TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 29

Chi Yanxing had listened to the mermaid sing just last night. Yu Su had no “work” tonight, so he was finally free.

When bedtime came, he obediently lay on one side of the pale yellow bed, occasionally sneaking glances at the human who was washing up in the bathroom.

Chi Yanxing had already said he wouldn’t eat him, so he should be safe… right? Yu Su pressed his lips together, looking up at the bedroom light, now shaped like dangling pearls.

Ah… if only Chi Yanxing weren’t so good to him, he could sulk, bite back, throw little tantrums now and then…

But Chi Yanxing was just too good to him.

So good that the first feeling he had whenever thinking of this alpha was closeness and affection.

He just wanted to give him everything, as if making Chi Yanxing smile was worth everything.

Yu Su sighed.

This was dangerous—he was supposed to be the one skilled at charming hearts.

Lost in thought, he noticed the bathroom door open. The alpha stepped out, having changed from his suit and shirt. His hair, half-dried, fell naturally—not as neat and serious as usual—and for a moment, Yu Su thought of that tall, bright boy from a photo.

Just as clear and pure.

Chi Yanxing wore gray pajamas one size too large and stepped closer.

Yu Su quietly clutched the blanket, pulling it up to cover his chin.

“Do you always sleep so obediently?” Chi Yanxing asked suddenly.

Yu Su: “Ah… I guess so…”

Last night, he had been treated like a chew toy by this alpha—he’d believe anything now.

Chi Yanxing glanced at him. “Yu Su, what are you so nervous about?”

“N-no… I’m not nervous. I just… suddenly feel sleepy—”

Chi Yanxing said nothing. Instead, he lifted his side of the blanket, sharing the same space with Yu Su.

Yu Su felt every sense heighten. The soft bed sank slightly, and a cool, fresh scent enveloped him.

His throat moved, and the back of his neck, calm for more than half a month, suddenly burned uncontrollably.

The room grew quiet.

Chi Yanxing had quietly leaned closer, though Yu Su didn’t notice exactly when.

Yu Su was startled. “Y-you—what are you doing? I don’t want to get pregnant with little babies!”

Chi Yanxing replied calmly, “…Your pheromones are leaking. Didn’t you notice?”

Yu Su froze.

The mermaid stammered, “Oh… oh, right, right, I know—I know, let’s just sleep.”

Chi was silent for a while, and when he finally spoke again, his voice was low and rough. “I’m afraid we can’t sleep yet. You’re scared of injections—if you don’t let me bite you, you will end up pregnant in a minute.”

Yu Su: “!!!”

“Bite bite bite! Now! You come here or I’ll come over—either’s fine!” declared the newly-turned-into-an-O little coward.

Chi seemed to sigh softly, then leaned down toward him. Yu Su instinctively closed his eyes—but the other’s hand seemed to pass over him instead.

Click.

The sound of the bedside lamp turning off. Darkness swallowed the room. Yu Su secretly opened one eye—just in time to see the alpha’s silhouette looming close.

Then that same hand that had turned off the light gently hooked his chin.

“Turn your head. Face away.”

Yu Su was obedient to a fault, moving exactly as told.

As his body turned halfway, he felt the man press down behind him—and a wave of heat brushed the back of his neck.

His heartbeat and the glands on his neck pounded together in rhythm.

“Little Fish,” Chi murmured.

Before Yu Su could answer, a sharp sting pricked his skin—and then the soothing, enveloping rush of deep-sea pheromones flooded him. For a mermaid, it was an incomparable comfort. His eyes went slightly dazed, as if he were floating in the warmest, clearest current.

This temporary mark lasted longer than usual. After a while, Yu Su fidgeted and whispered, “A-are you… done biting yet?”

Chi hummed softly through his nose, then released him a little. “Done.”

Yu Su exhaled in relief and turned his head. “Then let’s slee—mmph!”

Their breaths tangled together for a while before one voice spoke again, low and teasing: “Use me and toss me aside, heartless little mermaid.”

Yu Su wanted to retort but lost his nerve halfway.

He grumbled, “…Why do you always like sneaking up on people? It’s scary in the middle of the night!”

Chi didn’t realize what his omega was really thinking. “If I asked properly,” he said, “would you even let me kiss you?”

Yu Su fell silent.

“See? You’re supposed to be my perfect match, yet you never cooperate. And when it comes to you, my reason and patience are nonexistent. So what should I do?” Chi’s tone turned deliberately plaintive, teasing him on purpose.

After a long silence, Yu Su suddenly asked, “If it’s just kissing… that won’t make babies, right?”

Chi couldn’t help a quiet laugh.

“No, only if we get much closer—more intimate—then there could be babies.”

Completely clueless about human mating, Yu Su nodded earnestly. “Oh… then you can kiss me. Just stop sneaking up, okay? Kissing’s… actually kind of nice. It feels good.”

