RT Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Complaining

Chapter 35: Complaining

Shao Chengxi had his own “secret base,” a secluded rooftop terrace with an excellent view.

The terrace railing was Hollow carving [lòukōng diāohuā – ornately carved], with a thin layer of snow accumulated on it. The ice needles hanging from the wintergreen branches shimmered with a ghostly blue under the moonlight.

Shao Chengxi pinned Shu Lin against a carved pillar and gave him a deep, passionate kiss.

He wanted to continue, but the person in his arms struggled.

A panting complaint drifted over:

“Shao Chengxi, you really love kissing too much. Don’t kiss me anymore, or I’ll miss the first firework of the new year.”

Shao Chengxi chuckled, his chest vibrating slightly.

He gently lifted Shu Lin’s chin, gazing at his beautiful face, his thumb caressing his damp lips.

The icy pheromone of snow mixed with the scent of apricots melted between their teeth.

Under the little Omega’s protest, he had to withdraw his kiss for now, embracing him as they looked up at the sky together.

The clock was about to strike twelve.

“Wow, there’s even an aerial countdown.” Shu Lin exclaimed excitedly.

Drones displayed the changing numbers in the air, and he couldn’t help but shout along.

“6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…”

“Bang, bang, bang…”

“Ah!”

Instead of seeing the expected fireworks, they heard the sound of firecrackers exploding like thunder, scaring Shu Lin into a scream. His shoulders trembled as he burrowed into Shao Chengxi’s arms.

What Shao Shiyan had said was true.

No wonder the dogs at the Shao Residence were running wild, afraid to come out for three days.

The sound of these firecrackers could scare away all the Nian beasts in South Mountain, almost bursting people’s eardrums.

Shao Chengxi tightened his arms around the Omega, who was squirming like a little squirrel, his lips curving upwards as he gently patted the back of his hand.

After a moment, Shao Chengxi whispered in Shu Lin’s ear, “Baby, look quickly, the first firework of the new year.”

Hearing Shao Chengxi’s voice, Shu Lin looked up.

“Boom,” a sky full of fiery red shot towards the heavens, twisting like a dragon around a pillar.

Then indigo peonies bloomed in the sky, followed by a gilded waterfall, and a shower of countless fireflies…

Countless displays.

All of them that Shu Lin had never seen before.

He was dazzled, mesmerized, constantly taking photos with his phone and sending them to the Shu family group chat, sharing them with his father and sister.

If only they could see it with their own eyes.

The Shu family also set off fireworks every year at this time, and he thought the scale was pretty big.

But now, compared to the fireworks show at the Shao Residence, there was no comparison in terms of visual impact.

A small sorcerer in the presence of a great one.

Shu Lin was watching the fireworks, and Shao Chengxi was watching him.

He was more beautiful than the fireworks. Dazzling.

The fireworks show lasted for more than forty minutes. Then, the inky sky suddenly lit up as if it were daytime. Hundreds of jade-green beams of light rose spinning, exploding into snow-white camellias at their peak.

When the petal-shaped sparks fell, they actually solidified, and when Shu Lin reached out to catch them, he found they were candied rose pastries.

These were the Shao family’s specially made New Year’s fireworks this year.

Cheers erupted from the Shao Residence, and Shu Lin’s eyes lit up. He turned to look at the person beside him and cheered too.

“Shao Chengxi, Happy New Year!”

Shao Chengxi cupped the back of his neck and kissed him under the fireworks. “Baby, Happy New Year.”

Shao Chengxi fed the spark-dusted dessert into his mouth, the sweet, greasy fragrance of roses lingering between their lips and teeth.

When the final twelve vermilion fireworks ascended into the sky, the entire fireworks show came to an end.

Shu Lin followed Shao Chengxi into the hall, smiling and wishing everyone a “Happy New Year.”

Everyone greeted each other and offered their blessings. After Preserving [shǒusuì – staying up all night on New Year’s Eve] ended, they gradually returned to their rooms to rest.

