Chapter 7

Running Away from Home

To go, or not to go?

That was one question.

To stay, or not to stay?

That was the second question.

The moment Yan Xingzhi opened the door, his heart suddenly “thudded.”

Like being caught red-handed doing something wrong, a momentary panic and bewilderment assailed him. Yan Xingzhi froze, his expression rigid.

Why was Xu Shen outside?

Did he hear anything?

Would the omega get angry? Would a hint of anger, or perhaps… a touch of sadness appear on that usually aloof face?

Yan Xingzhi glanced at Xu Shen’s expression. The omega lowered his head, the light casting a faint shadow on his eyelashes.

Would a teardrop cling to those lashes? Crystalline, translucent, shattering that shadow, as well as the tranquil silence. Yan Xingzhi’s thoughts drifted away.

The alpha’s gaze fell upon Xu Shen’s hands. The omega was clutching a piece of paper, but it was flipped over, so Yan Xingzhi couldn’t see the contents.

“Going out?” It was Xu Shen who spoke first, as if confirming something, his voice soft yet enunciating clearly.

“Yeah, going out.” For some reason, Yan Xingzhi didn’t deny it.

“Alright.” Xu Shen pursed his lips, saying nothing more. The omega turned and left, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.

The paper in his hand was crumpled, and as Xu Shen turned away where Yan Xingzhi couldn’t see, he blinked in a daze.

Little Sweet O?

Disliked?

Yeah, he had always been dislikable, Xu Shen thought.

He wasn’t a sweet O. Xu Shen knew his personality – gloomy, uninteresting, boring.

He unfolded the paper, gazing at his schedule. He wasn’t very good at talking, so just now, he had actually prepared for quite a while. Xu Shen had intended to tell Yan Xingzhi that he would adjust his schedule, so he wouldn’t make Yan Xingzhi wait so long anymore.

But, it seemed unnecessary now.

Yan Xingzhi liked sweet omegas.

Yan Xingzhi disliked him.

Xu Shen returned to his room, the soft sound of the door closing in the empty hallway jolting Yan Xingzhi back to his senses.

Xu Shen said “alright”?

Xu Shen actually said “alright”?

Why did Xu Shen say “alright”?

Yan Xingzhi felt even more annoyed. His earlier fluster seemed like a joke now.

Why did he have to be flustered?

Panic? Who was Xu Shen to him?

Go! If he’s going, then go!

Didn’t he say “alright”? He’ll go out tonight! Go out immediately! Don’t want to stay a second longer!

Yan Xingzhi slammed the door forcefully, causing it to bang against the bedroom wall with a loud “thud” that echoed through the empty villa.

“Hey, send me the location!” The alpha shouted into his phone, voice booming: “I’m coming right away!”

He sounded aggressive.

–If only the call hadn’t stayed on the dial screen.

His steps headed downstairs, one, two, three steps…

No one paid him any attention, the omega’s door remained closed.

Yan Xingzhi strode out defiantly, the front door slamming shut with a resounding bang.

The sound of a car engine starting up, a beam of headlights disappearing around the corner.

Five minutes after driving off, Yan Xingzhi pulled over and leaned against the roadside, swearing as he got out of the car.

His phone lit up in time, another message from Chen Er.

[Chen]: Xingzhi, where are you? We’re all waiting for you, buddy!

Go, go where?

Wait for what?

Yan Xingzhi felt a fire burning in his heart, growing more intense until it peaked the moment Xu Shen closed the door, yet he was utterly helpless. Those cool, detached eyes seemed indifferent no matter what he did, never tinted by even a hint of emotion.

There would be no place for him in those eyes.

Anxious, frustrated.

Yan Xingzhi took out a cigarette, about to light it, but then remembered the person at home who would cough at the smell of smoke.

The cigarette was tossed aside.

Even more annoyed.

A cold wind blew by the roadside, and Yan Xingzhi realized he wasn’t wearing a coat. The chill seeped in through his sleeves, making him shiver.

He got back into the car and closed the windows. Yan Xingzhi took out his phone and decisively added Chen Er to his blacklist.

The engine roared to life again, and in less than thirty minutes after “running away from home,” Yan Xingzhi made a U-turn.

But the front gate had been slammed shut earlier. The alpha held his car keys in one hand, knocking on the door with the other.

“Xu Shen, open up!” Yan Xingzhi gritted his teeth, his voice fierce, but by the end, it had turned into a shivering whine.

“It’s so cold outside.”

