Powerful Investment Chapter 23: Jiao Yue’s Confession, Lu Yao Catches Them

Chapter 23: Jiao Yue’s Confession, Lu Yao Catches Them

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Even the most oblivious person could feel the awkwardness in the air at this moment—let alone Ji Jin, who was far from insensitive. In fact, he was quite perceptive when it came to matters of the heart.

Jiao Yue stood right in front of Ji Jin, carrying only a small backpack that didn’t seem to hold much. His hair was a bit messy, and he looked worn out and travel-stained, clearly having rushed here the moment he got the news without wasting any time.

Lu Yao was in the living room, dressed in casual home clothes, the scent of plum wine lingering throughout the house. He stood there looking wronged and sad, his gaze innocent yet pained. At his feet was a tipped-over cup, its contents spilled on the floor—whether it was accidental or deliberate was unclear. (Definitely not accidental.)

Ji Xingxing sat on a small stool holding Maka Paka, turning his confused face toward his father, seeming to realize that the atmosphere was off. He sniffed sharply, uncomfortable from the strong Alpha pheromones in the air around him.

“Dad!” Ji Xingxing slowly stood up, dropping Maka Paka and hurriedly running to Ji Jin’s side, seeking protection. But his short legs stumbled a bit, nearly falling when he reached Ji Jin. His little mouth quivered as if he was about to cry again.

Ji Jin quickly picked him up and instinctively took two steps back.

That small movement, however, stirred up the two Alphas nearby.

Though humans were more relaxed about territorial instincts, Alphas still felt offended when another Alpha’s pheromones invaded, especially when the Omega they cared for smelled of a different Alpha.

Ji Jin was now crossing a major taboo — his body carried Jiao Yue’s pheromones, yet he was standing in Lu Yao’s territory and scent.

This offended both Lu Yao and Jiao Yue, and Ji Jin’s stepping back looked like a retreat to them.

The Alphas’ possessiveness was breaking through all reason. Lu Yao and Jiao Yue locked eyes, their gazes clashing fiercely. For a moment, it was as if swords flashed in the air. The scents of plum wine and sea breeze thickened dramatically, as if they were about to fight in this small room.

“Lu Yao!” Ji Jin raised his voice, knowing he couldn’t stand by and watch. If the Alphas fighting over the Omega didn’t calm down soon, they could lose control under the influence of their pheromones.

“Brother?” Lu Yao felt confused by Ji Jin’s sudden shout, but softened his gaze and looked back at him.

Lu Yao’s fighting spirit dimmed, while Jiao Yue’s was growing stronger. The uncontrollable pheromones flooded the plum wine scent in the air. Lu Yao, hearing Ji Jin’s words, bit back his frustration and didn’t retort.

“Jiao Yue, please step outside for a moment. I need to talk to you.” Ji Jin took a deep breath, almost choking on the heavy pheromone-laden air in the room. He waved his hand, signaling Jiao Yue to wait outside.

Jiao Yue turned slowly to look at Ji Jin, a bit puzzled. But since his Omega wanted to talk privately, he suppressed his pheromones and returned to the hallway with a cold expression.

“Brother!” Seeing Ji Jin trying to leave, Lu Yao finally couldn’t hold back. He hurried forward several steps, stopping right in front of Ji Jin.

“Brother, you can’t leave.” The plum wine scent still clung to Lu Yao, and under the stimulation of pheromones, his reason wavered. He restricted Ji Jin’s movement, refusing to let him go.

Ji Xingxing, held by Ji Jin, looked utterly defeated, having absorbed too many unpleasant pheromones. The little baby was drooping, unable to find any joy anymore.

Seeing this, Ji Jin put Ji Xingxing down. The child, a bit upset by his father’s behavior, leaned against Ji Jin’s leg and refused to move.

“How can you leave with someone else? You promised to live here. How can you go back on your word?” Lu Yao’s voice was urgent and panicked. He tugged at Ji Jin’s sleeve, afraid he would walk away the next second. “I listened to you!”

He had listened carefully to Ji Jin, and hadn’t meant to go after Jiao Yue. How could his brother just abandon him to talk to Jiao Yue?

It’s true that pheromones made Alphas impulsive, Ji Jin thought, headache pounding as he rubbed his forehead. Even Lu Yao, who had probably been holding back, now blurted everything out.

Jiao Yue was still outside with the door open, meaning their conversation was half audible. The sea breeze pheromone scent grew stronger again, as if urging Ji Jin to come out.

If he didn’t come out soon… Jiao Yue might burst in again.

