After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 6

Pei Yu was being urged to drink again.

His slender white wrists and the diamond-patterned glass shimmered faintly under the lights. After a few glasses, he actually felt alright. He had expected to get drunk quickly, but in reality, his stomach just felt a bit full.

Deep Blue had several signature drinks. The cocktail in his hand carried the crisp chill of ice. With crisp brandy as the base, notes of fruit and wood swirled on his tongue. The faint sweetness of summer oranges was refreshing, while the addition of fresh cream gave it a velvety, rich texture.

This particular drink was popular among female customers because it wasn’t harsh. In this bizarre atmosphere of forced drinking, Pei Yu actually found a trace of enjoyment in tasting the fine liquor.

However, his stomach was getting tighter.

“May I leave now?” Pei Yu asked, lowering his eyelashes. Behind his glasses, his eyes remained expressionless.

He was a cautious person. He rarely drank, and even when he did, it was just a small sip; he had never truly tested his limits. A dizzying, floating sensation was gradually creeping into his brain. A voice in his subconscious warned him that he couldn’t drink anymore, or he would get drunk.

Lin Shuxing failed to see the resentment and humiliation he desired in the boy’s eyes. It felt like punching cotton, which only made him angrier.

The thought of leaving the Lin family to marry Qin Shen—leaving Pei Yu alone in the household—infuriated him. Given enough time, wouldn’t Pei Yu be the one in charge?

“Dream on. There is still so much wine left. Do not think about leaving until you finish it all.” Lin Shuxing grabbed a bottle from the ice bucket, popped the cap, and poured it into the glass with a splash.

“…”

Qin Fen looked at that bottle of nearly seven-figure whisky and felt a headache coming on. He had intended to open that bottle himself to show off when they cut the cake. He muttered under his breath, “Let us skip this wine. It is tens of thousands per glass.”

He thought about helping Lin Shuxing twist the knife by mocking Pei Yu for not being worthy of such a drink, but Lin Shuxing spoke first.

“It is just a few hundred thousand a bottle, is it not? I will just order another one later,” Lin Shuxing clicked his tongue impatiently.

At those words, the expressions of everyone present became subtle. Previously, Lin Shuxing was the young master of the Lin family and an Omega; his status was high. But now, as a fake young master, he was directly disregarding Qin Fen’s feelings.

Qin Fen’s face darkened, and a hint of irritation and anger flickered in his eyes. However, glancing at Lin Shuxing’s bright features, he suppressed his temper for the sake of the boy’s beauty.

Pei Yu stared blankly at the glass being pushed toward him again. This felt like a cycle with no end. Did he have to drink until he vomited before Lin Shuxing would let it go? Maybe I should just stop entertaining this, Pei Yu thought fuzzily.

But then he remembered that the bar was supposedly owned by the uncle of the boy sitting next to Lin Shuxing. The manager and his colleagues were all very kind to him and often showed him concern. If he slammed the door and left, would the manager be blamed?

Blurry, forceful voices echoed in his ears.

“Keep drinking. This wine is precious; consider it a reward for you,” Lin Shuxing sneered.

The others laughed along. Pei Yu stood there, treated as an object of ridicule. The alcohol he had consumed earlier was finally taking effect. His brain felt chaotic and tipsy, and a surge of grievance welled up in his heart. He didn’t plan on showing his emotions, so he simply turned down the corners of his mouth to express his hidden bitterness.

He raised the glass, the rim reflecting the brilliant lights.

“What are you doing?”

“I didn’t know Deep Blue had such ‘hidden rules’ where guests could just bully the staff at will!”

Qin Yiyang snatched the wine glass away and grabbed Pei Yu’s arm to lead him out.

“You guys are something else. If you want to cause trouble, get the hell out. If this happens again, don’t come back to Deep Blue. You’re turning a perfectly good place into a mess.”

The people in the room hadn’t reacted yet and were about to question him. The manager of Deep Blue hurried forward to explain, “Sorry, everyone. That young gentleman is our boss’s younger cousin and a friend of Little Pei. He couldn’t stand to see him drink so much.”

