Married the Abandoned Puppy Alpha - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Running with the Ball (Pregnancy Trope)

I don’t know just how solid Shi Qingze’s relationship is with the clothing store owner, but by noon the next day, the brand-new formal wear was delivered.

“Want to try it on?” Shi Qingze walked over holding the garment box, appearing to be in a very good mood.

As the time for the banquet drew closer, He Xinglou found himself uncontrollably remembering the events that had transpired at the ancestral mansion years ago, leaving him somewhat distracted.

He replied perfunctorily, “The shop you chose won’t have issues with the sizing.”

Shi Qingze paused, then smiled again. “Alright. We’ll try it later when you’re interested, Brother.”

He Xinglou didn’t quite understand his words. Weren’t they supposed to wear these tonight? Why wait until later to be “interested”?

But soon, Shi Qingze’s communicator buzzed.

Shi Qingze glanced at it with displeasure and didn’t reply.

He Xinglou took the opportunity to ask, “Are they urging you to leave?”

The smile on Shi Qingze’s face faded slightly; it seemed he wasn’t too keen on going back either. “Yes. Let’s head out.”

…

Land in the Imperial Capital is worth its weight in gold, yet the Shi family’s ancestral estate was staggeringly vast. It took nearly an hour just to drive from the main gate to the entrance of the primary residence. Both sides of the road were tightly shielded by tall hedge walls, achieving the ultimate in privacy and security.

He Xinglou looked out the car window; his impression of this road was still very vivid.

“We’re here, Brother.” Shi Qingze was the first to step out, opening the car door for him.

As He Xinglou was led out of the car, he suddenly blurted out, “How are we getting back later?”

Shi Qingze, assuming he was worried about staying overnight, smiled. “We’ll go back together, of course. I never stay the night here. Don’t worry, Brother.”

He Xinglou nodded.

After exiting the car, Shi Qingze didn’t let go of his hand, continuing to comfort him: “Don’t worry, it’s just a casual dinner. Aside from Grandfather, you don’t have to pay attention to anyone else.”

He Xinglou didn’t really feel like talking and nodded again.

The two were welcomed into the hall.

There were already quite a few people in the hall, socializing with practiced smiles. Hearing movement at the entrance, everyone turned their heads toward them. Upon seeing Shi Qingze, the expressions on their faces dimmed several notches.

Shi Qingze ignored their reactions, gently squeezed He Xinglou’s hand, and led him toward the dining table.

“Eat something first. Don’t go hungry.”

He Xinglou naturally didn’t stand on ceremony and reached for a pastry nearby.

Unexpectedly, someone approached at that moment, attempting to socialize with a fake smile. “Qingze, why haven’t you come over to greet us? I am your brother, after all.”

Xinglou silently withdrew his hand.

In the next moment, Shi Qingze picked up the plate of pastries and shoved it into He Xinglou’s hand without a word.

Only then did he turn to look at the man in front of him. “The necessary pleasantries will naturally be said when Grandfather arrives. Why waste time now?”

The man looked indignant, his gaze falling on He Xinglou. He said displeasedly, “And who is this? You didn’t even introduce us, just bring people in whenever you like?”

Shi Qingze’s tone turned cold. “Not as ‘whenever’ as you. You were the one who brought that little model last time. Didn’t you say you were going to marry him? Whatever happened to that?”

He Xinglou quickly stuffed food into his mouth to prevent his expression from slipping into a laugh.

“Do you have to speak with such thorns?!” the newcomer raised his voice, drawing the attention of everyone else.

“It seems staying outside for a few years really turned you into a wild brat. You don’t even remember the Shi family’s etiquette. Our family doesn’t have such rude juniors!”

Now, He Xinglou couldn’t laugh anymore.

He put down the pastry plate and looked calmly at the fuming man. “If the loudest voice determines who has the most etiquette, then you are indeed the undisputed champion.”

“You—”

“Enough, Shi Yu. Don’t make an exhibition of yourself at the banquet,” a middle-aged man reminded in a deep voice. “The Old Master will be here shortly.”

The man named Shi Yu shut his mouth resentfully, shooting several glares at He Xinglou before leaving.

Shi Qingze was beaming. “Just now, was Brother standing up for me?”

He Xinglou didn’t admit it, only saying, “He said that about you, and you didn’t talk back?”

Shi Qingze shook his head. “I just didn’t want to tangle with him for too long; it would be tiring for you to listen to. Besides, that guy is stupid. He’s no match for me.”

Hearing the word “match,” He Xinglou dazed for a moment.