Chi didn’t move away. After Yu Su said that, he bent down again and lightly kissed the mermaid’s nose.

“How about that?”

“Mm… that’s fine.”

The alpha’s lips found the corner of Yu Su’s eye next.

“And that?”

“…That’s fine too.”

This time Chi really laughed out loud.

“Silly fish.”

Yu Su frowned in the dark. “Who are you calling silly?”

Chi bundled him up in his arms like a blanket, ruffled his soft hair, and coaxed, “I’m silly. Go to sleep.”

Yu Su glared at him through the shadows, then nestled into the sea-scented pheromones, mumbling as he drifted into dreams.

The next morning, Chi Yanxing carried Yu Su downstairs.

Breakfast was already set out; Uncle He was nowhere to be seen—probably watering the garden.

Chi placed Yu Su gently on a chair, then picked up a bowl of sweet porridge and waved it under the half-awake little glutton’s nose.

“Fragrant and soft, the rice perfectly tender—with Uncle He’s best diced beef and fresh vegetables…”

Yu Su smacked his lips sleepily. “…Smells so good. What time is it?”

“Seven in the morning.”

“Ugh… only seven? You’re already getting up to make money? Aren’t you the boss?”

Yu Su clearly had no idea that the Chi family’s company used to be the brightest landmark in the entire city. He yawned, feeling for the first time how exhausting human life was.

Chi set the bowl down and said, “Of course I’m the boss. But if I want extra time with you this afternoon, I have to go in early to finish some work.”

“Be good. We can nap in the car later.”

Yu Su made a sleepy little noise, and Chi took the chance to feed him a spoonful of porridge right into his mouth.

Yu Su immediately caught the spoon, flustered. It was already embarrassing enough having someone help him wash and dress—how could he let them feed him too?

He lowered his head, burying his face in the bowl to hide his burning cheeks.

After breakfast, full and warm, his drowsiness returned even stronger. Once in the car, he greeted the driver softly, then promptly flopped over the backseat and fell asleep.

“Is Mr. Yu… still unwell?” the driver asked.

Chi glanced at the perfectly healthy omega and smoothly said, “He was a little tired last night, so he’s not in great shape today.”

The driver gave a knowing look, slowing the car a little—as if afraid to jostle the boss’s delicate little omega.

Time always passed too quickly when Yu Su was around. The usually dull commute seemed to end in a breath, carried away by the sound of quiet breathing.

When the car finally stopped, the driver hesitated. “Mr. Chi, I noticed you didn’t bring the wheelchair today… what about Mr. Yu—?”

Chi Yanxing said, “His rehabilitation’s going well — he can already start walking on his own.”

The driver nodded happily and was about to ask if he should wake the omega, when he saw the boss get out of the car, walk around, and gently lift Yu Su out himself. The latter burrowed his head and pressed his face into the expensive tailored suit.

Driver: “……”

I really shouldn’t be in this car.

The lobby was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

A soft ding from the elevator broke the silence like a pebble dropped into still water.

“I think… I just saw the president carrying that person in his arms—”

“Wow, so we’re not even using the wheelchair anymore…”

“So this is what top-tier alpha charm looks like? The boss was practically glowing today… I always thought the sexiest thing was a man who makes money, but now I see — the sexiest man is one who makes money and dotes on his lover…”

“Alright, enough gossip — they’re obviously a perfect pheromone match.”

Whispers spread like ripples, and before long the rhythmic sounds of heels on marble filled the air again.

This place ran like a massive machine — everyone had their role and their responsibilities.

…Everyone except Yu Su.

“From what I heard,” someone was saying nearby, “they want us to put up a guarantee deposit for the development project—”

Click-clack.

“The project contract states clearly who’s responsible. If they try to back out last minute, we’ll just switch partners and cut them off.”

Sip, sip.

The assistant tried to ignore the background noise and continued his report: “Also, Dr. Wen from the medical department submitted a request — he wants to withdraw from the inhibitor research deal. Says he’s a scientist, not a finance guy…”

Chi Yanxing lowered his gaze to glance at the file. “Leave it. Wen’s in the middle of a romantic streak lately — don’t ruin his late bloom.”

The assistant’s mouth twitched. Better not let the famously petty Dr. Wen hear that one.

Yu Su, finishing the last sip of his milk tea, spoke around the tapioca pearls: “You’re talking about Dr. Wen? What’s up with him?”

Chi Yanxing looked up. “Nothing. Stop eating so many snacks — your stomach’s going to hurt.”

Yu Su: “Oh… okay. Are you done yet? It’s almost noon!”

Chi Yanxing handed the file back to his assistant. “That’s all for now. I won’t be in this afternoon — deal with anything else tomorrow.”

The assistant nodded and left briskly.

Yu Su brushed cookie crumbs from his hands. “Making money’s so hard.”

