Chapter Text
Gao Tu had gone to bed with his husband, at the comfortable age of 70, Shen Wenlang's arm still draped over his torso as the alpha pressed his face in his omega's neck.
After a very tiring day of entertaining and indulging his children and grandchildren, they had finally found a moment of peace to just share the first sleep of the new year together.
He hoped to wake up and see his husband's smile, as he whispered good morning and kissed him on the lips their first morning of the year but what greeted him was a frowning face of a youngster that looked just like his husband.
“Gao Tu! Wake up already.” Shen Wenlang spoke, his voice rough from shouting, his brows furrowed in a distantly familiar fashion that Gao Tu hadn't seen for over 40 years.
He immediately shot up, eyes wide as he watched his husband who did not look a day over 17, in their school uniform, still talking to him but getting more agitated.
For the first time Gao Tu felt that his assessments of Lele looking exactly like Shen Wenlang had been wrong, remembering what Lele looked like and seeing Shen Wenlang now, they seemed completely different and he was supposed to be the one who was a carbon copy of his alpha father too.
“You made a big fuss about needing to get to work and then fell asleep in the class?” Shen Wenlang scoffed, rolling his eyes as he looked down on the omega, “You are like the teacher didn't catch you, if you can't even stay awake then just quit your job.”
His harsh words flowed over Gao Tu, the iris scent twisted with sourness. If he hadn't spent years understanding his husband, he would have been upset and even feeling worse about his own existence but after so long, he could see right through this young boy and burst out in laughter.
“I need to earn money A-Lang” Gao Tu said, wiping the corner of his eyes. He had never had such a realistic dream before, what was it called? A lucid dream? He remembered his grandchildren discussing it and now that he was having one, he could at least enjoy it.
The alpha visibly ticked, stepping back as his ears reddened, his brows furrowing deeper as he focussed on the words, since when did Gao Tu call him A-Lang?
The omega only laughed again, poking Shen Wenlang's nose and watching the alpha burst into angry splitters, asking what he was doing and why?
Gao Tu hummed, his head resting on his palm, “are you worried about me not getting enough rest?”
“Why would I be worried about you?” Shen Wenlang snapped back too fast, not even acknowledging the poke to his face as he was distracted by unfounded accusations.
“You are too cute baobao.” Gao Tu grinned, getting up and picking up his bag, he didn't want this dream to be over too soon, he wanted to play with this little Wenlang who looked so different and yet so familiar.
“What are you talking about? What is wrong with you?” Shen Wenlang followed, huffing and puffing, unable to understand why Gao Tu was acting like this and why that statement made his heart beat as fast as it did.
“Are you feeling shy?” Gao Tu spoke, smiling as the alpha followed him, a change from the typical school days, where Gao Tu would follow Wenlang around, thinking that he was being a bother and clinging too close when the alpha didn't even care if he was there or not. But now as he walked ahead and Shen Wenlang stayed close, despite Gao Tu's different actions he understood that the Alpha did want his company.
Ah, his Shen Wenlang was truly adorable.
The alpha said some more angry words, refuting the shyness so strongly and getting angrier at the grin on the omega's face. Only stopping when he realised he was being toyed with.
“You are not funny Gao Tu.” Shen Wenlang spoke seriously, his face was completely red as he had spent the entire walk out of school to Gao Tu's first part-time job trying to convince the omega that he wasn't shy.
“And you are very caring, walking me to my workplace.” Gao Tu said, his voice sickly sweet with unhidden humour that only agitated the alpha more, as a cherry on top he leaned over and kissed the alpha on the cheek before turning on his heels and walking into the staff lounge, no regrets over the shell shocked alpha who was unable to even move.
Shen Wenlang only moved when he heard some whispers around him, a group of omega standing at a distance but not far enough felt way too comfortable making comments on him and Gao Tu.
“Did you see that?”
“Yes, I can't believe Shen Wenlang is really going out with that beta.”
“Well that explains why he has been getting rid of all the omegas who try to come close.”
“What a slut? He has been trying to get close to Shen Wenlang because he's rich.”
“How pathetic is that? But it makes sense.”
“Low born freaks, what else can you expect from scholarship students.”
“He acted all saintly too, just a mere beta trying to climb the ladder using his body? That's bound to fail.”
“Shen Wenlang should realise soon what kind of a person that Gao Tu is. So disgusting.”
“He should know his place.”
The words kept going and they got louder as if hoping Shen Wenlang would listen and approve of them, the Alpha only got angrier, his stomach twisting in knots as he felt a familiar violent urge turn in his chest. If this was P country, he would have had their heads by now.
But he was better than that, he wouldn't turn into his parents who used violence to solve everything. It was hard to get rid of the anger he had inherited though, and the aura of the young master from a family that made it's name through unbeatable violence.
Shen Wenlang turned his head, mustering the most disgusted expression he could and glared down at the omegas, they immediately shut up, chill running down their spine as they became the victims to oppressive power of an S-class alpha. Shen Wenlang was still young, but his pheromones flowed skillfully, forcing the girls to submit in terror and eventually run away.
He felt a hand on his forehead and turned to the person, about to give them a piece of that same anger for daring to touch his body but paused as he came face to face with Gao Tu who had a weaker smile on his face.
“Don't let their words get to you.” Gao Tu spoke gently, knowing the alpha was genuinely upset. In the manner his body was tense and scent bitter enough to make Gao Tu gag a little.
“I should be saying that to you.” Shen Wenlang scolded the omega, pushing away the hand on his forehead as he adjusted his clothes feeling embarrassed that he was caught trying to defend his friend's honour.
Gao Tu smiled, his eyes shining with joy Shen Wenlang was not used to seeing, in fact, this was the most eye contact they had made ever, Gao Tu usually shying away or just refusing to look up, “you and I both know the truth, as long as you trust me, I don't care what they say.”
“Is that why you avoided me for almost a week?” Shen Wenlang teased, his tone rough and coming out more as an accusation.
“Did I?” Gao Tu’s eyes widened, faintly remembering that he had tried to put distance between himself and Wenlang when he had realised his feelings for the Alpha but he thought he had some a good enough job for Shen Wenlang to not notice. “I know better than that now.” He reassured the alpha.
Even though he knew his husband was caring and indulgent, seeing it reflected in his younger self somehow made Gao Tu's heart even softer. It was really unfair for Shen Wenlang to pout and nod his head like that? Did he always act so cutely?
“Then you do work.” Shen Wenlang grunted, clearing his throat as his classic frown came back and Gao Tu almost audibly groaned.
How did he manage to look even cuter????
Ah, Gao Tu wanted to kiss his little husband so bad.