Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Lu Yao cautiously raised his head again. "I won’t do this next time."

Fu Yanhuai hummed in acknowledgment. "Go eat dinner first."

After Fu Yanhuai left, Lu Yao stood there, vexed, for a while. He shouldn’t have been so lazy as to just fall asleep.

The sudden ring of his phone reminded Lu Yao that he hadn’t checked his messages since last night. He instinctively bent down to grab it, but the movement strained the muscles in his waist.

The sharp pain made Lu Yao straighten up, his vision momentarily dimming. He pressed his lips together, taking a moment to recover—his waist had indeed been overworked these past couple of days.

His phone battery was down to 2%, but thankfully it hadn’t shut off. Lu Yao quickly plugged it in to charge. Sitting on the bed, he examined the screen—the pop-up notification showed it was Lu Qianxing.

It was hard to describe the expression on Lu Yao’s face in that moment—a mix of endurance and resistance.

Yet, in the end, he still tapped the dialogue box to call back. Lu Qianxing answered almost immediately, his voice coming through the shoddy phone speaker like that of a pampered young master.

"Lu Yao, did you even ask Brother Fu about the partnership Mom told you to bring up?"

Lu Yao was silent for a moment. "He won’t agree."

"What do you mean he won’t agree? Just ask him! Can’t even handle such a small thing—no wonder Mom says you’re useless, never striving for anything."

If Lu Yao didn’t strive, he wouldn’t have gotten into the best university in the capital only to drop out later. He also wouldn’t have secretly worked at a dessert shop behind Fu Yanhuai’s back after marriage, just to satisfy Lu Qianxing’s insatiable demands.

"Mom doesn’t like me just because I’m a beta," Lu Yao said softly. "You’re an omega, so she loves you."

By now, Lu Yao had come to accept this fact calmly. Guan Qinglu was a B-grade omega who had meticulously schemed to marry Lu Zhongguang, an A-grade alpha who seemed promising at the time.

But who knew Lu Zhongguang wasn’t some proper wealthy heir? After marrying in, Guan Qinglu realized the Lu family’s finances were thinner than paper. Not long after the wedding, Lu Zhongguang’s business ran into trouble. Guan Qinglu wanted a divorce, but by then, she was already pregnant.

The dignity and status Guan Qinglu had fought so hard to maintain shattered completely with Lu Yao’s birth. An alpha-omega pairing had an 80% chance of producing an alpha or omega offspring—yet Lu Yao turned out to be a beta.

His gender felt like a mockery of Guan Qinglu’s futile efforts. She blamed all her failed marriage and life on Lu Yao.

Lu Qianxing sounded smug. "Good thing Mom still has me. Bring Brother Fu home this weekend—this project is really important for Dad. Our family’s business depends on it. Lu Yao, are you listening?"

Lu Yao heard him, but he was too exhausted to respond. From the day he was born until now, Lu Zhongguang had never accomplished anything noteworthy.

Lu Yao tried to reason with Lu Qianxing. "Not just anyone can take a share of the Fu family’s projects. If something goes wrong, Fu Yanhuai would be held responsible. And besides… back then…"

He hesitated, but forced himself to continue despite the shame. "The marriage contract was very clear—Fu Yanhuai gave us a villa and a card."

Lu Yao hated bringing this up. It laid bare the truth that his marriage to Fu Yanhuai was, at its core, just a transaction.

Lu Qianxing’s tone instantly turned sharp. "What’s that supposed to mean? You think Dad can’t handle this project? If Brother Fu didn’t have pheromone rejection disorder, this marriage would never have fallen to you."

If Fu Yanhuai could accept an omega’s comfort, his partner wouldn’t have been Lu Yao—nor would it have been Lu Qianxing.

"Yes, he really doesn’t like me," Lu Yao said, suppressing his emotions. "So how could someone like me convince him to agree to a partnership?"

Under Guan Qinglu’s subtle influence, Lu Qianxing had long grown accustomed to treating Lu Yao with arrogance. "Whatever. The family expects you and Brother Fu to come home for dinner this weekend. Figure it out yourself."

Lu Yao gave a weak, tired smile. *Brother Fu*? Fu Yanhuai probably had no interest in being brothers with anyone from the Lu family.

He exited Lu Qianxing’s chat. There were very few messages on his phone—Lu Yao’s social circle was sparse to the point of bleakness.

The only one was from Xia Shiyue, asking how his rest had been today, saying Ma Song was furious that he hadn’t shown up and had ruined two orders. He also mentioned that he’d be leaving at the end of the month—even though his family disagreed, he was determined to open his own café.

Xia Shiyue’s messages were trivial and casual, but Lu Yao drew a bit of warmth from them.

He carefully replied to each one, then turned off his phone and left the room.

Lu Yao still felt a little cold. His limbs weak, he found a thick coat to put on. The kitchen was on the lower level—compared to the dining room, Lu Yao more often ate in the back kitchen.

