IM Chapter 27

Chapter 27

He simply averted his eyes, closing them. Whether it was physical or mental exhaustion, his consciousness gradually blurred until he drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile.

Shang Lü had already prepared dinner.

After the meal, Shen ChiTai intended to get up and wash the dishes, but Shang Jue was quicker. He turned and dove into the kitchen, busying himself with a clatter of activity with his back to him.

Shen ChiTai stood at the door, watching quietly for a while, then silently turned back to the living room. He took out his phone and sat on the sofa, flipping through it listlessly.

Xu Chen was still in his WeChat contacts.

Although they had a bit of an unpleasant falling out before, for Shen ChiTai, keeping the contact information wasn’t a big deal.

After all, in this life, who can guarantee they’ll never meet again? If he rashly deleted him, the encounter would be so awkward that it would make your toes curl. Since the other party hadn’t taken the initiative to delete him, he didn’t want to be the bad guy.

“Ge, what are you looking at?” Shang Jue suddenly appeared silently behind him, craning his head towards Shen ChiTai.

Shen ChiTai was startled and quickly put away his phone, turning to look at Shang Jue. “Just replying to a couple of messages. Are things done in the kitchen?” he asked.

“It was just a little thing; it didn’t take much time. Gege still has him saved.” Shang Jue raised his eyebrows slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

“You know perfectly well.” Shen ChiTai glanced at him.

“Why not delete him?” Shang Jue pressed, relentless.

“No need, I guess.” Shen ChiTai’s answer was concise and clean. It was just a different identity, not a lifelong separation.

“If one day I make Gege unhappy, will you delete me?” Shang Jue tilted his head, a hint of nervousness and expectation in his eyes.

“How could that be? No… I wouldn’t.” Shen ChiTai paused slightly, explaining quickly.

Shang Jue’s mood visibly lifted at his words. “I’ll go wash some fruit.”

“Okay, okay.” Shen ChiTai responded.

The Alpha turned and disappeared into the kitchen. Shen ChiTai sat on the sofa, watching his retreating figure, his thoughts drifting as he listened to the sound of running water from the kitchen.

When he came back to his senses, Shang Jue had already returned with the washed fruit. The Alpha picked up a large, bright red strawberry and held it to Shen ChiTai’s lips. “Open your mouth.”

“I can do it myself.” The Omega said a little shyly.

“Just obediently open your mouth, Gege. I want to feed you.” Shang Jue looked at him expectantly.

“Wouldn’t it be a joke if someone saw us?” Shen ChiTai frowned slightly.

“We’re at home; no one will see us. And so what if they do? You’re my Gege. No one says only the older one can take care of the younger one. If people gossip, they’re just full of it.” Shang Jue waved his hand dismissively.

Shen ChiTai sighed softly, looking at the strawberry already at his lips. He finally opened his mouth and took it, a sweet taste with a hint of sourness. It was okay.

“You don’t have class tomorrow, do you?” Shen ChiTai asked him.

“No, but I have to go to the company. What’s up? If Gege misses me, I won’t go and stay here with you.” Shang Jue admired the expression on the Omega’s face with a sly look.

“That won’t do,” Shen ChiTai said. “You be good and go to the company. I’ll tell you later.”

“Alright.” Shang Jue replied.

Feeling so blatantly stared at by Shang Jue made Shen ChiTai uncomfortable. He stood up. “I’m going back to my room to rest.”

“I’ll carry you there.” Shang Jue said, reaching out as if to pick him up.

Shen ChiTai quickly put his hands on his shoulders, looking down slightly. “I have legs.”

“But what if I still want to carry you?” Shang Jue looked at him pitifully.

“You’re too willful,” Shen ChiTai said, looking at him with a helpless expression.

“If Gege really doesn’t want me to touch you, then I won’t. I don’t want to do anything that makes Gege uncomfortable.” A trace of disappointment flashed in the Alpha’s eyes, his expression desolate and a little disappointed and aggrieved.

Shen ChiTai was stunned, wondering if he had committed some heinous crime.

Honestly.

He changed his grip from pushing the Alpha’s shoulders to clutching the man’s clothes, holding them tightly. The Omega didn’t speak, but the hand gripping his clothes showed no sign of letting go.

Shang Jue understood, half-closing his deep, smiling eyes. He bent down and easily lifted him up in a princess carry, turning and walking towards the bedroom.

Shen ChiTai buried his face and didn’t say a word, his body pressed tightly against the Alpha’s chest. His cheeks were hot, his earlobes and neck flushed with a thin layer of shyness.

Shang Jue carried him back to the room and gently placed him on the bed.

“You should go back to sleep too,” Shen ChiTai said.

“I carried Gege back, and this is how you dismiss me?” Shang Jue looked at him with feigned grievance.

“You insisted on carrying me up here; I didn’t ask you to.” Shen ChiTai said unhappily.

“But I still want a reward from Gege.” Shang Jue looked at him with sparkling eyes.

“You…you’re always so greedy.” Shen ChiTai said with some irritation.

“Gege, give me a kiss, okay?” Shang Jue leaned in slightly. “Just one kiss, and I’ll go back to sleep. Gege probably doesn’t want me to keep pestering you like this, right?”

The Omega saw a sly smile in his eyes.

“You’re such a bastard, a rascal!” Shen ChiTai hesitated for a long time, straightening up a little on his knees on the bed, his tightly pressed lips parting slightly.

