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The big house was always quiet in the morning, but it wasn’t a cold or melancholy kind of quiet. The silence in the house was warm and gentle, like a light blanket draped over one’s shoulders when the air was too cold. It was a silence that held the echoes of the footsteps of two people who had lived too long in the midst of a storm, until finally, tranquility felt like a luxury, something they had never imagined they could possess.
In the main hall, filled with the pale light streaming through the tall, wooden-framed windows, Shen Wenlang sat cross-legged on the long sofa near the fireplace. His robe draped neatly over his body, every fold seemed too serene, too perfect, as if even just after waking up, the man still looked like a painting.
Beside him, Gao Tu leaned back, half-reclining, swinging one leg in the air. He could never stay still for too long. Even when relaxing, his body was always moving slightly, his fingers tapping the sofa’s armrest, his feet kicking the air, or his head turning this way and that as if there were simply too many things in the world demanding his attention.
“I told him,” Shen Wenlang said suddenly, closing his book, his voice deliberately flat as he mimicked the tone of their old, nagging head chef.
“If he dares to slice that meat any thinner than a sheet of paper, I’ll make him eat the cutting board too.”
Gao Tu burst out laughing so hard he quickly covered his mouth. His shoulders shook, and he nearly fell over to the side as he struggled to contain his laughter.
“Did you really say that? Don’t lie. There’s no way you actually said that.”
Shen Wenlang turned his head slowly.
“Do I look like the type to joke around?”
“Yes! Absolutely!”
Gao Tu gave his shoulder a light, half-hearted tap.
“You know what? Lately, you’ve always looked like you’re joking around. Back then, you’d stare at people like you wanted to bury them alive. Now you’re starting to threaten people with a cutting board.”
“If that makes you laugh, I can get even worse.”
And after saying that, he smiled.
Not the thin smile that usually appeared for just a fraction of a second before vanishing again. Not the faint smile that was more like a small curve at the corner of his lips. This time, Shen Wenlang was truly smiling gently, calmly, and warmly. His sharp eyes rounded slightly as he smiled, and fine wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes, making him look much younger, much softer, like a crescent moon just rising in the night sky.
Gao Tu’s laughter stopped immediately.
He just stared.
At first, he thought the smile would vanish in a few seconds. Usually, Shen Wenlang was like that. He’d give a small smile, then return to his calm, almost cold expression. But not this time.
The smile remained.
As they shifted from talking about the kitchen to plans for dinner that evening, the smile remained. When Shen Wenlang opened his book again and turned the pages calmly, that smile was still perched on his lips. Even when Gao Tu let out a long sigh because he’d just remembered he’d forgotten to tell the servant to hang the laundry out to dry, Shen Wenlang lifted his face from his book and said,
“Then tell them to do it now,” in a calm tone and, unfortunately, he was still smiling.
The longer Gao Tu watched him, the stranger his feelings became. His chest felt tight.
“Ish, why are you smiling all the time...” he muttered without realizing it.
“Hm?” Shen Wenlang lifted his face from his book and turned toward him, still with a smile on his face.
Gao Tu immediately looked away. He pretended to stretch and shifted slightly to the edge of the sofa, as if he were just looking for a more comfortable position. But in reality, he was trying to protect himself from something he couldn’t even explain. Because for the first time, a very foolish and very disturbing thought popped into his head.
‘What if someone else saw that smile?’
‘What if someone out there saw Shen Wenlang smiling like this, and was captivated?’
‘What if someone fell in love?’
‘What if someone saw the tenderness in Shen Wenlang’s eyes, noticed the tiny wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, saw the way his lips curved so calmly, and then started thinking that he was handsome?’
‘No.’
‘Worse than that.’
‘What if they actually fell in love with him?’
Gao Tu suddenly sat up straighter. He didn’t even realize that his hands had unconsciously clenched into fists on his knees.
That was ridiculous.
Utterly ridiculous.
Shen Wenlang was his partner. His Alpha. They lived under the same roof, slept in the same bed, and ate together every day. There was no reason to be jealous of something like a smile. But still...
He was jealous.
A strange, embarrassing, and so childish jealousy that he wanted to bury his face in the pillow. There was something inside him that felt hot and restless, something that made him want to bite the neck of anyone who dared to stare at Shen Wenlang for too long.
“Would you like some tea?” Shen Wenlang asked a moment later.
Gao Tu immediately turned his head, and that was a huge mistake because Shen Wenlang was still staring at him with that smile.
“No, thanks!” he replied too quickly.
Shen Wenlang frowned slightly. “Are you okay?”
“Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“You look nervous.”
“I’m not nervous!”
“Then why is your face red?”
“It’s because...” Gao Tu opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Because this house is too hot!”
