Xiao Yanxiu turned around nonchalantly. The man sat back at his desk and crushed his cigarette butt into the ashtray.
“Is there really a necessity to say anything?”
The way things were between them now was fine.
Shen Zhiyan followed him, completely unable to understand. “But he knows nothing. It will be very hard on you if you’re all alone in this.”
“You have to get to know each other all over again, fall in love all over again. All your previous efforts and the path you’ve walked together won’t count for anything.”
“Even if things don’t work out later and you end up separating…”
“He won’t even feel grateful toward you.”
Xiao Yanxiu had long since prepared himself to bear all the consequences. Lu Siyan didn’t need to carry any burden; he would face everything himself.
The man flipped open the document before him, his expression rippleless.
“The last thing I need is for him to feel grateful to me.”
Guilt, repayment—he needed none of those emotions.
Their shared childhood experience was their fate, but it was by no means a trump card, nor was it a tool for an Alpha to use to score points for himself.
The man’s pen-holding fingers paused slightly, his mood heavy.
“Up until now, he has been exactly the same as he was when he was a child—covered in thorns. The moment he encounters difficulty, he pushes everyone away and hides inside his shell.”
“He doesn’t face things, and he doesn’t solve them.”
“He never proactively brings up things from the past, either.”
“In his interactions with anyone, he remains in a completely closed-off state. Even if there’s a brief flash of true emotion, he quickly puts his guard back up and becomes sensitive and over-analytical.”
“To be honest, I am very worried about him.”
That little Omega was still trapped in the orphanage even now, unable to walk out. If his life absolutely required an indispensable superhero…
Then Xiao Yanxiu hoped that person would be him.
It could only be him…
Standing to the side, Shen Zhiyan listened, feeling utterly confused.
If it were a question regarding inhibitors for sensitive Omegas, he could offer some advice, but when it came to matters of the heart, he was completely out of his depth.
He could never understand how someone could give so selflessly to another, especially when there was a constant risk of losing everything with no return.
He didn’t get it, he didn’t understand it, and he didn’t think it was worth it.
After handling the issue with the problematic medical records, Shen Zhiyan soon took his leave. On his way downstairs, he briefly greeted Lu Siyan.
As the sky grew dark, it was time for Mu Yi to head back to school.
Lu Siyan asked the housekeeper to arrange a driver and, reluctant to see him go, packed a large amount of snacks for him.
Mu Yi had spent the whole day eating and taking things, so he was a bit embarrassed at first. However, the moment he thought about that “dog man” Xiao Yanxiu having some unforgettable “White Moonlight” after marrying Lu Siyan, he got so angry that he immediately packed two more bags to take away.
Once those matters were settled, the house that had been lively and vibrant just a moment ago instantly became quiet and empty.
Lu Siyan tidied up the sofa briefly and stood up to head back to his room. As he climbed the stairs, he happened to run into Auntie Liu coming out of the wine cellar on the basement level.
The Omega asked, “It’s so late, what are you doing with wine?”
Auntie Liu smiled and told him, “It’s red wine that has just finished breathing. Sir drinks it every night.”
No wonder during these past few days of his heat, he could always faintly smell a hint of sweet fruit fragrance when he rested at night.
The Omega reached out. “Let me take it to him.”
They had been busy with their own things all day, even eating separately. They hadn’t really seen each other, and he actually missed him a little…
Lu Siyan took the slightly cool red wine bottle.
The liquid inside was clear and translucent.
He went upstairs and knocked on the study door. He saw that Xiao Yanxiu, having finished his official business, had rolled up his shirt sleeves and was standing quietly at the desk practicing calligraphy.
The entire room was filled with the light scent of ink.
“Why… aren’t you asleep yet?”
It wasn’t actually that late, but compared to the days of his heat, Xiao Yanxiu was returning to the room later than usual. Lu Siyan’s tone carried a few hints of a grievance he hadn’t even noticed himself.
