Chapter 1

"Sign this divorce agreement."

The alpha's face betrayed no emotion. His manner was cold and rigid, and he would not even give his omega wife a chance to discuss it.

Their marriage had been brief. Less than two weeks had passed between the wedding and the divorce, and they could count the number of times they had met on two fingers. There had never been any emotional foundation to their marriage.

The omega lowered his gaze, his brows drawing together slightly. A hint of distress showed on his fair, delicate face as he raised his clear, blue-green eyes and gazed longingly at Gu Lin.

His face was pale, his faintly colored lips pressed together, their cool sheen like a layer of glaze. Even the fingers holding his pen had gone white, making him look utterly pitiful. He slowly set the pen down again, looked up at him, and asked in sign language, "Why?"

The man's black-and-gold eyes were intensely oppressive. He stared at the omega and said coldly, "I don't like you. Is that reason enough?"

Gu Lin had been forced into marrying Su Yu by his grandfather. The old man had controlled and pressured him since he was a child, and had insisted on arranging a marriage for him even before his death. If he refused to marry Su Yu, he would lose his status as heir.

In truth, he had little affection for the old man. As soon as he died, Gu Lin began planning to divorce Su Yu.

He wanted to divorce Su Yu partly because he resented the old man's arrangements, and partly because he had no interest whatsoever in a weak, helpless omega who could do nothing but cling to an alpha.

"Don't worry. This agreement can only benefit you."

With several uncles still watching him closely, he could not announce the divorce right away, and the divorce certificate would have to wait as well. To all appearances, Su Yu was still his wife and would continue living with him. He simply wanted Su Yu to understand sooner that they would inevitably divorce.

The quiet Su Yu lowered his eyes, his long, curled lashes trembling. He seemed reluctant, and even the movement of his hand as he picked up the pen to sign carried a trace of struggle and hesitation.

The alpha had already furrowed his brows and uncrossed his legs, seemingly out of patience. Just as he was about to speak, Su Yu quickly signed his name on the divorce agreement.

[All this dawdling just to sign a divorce agreement. I almost lost control and flung the pen away. Good thing my resolve was strong enough to keep my grip steady.]

A voice suddenly rang out, speaking extremely quickly but enunciating clearly, its tone clean and mellow.

Gu Lin's gaze fell on Su Yu. He had kept his head lowered the whole time and had not spoken.

What?

Was he hearing things?

[Come on, react already. Stop keeping your head down. You've signed it, so get up and leave.]

[...Can't I just grab myself and carry myself out?]

The voice sounded a little frantic.

There were only two people in this room: him and Su Yu. Su Yu had not spoken, and he was mute besides, so who was it? Gu Lin stared at the omega sitting before him with his head lowered, a hint of scrutiny in his gaze.

The omega seemed to notice his gaze and lifted his head slightly, reluctance showing in his emerald eyes. To anyone else, he would have appeared to be gazing at the alpha with tender affection.

But he was not. He simply could not control his own body.

[At least we're finally divorced.]

[If I could talk instead of having to pretend to be mute, I'd definitely give you a piece of my mind and teach you some manners.]

Gu Lin: "...?"

What the hell?

The office fell unnervingly silent, the atmosphere oppressive. Gu Lin pressed his thin lips together, his face icy. His black-and-gold eyes were deep and frightening; a mere stare from him was enough to make someone afraid.

Su Yu had no idea what had happened. He only wanted to leave as quickly as possible, but his body would not respond at all, as though it truly still yearned for the man before him.

He tried to control his body, but it was useless. At that moment, he was like a spectator, able only to watch the scene before him and unable to do anything. His body's reactions went entirely against his wishes. He was nothing more than a puppet on strings.

Su Yu gave up and pinned his hopes on Gu Lin, only for Gu Lin to offer no reaction either, merely wearing a cold expression.

[What's wrong with you, Mr. Ex-Husband? Can you react a little too and tell me to leave? No, telling me to get lost works too.]

At last, Gu Lin slowly called his name. He was not entirely sure whether the voice he had heard belonged to the person before him. It was rather unbelievable, after all, and Su Yu's weak, helpless demeanor did not look like an act in the slightest. His expressions and movements all seemed utterly sincere.

[Good heavens, why has Gu Lin started dawdling too? Where did that decisive, dictatorial temperament of his go?]

Gu Lin's brow twitched sharply.

Decisive and dictatorial?

Was that what Su Yu really thought of him?

For some reason, he actually began to believe he was not hearing things. Su Yu really was speaking, and what he was saying reflected his most honest inner thoughts. He had never expected this omega to act one way on the surface and another behind his back. It took him by surprise.

"You mustn't mention what's happening between us to anyone for now. Understand?"

Su Yu remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

Gu Lin narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. Su Yu habitually kept his head lowered and did not notice at all. Gu Lin was testing the person before him, seeking confirmation of his suspicions, not Su Yu's outward response.

Sure enough, that clear voice rang out again. This time, its owner sounded impatient, his words drawn out with a hint of complaint.

[I know, I know. You're so annoying. Just let me leave already.]

At last, Gu Lin spoke as though granting him a great mercy. "If there's nothing else, leave. I'll let you know when I have time to handle the divorce certificate."

Su Yu nodded gently. He looked very obedient, always seeming to accept whatever came his way without protest. Of course, Gu Lin would indeed have thought so if he had not heard what was going through his mind.

Su Yu was very happy now-so happy he wanted to celebrate with drums and gongs.

Meanwhile, Gu Lin found him exceedingly noisy. His ears did not get a moment's peace until Su Yu was far away.

Gu Lin pinched the bridge of his nose and carefully recalled what he had just heard. Something seemed off. He remembered that the Su family's omega really was mute, yet Su Yu had just said he was pretending.

His eyes, cold as winter stars, darkened slightly. Then he made a phone call. Though he already had his suspicions, he still wanted to confirm them.

He had never expected even the old man to misjudge someone.