Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Xia Shiyue seemed to grasp the unspoken meaning in Lu Yao’s words, his reply swift: "It’s near Capital University. Care to join me?"

Xia Shiyue truly hoped Lu Yao would come to his café. He didn't want to part ways with his new friend so soon.

"Come on, finding a new pastry chef would be such a hassle. This way, we can see each other every day—it’ll be great fun!"

Lu Yao genuinely found comfort in Xia Shiyue’s bright and warm demeanor. Reading his message, a smile involuntarily curved his lips.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Yao replied, "I still have a few days until payday this month. I’ll resign once I get my salary."

Xia Shiyue immediately lit up. "Perfect! I’ve already secured the ideal spot. I’ll redecorate these next couple of days—we’re bound to succeed!"

For Xia Shiyue, investing in a café to cultivate a good friendship was hardly a loss.

Truth be told, Lu Yao had secretly harbored dreams of opening his own dessert shop. He truly enjoyed baking sweet little cakes, but capital was his insurmountable hurdle. While he couldn't predict the fate of Xia Shiyue’s café, he recalled that even 85°C Bakery Café hadn’t been thriving when he first worked at Ma Song’s shop.

Infected by Xia Shiyue’s enthusiasm, Lu Yao, too, began to anticipate the future. "It will definitely work out."

In Lu Yao’s life, moments where he made decisions entirely for himself were rare. Yet, in that very second, he truly felt the joy that freedom brought.

After putting his phone away, Lu Yao stretched, a weary sigh escaping him. His body remained exhausted, but the strange, hot, swollen sensation at the back of his neck from last night had vanished.

He murmured to himself, "I’ve felt so off these past couple of days. I really need a good night’s sleep today."

However, recalling Fu Yanhuai’s mention that Dr. Feng would still be coming, Lu Yao decided to first ask the butler about the doctor’s arrival time. Besides, the butler’s words last night hadn't been mere pleasantries.

Lu Yao shed Fu Yanhuai’s pajamas. Having already worn them, he knew Fu Yanhuai would certainly not want them back.

The deep blue satin fabric shimmered, catching the light like rippling water. Lu Yao’s fingers gently traced its surface—the color made his hands appear exceptionally fair.

But he quickly withdrew his hand, intending to hand-wash and put them away.

Lu Yao couldn't quite articulate his feelings for Fu Yanhuai. Their first encounter had been during Lu Yao’s college days, when he worked part-time as a sommelier at a private estate banquet.

Truthfully, Lu Yao didn't remember the specifics of that day very well. He hadn't known Fu Yanhuai would be attending the dinner; back then, Fu Yanhuai had just taken over the Fu Group. The young, formidable Alpha instantly became the focal point of the entire room. From afar in the crowd, Lu Yao had observed him, thinking Fu Yanhuai’s features were remarkably handsome.

Once the banquet began, Lu Yao was too busy to spare another glance. Until a guest, with a peculiar look, demanded Lu Yao pour him a glass of Château Ausone red wine.

Later, perhaps due to his own clumsiness, Lu Yao tripped over something, spilling the wine. The guest demanded compensation, or an "alternative" form of apology. Lu Yao understood the implication. His quiet refusal drew the attention of those nearby.

Fu Yanhuai intervened before the situation escalated beyond control. At the time, Lu Yao didn't understand why Fu Yanhuai would bother with such a trivial matter, but the acquisition news in the following days made him realize Fu Yanhuai hadn't been saving him; he had merely seized an opportunity.

Shielded behind Fu Yanhuai, Lu Yao heard the Alpha’s voice, arrogant and laced with subtle disdain: "What pleasure do you derive from tormenting someone clearly weaker than yourself?"

In that brief minute, Lu Yao experienced a profound emotional upheaval. What remained most vivid in his memory was Fu Yanhuai’s silhouette—a pure black suit, an Alpha so sharp he seemed almost dangerously so.

Fu Yanhuai surely wouldn’t remember such a minor incident. Only Lu Yao cherished their first encounter, carefully keeping it to himself. So when he later heard Fu Yanhuai was seeking a Beta for a marriage contract, he took the initiative to return home and speak to his parents.

That might have been the bravest thing Lu Yao had ever done.

Lu Yao blinked, his eyes a little sore. He absolutely needed a good nap that afternoon.

He quickly tidied up the scattered items on the floor. The caramel pudding had been swept into a corner behind the door. Picking it up, Lu Yao paused at the sight of the torn wrapper.

Perhaps Fu Yanhuai simply didn't like sweets. They had been married for almost a year, and Lu Yao had indeed rarely seen Fu Yanhuai eat desserts.

A pastry chef and someone who disliked sweets—could there be a more mismatched pair?

Lu Yao chuckled at his own bittersweet thought, quickly shaking off the melancholy. Calmly, he discarded the spoiled pudding.

After changing, Lu Yao headed to the living room, where the butler was meticulously folding napkins into intricate flower shapes.

"Good morning," Lu Yao greeted, stepping closer. "Need any help?"

The butler straightened. "Your breakfast is in the kitchen. You needn’t trouble yourself with this."

As the butler smoothed the tablecloth to perfection, Lu Yao lowered his gaze. "Thank you for saving some congee for me last night."

The butler remained as stern as ever. "It’s my duty. Please have your breakfast and rest a while longer. Dr. Feng won’t arrive until this afternoon."