Shen Wenlang stared at him for a few seconds longer, as if weighing whether or not to believe that excuse. In the end, he merely gave a slight nod, but his gaze lingered on Gao Tu’s face for a moment before finally returning to his book.
That day passed in a strange way. Gao Tu began to distance himself little by little. It wasn’t obvious, not enough to be suspicious. Just small things. When Shen Wenlang sat too close, he pretended to go get some water. When Shen Wenlang looked at him with a smile, he quickly looked away. When night fell and they were sitting side by side in the office, Gao Tu even deliberately chose a chair that was a little farther away.
Shen Wenlang clearly noticed it. Several times the man stared at him for quite a while, as if wanting to ask what was going on. But in the end, he didn’t say anything. And for some reason, that only made Gao Tu even more restless.
The next morning, Shen Wenlang had to leave for the office as usual. Gao Tu also went through the same routine as every day, preparing his clothes, making sure he’d eaten at least a little breakfast, and straightening his tie and collar before seeing him off at the front door.
“I’m leaving first,” Shen Wenlang said, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt.
Gao Tu stood in front of him, adjusting the collar of his jacket which was already perfectly in place. Shen Wenlang tilted his head slightly so Gao Tu could reach him more easily. The gesture was so familiar, so natural, that Gao Tu usually felt at ease just by seeing it. Then Shen Wenlang’s fingers lifted and gently brushed his hair.
“Take care,” Shen Wenlang said softly. “I’ll be home early today.”
And once again, he smiled. That smile was too gentle. Too warm. Like the sun on a winter morning. Like a crescent moon hanging calmly in the sky. Like something so beautiful that Gao Tu suddenly wanted to hide it from the whole world.
‘Don’t smile like that.’
The words almost slipped from his lips.
‘Don’t show that smile to anyone else.’
‘Don’t let anyone see you like this.’
But in the end, Gao Tu just nodded quickly and opened the door.
As soon as Shen Wenlang left, he immediately closed the door again and leaned against it. His back pressed against the door, his breathing ragged.
“Why does he keep smiling?!” he grumbled in frustration, covering his face with both hands.
After pacing aimlessly in the living room for a few minutes, Gao Tu finally grabbed his coat. He needed help. Or at least, he needed someone who would listen without immediately laughing at him. That’s why, half an hour later, he was already sitting in the restaurant where he’d agreed to meet Shaoyou.
The restaurant wasn’t very crowded. Shaoyou was already sitting at a corner table near the window with a bowl of soup in front of him. He stirred the soup slowly, wearing his usual listless expression, the look of someone who seemed to have never been truly interested in anything in this world.
“Sorry I’m late,” said Gao Tu as he plopped down into the chair across from him, causing Shaoyou to raise an eyebrow in surprise.
“It’s fine. But you look like someone who just found out the world is ending. Did you get into a fight with Shen Wenlang?”
“No!” Gao Tu replied too quickly. “We didn’t fight. We’re fine. He’s fine. That’s the problem!”
Sheng Shaoyou blinked slowly. “I think I’m missing some important details.”
And as soon as those words left his mouth, Gao Tu was like a dam that had burst.
“He’s been smiling all day, A-You! All day! From morning till night! He talks, he smiles. He reads a book, he smiles. He even asked if I wanted tea while smiling! You know the smile I mean, right? That gentle one! The one that makes his eyes look a little round! The one with the tiny wrinkles at the corners of his eyes! The one that makes people want to hug him!”
Sheng Shaoyou froze, holding the spoon in mid-air.
“Smile?” He repeated slowly.
“Yes, a smile!”
“Shen Wenlang?”
“Yes, Shen Wenlang!”
“That Shen Wenlang?”
“How many Shen Wenlangs are there in this world?!”
Sheng Shaoyou stared at him with a completely blank expression, the look of someone struggling to decide whether the omega in front of him was joking or had lost his mind.
“Gao Tu,” he said finally, setting down his spoon.
“To be honest, I don’t know if I should tell you this or not, but… I think Shen Wenlang is just like that around you.”
“No way!” Gao Tu retorted immediately. “He smiles at everyone!”
“I’ve never seen him smile. Not even once.”
“That’s because you aren’t paying attention!”
“No, I’m pretty sure I’d notice if Shen Wenlang suddenly turned into a human with facial expressions.”
Gao Tu opened his mouth to argue, but Sheng Shaoyou continued in a calm tone.
“The only two things I’ve ever seen from Shen Wenlang are a gaze that makes people want to write a will and a face like he’s considering the most efficient way to dispose of a corpse.”
“That’s an exaggeration!”
“No. I’m actually trying to sugarcoat it.”
