Chapter Text
That morning's chill felt like a final embrace, or so Gao Lele thought as he stepped out first. Autumn had already taken its place, replacing summer moments ago, almost ready to welcome winter, which was only a few weeks away.
Gao Lele, with his thick brown coat wrapped around him and made him look like a bear, was rubbing his hands repeatedly while staring across the street; staring at a man who was busy moving heavy boxes and going back and forth to get in and then out.
Gao Lele's head tilted as he stared intently, he remembered the face with sharp features and a fierce-looking gaze; strangely, that Uncle didn't seem cruel, of course Gao Lele knew that because the uncle had a faint, pleasant scent.
It was only when the man came back out to pick up the another box that the wolf's eyes coincidentally stared at him in surprise. Gao Lele remained still, somewhat afraid of being caught observing, he steps moving backward, ready to run, but the man only gave a small smile and a firm nod, as if to say that it was no problem if Gao Lele was observing.
Gao Lele blinked repeatedly, his hands anxiously gripping the hem of his brown coat, at a loss for how to react.
"Lele?" luckyly, Baba is his savior in the fantasy tale of Gao Lele and the snow-gray wolf which is often read as a bedtime story.
“Baba,” Gao Lele said as he saw Gao Tu come out of their small apartment and stare at him curiously. “What’s wrong?”
Gao Lele was silent for a moment, then shook his head doubtfully before the corner of his eye glanced to where that uncle had been standing, and now no trace of his presence could be seen. "Nothing!"
Gao Tu noticed Lele's gaze and turned to the same spot, a small room with an open door and a few small cardboard boxes in front of the house. "Oh, a new neighbor?" Gao Tu asked.
Lele nodded in confirmation. “That’s right, Baba. That Uncle was carrying cardboard boxes back and forth.”
Gao Tu let out a chuckle as he began to lock the door. “Okay, Lele, don’t disturb the new neighbors. Let’s go.”
Lele giggled and then accepted Gao Tu's outstretched hand. His steps followed those of his father as he walked away toward the elevator to go down.
But Lele couldn't contain her curiosity. He glanced back once more to see if that uncle, who was now his new neighbor, had closed the door.
And, not yet.
Lele wondered, was that Uncle the same Uncle who hugged Baba ten days ago at the playground?
***
That day, the temperature had dropped several degrees, the smell of floor freshener was pungent, and the orange light reflected in his eyes. Shen Wenlang stood awkwardly in front of the door of an 'old friend' who also served as his 'child's' home.
It was not in his dictionary for almost 30 years of life that fear was one of the instinctive traits of human beings, Shen Wenlang himself with blood-stained hands had crossed out that word and burned it to remove any traces of it.
But this time, it was different.
His hands were sweating as if the sun were overhead, his breath hitching in his chest several times, and he repeatedly adjusted the hem of his jacket. There was no turning back.
Tok tok tok.
His hands were placed back at his sides, waiting hopefully for the rickety door that was no longer fit to stand as a protector of the house.
Click. The sound of a key being turned.
Shen Wenlang felt gravity no longer revolve around him as the door opened, revealing a face he had almost memorized and almost ingrained in his mind. Gao Tu stood with a surprised expression on his face to find Shen Wenlang standing in front of the door, one hand holding a tote bag from a bakery.
“Gao Tu,” Shen Wenlang greeted, his voice trembling slightly at first. “Hi.”
In contrast to Shen Wenlang's nervousness, Gao Tu stood at the door with a sharper feeling, one he didn't yet know what to call it, a feeling that only arose when he saw Shen Wenlang from behind the screen—until now he appeared before him.
“Gao Tu, wait,” Shen Wenlang hurriedly held the door as Gao Tu wordlessly prepared to close it, blocking Shen Wenlang’s view. “Please, I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
Gao Tu stared through gritted teeth. “President Shen, should I call this a coincidence?” his voice was neutral, though Shen Wenlang could tell Gao Tu’s gaze seemed to penetrate his emotions.
“I—” Shen Wenlang paused, “just this,” he reached out, handing the tote bag in front of Gao Tu. “cake. I live next door, think of it as, well, a greeting.”
Gao Tu glanced inside the tote bag, seeing Walnut Butter Cookies, Lele's favorite. Of course, Gao Tu knew the bakery Shen Wenlang visited; it was the same one where Gao Tu bought Walnut Butter Cookies for Lele every three months.
How does Shen Wenlang know his son's favorite?
"Gao Tu, take it." Shen Wenlang's words broke his reverie.
