The Beta Wife Claimed by Competing Alphas - Chapter 45

Scarf, cufflinks, tie, watch, casual wear; Mu Yan watched as Shang Qiyue picked out many items and stood quietly to the side, waiting.

He had assumed that after Shang Qiyue picked out those cufflinks and the watch for him, the man was simply choosing gifts for his friend who was getting engaged.

However, Shang Qiyue would occasionally hold those expensive items up against him to measure them, making him feel a sense of trepidation.

“Go put this on and let me see,” Shang Qiyue said, handing a set of clothes to him.

The sophisticated fabric lay across Mu Yan’s hands, feeling almost scalding.

He wanted to ask a question, but in the end, he simply followed instructions and went into the fitting room to change.

“Very beautiful,” Shang Qiyue nodded with satisfaction.

“Of course, this cardigan is a new arrival from this year’s Milan fashion show. You truly have an eye, Sir. This combination is both good looking and more suitable for daily wear than the show itself; it fits the gentleman beside you perfectly.”

“Is that so?” The clerk’s praise clearly pleased Shang Qiyue. He nodded and paid the bill with satisfaction.

Back in the underground parking lot, Shang Qiyue looked at Mu Yan, who had been hesitating to speak for a long time. “What is it? What do you want to say? You’ve been like this for a while.”

“These things,” Mu Yan began hesitantly, “are they for?”

“They are all for you,” Shang Qiyue said. “Why? Is there a problem?”

Mu Yan instinctively bit his lip.

He thought that no matter how rich someone was, there was no need to waste money, especially not on him.

A pair of cufflinks was one thing, but President Shang had spent a lot today. He had originally thought the items bought later and the dresses from earlier were for Shang Qiyue’s friend, which was why he hadn’t stopped him.

But if Shang Qiyue bought them for him, it was far too wasteful.

“I, these things are too expensive. I won’t look right wearing them normally. Sir, there’s no need to waste so much money on me; one banquet doesn’t require this many things. It’s not that I don’t like them, I love anything you give me, it’s just that in the future.”

Shang Qiyue gave an noncommittal smile and leaned over to the passenger side to kiss him, neither promising to stop buying nor refuting his words.

The car arrived at the floor where Mu Yan lived. Mu Yan followed behind Shang Qiyue, carrying bags of various sizes as they took the elevator up.

Mu Yan was picked up by Shang Qiyue and placed on the marble cabinet in the entryway. The door in front of them shut out the rest of the world, leaving only Shang Qiyue’s presence to envelop him completely.

Mu Yan finally realized he had likely said the wrong thing and made the man a little angry.

“Sir,” his voice was unsteady, his fingers resting lightly against the man’s shoulders in an attempt to push for a little distance.

“I didn’t mean to reject you or make you angry.”

Shang Qiyue ignored him, pressing him against the picture frame in the entryway and kissing him.

It was an Impressionist painting of water lilies. The brushstrokes were delicate, the colors warm and rich, the water tranquil, and the lilies blooming.

“Hmm?” After kissing him for a while, Shang Qiyue laughed softly and raised his hand, wrapping a cashmere scarf around Mu Yan’s neck and pulling it gently. “Baby thinks this is a waste of money?”

Mu Yan’s eyelashes fluttered. He tried to turn his face away, but Shang Qiyue gripped his chin, forcing him to look directly at him.

“But I think it looks very good.”

“What about the cufflinks?” The man’s voice was low as he unbuttoned Mu Yan’s shirt cuff, unhurriedly refastening the cufflinks. His fingers slid slowly across Mu Yan’s wrist bone. “Is this a waste of money too?”

Mu Yan instinctively pulled back his wrist, but Shang Qiyue held it firm. Without haste, he straightened Mu Yan’s tie and whispered, “Or do you not want this either?”

Mu Yan’s throat tightened, and he avoided his gaze. “Don’t be angry, Sir.”

“Angry? I’m not angry.”

Shang Qiyue didn’t give him a chance to retreat. He picked up another watch and gently buckled it onto Mu Yan’s wrist, his slender fingers tightening the strap until it was perfect.

“Hmm?” He looked down at Mu Yan, his gaze deep. “What about this?”

Mu Yan could no longer voice a rejection. His fingers tightened, his tips pressing into his palms, and his breathing became erratic.

Mu Yan didn’t know what his expression looked like; he only knew his heartbeat was spinning out of control. His ears were buzzing as if the whole world had been covered in a soundproof film, leaving only Shang Qiyue’s low voice: “Doesn’t it look good?”

But Shang Qiyue didn’t stop there. He suddenly let go of Mu Yan, turned to the sofa, and picked up that white tube top dress they had bought first. He shook it out casually and tilted his chin at Mu Yan, his tone carrying a dangerous hint of nonchalance: “If you don’t want the other things, then let’s try this instead.”

Mu Yan’s face changed instantly. He looked at Shang Qiyue in disbelief, his eyes wide. “Sir, you.”

He stared blankly at the dress, his mind a void, unable to even immediately process what was happening.

That was the dress he had praised in the mall.

The white tube top dress was holy and noble, looking as if it belonged to a divine messenger from the heavens.

Mu Yan instinctively looked up. Shang Qiyue’s gaze was heavy, the corners of his lips curved slightly as if waiting for a reaction.

