Chapter 6

Inside the villa, two people sat by the window, talking quietly.

The tea had not been touched again, and both men smoked cigarettes.

Shao Mingyu hadn’t spoken for a long time and looking at his appearance, Song Ze knew that his friend was trying to suppress it.

Song Ze trusted Shao Mingyu’s judgment, so the first thing he noticed was that there was something wrong with Yu Lan. When Shao Mingyu firmly brought Yu Lan home, he dropped suspicions on the trafficker and had some guesses in mind.

Last week, Yu Lan asked the doctor to check him again because of a headache and the results of the test made him feel nervous.

His best friend, the man who had always been brilliant and chased by millions, looked cold on the outside but was actually very gentle.

So he never chose to question Yu Lan, not forcing him to remember the bad past.

Nor did he ever tell Yu Lan how bad he was, in case the kid became afraid and anxious.

On their own, they cocooned everything.

The process was quick, not hard, but the truth was chilling.

Seeing that Shao Mingyi still wanted to light a cigarette, Song Ze couldn’t help but speak up. “…Don’t smoke, let Yu Lan see. He’ll notice something’s wrong. Anyways, wait three months. He can start treatment after three months of rest and recuperation.”

Shao Ming-Yu was about to speak when a white light flashed and a loud thunderclap came from outside the window as if the sky had broken apart.

“What a loud thunderstorm.” Uncle Liu in the kitchen exclaimed with a palpable sense of relief.

Shao Mingyu thought of something, put down the cigarette and turned to look, only to see the rain falling heavily outside, seemingly pouring down within a second or two.

There was a figure on the lawn lying on the ground, the black and white sheepdog circling around him, looking anxious.

Song Ze was surprised. “What’s going on?!”

The coffee table was hit with a “bang” and by the time Song Ze turned around, the man had already rushed out.

When Yu Lan realized that raindrops had fallen and there was a faint thunder in the sky, he shouted for Little Mars to run, his fingers unconsciously numb.

But he didn’t expect that in the next second, a white light flashed and a huge thunderclap smashed down overhead. Yu Lan’s expression blanked out, his feet weren’t steady and he fell straight down.

Little Mars was barking. The rain pelted his body in a frenzy, hurting his arms and knees, while the white light continued to shine and thunder boomed.

Yu Lan’s eyes were a little dark and a huge sense of fear surged in his heart. He could hear the sound of his heart beating violently in his ears.

He shuddered slightly, gasped and tried to stand up, but he lost his strength. After two attempts he still couldn’t get up, so he had to crawl forward while shaking, not daring to look up at all, hanging his head. His voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible. “Little Mars, quickly go back…”

With mud all over his body and his clothes all wet, Yu Lan knew how much of a mess he looked crawling on the ground.

Suddenly, someone ran towards him and picked him up with both hands.

A familiar scent enveloped him- it was Mr Shao.

Yu Lan’s vision was a little blurry and he only felt his head heat up, yet the moment lightning crossed the sky again, he still shivered all over and cowered with his head in his hands, hiding on the man’s shoulder.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s okay. Close your eyes,” The man whispered, tightening his arms and holding him close.

Song Ze was shocked and had even grabbed his umbrella to follow Shao Mingyu as he ran out. By the time he arrived, the man had already picked up the youth in his arms.

He went up to them with the umbrella, but they were already drenched.

Little Mars shook his fur and kept up with them.

“What’s going on?” Song Ze was puzzled. “Does it hurt from falling?”

Yu Lan closed his eyes tightly and shrank into Shao Mingyu’s embrace with a pale face, unable to even speak.

They quickly went back into the house and Uncle Liu quickly brought out a towel. Shao Mingyu wanted to put Yu Lan on the sofa, but Yu Lan pushed back. “…I’m very dirty.”

Without saying a word, Shao Mingyu pressed Yu Lan down on the couch and wiped his hair with a calm face.

Uncle Liu also took a bath towel and draped it over Yu Lan’s shoulders, then used the towel to also wipe the man’s head, apprehensively looking at the man’s face and asked, “What’s going on?”

Another thunderclap sounded and Yu Lan flinched.

