Chapter 16

LOVE.

HE’D NEVER KNOWN what that was. Never been shown.

He knew his mother had loved him. That, however, was so long ago he didn’t know what that had felt like.

But one look. One single look at the man curled up beside him and his heart believed it. In its existence.

Shao You stirred awake at the crack of dawn, coming face to face with long eyelashes and the minty breaths of Hua Yong. Their lips brushed lightly as he pushed away from the compromising position they were in.

It had been his initial thought to wake the man up but decided against it in the end. He couldn’t bring himself to do that. The way Hua Yong’s eyes were squeezed shut, like he’d struggled to get sleep in the first place.

Because he was the reason he’d had to stay away for two nights. Post rut, you would think Hua Yong would tone down on his attention but no.

He just silently nursed the alpha back to health. As if it was his royal duty.

There was the fact that Shao You been in a rut not too long ago, then him having fainted prior and hospitalized. The enigma was taking no chances whatsoever.

Shao You quietly sneaked out of the bed and went to pee in the bathroom and came back to lie in his space.

Not once did it cross his mind to escape.

Escape? From what? The soft looking man snuggling close to his neck. The man beside him stirred, flopping an arm over him. Shao You’s gaze landed on his face and a small smile tugged at his lips. Humming, he pulled Hua Yong closer, draping an arm around him.

In case Hua Yong was cold.

Funny how he’d been the one in this position some hours prior.

A situation he wasn’t entirely proud of.

Shao You had come out of rut and his first instinct had been to grab onto this strange man and never let go. To sort of seek warmth from him like he was in danger. Not a care that this same person had him locked up and watched him struggle through his rut without a mate. When he was right there.

That should have been reason enough for him to unleash his wrath. Yet, here he was. By all standards submitting himself on a platter. Though it didn’t feel like he had much of a say.

Not then. Not now.

Shao You tore his eyes away from the ceiling, landing again on the sleeping person beside him. Eye lashes fluttering, content settled on Hua Yong’s features.

He smelled like sandalwood and musk and something harsher. Citrus based.

Shao You frowned. He could not look away from Hua Yong.

WHY COULDN’T HE LOOK AWAY FROM HIM?!

And as if the universe was in to torture him even more, his hand trailed down Hua Yong’s back and bunched his pyjamas. His hand sneaked under it, touching his bare skin.

What was he even doing? And why couldn’t he even stop? His hands. Damn those hands of his.

It was like they had a mind of its own. He was meticulous though. In case the man woke up and wrote him off as creepy.

That’d be quite embarrassing. Especially for someone of his calibre.

He may have bottomed once but he was still Sheng Shao You Jianghu’s most eligible bachelor.

So with deep apprehension, he removed his hand and yanked it beside himself. As if Hua Yong could suddenly wake up and see what a naughty boy he’d been.

He went back to staring at him instead. Gawking.

HUA-YONG…

The first time he heard the name was that night eight days ago. This man had walked into his life and turned it around in the span of a few hours. Slept with him

And the most frustrating thing was Shao You didn’t feel angry about it. Like this was okay. This was normal. And if his brain dared question how any of it was okay then his heart would tell it to shut up and mind its own business.

Which made him punch him. He wasn’t mad Hua Yong touched him. He was mad Hua Yong touched him without his consent.

Two very different situations.

But he immediately regretted it. Hua Yong hadn’t looked bothered still Shao You’s own heart wouldn’t rest. So he decided to find him again and well, apologize. Or not.

Fine. He just wanted to be close to him again. That morning was the closest he’d been to anyone and it was etched into his memory.

However this mysterious person just had to go ahead and become his new boss. The same person who took ShengFang Biotech from his father.

You would think that would have enraged him yet all he wanted to do when he opened his eyes to that face again- like déjà vu-was hug him and kiss him and kiss his bruised lip better.

In came his rut at the worse time possible. But at least he was chained up the entire time. Was he enraged by this? Still no. They hadn’t spoken on it either.

He came to his senses and decided to act normal about it. And somehow Hua Yong didn’t mention, just because he didn’t. But was he going to ask about it?

