Chapter Text
"Huayong," Shaoyou called softly one afternoon.
The omega, who was watching his son play in the living room with a collection of toys the alpha had bought him the other day, fell silent for a moment before responding.
"Hm?"
"This week, my office is having an end-of-year party," the alpha said, his heart starting to pound. "Want to… accompany me?"
"Oh." Huayong's eyes widened playfully. His lips parted slightly, revealing a surprised expression. "Me?"
"Yeah." Shaoyou shrugged, feigning indifference. Underneath his thick hair, his ears were flushed red with embarrassment. Like a teenager about to ask his crush out on a date. "The invitation is for employees and family. So I thought I could… invite you?"
Family?
Huayong's breath caught in his throat.
You consider me… family?
Since Huasheng was born, Huayong had rarely heard that word. How could he not, when his parents had abandoned him after finding out he was pregnant out of wedlock. Likewise, the alpha figure who was supposed to be a father to their child instead left irresponsibly.
Yet, this neighbor easily considered him family?
“Um, let me contact Cai Hong-ge first. Hopefully, he has a free schedule. So he can look after Huasheng while we’re gone—”
“Huayong.” Again and again, the alpha interrupted. He reached out with both hands to grab the omega’s, which lay on the table. Squeezing them gently, the alpha said, “Just take him. Bring Huasheng to the party too.”
His gaze was so serious. The meaning behind his words was so clear.
The three of us are family.
Huayong almost cried.
***
“It’s crowded,” Huasheng whispered against Shaoyou’s neck as they arrived at the office rooftop where the party was being held.
Patting the toddler’s back, the alpha asked gently, “Huasheng doesn’t like crowds?”
The only response he received was a shake of the head.
"Huasheng slipped from my grasp once when we were in a crowded place," Huayong explained, walking beside him. The omega looked incredibly beautiful today. He was wearing a white satin blouse, trousers, with hair neatly styled. Shaoyou almost decided against bringing the omega to his office. He didn't want the company to freely enjoy his beauty.
"Then, next time, just carry him," Shaoyou joked, flashing the father a mischievous smile.
Huayong rolled his eyes sarcastically at that remark. "Who is this again that said not to spoil the little one?"
"Hush, what was he talking about?" Covering one of Huasheng's ears with his hand, Shaoyou walked quickly away from Huayong. This made the little one laugh, while the omega gasped behind him.
"It’s like this, huh? You guys teaming up?!”
Unfortunately, the joke didn't last long. As soon as he blended into the crowd, Shaoyou immediately became the center of attention. How could he not, when the alpha, known for his coldness and aloofness, suddenly appeared holding a toddler and an omega in tow. The employees immediately began whispering, exchanging gossip about his life.
"So the rumors are true. Mr. Sheng already has a child?"
"Seriously. Didn't you see? It doesn't even look like his baby."
"Then who's the one he's carrying? I heard from the employees on the same floor as Mr. Sheng that the baby often stops by his office."
"Maybe it's his cousin's baby?"
"Are you stupid?! The omega he's holding isn't transparent, you know. The only possibility is that the child is his omega's. In other words... a widower!"
"Huh?! What a shame. How could a single person like Mr. Sheng get secondhand goods..."
Huayong gasped at the words, unconsciously stopping in his tracks.
Shaoyou, who hadn't been paying attention to the gossip, also stopped and asked worriedly.
"What's wrong?"
The omega simply shook his head before lowering his head to avoid his gaze.
"It's nothing."
Shaoyou frowned. Reaching out his free hand, he checked the omega's temperature with the back of his hand. "Hmm," Shaoyou hummed calculatingly. Honestly, he was a little confused as to why Huayong's forehead wasn't hot. "Just a normal headache, then?"
"I don't—"
"Is Daddy sick?" This time, Huasheng was the one who became worried. With his chubby hands, the little guy reached for his father's cheeks to squeeze them. His cute, round eyes looked at Huayong seriously. "What's wrong, Daddy?"
Huayong found himself smiling a little after that. His shoulders relaxed from the tension. He has cute aggression toward his own child. "Daddy's not sick, baobei."
"Let's go to the side first." Shaoyou, thinking that Huayong was lying out of discomfort, decided. He grabbed the omega's wrist and pulled him to the side, where a buffet was waiting. "We haven't eaten yet. So maybe that's why you looked a little pale."
And so, a few moments later, Huayong found himself being pampered by two men who looked genuinely worried about him. Huasheng got out of Shaoyou’s arms, took turns climbing onto his daddy’s lap and hugging the omega tightly around the waist. Meanwhile, Shaoyou left for a moment to get some food. He returned with zuppa soup, which he then spooned bit by bit into Huayong's mouth.
The omega, who hadn't expected to be treated so romantically in public, opened his mouth, his cheeks flushing with each mouthful. He seemed unaware that, beneath the thick hair, the alpha's ears were also reddening.
