Lu Siyan had no idea what was happening, and it had been a long time since he had truly looked at Xiao Yanxiu’s face.
At this moment, the “terrifyingly cold” demeanor that Mu Yi had described manifested vividly before his eyes. The man’s anger had reached its breaking point; the veins on the fingers gripping the glass burst forth, looking as though he wanted to kill someone to vent his rage.
The Omega tightly embraced the Alpha, who was in an attacking stance. He shook his head desperately: “Xiao Yanxiu.”
Despite knowing nothing about the situation, a subconscious bias made him certain that there was something wrong with that glass of water. The man was protecting him and willing to stand up for him; Lu Siyan was profoundly grateful in his heart, yet he was unwilling to let Xiao Yanxiu get dragged into this mess. That was why he had stepped in so frantically to stop him.
Hearing the commotion, the diners in the restaurant looked up one after another to watch the excitement, and some even pulled out their phones to record. The lobby manager hurried over with security guards.
Xiao Yanxiu’s status as a gold-card customer was known to everyone. The divorced man, who had only recently returned to the country, had never seen the face of the Xiao family’s crown prince and continued to provoke him with curses.
“Fine, Lu Siyan,” he sneered. “If it weren’t for the sincerity of your family—sending me an untouched, virgin Omega—I would never have so easily handed over the operating rights to that mine in Xishanling.”
“Your family took the benefits I gave, yet you dare to dangle other men on the outside and join forces to act wild right over my head?”
The once refined-looking man had completely lost his composure, turning livid with rage.
Xiao Yanxiu gritted his teeth, struggling against Lu Siyan’s hold: “Say that one more time.”
Lu Siyan pressed against him with all his strength: “Don’t, please don’t…”
The Omega’s face was pale and his fingertips trembled. He couldn’t believe his parents were like this—preaching morality and righteousness while privately using him as a commodity in a trade, attempting to sell him for the best price.
Sensing that the person in his arms was in a bad emotional state, Xiao Yanxiu suppressed his fire and ended the confrontation. With one hand protecting Lu Siyan’s waist, he pointed at the puddle of water on the floor and said, “Call the police. Immediately.”
The divorced man suddenly lost his nerve. Once the police arrived, it would be ironclad evidence. As he was pinned against the table by the restaurant security, he still didn’t give up, shouting threats: “Lu Siyan, if you come back now, I can let bygones be bygones!”
“The mine I sold to your parents at a low price can be considered your dowry. Otherwise, I will not let this rest! Don’t think anyone in the Lu family will get a bargain from me!”
Lu Siyan followed Xiao Yanxiu out unsteadily. The dull pain from where his arm had been forcefully gripped vanished as the pressure was suddenly released, replaced by warm palms covering his ears to block out all the malicious, poisonous attacks from the outside.
A damp, cold wind swirled outdoors. Before the rain could even be seen falling, the man’s light, soft wool coat was already draped over his head, shielding him from the wind and rain. Lu Siyan curled his entire body into the man’s chest. His lost hands quietly pressed against the man’s heart.
As they descended the stairs, a shallow layer of water had accumulated on the ground. Seeing that Lu Siyan was wearing thin-soled sneakers, Xiao Yanxiu feared he would get his feet wet. With a slight exertion of his arm, he considerately picked the boy up and tucked him into the car.
Lu Siyan let out a soft cry and hooked his arms around the man’s shoulders. His body then followed the man’s bending motion, sliding down to sit in the passenger seat.
The force of the door closing still carried the remnants of anger. The loud “bang” right in front of him made the Omega shiver. Regarding the previous matter of drawing a clear line between them, Lu Siyan felt a sense of guilt. His fingertips quickly grew cold, making him afraid to let his thoughts wander.
Xiao Yanxiu didn’t say a word after getting into the car. Only when a cold gaze swept over did Lu Siyan belatedly pull the seatbelt across his body.
“So-sorry…”
His eyes avoided contact, wandering everywhere—looking left and right, but never daring to look at the person beside him, afraid of a heart-to-heart gaze. Unexpectedly, he recognized this car; it was the one he had seen in the underground garage before their chance encounter, the one he had even furtively taken a photo of. Could there really be such a coincidence? Was it truly his car?
The arms Xiao Yanxiu held on the steering wheel were pulled taut. The pressure around the man was extremely low, and his lips were pressed tightly together as if he were struggling to suppress something.
