Chapter 29
Translator: Aafkee
Proofreader: Superclubs2
The best way to cover another alpha’s scent on an omega is to have them scent-marked again.
And this “covering” Xiao Zhan spoke of lasted until midnight. It is already in the afternoon when Lu Chuiqing wakes up the next day ー it can not be considered as “waking up” because he is incapable of even leaving his bed.
Lu Chuiqing lies on his stomach on the bed for a long while before he forces himself to leave the bed because he is too thirsty. He changes his clothes before stepping out of the bedroom. Since he can not see Xiao Zhan anywhere, he decides to go to the cat activity room on the second floor.
Lu Chuiqing peeks into the room and sure enough, he sees a cat with light golden fur lying on the climbing rack lazily. Since Xiao Zhan said that the cat is shy towards strangers, Lu Chuiqing tiptoes into the room, trying to make his actions as light as possible as he reaches out his hand towards the kitty as he wants to try hugging it. He coaxes quietly, “Lil Friend…”
Just as Lu Chuiqing’s hands are almost touching the kitty, the kitty, who has been lying flat on its stomach all this while, stands up suddenly and jumps down from the climbing rack and runs towards the door as it meows.
Thinking about how he is being disliked by Xiao Zhan’s cat, Lu Chuiqing looks back at the door gloomily. Only then did he realise Xiao Zhan at the door, the kitty keeping close to his legs as it acts coquettishly.
Lu Chuiqing’s hand subconsciously moved to the teeth marks on the nape of his neck the moment he sees Xiao Zhan. Xiao Zhan marked him temporarily last night. Although the mark is no longer so deep after a night has passed, he can still feel a slight sting when he touches it.
Apparently, Xiao Zhan is here to feed his cat. He looks at Lu Chuiqing, “Does it still hurt?”
Lu Chuiqing’s lips twitch, “... A little.”
Xiao Zhan can not help but chuckle. After feeding his cat, Xiao Zhan pulls Lu Chuiqing along with him to the dining room where two plates of recently cooked steak are placed on the dining table. Lu Chuiqing lifts his head to look at Xiao Zhan in surprise, “You made it? You even know how to cook Western food?”
(T/N: Steak for breakfast… count me in please.)
Xiao Zhan, “It’s only a normal home recipe, it’s very simple.”
Lu Chuiqing feels an indistinct sense of pity. He woke up too late and missed the opportunity to watch Xiao Zhan as he cooks. In his imagination, there is no way people of Xiao Zhan calibre would cook for themselves. Besides, men who can cook are practically the most charming.
There is nothing much to do on a Sunday afternoon so Lu Chuiqing lazes around at Xiao Zhan’s house for the whole day by watching financial news, playing with the cat and going back home after having dinner with Xiao Zhan.
Guan Xiaoluo had already arrived home yesterday. He immediately peeks out from his room when he hears Lu Chuiqing, teasing him, “Brother Lu, you’re back! I thought you’d be staying at your boyfriend’s tonight as well!”
Lu Chuiqing knows immediately that Xiao-Luo must have heard about his relationship with Xiao Zhan from Manager Yuan. He purses his lips, clearly embarrassed, “I have work tomorrow, after all.”
Guan Xiaoluo grins, “There’s no need to be embarrassed, Brother Lu. To think that I heard the news about your new relationship from Yuan Ning! Like I said, how is it possible that a person as outstanding as you doesn’t have anyone wooing you? As it turns out, you’re becoming Yuan Ning’s lady boss soon!”
Lu Chuiqing blushes at Guan Xiaoluo’s words. He is then questioned by Guan Xiaoluo regarding their relationship. Lu Chuiqing can not bring himself to tell Guan Xiaoluo that the turning point was when his heat cycle came early so he answers vaguely before excusing himself to take a shower.
On Monday, Xiao Zhan arrives at his office and takes off his suit jacket and hangs it on the side. His eyes land on the deep blue coloured silver pressed envelope on the corner of his work desk by chance. There is a delicate fretwork design on the envelope, paired with a golden ribbon at its opening.
