Chapter 25
“Hello, may I help you?” the sales associate asked, walking toward the two customers who had just entered, a signature sweet smile on his face.
Seeing Bai Yan’s appearance, he was only surprised for a moment before returning to his enthusiastic demeanor.
“Our brand offers a full range of custom suit services, as well as a variety of suit accessories. All are from top international designers, and each item can be traced back to its source.”
“I can introduce any of them to you if you need.”
Bai Yan blinked, at a loss. He pressed his lips together and said, “We’ll just look around for now.”
The moment he stepped into the store, Bai Yan had already wanted to retreat. The European-style retro decor was magnificent and elegant, and the ready-to-wear suits glowed with a soft luster under the lights, looking very expensive.
The sales associate’s sharp eyes recognized the brand of the young man’s clothes and said with a smile, “Of course, feel free to look around. Just call me if you need anything.”
Lin Yu accompanied Bai Yan for a while, his legs growing tired, so he sat down on the leather sofa to rest.
He casually glanced at a brochure. After counting the number of zeros on the price tag of a suit on the cover, he tutted to himself, gaining a new understanding of the extravagant luxury of the rich.
The Beta flipped through a few pages with little interest, his attention quickly shifting from the suits to the handsome male models. But when he scanned a certain spot, he suddenly froze.
The tie on the model… looked so familiar…
A buzzing sound came from his hearing aid, and he suddenly couldn’t hear the surrounding sounds.
The ready-to-wear clothes in the store were of excellent quality, the tailoring perfect, and the fabric was obviously comfortable to the touch.
Bai Yan carefully compared several suits at different price points and finally came to a disappointing conclusion:
With his current financial situation, even if he sold himself, he couldn’t afford even the cheapest shirt here.
The sales associate timely caught his disappointed expression and suggested with a slight lilt in his voice, “If you don’t like any of the suit styles, why not take a look at our suit accessories?”
He used a key to open the dark brown cabinet door and, wearing gloves, carefully took out a glass display box.
With a click, the beautifully carved box was opened.
Inside lay several brooches, tie clips, and other accessories Bai Yan didn’t recognize. The unique designs of the silver-white and bronze-colored metal decorations gleamed with a cool light at the edges.
“These are all from our brand’s up-and-coming designers.”
The sales associate winked and deliberately lowered his voice. “The price-performance ratio is very high. Although the designs aren’t as famous as our signature ones, the craftsmanship is still top-notch in the industry.”
Bai Yan’s gaze slowly slid over the jewelry accessories before him. As he examined a particular item, his gaze suddenly stopped.
Two dark green, circular pins lay in the center of the velvet cloth. At first glance, the surface was black, but upon closer inspection, it would reflect a faint green light.
Like two pools of dark green lake water under the starlight, or like the fleeting aurora in the night sky.
And also like… like Mr. Pei’s eyes. His eyes were an impenetrable black, but occasionally, a flash of moss green would appear.
The young man’s fingertips unconsciously rested on the display case, his gaze lingering on the circular pins. He couldn’t help but ask softly, “May I see this one?”
“Of course,” the sales associate said, holding the pair of collar pins in his hand and introducing them carefully. “This collar pin is from designer L, inspired by the aurora under the Arctic snow-capped mountains.”
He picked up the collar pin and turned it carefully to display it. “You see, as the light and shadow change, it will reflect different shades of green.”
“Although the edges aren’t inlaid with extra small diamonds, the silver border adds a nice touch, so it’s not monotonous, nor does it steal the show. It’s a very exquisite design.”
Bai Yan was moved. The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. He pressed his lips together and asked, “How much is this one?”
“Don’t worry, it’s not expensive,” the sales associate said with a smile, adding in his mind, it’s the same price as your inner shirt.
Bai Yan’s heart sank, the light in his eyes dimming.
This price was equivalent to several months of his part-time salary.
The sales associate lowered his voice and asked, “Forgive my impertinence, but are you buying a gift for a family member?”
The young man’s cherry-pink eyes trembled. He nodded and grunted softly, but his ears uncontrollably turned red.
The sales associate understood, and his smile deepened. “Then you must get this collar pin.”
“Although the design of this collar pin is on the more mature side, it’s not stuffy. It’s perfect for both business occasions and private banquets.”