“But he’s really smiling!” Gao Tu leaned forward in frustration.
“He’s been smiling all day! If he keeps this up, people are bound to start noticing him. They’ll definitely think he’s handsome. They’ll definitely—”
“They’ll definitely what?”
“They’ll definitely like him!”
The words just slipped out, and after saying them, Gao Tu froze instantly, as did Shaoyou, who also fell silent. Then slowly, very slowly, the corners of Shaoyou’s lips began to turn up.
“Oh,” he said softly. “So that’s the problem.”
“That’s not it!”
“No, no. Now I understand.”
Shaoyou leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. His eyes began to sparkle in a very suspicious way, the way they always did whenever he came up with an idea that was likely to crush someone’s self-esteem.
“You’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous!”
“You came here, ordered tea you haven’t even touched, then spent a full ten minutes describing how beautiful Shen Wenlang’s smile is. Gao Tu, if that isn’t jealousy, I don’t know what is.”
Gao Tu immediately covered his face with both hands.
“Oh God… I hate myself.”
“I’m actually enjoying this.”
“Shut up!”
Shaoyou chuckled softly, then leaned forward. His gaze turned dangerous, like someone who’d just discovered the perfect way to stir up chaos.
“Do you really want to know?” he whispered.
Gao Tu slowly lowered his hands. “Know what?”
“Do you want to know if everything you’re feeling is true? Do you want to know if Shen Wenlang really smiles at everyone, or just at you?”
Gao Tu looked at him suspiciously. “Why do I feel like you’re going to say something bad?”
Because Shaoyou’s smile now looked far more troubling than Shen Wenlang’s. Gao Tu bit his lower lip so hard it almost hurt.
“A-You, don’t tell me you want me to follow him or spy on his bosses at work. I… I’m not a criminal.”
“Relax.”
Shaoyou waved his hand casually, as if they were discussing the lunch menu, not something that could potentially destroy Gao Tu’s self-esteem for the rest of his life.
“My idea is way crazier than that.”
Gao Tu stared at him in horror. “…that doesn’t make me feel any better.”
Shaoyou suddenly grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled Gao Tu closer until their faces were only a few inches apart. He lowered his voice to a soft whisper, almost drowned out by the music from the café where they were sitting. Gao Tu listened in silence. The longer he listened, the wider his eyes grew, while his face turned red at a speed that was downright unbelievable.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at HS Group headquarters felt like it was right in the middle of a storm. Employees had even started exchanging glances with pale faces since morning, because their boss that day looked even more terrifying than usual. Shen Wenlang stood in front of his desk in a black shirt that made him look like a cold shadow fresh out of hell. His expression was blank, but that was precisely what made everyone even more afraid. His piercing gaze swept over the pile of documents on the desk, then settled on a single file before he lifted it slowly.
“This,” he said softly.
Just one word. Yet the entire room instantly froze. He tossed the file onto his assistant’s desk. Not hard, but hard enough to make the man jump.
“Do you think this meets the standards?”
The assistant turned pale instantly. “I-I think…”
“Think?”
Shen Wenlang raised an eyebrow slightly. His voice dropped an octave, calm, cold, and far more terrifying than if he’d shouted.
“If you just want to ‘think,’ you can get out of here and become a poet. I pay you to work.”
No one dared to breathe too loudly after that. The entire office floor felt tense. Usually, Shen Wenlang was indeed cold, sharp, and unapproachable. Everyone at HS Group was used to that.
But today was different.
Today he looked like someone holding back the urge to chase something to the ends of the earth. And what was most terrifying was that everyone knew that “something” was clearly not them.
After mentally crushing three departments in just one morning, Shen Wenlang finally sat back down in his chair. The pen in his hand tapped gently against the desk.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
An unusual little gesture. He even briefly rubbed his temple, another sign that had the secretary outside almost convinced the world was about to end. The problem wasn’t the documents, the project, or the meeting. The problem was…
Gao Tu.
His Omega, who was usually like a little shadow that always followed him everywhere. Gao Tu, who grumbled nonstop, spoke too fast when nervous, stared at him for too long, then hurriedly looked away when caught. He would sit too close, unconsciously hold the hem of his sleeve, or quietly smile just because Shen Wenlang fed him a bite of food.
But since last night, something has changed. Gao Tu still smiled. Still talked. Still hugged him. It’s just that everything felt… a little too brief. His gaze avoided him. His embrace breaks too quickly. He seems nervous around Shen Wenlang, as if the man had suddenly turned into something dangerous. Shen Wenlang had asked him this morning, directly, without beating around the bush. Gao Tu just smiled nervously and said there was nothing wrong before hastily changing the subject.
