Fu Xu kept his head lowered, uncertain whether he looked good like this. When he heard Ren Jiu’s voice, his gaze flickered toward Shen Louchen and unexpectedly met the man’s dark, ink-colored eyes.
In that fleeting moment, Fu Xu felt a strange sense of danger, an inexplicable pressure that made his heartbeat quicken beyond his control.
“It’s fine.”
Shen Louchen’s thin lips parted slightly, his tone calm and measured.
Not good-looking then?
Fu Xu bit his lip. Of course,he didn’t possess the strong pheromones that Fu Jiaze had nor the same stunning looks. No matter how he compared himself, he couldn’t measure up to Fu Jiaze in any way, not even a little.
Shen Louchen turned toward Ren Jiu and added in that cool, even tone, “Your skills still need improvement.”
“Huh??” Ren Jiu’s mind went completely blank.
Wait a second, did the Master just blame him?
So the family head didn’t blame the omega but him instead? What did that even mean? Was he implying the omega didn’t look good because Ren Jiu’s craftsmanship wasn’t good enough?
Shen Louchen gave a small nod, as if confirming Ren Jiu’s confused thoughts.
In truth, Fu Xu looked rather good this way. After cutting off the excess length of his hair, his small face was completely revealed. The sunlight poured in through the window, making his pale skin appear almost translucent. His features were delicate, with a faint reddish mole at the corner of his eye.
Wrapped in white sleepwear, he looked fragile to the point of breaking. Each time he coughed softly, the blue veins at his neck became faintly visible and it was as if he was struggling to suppress pain that came from deep within his body.
“Have you eaten yet?” Shen Louchen suddenly asked.
Fu Xu shook his head.
He had only drunk a bag of nutrient solution yesterday before passing out. Today, he had been waiting quietly for Mr. Shen to return. Without permission, he dared not touch anything in someone else’s home. Besides, skipping a meal or two wasn’t that big of a deal.
“Go buy some porridge,” Shen Louchen ordered, his jaw tightening slightly. His brows drew together faintly, apparently this omega hadn’t planned on eating before he came back. No wonder his stomach was hurting.
“Yes, sir.” Zhong Yuan answered quickly, turning to head out the door, only to bump into someone head-on.
“Hey, I just came to watch the fun. Deputy Zhong, what’s this? Trying to kill me?” The newcomer grinned, flashing small, sharp tiger teeth. Dressed in a bright yellow jacket that contrasted vividly with his black hair, he was all sunshine and swagger.
“My apologies, Young Master Shen.” Zhong Yuan saluted formally. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I was just joking.”
Shen Ci bounded inside with three quick steps, his sharp eyes immediately catching sight of the person standing a little ways off. “Is that my new sister-in-law?”
Before he could move closer, a wave of Shen Louchen’s pheromones condensed into an invisible wall, flaring like a streak of fire to block Shen Ci’s path. In the next instant, Shen Louchen appeared right before him, fully shielding Fu Xu from view.
Shen Ci had no choice but to retreat, his lips curling. “Come on, Brother, don’t be so stingy. Back then, I was the one helping you settle all those omegas, wasn’t I? You’re married now and I can’t even take a look?”
He was honestly curious. What kind of omega could possibly make his cousin willing to marry?
He still remembered the first time someone tried to send an omega to Shen Louchen’s bed. Shen Ci had been waiting downstairs with a stack of documents.
By the time Shen Louchen came down, he was already half-transformed, one hand dragging the omega’s limp body behind him. The floor had been streaked with blood. If that omega hadn’t died, they had probably gone mad.
Every omega after that met the same fate, Shen Louchen would toss them to Shen Ci to deal with, then send them away. After all these years, Shen Ci had practically become his cousin’s assistant when it came to handling these unwanted omegas. And now he couldn’t even have a glance? Truly stingy.
“What are you here for?” Shen Louchen asked quietly, one hand still holding Fu Xu behind him. His tone was calm but there was a quiet warning in it.
Shen Ci shrugged, smiling with feigned innocence. “Of course I came to see if you needed help, Brother. But judging from how things look, you seem quite satisfied with your marriage partner.”
“Mm.” Shen Louchen gave a nonchalant response. “Go back and tell Grandfather he doesn’t need to worry.”
At that moment, Zhong Yuan returned, holding a bowl of hot porridge. Shen Louchen took the bag from him and led Fu Xu toward the dining room.
Fu Xu’s wrists were slim, his skin carrying a faint fragrance after the bath. The redness from earlier had faded, leaving it smooth and soft to the touch. That was an omega’s natural advantage.
Shen Louchen could sense Shen Ci’s curious gaze behind him but Shen Ci had always been loose-tongued. Once he saw Fu Xu clearly, he would surely spread it everywhere.
In Fu Xu’s current fragile state, if anyone with ill intent found out about him, they might take advantage of the situation.
Right now, Shen Louchen needed an omega like Fu Xu and he couldn’t afford to let him get hurt.
Besides, there was still something uncertain, he wasn’t sure whether that subtle floral scent from before had truly come from Fu Xu. He didn’t like being influenced by pheromones but he had to admit, that faint fragrance had a strangely intoxicating pull.
“Eat first. I have a meeting,” Shen Louchen said as he opened the container and pushed the porridge toward him.
“Mister Shen, aren’t you eating?” Fu Xu asked in disbelief, staring at the bowl of white, thick porridge, dotted with bits of green vegetables and tiny shreds of meat.
Was it really for him?
“Do you not like it?” Shen Louchen asked, watching him.