A faint smile crept across Gao Tu's lips. Didn't this mean Shen Wenlang had delved into the life he and his son had built over the past three years in a single day, to the point where he knew where his son's favorite shop and pastries were? And what was that? He lived next door?
"I think there's nothing to give or take anymore, President Shen. I'll continue to pay off my debt every month. Please check your bank account. There's no need for this kind of cake between us. I won't owe you anymore," Gao Tu refused. "And live in a shabby apartment like this?" A small chuckle escaped Gao Tu's lips.
Shen Wenlang swallowed nervously. “I— ”
"I don't understand the purpose of your move and the consideration of living on the outskirts of the city like this, but I hope you don't intend to disrupt other people's lives. Good afternoon, President Shen."
Shen Wenlang's outstretched hand had already dropped and returned to his side. "Can't you hear me out first? Please, Gao Tu, we have so much to discuss. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Shen Wenlang retorted.
Gao Tu's gaze began to show fear. "Lele, my child, has nothing to do with you. I will make sure we don't interfere with your life." his voice sounded a little shaky.
“Is that so, Gao Tu?” Shen Wenlang asked once more. “Do you think I’ll believe you?” Shen Wenlang’s puppy-dog look almost made Gao Tu melt.
However, the thought of Shen Wenlang's shouting and behavior in breaking into the house and taking Lele away from him made Gao Tu's hand on the doorknob tremble. "That night was just an accident. Forget it, President Shen, I'm not asking for any compensation. Why prolong the matter?"
Hearing Gao Tu's statement, Shen Wenlang's head felt dizzy.
Forget it, it was as if the past three years had been a breeze and nothing to him.
“Listen to me, Gao Tu,” Shen Wenlang’s jaw clenched. “I’m not what you think I am,”
“Then what?” Gao Tu replied quickly. “You already know I’m an omega, and then what?” Gao Tu’s voice was almost choked.
Gao Tu's eyes began to well up with tears. "I'll take your abuse right now if you repeat what I've been hearing for the past ten years. But don't bring my child into this. Gao Lele is my child, mine."
Gao Tu gasped after setting his boundaries early, while Shen Wenlang's shoulders immediately slumped. "I had no intention of hurting anyone, Gao Tu. I apologize for ten years ago. I'm truly sorry. But I came here today with no ill intentions toward you or Lele."
“Jianghu is more suitable for you, President Shen. There’s no point in staying in touch with me or Lele here if that’s your intention in moving.”
Gao Tu slammed the door shut before he could fully confirm Shen Wenlang's expression, which looked as if a boulder had fallen on him. His hand gripped the doorknob tightly and then locked it twice. His heart pounded, fear creeping up on him, as if cornering him, making him breathless.
“Baba?” Luckily, little bear Gao Tu was always on time to open the window of his daydream and bring in air to expand his lungs.
“Lele.” Gao Tu turned around and looked at his son, who was standing a few steps away, staring curiously. “What’s wrong? Do you need my help?”
Gao Tu's steps moved away from the door when he heard the sound of footsteps also moving away from the front, he approached Lele and crouched in front of his son.
Lele's gaze fell toward the door, his lips pursed slightly. "The cake isn't ready, is it?"
Gao Tu's breath hitched, almost forgetting that Lele might be the one listening to the two adults' argument. Knowing that Lele had caught the cake conversation, Gao Tu wondered what he had heard and what he had understood.
Gao Tu's smile widened with force. "We'll buy it ourselves, Lele." he raised his hand to stroke Lele's head.
“Is that Uncle our new neighbor, Baba?”
“Mhm,” Gao Tu muttered reluctantly, “is that the Uncle Lele saw this morning?”
Lele nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, that’s Uncle lifting the heavy cardboard!”
Gao Tu stared hesitantly at his son, contemplating his words several times. Finally, he sat down and pulled Lele onto his lap. "Lele, listen to Baba."
“Lele understands, right, that Baba loves you and will always take care of you?”
Lele in his lap nodded with a wide smile. “Baba always takes care of Lele.”
“That uncle earlier—Baba doesn’t know him well yet, so, for now, it’s better for Lele not to get close to that uncle, okay?”
Gao Tu noticed Lele's expression turning calm.
"Besides, Uncle just moved in and must be very tired, so it's best if we don't get too close and don't disturb him. Just watch, okay?"
Lele nodded. “Yes, Baba.”
Gao Tu pulled Lele's hand to hold it tightly, assuring himself that she was still close to him. "Lele trusts Baba, right?"