The wealthy heirs and Lin Shuxing, who were about to lash out, knit their brows. They all looked toward Qin Fen.

“He… he really is my uncle’s cousin,” Qin Fen admitted. “Since he’s already taken the guy away, let’s just leave it at that.”

Unlike himself, who was from a side branch, Qin Yiyang was close to Qin Shen. Worried about causing a scene, Qin Fen urged Lin Shuxing to let it go.

The membership screening at Deep Blue was not overly strict; anyone with a known name in Jiangcheng who met the spending threshold could apply. The bar had a good environment, excellent drinks, and a clean atmosphere. Many businessmen chose this place to discuss matters at night. Most importantly, the bar was under the Qin Group. Many people came here just to be seen, hoping for a future chance to collaborate with the conglomerate. If they were blacklisted from Deep Blue, it would be a blow to their reputations.

These rich kids were using their families’ membership cards and didn’t want to cause trouble for their parents, so they didn’t pursue the matter further.

“So that was Qin Shen’s cousin.” “How are they even connected?” “Drink, drink! Let’s not talk about it. We’re not going home until we’re drunk tonight!” Qin Fen poured wine for them.

Lin Shuxing remained silent with a dark face. Qin Fen patted his shoulder. “It is my birthday today. Cheer up.”

“I know,” Lin Shuxing pulled out a gift. “Happy birthday.”

They continued drinking and eating cake, and the room became lively again. Someone suddenly asked, “But… nothing will happen because of how we treated that waiter, right?”

“Psh, what could happen? If he were favored, he wouldn’t be out working as a waiter, right, Lin Shuxing?”

Lin Shuxing gave a soft snort. “Of course.”

In the breakroom, Qin Yiyang poured a glass of hot water and handed it to Pei Yu.

“Drink some water and rest. I told the manager you can head back early tonight.”

Pei Yu took the cup and took a sip. Being tipsy made his voice sound even softer. “Thank you for what just happened.”

His speaking speed was very slow, with the words coming out almost one by one. Pei Yu wasn’t in a great state right now; a faint red flush had bloomed on his cheeks, and his clear eyes were veiled by a thin mist.

“Oh, it’s nothing. You don’t really need to thank me.” Qin Yiyang scratched his head. “It was my brother who told me to pull you out.”

“Your brother?” Pei Yu’s eyes widened slightly. He held the water cup with both hands, the white steam fogging up his glasses, making him look particularly dazed and cute.

“Yeah, the person who knocked you down at the hospital that day,” Qin Yiyang said.

Pei Yu blinked, taking a few seconds to recall the man’s appearance. Scupltural features, a high bridge, thin lips, and a clean, refreshing scent. Those eyes were very beautiful too, calm and deep, with pupils as black as ink. Even his voice was incredibly pleasant, sounding better than the male voices on English listening exams.

But his legs seemed to be injured.

“So that is how it is. Could you help me thank your brother?” Pei Yu asked in a gentle, soft tone.

“No problem,” Qin Yiyang replied.

After resting for a while, Pei Yu said he was going to change clothes and go home. Qin Yiyang nodded. “If you’re okay, I’ll go back and keep hanging out.”

“Okay,” Pei Yu said.

A few minutes later, a Maybach pulled up in front of Deep Blue. Qin Shen occasionally came here to drink with Jiang Yibai, and there was an elevator at the side entrance leading directly to a private room.

He dialed Qin Yiyang’s number. “Where is he? Did you bring him out?”

His classmates were still howling and singing in the background. Qin Yiyang covered his phone with one hand and shouted at the top of his lungs, “I brought him out! I told the manager to let him off work so he could go home and rest.”

“I heard he drank quite a bit.” Qin Shen knit his brows slightly. “Is he heading back alone?”

“Yeah, but he seemed to be in good shape. He could talk and walk just fine,” Qin Yiyang yelled back. Hearing his friends calling him over to play games, he spoke quickly: “Brother, I have to go. My friends are rushing me.”

After the call disconnected, Qin Shen pressed his lips together in silence, his thumb absentmindedly stroking the phone screen.

