Liu Zhong, who was escorted by the receptionist earlier, reached the meeting room at the top floor of the Long Corporation. He waited inside for a long time and started getting worried when he noticed that Zhu Jiuheng and Long Yuzhou hadn't returned yet. He went out of the meeting room with worry filled eyes wanting to search for Zhu Jiuheng. Just as he was about to go to the lift, he heard a commotion nearby. Being curious, he went in the direction of commotion to see what's happening. As he moved near the crowd, he noticed that a male employee was arguing with a female employee. He pushed through the crowd to see what's really going on. Just as he got to the front, he saw the female employee in a grey formal tailored pantsuit slapping the male employee who looked aggrieved. He gasped as he wondered who's this petite looking woman with well structured curves, who dares to slap a male employee in front of so many people. But what caught his attention was the white shirted male employee who didn't back down from his stance even after getting slapped. Something about that person attracted him as he subconsciously moved between the male and female employee enquiring them about the reason for the commotion.
Liu Zhong said to the female employee, "I know it's not right for me to intervene but Miss, slapping someone publicly is not an appropriate action. If you could say what's the matter, maybe I could help you solve it."
The female employee looked at him, completely displeased by his interference.
"You! Who are you? Who let you in? How dare you intervene in something which is not related to you?" The female employee questioned him harshly.
Liu Zhong didn't expect her to be so rude but he didn't let it show in his face as he continued defending the man standing behind him.
"Miss, If this is your attitude towards someone who came to your place as a guest then I think this commotion is surely not the fault of this young man." He said as he looked towards the man behind him for a conformation. The man behind him who's much taller than him with broad shoulders and sharp eyes nodded agreeing with him.
The female employee chided as she walked away with a warning, "Don't think you can get away easily after offending me, Xinglang"
As soon as the woman walked away, the crowd dispersed leaving only the two of them behind.
There was silence between them for a while before Liu Zhong decided to break it.
"Now that the commotion is over. I'll be heading back" Liu Zhong said, not bothering to know why the commotion had taken place as he retreated a few steps.
Xinglang didn't know what came to him as he rushed towards the retreating figure of Liu Zhong, calling out to him, "Mister! Please wait"
Liu Zhong's steps halted as he turned back to answer, only to get bumped so hard that made him stumble. It happened so fast that he had no time to steady himself as he grabbed whatever bumped into him as he fell down but luckily his head landed on something soft.
Confused, Liu Zhong opened his light hazel eyes, which got reflected in the black eyes of the person who's under him. Embarrassed Liu Zhong quickly got up, fixing his attire before helping the person stand as well.
Liu Zhong's eyes darted everywhere as he asked, "What's the matter that made you rush over?"
Xinglang coughed lightly to dismiss the embarrassment in his voice, saying "I'm Wu Xinglang, thank you for stepping up for me even though it's not your matter to handle. As a gesture of gratitude, I want to treat you to something."
Liu Zhong waved his hands dismissing his offer, "It's alright, Mr. Wu. Don't bother yourself as I just did what I thought was right."
Wu Xinglong didn't budge and stayed persistent making Liu Zhong finally give in. As they walked together, Liu Zhong noticed that the other was limping. He paused in his track asking, "Mr. Wu, are you hurt because of the fall earlier?"
Wu Xinglong couldn't hide it anymore as he admitted, "Maybe but don't worry it will be cured in a while"
Liu Zhong's brow furrowed as he looked at the other limp. Without a second thought, he supported Xinglong as he helped him settle near the staircase near the lift.
"Mr. Wu, Wait here, I'll be back with some medicine" Liu Zhong said and walked away without waiting for a response.
As Liu Zhong walked away, a cold, metallic invisible aroma filled the stairway as Wu Xinglong's eyes turned silver, his wound on the knee started healing on its own.
Liu Zhong quickly returns back to the stairway with a first aid kit. As he's worried, he didn't notice the changes. He quickly settled the first aid kit beside Wu Xinglong, started rolling his pants up to the knees level despite the constant disapproval from him.
As Liu Zhong rolled the pants up, he couldn't spot any wound making perplexed.
Wu Xinglong noticed the confusion in his eyes so he held his wrist saying, "I told you, I'll be fine and there's no need to bother with such a small wound."
Liu Zhong finally looked up at Wu Xinglong, noticing that his eyes turned from being black earlier to silver. His eyes widened as he asked, "Your eyes colour…. They changed?"
Wu Xinglong clicked his tongue realising his mistake. He gently held Liu Zhong's wrist saying, "Don't panic, I'll explain it".
But he didn't know that Liu Zhong is not a mere human. Liu Zhong was quick to get a whiff of the cold, metallic scent in the air around them and somehow deciphered that Wu Xinglong was also not a mere human but belongs to the world of darkness.
