The next morning, the psychologist Shen Louchen had hired arrived.
The shadows of the courtyard trees stretched long under the sun. The omega doctor stood partly within one of those shadows, dressed in a simple beige ensemble. His long hair was loosely tied back, revealing the delicate nape of his neck.
“Mr. Shen,” Gu Wangyan greeted softly as he stepped forward. His voice carried the gentle warmth of silk dipped in warm water yet underneath was a faint, cool distance. “Azhou, no, Dr. Lin, has already briefed me on Fu Xu’s situation.”
Shen Louchen nodded, his gaze flicking to the medical case in Gu Wangyan’s hand.
When he had brought up Gu Wangyan yesterday, Lin Yunzhou’s reaction had been instant irritation. “You’re looking for him? Out of all the psychologists in the capital, why choose the one I hate the most?”
Gu Wangyan came from an old influential family, his clan controlled nearly all the medical equipment distribution in the capital. His arranged engagement with Lin Yunzhou had once been considered a match blessed by their elders.
Shen Louchen remembered that as children, the three of them had often played together. How had childhood friends become enemies?
Still, Gu Wangyan was an omega, gentle yet competent. For treating Fu Xu, he was the most suitable choice. After all, if they picked an alpha doctor… one could never be certain what hidden intentions might lie beneath.
“Mr. Shen?” Gu Wangyan called softly, pulling him from his thoughts.
“We grew up together. Calling me ‘Mr. Shen’ feels too formal.” Shen Louchen stepped aside to let him pass. “The bedroom is on the second floor. Do you need me to accompany you?”
“There’s no need,” Gu Wangyan declined politely. “I’m Dr. Lin’s fiancee after all and given your position, it’s appropriate to address you formally. Besides, trauma intervention requires minimizing external stressors as much as possible, especially…” He paused, choosing his words delicately. “Especially strong alphas. Having you present may overwhelm him. When I finish, shall I contact Assistant Zong?”
Shen Louchen considered this for a moment, then nodded. There were still many things waiting for him; he could not afford to remain here too long.
Carrying his medical kit, Gu Wangyan went upstairs with quiet, careful steps, as if afraid to disturb the fragile omega resting inside.
That morning, Fu Xu still had a slight fever yet he forced himself to get up. Before Shen Louchen emerged from the study, he had already completed the housework. He endured until noon before retreating back to his room.
He couldn’t sleep. So he took out a small book from his worn bundle, a book that Assistant Zong had retrieved when they left the Fu residence. It seemed the Fu family hadn’t wanted to keep a single thing that belonged to him, so everything had been sent along. The book’s cover was frayed, edges puffed with wear. Yet Fu Xu held it as though it were a priceless treasure.
A soft knocking came at the door. Remembering Shen Louchen’s earlier words, Fu Xu guessed it must be the psychologist.
He placed the book down. “Coming.”
When he opened the door, the sight of the gentle omega before him caught him off guard. He hadn’t expected Mr. Shen to hire an omega doctor. Some of the tension inside him eased immediately.
Not an alpha. That alone made breathing easier.
“Hello.” Gu Wangyan stepped inside, voice softened like warm wind. He sat down on the single sofa a few steps from the bed. “I’m your psychologist, Gu Wangyan. You can call me Wangyan.”
Fu Xu sat back on the bed, fingers gripping the edge of the book until his knuckles whitened. Only after drawing a deep breath did he manage, “I… I’m Fu Xu.”
Silence settled between them, light, steady and not uncomfortable. Gu Wangyan didn’t rush. From his case he took a small recording device and set it gently on the coffee table. Then, with practiced calm, he brought out a stack of picture cards illustrated with simple images.
“Mr. Shen should have informed you. Let’s begin with a small test, alright?” He held up a card showing a clear blue sky. After Fu Xu nodded, he asked, “What comes to mind when you see this?”
Fu Xu’s lashes trembled. “…Clouds.”
“What kind of clouds?”
“Light… soft clouds.”
Gu Wangyan nodded, switching to a card of a rainy, overcast sky. “And this one?”
Fu Xu’s breathing visibly tightened. He lowered his head, voice so faint it almost disappeared. “…Cold.”
Rainy days had always meant dragging his exhausted body through downpours, sweeping leaves from the courtyard, shivering as icy water seeped into his bones. Rain meant cold. Endless cold.
