The Beautiful Cannon Fodder Becomes The Heartthrob of the Dating Show - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Do You Want a Bite?

The elevator was ascending.

Huo Yan’s grip on Xu Jingchu’s wrist remained firm. The burning sensation of the man’s presence grew more intense, causing Jingchu to try and pull away slightly. To his surprise, the man only gripped him tighter.

“Huo Yan,” Xu Jingchu’s voice was soft, but it echoed clearly in the confined space of the elevator, “you’re hurting me.”

Huo Yan stiffened. He relaxed his strength a bit, but his hand stayed clamped around the wrist, as if afraid that the boy would vanish the moment he let go.

Xu Jingchu tilted his head to look at him and suddenly broke into a brilliant smile. “I don’t have classes this afternoon. I can stay until six o’clock.”

At six-thirty, he had to go to the art studio for his part-time job.

To Huo Yan’s ears, however, this meant his Omega was happy because he could cling to him for the entire afternoon.

Huo Yan raised his other hand to lightly brush the corner of the boy’s eye. “Did you come straight here after class?” he asked softly.

The warmth of the man’s fingertips was addictive. Xu Jingchu squinted slightly and nuzzled into his palm like a lazy kitten.

“Mhm. I was afraid I wouldn’t make it in time.”

This slight gesture of dependency greatly pleased Huo Yan’s Alpha instincts.

“What do you want to eat?” The man’s finger teased Jingchu’s small chin, as if playing with a cat.

“I want coconut chicken,” Xu Jingchu said. “Are you going to treat me?”

Ding— The elevator reached the 32nd floor.

“If you want to eat it, I will,” Huo Yan said, leading him out.

Secretary Shen was standing at the entrance of the Chairman’s office, neck craned in desperate anticipation. Seeing the two approach, he immediately hurried forward. “Boss, they are causing a scene at the front desk, demanding to see you.”

There was no need to specify; everyone knew exactly who “they” were.

Huo Yan didn’t answer Secretary Shen immediately. Instead, he instructed him to order a meal, specifically emphasizing the coconut chicken. Once the secretary left to place the order, Huo Yan pulled Xu Jingchu into the office.

Xu Jingchu had noticed the large words “Chairman’s Office” on the door when they entered.

He realized a bit late, “So the ‘Chairman’ that lady mentioned was you.”

He wasn’t particularly shocked. Huo Yan’s every movement carried the aura of a man in power; his refined exterior simply added a layer of approachability. Furthermore, having come from an incredibly wealthy background in both his past and current life, Xu Jingchu didn’t view Huo Yan differently just because of his status.

“Tingfang was founded by my father and mother,” Huo Yan said. He guided Xu Jingchu to the sofa and leaned down slightly to meet his eyes. “What would you like to drink?”

“Plain water,” Xu Jingchu replied, looking at the man’s gentle features. “Your parents must have been very kind people.”

Huo Yan turned into the pantry to pour the water. His deep, magnetic voice drifted out clearly: “Why do you say that?”

Xu Jingchu poked his head out, catching a glimpse of the man’s tall silhouette. “Because they taught that kindness to you.”

He smiled slightly. “Huo Yan, has anyone ever told you that you’re a very gentle person?”

In his line of sight, the man’s movements paused. Then came the sound of water pouring into the cup.

“You are the first,” Huo Yan said quietly, walking out with the steaming glass.

Because of his high position, he never lacked for flatterers. To his face, people called him a visionary and a natural-born businessman; they said he was ruthless, decisive, and never wasted effort. They called him handsome, brilliant, and the “dream Alpha” for every single Omega. But behind his back, they called him an infallible robot, a “perfect monster,” and claimed his excellence was merely the result of his top-tier Alpha genes. They said any Omega who married him would only get money, because robots and monsters don’t have feelings.

Compliments and insults were countless, but no one had ever called him gentle.

The man’s expression seemed normal, so Xu Jingchu didn’t notice any shift. “Are the couple downstairs that ‘Second Aunt’ and ‘Second Uncle’?”

Huo Yan placed the water on the coffee table and sat across from him. “Yes.”

Xu Jingchu naturally moved to the other side to sit right next to him. “Is it okay to let them keep making a scene?” He had heard what Secretary Shen said.

Huo Yan’s deep eyes watched the boy who seemed to want to stick to him at every moment. A dark glint flickered in his gentle gaze. “If it were you, how would you handle it?”

Xu Jingchu thought for a moment. “They are the ‘family members’ wearing fake masks, right?”

Huo Yan had no intention of hiding the truth. “Yes.”

Without hesitation, Xu Jingchu said, “Tell someone to throw them out.”

Huo Yan paused, then immediately dialed the front desk. “Have security throw them out.”

Seeing the man hang up, Xu Jingchu’s eyes curved into crescent moons. Huo Yan looked at him and suddenly let out a soft laugh as well.

Once he finished laughing, Xu Jingchu blinked. “Huo Yan, do you need a hug?”

Huo Yan was stunned, then smiled. “Trying to comfort me again?”

“Not quite,” Xu Jingchu looked up at him, his smile dancing with clever mischief. “I just taught you how to do something ‘bad.’ Do you suddenly think I’m a bad person?”

Before Huo Yan could answer, he continued, “So, I’m the one who needs comforting, because I’m afraid you’ll think I’m too wicked and won’t play with me anymore.”

His words were childish, but every syllable struck a chord in Huo Yan’s heart.

How could someone be this cute? How could every move he makes land precisely on my heartstrings?

Huo Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His gaze drifted unconsciously to the boy’s soft, red lips.

I want to kiss him. He wanted to fiercely kiss the mouth that knew exactly how to make him happy.

Five slender, pale fingers waved in front of his eyes. A faint, floral scent teased his nose. “Huo Yan?”

Huo Yan’s breathing quickened. Almost by reflex, he grabbed the boy’s wrist. His tall, powerful body pressed the boy down between the sofa and himself.

This wasn’t the first time they had been this close. Once Xu Jingchu snapped out of his surprise, he assumed the man was entering “heat” again.

His friend Hao Nan had told him that when Alphas enter heat, they lose their reason and need to be soothed patiently. If all else fails, just let them take a bite. Xu Jingchu didn’t try to push him away.

The grip on his wrist was heavy, the body pressing on him was solid, and the breath falling on his face was scorching. He shifted his legs slightly in discomfort and asked softly, “Huo Yan, are you okay?”

Huo Yan stared intently at the boy’s face, searching for a trace of fear.

There was none. Even being pinned down in such a dangerous manner, the boy didn’t show a hint of fear.

This realization snapped the final thread of restraint in Huo Yan’s mind.

“I’m not okay,” Huo Yan rasped. He wanted to do something so badly; he wasn’t okay at all.

Xu Jingchu licked his dry lips. Thinking of the impending pain, he couldn’t help but frown slightly, entirely unaware that the tip of his tongue had instantly captured all of the man’s attention.

He asked, “Then… do you want to take a bite?”