Song zXe tentatively said, “…Very afraid of thunder?”

Scared to the point he’s like this?

Quickly wiping Yu Lan’s hair clean, Shao Mingyu maintained his movements, half-kneeling on the floor, staring at him and asked, “Did something happen?”

The several people there were stunned.

Yu Lan lowered his head.

Shao Mingyu said word for word, “What happened?”

Song Ze sensitively glanced at Shao Mingyu.

Just as he thought. Shao Mingyu was a gentle man, so he wouldn’t go so far as to make Yu Lan recall unpleasant things. But right now, the man was clearly agitated.

Does his heart hurt?

But the way Yu Lan looks now-

Song Ze tried to talk him out of it, but Yu Lan moved his lips.

It was soft and inaudible.

Shao Mingyu leaned in close, their foreheads almost touching.

He stroked the back of the youth’s neck, his tone soft, yet strong. “Tell me. What happened?”

“…Someone died.”

Song Ze and Uncle Liu were stunned.

Yu Lan was still shaking unconsciously and some words came out of his bloodless lips. “…The people in the orphanage killed the child.”

Shao Mingyu’s eyes darkened. “The orphanage? On a thunderous day?”

Yu Lan nodded and closed his eyes.

The image flashed clearly before his eyes.

The dark room, the pleading, the crying.

The moment lightning struck, two silhouettes were reflected on the wall. The taller man grabbed the head of the other weaker figure viciously, cursing as he slammed them to the floor.

The wooden table was slammed against the wall with a clang. He didn’t know how long it took before a thud and the sound of something heavy hit the ground.

When the other turned around, he was kicked to the edge of the wall. Yu Lan, who had a hard time coming to his senses, met his eyes.

He was as stiff as stone and stared at the other person, who looked at him for a moment, sneered, and turned away.

Leaving only the smell of blood all over the room, Yu Lan covered his mouth and could barely breathe.

Song Ze was astonished.

Shao Mingyu stroked Yu Lan’s face. “Is this all you remember from the orphanage?”

Yu Lan nodded indistinctly.

Song Ze covered his forehead, took a deep breath and turned around.

Uncle Liu looked ugly but also sensed that something was wrong and took a look at Song Ze.

After Song Ze turned around, he impulsively said, “It’s all fake-”

The man half-kneeling in front of Yu Lan tilted his head. Song Ze stiffened and dejectedly changed his words. “No, it’s all over… It’s okay…”

Yu Lan wasn’t sure if he was listening, but he just kept his head lowered.

As the thunder continued, his trembling continued. Shao Mingyu stopped speaking, but his eyes were cold. He held the youth in his arms and his pheromones poured out.

Yu Lan had no temporary mark of the man on him at the moment, but as the familiar woody fragrance wrapped itself around him, he felt his nerves relax as if some warmth had returned to his body, spreading through his limbs.

There is no substitute for this inexpressible sense of security.

Uncle Liu sighed and turned to the kitchen, as to not disturb them.

Song Ze picked up his cigarette and walked out, looking tense.

The living room, by the couch, was quiet.

At the man’s reassurance, Yu Lan’s tears came to his eyes.

It was Mr Shao again.

It was still Mr Shao.

When he was scared, the one who saved him and gave him a sense of security was always Mr Shao.

Yu Lan wasn’t a crybaby. The truth was that he hadn’t shed a single tear in the past sixteen years.

No matter how much the director of the orphanage scolded them, no matter how much the traffickers threatened them, Yu Lan never had red eyes.

But right now, it was as if he was divulging twenty-two years of weakness altogether.

He couldn’t help it. Just by smelling Mr Shao’s scent, it was as if he was full of grievances.

Yu Lan tightened his grip, creating creases in the man’s white shirt.

Shao Mingyu hugged Yu Lan for a moment, let go and looked at him.

The youth eyelashes drooped. His long eyelashes were slightly curled up, beautiful and soft.

The deep blue eyes were watery, like they were covered with a layer of fog.

The tears were almost coming out.

Yu Lan pursed his lips and raised his eyes slightly. Those watery eyes were on Shao Mingyu.