He realized then: perhaps from the moment they stepped into the banquet hall, Shi Qingze had already entered “inheritance struggle” mode.

If he could thrive in the Shi family to the point of being feared, why would he need He Xinglou to meddle and stand up for him?

Just then, his hand was suddenly shaken by Shi Qingze. Xinglou snapped back to reality and heard Shi Qingze whisper a reminder: “Grandfather is here.”

Xinglou braced himself and looked over, seeing a vigorous old man being escorted out by several servants.

He felt his hand being squeezed gently and turned to see Shi Qingze looking at him with a smile.

“Let’s go over, Brother.”

The meaning was clear: it was time to act.

He Xinglou was inevitably a bit nervous, nodding with a stiff face.

The crowd swarmed toward the Old Master. Shi Yu took a step ahead of everyone and sat directly next to the Old Master’s main seat.

The Old Master frowned and glanced at him but didn’t say anything. Thus, the hopelessly dim Shi Yu felt he had received tacit approval and began to grin triumphantly.

His father’s face below him turned as dark as iron.

Shi Qingze led He Xinglou to sit on the lower side, taking the seat where dishes are served first, protecting He Xinglou safely on his right side.

The Old Master looked at him with interest and smiled. “Qingze, this is the first time I’ve seen you bring someone back.”

“I hope it’s not like what happened with Ah Yu last time?” A sharp voice cut in. “Picking up some random young model and lying that they’re the love of your life, rushing to get married.”

It was an Omega with exquisite makeup and slightly “dirty” full-rimmed eyeliner, looking quite fatigued.

“You—you!” Shi Yu hadn’t expected to be dragged into it again, his face flushing red as he prepared to argue.

“Of course not,” Shi Qingze interrupted, taking He Xinglou’s hand. “The one I brought back is, naturally, my beloved.”

“Beloved?” Shi Yu’s father said with a half-smile.

“Usually they say Qingze stays away from beauty. We haven’t seen you in close contact with any Omega, nor have we seen you accept any blind dates. How did a ‘beloved’ suddenly pop out?”

Shi Qingze also smiled, seemingly enjoying the description. “Uncle is right. I normally don’t have intimate relationships with anyone, and I’ve never gone on a blind date.”

As he spoke, he looked at He Xinglou with flickering eyes, as if swearing his loyalty.

He Xinglou couldn’t tell if he was acting or poking at the fact that he had gone on a blind date, so he simply lowered his gaze and remained silent.

The Old Master chuckled twice. “It seems Qingze and this young friend have a very deep bond.”

When facing the Old Master, Shi Qingze’s tone became serious and sincere. “Grandfather, I specifically brought Xinglou back to see you this time, hoping to receive your blessing. Xinglou and I… will be married very soon.”

He stopped calling him “Brother.” He Xinglou wasn’t used to hearing it, and his ears turned crimson.

Shi Yu couldn’t sit still and slapped the table. “Shi Qingze, are you still faking? We’ve never even heard you mention this person, and now you’re getting married the moment you show up? I bet it’s for the inheritance”

“Shi Yu!” Seeing him get more and more out of line, his father quickly barked at him to stop.

The smile on the Old Master’s face faded. “I am speaking to Qingze, not to you. Constantly interrupting where is your etiquette?”

Only then was Shi Yu startled into silence.

The Old Master then leaned his elbows on the table, appearing to listen intently. “Qingze, I’m listening to you.”

A warm color entered Shi Qingze’s eyes as he spoke slowly: “This goes back to my kidnapping three years ago.”

At the mention of this, the expressions of the elder relatives present changed abruptly, exchanging hidden glances.

Shi Qingze acted as if he saw nothing, stating plainly: “Three years ago, after I escaped the kidnappers, I suffered temporary amnesia due to my injuries. During that time, it was Xinglou who took me in and looked after me. Later we were separated, and I couldn’t find him for a long time, which is why I never mentioned him at home.”

He paused, a genuine smile appearing on his face. “But luckily, just a few days ago, I finally reunited with Xinglou.”

“Xinglou is the lover I was certain of… even before my differentiation. No matter what happens, no matter what gender I differentiate into, I will only ever love Xinglou. Aside from him, there could never be anyone else.”

Shi Qingze spoke with such firm resolve that the banquet table fell silent for a moment.

Xinglou’s hand was still held in his palm, so he could feel the burning temperature coming from the other, as if being softly wrapped by a fervent, blazing heart.

Is he telling the truth? Or is it acting? Xinglou’s heart rate accelerated uncontrollably.

An Alpha with shoulder-length golden curls frowned. “That doesn’t seem right? If Brother Qingze truly loved this Omega that deeply, how could he not find a trace of him for two or three years?”

