The next morning, Fu Xu woke to a sliver of sunlight slipping through the curtains. He moved slightly and froze.
At some point during the night, he had turned around. He was now nestled directly in Shen Louchen’s arms. The alpha’s arms wrapped tightly around his waist, his chin resting lightly atop Fu Xu’s hair. His breathing was steady, deep in sleep.
Fu Xu’s face burned instantly, as if drenched in boiling water. Even his ears felt hot. He tried to ease himself free but Shen Louchen reflexively held him tighter, mumbling something incoherent that clearly protested his attempt to leave.
Fu Xu stiffened, unable to move, his nose brushing the fabric of Shen Louchen’s shirt. He smelled the faint trace of disinfectant mixed with that clean, cool scent unique to the alpha. He lifted his head the slightest bit, stealing a look at the sleeping man.
The lips that were always pressed into a firm line were soft now. His eyelashes were long, casting delicate shadows beneath his eyes. Without the icy sharpness he wore while awake, his features looked surprisingly gentle. Fu Xu suddenly realized that Shen Louchen was… actually very handsome. It was just that his usual cold demeanor made it easy to overlook.
At that moment, Shen Louchen’s eyelashes fluttered. His eyes slowly opened.
Their gazes locked.
Heat surged through Fu Xu like an electric shock. He jerked his head down, heart pounding wildly, fingers trembling.
“You’re awake?” Shen Louchen’s voice was rough with sleep, low and soft, without any clear emotion yet it somehow made Fu Xu’s cheeks burn even hotter.
“Mm.” Fu Xu murmured, trying to wriggle out of the man’s arms. “I.. I want to wash up, Mr. Shen.”
Only then did Shen Louchen release him. Fu Xu practically bolted into the bathroom.
Shen Louchen watched him flee, a faint, almost invisible smile brushing across his lips. He sat up, eyes following Fu Xu’s retreating back until the bathroom door closed, then leaned back against the headboard.
Inside the bathroom, Fu Xu splashed cold water on his face. When he looked up, his reflection showed bright red cheeks. He patted them frantically. He didn’t understand why he felt so nervous. They had only slept in the same bed. It was Shen Louchen who had pulled him close but the moment he remembered that warm embrace, something filled his chest, soft, warm, almost frighteningly unfamiliar.
He took his time washing up. When he finally opened the door,
Shen Louchen was sitting on the edge of the bed, hands on his knees, posture straight like a student waiting for inspection. His gaze was fixed unwaveringly on the bathroom door. The moment Fu Xu stepped out, his eyes lit up noticeably.
“All done?” Shen Louchen stood and walked to his side naturally, staying close.
Fu Xu felt awkward under that unwavering attention. “I… I’ll go make breakfast.”
“I’ll go with you.” Shen Louchen instantly followed, trailing him like a silent shadow.
Fu Xu had no choice but to let him accompany him into the kitchen.
The refrigerator still had alpha specific nutrient supplements butler Chen had once told him that Shen Louchen needed to take them regularly. Fu Xu also took out a bag of bread. He had noticed before: Mr. Shen liked his toast slightly crisp, baked for exactly three minutes until the edges darkened faintly.
He had just reached for the oven when he felt a warm breath at his back. Shen Louchen had stepped close, too close, his chest almost touching Fu Xu’s shoulder blades.
“I’ll do it.” His voice softly brushed against Fu Xu’s ear with an unmistakable firmness.
Fu Xu paused. Before he could respond, Shen Louchen gently guided him aside and took the bread. His movements were clumsy but his concentration was absolute.
Then,
He frowned at the oven, visibly perplexed as he watched it, seemingly waiting for it to turn on by itself.
Young master Shen had clearly never cooked in his life.
“Mr. Shen, I’ll handle it. Please wait just a moment.” Fu Xu whispered.
Shen Louchen looked at him, as if confirming his capability. Only when Fu Xu nodded did he obediently retreat, sitting at the dining table but still angled so he could see Fu Xu at all times, eyes tracking him with quiet intensity.
Under that gaze, Fu Xu’s movements sped up in embarrassment.
Soon, breakfast was ready: golden toast, perfectly cooked fried eggs, two cups of warm milk.
Once he set the plates down and took a seat, Shen Louchen immediately picked up a slice of toast and held it in front of him.
“Eat.” His tone was firm, brooking no argument.
Fu Xu blinked, frozen for a beat, then took the toast and nibbled a small bite. Only then did Shen Louchen began eating his own breakfast, though his eyes drifted to Fu Xu every few seconds, as if supervising him.
