“It’s an honor to work with you this time, President Lu.”
“You’re too kind.”
Lu Shangjin walked out of the office building alongside a female omega client. She had deep brown wavy hair draped over her shoulders, dressed in a sharp yet elegant style, holding a black folder in her hand.
They chatted about things unrelated to work as they walked a short distance. The omega noticed the wedding ring on Lu Shangjin’s left ring finger and smiled lightly. “You’re married, President Lu?”
“More than ten years now.” Lu Shangjin brushed his fingertip over the ring. His expression softened instantly, as if warm water flowed through his eyes.
It was Friday. He had already cleared all the week’s tasks ahead of time and planned to leave early to buy a sea bass to make soup for Yan Yi.
The omega covered her mouth with a smile. “Then your partner must be someone exceptional, to have an alpha like you.”
Lu Shangjin didn’t bother being modest. He accepted the compliment with quiet satisfaction, thinking, He has me completely captivated, as he opened the car door for her.
Her car drove out of sight, revealing another vehicle across the street.
Lu Shangjin froze in place, his brow twitching sharply—
A strikingly bright red Ferrari LaFerrari. The door lifted open, and an omega wearing mirrored sunglasses stepped out, leaning casually against it.
Yan Yi watched him for a moment, holding his breath, then climbed onto the hood, sitting cross-legged and staring intently in the direction the omega’s car had gone.
Lu Shangjin pulled him down from the hood, gripping his chin with his right hand and lifting it. “Why did you drive this out?”
Yan Yi frowned. “I picked the best-looking one from your garage. You said what’s yours is mine.”
Right. Lu Shangjin had forgotten—Yan Yi’s fingerprints and iris data had been registered in the old villa’s security system. He could access the garage and key cabinet freely.
“Get in,” Lu Shangjin said, sitting in the driver’s seat. “Kids shouldn’t be on the road. It’s dangerous.”
Yan Yi quickly slipped into the passenger seat and grabbed Lu Shangjin’s tie, yanking him closer. “Who was that omega you just saw off?”
Lu Shangjin took off his sunglasses, clicked his tongue, and looked him over. “You’ve been getting more and more bold lately. Have I spoiled you too much?”
“I’m asking you.” Yan Yi tugged his tie again, his rabbit ears standing alert, eyes displeased. “Who is she? I heard her voice on the phone a few days ago. You didn’t come home at noon today—were you with her the whole time?”
“Yes.” Lu Shangjin braced his forearm against the seat, letting himself be pulled closer, lowering his voice by Yan Yi’s ear. “I’ve been with her all week.”
Yan Yi’s pupils trembled. His grip loosened, and the wrinkled tie slipped from his hand.
“Working together, baby.” Lu Shangjin pulled him into a hug, picked up the drooping rabbit ears, and kissed them. “Sorry, I was joking.”
Yan Yi’s expression stiffened. He pulled his ears back from Lu Shangjin’s hand and turned sideways in the seat, hugging his knees with his back to him, embarrassed and annoyed.
“My fault. I was teasing you.” Lu Shangjin placed a hand on his shoulder, only for Yan Yi to shrug it off impatiently.
Lu Shangjin smiled helplessly and started driving.
“I’ll make it up to you—take you somewhere fun.” He loosened his tie with one hand and tossed it aside, then pulled out a box of timothy hay from his pocket and stuffed it under the little rabbit’s fluffy tail.
The tail flicked irritably.
Lu Shangjin pulled out two baby carrots from another pocket.
Yan Yi turned around, picked up the hay box, and took a bite of the carrot.
“…Where are we going?”
Lu Shangjin scratched under his chin. “Going or not? If not, we’re going home for dinner.”
“Yes, yes, yes, let’s go.” Yan Yi’s eyes lit up, his earlier jealousy forgotten entirely.
Making a sixteen-year-old happy was an art. Outside of work, most of Lu Shangjin’s time and energy went into mastering it. The lop-eared rabbit care manual was no longer applicable.
The little rabbit at home had grown into a cool teenager.
When they drove into the suburban racetrack in Changhui, Yan Yi pressed against the window, staring at the sports cars racing across the field, eyes sparkling.
Lu Shangjin got out and greeted Bi Rui Jing, who was walking over.
Bi Rui Jing approached with a slim cigar between his fingers, finishing the front half in a few puffs before savoring the stronger aftertaste.
“What brings you here today?”
