SSEWC Chapter 16

This is not a stage, and there are no spotlights,

No audience below waiting to applaud him, and no competitors.

Shi Shuang took off his coat, sat down at the piano bench, slightly adjusted the position of the bench. He placed his hands on the keys, pursed his lips, glanced sideways at the man standing beside him, then focused his gaze on the keys.

When those clearly articulated fingers pressed the keys again, a shy smile appeared on Shi Shuang’s tranquil profile. His raven-like long lashes trembled with the immersive melody.

In the warm yellow glow of the night, it cast a reflection on his handsome profile. His brows and eyes added a touch of charm. Shi Shuang half-closed his eyes, immersed in his own world.

This was the first time He Heng had seen him reveal such an expression. It wasn’t the initial indifference and stubbornness that kept others at a distance, nor was it the later inadvertent display of shyness and gentleness.

Sitting at the piano, unaffected by external influences and unrestricted by his Omega status, this was the most authentic and confident side of Shi Shuang.

Amidst the melodious piano sounds, people started gathering on both sides of the otherwise lonely rooftop, drawn by the music. It began with just a few individuals, scattered at first.

As the piece concluded, an uncontrollable wave of applause erupted from the surroundings. Shi Shuang smiled, slowly rising from his seat amidst the applause. He Heng took his hand and led him away from the crowd.

In the pitch-black night, the two of them sprinted along the wooden steps, eventually reaching a secluded corner.

Leaning against the railing, with the sky now completely dark, the sea breeze carried a salty scent. The sound of the wind grew louder.

Shi Shuang felt a chill, his figure seeming somewhat slender in the night breeze. He instinctively reached for his arms, realizing only then that his coat seemed to have been left at the piano upstairs.

The next moment, a warm sensation suddenly enveloped his shoulders as someone draped a piece of clothing over him from behind.

Shi Shuang abruptly turned around, locking eyes with He Heng’s profound gaze. Caught off guard, he paused for a moment, then suddenly, as if remembering something, he hooked the corner of his mouth and looked up at He Heng.

“Didn’t you say earlier that if I felt cold, I should bring my own coat?”

He Heng was momentarily speechless at his question. His elegant eyebrows furrowed together, unable to come up with a retort. Finally, he awkwardly turned his head away and blurted out,

“What, you look down on my coat?”

“No,” Shi Shuang’s voice carried a hint of a light-hearted laugh.

He Heng pursed his lips, then defiantly said, “I don’t give my coat to just anyone.”

At that moment, a warm and soft sensation, accompanied by the sweet scent of strawberries, interrupted He Heng’s words. The remaining syllables were swallowed back as Shi Shuang, on tiptoes, planted a light kiss on him.

It was a fleeting kiss, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

In that instant, He Heng’s pupils trembled slightly. He abruptly turned around, only to find that the Omega had quickly lowered his head, withdrawing his gaze as if nothing had happened. Yet, the subtly tinged redness at the tips of his ears betrayed the tension in his heart.

Why not add another kiss?

He Heng was still immersed in the lingering taste of the strawberry-flavored kiss. The alpha’s lime-scented pheromones gradually diffused, intertwining with the sweet scent of strawberries.

Even though the sea breeze was cool, the air surrounding the two began to warm up. The next moment, He Heng lowered his head, tilting Omega’s face. He noticed that the usually cool eyes of the Omega seemed to be deepened by a mist, adding a touch of vibrancy. The breath escaping from the slightly pink lips became increasingly erratic.

An invisible force drew the two closer, watching as Omega’s face gradually enlarged and the slightly parted lips of Shi Shuang. He Heng lowered his head and gently touched Shi Shuang’s lips, the sensation sweet, carrying the fragrance of rose petals.

This was followed by a second touch, and then a third.

The Alpha’s movements were deliberate, not rushed or hurried, more like a gradual progression. He bit down on Shi Shuang’s thin lips, his slender fingertips weaving through the soft black hair, completely enveloping the other.

Under the powerful aura of the Alpha, Shi Shuang felt a slight lack of oxygen in his brain. His arms instinctively wrapped around the man’s waist, burying himself in his embrace, tilting his neck to allow He Heng to claim what he sought.

The cool night breeze swept through, tousling the strands of their hair. The sound of waves crashing against the shore masked the subtle sounds of their breathing.

He Heng continued to deepen the kiss, feeling the warmth of the other’s oral cavity, savoring the sweet scent of strawberries.

“Mmm~”

It wasn’t until Omega let out a soft whimper, fingers slightly wrinkling the back of the man’s shirt, that He Heng eased up on the kiss. He flashed a smirk, slowing down but continuing to kiss him, while gently patting Shi Shuang’s back, attempting to soothe the person in his embrace.

