After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 47

After staying in the lounge for quite a while, Pei Yu checked himself in the bathroom mirror. Only after finding that the redness of his lips wasn’t too obvious did he dare return to the banquet venue with Qin Shen.

After all that dallying, the clothes on both of them were slightly wrinkled, though it wasn’t noticeable unless one looked closely.

“Hello, Sister-in-law!” Jiang Yibai walked over holding a glass of red wine, followed by his assistant, Li Shuang. “As A-Shen’s best friend, I’d like to propose a toast to you both. Happy engagement!”

Hearing this, Pei Yu felt a bit shy. He took a glass of red wine from a passing waiter and lightly clinked it against Jiang Yibai’s glass.

“Thank you…” Pei Yu murmured. He tilted his face up, preparing to take a small sip, only to realize that Jiang Yibai was staring… at his lips.

He knew it!!!

He unceremoniously pinched Qin Shen’s shoulder. Instead of getting angry, Qin Shen laughed, coughed twice, and gave Jiang Yibai a meaningful look. Jiang Yibai, naturally catching the drift, immediately retracted his gaze and took a couple of quick gulps of his wine.

The manor originally hosted many leisure and entertainment projects. Most of the guests intended to stay for half the day to play. Under the guidance of the waiters, they each sought out the facilities they were interested in.

After saying goodbye to Jiang He and the Lin couple, Pei Yu followed Qin Yiyang and the others to play in the vineyard. They picked many grapes by hand, and since he had nothing else to do, Pei Yu peeled them for Qin Shen.

“This is for you.” Pei Yu handed over a grape with the skin half-peeled.

Qin Shen lowered his gaze. The grape flesh was crystal clear, and the sweet juice dampened the youth’s fingertips. As he bit into it, his lips inadvertently brushed against Pei Yu’s finger.

Pei Yu paused and subtly curled his fingers. As he withdrew his hand, he looked around for something to wipe it with.

Qin Shen pulled out a twill silk handkerchief, took Pei Yu’s hand, and began to wipe it slowly and methodically.

“Thank you,” Pei Yu smiled faintly.

“I’d be even happier if my wife added ‘Hubby’ after the ‘thank you’ next time,” Qin Shen said, curving his lips.

Pei Yu: “…”

The sunlight filtered through the dense grapevine leaves, making everything feel warm and cozy.

“Holy crap, this tastes exactly like me!”

Qin Yiyang happened to eat a grape that tasted remarkably like his pheromones. He ran over to ask the manager of the area what variety of green grape it was.

“Zhou Yue, weren’t you always curious about what my pheromones smelled like?” Qin Yiyang handed her two.

“Oh?” Driven by curiosity, Zhou Yue tried them. “So your pheromones taste like this? It’s… alright, I guess.”

Qin Yiyang pouted. “What do you mean ‘alright’? It’s sweet and sour—it’s delicious! Don’t you think so, Su Yan?”

The suddenly questioned Su Yan paused, carefully savoring the light, non-greasy fruit fragrance on his tongue before giving an objective evaluation: “It is indeed quite tasty.”

“Hehe, Omegas really do understand pheromones better,” Qin Yiyang said with a grin.

Once the sun wasn’t quite as scorching, Qin Shen took them to see the horses he used to keep. Regarding horse breeding, Qin Shen never deliberately chased bloodlines; everything depended on his first impression. Having not visited the horses for a long time, he assumed they might have forgotten him.

But as soon as he and Pei Yu arrived, several horses let out lively neighs, enthusiastically tossing their heads at Qin Shen.

“They have missed Mr. Qin very much,” the groom looking after them said with a smile.

Qin Shen’s heart stirred slightly, and he patted the head of one of the horses. Pei Yu watched the neatly lined-up horses with curiosity. They were all different colors, but the one that attracted him most was the pure black horse Qin Shen was stroking. It was exceptionally well-kept, with shiny fur, a tall, handsome build, and a powerful presence.

As he stood next to Qin Shen, he was quite close to the animal. Suddenly, the pure black warmblood lowered its head without warning and nuzzled Pei Yu’s hair.

Pei Yu was so startled he almost screamed: “Qin Shen, it’s nuzzling me!”

