Chapter 16 - The Alpha's Refusal
Haicheng had been shrouded in low-hanging, leaden clouds for two days, a heavy mist clinging to the coastline. Yet, within a certain room of a secluded seaside villa, a different kind of storm had been raging—a private deluge that showed no signs of clearing.
The Best Actor, thoroughly drenched by this metaphorical rain, slept until the sun was high in the sky. He remained blissfully unaware that his phone had been vibrating incessantly since dawn, its rhythmic buzzing muffled by the plush pillows.
"Ge, your phone is ringing." Jin Yan shifted slightly, his head burrowing into the crook of Zhou Shu’s neck. His face pressed against the warm skin of Zhou Shu’s shoulder, and his arm remained possessively draped over the older man's waist, anchoring him in place. "It’s a call from Julia."
Zhou Shu, stirred from a deep, exhausted slumber, was clearly displeased. "So noisy..." he muttered, his voice thick with sleep. He shifted onto his side, blindly pushing the phone away with a languid hand. His voice carried a hint of the spoiled indulgence one only shows a lover. "You answer it for me."
This small act of trust and intimacy sent a sharp pang of affection through Jin Yan’s heart. He leaned in, pressing a light, lingering kiss to the corner of Zhou Shu’s forehead before finally picking up the device.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Shu... wait, what?" The voice on the other end faltered, sounding genuinely stunned. "Is that Jin Yan?"
Jin Yan was visibly satisfied by her reaction. He glanced at the man beside him, a faint, triumphant smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Mhm. Zhou Shu is still sleeping."
There was a pregnant silence on the other end for several seconds before a sultry, knowing laugh erupted from the speaker. "So, you two finally rolled into bed together, huh?"
Even the usually stoic and composed Jin Yan felt a flicker of a reaction at such a blunt remark. Before he could formulate a retort, Zhou Shu reached out and snatched the phone away, his patience wearing thin. "It’s too early for this noise."
"Is it now? My apologies. I shouldn't have disturbed your 'early morning' dreams at nearly noon," Julia teased, though she quickly pivoted to business after Zhou Shu cleared his throat twice. "Check your itinerary later for the details, but I need to confirm: we’re flying back to the capital tomorrow night, right?"
Zhou Shu glanced sideways at Jin Yan, who was watching him with an unreadable intensity. "Yeah. And book a return flight for next Friday."
"Got it, it's on the list." Julia tapped her screen, her tone turning lazy and suggestive. "Take care of your body, Shu-ge. Remember to watch some... educational videos so you don't get hurt."
"...Shut up." Zhou Shu hung up without a shred of mercy.
As soon as the call ended, Jin Yan pressed closer again. Had it not been for the tell-tale crimson staining the tips of Zhou Shu’s ears, Jin Yan might have been fooled by the older man’s deep, composed facade.
"Ge, thank you for remembering," Jin Yan whispered, referring to the return trip.
"The hospital opening is a big deal," Zhou Shu replied. Feeling the unusual heat radiating from the body pressed against his, he cleared his throat. "The susceptibility period is over. Can't you exercise some restraint?"
"Oh?" Jin Yan let out a low chuckle, suddenly propping himself up on one elbow to stare directly into Zhou Shu’s eyes. "Restraint from what?"
"Tsk, don't look at me like that." The prickly Movie King turned his face away, only to be hauled back into Jin Yan’s embrace.
Just as Zhou Shu felt the urge to struggle out of embarrassment, he heard a soft sigh from above. "Ge... I think I might be a little too happy."
Zhou Shu’s hand froze for a second before coming to rest on Jin Yan’s waist. He let out a soft, breathy murmur. "Mhm." It was both an acknowledgment and an agreement.
In the next heartbeat, Jin Yan leaned in for a kiss, but Zhou Shu deftly dodged it. Not at all discouraged, Jin Yan laughed and nipped at Zhou Shu’s reddened earlobe before turning to head toward the bathroom.