Huasheng, watching his father being fed, looked delighted. "Father, make daddy eat a lot!" he exclaimed, encouraging Shaoyou to pamper his father. "Eat everything! Nom! Nom! Nom!”
"Yes, Baobei." Shaoyou snorted slightly. He didn't know whether to be proud or embarrassed by the child's support.
"Huasheng too!" Soon, the little one was jealous, wanting to be pampered like his father by the alpha. "Aaa. Father! Feed Huasheng too!" From Huayong's arms, the boy opened his mouth to allow Shaoyou to move the spoon to him.
The alpha could only sigh. He then took turns feeding the little one, while Huayong chuckled softly as he ran his fingers through the child's hair.
For a moment, the couple forgot where they were, preoccupied with their own world. They ignored the eyes watching from afar and whispering to each other again. But whatever they were saying, Huayong no longer cared. His focus had been completely captured by the two men whose opinions held the most sway.
As long as Shaoyou and Huasheng didn't say anything to him, Huayong could ignore what everyone else was saying.
Until… someone dared to interrupt.
"… Huayong?"
Huayong looked up abruptly when his name was called and froze in place when he saw who it was.
Standing before him, wearing a fashionable cream-colored suit with his chest exposed, an alpha tilted his head. His eyes immediately lit up when Huayong turned to look when he called his name.
"Ha! So it's true. It's you."
"Shen Wenlang."
Huayong felt his heart pounding. Seeing the former alpha and father of his baby, standing just two feet in front of him. He reflexively hugged Huasheng even tighter to his chest. He wanted to protect the toddler from having to interact with the alpha.
Unfortunately, that movement only drew Shen Wenlang's attention to Huasheng. His expression immediately changed. His eyebrows raised at a question he seemed to already know the answer to.
"Is this my child?" the man asked, reaching out to touch Huasheng.
But before his hand could reach the baby, Shaoyou, already sensing Huayong’s discomfort, grabbed the alpha's wrist and said, "Excuse me. Wht are you doing?"
"Ah, Mr. Sheng!" Shen Wenlang chuckled, as if he had just noticed Shaoyou by Huayong's side. The gesture made Shaoyou grit his teeth, his emotions starting to boil. "Sorry to interrupt. I was just … curious."
"Last week, the rumor about you suddenly having a child and bringing it into your room, was very hot. I didn't care at first. Until I smelled the familiar scent of the baby." Shen Wenlang smiled lopsidedly. Turning to his son, who happened to be looking at him, Shen Wenlang waved. "Hello, little one. It's Papa."
Huasheng immediately hid his face in the crook of Huayong's neck. He didn't like the alpha's vibe.
Meanwhile, the grip around Shen Wenlang's wrist tightened. Shaoyou was losing his patience.
"As far as I know, he's my son. So please remove your hand."
Shen Wenlang snickered. "Oh? Your son?"
Their argument began to attract a lot of attention after that. The pheromones of the two alphas began to waft thickly around them. Now people were no longer trying to hide their gossip and were openly watching with judgmental eyes. Meanwhile, Huayong wanted to disappear. Far, far away, from the spotlight.
"Mr. Sheng, with all due respect," Shen Wenlang began to act aggressively. He roughly shook off Shaoyou's grip. "Are you sure you want to protect this slut? The omega who deliberately trapped alphas with his baby?"
Huayong felt his body go cold as soon as he heard the accusation. His ears began to ring. His chest began to feel tight.
"This omega you're protecting is deliberately seeking out rich men like you and me to exploit. His baby is used as a baby trap. So we'll feel sorry for him and shower him with money."
Huayong wanted to scream. To grab his hair and run. How could the man say that?
After he struggles everyday to make ends meet?
"The second he told me he was pregnant, I realized. This omega was trying to trap me into marrying him. Do you know what I did, Mr. Sheng? I left him. Let this omega know. His baby isn't important enough for me to be fooled and tied to him forever."
Shut up.
Huayong screamed inwardly.
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!
"Daddy?" Huasheng grabbed the omega by the collar. He looked anxiously at his father, who had his eyes closed as if in pain.
"Look. Now he's using tears to trick you. You think it's useful? Hoping Mr. Sheng will fall for it and seduce—"
"Enough! Enough, Shen Wenlang!" Huayong couldn't hold back. He shouted at the top of his lungs. Shocking everyone in the circle of conflict. He even surprised himself with his impulsive action.
Standing up, panting with his face flushed red, Huayong realized that this was the end of the happiness he had just tasted. He had embarrassed Shaoyou in front of his colleagues. Shouting like that in the middle of the event.
His feet moved quickly without being told to. He left the party before everyone recovered from their shock.
Huayong immediately entered the elevator, pressed the button on the panel, and waited to be dropped off at the ground floor. His hands were shaking.
