Chapter 111

The lights were dim, with multicolored beams rotating across the ceiling overhead, casting mottled, dreamlike shadows on the walls when they hit.

Loud, indulgent cheers and shouts filled the air everywhere, interspersed with shocked reactions and hushed gasps from those around them.

The bar was sweltering hot, from the press of bodies and the boiling atmosphere—

Yet in this not-so-secluded corner, they shared a thrilling deep kiss with an ice cube.

The people in the booth never saw it coming. They all turned to stare at Shen Yu and Pei Ji, instantly dumbfounded.

What the hell? You two hotshots keeping it in-house with some A/O action?

This world had truly gone mad.

The transparent, chilled ice cube slid over pristine white teeth, its smooth edges slipping into the mouth.

Pei Ji lowered his gaze. The tongue pushing the ice cube advanced gently yet dominantly into Shen Yu’s mouth, bit by bit, until it grew slightly cold, slightly wet, slightly warm, taking on the temperature of the man beneath him.

Pei Ji blocked all the light from above. Shen Yu blinked, and the hard ice cube stimulated his soft mouth, sobering him up more than halfway in an instant.

His eyes flew open. Half his mind was still foggy, but on instinct, his neck tilted back, and his teeth clacked hard against Pei Ji’s jaw.

Pei Ji winced in pain and loosened his grip on Shen Yu’s cheek.

Shen Yu seized the chance to sit up from the sofa. The bar’s lights flooded back into view—chaotic and hazy, but better than total darkness.

And, whether on purpose or not, Pei Ji had clearly released Alpha Pheromones toward him just now, distinct from the various booze scents floating in the air.

It was like tequila distilled countless times—fiercely potent—then the barrel smashed open violently.

Amber liquor snaked across the floor like a serpent, only to be set ablaze, racing straight toward him.

Shen Yu reached for the back of his neck. The scar-like gland beneath the inhibitor patch heated up instantly under the stimulation, burning fiercer than ever before.

He instinctively pulled back a little.

But the next second, the entire booth’s air went still. Everyone around subconsciously lowered their voices.

Pei Ji’s gaze darkened as he looked at him. “…Not kissing me? Then who do you want to kiss?”

Shen Yu: “…”

Seeing no answer from Shen Yu, Pei Ji glanced at the red-haired Omega who had nearly passed the ice cube mouth-to-mouth earlier. A faint curve tugged at his lips. “Him?”

His eyes were mild as anything, yet they carried an inexplicable chill. Meeting that gaze felt like plummeting into a lightless abyss.

The red-haired Omega, who had been blushing furiously and shy just moments ago, jolted to attention. He scooted his butt closer to his friend nearby and shook his head frantically. “No, no! I was just talking casually earlier.”

The red-haired Omega paused for a second, as if afraid Pei Ji wouldn’t believe him, then added earnestly, “Big bro, I swear I meant nothing by it. Bar games like this are either kiss or drink—I was just hyped up in the moment.”

Pei Ji pressed his brow, eyeing him.

The Omega’s shoulders trembled. In a brainless panic to prove his innocence, he hurriedly hugged his nearby friend—who was also an Omega—and declared loudly, “Bro, actually… actually, I’m O Tong!”

Everyone in the booth: “…”

Pei Ji: “…”

Shen Yu caught the barely perceptible twitch at Pei Ji’s mouth and nearly cracked up. His gaze drifted uncontrollably to the Omega, who had shrunk back timidly only to suddenly put on a heroic martyr face.

Kinda cute.

And what a clever line—you’re O Tong, and he’s an Omega.

The Omega’s shout seemed loud, but it was quickly drowned by even more deafening music laced with electric synth effects slicing through the brain.

All sorts of liquor scents mingled together. The ice in Shen Yu’s mouth had mostly melted, alternating chills and warmth delivering a thrilling pleasure.

Shen Yu spat out the fragmented ice, stood up, then reached out and grabbed one of the shot glasses on the table—used for punishments.

He tilted his head back. His long lashes fanned like black feathers, the skin on his neck tensing under the lights with a fine, cool sheen. His sexy Adam’s apple bobbed as he downed it cleanly in one go, taking the jagged ice cubes in the glass into his mouth as well.

Everyone’s attention locked onto him. Voices hushed unconsciously.

“Clack—”

Shen Yu slammed the glass down hard. The base struck the table with a crisp thud.

