To Marry My Little Chestnut - Chapter 6

A Beta can only ever be a Beta.

It was a cruel and cold reality—a judgment from God that ensured he would never truly taste his wife.

Noticing his darkened expression, Jing Chen clicked his tongue and helped him pull up the collar of his high-necked shirt. “Do not let the tattoo on your nape scare him. Your wife looks like the timid type.”

“He does not need to be brave; I have the strength to protect him,” Zheng Tingyang replied. Even so, he readjusted his collar to hide the mark, unwilling to frighten him.

Zheng Tingyang’s body was covered in scars, but the one on his nape was particularly striking. He had tattooed a vine that meandered from his hairline down his spine. Usually, his suits were perfectly tailored and his ties were impeccably done; an ordinary person would never notice anything amiss.

Secretary Lin hurried upstairs with the food he had purchased. Jing Chen waved goodbye, reminding Zheng Tingyang to show up for his appointment next week. Secretary Lin found the situation very strange. Having worked by Zheng Tingyang’s side for so long, he had no idea his boss struggled with psychological issues, let alone that he was married.

However, a competent secretary knows not to pry into things that are not his business. To work hard and keep his mouth shut was exactly what a secretary needed to do.

In the time it took to buy dinner, Lin’s phone had nearly exploded with calls. The people from the Guangmao Group had signed the contract too late. News of Vice Director Dong’s arrest had spread like wildfire, leading to a string of related arrests at the airport. Guangmao was even being audited; the land reclamation document they had been so proud of was now nothing more than scrap paper.

Haicheng was a city built on fishing and tourism, home to many established families whose influence spanned generations. Zheng Tingyang had arrived with the Changxing branch like a sudden storm. His first move was a checkmate against the Guangmao Group, showing every intention of driving them into the ground.

In a short while, the Guangmao representative who had tried to intimidate Zheng Tingyang earlier that morning would likely be frantically booking a flight to flee the country. The entirety of Haicheng’s private sector was reeling because of a single document from Zheng Tingyang.

It was not the first time Secretary Lin was awestruck by his boss’s meticulous planning, but there was one thing he could not quite grasp.

Standing politely and quietly in the corner like a ghost, Secretary Lin watched the man by the bedside. Was this really his boss? The man was tenderly blowing on rice porridge, softly coaxing someone to open their mouth.

“Is it too hot?”

Yu Yan shook his head. He obediently took a sip of the porridge before leaning back against the soft pillow, refusing to open his mouth again. “I am full,” he said, his voice soft.

Zheng Tingyang looked at the bowl in his hand, his throat tightening. It was a small portion, yet Yu Yan had not even finished half of it.

The man frowned slightly. “Just a little more.”

Yu Yan shook his head, clearly unwilling. His appetite during pregnancy was poor; the porridge tasted bland and flavorless. As long as his stomach was not hurting, he had no desire to eat. But when the spoon was brought to his lips again, being the obedient Omega he was, he opened his mouth. However, he took a very long time to chew.

Chewing a single mouthful of porridge for an eternity was his silent way of protesting.

Seeing that Zheng Tingyang had no intention of stopping, Yu Yan cautiously reached out and hooked his pinky finger around the man’s own. With a hint of grievance and a touch of playfulness, he whispered, “I really cannot eat any more.”

“My mouth is tired from eating,” he muttered, his voice sounding even more mournful with the lingering nasality of his previous crying.

He looked so pitiful that Zheng Tingyang’s heart softened. The words Zheng Tingyang was about to say were swallowed back at the sight of that pleading expression. If he would not eat, then he would not eat.

Seeing him put the bowl and spoon away, Yu Yan smiled until his eyes crinkled. He lay back down like a kitten, still holding onto the man’s pinky. “Thank you for your hard work, Baby’s Daddy.”

Zheng Tingyang’s lips curved into a smile. His pinky twitched slightly to hook back before he shifted to wrap his entire hand around Yu Yan’s small one.

His voice was so gentle that even Secretary Lin, standing in the corner, felt his own heart soften. He thought to himself, “No wonder the boss hides him away; he really is adorable.”

The hospital corridor tiles were polished to a mirror shine, reflecting the bright white lights of the ceiling.

After having his hand wound dressed and resting for a bit, Yu Yan sat in the hallway with his medicine, waiting for Zheng Tingyang to finish the discharge paperwork. Ning Yuan called.

“How are things at the flower shop?” Yu Yan asked.

Ning Yuan had just finished moving the flower stands inside and was panting for breath. “All done. How are you? When I was moving the flowers earlier, I felt like the racks weighed more than you do.”

After checking Yu Yan in, Ning Yuan had rushed back to close the shop. With Christmas approaching, orders were piling up; Ning Yuan had not had a free moment to call until now.

It was already 10:30 PM.

“Mmh,” Yu Yan puffed out his cheeks. “I have been like this since I was little. I have actually gained a few pounds since getting pregnant.”

“Really?” Ning Yuan was surprised. “You need to eat more. People line up for the Cloud Cakes at my school every day. I will buy some for you next time; you have to try them!”

“Okay! Then I will cover an extra shift for you in return.”

Ning Yuan replied, “Do not be so polite with me. We are friends, after all.”

Yu Yan felt a surge of warmth. Growing up, he had almost no friends other than Xiang Qian because his family kept him under such strict supervision. Having a friend who looked out for him made him very happy.

He sat obediently in the corridor, swathed in Zheng Tingyang’s suit jacket. He was so small that his face was almost buried in the fabric. He rubbed his nose gently against the lapel; it carried a faint, warm scent of masculine hormones mixed with a hint of sweetness, like the warmth of a fireplace in a room while snow falls outside.

