moment. When he snapped back to reality, he still couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

“Mr. Ning.” He dared not linger in confusion too long and asked Ning Zhu, “What kind of wine did you say you wanted to order?”

“Oh, just pick any.”

Ning Zhuo said casually, glancing up at the boy. Noticing he appeared younger than he’d initially estimated, he amended his request: “Never mind. Bring the most expensive one.”

The Omega froze, hesitating before repeating Ning Zhu’s words, “…Are you sure?”

Wine prices varied wildly; the top tier could make one’s jaw drop.

The non-sale bottles locked away in their vault were astronomical sums.

Seeing Ning Zhu nod, the Omega suppressed his surprise, stood up to order, and glanced at the Alpha beside him with a face as dark as rain clouds before quickly averting his gaze.

Ning Zhu’s tolerance had reached its limit; one more glass would have sent him tumbling. When the waiter brought the drinks, he didn’t touch his. Instead, he leaned back on the sofa, watching the men and women dancing wildly on the dance floor for quite some time. Only then did he swipe his card to pay the bill and leave.

The host who took his payment noticed his unsteady gait and helpfully offered to call a car for Ning Zhu.

Ning Zhu had indeed drunk quite a bit tonight, and the effects were starting to kick in. Still, his mind remained clear enough to politely decline with a smile.

Little did he know that as he headed out, his feet stumbled, nearly sending him face-planting into the dirt.

Fortunately, someone passing by grabbed him.

The tall stranger swiftly seized the fabric at Ning Zhu’s shoulders, hoisting him up like a small chicken, effectively halting his downward plunge.

The bracelet on the man’s wrist peeked out from his sleeve—a clear sign he was an Alpha.

The Alpha released his grip before Ning Zhu could steady himself. Clearly disgusted by this drunken mess, he shifted his shoulder backward as he let go, avoiding contact with Ning Zhu’s alcohol-soaked breath.

Ning Zhu didn’t notice this unmasked gesture of disgust. Instinctively, he first said, “Thanks,” then steadied himself and looked up, offering a smile to this kind passerby.

The moment his gaze met the other’s eyes, he was caught off guard by sheer astonishment.

The Alpha before him possessed striking features—high arched brows, deep-set eyes, pupils as dark as ink. His lips and nose bridge were flawlessly sculpted, beyond reproach.

Yet his demeanor and aura carried a chill, a hint of aloof detachment.

With looks like that… a host?

Ning Zhu wondered, not entirely sure.

If so, he must be the top-tier host in the establishment. Even sitting there with a cold expression, he’d likely be incredibly popular.

The Alpha happened to glance down with a faint, downward sweep of his gaze.

The instant his eyes met Ning Zhu’s face, the Alpha’s steps—which had been moving forward as if nothing mattered—suddenly halted abruptly.

“…”

He stared down at Ning Zhu, expressionless, for several seconds.

Ning Zhu thought: That gaze is practically begging for money. Definitely a hostess.

A young man beside Alpha, puzzled by his companion’s abrupt halt, asked, “Changxiao, let’s go?”

Changxiao.

…Not a bad nickname.

Ning Zhuo gave “Changxiao” a faint smile.

The latter, perhaps judging Ning Zhuo didn’t look like a customer who could afford high-end consumption, silently turned away and walked toward the bar with his companion.

━━━━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━━━━

Emerging from the nightclub, Ning Zhu walked west along the street. Most establishments on this bar-lined avenue were entertainment venues. Come nightfall, foot traffic surged, roads clogged, and drunken brawls or passed-out revelers littered the streets. Drivers typically avoided this stretch after midnight, preferring to hail rides at the western corner intersection.

Passing the last few neon-lit establishments, the next stretch grew dimmer. A dozen department stores and small shops lined the road, all long closed for the night.

Streetlights provided the primary illumination, casting Ning Zhu’s shadow long and stretched behind him, trailing from his feet into the darkness.

After walking in silence for a moment, several new shadows suddenly appeared on either side of his feet. No matter how fast Ning Zhu walked, they kept pace with him.

Ning Zhu sensed something was off. Without showing any emotion, he pulled out his phone and pretended to take a call.

The shadows at his feet suddenly moved. One of them surged forward in a few quick strides.

Ning Zhu’s wrist was yanked violently, and his phone slipped from his palm, snatched away by the assailant.

These guys were quick.

Ning Zhu cursed inwardly, turning around to find, as expected, several familiar faces.

The man who grabbed Ning Zhu’s phone glanced at the dialed emergency call on the screen. His heart skipped a beat as he frantically hung up, muttering curses under his breath.

He turned and shouted, “Brother Lei, this guy almost called the cops!”

The Alpha named Lei, standing at the front, grew even more grim at the news. He sneered coldly, fixing Ning Zhu with a stare. “You’re pretty smart. If you’ve got brains, why didn’t you use them back in the shop? Why did you have the guts to go head-to-head with me?”