Ji Jin had no choice — he couldn’t just watch Lu Yao and Jiao Yue fight.

So he tore off the pheromone suppression patch stuck on the back of his neck, letting the strawberry-scented pheromones spill out. Then he stood on tiptoe slightly, wrapped his hands around Lu Yao’s neck, and showed him the tender, pale skin at the back of his neck.

The strawberry-scented pheromones gently enveloped the young man before him; the sweet smell even tempted one to lightly bite Ji Jin’s neck. Ji Jin’s rough action of tearing off the patch just now had left the gland area on the back of his neck slightly reddened.

Lu Yao felt like he had used all his strength to stop himself from biting down.

“Xiao Lu, wait here and watch Ji Xingxing. I’ll come back after talking to him,” Ji Jin’s voice was soft and gentle, like a hand slowly stroking Lu Yao’s back, smoothing down his fur until Lu Yao couldn’t utter a single word of refusal.

Ji Jin smelled the sea breeze coming in from outside the door again, but Lu Yao hadn’t let go yet. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke quietly—

“When I come back, you can do whatever you want, alright?”

As soon as those words fell, the pheromones on Lu Yao surged violently, but his body relaxed. His eyes were moist, full of anticipation and joy.

“Then brother should come back early.” Lu Yao released Ji Jin’s sleeve, bent down, and picked up Ji Xingxing.

Ji Xingxing leaned against his dad’s legs, his expression full of hopelessness, still lingering. After waiting for a long time, his dad hadn’t picked him up again and was going to leave with a strange-smelling uncle?

“Daddy! Daddy’s taking the baby!” Ji Xingxing was held in Lu Yao’s arms but was still thinking about Ji Jin. His lower legs were in Lu Yao’s embrace while his upper body reached for Ji Jin’s arm.

But the strength of a human child was too weak and was easily restrained by Lu Yao.

Ji Jin bent down and gave Ji Xingxing a quick kiss, telling him to behave. Then he pushed open the door and walked out. Jiao Yue was still waiting at the doorway, boredly staring at the green “Safety Passage” light above the elevator door.

“God Ji,” Jiao Yue stood in the empty space next to the door. Without Lu Yao’s pheromones around, his rationality returned somewhat, and he no longer looked as tense as before.

“Did you book a hotel? Do you have a place to stay tonight?” Ji Jin nodded slightly and pressed the elevator button casually. His demeanor was graceful and composed, unaffected by the previous atmosphere.

“No… no,” Jiao Yue replied softly, lowering his head.

He had immediately booked the nearest plane ticket after seeing the news online and flew over, thinking about what to say or do when he saw Ji Jin. But as soon as he saw Ji Jin, he forgot everything and only wanted to rush forward and hold him.

This was his God Ji, the lazy one who smiled at wins and losses, unafraid of insults and always calm.

The god who once stood at the highest point and overlooked everyone. The person he had secretly liked for a long, long time.

It was incredible that such a person was an Omega. At first, he thought both he and Ji Jin were Alphas, that maybe fate was cruel—how could he drag his God Ji onto a wrong and difficult path?

But now he knew God Ji was an Omega, and he simply could not endure anymore.

He liked Ji Jin and wanted to say it immediately. His heart was overflowing with affection like a flood about to break its dam.

“Then let’s find a hotel nearby for now.” Ji Jin entered the elevator, motioning for Jiao Yue to follow. He was usually casual and walked lazily.

When the elevator descended, Ji Jin seemed to remember something, took an Omega suppression patch from his pocket, and stuck it casually on the gland at the back of his neck.

The faint strawberry scent was completely blocked.

After leaving the apartment building, outside was a small park. Ji Jin remembered many hotels and inns were across from the park, so he headed in that direction.

“Say whatever you want.” Ji Jin strolled into the small park. There weren’t many people—only a few elderly men and women exercising far away.

The two stood under a silk tree at the entrance. It was the blooming season; the layers of silk flowers gave off a sweet, delicate fragrance.

“God Ji… is it really true you’re an Omega?” Jiao Yue had so much he wanted to say but, when the chance came, clumsily asked the least relevant and cared-for question.

“Yes,” Ji Jin leaned against the silk tree, crossing his arms seriously and nodding. “Of course I’m an Omega. Didn’t you smell the scent?”

“I… then God Ji, are you single now?” Jiao Yue instinctively clenched his fists, his heart racing nervously.

“Yes… still single, more or less,” Ji Jin replied softly. Suddenly remembering Lu Yao, he added the “more or less.”

After all, he hadn’t agreed to be with Lu Yao yet, had he?

