After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 12

The air conditioning was on inside the car. The body that had grown warm from packing luggage cooled down bit by bit, until it felt as if the only warm spot left on his entire body was where his right hand touched the man.

Pei Yu tried his best to ignore the skin-to-skin contact. At the thought of the treatment methods in the agreement which were far more intimate than holding hands—Pei Yu couldn’t control the heat rising in his ears.

Having just differentiated into an Omega, Pei Yu clearly hadn’t realized his new identity yet; to an Alpha as fierce as a wild beast, it didn’t matter if it was just a touch of the hand or something more—any contact could ignite an Alpha’s desire. Especially for an Alpha like Qin Shen, who had lived a life of abstinence for over twenty years. Qin Shen was used to suppressing all his desires to the deepest depths; nothing showed on the surface, but a turbulent tide of emotion was hidden beneath his gaze.

Inside the car, a cold, deep voice spoke.

“You transferred to Yangshen Private High School?” Qin Shen asked, his thin lips parting slightly.

Pei Yu nodded. “Yes. My previous school wasn’t in the city. To make it easier to take care of my mother, the Lin family wanted to put on a good front for the public.”

“That’s quite a coincidence. Qin Yiyang also attends Yangshen,” Qin Shen said. “He’s entering his senior year too. If you don’t mind, I can arrange for you to be in his class.”

“That way, you can look out for each other.” Qin Shen paused. “Do you remember Qin Yiyang? The boy dressed in a sporty style—he’s my cousin.”

“I remember.” Pei Yu thought of the lively and helpful boy. “I’m fine with anything. You can arrange it as you see fit, Mr. Qin.”

Qin Shen knit his brows slightly. Remembering the soft, murmured “Gege” (Big Brother) from the boy earlier, he was somewhat dissatisfied with this distant “Mr. Qin.” However, since they had just met, he decided to let Pei Yu adjust first and change the form of address later.

“Good. Yangshen is closer to the old Qin family estate,” Qin Shen said. “For convenience, you’ll be living there for the next few months. My grandfather and Qin Yiyang are both there. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind,” Pei Yu said quickly. “So, are we going to the estate now?”

“Yes. Grandfather wants to meet you on the way. Don’t be nervous,” Qin Shen comforted him softly.

“Oh…” At the thought of meeting a family elder, Pei Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit apprehensive.

“He is very much looking forward to meeting you.” The corners of Qin Shen’s lips curled up slightly. “As you know, people of his age always nag the younger generation to settle down early.”

“Mr. Qin also gets nagged about marriage?” Pei Yu couldn’t help but giggle.

Then, his finger was pinched with very little force. Instantly, Pei Yu straightened his back and sat up properly.

A ringtone broke the silent atmosphere. Pei Yu instinctively pulled his hand away to reach for the phone in his pocket. Qin Shen, whose hand was now empty, rubbed his fingertips and placed his hand neatly back on his lap.

The two were sitting close, and the car was quiet. Qin Shen didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but he still inadvertently caught bits of the conversation.

“Xiao Yu, I heard you seem very satisfied with your marriage partner and just packed your bags to follow him? Isn’t that a bit too rushed?”

Having just been treated unfairly by Jiang He, it was hard for Pei Yu to face her with his old mindset. It was difficult to believe that ten-plus years of companionship couldn’t compare to blood relations. But Lin Yifeng and Luo Meihua had proven to him that the debt of upbringing was greater than the debt of birth. Pei Yu felt like an unwanted little cabbage in a field; both families wanted Lin Shuxing, and he was the one being sold off casually.

Pei Yu’s tone was much colder than before. “Isn’t this the result you wanted, Mother? If I don’t go through with the marriage, the one getting married off would be Lin Shuxing.”

Qin Shen looked at him sideways. It wouldn’t be him, he countered silently in his heart.

Silence hung on the line for a few seconds. “I’m sorry. I said the wrong thing yesterday. Xiao Yu, please forgive me,” Jiang He said with self-reproach and apology in her voice.

“…” Pei Yu moved his lips. “Actually, I’m not angry with you.” It was more disappointment than anything else. Since he was in front of Qin Shen, Pei Yu was embarrassed to discuss private matters for long, so he hung up and said he’d call back later.

