Shen Yan tapped the table with his index finger, his gaze deep as he looked at Lin Bai.
After a long pause, he finally crossed his arms and leaned back, closing his eyes as he said, “You’re right. I really won’t go.”
Though Lin Bai’s words had irritated him, the truth was undeniable—Wen Xiuran was his current support. There was no need to self-sabotage.
After dismissing Lin Bai, Shen Yan flipped over the phone that had been lying screen-down beside him. Frowning slightly, he glanced at the missed call notification.
The rain outside still hadn’t stopped. As soon as Shen Yan reached the ground floor, he spotted Wen Xiuran waiting for him under an umbrella.
The air carried the scent of fresh grass and damp earth.
And another familiar, lively hint of peach.
Wen Xiuran stood outside the car in a black trench coat, a white shirt peeking out from underneath. His slightly damp hair clung to his forehead, raindrops tracing a path from the bridge of his nose down to his chin. His deep blue eyes were fixed on the company’s elevator doors.
Time had been kind to him. Two or three years had passed, yet Wen Xiuran’s appearance remained unchanged.
The moment the beta came into view, Wen Xiuran’s eyes brightened. His leather shoes splashed through a puddle as he stepped forward, raising the umbrella to shield Shen Yan.
Shen Yan’s gaze lingered on the partially exposed skin at Wen Xiuran’s chest, dampened by the rain. His Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. Without a word, he grabbed Wen Xiuran’s neatly knotted tie and pulled him into a kiss, indifferent to any onlookers.
A few raindrops landed on Shen Yan’s lashes, while others trickled from Wen Xiuran’s face onto his own.
“Why didn’t you wait inside?” he asked, reluctantly releasing the tie.
Wen Xiuran, as usual, leaned in to sniff his neck—the peach scent had already begun to fade.
Straightening up, he brushed Shen Yan’s long hair back over his shoulder. “I didn’t want to greet anyone. Waiting here for you was fine.”
Ever since Shen Yan had started his own studio, Wen Xiuran had laid down three rules: aside from necessary periodic markings, they had to share at least one meal together every day.
Fortunately, the studio wasn’t far from S University—just a ten-minute drive. Rain or shine, Wen Xiuran would come. If he arrived early, he’d wait outside the company. Only if he was running late would he call ahead.
“I was in a meeting earlier and didn’t see your call,” Shen Yan said, buckling his seatbelt before a small cake was placed in his lap.
Wen Xiuran rested his chin on his hand, watching him from the driver’s seat. “I know,” he replied calmly.
Shen Yan didn’t press further. Truthfully, staying with Wen Xiuran for this long had already exceeded his expectations. None of his previous alphas had lasted even a year.
He had assumed Wen Xiuran’s parents would find a way to drive him away, but to his surprise, he had never even met them.
Wen Xiuran reached over to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Shen Yan’s ear, casually remarking, “The hair tie is in the drawer in front of you. Try not to get cake in your hair.”
Shen Yan pinched the ends of his long hair, frowning. “It’s too much trouble.”
For what felt like the hundredth time, he declared, “I’m cutting it off.”
“It just reaches your waist,” Wen Xiuran said, parking the car and stepping out to open Shen Yan’s door. His crisp voice carried through the glass: “I’ll help you take care of it. It’d be a shame to cut it.”
He loved the way Shen Yan’s long hair tangled around his arm. Every time Shen Yan mentioned cutting it, Wen Xiuran would protest.
Aside from making money, Shen Yan didn’t seem to have many hobbies—though he did have a soft spot for food.
“What flavor is it this time?”
Wen Xiuran pulled him into an embrace, tilting the umbrella slightly toward him. “Morning tea.”
The shop’s decor leaned toward a classical and elegant style, with the fragrance of tea wafting through the air alongside curling steam. Along the corridor, guests sat sipping tea and admiring the lake, their attire unmistakably expensive. Shen Yan kept his hands in his pockets, silent, aware that this was yet another establishment requiring reservations in advance.
Once seated, a server promptly brought over pre-meal snacks.
Shen Yan rested an arm on the table, his gaze drifting toward the lake beside the restaurant.
“What are you thinking about?” Wen Xiuran had somehow shifted seats, moving from across the table to sit beside Shen Yan.
Shen Yan flipped his phone over onto the table, answering dismissively, “Company matters. There have been some issues with the cash flow recently.”
Wen Xiuran silently eyed Shen Yan’s phone, his tone unreadable. “Shen Yan, you really don’t need to do all this. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you. If you want to run a company, I can place you in a branch you like. You once said you wanted to stand on equal footing with me, to be with me openly and properly.”
“But…” He paused. “You don’t need to doubt me. I won’t lie to you. If I’ve promised to be with you, I won’t abandon you.”
It was rare for Wen Xiuran to speak so much outside of the bedroom. They had been together for a long time now, and this stage of their relationship was unfamiliar territory for Shen Yan.
He didn’t know how to respond, and with the recent string of company problems, he felt increasingly frustrated. He mechanically picked up food for Wen Xiuran, awkwardly changing the subject. “Let’s eat first.”