It wasn’t until the car turned into the grove of plane trees that Lu Siyan recognized the familiar road home through the rain-drenched windshield. They… were about to part.
The Omega obediently took off the wool coat draped over his shoulders and folded it on his knees. He used his fingers to wipe away the traces of rainwater, tidying it carefully. Once the car came to a steady stop, he held the clothes out with both hands to Xiao Yanxiu.
“Thank you.”
From the day they met, he had been under the man’s care, and he had been continuously outputting gratitude. He thought that after a polite goodbye, this chance fate would come to an end. He didn’t expect those two words to strike a nerve in the man’s heart.
Xiao Yanxiu suddenly raised his hand. The emotions he had suppressed for over half an hour completely spiraled out of control. He slammed his fists against the steering wheel several times, causing the sharp blare of the horn to echo two or three times.
Lu Siyan was startled by the noise. The Omega shrank back, his spine pressing against the door gap. His eyes trembled with swaying colors and grew round with fear.
Only after Xiao Yanxiu finished venting did he speak, without even looking at him: “Get out.”
The Omega stumbled out of the car door and fled into the heavy rain. There was a spare umbrella in the car, but the man didn’t have time to give it to him; he only had space to breathe now that he was alone. His tense body relaxed, slumping against the seat back as he tried to calm the surging tide of his emotions.
The moment of rage just now wasn’t directed at Lu Siyan. The man was simply afraid, blaming himself. If he hadn’t gone out today, hadn’t entered that restaurant, hadn’t seen the Omega he cared for, and had let him drink that malicious lemon water… the consequences would have been unthinkable.
The Alpha wished he could tear that man into a thousand pieces. Inside the lonely, oppressive car, the sound of heavy breathing sounded like a beast whimpering. Xiao Yanxiu raised his hand and slapped himself hard. He remembered things from his childhood…
Before his chaotic emotions could settle, the car door was pulled open from the outside again.
The Omega he had just scared away—his clothes and hair mostly soaked—sat back in the car holding a small plastic bag. He brought with him the cold scent of night rain, mixed with the heart-stirring, sweet fragrance of bergamot.
Xiao Yanxiu looked at the person who had returned in astonishment. Lu Siyan was cautious; his wet fingertips reached out twice before he bravely grabbed the man’s injured hand. He hadn’t even managed to apply the ointment he had struggled to open, but large tears were already dripping onto the back of the man’s hand.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Yanxiu felt a sharp pang in his heart. Lu Siyan quietly wiped his tears: “I’m… I’m sorry.”
He knew the man didn’t like to hear those three words, but he truly didn’t know what else to say.
“Please… take me to a hotel. I… I don’t dare go home today.”
Lu Siyan had messed up the blind date and caused his parents’ business partner to end up at the police station; the cooperation for the mine was likely ruined. He didn’t know what kind of accusations he would face when he got home, and he didn’t want to be forced into being a step-father under these circumstances.
Xiao Yanxiu’s brow furrowed deeply. As he withdrew his hand, he selfishly squeezed the Omega’s fingertips, as if he had made a final decision.
On the way to the hotel, Lu Siyan’s phone kept ringing. His parents were switching numbers to call him and bombardment him with text messages.
【Where did you go?】
【Get home right now!】
【The police station needs the parties involved to sign the settlement. if you don’t want to cause trouble for your parents, come back immediately.】
From the moment Xiao Yanxiu handled the check-in and got the key card to when he led him upstairs, the constant “buzzing” vibration from the side was impossible to ignore. Lu Siyan truly couldn’t withstand this round of bombardment; his finger hesitated, wanting to press the answer button.
But suddenly, a large hand reached from behind, completely enveloping his knuckles and forcing the phone to shut down in a dominant, non-negotiable manner.
The Omega couldn’t react in time: “Eh?”
His soft exclamation was cut short as he was pulled into the man’s embrace. His lips pressed against the man’s burning chest through a thin layer of clothing before he hurriedly stood up straight.
“Give me the key card.”
Xiao Yanxiu had changed his mind. He didn’t want him staying in a hotel alone; otherwise, the little Omega might lose his resolve in the middle of the night and be cornered by his parents to be dragged back home and punished.
With a flick of the man’s wrist, the key card flew straight out the window.
Lu Siyan was frantic: “That was a room for two thousand yuan a night!”
