Chapter 64
Tan Ning’s clinginess was subtle, expressed through little details that needed careful attention to perceive. Lin Song’an, on the other hand, wore his affection openly for everyone to see.
Finally, after living with Lin Song’an for exactly a month and ten days, Tan Ning said with a straight face, “Go back to China.”
Lin Song’an closed his laptop and looked at him pitifully. “Why? You said you’d take responsibility for me.”
Tan Ning raised his arm to push Lin Song’an away, preventing him from getting too close. “I’ve realized that I love you most when I’m thinking about you from afar. But when I actually see you—”
Tan Ning pursed his lips, but before he could finish, Lin Song’an pulled him over to the dining table, looking at him with a playful, slightly indignant gaze. “And when you see me, what?”
Tan Ning leaned back slightly. “You’re annoying.”
“That’s so heartless. We’re not even married yet, and you’re already like this.” Lin Song’an shook his head in exaggerated dismay and sighed. “I can’t imagine how much I’ll have to put up with if we ever do get married.”
Tan Ning rolled his eyes.
“Anyway, it’s inconvenient for you to work from here. You can’t rely solely on video calls for meetings, and a lot of things need to be handled face-to-face. Plus, there are site visits you’ve put on hold. You should go back. I’ll be home soon for summer break, and I can stay with you for two months. There’s Christmas vacation at the end of the year, too, so we’ll still have plenty of time together.”
Lin Song’an buried his face in Tan Ning’s chest, and Tan Ning gently patted his head.
The scar on the back of Lin Song’an’s neck had mostly healed, and his strength and energy had gradually returned, far better than expected. Physically, he was nearly as vigorous as before. Tan Ning calculated. These few days were Lin Songan’s original rut period, but Lin Songan’s body did not show any reaction or change.
In truth, they were both waiting, as if for a final verdict.
Tan Ning couldn’t fully describe his feelings. Tan Ning couldn’t explain clearly what he felt at the moment, but under Lin Songan’s tireless brainwashing, his gratitude was beginning to outweigh the guilt, and he no longer felt sorrow as often. He reminded himself that Lin Song’an had never liked his estrous periods; he had dreaded the loss of control since he was sixteen.
He warned himself: Lin Songan himself doesn’t like the rut period. Since he was sixteen, Lin Songan has hated the pain of having his body dominated by the rut period.
Lin Songan will no longer have the rut period, and Tan Ning will not be hurt again. Those painful, disturbing, good and bad memories are all left in the operating room along with the removed gland.
Tan Ning parted his lips, ready to say something, but then he remembered Lin Song’an’s words and stayed silent.
He simply embraced Lin Song’an, leaning his whole body against him as he patted his back. “Silly, go home. My time as your caregiver is over. Go back and focus on your work.”
“I don’t want a long-distance relationship,” Lin Song’an mumbled.
“Stop being so sentimental. You’re the one who encouraged me to study abroad.”
Lin Song’an just repeated, “I don’t want a long-distance relationship.”
Patiently, Tan Ning kissed him, then took him to the airport. Lin Song’an truly needed to go back and manage the backlog of work awaiting him. News of his gland removal surgery had already spread, causing quite a stir in the company and in business media. If he didn’t return soon, the respect he had worked hard to earn at the company might crumble.
Before leaving, Lin Song’an turned to look at Tan Ning one last time. Tan Ning wore a dark brown casual jacket, a white long-sleeve underneath, and jeans, his hair simply tied with a few strands falling over his face.
The sunlight streamed through the airport’s glass walls, casting a warm glow around Tan Ning.
He looked a lot like he had when they first met, and yet he was completely different.
Tan Ning smiled, showing a slight dimple.
Lin Song’an smiled back. “Ning Ning, come back soon. I’ll miss you a lot.”
Tan Ning nodded and waved.
Returning to the apartment, Tan Ning instantly missed Lin Song’an. He searched the house for traces of him, even leaving the study, where Lin Song’an often worked, exactly as it was, as if he were still there.
People are always caught between reason and emotion.
Tan Ning refocused on his studies.
This time, he wore a ring on his finger, a simple band they’d found together in a vintage shop. It was cheap, but Tan Ning had insisted on buying it, and on the bustling, noisy street, he proposed to Lin Song’an. Taking Lin Song’an’s hand, he had slipped the ring onto his finger.
“It’s simple—a ring. Done.”