Shu Lin threw himself onto the bed, his cheeks still flushed with excitement. “Did you see that camellia? It was so magical, the petals actually turned into real rose pastries!”

Shao Chengxi slowly loosened his tie, looking at the little one on the bed. “Yes, Grandpa prepared it especially for you.”

“For me?” Shu Lin sat up, his eyes shining like stars.

Shao Chengxi leaned over, pressing his shoulder against his. His nose touched Shu Lin’s. “It’s my Omega’s first New Year at the Shao Residence, so there has to be something special.”

Shu Lin was enveloped by his aura and unconsciously shrank back. “Then, what were you three talking about in the study? Was it about me?”

At the family banquet, Shao Bingheng’s hostility was too obvious.

This hostility didn’t seem to start today, it had been there since… since they returned from Fenghang City.

Why?

What had he done wrong in Fenghang City?

“Why are you spacing out?” Shao Chengxi’s warm lips grazed his ear. “Do you want to know what we were talking about? Kiss me, just one kiss and I’ll tell you.”

Shu Lin covered his burning ears: “You’re doing it again! Haven’t you kissed enough?”

“Then, I’ll change the conditions.” Shao Chengxi unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt with one hand. “Tell me, what did you do with Shao Shiyan and the others tonight?”

“We, well, we played cards for a while…” Shu Lin’s eyes involuntarily followed his moving Adam’s apple. “I won a lot of times…”

Shao Chengxi’s fingertips slid down his jawline to his collarbone. “Anything else? I heard you learned to make dumplings with Great-Aunt?”

Shu Lin’s voice trembled slightly: “Yes… the dumplings I made all leaked, and some people laughed at me. They didn’t even dare to try, only standing there laughing.”

Shao Chengxi chuckled and bit his neck. “Then I’ll teach you later.”

“Teach, teach what?”

“How to make dumplings.” Shao Chengxi said mischievously, “And… other things.”

Shu Lin instantly understood his implication.

It’s over, it’s over, he’s really impure now.

He leaned back in shock, but Shao Chengxi grabbed his lower back. “Why are you dodging? Didn’t you want to know what we were talking about in the study?”

Shu Lin nodded first, then hurriedly shook his head.

“Grandpa said…” Shao Chengxi’s lips brushed his mouth. “You’re too young, as delicate as a porcelain doll. He wants me to cherish you more and take good ‘care’ of you.”

Shu Lin was so embarrassed by the emphasis in his voice that he turned his face away. “Be, be serious…”

“I’ve always been serious.” Shao Chengxi tightened his grip. “Like now, I’m seriously considering how to ‘take care’ of you, this delicate porcelain doll.”

After that, it was time for the shameless Alpha to take good care of his little Omega.

By the time Shu Lin was so tired that he couldn’t even move his fingers, he belatedly realized that he had been completely devoured without getting any substantial information.

The Omega snuggled into the mountain-like embrace and accused him without any force.

“Shao Chengxi, you really are a politician, too cunning.”

Shao Chengxi smiled shamelessly. “Baby, you flatter me. I still have a lot of room for improvement, I can be even more cunning, look forward to it.”

Shu Lin: “…”

Shao Chengxi happily spent his Spring Festival holiday “battling wits” with Shu Lin.

It was rare to have a few days off without any urgent tasks, and the two finally had time to spend together, their feelings growing even closer.

Shu Lin was becoming more and more comfortable and unrestrained in front of his Alpha.

On the last afternoon of the holiday, Shao Chengxi received a call from Shao Bingheng, asking him to bring Shu Lin over, saying that there was an important matter.

Coincidentally, Shao Chengxi also had an important matter to discuss with him.

Vice President Wu Xun had revealed some information about him, which would be brought up officially after the Spring Festival, and he had to be prepared.

This concerned his career and had to be carefully considered.