Chapter 32 - A Taste of Jealousy
The words Zhou Shu had just spoken echoed in Jin Yan’s mind, sending ripples through his heart that refused to settle.
He felt a complex mixture of guilt and self-reproach, yet beneath it all was a profound sense of wonder at the inexplicable connection they shared. Whether it was a bond forged by destiny or the cumulative weight of the Pygmalion effect they had exerted on one another, their feelings had ultimately converged at the same destination. They were like the ocean and the raindrops—once joined, it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
It turned out that their story really was a mutual crush that had spanned their entire lives. They had both taken a childhood "joke" and enshrined it as a solemn vow. Consequently, the moment their skin brushed or their bodies met in a simple embrace, any lingering bitterness or heartache from their years apart vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, grounding warmth.
They sat in the quiet sanctuary of the car, holding each other for a long time. They used the rhythm of their breathing to soothe the jagged edges of their shared history, only pulling apart slightly when Jin Yan’s phone began to chime.
Jin Yan glanced at the screen as it lit up. Zhou Shu gave him a small nod, signaling for him to take the call.
"Hey, Goofy," Jin Yan said, tapping the speakerphone.
"Senior Jin, are you coming back to the hospital this afternoon?" Gou Feifei’s voice crackled through the speakers.
Jin Yan looked at Zhou Shu. When the elder man nodded again, Jin Yan replied, "Yes. Is there an emergency?"
"Well, I guess you could call it urgent, but not exactly a crisis," Gou Feifei explained. "A netherizen just left us a message. She found a stray dog, but it’s incredibly aggressive. The moment they let it out of the crate, it tries to bite everyone. Her family doesn't have the heart to throw it back onto the streets, so they’ve got it locked in a cage, but they’re too terrified to go near it. They’re asking us what to do."
"I see," Jin Yan said, his professional instincts kicking in. "And what did you mean by 'not exactly a crisis'?"
"Oh, they found us online, but they’re in the neighboring city, not Haicheng. They said they happen to be driving here tomorrow and want to bring the pup along. It would coincide with our grand opening," Gou Feifei sighed. "From the sound of it, I don't think they’re planning on taking it back home with them."
"I understand. It’s a long trip for them to make," Jin Yan said tonelessly. Zhou Shu reached out, gently squeezing his hand in support.
"I’m worried that Jiang Rong’s social media management was *too* successful. We’ve attracted a lot of attention very quickly. I’m afraid people will start treating us like a dumping ground for every stray in the province. Don’t get me wrong, I want to help, but we’re a hospital, not a sanctuary. We don't have the space to house them all indefinitely."
"I understand. We’ll discuss a protocol for handling these cases when I get back," Jin Yan said. "How many appointments are left for this afternoon?"
"Just two. One general consultation and one vaccination."
"Alright. Thanks for holding down the fort. I’ll be there shortly."
After hanging up, Zhou Shu brushed his thumb against Jin Yan’s cheek. "What are you planning to do?"
"I want to contact the Haicheng Animal Protection Association. I’ll probably need to head over there in person to see how they operate." Jin Yan caught Zhou Shu’s hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss the fingertips. "Where are you headed, Brother? Back to the apartment or to see our parents?"
"Would it be alright if I went to the hospital with you?" Zhou Shu smiled, his eyes twinkling with a rare playfulness. "Can Dr. Jin grant special permission for a family member to tag along to work?"
Jin Yan blinked, his eyes shimmering with sudden delight. "Of course," he laughed.
As expected, the sudden appearance of the Movie King caused a minor upheaval at the pet hospital. Jiang Rong, his face flushed with excitement, scurried around, calling Zhou Shu "Senior Sister-in-law" at every opportunity while eagerly giving him updates on the recovery of Xunxun, the little dog they had treated previously.
Gou Feifei offered a few polite jests, though he seemed to be holding back, several times looking as if he wanted to ask Zhou Shu something before thinking better of it. Jin Yan saw everything but chose to remain silent, focused on his work.
The Movie King spent the afternoon tucked away in Jin Yan’s private lounge, watching films to pass the time. It wasn't until the last client had departed that the lounge door was pushed open with a soft creak.
Jin Yan stepped inside and saw his brother leaning against the headboard, fast asleep. He shed his white lab coat, hanging it carefully on the rack, and crept to the bedside. He knelt there, his gaze lingering on Zhou Shu’s face as if he couldn't bear to look away for even a second.
