ACBAM 42: Help

When Su Shijin got home, the place was brightly lit, and even before opening the door he could hear a jumble of noises from inside.

Once he stepped in, he saw the first floor was a mess—footprints everywhere and piles of foam cartons stacked to the side.

Several workers in worn gray uniforms came out from a room at the back of the first floor, each carrying a toolbox. The one in the lead called toward the kitchen, “Boss Gu, it’s all installed. Come take a look?”

From the kitchen came Gu Weiyang’s voice, “Hold on, I’ll be right there.”

A few seconds later, Gu Weiyang came out of the kitchen wearing an apron, drying his hands as he walked. He happened to spot Su Shijin standing at the door, and his eyes instantly lit up. “Dr. Su, you’re back!”

Su Shijin gave a brief “Mm.” He instinctively thought about changing his shoes, but seeing how the floor looked now, there was really no point. So he walked straight in and asked, “What’s going on here?”

“Perfect timing—come take a look. If there’s anything you want changed, they can fix it right away.” Gu Weiyang beckoned him over and led him to the doorway of a room at the back of the first floor.

When Su Shijin stepped over and saw it, he immediately understood what it was. It was a study Gu Weiyang had prepared for him.

The twenty-square-meter room wasn’t especially large for this villa, but it was neatly put together. The essentials, a height-adjustable desk and an ergonomic chair, were in place. Along one wall stood a full-length bookcase that looked freshly installed, with bits of wood shavings from drilling still caught inside. To keep dust off the books, the shelves were fitted with glass doors, and a potted plant in the corner added a touch of green.

Even the doors and windows seemed newly replaced, the glass still covered with an unpeeled protective film.

“From now on, you can work here.” Gu Weiyang leaned in toward him with a hint of pride. “This door opens right onto the back veranda and you can see the garden directly from here.”

Su Shijin walked over, pushed open the glass door, and took a glance. Sure enough, the view of the back garden was completely unobstructed.

“When I bought the house, the exterior walls were already finished, so I couldn’t put in floor-to-ceiling windows here—just this door.” Gu Weiyang studied his expression. “Or do you actually prefer floor-to-ceiling windows?”

Gu Weiyang’s own study was lined with a huge wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. He had originally planned to give that room to Su Shijin, but it was crammed with books and documents, some even related to the company, that he couldn’t sort through in a short time. Thinking that Su Shijin might need a study as soon as today, he quickly tidied up this smaller room instead. If Su Shijin preferred big windows, he could come over on the weekend to move his things.

“It’s fine, this is already great.” Su Shijin had only expected a place to store his books, and this study had far exceeded his expectations.

He tilted his head up and gave Gu Weiyang a smile. “I really like it. Thank you.”

Gu Weiyang’s face flushed at once. He quickly turned toward the workers outside the door and said, “No need to change anything, then. Thanks for your hard work today.”

The workers waved their hands repeatedly. “No problem, no problem. If everything’s good, we’ll be on our way.”

“Alright.” Gu Weiyang walked a few steps to see the workers out the door, then closed it behind them. Turning to look at Su Shijin, who had just come out of the study, he said, “Go sit and rest for a bit, dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”

But there was no way Su Shijin could just sit still. He simply followed Gu Weiyang into the kitchen. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Gu Weiyang quickly pushed him back out. “No need, you just got off work, go rest. I can handle it.”

He pointed toward the fruit on the coffee table. “I just cut that. It’s covered with a glass dome, so no dust will get in. You can eat it right away and if you’re hungry, have some fruit first to tide you over.”

With that, Gu Weiyang slid the kitchen door shut, leaving Su Shijin outside.

Su Shijin stood there in silence for a long moment, feeling as if he had just been coaxed like a child.

It was like when a kid insists on helping the adults with chores, but the adults, afraid he might get hurt or just make things harder, hand him some snacks or fruit to keep him busy instead.

Right now, it felt as though Gu Weiyang had coaxed him into sitting off to the side with fruit.

Su Shijin walked over to the coffee table, sat down, lifted the glass cover, and ate two strawberries.

When he turned his head, he could see Gu Weiyang alone in the kitchen, busy and bustling, while he himself sat comfortably on the sofa eating fruit. It made him feel a bit guilty.

Yet it seemed the kitchen truly didn’t need his help. After a moment’s hesitation, Su Shijin got up, went to the bathroom, and fetched a mop and a bucket, intending to clean the floor outside.

He had just filled the bucket halfway and was carrying the mop out when, turning to grab something, Gu Weiyang caught sight of him.

Even through the glass door, Su Shijin could see Gu Weiyang raise an eyebrow. Then Gu Weiyang set down what he was holding, pushed open the kitchen door, and stopped him from mopping.

“I’ve asked a cleaner to come in the morning to do the mopping—don’t take away their work. Your ankle only just healed not long ago, so sit down and rest,” Gu Weiyang said.

Su Shijin stood there with the mop in hand, lashes lowered, saying nothing.

He didn’t utter a single word, yet somehow Gu Weiyang could sense that he seemed unhappy.

Gu Weiyang quickly untied his apron, tossed it onto the rack beside him, and walked over. “What’s wrong? Are you upset because I’m not letting you help?”

Su Shijin pressed his lips together, not even sure where this flicker of emotion came from. It was as if he had been wanting to help all along, yet kept getting pushed aside, leaving him feeling a little wronged.

How strange—he never thought there would come a day when he would feel wronged over not being allowed to help with chores.

“I just feel like… I’m kind of in the way, not able to help with anything.” Su Shijin’s fingers picked at the handle of the mop as he spoke softly. “I thought we were living together.”

In that instant, Gu Weiyang felt his heart nearly shatter.

Su Shijin rarely showed his emotions, and this was the first time he had ever seen him with his head bowed so obviously, looking as if he felt like a burden. His tone tinged with both grievance and dejection!

Especially that line, “I thought we were living together”, made Gu Weiyang feel like he was the worst person alive.

He just wanted to help! So let him help!

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have kicked you out of the kitchen.” Gu Weiyang took the mop from his hands and set it aside, then leaned in closer and said softly, “But you’ve been working all day so you must be tired. Leave the mopping for the cleaner tomorrow. How about you sit and rest for a bit, and when I’m done cooking, you can help me carry the dishes out, okay?”

Su Shijin felt his face grow warm from being coaxed, and he quickly took a step back to put some space between himself and Gu Weiyang. “Got it. Go on and get back to work, I’ll put the mop away.”

With that, he picked up the mop that Gu Weiyang had set aside and hurried out of his sight.

The moment he stepped into the bathroom, Su Shijin caught sight of his flushed face in the mirror, silently covered it with his hands, and felt a wave of embarrassment.

Feeling wronged just because he couldn’t do housework, and then having to be gently coaxed by an alpha. Su Shijin had never imagined he could be this dramatic in his entire life.