As Cheng Shenzhi walked downstairs, he paused, his gaze cool and composed as it landed on the middle aged Beta standing a short distance away.
“Mr. Cheng!”
Pan Youzhi looked him up and down. His voice quavered with exaggerated concern, affecting the tone of a doting father deeply worried for his son. “Where are you taking my boy?”
The young man in Cheng Shenzhi’s arms was still trembling uncontrollably.
The rain poured down in a heavy, muffled torrent, swallowing the sound of their voices. Not knowing if the boy could hear the conversation, Cheng Shenzhi reached out and pulled Hiiragi Yu closer to his chest, gently covering his exposed ears.
His skin was soft to the touch, carrying a faint, feverish heat.
…Was he dragged around again?
Cheng Shenzhi’s heart sank.
He stared at the pretentious middle aged man before him, his lips curling into a cold, polite smile. “You would do better to worry about the situation of your other son.”
Pan Wang, as the only Alpha in the Pan family, was Pan Youzhi’s ultimate lifeline.
Predictably, Pan Youzhi lost his composure the instant those words left Cheng Shenzhi’s mouth. He took a few hurried steps forward, then abruptly froze. “Even if he’s just a Beta,” Pan Youzhi sputtered, defensive and flustered, “he’s still my son! He can’t just walk off with you without a single word of explanation!”
Without waiting to gauge Cheng Shenzhi’s reaction, Pan Youzhi turned on his heel and rushed back upstairs to find Pan Wang.
Cheng Shenzhi stood in the rain, watching the man’s retreating figure. His eyes darkened with a heavy, unspoken melancholy. He knew exactly what Pan Youzhi wanted, the shameless attempt at leverage didn’t surprise him in the least.
Yet… he lowered his eyes.
Hiiragi Yu was frail. Cheng Shenzhi had known this for a long time. But as he gathered the youth back into his arms, he couldn’t help tightening his grip around that impossibly slender, fragile waist.
Pressed forcefully against the Alpha’s chest with his ears covered, a pitiful curve formed along the young man’s cheeks as a fresh wave of tears welled up and spilled over.
What was going through Hiiragi Yu’s mind right now?
The night grew deep, and the heavy rain had finally trickled to a stop.
The back door of the vehicle was wide open, and Cheng Shenzhi leaned back against the seat. Tall and broad shouldered in his long black trench coat, he held the slender boy curled tightly against him. The stark contrast in their sizes allowed the coat to half-drape over Hiiragi Yu, hiding him so completely that an observer from afar wouldn’t even realize the man was holding someone.
Cheng Shenzhi had little experience comforting anyone. He was not short tempered, but he loathed unnecessary trouble, and whether dealing with his younger brother, his subordinates, or his friends, no one ever dared to cross boundaries around him.
Yet every time Hiiragi Yu appeared before him, he looked so utterly heartbroken and helpless.
A wave of regret washed over Cheng Shenzhi. He really shouldn’t have listened to Xu Jianqian, he shouldn’t have dispatched Assistant Tao away in the first place.
The young man in his arms shivered like a stressed, frightened cat, his fingers clutching the fabric of Cheng Shenzhi’s coat so tightly his back arched in tension.
Recalling how his parents used to soothe his younger brother, Cheng Shenzhi awkwardly lifted the boy slightly, gently patting his thin back in a slow, steady rhythm.
…He’s too thin. How could anyone grow up so frail?
The Alpha’s brows knitted together, but his voice remained impeccably gentle.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“You’ve escaped.”
“It’s safe here.” He lowered his gaze to the small bundle huddled against him, shivering, soaked through, looking for all the world like a delicate little bird whose wings had been drenched by a sudden downpour.
He paused, lowering his voice until his tone softened with uncharacteristic tenderness. “Baby… you did a wonderful job.”
Assistant Tao, who had just rushed back with the medicine, was caught so off guard by the soft endearment that he nearly stumbled over his own feet. Met with a icy glance from his boss, he hurriedly handed over the medicine and whispered, “Shall I drive, sir?”
