STIDM 12

Chen Qing didn’t continue. Yan Lu didn’t push for answers either.

He just muttered, “Whether it was real or fake between you two, what’s it got to do with me?”

Chen Qing let out a small laugh. “You reek of his scent head to toe. How could it have nothing to do with you?”

Yan Lu froze. He just realized that he hadn’t used any perfume. He left the house without bringing his scent-blocker.

Even though he took his suppressant pills, the faint pheromones from a temporary mark didn’t fade that easily.

His face turned red instantly. It really was like walking around with kiss marks in public.

Anyone could tell he had something going on with Zhong Zong. No wonder Chen Qing had reacted that way earlier.

Yan Lu pressed his lips together and didn’t say anything. Chen Qing, probably knowing full well what Zhong Zong used to be like, dropped the subject.

Although Yan Lu had been hired as a bodyguard, Chen Qing still made a point to teach him things.

Despite acting like he didn’t care about all the cutesy baking stuff, once he stepped into the kitchen, Yan Lu’s eyes lit up with curiosity.

He watched Chen Qing’s practiced movements and the tools used for baking.

When the delicious little cupcakes came out of the oven, Yan Lu felt something warm stir inside.

It was a subtle feeling. He had never understood the appeal of things usually adored by young girls.

But now, it completely captured his attention.

Chen Qing, too, was someone he’d never encountered before. He had a calming presence.

Yan Lu liked it.

When Chen Qing turned around, he caught Yan Lu staring at him with bright eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. “If you keep looking at me like that, Zhong Zong’s going to get jealous.”

Yan Lu raised a brow. “What does it matter? We’re just fuckbuddies.”

“You don’t mean that. You like him.”

“Says who?”

“I can see it.”

“….”

Chen Qing placed a cookie in his hand and smiled with his eyes. “Try this.”

Yan Lu took a bite. At first, it was bitter. But slowly, the sweetness spread across his tongue.

He looked at Chen Qing, puzzled, and took two more bites. “What is this?”

“It’s called first love.”

Yan Lu blinked. Chen Qing continued, “First love isn’t sweet from the start. Especially unrequited ones. But if you don’t keep eating, how will you ever taste the sweetness that comes after? Zhong Zong is the same. If you’re scared, then you shouldn’t have taken that first bite. But since you did, you should at least get to the good part. Being stuck in between will only make you miserable. And it’ll leave the dessert missing a key flavor.”

Yan Lu went quiet, taking his time to digest those words.

Chen Qing patted the flour off his hands and ducked into a side room, coming out with a bottle of pills.

“Take two. You’ll be ready for a fight later.”

Yan Lu didn’t ask much. He swallowed the suppressant that concealed his pheromones.

Then Chen Qing sprayed him generously with Alpha-scented mist and even pulled him into a loose hug, rubbing his neck.

Yan Lu stiffened completely, arms out awkwardly, too afraid to touch the Omega in his arms.

It was way too embarrassing. Even if they were both omega, this level of closeness was overwhelming for him.

When Chen Qing finally let go, he even sniffed his own wrist and smiled at Yan Lu. “There. Now I smell like you too.”

Yan Lu’s face turned red again, but he didn’t say anything. Even so, his heart didn’t really feel anything.

Only nervousness and awkwardness.

It wasn’t like when he was with Zhong Zong.

That feeling was a mix of sadness and anger, sweetness and longing.

It was a kind of liking that hurt right in the center of his chest.

Chen Qing stayed in the shop, teasing Yan Lu, but even someone as dense as Yan Lu could tell he was nervous.

His eyes kept darting to the door, again and again, as if he were desperately waiting.

Yan Lu didn’t get it. If it was like that, why even hire him?

Normally, when an Omega hires a bodyguard, it’s to fend off unwanted suitors, especially those who might try to forcibly mark them.

But judging by Chen Qing’s attitude, it didn’t seem like he was being harassed or stalked.

Yan Lu hesitated. When he first found out the target was Zhong Yuan, he wasn’t sure if he should say something.

But since Chen Qing had already seen through his feelings for Zhong Zong, it didn’t seem to matter anymore.

Watching Chen Qing gleefully plot out how to kick Zhong Yuan out with style, Yan Lu hesitated. “But, Chen-ge… I know Zhong Yuan. He knows me too. And… he knows who I like.”

Chen Qing froze like a record scratch. His pretty eyes went blank, lost and uncertain, full of quiet disappointment.

Seeing how fast his expression fell, Yan Lu quickly added, “But… he doesn’t know I’m an Omega.”

Chen Qing dropped his head onto the counter. “That’s not gonna help. He still won’t believe you’re my Alpha.”

Yan Lu blinked. “Why does he have to believe that?”

Chen Qing gave him a frustrated look. “You don’t get it.”

“You just want him to be jealous?”

The moment Chen Qing’s face flushed red, Yan Lu laughed. He grabbed a cookie and shoved it into Chen Qing’s mouth, mimicking his earlier ‘wise big brother’ tone. “You need someone with perspective.”

Chen Qing chewed on the cookie and mumbled, “You’re not as clueless as Zhong Zong made you sound.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

He swallowed the cookie and kept a straight face.

The atmosphere was light between them, until the jarring sound of the door opening broke it.

At that exact moment, Yan Lu had his hand on Chen Qing’s face, wiping away some chocolate from the corner of his mouth.

Before he could react, a hostile force grabbed his wrist. Yan Lu’s expression shifted, and he yanked his hand back.

Whoever it was clearly wasn’t here for peace. Just like Chen Qing predicted, a fight broke out.

Yan Lu might not be able to beat Zhong Zong, but Zhong Yuan was another story.

The moment Zhong Yuan saw Yan Lu, he shouted for them to stop, but it was too late. Acting on Chen Qing’s orders, Yan Lu landed a solid kick and booted him right out of the bakery.

And he would never admit that kick had a bit of anger toward Zhong Zong behind it, vented through his cousin.

Zhong Yuan sat on the ground, clutching his stomach with a stunned expression, looking from Chen Qing to Yan Lu and completely speechless.

Chen Qing strolled out like a mischievous little demon, wrapping his arms around Yan Lu’s waist and grinning with pure glee. “Told you not to come. I already said I had a boyfriend.”

Zhong Yuan got up from the ground, face twisted in mockery. “This is your boyfriend? That little brat who has a crush on my cousin? You think I’d buy that?”

Chen Qing shot back, “There’s no law against OB relationships. Besides, the past is the past. So what if he used to like your cousin? What matters is that he’s good to me now.”

Yan Lu’s face stayed blank, but he slid an arm around Chen Qing’s waist.

A perfect performance.

Zhong Yuan’s expression shifted, eyes darkening as he looked between the two of them.

After a long pause, he said, “I don’t believe it.”

“I don’t care if you do.”

“I’ll just call Zhong Zong and get the truth.”

“Oh? And how exactly are you going to ask him? You gonna tell him that his dear senior Chen was actually the one his cousin got tired of fucking and passed along like trash? You think he won’t find that filthy?”

Yan Lu’s expression nearly fell apart on the spot.

He’d told himself over and over that there’s no way Zhong Zong hadn’t fooled around in the past, but now that the truth was staring him in the face, fury still surged through him.

He stood there in silence, watching the standoff between Chen Qing and Zhong Yuan, looking like he’d heard every word, and yet like none of it had gotten through.

He shouldn’t be this fucking sensitive.

Yan Lu mocked himself bitterly.