TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 30

Haicheng Commercial Street was the city’s most bustling area. On weekends, it would be packed solid, even impossible to drive through — but Chi Yanxing had picked his time cleverly.

“Today’s Monday, and it’s lunchtime. Fewer people now,” he said.

Yu Su looked at the wide glass doors, through which people were constantly coming and going. “Fewer? Doesn’t look that way to me…”

“This place,” he asked curiously, “is one of those multi-story super malls, right?”

Chi Yanxing hummed an affirmative. “Shall we go in?”

“Okay!”

Having not used his legs for the first twenty years of his life, Yu Su still couldn’t match the efficiency of human limbs. But Chi Yanxing, patient as ever, matched his slow pace step for step.

As a result, before the surrounding onlookers could even process curiosity, they were already stunned by the sheer visual impact of the two of them.

The tall man exuding a sharp, composed aura was striking enough in his tailored suit — but the small omega trailing behind him looked like something straight out of a dream. Dressed in a white windbreaker that made his skin glow like snow, with soft golden hair and lively eyes, he was beautiful to the point of blurring gender.

Feeling the stares around him, Yu Su leaned in and whispered to Chi Yanxing, “Walking this slowly isn’t weird, right? Why does it feel like everyone’s staring at me…”

Chi Yanxing glanced around and said calmly, “They’re just admiring your looks. No bad intentions.”

“Oh… okay. I mean, that’s fine,” Yu Su said shyly. “Everyone in my kind looks good — they just haven’t seen one before.”

“So,” Chi Yanxing asked suddenly, “do the suitors of your kind line up from the southern seas all the way to the north?”

Yu Su blinked, taking a second to react. “You still remember that? Of course not! What are you even thinking about?”

What was Chi Yanxing thinking? He was weighing the odds of letting Yu Su return to the sea.

This little slippery fish still hadn’t fully given up the idea of going back — if Chi Yanxing showed too much mercy, he might never catch him again.

He came back to himself and said lightly, “Nothing. Let’s go — I’ll take you to your favorite kind of store.”

“Favorite kind”? The key word there was “pretty.”

Yu Su’s eyes brightened immediately — the beauty-loving fish had long been curious to see these human places where people paid for new “skins.”

Chi Yanxing led him toward the elevator. “Have you decided what kind of clothes you want?”

Yu Su said excitedly, “My closet’s already stuffed! I mean, I don’t need clothes to look good, but that doesn’t stop me from admiring you humans’ limited-edition skins!”

“‘Skins’?” Chi Yanxing repeated, puzzled.

“Yeah! Think about it — my most beautiful feature is my tail. It’s something I was born with. But you humans don’t have that — just two bare legs — so of course you need some sort of fake skin to cover them, right?”

The bare-legged alpha: “…”

After a pause, Chi Yanxing asked carefully, “Yu Su, in your eyes, besides my face, is there anything else worth looking at?”

Yu Su touched his chin and fell silent.

Chi Yanxing’s tone dropped low. “Hard to answer? So it’s just my face, then? No other redeeming features? In your merfolk world, wouldn’t I be considered deformed, like you were at the beginning?”

Perhaps because no one wanted to intrude on two good-looking men, the elevator remained empty. When it dinged and the doors opened, Yu Su finally said, “That’s nonsense. Chi Yanxing, you’re overthinking it. I want to stay by your side because of you, not because of surface-level things. When I say you’re handsome, it’s just — well, because you are handsome. I can’t help but compliment you.”

Something flickered in Chi Yanxing’s eyes. “Because of me, huh? But we’ve only known each other a short while. Yu Su, don’t you think you trust people too easily?”

Yu Su clicked his tongue, tugged Chi Yanxing out of the elevator, and said, “You really think I’ve got no sense of caution? You just have to stand in front of me, and I forget everything — anyway, enough talk! Come on, come on, let’s look at the pretty clothes!”

Chi Yanxing didn’t say anything more, letting Yu Su pull him into a clothing store.

All around them hung racks of colorful “shame covers” — walls filled with garments, mannequins, and displays of every kind. Yu Su’s wide, curious eyes took it all in. Humans might be bare compared to merfolk, but their sense of design was truly impressive.

The sales assistant stood nearby with a polite smile, never seeming the least bit impatient with how many questions Yu Su was asking.

“This one’s a global limited-edition collaboration — this is the only store in all of Haicheng that carries it.”

“Ah, that one uses a new kind of fabric, specially tailored for high-end omegas like yourself — it’s one of the most popular styles among our distinguished O-clients.”

“Oh, sir, you have such a good eye! That piece just arrived this week!”

Chi Yanxing stood off to the side, watching Yu Su flutter about like a butterfly lost in a flower field.

But before long, that little butterfly flew back to his side and whispered conspiratorially by his ear.

