48: Sheng Shaoyou Is Fickle, Forgetful, and Loves No One
“When did you meet me? And how?”
“Fifteen years ago,” Hua Ying said. “In the East.”
Fifteen years ago, he would have been twelve. So Hua must have been…
Sheng Shaoyou frowned. “How old are you now?”
“Twenty‑three.”
Damn it! He’s actually four years younger than me! This damn little liar!
Then, fifteen years ago… Hua was only eight?!
Sheng stared at his face, straining to recall if he’d ever seen Hua when he was twelve—but failed.
Indeed, more than a decade ago, Sheng Fang often traveled to the East on business.
The East’s biotechnology was among the most advanced in East Asia. Back then, Sheng Fang poached many talents from Eastern tech companies and gradually built a renowned young research team in Jianghu.
As the heir apparent, Sheng often traveled with the business delegation on trips abroad.
And the East was a frequent destination.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember ever meeting Hua.
Hua had already expected that Sheng would long since have forgotten that encounter.
He’d never held out much hope for Sheng’s memory, but still, to be completely forgotten by the one he’d always dreamed of—it hurt to pretend it didn’t.
Yet Hua didn’t lose heart.
Because he knew all along: Sheng Shaoyou was fickle, forgetful, and loved no one.
But he was also kind, gentle, outwardly hard but soft inside.
A very difficult lover.
All this time, Hua had been quietly trying to change him.
He deliberately stepped on some of Sheng’s less sensitive landmines—making him cookies he wouldn’t eat, preparing Chinese breakfasts even though Sheng preferred Western ones.
He hoped Sheng would slowly change for him, slowly become willing to compromise and yield.
After all, tolerance is the prelude to love.
Hua said softly:
“Generally speaking, Alphas only have two kinds of feelings toward me: either they want to sleep with me, or they look down on me—but still want to sleep with me. But with just a flick of my finger, I teach them all very quickly that just thinking about me is already a sin.”
His eyes were breathtaking. The subtle patterns in his pupils glimmered in the light, making Sheng momentarily dazed.
Hua smiled faintly at him.
“You’re different from them. The first time we met, you looked down on me—but you also protected me.”
“Mr. Sheng has always been very gentle.”
Growing up in a family like Beichao Holdings, Hua was used to people who only pretended to be gentle but were actually vicious and cruel.
But Sheng was the opposite. He looked tough on the outside but was soft on the inside.
Hua’s differentiation began that summer when he was eight.
In the early stages, he was irritable and bad‑tempered, always brooding like a little wolf pup in heat.
But because he was far too striking, with an exquisitely beautiful face, there were always people who didn’t understand him—and came looking for trouble.
The day he met Sheng was a sweltering afternoon.
At eight years old, Hua already knew he was his father’s thirteenth child. But outwardly, the Beichao patriarch claimed only seven children.
As an illegitimate son, he was the least favored and most looked down upon.
So when a group of proper young masters cornered him during a banquet, Hua, long accustomed to violence and bullying, remained unflustered.
“What do you want?” Eight‑year‑old Hua stood with hands in his pockets, expression flat.
The leader was a tall, chubby Alpha boy, who sneered:
“Nothing much. We were just wondering if you’re a boy or a girl.”
“And what’s it to you?”
“Nothing—but I want to know.”
The chubby boy came from a manufacturing family, his father running the largest battery company in the East. His privileged background meant his four little Alpha followers echoed his every word.
“You,” he pointed to a skinny older boy. “Pull down his pants.”
“M‑me?” the lone Beta in the group stammered.
Hua’s mother was half Eastern, and this visit was to pay respects to her homeland. But like back in P‑country, his illegitimate birth made him an outcast.
Though striking in appearance, he was cold and blunt, impossible to befriend. Back home, his fearsome reputation already kept most away, but this was his first time in the East, and to these spoiled heirs he just seemed like a haughty little rabbit.
The skinny Beta edged closer:
“Don’t struggle—we just want to check something.”
“Check what?” Hua’s eyes gleamed like obsidian.
The chubby Alpha laughed:
“To see if you have a little dick!”
