Chapter 016: Jiang Ting
“Mr. Ye, where are we headed?”
Su Tang was in the passenger seat, happily digging into the matcha ice cream cake his alpha had given him, a look of pure bliss on his face.
Ye Chiyu glanced sideways at the little guy, who was so content his eyes had crinkled into slits. “I’m keeping it a surprise for now,” he said lightly. “You’ll know when we get there.”
“Mmmf, okay…” Su Tang mumbled, his mouth full of cake. He looked like an adorable little hamster with his cheeks puffed out.
The alpha’s ice cream cake had completely stolen Su Tang’s heart. The silky-smooth, sweet texture combined with the cool ice cream was a straight-up feast for his taste buds. He attacked it enthusiastically with his little spoon.
As they passed a certain building, Su Tang suddenly sat bolt upright. He pointed excitedly at a large, white marble gate, his voice bright. “Mr. Ye! That’s my school!”
Ye Chiyu smiled. He freed one hand to gently wipe a dab of cream from the little guy’s mouth. “S University is famously difficult to get into in this country,” he replied. “You’re very impressive, Xiao Su Tang.”
Even though the cream was gone, Su Tang felt as if Mr. Ye’s scent lingered. The alpha’s sudden, gentle gesture made the little omega—so excited just a moment ago—freeze completely. His face instantly flushed beet-red, and he was struck dumb.
Seemingly satisfied with Su Tang’s reaction, Ye Chiyu tucked the handkerchief back into his pocket with a soft chuckle. He pressed the accelerator, and the car sped up, giving his omega a moment to recalibrate.
“Um… Mr. Ye, where did you go to college?”
Su Tang, who had been “frozen” by the simple wipe of his mouth, struggled to calm his pounding heart. He stared straight ahead, absolutely not daring to glance at the alpha driving beside him.
It was just a simple gesture, wiping his mouth! Why did it feel so… bewitching… when Mr. Ye did it?!
“My father sent me to study abroad right after I started high school. I did my undergraduate and master’s degrees at H University.”
“Wow…” That was the world-renowned H University. Su Tang blinked, letting out another sigh of pure admiration.
How was it that Mr. Ye seemed amazing at everything? His height and looks were a given—after all, he’d conquered a ‘face-con’ like Su Tang. But his education was perfect, his family background was formidable, and even his pheromones were top-tier.
Did such a perfect man really exist in the world?
And then… someone’s overly active imagination began to drift in a very strange direction, wondering just how “impressive” Mr. Ye was…
“If you get the chance, maybe you could show me around S University sometime,” Ye Chiyu picked up the thread. “I grew up in S City, but I’ve never actually had a chance to look around the campus.”
Su Tang gathered his courage, stared at the alpha’s perfect side profile, and nodded eagerly. “Of course! I can take you anytime you want to go!”
Ye Chiyu smiled and nodded. “Good. I’ll hold you to that.”
Not long after passing his school, the car turned into a high-end residential complex. Ye Chiyu’s car was waved through, heading down into the underground garage. It was already filled with luxury cars, every single one of them priced in the tens of millions.
Su Tang knew this place. Its name, “Jiang Ting,” was all over S City’s major publications. The prices were terrifying. Su Bingru had even complained to him once, saying even if she sold everything she owned, she still couldn’t afford a single apartment in Jiang Ting. She wondered what “kind of rich freaks” lived there.
Su Tang, who knew a fair bit about cars, was dumbstruck by the collection of supercars. He tugged on Ye Chiyu’s sleeve. “Mr. Ye, this place is insanely expensive. Do you… have a friend who lives here?”
Chapter 017: Su Tang is a Little Pauper
“Sort of.”
Ye Chiyu naturally took Su Tang’s hand as they stepped into the elevator. In the enclosed space, he could smell that the scent of the temporary mark on the omega’s gland had almost completely faded.
Why are we holding hands all of a sudden?
The alpha was holding his hand so naturally. They were standing very close, and Su Tang could feel the other man’s warm breath near his ear. He could even hear his own heart hammering in his chest. His palms were sweating, and he felt a little unsteady on his feet. And yet, this intimate contact with Mr. Ye also made him feel inexplicably safe.
The alpha’s voice sounded softly by his ear. “Don’t be nervous. We’re already married. We’ll have more moments like this.”
Su Tang tried to be stubborn. “I’m… I’m not…”
“Xiao Su Tang, this is my first time being in a relationship like this, too. If I do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or that you don’t like, you have to tell me.”
As if afraid Su Tang would criticize him, the alpha’s usually stoic face actually showed a hint of vulnerability. “I read that… this is how partners act with each other. I thought if we had more close contact like this, it might help us get used to each other more quickly.”
Terrified that if he waited a second longer, Mr. Ye would think he hated it, Su Tang quickly gave the alpha’s arm a little, placating shake. He smiled sweetly. “No, Mr. Ye, it’s not like that! I like holding hands. I like it a lot!”
I like kissing, too…
He was telling the truth, and Ye Chiyu seemed to take comfort in it. The expression on his face brightened considerably.
“Thank you, Xiao Su Tang. I’m very happy that you can accept me… and accept this.”
The alpha’s good mood made Su Tang forget his own nervousness. He tilted his head back to smile up at Ye Chiyu. “Me too! Even though it feels like I just randomly eloped with you, Mr. Ye, I’m very happy too!”
The elevator doors opened, and Su Tang realized it was a private entrance, with the elevator opening directly into the apartment. They stepped right into the foyer. Seeing no one there to greet them, Su Tang blinked. “Mr. Ye? We just… came right in. Is your friend not home?”
Ye Chiyu didn’t answer. He just ruffled the little guy’s curly hair and, once they were inside, he reached around and peeled the blocker patch off Su Tang’s neck.
As the temporary mark had faded, the faint, original scent of the omega’s pheromones was beginning to emanate from the gland.
Su Tang was already used to Ye Chiyu’s rule about not wearing blockers in private. He followed the alpha, who was still being mysterious, through the long foyer and into the main living space.
“It was a bit rushed,” Ye Chiyu said, “but everything essential has been prepared. This is… one of our marital homes. Xiao Su Tang, what do you think? Do you like it?”
Considering Su Tang was still in school, Ye Chiyu had purchased this place—a ten-minute drive from S University—in addition to the main house he had already prepared.
Su Tang was shocked into silence. He couldn’t believe Mr. Ye had done all this… prepared so much, all on his own, without him even knowing.
“Mr. Ye… this is… our… our home??”
It was a two-story duplex. The living room had a double-height ceiling, and the afternoon sun poured in through massive floor-to-ceiling windows, lighting up the entire space. The decor was a simple, minimalist style, exactly what Su Tang loved.
The alpha smiled and nodded. Hand in hand, they walked through every corner of the apartment together.
Su Tang sank into a plush beanbag chair by the window. Suddenly, a terrible thought struck him. His face went pale. He looked at the alpha sitting nearby, his voice trembling.
“Ahem, Mr. Ye… since this is our marital home… does that mean I… I have to pay for part of it?”
He, Su Tang, was a little pauper. Even if he sold himself, he wouldn’t have enough to buy a single toilet in this place…
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