“President Qin, are we still going inside?” the assistant turned and asked.

Qin Shen lowered his eyes. His gaze fell on the Deep Blue neon sign glowing with a faint blue light. The car window was open, and the night breeze swept in, causing the man’s dark hair to flutter slightly.

Now that he had stopped, Qin Shen felt that his sudden decision to come here was a bit abrupt. He rarely appeared in public, and many of the guests here had business dealings with him. Usually, if he wanted to drink on a whim, he would have the place cleared in advance.

The breeze helped cool his head. The impulse that had surged in his office to see the youth began to settle. Wasting over half an hour like this felt a bit ridiculous.

“No. Let’s go back,” Qin Shen said calmly.

“Yes, sir,” the assistant replied.

Qin Shen looked out the window. As the vehicle started to move slowly, a slender, thin figure walked into the light in the distance. Upon recognizing him, Qin Shen’s pupils contracted slightly.

The youth was moving very slowly, as if he were carefully confirming every step he took.

Is he drunk?

Qin Shen signaled the driver to pull over. As the car stopped in front of him, Pei Yu locked eyes with the man in the back seat. He dazed for a moment, realizing the person before him looked exactly like the man in his memory.

Pei Yu blinked. He walked over slowly, leaned down, and drew closer. His forehead was inches away from the window.

Qin Shen tilted his head. He caught the faint scent of alcohol and clearly saw the youth’s eyelashes flutter twice.

“Big brother?” Pei Yu opened his lips.

His voice was very soft, the ending trailing off like fluffy dandelion seeds brushing against a heart, making it feel a bit itchy. It felt completely different from when Qin Yiyang called him “Brother.”

Qin Shen’s gaze deepened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. Just as he was about to speak, the youth spoke again.

“You really are his brother. Thank you for tonight,” Pei Yu said. With his hands hanging at his sides, he gave a serious, formal bow.

Qin Shen remained silent. He cleared his throat and, noticing the tipsiness in the boy’s eyes, asked, “Are you drunk?”

Pei Yu stood up straight again. He thought about it and said very slowly, “Not… not drunk.”

Qin Shen did not believe him and narrowed his eyes. “Are you really not drunk? Why don’t you think about it again?” Qin Shen rested his hand on the edge of the car window.

The watch on the man’s wrist reflected the light, appearing very bright and attractive to a muddled child. Pei Yu stared intently at the man’s wrist. The lines of the wrist bone were sharp and clear, and the cold metallic sheen of the watch band matched his pale skin perfectly.

He obediently followed the instruction to think. A few seconds later, he lowered his head and said, “It seems I am drunk.”

“It seems?”

“It is not ‘it seems,'” Pei Yu bit his lip and admitted, “I am drunk.”

Qin Shen’s gaze fell on the misty eyes behind the glasses. His knuckles twitched. “Get in. I will take you back.”

Pei Yu looked hesitant, his fingers clutching the hem of his T-shirt. The alcohol brought a sense of dullness to his mind; had it not been for his subconscious caution, he would have agreed instantly.

The corner of Qin Shen’s mouth curled up slightly. “Consider it my apology for knocking you down earlier, okay?”

“It is late, and you are drunk. It is not safe for you to be alone.”

Pei Yu decided his reasoning was sound, so he got into the car. The interior was filled with a faint, pleasant fragrance. Leaning against the comfortable backrest, Pei Yu lazily narrowed his eyes. He was getting sleepy.

As the car drove down the main road and turned a corner, Pei Yu tilted to the side, his upper body slumping onto Qin Shen’s lap.

The car accident had not damaged Qin Shen’s sensory nerves. Coupled with long-term rehabilitation, he could feel the weight pressing against his legs. The youth lay on his lap, his glasses askew, revealing half of his profile. His skin was very white, glowing with a soft light under the car’s small night lamp. His eyelashes were long, trembling like butterfly wings as he slept.

The driver whispered an apology.

“It is fine,” Qin Shen said. A few seconds later, he helped the youth sit up. They were less than a hundred meters from the main road. Qin Shen asked him, “Shall I send you back to the Lin house?”

