Chapter 52 “Now, Our Wedding Begins…”

Chapter 52 "Now, our wedding is about to begin..."

How did you fall in love with him?

Lin Yunshu’s expression briefly went blank.

Chen Shuyang watched him with open curiosity—he genuinely wanted to know the answer.

Lin Yunshu had always kept to himself, with hardly any friends, and had never shown any interest in romance.

Yet suddenly, he was married, out of the blue.

The more Chen Shuyang thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

Lin Yunshu didn’t answer right away.

His face was expressionless, his head tilted as if deep in thought, or perhaps simply avoiding the topic.

After waiting a moment, a thought suddenly struck Chen Shuyang, and his whole demeanor turned serious.

Lin Yunshu’s health wasn’t good—Chen Shuyang remembered something about a genetic condition, having heard his parents mention "that condition of yours" since childhood.

His heart raced, unsettled by the bizarre guess that had popped into his head.

"You’re not—"

"Shuyang."

Lin Yunshu cut him off.

His face remained gentle, as if nothing was amiss.

"It’s getting late, you should head to the venue first," Lin Yunshu said. "The guests will be arriving soon."

"Brother..."

Chen Shuyang said uneasily.

Lin Yunshu waved him off and gently pushed him toward the door. "Go on ahead."

"Lin Yunshu!" Chen Shuyang sighed helplessly.

But Lin Yunshu had already gathered the trash from the table and handed it to him. "Take this out for me while you’re at it."

Chen Shuyang: "..."

He let out a heavy sigh, took the bag, and reluctantly walked toward the door.

Lin Yunshu turned around, braced himself against the table, and closed his eyes without a sound.

As Chen Shuyang opened the door, he paused before even stepping out.

"You’re back?"

His voice, neither too loud nor too soft, startled Lin Yunshu into turning around immediately.

Zhou Yu was indeed standing at the door.

His suit was draped over his arm, and he looked completely at ease as he smiled at Chen Shuyang. "Heading out, brother-in-law?"

"Huh? Oh... yeah."

Chen Shuyang rubbed the tip of his nose awkwardly, squeezed past Zhou Yu, and pointed outside. "I’ll get going now."

"Go ahead," Zhou Yu clapped him on the shoulder. "There are some snacks in the banquet hall—feel free to grab a bite."

"Okay," Chen Shuyang nodded, unusually polite. "Thanks."

With that, he hurried off.

Zhou Yu watched his back disappear into the elevator before turning back to close the door.

In the brightly lit lounge, Lin Yunshu stood by the vanity.

With his back to the mirror, his hand resting lightly on the table.

Zhou Yu could see his somewhat frail figure reflected in the mirror.

The room was warm, and Lin Yunshu was only wearing a shirt—snow-white fabric with a subtle sheen that gave his skin a rose-like glow.

He was right; it was rare to see him in such good color.

That usually only happened at night, in bed, under dim lighting, when his rose-petal-like cheeks would be glistening with dew.

Zhou Yu seldom saw him like this under such bright lighting.

He admired him quietly for a moment.

When the distance between them became too much for him, he slowly approached.

Lin Yunshu didn’t move away—his position left him no room to retreat anyway.

So Zhou Yu easily closed the distance between them, leaning over the table to encircle him completely.

Their noses were almost touching. Zhou Yu didn’t speak immediately, just gazed at him quietly.

Lin Yunshu turned his head slightly, avoiding eye contact but making no attempt to break free from his embrace.

It was an intensely intimate space.

Normally, Zhou Yu would have already pulled him into a passionate kiss—or, to put it more gently, at least sharing a tender kiss.

But today, he did nothing.

Time seemed to stretch out. Lin Yunshu hadn’t applied his suppressant patch yet, and being so close, Zhou Yu’s familiar, warm scent made it hard to suppress his pheromones.

A thread of sweetness began to drift out.

Lin Yunshu frowned and turned to look for a suppressant patch in the drawer, but Zhou Yu hooked his arm and pulled him back.

"There’s no one else here," he said. "Even if you can’t control your pheromones, I can help you, can’t I?"

Lin Yunshu lowered his gaze. "We’re not at home—it’s not really appropriate."

"There’s nothing inappropriate about it."

Zhou Yu raised his hand, gently cupping the back of Lin Yunshu’s neck, his thumb pressing precisely on the gland, softly massaging the slightly feverish skin.

Lin Yunshu shuddered uncontrollably.

An alpha massaging an omega's scent gland is undoubtedly the most provocative and risky move.

Lin Yunshu reflexively grabbed his arm, his breath trembling faintly. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing much," Zhou Yu said in a casual tone. "I was worried you might be uncomfortable, so I thought I'd massage it for you."

Is that something you can just massage casually?!

With just those few strokes, he nearly brought on his heat early.

Lin Yunshu bit his lower lip and endured the sensation, trying to push his hand away with force.

The next second, Zhou Yu released his hand on his own.

He braced himself against the desk again, wrapping his arms around Lin Yunshu.

"No need for the suppressant patch yet—that stuff's bad for you," he said. "It’s still fine to put it on right before you go on. Don’t worry, I'll be here with you."

His voice was unusually gentle, but Lin Yunshu’s heart was anything but calm.

He suspected Zhou Yu had overheard his conversation with Chen Shuyang at the door earlier, but he didn't understand why he hadn't mentioned it.

Lin Yunshu felt an inexpressible anxiety.

He looked up at Zhou Yu, who was gazing at him with the same gentle gaze as always.

Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Yu spoke first.

"Yun Shu, do you believe that I love you?"

·

"——Wow, a castle!"

Outside the manor, Guo Shengyao and her group of friends got out of the car.

