After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 41

 

Qin Shen didn’t know how long he had been waiting for those words; it felt as though he could never grow tired of asking.

 

A tender and lingering confession fell word by word against Pei Yu’s ear. He kissed Pei Yu’s eyes and lips, occasionally parting his teeth to gently nip at the soft flesh of the youth’s cheek.

 

“Your pheromones are getting everywhere!!!” Feeling the warmth and dampness on his face, Pei Yu pushed Qin Shen away with a look of feigned disgust.

 

After secondary differentiation, all human bodily fluids carried the scent of one’s pheromones. The greater the emotional fluctuation, the more intense the scent became. Every time Qin Shen kissed him or bit his cheek, the scent of cedar flooded his senses.

 

But cedar-mint flavored saliva… was still saliva. How could an Alpha be this clingy?

 

Before the words had fully left his mouth, a dry, warm palm covered the soft flesh of his waist, lightly pinching and kneading. The friction generated a wave of heat, leaving a strange, tingling itch on the skin that felt like an electric current.

 

Before Pei Yu’s confession, Qin Shen might have restrained himself, considering his image and the “probationary period” in Pei Yu’s heart. But now that Pei Yu had confessed, there was no going back.

 

Qin Shen dropped all pretense of restraint. He acted like a complete “beast,” pulling Pei Yu tightly into his arms and nuzzling against him. He pecked at the bead of Pei Yu’s upper lip, his dark eyes brimming with a half-smile as he teased, “I’m not letting go. We’re dating—can’t I even have a kiss?”

 

“I didn’t say you couldn’t…” Pei Yu started to speak, but before he could finish, his lips were blocked again by Qin Shen. The room filled with the ambiguous sounds of a lingering kiss.

 

By the time Qin Shen finally controlled himself and let Pei Yu go, the boy was so weak from the kissing that he had to lean against Qin Shen’s chest, panting softly. Once he caught his breath, Pei Yu noticed that Qin Shen was starting to act “unusual” again.

 

With his back still pressed against the man’s alluringly hot chest, and fearing things might spiral out of control, Pei Yu said with a flushed face, “Please control yourself. Do you know what ‘sustainable development’ means?”

 

“I’m already holding you, and I can still kiss you,” Qin Shen chuckled softly. “How am I supposed to control it?”

 

“You just have to! Stop acting like a rogue!” Pei Yu’s face turned several shades redder.

 

He wondered if he had confessed too early. Based on Qin Shen’s “perverted” behavior, he felt like he had walked straight into a trap.

 

“What are you thinking about?” Qin Shen’s lips brushed against the boy’s earlobe as he asked softly.

 

Pei Yu rested his legs over Qin Shen’s and mumbled softly, “I’m thinking that if you’re always like this, I’m going to be in ‘danger’ every single day.”

 

Just like now—Qin Shen was burning hot all over. He had even deliberately left his shirt unbuttoned; it was blatant seduction!

 

“Does baby not like me like this?” Qin Shen squeezed Pei Yu’s waist, his other hand kneading the youth’s leg.

 

“It’s not that…” Pei Yu felt ticklish and tried to move his leg away, but Qin Shen caught him again. “Shouldn’t we take things one step at a time? You’re always saying I’m still young.”

 

“You really are quite ‘small’,” Qin Shen let out a low chuckle, his voice laced with a subtle, teasing undertone.

 

Pei Yu: “…”

 

He widened his eyes in accusation. “Don’t think I didn’t hear you laughing at me!”

 

Pei Yu tried to scramble up to escape the embrace, but he was pulled right back the moment he moved. Qin Shen was many times stronger than him; he easily pinned the struggling youth down. He flipped over, pressing Pei Yu beneath him, and lowered his head to kiss those soft lips.

 

“How could I laugh at you? Baby shouldn’t hand out false accusations.” His voice was low and hoarse, thick with surging affection.

 

Under that intense gaze, Pei Yu’s entire body turned pink, his eyelashes fluttering nervously. Their tongues met and tangled once more, chasing each other in a heated rhythm. Pei Yu’s mind went blank, as if thousands of fireworks were exploding in his head, his body ignited by the falling sparks.

