Chapter 3: The Muzzle Fingertips Sliding to His Nape

The cold, silver metal device was retrieved and handed to Shen Wei.

Shen Wei hooked the leather edge of the muzzle, weighing it in his palm. He slowly raised it into the air, gauging it against Jiang Yuan’s face to ensure the fit was correct.

The VIP room was deathly quiet, save for the faint, thumping bass leaking in from outside. No one dared to move a muscle.

Shen Wei rested one knee on the ground and turned his head toward his friends.

“You guys go ahead and play. Don’t mind us,” Shen Wei said, turning back to lift Jiang Yuan’s face with the muzzle. “I’m just going to have a little fun with him.”

At his cue, the frantic, driving music surged. More Omegas entered the room, and soon everyone except Shen Wei was surrounded, some with an Omega on each arm while others lined up. The spacious room instantly became a scene of revelry.

With Shen Wei’s blessing, the tension broke. Everyone returned to their usual habits and began to enjoy themselves.

Shen Wei used the muzzle to rhythmically stroke Jiang Yuan’s chin. His other hand rested on his knee, his long fingers tapping against his own temple. He sighed with mock distress. “I really should put this on you. Otherwise, the Omegas here won’t be able to handle your pheromones.”

Under normal circumstances, muzzles were rarely used unless absolutely necessary—typically reserved for Alphas who had lost control or were in the throes of a rut. Most of the time, an Alpha wearing a muzzle would rarely show their face in public. Covering a man’s face with a metal contraption in such a restrictive manner carried a heavy sense of humiliation.

Even though Jiang Yuan had only leaked a trace of pheromones, Shen Wei was now forcing his jaw up, preparing to strap the muzzle on by force. The two were locked in position: one kneeling, one squatting.

Jiang Yuan calmly looked up, staring directly at Shen Wei.

Just as Shen Wei pressed the muzzle against his face, a burst of jeering erupted behind them. Jiang Yuan glanced over; the group of Alphas held their companions, looking down at him from above. Some looked on with pity, some with mockery, and others with indifference. Then, the cold metal was pressed against his cheek with a forceful, irresistible strength.

A faint, spicy scent of pheromones drifted into his nose. Jiang Yuan lowered his eyes and saw a pair of slender, well-defined hands fumbling with the muzzle. Shen Wei’s black sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing smooth yet powerful muscles on his forearms.

Almost subconsciously, Jiang Yuan rested his hand on Shen Wei’s forearm.

The skin felt delicate hardly the texture one would expect from an Alpha.

Shen Wei’s hands were currently tangled in the leather straps. As he struggled to fasten them, a sudden chill raced from his forearm to the back of his head. Jiang Yuan’s hand was on his arm, lightly stroking the skin.

Was he… begging for mercy?

Shen Wei assumed he was. A surge of excitement flooded his chest; seeing Jiang Yuan react in such a way was incredibly stimulating.

Shen Wei let out a contemptuous laugh, but before he could speak, Jiang Yuan’s fingertips slid along his skin and reached the scent gland at the back of his neck. A shiver raced across Shen Wei’s skin.

Regardless of gender, the scent gland was the most vital and sensitive part of the body. For an Omega, having their gland touched was an act of harassment. For an Alpha, having their gland touched—especially by another Alpha—was nothing short of a blatant provocation.

Shen Wei’s eyes instantly darkened with malice. He jerked the tangled leather straps tight, forcing Jiang Yuan’s head to tilt back sharply.

“You have a death wish?”

His tone wasn’t just a threat; it sounded like he had truly developed the intent to kill.

Jiang Yuan was forced to look up at Shen Wei, a position of utter vulnerability. Yet he didn’t struggle. His fingertips remained on Shen Wei’s nape, as if he hadn’t quite processed what he was doing. His gaze was unreadable.

Shen Wei frowned deeply, seeing his own reflection in those dark pupils. Finally freeing his hands from the straps, he raised his hand in a sudden blur of motion.

His nutmeg-scented pheromones erupted before the strike—pungent, hot, and sharp. They wrapped around the air as Jiang Yuan inhaled them, followed immediately by a sharp sting on his cheek.

Jiang Yuan turned his face back, looking up at Shen Wei without a trace of embarrassment or defeat.

Fang Yangxu rushed over to intercept Shen Wei. “Stop, stop! Your dad is calling.”

Shen Wei hadn’t gained an ounce of satisfaction from Jiang Yuan tonight. He had intended to give the man a warning, but the situation had spiraled completely out of his control. Instead of a lesson, he had been met with a provocation he’d never encountered before.

However, once Shen Wei withdrew his hand, he suppressed his rage. Noticing the crowd of Omegas present, he regained his usual composure.

He bowed slightly to the room. “You guys keep playing.”

