ROT CH 1

Chapter 1: The Rose-Scented Leopard Cub

Han Junzhou stepped out of the operating room at ten in the evening. Today’s surgery was particularly challenging, keeping him on his feet for thirteen hours straight. Understandably, he felt exhausted.

After briefing the patient’s family about the operation’s success and the care plan moving forward, Han Junzhou left amidst their effusive gratitude. In the elevator, he rotated his stiff shoulders and neck, mentally planning his evening—grab a quick bite, head home, and take a hot shower. Hopefully, he’d still have enough energy afterward to finish grading his students’ midterm reports.

Thinking about his teaching duties at A University brought a strange sense of irritation. Han Junzhou used to enjoy teaching—it made him feel youthful, surrounded by eager students. But lately, the enthusiasm was replaced by fatigue. Watching those vibrant young men and women only emphasized the age gap between them. At 36, he couldn’t help but feel out of place among such youthful energy.

Maybe, he thought, it was time to focus solely on his medical career and let go of his teaching role at A University after this semester. It would probably be for the best.

Looking at his reflection in the elevator mirror, Han Junzhou noted the dark circles under his weary, bloodshot eyes. His hair, slightly curly by nature, was a mess after being confined under his surgical cap all day. He tried smoothing it out to no avail, laughing bitterly at the irony. His unruly hair wasn’t the only thing beyond his control. Life felt full of responsibilities yet offered little room for autonomy.

Reaching the parking garage, Han Junzhou exited the elevator, heading toward his car. Suddenly, the screech of brakes echoed across the empty space. Two black Q2 SUVs pulled up sharply, parking illegally at the elevator entrance. Their doors slammed open, and two groups of men in black suits quickly emerged, charging toward the elevator.

Han Junzhou glanced at them, uninterested, and stepped aside.

“Good evening, Director Han,” the leader of the group greeted him with a sharp eye. Spotting their target standing right by the elevator, they halted and bowed in respect.

“…Sigh,” Han Junzhou thought, resigning himself to the encounter. “Team One, why are you here again? Didn’t your young master say he didn’t need me anymore? I just finished surgery and was planning to eat. I’m not in the mood to play with you tonight.”

He moved to sidestep the group, intending to leave.

“Director Han, it’s an emergency. Please come with us first. We’ve already prepared food for you, and you can eat in the car,” Team One’s leader stepped forward, blocking his path again.

“And if I say no?” Han Junzhou stopped in his tracks, crossing his arms as he stared at the group with a hint of defiance.

Outwardly, Han Junzhou looked every bit the refined doctor, but as a genuine Alpha from the Yunbang Han family, his physical prowess was undeniable. Although the men in black were well-trained bodyguards, due to certain factors, all twelve of them were Betas. Even if they attacked together, they might not stand a chance against Han Junzhou.

A few of the men behind the leader stepped forward, seemingly ready to drag him back by force. However, the leader raised a hand, stopping them.

Han Junzhou swept his gaze over the group, noting there were only seven of them present. Members Two through Six were absent. Their demeanor was firm, but there was an unusual sense of anxiety in their eyes. Some looked disheveled—clothing torn, dirtied, and faces marked with injuries. Most surprising was that the youngest, Number Twelve, appeared on the verge of tears.

“What happened?” Han Junzhou frowned.

“The young master…he’s injured,” the leader hesitated, lips pressed tightly together as if unsure how to explain. After a brief pause, he added in a low voice, “He was ambushed. We’re not sure if he’s been drugged. He has several knife wounds, and the bleeding won’t stop…”

Han Junzhou’s usual playful demeanor vanished. Before the leader could finish, he strode toward the car parked by the elevator, opened the door, and got in.

“Drive,” he commanded, his voice icy, startling even the seasoned leader.

---

Four Years Ago

Han Junzhou had just finished his outpatient clinic hours. As the last patient left, he was typing up the medical records when the clinic door suddenly burst open with a loud bang. Both he and the nurse tidying up the room jumped in surprise.