Pei Ji watched him. The hazy lights amplified anyone’s allure, and Shen Yu— in black pants and leather jacket, with tousled black hair brushing his deep brows—was unreal. His high nose bridge and chiseled profile cut through the shadows like no mortal’s.

A young man straddling youth and maturity, shrouded in dazzling yet dim psychedelic glow—

Broad shoulders, lean narrow waist, long straight legs… As he bent to grab the glass, then straightened to drink, his side formed a fluid, sexy curve.

Especially when he raised his arm casually—the leather jacket rode up, flashing toned abs in the dark, like a night-blooming cereus suddenly appearing—

Not tempting crime. Inviting it.

Shen Yu set the glass down and turned. Pei Ji hadn’t anticipated it—a shadow flashed past him.

Shen Yu’s palm braced on Pei Ji’s shoulder. Then his arm flexed, shoving the man hard back onto the sofa.

Shen Yu’s hand switched swiftly from push to grab. Pale, slender fingers dug into the black sweater on Pei Ji’s shoulder.

Cool white against the sweater’s black created stark contrast.

Shen Yu pressed forward, one leg kneeling to Pei Ji’s side, sinking the firm black sofa. Then he straddled Pei Ji’s lap directly.

Shen Yu lowered his gaze. His other hand reached out, cupping the back of Pei Ji’s neck. Slender fingers pressed ruthlessly through the thin inhibitor patch right onto Pei Ji’s gland.

Pei Ji froze. His scalp tingled uncontrollably, every muscle group tensing instinctively in defense and primed for violent retaliation.

Pei Ji had never imagined his gland being touched like this someday.

Shen Yu took advantage of his daze, gripping his neck and leaning down to shove the ice cube from his mouth unceremoniously into Pei Ji’s. His flexible tongue roamed Pei Ji’s mouth, repaying every bit of what Pei Ji had done to him earlier.

The ice’s chill stimulated him. Pei Ji blinked slowly, stunned for a moment before reacting. He leaned back against the sofa, wrapped his arms around Shen Yu, left hand clamping Shen Yu’s waist hard, and counterattacked swiftly.

Lips and tongues tangled, alcohol blurring everything, breaths heaving in pursuit. Once the ice mostly melted into slivers, Shen Yu pulled back, ending the kiss.

Pei Ji’s solid chest heaved heavily as he panted, dark red surging deep in his eyes. He lunged immediately for Shen Yu’s lips.

Shen Yu dodged back and stood from his lap. Pei Ji felt the weight lift from his legs. He looked up to see tiny lights flickering in Shen Yu’s eyes, like glimmers falling into deep autumn pool water.

Pei Ji narrowed his eyes for a closer look and realized it was the fractured light from above.

Only now, from entry to this moment, did Pei Ji spare attention to notice the dense crystal chandelier hanging overhead.

Not all the crystal beads were lit—only a few twinkled like scattered stars, rippling in Shen Yu’s eyes.

Shen Yu glanced at him, his gaze shifting to the dance floor center where the DJ booth pumped out intense, rapid rhythms.

The beats hammered down like relentless spikes, pounding the crowd’s eardrums nonstop.

Shen Yu turned back. A faint smile curved his lips as he extended a hand casually to Pei Ji in invitation. “Wanna dance?”

In the mottled lights, that outstretched hand showed distinct knuckles.

Pei Ji gazed at him intently. Moments later, he took the hand, then deftly and gently seized control, leading Shen Yu into the dance floor.

The two soon left the booth, leaving everyone slack-jawed.

Not just from the intimate kiss in front of everyone—bars like this had threesomes in the bathrooms; it wasn’t even wild.

…Though watching two hot guys kiss was pretty damn hot, leaving mouths dry.

The real shock? Two alphas—two alphas who screamed straight—dating?

By rights, such a pairing couldn’t mesh. Any apparent harmony usually meant one tolerating the other.

Just one trigger, and it’d shatter.

Once they were out of sight, the red-haired Omega let out a heavy breath and wailed, “Fuck, fuck, they’re gone. I’m never hitting on taken guys again—that shit was terrifying!”

“O Tong, you’re good.”

“…Can you fuck off?!”

“No more jokes. But don’t you guys think that alpha in the black turtleneck sweater looks kinda familiar?”

“Now that you mention it… yeah, a bit like that one…”

A nearby Omega shot it down immediately. “Bullshit. We’ve only seen Councilor Pei on the news, but from his record alone, we know he’s mild-mannered and measured. That guy looks similar, but his vibe’s too dark and scary—can’t be.”