Shen Wenlang hated that. Because he didn’t know what was wrong. Because he didn’t know what made Gao Tu look like that. Because more than anything, he was afraid he had hurt that omega without realizing it. Finally, he took out his phone and dialed a number he rarely called unless absolutely necessary.
“Hello?” Hua Yong’s voice sounded casual from the other end.
“What’s wrong with Gao Tu?”
Shen Wenlang’s voice was low, curt, and sounded almost like a threat. On the other end, Hua Yong fell silent immediately.
“…Good afternoon to you too,” he said finally.
“He’s avoiding me.”
Hua Yong blinked a few times even though Shen Wenlang couldn’t see him. “Why do you think he’s avoiding you?”
“I know.”
The tone of Shen Wenlang’s voice was so certain it sounded almost stubborn.
“He’s my omega. I know his emotions. Something is bothering him. Last night he wouldn’t look at me. This morning is the same.”
“Oh.” Hua Yong thought for a moment. “Did you two fight?”
“No.”
“Did you have a disagreement?”
“No.”
“Did you say something?”
“No.”
“Did you accidentally do something?”
“No.”
“Did you forget an important date?”
“No.”
“Then why is he avoiding you?!”
“That,” Shen Wenlang said softly, closing his eyes for a few seconds, “is exactly what I’m asking you.”
Hua Yong let out a long sigh.
“I’m not a fortune-teller, Wenlang.”
“Then guess.”
“I’M NOT—”
Hua Yong decided to stop before his blood pressure spiked. Across from him, Shen Wenlang was silent for quite a while. When he spoke again, his voice was much softer.
“I need to know what he’s thinking.”
Hua Yong fell silent immediately.
“Before I hurt him without realizing it.”
That tone. A tone so soft, so careful, it almost sounded fragile. Hua Yong had never heard it from Shen Wenlang before.
“…All right,” he finally said in a softer voice.
“I’ll look into it. But I’m not promising anything. And Wenlang?”
“What?”
“Try… not to kill anyone.”
Shen Wenlang hung up the phone. And the entire office, somehow, immediately felt a little safer because at least that day their boss hadn’t slammed down the phone.
Meanwhile, in the HS Group lobby, Gao Tu stood stiffly with both hands clutching his lunchbox so tightly that the cardboard sides were dented. The long wig covering his shoulders felt hot and itchy, the false eyelashes made every blink feel strange, and the oversized hoodie he was wearing because he’d refused outright to put on a dress, only made him look even more suspicious.
He could feel the glances of the employees passing by, the hushed whispers they tried to stifle but still reached his ears, and he truly wished the floor beneath his feet would open up and swallow his whole.
“Who is she?”
“A new employee?”
“She’s pretty… but why is she wearing a hoodie?”
“Her wig’s a bit weird, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s cute. She looks like a shy omega type.”
Gao Tu’s cheeks burned so fiercely he felt he might actually catch fire right there. He bowed his head even lower, trying to hide his face behind the wig that was far too long.
‘This is embarrassing. This is so embarrassing. Why i'm here? Why didn’t I just refuse from the start? Why am I still friends with Shaoyou?’
His mind immediately drifted back to the restaurant earlier.
“I’m not going to do it,” Gao Tu said for the third time. “No way. Absolutely not. You’re crazy.”
“Yeah, I know. But you still haven’t said my idea is bad.”
“Because your idea isn’t bad. Your idea is criminal!”
“How is it criminal?” Shaoyou raised an eyebrow. “I’m just asking you to go to his office and pretend to be an omega who’s interested in him.”
“‘Just,’ you say.” Gao Tu stared at him in disbelief.
“A-You, I’ve never even dated before, and now you want me to flirt with Wenlang?”
“Not flirt. Test.”
“That’s the same thing!”
“No.” Shaoyou pointed at him seriously, as if explaining a very important scientific theory.
“Flirting means you actually intend to make him interested. Testing means you just want to see his reaction. It’s very different.”
“It’s not different at all!”
Shaoyou snorted. “Then just keep being secretly jealous.”
“I’m not jealous!”
“You are.”
“I’m not!”
“Then why have you been complaining this whole time about how Shen Wenlang smiles at other people? Why do you keep saying, ‘What if he smiles at everyone? What if he’s like that with all the omegas?’” Shaoyou mimicked his voice with such an exaggerated tone that Gao Tu wanted to throw him. “If that’s not jealousy, then what is it?”
Gao Tu opened his mouth, ready to argue, but not a single word came out. Because, unfortunately, Shaoyou was right.
He was indeed jealous.
He hated seeing Shen Wenlang smile at other people. He hated the thought that his rare, small smile wasn’t just for him. He knew it was childish. He knew Shen Wenlang hadn’t done anything wrong. But still, there was a small, stubborn, and selfish part of his heart, a part that wanted to keep all of that man’s tenderness just for himself.
