Chapter 11
“This is the Young Master’s mother, and also the previous chairman of the Pei Corporation, Ji Qingya.”
A moist sheen shimmered in Chen Shulan’s eyes. She looked at the sofa and rocking chair by the window, where no one ever sat anymore, and explained softly.
“The Young Master’s father passed away before he was born, and there’s very little contact with relatives from either side. For all these years, it was just the Madam and the Young Master living in Yǎyuán.”
The Beta’s tone was full of nostalgia, and she unconsciously switched to a more familiar form of address. “But sadly, ever since Qingya fell ill and passed away in the year A-Yu turned eighteen, he has never come back to this room. He rarely even comes back to Yǎyuán.”
Bai Yan’s heart suddenly clenched, and his gaze dimmed.
He pressed his lips together, a sudden wave of sadness washing over him.
So Mr. Pei lost his father at birth, and then lost his mother at eighteen.
Now, just like him, they have no parents.
“For all these years, I’ve watched that child lock his heart up tight, not letting anyone in, but not willing to come out himself.”
The housekeeper wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye, but her voice still choked with emotion. “So when A-Yu wanted to get married, you have no idea how happy I was.”
“Good child, thank you for coming to Yǎyuán,” she said, taking Bai Yan’s hands and offering a gentle smile. “Since you’ve been here, Yǎyuán is much livelier than before. The Young Master comes back more often, too.”
Chen Shulan’s expression suddenly grew a little desolate. “The Young Master used to be quiet before, but not like he is now.”
Bai Yan’s heart trembled, filled with an indescribable feeling.
Perhaps it was jealousy. Jealousy that Mr. Pei had an elder who cared for him so much, just like a “mother.”
A hint of moisture welled up in Bai Yan’s own eyes, his vision gradually blurring.
He couldn’t fully understand what that feeling was, but he knew that, facing Auntie Chen’s tear-filled eyes, he could never bring himself to tell her about the contract marriage with Mr. Pei.
He didn’t want to hurt a “mother.”
Bai Yan took a step forward and hugged Auntie Chen, burying his face in the warm crook of the female Beta’s neck.
Auntie Chen had no pheromones, only the fresh, reassuring scent of laundry detergent on her collar.
His pale white hair brushed against her gently as the young man’s soft, obedient voice whispered, “I know, Auntie Chen.”
Even if it’s only for three years, he will adapt to his new identity. He will take good care of Mr. Pei.
A gratified smile touched Chen Shulan’s lips as she gently patted the young man’s head.
She had never had children of her own. Before, she had cared for Pei Tingyu as her own child. Now, she had another one.
The next day, Bai Yan woke up very early.
He pulled open the heavy curtains in his bedroom. The sky had not yet fully brightened, and he could only vaguely see a faint rosy glow in the distance. It was another cloudless, fine day.
The lights in the villa had been turned on early. Today was a big day for the master of the house, and the servants of Yǎyuán were all busy with their respective duties. Professional stylists arrived on time and ushered Bai Yan into the second-floor walk-in closet.
Bai Yan closed his eyes and sat obediently in the makeup chair, letting the fashion experts apply powders and paints to his face. When they occasionally teased him, he would just purse his lips and smile shyly.
The Omega’s skin was delicate, so the cosmetics used had been specially selected. Even so, the makeup artist was careful and meticulous, applying makeup only where necessary.
After nearly two hours of work, the makeup artist looked at the final result and nodded in satisfaction.
Mr. Pei has excellent taste. Where did he find such a cute treasure? Not only is he beautiful, but his personality is also soft and obedient.
“Okay, we’re done,” the makeup artist said, pushing the swivel chair toward the makeup mirror, not skimping on praise. “It’s absolutely perfect! If I hadn’t signed a contract, I’d really want to post this online. Young Master Bai would definitely be a sensation!”
Bai Yan slowly opened his eyes and met the gaze of the person in the mirror. He couldn’t help but blink in astonishment.
