Shen Yuzhou watched him slowly descend the stairs, only turning back at the corner to say to Shen Zhen, “Not bad.”
Shen Zhen glanced at his younger brother. Recently, Shen Yuzhou had been unusually obedient no more running around with his troublemaking friends, focusing more on his studies, and speaking and acting with greater maturity. He felt relieved; at least he could give their parents a proper account now.
Pei Yiyan soon arrived beside the sofa and stood there. Shen Yuzhou tilted his head slightly and said, “Why stand? Sit.”
Only then did Pei Yiyan follow the sound and sit precisely beside Shen Yuzhou. There was still some distance between them, but compared to when they used to sit pressed tightly together, the atmosphere now felt much more relaxed.
It seemed their relationship had improved quite a bit.
Shen Zhen felt even more relieved.
Shen Yuzhou twisted his head to stare intently at Pei Yiyan’s eyes for a long moment before leaning back into the chair and complaining, “When are we eating? I’m starving.”
Shen Zhen stood up and said, “Always talking about death can’t you say something nicer?”
Shen Yuzhou retorted, “It’s just words. Why get so worked up?”
Shen Zhen replied, “I’ll go call the kids. We’ll eat once they’re back.”
The two children had been taken by the servants to play in the backyard pool, so they’d probably need to change clothes and wait a little longer when they returned.
Shen Yuzhou yawned, leaning back in his chair before turning to Pei Yiyan again. “Why sit so stiffly? Lean back.”
After spending so much time with Pei Yiyan, Shen Yuzhou had begun to pick up on some of his little quirks.
At home, Pei Yiyan did whatever was comfortable, but here, he seemed to revert to the version of himself Shen Yuzhou had first met.
Pei Yiyan didn’t respond, but his posture softened slightly as he leaned back.
Shen Yuzhou asked, “What did the doctor say about your gland?”
This visit had mainly been about his gland his eyes were secondary, though both were important.
“Same as before,” Pei Yiyan replied flatly.
Shen Yuzhou let out a long “Oh,” patting his shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, take your time. It’ll get better eventually.”
Pei Yiyan glanced at him, expecting empty words, but Shen Yuzhou’s expression held a trace of sincerity no hint of dismissal.
He pressed his lips together and looked away again.
Truthfully, he had known from the start that his gland wouldn’t recover. After consulting so many doctors, most had offered little more than comfort. This time, however, they had confirmed one possible solution secondary differentiation.
Secondary differentiation. Pei Yiyan had heard it mentioned briefly during his first encounter with Suge Yue’s friend. Now, the doctors leaned more heavily toward this possibility.
Secondary differentiation essentially meant allowing the gland to regenerate, growing stronger from its existing foundation. However, alpha who underwent secondary differentiation were exceedingly rare in all of recorded history, only about a thousand cases existed.
In a sea of people, only a thousand had ever achieved secondary differentiation. For any citizen of the interstellar world, this was already an immense challenge.
And Pei Yiyan’s gland was damaged beyond repair. If he wanted to undergo secondary differentiation, the difficulty would be even greater.
Shen Yuqing noticed the fleeting gloom on Pei Yiyan’s face. Puffing his cheeks, he could only silently pray in his heart for the main storyline to begin soon.
After all, Pei Yiyan’s glands wouldn’t recover until the mid-to-late stages, and this was still just the prequel.
Unsure how to comfort him, Shen Yuqing reached out and patted his shoulder again: “Even if they’re not better yet, at least your eyes and legs are almost healed now, right?”
Pei Yiyan turned to look at Shen Yuqing this was rare. Shen Yuqing was actually being so patient in comforting him.
He parted his lips slightly, about to say something, when the cheerful laughter of children reached his ears.
Shen Yuqing withdrew his hand and turned toward the sound: “Time to eat!”
Pei Yiyan snapped out of his thoughts and swallowed back his words.
Since they still had classes the next day, Shen Yuqing and Pei Yiyan left the Shen residence after dinner.
By the time they got home, it was already past ten.
Shen Yuqing hugged Lucky, gave it a sniff, and then said, “Time for a shower.”
Unlike him, Lucky was more eager to stay by Pei Yiyan’s side. After such a long time apart, it was being incredibly affectionate now.
