After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 24.2

Sun Hai recalled Pei Yu’s equally top-tier English grades: “Even if your English is good, you can’t do homework for other subjects during English class.”

Pei Yu nodded obediently. “I don’t usually do this.”

“Fine. Arrange your own time then. Just make sure the test is finished before physics class.” Sun Hai turned around. A few nosy students didn’t have time to turn their heads back.

“What are you looking at? Focus on your own recitations.”

Qin Yiyang couldn’t believe that the man who just spoke was the same Sun Hai who constantly punished him with laps around the field and frog jumps. “Wait, he just left? No punishment?”

Pei Yu was also a bit confused, but he didn’t dwell on it and focused on finishing the test.

“Crap, this is blatant double standards!” Qin Yiyang slapped the desk, looking like he wanted to stage a rebellion.

Zhou Yue laughed, “Pei Yu has good grades. If your grades were that good, Teacher Sun wouldn’t punish you either.”

“Double standards!” Qin Yiyang grumbled.

Accompanied by the sounds of the classroom’s morning reading, Pei Yu raced against time and successfully finished the entire test before physics class. Zhou Yue used his paper to check her answers and realized she had gotten the final problem wrong. She was fuming at herself.

During the long break in the morning, Pei Yu had just finished explaining a problem to a girl when the phone in his backpack vibrated. He usually kept his phone away, but seeing it was Jiang He, he paused.

“I’m going to step out for a call,” Pei Yu told Qin Yiyang.

Qin Yiyang nodded. “OK.”

Taking a call in the hallway was too conspicuous, so Pei Yu walked to the teacher’s building, pushed open the fire door, and stayed in the empty stairwell landing. He took a deep breath and answered.

Jiang He first asked about his recent life and studies. A few minutes later, she asked tentatively, “The nurse mentioned that you and Qin Shen seemed to have come to see me yesterday. Why didn’t I see you?”

“Yes, Mr. Qin and I did come,” Pei Yu said. “But Lin Shuxing happened to be there as well. It looked like he was going to stay for a while, so we thought we’d come back another time.”

“I see. Next time, tell Mom before you come so you don’t waste your time.”

Pei Yu lowered his eyes, giving no definite answer.

“Let’s talk about it next time.”

The phone suddenly went silent. Neither Jiang He nor Pei Yu spoke, yet neither hung up.

After a few seconds, Pei Yu broke the silence: “Mom, do you have anything else to say? If not, I’m hanging up. Class is about to start.”

“Wait!” Jiang He called out urgently.

Pei Yu paused, listening quietly.

There was a long hesitation on the other end. Just as Pei Yu was about to prompt her again, Jiang He finally spoke.

“It’s about Xiao Xing… when he came to see me, he wanted me to ask you if tomorrow night’s banquet at the Lin house could…” Jiang He found it difficult to say.

Pei Yu finished the sentence for her: “Could be canceled?”

Jiang He’s breath hitched. “Yes…”

“Of course not. Everything is set, and the Lin family sent the invitations out long ago. A last-minute cancellation would reflect very poorly.”

“I see,” Jiang He said dryly. “But I heard from Xiao Xing that if you and Qin Shen agree, the Lin family would listen to Qin Shen’s wishes.”

“But this banquet was Qin Shen’s idea in the first place.”

Pei Yu’s tone was cold. “He required the Lin family to officially recognize my identity as a condition for the marriage. Otherwise, if word got out that just anyone could marry into the Qin family, it wouldn’t sound good.”

Jiang He was mortified; her face burned with a stinging shame. “Is that so… I was just asking for Xiao Xing. If it’s not possible, then forget it.”

“Mm. If that’s all, I’m hanging up,” Pei Yu said.

Just as he was about to end the call, a weary voice came through: “Your father has been gone for so many years. Xiao Xing is the child I had with him. I really can’t say no to him.”

“Sigh, if only you two could get along. It’s Mom’s fault. I’m so sorry, truly…”

“Xiao Yu, you should be able to understand me, right?”

In the private hospital ward.

Jiang He held the phone with a withered hand, feeling utterly helpless.

