A vacation during the rut

The hotel lobby housed a small café that doubled as a lounge.

Shen Yi settled into an armchair with a clear view, carefully scanning every guest who entered or left the hotel.

What if the weather was too bad for him to make it?

Habitually accounting for every possible complication, he could not truly relax until the partner hired for the rut arrived. His untouched coffee had long since gone cold.

Shen Yi had hired two partners, both experienced professionals who catered exclusively to VIPs. They were not only exceptionally discreet but also highly attractive beta men.

"Working with a top-tier alpha during his rut" was a demanding requirement in itself, so the fees were steep. After all, it placed an enormous strain on a beta's body. That expense was unavoidable.

Confidentiality agreements went without saying, and their secondary-sex certificates and health reports had all been checked repeatedly. In particular, he had verified their beta status at least two or three times to leave nothing to chance.

The closer the appointed time drew, the more anxious he became. He kept his eyes fixed on the lobby entrance, and several dozen minutes later, a familiar figure finally appeared.

Shen Yi immediately rose to greet him. The man who had just entered the hotel paid little attention to his surroundings, merely brushing the snowflakes off his shoulders.

"Mr. Peter?"

At the name, which might have been an alias, the man lifted his head. The bitter cold outside had turned the tip of his nose slightly red. He smiled at Shen Yi.

"Yes. You're the secretary who contacted me?"

"That's right. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise. If everything's in order, shall we head straight up?"

"Of course. This way, please."

After a brief handshake, Shen Yi turned to lead the way. There was no need for pointless small talk; every detail of the contract had been settled days ago.

They were alone in the elevator. With a faint vibration, the car rose smoothly. Shen Yi unconsciously clenched and unclenched his fists, letting out a soft breath.

The man beside him seemed thoroughly accustomed to situations like this and remained perfectly calm. By contrast, Shen Yi was the nervous one.

His gaze slipped from the changing floor indicator to the man beside him.

Yuan Chen's first partner was a Japanese American whose refined features left a strong impression. He looked neither overly masculine nor noticeably gay. Yuan Chen should have nothing to find fault with.

Sensing his gaze, the man turned his head. Their eyes met, and he spoke first, addressing the slightly embarrassed Shen Yi.

"I have a question."

"Please, go ahead."

"The alpha I'll be attending to... does he have any unsavory preferences?"

Shen Yi opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss. He had never been asked that question before and had no idea how to answer. How would he know Mr. Yuan's preferences in that department?

A soft ding broke the silence. The elevator had reached the twenty-ninth floor. Watching the doors slide open, Shen Yi forced his stiff tongue to move.

"I'm not very familiar with that side of things. Is... that information we're required to provide?"

"Oh, no, that's fine. Sometimes the secretary happens to know, so I thought I'd ask. I'm used to accommodating my clients' wishes, after all. Knowing in advance can make things a little easier."

The rut partner smiled, his eyes narrowing, and stepped out of the elevator first. Shen Yi hurried after him. He certainly was a seasoned professional.

Shaking off the feeling of having been momentarily overwhelmed by the man's composure, he pulled himself together and quickened his pace.

There was only one suite on the twenty-ninth floor, making it exceptionally quiet. They crossed the long corridor and stopped outside the door. Shen Yi checked his watch. They were five minutes early.

"Excuse me. I'll need to measure your pheromone levels first."

The man obligingly stood straight. "Go ahead."

Shen Yi took a portable scanner from his inner pocket and held it close to the man's neck. With a beep, the device's screen began to flash.

The reading was zero. Naturally.

Putting the scanner away, Shen Yi adjusted his jacket.

"All done. Everything checks out."

"I've never been checked this thoroughly before. If I weren't a beta, I suppose we'd be in serious trouble?"

Shen Yi responded to the teasing with a smile but said nothing. No matter how many confidentiality agreements the man had signed, he could not reveal any of Yuan Chen's secrets to someone he had just met.

He tapped his phone screen, his thumb moving swiftly.

"The initial payment has just been transferred. The balance will be paid in full once you're finished."

"Confirmed. It's come through."

