STIDM 18

Yan Lu was slowly getting used to his current life. More than anything, he and Zhong Zong were spending more time together. Even though they often bickered over the smallest things, the closeness between them was undeniable.

That day, he was helping Chen Qing tidy up the shop. Ever since being marked, Chen Qing had been radiating pink bubbles every day, completely wrapped up in the heat of new love. Yan Lu had no idea what the hell was going on between those two.

Just a while back, Chen Qing had even called him over to beat up Zhong Yuan. Now they were all over each other like it was life or death. Yan Lu genuinely couldn’t understand it. He’d tried asking, just to test the waters, but Chen Qing only gave him a blushing glance that nearly zapped him with those love-filled eyes.

The guy simply said, “Once you’ve been marked, you’ll understand.”

Yan Lu didn’t get it. What was the difference between before and after being marked?

Wasn’t it just a matter of belonging to someone?

He subconsciously touched the tattoo at the back of his neck, thinking to himself, he’d already had Zhong Zong’s mark inked there back in his cringe middle school years.

After closing the shop, Yan Lu strolled slowly down to the night market with his hands in his pockets. He had just texted Zhong Zong asking if he wanted supper, but hadn’t gotten a reply. So he figured he’d buy some food to bring back just in case. For some reason, he was starving tonight.

He packed up a stir-fried river snail dish, luosifen, lamb skewers, and half a pound of crawfish. Grabbed a few cans of beer. Feeling pretty good, he was determined to get Zhong Zong drunk and see if something dirty would happen.

After all, Zhong Zong hadn’t touched him much lately. Ever since his heat passed, there had been nearly nothing. It was starting to make Yan Lu feel desperate. He was only eighteen and in his prime. How could one or two rounds be enough?

Holding the plastic bags, he stepped into the elevator, biting down on a cigarette to psych himself up for what he was about to do.

He opened the door, bending down to take off his shoes and raised the food containers in his hand for Zhong Zong to come grab them. But no one responded. After a moment, he grew impatient and tugged at his shoelaces, then looked up and froze.

Someone was sitting perfectly still on the sofa.

It was his father.

Yan Lu froze.

Zhong Zong came out of the kitchen with a tray of tea. Seeing Yan Lu’s face, he sighed and walked over, taking the bags from his hands and speaking softly.

“Uncle Yan just got here not long ago.”

“You told him?”

“You’re about to start school soon, Yan Yan.”

“So it was you who told him?”

“…”

Yan Lu didn’t wait for a reply. He got the message. He stomped his feet into the shoes he had just taken off, ready to leave.

Zhong Zong grabbed him around the waist. “Calm down.”

“Let me fucking go.”

A deep voice came from behind. “Yan Lu. Come home.”

It was his father.

Yan Lu’s nose burned. He stopped struggling, but still couldn’t bring himself to turn around. Deep down, he felt bitter. A part of him hated that Zhong Zong had made the decision for him.

That night felt both long and short.

Yan Lu sat quietly in front of the couch. The food sat on the table and slowly went cold.

Zhong Zong went into the study to give them space. Father Yan sat across from him, speaking in a low voice.

He said he wouldn’t force him to go to an Omega school. He admitted he’d made his share of mistakes over the years. But no matter what, Yan Lu still had to go home, had to continue school. He couldn’t just wander the streets forever.

Yan Lu stayed silent for a long time before finally muttering, “Go home first. Let me think about it.”

Father Yan seemed about to say more, but Yan Lu shook his head.

“It’s already late. Go back. I’ll come back tomorrow if I’ve made up my mind.”

The two of them sat in silence for a while. Eventually, his father stood up and left.

Yan Lu remained seated, zoning out for a while. It felt like he was thinking about everything, and also nothing at all. His mind was a tangled mess, caught between years of memories and emotions.

It tore at him so badly he wanted to cry, but he clenched his teeth and forced the tears back down.

He knew better than to expect anything. Expectations only led to more disappointment. And he couldn’t let himself cry, because once he started, it wouldn’t stop at just once. Better to be like before. Bury it deep and pretend it never happened.

Once he managed to get his emotions under control, he walked to the study and pushed the door open.

Zhong Zong was inside, wearing glasses, reading.

He looked up when he heard the door. “Finished talking?”

Yan Lu didn’t answer. He just stared at him in silence.

Zhong Zong took off his glasses, sighed softly, and opened his arms. “Come here. Let me hold you.”

But Yan Lu didn’t move. He stood stubbornly in place, his eyes locked onto him.

There was nothing he could bring himself to say, but he couldn’t understand. Zhong Zong knew how he felt, knew he didn’t want to go back to that house. So why had he called his father here?

Zhong Zong got up and walked toward him. Yan Lu frowned and stepped back, but still ended up being pulled into his arms. Zhong Zong buried his chin into the crook of Yan Lu’s neck, speaking softly, “You’re going to have to go to university. And besides, if you don’t learn anything, who’s going to take over Uncle Yan’s company?”