Lin Song’an froze for a moment, and Tan Ning, hands clasped behind his back, wore a smug smile and walked ahead quickly, like a victorious general.
Lin Song’an caught up, chuckling. “I haven’t put yours on yet.”
Tan Ning handed him the other ring, and Lin Song’an carefully slid it onto his finger, making a promise: “Ning Ning, when you graduate and come home, I’ll give you the most spectacular wedding.”
“I know,” Tan Ning replied.
Onlookers passed by, smiling warmly at them.
Now wearing the ring, Tan Ning easily deflected any advances from others. He would simply say, “Sorry, I’m engaged. I have a fiancé.”
If others ask, “What does your fiancé look like?”
Tan Ning would break into a happy smile.
He’d answer, “My fiancé is handsome, outstanding, responsible, and he loves me very much.”
Then, he’d take out his phone to show the other person his lock screen, which would make them exclaim, “Wow, he’s really handsome.”
This made Tan Ning feel happier than receiving compliments about himself.
“Does he have any flaws?”
Tan Ning would think for a moment and reply, “Well, he’s a bit clingy.”
Usually, this would earn him a speechless reaction, but Tan Ning didn’t see this as showing off. He never held back from praising Lin Song’an in front of others, mainly because he found it hard to express his feelings in front of Lin Song’an directly.
But everyone has a desire to show off.
So, when Lin Song’an’s news trended online, it wasn’t Tan Ning who found out first—it was someone else who told him.
His senior burst into the lecture hall and rushed over to him. “Ning, is this your fiancé?”
Tan Ning focused on her phone screen, momentarily stunned.
It really was Lin Song’an.
#CEO of Tianhe Group Admits to Gland Removal Surgery, Board Unhappy#
#Top-Tier Alpha Removes Glands#
The comments were filled with reactions like “Unbelievable” and “He’ll regret this eventually.”
Tan Ning stayed calm on the outside, though his heart skipped a beat. His senior asked, “Is that really your fiancé?”
Expressionless, Tan Ning replied, “Yes.”
“He actually removed his glands? He was really a level-nine alpha before?”
“Yes.”
His senior was baffled and shared the sentiment online. “A level-nine… I’ve only ever seen one level-nine alpha before. Why would he remove his glands? Just having such high-level pheromones grants a person incredible social standing. People around him would feel the impact of it—has he gone mad? Why would he do that?”
“Because I’m a beta.” Tan Ning’s voice was calm.
His senior fell silent.
Tan Ning picked up his phone, stepped outside the classroom, and checked the time before calling Fang Jin.
“Aunt Fang, Song’an is trending.”
Fang Jin sounded calm. “I heard, and I’ve already arranged for people to take care of it.”
“Is the board really unhappy about his decision to remove his glands?”
“They have no right to be,” Fang Jin said, clearly upset. “Is job competence dependent on pheromones? For people to say, ‘You’re not a level-nine alpha anymore,’ as if all his hard work and achievements mean nothing—how ridiculous.”
Tan Ning felt his nose sting, and he wanted to cry.
“Xiao Ning, don’t feel guilty. If you let yourself feel guilty now, you’ll be taking the same position as those netizens and the board members, wouldn’t you?”
Tan Ning immediately gathered himself. “I understand, Aunt Fang.”
“We have to trust Song’an. If he’s made this decision, he has to be able to handle the media pressure. Life is long; what’s a little bump in the road? Xiao Ning, don’t worry. His father and I are here with him.”
“Aunt Fang, I feel…” Tan Ning’s mood was still low. “I feel like I can’t really help Song’an—I’m so useless.”
“That’s not true. You’re the reason he found the courage and resolve to go through with this decision. Isn’t that important?”
Tan Ning lowered his head.
“Xiao Ning, are you thinking that if you were from a family like Yan Zhiyu’s, and more on his level, you could pay off the media on his behalf or back him up at board meetings?”
Silence.
“Don’t think like that, Xiao Ning. You have your own path to follow. You study hard, you were the top of your class, and you’re now studying abroad. It’s not your responsibility to be his right-hand man.”
Her words struck him deeply.
“I’m a living example of that—you can see it, too.”
“Aunt Fang…”
“Those things you wish you could do for him? His father and I can take care of them. He doesn’t need more than that from you. Just support him, keep his spirits up, and live your own life well. Will you be coming back for summer break?”