Qin Shen raised his eyes. “A call from your mother?”

“Yes, she was just asking how things were.” Pei Yu fidgeted with his phone as he answered.

“When your mother-in-law’s health improves, we should have a meal together sometime,” Qin Shen said.

Pei Yu answered obediently, “Okay.”

“Your eyes still look a bit red. Does it have anything to do with me?” Qin Shen suddenly brought it up. When they met earlier, he noticed the corners of the boy’s eyes were flushed and his eyelids were a bit swollen. Like he had been crying.

Qin Shen slightly regretted not telling Pei Yu ahead of time that he was the one. Although the email stated he wouldn’t be harmed, an eighteen-year-old Omega would naturally be fearful when facing the unknown.

Pei Yu was stunned for a moment, feeling a bit at a loss.

“Is it inconvenient to answer? My apologies.” Qin Shen thought he had offended him.

“I thought it wouldn’t be noticeable after applying an ice pack,” Pei Yu replied after a beat. “As expected of an Alpha your observation is so keen, Mr. Qin. But no, it wasn’t because of you.”

Qin Shen looked at him steadily for a moment. “I see.”

“Do you remember those rich heirs who forced you to drink at the bar?”

Pei Yu was puzzled. “?”

“Deep Blue is my private property. I’ve revoked their memberships. In the future, the Qin Corporation will avoid collaborating with them as much as possible.”

“However, the Lin family’s punishment might be delayed for a while, since we are getting engaged soon.”

“Th-thank you, Mr. Qin.” Pei Yu was a bit overwhelmed. People always said businessmen were heartless and only cared about profit, yet Mr. Qin actually thought about helping him get revenge. He even explained why he couldn’t punish Lin Shuxing yet.

“Actually, you don’t have to go that far for me.”

“From now on, you are my Omega to the outside world. This small matter is only right.”

Hearing this, the tips of Pei Yu’s ears suddenly grew hot. He almost thought he was being self-important; it turned out it was just to maintain the dignity of the Qin family.

The driver’s skills were excellent. Since Pei Yu hadn’t slept well the night before, he gradually drifted off. Mottled sunlight filtered through the car window, gently kissing the boy’s cheek. His long, thick eyelashes cast a fan-shaped shadow under his eyes. He was very fair—so fair it was as if he had never seen the light. Wearing a thin shirt, the pure white silk fabric made his skin look even fairer.

Every feature was like a masterpiece of fine craftsmanship. Qin Shen felt that God must have spent a lot of effort on him. When the boy slept with his eyes closed, he looked even more obedient. Without anyone else to disturb them, Qin Shen could have looked at him for a long time. After a few minutes, he felt such behavior was a bit rude, so he turned to his laptop to deal with work.

By the time Pei Yu opened his eyes again, they had almost reached their destination. The car climbed up a slope, weaving through dense trees. Pei Yu looked out the window; layers of leaves cut the blue, cloudless sky into countless pieces. His mood brightened considerably.

“The scenery here is beautiful,” Pei Yu marveled.

Qin Shen smiled. “It will be even more beautiful in autumn and winter.”

As the car slowed down, a traditional Chinese residential building came into view. Dark tiles and white walls, with hints of striking red paint, the century-old estate was steeped in ancient charm. The luxury car stopped steadily, and the servants waiting at the entrance moved quickly to unload the wheelchair and luggage.

Qin Shen’s upper body strength was very well-developed. As he exerted force, the bulge of muscle could be seen beneath his suit. With a skillful move, he shifted himself into the wheelchair, a feat that Pei Yu marveled at in secret. After placing his legs on the footrests and tidying his clothes, Qin Shen turned and held out his hand. “We’re here. Let’s get out.”

“Okay.” Pei Yu took Qin Shen’s hand and stepped out of the car. He looked ahead to see a white-haired old man and Qin Yiyang standing at the door. Qin Yiyang smiled and waved at him.

“You must be Xiao Yu. Welcome, welcome.”