He suddenly tilted his head and kissed the man’s lips, just a light touch, before leaning back again, retreating, breathing a little quickly, and urging him to leave quickly.

Shang Jue, having gotten what he wanted, understood the meaning of knowing when to stop. He smiled and told him to rest early, gently closing the door as he left.

Shen ChiTai was a little incredulous that he had so obediently left, but it was for the best.

The next morning, the Omega went to the cat cafe. He didn’t stay long, arranging things at the shop before quickly returning home. At lunchtime, he checked the time and called Shang Jue.

The call was answered quickly, so he probably wasn’t too busy.

“A-Jue, are you still at the company?” Shen ChiTai asked softly.

“Yeah, I have a social engagement this afternoon. Dad’s planning to take me to show my face.” Shang Jue’s voice sounded cheerful.

“I made you some food,” Shen ChiTai hesitated. “But I remember the company has food too. If you’re busy…”

Before he could finish speaking, Shang Jue cut him off decisively. “Ge, I want to eat it.”

“Then I’ll bring it over.”

“I’ll wait for you.”

Shen ChiTai carried the lunchbox and drove to the company’s underground parking garage, sending Shang Jue a message before getting out of the car.

Shang Jue replied instantly, telling him he was in the lounge.

“Ge, I didn’t expect you to come so far to bring me food.” Shang Jue’s eyes were filled with surprise when he saw Shen ChiTai.

“Didn’t you say you were hungry? Hurry up and eat.” Shen ChiTai handed him the lunchbox.

Shang Jue took it as if it were a treasure, handling it with care.

There were only the two of them in the lounge. Shen ChiTai sat down on the sofa opposite him.

“Delicious.” Shang Jue took a bite and praised without reservation.

“Ge was so busy bringing me food that he didn’t eat himself.” Shang Jue looked at Shen ChiTai.

“You eat first. I’ll eat when I get back.” In order to bring it to Shang Jue in time for lunch, he himself hadn’t had time to eat.

Shang Jue picked up a piece of food and held it to Shen ChiTai’s lips. “Here, open your mouth.”

“I told you to eat first.” Shen ChiTai turned his head away.

“If you don’t eat, then I won’t either.” Shang Jue threatened to put down his chopsticks.

“You… You’re impossible.” Shen ChiTai helplessly opened his mouth and ate a bite.

One person’s portion was now being shared by two, and neither of them was full. Shen ChiTai’s appetite was fine, but judging by Shang Jue’s usual appetite, he would probably be hungry soon. If he had known this would happen, he should have brought more food.

“Ge.” Shang Jue looked at Shen ChiTai, his eyes filled with deeper meaning.

Shen ChiTai was puzzled, gesturing with his eyes for him to explain what he meant.

“I still don’t seem to be full.” Shang Jue’s gaze shifted downwards, hinting at the Omega.

“…” Shen ChiTai looked away, his earlobes turning red, knowing that this man had bad intentions. “Don’t you have to accompany your father to a social event later? I’ll help you with my hand.”

“I don’t want your hand.” The Alpha looked at him teasingly.

The heat quickly spread from Shen ChiTai’s cheeks to his whole body. Finally, under the Alpha’s gaze, he slowly moved his legs and walked over, squatting down without a word. Shang Jue half-closed his long, narrow eyes, gazing at the top of the Omega’s head with a smile, observing for a few seconds, the arc of his lips growing wider and wider.

Afterwards, Shen ChiTai practically fled. He didn’t dare to look at Shang Jue’s gaze on him, burying his head and hurriedly leaving the company.

Shang Jue happened to be delayed by something. Knowing that his Gege was just embarrassed, he didn’t chase after him, thinking it was good to let him calm down first.

Shang Lü took Shang Jue to see an old friend.

Shang Jue had heard the name Xu RuZhou before. So, when he saw the man for the first time, his reaction wasn’t as enthusiastic as he had imagined. He was very calm.

“RuZhou, long time no see.” Shang Lü smiled at the lazy man with his legs crossed, sitting opposite him.

Xu RuZhou looked at the Alpha next to him, whose appearance and demeanor were somewhat similar. “This is Shang Jue, right? It’s been seven or eight years since I saw him; he’s grown a lot taller.” As he said this, he tilted his head to introduce the person next to him. “A-Chen, this is President Shang, also a partner in our project.”

“President Shang.” Xu Chen nodded slightly, respectfully calling out.

“The children have all grown up. I held you when you were little, Xu Chen, right? You and Shang Jue are about the same age, and your father and I are good friends. Just call me Uncle.” Shang Lü smiled very gently.

Xu RuZhou heard Shang Lü’s words, his expression turning a little strange, and he looked up at the man speaking.

Xu Chen had an indescribable fondness for the man. In his subconscious, all fathers… No, he hoped his father would be like this man. Only someone with this kind of personality could have a son like Shen ChiTai.

Even if he wasn’t his biological son, staying by the man’s side would still be good.

Seeing that Xu RuZhou next to him hadn’t spoken, he finally opened his mouth and said, “Uncle Shang.”

“I heard from your father that you’re also studying at A University. You’re graduating this year, right?” Shang Lü asked with a shallow smile, concerned.

“I’ll graduate in June.” Xu Chen replied.

“You and Shang Jue are at the same school. You should know each other.” Shang Lü asked again.

“We don’t.”

Xu Chen and Shang Jue said almost in unison.

“…”