Wen Xiuran took a quiet breath, as if suppressing something. After a long pause, he said slowly, “I’ll help cover the cash flow later. Don’t stress over these minor issues—take care of your health.”
“Last time during your fever cycle, you passed out midway. Though a Beta’s body is stronger than an Omega’s, it’s not suited for heavy workloads.”
Shen Yan’s chopsticks hesitated slightly, and a shrimp dumpling slipped onto the table. Without a word, he tossed it under the table and quietly crushed it beneath his shoe.
He hated this feeling.
As if all his efforts were futile in others’ eyes. If he weren’t a Beta, he would have already achieved something significant by now.
The snacks he once loved now seemed tasteless. Frowning, Shen Yan took small bites of the shumai, feeling slightly nauseous.
“I might be busy the next few days and come home late. Don’t wait up for me.”
Wen Xiuran gathered Shen Yan’s hair into a ponytail. Though Shen Yan kept his hair long, he disliked styling it, often wandering around the studio with it loose—what he called “having an artist’s temperament.”
Peering through the long strands of hair falling over his forehead, Shen Yan glanced at the Alpha and said leisurely, “Are you planning to cheat?”
“No!” Wen Xiuran’s voice rose, drawing glances from nearby patrons. The composed businessman, now handling company affairs, rarely blushed from a single remark. His ears tinged red as he lowered his voice. “Some board members have been involved in bidding for smaller companies, profiting maliciously. My father wants me to learn how to handle it.”
Shen Yan stabbed his chopsticks into the custard bun on his plate, indifferent to the oozing filling. He asked blankly, “How do you handle it?”
Wen Xiuran pondered thoughtfully, “Because it involves embezzlement of public funds, there might be a prison sentence, depending on the amount.”
Shen Yan raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.
The sky was dyed red by the clouds, and the lake’s surface caught a hint of crimson as well.
As the city lights came on, the traffic flowed endlessly through the high-rise-lined streets, and everywhere, people hurried along as if even breathing required effort.
After finishing his evening routine, Shen Yan, dressed in a loose and comfortable bathrobe, slowly took a seat on the balcony stool.
Graduation was approaching, and he needed to plan for his future. If he stayed in the country, perhaps he would manage an art gallery. The years spent with Wen Xiuran had broadened his horizons considerably.
Currently, his company’s monthly turnover was around a million, but actual profits weren’t substantial. Factoring in future marketing efforts, networking expenses, and staff salaries, there likely wouldn’t be much left in the end.
If he wanted to make real profits, he needed to aim for a bigger platform.
Shen Yan closed his laptop and sighed, tilting his head back.
A mechanical voice announced numbers through his Bluetooth earpiece. Shen Yan tapped the earpiece to answer the call.
A voice came through: “Hello, is this Shen Yan?”
“Who is this?” Shen Yan checked his contacts but didn’t recognize the number.
The caller chuckled softly, “You’ll find out who I am soon enough.”
Expressionless, Shen Yan moved to hang up, but the voice continued. Frowning slightly, he pressed the record button on his laptop.
“I’ve long heard that Xiuran has a beta partner,” the voice said gently. “I mean no harm. I just want to help you.”
Shen Yan scoffed as if hearing a joke. “Help me? I just donated six million to charity yesterday.”
The voice paused. “So, does Xiuran know about your past?”
The sound of shattering glass from the coffee table pierced through the phone. Shen Yan glanced at the red wine spreading on his lap before calmly looking away. He licked his lips lightly. “He knows.”
If Wen Xiuran ever chose to investigate, he would uncover everything Shen Yan had done before college.
The caller seemed surprised. “I’ve heard alphas have strong possessive instincts. I didn’t expect Xiuran to be so lenient with you.”
“He must really love you,” the voice sighed. “But you two aren’t compatible. A relationship without a bond can’t last. Alphas can only form connections with omegas. Betas have no pheromones—you can’t even achieve a lifelong mark. Over time, an alpha paired with a beta will gradually lose control, possibly spiraling into rage or damaging their glands. You’re educated—you must have taken physiology classes. Have you ever considered Xiuran’s well-being?”
“Brother Xiuran is just temporarily infatuated with you. Your methods aren’t exactly honorable either. I can introduce you to more suitable patrons.”
“None of your damn business.” Shen Yan listened patiently to the lengthy lecture before replying coldly, “Do all omegas these days enjoy poaching taken men?”
“How rude!” The caller dropped the pretense, their tone turning icy. “You’re just a lowly beta. I have plenty of ways to deal with you.”
He had been able to handle previous omegas with polite courtesy, but after repeated encounters, he truly had no patience left to deal with them, and his attitude naturally soured.
“If you really want to do something, I suggest you call Wen Xiuran.”
“I certainly will call him,” the other party replied smugly. “Since Xiuran already knows about your past, I assume you wouldn’t mind if I discuss it further with him?”
Shen Yan responded smoothly, “Of course not. Then I suppose you wouldn’t mind if I forward this call log to your dear Xiuran-ge either?”