Qin Shen patted the black horse, which quickly stood back in an orderly fashion. “Don’t be afraid, it’s very gentle.”

Pei Yu was still a bit wary, so he stepped back a little and stood behind Qin Shen.

“It’s likely because you have my pheromones on you,” Qin Shen explained with a laugh.

Pei Yu huffed. “So… this is your fault.”

Qin Shen thought Pei Yu’s huffing and blaming him was simply too cute. He squeezed the back of the boy’s hand. “Mm, my fault. I’ll be careful next time and not hold you for so long, so you don’t end up covered in my scent.”

Pei Yu: “…” He hadn’t expected Qin Shen to be so blunt. He peeked at the groom feeding the horses nearby.

Good. He’s pretending he heard nothing. Very professional.

Sounds of shouting and the thunderous beat of hooves came from the track. Qin Yiyang had already changed into riding gear and was proudly showing off his skills to his classmates. The setting sun cast a warm orange light as Qin Yiyang gripped the reins, galloping across the grass with high spirits.

Following behind him were Zhou Yue and Su Yan, riding slowly under the guidance of professional staff. The wind ruffled their hair, and the sunlight made them look youthful and vibrant.

Qin Shen gazed at them from a distance, a trace of nearly imperceptible envy flickering in his eyes. Pei Yu happened to notice. He licked his lips, not knowing what to say.

“Do you want to go play for a while too?” Qin Shen looked up and asked him.

Pei Yu shook his head. “No need. I’ll just watch with you.”

Qin Shen was curious. “Are you afraid of heights? Someone will lead you; it’ll be very slow.”

Pei Yu smiled. “No, it’s not that. It’s nice just watching them. How about this: when your health improves in the future, you can ride ‘Little Black’ and take me along.”

Qin Shen was momentarily stunned, then he broke into a helpless laugh. “His name isn’t Little Black.”

Pei Yu: “Then what is it?”

Qin Shen: “His name is Big Black.”

Pei Yu: “…” “Qin Shen, has anyone ever told you that you’re quite boring?”

A low laugh vibrated in Qin Shen’s throat. “When I get better in the future, I’ll bring you here to ride.”

Pei Yu: “Deal. Then you’d better get better quickly; otherwise, in a few years, Little Black might not be able to run anymore.”

Qin Shen really wanted to correct Pei Yu’s haphazard naming and mention that horses actually live a long time if cared for well. But he wasn’t about to be that much of a killjoy.

Taking Pei Yu’s hand, his voice dropped lower: “Fine. Then I’ll strive to get better as quickly as possible.”

As night fell, the guests who had attended the engagement banquet finished their dinner and began to leave one by one. Wanting to play at the manor for a couple more days, the group decided to stay overnight.

“I’ll have driver Yang go back later and bring my homework over,” Pei Yu mentioned.

Qin Shen nodded. “Good. Have him bring Qin Yiyang’s homework as well.”

Qin Yiyang practically coughed up blood. “Brother Pei, don’t you think you’re working a bit too hard?”

Pei Yu blinked innocently. “Am I?”

Zhou Yue and Su Yan also decided to stay for two more days, but they needed to head back tonight to let their families know and pick up their own homework. Even though it was a long taxi ride, it wasn’t too much of a hassle.

After saying goodnight to Grandpa, Pei Yu followed Qin Shen back to their room. The room they were staying in was on the third floor of the castle—a suite with several separate functional rooms and a massive area.

Pei Yu also discovered an indoor hot spring—a square pool with bubbles gurgling and white mist rising. He walked to the living room and pushed open the deliberately aged window.

A cool breeze blew in, and the scenery was exquisite; the artificial lake was quiet, reflecting a pale yellow crescent moon. The lawn extending backward was part of the golf course, and looking to the left, he could see the vineyard area they had visited in the afternoon.

The manor was beautifully landscaped, and the air carried the natural fragrance of greenery. Pei Yu opened his arms and took several deep breaths, feeling completely refreshed.

As he raised his hands, his suit jacket lifted, revealing a glimpse of a slender waistline to Qin Shen.

