Chapter 15
Four eyes met. Pei Tingyu was the first to regain his composure. The man’s brow relaxed, and he leaned forward to say something to the driver in the front seat.
Before long, the Maybach slowly pulled over at the street corner. Pei Tingyu opened an umbrella and stepped out alone into the heavy curtain of rain.
His steps were unhurried. His long, powerful legs, clad in a crisp suit, moved with an elegant grace as he closed the umbrella and entered the small coffee shop.
The Alpha’s presence was powerful. Even though he had deliberately reined in his aura, the S-class pheromones were still extremely aggressive.
For a moment, everyone in the coffee shop couldn’t help but stop what they were doing and look at him.
Bai Yan felt as if he were in a dream, staring blankly as the man entered. It wasn’t until Mr. Pei walked up to him and tapped his bent fingers on the wooden table that he finally snapped back to reality.
Pei Tingyu’s tall figure completely enveloped him. After a long moment, he heard his own dazed voice, “Mr. Pei, what are you doing here?”
He had even forgotten his usual respectful form of address.
The Alpha’s gaze slowly swept over the young man’s face. He said lightly, “The driver couldn’t find you. The message was sent to me.”
The young man’s snow-white bangs were messy from the wind, drooping pitifully at the corner of his forehead. His pale little face was flushed an unnatural crimson, and there was a suspicious trace of moisture at the corner of his eye.
The man sighed to himself. How did the little rabbit manage to get himself into such a mess in just half a day?
The small, pitiful little rabbit’s neck shrank back. Knowing he had caused Mr. Pei trouble again, he was about to apologize instinctively.
Before he could speak, the man’s low, magnetic voice, mixed with the patter of the rain, followed closely behind: “So, the reason you didn’t answer your phone was because you were here admiring the rain?”
Bai Yan swallowed the apology and explained, “My phone died. I don’t remember Uncle Zhao’s number.”
He glanced weakly at the phone on the table. The black electronic rectangle still showed no signs of turning on.
“Mm,” Pei Tingyu grunted noncommittally and recited a string of numbers. “My number. Remember it next time.”
Before the young man could answer, he lifted his chin, glanced at the phone on the table, and his magnetic voice held a teasing note.
“So, are you going to continue admiring the rain, or are we going back?”
Bai Yan blinked, snapping out of his daze. He spoke much faster than usual due to his urgency. “Mr. Pei, please wait for me. I’ll be right there.”
The young man hurriedly unplugged the data cable from his phone and returned it to the shop owner.
After thanking him, he rushed to the door. Pei Tingyu had already opened the umbrella and was staring calmly at the curtain of rain.
Spotting Bai Yan coming out, the man walked closer, held the umbrella over his head, and they slowly walked into the rain together.
The high school students in the coffee shop witnessed the unusual atmosphere between the two. Seeing them leave under one umbrella, they all started to joke, saying things like “a match made in heaven” and “a long and happy life together,” making Bai Yan’s face flush with embarrassment.
The black umbrella carved out a small world from the vast curtain of rain. The water dripped down the edge of the umbrella, drip, drip, drip, gently tapping on Bai Yan’s heart.
The area covered by the umbrella wasn’t large. The two were standing very close, so close that Bai Yan felt as if he could hear Mr. Pei’s breathing.
Not to mention the Alpha’s overwhelmingly present orange blossom pheromones.
The pheromones, tinged with moisture, were fresh and lingering, no longer carrying the damp chill of the rain. While soothing Bai Yan’s low spirits, they also brought another kind of breathlessness.
Thump, thump…
His heart raced erratically. Bai Yan’s mind went blank, leaving only the small space before him.
The young man’s mind was in a turmoil. He couldn’t help but clutch his chest, his slender eyelashes trembling uncontrollably.
The more flustered he became, the more he didn’t dare to look up. He could only carefully watch the ground beneath his feet as he took small steps.
But Pei Tingyu kept his eyes fixed forward, walking steadily, as if he hadn’t noticed the young man’s movements at all.
When they reached the car, the driver had already gotten out and opened the door. Pei Tingyu let Bai Yan get in first, then closed the umbrella and bent down to get in.
The Maybach started slowly, the overhead light casting a soft glow. The built-in air conditioner worked diligently, and soon, the last trace of chill was driven away by the warmth.
The light and shadows outside changed as the Maybach got on the elevated highway. The surrounding cars became blurry spots of light in the rain.
“Mr. Pei,” Bai Yan said, his head bowed, his lips moving slightly as he spoke in a small voice, “thank you.”
For the orphanage, and for him.