The kiss left Omega feeling a bit dizzy. After parting, his slightly swollen lips were delicately pursed, and Shi Shuang leaned against the man’s chest, breathing heavily.

Moonlight spilled onto his slightly flushed cheeks as He Heng held him, gently patting his back in a rhythmic manner.

In this moment, looking at the person in his arms, his own Omega, a single thought filled his mind:

So, this is what it feels like to like someone.

“Shuang,” He Heng broke the silence first.

“Shuang Shuang,”

At his words, Shi Shuang lifted his head from his embrace. A faint blush adorned his fair cheeks. “Hmm?”

He Heng looked at him, “Can I call you that?”

“You can,” Shi Shuang nodded gently, feeling his ears growing warmer. He said, “Shuang Shuang.”

In He Heng’s mindset, when you like someone, you should confess your feelings, especially in a situation where you’ve already taken advantage of the other person (referring to the kiss). Even though he now held the legal status of the other’s husband, as a responsible Alpha, he felt it was his duty to decisively express his feelings.

With this in mind, he lowered his head, earnestly gazing into Shi Shuang’s eyes, and began, “I…”

However, at that very moment,

“Creak!” The glass door suddenly swung open, and He Heng felt the person in his arms stiffen. Quickly, they separated, each turning their heads to look elsewhere, with a somewhat awkward attempt to conceal the situation.

“Mr. He, didn’t expect to find you and Mr. Shi here,” the newcomer, a burly figure and one of the investment partners from “Holy Light,” said. “I looked around the banquet hall and couldn’t find you. Turns out you were hiding here. You made it quite a challenge for me to locate you.”

After exchanging greetings with Shi Shuang, the person took out a cigarette from his pocket and casually offered one to He Heng.

In the moment he instinctively took the cigarette, He Heng suddenly realized a problem.

The original owner smoked, but he didn’t.

However, he had already accepted the cigarette. Could he possibly give it back now?

So, he had no choice but to pretend, putting the cigarette to his lips.

“Mr. He, how are you considering the cooperation we discussed earlier?” The man moved closer, attempting to please, and used a lighter to help He Heng light the cigarette.

The next moment,

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

He Heng felt a rush of tar in his mouth, assaulting his senses. He uncontrollably coughed, his fingers instinctively moving to remove the cigarette.

Could he not smoke?

Shi Shuang was momentarily stunned, then quickly reached out, patting the man’s back to help him ease the discomfort.

“Hey, Mr. He, take it easy.” The man silently criticized He Heng, wondering why he reacted so strongly to the cigarette. Nevertheless, he could only smile and say, “Mr. He, my apologies. I probably didn’t consider it well. This cigarette might not suit your taste.”

“I’m fine,” He Heng moved the cigarette away, resuming his usual indifferent expression from past negotiations. “Continue.”

In the subsequent conversation, he did not take another puff.

“Well, give it some more thought. Continuing to cooperate with Tian Sheng would be the best outcome,” the man said. The discussion about the collaboration progressed smoothly, and after finishing the conversation, he left with a smile.

Watching the man walk away, He Heng lowered his gaze and glanced at the remaining stub of the cigarette between his fingers. The ember at the end of the cigarette emitted a flickering light in the dark night.

Somewhat incredulously, he placed the cigarette back in his mouth and took another puff.

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

However, he couldn’t suppress the coughing fit.

Why did people find smoking so addictive?

He Heng couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

The original He Heng had a significant smoking habit, easily going through one or two packs a day. However, in this moment, as Shi Shuang observed the man who seemed utterly unfamiliar with smoking, coupled with his youthful appearance, the question that had been troubling him seemed to have found a clear answer.

He became even more certain of his feelings,

That is, the person he now liked couldn’t possibly be the same person he once despised.

Thinking this, Shi Shuang curved the corner of his mouth into a small smile. He looked at He Heng and softly uttered,

“You’re not him.”

Shi Shuang reached out and took the remaining cigarette from He Heng’s hand, extinguishing it in the ashtray on the table.

He Heng had just recovered from the stinging scent of the cigarette’s acrid fumes. His brain was still a bit sluggish, but…

“You’re not him.”?

What did that mean?

He remembered that he was in a script titled “Chasing the Wife to the Crematorium,” and considering the context, the meaning of such words in the context of a crematorium literature typically implied…

In the next moment, as if lightning had struck through his mind, a shocking thought emerged in He Heng’s brain.

Could it be that Shi Shuang thought of himself as a substitute for someone else?

Like a floodgate had opened, He Heng’s thoughts rushed along this idea.

So when he kissed Shi Shuang earlier, was he thinking of another man?

The ways of heaven have their own cycles, and Heaven spares no one.

So, the substitute was me?

Damn it.

When the system mentioned a “substitute” plot, He Heng didn’t think much about it. Who would have thought that the system had arranged for a “double substitute” script for him?

 

 

 

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