He smiled ambiguously, leaned his head closer to Bai Yan’s ear, and whispered, “Trust me, it’s the most suitable gift for the Alpha you admire.”
A very faint scent of sweet orange came from the Omega. Bai Yan opened his mouth, wanting to say he had misunderstood.
But—
The image of those beautiful eyes flashed in his mind again. The thick lashes opened, and the dark pupils were as unfathomable as a lake.
A flash of moss green light shone in his eyes, as if it could suck a person into that lake.
Bai Yan’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. A current seemed to flow through his fingertips, making them suddenly hot.
The sales associate’s sweet voice continued, “You’re very lucky. This is the last piece by designer L from our brand. I heard he’s returning to his home country and will no longer be designing jewelry.”
He lowered his voice and said, “Several customers have already said they wanted to come and see it… If you like it, you should get it as soon as possible.”
Bai Yan steeled himself, gritted his teeth, and said directly, “I’ll take this one.”
“Okay, I’ll wrap it up for you,” the sales associate said, his smile even sweeter. “Will that be by card?”
Bai Yan paused and asked, “WeChat, is that okay?”
Until he took the shopping bag from the sales associate, Bai Yan still felt a little light-headed. Who would have thought that in just a few minutes, he would have spent several months’ salary.
Beauty really is a distraction!
Bai Yan secretly wiped away a cold sweat. It’s a good thing he and Mr. Pei are only in a contract marriage.
Otherwise, even if he worked from the Stone Age, he wouldn’t be able to support Mr. Pei.
Haicheng was a coastal city, and the weather changed rapidly. When they walked out of the mall, dark clouds had gathered overhead, obscuring the bright sun.
BOOM— a loud clap of thunder suddenly echoed through the dark sky.
Bai Yan looked up, startled by the thunder. A series of purple lightning flashes suddenly lit up his eyes.
Plop. A raindrop hit his forehead.
“It’s going to rain. Let’s hurry inside and take cover.” Bai Yan wiped the water from his forehead and urgently pulled on his friend’s arm, dragging him into the long corridor of a nearby park.
Before long, a heavy rain poured from the sky, creating large and small puddles on the ground.
The sound of the rain was deafening. The narrow corridor quickly filled with pedestrians seeking shelter. It was noisy and crowded, and the various pheromones mixed together, making it unpleasant to breathe.
His vision went black for a moment. Bai Yan leaned against a pillar to rest. Only after the dizziness slowly subsided did he bite his colorless lip and straighten up slightly.
He took a breath and pushed his soaked bangs back. His gaze fell on Lin Yu beside him, who was staring intently at the mall, his tightly pressed lips trembling slightly.
Bai Yan followed his friend’s gaze. The tall building opposite was separated by a curtain of silver rain, and even the shop signs were blurred.
The young man looked for a few moments but couldn’t make anything out. He blinked in confusion and leaned closer to his friend’s left ear, asking, “A-Yu, what’s wrong? Are your ears bothering you?”
Only then did Lin Yu come back to his senses. He turned to Bai Yan with a pale face and offered a reassuring smile, saying softly, “It’s nothing. My hearing aid is probably running out of battery.”
The world was as silent as a silent film. If Bai Yan hadn’t been right next to his ear, he would have barely been able to hear his friend’s voice.
Bai Yan’s heart instantly tightened. He looked up at the sky worriedly and was about to speak. “A-Yu…”
A sharp ringing of a cell phone suddenly came from his pocket.
Bai Yan answered the phone, and Auntie Chen’s anxious voice immediately came through the receiver. “A-Yan, where are you? The Young Master’s pheromone disorder has flared up!”
BOOM BOOM—
The rain poured down, and continuous flashes of lightning pierced the dark sky like sharp swords, the sharp sound of the swords exploding in his ears, frighteningly loud.
Bai Yan closed the car door and ran panting toward the second-floor reception room.
Uncle Zhao had taken Lin Yu back. He had just returned to Yǎyuán in another of the Pei family’s cars.
His bangs were soaked with rain, sticking to his cheeks. A few raindrops rolled down his face and were wiped away without a care. The young man couldn’t straighten up, his vision blurred by physiological tears.
He ran anxiously to Chen Shulan and Li Yi, his voice hoarse with urgency. “Auntie Chen, Dr. Li, how is Mr. Pei?”
