Chapter 169: Relationship

Chapter 169: Relationship

"It's back at my place," Liang Xu sighed. "...Do you still want it, though?"

"Yes, yes, of course!" Shi Lv nodded eagerly, his gaze fixed on Liang Xu. "Can I go to your place?"

His eyes pleaded, brimming with quiet hope, making it impossible for anyone to refuse him.

Liang Xu let out a quiet sigh. "It’s been sitting in the fridge for a day. If you don’t mind, then come along."

So after work that day, Shi Lv once again got into Liang Xu’s car.

Liang Xu drove out from the underground garage while Shi Lv waited by the roadside. Just like before, they dodged everyone, meeting at a street two blocks away from the New Leaf Group. Shi Lv scanned the area warily, ensuring no colleagues were nearby, before slipping into the passenger seat—just like old times.

As if no time had passed at all, and their identities had never changed.

The ride was quiet.

Liang Xu’s home was a duplex penthouse in a high-end seaside district downtown. The balcony was enclosed by a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass—that single pane alone cost hundreds of thousands. Through the glass, one could glimpse a corner of the golden beach, home to the best bathing spot in the city, bustling with tourists in summer.

This was clearly a high-end property.

But to Shi Lv, it felt oddly sterile.

The house was decorated in a minimalist style, dominated by black, white, and gray tones. It felt empty, as if no one had ever lived there.

Liang Xu rarely stayed at home. He usually resided in the penthouse suite of the Zhenhai Hotel, which was closer to the office and more convenient for work. He’d bought the place mostly for appearances.

But for Shi Lv’s birthday, doing it at home seemed more fitting. Plus, Liang Xu wanted to keep the Omega in his suite hidden, so he had returned here.

Aside from the cake, the fridge also contained a seafood platter Liang Xu had pre-ordered from a renowned local chef, packed with Shi Lv’s favorites—geoduck, oysters, salmon—nothing was missing.

But after sitting for so long, it was well past its prime. The fish had lost its sheen, the oysters had shriveled slightly. Fresh seafood was all about timing—even a few hours could drastically affect the taste. What was in the fridge now looked inedible.

Liang Xu planned to throw it all away after Shi Lv left. Silently, he took out the cake, only to find that after a full day, the frosting had softened. The whipped cream had melted slightly, its colors bleeding into the cake layers, turning into an indistinct mess.

The candles were still taped to the box, unopened. The birthday hat was hastily bundled, looking like discarded trash.

This cake would’ve been fine for a college student’s birthday, but for the young master of the Ye family, it was a bit of a slight. Liang Xu, always meticulous, didn’t want to leave any room for criticism. "If you want cake, I’ll get a fresh one delivered. It’ll arrive in about an hour. This one isn’t very fresh anymore," he said, about to toss it.

"Wait, wait!" Shi Lv quickly reached out, snatching the cake from the trash at the last second. "No, it looks fine to me. What’s wrong with it?"

He placed the cake back on the table. "I’ve only been back with the Ye family for a few days—I’m not that spoiled yet. When I was a kid, my family was broke. We couldn’t afford proper cakes, just those little paper cups with a tiny paper umbrella on top and a cloying maraschino cherry. I still gobbled it up and kept the umbrellas in a glass jar."

This wasn’t a lie. The original owner’s family was broke, unable to afford fancy cakes. Shi Lv himself had grown up in an ordinary household. His father, with average education, had clawed his way up from nothing, moving from the countryside to a small town, then to the city. Shi Lv had lived in all three—countryside, town, and city. He still remembered when the town had only one bakery, packed with artificial flavors and cheap cream, but that never stopped him from enjoying it.

Point is, he couldn’t care less about French jam or Chantilly cream, nor whether the pastry chef was Michelin-starred or Black Pearl-rated. All he cared about was who he shared the cake with.

So Shi Lv shrugged off the cake’s sad state. He pulled Liang Xu to sit down, pressed his palms together, and wished.

As Shi Lv closed his eyes, Liang Xu watched him intently.

Liang Xu knew hesitation would backfire. If Elder Ye ever found out about their relationship, given his controlling nature, who knew how he’d react? Liang Xu had been chosen by Elder Ye for Ye Xuan, but that didn’t mean he’d approve of any entanglement with Shi Lv. If things came to light, Shi Lv, as Elder Ye’s only child, would be fine—but Liang Xu wouldn’t.

This should’ve been the perfect moment to cut ties. Yet Liang Xu remained silent, silent, until Shi Lv started cutting the cake without a word.

Shi Lv sliced a piece for Liang Xu and another for himself. He gently speared a bite and tasted it. "Mmm, it’s still delicious. This cake must’ve been expensive."

Seeing this, Liang Xu quietly sighed in relief. He forked a piece of cake and took a bite, only to pause briefly.

The cream's moisture had seeped into the cake base, mixing with the fridge's dampness, leaving the cake soggy and unpleasant to eat.

Shi Lv still finished it properly.