"Please turn off your phone."

This, too, was explicitly stipulated in the contract. The rut partner complied without complaint. Once Shen Yi had confirmed it, he delivered the final few reminders.

"Anything you might need during your time here has been placed in the bedroom and bathroom. If you need anything else, you can contact the front desk at any time. Service is available twenty-four hours a day."

"Understood."

"It may not be easy... but please try to find time to eat. If that proves too difficult, at least make sure you stay hydrated."

"I'll do my best."

"Then I'll leave him in your care."

Shen Yi handed over the key card and bowed politely. Apparently unaccustomed to this Eastern-style bow, the man scratched his ear somewhat awkwardly and imitated the gesture.

Then he turned and entered the room. The bright light spilling through the doorway swallowed his figure, and soon Shen Yi was alone in the corridor.

Only then did he realize his fists had been tightly clenched the entire time. He raised both arms high in a silent cheer.

His vacation had finally begun!

The thrill of liberation nearly gave him goose bumps. As he turned to leave, his steps were lighter and more buoyant than ever.

What should he do next to make this a truly wonderful time? The corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably, his happiness plain to see. Even thinking about how to spend his leisure time was a joy in itself.

In front of the elevator, his finger hovered over the buttons before he finally pressed the up arrow. The doors opened at once. He selected the lounge bar on the top floor and carefully tidied his appearance in the mirror-bright stainless steel walls: straightened his slightly crooked tie, smoothed the hair over his forehead. Good. He looked neat and sharp.

The elevator soon reached his destination. Shen Yi let out a long breath and murmured to his blurred reflection in the control panel:

"Calm down, Shen Yi. You have plenty of time."

He decided to have a drink first and make his plans at leisure. His vacation had officially begun!

Although it was not peak hours, the lounge bar was still quite lively. Perhaps the foul weather had driven everyone here.

Shen Yi looked around for an empty seat. The seating areas with sofas and coffee tables were nearly all full, and the few vacant spots looked rather cluttered. After a moment's thought, he headed toward the bar.

The polished wooden bar was just right for a solo guest like Shen Yi. He sat on a high stool, folded his suit jacket, and placed it on the seat beside him. The bartender, who had been polishing a glass, smiled and handed him a drinks menu.

"Take your time."

"Thank you."

As he carefully browsed the menu, written entirely in English, a wine that perfectly suited his mood caught his eye.

The bartender set down a glass of water at just the right moment. Shen Yi slid the menu back and said clearly:

"A bottle of the 1982 Pétrus (Château Pétrus), please."

Slightly taken aback by such an extravagant order, the bartender parted his lips.

"A special occasion today, then?"

"You could say that."

"You've made an excellent choice."

Shen Yi smiled in response. The price was certainly steep, but so what? It wasn't as though he could take his wealth to the grave.

On a rare vacation like this, there was no harm in indulging a little.

Before long, a glass of red wine was set before Shen Yi. The highly acclaimed Italian classic gleamed with an enticing ruby-red luster.

His seat faced the lounge's wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Without intending to, he had claimed a superb vantage point.

Through the glass façade, Boston looked like an illustration from a fairy-tale book. In the distance lay the Charles River and historic redbrick buildings, with snowflakes drifting against the night sky. Viewed from the warmth indoors, the scenery took on an even more romantic, foreign charm.

Shen Yi sipped his wine, idly passing the time. Rather than being bored, he found that simply enjoying this long-missed freedom was pleasure enough.

Sitting at the bar and watching the varied guests was entertaining, too.

His languid gaze occasionally fell on his phone. Placed on the counter out of habit, its screen remained dark.

No one would contact him. Everything from Korea had been handed over to his colleagues in the secretarial department, and Mr. Yuan, who might summon him at any moment, was certain to remain silent for now.

When had he last been this relaxed?

Shen Yi tilted his head back slightly, lost in thought.

The past was too distant; dwelling on it seemed pointless. Even having a drink like this felt like something he had last done years ago.

Thinking back carefully, he had devoted almost all of his twenties to work. He had no regrets, but it would be a lie to say he felt no wistfulness at all.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"