Chapter 32: Caught in the Act
It was Nan Yi's first time at a bar, and he was with friends.
None of them seemed bothered by his silence, nor did they ignore him.
At first, Nan Yi was quite reserved, but after a while, he even joined them in playing dice.
Yin Feng loved to be mischievous, and not only was he playful, but he'd also drag Nan Yi into it.
The alphas didn't fuss over the omegas. It was usual for them to just have a token drink.
That night, Nan Yi stayed out until the wee hours.
Though he didn't drink much, he still felt a bit tipsy.
As for Yin Feng, he drank quite a bit on behalf of Nan Yi. When drunk, he clung onto Bai Shan Yao like an octopus, and it took Bai Shan Yao's embrace to finally get him out of the bar.
The onset of winter brought a cold night.
Standing at the hotel's entrance, Nan Yi's yellow clothing already gave him a healthy complexion. Add the rosiness from the alcohol, and his face was completely flushed.
He looked much cuter than his usual aloof demeanor.
"Yin Lu... take... Nan Yi home..."
Yin Feng, nestled in Bai Shan Yao's arms, messed up Bai's shirt, his thoughts still on Nan Yi even in his drunken stupor.
"Yin Lu, I'll take Feng home. Please take care of Mr. Nan."
Bai Shan Yao got into his white car. The tires rolled across the ground, the headlights shone, and he gradually drove away.
"Let's go, cutie. I'll take you home."
Yin Lu opened the car's back door and raised an eyebrow playfully at Nan Yi.
Nan Yi shook his head.
[I have a car]
Yin Lu glanced at the phone Nan Yi held out.
"You can't drink and drive. Let me take you home."
Nan Yi paused momentarily. Did Yin Lu think he was driving himself?
It made sense. Everyone thought of him merely as a chef. Which chef would have a personal chauffeur?
[My friend is nearby. He'll take me home]
"Can you trust your friend? You're a tipsy little omega, very cute, and mute. If someone wanted to take advantage of you, you wouldn't be able to resist."
After his righteous proclamation, Yin Lu gestured to his car, "Get in. I'll drive you home."
Nan Yi: ..................
I find you more suspicious.
[Really, it's fine. You go on ahead]
"That won't do. If I don't personally escort you home, Mingfeng will surely kill me tomorrow," Yin Lu feigned fear.
He also rubbed his own arm for a moment.
"Hop in the car. It'll take some time for your friend to get here," he advised.
Without waiting for Nan Yi to refuse, Alpha grabbed his arm and shoved him into the car.
After walking halfway around the vehicle, Yin Lu entered through another door, making the car interior feel suddenly cramped.
"Let's go," Alpha instructed the driver in front.
Nan Yi: ..................
The car started moving, and Nan Yi decided not to bother asking Xiao Wang to pick him up anymore.
"Share your contact. Send me the address."
Alpha, seated beside him, suddenly leaned closer, presenting an already opened phone screen to Nan Yi.
Nan Yi added Alpha on his contacts and sent over his address as well.
Perhaps due to a bit of alcohol, Nan Yi felt slightly suffocated in the confined space of the car.
He leaned against the window, eyes closed, taking a rest.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Nan Yi felt a gentle shake on his shoulder.
He opened his eyes in confusion, finding the familiar mansion gate before him. It took him a few seconds to realize he was already outside his villa.
"Your employer seems quite wealthy."
Yin Lu glanced at the European-style mansion and commented softly.
Although Yin Lu appeared unreliable, he was rather gentlemanly.
The car door was pulled open from the outside, letting in a rush of cool air. Nan Yi shivered slightly.
After exiting the car, Nan Yi gave a gesture of thanks.
"You're welcome. Get inside quickly, little cutie."
Nan Yi headed towards the main door. Having spent a long time in the car and dozing off for a bit, he found himself somewhat unprepared for the evening chill.
"By the way, don't fall asleep in strangers' cars in the future."
Nan Yi, who had just begun to open the main door, paused and looked back. The person inside the car waved at him before rolling up the window and driving off.
The distance from the main gate to the living room was quite long, prompting Nan Yi to quicken his pace.
It was bitterly cold.
For the first time, he genuinely felt the piercing chill of winter.
Not bothering to switch on the lights, Nan Yi activated his flashlight upon entering the house.
The belated effects of the alcohol made his head spin slightly. He tripped while ascending the stairs but managed to grab onto the handrail in time.
It was a heart-stopping moment; the flush on his face faded, replaced by a shade of pallor.
Regaining his balance, he proceeded to climb the stairs more cautiously.
The motion-sensitive lights on the second floor lit up in response to his footsteps.
Internally, Nan Yi wondered why the lights hadn't activated when he was on the staircase.
Despite only walking a short distance outside, Nan Yi felt so chilled that it took him a while to shake it off.
He yearned to return to his room and soak in a hot bath.
"Who dropped you off?"
Before reaching the entrance to his bedroom, a sudden voice from behind startled him, causing him to involuntarily shrink his shoulders.
He was inherently jumpy, and, frustratingly, people always seemed to speak up unexpectedly from behind him.
A deep voice, laced with a hint of coldness, echoed from behind.
An unmistakably familiar voice.
Slowly, Nan Yi turned around.
It was He Yu Shen, whom he hadn't seen for a month. How he had suddenly returned was a mystery.
His face was serene as he silently regarded Nan Yi, but that calm demeanor was even more intimidating than outright anger.
He Yu Shen stared at the omega, who was now typing on his phone, trying hard to suppress his rising anger.
It had been only a month since he left, and the once obedient omega now reeked of alcohol and was returning home in a stranger alpha's car.
[It was my friend's elder brother who dropped me off.]
Nan Yi showed his explanation to He Yu Shen, hoping he would quickly read it and let him go inside.
"Did I provide you with a chauffeur just for show?"
"Coming back in the middle of the night, drenched in alcohol and a mix of unfamiliar pheromones; don't you find it unseemly?"
He Yu Shen coldly glanced at Nan Yi's slightly reddened hands and frowned.
"Go clean yourself up!"
The alpha's words were sharp and unpleasant.
Unable to retort, Nan Yi, looking pale, quickly retreated to his room.
He filled the bathtub with hot water, momentarily forgetting the earlier incident, and indulged in a comforting bath.
He Yu Shen waited outside for half an hour, growing more agitated by the minute. He was tempted to push the tightly closed door open but held back.
What kind of bath took half an hour?
He waited another twenty minutes.
Coldness now etched the alpha's face, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Had the omega become too spoiled? All because of a few reprimands...
Hiding in the bathroom, not coming out.
Had he learned to be sulky now?
"Nan Yi, come out."
He Yu Shen's voice called from outside the door.
There was no movement inside, not even the sound of water.
He Yu took a deep breath, pushing the door open with visible anger.
"What are you playing at.............."