An extremely high concentration of S-class pheromones swirled through the villa. The roaring thunder was mixed with the loud sound of heavy objects colliding, making Bai Yan’s heart pound.
The servants in the main house had been given an emergency day off, and Oz had also been sent elsewhere. Only Auntie Chen and the family doctor were waiting anxiously in the reception room.
Chen Shulan quickly took Bai Yan’s hand and led him to the sofa.
“A-Yan, don’t worry. The Young Master is under control now. Today’s situation is special, and the Young Master is also in his rut, which is why the pheromone disorder suddenly erupted.”
“The noise just now was probably the Young Master in the boxing room.”
Auntie Chen forced a calm smile, patted the young man’s back, and said softly, “The Young Master has already taken a suppressant. A-Yan, don’t go upstairs. Just release your pheromones here.”
Dr. Li wiped the cold sweat from his neck and forced a stiff smile. “Yes. As long as Young Master Bai Yan is here, there shouldn’t be any problem.”
“Okay!” Bai Yan lowered his head and panted, not noticing the ugly expressions on Auntie Chen and Dr. Li’s faces. He focused his mind and tried to release his pheromones from the back of his neck.
A faint scent of jasmine was released from his gland, soft wisps floating gently, trying to embrace the restless orange blossom pheromones.
But it was swallowed whole by the insatiable, greedy pheromones, which clamored for more.
The Omega gritted his teeth and released more pheromones, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
But it had no effect at all, like a drop of water in a vast, surging sea, with no echo.
A low roar, mixed with pain, suddenly came from the third floor.
“This isn’t working!” Bai Yan opened his red-rimmed eyes, a cool, watery light shining in them.
“I have to go find Mr. Pei!” He suddenly stood up from the sofa, his shoulders trembling.
“No!” Chen Shulan also stood up and grabbed his arm.
The calm and gentle Beta housekeeper’s eyes were red as she sternly stopped him. “The Young Master has lost his reason now. He could hurt you at any moment!”
Bai Yan’s eyes widened. Only then did he see that Auntie Chen was already in tears, her usually neat hair messy and disheveled.
“That’s right, Young Master Bai Yan. Mr. Pei can’t control himself at all right now. Please just stay here! It’ll be fine once Mr. Pei has let it all out!” Dr. Li wanted to cry but had no tears, his heart full of misery.
Mr. Pei’s condition had been under control a few days ago. Who knew that today would be so unlucky, that it would happen to be the thunderstorm weather Mr. Pei hated the most!
Mr. Pei almost had an attack in the car. It was only thanks to Assistant Song’s emergency arrangements that he was sent back to Yǎyuán.
Before returning to the company, Assistant Song had even brought back a small vase, saying it contained the roses Mr. Pei had instructed to be carefully cared for, and that it might help Mr. Pei get through his rut safely.
Yǎyuán was, at least, the environment Mr. Pei was most familiar with, and besides, there was Young Master Bai Yan.
Their compatibility was high enough. If Mr. Pei could be soothed by Young Master Bai Yan’s pheromones, maybe he wouldn’t need to be marked and could still regain his senses.
But when Mr. Pei found out they had called Young Master Bai Yan, he had actually forced himself to stay rational and ordered them to keep Young Master Bai Yan calm and not let him go upstairs, only bringing the vase up to the third floor.
“Auntie Chen, Dr. Li,” Bai Yan said, clenching his fists and speaking slowly, “I know you’re worried about me.”
The young man looked up, his face pale, his hands clenched so tightly from worry that his knuckles were white.
He looked at them with tears in his eyes and said, word by word, “But Mr. Pei needs me right now.”
An Alpha in rut is like a caged beast, unable to break free no matter what. Every time he hits the cage, he will be covered in wounds.
Just thinking about what the noble and gentle Mr. Pei might be going through, Bai Yan’s heart clenched into a tight ball, aching with pain.
The young man stubbornly gritted his teeth, his fingertips digging into the flesh of his palm. The tears at the corners of his eyes finally gave way and fell down his cheeks. “I have to go up. I am Mr. Pei’s partner.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
Mr. Pei said that even for three years, the marital relationship is still valid.
Partners, family—isn’t that about helping each other when they need it?
If he leaves now, how can he be Mr. Pei’s family?