The others laughed along, their childish jeers filling the corner of the garden.
“So what if I do? So what if I don’t?” Hua still stood there calmly, his Eastern flawless accent belying his foreignness.
“If you have one, we’ll cut it off,” the chubby boy said cruelly.
“You haven’t differentiated yet, but by the looks of your bones and face, you’re probably an Omega. Omegas don’t need it—better to cut it off now.”
Hua’s expression didn’t change.
“And what did you differentiate into?” He sniffed slightly. “A defective Alpha?”
“What did you say?!”
“If I were you,” Hua continued coldly, “I’d rather die than be a useless defective Alpha. What’s wrong with that?”
The chubby boy flushed and swung at Hua’s face.
Hua dodged easily. Unlike his peers, Hua relished every opportunity to grow stronger.
“What are you waiting for? Get him!”
Hua’s gaze darkened, wolf‑like and dangerous.
He was surrounded by four larger Alphas and a Beta, their bodies casting a heavy shadow.
Heat and strange energy pooled at the back of his neck, his differentiation nearing.
Sweat beaded on his brow, his perfect lips pressed together, eyes shining.
“Hold him down! Pull his pants off!”
The boys rushed him.
Pathetic, Hua thought, preparing to teach them a lesson—
When suddenly—
“You’re too damn noisy!”
A sharp voice cut through the commotion.
Startled, the boys froze, their heads snapping around.
A graceful figure leapt from a cherry tree.
It was a strikingly handsome Alpha boy in a tailored suit. Though only a teenager, his broad shoulders and narrow waist hinted at his future allure.
Hua smelled a rich, woody bitter‑orange scent.
That calming, powerful scent flowed over his restless body.
At first, Hua thought this must be a high‑match Omega.
But when the boy drew closer, Hua realized—he was an S‑rank Alpha.
Hua’s breath quickened.
The chubby boy stammered:
“Who are you? Why are you interfering?”
The boy leaned lazily against a tree, sunlight gilding his perfect features:
“You woke me from my nap and dare to ask who I am?”
Hua stared at him, dazed. He’d never seen anyone so proud and radiant, like a god descended.
“Sheng Shaoyou,” the boy said, raising his head. “That’s the name of the guy who’s about to beat you. Remember it.”
His powerful pheromones erupted, making the boys clutch their necks in pain.
“I hate bullies the most,” he said coolly, glancing at the delicate child in the middle.
Was that an Omega? No wonder adults said Alphas went crazy over Omegas—he was indeed beautiful.
The bullies fled quickly, unable to withstand his aura.
Only Hua remained, standing alone.
Sheng waved him over.
Hua, unused to obeying anyone, hesitated—but that scent was irresistible.
Sheng grabbed him, covering his hot gland.
“Close your eyes.”
Hua’s heart pounded.
He wasn’t “indifferent” like the doctors feared.
The intoxicating scent from this boy made his mouth dry and heart race. He instinctively buried his face in Sheng’s shoulder.
Sheng found it amusing—such a pretty Omega clinging to him.
“They’re gone. Just stay here for a while.”
But Sheng smelled nothing on him.
“You’re a Beta?”
“No. I just haven’t differentiated yet.”
“Ah. No wonder.”
“But I’m close to differentiating.”
“Mm. I have to go.”
But Hua grabbed his coat.
“Sheng Shaoyou.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Can you wait a moment? I’ll be right back.”
Hua returned with paper and pen, face flushed.
“Can I have your contact information?”
Sheng chuckled and scribbled an “X” on the paper, handing it back.
“No need. If anyone bullies you again, don’t just stand there. Run if you have to—or at least learn to ask for help.”
He turned, waving casually.
“That’s it then. Bye, kid.”
Hua watched him go, then looked down at the big “X” on the paper.
X…
Proud, mysterious—just like him.
Hua unknowingly smiled, then noticed a vintage pocket watch where Sheng had stood.
It was intricately patterned, with a bold “S” at its center—likely a Sheng family heirloom.
Hua clenched it tightly, tucking it into his pocket alongside the paper.
For the first time, the empty left side of his chest felt full—with a heavy heart inside.