Chapter 12

SILENCE.

A pause. A cut in time.

What?

Maybe he hadn’t heard right, but the sudden thumping in his chest betrayed his denial.

Being an enigma, he was capable of picking up heartbeats from behind walls.

And so far his senses hadn’t failed him once. But even biology could malfunction. At the worst possible time.

And maybe this was one of those times.

Hua Yong pulled back, hands slipping down to grab the side of Shao You’s hips instead. “What-what did you say?”

He didn’t stutter. It wasn’t in his nature to.

But Shao You…

That man.

That man was infiltrating his system and restructuring everything in it. Giving it a new function.

To react to Shao You and to Shao You only.

He had no say in that.

Shao You narrowed his eyes, arms crossing over his chest. “How could you? I looked for you everywhere that day.”

Hua Yong’s mouth opened. Closed.

What was he supposed to say?
Did he hear what he thought he heard?

The questions danced around in his mind. He didn’t know which one to ask first. Each one was important to him.

He’d imagined this moment a thousand ways and all of them didn’t have this plot twist. None involved Shao You flipping the script.

Hua Yong rubbed his palm on his shirt, inching closer.

“You remember me?”

Shao You let out a sigh.”You mean the boy who suddenly ran away from me twelve years ago?” a small smile stretched on his lips. “Yes.”

NO FUCKING WAY.

Hua Yong felt the whirlwind emotions hit him like a bazooka. There were many of them. Too many to unwind.

He found his voice a minute later. Though small.

“I didn’t-“

“What?” Shao You cut in. “Run away?” He lowered himself back on the bed. “Then did you get kidnapped?”

Untrue. Hua Yong lowered his head.

Kidnapped? Who would dare?

Shao You shrugged, action deceptively casual. “So you did ran away.”

Hua Yong remained quiet, relishing in the feeling of Shao You’s smoldering gaze on him.

He didn’t feel small. Or intimidated. Far from it.

It was a completely foreign feeling. One he’d never experienced in his life. Like he was being pried open and Shao You was counting each and every cell in his body.

Like he could see past the façade he knew how to operate too well.

Like he was suddenly an open book that twelve years of devotion spilled out of undiluted.

And somehow that made him uncomfortable.

The clock ticked away, second by second. While Hua Yong chewed on his lips, wondering what to say next.

There was a lot to tell Shao You.

But when he had the chance, nothing came to mind.

Because the fact is, Shao You had recognized him. Recognized the boy from the library and he didn’t know what to do with his emotions.

There was a tightness in his chest. So tight it knocked the breath out of him. There was a feeling in his stomach. A fluttering feeling. Like butterflies were dancing in them.

And it’s all because Shao You’s eyes had lit up when he remembered him.

It wasn’t at the first meeting but at least he remembered. Even how they met.

And somehow, that made him unable to contain the joy anymore. His thoughts were spiraling. Out of control.

His hands came down and gripped the fabric of his cream trousers at his sides.

Now, he wasn’t the proud enigma that had waited twelve years to claim.

He was just a boy that had fallen in love with another boy.

“You know-“

Hua Yong raised his eyes to Shao You who was speaking.. “I thought you looked familiar earlier. I just couldn’t place it-“

But then he stopped mid sentence, the humour disappearing from his face.

The shift was palpable. Quite inevitable.

Hua Yong sensed the shift before he said it.

“Shao You-“

“Earlier,” he drawled, brows drawn together in tamed fury. “What was it that happened?”

He knew what had happened. Sure he did.

He was no fool. But Hua Yong also knew the alpha would only let go if he got the answers he sought.

Shao You wasn’t being unreasonable. He was just a man left distressed over other people’s decisions.

Decisions that came with consequences he had to suffer on his own.

When all he’d ever wanted was to be a good son.

He’d worked diligently and kept to himself.

But then in one night, everything flipped over. His company and virginity were both taken from him.

Shao You was the victim.

Hua Yong knew and understood that.

Shao You ran a hand through his hair, soft hair falling over his eyes.

His voice came out quieter than before.

“I’m an s class alpha, Mr. Hua.” he sighed. “No matter what, I’m going to be bothered by such things. Even if I’m happy to see you again.”

Hua Yong blinked. He was happy to see him?

Without another thought, he took another step closer, none breaking eye contact. Shao You inhaled through his mouth and continued.

His gaze stayed fixed on the flushed enigma who looked more shy than guilty.

Guilty? He would do it all over again to be here again. Near Sheng Shao You.

“Then you acquired the company-my father’s company. I don’t understand everything that’s going on right now.” His grip tightened on the white sheets on the hospital bed. “I’m really trying but there’s too many things to think about at once. And no matter how much I try, it seems everything is connected to you. So-” he gestured to Hua Yong’s hands.