Finally, unable to help himself, he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against the beauty mark beneath Zhou Shu’s lip—just as he had done countless times as a child, stealing kisses when his brother wasn't looking.
Jin Yan had been born with a natural talent for clinging to Zhou Shu. From the moment he could walk, he knew how to act spoiled, always reaching out his small hands for a hug. Zhou Shu had always indulged him, granting every request. The adults used to say that Yan-yan would be ruined by his brother’s pampering.
Yet, the "doll" had grown up without becoming arrogant. Instead, he had learned to cherish his brother’s affection even more deeply. Because he was steady and sensible, he had consciously suppressed his clingy nature as he grew older. He knew there were boundaries between Alphas and Omegas; he had told himself he would wait until he truly became Zhou Shu’s Omega before allowing himself to be that close again.
But the instinct was too strong. He always found himself gravitating toward Zhou Shu, wanting to hold him, wanting to be led by the hand, wanting to taste his lips. He often thought that their first real kiss would be a momentous occasion for both of them.
Later, he would secretly endure his longing, waiting for Zhou Shu to fall asleep before stealing a quick peck on the lips. Even then, he never dared to go too far, often shifting his aim slightly to kiss that distinctive beauty mark instead, before retreating to giggle to himself for hours.
Zhou Shu had never noticed—or so Jin Yan thought—until the "marriage certificate incident," when Jin Yan had finally confessed his secret habit.
As he reminisced, a soft chuckle escaped his nose. Zhou Shu’s eyelashes fluttered, and suddenly, a hand reached out, grabbing Jin Yan’s shirt and pulling him down.
"Stealing a kiss again?"
Jin Yan blinked, unable to suppress a grin. "You were faking it?"
"We’re married, and you’re still resorting to petty theft?" Zhou Shu looked at him with half-lidded, shimmering eyes. He paused, his expression turning tender and serious. "Yan-yan, from now on, we’ll kiss in front of everyone."
Jin Yan’s breath hitched. He knew Zhou Shu was trying to soothe the lingering ache in his heart from earlier that day. His heart felt as though it had been dipped in honey, saturated with a sweetness that was almost overwhelming.
"Okay," Jin Yan promised. He leaned in, whispering into Zhou Shu’s ear, "And in the future, I want us to do it with nature as our witness..."
"Be quiet!" The cool, aloof Movie King’s ears turned a vivid shade of crimson instantly. "How did you become so improper? Did the differentiation into an Enigma add some... colorful thoughts to your head?"
Seeing Zhou Shu’s flustered, shy reaction, Jin Yan felt a surge of mischief. He wanted to see more of this side of him, so his words became even bolder.
"But Brother, don't you like it too? Every time you—mmph!"
Jin Yan’s mouth was covered by Zhou Shu’s hand. He looked at his brother’s reddening skin with crescent-shaped, triumphant eyes, suppressing the heat beginning to stir in his own chest. Eventually, he surrendered under Zhou Shu’s threatening glare. After all, once his brother stepped out of the "clouds" of their private world, he would return to his cold, untouchable persona. He had to help his brother maintain his public image.
"I’ll stop teasing you, Brother." Jin Yan pulled Zhou Shu’s hand down and held it against his cheek, checking the time. "We have a meeting in ten minutes. Come with me."
"I should probably pass. Why should I interfere in your internal staff meeting?" Zhou Shu shook his head, his fingers tracing the line of Jin Yan’s jaw.
"It’s fine. It’s about the matter we discussed on the phone earlier. Just come to the conference room with me. If you want to listen, listen. If not, you can just play on your phone."
Jin Yan’s voice was soft and persuasive, and Zhou Shu found himself swayed once again. "Alright. I’ll keep you company."
The result was Gou Feifei smirking as they entered. "Dr. Jin actually brought a family member to the meeting."
Zhou Shu didn't take offense, offering a graceful, generous smile. "I won't disturb you."
"Alright, alright, I’m just joking. Having the Movie King participate in our meeting is a supreme honor!"
The group shared a laugh before getting down to business. Jiang Rong was the first to voice his concerns. He pulled up the hospital’s social media page on his tablet and handed it over. Both Jin Yan and Zhou Shu were momentarily stunned.
"This many followers?" Jin Yan asked, surprised, though his tone remained characteristically calm.
"Yeah. I started out just posting pet care tips and basic knowledge, with the occasional video of our daily lives. I have no idea why it blew up a few days ago." Jiang Rong shot a nervous glance at Zhou Shu before whispering to Jin Yan, "Boss... it was the video of you that went viral."