 

The bedroom filled with the slowly mingling pheromones of an Alpha and an Omega. The crisp, cool cedar-mint scent wrapped around Pei Yu like vines, binding them together so tightly that there was no room for anything else.

 

When the passionate kiss finally ended, a trembling mist hung from Pei Yu’s long, dark lashes. His pale pink lips had been bruised a deep crimson by Qin Shen, shimmering under the light.

 

Pei Yu lay across Qin Shen’s lap, his vision blurred.

 

“Thank you for the confession today, baby. I liked it very much.”

 

A smile flickered in the depths of Qin Shen’s eyes. He leaned down to brush away Pei Yu’s soft hair; seeing the boy’s flushed face and ragged breathing made his heart melt. “You really are so cute.”

 

He pressed another warm kiss to Pei Yu’s forehead. Meeting the man’s dark eyes, Pei Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

 

“I know, you’ve said it so many times already,” Pei Yu bit his lip shyly, feeling as though he was completely soaked in Qin Shen’s pheromones.

 

“So… do you want to keep watching the movie?” Qin Shen asked with a smile.

 

“Of course not!” Pei Yu replied instantly. “Who wants to watch that kind of movie…”

 

Besides, watching it with Qin Shen was a death wish. He wasn’t naive enough to keep watching “films” with this man. If things really got to the point of playing with fire, he’d be the one suffering from embarrassment in the end.

 

“Alright, then let’s rest.” Qin Shen picked up the tablet and set it on the nightstand.

 

“Okay…”

 

Pei Yu slowly lifted the covers, then paused, his eyes widening. Qin Shen turned to see the boy looking as stiff as if he’d been struck by lightning.

 

“What is it?” Qin Shen asked.

 

Pei Yu sat up silently, his clear voice filled with endless sorrow: “Rest? How can I rest? I haven’t finished my homework yet.”

 

Was there anything more painful than realizing your homework wasn’t done right when you were about to go to sleep?!

 

Qin Shen blinked, suddenly remembering Pei Yu’s status as a student. “Then, do you need me to help you write it?” he asked hesitantly.

 

Pei Yu blinked. “You, help me with my homework? That’s probably not a good idea.” As a “good student” in the eyes of his teachers, Pei Yu had never done something so scandalous.

 

“There’s nothing wrong with it. Just give me the problems you already know how to do. Isn’t your senior year for filling in the gaps? You should focus on the difficult problems.”

 

The worksheets handed out for each subject were designed for the average level of the class. The basic questions were a bit of a waste of time for Pei Yu, but he couldn’t just leave them blank.

 

“Then… then you can help me with some of it.”

 

Qin Shen ruffled his hair and let out a shallow smile. “Alright. I’ll do the basic multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blanks; you go straight to the long-form questions.”

 

Pei Yu nodded. “Okay.”

 

In the cool, quiet night, the two sat side-by-side. Every time Qin Shen finished a problem, he would steal a glance at Pei Yu. When Pei Yu was doing homework, his focus was absolute, almost cutting him off from the outside world.

 

Even if Qin Shen’s gaze was scorching hot, Pei Yu didn’t seem to notice. His slender white fingers gripped a black pen, calculating on scratch paper. The white light from the desk lamp poured down, enveloping him in a soft glow and casting fan-shaped shadows under his long lashes. When he encountered a difficult problem, he would furrow his brows slightly and bite his lower lip in concentration.

 

The scene was quiet and heartwarming. The more Qin Shen looked, the cuter he found him. He couldn’t help but let out a light chuckle.

 

Hearing the laugh, Pei Yu stopped and tilted his head. “Hmm?”

 

“It’s nothing. Keep working,” Qin Shen said smoothly.

 

“Oh…” Pei Yu dived back into the sea of problems.

 

The basic questions were simple for Qin Shen. He pressed his lips together, his long fingers gripping the pen as he wrote in a slow, leisurely manner. About halfway through, his phone vibrated.

 

He paused and checked it. It was a message from Jiang Yibai.

 

In a dimly lit private lounge, a row of bottles sat on a glass table. A hand with well-defined knuckles held a glass.