“Lele believes Baba.” Lele’s smile widened. “But,”
"When Baba gets to know that Uncle better, can Lele get close to Uncle?"
Gao Tu was silent for a moment, his hands unconsciously clenching even tighter. “Lele,” he whispered softly, his voice fragile, “we’ll see, okay?”
"If Baba says it's okay, it means it's okay. If not, it means Baba is keeping Lele safe."
“Okay, Baba. Lele understands.” Lele’s hands moved to hug Gao Tu’s neck. Gao Tu’s hands also hugged Lele even tighter. “Lele must always be close to Baba. Don’t move away from Baba.”
On the other side, Shen Wenlang leaned against the door of his own apartment. His hand still held the container of cookies that Gao Tu had rejected. He stared with mixed emotions, replaying the faint sound of his son calling Gao Tu 'Baba.'
“Lele,” he muttered softly, “Baba….”
***
The next day, still early in the morning, Gao Tu was already feeling anxious about the possibility of running into Shen Wenlang. But fortunately, they didn't cross paths at all. There was no time for curiosity; Gao Tu's desire to keep Lele close was greater than the renewed bloom in his heart at seeing the man he had loved standing before him once again.
So, the morning after three mornings without Shen Wenlang, Gao Tu could feel at ease. The sunlight seemed to peek shyly through the window, and the cold still gripped his body, making him reluctant to leave.
After preparing Lele's bag and supplies, Gao Tu got ready to leave. His son was already sitting in front of him, putting on his shoes. "Lele, are you ready?"
Lele immediately stood up as soon as he saw Gao Tu approaching, his small hand taking over the school bag Gao Tu was carrying. “Ready!”
“Okay, let’s go.” Gao Tu’s smile spread warmly after he put on his own shoes and opened the apartment door.
The two of them walked towards the elevator. Since they were staying on the fifth floor, they would take it down to the ground floor. It was an old, rusty elevator that made a creaking noise. "Keep holding Baba's hand, understand?" Gao Tu assured Lele as they waited for the elevator to open.
Lele nodded in understanding. Lele was an obedient and very quiet child outside, he was very sensitive to pheromones, especially Alpha pheromones. Because since childhood he lacked stimulation from Alpha Father's pheromones, Lele tended to be afraid and couldn't smell Alpha scents for too long. For the past three years, only Gao Qing, her younger sister; and Ma Heng, the man who helped Gao Tu to provide pheromones support, even so, Lele still couldn't smell Ma Heng's scent for too long. The only exception was Gao Qing because the two were still blood relatives.
Several Alphas who had a crush on Gao Tu had already been rejected by Lele. Lele openly admitted to being afraid of other Alphas. Furthermore, Gao Tu had never intended to open his heart to finding a mate.
Therefore, whenever she was outside, Lele would always hold Gao Tu tightly, when another Alpha entered the elevator, Lele would immediately stand behind and hide.
While waiting for the elevator, the two talked a lot. Lele had decided on dinner and they had already planned their shopping before heading home. In the midst of their conversation, Gao Tu paused for a moment when he heard footsteps approaching and stopping a short distance behind him. He reflexively turned his head.
Shen Wenlang.
The two of them stared at each other, Gao Tu unconsciously pulled Lele closer, and that was how he made Lele realize someone was behind her, and Lele turned her head.
Gao Tu prepared to rebuff Shen Wenlang's remarks, just in case he were about to open his mouth. However, what happened next was different. Shen Wenlang glanced at Lele for a moment and then looked away, not wanting to make any obvious moves. Lele didn't stare at him for too long.
Luckily, the elevator opened shortly after, and the two of them walked in, including Shen Wenlang, of course. Unfortunately, the elevator opened empty.
The elevator closed after Gao Tu pressed the button for the lowest floor. He stood in the corner, and Shen Wenlang did the same, but he was further ahead.
Gao Tu stared silently at Shen Wenlang's back. He thought the man had returned to Jianghu and would leave the apartment after receiving his eviction notice, but apparently not. It was unknown where he had gone for the past three days, but Gao Tu's calmness was no longer the same.
However, something was different, and it surprised Gao Tu. The pheromone patch on the back of Shen Wenlang's neck peeked shyly out from under his hair. Since when had the confident Shen Wenlang used a pheromone patch? This made Gao Tu realize that the iris scent he once coveted now had a faint scent because of the patch.
Luckily, Gao Tu was also afraid that Lele would be scared if he smelled the pheromones too strongly.