Even if Bai Yan was slow, he knew that what Mr. Pei had done had completely exceeded the terms of the agreement. Of course, he didn’t dare to imagine that it was because of him.
He could only attribute it to the fact that Mr. Pei was just too good.
So good that he felt a little dejected. Even if he sold himself, he couldn’t possibly repay Mr. Pei.
Pei Tingyu rested one hand on the armrest, gazing at the traffic outside the window. Hearing this, the man turned his head and raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying an indescribable hint of teasing.
“I seem to have already heard that this morning.”
Ah? I think he’s right… Bai Yan looked up blankly, his two moist, pink eyes round, the redness at the corners not yet completely faded.
His almost pure white, pale gold hair hung messily on his forehead.
He looked even more like a startled little rabbit.
Exactly like the toy.
The Alpha’s gaze darkened. He suppressed a smile, pressed his temples, and said in a feigned tone of helplessness.
“If we hadn’t already signed the agreement, I would consider adding a clause prohibiting the words ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘thank you’.”
Bai Yan buried his head in embarrassment, clutching the hem of his clothes, feeling extremely annoyed with himself.
Forget repaying him, I’m not even a qualified contract partner now.
In the quiet car, there was a rustling sound of fabric. Then, a cold, hard object gently touched his earlobe.
Bai Yan looked up in surprise and saw the Alpha’s long, slender fingers touching his earlobe, tucking the wet hair clinging to his cheek behind his ear.
The man’s fingertips were cool, his gaze nonchalant, but his eyes were incredibly dark.
Under the overhead light, a flash of moss green shot through his eyes.
His fingers seemed to brush against Bai Yan’s cheek unintentionally, the movement deliberately light but impossible to ignore. The diamond ring on his ring finger sparkled with a silver light.
Bai Yan’s face uncontrollably turned red. That was the thing that had just touched his earlobe.
The man lowered his gaze, his low, magnetic voice vibrating against his eardrums. “Do you mind? Me doing this to you.”
“Yanyan.”
Bai Yan froze.
Thump, thump—
The scent of orange blossom invaded his nostrils, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.
What is Mr. Pei implying?!
The nerves at the back of the young man’s neck instantly tensed. His lips trembled, and he was too nervous to speak. His entire face had turned the color of a braised shrimp.
Pei Tingyu nonchalantly withdrew his hand, his gaze calmly fixed on the window outside, his tone returning to its usual flatness. “I’m sorry, Bai Yan, for not getting your permission. But we are now legal partners.”
“In the future, I may make some intimate gestures toward you in public. In certain social situations, I will need your cooperation.”
Bai Yan was stunned.
What was I thinking?!
Bai Yan’s wild thoughts vanished with Mr. Pei’s words. Reason returned to his brain, and the unseemly blush on his face slowly faded.
The young man clutched his still-pounding chest, secretly took a deep breath, and tried to find his voice. He replied softly, “I know. I’ll do my best, Mr. Pei.”
The man’s gaze shifted from the window back to the young man’s eyes. He asked, “Intimate forms of address are also necessary. Yanyan, I may call you that in the future. Is that alright?”
Bai Yan unconsciously pressed his lips together, his gaze becoming much firmer, but the soft end of his voice trembled slightly. “Yes, Mr. Pei.”
Pei Tingyu’s gaze swept over his clasped hands. He added, “Keep the ring safe. You don’t need to wear it normally. I’ll let you know in advance when you need to.”
Bai Yan nodded like a bobblehead. “Okay, Mr. Pei.”
Pei Tingyu grunted in acknowledgment, his calm gaze returning to the window outside.
But he sighed to himself. I finally managed to coax this sentimental little rabbit. He’d better not get sad again.
Bai Yan was so busy berating himself for his lack of professionalism that he didn’t notice the Alpha beside him unconsciously rubbing his fingers together.
It was as if he were savoring the fleeting, soft touch from a moment ago.
Returning to Yǎyuán, Chen Shulan saw the two of them come in from the rain and immediately handed them towels, telling them to go upstairs and wash up before coming down for dinner.
The rain had started suddenly today, and Oz was also resting at the dog school and hadn’t come back.
The diligent housekeeper went to the kitchen to prepare ginger soup. Since Bai Yan had been discharged from the hospital, she no longer dared to ignore even the slightest possibility of the young man getting sick.
Suddenly coming from the warm car, Bai Yan couldn’t help but sneeze. He didn’t dare to be careless and obediently took a towel, wiping his hair as he went upstairs.
“Young Master!” After Young Master Bai Yan had gone upstairs, the servants finally noticed the master’s unusual state and couldn’t help but exclaim.
The high-end custom greatcoat was stained with rain. The back of the man’s coat was mostly soaked, and even his face was paler than usual.
