UNCLTRD chapter 32

The mansion was like a massive cage. Yang Shao, like a bird that had flown free, felt a weight lift off his shoulders once he was away from the elders. He reclined the passenger seat, stretched leisurely, and unapologetically treated Chen Qiusu like a chauffeur.

The car’s music played softly, just enough to calm the mind. The heating was perfectly adjusted, and the warm breeze felt like a feather brushing against his cheek. He was in a slight buzz from the alcohol, his whole body relaxed. When a person unwinds like this, they tend to say things without thinking.

“Just look at how many people showed up for Yang Tao’s birthday. What will happen on the wedding day?”

“Your relatives are so annoying, asking endless questions.”

“If I slip up and say the wrong thing, it’s not just my face at stake—it’s your parents’ reputation too. What if I embarrass them?”

At a red light, Chen Qiusu silently listened to Yang Shao’s grumbling, his peripheral vision catching him curling up in the passenger seat, clutching his seatbelt tightly to his chest. His sulky demeanor reminded Chen Qiusu of Yang Tao. He decided to use the same tactics he would when coaxing Yang Tao.

“So, what should we do then?”

Under the warmth of the car’s heater, the alcohol seemed to bubble in Yang Shao’s system like water coming to a boil. He blinked, momentarily confused. “What should we do about what?”

Chen Qiusu chuckled softly, earning a curious side-eye from Yang Shao. “What are you laughing at?” he asked.

As the light turned green, the car moved forward. A right turn later, they arrived at the toy store.

“We’re here,” Chen Qiusu said.

The toy shop owner, always eager to please, must have been waiting. As soon as he heard the engine, he stepped outside to greet them. Seeing the car window roll down, he immediately recognized Yang Shao.

“Mr. Yang! I’m so sorry you had to come out so late.”

The cold night air blew into the car, instantly clearing Yang Shao’s slight intoxication. He leaned against the car window and smiled. “No, no, I’m the one troubling you for waiting.”

He started to open the door to step out, but the shop owner stopped him. “No need, no need! Just pop the trunk, and I’ll load it for you.”

“Thank you!” Yang Shao called out.

After securing the toy gun in the trunk, the shop owner locked up and rode off into the night on his scooter. Yang Shao remained leaning against the window, staring in the direction the man had left.

Clearly, he didn’t want to return to the mansion. Chen Qiusu didn’t push him, instead watching his back quietly for a while.

“How about I take you somewhere?” Chen Qiusu asked.

Yang Shao perked up immediately. Anywhere but back to the mansion and its sea of relatives was fine by him. “Where?”

Instead of answering, Chen Qiusu pulled out his phone to make a call. “Bring me the shop key. I’m driving there now.”

Yang Shao, impatient from the alcohol, pressed on. “Who are you calling? Where are we going?”

Chen Qiusu just smiled mysteriously. “You’ll see when we get there.”

“Don’t you dare use the same tricks you use on Yang Tao with me. Just tell me. No? Fine, I don’t care then,” Yang Shao huffed, turning his face to the window in a show of indifference.

But curiosity was a persistent itch. Before long, he turned back to look at Chen Qiusu. “Where are we going, though?”

Chen Qiusu chuckled to himself. Yang Shao’s self-control was laughably poor when he’d been drinking. The more Yang Shao pushed for an answer, the less inclined Chen Qiusu was to give him one.

Frustrated, Yang Shao began talking to himself. “Fine, don’t tell me. It’s not like I care anyway. Even if you want to tell me later, I won’t listen. I’m not going. I’m going home.”

Just as he finished his rant, the car came to a stop. Chen Qiusu tilted his head toward the window. “We’re here.”

Yang Shao glanced outside reluctantly. They were in a bustling commercial district—prime real estate, where storefronts cost a fortune. Wait, wasn’t this the area where Chen Qiusu’s mother had gifted him a shop?

“Get out,” Chen Qiusu said.

Like he was under some kind of spell, Yang Shao obediently followed. A few steps later, he noticed an assistant standing by one of the storefronts, waiting with a key in hand.

“Boss, here’s the key,” the assistant said, greeting Yang Shao politely. “Good evening, Mr. Yang.”

Chen Qiusu took the key and thanked the assistant. “Thanks for your trouble.”

Not wanting to linger, the assistant made a polite excuse to leave. “I’ll head back now. Let me know if you need anything else boss.”

Once they were alone, Yang Shao couldn’t resist making a snarky comment. “Wow, your assistant must have it rough. At your beck and call, running errands even late at night. Poor guy.”

Chen Qiusu had long grown used to Yang Shao’s sharp tongue. He ignored the jab, instead unlocking the shop door. “You’ve never even visited the shop since it was handed over to you, have you?”

The topic change caught Yang Shao off guard. He blinked as Chen Qiusu shone his phone’s flashlight into the dark space.