Han Junzhou recognized the intruder immediately. It was Bai Lin, the head of the Heijiao family.

The Heijiao Bai family was nearly as prominent as the Yunbang Han family. The two households had little interaction—not out of enmity, but because they simply operated in different spheres. Both were Alpha lineages, but their methods differed. The Bai family had a reputation for ruthlessness and significant influence in the underworld, while the Han family held power through wealth and extensive networks. Decades ago, the family leaders had reached an agreement to avoid conflict, recognizing that infighting would only weaken both families in a world where Alpha households were becoming increasingly rare.

And now, someone entirely unconnected to him stood in his clinic, holding another person in his arms.

“Head Bai, greetings. This is…” Han Junzhou rose to meet him, gesturing for the nurse to leave.

Although the Han and Bai families had no personal ties, both were reputable lineages. Despite Bai Lin being much older, they were of the same generation by familial ranking. While Han Junzhou technically didn’t need to address him formally, he chose to out of respect for his age.

“Han Junzhou, you need to take a look at my son. There’s something off about him.” Bai Lin didn’t waste any time with pleasantries, speaking urgently as soon as he walked in. His face was a strange mix of concern and something that felt like disappointment. He hurriedly placed his son—pale and delicate—onto the examination bed.

The Bai family was known for their violent tendencies—fighting was second nature to them, and they even had their own private hospital. But instead of heading there, Bai Lin had brought his son to Han Junzhou. What surprised him even more was that Bai Lin had come alone, without any bodyguards. This implied that the situation was a secret—something wasn’t right with the younger Bai’s condition.

Bai Chengyu lay on the bed, curled up and drenched in sweat. His eyes were half-closed, his teeth clenched as he trembled. Han Junzhou leaned in closer, and unexpectedly, a soft floral scent wafted from the boy’s body. Bai Chengyu opened his eyes, struggling to focus on Han Junzhou, letting out a soft, almost pained sound.

His mesmerizing green eyes locked onto Han Junzhou’s. They were wide with confusion, but there was also a trace of wariness—like a kitten trying to act tough. His defensive and somewhat playful gaze caught Han Junzhou off guard, and just as he was lost in thought, a subtle change in the room’s atmosphere made him freeze.

Han Junzhou, a specialist in Omega differentiation and reproductive science, shouldn’t have been in this situation. As an Alpha who was sensitive to Omega hormones, he was not supposed to be handling this kind of case. But his low sensitivity to hormones had allowed him to control his reactions to both Alpha and Omega pheromones. He could smell the aggression from other Alphas without being provoked into a fight, and he could detect Omega’s alluring scents without feeling any attraction.

He had always thought of himself as a lucky Alpha—one who could maintain control over his desires. But now, standing here, he couldn’t deny it: something was happening, and he couldn’t control it. He had taken inhibitors before seeing his patients, but right now, his body was reacting.

The white coat hid his discomfort, but Han Junzhou could feel his neck releasing pheromones uncontrollably. His proud, distant gland, one he had always kept under control, seemed to be responding to the young boy’s presence—his scent, his aura—pulling at him like a magnet.

Bai Chengyu let out another soft groan, his voice low and desperate, causing Han Junzhou to hesitate for a moment. The boy moved his lips as though trying to say something, and instinctively, Han Junzhou bent down to listen. But at that moment, Bai Chengyu, like a quick, agile little panther, lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Han Junzhou’s neck. His body, weak and sickly, still showed a raw intensity as he lightly nipped Han Junzhou’s shoulder through his clothes, a hint of desperation in his actions.

It wasn’t painful—more playful than anything. Despite his illness, the boy’s fiery nature hadn’t been fully extinguished. His eyes, still clouded with confusion and anger, burned with a fierce energy that sparked a reaction in Han Junzhou. He wasn’t prepared for it, but somehow, this young boy’s innocent aggression was stirring something in him.

But this wasn’t the right time, nor the right place—not with the boy’s father standing right there, watching everything unfold.

