Zhong Yu paused for a second or two before belatedly understanding what the other man meant. His eyes rounded helplessly and he quickly began signing.
[There's no need to trouble yourself…]
But Cheng Shenzhi interrupted him again.
"It's difficult to get a car in this weather. Besides…" His gaze shifted to Zhong Jue, who was sleeping soundly half-curled against Zhong Yu. He smiled slightly and said, "A child should go home and rest too."
There was no denying that this reason almost completely swayed Zhong Yu.
After hesitating, he pointed in one direction.
[Over in the east of the city.]
Cheng Shenzhi nodded and naturally continued, "What a coincidence. My home is there too."
Huh?
Zhong Yu looked up in surprise.
[Really?]
Before Cheng Shenzhi could answer, Zhong Yu himself realized how strange the question was. What reason would this man have to lie to him?
Thinking that, Zhong Yu smiled a little sheepishly.
[I'm sorry for the trouble. Thank you.]
Cheng Shenzhi replied like a perfect gentleman, "It's no trouble."
After saying that, he watched Zhong Yu struggle a little as he tried to lift his sister. Cheng Shenzhi naturally reached out and stopped at a carefully measured distanceânot so far as to seem cold, but not close enough to make Zhong Yu feel invaded.
He said, "Why don't I carry her?"
His tone was still one of inquiry.
Zhong Yu instinctively wanted to refuse. He even wondered whether Mr. Cheng thought he was moving too slowly. But perhaps because of his lifting posture, or because his sister was leaning against him at an awkward angle, the more anxious he became, the less strength he could summon.
The alpha's gaze remained fixed on him the entire time, making Zhong Yu even more flustered. A fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead and the corners of his eyes reddened slightly.
Cheng Shenzhi watched him. Without even realizing it himself, the darkness in his eyes deepened. He remembered that night againâthe young man's supple waist and the corners of his eyes that had stayed damp and red.
He closed his eyes briefly.
Zhong Yu was still locked in a battle of wits and strength with his sister. Heaven knew why a sleeping child could be so heavy!
He had clearly carried his sister plenty of times before… Did children really grow this quickly?
Suddenly, a long-fingered hand reached over and gently supported Zhong Jue, steadying the child's limp sleeping body. At the same time, another arm circled around and lifted her with speed and precision.
Sensing herself rise into the air even in her sleep, Zhong Jue made a small sound and kicked one leg blindly.
Zhong Yu hurriedly leaned closer and patted his sister gently. Instinctively, he opened his mouth, wanting to make a sound and soothe her, but quickly remembered that he could no longer produce a voice.
He pressed his lips together.
Cheng Shenzhi lowered his eyes.
Perhaps Zhong Yu was so worried about his sister that he had temporarily forgotten his wariness and simply leaned closer like this. Because of the angle, a small patch of collarbone that had always been carefully covered became visible, and an ambiguous pink mark flashed before Cheng Shenzhi's eyes.
His eyes narrowed. Instinctively, he drew in a breath to scent him, but then suddenly remembered that he had not marked Zhong Yu that night.
Besides, Zhong Yu was a beta. Even if Cheng Shenzhi had marked him, after three days there would have been no possibility of his pheromones remaining.
Perhaps it was the uglier side of an alpha's instincts at work, but the instant he realized this, Cheng Shenzhi inevitably felt a trace of regret.
He quickly recognized what he was thinking and frowned in disgust at himself.
Everything happened too quickly. Zhong Yu was already inexplicably afraid of Cheng Shenzhi and did not dare look at him, and he was busy soothing his sister as well. So he had no idea how many turns the man's thoughts had taken during those few short moments.
Zhong Jue fell deeply asleep again, nestled quietly in Cheng Shenzhi's arms, showing none of her usual mischievous cleverness.
Zhong Yu slowly stopped moving and gazed at his sister's sleeping face. Suddenly he realized that their father had never once held her like this.
His heart truly ached for his sister.
"Shall we go?"
The low voice sounded above his head, so close that for one dazed instant Zhong Yu almost imagined he could feel warm breath brush the back of his neck.
Only then did he realize how close he had moved. He hurriedly backed two steps away to create distance, wanting to explain his earlier movement, but there did not seem to be anything to explain. After all, he had been the one to lean closer and then inexplicably pull away.
The man did not seem to mind in the slightest. After hesitating, Zhong Yu let the apology he had planned take a different turn in his mind.
[You seem very experienced at holding children…]
"Do I?"
Cheng Shenzhi neither confirmed nor denied it. He lowered his head to glance at Zhong Jue, sleeping soundly in his arms, then looked at Zhong Yu, who stood in front of him looking uneasy and lost in thought. "I have a few younger brothers in my family too."
[You must be very close to them.]
Cheng Shenzhi paused. For an instant, an expression that could perhaps be called indescribable flashed across his face. In the end, he summed it up in two concise words. "We're fine."
Zhong Yu sensitively understood that the other man did not want to discuss it and obediently fell silent as he followed behind Cheng Shenzhi. Just before they reached the café entrance, he hurried two steps ahead, picked up the umbrella by the door first, and demonstrated through action that he wanted to help.