“…Makes sense. So, can you find me two more hot guys?”

“Aren’t you O Tong?”

“……………………”

In the dance floor, the crowd swayed wildly with the music’s rising crescendos.

Spicy liquor, perfume, tobacco, sweat, and desire wove into a complex haze. Scents mingled, bodies inevitably bumped, unleashing total abandon.

Shen Yu half-lowered his lashes in a drunken haze. The crowd was too rowdy, too packed. Midway, someone’s duckbill cap got jostled off and landed right in Shen Yu’s hand.

That’s the dance floor—when the vibe peaked, people flooded in like sardines in a can, leaving only the central main stage clear.

Shen Yu and Pei Ji soon got separated by the throng.

A lazy smile hooked Shen Yu’s lips. He simply plopped the unknown black duckbill cap onto his head. Slender white fingers gripped the brim as he vaulted onto the main stage with sharp, cool flair.

The black cap sat low, revealing only his chiseled jawline and the sexy curve of his lips.

Shen Yu glided through dance moves, perfectly in sync with every beat.

Lights and crowd inevitably drew to him, focusing, stilling for him.

A white beam suddenly swept from afar. Shen Yu squinted, scanning the crowd below.

For some reason—maybe the glare, or the detached, observer’s view from the stage—

His mind briefly detached from the moment. He slipped out of “Shen Yu,” vaguely recalling that before his leg was ruined, he used to hit nightclubs and dance often.

Shen Yu remembered one time—he’d gotten blackout drunk, ripples blurring in the liquor—when someone approached silently, paused, then asked softly.

“Are you crying?”

Shen Yu hadn’t answered, but somehow, that person took him back to school. He hadn’t dropped out of Federal University yet; he had to return to the dorms on time each night.

He couldn’t recall their long midnight talk or what they did. Shen Yu only faintly remembered the person saying they went to the same school.

“What a coincidence. We’re from the same school. I’m called…”

Called… what?

…Couldn’t remember.

Sober the next day, Shen Yu’s memory was hazy. He soon forgot it entirely—probably just a trivial blip for both.

Finally, Shen Yu wanted to add—he didn’t actually hate rainy days. He just disliked the wet chill seeping into his leg like ants crawling into his marrow. That made him dislike ants too.

…

The music shifted. Shen Yu’s eyes sharpened under the cap brim. His slides, jumps, and spins brimmed with power, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Across the noisy throng, Pei Ji narrowed his eyes at the black-haired youth on stage.

A long time ago, the first time Pei Ji saw Shen Yu on stage thrusting his hips and shaking his waist in a hot dance, he wanted to fuck this omega that belonged solely to him right there on the stage.

But when he saw Shen Yu up there again, Pei Ji suddenly realized that what he wanted even more was to walk to his side, reach out a hand, and pull him down.

Pull him back to his own side.

Of course, cough, his previous idea was still valid; it was just pushed back a few spots in priority.

For the final fixed note, Shen Yu stopped. Under the brim of his hat, his pitch-black hair strands were soaked with sweat.

Shen Yu did not want to show his face too much. If the boss found out he had come to a rival’s place to dance, he would surely flay him alive before letting it go. He pressed his hat down lower and planned to get off the stage.

However, Shen Yu soon discovered that this time, there was no backstage path to take.

The surrounding crowd erupted in cheers, all applauding him excitedly and reaching out to grab him. They surrounded Shen Yu so tightly that he could not move—

At that moment, Pei Ji pushed through the crowd, strode to his side with his long legs. He had not done anything, yet the people around dared not approach and actually cleared out a space on their own.

Pei Ji hooked his lips and raised his arm toward Shen Yu.

Shen Yu lowered his gaze, grabbed his arm, and jumped neatly down from the stage.

Shen Yu had just finished intense movements, so a thin layer of heat clung to his body. Sweat covered the skin and veins at his neck. From Pei Ji’s perspective, it looked extremely erotic.

Pei Ji’s eyes darkened. He inched closer without a word, blocking others’ views.

Being this close made it even hotter. Shen Yu inexplicably shot him a glance but let it be.

They left the bar and walked slowly outward.

Night had fallen, and the city was swallowed by endless darkness, yet countless neon colors surged forth in the gloom. Massive holographic billboards played various information nonstop.

Shen Yu took off the cap on his head and casually tossed it onto a trash bin lid. He shook out his hair listlessly, and his gaze quieted again.

