Chapter Text
The hallway outside the emergency lounge was dim and too cold, the overhead lights flickering softly as if trying to hold their breath. Shaoyou had been searching for Hua Yong everywhere for the past hour, calling every hospital contact, checking every CCTV feed, driving through half the city until his hands shook on the steering wheel.
The Enigma was never this quiet, never this unreachable. By the time he reached the end of the corridor his heartbeat felt like it was trapped under ice.
He turned the last corner and froze.
Someone was sitting on the floor beside the vending machine. Knees pulled to chest. Clothes wrinkled and damp. Hair messy, falling into his eyes. A paper cup lay knocked over near his feet. The figure trembled slightly, shoulders rising and falling in small frantic breaths.
For a moment Shaoyou thought his mind was playing a cruel trick.
Then the person lifted his head.
And Shaoyou’s world crashed.
“Hua Yong…”
He said the name like a prayer, stepping forward so quickly he almost tripped. Relief and fear surged through him at once, mixing into something sharp and unbearable.
Hua Yong blinked slowly, eyes dazed and unfocused, lips parting just slightly at the sound of a voice.
But there was nothing behind his gaze. No spark of mischief. No smug tilt to his mouth. No sharp awareness. Frightened, empty confusion replaced everything Shaoyou knew.
The man flinched when Shaoyou knelt in front of him.
“who…?” the whisper trembled out, barely there, like a child reaching for something lost.
Shaoyou cupped his cheeks instantly, hands shaking. “I am right here. Look at me. What happened? Who hurt you?”
Hua Yong stared at him as though he were looking at a stranger. His lashes fluttered, breath coming in short, soft puffs. He struggled for words, voice trembling so weak it barely carried.
“I… I do not know.”
Shaoyou’s chest tightened painfully. He swept his thumb across Hua Yong’s cheek, feeling how cold his skin was. “It is me. Your husband. Shaoyou. Hua Yong look at me.”
Hua Yong blinked, gaze flickering over Shaoyou’s face with hesitant confusion. Then his lips quivered and his eyes lowered, as though unable to hold eye contact for more than a heartbeat.
“I am sorry,” he whispered. “I… cannot remember.”
The words cracked something in Shaoyou. He leaned forward and pulled Hua Yong into his arms without hesitation, without thought, without fear.
The moment he touched him, Hua Yong startled, then sagged against him with a fragile whimper, gripping Shaoyou’s shirt like it was the only thing keeping him sane.
Shaoyou’s heartbeat raced. He felt Hua Yong’s breath trembling against his neck, softer than anything he had ever felt from him. The Enigma who used to dominate every room now clung to him like an abandoned omega terrified of being alone.
Shaoyou swallowed hard. “You are safe. I have you. I promise I will not let go.”
Hua Yong’s fingers tightened. “I… feel strange.”
“Tell me.”
“I feel small.”
Shaoyou closed his eyes, voice thick. “Someone messed up with your hormones. That is why you feel this way. Nothing is wrong with you.”
Hua Yong shivered. “My head hurts. Everything feels… scary.”
Shaoyou pressed his lips to Hua Yong’s forehead. “I am here. You do not have to be afraid.”
There was a pause. Then, in the smallest voice Shaoyou had ever heard from him
“Can you… carry me?”
The request tore through him.
Shaoyou gathered Hua Yong into his arms, lifting him with ease. Hua Yong curled against him, pressing his forehead into Shaoyou’s shoulder. His fingers clutched tightly onto Shaoyou’s shirt, like a frightened kitten holding onto the only anchor it had.
Shaoyou held him close, unable to hide the shaking in his own hands. As he walked through the corridor, doctors and nurses stared, stunned.
They had only ever seen Hua Yong as the intimidating Enigma, the man whose presence shook entire corporations. Now he looked like a fragile omega, trembling and lost in Shaoyou’s arms.
Shaoyou ignored all of them.
He carried Hua Yong into an empty room and gently set him on the bed. Hua Yong instantly reached for him, eyes wide and frightened.
“Do not leave,” he whispered.
Shaoyou took his hand. “I am not going anywhere.”
Hua Yong’s fingers twisted into his. “Everything is blurry.”
“I know.”
“I cannot remember you.”
The words were like knives, but Shaoyou forced himself to smile softly, brushing Hua Yong’s hair back. “You do not have to remember me. Your body remembers me. That is enough for now.”
Hua Yong’s lips parted, trembling. His gaze softened, almost innocent. “You… feel warm.”
Shaoyou leaned closer. “Then stay with me. Rest.”
Hua Yong hesitated. Then he curled closer, pressing his cheek against Shaoyou’s chest. His voice came out in a whisper so faint it disappeared into the fabric of Shaoyou’s shirt.
“…Do not leave me alone.”
Shaoyou held him tight, eyes burning.
“You will never be alone. Not while I breathe.”
When Hua Yong stopped trembling, Shaoyou gently make him stand. The omega immediately whine, missing the warmth.
"We shall go home now"
"...home?" Hua yong asked carefully and Shaoyou nod as he took Hua Yong outside to the Parking and He promised himself one thing.
He would find the person who did this.
And he would make them regret ever touching his husband.
~~'~'
After Some Hours, At Shouyou Penthouse
The front door opened with the loud shuffle of children’s feet, Lele running in first with Peanut following behind him. Wenlang stepped in after them with a bag of snacks, looking exhausted. Gaotu closed the door gently, already calling, “Peanut, shoes. Lele, wash hands first.”