Of course, he hadn’t visited. The shop had been a gift from Chen Qiusu’s mother—a meeting gift, no less. Yang Shao had felt too awkward about accepting it, so he’d avoided it altogether.

“Sorry about this. I think the water and electricity are connected, but the lights aren’t working. Maybe the contractor turned off the main switch,” Chen Qiusu said, awkwardly fiddling with the controls. When he couldn’t find the switch, he smiled sheepishly. “I should’ve told the assistant to stay.”

The weak beam of the flashlight was just enough to illuminate the shop’s outlines. Yang Shao could see that the walls had been repainted and that custom shelving had been installed. The shop was bigger than he’d expected. In such a prime location, owning a store like this was beyond anything he’d ever dreamed of.

“The convenience of a mobile stall is undeniable, but enduring the harsh winds and sun daily is truly tiring. With a shop, it’ll be easier for you to take care of Yang Tao in the future. He’ll also have a place to go after school. Plus, your truck—Mom has already ordered a new one for you. Once it arrives, you can go test drive it. I’ve asked the assistant to start the renovations. Originally, I planned to bring you here only after the work was completed, but now you can take a look and see if you have any ideas.”

Chen Qiusu followed Yang Shao with his phone as a makeshift flashlight, his tone steady and measured. As they reached one of the shelves, Yang Shao suddenly stopped. Turning around, he was momentarily blinded by the phone’s bright light and instinctively shut his eyes. Chen Qiusu quickly lowered the phone.

The temporary blindness caused by the light, combined with the lingering effects of alcohol, made Yang Shao reluctant to open his eyes. He found it unsettling how Chen Qiusu remembered everything he had casually mentioned and secretly made it happen.

With this shop, even if they divorced in the future, Chen Qiusu would still know where to find him. It felt like a mix of kindness and control—kindness in securing his future, but control in ensuring he stayed within reach.

Chen Qiusu moved the phone behind him, but even in the dim light, he could see Yang Shao’s conflicted expression.

“Yang Shao?”

Yang Shao took two steps closer, leaving only a fist’s distance between them. Squinting, he tried to discern Chen Qiusu’s expression and intentions.

Chen Qiusu had disrupted his life. Five years ago, it was the same, and now it was no different. He could leave behind a fortune, but he absolutely shouldn’t leave behind his emotions. They were from two completely different worlds.

“What exactly do you want?”

The strong scent of alcohol filled Chen Qiusu’s lungs, intoxicating him as well.

“I…” Chen Qiusu found himself at a loss for words. Even he wasn’t sure what he truly wanted.

To compensate Yang Shao? It didn’t seem to be just that. Compensation felt more like an excuse.

Yang Shao, slightly shorter than Chen Qiusu, tilted his head up to question him, “Why renovate the shop?”

Even with the height difference, Yang Shao’s demeanor exerted a sense of pressure. “Because…”

“Was buying the new truck your idea or your mother’s?” Yang Shao wasn’t a fool. He managed to get along with the Chen family largely thanks to Chen Qiusu, who mediated between both sides tirelessly.

Could even Betas be this relentless? Chen Qiusu felt cornered, even considering retreating. “My mother had mentioned before that your truck needed replacing. You turned it down back then, so I took this opportunity to bring it up again.”

“Why do you remember what I say?”

Why indeed? Because whether Yang Shao said it outright or not, Chen Qiusu remembered, guessed, and always kept it in mind. Not just the words, but Yang Shao himself.

Yang Shao caught a whiff of cedarwood. Not being an Omega, he couldn’t quite interpret the meaning or intensity of pheromones. Or rather, he simply refused to let pheromones dictate his understanding of emotions.

“Chen Qiusu, are you a wishing well?”

“What?” Chen Qiusu was caught off guard.

Peering over Chen Qiusu’s shoulder, Yang Shao caught sight of the neon lights from a shop sign across the street. He felt sober, yet the alcohol left his gaze hazy and his knees weak. “Then I want a rainbow.”

Would the almighty Mr. Chen even figure out a way to bring down a rainbow?

Instinctively, Chen Qiusu steadied Yang Shao. He knew these were drunken ramblings but still gave it serious thought. “How about tomorrow?”

“No, I want it now.” Yang Shao, who often criticized Chen Qiusu for spoiling Yang Tao, was now being unreasonable himself.

Caught in the moment, Chen Qiusu found himself saying, “I’ll… try?”

If there had been even a hint of insincerity or pretense on Chen Qiusu’s face, Yang Shao’s heart wouldn’t have skipped a beat. Feeling unsteady, he leaned against Chen Qiusu’s arm and took a step closer.

Looking at Yang Shao’s slightly raised chin, Chen Qiusu involuntarily lowered his head. By the time he realized, their lips had brushed faintly. Yang Shao lowered his gaze but didn’t pull away.

The phone fell to the ground with a loud thud, its camera light extinguished, plunging the shop into darkness. Chen Qiusu cupped the back of Yang Shao’s head, deepening the kiss.