She didn’t know what was right. Pei Yu was the child she had raised for over ten years, that was true—but Lin Shuxing was the child she had carried for ten months.

Pei Nan had passed away early. Every time she was tormented by illness, she would think of how well Pei Nan had treated her. How could a living, breathing person just leave so suddenly?

In the first few years, she couldn’t cope. Because she had been completely marked by Pei Nan, every time her heat arrived, the longing and desire were agonizing. The best way to ease the pain would have been to “wash” the mark. But those pheromones were all Pei Nan had left her; she was afraid that if she washed them away, she would one day forget him.

When the car accident happened, Pei Nan used his life to protect her and the baby. Every time she recalled the sight of the blood, she wanted to follow him. But then she’d think of her child being so young and couldn’t bear to.

Who knew fate would play such a cruel joke? Pei Yu wasn’t even her and Pei Nan’s child.

Jiang He was in agony. On one side was the kind Pei Yu who treated her so well; on the other was the crystallization of her love with Pei Nan. She knew this was cruel to Pei Yu, but every time she saw Lin Shuxing, she wanted to compensate him—to make up for the eighteen years they had missed.

She sought forgiveness from Pei Yu. Pei Yu was a good child, kind-hearted, and he loved her so much—he should be able to understand, shouldn’t he?

Jiang He kept hypnotizing herself, deliberately ignoring the fact that Pei Yu’s situation was actually much harder than Lin Shuxing’s. She prayed in her heart, hoping to hear Pei Yu say: “Mom, I understand you.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t understand.” A cold voice came through the receiver.

Jiang He’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“The moment you hoped I would take Lin Shuxing’s place in the marriage, didn’t you already make your choice?”

“Mom, you chose Lin Shuxing. You didn’t choose me.”

Jiang He shook her head in a daze. “No, no… Mom didn’t think like that. At the time, I just hoped you would meet him first before deciding. And isn’t that Mr. Qin treating you very well?”

“And what if he didn’t?” Pei Yu stood on the stairwell landing, the cool breeze blowing his dark hair against his snowy neck. “Maybe I wouldn’t even be able to stand here and talk to you on the phone right now.”

Jiang He’s lips parted as she gripped her phone, desperately wanting to defend herself.

“Mom, I have already repaid the debt of your upbringing.” Pei Yu’s eyes were red. “The Qin family will take care of your medical bills. If you need alimony later, I will send it to you regularly once I start working.”

“Lin Shuxing and I will never get along.”

“Not everything can go exactly the way you want.”

The bell for class rang sharply, cutting through their conversation. Jiang He panicked; she knew with absolute certainty that if she didn’t do something now, Pei Yu would leave her forever.

“Xiao Yu, I’m sorry—”

Jiang He shouted anxiously, but all she heard was the dial tone.

Pei Yu put his phone back in his pocket and jogged back to the classroom. He controlled his emotions well, though his eyes were still a bit red.

Qin Yiyang asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Your eyes are red.”

Zhou Yue suspected he might have been crying.

Pei Yu blinked. “Are they? I probably just got some water in them when I was washing my face.”

He acted naturally, showing no outward signs of distress. Qin Yiyang didn’t suspect a thing and turned back. Pei Yu took out his textbook for the next period, took a few deep breaths, and began listening intently to the lecture.

In the classroom next door.

Lin Shuxing received a message from Jiang He. He had been full of anticipation, but upon learning that Pei Yu refused to cancel the banquet, his face immediately soured.

His seatmate asked what was wrong. Lin Shuxing shook his head: “Nothing, just ran into some trouble.”

“Is it serious?” the seatmate asked. “I heard your family is holding a banquet tomorrow to acknowledge Pei Yu. You…”

The students in both classes had heard rumors of the big fight between Lin Shuxing and Pei Yu. His current situation was actually quite awkward. When he was the prestigious young master of the Lin family, he mostly only associated with a few Alphas and Omegas. However, Betas were the most numerous, and many of them couldn’t stand the way Lin Shuxing discriminated against secondary genders. Now that they knew he wasn’t the true young master, they mocked him in private.