“Treat this place as your own home from now on. Don’t feel constrained.” Grandpa Qin stepped forward leaning on a cane made of Huanghuali wood, which was carved with exquisite patterns of cranes and auspicious clouds.

the old man was completely different from the image Pei Yu had imagined. He had looked up Qin Shuo’s life online; the photos of Grandpa Qin in the encyclopedia showed a serious face that allowed one to glimpse the ruthless methods he used in the business world in his youth.

Grandpa Qin was an Alpha who had married a Beta despite his family’s opposition. It was a huge scandal at the time. The Qin family was originally a prestigious family with deep roots. Before Grandpa Qin, the marriages of the younger generation were decided by the patriarch, and the partners were all wealthy Omegas. Qin Shuo’s rebellion caused dissatisfaction within the clan, and the family even found an Omega with a very high compatibility rate for him in an attempt to break them up.

Outsiders believed no Alpha could resist the natural attraction of pheromones, but Qin Shuo passed the test. After decades of ups and downs, his relationship with his lover remained perfect. The disobedient Qin Shuo was kicked out of the family and had to start from scratch. Once he built the Qin Corporation into a powerhouse, the traditional Qin family, which failed to adapt to the times, gradually fell into decline. Eventually, those people had to come crawling back to seek the Qin Corporation’s protection.

Now, the junior members of the Qin side-branches were just idling in unimportant positions within the company. Since Qin Shuo stepped down, the entire Qin Corporation was under Qin Shen’s control.

“Hello, Grandpa.” Pei Yu didn’t dare be disrespectful and shook Grandpa Qin’s hand.

“Good boy, such a good boy. You look like a wonderful child; you’ve suffered in the Lin family.” Qin Shuo patted the back of Pei Yu’s hand and turned his head. “Yiyang.”

Qin Yiyang understood and held up a gift box. “Little Sister-in-law, this is a meeting gift Grandpa prepared for you.”

The smile on Pei Yu’s face almost cracked, and his face instantly turned beet red. He took the gift box awkwardly, only to hear Mr. Qin’s low chuckle, which made him even more embarrassed.

“Y-you don’t have to call me ‘Little Sister-in-law,'” Pei Yu said, biting his lip. “Just call me Pei Yu.”

Qin Yiyang made an “OK” sign. “No problem, Little Sister-in-law.”

Pei Yu: “…”

Grandpa Qin: “Hahaha! All right, let’s go inside and eat. The sun is hot out here; don’t get sunburned.”

Walking into the main Qin house, an ancient ginkgo tree towered into the sky, its thick trunk weathered by time. Its tender leaves swayed in the breeze like green butterflies. The ginkgo is known as a living fossil and is a top-level protected plant in the country. Pei Yu stared wide-eyed at such a large tree.

Qin Shen: “It was planted here a long time ago. People from the Forestry Bureau come to measure it every year and tell us to protect it well.”

“Amazing…” Pei Yu murmured.

Qin Shen’s lips curved upward. He glanced at the gift box in the boy’s arms; he didn’t know what was inside, but it looked a bit heavy. “Is it heavy to hold? Do you want to put it on my lap?”

Pei Yu glanced at the man’s injured legs. How would he dare? He shook his head repeatedly. “I’ll just hold it myself.”

Grandpa Qin, walking ahead, slowed down to walk alongside Pei Yu, introducing the main and side buildings to him. “This is Aunt Zhou. She’s the housekeeper of the estate and an amazing cook. If you ever have questions, you can ask her.”

Aunt Zhou smiled kindly. “Hello, Young Master Xiao Yu. Just let me know if you need anything.”

Pei Yu instinctively held the gift box tighter. “Hello, Aunt Zhou.”

Entering the main hall, Pei Yu realized the interior was different from what he had imagined. Although there were paintings on the walls and porcelain vases on rosewood shelves, the overall style was a modern-traditional mix. Ancient-style furniture and modern smart appliances blended perfectly without feeling out of place. Pei Yu put the gift on the coffee table and was led to the dining room.

Grandpa Qin sat at the head of the table. Pei Yu sat next to Qin Shen, with Qin Yiyang and Aunt Zhou opposite them. He didn’t see Qin Shen’s parents, so Pei Yu suppressed his curiosity and looked at the large spread of food.