Seeing the omega drift toward unpleasant memories, Gu Wangyan didn’t press. He quietly gathered the cards and changed tactics. From his bag, he took out a small bottle of aromatherapy mist and gave it a gentle spray.
“Try smelling this. How does it make you feel?”
A sweet, fruity fragrance drifted through the air.
Fu Xu shook his head.
Interesting. Even an S grade soothing aroma had almost no effect. That meant he was still too guarded, too wary. Direct emotional intervention would work better.
Gu Wangyan’s voice softened even further. “This was my favorite scent as a child. My family had an apple tree in the courtyard, it bore fruit every autumn. Someone used to help me pick the apples. He said he wanted to find the biggest, sweetest one for me.” His tone remained calm, almost detached. “Later… something happened and the tree was cut down.”
He spoke like one reciting a distant memory rather than a personal wound.
Fu Xu’s expression loosened slightly. Hesitantly, he asked, “Dr. Gu… you also have things you don’t like?”
“Of course.” Gu Wangyan laughed quietly, a wry, almost self deprecating sound. “Like being forced to do things you don’t want. Just like you being forced to stay in the Fu family. I was forced to…” His gaze drifted toward the lush tree outside the window. “Forced to get engaged to an alpha who doesn’t love me.”
Fu Xu froze.
He had assumed someone like Dr. Gu, gentle, composed, elegant, must have grown up cherished, like Fu Jiaze. He had never imagined such an omega could also be bound by expectations, pressured by circumstances, suffocated by fate.
He had believed only “defective” people like himself were crushed by life. But… perhaps he had been wrong.
“My fiance, you know him. Lin Yunzhou, your gland testing physician.” Gu Wangyan sighed, his voice threaded with resignation. “We grew up together but he doesn’t like me. Our families forced the engagement. I had no choice.”
He looked directly at Fu Xu, sincerity clear in his gaze. “So I understand you. Truly and you must not look down on yourself. You are not worthless.”
Fu Xu’s throat tightened. His lips moved but no words came out. After a long silence, a barely audible “Mm” slipped past. A small crack seemed to split open inside him and Gu Wangyan’s words slipped through like the first ray of light entering a long sealed, shadowed space.
“They said my gland is broken. That I’m a waste…” Fu Xu whispered, voice trembling. “That I disgraced the Fu family.”
Gu Wangyan didn’t rush to contradict him. He waited until the omega finished, then said quietly, “Fu Xu, do you know? People who hurt you will always try to make you believe it’s your fault but the truth is… the fault was never yours.”
From his bag, he took out a small book with a pale blue cover. A gold etched bird spread its wings on the front.
“This is for you. You might find something meaningful in it.”
Fu Xu accepted the book with both hands. His fingertips traced the embossed outline of the bird, shimmering under the sunlight. When he lifted his gaze again, the terror in his eyes had eased, replaced by something tentative, searching and quietly hopeful.
“But I… I’ve never had any real schooling.” Fu Xu suddenly lowered his head. Everything he possessed now had come from Mr. Shen’s generosity. The only education he had ever received was the basic classes at the welfare home. Books as profound as this, he was certain he wouldn’t understand them.
Gu Wangyan chuckled softly. “Your alpha happens to be quite a rare genius, you know. Even before he was admitted to university, he ranked first every single time, by a large margin. With such excellent resources beside you, why not make use of them?”
Fu Xu shook his head in panic, as if the very idea frightened him. “I… I can’t trouble Mr. Shen anymore.”
The life he lived now was already more than he had ever dared to hope for. He didn’t dare to desire more. Mr. Shen’s time was precious, he could not afford to occupy even a second more than necessary.
“Have you ever thought about this…” Gu Wangyan’s tone grew meaningful, “…what if he wants you to?”
He reached out and ruffled Fu Xu’s hair with a gentle hand. “That’s all for today’s session. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Dr. Gu.”
“Don’t forget what I told you.” Gu Wangyan winked, picked up his medical case and left the room.
As he went downstairs, he saw Shen Louchen sitting on the sofa, a document held between his fingers. He wasn’t reading it at all, his expression was distant, distracted.
