After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 2

Lin Shuxing stood with his back to the light spilling from the villa.

He was shrouded in a dim, murky glow, and a flash of undisguised loathing crossed his eyes. The air seemed to freeze.

Pei Yu looked up to meet his gaze. This was not the first time this had happened. When the two were alone, Lin Shuxing would unleash his maximum malice, yet in front of Mother Lin, he would pretend to be the understanding brother who wanted to compensate for Pei Yu’s return.

His acting was not particularly sophisticated, and he had even slipped up before. However, ever since he realized that Luo Meihua was intentionally or unintentionally indulgent of his behavior, Lin Shuxing had become even more unscrupulous.

Pei Yu stared straight at him, his clean, clear eyes showing neither fear nor intimidation. His light brown pupils reflected the fine glints of light like bright stars, ruthlessly illuminating the darkness deep within Lin Shuxing’s heart.

“I heard you have been taking extra Chinese lessons over the summer break,” Pei Yu said, his gaze rippleless.

The topic jumped so unexpectedly that Lin Shuxing was stunned for a moment, failing to get the reaction he wanted. The family had indeed hired a gold-medal tutor at a high price to give him lessons, covering not just Chinese, but also Mathematics and Science.

His grades at Yangshen Private High School were not good; only his English was presentable. The deeper reason his English written and oral skills were decent was simply that failing to speak English would lead to being mocked by other wealthy heirs who had returned from “gilding” themselves abroad. It was as if one could not hold a position in their social circle without being fluent in English.

“No wonder you need extra Chinese lessons,” Pei Yu said, ignoring his surprise. He offered a cold, mocking remark, which was, strictly speaking, the truth. “Do you know what it means for a dove to occupy a magpie’s nest?”

“If you do not understand, you can go back and check a dictionary.”

After speaking, Pei Yu brushed past him expressionlessly, intentionally bumping into Lin Shuxing’s shoulder as he went. After walking a few paces, a scream of uncontrollable, frantic rage erupted behind him.

It felt incredibly refreshing. Behind his glasses, a glint of fox-like cunning and satisfaction flashed in Pei Yu’s eyes.

Lin Shuxing stared deathly at the thin figure. If looks could kill, Pei Yu would have died several times over. He could not help but curse loudly.

“What are you acting so arrogant for?”

“You are just a Beta with the lowest status. In the past, you might have had to kneel before me!”

Pei Yu ignored him. He pushed open the door and changed into indoor slippers at the entrance. Just as he walked into the living room, he saw Mother Lin rising to meet him.

She frowned and looked outside, assuming the two children had quarreled again. Her tone carried a hint of blame. “Did you argue with Xiaoxing again? He went out to pick you up out of the kindness of his heart. Did you not promise me you would get along well with him?”

Seeing that he remained silent, Luo Meihua scolded him in a low voice. “Making such a scene so late at night, what if the neighbors hear? Stop making your brother angry.”

Pei Yu knit his brows. “He told me to get out of the Lin house. He is the one shouting.”

“Did you provoke him? Xiaoxing said he was very happy to have you stay here.” Toward the boy she had pampered for eighteen years, Mother Lin gave her unconditional bias.

She had promised Lin Shuxing that even after Pei Yu returned, she would never ignore him and would spoil him just as she had before.

“Xiaoxing has no reason to want to drive you away,” Luo Meihua urged earnestly. “Xiao Yu, do not overthink things.”

Pei Yu stopped in his tracks and exhaled slowly. He turned his head and said, “Mrs. Luo, if you hate me, I can move back to my own home.”

His black hair hung over his eyelids, and behind the lenses was a clear sense of distance and indifference.

“How could I possibly hate you?” Luo Meihua retorted immediately. “As long as you call me Mom and visit your foster mother a few less times at the hospital…”

Aside from these reasons, there was actually a very important reason why the Lin family required Pei Yu to live at home.