He opened the bottle by the desk and poured the wine into a tall glass. The rich, mellow aroma of the wine instantly filled the air.
Xiao Yanxiu took the glass and sat down. The man patted his thigh, signaling for the Omega to come over.
Lu Siyan was shy and hesitated for a moment.
His gaze shifted back and forth, and he accidentally glimpsed Xiao Yanxiu’s neck. Just like the mottled mess on his own gland, it was covered in various scratches and bite marks of all sizes.
The Omega’s face heated up slightly.
Thinking about it, they had already reached this point. They had shared much more intimate contact several times now; just sitting on his lap after his heat was over shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Lu Siyan gathered his courage and approached.
The Omega had to admit that he deeply looked forward to and enjoyed this kind of intimacy—a natural closeness without any hidden agendas.
It was a primal, physiological attraction.
Even their pheromone compatibility was nearly at a maximum value.
In the moment his feet left the ground, there was a slight sensation of weightlessness. Lu Siyan gave a soft cry and clung tightly to Xiao Yanxiu’s neck.
As he sat in his Alpha’s lap, his cheeks felt hot, and the man let out a low, muffled chuckle.
“How is the calligraphy?”
On the rice paper, rows of neat, clear, and flowing semi-cursive script were arranged. The strokes were continuous, and the structure was beautiful; it was naturally very striking.
However, Lu Siyan’s attention was drawn to another artwork peeking out from under the corner of the paper.
He reached out and pulled the drawing paper: “What is this?”
Vivid flower branches leaped off the paper.
Magnolias sketched in oil paints—pink and white with a faint golden shimmer. The flowers blooming and wilting, even the brilliant intensity of the light and shadow, were depicted perfectly.
The Omega was admiring it carefully when his vision suddenly went dark.
A small, cool card was inexplicably stuck to his forehead.
He reached up and took it down.
He discovered it was a black card with a gold border.
“This is… what?”
The Omega asked despite knowing the answer, his voice growing small.
Holding him, Xiao Yanxiu said, “There are six drivers at home. From now on, whenever you need them, you can deploy them as you wish.”
“Whether it’s for yourself, a friend, or sending couriers, mail, and packages—it’s all no problem.”
“After getting married, you can’t go reaching out to your family for money anymore.”
Of course, the Lu family wouldn’t give him any anyway, but Xiao Yanxiu had found a relatively dignified way to bring it up without hurting his self-esteem too much.
“This card is for the household’s daily expenses. Whatever you like, you can buy.”
“Food, drinks, clothes, necessities.”
“Interacting with friends, social events for work.”
“It all requires money.”
They were a married couple, and Lu Siyan was still in school; he essentially had no source of income.
In both emotion and logic, Xiao Yanxiu had the obligation to support and provide for him. Lu Siyan could have accepted this kindness with a clear conscience.
However, after thinking it over, the Omega tried to give the card back.
“You’ve given me a place to stay and helped me through my heat. That is already a huge favor.”
“I absolutely cannot take this money.”
“As for the living expenses, Xiao Yi is already helping me look for a job. I… I’ll have an income soon.”
Lu Siyan had originally thought that he should carefully calculate the costs for living, housing, the driver’s fuel, and labor.
But then he considered that Xiao Yanxiu’s standard of living was simply too high. He probably wouldn’t be able to afford it, and the man might get angry.
Lu Siyan always remembered.
Back when he was being falsely accused by his parents and wanted to make a clean break from Xiao Yanxiu, that man had looked with contempt at the entire fortune Lu Siyan had scraped together from bits and pieces.
He had coldly dropped the line: “Are you trying to tip a beggar?”
When facing him, the Omega always felt a bit inferior.
He wanted to protect this self-esteem—which might seem insignificant to others—as much as possible. He didn’t want to be in a weaker position in their relationship.
Lu Siyan’s sensitive mind thought through many things.