“Mr. Shen,” Gu Wangyan approached him, “Fu Xu’s condition is more complicated than I initially expected. The prolonged physical abuse he suffered left behind deep psychological shadows. He’s developed very strong defensive instincts.”
“Is there a way to help him?” Shen Louchen’s voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible urgency.
Gu Wangyan considered his words for a moment. “Medication can only assist. What truly matters is establishing a sense of emotional safety. He needs someone with whom he can completely lower his guard… someone who allows him to feel accepted.”
His gaze fell upon Shen Louchen. “From what Yunzhou and I observed, Fu Xu doesn’t reject your pheromones. In fact, they seem to have a soothing effect on him. That’s a very good entry point.”
Shen Louchen frowned. “What should I do?”
“Decrease the physical distance and along with it, decrease the emotional distance.” Gu Wangyan gave a faint smile.
“For example, you might try addressing him with something more personal. Right now you use formal titles or indirect references. But from what I suspect, he never had anyone treat him as a real person when he was young. What he lacks is a sense of security. Sometimes, just a simple nickname can convey that.”
“Nickname?” The word itself sounded foreign in Shen Louchen’s mouth. He had grown up hearing nothing but “Young Master Shen,” “Minister Shen.” He had never used an intimate nickname for anyone in his life.
“Yes.” Gu Wangyan nodded. “Think about it. Is there a name, something warm, that suits him and might make him feel cared for? You don’t have to rush. Try slowly. The key is showing him that your attitude toward him is not merely about needing an omega but…”
He paused, choosing his words with care. “…but that you see him as someone who deserves to be cared for.”
At that moment, Lin Yunzhou’s call came in. Gu Wangyan glanced at the caller ID, a faint crease appearing between his brows. When he answered, his voice held a trace of tension. “Yunzhou.”
“Finish the consultation and come straight back,” Yunzhou’s voice sounded from the other side. “Don’t say anything to Louchen that you shouldn’t.”
Gu Wangyan’s eyelashes trembled but his voice remained steady. “I understand.”
Once he hung up, he nodded politely to Shen Louchen. “Mr. Shen, I’ll have my assistant send you the follow up treatment plan.”
Watching Gu Wangyan’s figure disappear out of the villa, Shen Louchen’s expression grew thoughtful.
He headed upstairs and gently pushed open Fu Xu’s bedroom door. The boy was sitting by the window, the book Gu Wangyan had given him nestled in his hands. Hearing the door, he looked up, surprise flickering across his eyes. “Mr. Shen?”
Shen Louchen walked over, remaining quiet for a moment. Sunlight filtered through the thin gauze curtains, scattering soft patterns between them.
“What are you reading?” His voice was noticeably gentler than usual.
“The book Dr. Gu gave me.” Fu Xu carefully closed it, revealing the bird illustrated on the cover. “He said… he wants me to read more.”
Shen Louchen looked into those clear, glass like eyes. A hint of unease still lingered there. He recalled Gu Wangyan’s words, about nicknames, about closeness and his brows tightened ever so slightly.
He drew in a deep breath and raised his hand, intending to repeat the gesture from before and ruffle Fu Xu’s hair. But halfway up, his fingers hesitated… then finally fell softly onto the boy’s head. Even now, he couldn’t bring himself to truly enter a relationship, any relationship.
Would there come a day when Fu Xu, too, would leave him like that omega once had…?
Some wounds only needed to happen once to last forever.
His fingertips rested lightly on the crown of Fu Xu’s head. The soft strands of hair carried the faint warmth unique to youth.
Sunlight danced behind the sheer curtains, flickering gently, tinting the unease in Fu Xu’s eyes with a delicate glow, like tiny sparks scattered across shallow water, shimmering yet trembling with fear.
“Do you like the book?” He shifted the topic.
Fu Xu nodded, then pressed his lips together shyly. “I can’t understand a lot of it… but Dr. Gu said it’s okay to read slowly.”
He paused, as if remembering something, then added in a tiny voice, quiet enough to fear being heard yet hoping he would be.
“Dr. Gu also said… if Mr. Shen has time… you could maybe… explain some of it to me.”
“What else did he say?” Shen Louchen asked.
He hadn’t expected Mr. Shen to have heard that part so clearly. Fu Xu instantly flushed red but answered honestly, “He said… I should… call Mr. Shen something else. Something different.”