He laughed to himself after speaking. “Our Shi family’s intelligence network shouldn’t be that poor, right?”

The Omega from earlier brightened up and immediately followed: “Exactly. Qingze can handle himself with ease in a subsidiary company; how could finding a mere person stop you?”

Shi Yu chuckled twice. “Either you don’t love him enough, or… you’re lying.”

The situation was looking grim. Upholding the spirit of cooperation, He Xinglou spoke up immediately: “What he said is true.”

The three who had just questioned him looked over unpleasantly, opening their mouths to scold him.

But He Xinglou didn’t give them a chance to speak. Taking the initiative, he said decisively: “It was I who intentionally didn’t let him find me.”

He looked around at everyone at the round table and coldly spat out: “Because I thought I was pregnant.”

Shi Qingze: “…”

Everyone else: ??!!

He Xinglou didn’t dare look at Shi Qingze’s expression, continuing to explain as if it were a matter of fact: “I was there when he differentiated. You all surely know what an Alpha in differentiation can do to an Omega.”

“You—you!” Shi Yu was furious again, his finger shaking as he spoke. “How can you talk about such things here!”

“Why can’t I?” Xinglou stared at him calmly. “Otherwise, how long do you intend to keep misunderstanding him?”

Surprisingly, the Omega from before felt a moment of empathy for him, and her tone became less aggressive: “Then what did you do after that?”

He Xinglou kept a cold, stony face. “Later, I found out it was fake.”

Omega: “…”

Shi Yu slapped the table: “I knew you”

“It was a phantom pregnancy (pseudocyesis).” He Xinglou interrupted the accusation with another shocker.

Shi Qingze started drinking water frantically.

He Xinglou continued: “That differentiation period was too crazy; it gave me the illusion of pregnancy. It was my first time. I was scared and didn’t know how to face him, so I left without saying goodbye.”

Clearly, the allure of gossip had crushed normal human logic. Everyone present stared with wide eyes.

What kind of “rich family runaway with the ball” plot was this? The White Moonlight suddenly appeared three years later!

And a single differentiation period caused the other party to have a phantom pregnancy reaction? Just how… “that” was Shi Qingze…

Several elders began to drink water strategically to hide their embarrassed expressions.

Even the Old Master’s expression became unnatural, hurrying to laugh it off. “Alright, alright. You guys too, insisting on asking a young couple so much…”

The juniors were suffering in silence, not daring to speak up again for fear that He Xinglou would say something even more shocking.

Shi Qingze had been holding He Xinglou’s hand the whole time. For some reason, he seemed to be trembling slightly.

Xinglou thought he was suppressed-laughing, so he decided to go all in and gave him a secret pinch.

For this contract marriage, he was even disregarding his own reputation! No laughing!

As an awkward atmosphere settled over the banquet, the Old Master had no choice but to quickly change the subject. “By the way, Qingze, why haven’t I seen your father?”

He Xinglou’s heart suddenly sank.

The first thing he did upon entering the hall was look for Shi Yaoran. Only after realizing the man wasn’t there did he relax.

Shi Qingze was replying: “Father said he would be a bit late. His secretary drove to pick him up.”

Clearly, this gave the others another target.

Shi Yu sneered, “What secretary? Isn’t she just a mistress? Your family environment is just too poor.”

Shi Qingze remained unmoved. “Father’s family situation is his own business to manage; it has nothing to do with me. I only need to manage my own family. We are all adults, Shi Yu. Have you still not moved past the issues of your family of origin? How are you supposed to get married?”

“Pfft.” Both the golden-haired Alpha and the Omega struggled to suppress their laughter.

The elders also shook their heads, finding it hard to comment.

The only one harmed on the scene was Shi Yu, who was trembling with rage, seemingly about to leap from his seat.

Just then, the door suddenly opened from the outside. A man with a slack face burst in with a secretary.

“Sorry, sorry!” Unlike the arrogant and commanding air he had in front of He Xinglou years ago, Shi Yaoran was now smiling in an exceptionally sycophantic way, wrinkles layering at the corners of his eyes.

“Traffic was bad, so I’m late.”

Unfortunately, no one paid him any attention.

Shi Yaoran looked around. There were no empty seats at the round table, and no one was willing to vacate a spot for him. Then, he spotted He Xinglou sitting next to Shi Qingze.

Shi Yaoran’s eyes suddenly bulged. “What are you doing here?!”

He Xinglou was prepared. He stood up and extended his hand. “Uncle Shi, long time no see.”