Gao Tu glanced at Lele who was standing beside him, unlike usual he would be behind Gao Tu, today Lele had no intention of hiding. Perhaps Lele thought that there was only one person, it was not a problem; but this was not like usual, it was not Lele who was holding on tightly, but Gao Tu himself.
There was no further conversation until they exited the elevator and headed to their respective destinations. Gao Tu watched Shen Wenlang get into the pickup truck and drive away. His unexpectedly held breath finally escaped with a sigh of relief.
“Baba, are you okay?” sensing the sour smell of Baba’s pheromones, Lele became worried. “It’s okay, Lele. Let’s go to school.”
It's okay. Shen Wenlang's presence is nothing. It shouldn't disrupt her routine. It shouldn't shake her composure.
“Lele, wait until Baba comes back, understand? As usual.” Gao Tu stroked his son’s head as they stood in front of the school gate after a 10-minute journey.
“Got it, Baba. See you this afternoon!”
Moving on to Shen Wenlang; the man sits lost in thought staring out the window towards the hotel where he works during his stay in Country V.
The way Gao Tu looked at him in surprise, the way Gao Tu held Lele tighter, the way Gao Tu rushed into the corner of the elevator, the way Gao Tu made sure he kept his distance, the way Gao Tu's pheromones smelled sour; all of it was playing over and over in his mind.
Shen Wenlang had already confirmed that he wouldn't back down as quickly as Gao Tu had expected. Shen Wenlang would make every effort to speak with Gao Tu and clear up matters that had long been unexplained.
For the past three days, he has been to Jianghu to make a statement regarding his absence from his regular office routine. He will be working online from Country V, with all meetings being held online. Except for urgent matters, all matters have been handed over to Hua Yong for an indefinite period.
If Hua Yong could take a few years off from his office for Sheng Shao You, Shen Wenlang could do the same.
It was still warm in his heart when Hua Sheng hugged him tightly and said that he would miss Shen Wenlang and wait for Shen Wenlang to come home, how Shen Wenlang tried to imagine that Hua Sheng was Gao Lele who said he was waiting for him to come home.
'Daddy's home, Lele.'
“President Shen, we’ve arrived.” Shen Wenlang snapped out of his reverie, and then he nodded and went out to the room that had been reserved as a workspace.
Upon arriving at the room he had booked, Shen Wenlang didn't start working immediately. He simply sat quietly in his chair for a long time, staring at his phone, which displayed a photo of Gao Tu and Lele from that morning while waiting for the elevator to open. Gao Tu in his long white coat, and Lele in a brown bear fur jacket, their heights contrasting, their hands tightly clasped, and their bags slung over their backs. How Shen Wenlang wished he could be in that frame.
The afternoon came later, or it was just Gao Tu's thoughts because he was so eager to see his son and make sure Lele was still with him.
So on the way home from the supermarket, Gao Tu kept smiling and making light jokes to Lele, the two of them chatted a lot until they finally got out of the elevator and were in front of the apartment door.
“Okay, Lele, today we’re going to make hotpot and boiled eggs.” Lele nodded cheerfully. “Agreed!”
Gao Tu smiled while shaking his head, he inserted the key to open the door, at the same time, he heard the elevator open again, and from the corner of his eye and the scent of the pheromones that drifted in the air, he knew that it was Shen Wenlang.
“Come in, Lele,” Gao Tu said softly, nudging Lele inside as Shen Wenlang got closer. Lele obediently ran inside, shouting happily. “Hotpot!”
Their apartments were only five doors apart, so Gao Tu could still see the man wearing a dark gray coat without a briefcase, just Shen Wenlang and his hands tucked into his coat pockets .
Shen Wenlang himself realized he was being stared at for a while longer, and he decided to turn his head slightly, just enough for the corner of his eye to catch Gao Tu's movement of looking away and going inside.
“Good afternoon, Gao Tu. I'm sorry.” and then he pushed the door open and entered without looking back.
What Shen Wenlang didn't know was that Gao Tu was still listening to Shen Wenlang's fragile apology.
***
Days passed without any further conversation between them. Several times, Gao Tu caught Shen Wenlang staring at him, but no words were spoken. The small gesture of Shen Wenlang tightening his grip meant nothing more to Gao Tu.
Click. Gao Tu was locking the apartment door, and once again checking his pockets, once ready he looked at Lele who was waiting, holding a toy car and looking patiently at him. “Did you leave anything behind, Lele?” Gao Tu’s hand moved to smooth the collar of Lele’s fur jacket. “Nothing.”
