After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 30

“Do I look good?” Qin Shen asked, his eyes lifting nonchalantly.

Pei Yu was caught off guard, his gaze having been fixed on the man’s collarbone. He quickly averted his eyes and buried half of his face under the blanket, leaving only a pair of bright, wet eyes visible. “You’re okay, I guess.”

Qin Shen turned off the hairdryer. The room fell into a sudden, heavy silence.

He moved to the bed, and as the mattress sank slightly under his weight, the scent of cedar and mint—now mixed with a hint of warm dampness—surrounded Pei Yu completely.

“Just ‘okay’?” Qin Shen leaned in, his voice dropping an octave. “I recall someone once saying I was the most handsome person they had ever seen.”

Pei Yu’s heart skipped a beat. “I… I was just being polite back then.”

Qin Shen laughed softly, the sound vibrating through the mattress. He didn’t push further. Instead, he reached out and flicked off the main light, leaving only the dim, warm glow of the bedside lamp.

“Go to sleep,” Qin Shen said, his tone softening. “We have to get up early for that workout you promised.”

Pei Yu nodded against the pillow. Surprisingly, being in the same bed as Qin Shen didn’t make him feel restless tonight. Instead, the Alpha’s presence acted like a powerful sedative. Between the lingering effects of the medicine and the soothing scent of the marking, his eyelids grew heavy.

Just as he was about to drift off, he felt a large, warm hand gently patting his back through the covers, as if coaxing a child to sleep.

“Goodnight, Xiao Yu.”

“Goodnight… Qin Shen.”

The Next Morning

True to his word, Qin Shen’s internal clock was precise. At 6:30 AM, Pei Yu felt a gentle poke on his cheek.

“Time to wake up, little rose.”

Pei Yu groaned, burying his face deeper into the pillow. “Five more minutes…”

“You were the one who said physical strength is important for your senior year,” Qin Shen teased, his voice sounding fresh and energized.

Pei Yu forced his eyes open. He saw Qin Shen already dressed in a black athletic compression shirt. The tight fabric accentuated his powerful chest muscles and broad shoulders. It was a stark reminder that even though his legs were currently injured, the rest of his body was in peak condition.

Pei Yu sat up, his hair messy and his eyes misty with sleep. He looked at Qin Shen, then at himself in his loose pajamas.

“I’m going,” Pei Yu mumbled, sliding out of bed. “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

Twenty minutes later, they were in the mansion’s private gym.

Qin Shen sat on a specialized weight bench, performing seated dumbbell presses. Every time he lifted the weights, the veins in his forearms would bulge, and his muscles would ripple with disciplined power.

Meanwhile, Pei Yu was on the treadmill nearby, struggling through a jog.

After only fifteen minutes, Pei Yu was huffing and puffing, his face flushed pink. He looked over at Qin Shen, who hadn’t even broken a sweat yet.

“How… how are you so… energetic?” Pei Yu gasped, slowing the treadmill to a walk.

Qin Shen lowered the dumbbells and wiped his forehead with a towel. “Consistency. If you stick with it, you’ll get there too.”

He watched Pei Yu walk on the treadmill, his gaze lingering on the boy’s slender legs and the way his oversized gym shirt hung off his frame.

“Come here,” Qin Shen signaled.

Pei Yu stepped off the machine and walked over, wiping sweat from his brow. “What is it?”

Qin Shen reached out, grabbing Pei Yu’s waist and pulling him closer until he was standing between Qin Shen’s knees. He took a water bottle and handed it to the boy.

“Drink slowly.”

Pei Yu took a few sips, feeling the Alpha’s intense gaze on him. The gym was quiet, save for the hum of the air conditioning.

“About last night,” Qin Shen started, his voice turning serious. “The investigation into the hotel is already underway. My people are checking the security footage and the staff who handled the drinks.”

Pei Yu’s expression sobered. “Do you really think it was Lin Shuxing?”

“If it was, he’s about to learn that touching what belongs to me comes with a very high price,” Qin Shen said, his eyes turning cold for a fleeting second before softening again as he looked at Pei Yu.

Pei Yu felt a shiver—not of fear, but of a strange, fluttering excitement. He realized then that Qin Shen wasn’t just a gentle “Husband” or a “Big Brother.” He was a wolf who had marked his territory.

And Pei Yu was exactly where he wanted to be.

Pei Yu: “…”

Qin Shen didn’t actually expect a response, so he was caught off guard when he heard Pei Yu’s soft, timid voice: “You look good.”

“It would probably look even better if you took your clothes off,” Pei Yu added, breaking into a giggle, his eyes curving into beautiful crescents.

