OGU: Chapter 11

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Chapter 11

  The “Pearl” drank his milk and continued to chat, his phone constantly ringing with new messages, not only from Zou Jing Yu, but also from the new classmates he met today.

    The new class Tong Yan was added to had a total of three omegas that needed to carry the “Sensitive Person” sign. They were arranged to sit in three rows near the window by the homeroom teacher. Their desk-mates were all beta.

    The other two omegas had been in this class since their freshman year. They had never taken a leave from school. Tong Yan’s case was more serious than theirs, but the homeroom teacher didn’t say anything, so no one paid him any special attention.

    Everyone knew him, mostly because of the summer vacation’s hot topic that stayed in the social software’s top searches for three days. It could be said that the wedding attracted national attention.

    However, his classmates were not paparazzi. This was the first day of school, and none of them were familiar with Tong Yan. During the day, besides his neighbors, no one asked Tong Yan about that gossip.

    Tong Yan’s new desk-mate was also a girl. She was called Chai ManMan, but her own pronunciation of her name were two extremes. After class, she stood up and shouted goodbye to the teacher, faster than everyone else by half a beat. The pavilion closest to the water enjoys moonlight first, in one day, Tong Yan became most familiar with her.

    At this time, they should be eating a good dinner, then they would get ready to go to their extracurricular activities. Chai ManMan sent a message to Tong Yan on OUKM: Has your husband come to pick you up?

Tong Yan:

Muscular-Hermit-Boy: We’re almost home, are you going to class?

    CM: Yup

    CM: Monday is study group, don’t know if they’ll hold it tonight, I’ll go take a look

    Muscular-Hermit-Boy: ‘Kay

    CM: Bringing up the previous topic, your alpha is really handsome [image] [image]

    CM: I haven’t felt this way seeing a suit in a long time. Maybe this is the legendary ‘CEO of someone else’s house’? [Thirsty.jpg]

    She’d posted two photos of Zhuo Xiang Ming. Not sure for what occasion, but Zhuo Xiang Ming was dressed very formally, he even wore a bow tie. He had a glass of champagne in his hand and wasn’t looking at the camera. He was talking to someone at his side, because of the height gap and lowered heads, the camera only captured his smooth jaw line and the gentle smile tugging the corners of his mouth. The prominent color in the picture was black and gray, a little bit empty, but, to Tong Yan, his handsomeness still overflowed from the screen.

    After opening and closing the big picture several times, Chai ManMan sent another one: But you’re also very handsome, you guys match well

    This time, Tong Yan replied very quickly: Obviously!

    CM: [Knock]

    Zhuo Xiang Ming was already parking.

    Tong Yan seized the moment to reply: Home, bye

      He turned off the screen and prepared to get out, but, when he reached for the seat belt his hand touched Zhuo Xiang Ming’s, only then did he notice that Zhuo Xiang Ming was leaning back into his seat. Tong Yan froze for a moment, not sure how much of the conversation Zhuo Xiang Ming had seen. Zhuo Xiang Ming had already withdrawn, he unfastened his own seat belt, and the two of them got out of the car.

    Before ringing the doorbell, Tong Yan suddenly felt timid, grabbing the corner of Zhuo Xiang Ming’s jacket: “We didn’t bring anything.”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming comforted him: “It’s just coming back for dinner, don’t be nervous.”

    Tong Yan: “But when you went to my house last time …”

     “That’s different.” Zhuo Xiang Ming said gently.

    But, how exactly was it different? Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t say, and Tong Yan also forgot to ask. He was completely pacified, and when the door abruptly opened, he didn’t have time to hesitate.

    The one who came to open the door was Zhuo Jia Shuo. The omega brother who was only a year younger than Zhuo Xiang Ming. First, he dutifully called out ‘Big brother’, then he grinned at Tong Yan and said, “Sister-in-law.”

    Tong Yan was dumbstruck by this address. He couldn’t even properly reply, his face flushing deep red. If some of his rationality hadn’t remained, he would’ve really wanted to hide behind Zhuo Xiang Ming.

    He truly thought both households knew that it was a fake marriage, how could he be mentally prepared to be teased this way? Tong Yan could handle banter, but putting him and Zhuo Xiang Ming together had a kind of indescribable outrageous feeling. He had no words to fight back, simply defeated.

    Zhuo Xiang Ming hugged Tong Yan’s shoulders comfortingly and pulled him to his side. Zhuo Jia Shuo was still grinning. Zhuo Xiang Ming glanced at him, tactfully telling him to step aside, but Tong Yan didn’t get two seconds to relax before he heard Zhuo Jia Shuo shout from inside: “Dad! Mom! My brother and sister-in-law are here.”

    “Why are you shouting?”

    Lin Yue Hua smiled and came out to welcome them, Tong Yan greeted her: “Auntie, how are you?”

    “Good, good.” Lin Yue Hua pulled him from Zhuo Xiang Ming’s side and led him to the dining room, asking, “Are you just out of school? Are you tired? How about you sleep here after dinner tonight and chat with Auntie?”

    Tong Yan said: “Yes, I just left school. I didn’t do anything today, so I’m not tired. At night …”

     He looked back at Zhuo Xiang Ming, who said: “He still has homework to do, he won’t be able to relax here.”