“The manager just called you, Boss Ning… In all my years in North City, I’ve never heard of any young master from a prominent family bearing the surname Ning. Some stinking nouveau riche made a few bucks in North City and actually dares to challenge me?” With that, he gave a subtle signal to his henchmen who had been standing by.

The man caught the signal, weighed the stolen phone in his hand a couple of times, then raised his arm and slammed it hard against the wall!

The screen instantly shattered into a spiderweb pattern! The body, accompanied by flying shards, thudded to the ground.

Ning Zhu frowned, ignoring the phone for now. He quickly counted the men across from him—four in total, all males, at least three of them Alphas.

He then assessed his own combat capabilities and realized he was overwhelmingly outmatched.

“…”

As the men closed in, Ning Zhu slowly backed up two steps, his eyes darting around for a source of light. The nearest intersection was fifty paces away. Before he could formulate a plan, one of the men circled behind him, cutting off his only escape route.

He was forced into the narrow alley between two shops.

High walls closed in on both sides, making the space feel extremely dark and cramped. The men had even left one of their own crouched at the alley entrance to keep watch.

Going head-to-head with this group was clearly not an option. As for negotiation… Ning Zhu had honed his ability to adapt his approach to any situation during his years of traveling to secure funding. But this Lei fellow clearly wasn’t someone to be trifled with. Speaking softly now would likely change little.

He couldn’t win a fight, couldn’t outrun them, and had no means to call for help. A thin layer of sweat slowly seeped from his palms. Ning Zhu almost felt like laughing.

This feeling of helplessly awaiting death was probably quite rare. He never imagined he’d get a second chance to experience it in his lifetime.

“Brother Lei” shoved him, sneering, “What’s wrong? You were so talkative back at the shop. You stood up for that bitch—let’s see who’ll stand up for you now.”

Ning Zhu remained silent, his hands dropping naturally to his sides. His right hand brushed against a cufflink at the sleeve of his jacket.

The surroundings were dark enough. He spent a few seconds prying it off, testing the tip of the pin with his fingertip. Sharp enough, he concluded, to pierce skin.

Facing such overwhelming numbers, he didn’t expect this tiny trinket to let him walk away unscathed. But he would fight to the bitter end. Ning Zhuo pinched the pin between his fingers, his gaze locking precisely on “Brother Lei’s” neck in the darkness. An Alpha’s glands were concentrated along the sides of the neck—the most vulnerable spot…

Just as he pondered where to strike first in his counterattack, the man guarding the alley entrance called out lowly: “Brother Lei! Someone seems to be coming.”

Brother Lei cursed impatiently. He reached out to cover Ning Zhu’s mouth, preventing him from calling for help.

Faint footsteps echoed from the alley entrance. Moments later, a flashlight beam appeared, sweeping into the alley and lingering briefly on Ning Zhu and the others.

Ning Zhu heard the sentry warn someone: “Mind your own damn business and keep moving!”

The newcomer didn’t respond, simply switching off the flashlight.

The surroundings plunged back into darkness.

Just as everyone thought the person had left, a sudden, piercing scream erupted from the alley entrance!

Brother Lei, startled, sensed something was wrong. He immediately released Ning Zhu and rushed over with his accomplices.

Ning Zhu watched the sudden turn of events in astonishment. He couldn’t see what was happening at the alley entrance, only hearing the sounds of a fight erupting seconds later. The thudding of fists meeting flesh mingled with curses and cries of pain, the situation intensely violent.

Ning Zhu took a breath, worried the kind passerby might be overpowered, and followed to investigate.

By the time he arrived, one of Brother Lei’s men had already fallen. The remaining attackers surrounded a tall youth. Their punches were sluggish, likely due to injuries sustained earlier.

—Yet it was the youth who moved with effortless ease.

Ning Zhu observed the fight from several meters away before wisely backing further off.

Surrounded by three attackers, Dou Changxiao showed no sign of panic. His fists and knees struck simultaneously, connecting cleanly to one opponent’s abdomen and swiftly taking him out.

A fist whistled past his ear. He ducked the attack from behind, spun, and countered with a horizontal punch that slammed into the ambusher’s cheek with a crack.

The attacker collapsed instantly, unconscious.

Dou Changxiao turned back.

One remained.

The lone commander, “Brother Lei,” looked grim. He opened his mouth, intending to say something.

But Dou Changxiao wasn’t interested in listening.

Noticing the man’s sturdier build compared to the others, he opted for the most efficient solution—a straight punch to Brother Lei’s face.

Including Brother Lei, four were expected, four were present, and now all four lay neatly on the ground.

A trace of blood stained his knuckles. Dou Changxiao frowned in slight disgust, wondering if he’d knocked out a few teeth.

He gave his hand a light shake and turned to face the onlooker nearby.