It was as if ripples were spreading across a lake of cherry blossoms.
Another stylist, with stars in her eyes, gushed excitedly, “I knew Young Master Bai would be perfect for this suit.”
“The moment we got your measurements, we started working on it, pulling several all-nighters to finish it. We’ve finally fulfilled our mission!”
The young man thanked them in a soft voice, “Thank you for your hard work. I like it very much, thank you.”
The makeup artist carefully opened the diamond ring box. Thinking of her six-figure salary and the thick red envelope, her smile became a bit more genuine. “It was no trouble. This is what we’re supposed to do.”
In the deep blue velvet, a silver wedding ring lay in the center. The band, encrusted with a full circle of diamonds, flowed with a quiet brilliance. The small, exquisite pink diamond set in the center seemed understated.
But the sharp-eyed stylist could tell with a single glance that this diamond was definitely from one of the world’s top pink diamond mines.
A stylist who recognized the wedding ring covered her mouth and exchanged a look of surprise with the person next to her.
This wedding ring was from a renowned designer from an old, established family in F Country.
He had been famous since his youth, his works highly sought after by wealthy families, aristocrats, and even royalty from various countries. It was not at all easy for an ordinary person to buy one.
Moreover, he was now semi-retired. If he wasn’t willing, it would be impossible to commission a piece.
Completely unaware that he was holding a diamond ring worth tens of millions, Bai Yan slid the ring onto the ring finger of his left hand.
The cool metal of the band slowly pushed from his fingertip to the base of his finger, finally fitting snugly.
The diamonds shone dazzlingly. The young man’s eyelashes trembled twice. It was only now that the reality of “he’s getting married” truly sank in.
The Omega pressed his lips together, lowered his gaze to thank the stylists, and walked downstairs in his leather shoes.
After his back disappeared behind the door, the stylists all began to gossip excitedly. So Mr. Pei is a romantic after all.
Single for so many years, without a single scandal. And now that he was getting married, he was so gentle and considerate, protecting his little spouse so well.
There wasn’t a whisper of it online. They had all signed several non-disclosure agreements before being brought to Yǎyuán by a private car.
But it was only natural. Who wouldn’t cherish such a beautiful and cute little angel if they were married to them?
Bai Yan carefully descended the stairs in his leather shoes. He was still not quite used to the suit he was wearing, even though it was tailored to his measurements and the fabric was high-quality and comfortable.
But having been used to wearing loose cotton clothes of rough texture, being suddenly enveloped in smooth, soft fabric still felt a little awkward.
The young man held onto the railing, recalling the information he had looked up, and secretly adjusted his posture.
Fortunately, he was highly adaptable. By the time he reached the first floor, he was walking with a decent semblance of grace.
The young man’s figure was slender, his narrow waist encased in the custom suit, outlining a smooth, beautiful line. From a distance, he looked like a bouquet of silver-white, elegant lilies.
His gaze fell on the nobly dressed man not far away. Bai Yan smoothed the already perfectly pressed hem of his suit and slowly walked toward him, his leather shoes making a soft sound on the marble floor.
The Alpha’s tall figure was turned away from him. He sat in a relaxed and casual manner, with less of the seriousness of work. He held a wine glass loosely in his hand, the amber liquid swirling, emitting an intoxicating aroma.
Bai Yan suddenly remembered the wall of wine collected in the reception room. So Mr. Pei likes to drink. He wondered which one he was holding.
It seemed Mr. Pei had also returned very late last night. He had already been asleep, and had vaguely heard the sound of a car downstairs, thinking it was a dream.
As he was lost in thought, he had already reached them. Song Jian saw Bai Yan first and smiled politely. “Young Master Bai Yan, this suit is very suitable for you today.”
Bai Yan smiled faintly, revealing his neat, white teeth, and replied softly, “Thank you, Assistant Song.”
Pei Tingyu placed the wine glass on a tray, raised his eyes nonchalantly, his voice tinged with a hint of laziness. “Mm, it is indeed nice.”