This omega was far too thin. He looked like he might faint at any moment.
Midway through the meal, Shen Louchen suddenly put down his toast, frowning at him.
“You’re eating too little.”
Fu Xu lowered his gaze to the half eaten toast in his hand. “I… I’m not very hungry.”
“No.” Shen Louchen’s voice was firm. He picked up a fried egg and placed it on Fu Xu’s plate. “Eat.”
Fu Xu stared at the egg, then at the earnest seriousness on Shen Louchen’s face. Warmth unfurled quietly in his chest. Growing up in the Fu household, he had never eaten a meal without feeling watched, judged or scolded.
No one had ever cared whether he ate enough or ate well. Even Mr. Shen, in the past, only fed him to keep him from dying.
But now, this Mr. Shen… was nothing like the man he had known.
He had changed completely.
Sunlight streamed through the dining room windows, spilling across the two figures seated at the table. The warm glow softened the edges of the quiet morning, lending a gentle tranquility to the space.
After breakfast, Fu Xu moved naturally to gather the bowls and plates. Shen Loucheng stood up, clearly intending to help but Fu Xu hurriedly stopped him. “Mr. Shen… I’ll finish very quickly. Please don’t trouble yourself.”
Once the dishes were washed and put away, Fu Xu stepped out of the kitchen. He instantly spotted Shen Loucheng still seated at the dining table, perfectly still, waiting like an enormous, well behaved hound awaiting its master’s return.
“Tired,” Shen Loucheng murmured. His long fingers pressed lightly against his temple as he spoke, the lines of his posture forming an image that could have been captured in an oil painting. “Sleep with me. Stay until I fall asleep.”
Normally, whenever his pheromones were stable enough, Shen Loucheng worked through entire nights without rest. On days when his body finally pushed back, he would take short, half hour naps, barely enough to qualify as real sleep but it was a habit he had long adapted to.
Fu Xu opened his mouth to respond but before he could form a single word, the doorbell rang.
“Mr. Shen… I’ll get the door.” It was the first time in his life Fu Xu had ever moved with such speed. In three brisk steps, almost a frantic leap, he reached the entrance.
Zong Yuan stood outside wearing a large black mask that hid half of his face. He peeked nervously into the house before leaning closer, lowering his voice. “Has the Minister shown… any irregular behavior?”
Shen Loucheng looked toward the door, glaring with clear irritation. He seemed ready to walk over and confront the visitor himself.
Fu Xu instantly stepped back, placing himself between the two. “That, um, Assistant Zong is… here to check on Mr. Shen.”
Strangely, Shen Loucheng did not explode with anger. Maybe exhaustion was weighing him down. He shot Zong Yuan a sharp, unmistakably warning glare, then turned and walked upstairs.
“Come up in a little while,” he ordered.
“Y.. yes, of course.”
Only after Shen Loucheng’s figure disappeared into the hallway did Zong Yuan finally exhale in relief. He tugged off the mask and stepped inside, speaking in a low voice. “The Minister has always returned to the old residence after receiving his inhibitor injections. The fact that he stayed here this time is already bizarre.”
Fu Xu swallowed, nodding timidly. “Y.. yes… Mr. Shen has… changed. Quite a lot.”
Zong Yuan’s expression grew solemn. “I’ve called the Minister for the past few days. He either ignores the call or picks up only long enough to say he’s busy but in the past, even when he stayed at the old house, he handled all work matters perfectly well.”
He paused, recalling the scene from earlier that had unsettled him. “And he seems… extremely hostile toward anyone who comes near him.”
“Ah…” Fu Xu had barely left the house since arriving here. Other than the day he saw Mr. Shen shout at Assistant Zong, he didn’t understand much about the rest. All he knew was that Mr. Shen truly behaved very differently now.
“It’s like he’s become a completely different person!” Zong Yuan said, lowering his voice even further. “I contacted Lin Yunzhou as well. Even he can’t determine the cause. So while we wait for the Minister to recover, please keep looking after him. If anything happens, anything at all, report to me immediately.”
His gaze swept over Fu Xu, carrying a complicated emotion. “The Minister’s state right now… it’s absolutely unsuitable for him to meet anyone else. Especially his rivals. If they saw him like this, things could get messy.”
He hesitated for a long moment before concluding, “Anyway, I’m trusting you with this. Once I figure out what exactly is going on, we’ll re-evaluate.”
“But…” Fu Xu murmured, voice small.
“But what?” Zong Yuan’s eyebrows sharpened as he studied him. Was this omega planning to take advantage of the Minister?
