TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 17

Feeling smug about successfully cheering someone up, Yu Su happily tossed another handful of fish food to the little wild fish. He even gave them a brief “political threats” lecture before heading back to his room to rest.

The omega, who should have been sensitive and overly cautious, left without a trace of psychological burden. Meanwhile, the calm and rational alpha left behind couldn’t help but sink into endless suspicion and confusion.

Chi Yanxing stood on the balcony for a while, watching as the light came on in the room next door, before returning to his study on the second floor.

He didn’t turn on the light, simply picking up the small pearl and examining it under the moonlight.

It was an ordinary pearl—rounder and shinier than most, perhaps, but nothing particularly remarkable about it.

Chi Yanxing squinted in thought for a moment before walking to the bookshelf. Amid the rows of documents and literary classics, one prominent section had been specially reserved and set apart.

He opened the dust-proof glass cabinet and gently touched the larger, rounder pearl within.

“Did I really pick this up myself…?”

Chi Yanxing stared at the larger pearl for a long moment, lost in thought. Then he reached into his pocket, retrieved the smaller, newer pearl, and carefully placed it beside the old one.

The two pearls—one large, one small—rested harmoniously on the red velvet cushion, their pristine white glow complementing each other as if they were always meant to be together.

—

Meanwhile, Yu Su had finished washing up and was curled up in bed, holding the edge of the blanket. But something felt off, as if he’d forgotten something. Turning the thought over in his head, he suddenly touched the fresh bite mark on the back of his neck.

“Ah—now I remember! I stood up on my own earlier and even took a couple of steps!”

Yu Su scratched his head, muttering, “I didn’t get a chance to tell Chi Yanxing…”

As he ran his fingers over the gland on the back of his neck, the sensation of being bitten lingered faintly.

“Hmm… Actually, it wasn’t bad. Quite comfortable, really… But Chi Yanxing didn’t seem himself today. I’ll wait until I can walk a bit more before I tell him. Don’t want to disappoint him like earlier.”

The omega’s faint, almost imperceptible scent was now completely drowned out by the alpha’s heavy, deep-sea pheromones. Even Yu Su’s hair carried Chi Yanxing’s fragrance, and for now, there was no need to worry about the impending heat cycle that had once required suppressants.

Snuggling into the blanket, Yu Su drifted off into a sweet dream, enveloped by the deep-sea scent he loved most.

–

The night passed peacefully.

Early the next morning, as Yu Su opened his door, he felt a gust of sea breeze blow past. Looking up, he saw Chi Yanxing standing outside his room, and upon closer sniffing, confirmed the breeze was part of the alpha’s pheromonal signature.

“Aren’t you going to work today?” he asked, squinting at the alpha, who stood outside his door like a walking oceanic cologne.

“I am.”

After a night of contemplation, Chi Yanxing had temporarily suppressed his wild speculations, regaining a sense of rational thought.

Not knowing or understanding was fine. Time and patience were things he had in abundance.

Chi Yanxing’s gaze deepened as he looked at Yu Su and asked, “Do you remember something you said yesterday?”

Yu Su tilted his head. “Why ask like that?”

Of course, he remembered what he said yesterday.

Unexpectedly, Chi Yanxing continued, “Your ability to self-soothe is extraordinary—too extraordinary for an omega. You’re more like a fish, thoughtless and carefree. So let me remind you again.”

Yu Su: “…”

Chi Yanxing, your way of speaking is both infuriating and terrifying to a fish.

Stiffening, Yu Su responded, “Of course I remember! I asked you to take me out to have some fun, didn’t I? And when you agreed, I was thrilled!”

Thrilled? As expected.

If this omega wasn’t acting, then his suspicions were well-founded.

Besides, Chi Yanxing didn’t believe someone eccentric enough to smear wasabi on their own gland could be this seamless of an actor.

“As long as you’re happy,” Chi Yanxing replied cryptically.

Catching a whiff of breakfast downstairs, Yu Su dramatically sniffed the air, eager to change the subject. “Let’s not talk about this anymore—come on, let’s eat! I think Uncle He made yellow croaker again. I’m in such a good mood today, I might even share half with you!”

Chi Yanxing didn’t respond but silently cooperated by dropping the topic.

–

Uncle He had indeed prepared yellow croaker, partly to make up for his master’s previous regret and partly in hopes of mending the relationship between the two. After all, with his master’s awkward personality, who knew how long it would take to cheer up yesterday’s upset omega.

But the experienced butler had clearly miscalculated this time.

As soon as the yellow croaker was placed in front of Yu Su, he deftly used a knife to split it in two, deliberately leaving the meatier tail portion for the alpha.

Was the master really this naturally gifted at relationships? He managed to cheer up his omega in just one night…

Uncle He adjusted his internal frequency, slipping back into the narrative of an 8 PM sweet romance drama.

Chi Yanxing, composed as ever, picked up the fish with his chopsticks. Quietly, he moved his lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed the long-awaited yellow croaker.

Yu Su, however, was less restrained. Half the breakfast on the table ended up in his stomach. Uncle He looked back and forth between them. If not for the pheromonal presence marking the omega’s identity, the butler might have assumed Yu Su was the dominant alpha spoiling his mate.

Chi Yanxing, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised at all. Perhaps the omega’s legendary seafood feast had left such a strong impression that even now, Yu Su’s hearty appetite didn’t faze him.

