Shen Yuqing was slightly surprised by Pei Yiyan’s answer. He had thought that if Pei Yiyan was intent on returning to the Pei family to handle some matters, he might refuse.
He hadn’t expected him to agree so easily.
Now that Pei Yiyan could see, he took in every subtle change in Shen Yuqing’s expression.
Shen Yuqing, unaware of this, unconsciously let his emotions show more vividly.
Pei Yiyan frowned slightly. “Not saying anything do you regret it?”
Shen Yuqing snapped out of his thoughts and composed himself. “Regret what? Right now, it’s my brother supporting both of us. If anyone should regret it, it’s him.”
Having finished what he came to discuss, Shen Yuqing quickly sent a message to Shen Zhen before looking up. “I’ll head out now. You should rest.”
With that, he stood up to leave.
He was wearing a T-shirt, his arms bare. As he turned, a scab that hadn’t fully healed yet became visible on his elbow.
Shen Yuqing’s arm should have healed long ago, but every time the wound scabbed over, he couldn’t resist picking at it, so the injury had stubbornly lingered.
Pei Yiyan’s gaze darkened. “Shen Yuqing.”
Shen Yuqing turned back. “What is it?”
“Why?” Pei Yiyan asked.
“Why what?” Shen Yuqing looked puzzled.
Pei Yiyan said, “Why save me?”
Shen Yuqing despised his fiancé so why had he saved him, not just once, but repeatedly?
If anyone in this world, aside from the Pei family, wished for Pei Yiyan’s death the most, it should have been Shen Yuqing.
His freedom had been shackled because of him.
Shen Yuqing waved it off. “Oh, that’s all? Saving you was the right thing to do. Don’t overthink it. Get some rest, I’m leaving.”
He wasn’t fond of the sterile hospital smell. Turning away again, he finally walked out for good.
Saving him was the right thing to do.
Pei Yiyan found himself unable to understand Shen Yuqing. Leaning back against the bed, he closed his eyes, recalling the events of the previous night.
Those three had dismissed the servants, forcibly dragged him to the fountain, and even discarded his cane. Though his vision had improved enough to perceive faint light, the darkness of the night rendered it useless.
The moment he was pushed in, an overwhelming resentment surged within him. Why?
Just because he had fallen into the mud, did that mean he deserved to be trampled on?
Submerged, he listened to their mocking laughter from the shore. “Pei Yiyan, look at you now.”
His present, his past, his future all shrouded in darkness.
His clothes clung to him, his injured leg cramped, and the pain was more unbearable than ever.
Just as he thought he would truly die in that fountain; he heard a familiar voice call out to him followed by a splash.
Someone pulled him from the water.
Though the person carried no distinctive scent, in that moment, Pei Yiyan felt an inexplicable sense of safety.
As much as he hated to admit it, Shen Yuqing.
He had jumped in without hesitation to save him, that much was undeniable. But the wounds Shen Yuqing had inflicted before were equally real.
Pei Yiyan pressed his lips together. How could one person be so contradictory?
Downstairs, Shen Yuqing ran into Xiao Zhao and Wu Yi, who were returning with dinner. Xiao Zhao said, “Young Master, I’ll go back with you.”
“No need,” Shen Yuqing replied. “Stay here.”
Xiao Zhao wanted to say something more, but Shen Yuqing had already left.
He had no choice but to go upstairs with Wu Yi.
Shen Yuqing exited the hospital. He had been feeling under the weather all day, having only eaten a bowl of porridge at noon. Now, his stomach was growling with hunger.
What should I have for dinner?
He hailed a cab to a shopping mall not far from home and chose a noodle shop to sit down in. His order hadn’t arrived yet, so he rested his chin on his hand, watching the passersby outside.
Then, he spotted a familiar figure.
It looked like Song Lejin.
Not only that, but he was accompanied by Lin Sui.
Shen Yuqing’s gaze lingered on them until they entered a restaurant, then slowly withdrew.
His ramen arrived, and he buried himself in eating. But after a few bites, something felt off.
If he remembered correctly, both Lin Sui and Song Lejin lived quite far away. Why would they suddenly appear here?
Though this mall was near the academy, given what he knew about Lin Sui, getting him to come near the campus on a weekend was harder than beating him up outright.
Why is he so enthusiastic today?
Though puzzled, Shen Yuqing considered sending a message to ask.
After finishing dinner, he remembered there was still a little one at home waiting to be fed. Just as he was heading toward the escalator, a voice called out from afar—
“Yuqing!”
He turned to see Lin Sui and Song Lejin walking toward him side by side. Lin Sui seemed especially happy to see him, quickening his pace.
Shen Yuqing waited for them to approach before saying, “What a coincidence.”
Lin Sui replied, “Yeah, what were you up to today? You didn’t reply to my messages.”
Song Lejin, however, remarked, “Yuqing, you don’t look too well. Are you sick?”
Hearing this, Lin Sui finally noticed Shen Yuqing’s pallor.
“Had a fever today,” Shen Yuqing explained. “Took some medicine and felt better, so I came out for some fresh air.”
His eyes flicked between the two. “What are you two doing here?”
Lin Sui answered, “Lejin bought an apartment near the academy. Just moved in today, so I helped him pick up some things.”
Shen Yuqing raised a brow. “You moved here?”
Just a couple of days ago, Song Lejin had been asking about rentals. Now he’d outright bought a place that’s some efficiency.
Song Lejin smiled gently. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t get one in your complex. It’s the neighborhood next door. Feel free to drop by sometime. I’m a decent cook.”
Song Lejin truly fit the current ideal image of an Omega, gentle and domestic.
Before Shen Yuqing could respond, Lin Sui cut in, “Oh, so you invite Yuqing but not me? After I spent the whole day helping you?”
Song Lejin chuckled and lightly swatted Lin Sui’s arm. “Don’t be ridiculous. Do you even need an invitation? Just come whenever.”
The distinction between Lin Sui and Shen Yuqing was clear in his words, and Lin Sui’s grin widened so much it could’ve held an oil jug.
Shen Yuqing lowered his head with a soft cough. “Sure, I’ll take you up on that and try your cooking, Lejin.”
The three chatted and laughed as they descended the stairs. Song Lejin stepped onto the escalator first, with Shen Yuqing and Lin Sui behind him.
Lin Sui’s gaze remained fixed on Song Lejin, something Shen Yuqing noticed all too well.
Until Song Lejin went into a store to buy Omega necessities, and since he and Lin Sui couldn’t follow inside, they waited outside for him.
Shen Yuqing glanced at Lin Sui and let out a light scoff.
Lin Sui was baffled by the reaction: “What?”
Shen Yuqing mimicked his tone: “There’s no chance between us~ His parents prefer smart ones~”
Lin Sui’s face instantly flushed red as he cursed, “You’re insane!”
Shen Yuqing gave a cold chuckle. “Pathetic simp.”
Those involved are blind, while onlookers see clearly. He patted Lin Sui’s shoulder. “Protect yourself.”
All he got in return was Lin Sui’s face burning even redder. “Stop talking nonsense!”
If anyone needed protection, it was Song Lejin. What could an Alpha like him possibly need protecting from?
Shen Yuqing thought to himself, Song Lejin could sweet-talk Lin Sui into a daze with just a few words. Of course, he needs to watch out.
He coughed twice. He had always believed that Song Lejin was no harmless little lamb.
