GBROTAH CH27

The hot spring pool steamed with mist. Xie Yuanxing slowly submerged himself, leaving only his head above the water, to avoid Shen Bianye’s hand tracing his scar.

“Don’t touch it anymore, it tickles.”

His voice was muffled and moist with steam, his eyelashes damp from the heat, and his face was porcelain white, looking incredibly soft.

Yet, the words he spoke distinctly created distance between the two of them. “It’s an old injury, there’s nothing to talk about.”

His reluctance to discuss it with Shen Bianye was clear, but Shen Bianye seemed unable to read it, still wanting to ask.

Shen Bianye snorted, “If you have any trouble, you’d best say so sooner rather than later.”

“I won’t ignore you until my pheromone disorder is resolved.”

Xie Yuanxing shook his head, saying faintly, “You don’t need to keep saying that. After your illness is cured, I won’t bother you either.”

“You don’t want many people to know about your pheromone disorder; that’s your scar. My scar is the same.”

Shen Bianye knew he was right, but he just couldn’t suppress the irritation in his heart.

He’s already been bullied into a lifeless mushroom, so why is he still stubbornly refusing his help?

An inexplicable sense of frustration welled up in his heart, as if he meant nothing to Xie Yuanxing.

He could find a way to see the scar on Xie Yuanxing’s body, but it was useless.

If Xie Yuanxing didn’t want to talk, he couldn’t control it.

He couldn’t just force Xie Yuanxing’s mouth open.

For the first time, the young master eagerly wanted to help, but was repeatedly rejected. This made him somewhat annoyed, and he even got annoyed with his own pheromones.

When he gets back, he’ll ask the doctor how much longer this damn treatment will take.

Without pheromone disorder, who would care about Xie Yuanxing?

Shen Bianye suddenly stood up, warm water droplets cascading down his body, rolling over his well-defined abdominal muscles. His strong, powerful, yet not overly exaggerated muscles appeared even more prominent when outlined by the water, drawing the eye.

This physique, whether male or female, Omega or Alpha, would be admired—either adored or envied.

Unfortunately, at this moment, no one cared, and no one appreciated it.

Shen Bianye: “Someone will deliver food later. Remember to put on clothes when they knock.”

Xie Yuanxing was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, “Okay.”

Shen Bianye didn’t need to tell him this; he knew it. He had no hobby of being naked in front of others.

Xie Yuanxing remained in the pool, while Shen Bianye left from behind him.

Not hearing the door close for a long time, he turned back, confused, to look.

Shen Bianye stood silently at the doorway, his tall figure motionless, gazing at him for an unknown duration.

Seeing him turn back, Shen Bianye suddenly spoke, “May I ask, is your strong repulsion to my pheromones because you were injured in the fire?”

Xie Yuanxing pursed his lips and hummed, “More or less.”

Shen Bianye gave him a deep look, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

The scent of pheromones was determined at the time of differentiation; he couldn’t change it.

Nor could he go back to when Xie Yuanxing was in the fire and bring him out unharmed.

Some things were destined.

After Shen Bianye left, Xie Yuanxing didn’t soak for long. After getting out, he went to shower and then realized he didn’t have any extra clothes to change into.

Since Shen Bianye said he would take care of everything once they were out, Xie Yuanxing felt no psychological burden as he walked into the small walk-in closet in the bedroom.

He was accustomed to wearing black, but most of the black clothes inside were suits. In Xie Yuanxing’s simple value system, suits meant expensive.

Xie Yuanxing diligently avoided all the suits and chose a silver-black jacket with a somewhat complex style, but likely the cheapest, and put it on.

The room was quiet, with only Xie Yuanxing inside. Given Shen Bianye’s personality, if he left in a huff, he wouldn’t be back anytime soon. Xie Yuanxing hesitated for a moment, then sat down at the piano.

His fingers rested on the black and white keys, pressing the first note.

Do. The sound vibrated, making Xie Yuanxing’s eyelashes tremble slightly.