Only then did Zhou Shu feel he could finally breathe freely. For two consecutive days, he had felt as though he were drowning in that torrential rain. From the moment he had released his pheromones that night, the emotions they had both suppressed for five years had burst forth, uncontrollable and wild.
Jin Yan’s pheromones had come in surges, overwhelming and powerful. Zhou Shu recalled how his limbs had turned to lead, his strength failing him until he was cherished and carried to the bed. There, for the first time, he had shared a deep, lingering kiss with Jin Yan—not as a character, but as himself.
He had expected the kiss to be like a storm-tossed wave, but Jin Yan had been unexpectedly gentle. It was like savoring a piece of mouth-watering salted caramel; sweet, rich, and utterly captivating, making one want to taste it over and over again. Though both were inexperienced, they seemed naturally attuned to one another, their shared breaths filled with an inseparable longing.
Later, when their skin finally met, even their fingertips felt scorched. If just this level of intimacy felt like being set ablaze, then in the future...
Zhou Shu’s throat tightened at the thought. He regulated his breathing and picked up his phone, typing a few words into the search bar.
*How do two Alphas...* He paused, then added two more specific, mysterious words.
Julia was right about one thing; he really did need to do some research. He didn't want to accidentally hurt Jin Yan when the time came. He scrolled through the results, his ears burning, realizing there was a vast amount of preparation involved.
The sound of the shower stopped. The door opened.
The "Sea Wave" who was so skilled at covering his tracks quickly locked his screen and shoved the phone under the pillow. A second later, he was caught red-handed by the "Raindrop" himself.
"What are you looking at? Hmm?"
"Nothing." Zhou Shu shifted uncomfortably. "Your hair is still dripping. Go dry it."
Jin Yan leaned down, a playful glint in his eyes. "You dry it for me."
Zhou Shu took a sharp breath, his eyes reddening as he looked up. A stray drop of water slid from the tip of Jin Yan’s hair, landing perfectly at the corner of Zhou Shu’s mouth. Jin Yan took the opportunity to kiss the beauty mark beneath his lip—the one that always seemed to invite and reject him all at once.
The result of this entanglement was that the blush on the proud Movie King’s ears refused to fade. *He used to be such a clingy little doll when we were kids,* Zhou Shu thought to himself with a resigned sigh. *How did he evolve into such a demon after only five years?*
They had stayed holed up in the room for days. The adults in the house were tactfully silent, understanding the situation without a word. Jin Yan’s mother had even thoughtfully placed insulated meal boxes outside their door every day.
Today was no different. When Jin Yan opened the door, he saw two containers waiting. He brought them in with a smile. "Ge, do you want to go downstairs to eat?"
"Close the door." Zhou Shu caught a glimpse of the red marks peeking out from beneath Jin Yan’s collar and looked away. "Let's just eat in here before going out."
Jin Yan suppressed a grin and set the food on the table. The two of them ate like they had been starving for days, finishing every last bite. Afterward, Jin Yan naturally took the chopsticks from Zhou Shu’s hand and began tidying up.
"I have to leave tomorrow," Zhou Shu said, helping to snap a lid shut. "I'll be back next weekend."
"I know." Jin Yan’s tone was casual, but his hands didn't stop until every utensil was perfectly organized. Only then did he sit back down beside Zhou Shu and pour him a glass of water.
Watching Jin Yan perform these domestic tasks as if caring for him was the most natural thing in the world, Zhou Shu felt his heart soften. He reached out, tracing the marks on Jin Yan’s neck and collarbone. "Yan-yan."
"Hmm?" Jin Yan smiled, catching Zhou Shu’s hand and bringing it to his lips. He leaned in close to his ear. "Teasing me again?"
Zhou Shu didn't answer, letting Jin Yan play with his fingers. Looking at Zhou Shu’s smooth, unmarked neck, a flicker of complicated emotion rose in Jin Yan’s chest. Over the past two days, they had nearly crossed the final line several times, but even at the height of passion, Jin Yan had forced himself to stay conscious. He maintained his rationality, telling himself to be gentler, to be more restrained.
