Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 90
Chapter 90: Little Animal
Jiang Heng deliberately showed off. Even though there was a dishwasher, he insisted on washing the dishes by hand.
He rolled up his sleeves, revealing the firm, powerful lines of his forearms.
Yuan Shiyuan followed suit, rolling up his sleeves and preparing to help, only to see Jiang Heng press a mobile phone into his hand. “You just play on your phone.”
“What?” Yuan Shiyuan asked, puzzled. “I’m just supposed to stand here and watch?”
“What else?” Jiang Heng replied. “I can’t possibly let you do it. I never let you lift a finger when we were kids.”
Though he said this, the image of Yuan Shiyuan watching Jiang Heng wash dishes in the kitchen…
How eerily similar was this to the earlier scene of Yuan Shiyuan’s mother helping his father cook, occasionally wiping his sweat?
A sudden wave of goosebumps prickled across Yuan Shiyuan’s skin.
He shook his head, banishing the bizarre association. Then he moved behind Jiang Heng, looped an arm around his neck, and stood on tiptoe, nuzzling his shoulder. “You’re still so good to me.”
Warm breath ghosted across the Alpha’s neck, the words drawn out with a clear note of flirtation.
In the next instant, Yuan Shiyuan’s words crashed over Jiang Heng like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing the warmth at the tip of his heart.
“Just as I thought—my best bro! Always looking out for me!”
The slight curve at the corner of Jiang Heng’s lips vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
He said nothing further, continuing to wash the dishes in silence.
An awkward tension hung in the air.
Just as Yuan Shiyuan was about to speak, Jiang Heng seemed to have composed himself first. He spoke first, saying, “That number… it belonged to my aunt. But she had it disconnected later, so it’s an out-of-service number.”
“I didn’t deliberately ignore your calls,” he emphasized, looking earnestly at Yuan Shiyuan.
“After my mother died in a car accident, her best friend found out through the grapevine and immediately came to adopt me and bring me home. My aunt and uncle are wonderful people; they treat me like their own son… They had the number disconnected because they were worried my biological father might try to interfere with our lives.”
Jiang Heng paused, pressing his thin lips together in frustration. “Actually, I tried to go back too. I even got the foster family’s number from the orphanage staff, but… when I called, I got a tongue-lashing.”
“They said I had the wrong number,” he said dejectedly. “Maybe I copied the number down wrong back then.”
Jiang Heng had never imagined that both of them had been so desperately searching for each other, only to be repeatedly thwarted by fate.
Fortunately, after all the twists and turns, they had finally found their way back to each other.
Everything was still within reach.
Yuan Shiyuan asked in surprise, “You called them?”
“It probably wasn’t your mistake. But the people who left the number weren’t my parents. They didn’t want me anymore.” His tone was eerily calm, as if he were discussing someone else’s affairs.
The sound of rushing water filled the kitchen as Yuan Shiyuan’s voice floated lightly down. Jiang Heng’s hands froze mid-dishwashing, and he turned back to Yuan Shiyuan in stunned disbelief.
Yuan Shiyuan blinked, his tone utterly nonchalant, and patted the Alpha’s shoulder. “It’s a long story.”
Afraid the family in the living room would overhear and worry, he lowered his voice. “I’ll tell you all about it later, when we’re back in our room.”
Jiang Heng quickly finished washing the dishes. Yuan Shiyuan made up a flimsy excuse, grabbed Jiang Heng’s wrist, and whisked him away in a flash.
Yuan Xing and her husband watched the eager and perfectly synchronized young couple, their eyes softening with understanding as they chuckled and shook their heads.
Glancing out at the rainy day, they switched off the television.
“Let’s give the kids some space,” they said, knowing that children never truly relax and play freely when adults are around. Not being overly strict parents, they saw this as a perfect opportunity for a stroll and some time alone.
They also wanted to leave the house to the young friends who had just reunited after a long separation.
The door opened and closed with a soft click.
Stepping into Yuan Shiyuan’s private domain for the first time, Jiang Heng felt utterly self-conscious, so nervous he hardly dared to look around.
Yet he couldn’t resist the urge to secretly, meticulously study the space filled with Yuan Shiyuan’s essence.
Yuan Shiyuan’s room was dominated by cream and light gray tones, the only dark accents being the dedicated gaming desk and its sleek, high-performance PC. A massive bay window, padded with thick, cream-colored cushions, flowed seamlessly into the adjacent king-sized bed, creating an expansive and exceptionally comfortable relaxation area.
“I’m going to change into pajamas before getting into bed. Want to change too?” Yuan Shiyuan wouldn’t dream of sleeping in his street clothes.
“Change,” Jiang Heng responded immediately, as Yuan Shiyuan tossed him a light gray pajama set.
“My pajamas tend to be loose-fitting. They should fit you.”
