After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 10

Lin Shuxing never expected things to go so smoothly; the compatibility between Pei Yu and Qin Shen actually reached 99.99 percent. Had the doctor not been a personal acquaintance, he would have suspected the results were tampered with. Even the heavens seemed to be helping him.

However, he felt a twinge of annoyance. Qin Shen was an S-grade Alpha, and the fact that Pei Yu’s compatibility was so high suggested that Pei Yu’s latent talent was likely superior to his own.

“Whatever, I will not dwell on it. As long as I am not the one suffering,” Lin Shuxing thought happily. He posted a celebratory update on his social media feed and called his friends out for drinks. When asked why he was so happy, he replied:

[Lin Shuxing: Hahaha, my brother’s compatibility with Qin Shen is even higher than mine. Lucky!!!]

As the start of the school year approached, Pei Yu noticed a shift in the way the Lin family treated him. They were suddenly much closer. Breakfast featured the Chinese dishes he enjoyed; at lunch, Luo Meihua sent a maid to ask for his preferences; she even transferred a significant amount of pocket money to him. Even when he returned from his part-time job at night, the security guard at the gate congratulated him.

“Your name is officially registered now. You can enter and leave freely.”

Pei Yu was baffled, finding the Lin family’s behavior increasingly bizarre. It felt as though this sudden warmth was a mere facade that would shatter at the slightest touch.

The last weekend before school started arrived. On Saturday afternoon, Lin Yifeng called Pei Yu to the living room. Luo Meihua and Lin Shuxing were already seated on the sofa, looking as if they were about to hold a serious family meeting.

“Xiao Yu, take a look at these documents.” Lin Yifeng patted a stack of papers on the coffee table.

Pei Yu sat down, feeling like needles were pricking his back. He picked up the documents. They included his transfer papers, a summary of Jiang He’s medical expenses, the latest scientific reports on pheromone disorder research, and a very detailed profile of the Qin Group.

Under their intense gazes, Pei Yu flipped through them.

“Your tuition fees and your foster mother’s medical expenses are all here,” Lin Yifeng said. “The last two are documents regarding the Qin family. Recently, the Qin Group has been researching pheromone disorders and has made significant progress.”

“Are you saying my mother’s illness might be completely curable?” Pei Yu’s eyes lit up. He had come down in a hurry and forgotten his glasses; his eyes, as spirited as stars, seemed to shimmer.

Luo Meihua studied him closely, realizing that Pei Yu actually looked quite good. His hairstyle was just too tacky. If he was to meet the President of the Qin Group, he would need to be groomed properly so the Qins wouldn’t think they were insincere. She felt a surge of pride, assuming he had inherited her beauty—otherwise, how could his skin be so fair?

“Yes, but as you know, such medical resources are scarce.” Lin Yifeng paused for effect before revealing his ultimate goal. “As long as you enter a marriage of convenience with the Qin family, Jiang He can have priority access to the most cutting-edge treatment.”

“Marriage?” Pei Yu’s eyes widened. The name “Qin” sounded familiar. Then, a memory flashed through his mind.

The night Lin Shuxing forced him to drink, he had overheard those rich kids saying: “Qin Shen really is old, crippled, and a pervert!”

Recalling the standard portrayal of a powerful CEO and the rumors surrounding him—combined with the classic drama trope of a family forcing a child into marriage—Pei Yu instantly envisioned a middle-aged man with wrinkles, disturbing habits, and a hideous appearance.

“Why?” Pei Yu slammed the table and stood up. “Why should I enter a marriage with the Qin family?”

He had only just differentiated into an Omega! Was he already being used as a pawn by his family? He stared at his parents, his eyes full of resentment. Luo Meihua looked away guiltily, fidgeting with her manicure.

Lin Yifeng explained, “President Qin suffers from a pheromone disorder, just like Jiang He. With your 100 percent compatibility, you can effectively soothe him.”

He was prepared for Pei Yu’s resistance and gave a slight smile, as if he held all the cards. “We are paying for Jiang He’s expenses. If you agree to the marriage, all of the Qin Group’s future research will be made available to her first. Do you not love her? She raised you for so many years; now you are being asked to make a small sacrifice. Are you truly unwilling?”

Lin Yifeng continued fluently, “Do you know how immense the Qin family’s assets are? If it were not for your near-100 percent compatibility, this opportunity would never have fallen to you.”

