The Beta Wife Claimed by Competing Alphas - Chapter 39

After realizing what he had done, Mu Yan felt utterly overwhelmed.

“I’m, I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to, I…”

He looked down at the clothes he had soiled on Shang Qiyue’s body, instinctively looking around for a tissue or something to wipe them clean.

Shang Qiyue caught his wrist. “No need to wipe. I’ll just have my assistant bring a change of clothes.”

“I’m sorry, sir. Is this suit very expensive? Can it still be worn?”

It was just clothes; Shang Qiyue didn’t care at all, nor did he find it dirty. On the contrary, Mu Yan’s expression of lost focus just a moment ago was exceptionally beautiful to him.

“It’s fine. If it can’t be worn, it can’t be worn. It’s no big deal.”

He carried Mu Yan and pushed open the door to the office restroom, which contained a small shower stall.

He called his personal assistant to have two sets of clothes sent in, using the same sizes from that time at the hotel, and then helped Mu Yan finish bathing.

Mu Yan didn’t feel well. If not for Shang Qiyue supporting him, he could hardly stand.

Shang Qiyue gently helped him wash and then took the clothes the assistant had just delivered to the door and put them on him.

“I still have work to do this afternoon. Why don’t you lie down on the sofa and sleep for a while? We’ll go home together tonight. Four o’clock at the latest; I won’t make you wait too long.”

Mu Yan was carried to the sofa and tucked in with a blanket.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me; just go ahead with your work.”

Shang Qiyue leaned down to kiss his forehead and returned to his desk to work.

Mu Yan closed his eyes, curling up on the three-seater leather sofa, his fingertips unconsciously twisting the edge of his clothes.

Even though he knew it was wrong to feel this way, he was still a little sad.

Reason told him that Shang Qiyue hadn’t actually exposed him to others, nor had he done anything truly harmful. Even when Mu Yan had accidentally made a mess on his clothes, Shang Qiyue hadn’t been angry at all.

Perhaps Shang Qiyue was just playing a joke on him.

President Shang had helped him so much, giving him a sum of money he might not earn even after working for several years, which solved his urgent financial crisis. He had secured a decent, ideal job for his brother and even settled the gambling debts.

He had done so much for him, causing a world of change for his entire family. Even if he wasn’t joking and truly intended to do those things, it would have been acceptable.

Shang Qiyue seemed quite happy just now, and keeping Shang Qiyue happy resulted in no harm to him.

Yet, he still couldn’t stop feeling a bit sad.

Shang Qiyue had held him like that and moved toward the door without telling him it was a joke, simply wanting to see his tension, loss of control, and breakdown.

What did he think of him?

Was he just a satisfying toy to be squeezed and molded into different sounds?

A confusing mix of conflicting emotions felt like a cocoon, wrapping him layer after layer until he could hardly breathe.

The door was tapped three more times.

“President Shang, I’ve checked the printed tender documents. Everything looks fine. Do you want them now?”

Mu Yan’s whole body shuddered, his nerves tightening instinctively.

He pulled his shoulders in as a reflex, his jaw clamped shut.

“Don’t be afraid,” Shang Qiyue’s voice came from nearby. When Mu Yan opened his eyes, he realized the man had already walked over to the sofa to tuck in his blanket.

Mu Yan froze, looking up blankly before realizing that he was fully dressed and decent; there was nothing to be afraid of. His fingertips slowly relaxed, his breathing slowed, and he lowered his head in silence.

Shang Qiyue got up, went outside to get the documents, and sat down directly beside Mu Yan upon his return.

He looked down at the person on the sofa, his eyes softening. He reached out to stroke the top of Mu Yan’s head, his voice lowering. “Come here.”

Mu Yan didn’t move, staying curled up as if he hadn’t fully relaxed yet.

Shang Qiyue reached out to pull him close, letting him rest his head on his lap. His fingers slowly ran through Mu Yan’s hair, gently rubbing his temples just as Mu Yan usually did for him.

“Baby,” Shang Qiyue called out affectionately.

Shang Qiyue’s voice was deep and magnetic, always providing a profound sense of security that made one want to dive into his arms and have a good cry regardless of the consequences.

Mu Yan stared blankly, the bridge of his nose still stinging, but the touch was so gentle that for a moment he wasn’t sure if he should relax.

“I didn’t think you’d be this scared,” Shang Qiyue said, looking down at him. “Are you angry?”

“I wouldn’t be angry with you.” Mu Yan’s voice was thick with suppressed tears; he was already on the verge of crying. “You can do whatever you want to me.”