Seeing his expression, Shaoyou immediately smiled triumphantly. “Well. You’re busted.”
“I hate you.”
“You hate not knowing the answer even more. Listen, if you want to know whether Shen Wenlang will smile at someone else, just put him in that situation. Go to his office. Disguise yourself. Approach him.”
Gao Tu stared at her as if he’d just been sentenced to death.
“…you’re joking.”
“I’ve never been this serious.”
“A-You.”
“Just wear a wig, maybe a little lip tint, then bring some food. Say you came to meet Mr. Shen.” As time went on, Shaoyou’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Then we’ll see. If he stays cold, that means that smile is really just for you. But if he actually smiles—”
“Stop!” Gao Tu covered both his ears. “I don’t want to hear that part!”
“But you’re curious.”
“I’m embarrassed!”
“But you’re curious.”
“I’ll die of embarrassment!”
“But you’re curious.”
Gao Tu groaned loudly, unable to argue because Shaoyou was right. That was the most frustrating part. He was indeed embarrassed. Very embarrassed. But he was also… very curious. And now, because he was foolish and weak, he was actually standing in the HS Group lobby wearing a wig and an oversized hoodie.
“Can I help you, miss?” The receptionist’s voice made Gao Tu nearly jump out of his skin.
A young woman stood before him with a friendly smile. Gao Tu immediately panicked. He mustn’t speak. If he opened his mouth, it would all be over right then and there. In a hurry, he simply shook his head too quickly, too nervously until his movements looked strange and awkward. The receptionist, however, smiled even more gently.
“Oh, don’t be nervous,” she said kindly. “Are you here to meet someone?”
Gao Tu bit her lip gently. He hadn’t even had time to think about how to get to the floor where Shen Wenlang worked. Ever since getting out of the taxi, he’d been too busy regretting every decision he’d ever made, especially the decision to listen to Shaoyou.
The long wig on his head felt heavier by the second, the oversized hoodie covering his body made him feel hot, and the false eyelashes applied too neatly made his eyes feel strange every time he blinked. He had almost decided to bury Shaoyou if this didn’t work when the sound of the elevator at the end of the lobby chimed softly.
Instantly, the entire room fell silent. The employees, who had been whispering just moments before, immediately sat up straight, some hurriedly smoothed out their clothes, and even the receptionist in front of him who had been trying to strike up a conversation quickly turned toward the elevator with a tense expression. Gao Tu, who didn’t understand what was happening, slowly lifted his head as well, then instantly wished the floor beneath his feet would swallow him whole.
Shen Wenlang had just stepped out of the elevator.
The man walked out with a cold face and an expression so gloomy it felt as though all the light in the lobby had dimmed. The black shirt he wore was impeccably neat, his hair was combed as usual, and his sharp eyes swept the room in a way that made anyone caught in his gaze want to immediately write a will.
The scent of iris wafting from his body was usually faint and calm, but that day it felt cold, sharp, and suffocating, like the dark sky before a storm. The employees instinctively stepped aside. Someone near the reception desk even nearly tripped over a chair in their panic.
“Director Shen seems to be in a bad mood…”
“Worse than usual…”
“Our eyes met just now. I feel like I’ve aged five years.”
“Who could have made him so angry this early in the morning…?”
Gao Tu could only stare. That wasn’t the face of someone smiling. It wasn’t even a neutral expression. It was the face that said, “Don’t touch me if you don’t want to vanish from this world.” And for some reason, seeing that made Gao Tu’s heart pound so hard his chest ached. Because suddenly, Shaoyou’s foolish plan suddenly made sense.
So it was true… Shen Wenlang had never smiled like that at anyone else. He had never softened toward anyone else. He had never looked at anyone else the way he looked at Gao Tu. That small smile, that gentle gaze, the way Shen Wenlang called his name in a low, almost inaudible voice, it was all meant only for him.
His chest immediately felt warm. Too warm. So warm it felt like it might explode. All the jealousy, fear, and anxiety that had been plaguing him since last night crumbled away in an instant. All that remained was a strange happiness that left his head empty.
Because he was so happy, Gao Tu didn’t even have time to think about the wig on his head, the oversized hoodie he was wearing, or the fact that right now he looked like a female omega who’d appeared out of nowhere. His body moved before his brain could catch up. He ran.
“Uh—miss?!”
“Wait—WHAT IS SHE DOING?!”
“Oh my God, is that omega trying to kill herself?!”
“Miss, don’t get any closer—!”