“Exactly,” Lin Shuxing sneered, not bothering to hide his malice. “Too bad my compatibility was only 68 percent. Brother, I am so jealous. Don’t forget us when you become rich~”

Lin Yifeng understood Pei Yu’s weakness perfectly. Pei Yu could endure hardship himself, but Jiang He was his Achilles’ heel. The thought of her receiving the best treatment and potentially being cured moved him. He bit his lip hard, his knuckles white.

“I will not do it,” he said, his voice forced from his throat. “If it were really that good, would Lin Shuxing let me go? I am only eighteen. I will not compromise like this.”

Lin Yifeng dropped his act. Thinking of the Qin Group’s advanced AI technology and the future of Lingfeng Appliances, he grew cold. “The Qin family specifically asked for you. If you do not agree, Jiang He will be kicked out of the hospital.”

Pei Yu’s heart tightened. His neatly trimmed nails dug into his palms. Even if his mom was kicked out, they could go back to how things were. He could work, borrow money, and spend his life paying it off. He thought of the quiet, kind donor who had provided his scholarship—he had promised to get into a top university and honor that person’s kindness.

But he was only eighteen and had just differentiated; he was in a sensitive and fragile state. Sorrow spread across his nose, and he looked up stubbornly to keep the tears from falling. But Lin Shuxing did not miss the redness in his eyes.

The family meeting ended on a bitter note. Once the parents left, Lin Shuxing rose lazily from the sofa. “I should say thank you to you for this. I hope you do not end up too miserable after you marry over. I heard that old man is impotent; who knows what kind of weird fetishes he has.”

If Pei Yu were tortured to death, wouldn’t it be his turn again? For a moment, Lin Shuxing actually hoped Pei Yu would live a long time.

Pei Yu looked at him with a chilling coldness. Lin Shuxing froze; it was the first time he had seen such a gaze from Pei Yu. Realizing he had been intimidated, he felt his blood boil. He gave a forced snort and bumped into Pei Yu’s shoulder as he left.

The meeting with the Qin family was quickly confirmed for the following morning. Because of Pei Yu’s “disobedience,” Lin Yifeng refused to let him go to the bar and placed him under house arrest in the villa.

Pei Yu tried to leave but was blocked by the maids. “Little Master, please have mercy and do not make things hard for us. If the Master blames us, we cannot explain ourselves,” a maid pleaded.

Pei Yu looked toward the gate, where several bodyguards in black stood. “I understand,” he murmured. He went back to his room and messaged the manager. The manager agreed readily and told him to rest for a few more days.

[Manager Duan: Since Qin Fen was there last time, I did not dare to stand up for you. I am sorry about that.] [Pei Yu: It is okay. I understand.]

Pei Yu hesitated, wanting to ask the manager about Qin Shen, but he ultimately decided against it. Regardless of whether the man was a pervert, he was being sent over as a walking medicine pack for an Alpha. The way an Omega “soothed” an Alpha was something Pei Yu had heard about even when he was a Beta. The thought of intimate contact with an older Alpha made him nauseous.

I have to escape.

He looked out the window at a tall, sturdy tree. His bedroom was on the second floor; if he was careful, he could use the tree to get out. But there were cameras all over the villa and the neighborhood, and Jiang He was still in the hospital. Even if he escaped, Lin Yifeng would use Jiang He’s life to threaten him. In the end, he would likely have to compromise anyway.

A surge of sorrow hit him, and the grievances in his heart turned into several clear tears that splashed onto his phone. His promise to the donor had turned into a bubble.

Pei Yu opened his email and sent a message: [I am truly sorry. I might not be able to attend Beijing University on time next year.]

Even if he had to pause his studies, he would not give up. Life was long; he could continue learning even if he entered society. He expected it would be a long time before the kind donor saw his message.

Pei Yu exited his email, only to hear the notification chime of a new message.

He froze for a moment and clicked it open.

The other party’s reply was, as usual, cold and brief: [Did something happen at home?]

Pei Yu hadn’t intended to divulge the details, but seeing the person follow up with, “If you don’t mind, you can tell me. I might be able to help you,” he finally broke down. He knew the other person might just be being polite, but at this moment, Pei Yu desperately needed a “tree hole” to vent into.

