Chapter 14

Extra 1: Trivial Matters on the Honeymoon

Xu Shen had not anticipated that the honeymoon would be spent on an island to the north.

Xu Shen was entirely wrapped in a fluffy robe, gazing out the window at the thick blanket of snow, lost in thought.

It was indeed freezing here. While inside the house was bearable, stepping outside would instantly numb the soles of one’s feet.

Beyond the window, a stretch of snow-capped cedar trees extended, their tops adorned with white, merging seamlessly with the sky above and trailing down nearby. The courtyard where the couple resided also harbored pines, their branches laden with snow, refracting scattered glimmers of light under the street lamps.

Though snow was inherently chilly, the gentle wisps of smoke bestowed a hint of warmth upon even the frostiest cedars.

The interior lighting cast a warm glow upon Xu Shen’s head, dotting his tousled omega locks with specks of golden radiance. This erased any sense of distance and evoked an air of gentleness.

Yan Xingzhi approached, carrying a cup of warm water, and stood beside Xu Shen.

Perhaps due to the winter winds, Xu Shen’s lips had been dry lately. Yan Xingzhi noticed this a couple of days ago and took it upon himself to ensure Xu Shen drank enough water.

Of course, whether he meant to oversee Xu Shen “drinking” water or had ulterior motives to “feed” him water remained to be seen.

“What is my Shen Shen looking at?” Yan Xingzhi asked, unsatisfied. They were on their honeymoon, yet his aloof omega was still lost in thought?

The alpha embraced Xu Shen from behind, soon taking his hand in a casual manner.

“It’s snowing,” Xu Shen said.

He had never been to the north before, let alone with someone.

“Do you like it?” Yan Xingzhi inquired.

“Mm,” Xu Shen responded, accepting Yan Xingzhi’s embrace.

“Heh, I knew you’d like it,” Yan Xingzhi said confidently, his expression clearly conveying, ‘You should ask me how I knew.’

Xu Shen leaned against Yan Xingzhi, unable to see the alpha’s expression. However, due to their close proximity, he could clearly discern Yan Xingzhi’s steady, powerful heartbeat through the gentle vibrations of his chest as he spoke.

This sound…

They were so close.

Although they had been closer before, Xu Shen’s ears couldn’t help but redden slightly.

Yan Xingzhi had prepared his answer, but after waiting for Xu Shen to voice the question he anticipated, the omega seemed lost in thought again.

Yan Xingzhi: ??

Why isn’t he following the script?

Dissatisfied, the alpha embraced Xu Shen more tightly and repeated, “I knew you’d like it here.”

“Hmm? How?” This time, Xu Shen’s response was precisely what he wanted.

“Ahem, a few days ago, when we were on the island, I saw you staring at a picture for half a minute, so I guessed you’d like it!” Yan Xingzhi explained. A couple of days earlier, photographs of the northern snowfall had gone viral on social media. Xu Shen, having grown up in the south, rarely witnessed snow and had curiously opened one of the images. The vast expanse of white caught his eye, and he found himself gazing at it for an extended period.

“I was just looking. There’s no need to go to such lengths,” Xu Shen said, surprised that the alpha had put so much thought into it simply because of his passing interest.

“Well, I wanted us to experience the snow together,” Yan Xingzhi said, pulling the omega closer. His omega seemed incapable of being clingy, but no matter; Xu Shen belonged to him now. As an alpha, he would simply hold him tighter!

“It just so happens that our grandparents live in the north,” Yan Xingzhi continued. His omega didn’t seem adept at expressing himself – he never voiced his likes or dislikes, only revealing flashes of emotion when pushed to his limits.

Hmph, no matter. Xu Shen had him.

He was Xu Shen’s alpha. If his aloof omega remained tight-lipped, he would speak for them both.

Yan Xingzhi played with Xu Shen’s fingers, his alpha digits long and slender. Xu Shen had been loosely holding his hand, but the alpha insisted on intertwining their fingers.