Staring at the classical castle that looked like something out of a fairy tale, they all looked up in wonder.

"So beautiful..."

"...It’s really gorgeous. The lawn is so expansive, and the maple leaves over there look like they’re burning!"

"Look at that attic window—doesn’t it look like Rapunzel’s window?"

...

Guo Shengyao cupped her face, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes!"

Her vocabulary was limited, so no matter what others praised, she could only repeat it like a comedy sidekick.

"Guo Shengyao, you’re so provincial," someone beside her laughed. "We’ve never been here before, so it’s fine for us to be amazed, but this isn’t your first time here. Why do you still act like you’ve never seen the world?"

"You guys don’t get it," Guo Shengyao defended herself. "A place like this—no matter how many times I come, I can't get used to it. Unless I was born here, maybe."

"Hahahaha, that’s hilarious!"

"You really dare to dream!"

Everyone laughed as they walked inside, heading straight for the fancy little cakes.

"Ouch!"

One of the girls bumped into someone, and Guo Shengyao hurried over to help, only to see Chen Shuyang.

"Oh, it’s you," she said, her eyes lighting up. "Are you looking for Master? He’s upstairs."

Chen Shuyang apologized and helped the girl who’d been bumped into pick up her bag, then said to Guo Shengyao, "No need, I just came down from there."

He was still on the phone, and Guo Shengyao didn’t say more upon seeing this. "Alright then, see you later."

Chen Shuyang nodded and walked too fast.

Guo Shengyao faintly heard him saying something about Lin Yunshu on the phone, but Chen Shuyang walked too fast, and she couldn’t catch anything else.

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"Are you okay? Not hurt, are you?"

"I’m fine," the girl chuckled. "My hands are steady—didn’t even drop the cake. Hey, Shengyao, aren’t you a bridesmaid? Why are you still standing around here?"

"Ah!" Guo Shengyao slapped her forehead, suddenly remembering her role.

She quickly put down the cake and shot off like a rocket.

·

"Do you believe that I love you?"

As these words fell, Lin Yunshu froze completely.

The lounge was completely silent, the bright lights casting long shadows from Lin Yunshu’s eyelashes, swaying like leaves in his eyes.

Zhou Yu didn’t mention what he had heard, nor did he ask for confirmation of his stance like Chen Shuyang had.

Instead, he asked Lin Yunshu if he believed Zhou Yu loved him.

Lin Yunshu never expected this question. After a two-second pause, he replied, "Yes."

Like a crashed program rebooting, he gave the standard answer according to programming: "I believe you. You’ve told me many times. I believe you."

"You believe me just because I say so?" Zhou Yu laughed.

Lin Yunshu’s expression froze for a moment again, as if wondering whether he had said the wrong thing or failed to give the answer Zhou Yu wanted.

"Don’t overthink it—just kidding." Zhou Yu patted his cheek. "Of course I love you. I like you very much."

He spoke earnestly, just as he did every night when he devoutly kissed Lin Yunshu’s forehead.

But his smile turned somewhat bitter.

That bitterness was fleeting yet clearly flowed into Lin Yunshu’s eyes.

Lin Yunshu’s heart began to beat anxiously. "Did you hear my conversation with Shuyang?"

Zhou Yu raised an eyebrow. "When? Which part?"

"Just now," Lin Yunshu said. "Every word."

Zhou Yu fell silent, staring fixedly at him.

He'd heard every word, of course.

Including Lin Yunshu's hesitation and silence.

Zhou Yu had pretty much guessed the answer—Lin Yunshu didn't love him.

After all, it had always been him who insisted on keeping Lin Yunshu by his side, using the excuse that they both needed to use each other to draw Lin Yunshu closer.

He eagerly expressed his affection, laying his heart out without reservation, but not with the intention of forcing Lin Yunshu to feel the same way.

Lin Yunshu never loved him in the first place.

He was only after his pheromones.

Expecting someone to suddenly fall in love in just two short months was pretty unrealistic.

Zhou Yu had always known this and understood it well.

Only occasionally would he fall under the illusion that Lin Yunshu might've warmed up to him, even just a little.

"Zhou Yu?" Lin Yunshu gently touched his shoulder.

His tone sounded cautious.

Zhou Yu snapped back to attention and looked at Lin Yunshu.

The tension and worry in Lin Yunshu's eyes seemed genuine. As Zhou Yu looked at him, his heart softened.

He didn't really care whether Lin Yunshu had fallen in love with him or not. Even if not now, someday, it would happen.

He was, after all, the only one who would spend a long life with Lin Yunshu.

He believed this firmly, so the when didn't matter much anymore.

What got to him was whether Lin Yunshu believed him.

Clearly, while Lin Yunshu said he believed him, his expression was hesitant and showed no emotion.

Zhou Yu cupped Lin Yunshu’s face and gently stroked the corner of his eye.

Perhaps not understanding the meaning behind the gesture, Lin Yunshu instinctively tilted his head back obediently, though his eyes looked a little confused.

Zhou Yu suddenly felt his heart ache.

Even if Lin Yunshu didn’t love him that much or fully trust him, he couldn't blame Lin Yunshu even a little.

Even now, all he could think was how insecure Lin Yunshu must be, to find it so hard to believe that someone could love him unconditionally.

"I didn't hear anything."

After a moment, Zhou Yu spoke, "I didn't hear a thing."

"Chen Shuyang opened the door just as I arrived," he said with a laugh, like it was a joke. "Why, did you say something I shouldn't hear?"

"Zhou Yu..." Lin Yunshu hesitated, his words trailing off.

"Enough," Zhou Yu cut in, unwilling to hear more. "Whatever it was, let it be."

He pulled Lin Yunshu’s hand into his. "Now, our wedding is starting."