"A video of me?" Jin Yan was puzzled. Jiang Rong scrolled down for him.
It was a clip of Jin Yan softly comforting a kitten that had just received a vaccination. The kitten, which had been hissing and scratching moments before, gradually settled down in Jin Yan’s arms, eventually letting out a contented purr. The video only showed Jin Yan’s side profile, focusing primarily on the kitten’s reaction, but viewers had captured numerous screenshots of his features. The video had been shared relentlessly, with likes and comments now exceeding two hundred thousand.
Seeing the Movie King sitting across from him raise an expressionless eyebrow, Jiang Rong’s heart hammered against his ribs.
"Um, Movie King... I mean, Senior Sister-in-law! I’m sorry!" Jiang Rong apologized in a small, wilted voice. "I didn't think a casual clip would cause this kind of reaction. I never intended to turn our hospital account into an 'influencer' page..."
Jin Yan scrolled through the comments for a moment before handing the tablet back. "It’s fine. This isn't a negative thing. As long as people see our professionalism, it serves our purpose. Popularity means more people will see our content and learn the right way to care for animals. That’s why we’re in this business."
Relieved by Jin Yan’s reassurance, Jiang Rong’s excitement returned. "So... you really don't mind? But the influencer vibe doesn't really fit our style. I’m worried that too much attention will bring scrutiny. I was thinking of deleting some of the videos."
"No need," Jin Yan shook his head. "The 'style' isn't important. There’s no need to overcorrect. Just let things take their natural course."
"Exactly. Don't worry, Jiang Rong," Gou Feifei added nonchalantly, trying to comfort him with a joke. "Even if people start talking, our credentials are real. It’s not like we just grabbed three handsome guys off the street and threw white coats on them."
Zhou Shu, listening from the side, was clearly piqued by the phrase "handsome guys." He turned his head, and his gaze happened to collide with Jin Yan’s.
They stared at each other for a few seconds before Jin Yan couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
*Is my brother actually jealous?*
The two across the table were startled to see Jin Yan laughing like that. Sensing a shift in the atmosphere, they awkwardly averted their eyes toward the window. It seemed the Movie King’s possessiveness was no joke.
"Anyway, Senior Jin, you mentioned going to the Animal Protection Association. What’s the plan? Should I set up a time for us to go as soon as possible?" Gou Feifei asked.
Jin Yan nodded. "Yes, arrange it quickly. Thank you."
"I hope it goes well. That way, the strays we rescue will have a place to go!" Jiang Rong said.
In this country, the Animal Protection Association operated shelters for various animals, providing a good environment and regular medical checkups. Animals that recovered their health and showed good temperaments would be put up for adoption, with adopters receiving a certificate from the association. "Adopt, don't shop" was a cause they all believed in.
However, some organizations used the guise of protection to engage in illegal trade or even darker activities. Before forming a formal partnership, Jin Yan and his team had to ensure this association was legitimate and followed all regulations.
When the meeting ended, they returned to the lounge to change and head home. Jin Yan had just unbuttoned his shirt when a restless hand slid beneath the hem of the fabric.
"Brother?" Jin Yan’s voice dropped an octave, turning low and husky.
"I hear Dr. Jin has become an internet celebrity." Zhou Shu’s fingers traced the line of Jin Yan’s waist, causing the younger man’s body to quiver. "With so many fanboys and fangirls wishing they could turn into cats and dogs just to be held by you."
Jin Yan’s breath hitched as a tingle of electricity surged through his veins. "Brother, are you eating vinegar?" He kept his back to Zhou Shu, his voice laced with a smile as he allowed the other man to continue his provocations.
Now that they were alone, Zhou Shu stopped being coy. "I am. I was annoyed the moment I saw it, and I’m even more annoyed thinking about how many people are coming to the opening tomorrow just to see you."
"Then... are you still coming tomorrow?" Jin Yan’s lips curled into a triumphant smirk.
"I’m coming. How could I not?" Zhou Shu raised an eyebrow, his hand continuing its restless wandering. "I need to see for myself just how 'charming' my Yan-yan has become."
"Oh? Is that so?" Jin Yan turned around abruptly, pulling Zhou Shu into a fierce embrace. "Then let me show you exactly how charming I can be."
"Mmph—"
In the next second, the Movie King’s teasing lips were silenced by a kiss.
He had set the fire himself; now, he would have to endure the heat.
***