The light reflected off their matching rings.

“Also, don’t say whether something is troublesome or not, Shen Shen, I am your Alpha.”

“We’re married, so we’re family. Among family, what’s troublesome?” Yan Xingzhi tightened his embrace, turning Xu Shen to face him, his eyes meeting the omega’s.

For dinner, the two went to Yan Xingzhi’s “our” grandparents’ home.

Xu Shen and Yan Xingzhi had initially been matched for marriage, with only a perfunctory wedding ceremony. As such, Xu Shen could hardly be considered well-acquainted with Yan Xingzhi’s grandparents.

Yan Xingzhi seemed to realize this, introducing Xu Shen while holding his hand throughout the evening.

However, it was a family gathering after all. By the end of dinner, Yan Xingzhi had indulged in some drinks with his uncles and elder brother.

Xu Shen didn’t expect Yan Xingzhi to be such a lightweight drinker. The alpha’s cheeks were flushed, and as Xu Shen approached, he flashed a wide, goofy grin.

“Wife,” Yan Xingzhi tugged at Xu Shen’s sleeve.

“Mm.” Xu Shen felt a little embarrassed by the attention.

“Heheh, my wife is so pretty,” Yan Xingzhi chuckled happily.

Xu Shen: …

Xu Shen: “Let’s go home.”

Yan Xingzhi: “Wifeee~”

In the end, after bidding farewell to Yan Xingzhi’s grandparents, Xu Shen led the drunk alpha home.

As they left, Yan Xingzhi’s scarf was left behind. Not long after they walked away, Alpha began shivering from the cold.

After some thought, Xu Shen comforted him and asked him to wait by the roadside while he ducked into a nearby store.

Just as Xu Shen retrieved the scarf, a familiar voice rang out from outside the shop.

“This is—” Through the glass door, Xu Shen saw the alpha make an introductory gesture, just like at his grandparents’ home, gesturing seriously towards a row of snow ducks someone had sculpted by the roadside. “Shen shen, my wife.”

Xu Shen: …

A few passersby turned their heads at the opportune moment.

Xu Shen: I kind of don’t want to go hand him his scarf now.

“Let’s go home,” Xu Shen said softly, burying his face in his collar as he wrapped the scarf around Yan Xingzhi.

But Yan Xingzhi didn’t budge.

“I haven’t introduced Shen Shen to them yet,” Yan Xingzhi said seriously, pointing towards the roadside. “They don’t know I have a wife.”

Xu Shen looked at the seemingly endless row of little ducks.

Xu Shen: ???

Are you serious?

——————–

Author’s Note:

Yan Xingzhi stared intently at the row of little ducks (serious/solemn/earnest): Do you all know I have an omega? ヾ(*´▽’*)ﾉ (boastful tone)

Chapter 15

Extra 2: Daily Life

Xu Shen was bundled up in a thick down jacket, with a hat, mask, and gloves, covering himself completely. His fair and delicate face was buried in a scarf, exposing only his eyes as he gazed at the alpha before him, hesitating to speak.

Just moments ago, after watching the video of himself introducing his “wife” to the row of snow ducks, that certain alpha had fallen into an uncharacteristic contemplation.

Although…but still…

This was indeed something he was capable of doing.

Yan Xingzhi stole a glance at the omega standing beside him. His omega was truly beautiful, with soft black tresses framing his delicate features. Following the dark locks downward, his fair, petite ears seemed flushed, perhaps from the indoor heating.

With such a pretty wife, who could resist showing him off?

Even if he had introduced her to a group of snow ducks, that wasn’t the point.

The fact was, he had a wife.

Hehe, he had a wife.

But…was his alcohol tolerance really that low?

Yan Xingzhi refused to believe it. How could a “fierce alpha” not be able to hold his liquor?

Given that actions spoke louder than words, this “fierce alpha,” after careful deliberation, smuggled in two cases of alcohol.

The end result? A certain alpha was once again utterly inebriated without Xu Shen’s knowledge.