The entire lobby erupted into chaos. The employees could only stare in horror as the “female omega” ran straight toward Shen Wenlang, who was standing in the middle of the room with a murderous aura. Then, right in front of everyone, Gao Tu immediately hugged him tightly.
In an instant, the world seemed to stop. The receptionist dropped her pen. One of the managers near the elevator covered his mouth with his hand. Shen Wenlang’s personal assistant closed his eyes and silently began preparing a eulogy for the poor omega.
Meanwhile, Shen Wenlang himself froze. His body tensed instantly, his sharp gaze dropping to the stranger who had suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist without permission. His alpha instincts flared up in an instant, sharp and furious. The scent of iris around him instantly turned colder.
‘How dare an omega touch me.’
His hand moved slightly, ready to roughly shake off the embrace. Whoever this person was, whatever the reason, he would—
“A-Lang…”
His voice was soft. So soft it was almost drowned out by Gao Tu’s irregular breathing. But for Shen Wenlang, that voice struck him harder than anything else. His body froze completely. Because he recognized that voice. He knew it all too well.
And right after that, the scent of fresh sage that had been hidden behind the perfume and clothes finally reached his senses. Faint, but enough. Enough to shatter all his anger in a single second. Shen Wenlang’s pupils contracted. His breath caught in his throat.
“…Gao Tu?”
The voice came out very softly, almost like a whisper. Yet it contained so many emotions all at once, shock, disbelief, relief, anger, confusion, that for the first time in their lives, the employees at Shen Group heard something that almost sounded like panic in Shen Wenlang’s voice.
“Wait, did he say Gao Tu?”
“Could that be Mr. Gao?!”
“Impossible…”
“Director Shen… did he just sound soft?”
“And he hasn’t killed anyone yet…”
Shen Wenlang quickly looked down, his hands immediately gripping Gao Tu’s shoulders. His fingers trembled slightly just a little, very faintly but clearly enough for Gao Tu, who knew him better than anyone.
“Gao Tu,” he said again, this time more softly.
His eyes darted from the crooked wig on Gao Tu’s head, to the false eyelashes, to the oversized hoodie, then back to his flushed face.
“What are you wearing…? And why did you come like this?”
Gao Tu looked up slowly. His face was red all the way to his ears. The wig on his head had shifted askew because he’d been running too fast earlier, and now he looked so embarrassing that he couldn’t even bring himself to look at Shen Wenlang for too long.
“I… I brought lunch…” he said softly.
Shen Wenlang blinked once. Then again. He seemed to be genuinely processing what he’d just heard. “…in this disguise?”
Gao Tu felt like he was going to die. He really was going to die. If not out of embarrassment, then because Shen Wenlang was staring at him with a gaze that was far too intense for someone standing in the middle of an office lobby.
But before Gao Tu could say anything else, Shen Wenlang suddenly pulled him closer. One arm wrapped tightly around his waist, the other held his shoulder, as if the man was afraid Gao Tu would vanish if he let go.
“Stupid Omega…” Shen Wenlang murmured softly, lowering his head.
His forehead touched the top of the wig carefully, and his voice trembled slightly with emotion he hadn’t even had time to hide.
“Why did you do this? You know I was almost furious.”
Gao Tu froze. Because Shen Wenlang truly sounded afraid. Not angry at his embrace. Not angry because he’d come to the office. But afraid because just a moment ago he’d thought a stranger had touched him, and only realized a few seconds later that it was Gao Tu. When Gao Tu opened his mouth, ready to explain, Shen Wenlang lifted his face again and looked straight at him.
“Answer me, Gao Tu.”
Only then did Gao Tu realize they were still in the lobby. There were still many people around. There were employees, receptionists, personal assistants, and even two managers who were now pretending to be busy looking at their phones while secretly eavesdropping. His cheeks immediately flushed twice as red. Without saying a word, he quickly hid her face against Shen Wenlang’s chest again.
Shen Wenlang fell silent for a moment, then slowly became aware of the stares from everyone around them. His expression changed instantly. The aura that had been merely cold suddenly turned sharp and protective.
He lifted his head and swept the entire lobby with a flat stare that made everyone instinctively lower their heads or quickly look away. That gaze seemed to say very clearly,
‘This is my omega. Look again and you’re dead.’
No one was foolish enough to argue. Without saying a word, Shen Wenlang tightened his arms around Gao Tu’s waist, tilting his body slightly to shield the omega from others’ view, then led him back into the elevator.
As soon as the elevator doors closed and they were finally alone, Gao Tu pressed even closer. His face was still hidden against Shen Wenlang’s chest, and both his hands gripped the front of the man’s shirt as if he didn’t know what else to do.
Shen Wenlang stared at the floor numbers moving slowly above the elevator door while taking a deep breath. One of his hands remained on Gao Tu’s waist, his thumb moving slowly to stroke the side of the oversized hoodie.