[Because I had a secondary differentiation into an Omega, my family wants me to enter a marriage of convenience with a stranger Alpha.]

Receiving the message, Qin Shen was stunned.

He thought it couldn’t possibly be such a coincidence. Under his grandfather’s influence, he had sponsored many students, both in the name of the Qin Group and personally. This student wasn’t the first to correspond with him via email.

Qin Shen knit his brows and quickly enlarged the previous image he had received. When he saw the name on the first line of the transcript, his dark pupils contracted.

[Rank 1: Pei Yu]

So, the person on the other end of the email was Pei Yu? Among the students he sponsored, it just happened to be that Pei Yu?

He paused, his long fingers gliding across the screen: [Do you not want to marry this person?]

This was not the kind of question a typical donor would ask. In their past years of correspondence, his words had been pathetically few. Pei Yu simply assumed the person was showing concern for him.

[Mhm, I do not. I believe any Omega would refuse.]

Qin Shen was silent for a while: [If the Alpha you were to marry signed an agreement with you, promising not to hurt you, providing advanced medical opportunities for your family, and paying you extra compensation, would you agree?]

This was the first time Pei Yu had seen his donor write so much. But how could it be as he hypothesized? Not everyone was a good person, and the President of the Qin family surely wasn’t a fool for charity.

A thousand words converged into a single question mark. Pei Yu: [?]

Qin Shen: [Your name is on the transcript. As it happens, I am Qin Shen.]

“…”

Pei Yu’s mouth dropped open in shock. His phone hit the floor with a loud thud.

Another message popped up: [If you are willing to believe me.]

Pei Yu felt like he was going crazy. The kind-hearted person who had been supporting him all this time was the very person he was supposed to marry?!

He ran to the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face, and looked at the conditions again—conditions that were incredibly favorable to him. Weren’t the rumors saying Qin Shen was old, crippled, and a pervert? But looking at it now, he didn’t seem like a pervert with strange hobbies at all. Perhaps the outside world was misinformed; someone who sponsored poor students and constantly encouraged them had to be a good man.

Pei Yu was in a total daze. Just as he was about to type more, the bedroom door opened.

“Mom wants to talk to you.” Lin Shuxing waved his phone, a meaningful smile in his eyes.

Jiang He?

Pei Yu froze and took the phone.

“Xiao Yu, I heard about the marriage with the Qin family.” The voice from the receiver was weak but carried a familiar gentleness.

Pei Yu glanced at Lin Shuxing, lightly closed the door, and sat on the edge of the bed. “Mhm, people from the Qin family are coming tomorrow morning,” Pei Yu said.

“What do you think about the marriage?”

Pei Yu was silent for a moment before replying softly, “I do not want to, of course. He is much older than me. But the Qin Group is researching your illness. If the marriage happens…”

“I am still considering it.”

Because of the email, Pei Yu didn’t mention the rumors. In reality, his heart had already tipped toward the marriage.

“I have looked into it. The Qin family is very wealthy, and it seems your compatibility with Qin Shen is 100 percent? To reach that level, you two must be a ‘Destined Match.’ You would be very happy.”

Listening to this, Pei Yu felt something was off. A sudden irritation rose in his chest. “But I do not know him, and he seems to have some physical issues.”

“True, but I think you should meet him first before making a decision.”

Pei Yu bit his dry lip. He didn’t mention his intent to agree. Recalling Lin Shuxing’s smirk from earlier, his chest felt hot. After a moment, he asked with conflict and hesitation, “But I do not want to marry someone this early. Lin Shuxing and Qin Shen have a 68 percent compatibility, which is also quite high. If I refuse, he can be the one to marry.”

Jiang He’s speaking speed quickened slightly. “I know that. But Xiaoxing just told me he already has someone he likes. Forcing him into a marriage would be breaking up two young people, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

Pei Yu was stunned for a long time. His voice gradually turned raspy.

“So you think it is fine for me to marry someone nearly ten years older than me?”

“I am only eighteen.”

“The rumors about him are terrible. Do you know all of this?!”

By the end, Pei Yu was almost shouting.

Silence fell. Pei Yu could only hear Jiang He’s breathing through the phone—still soft, yet carrying a cold, detached ruthlessness.

“I… I was not thinking clearly. Xiao Yu, I am sorry.”