Wu Xinglong thought that Liu Zhong's silence was because of his fear so he moved forward to gently embrace him in his arms saying, "Mister, You don't need to panic. I won't hurt you. Calm down and I'll explain it to you"
Suddenly being embraced, Liu Zhong's body froze as the cold, metallic scent of the blue puya warped around them like a thin blanket. Liu Zhong tried to push Wu Xinglong away but he felt his heart race, a strange warmth started spreading through his body making his mind hazy and his movement sluggish.
Wu Xinglong didn't realise that his scent was affecting Liu Zhong as he held him tighter as he continued speaking in a soft voice to comfort him. Liu Zhong's grip on Wu Xinglong tightened as his mind became hazy as heat spread through his veins making the back of his neck itch.
Suddenly a burst of sweet osmanthus aroma filled them, as Liu Zhong finally couldn't tolerate the heat and lost his consciousness in Wu Xinglong's embrace.
Wu Xinglong was quick enough to catch Liu Zhong making him lean on his lap as he comprehended the sudden change and the burst of sweet osmanthus aroma.
Wu Xinglong's eyes widened when he finally put the pieces together. He leaned towards to sniff Liu Zhong who's exuding the sweet osmanthus aroma. He gasped loudly at his finding as the lift arrived and its doors opened to reveal the CEOs of two big conglomerates in a kiss lock. He was so worried about Liu Zhong that he missed what's inside the lift as he tried controlling his instinct while trying to bring back his consciousness. The people inside the lift, Yan Jiuheng and Long Yuzhou quickly parted, distancing themselves. Just as Yan Jiuheng looked outside, his eyes widened as he quickly rushed towards the unconscious Liu Zhong in Wu Xinglong's arms.
"Liu Zhong! What happened to you?" Yan Jiuheng asked, ignoring Wu Xinglong.
Wu Xinglong panicked when he saw his CEO appear behind the person who looked worried for the man in his arms.
"CEO Long!" Wu Xinglong greeted while being dismissed just like anytime. Long Yuzhou noticed the worried look in Yan Jiuheng's eyes while accessing Liu Zhong. He clearly knew how Liu Zhong was an important person in Yan Jiuheng's life. His honey coloured eyes fell on Wu Xinglong coldly as he asked, clearly noticing the aroma filling the air, "Mr. Wu Xinglong, may I know what happened here?"
Yan Jiuheng finally looked up at Wu Xinglong and noticed the scent filling the air.
He became so angry that his amber eyes started glowing golden orange, as his claws started growing as he grabbed Wu Xinglong by collar, asking "What have you done to Liu Zhong? You pervert! I'm going to kill you"
"Jiuheng! Calm down, Let me handle this", Long Yuzhou said as he squatted beside the raging Yan Jiuheng holding his wrist. Yan Jiuheng glared at him as he exclaimed in worry, "How can I stay calm when this pervert forced Liu Zhong to present? How risky is it for a late bloomer to transform into an alpha?"
Long Yuzhou checked his watch and it's almost time for the meeting so he gently held his waist, lifting him on his foot. Yan Jiuheng protested yet his grip on his waist tightened as he instructed Wu Xinglong, "Mr. Wu Xinglong, I don't care if it is intentional or accidental but it has already happened so you need to take responsibility and take good care of him till we return from the meeting. I hope you know where to take him, right?" He didn't wait for his response as he turned his attention to Yan Jiuheng who's currently glaring at him while making a fuss, "What do you mean you don't care? You bastard, letting that pervert take away Liu Zhong, I won't allow it."
He ignored his glare and fuss as he pulled him away a little saying, "And you, Jiuheng! You're coming with me to attend the meet now."
Yan Jiuheng made a fuss, slapping his hands on his waist yet Long Yuzhou didn't let go. Finally being defeated by the powerful slit honey hue eyes, his usual coldness returned as he turned to warn Wu Xinglong, "You pervert! If you try to do anything inappropriate to Liu Zhong while we are at the meeting, I won't hesitate to kill you and have your heart and liver as my dinner".
Long Yuzhou pinched his waist making him jump as he whispered near his ears, "Keep your wicked fox attitude under check or I might need to personally execute you" Yan Jiuheng glared at him, slapping his hands away as he walked inside the meeting room with his usual cold, arrogant attitude.
Long Yuzhou shook his head as he turned towards Wu Xinglong saying, "I hope you heard him well. So keep your instinct under check and don't do anything inappropriate as even I can't help you if something like that happened". With that Long Yuzhou walked towards the meeting room.
Wu Xinglong nodded even though there's no one present to witness it, as he carried Liu Zhong in his arms and entered the lift before pressing the button to the basement.