Han Junzhou found himself in an awkward situation, with the little “leopard” clinging to him pitifully. He didn’t know whether to push him away or leave him as is. Either option felt strange.

“You see him? Do you think he’s reaching his differentiation stage?” Bai Lin wasn’t bothered by the awkwardness; he was clearly anxious. “Our family’s Alphas usually differentiate around fourteen or fifteen, but he’s about to turn seventeen, and he still hasn’t. I thought it was because he’s of Eurasian descent, but now I’m starting to wonder… is something wrong?” Bai Lin frowned as he watched his son, still tangled up with the doctor. “His differentiation feels… strange. There’s no sign of Alpha aggression, and he’s just so limp.”

Han Junzhou recalled hearing that Bai Lin’s wife was foreign, so it made sense that the boy had some European blood. It explained why his features were sharper and more defined than those of his peers, and why his green eyes had a tranquil, lake-like depth.

Suppressing his rising thoughts, Han Junzhou asked, “Can you smell it? His scent?” Bai Chengyu, after nibbling on him earlier, was now snuggling against his neck, whimpering quietly. Han Junzhou calmly removed the boy’s arm from his neck and gently laid him back down on the examination bed, wrapping him securely in a blanket.

Bai Lin shook his head. “Isn’t the scent usually faint when they first differentiate? Can you actually smell something? What does it smell like?”

Han Junzhou frowned. Though Bai Chengyu’s scent was faint, it was sharp enough to fill the small room. Bai Lin didn’t seem to notice it, but Han Junzhou could feel his body reacting. It meant the pheromones they were both releasing were low in concentration, but strong enough to affect the two of them. This could only mean one thing—they were highly compatible, a match in every way.

Han Junzhou sighed and walked back to his desk, pulling a patch from a drawer and applying it to his gland before turning to Bai Lin. “Mr. Bai, we’ll need to do some blood tests to confirm, but from my experience, his differentiation has definitely started. The reason he’s so weak and limp is that he’s… an Omega.” He paused, eyeing Bai Lin. “His scent… it’s of roses.”

“What?” Bai Lin’s face fell, clearly shocked and disappointed. His son, who had been strictly trained to be strong, had now differentiated into a delicate Omega, and his scent was so soft, like a flower. “How is this possible? The Bai family has always had Alphas. How could he turn into an Omega?”

Bai Lin sank into the chair, defeated and lost in thought. Han Junzhou, frowning, tried to reassure him. “Mr. Bai, even if your son is an Omega, he is still your son. I’ve seen many exceptional Omegas who have excelled in all fields, no less than any Alpha…”

“What do you know?” Bai Lin cut him off, suddenly standing up and shouting, “How can a weak Omega take over my family? How can he compete out there with others? He’s just… just…” His voice trailed off as his anger rose. He slammed his fist onto the desk and turned to leave, not sparing a second glance at his son.

Han Junzhou was speechless. He had heard of older generations holding such traditional views, but seeing someone abandon their own son so easily was another thing entirely. It was shocking, especially in a time when Omegas were increasingly rare and cherished. The government protected them, and families often pampered them. But Bai Lin’s reaction left Han Junzhou in disbelief.

With a sigh, Han Junzhou moved closer to the examination bed to check on Bai Chengyu. The blanket shifted slightly as Bai Chengyu lay there, holding back sniffles. Han Junzhou knew the boy had heard everything. This proud little “leopard” had been abandoned in a strange place by his own father. Han Junzhou gently patted the blanket, trying to comfort him. But…

“Go away.” Bai Chengyu tossed the blanket aside and shouted, landing a punch squarely on Han Junzhou’s stomach.

Well, a leopard is still a leopard, no matter the size, gender, or even Alpha/Omega designation.

‘Bai Lin, you better come back and take a look at your fierce little Omega. What are you so worried about? Han Junzhou thought helplessly to himself.

That day, Han Junzhou arranged for Bai Chengyu to have a private room so he could quietly go through his differentiation process.

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