Chapter 13
Shen Mei's eyes widened dramatically as she stared at Jiang Li, the shock freezing her in place for a full three seconds. Then, just as quickly, that shock melted into a slow, knowing grin as her gaze lingered on the blushing omega. Jiang Li, overwhelmed by everything that had just happened, didn't even seem to notice her presence.
"Can you excuse us… Shen Mei?"
Shen Yu's voice cut in calmly, his dark eyes lifting toward her.
Her grin faltered.
He hadn't dragged her all the way here just to dismiss her the moment things became interesting. There was no way she was leaving that easily.
"And why should I?" she asked, crossing her arms beneath her chest as she tilted her chin upward in defiance.
The confidence lasted exactly one second.
Under Shen Yu's steady, piercing gaze, it deflated like air leaking from a balloon. Even without Alpha pheromones, there was something about him—something quiet yet oppressive—that made people instinctively lower their guard. It was the same reason so many mistook him for an Alpha.
Shen Mei swallowed, refusing to fully give in. She pouted instead, lifting her vanilla latte to her lips as she muttered under her breath.
"You're no fun."
Before leaving, she cast Jiang Li one last glance, her eyes silently promising that this conversation was far from over. Then she turned and walked out of the café.
Shen Yu watched her go, his expression unreadable until the door closed behind her. Only then did he pinch the bridge of his nose, exhaling softly before turning his attention back to Jiang Li.
The boy still looked dazed.
His milky-white skin was flushed a soft, striking red, and his honey-brown eyes were fixed on the table as if the patterns on its surface were suddenly fascinating. Yet beneath that dazed stillness, Shen Yu could see it clearly—disbelief, fragile and unhidden.
"What do you say, Jiang Li?" Shen Yu asked quietly. "Are you willing to help me?"
Jiang Li flinched slightly at the sound of his name, his wide eyes lifting to meet Shen Yu's.
"But… you don't like me," he said, his voice so soft it barely rose above a whisper. "Why do you want me to date you?"
Shen Yu paused.
Those eyes again.
No matter how much Jiang Li tried to hide, everything was there—laid bare in those clear, trembling depths. It made things… inconvenient.
His gaze narrowed slightly, not out of anger, but because he already knew what he was about to say would hurt.
"We won't be dating for real," he said at last, his tone low and even. "Jiang Li, I only want you to act as my omega. Nothing more."
He watched as the light in those bright eyes dimmed.
A small, fragile smile appeared on Jiang Li's lips as he nodded slowly.
"I understand…" he murmured.
And then, as if forcing himself forward—
"I'm willing to help you."
His voice was brighter this time, almost convincing, but the faint shimmer in his eyes betrayed him.
Shen Yu looked away.
Don't look at him. Don't soften.
The thought repeated quietly in his mind, firm and deliberate.
After a moment, he spoke again, this time in a more neutral tone, as if trying to shift the atmosphere.
"Do you want to order something?"
Jiang Li shook his head without looking up.
"Then… are there any rules?" Shen Yu continued. "Anything you don't want me to do?"
Jiang Li hesitated before lifting his gaze again, nodding slowly.
0
"When you act like you like me… please don't be too affectionate," he said, his voice careful, almost fragile. "Even if I know it's not real… it'll still be hard for me."
Shen Yu didn't respond immediately. He simply looked away again, his expression unreadable.
"Is that all?" he asked after a pause.
Jiang Li nodded.
"I don't have many demands either," Shen Yu said. "No unnecessary physical contact. No hugging. You can walk beside me, and maybe hold my hand when we're in front of others—but that's all."
Jiang Li nodded again, quietly accepting.
There was a brief silence before he spoke once more, almost hesitantly.
"…Can I still look at you?"
His eyes lifted, wide and unexpectedly hopeful.
For a moment, Shen Yu didn't know what to say.
So this boy… really did like him.
The realization wasn't new, but hearing it so plainly—seeing it so clearly—made it harder to ignore.
He exhaled softly before standing up.
"I never said you couldn't," he replied. "Like I told you before… you can look. Just stop hiding."
He turned to leave, then paused as something crossed his mind.
"Are you free on Friday?" he asked without looking back.
Jiang Li blinked. "When?"
"Evening. Around seven."
After a brief pause, Jiang Li nodded.
Shen Yu reached into his pocket, pulling out a pen. For a second, he considered giving his number, but the thought disappeared just as quickly. Instead, he grabbed a napkin from the table and wrote down an address.
"Come here before seven," he said, placing it in front of Jiang Li.
Jiang Li frowned slightly, confusion flickering across his face.
"Why?"
Shen Yu glanced at him, a faint smile touching his lips—though it didn't reach his eyes.
"You're meeting my parents."
And with that, he turned and left.
Jiang Li remained where he was, staring at Shen Yu's retreating figure until it disappeared from view.
Only then did the tears he had been holding back finally fall.
What had he expected?
That Shen Yu would smile warmly at him… that he would say he liked him too?
After everything he had done—after the stalking, the stolen clothes, the lies—how could he have hoped for something like that?
A quiet, bitter laugh escaped him as he lowered his head onto the table.
His pheromones faded into nothing, leaving behind only a hollow, aching feeling in his chest.
And yet…
At least he could still see him.
At least, for now, he could stay by his side.
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Mass release [ 1 / 3]