Eyebrow furrowed, the enigma stepped closer. The unnervingly calm alpha tugged him down to his side, hands capturing the enigma’s as he kept them on his thighs.

He rubbed the back of his hands gently. Time and again. “Make this easy for me.” he whispered.

The air thickened between them. Sitting there like that. Closer than ever, Shao You’s hands on Hua Yong’s.

One awaiting answers. The other second guessing the answers.

Hua Yong’s eyes strayed to Shao You’s lips, lingered for a beat too long before snapping back up to his eyes.

The alpha shifted closer, pushing the enigma’s chin up with an index finger. Their scents tangled. Subtle but prominent.

“I’m not going to be angry. I promise.” their knees brushed, something electric passing between them. “Sorry for punching you this morning.” his fingers found the healing split on Hua Yong’s bottom lip, caressing it with a touch so gentle.

So soft.

Hua Yong turned his head away. “I’m not worried about that.” his voice came out low, rough.

Shao You frowned. “Then what are you worried about?”

The question hung between them.

What was he worried about?

What?

Hadn’t he done all this for Shao You? Hadn’t he lived all his life with Shao You as the end goal?

So where was the hesitation coming from? Why was there a hesitation?

He’d been so confident in getting Shao You. He had played his cards right.

He thought he did.

Yet here he was, tongue tied when he should have taken what was his. Each second waning his confidence.

It all came down to one truth.

A truth Hua Yong had done everything to not acknowledge and let wither away at the deepest part of his being. Because it solidified one thing. That he was capable of fear.

FEAR OF SHAO YOU’S REJECTION.

Funny how he’d had been so sure he was ready to do this. That he would have Shao You, whether the alpha wanted him or not.

Here he was now, completely eating his own words the moment the alpha’s innocent warmth burnt through his ice cold interior. He was an enigma, yes. However, he could only operate on Shao You’s sanity.

For on nights when the alpha would go through things, his whole world would shatter.

If Shao You was to reject him, then he wouldn’t know what to do with himself.

He didn’t know how to deal with that.

He felt the press. Delicate. To his forehead. Like a feather.

Shao You pulled back, face serious. “Hey, look at me.”

Hua Yong did. His jaw was tight, heart accelerating. The kiss still burned where it lingered.

“Did you do all this for me?” he asked, breath mingling at their proximity. “Say that.”

Time stopped. Breath ceased. Time continued.

“I’m scared.” Hua Yong admitted.

And there was a name for what he was feeling. A name he hated because only weak people related to it.

Vulnerable.

“Of what?”

Hua Yong did not hesitate. He couldn’t.

“Of everything.” his voice cracked.

Shao You did not answer.

“I think I did everything for you.” Hua Yong whispered. ” But what if you don’t think so? What if you see me as that narcissistic psychopath people call me? What if you run?”

…from me?

His jaw ticked, and his gaze emptied out. The smell of orchids suffused the room in an osmotic way. Orange rum and blossom overlapped them stronger. “Because…”

Shao You held his breath. Sweat glistened on his forehead. “Because?”

Hua Yong met his eyes again. Darkened. “I would cage you and keep you with me. ” he did not miss a beat. “Whether you want me” a pause. “or not.”

You are mine.

Shao You sucked in a deep breath. His lip parted, frozen to his spot.

The conflict was there on his face. Like a man insulted and impressed at the same time.

Hua Yong really couldn’t tell. He was hoping it wouldn’t come to that.

Because if it did, then he meant each and every word uttered.

Shao You was his to keep.

For a second, Hua Yong thought he would push him away.

Instead, the alpha let out a low guttural sound, hand finding the scent gland on his neck.

His scent spiked violently. Orange rum and blossom turned metallic filled the room.

Hua Yong saw it coming. The rut hit Shao You like a truck. His body was on fire.

The signs had been there.

He just concentrated on it too late.

“What is happening?” his words came out in short breaths. His hands trembled were they clutched on his shirt, heat ripping through him.

Hua Yong’s eyes narrowed. Too calm. “Your rut.”

Shao You momentarily stopped squirming to glare towards him. “Rut?” he hissed. “Then what the fuck was that yesterday?”

Hua Yong took a step closer. Then another. The third backed the alpha into the wall and even when he tried to shove him, Shao You’s post rut strength was nothing next to an enigma.

But he put up a good fight. Scratched Hua Yong’s face a few times, drew blood.

Unmoved, Hua Yong slammed one hand on either side of him on the wall. Completely caging him in. A dark smirk tugged at his lips.

“Me.”

______________________________

Hua Yong might be bipolar, I don’t know. He’s sweet, then he’s not.

Like make up your mind.

Again, like, comment and add to your library ❥