chapter 55

Chapter 55: A Simple Confession

Nan Yi had never imagined that, even after telling Nan Zhi about He Yu Shen marking him, Nan Zhi would still be fixated on He Yu Shen.

Regardless of Nan Zhi's feelings towards him, they were still bound by blood.

Yet, Nan Zhi seemed utterly indifferent.

"Don't... even... think about it!"

"You can speak now?" The playful smile on Nan Zhi's face turned cold in an instant.

"If you can speak, mind your words. Right, big brother? After all, the more you say, the more mistakes you might make."

In those purely innocent eyes, danger lurked.

Nan seemed as if he had never known the person in front of him, as if encountering a stranger.

The very person who used to chase after me as a child, calling me "big brother", became so distant after just a common cold.

He always thought that Nan Zhi was merely rebellious, but he didn't expect her to be malicious, even disregarding blood ties.

"You... are... afraid... I'll reveal... the truth about the drowning."

It took a lot of effort for Nan Yi to speak, struggling to finish even a single sentence, which was becoming irksome.

With a stern face, Nan Zhi coldly chuckled, "Afraid? What do I have to fear?"

"You, a low-quality omega, how many will believe you?"

Footsteps echoed from behind Nan Yi. Nan Zhi's expression shifted instantly, and with a smile, he whispered threatening words into Nan Yi's ear.

"A stand-in is just that, not yours to keep. You'll return it to me sooner or later."

"Since big brother is busy, I'll take my leave."

Nan Zhi left with a smirk. A black car took him away, and just before boarding, Nan Yi heard a sound resembling a baby's cry.

"Madam?"

The butler approached Nan Yi, calling out with a hint of confusion.

"The maid has prepared some pastries for the madam."

After eating rice porridge and egg custard for so long, the sight of delicate pastries failed to rouse Nan Yi's appetite.

The pleasant mood of the morning dipped to its lowest due to Nan Zhi's visit, leaving him feeling anxious.

He Yu Shen and Yun Luo returned early today. The moment they stepped into the living room, the person lost in thought on the sofa stood up.

He Yu Shen paused in his tracks at Nan Yi's movement.

The emotion in Omega's eyes was unshielded. Even from a distance, He Yu Shen could sense his desolation.

Nan Yi walked straight towards him. Assuming that Omega felt wronged and sought comfort in his embrace, he benevolently spread his arms.

A faint smile graced He Yu Shen's lips, and in a deep, magnetic voice, he said, "I brought you cherries."

Indeed, he held an exquisite box of fruit in his hand.

Standing beside him, Yun Luo's gaze lingered on He Yu Shen's hand for a moment before he consciously moved to sit on the sofa first.

His fringe fell, partly obscuring his eyes and masking his emotions.

Nan Yi hadn't planned on embracing He Yu Shen. It was just that, upon seeing him, instinct led him towards the alpha.

The outstretched arms beckoned for closeness, yet Nan Yi merely stood between them, his hands refraining from encircling the alpha's strong waist.

He tilted his head upward, eyes clear and unclouded.

"What's the matter?" He Yu Shen set down the cherries he held.

Nan Yi didn't want to be consumed by negative emotions. Whether it was speculation or assumption, he shouldn't undermine himself.

In the face of love, one shouldn't be trapped in their own world.

With genuine focus, he looked up at He Yu Shen, "I have... something... to tell you."

His raspy omega voice was sweet, reminiscent of the scent of caramel pheromones.

"Hmm, what is it?"

A hint of amusement was visible in He Yu Shen's eyes, assuming Nan Yi had some minor grievance to share.

"Alone... please."

Nan Yi's face flushed slightly. Despite his resolve, he still felt a mix of shyness and anxiety at this moment.

He Yu Shen chuckled lightly, "What secretive little matter is this? Let's talk upstairs."

"Alright."

Nan Yi followed the alpha up the stairs, his hands slightly sweaty from nervousness. By the time they reached the bedroom door, his legs were wobbly.

