Chapter 38

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Shen Yu stared silently at the pill container, a small frown resting between his brows as he turned it slightly in his hand. Alpha and Omega suppressants were always small pills, no matter the brand, and they all looked the same. This one, however, was completely different from the pill he had seen last week.

If that pill had looked like a suppressant, Shen Yu would have immediately labeled it as Jiang Li’s, but now he didn’t know whose pill this was... or what it was even for.

The curiosity gnawed at him, persistent and unsettling, and it was the very reason he was here.

He wanted to know.

What this pill was for.

And Shen Mei had dragged herself here along with him, sticking close as always, almost like an annoying dog that refused to leave his side no matter how many times he ignored her.

"Isn’t... that Jiang Li...?" Shen Mei asked, her voice quiet, almost hesitant.

Shen Yu nearly missed it, but when he looked up, his eyes widened instantly.

Jiang Li.

How... come he didn’t smell his scent?

The thought barely settled before Shen Yu froze.

The omega was kneeling on the ground, sobbing.

A crowd had already formed around him, people gathering as if it were some kind of spectacle, staring at the crying omega like it was something entertaining. Jiang Li’s usually bright honey-brown eyes were now filled with terror, wide and unfocused.

At the sight of that, something in Shen Yu’s chest tightened sharply.

Without thinking, he moved.

He walked straight toward Jiang Li, ignoring Shen Mei calling after him from behind.

"Jiang Li!" he called out, his voice cutting through the noise as he stepped closer, about to kneel beside him—

But suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist.

He turned sharply, only to be met with familiar silver eyes and the scent of sandalwood and amber.

Luo Xin.

"Don’t... you’ll make it worse," she said, her voice low but firm.

But the moment Shen Yu looked at her—really looked at her—her grip faltered.

It wasn’t just his glare.

It was his pheromones.

The usual whiskey and rosewood scent, which was always intoxicating, had turned something else entirely—something sharp, dangerous, laced faintly with the metallic tang of copper. It spread through the air, heavy enough that the crowd instinctively stepped back, discomfort written across their faces.

Luo Xin released him, taking a step back as she covered her nose and mouth.

Shen Yu didn’t hesitate any longer.

He dropped to the ground and gripped Jiang Li’s shoulders with shaking hands.

"Jiang Li..." he called again.

This time, the omega responded.

Jiang Li slowly lifted his head, his gaze unfocused at first, then landing on Shen Yu’s face. Shen Yu exhaled in relief as he watched the terror in his eyes begin to recede, little by little, leaving behind confusion.

"Are you... okay?" Shen Yu asked.

Jiang Li didn’t answer.

Instead, he suddenly leaned forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Shen Yu’s back, clinging to him as if he were the only thing keeping him anchored.

And then—

Jiang Li’s scent hit him.

Like a tidal wave.

The soft scent of winter roses, usually gentle and calming to anyone who inhaled it, suddenly ignited something inside Shen Yu. His blood ran hot, his chest tightening as the scent wrapped around him.

Without thinking further, he lifted Jiang Li into his arms.

Every instinct screamed at him not to touch Jiang Li without permission again, but leaving him there wasn’t an option

Only when they stepped outside, the cold air hitting them and snow falling steadily around them, did Jiang Li begin to breathe properly again. The dazed terror in his eyes slowly cleared, and he looked up at Shen Yu in silence.

That look made Shen Yu freeze.

He had just carried Jiang Li without his consent.

Just like—

He shut his eyes tightly and took a slow, steady breath.

For fifteen days, he had been avoiding this.

Avoiding the truth.

Avoiding responsibility.

But he couldn’t keep pretending that nothing had happened.

He couldn’t keep acting like everything was normal.

Without saying anything, he walked toward his car and opened the passenger door, carefully placing Jiang Li inside before moving quickly to the driver’s seat.

His heart was racing.

Too fast.

Uneven.

Despite the cold weather, sweat gathered faintly at his temples. He sat there, his hands gripping the steering wheel before his head dropped forward, resting against it.

He wanted to smoke.

Badly.

The air inside the sleek black car was thick with tension.

Jiang Li, who had finally regained his senses, sat quietly, staring down at his lap, his fingers fidgeting nervously with the hem of his hoodie.

He was scared.

Neither of them spoke. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The silence stretched unbearably—

Until—

"I’m sorry..."

"I’m... sorry."

They spoke at the same time.

Both froze.

Shen Yu lifted his head immediately, turning to look at Jiang Li, his eyes widening slightly. Their gazes met, confusion flickering between them.

Noticing the redness around Jiang Li’s eyes, the way his nose was still flushed, brought everything back to the front of his mind.

"Are you okay...?" Shen Yu asked again.

Jiang Li quickly looked down, avoiding his gaze.

He couldn’t tell him.

He couldn’t tell Shen Yu that he was pregnant.

How could he?

So the only thing he could do... was lie.

"I... was too overwhelmed. Something... happened, and I ended up crying," Jiang Li said quietly, his fingers tightening around his hoodie as his hands trembled slightly. His heart pounded in his chest like a trapped bird, desperate to escape.

He didn’t dare look up.

Because if he did—

He knew he would start crying again.

Silence followed.

Then, after a while, Shen Yu spoke again, his voice much quieter this time.

"Was I the reason...?"

Jiang Li froze.

The question settled heavily between them.

After a moment, he slowly shook his head.

Yes... Shen Yu was the reason he was pregnant.

But it had been Jiang Li’s decision to stay.

If he truly didn’t want it, he could have left.

He could have run.

He could have refused.

So...

It wasn’t Shen Yu’s fault.

Seeing that Jiang Li wasn’t going to say more, Shen Yu took a deep breath and covered his eyes briefly with his hand. Even speaking about it made something twist painfully inside him.

"Fifteen days ago... did I touch you, Jiang Li?" he asked, looking directly at him.

Jiang Li swallowed hard and nodded.

Before he could even gather himself, Shen Yu spoke again, his voice unsteady in a way Jiang Li had never heard before.

"Did I... force you...?"

Jiang Li’s eyes widened.

This was the first time he had ever heard Shen Yu sound like this.

Shaky.

Uncertain.

Vulnerable.

And that alone broke something inside him.

"You didn’t... I—I was the one who agreed. I could’ve left, but I stayed, and I... I took advantage of you being in rut... I’m sorry," Jiang Li said, his eyes squeezing shut tightly.

He didn’t want to look at Shen Yu.

He didn’t want to see regret in his eyes.

He was too tired.

Not just physically—

But mentally.

"You’re not lying, Jiang Li?" Shen Yu asked.

Jiang Li nodded.

"Jiang Li... look at me and tell me you’re not lying."

Slowly, Jiang Li lifted his head.

When their eyes met, the expression he expected wasn’t there.

Instead—

There was something else.

Something he couldn’t quite understand.

So many emotions swirled in Shen Yu’s dark eyes, raw and unhidden, too much for Jiang Li to process all at once.

For a moment, the words caught in his throat.

But still...

He shook his head.

"You... didn’t."

After those words, Shen Yu’s head dropped forward again, resting against the steering wheel as a quiet, broken chuckle escaped him.