Chapter 15

Chapter 15

After preparing the late-night snack, Lu Yao placed it in a thermal container. By nearly ten o'clock, most of the staff had retired, leaving the villa in quiet repose.

Lu Yao sat on a corner sofa, the only light in the living room emanating from the lamp beside him.

Fu Yanhuai could certainly afford the electricity, but the butler, understanding that atmosphere fostered affection, had deliberately extinguished the other lights.

Lu Yao had been waiting for a while, dozing fitfully against the armrest.

The room was cloaked in darkness, the desk lamp casting an ambiguous halo. A slender figure’s head nodded persistently, stubbornly fighting off sleep. This was the scene that greeted Fu Yanhuai as he entered, bringing with him the night’s chill.

Fu Yanhuai made no sound. He slowly approached Lu Yao from behind, loosening his grip on his coat and dropping it over Lu Yao’s head.

Startled awake, Lu Yao instinctively looked up as the coat slid off. His eyes widened as he stared at Fu Yanhuai, a small tuft of hair sticking up where the coat had caught it.

The scent of silver fir lingered in the air. Lu Yao quickly clutched the coat and sat up straight. "Mr. Fu."

Fu Yanhuai’s gaze was unfamiliar—Lu Yao couldn’t discern if it was scrutiny or mere observation.

Lu Yao hesitantly asked, "You’re back?"

He didn’t understand why Fu Yanhuai wore such an expression. Already cautious and uneasy around Fu Yanhuai, he now felt even more bewildered.

The meeting had just concluded. The joint project between several companies was progressing smoothly, despite a minor unexpected interlude.

Fu Yanhuai could tell Shen Jinyan was highly ambitious, yet he maintained a perfect sense of propriety. Although Shen Jinyan had been inconspicuous during the meeting, Fu Yanhuai encountered him again in the underground parking lot.

"I’m glad you weren't affected."

Shen Jinyan spoke sincerely, "Thank goodness my scent didn't bother you. I only just checked in the restroom and realized my gland patch wasn’t properly secured."

Fu Yanhuai’s expression remained impassive. Shen Jinyan was lying—if what he’d smelled had truly been pheromones, everyone in the meeting room would have required immediate quarantine.

Most likely, it was a perfume or fragrance that mimicked pheromones.

Fu Yanhuai didn’t believe him, but it made no difference. Shen Jinyan’s concern deepened. "If I had disrupted the meeting because of this…"

"There was no disruption," Fu Yanhuai stated calmly. "Is there anything else, Assistant Shen? I have private engagements."

As expected, Fu Yanhuai was not easily swayed. Shen Jinyan showed no outward sign of discomfort, politely stepping aside. "I will continue to represent Shenglang Group in this collaboration. See you tomorrow, Mr. Fu."

Strangely, at that moment, Fu Yanhuai was abruptly reminded of Lu Yao’s tearful eyes.

Casually tugging at his tie, Fu Yanhuai remained silent. Lu Yao, still groggy, hugged Fu Yanhuai’s coat tightly and stood up. Blinking to fully awaken, Lu Yao asked, "What did you have for dinner?"

Fu Yanhuai paused mid-motion, his gaze dropping to Lu Yao’s face.

The moment their eyes met, Lu Yao’s mind finally cleared, racing to make sense of the situation. "I mean—I wasn’t sure if you’d still want something to eat. I made a late-night snack. If you don’t mind, you could try it."

His attitude wasn’t wrong, merely a little too distant.

Fu Yanhuai fell into thought again. Financial reports and company stock prices had never left him feeling so out of control. He didn’t understand his current state of mind, nor what he truly desired.

But a man like Fu Yanhuai would never allow himself to be consumed by internal conflict. He reached out and pressed down the rebellious lock of Lu Yao’s hair.

"I always thought it stuck up because of careless posture during my rut."

That particular strand of Lu Yao’s hair always seemed to spring up. However, the times Fu Yanhuai had seen it disheveled were usually in rather chaotic circumstances, leading him to believe it was his own doing.

"Ah, this." Fu Yanhuai pressed it down, but the stubborn lock sprang back up again. Lu Yao, a little embarrassed, avoided Fu Yanhuai’s playful gaze. "It’s been like this since I was a child. It’s quite disobedient."

Fu Yanhuai didn’t try to flatten it again. Instead, he poked it playfully. The hair was soft and springy.

The person, however, was quite compliant.

"Let’s change how you address me, Lu Yao. Spouses are, after all, one of the most intimate relationships."

Lu Yao stared up at Fu Yanhuai blankly. Coupled with that unruly strand of hair, the inexplicable feeling in Fu Yanhuai’s heart intensified.

Lu Yao didn’t understand what Fu Yanhuai meant, but his rapidly beating heart betrayed his incredulous joy.

"Then… can I call you by your name?"

Fu Yanhuai could see the hope flickering in Lu Yao’s eyes—the tentative, cautious reach of someone who had long yearned for their alpha’s affection, daring to try once more.

Thoughtfully, Fu Yanhuai remarked, "Didn’t you find it quite natural to use other forms of address last time?"

"!"

Lu Yao stumbled back in panic, almost tripping over the table. Fu Yanhuai deftly wrapped an arm around Lu Yao’s waist, steadying him.