The nurse who had swapped the children had changed careers but never let the matter go. Over the long years, it became a burden on her conscience, to the point where she herself forgot if she had actually made a mistake.

Filled with anxiety, she saw news of the Lin couple online. She saw Lin Shuxing attending an expensive noble private school, while the other family was so ordinary that she could no longer find any trace of them. Thinking her mistake might have caused misfortune for two families, she posted an anonymous thread online.

At first, netizens were just gossiping, but as they dug deeper, they noticed that Lin Shuxing indeed did not look like his parents. The seeds of suspicion were planted. Since the Lins were a prominent family, the story of a wealthy family swapping children and the reversal of the fates of a true and false young master was eye-catching. Marketing accounts large and small forwarded the story, and it quickly became a trending topic.

Lingfeng Appliances was currently in a critical period of developing a full set of smart home appliances, and the scandals caused fluctuations in the stock price. Under pressure from the board of directors, Lin Yifeng promised to resolve the private matter as quickly as possible. He sent people to investigate, and to his surprise, they actually found something.

With the facts laid bare, netizens and the elite peers of Jiangcheng were astonished. Hearing that the true young master’s foster father had died in a car accident, his foster mother was bedridden, and the true young master had to apply for financial aid and eat plain meals in the cafeteria, public opinion gradually shifted toward Pei Yu.

Although Pei Yu’s status as a Beta could not compare to Lin Shuxing’s, blatant discrimination in modern society had lessened significantly. Unfortunate people always attracted the sympathy of netizens.

Many extremists noticed that the fake young master, Lin Shuxing, behaved in a high-profile manner, often posting brand-name watches and cars on his private account that ordinary people could not afford in a lifetime. Sympathy combined with resentment toward the rich acted as a catalyst, and Lin Shuxing was cursed out by thousands of netizens.

With no other choice, the Lin family had to put on a display of being extremely heartbroken for the true young master. That same day, they sent Jiang He to a high-end private hospital for treatment. To avoid criticism, Lin Shuxing also put on a smiling face.

Luo Meihua, wearing a silk nightgown, looked slightly plump due to her healthy skin and lifestyle.

“I want to be good to you, but you will not even acknowledge me.”

She was fair, beautiful, and came from a superior family background, yet her biological son would not even call her Mom. She had looked into Jiang He’s background; her education was average, she worked as an accountant in a private company before getting sick, and she had massive medical expenses every year. Life had been very hard.

Now that she had finally found her biological son, she arranged the first meal at a five-star Michelin restaurant. That one meal cost as much as a month of Jiang He’s medicine. Was that not enough attention? Yet, in the end, Pei Yu could not even bring himself to call her Mom.

Was she not being outshone by that Jiang He? She had not even looked down on Pei Yu for being a mediocre Beta.

Luo Meihua looked up at the boy’s clothing. His bangs were too long, he had no refined grooming, his hair quality was slightly rough, and the price of his clothes likely did not reach three digits. He did not even look as noble as the family’s nanny.

“Who are you dressing like this for? Your looks are already not outstanding, and you do not even know how to take care of yourself.”

“Outsiders might think your father and I are mistreating you.”

“Is there something wrong with the clothes I am wearing?” Pei Yu asked with a steady expression.

“Is there not?” Luo Meihua knit her brows, commenting with disdain. “It is very ugly.”

Pei Yu replied, “This is just a very ordinary short-sleeved shirt and jeans.”

Luo Meihua hummed in response and continued to comment incessantly on his appearance. From head to toe, she critiqued the jet-black bangs that made him look gloomy, the hideous glasses, the cheap fabric, and the ill-fitting cut.

Pei Yu listened quietly. The woman holding her head high before him would never realize why he dressed this way. Without this disguise, in a crowded bar with all sorts of people, it was inevitable that someone would try to touch him.