He swiped his card to cover the night’s expenses and stepped out to answer the phone.

Fang Yangxu looked at Jiang Yuan, finding it impossible to reconcile this man with the high-spirited genius of two months ago. Jiang Yuan had once been the pride of the schools and the political arena. Almost every child of high-ranking officials in the Core Area had heard of his excellence. There were even rumors that his father was grooming him to be the youngest Chief Executive in Alliance history. Whether true or not, it spoke volumes of Jiang Yuan’s talent and family power.

To enter the Alliance’s Top Academy, you needed either raw talent or immense backing. Jiang Yuan had both. Fang Yangxu and the others were just there to coast through on their parents’ names, get a degree, and wait for a cushy government job. They had assumed their paths would never cross with someone as elite as Jiang Yuan.

Who would have thought that today, Jiang Yuan would be kneeling in a place like this? Even if he didn’t look pathetic, it was enough to make one sigh at the tragedy of it all. Fang Yangxu instinctively feared people like him and quickly looked away, saying nothing more.

Outside the bar.

Because it had rung for too long, the call had disconnected automatically. Shen Wei patiently dialed back. No answer. He stowed the communicator, deciding not to call a third time. He turned back toward the VIP room, assuming his father was simply busy again.

The communicator vibrated again.

Shen Wei frowned impatiently, but his expression didn’t improve when he saw the caller ID. It wasn’t his father; it was the Omega girlfriend he had just officially started dating yesterday.

He pressed answer but remained silent, letting the other side wait for half a minute. Once he entered the restroom where it was quieter, he spoke unhurriedly, “What is it, baby?”

“My mom is sick today. I’m so scared can you come stay with me tomorrow?” The soft, sweet voice of an Omega came through the receiver.

“I don’t have time tomorrow.” Shen Wei lowered his eyes and lit a cigarette for himself. The glowing red tip was stark in the dim light as he took a drag, narrowing his eyes.

The Omega continued to wheedle and act spoiled, trying to convince him to come over.

“I can’t make it. If you’re worried about the medical bills, just charge them to my account.” Shen Wei took another frustrated drag, a fire smoldering in his chest. He hated being pestered.

In her vulnerable state, the Omega wanted emotional support, and her grievances began to surface. “Do you… not like me anymore?”

“A little,” Shen Wei said carelessly. His face was blurred by the swirling smoke, but his voice remained pleasant.

There was a long silence on the other end, followed by intermittent sobbing. Shen Wei didn’t speak, quietly waiting for her to respond. After a long while, the Omega seemed to reach a decision. “Let’s… let’s break up.”

The moment she said it, Shen Wei replied, “Sure. Let’s break up then.”

The girl seemed stunned by the absurdity of it, letting out a startled “Huh?” Shen Wei ignored her reaction. Staring at the cigarette in his hand, he added, “I’ll compensate you.”

His tone was slow yet commanding. He hung up immediately and coldly added the number to his blacklist.

Finding that Shen Wei had been gone for too long, Fang Yangxu came in and caught the last sentence. Fang Yangxu lit a cigarette of his own. “Another one gone?”

“Yeah,” Shen Wei grunted without looking up.

Fang Yangxu nodded. “She was the campus belle of the Achievement Academy, you know.”

Shen Wei exhaled slowly. “I’m not lacking in options.”

“Fair enough.” Fang Yangxu asked another question. “What’s the plan for that guy in the room?”

“I’m going to play with him for a while,” Shen Wei said.

Fang Yangxu understood; Shen Wei had no intention of letting Jiang Yuan go. If someone could provoke Shen Wei and make him lose face, they were in for a rough time.

The cigarette crackled as it burned. Shen Wei took one last puff, crushed it out, and waved away the smoke. “Check his background.”

Shen Wei was rational. According to everyone, Jiang Yuan had lost his standing and had no capital to fight back, but Shen Wei preferred to be certain. He was cautious; even if he was going to ruin Jiang Yuan, he had to ensure it was safe and wouldn’t leave a trail during the election season. In a year, the school would evaluate their abilities and character before assigning them to urban or military posts. A capable son of an official like Shen Wei was guaranteed a spot in the Core Area—provided he stayed out of trouble.

If the investigation confirmed Jiang Yuan was as powerless as he seemed, then he could strike with peace of mind. Not just anyone was qualified to be his rival.

Fang Yangxu nodded and draped an arm over Shen Wei’s shoulder as they left the restroom. “Just take it easy. Don’t let Uncle Shen find out, or else”

Before he could finish, he sensed the aura around Shen Wei shift. He wisely shut up and simply reminded him it was time to go home.

Back in the VIP room, Shen Wei picked up his jacket from the sofa. Jiang Yuan was still half-kneeling on the floor. As he passed, Shen Wei shot him a sideways glance. He was tired today and decided to let him go for now. After all, this was only the beginning.