Xiao Zhan sits down at his office chair, picks up the envelope in passing and opens it. It is an invitation.
At that moment, his assistant Xiao-Ye knocks on the door and walks in. Seeing that Xiao Zhan is holding the invitation in his hand, Xiao-Ye says, “CEO Xiao, that is sent by Bo Da Materials. It arrived this morning.”
Xiao Zhan opens the invitation and glances through it without much thought before closing it and putting it on the side.
Xiao-Ye hesitates for a moment and asks, “CEO Xiao, Bo Da Materials is hoping to confirm whether or not you are free to attend as soon as possible so that they can make the necessary arrangements.”
Xiao Zhan’s expression remains indifferent, “I’m free, you can go ahead and reply.”
Bo Da Materials’ general manager, who is also the company’s boss’s son, Xia Yuanbo’s son Xia Hao, is celebrating his birthday half a month later. Xia Yuanbo, who loves his son dearly, has prepared an extravagant birthday celebration for his son, inviting many important people he has known through his years in the business network and investment industry, with the intention of helping his son expand his network. It is a known fact that Xia Hao will eventually be the first in line to inherit his father’s company.
Other than the people Xia Yuanbo wants his son to network with, Xia Bo’s friends in the rich social circle are invited.
There is a hint of indifference hidden in Xiao Zhan’s eyes as he stares at the invitation with a smile. He is pretty sure of the reason Xia Hao is inviting him. After all, he has known Xia Hao for almost ten years now. After knowing him for so many years, Xiao Zhan’s only comment about him is that he is a person who believes himself to be of depth when he is actually an extremely shallow person.
As a rich young master who grew up in the safety of his greenhouse, he must always possess what others have. If it is something others do not have, he will act like a child who has his hands on a new toy and can not help himself but show off.
Even if that new toy is something Xiao Zhan is not even interested in.
Xiao Zhan picks up his phone and sends a message to Lu Chuiqing.
Lu Chuiqing is in his group meeting when he receives Xiao Zhan’s message. He initially wanted to wait till his meeting ends before he reads the message, but seeing that it is a message sent by Xiao Zhan when he glances at his phone, he can not help but unlock his phone under his desk sneakily.
Xiao Zhan, “Are you free on the 28th of September? Accompany me to a birthday banquet.”
Lu Chuiqing replies in secret, “Should be, who’s birthday?”
“Xia Yuanbo’s son.”
Lu Chuiqing widens his eyes, unable to believe what he just read, he reads the message again. Bo Da Materials’ boss’s son, Xia Hao’s birthday?!
Lu Chuiqing, “Such calibre… Is it okay for me to attend?”
Xiao Zhan, “No worries, we’re only there for fun.”
This is one of the reasons why Lu Chuiqing hesitated when deciding whether or not to accept Xiao Zhan. After all, the difference between their social circles is too huge. Since they are together now, Lu Chuiqing will, of course, try his hardest to improve himself in his own social circle.
When he returns home after work that day, Lu Chuiqing is already thinking about what he should wear on that day. It is a birthday banquet so wearing something too formal is a bit too old-fashioned, but wearing something too casual will make him seem like he does not respect the occasion… Besides, he has never attended a banquet for rich people before so he does not have experience in this department. He probably has to ask Xiao Zhan for his opinions in the end.
Just as he is thinking about that matter, the phone in his pocket rings. Lu Chuiqing glances at his phone, it is a call from his mother.
Lu Chuiqing picks up the call. His mother called to ask about his recent work and life and to chat and gossip with her son. Lu Chuiqing responded idly to his mother’s nagging. At one point, he purses his lips and says bashfully, “Mum, let me tell you something… I have a boyfriend now.”
Mama Lu cries out in surprise on the other side of the line, “My son, really?! How old is he? How long have you guys been together? What does he do? How is he as a person? Ahh, I need to tell your dad immediately!”