"Now, let’s try your late-night snack."

The usually quiet nape of Lu Yao’s neck suddenly asserted a strong presence. Lightheaded, he forced himself to walk normally toward the kitchen. The scent of silver fir was much stronger than before, and the sensation of heat surged through him once more.

Unlike Lu Yao, Fu Yanhuai smelled nothing. Lu Yao’s behavior was somewhat unusual, but he had acted similarly when shy before.

Fu Yanhuai graciously took a seat at the dining table. The butler, having reappeared silently, turned on the light above the table. Before Lu Yao returned, the butler quietly asked, "Mr. Fu, will you be taking Mr. Lu Yao with you to the family estate this Friday?"

Fu Yanhuai rarely visited the estate, busy as he was managing the company. However, he still made sure to spend two days a month with his parents.

Lu Yao had only met Fu Yanhuai’s parents briefly during the initial marriage discussions—a stern father and a gentle mother, a standard and healthy alpha-omega family.

However, their attitude towards Lu Yao had been quite cold.

Fu Yanhuai had never brought Lu Yao along to the estate before, seeing no need for it. When Fu Yanhuai wasn’t home, Lu Yao would feel more at ease returning later, as his family still relied on him for financial support, leaving him no room to stop.

But this time, Fu Yanhuai considered it.

Fu Yanhuai also posed a question to the butler. "Uncle Yan, is Lu Yao a suitable partner?"

Fu Yanhuai’s life had always been smooth sailing. Everything he obtained came too easily. He naturally possessed the world’s resources, the adoration of omegas, and the apprehension of his male peers. It was equally natural that he failed to comprehend the preciousness of genuine affection.

Butler Yan patiently advised him, "What do you believe is most important in a marriage?"

Fu Yanhuai didn’t know. After a moment of careful thought, he replied, "Equal resources."

"Material wealth is indeed very important," Butler Yan said tactfully, "but business marriages are commonplace in the capital. Truly happy partnerships, however, are exceedingly rare."

The upper echelons engaged in many elaborate games, and most arranged marriages were merely facades.

Butler Yan continued, "Couples as devoted as the master and madam are uncommon. While material factors play a part, they genuinely love each other."

It was rare for such a loyal pair to emerge from a commercial marriage. With such parents and family, a child’s psychological state should, by all accounts, be very healthy. Yet, something seemed amiss, as Fu Yanhuai appeared to be naturally more emotionally detached than others.

Following the butler’s line of thought, Fu Yanhuai said, "So you’re saying that affection is also a crucial criterion for assessing a suitable partner."

The butler nodded. "Precisely."

Fu Yanhuai neither confirmed nor denied. He keenly sensed the shift in his own mindset, including, but not limited to, thinking of Lu Yao in completely unrelated scenarios. Fu Yanhuai excelled at rational thinking—identifying problems, pinpointing their root causes, and resolving them.

Lu Yao was clearly the problem, and Fu Yanhuai wanted to know if he could resolve it properly.

Shen Jinyan had no idea that his provocations tonight had prompted Fu Yanhuai to re-evaluate Lu Yao’s place in his heart. The butler quietly departed again, and Fu Yanhuai gazed at the lamp by the sofa, which remained unextinguished.

Lu Yao barely managed to compose himself, though the discomfort at the back of his neck persisted. Still, he didn’t want his physical condition to spoil this late-night meal.

This was one of the rare beautiful moments in Lu Yao’s life—a time when he felt genuine happiness.

His face flushed, Lu Yao didn’t dare look at Fu Yanhuai. He lowered his head and carefully placed the tray, murmuring, “The chef said… you don’t like strong flavors, so these side dishes are all very mild.”

The loose collar couldn’t conceal the cold compress on his nape. There was no scent of pheromones on Lu Yao, and his movements were stiff from nervousness.

If Fu Yanhuai were to compare, Lu Yao’s actions were indeed far less fluid than Shen Jinyan’s. His timid yet blatant probing was also quite clumsy. But when had matters of the heart ever followed logic? With Lu Yao by his side, Fu Yanhuai’s strangely fluctuating mood settled steadily.

With a single arm, Fu Yanhuai wrapped around Lu Yao’s waist, making him gasp and tumble onto his lap.

He casually gave a playful pinch at Lu Yao’s waist, causing the latter’s face to flush scarlet. Too afraid to ask Fu Yanhuai to release him, Lu Yao could only whisper, “I… I’d like to sit beside you. Is that okay?”

“It is.”

Though Fu Yanhuai said it was fine, his grip didn’t loosen. His tone remained a commanding, unyielding decree. “Turn around.”

Lu Yao obediently turned his head, his nose accidentally brushing against Fu Yanhuai’s cheek.

Fu Yanhuai pressed a hand to the back of Lu Yao’s neck and directly kissed his lips.

Fu Yanhuai’s eyes were closed, but Lu Yao’s widened in shock. The blood vessels in his nape throbbed, and Fu Yanhuai’s palm only made the skin there burn hotter.

The brief, chaste kiss ended quickly, but Lu Yao remained frozen in shock for a long time, too stunned to even look away.

This was the first time Fu Yanhuai had ever received such a bold gaze from Lu Yao. Meeting his eyes, he teased lightly, “Sit beside me? Sure.”