Pei Yiyan sat on the sofa, stroking Lucky while taking another look around the living room. A new display cabinet had been added, filled with the small blind-box figurines Shen Yuqing had recently collected each one exquisitely crafted and utterly adorable.
Beside the display cabinet was a storage barrel now holding the canes he had used before. They had always been kept in the walk-in closet, but unexpectedly, Shen Yuqing had someone bring them all out, placing them right next to his figurine cabinet.
Pei Yiyan suddenly realized he truly felt like he had come home.
Lucky clung to him without letting go, even coquettishly acting spoiled.
The heaviness in his heart over the past few days lightened slightly. Pei Yiyan looked down and chuckled, “You little chubby cat.”
Lucky pretended not to hear it wasn’t fat! Brother Xiao Song had just said it had lost weight!
After washing up, Pei Yiyan climbed into bed to find Shen Yuqing already asleep, with Lucky curled up beside him.
Pei Yiyan glanced at the clock on the cabinet it was only eleven.
What had Shen Yuqing been doing these past two days to be so tired this early?
Normally, Shen Yuqing would only turn off the lights and sleep after Pei Yiyan had settled in.
Pei Yiyan lifted the thin blanket and got into bed.
Although summer had passed in Silino, nights still required a blanket.
Once he lay down, Lucky sprawled between their pillows as it always had, eyes closed and purring softly as it slept.
Pei Yiyan turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness. Exhausted from the day’s travels, he was already tired. Now, back in familiar surroundings, his eyelids grew heavy, and he soon fell into a deep sleep.
Shen Yuqing was jolted awake.
At first, he thought it was morning, but as he groggily opened his eyes, he found the room still dark except for some movement beside him.
He reached out and fumbled for the small nightlight on the bedside table. Its faint glow barely allowed him to make out the person next to him.
Pei Yiyan was in a terrible state his forehead drenched in sweat, his slender fingers gripping the thin blanket so tightly it seemed he might tear it apart any second.
Shen Yuqing’s mind wasn’t fully awake yet. Seeing Pei Yiyan like this, he reached out and shook him: “Pei Yiyan… Pei Yiyan!”
Pei Yiyan still didn’t wake, but he clearly looked like he was in pain. What was happening?
Shen Yuqing gave him a slight push, but there was still no response. Watching as Pei Yiyan was about to tear the blanket apart, he sighed softly and reached out to pry his fingers open, trying to get him to relax. He had expected it to be a bit difficult, but as soon as his fingers touched Pei Yiyan’s hand, the latter automatically loosened his grip and instead grabbed hold of Shen Yuqing’s hand.
“Pei Yiyan,” Shen Yuqing frowned slightly. His hand was being held tightly, as if Pei Yiyan was exerting a great deal of strength. Shen Yuqing wanted to call his name a few more times, but after Pei Yiyan grabbed his hand, he seemed to gradually calm down, though fine beads of sweat still dotted his forehead.
What kind of dream was he having?
Shen Yuqing pursed his lips, his gaze falling on his captured hand. Whatever. If he wants to hold it, let him.
He yawned and turned to switch off the bedside lamp, only to realize he had already shifted to the other side of the bed. The lamp was now too far away to reach.
Good Luck, who had somehow ended up behind him at some point, was lying there. Shen Yuqing said, “Good Luck, turn off the light.”
He had said it casually, not expecting Good Luck to actually stand up, leap effortlessly onto the nightstand, and press the switch precisely with its paw.
The light went out, and the room returned to its usual tranquility.
Shen Yuqing adjusted his sleeping position, freeing his right hand with his left.
He shook his hand it had been squeezed so tightly that he felt his circulation had been cut off.
After shaking it a couple more times, he tucked his hand back under the covers. With one last glance at Pei Yiyan, he closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.
Not long after, Pei Yiyan unconsciously shifted closer to him, turning on his side and pressing against Shen Yuqing’s shoulder before finally settling down.
At the same time, the system’s backend data fluctuated slightly.
[Target: Pei Yiyan
Blackening Value: 65
Favorability: —
Character Awakening: —
Plot Progress: 30%]