“Gao Tu,” he said softly after a moment. “At least give me some explanation.”
Gao Tu shook his head quickly. “Not now…”
“All right,” Shen Wenlang replied immediately. “Later is fine too.”
His voice was too soft. And that only made Gao Tu feel even more embarrassed.
When the elevator finally stopped on the top floor and they entered Shen Wenlang’s private office, Gao Tu immediately ran to the sofa and frantically pulled the wig off his head. His slightly messy natural hair fell across his forehead, and he hurriedly smoothed it back while facing away from Shen Wenlang. Behind him, Shen Wenlang watched Gao Tu tidy himself up, his eyes softening unconsciously.
‘He’s beautiful with long hair,’
‘But I prefer him the way he usually is. More beautiful, more… Gao Tu.’
A few seconds later, Gao Tu turned around. Shen Wenlang was still standing near the door, his gaze still fixed on him. Then slowly, very slowly, the corners of the man’s lips lifted slightly. A small, gentle smile, so rare. A smile Shen Wenlang had only ever shown to one person in this world.
“You…” Gao Tu stared at him wide-eyed, still half-unbelieving of what he’d just seen. “You’re smiling.”
As if suddenly realizing what he was doing, Shen Wenlang immediately straightened up. His hand reflexively rose to cover his mouth, as if that could erase the expression that had already been clearly captured on his face.
“Ah.” He cleared his throat softly, then turned his face slightly to the side. “No. It’s nothing.”
The answer was too quick, too awkward, and that was precisely why Gao Tu couldn’t hold back any longer. A small laugh escaped his lips, soft and brief, yet filled with so many mixed emotions. The exhaustion from holding back his nervousness all day, the embarrassment of his cover being blown, the relief that his greatest fear hadn’t come true, and a touch of happiness that warmed his chest. The laugh made Shen Wenlang turn back, his eyebrows slightly raised, looking both confused and wary.
“What’s so funny?” he asked softly.
Gao Tu shook his head, still smiling faintly. He lowered his head briefly, trying to hide his face, which had grown flushed again.
“I just…” He paused, then laughed softly once more. “I just remembered why I did all this.”
Shen Wenlang, who had been leaning back, slowly walked toward him and leaned in. His movements were calm, but his gaze was sharp and wouldn’t let Gao Tu look away.
“Is that so?” he asked. “Then explain it to me. Why are you in disguise?”
Gao Tu immediately tensed up. He pressed his knees together and sat even more hunched at the edge of the sofa, while his hands quietly clenched the long wig he’d taken off and hidden in his bag. He didn’t even dare to look at Shen Wenlang for too long. His face was already red all the way to his ears.
“I…” He opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Don’t get mad just yet, okay?”
Shen Wenlang raised an eyebrow. “It depends on what you’re going to say.”
“A-Lang!” Gao Tu immediately turned to him, his face growing even redder. “Don’t be like that! Just listen first!”
Shen Wenlang sat down on the sofa next to him and crossed his arms over his chest, looking as calm as ever. But that alpha aura softened slightly, it was no longer as sharp as when he’d entered the room earlier with that icy expression that had sent shivers through the entire office.
He waited.
And since Shen Wenlang remained silent, Gao Tu finally took a deep breath before speaking quickly, like someone trying to cast off all his embarrassment at once before his courage faded.
“I went undercover because I wanted to know… if you smile at other people too.”
The room fell instantly silent. Shen Wenlang said nothing. He just stared at Gao Tu. The gaze lasted so long that Gao Tu immediately panicked and hurriedly continued before the man could react.
“You know, haven’t you been smiling a lot lately?” he said, his voice growing softer. His hands fidgeted restlessly on his lap.
“I like it. I really like it. I absolutely love it when you smile. But…”
He swallowed hard and bowed his head even lower. “But it also makes me worried.”
Shen Wenlang remained silent.
“You’re handsome when you smile,” Gao Tu continued softly. “Very handsome. And I…”
He paused for a moment, his face flushing so badly he wanted to just disappear.
“I’m afraid that other people will also…” He bit his lip for a moment before finally forcing the words out. “…be captivated.”
After that, he immediately covered his face with both hands, too embarrassed to look at Shen Wenlang’s expression. But the man still didn’t speak. The silence that fell felt even heavier, making Gao Tu’s heart race faster.
“I just want to know,” he said again from behind his palms, his voice much softer,
“If you’d smile at other people too. Or… if you even realized I was near you when I was in disguise.”
He slowly lowered his hands and nervously twisted the hem of his shirt.
“Shaoyou said that if you really only smiled for me, you wouldn’t smile at strangers. You might even get angry.”