“Chi Yanxing, come here, I have something to show you…”

Following the tug on his hand, Chi Yanxing let Yu Su pull him into a discreet corner. Yu Su waved off the sales assistant, then sneakily pulled open the curtain before them.

“Look—humans really are amazing! They can even make things like this! If any merfolk weren’t satisfied with their tails, they could just use this for a one-click makeover—unbelievable!” Yu Su’s tone was full of delighted discovery.

Chi Yanxing looked up, wordlessly taking in the display before him…

Rows and rows of mermaid-tail skirts.

“…Yu Su, you think these look good?”

Yu Su blinked innocently. “Of course! Don’t you think so? Look at the patterns, the curves, the rhinestones—oh my god, they’re even prettier than my golden tail!”

Chi Yanxing: “…”

The alpha pressed his lips together. “Then if you like them that much… why don’t we just buy them all?”

Yu Su reached out and brushed the gauzy fins under one skirt with his fingertips. “Can we? Can we? Actually, I don’t really need them myself. I was thinking of bringing some back for my brothers and friends in the sea—they’d love these!”

At that moment, Chi Yanxing was deeply grateful he wasn’t born a merperson.

“All right,” he said finally, signaling the sales assistant over. “From here… to there—wrap up everything.”

The assistant hesitated, still conscientious. “Um, sir, these are all women’s omega styles…”

Chi Yanxing said calmly, “I know. My omega happens to like them.”

The assistant’s eyes gleamed with barely suppressed excitement. “Of course, of course! You and your husband have such a wonderful relationship!”

Chi Yanxing gave a simple “Mm.” “And everything he looked at earlier—wrap those as well.”

Yu Su turned his head just in time to hear that last line and tugged Chi Yanxing’s sleeve. “You’re not opening a clothing store. Why buy so many? That’s wasteful.”

Chi Yanxing raised an eyebrow. “Can’t I dress up my little fish?”

Yu Su: “…”

What the hell.

So this is the next level of possessiveness, huh.

After sweeping through the boutique, the entire high-end floor knew two VIP customers had arrived—a distinguished alpha with his adorable boyfriend. Both stunningly handsome. Both clearly loaded.

“Ahh… so this is what people mean by ‘someone else’s boyfriend’…”

“Wait, doesn’t that tall guy look kind of familiar?”

“How familiar? Like, so hot you’d notice him instantly in a crowd?”

“You must be new. When this mall had its grand opening, some ridiculously handsome top executive came for the ribbon-cutting. I still have the picture—hold on—look! It’s him!”

Everyone crowded around the phone, stared for a few seconds… then scattered with dazed expressions.

“Oh no way… the big boss himself out here on a low-profile shopping trip…”

“Forget that—since when did the deep-sea pheromone bachelor have an omega? Wasn’t he supposed to be terminally single?”

“Who cares? Those two are a match made in heaven. With faces like that, what hope do us mortals even have? Let’s just make sure we treat the boss’s spouse well—maybe we’ll even get a raise.”

“Thank goodness humans have home delivery,” Yu Su sighed, flopping down on a lounge chair. “If we had to carry all that ourselves, we’d be dead.”

Chi Yanxing stood beside him. “How is it? Isn’t going out more fun than staying in the office?”

“It’s fine,” Yu Su said offhandedly. “Mostly depends on the company. Waiting for you to get off work is nice too.”

Chi Yanxing chuckled. “My little fish even talks sweet.”

Yu Su looked up. “You’ve been awfully cheerful lately. You used to keep that poker face on all the time—it was such a waste. A handsome man should smile more, you know, for the good of the public.”

“Making you happy is enough. I don’t need to worry about the rest of the public.”

After all, for now, his greatest advantage with Yu Su was his looks.

Even though the omega claimed it was his character that mattered, Chi Yanxing knew exactly where his strengths lay.

If there was an easier path to take, why choose the harder one?

Best to make full use of what you’ve got.

“After a short rest, I’ll take you to a treasure shop,” Chi Yanxing said. “Most of the decorations at home came from there, but those were all chosen by others. This time, you can pick what you like.”

At the mention of something new and exciting, Yu Su immediately perked up. “My legs are kind of numb, and I kind of want you to carry me—but since we’re in public, I’ll be reserved. You taught me that! Let’s go, Daddy Chi—take me to see humanity’s ultimate creations!”

Chi Yanxing’s lips twitched, but he went along with it.

By now, word of the “big boss and his little boyfriend” had spread across the entire mall. As the pair moved through hallways and corridors, the surrounding crowds grew noticeably thinner—Chi Yanxing instantly understood that security had been ordered to quietly clear the way.

That was fine by him. It made things more comfortable for Yu Su.

After turning a corner, they came upon a store ahead—its entrance bright and elegant.

