“Which direction do you live in?”
The man was a tall Alpha. Dressed in a crisp, sharp dark coat, he stood out starkly against the bustling backdrop of the food street near the university.
Because he was holding the umbrella over them, the Alpha leaned in slightly, casting a long shadow that instantly created an oppressive aura.
Hiiragi felt instinctively uneasy. It wasn’t just because of the man standing before him, ever since his experiences with Pan Wang, he had kept a wary distance from all Alphas.
Yet this Alpha was clearly offering him goodwill.
Unsure how to react, Hiiragi instinctively reached out, wanting to thank him, but paused mid-gesture as he realized the man might not understand. He hesitated, about to point to his throat to explain that he couldn’t speak, when the man spoke first.
“I know sign language. You can communicate with me directly.”
His voice was deep and slow, rich and elegant like the low notes of a cello.
Hiiragi looked at him in surprise. He hadn’t expected the man to be so observant.
Is he a high-level Alpha? he wondered, slowly signing ‘Thank you.’
The man, eyes half-lidded, watched Hiiragi’s movement attentively. “You’re welcome.”
He really understood.
Aside from Hiiragi Satoru, very few people Hiiragi Yu had met since childhood knew sign language, and even fewer were willing to sit quietly and “listen” to what he had to say. Even Grandma Song and the security guards at the orphanage only recognized a few basic gestures; most of the time, they had to rely on written notes.
Discovering that the stranger could actually understand him left Hiiragi Yu feeling flustered.
His gaze darted around nervously before finally settling on the man’s rain soaked shoulder. Hiiragi Yu opened his mouth to sign again, but the man cut in: “You’re not feeling well. Don’t get wet.”
Huh? How did he know?
Hiiragi Yu instinctively tensed, his spine stiffening. Noticing his reaction, the man abruptly lowered his gaze, softening his aggressive aura.
“My name is Cheng Shenzhi,” he said, keeping his tone measured. “I have a connection with Professor Hiiragi.”
Hearing the familiar name caught Hiiragi Yu off guard, but his body relaxed slightly. He looked up, only to find the man staring directly into his eyes. In that instant of contact, a strange, inexplicable feeling welled up inside him, familiar yet alien, prompting him to quickly look away again.
Thankfully, his sister came to his rescue.
Hiiragi Satoru had been keeping a wary eye on the Alpha ever since he appeared, but the ice cream in her mouth was simply too delicious. Swallowing the last bite, she grabbed Hiiragi Yu’s arm, looked up at Cheng Shenzhi, and asked, “Do you know us?”
Cheng Shenzhi shifted his gaze to Satoru, explaining patiently, “I just saw you with Professor Hiiragi.”
Even though the man’s expression was calm and his actions remained polite and distant, Hiiragi Yu still felt a faint chill run down his spine whenever those dark eyes settled on him. Was it simply because the man’s Alpha rank was too high?
Hiiragi Yu couldn’t be sure. Over the years, he had realized that his sensitivity to Alphas was far higher than that of an average Beta, almost comparable to an Omega’s. Perhaps it was a lingering psychological defense mechanism from Pan Wang’s relentless harassment during his childhood.
Hiiragi Satoru tilted her head, thinking it over. Realizing it made sense, she asked, “Then why didn’t you go talk to Uncle? What are you doing here with us?”
Uncle?
The word caught Cheng Shenzhi off guard. The background check hadn’t mentioned the exact relationship between Professor Hiiragi and Hiiragi Yu, only noting that Hiiragi Hanqing had visited the orphanage several times after returning to the country. He had assumed Hiiragi Hanqing was simply close with Hiiragi Yu’s late mother, but he hadn’t anticipated an actual family bond.
I need my assistant to dig deeper, Cheng Shenzhi thought.
Without missing a beat, he smoothly followed Satoru’s line of inquiry. “My grandfather has long admired Professor Hiiragi’s work. But the professor is a man of high integrity, and despite my efforts, I haven’t been able to purchase any of his paintings.”
The overly formal language left Satoru, currently a second-grade elementary student, looking thoroughly bewildered. She blinked blankly at her brother.
Cheng Shenzhi’s gaze naturally shifted back to Hiiragi Yu. He noticed the young man’s hand curled into a tight fist at his side, the knuckles pale, just like that night when they first met.
He’s terrified.
Cheng Shenzhi carefully weighed his approach and stepped back slightly, giving Hiiragi Yu some personal space.
“I mean no harm,” Cheng Shenzhi added gently. “It’s just that my grandfather’s birthday is coming up, and this has been weighing on my mind.”
Hiiragi Yu let out a slow, quiet breath, forcing himself not to show weakness.
【I’m sorry. I’m not very close with my uncle.】
He wouldn’t be able to help him get a painting.