Afterward, he borrowed Liang Xu's kitchen to reheat the food from his bear-shaped lunchbox and shared the meal with Liang Xu.

Liang Xu watched him with mixed feelings.

Even after becoming New Leaf Group's heir and experiencing extraordinary wealth, Shi Lv still carried his lunchbox and cooked his own meals. For a moment, it felt as if nothing had changed.

By the time they finished dinner and put the dishes in the dishwasher, Shi Lv glanced at the clock—it was almost nine.

The shareholders' meeting earlier that day had dragged on due to Shi Lv's unfamiliarity with the procedures, delaying their departure. Now, after dinner, the outside was completely dark.

Liang Xu picked up his car keys. "Want me to drive you home?"

Heping Community was where Shi Lv rented his apartment.

Shi Lv replied, "Yeah, but it's quite far. Isn't that too much trouble?"

Their residences were in opposite directions—one east, the other west—with New Leaf Group at the center. Driving Shi Lv home and returning would take Liang Xu over an hour.

Shi Lv looked at Liang Xu, noticing for some reason that he looked far more worn out than before. His usually immaculate hair was slightly disheveled, his glasses perched loosely on his nose, and dark circles shadowed his eyes as if he hadn’t slept well in ages.

What he didn’t know was that Shi Lv’s return to the Ye family had thrown all Liang Xu’s plans into disarray. Since learning the news, Liang Xu had been frantically networking and preparing contingencies, barely sleeping a full night—hence the exhaustion.

For an omega to drive an alpha home went against alpha norms, so Shi Lv waved it off. "Never mind, don’t bother. You must be exhausted—get some rest. I’ll just take a cab."

There was still one last bite of cake left. Shi Lv carefully packed it up and headed for the door. His usually upright posture seemed slightly slumped tonight, strangely forlorn.

Liang Xu watched him, then let out a soft sigh. "...It’s late. Taking a cab alone isn’t safe. Why don’t you stay the night?"

The suggestion was odd. What danger could possibly befall Shi Lv—a fit young alpha?

Yet Shi Lv seemed to agree. His foot, already past the threshold, immediately retracted as he turned back with a smile. "You’re right. It is late—it might be risky."

"..."

Liang Xu was the one who’d invited him to stay, yet now he was the one feeling awkward. He stood up. "I’ll clear out the master bedroom for you."

Shi Lv quickly declined. "No need for the trouble. I’ll just use the guest room."

And so, he stayed.

At first, they got along fine—Liang Xu reviewing reports while Shi Lv watched TV on the couch. But when Shi Lv walked to the bathroom, leaning in to ask Liang Xu for spare clothes, the latter suddenly realized the awkwardness.

As an omega, he’d just allowed an alpha—one with whom he had an ambiguous history, including three temporary marks (though Shi Lv remained unaware)—to spend the night.

Shi Lv, however, seemed oblivious. His youthful features carried a unique openness, as if he were simply staying over at a mentor's house. He borrowed an unopened pair of Liang Xu’s briefs and a used shirt before the sound of running water filled the bathroom.

Liang Xu grew restless.

Showering meant removing the scent patch. Despite the advanced air filtration in Liang Xu’s home, traces of pheromones inevitably seeped through the door cracks, drifting into the living room. Liang Xu tried forcing his focus onto the documents in his hands—and failed.

Three marks had long since accustomed him to this alpha’s scent.

To him, it meant soothing comfort after long strain, so much so that the moment he caught a whiff, his body reflexively relaxed.

He wanted to sleep.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to distract himself, but an accidental glance up only made things worse.

When this house was decorated, no thought was given to another person living here. With his status, having a partner wasn’t in the cards anyway. So, despite its ample size, it was designed for solo living—everything set up just how he liked it. As a result, the bathroom was enormous, partitioned with highly transparent frosted glass, through which you could just make out the figure inside at this moment.

Shi Lv was the type who looked lean in clothes but was ripped underneath. Behind the frosted glass, his long legs were straight and well-proportioned, his waist trim and well-defined. Just that glimpse was enough for Liang Xu to recall the photo of his abs Shi Lv had sent him and the sensation of touching that taut stomach in the dark.

The young heir of New Leaf Group might appear youthful and fresh-faced, but his figure was undeniably impressive.

Just showered, Shi Lv walked out wearing knee-length athletic shorts and drying his hair. Liang Xu’s underwear was way too tight for him, uncomfortably so. Liang Xu glanced briefly before averting his gaze. The loose T-shirt, however, fit him perfectly. The college student’s skin was smooth and glowing, youthfully radiant.

Then, Shi Lv settled onto the sofa and started watching TV with Liang Xu.

His posture was relaxed and casual, as if he were in a dorm or at home—the only thing missing was some sunflower seeds to munch on.

Liang Xu sighed. "Want some sunflower seeds?"

Shi Lv nodded.

Liang Xu tossed him a handful.

Ten minutes later, Liang Xu asked again, "Want some red wine?"

Shi Lv shook his head.