The umbrella in the car was too small, after all. In order to completely cover the other person, it had to be tilted to one side.
“It’s nothing,” Pei Tingyu said, walking upstairs with a calm expression.
The bathroom was equipped with a smart bathtub. By the time Bai Yan went in, it was already filled with hot water of a suitable temperature.
Bai Yan took off his clothes and soaked his entire body in the warm water. The young man held his breath and submerged himself in the bathtub, resurfacing after two or three seconds, bubbles gurgling on the surface of the water.
Now his hair was completely soaked, dripping wet on his face, but Bai Yan let out a soft laugh. His cherry-pink eyes were misty, and the dimples by his lips were soft and cute, as beautiful as an elf.
Steam filled the bathtub, and the warm water enveloped his entire body, washing away all worries and fatigue.
When Bai Yan finished washing up and went downstairs, the table was already set, and the warm ginger soup was steaming.
“A-Yan, come quickly and drink the ginger soup. Weren’t you two supposed to get your marriage certificate today? Why are you back so late, and soaked in rain?” Chen Shulan asked with concern.
Bai Yan held the ginger soup with both hands, taking small sips as he briefly told Auntie Chen what had happened today.
“So, the Young Master is planning to rebuild a building for Huixin?”
“Mm,” Bai Yan nodded, then lowered his gaze dejectedly. “Mr. Pei has done so much. I don’t know what I can do to repay him.”
“Oh, what’s there to worry about? You’re married now. This is what the Young Master should do. We’re family, we don’t say such formal things.” The Beta housekeeper didn’t mind at all.
“As for thanking him, isn’t there a perfect opportunity right now?”
Chen Shulan smiled meaningfully. “The ginger soup is getting cold. I have to go supervise dinner in the kitchen.”
“Could I trouble A-Yan to take this bowl of ginger soup to the Young Master?”
“Okay.” Bai Yan, suspecting nothing, took the ginger soup and obediently went upstairs.
The dark brown, solid wood door was flush with the wall. Yǎyuán was very well soundproofed, and no sound could be heard from inside.
Bai Yan freed a hand. Before he could knock on the door, the smart door had already recognized the master’s identity and opened inward with a “drip.”
But Bai Yan didn’t know this and thought it was Mr. Pei in the room who had noticed him first.
His hand hovered in mid-air, not knowing whether to knock or not.
The young man swallowed. In the end, he still bent his hand and knocked symbolically on the door twice, his soft, clear voice tinged with nervousness. “Mr. Pei, I’ve brought you some ginger soup—I’m coming in.”
Bai Yan shuffled into the room in his cotton slippers. The moment he entered, the familiar scent of orange blossom rushed toward him.
This was the first time he had stepped into an Alpha’s private domain.
Because he had presented late and had not received a proper AO education, the naive Omega didn’t know that a room was an extremely private space for an AO.
The master’s most concentrated pheromones would linger there, and even an air freshener didn’t guarantee absolute safety.
If an AO invited another to their room, it meant they hoped for their relationship to become more intimate.
And for AOs with high compatibility, a private room was an irreplaceable catalyst for deepening their relationship.
Bai Yan didn’t know that he was now like a little rabbit walking into a wolf’s den. If he encountered an Alpha in rut, he would be a delicious meal walking right into a trap.
Pei Tingyu’s room was incredibly spacious and well-lit. The solid wood furniture was in shades of black, gray, and brown. The sofa, the ceiling lamp, the collection cabinet… everything revealed the owner’s excellent taste.
More importantly, everything was saturated with the owner’s rich, lingering pheromones.
He didn’t know if the heating in the room was turned up too high, but Bai Yan’s face grew redder and redder, and his heart began to beat faster.
The young man placed the ginger soup on the coffee table and sat down on the soft leather sofa in the small living room to catch his breath, but he didn’t see Mr. Pei.
The sound of rushing water came from the closed bathroom door. The steam had fogged up the glass door. Bai Yan was startled at first, then abruptly realized why the man hadn’t appeared.
Mr. Pei is taking a shower. There’s no way he could have opened the door for me, and I just barged in so rudely!
The young man’s cheeks flushed red. He scrambled up from the sofa and ran quickly toward the door.
He hadn’t taken more than a few steps when the bathroom door slid open behind him with a “whoosh.”
A wave of warm, moist steam rushed toward him, and the rich scent of orange blossom instantly filled the room.
I’m doomed!
Bai Yan’s body froze in place, his heart pounding wildly, praying that Mr. Pei hadn’t seen him.
The next second, he heard Mr. Pei’s surprised voice behind him.
“It’s you?”