Lu Chuiqing is made speechless by his mother’s endless questions. He scratches his head as he replies, “Mum, don’t be so excited. I’ve only just gotten together with him. He is… If you’re asking me, of course I’ll say that he’s a good person. His name is Xiao Zhan. As for the other questions… Mum, why don’t you look him up online?”
Mama Lu is shocked, “Look him up online? He’s famous?”
“Not in that sense… He is pretty famous in my industry.”
Mama Lu quickly hangs up the phone happily and searches online. After twenty minutes, a call comes again. This time, Mama Lu sounds happy yet worried. She tries to control her temper as she asks, “Son, he is your company’s boss’s relative, right?”
Lu Chuiqing, “...Hn.”
Lu Chuiqing is actually quite worried. He is worried that his mother would think that he is being taken advantage of by someone of a higher status and position.
Mama Lu lets out a long sigh before she says, “Chuiqing, I know you well, you’re not a reckless person and you’ll never do things you are not supposed to do. I’m sure you have already thought it through, so I will not say anything superfluous. Your dad and I will support your decision as long as you have thought through it properly. It’s just that, in a family like his, there may be times when you can’t help it. At times like that, you cannot forget that although you need to respect him, at the same time, you need to make sure that you’re not wronged. My son is so outstanding anyway, there’s absolutely no reason for you to get together with him just to feel wronged.”
Li Chuiqing grips his phone tightly, his heart throbbing slightly, “Hn.”
“In any case, your dad and I merely want you to be happy. Go ahead and date and try to interact with him more to see if he is truly suitable. It’s not too late to have him meet us after you have made sure that he is truly suitable.”
Lu Chuiqing sniffs and replies firmly.
After work on Saturday, Xiao Zhan came to pick Lu Chuiqing up at the intersection on New Bridge Road. When the latter enters the car, one can tell the hint of delight on his face.
Xiao Zhan asks as he starts the car, “Good mood?”
“My report for an investment project was praised by my manager, I’ll receive my bonus this month.” Lu Chuiqing blinks his eyes towards Xiao Zhan, “Thank you for giving me that list last time, it was extremely useful.”
Xiao Zhan remains silent, only lifting his hand to pat Lu Chuiqing’s hair, his hand sliding down along Lu Chuiqing’s soft hair.
The traffic is smooth today so they arrive at Xiao Zhan’s house without much trouble. When the car is entering the main entrance of the district, Lu Chuiqing can see a person sitting at the fountain near the entrance from afar.
At first, Lu Chuiqing thought that it was a nearby resident that was taking a stroll after dinner so he did not pay much attention to it. To his surprise, that person stands up suddenly and walks hurriedly towards the side of Xiao Zhan’s car.
“CEO Xiaoー!”
A distinct male voice echoes outside of the window. As the other party is standing too close to the car, Xiao Zhan has no choice but to stop his car temporarily. Astonished, Lu Chuiqing turns his head to have a look, only to see a person who has left a relatively deep impression on him unexpectedly.
Qiu Nai is standing next to the car, his expression eager yet timid. He reaches out and places his hand on the glass window on the driver’s side. Seeing Lu Chuiqing on the front passenger seat, his expression changes suddenly.
Lu Chuiqing recognises him at glance. This person is that boy next to Xiao Zhan during the New Year celebration last time. Only, he is now slightly different from more than half a year ago. He seems to be thinner now, the dark circles under his eyes seem to have darkened as well. Despite that, his appearance remains sufficiently attractive.
And right at that very moment, in Qiu Nai’s eyes, the Lu Chuiqing sitting at the front passenger’s seat stings his eyes and makes him feel extremely uneasy. He is not dumb, he has already left Xiao Zhan for more than half a year so he is very sure that it is impossible that Xiao Zhan has no one next to him all this while. However, this person in front of him makes him feel fretful in a way he has never experienced beforeー
When he was with Xiao Zhan, Xiao Zhan has never once allowed him to sit in the front passenger seat.
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