Liang Xu uncorked the bottle and poured himself a glass.

The spacious apartment had a massive temperature-controlled wine cellar stocked with countless bottles. Watching Liang Xu swirl his glass, Shi Lv took a sip from his own cup, then made a face at the bitter taste.

It was fine wine, but Shi Lv couldn’t handle his liquor. To him, a ¥100,000 bottle of red wine might as well be the cheap ¥50 stuff—both burned his tongue. The only distinction was whether it was bitter, very bitter, or extremely bitter.

Seeing this, Liang Xu’s expression softened, and a rare, genuine smile surfaced.

Liang Xu asked, "Then what would you like to drink?"

Shi Lv: "Cola. Freshly opened, with plenty of fizz. Preferably chilled or with ice."

"..."

Pretty particular, aren’t you?

Liang Xu: "There really isn’t any in this house."

He handed his phone to Shi Lv. "Want to order delivery?"

Shi Lv didn’t hold back. The two had shared a meal earlier, and he hadn’t eaten his fill. Not only did he order iced cola, but he also added some barbecue to the cart. Later, he sat on Liang Xu’s leather sofa worth over ¥100,000 and put away several oysters atop the marble coffee table worth tens of thousands.

Liang Xu was a bit dumbfounded, but his expression remained mildly entertained. He didn’t stop Shi Lv, letting him do as he pleased.

As midnight approached, they turned in for the night.

Liang Xu in the master bedroom, Shi Lv in the guest room—separated by just a single wall. That night, Liang Xu tossed and turned forever, couldn’t sleep to save his life.

Even though Shi Lv had properly reapplied his gland patch, his pheromones kept drifting over, like persistent little fingers poking at him.

After lying awake for hours, Liang Xu slipped out of bed and went to the living room to root through the medicine cabinet.

Having grown up under Elder Ye’s high-pressure environment, Liang Xu struggled with nervous exhaustion and needed medication to fall asleep.

He wasn’t sure what he was hiding, not daring to turn on the light, only hastily finding the medicine and washing it down with a gulp of water. Half an hour later, his nerves finally gave in to drowsiness, and he closed his eyes, sinking into deep sleep.

He slept fitfully, with faint pheromones teasing his senses. In a half-dream state, Liang Xu vaguely saw the cold and gloomy Ye family mansion, dreaming of the first time he met Ye Xuan—a pallid, wasting figure in the sickbed. But as the dream continued, the mansion suddenly turned into a wheat field, the air filled with the scent of bread and the sizzling sound of frying.

...Shi Lv was frying bread.

The Ye family’s newly reclaimed young master had openly taken over his kitchen. He had brought congee and baozi, whipped up a salad, and was now attempting to use Liang Xu's bread maker to toast bread.

The bread maker was brand new—Liang Xu had never used it after buying it. Shi Lv, messing with the instructions, clearly amused, couldn’t tell if he was cooking or just goofing off.

Seeing him awake, Shi Lv turned around with the manual in hand. "Good morning."

Liang Xu replied softly, "Good morning."

Shi Lv yanked the toast out—it was slightly burnt. After tasting it, he frowned. "I'll toast two more slices for you."

He did it naturally, like he owned the place, oblivious to how odd it was, as both a guest and New Leaf’s heir, to be making breakfast for Liang Xu.

Liang Xu sat down at the dining table, and Shi Lv pushed the bread toward him. "...Liang Xu? Is there something you want to talk to me about?"

His ever-present smile tightened slightly, his eyes lowered as if contemplating what to say.

Liang Xu looked at him. "Shi Lv, why did you avoid me that night at the Ye family banquet?"

These things had to be addressed for Liang Xu to decide his next steps.

Shi Lv thought to himself, *What else could it be?* The mini system had been yapping all night, and Shi Lv feared that even greeting Liang Xu might short-circuit 66. He still didn’t understand its mechanism, where its energy came from, or what the penalty for failing tasks was. He didn’t want to fry 66’s circuits.

But he had prepared an answer for Liang Xu.

"Elder Ye was nearby. He's sharp—I was afraid he'd notice something off about our relationship."

Plausible enough. Liang Xu nodded, letting out a near-silent sigh of relief.

"...Besides that, I have another question."

He looked at Shi Lv again, his gaze slightly complicated. "So what are we, exactly?"

Just some kid’s passing fancy? The young master’s curiosity about his former superior? Or something else entirely?

Hearing this, Shi Lv tilted his head slightly, looking at Liang Xu with mild surprise.

Liang Xu didn’t avoid his gaze, meeting his eyes calmly.

"Ah, I thought it was already obvious. You really didn’t notice?" Shi Lv continued working, pushing the salad bowl toward Liang Xu and handing him chopsticks. In the noticeably slowed rhythm of Liang Xu’s breathing, he carefully chose his words. "Well... I’m courting you. Didn’t you realize?"

If he didn’t want to be a boyfriend, why would he make breakfast at someone else’s place?

And so, Liang Xu’s breath hitched.