7: A strange urge surged in Sheng Shaoyou’s heart-to reach out and hug him
When the banquet ended, Li Boqiao was thoroughly drunk. As they were leaving, he staggered unsteadily, deliberately or otherwise leaning toward Hua Yong. Though Hua Yong tried to avoid him several times, he eventually failed to escape and was groped—an arm slipped around his waist in a half-drunken hug.
Immediately, Sheng Shaoyou reached out and pulled Hua Yong to his side, one arm wrapping firmly around him as his elbow shoved the drunken Li Boqiao away.
Too many people had come over to toast during the banquet, and as Sheng Shaoyou’s companion, Hua Yong had been forced to drink two glasses. Now, the alcohol was kicking in. The heat in his body, mixed with the aggressive scent of Alpha pheromones from being too close, made his already fuzzy head spin harder. A rosy flush bloomed across his fair cheeks from the intoxication.
He was dressed far too plainly, which made him stand out in such an occasion. The contrast between his humble clothing and his devastatingly beautiful face made Sheng Shaoyou’s companion the most talked-about person of the night.
Sheng Shaoyou hadn’t drunk much. Noticing that Hua Yong seemed drunk, he had him get in the car and offered to take a detour to send him home.
The car’s heater was on full blast, making Hua Yong’s face even redder. After sitting in a daze for a while, he suddenly seemed to remember something. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and handed it to Sheng Shaoyou.
“Mr. Sheng,” he said, “this is my repayment plan. Please take a look.”
His fingers holding the phone weren’t applying much force, but because they were so slender, the knuckles still protruded, tinged with a faint pink.
Sheng Shaoyou glanced at the back of his hand, faint veins showing under the pale skin, and leaned in to read the repayment schedule saved in his phone’s notes.
Hua Yong had divided the 600,000 yuan into thirty installments, planning to repay 20,000 yuan each month—it would take him about three years to finish.
Seeing Sheng Shaoyou linger on the section about the repayment term without saying anything, Hua Yong assumed the duration was too long and quickly explained, his lips still tinged with the scent of alcohol. “I know it’s a bit lengthy, and the interest rate is low. Technically, without any collateral, the interest should be even higher than the bank’s.” He looked nervous, both hands placed awkwardly on his knees as he fidgeted. “But after repaying the principal, I’ll calculate the total interest based on four times the bank’s rate and continue repaying until I’ve paid it off in full.”
Sheng Shaoyou raised his head, gaze drifting over Hua Yong’s serious and earnest face, before returning the phone and saying mildly, “Actually, there’s a faster way.”
Hua Yong’s hands on his knees clenched slightly. Clearly, he had guessed what Sheng Shaoyou meant by “faster way,” but still pretended not to understand, replying flatly, “I’m sorry. My salary is limited. Without a promotion or raise, this is already the fastest method.”
Sheng Shaoyou smiled at him, not knowing why he felt so wickedly cruel at that moment. “Hua Yong,” he said, “be my companion. If you agree, you won’t need to repay the money.”
The Omega across from him went quiet, then—as expected—politely declined.
Unlike how he flatly rejected other Alphas, Hua Yong’s tone this time was gentler, likely due to the debt he owed Sheng Shaoyou. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sheng. It might be slow, but I’ll repay it as soon as I can.”
Looking at his flushed, slightly intoxicated face yet determined expression, Sheng Shaoyou didn’t want to push further. He forced himself to nod and let it go.
The rest of the ride was silent. Hua Yong closed his eyes and leaned gently against the car window, his face turned to the side. The exposed portion of his neck above his sweater collar was pale with a tinge of pink—tempting every Alpha to take a bite, to leave a temporary or even permanent mark on that skin.
He looked drowsy, both innocent and seductive, and Sheng Shaoyou was overwhelmed with an unfamiliar urge: he wanted to reach out and hold him.
But before he could act on it, his phone buzzed several times. Unlocking it, he saw several messages from familiar friends, all asking where he had found such a stunning university student to bring tonight—they were all envious.
Among them, Li Boqiao and another close friend named Cheng Zhe, both regulars in Shanghai’s nightlife, jokingly told him: once he got tired of playing, don’t let the beauty go to waste—keep it in the circle.
Even Li Boqiao, who usually never asked Sheng Shaoyou for anything, now seemed to be truly interested in this orchid-like Omega.
For some reason, Sheng Shaoyou felt displeased.
Maybe because this flower was too beautiful—perfectly suited to his taste—and before he could even claim him, someone else was already asking for a turn. It annoyed him deeply.
The car passed through the lively city center and stopped in front of an old residential building in the heart of the bustling downtown.
Hua Yong, as if sensing it, blinked open his eyes. They were hazy for a moment, then he turned his head and said blankly, “Mr. Sheng, I’m home.”
Rain had started to fall outside, drizzling softly against the car windows and leaving trails of translucent droplets.
“I’ll walk you up?” Sheng Shaoyou offered.
Hua Yong hesitated before politely declining, “The alley’s uneven. Lots of puddles. It’ll dirty your shoes.” Saying this, he reached for the door handle and stepped out.
This area was an old residential district in downtown Jianghu, with buildings averaging over 40 years old. Bare wires crisscrossed the sky, and narrow sidewalks were cluttered with stones and trash bins. The aging concrete structures stood on either side of the road—chaotic, unplanned, and entirely out of place amid the city’s high-rises.
Hua Yong turned back and saw Sheng Shaoyou’s dark expression. He hesitated, unsure whether he should just leave, and lingered at the roadside.
“I’ll go then?”
Sheng Shaoyou gave a curt “Mm.”
But he still didn’t move. Rain sparkled in his eyes, refracting the glamorous lights of the Jianghu night. Then the orchid-like Omega called him softly, “Mr. Sheng.”
“What is it?”
That delicate flower, battered by wind and rain but still gentle and lovely, leaned forward and tapped his car window lightly. Once the window lowered, he said in a soft voice, “Let me know when you’re free, so I can treat you to a meal.”
“Mm.” Sheng Shaoyou nodded, feeling much better. “Go on, it’s raining. It’s cold.”
Hua Yong smiled at him and said gently, “Okay. Good night.”
Back at home, even as he showered, Sheng Shaoyou couldn’t stop thinking about the image of Hua Yong walking away.
His light-colored turtleneck sweater looked a bit worn. The cuffs showed faint pilling, clearly trimmed carefully with a fabric shaver, but still betrayed signs of heavy use. The Omega’s delicate wrist bones peeked out from the frayed sleeves, making even the old clothes look elegant.
He hadn’t brought an umbrella and ran off into the night. His slender back vanished at the edge between urban decay and glittering prosperity, tugging at Sheng Shaoyou’s heart as he stood watching from the car.
That night, Sheng Shaoyou could only think one thing:
This Omega shouldn’t have to live in a place like that.