The Alpha’s gaze swept over the young man’s entire body. The stylist had chosen a pure white suit, but had abandoned traditional styles in the details, opting for a more lively and fresh design.
The Omega’s neck was encased in the smooth collar of his shirt, making it appear even more slender and fair. Instead of a traditional bow tie, the collar was designed with intricate Rococo-style ruffles, adorned with a few round, lustrous pearls.
And on the lapel of the left chest was a metal lily-of-the-valley brooch. The overall look was fresh and refined, yet also chic and lively.
Bai Yan was stunned for a moment, his eyelashes trembling slightly. His smile became more genuine. “Thank you, Mr. Pei. You look very handsome today, too.”
The young man’s makeup had also been meticulously designed by the makeup artist. His already beautiful and elegant features were elevated to a new level with the help of makeup techniques.
His fair skin had a faint blush, his cherry-pink eyes were moist and bright, his pale gold eyebrows had been shaped, and his two pure white eyelashes fluttered, like the purest of elves.
The Omega’s opening and closing lips were tinged with a watery sheen, revealing the pale pink within, looking exceptionally soft.
The Alpha’s eyes darkened, a deep, moss-green hue spreading through them.
The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He nonchalantly averted his gaze, stood up, and strode outside. “Let’s go.”
Today was a formal outing, so they had switched to an extended Maybach.
The modified leather interior was elegant and comfortable. The partition was raised, blocking the view of the driver and assistant in the front.
The spacious back seat was occupied only by Bai Yan and Pei Tingyu. The Alpha had his eyes half-closed, one hand resting on the armrest as he rested. He wore a matching wedding ring on the ring finger of his left hand.
The man’s deep black suit was elegant and luxurious, more staid than the young man’s style. The bottom button of his waistcoat was undone, and a family crest was pinned to the velvet lapel of his jacket.
Lily-of-the-valley intertwined with two silver swords, symbolizing the eternal cycle of love and honor. The other metal buttons of the suit were also engraved with a dark gold lily-of-the-valley pattern, understated yet magnificent.
The heating in the car was strong. Even wearing only a suit, it wasn’t cold.
Bai Yan sat obediently in his seat, quietly watching the moving green scenery outside the window.
He soon discovered that the back seat was spacious enough for him to stretch his limbs, so he adjusted slightly, shifting into a more comfortable position.
The pheromones of orange blossom and jasmine intertwined in the car, mixed with a faint hint of wine, eventually blending into a strange but not unpleasant scent.
The young man seemed to be drawn to it. His gaze unconsciously shifted, landing once again on the man beside him who was impossible to ignore.
The overhead light in the car fell from above, outlining the deep, superior profile of Pei Tingyu’s face.
The green scenery outside flashed by from time to time, and the man’s severe face flickered in and out of the light and shadow.
Bai Yan unconsciously held his breath. The Alpha’s expression was still indifferent, his emotions unreadable. But in his eyes, the oppressive feeling from their first meeting was gone.
He knew that the Alpha before him looked cold as ice, but his heart was incredibly soft.
Then, the Omega belatedly realized that this seemed to be the first time he and Mr. Pei had met since he returned from the hospital.
He hadn’t thanked Mr. Pei yet.
After a moment of hesitation, the young man bit his lip, cleared his throat, and slowly began, “Mr. Pei, thank you for the gift you chose for me before. I like it very much.”
Pei Tingyu grunted with his eyes closed. After a long moment, his low, wine-like voice suddenly spoke. “Does it look like it?”
“Hmm?” Bai Yan didn’t hear clearly. He blinked and looked over, slightly puzzled. “What did you say, Mr. Pei?”
The Alpha suddenly opened his eyes. The eyes beneath his thick lashes were dark and profound.
“Does the rabbit look like you? I picked it out specially.”
The man asked, seemingly casually, but his tone held a hint of amusement.
Bai Yan was speechless.
