Chapter 18
Pretty.
That was the first word that came to Jiang Li's mind when his gaze fell on the brown-haired omega.
Her hazel eyes shimmered under the chandelier's glow, catching the light in a way that made them seem almost alive. There was a natural warmth to her presence—something effortless and inviting. She laughed easily, spoke with gentle confidence, and carried herself in a way that drew people in without trying. Even her pheromones, a soft blend of vanilla bean and jasmine, seemed to wrap around the room, calming and soothing everyone nearby.
Including Shen Yu.
Jiang Li watched them quietly.
From where he stood, it was easy to see the way Shen Yu looked at her. There was something restrained in his gaze, something carefully hidden beneath composure—but it was there. A suppressed longing, faint but undeniable, surfacing in the depths of his dark eyes whenever he looked at her.
They spoke for nearly twenty minutes.
Jiang Li didn't interrupt. He didn't move closer.
He simply watched.
Only after she left did Shen Yu's attention return to him.
Even then, it felt like an afterthought.
Amid the crowd, Jiang Li met his gaze, his expression calm, but inside, something shifted. To Shen Yu, he was nothing more than a second choice. Just as Luo Xin had once said.
And strangely enough… his omega responded to it.
That small acknowledgment, those fleeting moments of attention—it was like receiving crumbs after watching someone else be given the entire loaf. And yet, his instincts still reacted, blooming faintly with something that felt disturbingly close to relief.
Jiang Li clenched his hands at his sides.
No.
He didn't deserve crumbs.
And he would prove that.
With one last glance at Shen Yu, he allowed a soft smile to form on his lips—gentle, controlled, unreadable.
"Ah, Jiang Li, are you alright? You've gone quiet," Su Ran asked, her dark eyes filled with quiet concern.
Jiang Li turned to her, his smile returning with practiced ease.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "I'm more than okay."
As he spoke, his pheromones shifted.
The usual cool, almost icy scent softened, losing its edge as it spread through the air. It became something lighter, fresher—like a breeze after rain—drawing people toward him without effort.
Conversation followed naturally.
People gathered, drawn in by his presence, his composure, his quiet charm.
When Shen Yu suddenly stood and left, Jiang Li felt it immediately.
The urge to follow rose instinctively, sharp and immediate—but he didn't move.
Instead, he stayed where he was, continuing to smile, continuing to speak, even as the strain began to settle into his cheeks. The longer he held the expression, the more it began to ache, though no one seemed to notice.
Beside him, Shen Mei coughed suddenly, her face flushing as she struggled with a bite of overly hot fried wings—despite his earlier warning. Muttering complaints under her breath, she hurried off in search of water, leaving Jiang Li momentarily alone.
And then—
He felt it.
A scent.
It came slowly, like the tide rolling in—deep and steady. The quiet vastness of the ocean, salted air mingling with something warmer beneath, like aged wood. It wasn't overwhelming, but it carried weight. Presence.
Dominance.
Jiang Li didn't turn.
"What a nice scent you have," he said calmly, already knowing who stood behind him.
He wasn't sure why it irritated him.
The man hadn't done anything.
"Hmm… you think so?"
The voice was low, smooth, carrying quiet amusement as the Alpha stepped forward, coming to stand in front of him. His hands rested casually in his pockets, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his lips. His dark eyes—deep, unreadable—settled on Jiang Li with quiet intensity.
"You're not the first to say that," he continued. "There was someone who liked it a lot… used to stay close, just to breathe it in." His voice softened slightly, almost thoughtful. "But he stopped noticing it eventually. A pity, don't you think? For someone who once liked it so much."
Jiang Li's brows lifted slightly.
"Is that someone your wife?" he asked, his tone polite, though edged with something sharper beneath.
The Alpha chuckled.
"No," he replied. "But it's someone you know."
The words lingered.
Jiang Li stilled, his mind catching on the earlier sentence—he used to stay close—repeating it, turning it over, searching for meaning.
For the first time, the carefully maintained smile began to fade.
"You were… that close?" he asked.
The Alpha shrugged lightly. "Of course we were. Didn't he tell you about me?" A faint smirk returned. "What a shame. If He Lian hadn't been there back then, I might've talked about us more openly."
Jiang Li fell silent.
The pieces didn't fit—at least, not at first.
The way Shen Yu looked at this man… it wasn't fondness. It wasn't familiarity.
It was cold.
Sharp.
Bordering on hatred.
So how could they have been close?
Then—
Understanding flickered.
He Lian.
Everything seemed to circle back to her.
Did they fight over her? Did this man take her from Shen Yu? If that were true, then why did Shen Yu still allow her presence so easily?
Or perhaps… they had both wanted her.
And this man had won.
A slow smile curved along Jiang Li's lips.
But this time, it wasn't soft.
It was sharper. Brighter.
Almost dangerous.
"Thank you," he said suddenly.
The Alpha blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
Before he could respond, a hand settled against Jiang Li's lower back.
Warm.
Familiar.
The scent of whiskey and rosewood followed instantly, wrapping around him in a way that felt grounding, almost possessive. It drowned out the ocean scent, pushing it aside with quiet authority.
"Are you enjoying yourself, talking to my omega… Kim Taehyun?"
Shen Yu's voice was low, controlled, edged with something unspoken.
Jiang Li lifted his gaze, watching as Kim Taehyun's expression shifted—just for a moment. Something flickered in those dark eyes. Irritation, perhaps. Or something more complicated.
But just as quickly, it was gone—replaced by that same easy grin.
Interesting.
Jiang Li barely had time to process it before Shen Yu turned him slightly, adjusting his bow tie with deliberate care.
It was a small gesture.
Intimate, almost.
But Jiang Li didn't react the way he once would have. He didn't blush, didn't stumble.
Instead, he kept his gaze on Taehyun, calm and steady.
Thank you… he thought quietly.
For unknowingly making him give me more than crumbs.
Under the chandelier's glow, honey-brown eyes met dark ones.
For a brief moment, something shifted in Taehyun's gaze.
Something sharp.
Something dangerous.
A flicker of irritation… intertwined with interest, wrapped together like a blade hidden in silk.