The city loved scandals.
It loved tearing people apart and pretending it was justice.
Shen Yaojin learned that very quickly.
The Man Who Came Back
He didn't expect to see him again.
He was just stepping out of a café, bodyguard a few steps behind, when someone called his name.
"Yaojin?"
The voice was too familiar. Too old.
He turned slowly.
The man standing there looked… normal. Clean shirt, neat hair, confident smile. Like someone who had never ruined another person's childhood.
"Long time no see," the man said. "You look… different."
Yaojin's fingers curled slightly.
He recognized him instantly.
Zhang Wei.
The boy who used to steal his lunch money.
The boy who once locked him in the storage room and laughed when he banged on the door.
"You're famous now," Zhang Wei continued, as if they were old classmates catching up. "Never thought you'd end up married to Lu Zhiyuan."
Yaojin stared at him, heart pounding.
"You shouldn't be here," he said quietly.
Zhang Wei laughed. "Relax. I'm just curious. You were always so quiet back then. People said you'd disappear after graduation."
He leaned closer. "Guess you proved us wrong."
Yaojin felt his chest tighten.
Proved them wrong… or just became entertainment for them?
The bodyguard stepped forward. "Sir, please step away."
Zhang Wei raised his hands, smiling. "Sure, sure. Just wanted to say hi to the city's favorite omega."
As he walked away, he turned back and mouthed two words:
"Still weak."
Yaojin didn't move for a long time.
The Alpha Who Doesn't Forgive
Lu Zhiyuan heard about it within minutes.
He stood in his office, phone pressed to his ear, voice calm—but everyone in the room could feel the danger underneath.
"Find him," he said.
A voice replied, "Already on it."
"I want everything," Zhiyuan continued. "Work history. Connections. Weaknesses. If he breathes wrong, I want to know."
He ended the call and stared out the window.
He thinks he can walk up to Yaojin like nothing happened.
Zhiyuan's eyes darkened.
He thinks he can touch what's mine.
Meiqi's Next Move
Lin Meiqi sat in her penthouse, scrolling through comments.
"He used to be bullied? That's sad."
"People like him always climb up using others."
"Poor background, rich husband—classic."
She smiled slowly.
"Sympathy and suspicion," she murmured. "Perfect ingredients."
Her phone buzzed.
Assistant: We found someone willing to talk. Former classmate. Says Yaojin wasn't as innocent as people think.
Meiqi's eyes sparkled.
Meiqi: Pay him well. Let him talk.
Two Omegas, One Silent Call
That night, Han Zexu called Yaojin.
"I saw the news," Zexu said quietly.
"I figured."
"Are you okay?"
Yaojin stared at the ceiling. "I'm still here."
Zexu paused. "That's not the same thing."
Yaojin closed his eyes. "You don't have to worry about me."
"I do," Zexu said softly. "Because if this were me… I'd want someone to worry."
Yaojin didn't reply for a long time.
"…Thank you," he whispered.
Jealous Alpha, Unspoken
Bai Lianyi stood outside Zexu's office when he saw him on the phone, expression gentle, voice low.
He waited until Zexu hung up.
"Talking to Yaojin?" Lianyi asked casually.
"Yes."
"You're getting close."
"He's my friend."
Lianyi leaned against the doorframe. "Friends can still be taken away."
Zexu frowned. "What does that mean?"
Lianyi didn't answer.
Why do I care? he thought. He's not mine.
But the thought felt wrong.
Confrontation at Night
Zhiyuan found Yaojin in the garden again. He always did.
"You met Zhang Wei today," Zhiyuan said.
Yaojin didn't ask how he knew. "Yes."
"Did he touch you?"
"No."
"Did he say anything?"
"Yes."
Zhiyuan's hand clenched.
"He's nothing now," Zhiyuan said. "You don't have to listen to him."
Yaojin stared at the dark sky. "He said I'm still weak."
Zhiyuan stepped closer. "And?"
Yaojin hesitated. "And part of me still believes him."
Zhiyuan's eyes widened slightly.
He placed a hand on Yaojin's shoulder—not tight, not gentle. Just there.
"Then we'll destroy that part," he said.
Yaojin looked at him.
"You survived," Zhiyuan continued. "That's power. Don't let people who failed to break you rewrite your story."
Yaojin swallowed.
Why does he sound like he believes in me more than I do?
A Warning
Later that night, Zhang Wei received a call.
A calm voice spoke on the other end.
"You contacted Shen Yaojin today."
Zhang Wei laughed. "And?"
"Consider this a courtesy warning," the voice said. "Stay away from him."
"And if I don't?"
The line went quiet for a second.
"Then your life in this city becomes very inconvenient."
The call ended.
Zhang Wei stared at his phone, suddenly cold.