As Yuan Shiyuan spoke, he casually pulled his pajama top up over his head right in front of the Alpha, his slender fingers gripping the hem. He tossed it into the laundry basket with a nonchalant flick.
His slender waist, illuminated by the soft light, appeared particularly alluring. His once-flat stomach now bulged slightly with a subtle curve, its outline strikingly clear after the hearty meal.
Jiang Heng gripped the pajamas tightly, momentarily lost in thought.
By the time he snapped back to reality, Yuan Shiyuan had already changed.
“Aren’t you going to change?” Yuan Shiyuan asked, looking at the Alpha frozen in place with a puzzled expression.
“I’ll change… now.”
Jiang Heng swallowed hard, watching Yuan Shiyuan settle into the nearby gaming chair, perhaps puzzled by his reaction.
Yuan Shiyuan turned to face him directly, crossing his legs casually, his gaze both casual and subtly scrutinizing.
Under Yuan Shiyuan’s watchful gaze, Jiang Heng slowly stripped off his clothes and changed into pajamas that carried Yuan Shiyuan’s lingering scent.
He couldn’t even control himself. Under Yuan Shiyuan’s very nose, he buried his face in the deep neckline as he dressed, inhaling deeply like a pervert.
So fragrant…
It was all Yuan Shiyuan’s scent.
Once Jiang Heng finished changing, Yuan Shiyuan quickly rolled onto the bed and dove onto the soft, thick cushion of the bay window.
He patted the spot beside him and beckoned Jiang Heng over, his smile radiant against the rain-streaked window. “Come here.”
Jiang Heng immediately followed, climbing onto the bed and settling beside Yuan Shiyuan. Shoulder to shoulder, they watched the rain blur the world outside.
“I used to be terrified of rain when I was little,” Yuan Shiyuan murmured, gazing at the meandering streaks of water cascading down the glass.
The downpour was torrential now, bean-sized raindrops pelting the window and splashing into vast sprays. Yet inside, only the faintest sounds stirred. Cuddled together on the soft cushion of the bay window, they felt sheltered and warm, as if in a safe harbor.
“Yeah, the welfare institute was an old building. Whenever it rained or thundered, the sound of the rain was deafening. It pounded against the windows like an earthquake, making the whole house tremble.”
As children, they were terrified of thunderstorms.
The institute’s thin windows and walls left them vulnerable. When torrential rain and gale-force winds battered the fragile structure, it felt as if the entire building, along with its tiny occupants, could be swept away at any moment.
The incessant roar of the rain kept them awake. The two little figures could only huddle together under the covers, drawing comfort from each other’s body heat, heartbeats, and rhythmic breathing.
Like two small animals huddled together for warmth.
Yuan Shiyuan gazed out at the rain-streaked window, his profile sculpted in sharp relief beneath his pink hair. Strands of pale pink brushed his cheek as raindrops streaked down the glass, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty, like a painting.
Jiang Heng stared, then suddenly leaned closer, tentatively reaching out to draw Yuan Shiyuan into his arms.
Yuan Shiyuan leaned back effortlessly, settling into the Alpha’s broad embrace. Finding his position uncomfortable, he spontaneously adjusted his posture until he found a position he liked.
A rich aroma of Cabernet Sauvignon drifted through the air.
Yuan Shiyuan: “?”
He remained nestled in Jiang Heng’s arms, tilting his head up in confusion. “Why did you suddenly release your pheromones?”
“Sorry, I lost control,” Jiang Heng murmured, a hint of barely perceptible disappointment in his voice.
Yuan Shiyuan had once adored Jiang Heng’s pheromones. But now, when he caught the scent, he didn’t react with the same adoring, dependent expression as before.
“It’s fine. Just release them if you want,” Yuan Shiyuan said. “It’s just the two of us at home anyway.”
“But what’s really wrong with you? Why are you so severely allergic to Omega pheromones?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I shouldn’t have differentiated into an Alpha in the first place?” Jiang Heng explained, resting his chin on the crown of Yuan Shiyuan’s head. “That’s why I can’t smell most Omega pheromones and am allergic to them.”
Yuan Shiyuan murmured an absentminded reply, a faint blush rising on his snow-white cheeks.
The Cabernet Sauvignon pheromones in the air had left him slightly tipsy, his eyes growing hazy like they were veiled in a dewy mist. The corners of his eyes flushed with a damp crimson, and his entire being radiated an unconscious, heart-stirring allure.
Jiang Heng suddenly leaned closer and called out, “Little Yuan.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve wanted to call you that for ages.”
But back then, Jiang Heng had witnessed his mother’s death firsthand. The profound psychological trauma had rendered him speechless for a long time.
He longed to call his friend by his nickname himself, but could only write it out, stroke by painstaking stroke.