Shao Mingyu paused, a hint of something strange stirring in his heart.

The two stared at each other silently for a moment, as if something was tugging at each other when Shao Mingyu suddenly moved.

He picked up Yu Lan again.

Yu Lan was shocked and was busy wrapping his arms around the man’s neck to steady his balance.

And right after that, the man sat on the couch and gently placed Yu Lan on his lap.

Yu Lan was startled and looked up at the other man.

Shao Mingyu wondered what he was thinking about at this moment.

As if something snapped. As if something was subtly created as well. He only continued to release pheromones, took the person in his arms, and whispered, “Close your eyes and rest for a moment.”

Yu Lan’s eyes were sore.

He closed his eyes.

Even though there wasn’t a temporary mark, his heart couldn’t help but beat.

It had nothing to do with temporary marks.

There was not the slightest hint of a relationship.

*

Song Ze returned after finishing his cigarette and calming down and was somewhat appalled when he saw the two on the couch.

The man sat quietly while the youth leaned on his shoulder, eyes closed as if he had briefly fallen asleep.

The man, on the other hand, stared straight into the void, thinking about something unknown.

Song Ze and Shao Mingyu have known each other for over twenty years and have watched this man grow up from childhood.

Although there were ups and downs in terms of family, overall the man grew up very well. He was always good, always the centre of attention in the crowd and was always followed by a group of followers. (Referring to SMY)

-Whether it was the omega who had a crush on him, the beta who wanted to follow him, or the alpha who was full of competition for him.

Song Ze knew that Shao Mingyu was a gentle person, but even to him, his childhood friend, Shao Mingyu had never been so bluntly gentle.

Probably no one could have imagined that Shao Mingyu would one day treat another person so gently.

Song Ze couldn’t help but put his gaze on Yu Lan.

Is he just trying to take care of him…?

As if sensing his gaze, Shao Mingyu turned his head.

Song Ze smiled.

Pretty good.

Regardless of the past, it will only get better in the future.

He believed that the man would send to him a hundredfold everything that Yu Lan had missed in the past.

On this day, Yu Lan woke up in a daze and found himself being carried upstairs by Shao Mingyu.

He was still a little disoriented and when he was put down in the bathroom, the man’s voice was soft as he said, “Are you awake? Can you undress yourself?”

Yulan snapped awake, blushing a red face and looking at the man in astonishment.

The man chuckled softly.

The water was already in the bathtub. The man should have informed Uncle Liu in advance to come up and get ready.

“Take a good soak and come out when you’re warm.” Shao Mingyu rubbed Yu Lan’s head and turned away from the bathroom, closing the door.

Yu Lan remained standing in place, his heart pounding non-stop.

It’s amazing what Mr Shao says sometimes… Was it intentional?… It would be bad if he was teasing him on purpose.

Yu Lan muttered to himself, taking off one piece of clothing at a time and stepping into the tub.

Wrapped up in the warmth, he was comfortable enough to let out a slow sigh of relief.

The thunderstorm had stopped and the mood had calmed.

However, perhaps because he was finally awake, the smile that was unconsciously displayed on his lips also quickly disappeared.

Mr Shao was too gentle.

Yu Lan knew that there must be many gentle people in the world, but he happened to meet Mr Shao and then at a speed that surprised him, he moved his heart to this man.

But Mr Shao probably just wanted to take care of him.

When he couldn’t help showing his affection, Mr Shao had warned him that it was the effects of the temporary mark and not the real thing.

Yu Lan wasn’t stupid and there wasn’t a need to speak too much. he knew Mr Shao’s position and he knew what position he should be in.

It had only been half a month, but he was well aware of the distance between himself and the man and how hopeless his thoughts were.

t/n: ｡：ﾟ(｡ﾉω＼｡)ﾟ･｡

Yu Lan gently cupped the water in the bathtub, dazed thinking that he should not be so dependent on Mr Shao anymore.

Shao Mingyu closed the bathroom door, stopped and glanced back.

There was no sound from inside. He wondered if the youth had soaked into the tub and if he was squinting like a cat as he did when tasting grapes.

Yet just thinking of that look made his eyes darken slightly.