Xie Yuanxing wasn’t entirely without need for Shen Bianye’s help. He wasn’t sure if he could win the lawsuit, if his accumulated evidence would be useful, or if his wishes would be granted.

With Shen Bianye’s efforts, he could be much more relaxed.

But what would he use to repay all of this?

Moreover, why had he dragged it on, waiting until he was in college, and still hadn’t completely broken ties with Xie Zhuowu and his parents? He wanted to wait, to wait until Xie Zhuowu’s second semester of senior year, and then drag Xie Zhuowu down with a pile of messy affairs.

He wanted to prevent Xie Zhuowu from getting into college, to destroy the child that couple was most proud of.

What would he do if Shen Bianye found out about these thoughts?

Xie Yuanxing knew Shen Bianye was fundamentally upright and kind, a good person, but he wasn’t. He was very bad; he wanted to ruin Xie Zhuowu’s life.

He wasn’t sure if Shen Bianye would support him.

Or turn around and accuse him.

Probably the latter.

Xie Yuanxing had spent six years being cursed at, and now he was too fragile to endure any more reprimands.

Whether he was called bad or malicious, he wanted revenge.

The pain in his shoulder was faintly throbbing again. In the scent of thick smoke in his nasal cavity and the flickering flames before his eyes, he saw Xie Zhuowu’s sinister gaze and the cold indifference of that couple.

Xie Yuanxing lowered his gaze, his hand on the piano, slowly and awkwardly playing.

At first, it was a bit halting, stopping occasionally, pausing, then starting over, playing a small section, then pausing again, and starting over.

His expression was calm, showing no frustration or annoyance from repeated failures. He simply practiced the piano score in his heart, repeatedly, from unfamiliarity to fluency.

A cheerful melody drifted from the room. Shen Bianye, standing at the door with the delivery staff, paused.

He looked at the door, as if seeing through it to the person inside. He waved his hand, dismissing the serving staff.

Shen Bianye entered the password, his movements very light.

Slowly pushing open the door, the scene unfolded exactly as he had imagined.

Xie Yuanxing, dressed in a silver-black jacket, with overly long pants rolled up to reveal slender ankles, sat at the piano.

He sat ramrod straight, long eyelashes lowered. The hundreds of thousands-worth custom-made jacket suited him well; its silver tassels hung like a curtain of rain. The tear mole beneath his eye shimmered, a black teardrop hidden in the rainy night.

Xie Yuanxing, dressed as if in formal attire, his slender, pale fingers danced over the black and white keys, appearing noble and beautiful.

It almost perfectly overlapped with a scene Shen Bianye had witnessed a long time ago.

Shen Bianye had been forced to learn piano for a year previously, but he had little interest in it and hadn’t learned anything. The piano was there purely because Zhou Chao had casually said it looked good for photos.

He watched Xie Yuanxing’s fingertips dance joyfully over the black and white keys, listening to the light and pleasant tune filling the room, and simply assumed Xie Yuanxing was happy.

Shen Bianye stood by the door, quietly watching Xie Yuanxing.

In his room, Xie Yuanxing was wearing his clothes and playing the piano. This scene, surprisingly, didn’t cause any agitation in his pheromones. Both he and his pheromones were quiet.

His heart felt as if it had been softly nudged, and after rebounding, it slowly settled.

Only after Xie Yuanxing finished a piece did Shen Bianye push the dining cart in, saying, “What did you play?”

Farewell Letter.

Xie Yuanxing softly replied in his heart, but lowered his gaze, concealing the emotions in his eyes, and shook his head. A slight smile touched his lips as he said,

“I forgot the name. When did you arrive?”

Shen Bianye looked at him with a half-smile, a hint of amusement, and said, “I was outside the door when you were still playing it terribly.”

“But it was decent later on. You’re not entirely useless.”

He nodded, stating matter-of-factly, “You still have your strengths.”

Xie Yuanxing wasn’t angered by his words. He said, “I learned piano when I was little, haven’t touched it in a long time.”

“This score, I practiced it using drawn piano keys.”

Drawn piano keys?

Shen Bianye couldn’t smile anymore, his brows tightly furrowed. “What do you mean by drawn piano keys?”