 

Yibai: Old Qin, when are we going to hang out? Look at you since you got a wife, have you even stepped foot in Deep Blue once? Drinking alone is so boring.

 

Qin Shen typed: [Busy]

 

Yibai: Busy with what? Haven’t the partnership papers been signed already? By the way, I’ve had my eye on a hot spring resort lately. Thinking of investing for fun leisure, health, and entertainment focused. Want to take a look?

 

Qin Shen was brief: [Send the proposal]

 

Yibai: !!! Do you see how many words I typed? You gave me three words and didn’t even use a period. Don’t you think you’re being excessive?!!!

 

[Sticker: Banging the table in anger] [Sticker: Banging the table in anger]

 

Qin Shen’s phone was flooded with stickers. He figured Jiang Yibai didn’t actually have anything important to say; he was likely just bored out of his mind now that the partnership deal was over.

 

Qin Shen wasn’t as free as him. He felt like there wasn’t even enough time in the day to kiss and hold Pei Yu. He was about to put the phone away when one last message popped up:

 

Yibai: So, what are you busy with? Just curious. O.O

 

The corners of Qin Shen’s mouth quirked up. He opened his camera and took a “bragging” photo of the desk. Included in the frame was a slender arm resting on a test paper.

 

Qin Shen: Busy accompanying my wife while he does his homework.

 

The other party is typing…

 

Yibai: ……

 

Yibai: I’m coughing up blood. Why is your name Qin Shen? You should change it to ‘Beast.’ Are you really showing off your love like this?! My insulin levels are struggling here!!

 

The complaints came in a steady stream, making the phone vibrate repeatedly. Beside him, Pei Yu finished a problem and caught the smile on Qin Shen’s face.

Smiling at his phone?

That kind of indescribable smile—tinged with a bit of childishness and silliness—didn’t it usually only appear when lovers were chatting?

Pei Yu didn’t suspect anything; he was purely curious. “Who are you chatting with?” He hugged Qin Shen’s arm and leaned over to take a look.

He happened to see a long string of speechless emojis… and the message at the very top:

[Busy accompanying my wife while he does his homework.]

“Just Jiang Yibai, chatting about nothing in particular.” Qin Shen moved the phone slightly and pulled Pei Yu closer so he could see more clearly.

“…”

Pei Yu’s face instantly flushed a brilliant red. He stammered for a long time, “I—it’s not… why would you say that about me to your friend?”

Qin Shen pinched Pei Yu’s cheek. “Say what? You mean calling you ‘wife’?”

“…”

Pei Yu swatted Qin Shen’s hand away, his ears burning. “Yes.”

“What else should I say? That I’m accompanying ‘baby’ while he does his homework?”

Hearing this explanation, Pei Yu’s ears turned even redder. According to Qin Shen’s logic, it seemed like calling him “wife” was slightly better than “baby.” After all, “wife” was a formal status, whereas “baby” was an incredibly mushy, sugary term of endearment.

If outsiders knew he was eighteen and still being called “baby,” it would be far too embarrassing. However, no one would ever imagine that Qin Shen could call him “baby” so naturally. With his sharp features, cold eyes, and icy, aloof demeanor, he looked like someone who stayed far away from such sentimentality.

Who knew he was like this in private…

But, he really liked it.

The more Pei Yu thought about it, the more he couldn’t help but smile, the corners of his eyes lifting slightly.

“What are you thinking about? Smiling like that.” Qin Shen kissed the youth’s cheek.

“It’s a secret,” Pei Yu said. “For now… you can just keep saying it that way,” he added awkwardly.

The longing in Qin Shen’s heart grew increasingly restless and tingly. He ruffled the boy’s soft hair. “Then when will my ‘wife’ call me—” Qin Shen leaned in, his voice low as he kissed the curve of the boy’s ear.

“Call me ‘husband’ again.”

“I’ve almost forgotten how it felt the first two times you called me that.”

Pei Yu’s eyes widened, once again teased into a state of bashful flusteredness. “N-next time… we’ll talk about it next time…”

Pei Yu stood up. “Hurry up and keep working. Aren’t you being lazy right now?”

