After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 33.1

The next morning, the temperature dropped, and a light drizzle drifted down from a leaden sky.

Pei Yu was jolted awake by his alarm. He struggled to sit up and noticed the bed beside him was empty. He reached out and felt the sheets; they were cold. It seemed Qin Shen had been up for a while.

“He probably went to rehab…” Pei Yu muttered, slowly climbing out of bed. He tidied the covers and returned to his own room to change into his school uniform.

Just as he was about to stand up after putting on his slippers, he paused. He noticed several pale pink Lychee roses sitting on his nightstand.

A blend of sunset pink and elegant white, the flowers released a rich fragrance mixed with a sweet, subtle scent of lychee. The buds were large, and the petals were still beaded with translucent morning dew.

The flowers hadn’t been there last night, so Qin Shen must have had someone place them there this morning.

“Secretly setting out flowers, huh?” Pei Yu’s lips curled into a smile. He gently brushed a soft petal with his finger, and the irritability of his “morning wood” mood was instantly soothed by the floral scent.

Once changed, he saw he still had time before breakfast. Pei Yu sat at his desk and opened a reference book to solve some problems. The bright white light of the desk lamp illuminated his exquisite, clean profile. The room was silent, save for the sound of his shallow breathing and the rustle of his pen against the paper.

Lost in his work, time slipped away. When Pei Yu checked the clock again, it was time to go downstairs for breakfast.

Before heading down, he peeked into the rehabilitation room to check on Qin Shen. Qin Shen appeared to have just finished his session; he was sitting in his wheelchair, drenched in sweat, talking to the medical staff.

Qin Yiyang yawned as he walked out of his bedroom.

He hadn’t been able to help himself last night, playing video games for two hours before bed and browsing the forums. Because Qin Shen had stood up for Pei Yu at the banquet, many people were now saying that Qin Shen was definitely serious about him.

A small faction believed Qin Shen only intervened because Lin Shuxing’s bullying of Pei Yu was an insult to the Qin family’s reputation. The old thread betting on how long Qin Shen and Pei Yu would stay together had been bumped back to the front page. Everyone was gossiping, speculating that those who voted for “three years” might end up winning the jackpot. As for the “lifetime” option—nobody really paid it any attention.

However, looking at that ten-million-dollar watch, Qin Yiyang had felt a sense of déjà vu. He finally remembered: that watch wasn’t a gift from Lin Yifeng at all. It was… a watch his cousin used to wear.

Fed a fresh serving of “dog food” (public displays of affection) late at night, Qin Yiyang had suffered from total insomnia. He even dreamed about finding a relationship for himself. Otherwise, in the long run, it would surely be detrimental to his mental health!

His room was at the very end of the hallway by the window, so he passed many functional rooms on his way down. Noticing Pei Yu standing at the door of the rehab room looking in, he walked over and peered inside as well.

“Morning. Why are you standing out here? Just go in,” Qin Yiyang said, patting him on the shoulder.

Pei Yu turned and shook his head. “I’m just taking a quick look. I won’t disturb them.”

“Cousin definitely wouldn’t find it a disturbance,” Qin Yiyang remarked.

Pei Yu blinked. “I’m too lazy to go in. Let’s go down and eat.”

“Alright.”

Qin Yiyang remembered the news from the forums and class groups. “Did you see the messages? Everyone is talking about Lin Shuxing being taken away by the police.”

Pei Yu asked, “In the class group? I haven’t had time to look yet. They found out that fast?”

“Yeah, a student living next door to the Lins goes to Yangshen High. He took some photos.”

As they walked down the stairs side-by-side, the aroma of breakfast wafted through the air, and the morning news played on the living room TV.

“Then… don’t they know that I was…” Pei Yu said hesitantly.

“I’m not sure about that. The police haven’t released an official statement yet,” Qin Yiyang replied.

Auntie Zhou saw them coming down and greeted them with a smile, ushering them to their seats. “Several flavors of buns have just finished steaming.”

“Good morning, Auntie Zhou,” Pei Yu and Qin Yiyang said in unison.

“Young Master Pei, the wine stains on your suit have been cleaned. It’s hanging in the laundry room; I’ll move it to your walk-in closet in a bit.”

Pei Yu’s eyes lit up. “It’s clean?”

Auntie Zhou nodded kindly. “Mhm, it washed out perfectly. You won’t see a trace of it.”

“That’s great.” Pei Yu sat down in his spot, smiling.

Grandpa Qin, who had been watching the news, joined them for breakfast. Qin Shen was usually covered in sweat after rehab and had to shower, which sometimes delayed his breakfast. He had told everyone to eat first without waiting for him.

Pei Yu was about eighty percent full when the freshly changed Qin Shen finally arrived. The man was wearing a pure black suit, his features deep and handsome. His black hair was damp, and his shirt collar was open, radiating the fresh humidity of a post-shower glow.