“Truly?” Qin Shen raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. He set down the hairdryer and reached for his collar with both hands, as if he were about to follow Pei Yu’s suggestion and strip right then and there.

Pei Yu: “???”

He slammed his eyes shut, pulling the blanket over his head. “I didn’t mean I actually wanted to see!”

After a two-second pause, a low, seductive chuckle vibrated near his ear. “I offer you a look and you won’t take it. Such a coward.”

Pei Yu, feeling silently judged: “…”

He clenched his fists tightly under the covers, mentally berating himself for being so gutless. Qin Shen has what I have, it’s just looking at some chest and abs. Why is my face so red? Why is my heart racing? Pei Yu! You are acting so weird!!!

A few minutes later, the mattress rustled as Qin Shen climbed into bed. Pei Yu’s pink-tipped fingers gripped the edge of the blanket; as soon as he poked his head out, he met Qin Shen’s eyes, which were as deep and dark as ink.

The man leaned down slightly, his loose bathrobe collar hanging wide open, bringing the alluring scent of cedar with him. As soon as Pei Yu opened his eyes, he saw the striking lines of muscle hidden beneath the robe. The water-slicked, pale skin contrasted sharply with the deep blue fabric. Damp black bangs fell over his brow, making Qin Shen’s sharp features look even more handsome.

Pei Yu thought he heard himself swallow. There was an overwhelming desire to get closer to Qin Shen—to feel their skin touch. It must be the influence of the temporary mark and the pheromones!!!

While Pei Yu was lost in thought, Qin Shen picked up the hairdryer from the nightstand and felt Pei Yu’s damp hair with his fingertips. “Should I help you dry it? You’ll get a headache if you sleep like this,” Qin Shen said.

Pei Yu blinked. “Young people don’t get headaches from that.”

Qin Shen’s eyes turned dangerous for a split second. “It seems my ‘baby’ thinks I’m a bit too old.”

Pei Yu’s mind immediately went to the gutter, his ears turning so hot they felt steamed. He was helplessly innocent. Being treated like family in the Qin household had made him stop hiding his emotions as he used to.

The next second, his cheek was pinched twice.

“Thinking about ‘unhealthy’ things again, aren’t you?” Qin Shen saw right through him.

“…” Pei Yu felt incredibly guilty, mumbling weakly, “I am not.”

Seeing through the lie, Qin Shen’s tone became lazy and casual. “Really? Little ones aren’t allowed to tell lies.”

“Where did you learn all these sickly sweet nicknames…” Pei Yu asked, looking up at him.

“Hmm…” Qin Shen pretended to think, a flash of amusement in his eyes when he spoke again. “They just come to me when I see you. Baby is younger than me, after all.”

This casual reasoning made Pei Yu’s heart skip a beat; he felt Qin Shen looked even more handsome in the dim light. Shaking his head to regain some logic, Pei Yu said, “We should sleep.”

“Dry your hair first,” Qin Shen insisted.

Before Pei Yu could even sit up properly, his sensitive waist was pulled up by Qin Shen’s long, powerful arm. “I want to hold you.” Qin Shen’s emotions and needs were always this direct.

Pei Yu ended up sitting across Qin Shen’s lap, facing him. He instinctively felt it wasn’t right: “I’ll crush your legs.”

Qin Shen paused. “It’s fine.” His hand gently rubbed Pei Yu’s slender waist.

The distance was too close; their pheromones were becoming hopelessly entangled. Pei Yu couldn’t resist the biological instincts of an Omega. He wanted to be closer. So, he slowly leaned forward, resting most of his weight against Qin Shen’s chest and shoulder.

So comfortable.

Pei Yu narrowed his eyes in satisfaction like a lazy kitten snuggling into a cozy spot. Meanwhile, Qin Shen’s muscles tensed. Feeling the soft, fragrant person pressed against him, he suddenly felt very thirsty. He tightened his grip on Pei Yu’s lower back, wanting to pull him even closer.

The feeling of hugging someone you like was far too addictive. As he looked down, the slender nape of the neck he had bitten was right before his eyes.

Pei Yu: “Didn’t you say you were going to dry my hair?”

Pei Yu didn’t look up, keeping his face buried in Qin Shen’s shoulder. His muffled voice sent vibrations through Qin Shen’s shoulder that made the man’s blood boil.

“Baby, if I played with your hand tonight, would you let me?”

The sudden question hit Pei Yu like a bolt from the blue, leaving him dazed. He quickly pulled away from the warm embrace and looked up to negotiate.

“Can it be next time? I…” Pei Yu caught the surging storm in Qin Shen’s eyes and swallowed. “I don’t know how. I should watch some… videos… before I help you.”

