Beta Doesn't Mean a Bottom

Slipping Threads

Chapter 10

Shen Jue's Point of View

It was already nine when Shen Jue stirred awake — a rare thing. He was a man of habit, and habit dictated that he rose with the alarm at 6:45, dressed by 7, coffee in hand by 7:30, and out the door by 8:00 sharp.

So why…?

He reached out instinctively, palm gliding across the bedsheets.

Cold.

The other side of the bed was already empty.

He blinked up at the ceiling, disoriented, then turned his head toward the bathroom. No sound of running water. No scent of freshly brewed coffee lingering from downstairs.

No Wanyue.

A sharp jolt of unease crawled up his spine.

Normally, if Lin Wanyue ever woke before him — which was rare — he’d shake Shen Jue awake gently, call his name once or twice, maybe press a kiss to his cheek and say: “You're going to be late again, sleepyhead.”

It was almost annoying.

Almost.

But not today.

Shen Jue sat up, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and stared for a second. There was no note, no sound, no presence.

The silence pressed in from all corners.

He stood, pulled on a shirt, and padded downstairs with increasing urgency.

“Wanyue?” he called.

Nothing.

He moved through the living room, toward the sunlit kitchen — empty. Still warm with breakfast smells, but missing the one person that usually made it feel like home.

“Wanyue?!”

Finally, he spotted the housekeeper arranging flower vases near the stairs.

Shen Jue’s tone was clipped. “Where’s Lin Wanyue?”

The housekeeper didn’t even flinch. “Young Master Lin was picked up early this morning by Young Master Zhou.”

“…Zhou Xinxin?”

“Yes. Said they were going out.”

Shen Jue exhaled, the knot in his chest loosening just slightly. He remembered — Wanyue had mentioned modeling. Something about looking into agencies.

He wasn’t against it, not really. If Wanyue wanted to work, he could support him tenfold.

Still…

He glanced at the clock again.

Nine-fifteen.

Why didn’t Wanyue wake him?

Why didn’t he say goodbye?

Why didn’t he kiss him good morning?

It was nothing. Just a skipped routine. A minor oversight.

But it stung.

Maybe he forgot.

Or maybe… he didn’t want to.

Shen Jue clenched his jaw and grabbed his coat.

He made it to the office, but his usual efficiency was dulled.

The assistant who greeted him noticed the stiffness in his steps.

He stared at his screen for most of the morning, barely registering his meeting schedule, glancing at his phone more than necessary.

He should’ve said something last night.

Should’ve pulled Lin Wanyue closer when he had the chance.

Should’ve asked what was going on — if something had changed.

Because something had.

The warmth in their home was still there, but faint. Like the scent of perfume long after the person has left.

It scared him.

Not visibly. Not in a way others would notice.

But deep in the pit of his stomach, a coldness gnawed at him. What if this wasn’t just mood? What if Wanyue had quietly taken a step back, and he hadn't even noticed?

He’d never questioned their relationship before. It was steady. Familiar. Safe.

But now it felt like he was standing on a frozen lake, and a crack had just echoed beneath his feet.

By mid-afternoon, he made a decision.

He picked up his phone and typed:

[Shen Jue]: I reserved a table at Luobai Pavilion. 7:30. Will you come?

[Wanyue]: Alright. I’ll be home before then.

Relief and ache hit at once.

Shen Jue stared at the reply far longer than necessary.

This was normal.

It was their weekly date night.

But his heart… still didn’t feel right.

Tonight, he would ask.

Not demand — he didn’t want to push Wanyue away.

He just wanted to understand.

Because for the first time in years, Shen Jue was afraid that the person who made his house a home might already be walking away from him.

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End of Chapter 10