“You said it’s a long story… What exactly happened?” Jiang Heng tightened his grip around Yuan Shiyuan, his voice betraying no emotion.
Actually, Yuan Shiyuan didn’t really want to talk about it. Partly because he felt it wasn’t necessary, and partly because it had been so long ago that rehashing it felt pointless.
He gave a brief, sanitized version of events, glossing over the worst parts.
Even though Yuan Shiyuan omitted many details, the perceptive Jiang Heng immediately grasped the core of the matter.
“They abandoned you?” His voice trembled noticeably. After a moment’s pause, he suddenly realized, “That’s why you suddenly became afraid of the dark.”
Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t mentioned his fear of the dark, nor had he brought up that terrifying memory of feeling trapped in a dark box.
Jiang Heng’s intuition was so sharp that he instantly pieced together the neglected details, reconstructing nearly the whole story.
“So what if I’m afraid of the dark? It’s not as bad now…”
Yuan Shiyuan didn’t finish speaking before Jiang Heng reached under his arms, lifted him, and pulled him into a face-to-face embrace.
The wide, burning-hot embrace pressed tightly against his chest, and he could clearly hear Jiang Heng’s frantic heartbeat and the faint tremor in his hold.
“So that’s why you’re afraid of the dark,” Jiang Heng repeated, his voice now husky with a stifled sob, as if desperately holding back a torrent of emotion.
Yuan Shiyuan froze, suddenly flustered and at a loss for words. “What are you doing? That was ages ago!”
“Besides, nothing really happened to me. Why are you reacting so strongly?”
He tried to brush it off with a light tone, but Jiang Heng cut him off sharply.
“I thought you were living a good life,” Jiang Heng said, his voice low and hoarse. “Back then, I wondered if you might be bullied. But most of the time, I was just happy.”
“I imagined you getting a great education, making lots of new friends. I was sure many people would love you, just like I do, and protect you.”
“But how could they… how could they bring themselves to do that?”
When the couple adopted Yuan Shiyuan, they had shown him obvious affection. At the time, Jiang Heng hadn’t been surprised; after all, who could resist liking Yuan Shiyuan?
From the moment young Jiang Heng first laid eyes on Yuan Shiyuan, even before he understood what it meant to like someone, he found himself uncontrollably drawn to him. He wanted to protect Yuan Shiyuan, unable to bear the thought of him suffering even the slightest harm.
“I always thought you lived such a happy life every day,” Jiang Heng murmured, as if talking to himself. “But you were suffering.”
“How could you possibly be suffering?” he added softly.
Yuan Shiyuan chuckled softly, both amused and touched. He wrapped his arms around the Alpha’s waist, gently patting his back. “What makes you think I can’t suffer? I’m just an ordinary person too.”
“……”
Jiang Heng closed his eyes, holding Yuan Shiyuan even tighter. He buried his face in the crook of Yuan Shiyuan’s neck, inhaling his familiar scent. The turbulent emotions in his heart seemed to find solace in that embrace.
“If only we had been adopted together back then.”
Yuan Shiyuan found this even more amusing. “And then what? We’d both be abandoned and end up sleeping on the streets, begging for food hand in hand?”
“Even that would be better than you being alone, scared in the dark.”
Jiang Heng turned his head, his warm, thin lips brushing lightly against Yuan Shiyuan’s earlobe. His low, husky voice carried a profound sense of tender protectiveness.
“At least… you wouldn’t have been alone.”
Yuan Shiyuan watched Jiang Heng lift his head, his dark eyes brimming with heartache and self-reproach.
Jiang Heng felt anguish, guilt, and remorse for not being there to share Yuan Shiyuan’s hardships, leaving him to suffer alone.
A sudden warmth flooded Yuan Shiyuan’s chest.
Almost instinctively, he wrapped his arms tighter around the Alpha before him, tilting his head slightly as he had in childhood. He gently pressed his soft, warm cheek against Jiang Heng’s jaw, offering a silent comfort.
Back then, when words failed Jiang Heng, he had expressed his concern through such clumsy yet tender physical gestures. Now, Yuan Shiyuan returned the gesture, unaltered.
Jiang Heng reciprocated, gently brushing his cheek against Yuan Shiyuan’s. The warmth of their skin pressed together made their breathing involuntarily quicken and intertwine.
Their shared, moist breaths caressed each other’s lips, igniting an undeniable heat.
Yuan Shiyuan’s face was gradually cupped between Jiang Heng’s large palms. As he looked up at the Alpha, his amber eyes glistened with a watery sheen, their depths reflecting Jiang Heng’s focused, earnest gaze.
Jiang Heng’s fingertips traced down Yuan Shiyuan’s cheek to his jawline, gently lifting his chin.
Then, slowly and resolutely, Jiang Heng lowered his head and kissed Yuan Shiyuan’s parted lips.