Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Lu Yao jolted upright in bed, snatched his coat from the chair, and hurried to open the door. The butler's expression was unchanged. "The stylist just arrived. This way, please."

They certainly wouldn't take measurements in Fu Yanhuai’s bedroom. There was a dedicated dressing room upstairs. Lu Yao had never been to any room on the upper floor besides Fu Yanhuai’s bedroom, so he quietly followed the butler.

The butler stopped at the doorway, gesturing for Lu Yao to enter. Standing at the threshold, Lu Yao felt an inexplicable nervousness.

He found his own nervousness absurd. Steadying himself, he pushed the door open. A faint scent of fir wood wafted out, making him pause for a moment. Lu Yao hesitated, then stepped inside as the butler closed the door behind him.

Once inside, the scent seemed to vanish. Lu Yao stopped, a little confused, but then he looked up and saw Fu Yanhuai, clad in a sheer silk robe, with his back to him. The stylist was kneeling behind him, measuring his waist.

Lu Yao could almost discern the faint outline of Fu Yanhuai’s muscles through the fabric. He awkwardly averted his gaze. "Mr. Fu, I…"

Fu Yanhuai heard the movement. He spread his arms, waiting for the stylist to finish before turning around. His gaze paused on Lu Yao’s worn-out coat.

Embarrassed, Lu Yao looked down at his gray sports jacket. Though it had been worn for many years, its quality was excellent; there wasn't a single tear. It was clean, just a bit faded.

It was the stylist who broke the silence first. Kevin’s smile was bright as he turned to Lu Yao and exclaimed dramatically, "Ooh~ A diamond in the rough!"

Lu Yao’s face instantly flushed crimson. He wasn't accustomed to such effusive praise.

Surprisingly, Fu Yanhuai didn’t seem displeased by Kevin’s words. He walked over to a nearby sofa, sat down, and said languidly, "Get our pearl some new clothes."

Fu Yanhuai genuinely disliked Lu Yao’s coat. Lu Yao looked exceptionally good in deep blue silk—after all, Fu Yanhuai’s bedsheets were of that very color and material. Against it, Lu Yao’s skin appeared even fairer, and when he looked up, he resembled a startled fawn.

Lu Yao blankly followed suit, lifting his head. Only then did he notice Fu Yanhuai was wearing just a bathrobe. Usually hidden beneath suits, Fu Yanhuai’s formidable alpha physique was now strikingly apparent. Kevin began reciting Fu Yanhuai’s measurements: "Chest: 110.9, waist: 76.8, hips: 117.6."

Lu Yao had no concept of these numbers, but he had intimately experienced Fu Yanhuai’s power during several of his ruts.

An assistant jotted down the figures. Kevin stood up and asked Fu Yanhuai excitedly, "Really? Can I choose anything I want? Whatever strikes my fancy?"

Fu Yanhuai placed his teacup down on the table with a sharp click. Kevin swiftly turned to Lu Yao, mouthing behind Fu Yanhuai’s back, *"So fierce."*

Lu Yao couldn’t argue; Fu Yanhuai was indeed always rather intimidating.

Kevin took Lu Yao’s arm and led him forward. "Let me take your measurements."

Lu Yao murmured his thanks. Kevin had no gland patch on the back of his neck; he was likely a beta as well.

Clutching his old coat tightly, Lu Yao heard the assistant’s gentle voice, "You can give it to me."

The old coat indeed looked out of place in the opulent room. Lu Yao awkwardly shuffled onto the measuring platform. Kevin first measured Lu Yao’s shoulder width from behind, casually remarking, "You’re a bit too thin."

Unaware that Fu Yanhuai was watching them from the sofa, Lu Yao rubbed his nose and mumbled vaguely, "Sometimes I don’t have time to eat."

His work breaks were irregular, so Lu Yao could only snatch moments to fill his stomach. For him, "filling his stomach" simply meant eating something; he had no particular demands regarding food.

Upon hearing Lu Yao’s words, Fu Yanhuai looked up in their direction.

Kevin continued taking other measurements. Hearing Lu Yao’s comment, he sighed regretfully. "That’s a real shame. Your hip shape is perfect—it could be even more shapely."

Lu Yao felt his face burning. Faced with such unconventional praise, he was utterly at a loss. It took him half a minute to stammer out, "I… I’ll pay attention to that in the future."

The sweet floral tea spread across Fu Yanhuai’s tongue as he took a couple of sips. He withdrew his gaze from Lu Yao. Lu Yao was indeed a bit thin, but…

Perhaps influenced by Kevin’s words, Fu Yanhuai recalled certain intimate moments from his ruts.

His expression remained unchanged, but his Adam’s apple bobbed.

The assistant approached the sofa with a tablet, showing Fu Yanhuai simulated designs. Listening to the hushed conversation nearby, Lu Yao slowly relaxed his tense body.

Was it his imagination, or had he felt Fu Yanhuai’s gaze just now? Although Fu Yanhuai knew his body well, Lu Yao still couldn’t bear the thought of being measured under his direct scrutiny.

Suddenly, Kevin winked at Lu Yao. "Mr. Fu specifically instructed me to make you several outfits—for home, for going out, jackets, base layers, everything must be prepared."

Kevin’s gaze was intense. Lu Yao paused, then replied softly, "Perhaps it’s because he dislikes my coat and pajamas."

"No, no." Kevin had a knowing look. "It’s *love*."

Lu Yao nearly tripped over his own feet and fell off the platform. Kevin swiftly drew the curtain shut, his face alight with barely suppressed excitement, but still remembering to whisper, "Mr. Lu Yao, what’s it like being a CEO’s partner? Can you share your love story with Mr. Fu?"