After all, the other man was carrying his sister for him, and both of his hands were occupied.
Besides, if Zhong Yu did nothing, it would feel terribly impolite.
Cheng Shenzhi's movements paused.
This seemed to be one of the very few times, throughout all their interactions so far, that Zhong Yu hadproactively done something in front of him.
Watching the young man's cheeks redden slightly because he had moved too quickly, Cheng Shenzhi nodded. "Thank you."
Zhong Yu shook his head, opened the umbrella beneath the eaves, and Cheng Shenzhi ducked beneath it.
The rain was growing heavier. Large puddles had collected beside the road. Zhong Yu tensed his fingers as he carefully controlled the umbrella so it would not tilt too far, yet he failed to notice that half his own body was already exposed to the rain.
Cheng Shenzhi frowned. "Come closer."
The rain was too loud for Zhong Yu to hear clearly. He turned toward him with a puzzled expression. His usually soft, fluffy hair was dotted with raindrops and had collapsed limply, strands sliding along his cheek and brushing past the corner of his eye, leaving wet trails behind. He looked like a small bird with soaked feathers.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Shenzhi remembered that night again. Zhong Yu had looked at him like this then too…
Zhong Jue suddenly shifted, snapping Cheng Shenzhi back to himself. He closed his eyes briefly and steadied his breathing before saying simply, "Excuse me."
This time Zhong Yu heard him, but before he could understand what the man meant, he watched Cheng Shenzhi step closer. Their shoulders nearly touched, their arms nearly pressed together.
Other than his little sister, Zhong Yu rarely stood this close to anyone, much less an adult alphaâeven one who was trying hard to suppress his natural aggression.
The young man felt unbearably uncomfortable, yet had no choice but to maintain the position. In the end, a thought even occurred to him.
âIf Mr. Cheng had not said "excuse me," perhaps he would actually feel a little better right now.
After all, sharing an umbrella on a rainy day was perfectly normal.
He comforted himself with that thought and therefore failed to notice the man's gaze resting on the side of his face from beginning to end.
The car was parked at the intersection. Cheng Shenzhi first placed Zhong Jue inside, then took the umbrella and gestured for Zhong Yu to get in ahead of him.
The interior was spotless, as though brand-new. The owner was clearly someone who valued cleanliness.
Because of that, Zhong Yu hesitated for a second or two and carefully wrung a little water from the corner of his clothes before ducking inside.
Once seated, he immediately adjusted his and his sister's positions so the two of them occupied as little room as possible and would not crowd Mr. Cheng. In truth, the back seat was huge; there would have been ample space even for three more Zhong Jues.
Cheng Shenzhi noticed the young man's tiny movements. Once again, he thought of that night: a similar scene, yet the relationship between them was very different now.
He said, "Drive. Go to the place in the east of the city."
Assistant Tao was driving again today.
When he first saw his boss actually bring Zhong Yu into the car, he had been thoroughly startled and thought his boss was about to take the young man home.
But when he heard his boss's instruction, Assistant Tao hesitated strangely for a second or two.
âSince when did the boss own a place in the east of the city?
He thought about it, but his hands did not slow. He immediately stepped on the accelerator.
For a time, the car became extremely quiet. Cheng Shenzhi rubbed the web between his thumb and index finger with a bent finger, wondering whether now was an appropriate moment.
Yet he had not even decided how to handle the matter himself. Would it be too much to suddenly voice it and ask a young man who had only recently come of age to think through it together with him?
But Zhong Yu was undeniably a victim too. He had every right to know. Truthfully, if it had been anyone else, Cheng Shenzhi would never have found the matter this difficult.
Money, or other resourcesâthose were the bargaining chips he knew best.
But the person before him was far too obedient. In fact, he looked as though he wanted nothing more than to avoid Cheng Shenzhi entirely.
Of course Cheng Shenzhi could sense it.
While he was lost in thought, Zhong Yu nervously pinched his fingertips and held his phone out in front of him.
The car lights were off, and ever since they got in, Mr. Cheng's attention had seemed to be elsewhere. Zhong Yu had hesitated for a long time before finally choosing the method of communication most familiar to him.
Cheng Shenzhi looked slightly surprised. He did not rashly take the phone, instead leaning in to read it in Zhong Yu's hand.
[Uncle only came back recently, so I don't know him very well… But every Tuesday afternoon he goes to Morning Light Orphanage, the one near A University. He and my mother both grew up there.]
Only after reading it did Cheng Shenzhi realize Zhong Yu was returning to their original topic.
Truthfully, his grandfather did admire Zhong Hanqing, but Cheng Shenzhi's relationship with his grandfather was nowhere near close enough for him to personally hunt down a birthday present.
He had only started with that topic because he wanted Zhong Yu to be less guarded around him.
But he looked at Zhong Yu, smiled faintly, and said with complete seriousness, "Thank you. This is very important to me."
He clearly saw Zhong Yu relax a little after hearing that, even giving him a shy smile.
==========Author's Note:==========
Yuyu: I keep feeling like the atmosphere is strange, and this alpha is strange too… It must be my imagination, right?
Shenzhi: …