Shortly after, Zheng Tingyang emerged from the doctor’s office with the diagnosis and medication. The secretary had already finalized the discharge.

Listening to Ning Yuan’s instructions over the phone about covering his shifts for a couple of days, Yu Yan swung his legs and watched the man walk toward him. Zheng Tingyang reached out and took his hand.

Large palm met small hand. The man’s palm had a layer of thin, slightly rough calluses.

Zheng Tingyang was tall, roughly 185 cm. His crisp shirt made his physique look like a mannequin from a high-end display window. His features were not aggressive, but his aura was intimidating, like an unyielding soul grown from harsh soil, mysterious and full of vitality.

“Let me take that for you.” He walked over, pulling Yu Yan into a half-embrace and decisively taking the phone to put it on speaker. “If you move your injured hand too much, it will start bleeding again.”

His gaze lingered briefly on the caller ID, “A-Yuan.” A flash of jealousy flickered in his eyes before vanishing. He pulled Yu Yan a little closer and reminded him to walk slowly as they headed to the underground garage.

Yu Yan felt that the man was so meticulous it made him feel even more guilty. He wondered how much of the man’s work time he had wasted today because of his injury.

Being led by the hand, he followed with small steps. Zheng Tingyang slowed his pace, holding the phone between them. “Take your time talking; do not rush.”

Yu Yan gave a sweet, soft reply. “Okay.”

He leaned closer to the phone. “A-Yuan, I am hanging up now. Goodbye.”

Ning Yuan replied, “Okay, take care of yourself, Xiao Yan.”

The scene was remarkably like a parent watching over a kindergartner on the phone.

Yu Yan took a deep breath, watching the scenery blur past the window. He suddenly realized that the snow in Haicheng did not seem to have been this heavy in previous years.

The car was quiet until an old song started playing on the radio while they waited at a red light. The soft melody echoed through the cabin and into his heart.

“If they say steel can be ground into a needle, if one is willing to wait, if one is willing to love deeply, is it possible? Is it possible to move this heart of stone?”

Outside the window, the night sky was deep, and neon lights flickered among the stream of cars. Yu Yan stole a glance at the man beside him. Looking at his sharp, elegant brow, Yu Yan thought of the worried expression on his face when he first arrived at the hospital.

Would he really worry about me?

A faint warmth began to spread through his chest, like grass quietly sprouting in winter soil.

That night, Zheng Tingyang helped him change the bandages on his hand.

“Why did you not tell me your gland was uncomfortable?” He changed the dressing with extreme care, his movements incredibly light. “Today was too dangerous.”

At the hospital, the wound had been wrapped tightly by the doctor. Now that it was uncovered at home, Zheng Tingyang’s brow furrowed deeply.

The florist scissors had been sharp. The cut ran nearly ten centimeters from his palm to his wrist. Although not deep, it was a flesh wound, and since Yu Yan’s blood did not clot well, beads of blood were still seeping out. It was terrifying to think that if the cut had been just a bit further, it might have hit an artery.

“It was not that uncomfortable. I probably just fainted because I was hungry and forgot to eat.” Yu Yan bit his lip sheepishly. “I seem to have a talent for messing everything up. I cannot believe I even forgot to eat.”

“The belly is growing too fast; it is pressing on your stomach, so you do not feel the hunger. It is not your fault.” Zheng Tingyang tied a neat bow with the bandage and gave Yu Yan’s forehead a playful, gentle flick. “It is the little guy causing trouble. Next time you feel unwell, you must tell me.”

“Yes,” Yu Yan nodded obediently.

“Would you mind letting me see your gland?” Zheng Tingyang’s tone was level, as if he were simply asking if he wanted a midnight snack.

Yu Yan pursed his lips, his deep dimples appearing in his soft cheeks.

Zheng Tingyang reached out and turned up the bedside lamp slightly. “I am sorry. This might be too private. I should not have asked, should I?”

“No, it is not that,” Yu Yan hurried to deny it.

Zheng Tingyang gave a self-deprecating smile. “I cannot smell anything, and I cannot really help with much. I just want to see what the gland looks like when it is irritated so I can notice it sooner next time. If you find it offensive, I will not mention it again.”

“No, really,” Yu Yan whispered. “I am just afraid I will not have any strength.”

“Hmm?” He reached out, gently brushing the stray hairs away from Yu Yan’s forehead. “No strength?”

The lingering heat of his pregnancy-induced heat was still there. Having his gland touched at a time like this would easily make his limbs go weak.

“It might still be swollen.”

“If the allergy is serious, I will have a doctor come to the house tomorrow to check it.”

Yu Yan nodded. He did not know what he was actually worried about. The man just wanted to check his gland. Since Zheng Tingyang could not smell him, why would he want to bite him?

Zheng Tingyang is such a good, qualified husband! Why am I being so guarded?

An Omega’s gland is indeed an extremely private organ. Located on the nape under the hair, it swells during heat like a mosquito bite, and the thin layer of sweat it produces carries the scent of pheromones. The skin there is delicate and the nerves are highly sensitive.

Yu Yan cautiously turned around and lifted his hair. “Tingyang, you have to touch it very slowly.”

“Okay,” Zheng Tingyang replied. “I will be very slow and very careful. If you tell me to stop, I will stop. Is that alright?”

Zheng Tingyang’s gentle tone flowed into Yu Yan’s heart like a soothing spell, though his voice sounded slightly husky.

Yu Yan bit his lip. He knew Zheng Tingyang was a good man. He was just being kind.

“Be gentle, please.”

“Of course.”

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