Kevin’s eyes sparkled with gossipy delight. Instinctively, Lu Yao glanced back toward Fu Yanhuai’s direction, but the curtain blocked his view.

*Love story?* There was no such thing between him and Fu Yanhuai.

Kevin seemed harmless, but Lu Yao still found himself flustered by the questions.

"Actually, it… it has nothing to do with that," Lu Yao struggled to say. "Why do you ask?"

Kevin said breezily, "Everyone’s naturally curious about the beta Mr. Fu chose. Especially since you rarely appear in public."

Lu Yao patiently replied, "It really is just because he dislikes my coat."

Would Fu Yanhuai really hire one of the capital’s top three stylists to personally custom-make clothes at home just because he disliked someone else’s attire? Not for haute couture, nor for a banquet, but just everyday wear?

Kevin believed love must be involved, but with Fu Yanhuai waiting outside, he couldn’t delay too long. He buried himself back in his work. "Alright, please turn around so I can take measurements on this side."

Lu Yao turned toward the drawn curtain. If it were opened, he would be directly facing Fu Yanhuai.

But for now, the curtain provided a good shield, so Lu Yao grew a little bolder. Staring at the pale fabric, he quietly asked, "Kevin, is that your real name?"

Kevin nodded. "When you’re out and about, you need a stage name."

Lu Yao couldn’t help but smile. He hesitated, then asked, "So, are you and Mr. Fu very familiar with each other?"

Lu Yao envied Kevin’s natural ease when speaking to Fu Yanhuai. In his memory, his own conversations with Fu Yanhuai were few and far between. The place he spoke most often in the Fu household was in Fu Yanhuai’s bed.

Kevin said matter-of-factly, "Of course not! This is *Mr. Fu*—why would he know me? I’m just more outgoing. The young masters and ladies of the capital like to have me make their clothes, and Mr. Fu knows that. This time, he specifically requested me. I’ve never been here before."

A serious, meticulous stylist and an expressionless Fu Yanhuai—the combination certainly made Lu Yao feel immense pressure. Lu Yao froze. Had Fu Yanhuai deliberately hired an unfamiliar stylist… for him?

Kevin’s professional skills were indeed impressive. He had already created a simulated model of Lu Yao. He said seriously, "The studio will deliver the urgently needed clothes by 4 PM tomorrow afternoon. I’ll also return to fine-tune the details."

As Kevin pulled the curtain aside and walked out, Lu Yao looked a bit troubled. "Could we reschedule? Tomorrow, I…"

The assistant had already quietly stepped aside. Fu Yanhuai looked up at Lu Yao. "What is it?"

Lu Yao’s words caught in his throat. Flustered, he explained, "I… I have to go home tomorrow, so the timing might be a bit tight."

Silence filled the room. The moment Lu Yao finished speaking, it was as if time itself froze.

Lu Yao’s body grew stiffer. Fu Yanhuai stood up and walked directly past Lu Yao.

"Just deliver the clothes at the scheduled time."

Lu Yao, flustered, tried to stop him. "I didn’t promise them anything, just a meal."

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Kevin pulled the assistant along, laughing. "Understood, Mr. Fu. We’ll take our leave now."

The door closed again, leaving only Fu Yanhuai and Lu Yao in the room.

Perhaps Fu Yanhuai’s actions today had rekindled a sliver of courage and hope in Lu Yao. He eagerly explained to Fu Yanhuai, "Really, I won’t let them cause you any more trouble."

The Lu family was insignificant to Fu Yanhuai; their petty schemes couldn't shake the Fu family’s standing in the capital, and Fu Yanhuai rarely paid them any mind.

Compared to them, it was Lu Yao’s anxious, fidgeting demeanor that made Fu Yanhuai’s brow furrow in irritation.

Fu Yanhuai turned back to Lu Yao and said coldly, "Do you really enjoy chasing after someone who couldn’t care less?"

Lu Yao thought he had grown accustomed to Fu Yanhuai’s coldness and mockery, but hearing it again, he couldn’t help but feel a sudden pang of sadness.

"No," Lu Yao murmured, not daring to look at the alpha, even though they were supposed to be the closest people in the world.

He didn’t want Fu Yanhuai to see his distress. Eyes downcast, Lu Yao mumbled, "I’m sorry, I…"

What did he have to do to stop Fu Yanhuai from being angry with him? Everything had been fine just moments ago. Had he messed up again?

Fu Yanhuai noticed the faint redness around Lu Yao’s eyes. He couldn’t quite articulate his own feelings at that moment. According to Fu Yanhuai’s usual practice, he would have turned and left, but this time, he stayed for Lu Yao.

Suppressing his impatience, Fu Yanhuai said, "Come here."

Lu Yao stopped two steps away from Fu Yanhuai. Then, Fu Yanhuai made a decision he hadn’t even anticipated himself.

"Tomorrow, I’ll go with you."

For a second, Lu Yao thought he had misheard. He looked up, staring blankly at Fu Yanhuai.

Lu Yao looked much more agreeable like this. Fu Yanhuai reached out and pulled him closer, and Lu Yao stumbled into his embrace.

Now that the words were spoken, Fu Yanhuai didn’t dwell on them further. However, since he had canceled his schedule to accompany Lu Yao to the Lu family, he would certainly need to claim some compensation in return.

Fu Yanhuai met Lu Yao’s still-damp eyes. "If I had to say, you’re prettiest when you’re crying beneath me."

He peeled off the gland patch on the back of Lu Yao’s neck, and a faint scent of silver fir diffused into the air, mixed with a hint of sweetness.

The brutal bite mark on his neck was still clearly visible. Fu Yanhuai leaned down and bit down hard once more.

This time, Lu Yao’s gasp and choked sob made the furrow between Fu Yanhuai’s brows finally ease.