A subtle shift rippled through Shen Louchen’s chest. Gu Wangyan’s earlier suggestion flicked across his mind like a fine needle, pricking through the distance he had always kept.
Something more intimate…
He repeated the idea in his head. His tongue pressed against his palate but no affectionate word would come out. His entire life he had only addressed people by surnames, ranks or titles.
To suddenly utter a soft, intimate nickname to a boy he had known for only a short time, it felt as impossible as asking him to wear a dress.
“…We can talk about that another day.” His reply was vague. He turned and walked toward the door. With his back to Fu Xu he added, “It’s getting late. Rest early.”
Fu Xu nodded earnestly. He watched the silhouette of Mr. Shen stretch long beneath the setting sun, the outline always surrounded by an invisible barrier, something that made one want to approach yet fear brushing against its cold edges.
He reopened the book but his eyes were unfocused. His gaze drifted across the lines of text.
In his heart, only one question echoed,
Did Mr. Shen… dislike him?
That night, Shen Louchen lay awake in the empty master bedroom, unable to sleep. His mind replayed Gu Wangyan’s suggestions over and over, along with the image of Fu Xu’s eyes, hopeful yet shadowed by insecurity.
Like those colleagues addressing their omegas…?
He recalled a business meeting, the way those men spoke to their partners. He tried repeating a few of those names silently in his mind. Each one felt unbearably awkward, every syllable scorching hot, impossible to speak aloud.
He even started wondering if Gu Wangyan had done this on purpose, after all, that doctor was known for employing unconventional methods in his “treatments.”
He didn’t sleep the entire night.
The following afternoon, Gu Wangyan arrived at the Shen residence right on time. He wore a light grey casual suit and carried a beautifully packaged cake box, looking more like a visiting guest than a doctor making house calls.
“Mr. Shen,” he greeted warmly, handing the cake to a servant. His eyes, however, immediately found Shen Louchen descending the stairs. “I’m here to check on today’s progress.”
Sitting on the sofa, Shen Louchen replied in his usual flat tone, “He’s upstairs reading.”
Still smiling, Gu Wangyan nodded toward the staircase. “And how did yesterday’s little task go?”
Silence.
Gu Wangyan didn’t need an answer, he could read everything from Shen Louchen’s expression. His smile deepened knowingly. He leaned forward slightly, hands clasped over his knees.
“No progress, I see.” Then, in a lighter tone, “I know it’s difficult for someone like you but this is a crucial step in building trust. How about this…”
He paused deliberately, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.
“You could start with something simple and… mutual. Try calling each other ‘husband’ and ‘wife.’ Direct, effective and instantly intimate.”
Shen Louchen’s brows snapped together. It sounded like the most absurd suggestion he had ever heard.
“Dr. Gu,” he said, tone chilling a degree.
“Too much?” Gu Wangyan waved dismissively. “Just teasing. But the method does work.
If you really can’t say that…” His voice took on a more serious note.
“Then try something like ‘baby.’ It’s very common, not easy to use wrong and it immediately makes an omega feel cherished.”
“Baby?”
Shen Louchen forced the word out between his teeth. It made his entire body stiffen. It felt even more intimate and more childish, than the previous suggestion.
“Yes, baby,” Gu Wangyan confirmed with absolute conviction. “Right now, he’s like a child desperate for safety. Using a nickname like that will let his subconscious feel protected. It stabilizes his emotions, helps regulate his pheromones. Even if you don’t mean anything by it yet, you can still try it, purely for therapeutic purposes.”
He made it sound noble and clinical, as though it were nothing more than standard procedure and though Shen Louchen found the notion unbearable, he also knew that there was truth in the doctor’s words. Still… saying it aloud felt impossible.
“I… ”
He had just begun to respond when they reached Fu Xu’s room. From inside came the faint sound of footsteps. The door opened and Fu Xu appeared. His eyes lit up the moment he saw Gu Wangyan. “Dr. Gu.”
Gu Wangyan immediately donned his gentle professional smile. “How did you feel yesterday?”
Fu Xu stepped closer, instinctively standing nearer to Shen Louchen. “I… I felt okay.”
Gu Wangyan cast a glance at Shen Louchen, his eyes clearly saying: Look, your chance is right here.