His body was trembling nonstop.
"Daddy?" Huasheng, still clutching his collar, called again. His voice was timid. His face twisted in worry.
With a sinking heart for neglecting his child and allowing him to witness it all, Huayong tightened his embrace and planted a kiss on the top of Huasheng's head.
"Sorry, baobei. Forgive Daddy, okay?"
Huasheng, clueless, simply buried his face deep into his chest. He gripped the collar of his father’s clothes even tighter.
While waiting for the elevator to reach the ground floor, Huayong considered what to do next. He would go back to his apartment. Find a new one and move in as soon as possible. The omega would also change his phone number. Disappear again and start a new life without alphas who seemed to bring only bad luck.
Huasheng is enough.
He could live with just that little one.
But whatever he had planned and thought was the best scenario for his life, it instantly vanished. The elevator doors opened, and Shaoyou appeared before him, his eyes wide, his clothes in disarray, and his body sweating.
Was this alpha ... chasing him down using stairs?
"Huayong," Shaoyou called out breathlessly. He rested his hand on the wall next to the elevator to keep from swaying forward. His shoulders rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath. "Why did you run away so quickly?"
"I—"
Huayong found himself blinking in confusion.
Haven't I already... Haven't I embarrassed you?
Didn't you expect me to leave too?
"Oh, Omega." Without giving Huayong time to process his thoughts or give a proper response, Shaoyou immediately closed the distance between them. He hugged Huayong and Huasheng tightly at the same time. "Don't make me worry like that."
Oh.
Huayong felt his knees suddenly buckled.
When was the last time I was hugged?
To be held so preciously and held so tightly?
The question made Huayong close his eyes and finally let his tears fall one by one.
***
"Is he asleep?"
A glass of warm tea was pushed in front of Huayong's face.
The omega, who hadn't realized he'd been daydreaming while staring at his baby sleeping in bed, immediately accepted the glass and murmured a thank you.
"How are you feeling?" Shaoyou decided to join him by sitting next to him. He took the time to pull the blanket up around Huasheng's neck and gently stroked the sleeping baby's hair.
Huayong couldn't lie anymore.
"A mess."
Two hours had passed since they arrived home. But Shen Wenlang's words were still ringing in his head. Huayong hadn't even changed out of his party clothes.
"I almost broke his jaw too earlier. But I restrained myself." After a while, Shaoyou finally spoke. "He's the director's son. Shen Wenlang. My coworkers who happened to be my close friend at the company. But is he actually your former alpha?"
"Yes." Huayong's throat felt bitter as he confirmed. "Huasheng is his child."
Shaoyou sighed. "I told you, Huasheng is my child."
"Shaoyou," the omega held his breath. He clenched his fists, restraining himself. "We're home. There's no need to say things like that anymore." Don't give me hope.
"What's wrong with that? If I marry you, Huasheng will automatically be our child." Shaoyou continued to respond.
"Shaoyou." Huayong turned to glare at the alpha. He wanted to reprimand him for the choice of his words. How can the alpha had time to joke like this as Huayong struggled desperately not to cry again?
But whatever was on the tip of his tongue was immediately suppressed when he saw the look Shaoyou cast at him.
His pupils dilated.
His gaze were soft.
His expression…
"Hm?" Even the alpha's humming was so gentle.
Huayong swallowed. "Are you serious?"
"A-Yong," Shaoyou held out his hand. He rubbed Huayong’s cheeks gently. Under his eyes, the corners of his lips, his chin.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"I don't have anything." Huayong was still trying to convince him. Half desperately, as if he wanted the alpha to realize something. "Only a child. A baggage."
"You've worked so hard that Huasheng can still eat delicious candies." Shaoyou smiled slightly. "I told you, Huasheng is also my child. And baggage? What's that? I only know a troublemaker.”
"Shaoyou."
"Huayong, why are you so stubborn?" The alpha's thumb stopped at the corner of the omega's lips. He gently stroked the soft pouts, before pulling him closer. "Let me take care of you, okay? From now on, lean on me," Shaoyou whispered softly, before gently kissing Huayong's lips.
***
Huasheng was stirring the porridge in his bowl when Shaoyou, who had just woken up and come out of his daddy's room, walked over to Huayong to plant a lingering kiss on the omega's forehead.
His round eyes blinked cutely in shock. His hand, holding the spoon, remained motionless. He was busy observing the two parents before him, who exchanged meaningful and warm smiles.
Only when Shaoyou took a seat across from him did Huasheng open his mouth to ask.
"Are you my father now?" His eyes narrowed.
The alpha snorted playfully. Taking the glass of milk his omega had prepared, he asked back, "What do you think?"
"If you kiss my daddy, you have to marry him and be my father too!" the little boy demanded, his lips pursed stubbornly.
Shaoyou couldn't help but chuckle at his demand.
"Okay, okay." []