Lu Shangjin glanced back. Yan Yi was in the passenger seat, chewing a carrot and watching him.
“Making it up to my kid at home.”
“Disgusting. Gives me goosebumps.” Bi Rui Jing scoffed, then his gaze locked onto the blazing red LaFerrari nearby. “You brought that here? That’s some sincerity. Let me take it for a spin later.”
Bi Rui Jing loved cars almost as much as he loved his wife. He had built this racetrack himself in the suburbs for like-minded rich kids to play.
“Pingzi’s been worrying about his brother again. Heard Xia Jing skipped class and ran off to Nanqi—left a bar address.”
“How’s Yan Yi doing?” Bi Rui Jing leaned against the wall, looking him over. “Such a waste of a perfect A3.”
“He’s doing fine. Besides, I never cared about his rank.” Lu Shangjin picked up a track map and glanced at it.
“Yeah, high rank isn’t always a good thing.” Bi Rui Jing chuckled. “Mine tortures me all day.”
“Oh—嫂子’s here.” Lu Shangjin suddenly said, looking past him.
Bi Rui Jing immediately crushed his cigar and turned around—only to find nothing there. He froze, then turned back and cursed, “You bastard. Double the gas money.”
The track wasn’t filled with steep slopes or sharp turns, but the LaFerrari’s speed was thrilling enough. Yan Yi flushed red with excitement, grabbing Lu Shangjin’s arm, screaming through sharp turns before breaking into laughter.
The scenery blurred into streaks of color. Lu Shangjin glanced at the exhilarated little rabbit and let a faint smile tug at his lips.
Suddenly, Yan Yi blurted out, “Why can’t I ever catch up to you? Is there some trick? Teach me.”
Lu Shangjin’s expression froze.
For a moment, it felt like he was back on the cliff at Yungas, Yan Yi’s eyes dark and confused—
“Brother Jin… why can’t I ever catch up to you?”
The car stopped by the lake. Lu Shangjin pushed Yan Yi lightly toward the rocks, holding his shoulders, looking down at him deeply.
There was no moon tonight. The stars above the track shone as brilliantly as those over Yungas, their faint glow resting gently on Yan Yi’s face.
Yan Yi tilted his head slightly, vague memories stirring—like pages in a book where the answers had been covered with correction fluid. Each turn left him confused, yet strangely familiar.
Only three months had passed, yet it felt like years. Everything he had never experienced—this alpha was trying to give him.
Last night, he had played a piece for him. Yan Yi still remembered the melody of “Utakata,” remembered the scars on his hands.
In his hazy memories, there was a Little Prince playing piano among the stars—distant, unreachable, the music not meant for him.
But the alpha in front of him… his eyes were filled with devotion and tenderness. Every touch was restrained, controlled—until he couldn’t hold back, pulling him close again and again, whispering apologies.
Just like now.
His pupils trembled as he suddenly hugged him tightly, his tense arms squeezing so hard Yan Yi struggled to breathe.
This poor alpha… he must have lost something precious once, to become so cautious—like a traveler walking on ice, afraid of falling.
Yan Yi patted his waist lightly. “Too tight…”
Lu Shangjin quickly loosened his arms, lowering his head until their foreheads touched. His voice was hoarse. “You don’t need to chase me anymore. Not ever again.”
His heart pounded violently, loud even through his shirt in the quiet night. He raised a hand to touch his chest—the paper crane Yan Yi had folded was in his pocket.
The night was still. The starlight spilled across the lake behind them, reflecting in Yan Yi’s eyes.
Lu Shangjin caught his shy, retreating hand and intertwined their fingers, lowering his head to kiss his brow, then the bridge of his nose, then the tip, and finally the corner of his lips.
His deep, slightly husky voice brushed Yan Yi’s ear as he asked:
“Can I kiss you?”
Yan Yi lowered his gaze, lashes trembling. His soft lips parted slightly—and Lu Shangjin immediately captured his upper lip, overcome with emotion, one hand gently holding a rabbit ear in his warm palm.
The Little Prince’s kisses had been distant, almost pitying—unable to convey this kind of passion, this kind of love and pain.
Lu Shangjin sucked lightly on his upper lip, then tenderly took his lower lip, his tongue slipping easily into his mouth, brushing past his teeth and tangling with his tongue in a deep, lingering kiss.
“Yanyan, I love you… I love you… I love you…”
The rose you gave me is still blooming.
Can I be the one who chases the light?