Fu Xu hesitated for so long that sweat pooled in his palms. After building up his courage for several minutes, he finally whispered, “But… that old grandfather said… he wants me… to divorce Mr. Shen. So… I shouldn’t keep staying here… right?”
His voice grew increasingly faint, almost impossible to hear by the end. This was the fear weighing heaviest on him.
Zong Yuan’s tightly furrowed brows softened a little. For once, his expression grew gentle. “I’ll take care of Old Master Shen. Don’t worry, everything can wait until the Minister wakes up and makes his own decision.”
They had been planning this operation for a long time. One unexpected incident wasn’t going to derail their entire strategy.
Fu Xu finally exhaled, though the anxiety inside him remained. He was someone who could barely take care of himself. How was he supposed to take care of a clingy, overly dependent, partially amnesiac Mr. Shen?
Zong Yuan had barely left when Gu Wangyan arrived.
“I’m not late, am I?” Gu Wangyan asked, smiling warmly at Fu Xu.
“No…”bFu Xu instinctively relaxed under the doctor’s soothing pheromones. The tension inside him loosened noticeably.
Gu Wangyan examined him with practiced efficiency, his eyes softening. “Your condition has improved a great deal.”
He flipped through the medical file. “Have you been doing those relaxation exercises I mentioned last time?”
Fu Xu nodded earnestly. “Yes.”
“Good.” Gu Wangyan smiled, genuinely pleased. “Your progress is better than I expected. As long as you keep it up, there’s a good chance you’ll recover fully but you do need to start going outside a little. Deep down, you want to go out, you’re just scared. If you relax a bit, how about I take you out for a walk tomorrow?”
Fu Xu tried to smile and nodded again.
If Shen Loucheng hadn’t suddenly changed, he might still be hiding away like before, trapped inside his shell.
“Excellent.” Gu Wangyan closed his medical kit, then took out his phone and waved it lightly. “Let me add you as a contact. It’ll make communication easier.”
Only then did Fu Xu remember that Mr. Shen had given him a phone earlier butler Chen had patiently taught him how to use it but Fu Xu had never touched it again after that.
He never dared. Mr. Shen already fed him and kept him alive, how could he accept even more?
But this time… Assistant Zong had entrusted him with taking care of Mr. Shen. Maybe… maybe he could treat this as a tiny, tiny reward?
He knew the thought was childish but unless he framed it that way, he couldn’t bring himself to accept anything from Mr. Shen.
If I ever get the chance to make money someday… I’ll pay him back, he told himself.
Carefully, he took the phone out from the drawer and handed it to Gu Wangyan. “I… kind of forgot… how to use it butler Chen… taught me before.”
Gu Wangyan chuckled softly and leaned close to the screen. “Here, register an account first.”
He dialed his own number from the phone, noted it down and guided Fu Xu through each step of the registration.
“What username do you want?”
“My… my name?” He almost answered reflexively but then stopped. If this was a virtual identity… he didn’t want to carry the Fu surname anymore.
So he simply entered one character, Xu.
“What about a profile picture?” Gu Wangyan asked.
Fu Xu’s mind went blank. “I… don’t know.”
“Then use the system avatar for now. Sure, it’s a bit ugly but tomorrow, if we see something you like, you can change it.” Gu Wangyan liked Fu Xu, even felt a faint sense of kinship with him, so his patience seemed endless.
Once they were connected, he sent Fu Xu a sticker, a tiny kitten spreading its paws, saying “Hello!”
Fu Xu’s lips curved upward involuntarily. The little cat was strangely adorable. “Thank you, Dr. Gu.”
“I told you not to be so formal.” Gu Wangyan pretended to scold him. “What did you promise me?”
Fu Xu blushed faintly, then whispered, “Brother Wangyan.”
“That’s more like it!” Gu Wangyan grinned in satisfaction. “Alright, I’ll let you get some rest. Message me if anything happens.”
“Okay.”
Meanwhile, in the old residence, Liao Jiazhi hurled a glass onto the floor. It shattered with a sharp crash, shards scattering everywhere.
“Useless! A whole group of useless idiots!”
He clutched his chest as pain throbbed through him, his face pale. “You can’t even watch one person properly and you let that defective omega take advantage!”
His assistant trembled, not daring to breathe too loudly. “Minister Shen’s condition… seems somewhat unusual. Assistant Zong said he listens to Fu Xu now. Completely. He won’t leave his side.”
“Listen to him?” Liao Jiazhi snorted coldly, eyes filled with contempt. “Just the side effects of the inhibitor.”