Cheng Shenzhi didn’t answer immediately. He looked down at Hiiragi Yu, ensuring the boy’s distress had subsided slightly before giving a brief nod.
The car started smoothly and merged into the quiet night. Cheng Shenzhi shifted his posture to give Hiiragi Yu a more comfortable position, just as a gentle tug pulled at his collar.
The tug was almost imperceptible. Had Cheng Shenzhi not been hyper focused on the boy’s every movement, he likely would have missed it altogether.
He looked down, his voice hushed and soothing. “What do you want to say? Take your time, I’m listening.”
The words brought an overwhelming sense of relief.
[Thank you.]
Hiiragi Yu’s fingertips were still trembling uncontrollably. After a second’s hesitation, he lifted his head to look at Cheng Shenzhi. Tears brimming in his eyes and his throat bobbing as if choking on unspoken grief, he couldn’t wring a single sound from his throat.
He strained to open his eyes wide, struggling to make out the features of the man holding him through the blur of his tears, his movements painfully tentative.
[Can you… hold me a little longer?]
Cheng Shenzhi let out a soft, deep sigh. Under Hiiragi Yu’s increasingly bewildered gaze, he lifted his head and drew the boy back into a secure embrace.
“Of course,” he murmured, his voice laced with gentle reassurance. “You’ve been so brave.”
The boy didn’t write or gesture again. Silent, warm tears soaked through the fabric over Cheng Shenzhi’s shoulder. He didn’t even cry out loud.
Just how did his family raise him to be like this?
Cheng Shenzhi suppressed another sigh, keeping his movements steady as he stroked the boy’s back in a rhythmic, calming pattern, like smoothing down ruffled feathers.
The car moved silently through the dark streets while Hiiragi Yu remained motionless in his arms. While continuing his soothing motions with one hand, Cheng Shenzhi tapped out a message on his phone with the other.
He had previously arranged for a driver to take Hiiragi Satoru home first, hiring a temporary housekeeper to bathe the child and put her to bed. However, the little girl was deeply anxious about her brother and refused to sleep, the housekeeper had just sent a update stating that Satoru had developed a fever.
Given Hiiragi Yu’s current fragile state, he was clearly in no condition to see his sister just yet.
His collar was tugged a second time.
Cheng Shenzhi cut off his thoughts and looked down, keeping his tone calm so as not to startle him. “What’s wrong?”
Hiiragi Yu clearly hadn’t recovered from the trauma. His body still trembled subtly, his fingers gripping Cheng Shenzhi’s shirt collar so hard that his knuckles turned white.
[I’m sorry.]
The apology came out of nowhere.
Cheng Shenzhi didn’t press for a reason, replying only with gentle patience, “It’s okay.”
The reassuring words seemed to ease Hiiragi Yu’s tension. His body gradually relaxed, though his tear brimmed eyes made it clear he was still far from calm.
After all, he was just a young man who had barely come of age, yet he had been subjected to such cruel, malicious treatment and the very person he had once relied upon was among the perpetrators.
Cheng Shenzhi lowered his gaze.
The interior of the car was dimly lit, and Hiiragi Yu’s vision was still blurry with tears, but the darkness seemed to grant the boy a touch of courage. Besides, Mr. Cheng had always been so endlessly kind to him.
Sniffling silently, Hiiragi Yu pointed to the wet patch on Cheng Shenzhi’s shoulder.
“I… I dirtied your clothes,” he whispered, his voice hoarse.
Hearing him speak, Cheng Shenzhi was momentarily surprised before finding it almost endearing. He reached out tentatively, when Hiiragi Yu didn’t flinch away, he used his fingertips to brush away the moisture around the boy’s eyes.
Cheng Shenzhi’s voice was as soft as a whisper. “It’s not dirty.”
He desperately wanted to call him ‘Yu Yu’, but remembering how Hiiragi Yu had deliberately avoided him a few days ago, he reined himself in. Looking straight into those tearful eyes, he repeated softly, “It isn’t dirty at all.”