The dishes were full of color and aroma, still steaming. They were all flavors Pei Yu liked. His tastes were a bit extreme; he liked non-stimulating sweet and sour flavors, but also heavy, spicy flavors. Although he couldn’t eat too much spice each time, he was addicted to it and would crave it if he went a while without it.

On the table were classic Sweet and Sour Pork, Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce, Boiled Pork Slices (Shuizhu), Spicy Sauteed Beef, Sichuan Pepper Chicken, three refreshing vegetable dishes, and a light Pigeon Soup with Goji berries. Although they were home-style dishes, each was perfectly cooked and glistening. Pei Yu, who had lost his appetite after the car ride, felt his eyes light up. He hadn’t eaten breakfast, and now he was famished.

His nose felt a bit stingy. Mr. Qin was truly good to him; he must have investigated his tastes in advance.

“I asked the Lin family about your tastes two days ago. Give them a try. Aunt Zhou was busy all morning; I hope you like it.” Qin Shen placed a piece of sweet and sour pork into Pei Yu’s porcelain bowl.

Qin Yiyang, who had been waiting for a long time and wasn’t allowed to pick up his chopsticks until the guest arrived, shouted, “I’m starving to death!”

Grandpa Qin scooped a bowl of soup and placed it by Pei Yu’s hand. “Eat slowly. Just let the family know what you want to eat in the future.”

“Thank you, Grandpa Qin.” Pei Yu smiled gratefully.

Grandpa Qin: “No need for thanks. Look at how thin you are; you should eat more.”

The table was filled with laughter. Pei Yu, who was initially very nervous, gradually relaxed. After eating a few pieces of the spicy beef, it became a bit too much for him. His pale pink lips turned bright red, and he only recovered after drinking several gulps of soup. There was one piece of spicy beef left in his bowl, and Pei Yu was bracing himself to chew and swallow it.

“Why eat so much if you can’t handle the spice?” Qin Shen asked him. “Give it to me.”

Pei Yu felt a bit embarrassed as he placed the piece of spicy beef into Qin Shen’s bowl. Qin Shen ate it without changing his expression, but over the next few minutes, he drank three glasses of ice water in a row, yet his thin lips remained bright red.

“Pfft.” Pei Yu couldn’t hold back his laughter. He thought Mr. Qin was being so smooth in bailing him out because he could handle spice, but it turned out he was even worse at it than Pei Yu.

“What are you laughing at?” Qin Shen’s fingertips, cool from holding the ice water, lightly pinched Pei Yu’s finger under the table. His finger felt like it had been hit with an electric current. Since he was in front of an elder, Pei Yu withdrew his hand with a flushed face, though he could vaguely hear Qin Shen teasing him.

At the table, Grandpa Qin asked a few questions about Pei Yu’s situation, then suddenly said, “A-Shen told me you two met at the hospital before. Was it love at first sight?”

Qin Shen paused and frowned slightly at his grandfather. He had never said that.

Pei Yu was stunned and looked at Mr. Qin out of the corner of his eye. Is that what he told Grandpa? That it was love at first sight?

Pei Yu remembered Grandpa Qin’s critical condition at the hospital, and how Qin Shen, no matter how successful he was, still faced pressure from his elders to marry. He understood. Mr. Qin probably wanted to put Grandpa Qin’s mind at ease; a marriage based on mutual attraction at first sight was naturally more reassuring than one without feelings.

Thinking about how good Grandpa Qin was to him—meeting him at the door, giving him gifts, and telling him to treat the house as his own—Pei Yu saw the boy’s eyes blink a few times. He didn’t know what he was thinking.

Just as Qin Shen was about to deny it, Pei Yu interrupted him: “Yes. Mr. Qin and I truly were… uh, love at first sight.”

Qin Yiyang and Qin Shen: “?”

Qin Yiyang was completely dumbfounded. Wait, how come I didn’t know you two fell in love at first sight?!

Grandpa Qin narrowed his eyes. “I knew it. A-Shen was so resistant to marriage before, but this time he agreed so readily.”

