RT Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Protection

Hong Zhenyue sat in the leather chair in the President’s office, tapping his fingers on the desk, his brow furrowed.

Outside the window, the night was dark, and his mood was even darker than the night.

On the phone screen, the real-time trending topics on major social media platforms were almost entirely occupied by terms like “Shu Lin,” “US-Class Omega,” “Minister of Defense Shao Chengxi,” and “Victims of Sonic Pheromones.”

The public opinion was surging like a tide, threatening to engulf him.

He snorted coldly.

It was always the same.

The public’s anger was always fleeting.

Wasn’t the sonic pheromone scandal fifteen years ago even bigger than this?

At that time, how many people clamored to send him to the guillotine, but what was the result?

Not only was he unharmed, but he also climbed to the pinnacle of power step by step.

If it were still those years, he would ignore it.

Let them make noise.

Time would dilute everything, and once the heat passed, who would remember today’s events?

It was just a rabble, small ants, how could they resist public power?

However, now he was the President, different from the politicians who hid behind the scenes and manipulated everything back then.

To secure this position and hold it for a long time, he had to consider livelihood issues such as social order, public sentiment, and economic development.

He had to put on some facade shows under high public opinion.

Just as he was racking his brains on how to quell this storm of public opinion, the door to the office was knocked.

With his “Enter,” the secretary pushed the door open, walked in quickly, and said:

“Mr. President, Shao Chengxi’s Omega, Shu Lin, is outside the Presidential Palace, requesting to see you.”

Hong Zhenyue’s eyes turned cold: “What qualifications does he have to see me? I won’t see him!”

The secretary swallowed hard, “Fuzhong Media is live-streaming the entire process, and almost the entire nation is paying attention to this matter.”

Hong Zhenyue’s face instantly turned ashen.

Live stream?

Was this forcing him to make a public statement?

Just as he was thinking about how to respond, the secretary reported again:

“Vice President Wu Xun and Secretary of State Li Zhengyu are also waiting outside the door.”

“They said they want to report to you on the current financial difficulties and the unstable morale within the Ministry of Defense.”

Hong Zhenyue’s fingers suddenly tightened, his knuckles turning white.

Wu Xun and Li Zhengyu?

The appearance of these two at this moment was clearly putting pressure on him.

Hong Zhenyue was silent for a moment, a trace of calculation flashing in his eyes.

If he didn’t see them, the public opinion would only become more turbulent, possibly leading to even greater unrest.

If he saw them…

Hmph, so be it.

Just a little Omega who had just turned twenty, what was there to fear?

So what if he was a US-Class Omega, hadn’t Hong Zhenyue seen them before?

It was nothing more than being prettier and having an Alpha pheromone matching rate of no less than 95%, making sleeping with them more enjoyable.

Apart from that, he was still just an Omega, who had to submit to the pheromones of an Alpha.

He was an S-Class Alpha, what was wrong with seeing Shao Chengxi’s little Omega?

In the end, he coldly said, “Let him in, but only him alone.”

As the secretary was about to turn around, Hong Zhenyue added:

“Remember, a ‘friendly reception’ throughout, don’t let the outside world catch any handles.”

The secretary nodded and retreated.

Hong Zhenyue stood up, straightened the collar of his suit, and put on a calm and dignified expression.

Since he had to act, he would act to the end.

The night wind howled, causing the flags in front of the Presidential Palace to flutter.

Shu Lin stood at the foot of the steps, the corners of his black suit lifted and fell by the wind.

He pursed his lips, his gaze calmly fixed on the closed door, but his fingertips unconsciously clenched his cuffs.

He was no stranger to this place.

During the five-day Presidential Palace conference held the year before last, Shu Lin had stayed in the Ministry of Defense’s command vehicle, never leaving, to prevent Shao Chengxi from entering his rut.

At that time, he would look out the window every day, watching Shao Chengxi enter and exit the Presidential Palace.

Back then, he could only wait quietly.

And now, he was about to step into this place himself.

This was something he never expected.

Fuzhong Media’s cameras were constantly focused on him.

In the live broadcast, his profile looked particularly pale in the cold wind, his eyelashes trembled slightly, beautiful and fragile.

He looked pitiful and lovable.

The comments in the live broadcast were scrolling like crazy.

“Oh my god, he looks so cold… Is the Presidential Palace just letting people stand outside and catch a cold?”

“He’s so strong, he’s clearly uneasy but he’s still standing so straight, my heart aches!”

“What kind of airs is the Presidential Palace putting on? Why is he being made to wait so long?!”

Shu Lin didn’t look at the comments.

But he knew that countless eyes were watching him at this moment.

He couldn’t show weakness, he couldn’t back down.

Behind him, Shu Lingxiao gently pressed his shoulder and whispered:

“Xiao Lin, bear with it a little longer. The longer they delay, the more favorable the public opinion will be for us.”

Shu Lin nodded almost imperceptibly.

Just then, the door of the Presidential Palace finally slowly opened.

The secretary walked over quickly, with a formulaic smile on her face:

“Mr. Shu, the President invites you in.”

The comments instantly exploded.

“Finally willing to see him! Were they deliberately ignoring him before?”

“Shu Lin, add oil! We’re all supporting you!”

“Add oil, supporting you!”

Shu Lin took a deep breath and stepped up the steps.

The night wind was still biting, but his back was straight and his steps were firm.

Shu Lingxiao frowned and immediately stepped forward, wanting to go in with him, but was stopped by the secretary:

“The President only wants to see Minister Shao’s Omega, no one else is allowed in. Please wait here.”

Her heart tightened, and her Alpha pheromones unconsciously exuded a bit of pressure.

Shu Lin turned back, gently pressed her wrist, shook his head, his eyes bright and firm:

“Sis, it’s okay, I can do it alone.”

Seeing this, the reporter from Fuzhong Media immediately pushed the camera closer and said to the audience in the live broadcast:

“Now Shu Lin is entering the Presidential Palace alone, and we will continue to stay here.”

“Here, I implore everyone not to leave the live broadcast room. Only you can protect Shu Lin’s safety!”

“Thank you everyone, thank you all for your protection.”

Comments floated up in the live broadcast again.

“Xiao Lin must come out safely!”

“If the Presidential Palace dares to touch him, the people of the whole country will not agree!”

“We won’t leave, we will stay here and protect him!”

As the door of the Presidential Palace slowly closed behind him, Shu Lin became unusually calm.

The light in the corridor cast a long shadow, and the sound of his leather shoes on the marble floor could be heard clearly.

He suddenly remembered the morning that changed his fate the year before last.

After the explosion at the City Central Hospital, he waited helplessly outside all night.

Thinking of his father and sister being buried in the rubble, their lives uncertain, he resolutely made up his mind to exchange himself with Shao Chengxi.

When he made that decision, he was calm.

He even remembered that after returning home, he took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and deliberately combed his hair meticulously.

Because he knew that to get someone like Shao Chengxi to look at him more, he had to show his best self.

He succeeded that time.

And now, he needed the same composure and precision.

The secretary led him through a long corridor and stopped in front of a carved wooden door, knocking on it. “The President is waiting for you inside.”

“Thank you.” Shu Lin thanked the secretary, straightened his tie, and opened the door.

This time, he would succeed as well.