As he sat down, the crisp scent of body wash mixed with his pheromones drifted into Pei Yu’s nose.

“Finished already?” Qin Shen picked up a spoon from the bowl of warm fish congee in front of him. “Wait a moment. Once I’m done, I’ll go to school with you.”

Pei Yu sat on his stool, lightly swinging his legs. “Okay.”

Across from them, Grandpa Qin and Qin Yiyang finished their meal and excused themselves.

Pei Yu leaned his face on one hand and turned his head. “The roses this morning are very fragrant and beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like them,” Qin Shen said casually. “I’ll have flowers put out every day from now on.”

Pei Yu smiled. “Sure, I like them a lot. Seeing flowers puts me in a great mood.”

Outside the window, the sky remained dark as the drizzle pattered down, creating a faint tapping sound. The air was filled with the moist, woody scent of a rainy day.

Qin Shen glanced at Pei Yu’s slender, fair arms. The summer school uniform was short-sleeved, and the fabric was thin and breathable.

“Take a jacket to school. It’s cold today.”

Pei Yu looked down at his uniform. “I don’t think I need one. The temperature feels fine to me—even a bit muggy.”

“Take it anyway. If the rain gets heavier, you might catch a cold,” Qin Shen said, his voice low.

Pei Yu thought about it. “Alright then.”

Seeing that Qin Shen was only eating congee, Pei Yu picked up a shrimp and corn dumpling and placed it in Qin Shen’s bowl. “This one is delicious. Try it; the shrimp is very fresh.”

As Pei Yu moved to put down his chopsticks, Qin Shen’s eyebrows arched slightly. His thin lips parted as he spoke: “I’d be even happier if you fed it to me directly.”

Pei Yu paused, suddenly finding Qin Shen quite funny. He hadn’t even thought about “feeding” him when he picked up the food. However, since Qin Shen had asked, Pei Yu picked the dumpling back up to feed him.

“Here, eat,” Pei Yu said, a gentle smile in his eyes.

Qin Shen gave a low “Mhm,” thoroughly enjoying the cozy moment.

“Are you going to the office? You look very formal today,” Pei Yu remarked, eyeing Qin Shen’s attire. The suit vest and black shirt clung to his frame, the firm, well-defined contours of his chest muscles filling out the shirt. Further up were his cool white collarbone and Adam’s apple.

He looked… rather alluring.

“Yes, there is some work I need to handle in person,” Qin Shen said.

Pei Yu asked, “Will you still pick us up tonight? It’ll be late after evening self-study.”

“Of course. Especially since it’s late, I must pick you up.” Qin Shen took a tissue and wiped his mouth unhurriedly. “Alright, let’s head to school.”

Outside the old mansion, Qin Yiyang saw the stretched Lincoln and immediately grinned. “Seriously, Brother? You’re really going to use this car to drop us off and pick us up from now on?”

He pulled open the door and sat in the middle row. To be honest, to avoid being “fed dog food,” he should have sat in the front passenger seat. But he wondered if he had a masochistic streak—having eaten so much dog food lately, he felt bored if he didn’t have any for a while.

The corners of Qin Shen’s mouth lifted slightly. “Isn’t this fine?”

With the driver’s help, Qin Shen was settled into the back row. When it was Pei Yu’s turn to get in, he looked at the middle and the back, hesitated for a few seconds, then—with a flushed face—pulled open the door to the back row.

As the car started smoothly, an unreadable smile flashed in Qin Shen’s eyes. “I thought you were going to sit in the middle this time.”

Pei Yu coughed lightly. “We’ve already slept together; don’t worry about such details.”

“Is that something I’m allowed to hear?” Qin Yiyang poked his head from the front and chuckled.

Pei Yu felt a few metaphorical dark lines appear on his forehead. “Your mind is impure.” He added, “It was just talking under the covers, okay?”

“Really?” Qin Yiyang sounded skeptical. “Just talking? Nothing else?”

“Why are you prying so much?” Qin Shen gave him a cold, sidelong glance.

“Just curious! Fine, I won’t ask.” Qin Yiyang sat back and buckled his seatbelt.

After a few seconds of silence, Qin Shen spoke up softly: “Well, it wasn’t just talking…”

Pei Yu remembered last night’s kiss, and his muscles tensed instantly. Fearing Qin Yiyang might hear something, he hissed, “Shhh!” and blinked rapidly. “Keep your voice down…”

“Sweetheart, is our goodnight kiss something that can’t see the light of day?” Qin Shen’s sharp eyes were filled with amusement.

Pei Yu stared at the back of Qin Yiyang’s head, his face burning. He decided to ignore Qin Shen entirely. He opened his backpack, took out his Bluetooth headphones, and started listening to English.

The car drove steadily. Since they were close, it only took about ten minutes to turn toward Yangshen High. Through the window, the streets were lined with familiar buildings. Students in uniforms were walking with umbrellas. They looked on with slight surprise at the sight of the luxurious, almost ostentatious car.