Pei Yu’s scalp tingled with embarrassment. “I-is that so?”

Grandpa Qin smiled happily. “That’s wonderful. I’m relieved to see you two have such strong feelings.”

When the meal ended, Pei Yu leaned over and whispered to Qin Shen, “You told Grandpa Qin it was love at first sight? Why didn’t you tell me in advance? Good thing I’m clever, otherwise we would have been caught.”

“…” Qin Shen didn’t know why his grandfather said that either, so he just went along with it. “I was busy and forgot.”

“I’m smart, right?” Pei Yu’s eyes were full of smiles.

After eating, Grandpa Qin asked the servants to help take Pei Yu’s luggage to the room.

“Should I move it into Young Master Qin’s room?” the servant, Xiao Ya, asked.

Hearing this, a string of question marks popped up in Pei Yu’s head. Move it where? Qin Shen’s room? Did he and Mr. Qin have to share a room from now on???

“Yes. Xiao Yu and A-Shen have such a good relationship, and living together is good for the illness too.” After saying this, Grandpa Qin asked, “Isn’t that right, Xiao Yu?”

All eyes turned to Pei Yu. His face turned explosive red, and he hesitated to speak. By now, Qin Shen also knew what his grandfather was up to—it turned out he was playing wingman.

Qin Shen: “No need. Put his luggage in the room opposite mine. I had someone clean it this morning; he can move right in.”

Pei Yu, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, heard Grandpa Qin let out a long sigh. Grandpa Qin looked sorrowful. “I knew it wasn’t love at first sight. A-Shen, don’t try to trick Grandpa into being happy anymore.”

“I thought there would be someone to take care of you from now on. Sigh. I’ve failed your grandmother. She was most worried about you before she passed.”

“You were so young then, and your parents couldn’t protect you.”

Qin Shen looked at his drama-queen grandfather: “…”

“Uh.” Pei Yu looked down at Qin Shen’s disabled legs. He figured Grandpa Qin’s wish was probably to see someone helping to take care of Qin Shen. Thinking about how Mr. Qin had promised him a six-figure monthly allowance in the agreement, Pei Yu felt it was only right that he take on part of the responsibility. Sharing a room would also be better for Mr. Qin’s condition.

Pei Yu instinctively relented. “It’s fine. Just put my luggage in Mr. Qin’s room.”

“?” Qin Shen raised an eyebrow at Pei Yu. “Are you sure you want to stay with me?”

“Yes.” Pei Yu nodded heavily. He believed Mr. Qin was a true gentleman; even if they slept together, Mr. Qin probably wouldn’t do anything to him, right?

“Fine. Xiao Ya, go put the luggage away.” A smile flashed in Grandpa Qin’s eyes. He looked at Qin Shen as if to say, You useless fellow, I had to step in.

Qin Yiyang was so surprised he couldn’t close his mouth. Was a 100% AO compatibility really this intense? Sparks were actually flying.

“Oh, right, Xiao Yu, why are you still calling A-Shen ‘Mr. Qin’? We’re all family; no need to be shy.” Grandpa Qin stared at Pei Yu with wide eyes, as if expecting him to drop the formality and change the address.

Pei Yu, forced into a corner, had no choice but to pretend he had only called him “Mr. Qin” out of shyness. He hesitated for a moment, then whispered bashfully, “Gege, I’m a bit sleepy. Can I go upstairs and take a nap for a while?”

The “nap” was a lie; in reality, Pei Yu just wanted to quickly escape this scene that was so awkward he felt like curling up his toes.

Hearing those two words from the boy’s lips once again, Qin Shen’s eyes moved slightly. The knuckles gripping the armrest tightened imperceptibly. He had to admit, some of his grandfather’s methods were quite good and very effective.

Qin Shen lowered his thick, dark eyelashes. His voice was slow and deep. “Yes, you can. Let’s go upstairs and sleep together.”

“S-sleep together?” Pei Yu stammered.

Qin Shen slowly raised his eyes to look at him, with a half-smile. “Yes. Is there a problem?”

Pei Yu looked at Grandpa Qin and bit his lip uncomfortably. “No problem. We’ll, just sleep together.”

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