“You don’t know how? Baby has never done it for himself?” Qin Shen’s eyes darkened.

The room fell into a stagnant silence. Pei Yu had no idea how to answer such a rogue question. Just as he opened his mouth to make an excuse…

Qin Shen suddenly laughed. “Sorry, I forgot. Baby can last for twenty minutes, after all. How could you have never done it yourself?”

“…” “…”

Pei Yu stared at Qin Shen with wide eyes, his heart thumping wildly, his head practically steaming.

“What should we do? It seems you have no reason to hide anymore.” Qin Shen squeezed Pei Yu’s delicate wrist, rubbing the pink jade bracelet with his thumb. The jade carried Pei Yu’s body heat, feeling warm to the touch.

Qin Shen moved his fingertips, playing with Pei Yu’s soft wrist. That small patch of skin felt as if it were being struck by an electric current—numbing and tingling—spreading to his limbs. The scent of the little rose seemed to grow even more fragrant from the heat.

“Baby, your scent is getting stronger.” The corners of Qin Shen’s mouth lifted; he was very satisfied with the way Pei Yu blushed and trembled before him.

Pei Yu flushed and quickly tried to pull his hand back. “There is… there is a reason…” He scrambled to think of an excuse to delay their “mutual assistance.”

Feeling Qin Shen’s breath grow heavy and ragged, Pei Yu gripped his palms, his eyelids heating up.

“Let’s hear it then.” Qin Shen’s husky voice was incredibly alluring.

With the slender, soft waist in his palms, Qin Shen gave a slight push. Caught unprepared, Pei Yu tumbled forward. Their lips met instantly.

Qin Shen’s sharp, handsome face magnified before him, and Pei Yu’s heartbeat went into a frenzy. Their foreheads brushed against each other. Qin Shen opened his mouth and gently bit Pei Yu’s lip, which tasted faintly of roses. It was as soft as a cloud and tasted sweet.

Qin Shen’s breathing grew much heavier as he tried to slip between the lips to taste more. He wasn’t overly forceful; he just lowered his eyes, his tender, lingering gaze falling on Pei Yu’s flushed cheeks.

He asked softly, “Can I go in?”

Pei Yu was completely stunned. Go… go in? Where? Into my mouth?

He gripped Qin Shen’s bathrobe, his strength increasing until he accidentally pulled the robe down, exposing Qin Shen’s broad, pale shoulder.

“Baby, aren’t you being a bit too impatient?” Qin Shen glanced sideways at his slipped garment.

At the teasing, Pei Yu’s entire face felt like it was on fire. “I didn’t mean to—ugh…”

Pei Yu let out a pitch-shifted soft gasp. In his momentary distraction, the moment he opened his lips, Qin Shen’s tongue aggressively invaded. The moment their tongues touched, Pei Yu’s logic collapsed. Fireworks seemed to explode before his eyes; his heart beat like a drum.

After only a few seconds of the dizzying kiss, Pei Yu couldn’t take it anymore.

“Mmh, no more kissing,” Pei Yu called out dizzily. The oxygen seemed to have been sucked out of him, leaving him sitting weakly on Qin Shen’s lap. His eyes grew misty.

After just a few seconds of kissing, before Qin Shen could fully savor the scent of the little rose, he was met with the teary, accusing eyes of the boy.

“N-no more,” Pei Yu said, his nose turning red from shyness as he spoke haltingly.

Qin Shen’s throat tightened. He waited several seconds before he was willing to leave the youth’s lips. “Baby, help me!” Qin Shen rasped, taking Pei Yu’s hand.

Before Pei Yu could even register the scorching heat in his palm, an overwhelming sense of shame flooded his heart. He immediately straightened his back and rolled into the blankets next to him, hiding like a startled animal. He rubbed his left palm with his right hand; this was far more than someone as inexperienced as him could handle.

“Still scared?” Qin Shen slowed his speech, making his voice sound as normal as possible.

Pei Yu paused, worried that a flat rejection would hurt Qin Shen’s feelings. It wasn’t exactly fear; he just wasn’t mentally prepared.

Qin Shen sat up and turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into darkness. “It doesn’t matter. We’ll wait until later.”

In the dim light, Pei Yu swallowed and murmured, “Mm…”

“It’s not that I’m scared, it’s just.” Pei Yu started.

“What?” Qin Shen looked at Pei Yu’s faint silhouette in the dark.

“When I play with myself. I’m not as good at it as you are.” The soft, clear, and flirtatious tone hit Qin Shen’s ear. “I want to learn first.”

Qin Shen let out a bitter laugh. “Well, that just makes me ‘hurt’ even more.”

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