His chest tightened again, drawing another wince. “Once he returns to normal, he’ll naturally realize who’s actually best for him.”
He pictured Fu Xu’s frail, timid face and the disgust in his eyes deepened. “A useless omega who can’t even secrete pheromones properly, how could he possibly be worthy of staying at Loucheng’s side? Once I recover, I’ll throw him out myself.”
The assistant nodded, though anxiety churned within him. Something about this situation felt very wrong.
On the other side,
Shen Loucheng had been unable to fall asleep, annoyed by the constant ringing of a phone. Irritated, he raked his fingers through his hair and followed the sound into the study. He hung up immediately. Silence returned, finally granting him peace.
His hearing had always surpassed that of ordinary people. Even in a sound proofed room, he could easily detect faint noises. A perfectly good nap had been destroyed and the irritation clung to him like a fog.
But the phone rang again and again.
Taking a deep breath, suppressing the urge to crush the device, he answered. “…Hello.”
“Minister! You finally picked up!” a man’s voice exclaimed from the other end. “About the matter we discussed earlier, we’ve made progress. Jiang Fenggu has been building his own forces and that recent violent incident? It was carried out by his men.”
Shen Loucheng frowned. He had no recollection of this. In the past… someone handled matters like these for him.
Who was it?
He couldn’t remember.
“Put everything aside for now. Compile the details and send me a full report,” Shen Loucheng instructed. “I’ll review it.”
“Yes, sir.”
After ending the call, Shen Loucheng unlocked a drawer containing confidential documents, files that should help him regain lost memories.
Fu Xu returned upstairs after sending Gu Wangyan off. Shen Loucheng was already seated on the bed, waiting.
“Mr. Shen…” Fu Xu twisted the hem of his shirt nervously. “I’m sorry… I came up late.”
In the next moment, a small red booklet appeared before him.
Their marriage certificate.
Shen Loucheng withdrew his hand slowly. He looked at the certificate, then at Fu Xu, his brows gradually pulling together. “We’re… married?”
“Sort, sort of,” Fu Xu stammered, flustered.
Shen Loucheng’s gaze dimmed. Even his ears seemed to droop a little. “Then… did you used to dislike me?”
He stared at the blank space where their photo should have been, then remembered the way Fu Xu always avoided sleeping beside him. Something in his chest tightened, left heavy and uncomfortable.
Fu Xu hadn’t expected that question. He immediately shook his head. “No, I just…”
He had never expected you to like him in the first place.
Yet Shen Louchen acted as if he hadn’t heard a single word he said. Holding the marriage certificate in his hands, he silently walked away, went to sit in the far corner of the sofa and turned his back toward him. Even his tail drooped lifelessly, as if stripped of all spirit.
Fu Xu looked at his lonely back and let out a soft sigh. He walked closer. “Are you… angry?”
Shen Louchen’s voice came muffled, low and unsteady. “No.”
Fu Xu approached him even more cautiously, every step careful. “I’m sorry, Mr. Shen… I…”
Shen Louchen shifted slightly, twisting his torso a bit but he still refused to acknowledge him.
“Mr. Shen.” Fu Xu lowered his gaze, his voice filled only with apology. “I’m sorry. I know I don’t deserve you… If you want.. ”
“I don’t want that.” Shen Louchen cut him off instantly, without even giving the thought a moment to form. He turned toward Fu Xu, his gaze locking on him and for a brief, dazed moment, he saw not Fu Xu but his father.
Back then, his father had also knelt like this, kneeling before his grandfather but his grandfather still raised his hand and slapped him across the face. From that day forward, Shen Louchen never saw his father again.
“You will live with me from now on,” Shen Louchen said, gripping Fu Xu’s shoulders with both hands, holding him as if he might disappear. His eyes gradually reddened.
Fu Xu nodded obediently, his breath growing rapid and uneven.
“Omega…” Shen Louchen murmured. The suppressants surged through him once again, swallowing his senses. His vision blurred, the edges of the world dissolving.
It felt like slipping into a dream.
In the dream, his daddy, cold and indifferent, stepped on his father’s hand. Omega are only tools, he said. Disposable. The Security Department would handle them.
The Security Department… Wasn’t it originally created to protect everyone’s rights?
How did it become like this? Why… Why has everything twisted so far?
The scene shifted abruptly, colors smearing, shapes melting and a vague face approached him, its voice distant and warped but unmistakably commanding.
“Louchen, remember this. All omegas deserve death. The ones you protect… are the alphas.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The translator humbly requests tribute in coffee form. (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ ☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
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