——————–

Author’s Note:

Yan Xingzhi: I’m going! (Fiercely, extremely fierce)

Half an hour later: It’s so cold outside QAQ

Chapter 8

Open the Door For Me

Xu Shen’s mood dropped after the door closed.

It seemed that love could also bring sadness.

Yan Xingzhi’s voice was loud. He asked someone to send him the location and said he’d be there soon.

Xu Shen glanced at the time, 11 p.m. A gathering so late at night, involving sweet Omegas and calling people over—was it some bar? Or a nightclub? Anyway, wherever Yan Xingzhi was going definitely wasn’t any proper gathering.

Xu Shen put away his schedule, realizing he wouldn’t need it. The Omega zoned out for a while, listening to the sound of a car engine starting up. Finally, the engine noise gradually faded as the car lights disappeared.

In the spacious villa, only the Omega remained, with only one person’s breathing and footsteps.

His toe knocked against the door when closing it, but he didn’t notice until now—Xu Shen belatedly felt the pain. Taking off his shoes and socks, the area hit was already turning purple and blue, especially around the toenail, aching severely at the slightest touch.

“Hiss,” Xu Shen let out a light breath, unsure if it was from pain or something else. His vision slowly misted.

Tonight was moonless, the night breeze ruffling the curtains. In the distant residential area, warm lights dotted the ground like fallen stars, some just lit, others extinguished, interspersed in the cold night.

On the glass was a faint outline—Xu Shen peered through the blurry mist at his reflection.

His eyelids were thin, lips pursed into a fine line. Xu Shen tugged at his lips, forcing a stiff smile at the glass.

Too unnatural, Xu Shen thought.

Not sweet at all.

Xu Shen lowered his gaze, staring absentmindedly at the marriage certificates of the two on the bedside table.

Compatibility ratings truly couldn’t be trusted, Xu Shen thought. His and Yan Xingzhi’s reached a high of 93, yet Yan Xingzhi still didn’t like cedar.

Yan Xingzhi liked cute, adorable Omegas, Xu Shen clearly heard earlier.

A knock interrupted Xu Shen’s thoughts, followed by someone calling his name.

—Yan Xingzhi’s voice. Xu Shen’s eyes widened slightly, instinctively glancing at his phone.

Not even twenty minutes? The gathering ended already?

That…bad?

No, no, reining in his wandering mind, Xu Shen listened carefully.

“Xu Shen, open the door for me—”

It was indeed Yan Xingzhi.

Yan Xingzhi came back? Barefoot on the floor, Xu Shen didn’t have time to put on shoes before running to the window. The motion sensor light was on outside the villa, and by its light, Xu Shen saw Yan Xingzhi standing under it, car keys glinting in his hand.

The door opened, and Yan Xingzhi entered with a chill, carelessly tossing the car keys onto a side cabinet with a clatter.

“You,” Xu Shen paused slightly, “why are you back?”

If he did not come back, would he still be out catching a cold? Yan Xingzhi’s heart burned with irritation—why did he come back? If not for the person at home, why would he return?

The Omega at home was bland and dull, yet he still lost his head midway.

Yet he still came home.

Irritating.

Asking why he came back?

Why did he have to come back?

Besides the certain Omega at home, what else could it be for?

His pheromones began wafting out bit by bit. Yan Xingzhi breathed heavily, the flames in his heart growing—the alpha raised his voice: “You ask why—”

“What Omega would agree to let their alpha go to a nightclub? What Omega wouldn’t—” The alpha’s eyes tinged red as he snarled, as if accusing.

Yet all his fury extinguished the moment he met Xu Shen’s gaze. Yan Xingzhi frowned: “You…why are you crying?”

His tone became somewhat flustered, voice instantly weakening.

Xu Shen’s eyelashes drooped. From hearing that call outside, coupled with the pain in his toe, he finally found an outlet at this moment. The mist before his eyes grew thicker until a glistening, translucent teardrop formed under the alpha’s questioning voice. Xu Shen blinked, shattering the crystalline tear into fragments strung along the Omega’s lashes, reflecting the living room’s light, shattered yet chillingly clear.

“It’s nothing.” Xu Shen said.

“It’s nothing” meant more than “something’s wrong.”

“I—” Yan Xingzhi didn’t know where to put his hands. “I didn’t go, I just went out for some air. Who would go to those places?”

Xu Shen said nothing.

Yan Xingzhi glanced at Xu Shen’s expression, hurriedly yet cautiously putting away the keys he’d just tossed aside.

——————–

Author’s Note:

Xixi: Aren’t some alphas happiest seeing their wife’s tears?

Yan Xingzhi: Wrong (extremely flustered + timidly putting things away)

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