Hiiragi Yu looked back at him. When they first met, this Alpha had seemed so tall, imposing, and intimidating. Yet now, tucked safely in his arms, all that fear had vanished entirely.
His nose ached with suppressed emotion. Closing his eyes tight, he slowly confessed the worries that had been tormenting him over the past few days.
“And… the clothes you lent me before… they’re ruined, too.”
His head drooped lower and lower, like a child who knew he had done something wrong. “I hid them on my bed… but Pan Wang found them anyway. He took scissors and cut them in half.”
After speaking, he held his breath for two tense seconds. Hearing no immediate response, he looked up anxiously, hastily making a promise. “I’ll pay you back! I promise!”
He was desperate to prove he wasn’t the ungrateful sort who damaged someone else’s belongings and acted as if nothing had happened, but Cheng Shenzhi gently cut him off.
“What about you?”
…What?
Hiiragi Yu froze, a look of utter confusion washing over his face, his bitten, reddened lips parting slightly.
Cheng Shenzhi’s eyes darkened, though the dim cabin hid the shift in his expression. All Hiiragi Yu heard was the older Alpha asking in a low, quiet voice, “Has Pan Wang been bullying you these past few days?”
Hiiragi Yu subconsciously averted his gaze and shook his head.
Cheng Shenzhi didn’t believe him for a second, but out of respect for the boy’s pride, he didn’t force the issue. Instead, he asked, “The injury on your ankle from when we first met was that Pan Wang’s doing, too?”
It took Hiiragi Yu a moment to realize he was referring to the glass cuts on his ankle from their initial encounter. He hesitated, then gave a faint nod.
Cheng Shenzhi’s jaw tightened, but he kept his composure, extending a hand. “Give me your hand.”
Hiiragi Yu offered his hand on instinct, and in the next second, his wrist was gently caught. The Alpha’s broad, warm fingers firmly anchored him as Cheng Shenzhi warned softly, “This might sting a little.”
Before Hiiragi Yu could process what he meant, a sharp pain shot through his palm. He bit his lip, his fingers instinctively curling to pull away, but Cheng Shenzhi held him firm, using just enough strength to keep him still without causing discomfort.
“Bear with it, Yu Yu.”
Cheng Shenzhi’s voice was incredibly gentle, like someone coaxing a small child. Hiiragi Yu blinked, stealing a quiet glance at him.
In no time, the raw wound on his palm was disinfected and dressed. Cheng Shenzhi inspected his work carefully to ensure it was properly bound before letting go. He then reached over and pulled out a fresh, soft towel, a routine he had already practiced on little Hiiragi Satoru.
Realizing Mr. Cheng intended to dry his hair personally, Hiiragi Yu’s eyes widened in surprise. He reached out to stop him, frantically signaling that he could do it himself.
Cheng Shenzhi looked at him gently. “Your hand is injured. How are you going to do it yourself?”
Hiiragi Yu stammered, mumbling a few coherent syllables, before obediently lowering his head in acquiescence, whispering a soft thank you.
Through the soft towel, Cheng Shenzhi gently rubbed the boy’s head, his movements so careful and deliberate that Hiiragi Yu hardly felt any pressure.
“No need to thank me. It’s what I should do.”
Why was it what he should do?
Hiiragi Yu didn’t quite understand. He thought he was being subtle as he sneaked glances at Cheng Shenzhi, but the Alpha simply adjusted his posture to let him lean more comfortably.
Once the damp ends of his hair were dry, Cheng Shenzhi set the towel aside, draped a fresh, warm blanket over Hiiragi Yu’s shoulders, and tucked him in.
While wrapped in Mr. Cheng’s arms, he hadn’t noticed the chill, but sitting up on his own, Hiiragi Yu belatedly realized how cold he was. He pulled the blanket tight with his uninjured hand, bundling himself up until he looked, from Cheng Shenzhi’s perspective, just like a small bird curled deep inside its nest with only a fluffy head peeking out.