After a while, Ning Zhu snapped out of his shock, yet still didn’t know how to respond.

He pressed his index finger to his lips, his expression unnatural as he studied the person across from him.

Dou Changxiao’s dark pupils showed no ripple. When he didn’t smile, the corners of his mouth naturally turned down. It was hard to imagine that this intimidating face had just told him, “I’m very clingy.”

Ning Zhu almost suspected the entire conversation had been a figment of his imagination.

“Do you still want it?” Dou Changxiao asked again.

Ning Zhu was suddenly choked: “Cough cough…”

He tapped his chest lightly with his right fist, catching his breath.

Ning Zhu’s complex emotions were practically written on his face. “You really can’t…”

Dou Changxiao: “No.”

Ning Zhu’s thoughts were in disarray; he couldn’t think of a way to persuade him to stay.

Dou Changxiao seemed resolute. He couldn’t very well ask someone to change their nature…

He hesitated to speak, and Dou Changxiao showed no surprise.

“I threw away that card. Get a new one.”

The implication was clear: he wouldn’t be seeing him again. Ning Zhu responded with a flat, “Mm.”

He’d thought Dou Changxiao’s call meant he’d come around, that this trip would yield something. Instead, it ended in disappointment.

Gained only to lose again. His hopes dashed. Ning Zhu’s mood soured, and he took a sullen sip of his hot drink.

Just then, the shopkeeper emerged from the back carrying a tray, presenting them with two desserts as complimentary gifts.

Ning Zhu glanced at their order—just two hot drinks, hardly a substantial purchase. Why would they receive complimentary desserts?

Dou Changxiao lacked the patience to linger over pastries with Ning Zhu. He offered a curt “No, thank you” to the shopkeeper before rising to leave.

“Hmm, put it back in the cabinet. We’re leaving,” Ning Zhu smiled and waved his hand, declining as well. “Could you settle the bill, please?”

“Oh, this gentleman has already paid,” the shopkeeper said, “including for the potted plant.”

Ning Zhu: “.”

Dou Changxiao: “…”

The shopkeeper, oblivious to their synchronized silence, continued, “That plant wasn’t worth much anyway. I even said you wouldn’t have to pay if you broke it.”

Ning Zhu turned his face away, clearing his throat and pressing his lips tightly together to stifle an unkind laugh in front of the person involved.

The man himself, whatever his mood, stood up and walked away with surprising efficiency.

Ning Zhu only managed to call after his retreating back, unable to hide the laughter in his voice: “See you, Changxiao.”

Dou Changxiao didn’t look back.

Only after the figure had disappeared into the distance did Ning Zhu force himself to rein in his disappointment.

The deal had fallen through. Thinking of his own unpredictable gland, the light cloud of happiness that had floated into his heart sank back down, slow and heavy.

If he’d agreed without hesitation when Dou Changxiao had asked, “Still want it?” things would have been much simpler.

But compared to his own fate, bearing another person’s feelings seemed an even heavier burden for Ning Zhu. He truly lacked the capacity to form an intimate relationship with anyone.

Besides, “falling for a sugar daddy with remarkable ease”—what level of love-struck brain would that require? Ning Zhu was certain he couldn’t handle it.

The shopkeeper, confused by the situation between them, looked awkwardly at the two dessert plates.

“How about I pack these up for you?” she asked Ning Zhu. “You can take them home, refrigerate them, and have them for breakfast. I’ll add a few more long-lasting pastries too. I just checked the payment record—that gentleman paid several hundred. A small potted plant shouldn’t cost that much.”

Ning Zhu hurriedly stopped the shopkeeper from fetching more, but after a moment’s thought, he left the desserts on the table.

He hadn’t eaten dinner yet, and Ji Chi and Cheng Li were probably already digging in. After standing them up, he’d have to shamelessly return for a free meal—inevitably facing a scolding from the pair. Might as well just eat here.

The cake wasn’t cloying at all. Ning Zhu finished it off with a hot drink. Warmth and sweetness were both things that could bring happiness. This dinner was quite pleasant.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. Since meeting Dou Changxiao, he hadn’t brought the man a single commission. Instead, he’d hitched rides, freeloaded meals, and taken advantage of him time and again… It was downright embarrassing.

He wiped his mouth thick-skinnedly and glanced toward the gap in the potted plant. Dou Changxiao’s solemn denial of any wrongdoing flashed through his mind.

Ning Zhu’s mood inexplicably lifted.

Ah, well, there was always the compatibility database. He wasn’t exactly on the brink of death. Besides, who knew how high his match with Dou Changxiao really was? Maybe it wasn’t that high after all? Perhaps it was all just wishful thinking on his part.

He consoled himself with this open-minded thought and set off in the opposite direction from Dou Changxiao.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Dou Changxiao wasn’t as easygoing as Ning Zhu.