Zhou Shu was a public figure, a household name. Jin Yan couldn't leave any marks on him that could be used as ammunition by others. But Zhou Shu didn't have those restrictions; he could follow his instincts and leave his own brand on Jin Yan as he pleased.
Perhaps it was the innate possessiveness of an Enigma, but the inability to mark his lover in any permanent way left Jin Yan with a lingering sense of frustration. It was a flaw in an otherwise perfect reality. This shadow passed through his eyes for only a fleeting second before vanishing.
But Zhou Shu read him perfectly. In a rare display of initiative, he pulled Jin Yan close and gave him a quick, firm kiss on the lips. The movement was so smooth and "Alpha" that any other gender would have been swooning.
Unfortunately, he was facing an Enigma. Jin Yan didn't see a display of Alpha dominance; he only saw a cute, seductive provocation. With a helpless sigh, Jin Yan scooped Zhou Shu up into his arms.
Startled, Zhou Shu instinctively wrapped his arms around Jin Yan’s neck, only to realize a moment later how embarrassing the gesture was. It finally dawned on him—why was he always the one being carried? And when did Jin Yan get so much taller over these past few years?
Before he could ponder it further, the "rain" began to fall inside the room once more.
When Zhou Shu finally came to his senses again, his arms were too sore to lift. Jin Yan was gently massaging them for him. He resigned himself to being pampered, the scent of rain-washed air filling the room and bringing a wave of exhaustion with it.
Seeing his "Ge" looking so content, Jin Yan’s heart felt warm and full. "By the way, Ge," he suddenly remembered, "didn't you say Zhou Duo would come out whenever he smelled my scent?"
Zhou Shu blinked, his mind clearing slightly. Indeed, Jin Yan’s pheromones had enveloped him for two full days, yet Zhou Duo hadn't appeared once. He hadn't even felt the familiar onset of a headache. It was as if the second personality was being exceptionally well-behaved, sleeping soundly through it all.
While confused, a different emotion sprouted in his chest—like a lemon tree by the sea suddenly bearing fruit. "What do you mean by that, Jin Yan?" The "Sea Salt" wave pulled his hand back, his tone turning sharp.
Jin Yan’s breath hitched. He sat up and looked at Zhou Shu with a serious, earnest expression. "What did I do, Ge?"
"Are you... do you want..." Zhou Shu stammered, unable to find the words before finally muttering, "Forget it."
"No, what do I want? Say it clearly." As a small punishment, Jin Yan nipped at Zhou Shu’s lip. Zhou Shu’s eyes widened.
"You..." He realized he was becoming increasingly defenseless against Jin Yan’s charms. He let out a soft, pouty sound. "Go away..."
Jin Yan laughed and rested his head back on Zhou Shu’s shoulder, nuzzling his neck. "Ge, I don't want that." He seemed to read through Zhou Shu’s awkwardness and began to coax him gently. "I don't want to kiss anyone else, and I don't want to do these things with anyone else. Not even Zhou Duo." His warm breath tickled Zhou Shu’s ear as he whispered, "I only want to be with you..."
"Shut up!" Zhou Shu shuddered and tried to pull away, his ears burning hot.
"But are you willing?" Jin Yan suddenly went still, his voice dropping to a serious register.
"Hmm? Willing to what?"
"Ge, have you ever thought about... having a legal relationship in your life?" Jin Yan asked softly.
Zhou Shu’s breath hitched, his heart aching with a sudden, sharp throb. Under current laws, same-sex marriage wasn't recognized, let alone a legal union between two Alphas. What did Jin Yan mean by this? Did he feel their relationship was illegitimate because they were both Alphas?
He felt he should comfort Jin Yan, tell him that he didn't care about titles or legalities. And so, the proud Movie King declared firmly, "I haven't."
"I see..." Jin Yan’s body stiffened for a fraction of a second before he pulled Zhou Shu into a back hug.
As he breathed in the faint scent of sea salt emanating from the gland before him, a silent, acidic rain began to fall in Jin Yan’s heart.
*Sigh. What am I going to do? My Ge doesn't want to register our marriage...*
***
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