The faint glow of a streetlamp at the alley entrance illuminated Ning Zhu’s face, revealing an unmistakable look of astonishment.

Ning Zhu noticed his gaze and, after a moment’s thought, moved closer.

He recognized the man as the cold-hearted host who had helped him up in the bar earlier. Just as he was about to thank him for intervening, the man turned his face away.

Still, Ning Zhu remembered his stage name.

“Changxiao.”

He called softly, and the other man did indeed turn his head.

Ning Zhu’s eyes crinkled as he offered a thank you.

Dou Changxiao paid him no mind.

Ning Zhu glanced down at the bodies strewn across the floor. “Hey, you’re pretty skilled. What kind of training have you had?”

He mused inwardly: If only he possessed such skills, he might have switched careers to become a martial arts instructor back in the day. He’d surely be raking in the cash.

Once again, no reply came. Ning Zhu fell silent.

He’d considered borrowing the man’s phone, but his aloofness left Ning Zhu no choice but to fend for himself.

He approached one of the bodies, intending to search for a phone among them to call the police.

“Someone from the bar already called the police. They’ll be here soon.” A voice suddenly spoke from behind him.

The tone matched the speaker’s icy demeanor perfectly.

Ning Zhu paused, feeling he’d heard that voice somewhere before.

“Who called the police? How did he know about this place…” Ning Zhu didn’t finish his question before the realization hit him.

It must have been that hostess Omega. He saw Ning Zhu come out first, followed immediately by Brother Lei’s crew leaving. He must have guessed something bad was about to happen.

Not only did he call the police, but he also brought a powerful colleague to help. Pretty sharp.

Dou Changxiao made a call, briefly stating, “Found the person,” then hung up after giving the location.

The “corpses” on the floor stirred upon hearing the police had been called, feigning movement as they groaned and tried to scramble up and flee. Dou Changxiao stepped forward and delivered a punch to each of them.

The police would take a while to arrive. To prevent these individuals from escaping, keeping a constant watch on each one would be too cumbersome.

Dou Changxiao pondered for a moment, then raised his hand to press the black wristband on his left wrist.

Before pressing the button, he seemed to think of something. Glancing at Ning Zhu’s neck, he said, “Put the collar on.”

Ning Zhu: “Hm?”

Seeing Dou Changxiao’s gesture, Ning Zhu instantly understood.

The pheromones released by a high-level Alpha exert a deterrent and suppressive effect on other Alphas. His intention was to prevent these men from pulling any tricks before the police arrived.

The blocking function of AO wristbands and neckbands primarily came from a patch device on the inner side of the band. To be effective, the patch needed to be in contact with the skin when worn.

Ning Zhu’s way of wearing it was purely treating the neckband as an accessory. Dou Changxiao naturally didn’t want his pheromones detected by a stranger.

Truthfully, Ning Zhu didn’t deliberately seek to stand out.

He was largely insensitive to most Alphas’ pheromones. Combined with his long-term use of potent suppressants, his own pheromones were effectively “sealed off.” The collar’s bidirectional barrier function was completely redundant.

Beyond signifying his Omega status, the collar held no practical function for Ning Zhu. Calling it a simple ornament wouldn’t be inaccurate.

Thus, outside of work or formal settings, he disliked wearing the collar too tightly—it felt constricting.

Ning Zhu touched the loosely dangling collar resting on his collarbone. “Oh, it’s fine. Actually, I…”

He wanted to explain that he couldn’t detect Dou Changxiao’s pheromones, but mid-sentence, he decided the explanation was too troublesome and swallowed the words.

As he fastened the collar, he pondered: This guy doesn’t even let people smell his pheromones. Can he really make money running his shop normally…?

After securing the collar, Ning Zhu felt too lazy to activate the two-way barrier, thinking it was just for show anyway.

“All set,” he said, turning his head.

As he moved, the collar rubbed against the still-swollen skin at the back of his neck, instantly sending a wave of sharp, stinging pain through him.

Ning Zhu’s eye twitched twice as the nerves were irritated. He moved his neck much more cautiously from then on.

He found a corner behind Dou Changxiao and leaned against it, his head resting against the wall to prevent any accidental movement that might rub his neck.

He watched as Dou Changxiao deactivated the barrier function on his wristband. Soon after, the faces of the people on the floor contorted with humiliation and fear, freezing into obedient stillness.

Ning Zhu had only learned about the differences in Alpha and Omega pheromones in biology class before. Today was the first time he witnessed an Alpha’s pheromones exerting such a suppressing effect on their own kind. He watched with considerable curiosity for a while longer.

As he observed intently, a faint, sweet fragrance suddenly tickled Ning Zhu’s nose.

Leaning lazily against the wall, he sniffed twice, murmuring to himself in puzzlement: “So late at night, and there’s actually someone selling coconuts around here…”