EN Chapter 2

Chi Sui inexplicably ended up leaving with Shang Jingyan and moving into the General’s Residence in the capital.

Why? Because Shang Jingyan had told him with a dead-serious expression that refusing to marry him could be life-threatening.

Shang Jingyan’s grave demeanor genuinely startled Chi Sui, and he obediently let himself be whisked away before his birthday celebration was even over. He even switched the university he had just applied to and transferred to one in the capital.

Chi Sui knew Shang Jingyan wasn’t bluffing. He often felt Chi Yang’s sinister gaze boring into his back, as if constantly calculating something. There were times when Chi Sui thought he wouldn’t even live to see adulthood.

If Chi Sui were to die, Chi Yang would be first in line to inherit everything. What Chi Sui couldn’t understand was why his cunning uncle would go through all the trouble to orchestrate such a convoluted plot.

In truth, Chi Sui just wanted to leave. It didn’t matter where, or who he left with—be it Shang Lin or Shang Jingyan.

The General’s Residence was quiet and austere. Aside from a housekeeper who cleaned and cooked, the soldiers on guard outside were unsmiling and rigid. But Chi Sui liked it. He slept well, ate his fill, and most importantly, Shang Jingyan left immediately after dropping him off. Without needing to face him, Chi Sui enjoyed a rare taste of freedom.

Shang Jingyan had recently applied for an overseas assignment and had rushed back with plenty of unfinished business. By the time he had finalized his paperwork and received official approval for both his transfer and marriage, ten days had passed.

Now that the bureaucratic hurdles were over, he wasn’t in much of a hurry on his way home.

For a long time, Shang Jingyan had believed that the little bean sprout from the Chi family was his destined spouse.

When he was a university student boarding at the military academy, he seldom returned home. One rare visit brought him within earshot of a conversation about the Chi family’s omega being arranged to marry into the Shang family. At the time, he was the only Alpha in the Shang family of marriageable age. If not him, then who?

Back then, Shang Jingyan was only 20 years old and had little experience with omegas. Assuming he’d be forced to marry a delicate and fragile “vase,” he rebelled immediately. He didn’t even step inside the house, turning right back to campus in protest.

It wasn’t until the funeral of Chi Sui’s parents that Shang Jingyan realized the Chi family’s omega still had traces of baby fat on his cheeks. Likely freshly differentiated, the kid couldn’t have been older than ten. Losing both parents so young, right after an engagement was set, stirred an unexpected sense of responsibility in Shang Jingyan.

The half-grown boy was doing his best to hold back his grief, surrounded by people with ulterior motives. Yet he carried himself with remarkable composure—neither servile nor overbearing. He was poised and proper, far from the fragile and spoiled omega Shang Jingyan had imagined.

This wasn’t some delicate vase ready to topple at a breeze.

After the funeral, Shang Jingyan stumbled across Chi Sui hiding behind a curtain, crying quietly. Curled into a small ball, his suppressed sobs were heartbreaking. Each muffled cry tugged sharply at Shang Jingyan’s heart.

In that moment, Shang Jingyan decided he was willing to fulfill the engagement and protect this young child.

But Chi Sui was highly guarded. Everyone around him fawned shamelessly, vying for a piece of his substantial inheritance. Shang Jingyan didn’t want to add to the crowd, especially since Chi Sui wasn’t yet of age and the marriage couldn’t be carried out anyway.

Chi Sui’s guardianship was handed over to his sole uncle, Chi Yang, who also took control of the company. Over the years, Shang Jingyan’s growing influence ensured Chi Yang remained in check. He made it clear, both overtly and covertly, that should Chi Sui die mysteriously before reaching adulthood, Chi Yang would face severe investigations. The Chi family’s assets would be frozen until Chi Yang could prove his innocence.

To Shang Jingyan, Chi Sui was his future spouse. Even while stationed overseas, he sent gifts regularly. From his naive twenties to his near-thirties, Shang Jingyan always believed he had a fiancée and was simply waiting for Chi Sui to grow up.

But Chi Yang wasn’t content to play the long game for nothing. Though he kept up a facade of compliance, his schemes never ceased.

When Chi Sui neared adulthood, Shang Jingyan belatedly realized that his “spouse” had been snatched away. The Shang family had another Alpha, the same age as Chi Sui, who was deemed more “suitable” for him.

On Chi Sui’s seventeenth birthday, Shang Jingyan finally got leave to visit home. He wanted to see his long-unseen fiancée.

The omega who used to cry softly in hiding had shed his childishness. With a petite frame and sharp, defined features, Chi Sui was a budding beauty. His stubborn temper and sharp tongue made him seem cold to everyone—except Shang Lin, to whom he was visibly close.

Chi Sui still had the personality and looks Shang Jingyan liked, but now his eyes carried trust and affection for someone else.

Standing on the upper floor, Shang Jingyan watched from afar. In that moment, he realized he truly liked Chi Sui—not out of sympathy, nor responsibility.

Only when he was about to lose him did Shang Jingyan recognize his feelings. But by then, it was too late. With a ten-year age gap, Shang Jingyan couldn’t bring himself to compete with a younger generation, nor did he want to force anyone’s hand.

Before Shang Jingyan could finish reminiscing, his car turned into the gates of the military district. The cold, quiet General’s Residence was brightly lit everywhere. His lips curled into a satisfied smile. After all these years, he had brought his intended home.

Why should he sulk abroad, drinking bitterly and playing the role of a tragic second lead? To hell with being the pitiful supporting character—he’d claim the male lead role.

Chi Sui would stay by his side. Only then could Shang Jingyan feel at ease, even if Chi Sui didn’t like him.

Shang Jingyan entered the house with a chill in his bones. Despite the lights being on, there was no sign of Chi Sui. His smile faded as he stood in the guest room, his expression growing darker, lost in thought.

After a moment, he ground his teeth and called the gate guards. He wanted to know which incompetent fool had failed to keep track of Chi Sui—and why no one had reported his disappearance.

Just as he walked toward the master bedroom, phone in hand, a faint sound came from the wardrobe.

Pushing open the door slowly, Shang Jingyan found Chi Sui curled up inside. The newly-adult omega was wearing one of Shang Jingyan’s oversized shirts, his long, pale legs exposed. His small face was buried in a heap of fallen clothes as he slept soundly and obliviously.

After years of restraint, Shang Jingyan suddenly felt a surge of agitation. For a brief, dazed moment, he thought, Why does the air suddenly feel so thin? Why is it so hard to breathe? Why do I feel so parched?