The meal passed in a somewhat peculiar atmosphere.

Uncle He initially thought the alpha stayed behind just to share breakfast with his omega. But to his surprise, after the meal, the two left the house together.

Wasn’t the master unwilling to expose Yu Su in public? Why the sudden change of heart?

The butler didn’t know, but Chi Yanxing’s decision wasn’t impulsive.

Initially, he hadn’t planned to take Yu Su out due to various concerns. But yesterday’s circumstances had forced his hand, and with the omega now temporarily marked—practically branded with “Chi Yanxing” all over—his possessive alpha instincts felt somewhat appeased.

Although Yu Su seemed a bit hard to figure out, one thing was clear: marked or not, he was genuinely clingy.

Taking Yu Su out would relax him, aid his rehabilitation, and provide Chi Yanxing more opportunities to uncover some answers.

Completely unaware of the alpha’s careful planning, Yu Su leaned against the car window, watching the blur of greenery streak past like a wall of green under the car’s speed. Suddenly, he asked, “Chi Yanxing, where do you work, anyway?”

Chi Yanxing brushed away the last trace of unspeakable thoughts in his mind and answered in an even tone, “It’s close to where we had the all-fish feast.”

The driver chimed in from the front, “Mr. Yu, you might not know this, but that restaurant is located in the central business district. The three skyscrapers surrounding it all have investments from our boss here!”

Yu Su turned around with a snap, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Chi Yanxing.

“Dr. Wen was right after all!”

“Wen Bie?” Chi Yanxing raised an eyebrow. “What strange things has he been telling you?”

Yu Su waved his hand dismissively. “Nothing much, just that you’re ridiculously wealthy.”

Chi Yanxing clearly didn’t buy that it was “just that.” “You should take whatever he says with a grain of salt. Eight out of ten of his statements are meant to tease you.”

Yu Su propped his chin up with a smile. “But it’s true, isn’t it? You’re rich, you’re good-looking—what’s wrong with people complimenting you?”

The driver couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. Mr. Yu’s way of speaking was quite amusing.

Chi Yanxing remained silent for two seconds before raising his lashes to look at him. “Fine, but I don’t want his compliments. I want yours. Start praising me now, all the way to the company. Miss one compliment, and you’ll get one less fish for lunch.”

Yu Su: “…”

Completely shameless, huh?

–

By the time the car stopped at the company’s entrance, Chi Yanxing handed Yu Su a bottle of water.

Ever since the emergency incident that happened on the road, every car in the garage, regardless of fuel levels, was required to stock water. Mr. He, the butler, had implemented this policy the very next day.

Now, Yu Su was holding a water bottle bigger than his face, gulping down its contents.

Chi Yanxing had indeed meant what he said earlier. While Yu Su was still processing, this handsome man had already raised the privacy divider and assumed a poised, almost regal posture, clearly waiting to hear compliments without compromise.

So Yu Su had stammered and stuttered his way through the car ride, praising non-stop until he was so tired that he barely recognized the word “handsome” anymore.

Yet Chi Yanxing remained unfazed, his expression unchanged and his skin metaphorically thicker than Yu Su’s scent glands.

“Finish the water, and we’ll get out of the car,” Chi Yanxing said.

Yu Su lowered the bottle, wiped his lips, and grumbled, “Next time I try to rally those little fish to coax you, I’ll be an idiot.”

A person like this—he didn’t need coaxing at all. At his own level, Chi Yanxing could easily have him beat with one hand tied behind his back.

Chi Yanxing’s eyes gleamed. “So you admit you were instructing those little things?”

Yu Su froze but quickly responded, “I told you—it’s just a little trick. If you dip your hands in fish food, you might pull it off too.”

Chi Yanxing didn’t comment further but got out of the car first.

What does that mean? Yu Su turned his head, watching as the man walked to his side to open the car door.

“I’m past the age of playing with fish. It’s enough that there’s one person in the house with that skill. Not everyone needs to know how.”

Yu Su: “…”

Fine, you win.

Once Chi Yanxing had lifted both the wheelchair and Yu Su out of the car, Yu Su finally turned his attention to the towering skyscraper in front of him. He slowly craned his neck upward, and upward, and upward, until his gaze met Chi Yanxing’s calm eyes above him.

“What do you think? Did you see the top?” Chi Yanxing asked.

Yu Su: “…No.”

“Don’t worry,” Chi Yanxing said. “I’ll take you up there to see it.”

Yu Su let out an “oh,” watching as the man placed his hands on the wheelchair handles.

“Wait—!”

“What is it?”

“I-I-I’ll do it myself!”

There were so many people around. If strangers saw this high-profile CEO personally pushing a wheelchair for him, what would they think? He was a proper gentleman, not some charity case. He didn’t want to be misunderstood.

Chi Yanxing withdrew his hands. “You sure?”

Yu Su nodded fervently.

“Alright.”

Chi Yanxing didn’t want to see Yu Su upset or embarrassed. He hoped Yu Su could always remain like this—bright and cheerful. For that, he was willing to tease, to compromise slightly.

And without alarming Yu Su, he would slowly unravel his secrets.

Feel free to donate for earlier/bonus chapter releases! Thanks for supporting me and enjoy reading 😀