Though he’d found an excuse to slip away, he couldn’t shake the humiliation of “confessing to someone you dislike, only to be rejected.”

His fingers curled at his side, instinctively seeking something to grasp and vent his frustration.

Like an animal.

A top-tier Alpha unable to shake the instincts ingrained in his very bones—it felt like some cruel joke played by God. Bestowing upon them talents beyond ordinary men, then sowing within their bones a few harmless yet pride-wounding flaws.

Dou Changxiao’s curled fingers scraped against his palm.

…He’d just compensated for a potted plant.

He stiffly unclenched his fingers, refusing to indulge his primal urges.

Uncertain if Ning Zhu would return to Cheng Li and the others, Dou Changxiao didn’t go back up to the restaurant. After walking a distance, he messaged Cheng Yang, instructing him to come downstairs after finishing his meal.

He found a dim corner to wait, using normal human methods to process his emotions. Barely a few minutes passed before another call came in.

Earlier that evening, his brother had sought his help, but Dou Changxiao had ignored him. Now, Lu Chao called. Dou Changxiao hung up once, but Lu Chao called again, persistent.

Dou Changxiao twirled his phone in his hand a few times. Seeing no sign of surrender, he reluctantly answered: “What is it?”

Lu Chao’s voice dripped with resignation: “…You ask if there’s something? Did you even see my message?”

“Saw it. Not going.”

Lu Chao tried to reason with him: “The Ren family and ours have deep ancestral ties. It’s the old man’s birthday, and Dad wants me to attend in person, but I’m really swamped lately…”

Dou Changxiao lost patience with the explanation and coldly refused: “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

“Fine.” Lu Chao’s tone softened slightly. “Then I’ll just have to come over myself.”

He added gently, “I’ll swing by to see you, too. We brothers should catch up properly.”

“…” Dou Changxiao fell abruptly silent.

Before meeting Ning Zhu, Lu Chao had been the last person Dou Changxiao ever wanted to see.

Even though he now ranked second on that list, Dou Changxiao still perceived Lu Chao’s suggestion to “meet up and catch up” as nothing short of a threat.

As if anticipating his reaction, Lu Chao smiled. “Over the years, our collaborations with the Ren family have caused numerous frictions. Dad, out of courtesy, made concessions several times and also worried that finding other partners might not be as reliable as the Rens. I’m not as indecisive as he is. Now that I’ve taken over the company, the contract with the Rens expires next quarter, and I don’t plan to renew it.”

“Therefore, I promise this is the last time I’ll ask for your help.”

After a long pause, Dou Changxiao relented. “Send me the time and location.”

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

For the next two weeks, Ning Zhu worked normally at the company, even taking a short business trip out of town.

When Wei Tingfeng learned of his trip, he expressed grave concerns about Ning Zhu’s gland condition.

He predicted Ning Zhu’s next heat outbreak wouldn’t be far off and, fearing another sudden fainting episode, specially sent him an inhibitor to carry at all times.

Unexpectedly, however, several days passed after Ning Zhu returned from his trip without any glandular abnormalities. The heat Wei Tingfeng predicted would arrive early never materialized. Though the situation seemed to be improving, Wei Tingfeng remained uneasy and insisted that Ning Zhu schedule a hospital checkup.

Ning Zhu estimated he wouldn’t be able to squeeze in a hospital visit in the coming days, so he handed his schedule arrangements to Xiao Tao.

Just after assigning the task to Xiao Tao, a knock sounded at his office door.

Ji Chi pushed the door open.

For work matters, Ji Chi usually called Ning Zhu’s office extension; it was rare for him to come directly to the office. Ning Zhu’s first thought was that something urgent must have happened.

Ji Chi handed him an envelope-like object. Ning Zhu took it, flipped it over, and opened it to find an invitation inside. He quickly scanned the contents, his eyebrows arching slightly.

Ji Chi spoke at the same time: “Ren Hongyuan is hosting a birthday banquet in a few days. Cheng Li and I both received invitations. Mine addressed me with ‘Qisheng’ as the prefix, so you’re likely invited too.”

“Inviting competitors to a birthday banquet? Aren’t they afraid of being cursed to a shorter lifespan?” Ning Zhu couldn’t help but chuckle.

“These past years, we’ve been competing fiercely with the Ren family for market share. Several major contracts they lost ended up with Qisheng. Reports about the Ren family’s decline have also increased significantly in recent years. This invitation is likely just Ren Hongyuan’s attempt to save face—a superficial gesture, not a genuine invitation for us to attend.”

Ning Zhu asked in confusion, “Then why did you bring it to me?”

Ji Chi replied, “Cheng Li mentioned you were planning to cause trouble for Ren Shaokun. I figured you’d enjoy taking the time to make his day miserable.”

Ning Zhu’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons as he grinned like a mischievous fox. “You guessed right.”