He Yu Shen sat on the bed, legs casually spread, as Nan Yi stood between them, face flushed, looking intently at him.

"Why's your face so red again?"

Observing Omega's rosy, delicate complexion, He Yu Shen deduced it wasn’t anything serious.

Breathing slightly heavily from nervousness, Nan Yi blurted out without hesitation, "I... like... you."

He Yu Shen raised an eyebrow, responding with a nonchalant "Hmm."

Thinking he hadn't heard clearly, Nan Yi reiterated, "I... like you."

"Hmm, I know."

Nan Yi: ................

"No more playing hard to get? So direct all of a sudden. Don't worry, I won't drive you away."

Nan Yi: ............

He felt as if He Yu Shen had misunderstood something, yet everything seemed to fall into place simultaneously.

He Yu Shen raised an eyebrow, observing Nan Yi.

The Omega's behavior today was incredibly out of the ordinary — not only did he suddenly confess, but he also seemed despondent upon entering.

"Did something happen today?" He Yu Shen inquired.

"Today... Nan..."

Words almost left Nan Yi's lips, but he swallowed them back down, selfishly not wanting to bring up Nan Zhi in front of He Yu Shen.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing... really."

With his head down, Nan Yi fidgeted, "So... what... do you... think of me?"

He Yu Shen's gaze rested on those slender, pale hands. Without hesitation, he replied, "You're well-behaved, at least."

Nan Yi's eyes dropped further; being seen as merely 'well-behaved' wasn't the same as being liked.

"Yu Shen, I have a proposal here with some questions. Are you available now?" A gentle yet slightly crisp voice echoed from outside the door.

He Yu Shen's gaze shifted away from the hands, replying indifferently, "Yes."

He Yu Shen was beckoned away by Yun Luo.

As the bedroom door opened, Nan Yi, who wanted to sneak a glance at He Yu Shen's retreating figure, caught Yun Luo's brief glance into the room.

Nan Yi: ?

Before leaving the bedroom, Nan Yi also curiously peeked inside, relieved to find it tidy, preventing any possible misunderstandings.

He Yu Shen and Yun Luo discussed matters in the study for a long while, with the butler having to call them for dinner twice.

After the meal, the two returned to the study.

He Yu Shen seemed indifferent to whether he had feelings for Nan Yi or not.

Perhaps his indifference stemmed from not having feelings for him.

Nan Yi felt a bit dejected. Fortunately, he knew how to manage his emotions. At the very least, He Yu Shen no longer disliked him as before.

Life remained largely unchanged, except now He Yu Shen, upon returning from work, would occasionally engage Nan Yi in casual conversation during his free moments.

Moreover, after that day, Nan Zhi hadn't visited the villa again.

One day, as Nan Yi was sketching, his thoughts kept wandering. In the end, instead of his intended design, he drew a cartoon rendition of He Yu Shen.

He stared at it for a while before saving it to his phone.

Nan Yi's speech had become smoother, though still slower than the average person.

On this weekend, He Yu Shen wasn't working.

Out of curiosity, Nan Yi inquired about the relationship between Yun Luo and He Yu Shen.

"He's my cousin."

"Cousin? Then why does Yun Luo address your father as 'Dad' or 'Uncle'?" Nan Yi's speech was slightly slower than He Yu Shen's, who always waited patiently for him to finish.

"Yun Luo is the child of the family from my stepmother's first marriage. He has no direct relation to my father."

"I see."

"I'll be quite busy during the New Year festivities."

"Okay."

"I'd like to go out tomorrow."

"You can go out, but avoid places with alphas. The holiday season makes things vibrant but complicated outside."

"But... one of my friend's brothers is an alpha. There's no helping it if we run into him."

He Yu Shen frowned in displeasure, "Are you planning to cheat?"

Nan Yi mumbled softly, "How could that even be possible?"

The alpha's frown deepened: "Have Xiao Wang pick you up and drop you off. Don't just hop into any random vehicle."

"Understood."