Xie Yuanxing: “Learning piano costs money. When you don’t have money, of course, you can only play on paper.”

Thankfully, he had learned piano for a considerable time when he was young. Though it was theoretical practice, he could now manage to play a piece with some effort.

Shen Bianye couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart. He thought it was pity, pity for Xie Yuanxing.

Shen Bianye: “If you like it, I’ll give you this piano.”

Xie Yuanxing looked at him with slight surprise, then shook his head and refused: “No need, I don’t have anywhere to put it.”

Shen Bianye recalled the dream Xie Yuanxing had mentioned, and without thinking, said, “Then I’ll give you a house. What kind do you like?”

Xie Yuanxing: “…….”

He looked at the dining cart beside Shen Bianye and said, “Can we eat now?”

Shen Bianye clicked his tongue, pushing the dining cart towards the dining table, and said, “I’m asking you what kind of house you like. If you miss this chance while I’m in a good mood, you won’t get another.”

Seeing he couldn’t avoid it, Xie Yuanxing, with a slightly complicated mood, said, “Are you like this with everyone?”

“Just giving things away?”

Shen Bianye: “Are you embarrassed to take it?”

“It’s nothing. I’ve given my friends a lot of things, sports cars worth millions, watches, it’s not unheard of.”

“Giving you a house doesn’t mean you’re special.”

Xie Yuanxing’s eyelids twitched. He had long known that Shen Bianye was generous. On the first day of school when he entered the dorm, he had seen Shen Bianye give a Switch console and game cartridges to the dorm next door.

At that time, he had just been forced to buy a Switch for Xie Zhuowu, and he knew its price very well. Seeing Shen Bianye casually giving it away, he couldn’t help but pay attention. Later, every now and then, he would see Shen Bianye giving away things.

But those were all around a few thousand, tens of thousands of yuan. He never expected anything so expensive.

Turns out Shen Bianye is just a living embodiment of the “scattered wealth boy” trope.

“How much money does your family have to afford giving things away like this?” Xie Yuanxing asked.

Shen Bianye raised an eyebrow, and said casually, “Anyway, quite a lot, can’t spend it all before I die.”

“I won’t live past thirty anyway, what’s the point of saving money?”

Xie Yuanxing: “…You can start saving now, think about what happens after your illness is cured.”

A flicker of something unusual passed through Shen Bianye’s dark eyes, his expression unrevealing. He casually waved Xie Yuanxing over, “Alright, then I’ll think about it more.”

“Come eat.”

“This afternoon, I’ll take you golfing. Do you want to learn? And tonight, I’ll take you for a massage. A massage after exercise will be very comfortable.”

Xie Yuanxing let out an “Ah,” and hesitantly said, “I haven’t finished my homework yet.”

“And, I thought these two days following you meant you’d do your thing, and I’d do my thing next to you.”

Like this morning, he was very satisfied.

Shen Bianye was displeased, his face foul as he said, “Two less days of studying won’t kill you.”

Xie Yuanxing: “No, I need to get a scholarship.”

Shen Bianye’s face darkened. “How much is the scholarship? I’ll give it to you.”

Xie Yuanxing extended his hand towards him: “Ten thousand yuan. WeChat or payment app?”

His lips curled slightly, then he added, “Let me tell you upfront, even if you give me the money, I’m still going to finish my homework.”

Shen Bianye chuckled in exasperation, “How is this any different from you extorting me?”

Xie Yuanxing thought for a moment, then seriously said, “There is a difference. I didn’t lie down.”

Shen Bianye: “……”

With a dark face and furrowed brows, he took out his phone to transfer money to Xie Yuanxing. His expression was terrible, yet his eyes held a faint, subtle smile.

Finally, both of them sat in the room, one doing online homework, the other writing on a practice sheet. The small desk accommodated them, one on each side, allowing them to see each other with a glance.

Shen Bianye propped his head with one hand, looking at Xie Yuanxing, who was diligently writing on his practice sheet, through the propped-up tablet. He suddenly felt that this person wasn’t so annoying after all.