Because he knew why Hua Yong had chained and taken care of him instead of him leaving him to his fate. Spending his rut alone would have been torture. Spending his rut with a stranger was out of the question. But spending his rut chained up so he wouldn’t hurt himself or end up making an irrevocable action was something he could live with. Hua Yong understood that. Hence his decision, especially when his rut had hit him unprepared.

To say he was floored was an understatement. His chest tightened.

He’d punched this man only once for touching him without his consent and he learned to keep his hands to himself immediately. He didn’t have to say it twice. Chaining Shao You up had been some sort of accountability.

Hua Yong did it for him.

The said man stirred in his sleep, still very much asleep. Shao You didn’t think he was this tired. But he was. And he wasn’t going to disturb him.

Well watching someone sleep is not considered disturbance, right? Because he was going to watch him sleep.

Hua Yong was just to beautiful to look away from. His small face, the way his long lashes pressed shut against his cheekbones. His straight nose was perfect like it had been specially carved by a greek god. And his lips? They looked so soft, so kissable.

Still only one question lingered at the back of his mind.

Who was Hua Yong really? Not the owner of HUA CORP. Not the new owner of ShengFang Biotech. Not the small boy he met twelve years ago in that library. But this man right here. Who was this man lying beside him? And why did it seem like Shao You the center of his universe?

Shao You was losing himself before it even started.

His hand traced his jawline, the slope of his nose, then his lips. How red they were. It had felt so soft when Hua Yong had kissed him earlier.

He wanted to kiss him again. Needed to kiss him. He swallowed the lump in his throat.

“Hua Yong,” Shao You breathed the name before he could stop himself.

Hua Yong’s eyes snapped open instantly, finding his. He fixed Shao You with a momentary disoriented look before springing up. As if allowing himself a minute of rest was criminal.

Shao You did not like that. “Hey,” he whispered in a shaky attempt to ease the sudden tension.

Hua Yong’s brows furrowed. He inched closer, mouth pressed into a grim line. “Why are you up? Do you need something?”

He was already getting off the bed when Shao You curled his fingers around his wrist, tugging him back.

“I don’t need anything.” he said, tone firm.

Hua Yong paused, tilting his head to the side. “Then why are you up?” he glanced at the window and back to Shao You. “it’s still pretty early. Or-

The switch from mere worry to panic was fast. So fast Shao You almost missed it.

But for the way Hua Yong’s face contorted, eyes almost popping out of its socket. “-Or is that you’re sick? Do you feel uncomfortable? Where? Should I-“

Shao You watched him babble on, unintentionally tuning him out. A deep ache settled in his chest where fondness had been.

Ache because there was someone here beside him worried about him. Thinking about him. Heating up just because he’d woken up earlier than he was supposed to.

So this was care.

So this was what his father never showed him. What his mother never had the chance to show him.

Shao You’s arm found his left arm, wrapping his fingers around him. The enigma’s body was warm beneath his fingertips. But he did not answer.

Rather he guided the enigma but to his side. To his space. Turned himself so his back was pressed against his front. Then locked himself in his embrace.

So tight they could melt into one.

But this time he was spooned.

And even though the feeling was overwhelming, he didn’t have the heart to pull away. He couldn’t. Because if he did, he might miss it.

It was like he was born for this.

Born to be next to this person.

“Shao You-“

“Don’t talk.” he cut him off, sinking deeper into the warmth swallowing him. It was addicting. Something he didn’t see himself losing any time soon. Or ever.

Because if he held it, it was his. Or whatever was written in the holy book of possessions.

Shao You’s voice broke through the quietness of the night. It was a question that needed to be asked.

He needed to hear his love for him again. But not in three words.

“Why did you run away that day?”

He felt Hua Yong stiffen around him for just a mere before he was back to breathing fine. “I was scared.” he murmured.

Shao You turned around in his arms to face him. Hua Yong was already looking at him, the intensity of his gaze sending his feelings into a frenzy.

He stopped breathing.

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Long chapter, had to divide it for obvious reasons.

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