Although Xiao Yanxiu paid for it, it was still hard-earned money. He was even planning how to save up to pay the man back. Before he could rush over, he was grabbed by the back of the neck and dragged from the nineteenth floor straight into the elevator leading to the second basement level.
After nearly an hour of driving, the two returned to the Green Gem Garden villa area. The Alpha practically carried him on his shoulder as he kicked open the front door. When the Omega rolled onto the bed, he was even bounced up twice by the soft mattress.
Xiao Yanxiu blocked the doorway, pointing a finger at him.
“Now. Sleep. Immediately. If you have anything to say, come talk to me tomorrow morning.”
The door was slammed shut.
Coffee and Cola, the two chubby little dogs, wagged their tails lightheartedly and slowly snuggled down by his side. The familiar room, the familiar scent of camellia and cedar—at that moment, it brought an immense sense of peace.
Lu Siyan felt incredibly aggrieved. The emotions he had suppressed for so long were finally able to find an outlet at this moment. He reached out to hug Coffee and Cola, crying until he had soaked both dog heads. He forgot to even wash up before falling into a dazed sleep on the bed.
The man standing at the door was like a statue. Cigarette butts littered the floor at his feet. He stayed there, listening to the boy cry the whole night.
Early the next morning, Xiao Yanxiu left the house. Before departing, he instructed the housekeeper: “When the young master of the Lu family wakes up, tell him to wait for me. Don’t let him leave in a hurry.”
Lu Siyan originally had classes to catch and a part-time job at the swimming pool; his schedule was very tight. But hearing the message the man had left, after weighing his options, he put down his backpack and sat on the stairs, deciding to wait for him to return.
The intense sunlight moved slowly, changing direction. From noon to evening, Lu Siyan sat quietly, never moving his feet once.
Suddenly, the sound of the car locking chirped softly. The Alpha pushed open the door and met the Omega’s gaze in the lingering orange glow of the sunset; the bright, gentle light looked as if it had given the scene a cinematic filter. Both of their breaths hitched.
Xiao Yanxiu held a few thin pages of paper in his hand. Lu Siyan followed him to sit at the dining table. When he saw the words “Marriage Application Form,” the Omega felt as if he suddenly didn’t recognize Chinese anymore.
“What… what does this mean?”
Xiao Yanxiu’s tone was cold: “I know you’re in a hurry to find someone to marry, and I’m in a hurry too. There are no special terms. We solve each other’s troubles—a win-win cooperation.”
“…”
Lu Siyan didn’t know if he was crazy or if Xiao Yanxiu was crazy. He flipped through those few thin pages over and over again.
The man grew impatient: “Are you signing or not?” He lit a cigarette. “If you don’t sign, I’ll find someone else.” As he spoke, he made a move to take the contract back.
In a moment of urgency, Lu Siyan pressed his hand down: “Wait.”
The Omega was incredibly nervous: “So… you are also being forced into marriage by your family?”
Xiao Yanxiu raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.
Lu Siyan’s mind was in even more of a mess: “Then… don’t you need to sign some asset protection agreements?” After all, he was worth billions, if not trillions.
Xiao Yanxiu tapped the table with his finger: “Do you think my legal team of over 300 people eats for free?”
After the man finished speaking, he reconsidered the implications. He crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Or are you already calculating how much property you can get in a divorce?”
“No, no, no…” Lu Siyan waved his hands frantically. “I—I’m not after the money. I’m just… afraid you’ll get the short end of the stick.”
Xiao Yanxiu sneered: “How could I possibly get the short end of the stick?”
Once he finished, his tone suddenly shifted: “Actually, there is one ‘loss’ I’m taking.”
Lu Siyan asked cautiously: “What kind of loss?” He didn’t want Xiao Yanxiu to suffer. Even if he had to suffer a bit more himself, it wouldn’t matter.
The man pointed his chin toward the very last clause of the contract. Lu Siyan’s eyes moved down. Once he saw that line clearly, a sensation like an electric shock—a numbing feeling—crawled from his toes up his spine, making even his scalp tighten. His palms were covered in fine sweat. His whole being felt like it was on fire.
The Alpha stared at the Omega, whose cheeks were uncontrollably flushed with crimson, and nonchalantly repeated that sentence:
“During the duration of the marriage, both parties must lawfully fulfill their marital obligations.”