Seeing Shen Wei leave, the other Alphas pushed aside their Omegas and followed. Shen Wei was clearly in a bad mood. The large group of Alphas walking through the bar corridor attracted many eyes.

Shen Wei suddenly stopped. He looked back across the crowded, pulsing dance floor. In the dim light, he couldn’t see clearly, but he had an intuition that someone was there.

Fang Yangxu shouted over the music, “What’s wrong? You want another drink?”

Shen Wei shook his head, withdrew his gaze, and strode out.

In the shadows.

Jiang Yuan withdrew his gaze from Shen Wei. After watching him exit the main doors, he quietly walked out through the back exit.

Once outside, he took two items from his pocket.

The first was a black ear cuff. The expensive material and top-tier craftsmanship spoke to the owner’s high status. Jiang Yuan rubbed the ear cuff between his fingers; it was hard and pressed against his skin, yet he felt as if he could still sense the residual warmth of its owner.

Recalling the sensation of touching the man’s skin—fine, smooth—his hand began to tremble uncontrollably again. Hearing voices from the door, he tucked the ear cuff away.

Then he grasped the other item.

The back door opened into a small alley. Jiang Yuan leaned against the wall. A flickering neon sign hung nearby; only now did the atmosphere of the Lower District truly show itself, forming a sharp contrast to the glamorous front entrance.

Jiang Yuan used the dim light to examine the second item. It was a suppressor bracelet. Generally, these bracelets could be used for years, especially expensive custom-made ones tailored to a specific gender and rank.

The bracelet carried a faint scent of nutmeg. As the scent filled his nose, the cheek where he had been struck began to tingle. Jiang Yuan leaned back, his thumb tracing the inner circle of the bracelet. There, two letters were engraved:

“sw”

It was Shen Wei’s suppressor bracelet.

At the Alliance’s Top Academy.

“Come on! Let’s go play ball during the next physical training class!” Fang Yangxu jumped out from behind and slapped Shen Wei awake.

Shen Wei rubbed his eyes and habitually reached for his ear. “Sure.”

Suddenly, he felt a gap where something should be. He frowned and looked at the floor.

“What are you looking for?”

“My ear cuff is gone.”

“Huh? I thought that was some elaborate ‘pick-up artist’ design of yours. It looked pretty unique the other day.”

Shen Wei scanned the floor. “Which day?”

“The training break day, when we went to the bar,” Fang Yangxu replied.

Shen Wei remembered. That was when the ear cuff had gone missing. But the environment was chaotic; it was normal to lose things. He couldn’t remember where it had fallen. He simply unclipped the other ear cuff and tossed it into the trash. If one was missing, there was no point in keeping the other.

Thinking back to that day, a certain face flashed in his mind. He scoffed and muttered under his breath, “Jinx.”

Fang Yangxu didn’t hear him and dragged him to the court.

The basketball traced a beautiful arc through the air—another basket.

Shen Wei lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face and glanced at the sky. Dark clouds were gathering; it was going to rain soon.

He crouched down, his eyes fierce and full of aggression. “Quick, let’s finish this round.”

The ball was passed back to him, and his pheromones began to drift freely in the air. Shen Wei drove toward the basket Clang! a powerful dunk.

When he turned back, the expressions of everyone on the court were grim. Some were even kneeling.

Fang Yangxu gritted his teeth, enduring the suffocating pressure in the air. “You’re leaking pheromones, Brother.” He spoke through clenched teeth.

Instantly, the pheromones in the air were pulled back tight. The invisible pressure vanished, and the other Alphas finally looked a bit better. The game was over. Shen Wei’s team was the winner, though it wasn’t exactly a glorious victory.

It wasn’t intentional; Shen Wei truly hadn’t learned to master his pheromones yet, having only recently differentiated. He touched his wrist; it was bare. His suppressor bracelet was long gone.

But since the game was just for fun, no one said anything. They began chatting and laughing about going out for a meal. Shen Wei told them to go ahead; he wanted to stay and look for his suppressor. He’d been losing things constantly lately, and his memory seemed to be failing him.

After a fruitless search, he felt a surge of irritation. His shoelace had come undone again.

He clicked his tongue and knelt down to tie it. The sky was dark. Large raindrops began to fall the moment he bent over, hitting his back and neck with a stinging numbness. The scent of wet earth rose into his nose.

The shoelace wouldn’t cooperate.

Sensing something, he looked straight ahead.

Under a tree in the distance stood a lone figure. Amidst the crowd of people running to escape the rain, the person was exceptionally silent and still. As their gazes met, a chill ran down Shen Wei’s spine

Jiang Yuan had been watching him from the shadows the entire time.