Qin Shen lowered his lashes, looking sideways at Pei Yu, who was still wearing his headphones in the misty rain. Seeing they were almost at the school, Qin Shen reached out and plucked one earbud from Pei Yu’s ear.

“Hmm?” Pei Yu blinked.

“There’s something I want to tell you.” Qin Shen rubbed the boy’s fair earlobe.

Pei Yu nodded. “Go ahead.”

“Since the Lin family has officially announced your identity…” Qin Shen paused before continuing, “The next step is to hold the engagement ceremony.”

“Engagement?” Pei Yu was stunned. He quickly took off the other earbud. “Isn’t an engagement ceremony a bit redundant right now? We’re getting along perfectly anyway.”

“Redundant?” The corners of Qin Shen’s mouth dipped. He reached out and pinched Pei Yu’s soft cheek. With a slight squeeze, Pei Yu let out a yelp.

“Let go! My face isn’t dough!” Pei Yu looked at him crossly.

Qin Shen chuckled softly and let go, watching Pei Yu with a deep, pensive gaze. When he wasn’t speaking, his aura was sharp, and his pheromones carried a cold, biting intensity.

Pei Yu shrank back slightly and muttered, “But it’s true. We’re already sleeping in the same bed… and we’ve, well, kissed. Why do we still need an engagement ceremony?” It felt like an extra step. If they were still together by the time he went to university, they could just get married.

Qin Shen sighed with a touch of helplessness. “Baby, do you know how much I’ve been looking forward to our engagement ceremony?”

“…” Pei Yu’s cheeks flushed, a hint of bashfulness fluttering in his heart.

“And yet, you say it’s redundant.” Qin Shen looked at him with dark eyes, his tone tinged with sadness.

“Uh…” For a moment, Pei Yu felt like he was the “scumbag” in this scenario. He quickly explained, “It’s not that I don’t want to get engaged to you…”

Qin Shen interjected, “So you agree?”

Pei Yu: “…”

He licked his lips and hummed softly. “Mhm. If you want to have a ceremony, we’ll have one.”

Qin Shen smiled, a simple confirmation: “I do.”

The man’s eyes were deep and dark; when he looked directly at someone, his gaze seemed overflowing with a surging tenderness. This emotion was so intense and sincere that Pei Yu’s face turned red. It felt like a crime not to respond to him.

“Got it. We’re at school; I’m heading in now.” Pei Yu grabbed his backpack from the seat and got out with Qin Yiyang.

“Mhm. I’ll pick you up at noon,” Qin Shen said lowly.

Through the car window, Pei Yu gave a quick wave. “Okay, bye…”

Pei Yu and Qin Yiyang opened their umbrellas and walked onto the campus together. The school gate was crowded with students, each holding an umbrella, making the entrance even more congested.

Having heard the talk about engagement in the car, Qin Yiyang hadn’t dared to interrupt earlier. Now that they were alone, he teased, “My brother has you wrapped around his finger.”

“…” Pei Yu felt a bit embarrassed and tightened his grip on his backpack straps. “Not really.”

Qin Yiyang sighed. “We’re about the same age, yet you’re getting engaged, and I haven’t even touched an Omega’s hand.”

Pei Yu wasn’t actually that passionate about romance, but he figured he and Qin Shen were technically “dating” now. Qin Shen had said he liked him. At the thought, the tips of Pei Yu’s ears turned red.

The feeling of being in a relationship was… alright. It was sweet, and Qin Shen was good to him. However, if he weren’t in this relationship, he probably wouldn’t have gone out of his way to seek romance during his senior year. But he wasn’t going to say that out loud; Qin Yiyang would probably beat him up for being so “humble-bragging.”

He comforted Qin Yiyang softly, “It’s already senior year. You should put your energy into studying. Once you’re in university, there’s plenty of time to date. There are so many people your age there; you won’t lack for options.”

Qin Yiyang stopped in his tracks and said dejectedly, “It’s still a question of whether I’ll even get in.”

Pei Yu smiled. “Didn’t Qin Shen find a tutor for you? Work hard. If you have any questions you don’t understand, you can ask me.”

“Alright. I’ll put in a little effort then.” Qin Yiyang still felt miserable, wailing with a long drawl, “I want to be in love tooooo!”

“First thing in the morning and our Brother Qin is already feeling the stirrings of spring!”

Wang Kexin from the sports class ducked under Qin Yiyang’s umbrella and put an arm around his shoulder. He raised a hand and smiled at Pei Yu. “Morning, Beautiful.”

Pei Yu raised an eyebrow, winced at the nickname, and replied, “Morning.”

“Get lost. Do you have any idea how heavy you are?” Qin Yiyang pushed Wang Kexin away in disgust.

“Tsk. If it were an Omega, you wouldn’t be pushing, would you?” Wang Kexin teased.

Qin Yiyang curled his lip. “Duh.”

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