“No, sir,” Fu Xu said quickly, his hands trembling slightly. He glanced at Shen Louchen, then back at the porridge, before picking up the spoon.
The first mouthful slid into his mouth, warm and soft. The simple porridge carried a comforting fragrance that spread through his chest, a warmth he had never felt before.
That faint floral scent came again, even stronger than it had been in the morning. Shen Louchen could sense it distinctly this time.
Peony? Or rose? The fragrance wasn’t like the typical sweet scents of most omegas, it was purer, cleaner. Even though it lingered for only a few seconds, it was enough to ease the burning at the back of his neck.
It seemed Fu Xu carried a secret he himself didn’t even know.
Interesting.
Shen Louchen’s eyes softened slightly as he watched Fu Xu devour the porridge. “Eat slower,” he reminded him. “Otherwise your stomach will hurt.”
The spoon stopped midair. Fu Xu’s eyes turned red. Tears welled up uncontrollably, falling one after another.
How could Mr. Shen be so kind? He’d always heard from Fu Jiaze that Mr. Shen was terrifying, like a ghost. That was why he had been the one sent in Fu Jiaze’s place. But now… Mr. Shen was nothing like the rumors.
“Why are you crying?” Shen Louchen asked, momentarily at a loss. Was this how all omegas were? Crying at the slightest thing?
“I… thank you, Mr. Shen.”
Fu Xu had learned only a few things during his time in the orphanage. He thought his life would end as a servant to the Fu family. He never imagined he would experience something like this. Apart from “thank you,” he didn’t know what else to say.
Shen Louchen’s Adam’s apple moved slightly. “Be good. Eat your meal.”
In the study.
Shen Ci stood beside the desk, arms crossed, his expression full of curiosity. “Brother, what does sister-in-law’s pheromone smell like?”
“If you keep asking, you’ll go back to your unit for extra drills,” Shen Louchen replied without looking up, eyes fixed on the documents in front of him.
Shen Ci immediately shut his mouth. He knew his brother’s idea of “extra drills” could take half his life away.
“Was he… deliberately abandoned by the Fu family?”
Shen Louchen stared at the document for a long moment, turning the ring on his finger thoughtfully. It appeared he had discovered something.
So that was it, the Fu family had discarded Fu Xu because he was a defective omega. Later, when public pressure forced them to retrieve him, they must have believed a second differentiation might elevate him to an S-rank but when that failed, they had thrown him back into misery.
Living in an open shed, surviving on leftovers and scraps, often hungry and covered in bruises…
No wonder Fu Xu’s body was full of scars. No wonder he only dared to drink the nutrient solution Shen gave him. No wonder he was so timid yet still knew how to cook. Suddenly, all the odd details made sense.
If Fu Xu hadn’t married in place of Fu Jiaze, he likely wouldn’t have lived much longer.
The Fu family truly had some nerve.
“Master, should we move against the Fu family?” Zhong Yuan asked.
Shen Louchen thought for a moment, lit a cigarette and replied calmly, “Not yet. Since they wanted to retrieve Fu Xu for a second differentiation, they must have their reasons. Until we uncover what that reason is, let them live a little longer.”
From the documents, Fu Xu had undergone several differentiation surgeries and genetic tests, all confirming his defective status.
But that floral scent, Shen Louchen knew his home well enough to be certain it hadn’t come from anywhere else. The only explanation was Fu Xu himself.
But there was no rush. He had more pressing matters at hand.
When he finished his paperwork, he decided to check on Fu Xu. To his surprise, Fu Xu was still sitting obediently at the dining table, staring at the half-finished bowl of porridge. He hadn’t moved an inch, as if without his master’s permission, he didn’t dare to.
“Why didn’t you finish it?” Shen Louchen asked.
Fu Xu’s shoulders trembled. The hand pressed over his abdomen loosened slightly. “My stomach… hurts a little,” he murmured. He couldn’t eat anymore.
Shen Louchen’s gaze darkened. Right, Fu Xu had chronic stomach issues. Eating too much at once would be too much for him to bear.
“Mr. Shen,” Fu Xu asked softly, tilting his head with a faint, hesitant tone, “May I take the rest back with me?”
He thought maybe he could eat it later that night.
Without a word, Shen Louchen took the bag and tossed it straight into the trash. “It’ll be cold by then.”
Fu Xu stared at the discarded porridge, a pang of regret rising in his chest. So Mr. Shen was angry again, he wasn’t even allowed to eat now? What a pity. He should have finished it earlier. Maybe then Mr. Shen wouldn’t have been upset.
The next second, Shen Louchen’s deep voice came again, warm as running water, wrapping around him gently. “I’ll buy you a fresh one tonight.”
“Huh?”
The dull light in Fu Xu’s eyes flickered back to life. “Mr. Shen, you’re… not angry?”
“Why would I be?” Shen Louchen asked, slightly amused. Did this little thing really think he would get angry just because he didn’t finish his porridge?
“Because…” Because whenever that happened, his mother used to scold him.
“I’m not angry. Go rest.” Shen Louchen rubbed his temples and poured himself a glass of water. “I’ll have dinner sent to your room later.”
“Alright, Mr. Shen.”
Fu Xu stood up obediently but after taking only a few steps, his vision blurred and his knees buckled. He would have fallen if Shen Louchen hadn’t caught him in time.
“Sorry, Mr. Shen,” Fu Xu murmured weakly, his voice trembling. “I can’t see very well…”
He could feel the man’s strong arm around his waist, the heat of his skin seeping through the fabric, so hot that even the wounds on his back began to ache faintly under that scorching touch
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
You could simply scroll away… or buy the translator coffee. 👀
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ 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