Chi Yanxing said, “This is the place.”

Yu Su glanced around. “I thought a treasure shop would look more old-fashioned—this one feels surprisingly modern.”

“It’s not one of those long-established family chains,” Chi Yanxing explained, looking back to take Yu Su’s hand. “It’s a newer luxury brand that’s become very popular among the younger crowd in our circle. Actually, it’s owned by the Jian family—the same people we ran into earlier at lunch.”

“Huh?” Yu Su’s eyes widened. “You mean this is that big boss’s store?”

Chi Yanxing nodded. “That’s right. Want to take a look?”

Yu Su’s curiosity instantly spiked. He tugged at the alpha’s hand. “Come on, come on, I wanna see everything!”

The store’s interior was done in shades of blue, accented by bright white lighting that gave the place a clean and elegant feel.

It wasn’t noisy like the clothing boutiques—soft instrumental music flowed gently through the air, and the salespeople moved quietly, almost soundlessly.

Yu Su instinctively lowered his voice. “It’s so quiet in here…”

“This is a luxury boutique,” Chi Yanxing said in a low tone. “There aren’t as many customers.”

Just as they finished speaking, a young man who looked like a floor supervisor walked over.

“Mr. Chi, welcome. What would you like to see today?”

Chi Yanxing nodded. “Just bringing my omega out for a stroll.”

The supervisor smiled with practiced ease. “Of course.”

Yu Su noticed out of the corner of his eye that the sales clerk didn’t follow them and quietly exhaled in relief.

It was already so quiet—having a human shadowing them from behind would’ve made any fish feel uneasy.

Chi Yanxing noticed his shoulders relax and said softly, “Everyone here’s a professional. They can read the room. Don’t be nervous.”

Yu Su looked troubled. “It’s not that I want to be nervous, it’s just… the atmosphere here feels both familiar and strange. This kind of deep, silent blue—it’s exactly like the sea.”

Chi Yanxing froze for a moment.

Something flickered through his mind.

But before he could think further, Yu Su suddenly exclaimed, “Whoa, that’s a huge red coral!”

Interrupted, Chi Yanxing looked up—and finally saw what Yu Su was talking about.

“This store’s the flagship location in Haicheng,” he explained. “That coral’s part of their signature decor—sort of a company hallmark.”

The massive red coral stood proudly above the lounge area, visible to every customer who walked in.

Yu Su was instantly drawn to it. Growing up in temperate waters, he’d mostly seen the white corals unique to his home region. He rarely had a chance to see something so vividly red and beautiful.

“No wonder it’s one of humanity’s top treasure stores—humans can even get their hands on this kind of thing,” Yu Su sighed. He grabbed Chi Yanxing’s hand, gesturing animatedly as he explained the coral’s shape and structure. “Did I ever tell you? Our merfolk are basically split into two groups—those who live in the southern seas and those who live further north in colder waters. These big red corals only grow in the northern oceans!”

Yu Su rarely talked about his merfolk kind, so Chi Yanxing listened with an attentiveness ten times sharper than usual.

“It really does look rare,” he said. “The Jian family must’ve paid quite a price to get it.”

Yu Su grinned. “For you humans, maybe. For us, though, this is like those stone lions you keep at your doors—fun to look at for a second, and that’s it.”

Chi Yanxing chuckled. “Then I guess my little fish is much richer than me. You own an entire sea’s worth of treasures. Even if you ever fell on hard times, you could just cry a little and—voilà—instant pearls.”

Yu Su huffed. “Easy for you to say! Do you think crying feels nice? I feel awful when I cry, and you still collect my pearls!”

“That’s why I’m glad you’re a mermaid,” Chi Yanxing said quietly. “This way, I can gather up all your sadness—and never let you see it again.”

Yu Su’s heart gave a faint, startled flutter. He was just about to say something when a new voice interrupted.

“President Chi? How come you have time to visit today?”

Yu Su turned toward the sound and saw a young man in a gray suit walking over. He looked to be in his early twenties—tall, handsome, with a kind of casual confidence that showed even through his formal attire.

Chi Yanxing replied evenly, “Just bringing my omega out for a stroll.”

It was then that Jian Raokong noticed the omega standing behind him.

“So this is President Chi’s omega?” he asked, slightly surprised. Wasn’t he supposed to have trouble walking? He looks fine to me.

Chi Yanxing nodded and turned back slightly. “This is the Jian family’s eldest son—the man we met earlier today, Chairman Jian’s son.”

Yu Su peeked out from behind the alpha and said politely, “Hello, hello! I’m Yu Su. That red coral of yours is really beautiful!”

Jian Raokong blinked in mild surprise, then extended his hand with a small smile. “Hello. Thank you for the compliment. I’m Jian Raokong.”

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