ROT CH 16

Chapter 16: It’s Truly Lucky to Have an Omega Like You

“Bai Chengyu, there’s nothing wrong with admiring strength,” Han Junzhou said, his tone both gentle and serious. “These deeply ingrained beliefs you’ve held since childhood may have been instilled by your father or even your entire family. I’m not saying they’re wrong. Power and influence can indeed appear formidable. But do you think merely having physical strength, winning a few fights, or wielding power and influence to suppress others makes someone a true strongman?”

Bai Chengyu shook his head. He knew his idea of a strongman encompassed more than that. Han Junzhou nodded approvingly. “That’s not strength. Using brute force, money, or authority to dominate others is nothing more than the behavior of a thug or brute. Is that what you want?” Bai Chengyu shook his head again.

“The difference between humans and animals lies in the human ability to think and reason. The difference between the strong and the weak lies in the strong being able to control their minds, while the weak are ruled by their desires.”

“A strong person isn’t defined by their physique, strength, or wealth, but by their resilient and steadfast mind,” Han Junzhou explained. “A true strongman isn’t about being invincible; it’s about showing restraint when one can do something.”

Bai Chengyu, resting his head on the table, listened intently, slightly entranced. He had never realized before that strength required restraint. “What do they need to restrain? Aren’t they free to do whatever they want?” the boy asked, his thoughts hazy.

“Freedom?” Han Junzhou flicked his finger as if he had just pinpointed the young leopard’s fascination with Alphas and their supposed superiority. “Freedom also requires restraint. It must be built on self-discipline and respect. Otherwise, how is reckless indulgence any different from the thuggery we just discussed?”

Seeing the young leopard looking both confused and attentive, Han Junzhou’s heart softened. He reached out and gently pinched the back of his neck.

“I’m not sure what misunderstandings you have about Alphas. Perhaps it’s common for people to see us this way. Alphas make up less than one-tenth of the global population, yet most resources are controlled by us. Many might think we have all the advantages, that we’re heaven’s favored children, able to get whatever we want and do whatever we please without consequence. But a good Alpha actually bears more responsibilities than the average person.”

“Responsibilities? What responsibilities? All I’ve seen are Alphas running wild, not even taking responsibility for their own Omegas,” Bai Chengyu muttered, his grievances spilling out.

Han Junzhou sighed, resting a hand on his forehead. Shaking his head with a light chuckle, he said, “That’s why I said, good Alphas. Sigh, I won’t deny there are too many irresponsible people. That’s why my responsibilities are even heavier, isn’t that right?”

Bai Chengyu, feeling a bit dissatisfied, said, “What’s the use of just you? Besides, you don’t even like Omegas.”

“Huh?” Han Junzhou was taken aback. “Why do you think I don’t like Omegas?”

“You like Alphas. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten that your ex was an Alpha.”

“Oh, you mean Yue Qi,” Han Junzhou chuckled softly. “Yes, I liked him. But I liked him not because he was an Alpha. I liked him because he was a good person, someone worthy of my affection.”

Bai Chengyu pursed his lips and hesitated for a moment, saying nothing.

“Bai Chengyu, what you long for is true freedom, isn’t it?” Han Junzhou chose not to dwell on Yue Qi and steered the conversation back to the boy. “Being the master of your own life is indeed the mark of strength, but strength isn’t exclusive to Alphas. What era are we living in now? Is there anything that only certain genders or people can do? Of course, Alphas and male Betas still can’t personally carry a child for ten months and give birth. In that sense, they’re a step behind Omegas.”

“But most people think Omegas are useless, just something that needs protection. Omegas are just tools for Alphas, there to give birth…” Bai Chengyu, his face full of frustration, snatched Han Junzhou’s wine glass and took a big gulp of osmanthus wine.

“That’s a stereotype. Are you going to chain yourself down with those beliefs too? Do you think there’s anything you can’t achieve?” Han Junzhou noticed Bai Chengyu drinking hastily and reached out to pat his back, helping him breathe. “If you really don’t want to have children, who can force you? Honestly, if we were talking about other Omegas, I might let it slide. But thinking about all the times I’ve been with you during your heat—without marking you, not even stealing a kiss—it’s laughable that you would call yourself a tool for childbirth. Childbirth, my foot. And a subordinate, you say? Since when has a subordinate been this overbearing?” Han Junzhou couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.

“Really? I don’t have to have kids?” Bai Chengyu’s voice was soft and airy, his question filled with confusion and an endearing innocence. Han Junzhou wasn’t sure if it was the aftereffects of the osmanthus wine or the rising tide of his emotions, but he felt that Bai Chengyu was becoming softer and sweeter by the moment.

“Of course not. If you don’t want to, then don’t,” Han Junzhou gently stroked Bai Chengyu’s head. “That’s entirely up to you.”