“The scenery here is just too good,” Pei Yu said. “I imagine staying here for a night costs quite a lot.”

“It’s alright. A room in the manor hotel usually goes for anywhere from a few thousand to over ten thousand. It’s on the pricier side, so all the recreational activities at the manor are free during the stay.”

“However, this specific building isn’t open to tourists; it’s reserved for family.”

“I see.” After a long day, Pei Yu took off his jacket and loosened his tie. “Should I head to the bathroom to shower first?”

His eyes were sparkling, full of anticipation for the oversized massage bathtub. During the tour earlier, he had noticed a slanted skylight in the bathroom; he imagined he could watch the stars while bathing—a truly romantic thought.

Qin Shen checked his watch. “No rush for a shower just yet. There’s one more little surprise.”

Pei Yu tilted his head. “?”

“Just a few more minutes,” Qin Shen said. “Why don’t you play on your phone for a bit first?”

Pei Yu circled behind Qin Shen and rested his hands on the man’s broad shoulders. “You must be exhausted, too. It’s only a few minutes; let me give you a massage.”

“Alright.” Qin Shen’s lips curved into a faint smile, softening his stern features.

As the minute hand approached the hour, Qin Shen asked Pei Yu to stand by the window with him. The night was thick, the stars were twinkling, and the galaxy looked magnificent.

“Baby, look up,” Qin Shen whispered.

Pei Yu obeyed, and just as he raised his head, a sudden boom echoed through the dark. Above the calm lake, multicolored fireworks soared into the sky, leaving trails of white smoke behind. The light suddenly burst at its peak, transforming into shimmering fragments that formed various wondrous patterns.

The fireworks were continuous, making the pitch-black sky as bright as day for a fleeting moment. The light spilled onto the faces of the two people by the window, illuminating their expressions as they gazed at the display.

“Do you like it?” Qin Shen’s voice was muffled by the sound of the explosions.

The night was enveloped in millions of mottled golden sparks, reflected perfectly in the mirror-like lake—it was like a dream. Pei Yu couldn’t bear to blink. In a soft voice filled with joy, he said, “It’s beautiful. Thank you for the surprise.”

He watched the rising fireworks without looking away. In the flickering light and shadows, Qin Shen looked up at him: “As long as you like it.”

When the grand display finally returned to silence, it took Pei Yu several minutes to snap out of the breathtaking scenery.

“I’ll go shower now, then?” Pei Yu took a bathrobe from the closet.

Qin Shen didn’t look up, his eyes fixed on the book in his hand. “Okay, you go first.”

About twenty minutes later, Pei Yu emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. The steam had turned the youth’s cheeks a rosy pink, and clear droplets of water gathered in the hollows of his delicate collarbones. He wore fluffy slippers, and his exposed calves showed smooth, supple lines.

Qin Shen’s eyes darkened, and his voice grew slightly hoarse. “Lie down and sleep for a bit first.” He turned to take out another light-gray bathrobe for himself.

“Sure, I’ll blow-dry my hair first.” Pei Yu sat casually on the bed. The belt of his bathrobe was tied loosely, and the hem fell open carelessly, leaving a hazy shadow beneath his waist.

Qin Shen’s throat felt itchy. It took a long time before he retracted his gaze and slowly entered the bathroom.

With a thud, the door closed. Pei Yu glanced up, then looked away. He sped up the hair-drying, thinking that if Qin Shen needed help later, he could assist him with his bath. But the thought of helping Qin Shen bathe made him blush; it surely wouldn’t be as simple as a regular caregiver’s task. Qin Shen would likely use the opportunity to coax him into doing this or that, leaving him utterly embarrassed.

His hair had grown quite a bit, and the hair dryer whirred loudly. In the midst of his wandering thoughts, a sudden, massive crash—the sound of a wheelchair falling over—exploded from the bathroom.

Pei Yu froze, then reacted instantly. He stood up worriedly and shouted, “Qin Shen!”

He rushed toward the bathroom, but just as he gripped the door handle, he stopped. A warm yellow light glowed from within. From the crack in the door, a scent of cedar and mint thousands of times more potent than before surged out desperately.