Unexpectedly, the man neutralized his concerns with ease. He pulled the Omega’s awkward, retreating body closer, his fingers gently hooking the collar of the loose pajamas.
With an air of total ambiguity and a hint of domestic playfulness, he pressed the card against the Omega’s chest.
“Keep it.”
Xiao Yanxiu was forceful and domineering, brooking no refusal.
He used both threats and lures, finally leaning in close to Lu Siyan’s ear, his breathing dense and warm as he intimidated the little guy.
“If you dare say you don’t want it again…”
“I’ll start sticking it in other places.”
From the forehead to the chest, and from the chest to…
The man’s hand wasn’t behaving, and Lu Siyan grabbed it.
The Omega resisted him, both anxious and annoyed. “You… you…”
He tried to stop him with a weak aura: “Don’t be like this.”
The Alpha pressed: “Like what?”
The Omega was so angry that he felt like his fur was standing up, and he punched him.
But his hand had no strength. It landed softly and lightly on the man’s body, which was essentially no different from acting spoiled.
The Alpha’s goal was achieved.
He saw the Omega hesitate before finally compromising and putting the card away. In his eyes—which seemed to be veiled in a light mist—there was a sense of being overwhelmed by an unearned reward.
The tips of his ears were red enough to bleed.
Lu Siyan was afraid to linger on this topic, fearing the mischievous Alpha would start acting up again.
He quickly shifted the conversation, his fingers touching the oil painting of the magnolias as he praised it sincerely: “These flowers are so beautiful.”
The Alpha, who had been looking down, raised his gaze. The man asked casually, “You like them?”
Lu Siyan nodded gently.
The corners of Xiao Yanxiu’s lips curled slightly. “I’ll give you one.”
The Alpha gestured toward the oil paints still laid out on the desk. “Pick a flower you like, and pick a color.”
Seeing that he intended to pick up the brush again, Lu Siyan hurriedly waved his hand. “There’s no need to trouble yourself. Just this one is fine.”
Xiao Yanxiu glanced at it, his tone lazy. “This one won’t do.”
Lu Siyan was stunned for a moment.
He thought the painting had some special meaning.
Perhaps it was related to the Alpha’s “White Moonlight.” He suddenly remembered that there were several lush magnolia trees planted in the yard.
The branches reached all the way to the window of the master bedroom on the second floor.
In their daily lives, they could see them no matter what they were doing.
The Omega’s body temperature cooled rapidly. He put the painting down, his voice muffled. “Then I don’t want it.”
The Alpha was rarely in such high spirits and had already picked up the brush again. Unaware of what had suddenly come over the Omega, he lightly flicked the little guy’s forehead. “What are you thinking about?”
“The paper for this one isn’t good; it’s hard to frame.”
“I’m offering to repaint it for you, and you’re still unhappy? My little ancestor.”
“You’re really hard to please.”
Lu Siyan muttered in dissatisfaction, “You’re the one who’s hard to please.”
He nursed his small, careful grudge; he craned his neck to pick the most beautiful color, one that had to be a thousand, ten thousand times more beautiful than the White Moonlight.
“Then… then I want that lighter blue.”
Before he could finish, the man reached out and pinched the Omega’s chin. After studying that face carefully, he directly vetoed the suggestion.
“Cadmium red suits you best.”
“A color that burns like fire.”
The Omega didn’t have time to react. He was the one who was supposed to choose the color and the flower, yet the Alpha had already made up his mind.
The buttons on his blue-and-white gradient pajamas—which had a shimmering pearlescent quality like a seashell—were undone, revealing half of his pale, smooth shoulder.
Xiao Yanxiu’s cool brush, coated in the most brilliant and vivid color, landed on Lu Siyan’s collarbone, which was curved like a crescent moon.
The Omega’s spine went rigid, and he gave a light shiver, his fingers clutching the man’s sleeve.
“You… why are you drawing on me?”