“…”

He had actually let such a ridiculous urge slip out of his mouth.

Belatedly realizing what he’d said, Pei Yu looked at Qin Shen apologetically. Qin Shen was helping him with his homework for free, and here he was accusing him of being lazy. He felt a bit black-hearted.

“As you wish, baby,” Qin Shen replied.

The words made Pei Yu’s heart hammer against his ribs. He forced his attention back to his homework, but with every breath, Qin Shen’s pheromones continued to affect him.

…He finally understood why high schools were so strict about banning “early love.”

When it was time for bed, Pei Yu changed back into one of Qin Shen’s shirts. He still wasn’t wearing pants; the hem of the shirt fell a few centimeters past the base of his thighs, just barely covering his hips.

Qin Shen emerged from the bathroom after his shower, his robe slightly open at the collar. He used one hand to towel-dry his damp black hair. Droplets of water slid down his sharp jawline, dripped onto the hollow of his chest, and vanished into his robe.

Pei Yu took out the hairdryer and sat behind Qin Shen to help him dry his hair.

Qin Shen was not satisfied with this arrangement. “Now that we’ve established our relationship, why does it feel like I’m getting worse treatment than before?”

“You used to sit on my lap.”

“…” Pei Yu’s fingers ran through the man’s dark hair, gently massaging. “How many times have you kissed me today? If you kiss me any more, my skin will actually break. If I sit on your lap, can you guarantee you won’t get ‘handsy’?”

“I can…” Qin Shen’s voice was low and raspy.

Pei Yu didn’t believe him. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not. I can keep my hands and feet still, but I might use my mouth and other places.”

Pei Yu’s face flushed at the sheer roguishness of the statement. “If you keep talking nonsense, I won’t dry your hair anymore.”

A lazy laugh rippled from Qin Shen’s throat. As he bowed his head slightly, the glands at the back of his neck released a crisp, biting Alpha scent. “Alright, I’ll stop messing around,” he said.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the warm hum of the hairdryer.

Pei Yu’s gaze swept over the man’s broad back and lean waist. He remembered something. “Now that we have this kind of relationship… later when I help you into the car or help you bathe, don’t feel embarrassed…”

Worried his words might hurt Qin Shen’s pride, the youth spoke in a soft, gentle tone.

Qin Shen was quiet for a few seconds before saying calmly, “Alright. I won’t be embarrassed.”

The sound of Pei Yu’s happy laughter filled his ears. “Then before we sleep, let me massage your legs. I never did fulfill my previous promise.”

Qin Shen lowered his eyes. “Thank you for the hard work, baby.”

“It’s not hard work.” Pei Yu had Qin Shen lie down while he sat beside him. His soft, warm palm slipped under the hem of the bathrobe, resting on Qin Shen’s leg.

Qin Shen’s legs weren’t entirely devoid of sensation; they were just less sensitive than a typical person’s. An itch like static electricity spread from where Pei Yu’s palm touched his skin to his entire body. Qin Shen’s lashes fluttered as he looked down at Pei Yu sitting by his side.

“Is this the right way to press? Any discomfort?” When Jiang He was sick, Pei Yu had massaged her; although he couldn’t match a professional caregiver, his strength and rhythm were decent.

“No discomfort. It feels very relaxing.” Qin Shen reached out to ruffle the youth’s hair.

“That’s good then.”

Pei Yu massaged for over ten minutes until his palms were warm. “Are you doing your rehabilitation again tomorrow morning?”

“Yes. I’ve been able to persist longer lately,” Qin Shen said.

Once he was finished, Pei Yu withdrew his hand, leaned over, and pecked Qin Shen’s lips. “You’ve worked hard. Keep it up!”

Qin Shen’s eyes darkened. He cupped the back of Pei Yu’s neck, his tongue prying open the boy’s soft lips. They were nearly drowned in the rich scent of wild roses as the undercurrent of passion surged between them.

Early the next morning, Pei Yu woke up in a daze to find that Qin Shen had already left the room. Knowing he was at rehab, Pei Yu washed up quickly and folded his discarded clothes neatly. This way, Qin Shen could put them on directly after his shower when he returned.

