Chapter 01
Through his thirty-one years in this world, Shen Yu had never once imagined that he would be stalked. The mere thought of it felt so absurd that it almost made him laugh aloud. Even now, thinking back on it, he found it difficult to pinpoint exactly when he had come to that conclusion, though there had been several…incidents that, when pieced together, formed a rather unsettling pattern.
The first sign had been the disappearance of his clothes.
It had started subtly at first—one hoodie missing, then a sweater, then even one of his suit jackets. Each item had been something he favored, something he wore often, and yet they vanished without a trace, as though they had never existed in the first place. Over time, the losses became too consistent to ignore, and with them, the quiet comfort of his daily routine began to unravel. Even his evening walks, once soothing in their simplicity, no longer brought him peace.
That was when he noticed him.
A boy—always dressed in an oversized hoodie, glasses slipping slightly down his nose—lingering just within sight. At first, Shen Yu had dismissed him as just another passerby, but it didn't take long for him to realize that the boy's presence was anything but coincidental. He would catch glimpses of him at odd moments, phone raised ever so slightly, as though attempting to take pictures when he thought Shen Yu wasn't paying attention.
This had been going on for weeks—no, months—and yet Shen Yu had made no effort to stop it.
Perhaps it was a lack of curiosity, or perhaps it was simply laziness. Either way, he had allowed it to continue, watching with a detached sort of amusement as the boy fumbled through his so-called secrecy.
What lingered most in his mind, however, was not the act itself, but the expression the boy would wear when he was caught.
Those honey-brown eyes, slightly dazed, as though he had momentarily forgotten his purpose entirely. The way his composure would crumble under Shen Yu's gaze, replaced by something almost…adorably flustered.
The memory alone was enough to make Shen Yu chuckle under his breath.
"What's got you smiling at a time like this?"
Shen Mei's voice broke through his thoughts, light yet edged with curiosity. She stood beside him with one brow raised, clearly intrigued by his rare display of amusement.
Shen Yu didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with practiced ease. The ember at its tip glowed a warm amber against the darkness of the night, and a thin stream of smoke curled upward as he took a slow drag, exhaling just as leisurely.
The night air was cool, brushing softly against his face, and his long black coat shifted slightly as he leaned back against the wall. For a moment, he allowed himself to settle into the quiet.
Then he sighed.
"Why do you always ruin the mood, Mei?" he said at last, his tone returning to its usual cool indifference. "When will they be here?"
Shen Mei pursed her lips, clearly unimpressed, but she checked her phone nonetheless. "Half past eight. We still have twenty minutes," she replied before stepping closer to lean against the cold exterior wall of the restaurant beside him.
A brief silence settled between them before she spoke again, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"But seriously…what made you smile like that?"
Shen Yu exhaled another stream of smoke, his dark gaze lowering slightly as it fell on his younger sister. There was something effortlessly composed about him—the way he carried himself, the quiet confidence in his posture, the cigarette resting between his fingers—that made him appear almost untouchable.
Shen Mei couldn't help the sharp intake of breath that escaped her.
Damn...if my brother were an Alpha, he'd be an absolute heartthrob.
The thought crossed her mind unbidden as she adjusted her glasses, watching as the faintest curve touched Shen Yu's lips.
"Someone's been stealing my clothes, Mei."
Her brows immediately drew together in confusion, but before she could question him further, she noticed the subtle shift in his expression. His eyes darkened, his attention snapping toward something beyond her.
"They're here," he murmured.
Straightening, Shen Mei followed his gaze, and together they pushed themselves off the wall and headed toward the restaurant entrance.
The moment they stepped inside, the air changed.
It was thick with overlapping scents—food, perfume, and the faint traces of pheromones that lingered in a crowded space. Shen Yu felt no sense of anticipation, no warmth at the thought of reuniting with his parents after so many years. If anything, all he felt was a dull, persistent annoyance.
However, just as he took a few steps forward, his gaze sharpened.
Across the room, seated quietly with a newspaper held up in front of him, was a figure he recognized instantly.
Chestnut hair. Honey-brown eyes.
The boy.
As if sensing his gaze, the boy hesitated before slowly lowering the newspaper, only to freeze when their eyes met. In the next second, he quickly dropped his gaze, his movements stiff and unnatural.
Shen Yu's eyes narrowed slightly.
The boy's lashes trembled faintly, and though half his face was obscured by a mask, there was no mistaking the tension in his posture. Whether he was blushing or not, Shen Yu couldn't tell—but the reaction was unmistakable.
Before he could dwell on it further, he felt a light tug at his coat.
Turning his head, he found Shen Mei looking up at him, her expression pointed as she gestured subtly toward a table across the room.
Their parents were already seated.
As always, his father's face was rigid and severe, while his mother leaned toward him, murmuring something in a soft attempt to ease his tension. The heavy makeup she wore gave her a youthful, almost striking appearance—one that contrasted sharply with the stern man beside her.
Noticing their approach, Shen Yong did not show even the slightest hint of relief. Instead, he simply watched them in silence, his gaze sharp and expectant as he waited for Shen Yu to take his seat.
"It's been a while, Father, Mother—"
Shen Yu's greeting was cut short by the abrupt lift of Shen Yong's hand.
"Ten years," the older man said, his voice low but laced with restrained anger. "I gave you ten years, Shen Yu, and yet you've accomplished nothing."
Shen Mei's brows rose slightly at the harshness of his tone, but Shen Yu merely regarded him calmly, as though the words held no weight.
"You have a stable career. You have the looks. What is stopping you from getting married?" Shen Yong continued, his voice rising.
Shen Yu resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"How can I pass my position to you when you are like this?" his father pressed on. "You're thirty-one, and I cannot even recall the last time you dated anyone."
The man's brows furrowed deeply, the resemblance between father and son striking in that moment—both sharp, both unyielding.
"At first, you were merely a beta," Shen Yong said coldly, "and now you're proving yourself incompetent as well."
"Enough," Su Ran interjected softly, clearly alarmed. She reached for her husband's hands, releasing her calming pheromones as she did so. The gentle floral scent of tulips spread through the air, gradually easing the tension in Shen Yong's rigid posture.
Even so, his gaze remained sharp.
"Two weeks," Shen Yong said. "That's how long you have to fix this."
"Find a partner within that time. If you fail, I will arrange a marriage with the Fen family."
He drew in a steady breath before adding, "Their daughter has always been fond of you. You would make a suitable—"
"Not interested."
Shen Yu's voice cut through the air cleanly as he pushed his chair back and stood. The legs scraped harshly against the tiled floor, drawing a few glances from nearby tables.
Shen Yong's expression darkened instantly.
"You—"
But Shen Yu didn't wait to hear the rest. Without another word, he turned and walked out, his black coat shifting with the movement as he stepped back into the night.
For a moment, silence lingered at the table.
Then Shen Yong turned his gaze toward Shen Mei, who sat idly stirring her drink, her attention seemingly fixed on the straw between her fingers.
"Don't you dare turn out like your brother," he said through gritted teeth.
Shen Mei simply shrugged, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she leaned back in her seat, offering no real response at all.