He assumed this time would be no different—either grabbing leftovers the kitchen staff had set aside for him or simply cooking a quick bowl of noodles for himself. But as soon as he reached the back kitchen, he saw the butler standing at the door.

The butler’s expression was as stern as ever. Lu Yao hadn’t expected anyone to still be in the kitchen at this hour and froze for a moment. "Are you here to get something?"

The butler shook his head. "No, I was waiting for you. The chef prepared lean pork ginger congee and side dishes. They’re here."

Lu Yao’s still-muddled brain didn’t process this immediately. He instinctively followed the butler inside. The chef’s spread was far more lavish than the butler had described—the steaming congee on the tray was thick, topped with an egg. The plump little buns were soaked in meat broth, and the side dishes looked fresh and appetizing.

The aroma awakened Lu Yao’s stomach. He clearly heard it growl, but still asked hesitantly, "Are these leftovers from dinner, or…?"

The butler smiled politely. "They were prepared especially for you. Please eat first—President Fu is waiting for you upstairs."

Lu Yao sat down and quietly began eating the congee. Sensing his discomfort, the butler deliberately stepped away to give him space.

The warm congee soothed his body, and Lu Yao seemed to regain a bit of energy. The portions weren’t large, and he finished everything. Only then did the butler approach again.

As Lu Yao picked up the tray to stand, the butler asked neutrally, "Are you full, Mr. Lu?"

Lu Yao nodded. "Yes, I’m full."

"Mr. Lu." The butler’s nasolabial folds were deep, making him look stern, but he deliberately softened his tone. "Time is limited, so I’ll be brief."

"I know you’ve still been working at the dessert shop. President Fu knows as well. But don’t worry—I’m not here to scold you."

Sick and frail, Lu Yao looked especially fragile. The butler’s gaze lingered on his pale lips and the marks on his neck before he sighed again.

Though Lu Yao’s eyes held unease, the butler’s voice remained gentle. "I know you’ve been giving money to your brother. But when you married President Fu, he already provided a generous sum as compensation. I know it’s not my place to say this, but caring for your family is admirable. However, you and President Fu are married now—he is also your family, and an even closer one at that."

Lu Yao didn’t understand what the butler was getting at. He murmured, "I’ve been slacking these past couple of days. That’s my fault."

Misinterpreting the butler’s meaning, the older man sighed in resignation. "I’ve been the butler here since President Fu was a child. I can tell—when it comes to you, President Fu has done many things that go beyond necessity. Perhaps you could devote more time to him."

Fu Yanhuai’s attitude toward Lu Yao was, of course, influenced by the Lu family. Fu Yanhuai was busy—most of his time was spent on work and social engagements. Even at home, he mostly rested or slept. Lu Yao’s job at the dessert shop wasn’t easy either, and he still had to spare time for the Lu family’s demands. The butler had silently observed this couple for a year and could no longer hold back.

Lu Yao didn’t believe the butler’s words. Fu Yanhuai clearly disliked his proximity—any occasional intimacy was only due to his rut forcing him to endure it.

But Lu Yao didn’t argue. There was no point. He simply nodded along. "I understand. Thank you, Butler."

The butler could tell Lu Yao hadn’t taken his words to heart. This time, he truly sighed deeply. "Please head upstairs now."

The butler decided to find another opportunity—this time, he’d approach Fu Yanhuai directly.

"Okay."

Lu Yao felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He didn’t dwell on this small episode, but he was grateful for the butler’s care while he was sick.

The kitchen didn’t prepare meals outside designated hours—the butler must have specifically instructed them to make congee for Lu Yao. He wondered if he should make some desserts for the butler tomorrow as thanks, though he wasn’t sure if the man had a sweet tooth.

Soon, Lu Yao reached Fu Yanhuai’s door. He knocked and waited quietly. After two seconds, the door opened.

Fu Yanhuai scrutinized Lu Yao’s complexion and, seeing some improvement, dismissed it. But then his gaze dropped to Lu Yao’s clothes, and his brow twitched slightly.

"Do you have to wear these rags every day?" Fu Yanhuai asked, genuinely baffled. "Are you starving in the Fu household? Didn’t I give you my clothes to change into?"

So it was Fu Yanhuai who changed him into those pajamas?

Lu Yao didn’t have time to feel embarrassed. He flushed awkwardly and said, "I was a bit cold, so I put on the jacket. I’ll take it off now."

Sure enough, the ill-fitting pajamas were still underneath. Fu Yanhuai stepped aside and said, "Go to bed."

Lu Yao obediently sat on the inner side of the bed, lowering his head to undo the buttons at the collar of his pajamas. But Fu Yanhuai took hold of his wrist from behind.

The way they were positioned made it look like Lu Yao was curled up in Fu Yanhuai’s embrace. His face instantly turned red, and he froze mid-motion.

"Tomorrow, I’ll have a tailor come to the house to take your measurements," Fu Yanhuai said, his hand sliding under the fabric. Lu Yao didn’t even know where to look, his flustered gaze locked onto the heavy curtains.

"As my lawful spouse, you shouldn’t lack for proper clothes."