Catching sight of a pair of deep grey underwear that was two sizes too big, Pei Yu’s eyelids jumped, and he couldn’t help but blush again.

On the small cabinet by the bed, a single rose sat in a glass vase. It was the Corolla red rose he had given Qin Shen last night. Pei Yu giggled to himself for a few seconds before putting on his blue-and-white school uniform and heading downstairs for breakfast with his backpack.

Perhaps because he was a bit early, Grandpa Qin hadn’t arrived yet, and Qin Yiyang wasn’t there either. There was only… Qin Shen’s parents.

Having already walked this far, turning back would be too obvious. Just then, Aunt Zhou spotted him and greeted him with a smile, “Young Master Pei, good morning! Come sit and have breakfast.”

“Young Master Pei…?” Hearing this, Qin Shifang’s elegant brows knitted slightly.

Facing the scrutinizing gazes of Qin Shen’s parents, Pei Yu walked over with a neutral expression and sat in his usual spot. There was no chair beside him; that was the space for Qin Shen’s wheelchair.

Pei Yu hoped in his heart that Qin Shen’s parents would just eat in silence and that no one would acknowledge anyone else. After a few bites, however, exactly what he feared happened.

Lu Shan spoke up: “I heard you and my son are together because of an arranged marriage?”

As Pei Yu was about to nod, Lu Shan added, “So, you’re just in it for the massive payout?”

Pei Yu pursed his lips. He felt like there was a hidden barb in Lu Shan’s words. It sounded like he was saying, ‘Just for the money?’

Well, obviously. Why else would he have entered an arranged marriage back then if not for the money?

Pei Yu didn’t feel any shame about it. He had originally planned to run away, and only decided to stay after realizing the marriage partner was Qin Shen. Seeing Lu Shan’s unfriendly attitude, Pei Yu didn’t feel like catering to his feelings.

“That’s right. I stayed with him for the money.”

Qin Shifang: “…” Lu Shan: “…”

They felt like he was completely disregarding them as parents, not even bothering with polite platitudes. Being so direct actually left Lu Shan stumped on how to respond.

“Ahem, ahem.” Two coughs came from behind.

Everyone turned to see Qin Yiyang, Qin Shuo, and Qin Shen. It was unclear when they had come down or how much they had heard.

“Uh…” Pei Yu remembered the last sentence he had just uttered. How awkward!

Lu Shan smiled triumphantly. “Xiao Shen, look at that. Look at what Pei Yu just said. If you ever run out of money one day, won’t he just vanish into thin air?”

“For an AO couple with 100% compatibility, if the Omega runs away, the Alpha is going to have major problems.”

“It’s first thing in the morning; can’t you say a little less?” Qin Shuo frowned as he walked over. “Is the food not enough to keep your mouth shut?”

Qin Shen and Qin Yiyang slowly took their seats. The atmosphere was slightly frozen.

Pei Yu felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He used his peripheral vision to glance at Qin Shen, only to unexpectedly lock eyes with those dark orbs. He swallowed hard. “About what I just said…”

“Hmm? What about it?” Qin Shen poured a glass of milk.

“The part about being in it for the money,” Pei Yu said in a tiny voice.

The expressions of everyone else at the table were a sight to behold. Qin Yiyang was a bit worried his cousin would misunderstand; his intuition told him Pei Yu was just talking back.

“Is there a problem with what you said?” Qin Shen smiled at him.

Pei Yu paused. “Huh?” Was there not a problem?!

“Then I’ll just have to try my best to earn more money in the future, so baby will never be able to leave me.”

In a slip of the tongue, Qin Shen forgot to change his form of address.

Everyone: “……………………”

Pei Yu: “…………”

Lu Shan’s frown deepened even further. What on earth?

Qin Shen’s eyes flickered as he realized his mistake. He withdrew the smile in his gaze and put on a calm, composed face, leisurely taking a sip of his milk.

Pei Yu’s fingertips curled in embarrassment, his head feeling like it was about to start smoking from the shame.