The pheromones seemed to have a mind of their own, wildly entangling every part of Pei Yu’s body. With every breath, the pheromones flooded his lungs. Even through the glass door, Pei Yu could feel a chill seeping into his very marrow.

His favorite cedar scent no longer felt like gentle, white snowflakes. It felt like sharp icicles formed on eaves and branches in the dead of winter, their tips glinting with a cold, piercing light.

Pei Yu’s body began to tremble. It was a genetic response carved into his bones: the primal fear an Omega feels toward an Alpha in rut. Before even entering, he felt a dull, throbbing pain in the gland at the back of his neck.

It took dozens of seconds for Pei Yu to steady his nerves. As he barely turned the door handle, a suppressed, hoarse roar came from inside: “Don’t come in! Leave! Call Grandpa!”

Pei Yu’s eyes wavered, and he hesitantly let go of the handle.

Inside the bathroom, the wheelchair lay on its side on the wet floor. Qin Shen was lying on his back on the tiles, which were slightly warmed by the hot water. His jaw was clenched tight, and his water-soaked black hair clung messily to his forehead. The veins on his neck bulged from the intensity of his clenching teeth and the waves of unbearable pain.

His entire body was flushed an unnatural red. The enclosed bathroom had become a violent blizzard. Qin Shen stared at the light above; the pain made his consciousness blur, and the lights shifted into heavy shadows. He heard the faint, ethereal sound of footsteps.

He must have left to find Grandpa, he thought.

Qin Shen realized in a daze that no matter how well he had planned, when the moment actually came, he couldn’t bear to go through with it, he was terrified of hurting Pei Yu.

The violent factors in his blood began to flare up, and a monstrous desire for destruction rose within him. He wanted to crush everything in sight that bothered him.

Suddenly, a faint, sweet wisp of rose fragrance appeared in the midst of the ice and snow. Before Qin Shen’s chaotic mind could react, a slender figure leaned over to look at him. The next second, the black-haired youth knelt by his side, spreading his thin arms as if to help him up.

“Qin Shen, are you okay? Where did you fall?” His voice was frantic.

As the youth drew closer, the blood in Qin Shen’s body seemed to boil. “Didn’t I tell you… to go get someone?”

With a sudden turn, Qin Shen pinned the reckless Pei Yu beneath him. He didn’t control his strength. Pei Yu’s shoulder blades were forced hard against the tiles. He couldn’t help but let out a pained, pitiful cry: “Sss… Qin Shen, you’re hurting me.”

Under the light, Pei Yu furrowed his delicate brows, his clear, light-brown eyes gazing up at Qin Shen. He expected Qin Shen to soften his voice and coax him as usual. But the moment he saw Qin Shen clearly, Pei Yu froze.

It was the first time he had seen such a look in Qin Shen’s eyes the deep, dark pupils were tinged with a manic crimson, carrying an overwhelming, surging desire.

“Does it hurt?”

The corners of Qin Shen’s mouth quirked. He leaned down, his burning tongue falling onto the youth’s snowy-white neck with a turbulent, forceful intensity. He bit and licked with alternating pressure, his eyes dark red, releasing the deepest cravings of his heart. His cold, pale fingers reached for the loose belt of the bathrobe, pulling at it with savage rudeness.

His teeth ground against the tender skin of the neck.

Pei Yu shuddered. His bathrobe had long been soaked by the water on the floor, leaving his back feeling cold. A tremor escaped his lips, and his slender fingertips gripped the hair near Qin Shen’s ears.

The bright light poured down. The youth’s fair skin shimmered like pearl, and a thin blush spread across his body. He was breathtakingly beautiful, like a piece of art meticulously carved by God.

Qin Shen’s gaze grew even darker. He narrowed his eyes and pinned down the youth’s slender wrists. Leaning down again, he kissed the spot closest to the youth’s violently thumping heart.

In an instant, Pei Yu’s long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings. He instinctively wanted to curl his body up, but he couldn’t move a muscle.

“Qin, Qin Shen…” His chin was dampened by the man’s dark hair.

His soft moans failed to evoke any pity from Qin Shen. The man’s voice, hoarse as sandpaper, rang out: “I told you not to come in.”

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