Xu Shen: ???

Yan Xingzhi was still conscious, somewhat rational but not entirely. “There must have been something wrong with the alcohol that day. I couldn’t possibly get drunk that easily!”

Yan Xingzhi: “Hic–”

Xu Shen: ……

Empty bottles lay scattered about as Yan Xingzhi, adamant about being a “fierce alpha,” pointed at them. “Wife, hehe, ain’t I awesome?”

Outside, it seemed someone was making a declaration of love, drawing a heart in the snow as a crowd cheered them on. Xu Shen’s attention drifted briefly before the impatient alpha cupped his face.

“Wife–” The alpha seemed ruffled, grasping Xu Shen’s face to meet his gaze, then pointing at the omega and himself. “You’re mine.”

Yan Xingzhi caressed their rings, huffing; his wife wouldn’t be looking at anyone else.

The alpha also glanced out the window at the lopsided heart someone had drawn, scoffing coldly, “Childish!”

That tiny, misshapen heart was totally unacceptable. Yan Xingzhi felt that Alpha couldn’t possibly be as “fierce” as himself.

Xu Shen found it somewhat amusing.

What was Yan Xingzhi like? Initially, he had seemed rather intimidating. Later, he became protective, nonchalantly acting indifferent while still awkwardly offering warm milk. And after that, he professed his affection earnestly and passionately.

Suddenly, Xu Shen adored Yan Xingzhi’s possessive behavior, childish yet reassuring.

Yes, he belonged to Yan Xingzhi, and Yan Xingzhi belonged to him.

“You’re awesome, the most awesome.” Xu Shen stroked the “fierce alpha” who had nuzzled against his neck, appeasing him.

Sometimes Yan Xingzhi could be quite adorable, Xu Shen thought.

Those words seemed to wind Yan Xingzhi up. His eyes lit up as he bundled his Omega into the down jacket, thoughtfully adding a hat and scarf before pocketing Xu Shen’s hands and heading downstairs.

Whether driven by some inexplicable alpha competitiveness, Yan Xingzhi drew an enormous heart in the snow.

Much larger than the one made by the person declaring their love earlier.

“Wife, look at me!” Yan Xingzhi waved.

“Am I big or what?” He bellowed, the volume deafening.

Xu Shen: ……

Xu Shen decided to take back his earlier thought about Yan Xingzhi being adorable.

Fortunately, there was a pharmacy nearby. Xu Shen instructed him to wait by the roadside as he turned to buy some hangover medicine.

He expected to return and find the “fierce alpha” continuing his cringeworthy antics, but instead, the alpha stood silently under a cedar tree.

As Xu Shen approached, he heard Yan Xingzhi speaking.

Yan Xingzhi sounded aggrieved, “You’re ignoring me again! I asked you, but you didn’t answer…”

The cedar tree remained silent.

Yan Xingzhi glared defiantly, finally snapping in exasperation, “You! Just you wait!”

Xu Shen watched as Yan Xingzhi paced back and forth before finally removing his scarf and wrapping it around the cedar tree.

Hmph, he couldn’t let his wife freeze, even when angry.

Yan Xingzhi eyed the well-scarved cedar tree and began removing his gloves.

“Hey! Yan Xingzhi.” A voice called from behind.

It took Yan Xingzhi a couple of sluggish seconds to react, turning to face the approaching omega.

Previously, Xu Shen hadn’t been fond of his own pheromones. Cedar-scented omegas were rare, neither sweet nor soft, defying most people’s expectations of omegas.

But now, he felt at peace with it.

Snow began to fall again, fluttering down upon their shoulders.

Xu Shen lifted his head, the alpha’s distinct silhouette reflected in his eyes as he spoke, “Yan Xingzhi, I like you too.”

——————–

Author’s Note:

Yan Xingzhi: “Am I big or what?” [Asking about the heart!! (hand dog head)]

Xixi: Mmhmm, I believe you…

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