In truth, the butler had scheduled the appointment for the afternoon precisely because Lu Yao needed the rest.

Lu Yao exhaled in relief. "Then there’s still time."

The butler continued, "Mr. Fu has also arranged for a tailor to come to the house. Since Mr. Fu needs measurements for next season’s clothing, you’ll be attending alongside him this evening."

Lu Yao hadn’t taken the earlier remark seriously—it had sounded more like a playful flirtation. Surprised, he asked, "Me too?"

He couldn’t even picture himself standing beside Fu Yanhuai for measurements. His smile turned strained. "I… don’t think that’s necessary. My clothes are still perfectly fine."

The butler turned to face him. "This is Mr. Fu’s arrangement."

Lu Yao felt conflicted. He loved Fu Yanhuai, but getting too close still made him uneasy.

Lu Yao conceded, "Alright. Understood."

The butler nodded. "Dr. Feng advised easily digestible meals, so today’s breakfast is congee again. This way—I’ll take you."

The chef had prepared the perfect amount for each meal, and Lu Yao finished every bite.

As the butler collected the dishes, he asked with a touch of concern, "Did you take the day off today?"

Lu Yao replied calmly, "I’ve decided to change jobs."

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Lu Yao thought he saw a hint of approval in the butler’s expression.

"Very well. You should rest now."

Lu Yao had his best sleep in weeks. In this small bedroom, converted from a storage room, Lu Yao finally drifted off peacefully.

No one noticed the faint scent of caramel that lingered in the air as he slept—a subtle sweetness that quickly faded, unnoticed even by its owner.

Lu Yao was woken by a knock. If not for the butler, he might have slept straight through till morning.

His face still bore the marks of sleep, his hair a mess as he blinked sleepily yet clearly at the butler standing outside.

Dr. Feng broke the silence first. "You look much better than yesterday. Any fever now?"

Lu Yao was instantly alert, quickly stepping aside. "No, please come in."

Dr. Feng performed a routine examination, taking Lu Yao’s temperature again. The butler brought a pot of flower tea, pouring a cup for each of them.

Lu Yao quietly thanked him. After a moment of thought, Dr. Feng said, "Your pheromone levels have been fluctuating."

Both Lu Yao and the butler simultaneously looked at Dr. Feng. The doctor studied the data more closely, then stated seriously, "Fatigue and cold exposure can indeed cause fever, but your pheromone levels have been swinging between extreme highs and lows in just a few days—that’s also contributing to the temperature changes. Since you’ve just helped Mr. Fu through his rut, such fluctuations are normal. However, the frequency and intensity of these shifts are unusual. I’d recommend a more thorough examination at the hospital."

Lu Yao asked earnestly, "What effects could these changes have?"

"Hormonal imbalance in the body can lead to various pheromone-related disorders," Dr. Feng explained. "Even as a Beta, you should still be careful."

Pheromone-related disorders, but Lu Yao didn’t have pheromones.

Lu Yao didn’t want to go to the hospital. He didn’t want to draw attention to such a minor issue. He guessed that the reason he hadn’t fallen ill this time was because of Fu Yanhuai. Fu Yanhuai’s pheromones were S-tier, and he also had omega pheromone resistance symptoms, so it was normal for Lu Yao to be more affected.

Lu Yao wasn’t concerned; Betas simply didn’t experience hormonal imbalances.

The butler listened quietly, taking notes of the doctor’s words. Dr. Feng briefly mentioned a few other things to watch out for, and seeing that Lu Yao was generally fine, he left.

The floral tea was soothing and fragrant, and Lu Yao absentmindedly drank a lot of it.

The butler collected the diagnostic chart the doctor had just filled out and looked at Lu Yao. "Mr. Fu will arrive home in an hour. Would you like to have dinner with him?"

When Lu Yao had just married Fu Yanhuai, there had been a period when they ate together. Lu Yao had tried hard to get closer to him, but the two people at either end of the table might as well have been strangers, even when sitting together. Fu Yanhuai always ate in silence, with no conversation or even eye contact between them. Even if Lu Yao cautiously brought up a topic, there would be no response.

Fu Yanhuai would leave immediately after finishing his meal. After this happened twice, Lu Yao stopped bothering him.

Lu Yao found the butler’s question absurd. He tactfully replied, "If I get hungry in the evening, I’ll just go to the kitchen and find something to eat myself."

The butler seemed to have asked casually. He picked up the tray and said, "Very well. The stylist will arrive an hour after dinner—please don’t forget."

Lu Yao gave a stiff nod. Fu Yanhuai would be home in an hour, and he was debating whether to go back to sleep or get up now.

Fu Yanhuai’s face flashed through Lu Yao’s mind, and he thought again of the discarded caramel pudding.

In the end, Lu Yao decided to tidy up and head to the kitchen. Helping out gave him an excuse to steal glances from the shadows.

He changed back into the coat Fu Yanhuai disliked. Since Fu Yanhuai wasn’t home, Lu Yao boldly cut through the living room instead of taking the side door.

But the moment he stepped into the living room, he came face-to-face with Fu Yanhuai, who was just entering and changing his shoes.

Lu Yao froze in place, flustered, while Fu Yanhuai scanned him with detached scrutiny. The 190cm-tall Alpha stood at the doorway in a charcoal-toned suit, a long coat draped over his arm.

Fu Yanhuai’s tone was indifferent. "Come."