The rain beat down harder, forcing nearby street vendors to pack up their stalls. Heavy drops drummed against the large umbrella in a rapid, continuous rhythm.
Hiiragi Yu’s gaze drifted back to the man’s soaked shoulder, and he pointed to it hesitantly.
Cheng Shenzhi glanced down at his coat as if only just noticing, but his attention quickly returned to Hiiragi Yu. “Shall we sit inside the cafe next door?”
Hiiragi Yu hesitated. Looking down at his young sister, he didn’t want her catching cold in the downpour. He also knew his own fragile constitution, getting soaked meant a guaranteed fever.
After weighing his options, Hiiragi Yu nodded slightly.
Thank you, he signed.
Cheng Shenzhi offered a faint smile and tilted the umbrella further toward Hiiragi Yu.
Inside the nearby coffee shop, the three of them settled into a quiet booth. Hiiragi Yu racked his brain, trying to recall any useful details about his uncle.
【Uncle likes flowers.】
He signed hesitantly. Cheng Shenzhi simply watched him with a gentle smile, his dark eyes fixed on the slight curve of Hiiragi Yu’s lips.
Hiiragi Yu’s movements slowed. He couldn’t help but feel that the man didn’t actually care about what he was saying, even though he had claimed it was so important moments ago.
His train of thought was interrupted as the server arrived. “Here are your two hot milks and one hot Americano.”
“Thank you,” Cheng Shenzhi said, sliding the two mugs of milk toward Hiiragi Yu and Satoru.
Hiiragi Yu blinked, caught off guard. He raised a hand to decline, but Cheng Shenzhi’s voice was firm: “To warm your sister up.”
Then, softening his tone, Cheng Shenzhi added, “You’re not feeling well either. If you fall ill, she’ll worry.”
With both points addressed, Hiiragi Yu had no room to refuse. He took the warm mug awkwardly. It was only after taking a sip, the gentle sweetness coating his tongue that a sudden thought struck him. How did Cheng Shenzhi know he was unwell?
Before he could dwell on it, Cheng Shenzhi asked, “What about his personal tastes? Are they similar to yours?”
He added, almost offhandedly, “After all, you’re family. Your tastes are bound to align somewhat.”
The question brought the focus back to Professor Hiiragi, so Hiiragi Yu put his doubts aside and answered seriously.
【I’m sorry, I don’t know. My uncle rarely eats with me.】
The last time they had shared a meal was when Hiiragi Hanqing had just returned to the country and Grandma Song introduced them. The food at the orphanage had been simple, and he remembered his uncle eating very little without showing preference for anything in particular.
Cheng Shenzhi lowered his eyelids. Out of the corner of his eye, he could feel Hiiragi Yu discreetly observing him with clear, guarded vigilance.
It was understandable. Anyone trapped in such a precarious situation, clinging to a single thread of hope only to realize they might be stepping into another abyss, would be just as guarded.
A pang of guilt brushed through Cheng Shenzhi, but he hadn’t yet figured out how to explain himself properly. Besides, with the child present, it wasn’t the right time.
Time trickled by, and the night grew late. Hiiragi Yu became increasingly restless, but fortunately, after their brief exchange, Cheng Shenzhi pulled out his phone to handle some work matters.
Seeing the man engrossed in his screen allowed Hiiragi Yu to relax slightly. He stared quietly down at the layer of foam in his milk cup.
Outside, the rain showed no signs of stopping. As his mug neared empty, Hiiragi Yu finally made up his mind and opened a ride hailing app, planning to excuse himself as soon as a driver accepted the request.
Unfortunately, it was peak evening rush hour near the university, traffic was congested, and his destination was in a remote district. Twenty minutes passed in anxious waiting, but no driver took the order.
Hiiragi Yu bit his lip nervously. Beside him, Satoru, exhausted from a long day out, began to nod off. She mumbled sleepily against his arm before slumping fully into his lap, her eyelids fluttering shut. Sleeping in such a posture was bound to leave her sore.
Hiiragi Yu carefully adjusted her position, then checked his phone once more. Still no drivers.
Just as anxiety began to overwhelm him, a deep voice broke the quiet.
“My driver is here.”
Hiiragi Yu looked up. The man had set his phone down and was watching him with a mild, pleasant expression.
Hiiragi Yu tried to stand, but with his sleeping sister in his arms, he could only offer an awkward wave goodbye.
Thank you for the milk, he signed hurriedly.
Instead of leaving, Cheng Shenzhi walked over and stopped right in front of him, looking down in silence.
Hiiragi Yu’s palms broke into a cold sweat. An irresistible urge to recoil rushed over him, a reaction even stronger and more instinctive than what he felt around Pan Wang.
Cheng Shenzhi looked down at him and asked softly, “Which direction do you live in?”