At the same time, without him realizing it, Shen Wenlang had just left the apartment and was preparing to leave. Shen Wenlang's gaze shifted from the taller figure to the smaller figure he had objectified as a brown bear.
Shen Wenlang initially intended to just walk straight through, but the apartment hallway was too narrow, and Gao Tu and Lele were already in the middle of the road. There was no way for Shen Wenlang to pass through and pretend he didn't care. He ended up waiting three doors away, his left hand in his coat pocket, and his right holding his tote bag.
Gao Tu reflexively turned his head, recognizing the other's presence, and their gazes met. Gao Tu tried to understand Shen Wenlang's pitch-black eyes, but found nothing but patient waiting. Still, his instincts kicked in, and his hand gripped Lele's small hand tightly.
Lele also looked back as soon as she saw her Baba turn around, and found the tall uncle whom Baba had said 'don't approach' standing still. He briefly met the tall uncle's gaze, but Baba's call distracted him. "Lele," Gao Tu said with a small smile, then stepped forward, taking Lele with him.
Seeing the two of them walking ahead, Shen Wenlang didn't rush to catch up. He felt the back of his neck. He didn't have any pheromone patches today because he'd run out. Although he'd intended to leave earlier than the two of them, he still bumped into each other.
Heading to the elevator, Gao Tu and Gao Lele had already gotten in, but the elevator was once again only able to accommodate the three of them. Shen Wenlang finally jogged to the elevator and pressed the close button.
He stood not far from Lele's position alongside Gao Tu, just a little further forward. Then suddenly,
Ring, the toy car that Lele was holding fell and rolled near Shen Wenlang's shoes.
The three of them looked down in unison at the fallen toy, Gao Tu looked at Lele worriedly, and he held his child tighter so he wouldn't have to get any closer.
“It fall.” Shen Wenlang said, his voice barely clear to anyone except the small space in the elevator. However, his steps moved further aside, leaving enough space for Lele to retrieve his toy. Shen Wenlang didn’t even look back. His intensity was clear, simply stating the facts.
Lele glanced at Gao Tu, then without letting go of his hand, he moved forward and squatted down to pick up his toy. Only a few feet away from Shen Wenlang, he looked up at the tall Uncle and stopped to stare for a moment.
But Shen Wenlang moved further and further away, almost standing in the front corner, his hand stroking the back of his hair. His pheromones were still leaking out slowly, and he was afraid that Gao Tu or Lele would be disturbed.
“Lele,” Gao Tu called out as he gently pulled his son back. Lele regained consciousness and stood back up.
But his gaze couldn't leave the tall Uncle who was still busy stroking the back of his hair. The uncle smelled, a familiar scent that Lele often inhaled. So Lele began to analyze; the uncle had a tall stature, sharp facial features, a sharp and sometimes fierce gaze, and possessed the typical traits of an adult Uncle that Lele usually feared. But this uncle was unique, this uncle did not have the pungent scent that made Lele's chest tighten.
So at night when they were getting ready to go to bed and Lele was already sitting on the bed hugging the gray wolf doll waiting for Gao Tu to tidy up their nest and finish with a final spray of unlabeled perfume that smelled warm and embraced the entire room.
Lele closed his eyes as his lungs expanded in relief, breathing in the scent that he had memorized since he was a baby. And as soon as Gao Tu joined them in their nest and pulled the blanket to cover both of their bodies, little Lele spoke;
"That Uncle smells just like our room, huh, Ba?" Gao Tu's movements stopped, his eyes staring straight ahead before shifting to his son, who was also staring at him. It wasn't a question, it was a statement born from Lele's sensitivity to pheromones and scents.
“What do you mean, Lele?” asked Gao Tu confused.
Lele began to lie down, hugging his stuffed wolf even tighter. "Yes. Uncle, it smelled just like our room, fragrant and warm."
Gao Tu smiled slightly as he stroked Lele's head. "Maybe? Maybe not." Not wanting to drag the conversation out any longer, Gao Tu quickly lay down and hugged Lele. "Okay, we're going to bed, Lele, get ready."
While Gao Tu stroked Lele's head and gently patted his back, he silently considered Lele's statement. Shen Wenlang smelled like their room. Which was true. Ever since Lele was born and the Omega's need to build a nest, Gao Tu had also started routinely buying perfume with the scent of iris every month to replace Shen Wenlang's pheromones. While not entirely identical, at least it still smelled of iris, making him feel closer and safer in the fragrant scent that filled the room. And apparently Lele felt the same way.