Chapter 31

After dinner, Su Yu took Yun Shang to the arcade on the second floor of the shopping center, but Yun Shang was not very interested in any of it, so Su Yu simply took him shopping instead. Thus, when Gu Lin saw them, they were each holding an ice cream cone, dressed completely differently from that morning, wearing sunglasses from who knew where, striding along with an imposing air. Several sales assistants from the mall trailed behind them, making for an extremely exaggerated spectacle.

That was right. Su Yu had taken Yun Shang on a shopping spree, and in just one evening, they had become esteemed VIP customers at several stores.

The clothes they wore had just been changed into as well.

Su Yu, wearing sunglasses, did not see clearly who was in the driver's seat at all. He thought it was the family driver, and the "driver" cooperatively opened the trunk. The sales assistants placed the shopping bags inside, while Su Yu opened the door and got into the back seat with Yun Shang.

He never once looked up to see who was driving. The car drove on for quite some time without him noticing, until it suddenly braked near a traffic light. His body pitched forward, and the unfinished ice cream cone in his hand smeared against the back of the driver's seat.

[...I got ice cream on the car.]

Su Yu straightened up slightly. His sunglasses had slipped down because of the sudden braking, and before he could fully sit upright, he looked up and saw the Alpha's cold, hard profile. In a grim tone, he asked, "Is the ice cream good?"

"!!!"

[Why is it him? When did he get here?]

Yun Shang was the same as him. Only when he heard Gu Lin's voice did he notice that the driver was not the one who had brought them there.

Gu Lin turned back and swept his eyes over them from head to toe. His expression was too icy, his demeanor too stern, giving him an overwhelming sense of pressure that made them not dare to move. Su Yu remained stuck halfway through sitting up, holding an ice cream cone in his hand, looking both dazed and ridiculous.

"Sit properly. Take off those sunglasses. They're ugly."

Su Yu sat up straight and took off his sunglasses. Yun Shang beside him took his off as well.

But he was rather dissatisfied inside because of the Alpha's "they're ugly."

[You're the ugly one, you're the ugly one, you're the ugly one.]

[Your taste is terrible.]

When he had bought clothes for Yun Shang at the mall, he had taken pictures and sent them to his aunt by marriage. She had strongly affirmed his taste and even said the clothes he picked for Yun Shang looked good.

Gu Lin's brows lifted slightly. So he had taken the money Gu Lin gave him and used it to buy Yun Shang clothes. This Omega certainly knew how to spend.

In truth, Su Yu had not only bought clothes for Yun Shang; he had also bought plenty of snacks. But with Gu Lin here, he did not know whether he could successfully put them in the refrigerator. After all, the other man had taken all his snacks away.

Thinking of this, Su Yu added another mark against Gu Lin. The last tiny trace of generosity the Alpha had left in his mind was wiped away as well.

Gu Lin: "..."

How rare. He still had even the slightest impression of generosity in Su Yu's mind.

"From now on, you're not allowed to eat in my car."

Su Yu silently muttered to himself that there were too many rules.

Who knew he would end up in Gu Lin's car? When he had left the mall, he had thought the person picking them up was the family driver.

Su Yu had bought a lot of things. Some were for Yun Shang, and some were for himself. Piled by the entrance, they left no room to step. Gu Lin bent down and picked up the receipt from the floor. Su Yu, who was sitting on the carpet sorting through the things, looked up at him. Gu Lin could tell that he really wanted to snatch that receipt back.

"What? I'm not allowed to look?"

[Of course not. I didn't spend... forget it, it seems I did spend the money he gave me.]

Su Yu nodded.

Gu Lin merely glanced over it before returning it to him. He had not realized Su Yu spent money like this, though he did not understand what use some of the things Su Yu had bought could possibly have.

Shopping during the day had been delightful, but when Su Yu saw the remaining balance that night, his heart ached. He decided that no matter what, he had to go to that livestream tomorrow.

He needed to work. No one could stop him.

Before bed, Su Yu set an alarm for a little after six, planning to take his equipment back to the apartment early the next morning.

However, the moment he came downstairs the next morning, he saw Gu Lin sitting at the table enjoying breakfast. Su Yu checked the time. It was only six thirty. Even if Gu Lin woke early, he would not get up this early. It was as though he was deliberately opposing him.

Yet when the Alpha saw him up so early, he feigned surprise and said, "Up this early?"

At the time, Su Yu had only just come downstairs, carrying the things he had bought at the mall yesterday. They were the equipment he would need for tonight's livestream, packed in gift bags. Naturally, what he was carrying caught Gu Lin's attention. He slowly set down his coffee cup and asked, "Where are you going?"

Su Yu was baffled. How was he still running into Gu Lin despite getting up this early? Did he have to wake up at five next time?

Su Yu used sign language to tell him that he was going back to the apartment where he had lived before. The aunt relayed the message, and Gu Lin gave a faint "Mm." "Have breakfast. I'll go with you after we eat."

[???]

[Why does he want to go with me?]

