Chapter 9

"You're welcome. Give it a try."

Under Su Yu's gaze, Lu Heyun lifted a forkful of cake and took a small bite. Smiling, he said, "It's very sweet."

Though he did not like overly sweet foods, sitting beside Su Yu and chatting with him, he unconsciously finished the little cake on his plate.

"You look too thin. Eat more."

"Thin?"

Lu Heyun looked at the Omega before him. Clearly, the word suited Su Yu far better.

The beautiful Omega nodded. He could not hide his emotions in his emerald-green eyes, and Lu Heyun seemed to see the sympathy in them, just like when they had first met.

In Su Yu's eyes, he was merely a college student whose parents had divorced and who had been forced to move out.

Lu Heyun had never considered explaining. Instead, he continued maintaining the illusion he had created.

"Thank you for your concern." After saying that, Lu Heyun softly asked, "Did you come here with your family tonight?"

Su Yu did not speak, merely nodding.

If Gu Lin counted as family.

"So did I, but my father is busy at the moment."

Upon hearing that, Su Yu suddenly felt that Lu Heyun's father was far too irresponsible. Making his child live alone outside was bad enough; now he had actually tossed him aside at a banquet.

If Lu Heyun had been a normal person, Su Yu would not have found him so pitiful. But the key was that he used a wheelchair, which brought him many inconveniences in everyday life.

"Then how about I take you somewhere else for a walk?"

"Sure."

Su Yu did not actually know what there was to see around the hotel. He simply did not want to stay at the reception, because he did not want to run into anyone from the Su family.

He pushed Lu Heyun to the hotel garden. It was not as lively as the banquet hall from earlier, and there were fewer people. Whether in the hall or the garden, neither Su Yu nor Lu Heyun cared whether they might run into someone acquainted with Gu Lin. It would be even better if others discovered that he was not mute—then he would not have to keep pretending every day, with no one to talk to.

"What are you thinking about?"

Su Yu came back to himself. He had apparently stopped beside a flower bed while pushing Lu Heyun, and Lu Heyun was currently looking up at him.

"Ah, nothing. I just zoned out for a moment."

"Then let's not walk anymore. Let's find somewhere to sit."

There was an ornate iron bench in front of the flower bed, so Su Yu pushed Lu Heyun over. Lu Heyun shared with him what had happened over the past few days, some things about school and some about his family.

From what Lu Heyun said, his father had found him a stepmother, and she had secretly been trying to get pregnant without telling them. That was why he was troubled over the matter.

It was someone else's family business, so Su Yu did not know what to say. Just as he hesitated, Lu Heyun suddenly said, "You don't need to say anything. I didn't come to you looking for a solution. I'm already very happy that you can listen to me."

This kid must have had no one to listen to him since he was young.

"I'm sorry I can't be of much help."

"It's all right."

He was indeed somewhat troubled. He felt that even sparing a trace of thought for that sort of woman was a waste of time.

"Actually, my father was never very faithful before he married my mother. So I'm not the only child in the family. They don't like me, and I don't like them either."

As soon as he said that, Su Yu immediately imagined a whole string of melodramatic wealthy-family plots about fighting over the inheritance, and he could not help feeling even more sympathy for him.

Lu Heyun seemed mild-tempered. He probably could not compete with them.

"If they bully you, come find me. I'm pretty good at getting under people's skin."

He simply could not show off that skill right now. Otherwise, he could make the first, second, and third members of the Su family so furious that they would not be able to take care of themselves in minutes.

Lu Heyun paused slightly. "Getting under people's skin?"

"Yeah. It's not like I can beat them up for you. I was never good at fighting when I was young, so I can only put my other strengths to use."

"You fought when you were young? I couldn't tell."

After all, the Omega before him looked soft and frail. He could be quiet at times too, not at all like someone who would get physical with others.

"Not really."

His life had been peaceful and steady. He had never had any serious disputes or conflicts with others. Compared to the original owner's dramatic and tumultuous experiences, his own life had been utterly uneventful.

"That's what I thought. But don't worry, they won't bully me."

"That's good. Protect yourself."

Why had he used the word "protect"? Probably because his experience of wealthy-family life had been awful so far. First there were brothers who squeezed him out, then there was a husband who disliked him. Whenever he encountered a rich young master, he felt that person's family had to be full of drama.

It was completely different from his original world.

As the two chatted, Su Yu suddenly heard someone call his name. The voice was somewhat cold and slightly hesitant, yet utterly familiar to him.

"Su Yu?"

Su Yu turned around and saw Su Tinghuai and his assistant standing a short distance away. His gaze carried a hint of scrutiny as it fell on the two of them, though it was unclear what he was thinking.

Su Yu instinctively stood. A hint of delight appeared on his small face when he saw him. He called out, "Big brother," then could not help walking toward him.

For the first time, Lu Heyun saw him so happy—happy enough to forget all about him where he was.

"What are you doing here? Who is he?"

Following Su Tinghuai's gaze, Su Yu looked back and explained, "He's my neighbor."

Afraid that Su Tinghuai had not understood, Su Yu added, "My neighbor from when I was living outside before."

"I understand."

Compared to Su Yu's warmth, Su Tinghuai's attitude was excessively cold. There was no brotherly intimacy at all in the way he spoke to Su Yu.

"Who did you come with?"

"Gu, Gu Lin."

"Then you should remember your identity at all times."

At this moment, he was not Su Yu, who could speak freely.

Su Yu's mood immediately plummeted. His eyes lowered slightly, and he fell silent.

I really want to punch you twice. Who cares about Su Hui's worthless identity? No education, no strengths, a terrible temper, and such a fake little schemer. Only you people treat him like treasure.

Is selective blindness hereditary in the Su family? Each generation is worse than the last.

Why can't I speak? I really want to let loose. Please, give me a chance, heavens.

At that moment, Gu Lin, who was exchanging pleasantries with a business partner, felt his brow twitch sharply. He had no idea where his Omega had gone to get upset, but the resentment was so intense that it made it impossible for him to converse normally.

"President Gu?"

Gu Lin came back to himself and abruptly rose to his feet. "My apologies. Please excuse me for now. My Omega needs my help."

His business partner nodded in understanding. "Of course, of course. Then we'll talk again next time."