As they Enter Inside. They all froze. Peanut stopped walking mid step, Lele blinked in confusiong and Wenlang stared as if not believing what he was seeing with his eyes.
Shaoyou was sitting on the couchand in his arms curled up small like a frightened kitten was Hua Yong. Yes,The Enigma who could silence boardrooms with a stare was clinging to Shaoyou’s sleeve and hiding half his face in his shoulder.
It was Wenlang who spoke first because of course it was him.
“What is this now? Some new performance? Are you back to your omega act again?”
Shaoyou shot him a look. But Before Wenlang could continue, Hua Yong flinched so violently the children stepped back. His fingers tightened on Shaoyou’s shirt. His shoulders trembled. His breath hitched audibly.
The whole room went still.
Gaotu felt the shift first. The air was different around Hua Yong. Softer. Fragile. The scent leaking from him was unmistakable. Not Enigma. Not Alpha. Not dominance.
Omega.
Real Omega.
Gaotu moved before anyone else, slowly, gently, stepping toward them. “Hua Yong,” he said softly, voice calm, patient. “Look at me. Can you look at me?”
Hua Yong’s fingers curled tighter into Shaoyou’s sleeve, his head shaking in small trembling motions. “No. Do not want to. Everything feels loud. Too many scents. Want to stay here.” His voice cracked on the last word, thin and trembling.
Peanut’s eyes widened. “Hua yong.” It was the first time he said the name quietly, without teasing. His father who usually calls him Best, Headache, always fighting for attention from Shoayou acting like this?
Wenlang frowned, confused and frustrated. “What is wrong with him. Why is he talking like that.”
Shaoyou placed a hand behind Hua Yong’s head. His voice was steady but his face was pale. “Someone drugged him. Forced suppression collapse. He has been like this since I found him.”
Peanut gasped and Lele held his hand tightly. Lele whispered, “Peanut. Hua yong scared.”
Gaotu knelt on the floor right in front of Shaoyou, bringing himself to Hua Yong’s eye level. His voice remained gentle and coaxing like he knew how to handle this situation.“Hua Yong, nobody here will hurt you. Not Wenlang. Not the kids. You are safe. Can you tell me how you feel.”
Hua Yong peeked out from behind Shaoyou’s shoulder. His eyes were glossy, unfocused, and frightened in a way none of them had ever seen. He whispered, “I feel heavy. Cold. My chest hurts. Everything is spinning.”
Gaotu nodded slowly. “You are having withdrawal from suppression. Your instincts are reacting. You need calm scents. You need rest.”
Hua Yong whimpered. The sound was so small that Wenlang actually froze.
Shaoyou stroked his back. “I am right here. You can hold me if you need to.”
Hua Yong curled closer, gripping him with trembling hands. “Do not leave. Please. Please do not leave.”
Wenlang muttered, “This is terrifying. I liked him better when he insulted me every time I breathed.”
Gaotu shot him a sharp glare. “Be quiet. He is overwhelmed.”
Wenlang scowled but remained silent.
Peanut stepped forward slowly, hesitantly, something new in his eyes. Worry. He whispered, “Hua yong. I am here too.”
Hua Yong lifted his head slightly, pupils wide and soft like a frightened animal. “He's... Huasheng?” he asked Shoayou who nod and Called Peanut near
Peanut immediately went to him and knelt beside Gaotu. Hua Yong reached a shaking hand to touch Peanut’s cheek. “You are safe. That is good.”
Peanut bit his lip, expression trembling. “Are you safe.”
Hua Yong paused. His eyes lowered. “I am not sure.”
Gaotu placed a hand over Hua Yong’s, voice soft but steady. “You will be.”
Shaoyou nodded. “We will handle it.”
Wenlang crossed his arms. “Handle what. Someone drugged him. This is not normal. We need to call my security team. We need to find who did it.”
Hua Yong shrank back at Wenlang’s raised voice. Shaoyou immediately snapped, “Lower your voice. You are scaring him.”
Wenlang shut his mouth so fast he almost bit his tongue.
Gaotu shifted closer, reaching to check Hua Yong’s pulse. “He is still unstable. He should not be overstimulated. Shaoyou, bring him to the bedroom. He needs quiet.”
Shaoyou nodded and helped Hua Yong stand. Hua Yong clung to him, hiding against his chest like an actual frightened Omega.
When they began walking toward the hall, Hua Yong wobbled and almost fell. Wenlang moved instinctively, steadying him by the arm. Hua Yong jerked back with a soft frightened gasp.
Gaotu stepped in front of Wenlang, blocking him. “Do not touch him unless he invites it. His instincts are in panic mode.”
Wenlang lifted his hands defensively. “Fine. Fine. I will not touch him. Just get him to bed before he collapses again.”
Peanut followed close behind Shaoyou, one small hand holding Hua Yong’s sleeve. “I stay too.”
Hua Yong nodded weakly. “Stay.”
Wenlang picked up Lele, who had tear marks on his face. “We should go.”
Lele buried his face in Wenlang’s neck. “Will Hua yong Uncle be okay.”
Gaotu placed a soft hand on Lele’s back. “Yes. He will. Do not worry.”
As Shaoyou guided Hua Yong down the hallway, Hua Yong looked back over his shoulder at Gaotu, eyes trembling and lost.
“Gaotu,” he whispered faintly.
Gaotu stepped closer but kept his voice calm. “I am here if you need me.”
Hua Yong nodded very slowly, then hid again in Shaoyou’s chest.
And for the first time in their lives, the apartment fell into a silence that no one knew how to break.