He lifted his head slightly and glanced at Shen Wenlang hesitantly.
“And it turns out… you didn’t smile at all when you got out of the elevator just now. You actually looked…” Gao Tu paused for a moment, then said even more softly, “…creepy.”
His cheeks grew hot again. “It’s so different from when you’re with me.”
Shen Wenlang remained silent. A silence that lasted too long. A silence that made Gao Tu’s stomach churn. He began to regret it. Maybe this really was a stupid idea. Maybe Shen Wenlang was angry. Suddenly, Shen Wenlang moved. He leaned forward and raised his hand, gently but firmly cupping Gao Tu’s chin, forcing him to look straight at him.
“I want to confirm one thing,” he said softly.
His voice was low. Very low. And for some reason, that only made Gao Tu even more nervous.
“You disguised yourself as a female omega…” Shen Wenlang paused for a moment, staring at him without blinking. “…to test whether I was smiling at someone else?”
“…Yes,” Gao Tu replied softly.
Shen Wenlang stared at him for a few more seconds before asking again, this time even more softly but for some reason sounding more dangerous.
“And you hugged me in the company lobby in front of everyone…?”
Gao Tu flinched immediately.
“No!” he said quickly, shaking his head frantically. “That wasn’t part of the plan! I didn’t mean to hug you in public!”
Shen Wenlang didn’t let go of his chin. “Oh?”
“I’m serious!” Gao Tu looked down again, wanting to run away if he could.
“I just…” His voice trailed off. “I was too happy.”
Shen Wenlang fell silent.
“When I saw you step out of the elevator,” Gao Tu continued, his voice trembling slightly,
“You weren’t smiling at all. Not only were you not smiling, you looked really angry. Everyone was afraid of you.”
He chuckled softly, embarrassed. “And that… proved A-You was right. You only smile at me.”
He looked down again. “I’m relieved. I’m so happy.”
Both his hands hurriedly covered his face. “That’s why my body acted first. I was surprised before I knew it, I was already hugging you…”
Shen Wenlang let out a long sigh. It was hard to tell from his expression whether he felt relief, disbelief, annoyance, or was simply so moved he didn’t know how to react.
“So you hugged me,” he said softly, “not to test my reaction.”
Gao Tu shook his head quickly.
“But because you’re happy?”
This time Gao Tu nodded quickly, like a child caught doing something naughty. “Mm.”
Shen Wenlang closed his eyes for a moment. It was as if he were trying to hold something back. Whether it was laughter, a feeling of exasperation, or some other emotion so overwhelming it made his own chest feel tight. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had softened. So gentle that Gao Tu felt his own chest tighten.
“Gao Tu,” he said slowly, “I’m smiling because of you. Only you.”
The scent of irises around them grew warmer. Sweet, rich, and filling the entire room until it made it hard for Gao Tu to breathe.
“I can’t, and I won’t, smile at anyone else.”
Gao Tu blinked a few times, then looked down and murmured softly, “Yeah… I just found out today.”
Shen Wenlang moved closer until there was almost no space between them. His hand moved up to Gao Tu’s cheek and stroked it gently, so carefully as if Gao Tu were something fragile and precious.
“If you want to know whether I only smile for you,” he whispered softly, that low voice sounded far more deadly than when he was angry, “…you don’t need to disguise yourself. You just need to look at me.”
Gao Tu blushed again immediately. But this time he also let out a small laugh, a laugh that was both shy and relieved, because now he realized just how foolish he’d been a moment ago.
“So…” he said softly, still unsatisfied even though he already knew the answer.
“You don’t smile at anyone else at all?”
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
“What if, for example, on purpose—”
“Gao Tu.”
The tone of Shen Wenlang’s voice made Gao Tu immediately shut his mouth.
The next moment, Shen Wenlang pulled him into his embrace. Tight. Warm. Full of possessiveness. Gao Tu froze for a moment before slowly returning the hug, his face hidden against Shen Wenlang’s chest.
“Don’t pull that kind of stupid act again,” Shen Wenlang whispered into his hair.
Gao Tu nodded quickly. “Mm…”
“Only I’m allowed to see you like that.”
Gao Tu immediately looked up, eyes wide. “Huh?!”
Shen Wenlang stared at him for a few seconds, then for the first time since earlier, truly smiled again. A warm, gentle smile that only appeared when he looked at this one person.
“Long hair suits you.”
“A-Lang!!!”
Gao Tu immediately punched his shoulder shyly, his face flushing bright red all the way to his ears. But Shen Wenlang just chuckled softly. And that chuckle made Gao Tu’s chest feel warm again, because finally, now he truly knew.
That smile was indeed just for him.