Pei Yu hung up and placed Lin Shuxing’s phone on the floor outside the door. He grabbed a towel and went into the bathroom to shower. In the steam-filled space, the sound of the pattering water drowned out his intermittent sobs.

The youth tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep all night.

The next morning, Pei Yu’s eyes were swollen. Afraid of being mocked by the Lin family, he asked a maid for ice packs to reduce the swelling. He had no appetite and skipped breakfast.

At 9:30 AM, Lin Yifeng knocked on his door. “President Qin will be here at ten. Do not throw a tantrum. Being able to marry Qin Shen is a huge stroke of luck. If you ruin this for me—”

He stopped, looking at Pei Yu’s messy hair, and warned, “Fix your hair and change your clothes. Do not embarrass the Lin family.”

Pei Yu looked at him without saying a word. Lin Yifeng figured that with Jiang He as leverage, Pei Yu wouldn’t be able to cause much trouble, so he closed the door and left.

Pei Yu slowly changed his clothes and brushed his hair back from his forehead. Looking at the slender youth in the full-length mirror, he felt only a sense of strangeness. He was like a commodity, sold off by his biological parents to someone who could bring them profit.

And yet, the “stranger” Qin Shen had offered conditions that were entirely for his benefit. He curled his lips into a mocking smile.

With five minutes left until the appointment, a maid led Pei Yu downstairs.

“I was worried you might try to run away.” Lin Shuxing looked up with a smile, but then froze completely.

Following the sound of footsteps, the Lin parents turned around, and their eyes also widened. This was the first time they had seen Pei Yu’s entire face.

The youth descending the stairs had a cold, distant gaze, his bangs pulled back completely. He was almost too beautiful. The brilliant lights played across him as if he had stepped out of a painting.

Pei Yu ignored their stares and sat in an empty spot on the sofa, his cold face silently conveying that he was not in the mood for talk.

Pei Yu looks like this?

Lin Shuxing couldn’t look away, staring over and over. True beauty lies in the bone structure, not just the skin. Pei Yu had a cold, elegant bone structure. With his forehead exposed, the perfect proportions of his features were fully revealed. The crimson mole at the corner of his left eye was the finishing touch, like a drop of rose color on a cold camellia.

A fire of jealousy burned in Lin Shuxing’s heart. So what if he’s good-looking? He still has to marry Qin Shen and be toyed with by that impotent, violent old man. Lin Shuxing rolled his eyes and a grin split his face.

The roar of an engine sounded outside. Hearing it, Pei Yu’s heart tightened. Even though he knew Qin Shen might be a good person, the reality of being sold like merchandise made him incredibly nervous.

Lin Yifeng and Luo Meihua hurried to their feet to greet the guest at the door, blocking the view for Pei Yu and Lin Shuxing. The sound of wheels rolling rhythmically over the floor grew closer, pounding against Pei Yu’s eardrums.

At the entrance, Lin Yifeng and Luo Meihua moved to the sides, and the man they were blocking appeared in Pei Yu’s field of vision.

It was an extremely cold and handsome face. His features were sharp, his eyes deep, and his pupils as dark as ink—profound and calm. He was dressed in a tailored, charcoal-gray high-end suit, his aura noble and distinguished. The shiny black shoes were slightly tilted, reflecting the light. His fingers were laced over his lap, and the watch on his wrist shimmered under the chandelier.

On his chest was pinned a single, vibrantly blooming red rose. The eye-catching red did not diminish his aura; instead, it added a touch of tenderness.

Even sitting in a wheelchair, there was no sign of embarrassment on his face. He held his chin high like a natural-born ruler, his imposing presence enough to make anyone tremble.

It was also a face Pei Yu knew very well.

Pei Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief. The Qin Shen he was supposed to marry was the same Mr. Qin who had helped him several times?

“Hello, everyone. Let me introduce myself first,” a low voice echoed.

“My name is Qin Shen.”

“And I am the person who will be entering a marriage of convenience with Pei Yu.”

Qin Shen lightly lifted his pale eyelids. His gaze met Pei Yu’s in mid-air. Suddenly, Qin Shen’s lips curved into a very faint smile, and a trace of warmth in his eyes reached the bottom of Pei Yu’s heart.

It was as if he were asking:

Are you coming with me?

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