Yan Lu blinked, his voice cold and stiff. “What does his business have to do with me? It’s not like I’m going to inherit it.”

“Don’t say that. Even if things are tense between you two, Uncle Yan knows very well who his successor is supposed to be.”

“You seriously didn’t see how he’s treated me all these years?”

“Shh… don’t get worked up. Just hear me out…”

Yan Lu’s emotions were rising, but Zhong Zong held him tight, his right hand gently rubbing his back. Once he felt Yan Lu begin to settle down, he let him go and looked straight into his eyes.

“I’m going to C University. Will you come with me?”

“…What… what?” What did that even mean?

Yan Lu’s heart skipped. Panic flickered in his chest. His eyes darted away, unable to meet Zhong Zong’s gaze.

Zhong Zong’s gaze was gentle, his hand lazily caressing the back of Yan Lu’s neck, voice low and almost hypnotic. “I’m going to C University. Come with me?”

Yan Lu held it in for a long moment before finally letting out a breath. He shot Zhong Zong an annoyed look. “You knew all along, didn’t you?”

Zhong Zong smirked. “What do you think?”

Think my ass.

Yan Lu suddenly threw his arms around him, gripping Zhong Zong’s shirt tight.

“Together?”

“Yeah. Together.”

Yan Lu couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling. Maybe it was a mix of everything, but what lingered most was reluctance. He didn’t want to leave.

But like the tempting offer Zhong Zong had dangled in front of him, he had to go back. He had to get into C University.

If he didn’t get in, someone like Zhong Zong, so noticeable in a crowd, so well-liked, would definitely get swarmed and snatched away. Just picturing that scene made Yan Lu grit his teeth with rage.

He clung tightly to Zhong Zong, even draped a leg over him, pressing him down with his full weight. Zhong Zong could only lie there with a helpless smile. They stayed that way, stuck close together the entire night.

The next morning, while Zhong Zong was still asleep, Yan Lu packed his bag quietly. Soft daylight filtered in through the misty windows. He stood beside the bed, watching Zhong Zong’s sleeping face.

This was the person he liked. Liked enough to want to change for. As if needing courage, he leaned down nervously and kissed his lips. The touch was feather-light, enough to leave a numb tingle on his own lips.

He stared at him for a long time before breaking into a grin. A wicked smile, but his voice was gentle.

“Idiot. I’m definitely getting into C University. Just wait for me.”

Then he turned and left.

On his way home, he called Shi Ying. That punk had gone abroad for ages and hadn’t even called him once. It was like he vanished off the face of the earth. Yan Lu had been living at Zhong Zong’s for over half a month and hadn’t gotten so much as a text from him.

The line rang for a long time before it finally connected. A lazy, accented voice came through.

“Bonjour.”

Yan Lu froze.

Yan Lu froze. Completely blanked out. He pulled the phone away to double-check the screen, confirming again that he hadn’t accidentally dialed an international number. He pressed it back to his ear, and by then it had switched to Shi Ying’s usual voice.

His tone was a little hoarse, but there was a lingering satisfaction in it, something that sounded suspiciously post-sex. Yan Lu felt struck by lightning just from the thought.

He asked cautiously, “Shi Ying?”

“Ah, boss!”

“Who was that just now?”

“No… no one.”

Yan Lu rolled his eyes.

This clumsy cover-up felt all too familiar. From the neighborhood’s kindergarten crush to the model student next door, every time Shi Ying fell for someone, he reacted the same way. Not that any of them had really worked out.

But a foreigner?

Before break, Shi Ying had still been a pure-hearted little Beta. The type who made dirty jokes and watched porn but would get so nervous he overheated whenever he got too close to his crush. Yan Lu was definitely curious about what had happened, but he had more important things to say right now.

“Shi Ying. I’m going back to school. Gonna start studying seriously. I’m done messing around.”

“What? Boss! We just started having fun…”

“I think it’s time to get my act together. We’re at that age.”

“Huh?”

Yan Lu rattled off a bunch of fake motivational talk with a completely serious face, leaving Shi Ying utterly stunned. After that, he just said, “See you at school,” and hung up.

In truth, their so-called “gang life” only covered a few blocks around the school and a couple of arcades. They often clashed with students from other schools. Yan Lu liked messing around, and over time, he carved out a reputation with his fists. Eventually, whenever there was a group fight, students from his school would always call him the savage Beta.

That feeling of being needed had him hooked for a while. But after getting too cocky and ending up in the hospital, he noticed none of those guys who used to call him “bro” even came to visit.

Except Shi Ying.

And Zhong Zong, who came a few times, always in the middle of the night, sneaking in like he thought no one noticed.

Of course Yan Lu knew. The next morning, the nurses would be gossiping nonstop, and among all the people Yan Lu knew, there was only one who could make nurses swoon like that.

After that, even if Yan Lu had been blinded by hot-blooded impulse, he should have understood the difference between shallow and deep waters. The people who truly care about you are the ones who keep it in their hearts, not the ones who just say nice things out loud. You never really know what lies behind someone’s mask.