Even the few Omegas in class were like fair-weather friends, gradually distancing themselves from him. Lin Shuxing wasn’t stupid; he noticed, but there was nothing he could do. He had to pretend he didn’t know anything. Fortunately, the Alphas in class were still enthusiastic toward him.

He glanced at Qin Fen in the front row. Thinking about how Qin Fen had stared blankly at Pei Yu the other day made Lin Shuxing sick to his stomach. Lately, Qin Fen’s pursuit of him had become more urgent. Lin Shuxing didn’t want to agree, but he was afraid Qin Fen would stop fawning over him. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.

Looking at the clouds outside, Lin Shuxing couldn’t help but think: If only I had known what Qin Shen really looked like back then! Qin Fen actually lied to me on purpose!

If only… the one marrying Qin Shen had been me.

He sent a casual, perfunctory reply to Jiang He: 【I see. Thank you, Mom, for asking. I understand why Pei Yu didn’t agree. Please don’t blame him for this. [Kissing face].jpg】

School let out on time. Students carrying backpacks streamed out under the orange sunset, the school gates of Yangshen shining brilliantly.

As he had for the past few days, Qin Shen arrived a few minutes early to pick up Pei Yu and, by extension, Qin Yiyang. He sat in the back, looking out the one-way glass toward the gate. When he spotted the familiar figure, his lips curled up instinctively.

Once inside the car, Pei Yu put his backpack down and whispered to Qin Shen about his refusal to Jiang He this morning.

“Do you think I was too heartless?” Pei Yu felt a bit conflicted.

“Heartless?” Qin Shen put himself in Pei Yu’s shoes. “If it were me, I would have run away the moment I was forced into a marriage. You have done more than enough for Jiang He.”

“Mm…” Pei Yu nodded and took a candy from his pocket. The sweet fruit flavor dissolved on his tongue. “Do you want one?”

Qin Shen thought for a moment, took the candy, and unwrapped it. He asked casually, “Did you buy it yourself?”

“A classmate gave it to me,” Pei Yu said.

Qin Shen’s eyes moved slightly, and he looked fixedly at Pei Yu. Pei Yu paused, then explained: “I explained a problem to her, she said thank you and gave me a few candies.”

As soon as he finished, Qin Shen suddenly laughed. His voice was low and warm: “I didn’t say anything.”

Pei Yu’s face reddened, and he quickly changed the subject. “Actually… I was planning to run away at the start too. I didn’t want to marry an Alpha who was old, crippled, and a pervert.”

Qin Shen raised an eyebrow. “Then why didn’t you run in the end?”

“Are you silly?” Pei Yu said with a candy in his mouth. “Because you’re not old, crippled, and a pervert.”

A smile touched Qin Shen’s stern eyes. “I’m nearly ten years older than you; I can grudgingly be called old. My legs are a fact. As for being a pervert.” He paused, his lips curling slightly. “I recall you calling me a pervert many times.”

“Uh…” Pei Yu was momentarily speechless. Thinking about it, that was true. “No, no, no, mostly it’s because you’re very handsome.”

Pei Yu’s eyes crinkled as he spoke: “You’re very rich, you’re very good to me, and you have a great body, it feels amazing to the touch!”

He didn’t control his volume for that last sentence. Old Yang was so startled he nearly hit the gas instead of the brake.

“Wait…” Qin Yiyang turned around helplessly. “I want to apply for a different car. This is too much torture. Do you have any idea how much damage your words are doing to my young, innocent soul?!”

Pei Yu: “Are they?” Qin Shen followed Pei Yu’s lead: “Are they?”

Qin Shen lowered his eyes: “But you can find your own way home in the future if you want. I’m mainly here to pick up Pei Yu.”

Qin Yiyang’s eyes widened. “?” He said, “Listen to yourself! Is that appropriate?! I’m going to complain to Grandpa when we get back!”

Pei Yu’s cheeks were flushed. He was about to speak when he felt his wrist being taken naturally by Qin Shen. Qin Shen casually kneaded the soft flesh of the boy’s palm and said unhurriedly, “Go ahead and complain. But Grandpa will likely take Pei Yu’s side.”

Qin Yiyang, unable to refute: “…” “Damn it!”

Support