Hearing “Lin house,” Pei Yu instinctively knit his fair brows. The alcohol magnified his emotions. He shook his head repeatedly. “No… I do not want to go back to the Lin house.”

“Do you have another address?” Qin Shen asked.

Pei Yu gave the address of Jiang He’s apartment. Hearing it, the driver said, “President Qin, it will take an hour and a half to get there.”

Qin Shen considered it for a moment. “I will take you to a nearby hotel. Is that acceptable?”

After receiving a nod of approval, the driver set the destination to the nearest three-star hotel. After a short conversation, Pei Yu’s sleepiness began to fade slightly. He opened his eyes in a daze, the light reflecting in them like amber.

Seeing this, Qin Shen felt like chatting. He asked, “Did you drink a lot?”

Pei Yu replied, “A lot.”

Qin Shen asked again, “I heard your brother forced you to drink. Does the Lin family treat you poorly?”

Pei Yu felt aggrieved. “Yes, poorly. They do not like me.”

Qin Shen asked, “Then do you plan to stay at the Lin house forever?”

Pei Yu first nodded in acknowledgment, then quickly shook his head. “I do not want to, but Mom is sick.”

Qin Shen had heard rumors about the Lin family but did not know the details. Hearing it directly now, he felt this kid’s life story was indeed a bit pitiful.

For the rest of the journey, Qin Shen did not speak much. Instead, Pei Yu used his drunkenness as an excuse to vent, as if filing a formal complaint. He shook Qin Shen’s arm, explaining word for word how Lin Shuxing and those rich heirs had made him drink back at Deep Blue.

“Some were bitter, some were spicy. My stomach feels bloated, but the Alexander was very good. Sweet.”

With every mumble from Pei Yu, Qin Shen’s frown deepened. “The staff at Deep Blue can refuse the rude requests of guests.”

Pei Yu nodded heavily, then added hesitantly, “But the boss of Deep Blue is the uncle of Lin Shuxing’s friend.”

Qin Shen knit his brows. He had heard from Qin Yiyang that Qin Fen and Lin Shuxing were hanging out together. He had assumed the forced drinking was just a private matter within the Lin family; he had not realized Qin Fen was using his name to pressure others.

A flash of annoyance crossed Qin Shen’s eyes. “I will look into this and handle it properly.”

Pei Yu tilted his head. “?”

A few minutes later, they arrived at the hotel. Qin Shen had stayed here before. After verifying his identity, he received a key card for a top-tier suite on the highest floor. The wheelchair moved over the hallway carpet with a soft sound. The driver did not follow them up, but the assistant stayed behind him while the youth walked close to his side.

The door opened slowly, the lights came on, and they entered the master bedroom. Seeing the large bed, Pei Yu collapsed onto it immediately. He narrowed his eyes comfortably and rubbed against the covers, as lazy as a kitten. “So soft.”

Qin Shen smiled. He placed the key card on a small side table and wrote his phone number on a slip of paper. “Get some good rest tonight.”

Lying on the bed, Pei Yu sat up slowly and looked at Qin Shen.

Qin Shen remembered something and said, “In the future, do not just follow people away. If you were actually sold, you would still be helping them count the money.”

Pei Yu looked down and thought about it, then replied seriously, “I would not sell for much money. I am not worth much.”

Qin Shen was slightly stunned. Looking at the youth with his head bowed, he reached out his hand. “How could that be?”

His warm palm touched the top of the youth’s head, gently ruffling his hair. Pei Yu froze, his eyes blinking rapidly.

“I am leaving. Get some rest early,” Qin Shen said, withdrawing his hand.

Pei Yu nodded obediently. “Thank you.”

Suddenly, a surge of nausea welled up in his stomach. It came so fast that Pei Yu couldn’t control it; he instinctively leaned against the man’s knees.

“Ugh—”

An unpleasant smell immediately filled the air. When he looked up again, he met the man’s face, which was as dark as a thundercloud.

Pei Yu shrank his neck guiltily. He said in a tiny voice, “I… I am sorry.”

Support