That night, they talked about all sorts of things, the boy chattering away as he dreamed of his path to K-pop stardom.
Shen Yanci listened with a casual expression and offered plenty of constructive advice.
"How about I study abroad in Kimchi Country too? I have to go to university anyway. One place is as good as another." Shen Yanci looked him up and down before adding leisurely, "We could keep each other company."
The boy froze for a moment, then joy sparkled in his eyes.
"Really!"
Shen Yanci rubbed his nose, feeling a little guilty. "Ahem. We're friends, after all."
At fifteen, Song Yunxing officially became good friends with Shen Yanci.
Though Shen Yanci didn't see it that way.
What undifferentiated boy would cling to an Alpha like this? He must be deeply in love with me! He's just too shy to confess!
As an Alpha who considered himself a gentleman, Shen Yanci decided to pretend he hadn't noticed and wait for him to confess.
After all, the boy was easily embarrassed. He would need more time to prepare.
It's fine. My answer will only ever be Song Yunxing anyway.
He had plenty of time. He could afford to wait.
But that old man Shen Heng couldn't.
On a drizzly weekend when Shen Yanci was eighteen, just as he was about to upload his study-abroad documents, disaster struck.
Shen Heng collapsed at the company. The hospital diagnosed him with late-stage stomach cancer.
Shen Heng, who had always been decisive and in complete control, went down as though it were some kind of joke.
The tall Alpha lay on the hospital bed with his eyes shut and his face deathly pale, all kinds of tubes running into his body.
This time, he didn't get out of bed and start