“It’s not too bad,” Chi Yanxing said, standing up and pushing his chair back under the desk. “At least it’s enough to keep you fed.”

That made Yu Su flush for no clear reason. He quickly changed the subject: “So we’re leaving now? You picked a place already? I don’t know the streets, so I’ll just follow you!”

Chi Yanxing nodded. “We’ll go now — lunch first. Don’t worry, I won’t lose you.”

Yu Su rubbed his stomach — he could probably still eat three to five more fish — and said thoughtfully, “Then I want to go to that fish restaurant we always go to! Their fish is so good!”

Chi Yanxing smiled. “Alright.”

They left just after the lunch rush. Yu Su refused to be carried this time, trailing behind at his own slow pace.

“The mark really worked — I don’t even need the wheelchair now!” Yu Su said excitedly.

Chi Yanxing: “Mm. I’m considering putting it away for good.”

Yu Su glanced at the driver waiting ahead with the car door open. “But what if I suddenly can’t walk? Just sitting there on your human streets, can’t move, no water, sun beating down on me… what a sad sight that’d be.”

Chi Yanxing turned back toward him. “That won’t happen. If something urgent happens, I’ll always be there. No wheelchair — I’ll carry you myself. Didn’t I say I’d help hide your tail so no one would see?”

Yu Su made a small sound. “Chi Yanxing, you’re really so good to me…”

The alpha watched him settle into the car. “You’re my omega — and my fish. If I don’t treat you well, who should I treat well? …And don’t look at me like that. We’re not having kids yet — don’t be scared.”

Yu Su murmured an “oh” and looked away.

Actually… if it were his and Chi Yanxing’s genes, their baby would probably be stunning — born both handsome and beautiful. Then he could look at the baby, look at Chi Yanxing, then look at himself — wouldn’t that make him the ultimate winner in life?

Lost in that pleasant fantasy, Yu Su devoured three whole braised fish at the restaurant.

Chi Yanxing, sitting across from him, asked once Yu Su finally set down his chopsticks, “Full?”

Yu Su burped, then covered his mouth in embarrassment. “Full, full.”

Chi Yanxing handed him a napkin. “Then let’s go — I’ll take you to Haicheng’s shopping district.”

Yu Su got up and followed him out. After eating nonstop since morning, his little stomach was now visibly rounded.

Chi Yanxing walked ahead, Yu Su behind, rubbing his belly as he went.

When they turned a corner, two men suddenly stepped out of a doorway — one tall, one shorter, both in their thirties.

Chi Yanxing stopped walking.

“Chairman Jian? Here for lunch too?”

Yu Su, standing behind him, couldn’t see clearly, but he heard a calm male voice reply, “President Chi? Fancy meeting you here. Shui Shui, this is the young alpha from the Chi family — the one currently working with Rao Kong.”

Then came another voice — smoother, warmer — that made Yu Su’s ears perk up.

“Hello, I’m Rao Kong’s father.”

The moment the words fell, Yu Su’s brows knit slightly. That voice…

But it was just a brief encounter. Jian Feng and Chi Yanxing exchanged a few polite words before parting. By the time Yu Su peered around Chi Yanxing’s shoulder, all he caught was a glimpse of their retreating figures behind a decorative screen.

Still — that fleeting outline was enough to make Yu Su pause, momentarily dazed.

Chi Yanxing noticed Yu Su had stopped walking and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you tired?”

Yu Su slowly shook his head. “…No, I just thought — that person just now looked kind of familiar from behind.”

“Which one?” Chi Yanxing asked. “The taller one I was talking to?”

Yu Su replied, “No, the other person beside him.”

“Oh,” Chi Yanxing said, “that’s Chairman Jian’s partner — an omega. They have an alpha son, Jian Raokong, about your age. He’s currently working with our company on a project.”

So that was it. No wonder Chi Yanxing had stopped to greet them. Both men’s voices had sounded young, and yet they already had such a grown son…

Chi Yanxing didn’t continue on the Jian family topic. Seeing Yu Su rubbing his stomach, he reached out and placed his palm there — it fit neatly in one hand.

“Next time, don’t eat so many snacks before meals,” Chi Yanxing said, then added, drawing from years of fish-keeping experience, “Little fish shouldn’t eat too much — you’ll get bloated easily.”

Yu Su, already having forgotten about the earlier encounter, glared at the alpha. “You think I’m the same as those fish? You underestimate me— hic!”

“…”

Chi Yanxing: “…”

“You are laughing at me, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t even say anything.”

“I know you’re laughing!”

“…Fine,” Chi Yanxing said, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. His eyes shimmered with amusement.

Seeing Yu Su about to get flustered, Chi Yanxing quickly added, “Don’t be mad, little fish — anger isn’t pretty.”

Yu Su’s ears turned warm red.

…What on earth had Chi Yanxing evolved behind his back?

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