Chapter 13

Shao Mingyu noticed Yu Lan’s movements and narrowed his eyes, but didn’t say anything for the time being.

Yu Lan still went to class, feeling sickly the whole day. Even Teacher Bai noticed it and asked worriedly if he was unwell.

Only then did Yu Lan realise how bad his state was.

In fact, Yu Lan spent an entire night thinking about things between him and the Silver Moon clan but nothing came to mind.

His estrus had been deliberately adjusted by the human traffickers and was now just like those Silver Moon clan members in the red light district.

Even though he didn’t do it voluntarily, thinking back, he still found it hard to accept.

Rather, he felt disgusted when he first learned the truth about his estrus disorder, but he had really never thought that there were so many Silver Moon clan members that would voluntarily accept this kind of change.

Those distorted faces were deeply imprinted in Yu Lan’s head. Once he thought of himself in estrus, Yu Lan didn’t even want to face the issue of his estrus.

His head was a mess and in the end, he had to give up thinking, otherwise, he was afraid everyone was going to find out something was wrong with him.

At the end of class, Yu Lan composed himself and barely cheered up. He thought about it and in the end, went around the neighbourhood.

This time, he found a milk tea shop.

The milk tea shop was located diagonally across from the three spires. When Yu Lan went there, the shop was small and there was only one male omega there, who seemed to be the manager.

The shop manager was Wen Zicheng and he had a very gentle personality. As soon as he saw Yu Lan, he invited him inside to sit down. After he finished mixing three cups of milk tea, he temporarily put down his work and chatted with Yu Lan.

“Yu Lan… 22 years old…” When Wen Zicheng thought about the information Yu Lan had provided, Yu Lan couldn’t help but tense up.

However, Wen Zicheng didn’t mention anything else. He didn’t know if he didn’t think about it or didn’t care, but in the end, he simply asked Yu Lan with a smile, “You’re willing to learn how to make milk tea properly, right?”

Yu Lan sniffed out certain information and quickly nodded, his pair of deep blue eyes shining with anticipation.

Wen Zicheng smiled and said, “If you can, why don’t you come to work tomorrow?”

Yu Lan, “!!!”

He actually got a job!!!

The surprise was so sudden that it instantly washed away his sadness from the entire day. Yu Lan was so excited that he wanted to jump up!

He rode his bike hard until he was panting and then thudded inside when he reached the manor.

The man was smoking by the window. When he heard footsteps, he turned his head around and saw the youth with a head of black hair that was messed up by the wind and a flushed face.

Shao Mingyu was stunned, a helpless smile crossing his eyes.

You looked like that in the morning, but now you’re very happy?

…He really is a child.

Yu Lan ran over, calling out as he ran, “Mr Shao!”

Shao Mingyu smiled lightly as he twisted his cigarette, rubbing the head of the young man who ran to him and asked, “What’s the matter? Why is your hair such a mess?”

Yu Lan randomly tidied his hair, panting, his eyes shining brightly, “Mr. Shao, Mr Shao!”

“Mn, I’m listening.” Shao Mingyu replied, smiling slightly.

Yu Lan took a deep breath and looked at the man excitedly. “I got a job!”

Shao Mingyu was stunned.

Yu Lan continued with a excitedly. “It’s in the evening so it won’t interfere with daytime class and it won’t be too late. I finish at 8:30! The store manager was nice and agreed to use me without even asking and didn’t care that I had no work experience…”

Yu Lan scratched the back of his neck as he went on.

The nape of his neck became even more itchy as his emotions became excited.

However, after scratching it a few times, the man tore his hand away.

Once Yu Lan stopped talking, Shao Mingyu indifferently said, “Don’t scratch it. Was today not your first time looking for a job?”

“…En.” Yu Lan honestly answered. “I went looking for one yesterday, but it didn’t go too well…”

After hearing this, Shao Mingyu was silent for a second before saying, “You’ll be very tired if you go to class during the day and working in the evening.”

Realising that the man didn’t seem as happy as he was, Yu Lan finally calmed down and hesitated, saying, “I think I can do it. Mr Shao, I want to make better use of my time.”

He had already wasted 22 years and didn’t want to waste any more time than necessary.

Shao Mingyu slightly frowned.

“I really can!” Yu Lan tried his best to explain, “And the working hours aren’t too long, it’s only for a few hours!”

Shao Ming listened and said nothing, turned to the opened window and lit another cigarette.

It was a while before he asked, “What’s the address?”

Yu Lan, “It’s just on Centre Road!”

Shao Mingyu turned around, leaned against the wall, looked at him and said, “If you wanted a job, you could’ve directly gone to my place. My company is right there.”

Yu Lan smiled helplessly when he heard those words.

Bai Lu also said this, but-

“Mr Shao.” Yu Lan lowered his eyes and softly said, “You can’t take care of me forever.”

Shao Mingyu’s look in his eyes sank.

Not far away, Aunty Jiang called out that dinner was ready.

Yu Lan responded and was just about to go over when his wrist was clasped.

He was stunned and turned around blankly, only to see the man looking at him, (SMY) asking, “Why can’t I?”

You can’t take care of me forever.

Why can’t I?

At this moment, it was as if something flowed through his heart along with his blood. Yu Lan felt a momentary paralysis throughout his body, leaving him frozen and extremely happy to the core.

Yet it was only for a moment.

As soon as this second passed, his heart started beating very fast.

The man’s palm was warm and the eyes that met his were calm and gentle.

Yu Lan swallowed, telling himself not to take it seriously. This man was too gentle. When he(SMY) said it, he(YL) couldn’t even imagine what the person in front of him was imagining in his head.

Overwhelmed, Yu Lan was the first to avoid eye contact, lowering his head and said, “But, but I don’t want to be protected by you all the time…”

He could feel the man still looking at him and his body began to heat up. He couldn’t help but want to withdraw his hand. “Mr Shao…”

The man still didn’t let go. He asked, “Ah Lan, what are you in a hurry for?”

Yu Lan’s voice was dry, “I wan’t to hurry up and live like a normal person.”

“What is considered a ‘normal person’?” No emotion could be heard in Shao Mingyu’s voice.

Yu Lan kept his head down. “You can study, can work and can support yourself.”

Even though it was impossible to live like Mr Shao, at least it wasn’t like he needed to be completely dependent on Mr Shao to live.

In the next second, his wrists were released and his jaw was lifted.

The man’s pair of dark eyes watched him, his voice low. “Don’t keep your head down.”

There seemed to be a different meaning in those words. Yu Lan trembled.

Shao Mingyu slowly said, “Your life over the past 22 years has already been different from normal people, so why would you require yourself to become a normal person in such a short period of time? What you have missed in the past has not been taken back yet. Wouldn’t it be nice to live here carefree, by my side?”

Yu Lan was stunned.

By Mr Shao’s side… to live carefree like this?

Yu Lan never thought that Mr Shao would say such a thing. He never even tried to think that he could rightfully stay by the man’s side forever.

Yu Lan was somewhat unable to speak and only blankly stared up at the man.

This blank expression made Shao Mingyu helpless again.

He let go of his hand and asked, “Are you sure you really want to work at the milk tea shop?”

Yu Lan came back to his senses and stammered with a blush, “Uh… En. I just, just want to give it a try.”

His heart was still beating very fast.

Shao Mingyu sighed and finally said, “I don’t want to enforce how you live your life, but Ah Lan, think about what I’ve said.”

The man took a light drag on his cigarette, turned his head and exhaled slowly towards the window.

Through the faint layer of smoke, some of the more intense colours were flowing in his eyes.

“If you want to, you can live in this manor forever.”