“Yes, I’ll come home as soon as vacation starts.”
He said “home.”
After that, his face reddened.
Fang Jin chuckled. “Good. Come home soon.”
Lin Song’an never told Tan Ning about the board’s challenges to him. Although the trending topic was quickly taken down and the media storm quieted, there was still turbulence within Tianhe.
Within the company, both alphas and omegas, even betas, shared the sentiment of disappointment over Lin Song’an’s decision.
As if without his level-nine pheromones, he was no longer worthy of being the CEO of a public company.
Lin Song’an never opened up about his thoughts on this to Tan Ning. Instead, he waited until late at night, called Tan Ning at a time that aligned with their time difference, and said in a weary voice, “Baby, I’m a bit tired.”
Tan Ning wished he could hold him right that moment.
Fang Jin confided to Tan Ning that one of Tianhe’s board members was trying to exit. This board member had already expressed dissatisfaction when Lin Song’an took over as CEO and had caused him trouble multiple times in meetings. Now, this same person was seizing on the gland removal as an opportunity to frequently dump shares, creating a crisis of confidence, implying that “Tianhe will fall apart under Lin Song’an’s leadership.”
What’s more, this director held seniority and influence within Tianhe, so Lin Song’an couldn’t simply cut ties with him.
To deal with this, Lin Song’an chose to stay calm and proceed with his initial plans.
In early June, Lin Song’an secured a highly coveted international project, beating out over a hundred competing companies, which created a major stir in the industry.
Dragging his suitcase out of Ningjiang Airport, Tan Ning was about to hail a taxi when he saw Fang Jin’s driver waving at him from the curb. He quickly walked over, and the driver said, “President Fang sent me to pick you up.”
So, Tan Ning got into the car.
He originally thought Fang Jin was taking him home, but the route gradually shifted. Tan Ning grew a bit puzzled, “Where are we headed?”
“You’ll know when you get there,” the driver replied.
About twenty minutes later, the car stopped at a hotel entrance. Tan Ning caught a glimpse of the large display at the entrance that read Tianhe Group Project Launch Conference.
“Ballroom One,” the driver pointed him in the right direction.
Tan Ning immediately walked toward it.
As he approached the entrance of Ballroom One, he could already hear Lin Song’an’s voice, narrating the bidding process.
Pushing open the doors, he saw the grand ballroom filled to capacity with over a thousand guests, all seated, with every light focused on the stage. Lin Song’an, in a black suit, stood in front of a screen, gesturing to showcase the project renderings. “…A total of 18 high-rise buildings and related municipal facilities, covering approximately 1.7 million square meters. It’s the largest project taken on by a Chinese company in the United Arab Emirates to date…”
Poised and unflinching, he spoke with confidence and grace.
This version of Lin Song’an was strikingly different from the one Tan Ning knew more intimately. At that moment, he looked just like he had the first time Tan Ning saw him.
Back then, he had stood at the edge of Lin Qi’s kitchen, lit by a dim light, but Tan Ning could see his face clearly.
Because Lin Song’an was never afraid of being observed.
Nearby, some hotel staff were whispering, “Is that the alpha from the news, the one who removed his glands?”
“Huh? He removed his glands?”
“Yeah, he used to be a level-nine alpha.”
“Level nine?!” One of the servers looked up in shock at Lin Song’an on stage, and after a while, murmured, “But… he still seems very charismatic.”
Tan Ning walked over to Fang Jin, who smiled and asked, “You made it? Was traffic bad?”
Tan Ning shook his head, “No, not at all.”
He looked up at the stage. “Auntie, why didn’t any of you tell me about such an important event?”
“Song’an wanted it to be a surprise.”
“This is the project you mentioned earlier? The one Uncle Lin has been trying to secure for three years?”
“Yes,” Fang Jin looked at Lin Song’an with pride. “Song’an managed to pull it off.”
Fang Jin gestured to a seat in the far corner, “That’s the director who opposed him all along. Now that the project’s secured, he’s gone silent.”
Lin Song’an finished his speech to a resounding applause that lingered in the air. Standing in the spotlight, surrounded by flowers, he glanced in Tan Ning’s direction from afar.
With a slight lift of his brow, his smile grew deeper.
Tan Ning knew that expression—it was Lin Song’an’s own brand of proud, spirited, almost childlike charm, reserved only for him.