Pei Ji opened the car door for him. Only after Shen Yu got in did he sit in the driver’s seat. He drove especially slowly and steadily. Before long, Shen Yu fell asleep.

When Shen Yu woke up, he glanced out the car window and saw that they had arrived at the school. He had no sense of time and did not know how long they had been there.

Pei Ji’s arm rested on the car window. His distinct knuckles tapped the steering wheel now and then. His gaze was profound, the contours of his side profile calm and inscrutable.

Hearing the movement, Pei Ji turned his head. His voice was low: “Awake?”

Shen Yu nodded. His fingers unfastened the seatbelt, ready to get out.

Pei Ji suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm. Shen Yu paused and turned back to see Pei Ji raise a brow with a smile: “Baby, no goodnight kiss today?”

Under the dim light, Shen Yu looked at him. A cold gloom fell from the depths of his eyes, and he suddenly fell silent.

Pei Ji felt a rare bit of discomfort under his stare. He blinked in confusion: “Hm? What’s wrong?”

Shen Yu glanced at him, then sat back in his seat. His mood was indifferent: “Spit it out if you have something to say.”

Pei Ji paused. Moments later, he released Shen Yu’s arm and stared straight at him. His tone was frank and serious: “Back then, if it hadn’t been me, would you have kissed him?”

He knew those damn drinking game antics—a kiss was nothing; even two dogs in a bar might end up making out. He also knew Shen Yu was an omega, and that red-haired kid was an omega too… But he still felt irritated.

Irritated like never before.

Shen Yu looked at him.

Pei Ji spread his hands, not avoiding his gaze at all, not hiding his emotions in the slightest.

Shen Yu lowered his eyes, suddenly a bit afraid to look into his. He pursed his lips. After a long while, he countered to Pei Ji: “Do you think I would?”

Pei Ji’s fingers on the steering wheel spasmed uncontrollably. The image he always projected of being in complete control and at ease finally showed a crack.

“I don’t know, Shen Yu.”

Pei Ji stared straight at him, his eyes dark like a trapped beast. His voice was low and hoarse: “I don’t know.”

In the not-so-bright light, Shen Yu lifted his eyelids again and looked at Pei Ji.

They silently stared at each other.

Moments later, a faint breeze stirred, bringing wisps of thin chill. Shen Yu straightened up and suddenly leaned close to Pei Ji.

Pei Ji watched him.

Shen Yu lowered his gaze and lightly touched his lips.

“Goodnight kiss.”

Pei Ji kissed him back once, then again. His eyes narrowed, a dangerous note in his voice: “Baby, you still haven’t answered my question?”

A faint curve appeared on Shen Yu’s lips—slightly cold, yet like it held a hint of amusement. He pulled back, got out of the car, and left only one reply.

“At least up to now, you’re the only one I want to kiss.”

Without paying attention to the movement behind him, Shen Yu walked into the school. He lifted his gaze to the moon overhead, its clear glow spilling to the ground.

Shen Yu thought, it was about time to end it.

They had been strangers to begin with.

In the dim room, a strong arm reached out from the darkness. Pei Ji sat on the sofa with his legs crossed. Moments later, he picked up the external terminal on the table and opened it.

Group messages popped up one after another.

Lu Yuguang: “Wahhh, it was supposed to be a theme party, how did it turn into Brother Pei’s confession scene!!”

After observing for this period, Lu Yuguang finally realized that Pei Ji seemed to be seriously and meticulously planning his future with Shen Yu, even preparing a fallback for him.

For a moment, he felt a mix of emotions—not sure if he should be jealous that his roommate snatched his white moonlight brother, or heartbroken that Pei Ji had whisked away his beautiful friend.

In short, his feelings were complicated, very complicated.

But the silver lining was that his previous plan to stop Pei Ji and Shen Yu from getting together could finally be scrapped. His conscience could rest easy.

With Pei Ji protecting him in this half-low-key, half-high-profile way, and the little building as a backup, Lu Yuguang did not need to worry anymore.

Gu Yang sighed teasingly: “Sigh, gotta go be an NPC again tomorrow.”

Flora: “I don’t approve of this marriage! Unless Brother Pei and sis-in-law give me three hot guys!”

Pei Ji lowered his gaze. The sharp, deep line of his jaw showed as his eyes quietly lingered on the words “sis-in-law,” pausing there.

Moments later, Pei Ji typed back: “On it.”