“I… I like…” Jiao Yue’s eyes brightened, his affection nearly bursting out, but he stopped mid-sentence when he met Ji Jin’s gaze.

Seeing it, he couldn’t say another word.

Ji Jin’s eyes were serious and gentle, exactly the same as the God Ji he remembered. But in those eyes was no joy or excitement at the confession—nothing.

No liking. Not even him.

Jiao Yue saw the answer for himself. Sometimes, not saying certain things made it easier for both sides to keep face and not lose even the chance to be friends.

“God Ji… I…” Jiao Yue suddenly felt like a deflated balloon, unable to find that initial, fulfilling feeling again.

“I’m an Omega, too, and an Omega with a child,” Ji Jin said calmly. “I have Ji Xingxing, and returning to RPL is already my greatest fortune. I don’t want anything else.”

Don’t want anything else… Jiao Yue carefully absorbed those words in his heart. God Ji meant he didn’t want anything else, even if there was.

“What about Lu Yao? You don’t want anything else, so what does Lu Yao mean? Why does he live with you?” Jiao Yue tried to control his emotions but, after being completely rejected with no chance, he just couldn’t.

“He…” Ji Jin’s mind went blank for a moment as he thought about the question.

What did Lu Yao mean to him?

Lu Yao was Ji Xingxing’s father, a one-time drunken fling, someone he could not refuse.

But he had also been his teammate, his student, and now was his enemy.

“Lu Yao is different from you all,” Ji Jin said softly. “He is my… lifelong enemy.”

From the day Lu Yao joined IKW, he had known that this young man would shine in the RPL. Brave, resourceful, and mentally strong, this person was born for this line of work.

“There are hotels and inns just ahead. You should go find one to stay in first,” Ji Jin said quietly. “If you have any difficulties, just say so. Consider this trip as a vacation in City B.”

Jiao Yue felt a bit unwilling but was helpless. He bit his lip, lowered his head, and suddenly hugged Ji Jin tightly.

The faint scent of sea breeze blew over Ji Jin’s hair; Ji Jin stood still and let Jiao Yue do as he wished. He knew Jiao Yue’s temper wouldn’t lead to anything extreme because of a rejection.

Finally, resigned, he said goodbye and carried his backpack toward a hotel across the park.

Ji Jin stood where he was, took a deep breath, and then slowly prepared to leave.

If Ji Xingxing had been by his side, he would definitely have picked him up and run away without looking back. Previously, to calm Lu Yao down, he had used every strategy, even exposing his Omega glands and promising to listen to everything Lu Yao said.

Now, if he went back, wouldn’t Lu Yao be furious and wild with him?

Just the thought scared Ji Jin awake in a rare moment of panic.

So Ji Jin stood at the elevator entrance, took out his phone, and checked the latest trending topics on Weibo.

Ji Jin’s trending topic had never dropped and was growing in number. The latest headline was #ProfessionalLeagueConfirmsJiJinIsOmega.

Ji Jin thought that Xu Jinyi was quite quick. His slender fingers swiftly tapped the screen and opened the topic. The first post was from the official Professional League Weibo.

@LegendReappearanceOfficial: The active professional player @Ji Jin has registered as Omega. Legend Reappearance Professional League does not discriminate against players based on gender. As an outstanding RPL player, Ji Jin will not be disqualified due to gender.

He didn’t know if the comments below were controlled, but all were supportive. Several players friendly with Ji Jin posted messages publicly supporting him, especially Naisi, who posted many comments on the league’s official Weibo. Even CYW, a team Ji Jin had defeated several times, voiced support.

MOE team’s statement followed, announcing a press conference soon. However, MOE’s Weibo was buried in the hot comments, making it look like a fake account.

The top comment was from @JiJin’sHeadPattingRecommendationSquad.

@JiJin’sHeadPattingRecommendationSquad: Love knows no gender—

The first half seemed normal, and Ji Jin felt a warmth inside, thinking Xiao Lu was thoughtful. But then he saw the second half hidden behind it—

OmegaGod Ji is even sweeter!

Ji Jin: ??? What does “Love knows no gender, OmegaGod Ji is sweeter” mean?

The comfort he had just felt was instantly extinguished by this sentence. Holding his phone, Ji Jin was ready to take the elevator up, energized by the sudden surge of emotion.

But as the elevator arrived and the doors opened, he saw Lu Yao’s darkened face, holding the aggrieved Ji Xingxing.

One big and one small, both in the elevator, their eyes and expressions were almost the same, as if two foes had come specifically to gank Ji Jin.

Ji Jin’s heart skipped a beat.

 

 

 

 

 

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