[Could it be that the family driver took leave again, and he's magnanimously offering to drive me there?]

His instincts told Su Yu that the other man was not that kindhearted, but he could not figure out what Gu Lin's purpose was.

Even though he was unwilling, Su Yu still sat down. As he ate, he pondered what he should do if Gu Lin followed him around the whole time.

Although Su Yu wondered why the other man wanted to follow him, Gu Lin did not say anything. The two did not exchange a single word during breakfast, and the dining table remained as quiet as ever.

By the time they set off, it was nearly seven thirty. Su Yu only felt that Gu Lin was too slow. Eating breakfast had taken over half an hour.

Yun Shang happened to come out of his room just as he saw Su Yu and Gu Lin standing at the entrance, ready to leave. He hurried downstairs and stammered, "W-where are you going?"

It was obvious that he was asking Su Yu, which was why he headed straight toward Su Yu as he came downstairs.

Gu Lin was slightly surprised. He did not know what had happened, but Yun Shang appeared to trust Su Yu so much. They seemed even closer than Yun Shang and Gu Lin, his actual cousin.

Before Su Yu could take out his phone, Gu Lin answered for him. "A date. What, do you want to come too?"

It was hard to imagine Gu Lin saying the words "a date" with such a straight face. After all, no one had ever heard words like that come from his mouth. Upon hearing it, the aunt put down what she was doing, her face full of gratification. Sir had finally gotten the idea.

Su Yu looked astonished, then after a moment, a trace of confusion appeared in his green eyes.

Su Yu's true reaction was: Gu Lin was sick.

[Even if he doesn't want to bring Yun Shang along, there's no need to lie, right?]

[I really don't understand how his brain works.]

Yet after he said that, Yun Shang nodded twice without hesitation.

Gu Lin: "...Do you even know what a date means?"

Yun Shang glanced at Su Yu.

"Don't look at him. Answer my question first."

Su Yu silently complained that Gu Lin was too harsh. Yun Shang was a patient, after all, and younger than him too. Could Gu Lin not cut him some slack?

Yun Shang said he did not know what a date meant.

"Stop lying."

He had read so many books. It was impossible for Yun Shang not to know what "a date" meant.

Yun Shang told him, "I don't know. I don't know means I don't know."

[This is wonderful! He actually said eleven words! Auntie will definitely be so happy when she finds out.]

[I'll tell Auntie this good news later.]

Su Yu did not care in the slightest that Yun Shang had said so many words only because he was talking back. If he could speak every day, then what did it matter if he talked back to Gu Lin a few more times?

Gu Lin, who had learned Su Yu's true thoughts: "..."

To some extent, Yun Shang and his uncle were quite alike. The two of them were equally skilled at playing dumb. Even when exposed, they refused to admit it.

Yun Shang insisted on coming along, and even Gu Lin could not stop him. In the end, all three went to the apartment together.

All morning, Gu Lin did not ask why Su Yu had returned to the apartment, nor did he ask when he planned to leave. Of course, Gu Lin showed no intention of leaving either. Su Yu's condition still would not allow him to leave Gu Lin alone in the living room, so he had to serve tea and water, rushing around constantly until he was thoroughly annoyed.

Gu Lin flipped through the books on the sofa. Their contents were exactly the same as the books Su Yu had left at the house.

The apartment was fairly spacious for an Omega living alone. It had three rooms, a bright living room, and was neat and tidy.

Perhaps living in an environment like this would not be so bad.

He closed Su Yu's book with little interest and casually asked, "It's been so long. Why have I never seen you go home?"

Because Gu Lin had once said he could not understand Su Yu's gestures, whenever the aunt was absent, Su Yu communicated with him by sending messages or typing things into his notes app.

[Su Yu: Because my family is busy, and they rarely go home.]

[Because I don't want to see that bunch of idiots.]

The same question received two different answers.

Gu Lin glanced at Su Yu. "Is that so? How busy are they? I'll pay them a visit myself another day."

The Omega clenched his phone uneasily upon hearing that. He typed a few words into the chat box, then quickly deleted them. For a moment, he could not think of any excuse to refuse.

[Don't wait for another day. Let's go tomorrow. Go tomorrow. For the sake of regaining my freedom sooner, I'm willing to make time to see that bunch of idiots.]

[I hope you discover tomorrow that I'm not the real Su Hui.]

[Come on, come on, tell me firmly that you're going.]

Gu Lin was so smart. As long as he visited the Su family, he should be able to discover something. At the very least, he would suspect Su Yu's true identity.

Su Yu looked uneasy on the surface, but inwardly, he was immensely expectant. It was as though he had already begun living a life where he could speak freely.

Clearly, Gu Lin could easily see through this body's disguise, yet he had never exposed him.

Why?

Perhaps the more Su Yu looked forward to it, the less Gu Lin wanted to expose him so soon.

"Why are you nervous? I was only saying it."

The Omega felt greatly relieved upon hearing that and let out a small breath.

[???]

[You were only saying it? Can't you actually do something?]

He had gotten excited for nothing.