“It’s not like you’d decide that,” Bai Chengyu suddenly bristled, swatting away Han Junzhou’s hand as it ruffled his hair. “You chose an Alpha when you were in love, didn’t even want to be with an Omega, so obviously you don’t care whether Omegas have children or not!” His hazy, wide eyes fixed on the Alpha in front of him as he accused him.

Is this really not over yet? Han Junzhou was surprised at how hung up Bai Chengyu seemed to be about the fact that his previous lover was an Alpha. It felt like he’d inadvertently stepped on the little leopard’s tail, bringing the topic back again and again, from minor complaints to more pointed grievances.

“I never said I didn’t want to be with an Omega,” Han Junzhou said helplessly. “I’m more than willing to be with an Omega.” He emphasized the word “willing” to convey his sincerity.

A slightly intoxicated Bai Chengyu let out a huff, turning his head away childishly to present only the back of it to Han Junzhou, muttering under his breath, “Yeah, you’d love to be with an Omega. With one, you could control someone else’s entire life. Doesn’t that feel amazing?”

“Hey,” Han Junzhou sighed, realizing he couldn’t win against a drunken cat. He reached out to rub the fluffy back of Bai Chengyu’s head again. “Not all Alphas think about domination and control. A truly good Alpha knows restraint and respects others—especially their partner. It’s not just about being equals. It’s about cherishing them, holding them in the palm of your hand with love. Not at all like what you’re imagining, always mistreating people. I really don’t know where these ideas of yours come from.” The more Han Junzhou rubbed, the harder he pressed, as if he could knead those stubborn thoughts right out of Bai Chengyu’s head.

Where did these ideas come from? From what he’d seen with his own eyes.

Bai Chengyu’s mind grew hazy as memories of his Omega mother surfaced. In truth, he barely remembered her. As a newborn, he had been taken away and raised by nannies—a tradition in the Heijiao family. They believed that boys shouldn’t grow too close to their maternal relatives, fearing they might be raised too soft and gentle.

Thus, Bai Chengyu had grown up away from his mother’s side. The people around him took good care of him, and he never realized he needed a mother. But he knew that within the vast Bai family estate, there was a secluded corner where a beautiful, frail, and timid foreign woman lived. Once, while playing soccer, he had accidentally kicked his ball into her yard. When he went to retrieve it, she had clung to him, calling him “baby” as she cried and laughed. She babbled a string of words he couldn’t understand, scaring the three- or four-year-old young master half to death.

It took over ten minutes before the nanny realized he was missing. After searching the entire estate, she found him and “rescued” him from the woman’s arms. That night, Bai Lin had her sent away. Her desperate cries and pleas couldn’t soften his heart. The sobs had disturbed Bai Chengyu so much that he couldn’t sleep, even in his own room. Bai Lin personally came to comfort him, casually dismissing the incident as involving a “useless Omega” whom Bai Chengyu didn’t need to concern himself with.

Looking back as an adult, Bai Chengyu realized that had been his only interaction with his mother. He didn’t even know her name. All he knew was the phrase Bai Lin had used over and over: “useless Omega.“

Bai Chengyu’s mind was a jumble. Han Junzhou’s words about Alphas respecting and loving Omegas echoed in his ears, but in his head, he could only see the relationship between his Alpha father and Omega mother. Calling it a relationship was a stretch; it was more like Bai Lin’s one-sided plunder. From what he’d heard, Bai Lin had met a beautiful Omega abroad while on business, tricked her into coming back with him, and forced her to bear a child for the Heijiao family.

“Respect Omegas, love them, treat them as equals. Do such Alphas even exist?” Bai Chengyu couldn’t suppress his doubts any longer. Turning back to face Han Junzhou, his round eyes glistened with moisture, their corners tinged red with repressed emotion. His gaze held both defiance and a flicker of hope, making him look pitifully conflicted.

“Of course. I’m one of them,” Han Junzhou said firmly. The sweet rose-honey scent in the air had grown stronger. Bai Chengyu, muddled from both the osmanthus wine and the onset of his heat, had shed his usual mask. The arrogance and dominance had given way to innocence and honesty. Han Junzhou gently cradled Bai Chengyu’s tilted head, gazing into his bright, beautiful eyes. “I’ll treat my Omega very well.” His voice softened. I’ll treat you very well.

“Oh,” Bai Chengyu murmured, completely intoxicated—not just by the osmanthus wine, not just by his heat, but by the warmth in the Alpha’s gentle words. The little leopard cub restlessly climbed onto Han Junzhou’s lap, shifting around as he clutched the other man’s collar. His eyes, already glazed with emotion, brimmed with sincerity as he stared at Han Junzhou. Surprised, Han Junzhou found himself gazing back.

Bai Chengyu felt dizzy. Somehow, there were two or three Han Junzhous swaying before his eyes. Blinking hard, he focused until there was only one. His voice, slow and soft, sounded unlike anything before: tender and childlike. “Being your Omega must be so lucky,” Bai Chengyu said with a touch of envy.

(To be continued…)

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