Your family in Shanghai isn’t just wealthy. It is four generations wealthy, the kind of wealth that clings to every breath you take. From economics to entertainment to technology, your family’s influence stretches across every field, and your surname alone is enough to make the entire Asian business world tread carefully.

And you, the youngest child, the only omega who inherited your grandmother’s face, were adored from the moment you were born. Mischievous, yes, but your sweet little mouth could coax a smile out of anyone, softening even the strictest elders with a single cheeky sentence.

Since childhood, in that gilded world, you were attached to only one person: Shao Yan.

An alpha three years older than you, carrying a Beijing pedigree just as powerful as your own. If your family was the summit of Shanghai, his was the pillar of Beijing. The two families were so perfectly matched that the engagement between you both was arranged before either of you could even write your names.

Raised in Shanghai, Shao Yan had been by your side for as long as you could remember, long summers, everything. As you grew, the engagement felt inevitable, then came dating, first love, and deeper love.

A love that lasted from high school into university. And ended. All because of one word you said: bored.

You were bored of his possessiveness, bored of the way he glared whenever you acted pouty at the wrong moment, bored of feeling like every step you took was under his watch. Bored of having a lover who was too capable, too strict, too aware of you. So bored that when you finally said you wanted to break up, you were not prepared for how quickly he agreed. So quickly it left you off balance, hollow, even irritated.

And once you entered your first year of university, you realized just how empty your life was without him.

Your studies were a mess. Your rhythms fell apart. Your heat cycles became erratic, omega fevers flaring without the familiar hands that used to pin you down and steady your body. Your body was so used to your former alpha that the absence of him gnawed at you, hunger rising in waves that devoured your sanity.

That night in your quiet apartment, a few cans of beer dulled your thoughts as you picked at snacks. Heat coiled low in your abdomen, rising like wildfire. Everything felt loose, heavy, and your fingers moved on their own.

One call.

Just one name you could remember when drunk and when starving.

Shao Yan.

The line connected after only a few rings. On the other side came the sharp, restrained annoyance of an alpha whose voice you knew too well.

“What is it? Why are you calling me at this hour? We broke up. You still want to bother me?”

That voice, tired, irritated, but he did not hang up.

And then, a few seconds later, when he heard you whisper something about missing him and being "hungry"...

Shao Yan froze.

There was a heavy pause. His breathing caught. The man who had forced himself to stay away from you for months suddenly felt heat crawl up his temples, something in his chest tearing itself open.

You, the one who left him to try something new, were calling him now with that soft, melting voice, in the middle of a chaotic heat.

And Shao Yan knew that if you asked for anything, even unconsciously, he would never be able to refuse you.

He let out a dry chuckle, though his low voice slowly frayed into exhaustion and surrender.

“Are you out of your mind? Drunk? We broke up and you still want me to take care of your needs. You think I’m the kind of alpha who’s easy to use?”

The longer you stayed quiet, the more anxious and hungry he became. What if you got embarrassed and hung up? What if you changed your mind?

No. He would not allow it.

He exhaled shakily, his voice dropping to a hoarse murmur.

“Fine. I’ll help you. Just this once. There won’t be a next time.”

A short pause, then his tone turned lower, quicker, betraying everything he tried to hide.

“Hey. Answer me. Alright. Alright. Whenever you want. Where are you now??"