“Why is my baby so pitiful?” Shang Qiyue patted his back with a slow, rhythmic motion as if comforting a child. “I felt you shudder just now. It broke my heart. There, there, don’t be afraid.”

“If you don’t like it, I won’t do that again, okay?”

Mu Yan didn’t expect him to apologize, and his heart felt a complex mix of emotions.

He didn’t quite know how to face Shang Qiyue anymore.

Sometimes he wished Shang Qiyue would just treat him like a prostitute, with no respect, leaving as soon as they were done.

But instead, he was so good to him, solving all his worries while repeatedly telling him, both in and out of bed, that he was the only one, the special one, and that he liked him.

Why could Shang Qiyue be so good to him and yet so bad?

“You had a boyfriend before, so I thought you’d be more open. I didn’t expect you to be so shy, like a virgin. Back then, did you always do it with the lights off in a room?”

How boring. It couldn’t have been as good as it is with me, Shang Qiyue thought to himself.

Mu Yan’s eyelashes trembled. He wanted to avoid the question, but since Shang Qiyue was asking, he had to answer.

“Yes, pretty much.”

“Can’t you accept it like this? Adding a bit of excitement?”

Mu Yan’s voice was low. His shoulders stiffened slightly, his fingers tightening, and his eyelids lowered even further. “If you are happy, anything is fine.”

Shang Qiyue’s smile faded, his eyes downcast as if in thought.

After a moment, he suddenly sighed and rubbed Mu Yan’s hair, his tone tinged with helplessness. “Sex is supposed to make both people happy. What do you mean ‘anything is fine’ as long as I’m happy? You have to be happy too. What’s the point if I make you cry?”

“If I put in all that effort and you end up unhappy, how is that different from rape?”

“You didn’t.” Mu Yan’s eyes widened in panic. “I was willing.”

“Are you really? Just now, when I was going to open the door, you were curled in my arms with your heart racing like a rabbit, and you were so tight down there. Was it pleasure or fear? If you still say you’re willing, then I’ll keep doing it next time.”

Mu Yan’s lips trembled as if the question brought him to the verge of tears.

“No, don’t. I don’t like it.”

Shang Qiyue pulled him up into a hug, patting his back like he was soothing a child. “Okay. Good boy. If you don’t like it, you have to say so. If you say it, I won’t do it again. We still have a year to spend together like this; if I do something that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy, you must speak up.”

“I was just teasing you earlier. I thought you could handle it. You felt good too, didn’t you? Reaching the end together. But I won’t scare you with things like that anymore.”

Mu Yan’s face turned scarlet, burning hot against Shang Qiyue’s neck. Shang Qiyue turned his head to press his cheek against Mu Yan’s. “Good baby, why are you so easily embarrassed? I was joking. Not angry anymore, okay?”

“I was just being an idiot. You know I’ve always had that condition and never slept with anyone else. I learned all that stuff by watching adult movies on my own. I don’t know if my technique is any good; I thought those things were just foreplay. I didn’t realize you couldn’t accept it. I’m sorry. Forgive me, okay?”

Mu Yan wanted to say that he didn’t need to apologize, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he couldn’t stop a sob from escaping.

If Shang Qiyue hadn’t comforted him, he wouldn’t have actually felt like crying. But after being comforted so gently, the sense of grievance rushed in like a delayed tide.

“Okay, okay, you feel wronged, don’t you? Just cry it out.” Shang Qiyue felt terribly distressed, holding him and carefully patting his back.

“You, you don’t need to apologize to me. I’m not angry with you. I just, I just don’t know why I want to cry. You don’t need to worry about me. Go back to work; I’ll be fine after I cry for a bit.”

“The work can be done anytime before next Monday; how could it be more important than you? If I don’t comfort you immediately when you’re upset, won’t you remember this grievance forever?”

Shang Qiyue was very patient with Mu Yan. Even though he didn’t know when the crying would stop, he kept patting his back and whispering sweet words.

Mu Yan eventually ran out of strength to cry, and his emotions gradually calmed. He told Shang Qiyue that he felt better and didn’t need more attention.

“Really better?” Shang Qiyue asked with a smile.

Mu Yan nodded seriously. “Really better. Please go back to work.”

“Then think about what you want to eat later. Once you’ve thought of it, I’ll go back to work.”

“I want to eat that thing from last time,” Mu Yan said after a moment’s thought.

“That Huaiyang cuisine from last time?”

Mu Yan nodded.

Hearing that Mu Yan’s voice was a bit raspy, Shang Qiyue went to the water dispenser to pour him some water. After feeding him a few sips and touching his forehead to confirm he didn’t have a fever, he finally returned to his desk.

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