Chapter 9: Cat Addiction

Cat Addiction.

News that the president of the Mu Group had an omega spread from the factory and eventually reached the entire Mu family.

Everyone knew that since Mu Jingyi presented as an alpha, he had suffered from pheromone deficiency syndrome.

Instruments could detect fluctuations in his pheromones, but no omega could smell them.

Because of this condition, all omegas matched with him had extremely low compatibility.

They could not respond to his pheromones, could not ease their heat cycles with an alpha’s scent, and could hardly provide him with comfort during his susceptible periods.

Logically speaking, a position like the president of the Mu Group meant that many low-compatibility omegas would willingly rely on suppressants for a lifetime just to climb into Mu Jingyi’s bed.

But Mu Jingyi stubbornly rejected every one-night opportunity for reasons no one understood.

For as many years as this condition plagued him, he endured each susceptible period with suppressants alone.

The entire Mu family watched this talented, decisive eldest grandson of Old Master Mu.

They secretly hoped that one day he would die from a pheromone riot.

Until a technologically engineered omega with forced 100% compatibility appeared at his side.

“Third Uncle, if you keep stirring the shareholders to reject the board’s proposal, the company’s performance this year may decline.”

Mu Jingyi spoke politely, yet cold fury hid beneath his sharp brows.

One glance from him made Mu Zhaohua shiver.

When his expression turned cold, he resembled an assassin.

His eyes were like a venomous snake, ready to strike at someone’s lifeline.

“This… this proposal won’t work.

It’s too risky.”

Mu Zhaohua’s voice faltered despite being the elder.

Mu Jingyi let out a low chuckle.

“You know your own motives.

I’ve completed the due diligence and risk assessment thoroughly.

Your dividends are tied to Mu Group’s profits.

Why oppose me?”

“A piece of meat without the smell of rot isn’t so easy to swallow.”

“If Mu Group cannot secure it, then no other company in the world can.”

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table.

“Third Uncle, this is no longer the company you managed.

The empire I built is far more competitive.”

Each word struck true.

No one denied Mu Jingyi’s brilliance or ruthlessness.

Just as everyone knew that apart from his pheromone deficiency, there was no other flaw preventing him from being heir.

He placed a thick stack of project documents before Mu Zhaohua.

“Third Uncle, pulling tricks at the shareholders’ meeting is not wise.”

He tapped the cover once.

“Know when to stop.”

Only after Mu Jingyi left did the oppressive aura dissipate from the room.

Mu Zhaohua took several deep breaths.

His nephew was terrifying.

Back in his office, even the comfortable executive chair could not ease Mu Jingyi’s tension.

Closing the door allowed him to set aside his cold facade temporarily, yet discomfort lingered.

The eastern district project had to be secured.

It was his unchanged original intention upon taking this position.

He took a photo frame from his drawer.

A family portrait.

A young Mu Jingyi.

A spirited alpha father.

And a gentle male omega.

That omega looked exhausted beneath delicate makeup, white hair framing a pair of white rabbit ears.

Mu Jingyi’s late omega father had also been a fusion-type omega.

The eastern district was his father’s hometown.

Mu Jingyi had promised him that the ruined mountains would one day become beautiful again.

From his omega father, he learned kindness, devotion, and gentleness.

From his alpha father, strict discipline and business acumen.

He had every qualification to become a strong yet tender gentleman.

In the photo, young Mu Jingyi held a white stray kitten named Silver Frost.

He had always loved fluffy creatures.

Perhaps because of Silver Frost.

Perhaps because his omega father had been a rabbit-type fusion omega.

After presenting as an alpha, it became almost absurd.

Stray cats were drawn to him.

They rolled at his feet, begging for affection.

But Silver Frost’s sudden death shattered his courage to raise another cat.

He could not endure building another decade-long bond only to face inevitable loss.

Touching the glossy image of Silver Frost, he suddenly missed the cat waiting at home.

He hoped Ning Jiu would live a long life.

Despite his longing to return home, tonight was destined to be overtime.

He and his team had to refine the proposal and rebut every criticism raised earlier.

He messaged Aunt Chen and pressed his aching temple.

Power struggles were exhausting.

The higher one stood, the colder it became.

Anxiety lingered.

He swallowed a tablet from his drawer.

Then, almost absentmindedly, slipped sleeping pills into his briefcase.

For a long time ahead, he would rely on them for rest.

When he finally returned home, he did not head to the office lounge to sleep.

He wanted to see his cat.

Even if only to stroke a sleeping head.

Opening the door, he saw his omega cat curled on the dining table, using his fluffy tail as a pillow.

He slept deeply.

His breathing lifted the soft fur gently.

Mu Jingyi stood watching for a long time.

The faint shadow of eyelashes lay across pale skin.

A soft smile lingered on red lips.

The weight on his chest lightened.

He bent down to carry him to bed.

“Sir…”

Ning Jiu stirred, voice thick with sleep.

Mu Jingyi stroked his hair.

“Why sleep here?”

“I… was waiting for you.”

He rubbed his eyes.

“It’s very late.”

“I’ve been working overtime.

It’s complicated.”

Seeing the red in Sir’s eyes and the fatigue beneath them, Ning Jiu felt a faint ache in his heart.

“Sir must be very tired…”

He lifted his tail and gently brushed it across Mu Jingyi’s tense cheek and jaw.

Soft fur wiped away sweat and anxiety.

It even brushed across his restless throat.

“Kitty…”

The warmth chased away much of his irritation.

Mu Jingyi pulled him into a tight embrace.

For a moment, the composed executive mask fell away.

Humans truly cannot live without cats.

He buried his face into Ning Jiu’s neck and inhaled deeply like someone addicted to cats.

Relief spread through him.

“Kitty, it’s good to have you.”

Ning Jiu’s ears twitched as he processed the meaning.

He remembered factory staff saying alphas sometimes needed soothing pheromones.

He touched the back of his neck uncertainly.

“Does Sir need kitty’s soothing pheromones?”

They had not marked each other.

But the artificial 100% compatibility was enough to form attraction.

Mu Jingyi smiled.

“Alright.

Thank you, kitty.”

Ning Jiu peeled off the blocker patch at his gland and shyly tilted his neck.

“Sir, I’m an inferior omega.

My pheromones are weak.

You might need to come closer.”

A faint creamy scent drifted out.

Sweet but not cloying.

Like a fine cream cake.

Mu Jingyi inhaled slowly.

The scent soothed him more than any before.

He liked it.

Truly liked it.

Warm breath brushed against Ning Jiu’s sensitive skin.

Heat spread through his body.

His knees weakened.

He leaned closer instinctively.

A slight sway brought the gland into brief contact with Mu Jingyi’s lips.

Ning Jiu froze.

“Kitty, there’s a small raised spot beside your gland.”

Mu Jingyi touched it gently.

“That… that’s from surgery.

Omega gland modification.”

When leaving the factory, something had been implanted.

A small dissolvable suture scar remained.

Mu Jingyi’s gaze darkened.

How much pain had his cat endured to achieve this artificial 100% compatibility.

“Kitty, do you want to remove it?”

“…Why?”

Ning Jiu blinked in confusion.

Without it, there would be no 100%.

Wasn’t that why he could stay here.

“No, Sir.

Don’t remove it…”

His plea was soft and urgent.

As if guarding something precious.

Even if it throbbed at night.

He treasured it.

It was his guarantee to remain here.

Mu Jingyi could not bear those clear blue eyes looking at him like that.

He gently stroked the heated skin at his nape.

“Alright.

If kitty wants to keep it, we’ll keep it.”