Shen Louchen met his gaze, then looked at Fu Xu, at the boy’s lowered lashes, at the fragile shape of his shoulders. His Adam’s apple moved. But the word “baby” still lodged stubbornly in his throat.
Instead, he reached out and tapped Fu Xu’s arm lightly with his knuckles. “From now on, you can come into the study anytime. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me.”
Fu Xu’s head snapped up, eyes shining with startled joy. “R.. really? Mr. Shen willing to teach me?”
“Mm.”
Gu Wangyan took a stack of documents from his case, handed them to Shen Louchen, then turned to Fu Xu. “No therapy today. I’m just dropping off the next schedule and checking in. Looks like you’re doing well, so I’ll head out. Remember, communicate more.”
And with that, he left them alone again.
Gu Wangyan finished speaking and rose to take his leave. As the door clicked shut behind him, the room quieted, leaving only Shen Louchen and Fu Xu facing one another. A brief, almost fragile silence settled between them.
Shen Louchen gestured for Zong Yuan to escort the doctor out, then turned back and asked calmly, “You really enjoy studying?”
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
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✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Substitute MarriageChapter 2 · PleaseChapter 3 · Thank you, Mr. ShenChapter 4 · Mr. Shen, are you going to throw me away?Chapter 5 · You don’t have to please me in everythingChapter 6 · Is This For Him?Chapter 7 · Do you know you don’t have long to live?Chapter 8 · But what about you? What will you be then?Chapter 9 · That’s a vehicle from the logistics department.Chapter 10 · What do you take my Shen family for?Chapter 11 · Can I bite your gland?Chapter 12 · He is not my “medicine catalyst”Chapter 13 · Who is that Alpha?Chapter 14 · Perfectly matched omegaChapter 15 · Perhaps you could call him, baby?Chapter 16 · That’s… Fu Xu’s scent?Chapter 17 · It was made by the masterChapter 18 · Abusing a pregnant omega is a serious crime.Chapter 19 · Mr. Shen is the best alpha.Chapter 20 · Family elderChapter 21 · Shen Louchen’s berserk periodChapter 22 Part 1 · You are my wifeChapter 22 Part 2 · You are my wifeChapter 23 · Aren’t we mutually in love?Chapter 24 · Which alpha did you go to see?Chapter 25 · Fu Xu, tell me you like meChapter 26 · Could Mr. Shen possibly have a little crush on him?Chapter 27 · Get out!Chapter 28 · Stay close to meChapter 29 · Mr. Shen and I are a legally married coupleChapter 30 · Spit it outChapter 31 · He’s been acting increasingly strangely latelyChapter 32 · Do you listen to everyone except me?Chapter 33 · Monthly ExamChapter 34 · Parent Teacher MeetingChapter 35 · The classroom was cold at nightChapter 36 · Court deathChapter 37 · Wife, Kiss meChapter 38 · This omega trying to steal a kiss from him?Chapter 39 · His omega turned out to be a little cunning.Chapter 40 · Is this little omega taking advantage of him?Chapter 41 · “Madam Shen” is your trump card, understand?Chapter 42 · Mr. Shen, I don’t know how to wear it…Chapter 43 · HusbandChapter 44 · Why is Shen Louchen acting like a peacockChapter 45 · I won’t abandon you, and I never willChapter 46 · Omega with a 92% match rateChapter 47 · Are you waiting for him?Chapter 48 · How can someone magically transformChapter 49 · Now it’s all good, two kids.Chapter 50 · Mr. Shen, will you regret it then?Chapter 51 · What is regret?Chapter 52 · If you’ve got the guts, say it again!Chapter 53 · That’s my milk teaChapter 54 · What he wanted to replace was the alphaChapter 55 · How do you know I’m not part of Mr. Shen’s plan?Chapter 56 · Why don’t you just kill me?Chapter 57 · Are we sending him away?Chapter 58 · Are you angry?Chapter 59 · Inhibitor or marker?Chapter 60 · Let Fu Xu mark himChapter 61 · There should be limits to joking, right?Chapter 62 · Do you really not like Young Master Lian?Chapter 63 · Will you still love me after I go to school?Chapter 64 · You are the best husband in the worldChapter 65 · Extra 1Chapter 66 · Extra 2