Shang Qiyue looked at him with a half smile, his gaze sliding slowly from Mu Yan’s eyes down to his body, which was exquisitely decorated with the scarf, cufflinks, and watch. His voice was low and raspy: “Didn’t you feel you weren’t worthy of those things? If you don’t want those, then try this.”

Mu Yan’s heart pounded. He was both ashamed and shocked, trying desperately to back away, but the picture frame in the entryway was already against his back.

He had nowhere to retreat.

“Sir, don’t, don’t joke around. Isn’t this the gift for the lady who is getting engaged?” Mu Yan’s ears were bright red.

“Who told you that?” Shang Qiyue said slowly.

“I never said I bought it for her.”

Mu Yan snapped his head up, his eyes turning slightly red.

“Hmm?” Shang Qiyue chuckled, deliberately drawing out the sound with a teasing tone. “Do you like this dress, or do you like the other things I bought for you?”

Mu Yan lowered his eyelashes, his fingers nervously twisting his cuffs, not knowing where to put them.

Shang Qiyue was still standing in front of him, one hand propped against the entryway while the other held the white tube top dress. His slender fingers unhurriedly brushed the edge of the hem, his eyes looking at him meaningfully.

“No, no dress.”

“Then what does Baby want?” Shang Qiyue watched his reaction, the corners of his mouth curving slightly as a hint of thoughtful interest sparked in his eyes.

“I want the others.”

“Do you like all the others?” Shang Qiyue asked him.

Mu Yan’s face was practically on fire. He nodded quickly.

Shang Qiyue gently caught Mu Yan’s hand, squeezing his palm lightly as if squeezing the paw pad of a kitten.

“Then will you still say you’re not worthy or that it’s a waste of money in the future?”

Mu Yan immediately shook his head.

Shang Qiyue’s palm was warm, and the temperature of his fingertips transmitted through the thin skin of Mu Yan’s palm, quickly sweeping through his entire body.

It felt like he was about to ignite.

“If you’re obedient, you’re still a good baby.” Shang Qiyue moved closer, his breath nearly brushing Mu Yan’s ear. “What if you forget and say such a disappointing thing again?”

Mu Yan raised his eyes to look at Shang Qiyue’s face, which was inches away. He leaned in to give a kiss and shook his head seriously, indicating he wouldn’t forget.

“If you say it again, I really will make you wear this dress.”

“No, I won’t.” Mu Yan’s reply was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. He was a man, after all; this was too, too strange.

Shang Qiyue was finally satisfied. He laughed, let go of Mu Yan’s hand, and tossed the white tube top dress aside. He said lazily, “If you won’t wear it, you won’t. You’d have to take it off anyway.”

Mu Yan’s ears instantly turned a delicate crimson. He lowered his head and bit his lip hard, his breathing completely disordered.

Mu Yan’s hand was pinned by Shang Qiyue, and the jade cufflinks reflected the orange light of the entryway lamp, his fingertips trembling slightly.

He was practically coaxed and forced against the entryway wall, his back against the wooden picture frame, forced to meet Shang Qiyue’s burning gaze.

Behind him, the painting of water lilies remained tranquil, warm, and holy.

“Didn’t I say? As long as you’re obedient, I won’t make you wear it. Why are you still so shy?”

Mu Yan felt his heart leaping. He wanted to turn his gaze away, not daring to look at Shang Qiyue, but the other man’s breath drew closer, the ambiguous warmth brushing his ear.

One by one, the accessories he had just been forced to wear were removed, and the clothes he had changed into at the mall were tossed onto the pile with that tube top dress.

“I’m not,” Mu Yan tried to deny. “I’m not shy.”

Shang Qiyue raised an eyebrow, seemingly finding the answer cute. He suddenly leaned in and left a feather light kiss on the corner of Mu Yan’s mouth.

“So obedient,” he whispered like a sigh, his hand sliding to the side of Mu Yan’s waist, stroking slowly.

Mu Yan’s body gave an uncontrollable tremor. Shang Qiyue’s hand was large, and the heat from his palm seeped through the thin fabric, making Mu Yan dodge slightly in a loss for words.

But as he dodged, Shang Qiyue only held him tighter.

The marble counter was a bit cold. Mu Yan sat there with bare legs. His body at thirty-seven degrees meeting the icy marble felt like a collision of fire and ice.

“Is it too cold here?” Shang Qiyue’s arms tightened, pulling Mu Yan entirely into his embrace. His fingers brushed lightly across Mu Yan’s lips. “Why don’t you say anything? This mouth of yours says nonsense all day long, but won’t say a single word about the important things.”

Mu Yan’s stiff body slowly softened. Only the sound of their mingled breathing and heartbeats remained. His consciousness grew groggy, as if he were being wrapped in a warm stream of water.

He was nearly melting.

The stream.

Mu Yan was soaked through, looking as if he had been fished out of the water. But he wasn’t cold; Shang Qiyue’s embrace was very warm.

The marble platform in the entryway was cold and couldn’t be warmed even after a long time. But the sofa was warm. Even if it was cold at first, it slowly became warm from their body heat.

The air was humid and lingering.

A tingling sensation like an electric current slowly passed through Mu Yan’s entire body. The corners of his eyes were red, and his entire face was damp.

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