Pei Yu recalled the time before the compensation money had arrived. His father was in critical condition in the ICU, using many imported medicines with low reimbursement rates. They could only seek out the third party responsible for the accident. The third party had money but exploited legal loopholes and hired professional lawyers to fight them.

Because they could not afford to delay the medical fees, Jiang He sold their school district house at a discount. To save money, he and Jiang He later moved into a cheap shared rental.

Anyone could enter the neighborhood. Once, coming back from a night study session, Pei Yu looked pure and clean in his blue and white school uniform. His beautiful face outshone the moonlight, and he was targeted by a malicious Alpha. Fortunately, Pei Yu was smart enough to run away.

From then on, he made it a habit to wear glasses with very thick frames. Later, when the compensation money arrived, his and Jiang He’s lives became a bit more comfortable, but then Jiang He fell ill with a difficult condition. Afterward, Pei Yu went to school during the day and worked part-time at night. For safety, he got used to wearing glasses as a form of disguise that brought him a great sense of security.

As Luo Meihua spoke, she noticed Pei Yu was ignoring her again and became even more frustrated.

“Mom, do not blame Brother. It must be because I accidentally made him angry just now.”

Having calmed his emotions, Lin Shuxing walked in from the door. He put on an innocent expression and spoke in a wronged voice. He did not look at all like the person who had been screaming frantically outside.

“Brother said I was a dove occupying a magpie’s nest. I knew he must resent me in his heart.”

Pei Yu remained silent.

A pair of tearful eyes looked over, and Lin Shuxing sniffled. “I really want to get along with you.”

Seeing his nose turn red from crying, Luo Meihua immediately went to hug him, comforting him gently while repeatedly blaming Pei Yu.

The scene was one of motherly love and filial piety. The corner of Pei Yu’s mouth twitched slightly.

“You really want to get along with me?” He interrupted Lin Shuxing’s sobbing complaint.

Lin Shuxing replied, “Of course.”

“Then let me have the master bedroom. That room faces the right direction, and I want to soak in the sun when I wake up tomorrow morning.”

Lin Shuxing’s face froze. “But I have lived in that room for eighteen years.”

The corners of Pei Yu’s lips could not help but curl up. “That room belonged to me in the first place. Or is your so-called getting along just a show?”

Luo Meihua was still right there. Lin Shuxing felt incredibly stifled but had to maintain a facade of generosity.

“It is not that I do not want to give it to you. Omegas have weak bodies and delicate skin. I am not like you, who is thick-skinned. If I change rooms, I will suffer from insomnia at night. Does Brother have the heart to let that happen?”

That would be perfect, Pei Yu thought to himself. He followed the other’s example, putting on a wronged expression and softening his voice significantly.

“You have lived there for eighteen years. Can you not let me stay there for a while?”

Pei Yu’s voice was very pleasant, like flowing spring water in a forest, clean and clear. The intentional softening was perfectly executed, sounding pitiful without being affected. It was the kind of sound that made people feel sorry for him.

Even Luo Meihua could not help but feel a pang of sympathy. The servants standing in the living room peeked over, enjoying the drama.

Pei Yu lowered his light brown eyes and spoke in a sorrowful tone. “Sigh, I should just go back home to live. At least there, I have a room that belongs only to me. I will go pack my bags and just move out tonight.”

Pei Yu turned toward the stairs. Luo Meihua stood frozen for several seconds. Remembering her husband’s instructions, she realized what was happening and hurried forward to stop him.

“Xiao Yu, why are you moving? That room should be given to you. I will have the servants clean the room immediately.”

“No, Mom!” Lin Shuxing was stunned, stomping his feet in anger. “How can it be like this? Why?!”

Luo Meihua patted Lin Shuxing’s back. “Do you not understand Mom the most? If Xiao Yu wants to live there, let him. After some time has passed…”

“No, Mom!”

Seeing his goal achieved, Pei Yu let out a light chuckle. He turned and went upstairs, leaving behind a cold and distant silhouette.

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