Empire of Desire: An Alpha’s Financial Reign - Chapter 21

Jiang Shutong had made a firm decision. While she was engrossed in her demanding professional life, she would retreat to her personal sanctuary—a luxurious 300-square-meter apartment nestled in the heart of the bustling city. To ensure complete tranquility and isolation, she had even purchased the floor above.

The sheer extravagance of her living arrangement reflected her background. For her, spending freely came naturally. No matter how coveted the real estate, she bought without hesitation, an embodiment of elegance, privilege, and the calm authority of someone born into wealth.

Later that evening, Han Zaijing ascended to her floor in a private elevator. The metallic doors slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing a spacious, minimalist interior infused with muted lighting and modern aesthetics. The moment he stepped inside, a wave of intoxicating scent enveloped him—rich and heavy, the aroma of red wine laced unmistakably with potent Omega pheromones.

Her eyes scanned the room and landed on a small figure curled up on the suede sofa. Jiang Shutong looked unusually fragile, her body trembling slightly as the overwhelming effects of estrus began to peak.
Han Zaijing approached her cautiously. “Are you alright?” she asked, h voice low, concerned.

She inhaled, frowning sharply. The scent of another Omega clung faintly to Han Zaijing’s body—subtle, yet unmistakable. Her expression tightened. “Go take a shower,” she said curtly.

Zaijing understood immediately. The possessiveness and territorial instincts among Omegas were well-documented and deeply rooted in biology. Rather than arguing, she simply nodded and headed toward the guest bathroom. She picked up a bathrobe from the neatly arranged wardrobe and closed the door behind her.

The hot water coursed over her body, steam rising as she ran her fingers through her damp hair. Standing under the showerhead, Han Zaijing reflected on the conversation she had earlier with Dr. Lin Jin.

If her body was actively rejecting inhibitors, and if her pheromones were truly undergoing an accelerated evolution, then the only viable way to stabilize hermself—without being exposed to the world—was to maintain steady, controlled exchanges with high-grade Omega pheromones.

In other words, she needed physical closeness. Repeated, regulated contact. But it had to be free of complications.

Casual. Strategic.

Friends with benefits, and nothing more.

Once she accepted this, the next steps seemed clearer. Purpose replaced hesitation.

She emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying her hair in a few quick motions before pulling it into a damp bun. The bathrobe hung loosely around her frame, exposing a sculpted chest and toned torso. Though casual, there was something inherently magnetic about her appearance—sharp cheekbones, strong jawline, and that confident stride as she reentered the living room.

The scent of freshly applied shower gel now mingled with her own signature mountain pine musk, calm and earthy like forest soil after rain, distinct yet unobtrusive.

Jiang Shutong turned to her, slightly flushed. Whether it was her estrus heightening her senses or the sight of Han Zaijing’s exposed skin, her legs quivered slightly, and her glands throbbed with longing. For a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them was thick with tension.

This was the first time Han Zaijing had ever initiated such contact with an Omega in full awareness—not under duress, not out of emergency, but by choice. It made her hesitate for a second.

Her eyes fell on Jiang Shutong, dressed in a black silk nightgown that clung to her form. One of the straps had slipped off her shoulder, and the hem barely covered her hips. She looked seductive and vulnerable all at once.

Driven by instinct and intent, Han Zaijing leaned down and began placing soft, deliberate kisses—not on her lips, but tracing the outline of her body through the fabric. Each press of her lips was intimate, calculated. It made Jiang Shutong tremble.

Though she had once declared she wanted an open, emotion-free relationship, the reality was quite different. Han Zaijing was the first person she’d ever let touch her this way, and it was overwhelming.

Blushing, she tried to resist. “No… it’s embarrassing. Can’t we do something less provocative?”

Zaijing chuckled softly, her tone teasing. “You’re the one who said you wanted something casual. So why are you acting so shy?”

When she tried to protest again, she whispered near her ear, “It’s not dirty. I love the way you smell, especially here…” She kissed the sensitive spot on her inner thigh, where her pheromones pulsed strongest. “It drives me crazy.”

Jiang Shutong bit her lip, trying to maintain control over her heart and mind. Don’t take this personally, she reminded herself. It’s not love. She just likes the taste of my pheromones. That’s all. But her willpower collapsed the moment she lifted her into her arms and carried her to the bedroom.

She drew the curtains, dimmed the lights, and placed her gently onto the bed.

Their bodies entangled in passionate rhythm. At one point, Jiang Shutong’s lips parted to let out a soft cry. Her eyes glazed, her heart pounding.

She reached up, pressing the back of her head. “Mark me,” she whispered, breathless.

Without a word, Han Zaijing leaned in and bit gently into her gland. Her Alpha pheromones—stoic, grounded, like high-altitude pine forests—sank into her. They enveloped the red wine notes of her own signature scent, and for a brief moment, their auras blended, perfect in contrast and harmony.

The bond wasn’t permanent, but the surge of satisfaction that followed was deep and visceral. The bed creaked as their movements grew fiercer. She pinned her wrists to the pillow, overpowering and utterly focused.

Once it was over, Han Zaijing helped her clean up and left without staying. No kisses, no lingering embraces. No whispered endearments under the blankets.

This was the rule of their arrangement. This was her unspoken boundary. They both knew what it was—physical need, nothing more.

Back at her own apartment, Han Zaijing sank into thought.

Her condition was worsening. She needed to exchange pheromones regularly, but not just with anyone. Only high-grade Omegas—those classified as S-rank or above—could match her. Anything more than a three-level difference would be biologically incompatible.

Determined to find a long-term solution, she used her hacking skills to break into the pheromone archive at Huazhong University of Science and Technology—Beijing’s most comprehensive database. After a night of filtering through profiles, only five potential candidates remained.

Three of them she immediately eliminated: Ni Jia (SS), Jiang Shutong (SS), and Jiang Wan (SSS). Each brought complications. That left two names: Yan Yining and Jiang Nuan. Both S-level. Both technically viable.

But there was a catch. Yan Yining and Jiang Nuan were best friends. Worse, Jiang Nuan was the younger sister of Jiang Wan.

Zaijing exhaled, massaging her temple. The pheromone politics of the elite were as tangled as their family trees.

Still, among all the options, Yan Yining seemed the most accessible—perhaps even the most emotionally detached.

Decision made. Han Zaijing closed the laptop. Tomorrow, she would begin the next phase.