      Lin Yue Hua still hadn’t spoken when Zhuo Jia Shuo let out a dramatic disappointed sigh, but even though everyone ignored him, he was still upbeat: “Then come on the weekend, you don’t have to worry about homework on the weekend.”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming: “He returns to the Tong family on the weekends.”

    Lin Yue Hua hurriedly said: “It’s very important to return home.”

    There were five people at the dining table, four Zhuo family members, and Tong Yan. The other three sat separately on the three other ends of the table, and Tong Yan sat next to Zhuo Xiang Ming.

    He was already more familiar with Zhuo Xiang Ming, but he didn’t know how to talk to the others. Fortunately, he was joining them for dinner, so he just had to focus on eating. Moreover, while he ate, Zhuo Xiang Ming consistently passed dishes for him to eat, so he could whittle away some time without even lifting his head.

    But despite this, Zhuo Jia Shuo had to make his existence known.

    After a few minutes, the shrimp were ready. Zhuo Xiang Ming peeled a few and put them in a small bowl for Tong Yan. It was just like this at home, so Tong Yan was used to it. However, Zhuo Jia Shuo would always either sigh meaningfully, or cough. The pestered Tong Yan was soon too embarrassed to sit and enjoy Zhuo Xiang Ming’s labor. He pushed the bowl back and said in a low voice: “Brother, I’ll do it myself.”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming also spoke in a low voice, coaxing him: “Just ignore him and he’ll get bored. The more you pay attention to him, the more excited he gets.”

    But Tong Yan shook his head, thinking that this way of eating really wasn’t good. In short, he didn’t touch the bowl of shrimp again, so Zhuo Xiang Ming ate it.

    After Lin Yue Hua lowered her chopsticks, everyone left the table together. Tong Yan naturally followed Zhuo Xiang Ming, but Zhuo Xiang Ming was called for a talk in the study by Zhuo ZhengDe. Tong Yan could only stay in the living room with Lin Yue Hua and Zhuo Jia Shuo.

    Before going upstairs, Zhuo Xiang Ming gave Zhuo Jia Shuo a warning glance, and Zhuo Jia Shuo made a zipper movement across his mouth. Then Zhuo Xiang Ming touched Tong Yan’s head and said, “Stay with my mother for a bit, we’ll leave as soon as I come back down.”

    Tong Yan nodded obediently and let him go.

    Lin Yue Hua really liked Tong Yan. Not to mention the fact that there were so few omegas nowadays, people from her generation still considered alphas the best match for omegas. There were very few households that could be counted as equal to the Lin family, Tong Yan was the most suitable, and his personality was really good. Before the marriage, both parties naturally investigated each other, it was impossible for her to arbitrarily give Zhuo Xiang Ming away for business.

    Plus, Tong Yan was indeed young, without this cooperation, if the two wanted to marry for love, the Tong family might be very unwilling.

    Lin Yue Hua watched Tong Yan, the more she looked, the more satisfied she felt.

    Originally, in this type of household, there was no shortage of children marrying late. She was already worried when Zhou Xiang Ming mentioned that he had no plans to marry.

    What did he call it? Celibacy? Lin Yue Hua didn’t understand, but she originally wasn’t the kind of parent who would force her child. Plus, Zhuo Xiang Ming wasn’t too old, so she just let him be the last few years.

    Then, she chanced upon a good child like Tong Yan and successfully married him into her family. Since the wedding day, she had no plans to let Zhuo Xiang Ming divorce Tong Yan.

    For things like feelings, extended contact was all that was needed for it to develop. Who’s to say? Maybe when the time came, they’ll be unwilling to divorce.

    After chatting with Tong Yan for a while, she left to answer the phone. Zhuo Xiang Ming still hadn’t come down, so just Zhuo Jia Shuo was left. Tong Yan felt that he was very indecent, so, deciding to ignore him, he sat farther away.

    Zhuo Jia Shuo was much more well-behaved than at the dining table, he just sat askew on the sofa. Tong Yan suspected that he had eaten himself into a coma, then that made him recall the bowl of shrimp he’d missed, and his dislike for this person grew a bit more.

    But this person was Zhuo Xiang Ming’s younger brother, he was also his senior. If he was only a year younger than Zhuo Xiang Ming, he should be twenty-six, thinking this way about him seemed a little rude.

    Then just ignore him, don’t hate him, Tong Yan thought, it was unlikely that they would see each other often anyway.

    “I saw you guys kissing.” Zhuo Jia Shuo suddenly said.

    Tong Yan turned back in alarm, and saw a smirk on his face.

    “We didn’t!” Tong Yan said, “What are you talking about?”

    “Didn’t you do it before you got out of the car?”

    Tong Yan thought back: “That was just brother helping me unfasten my seat belt!”

    “Wow.” Zhuo Jia Shuo laughed. He’d just happened to see Zhuo Xiang Ming’s car pulling in from the second-floor window. After the car turned off, they didn’t get out immediately, rather, they stayed there for a while before coming out. Of course, he knew that it wasn’t a kiss, but he’d suddenly recalled it, and wanted to tease Tong Yan. “He’s that good to you? Why has he never unfastened my seatbelt?”

    Tong Yan said: “How would I know? Just ask him yourself.”

    Zhuo Jia Shuo moved closer, Tong Yan pretended to be calm and didn’t escape.

    “So, you guys in love?”

    Tong Yan said: “No!”

    “I’m eighteen years old, what are you thinking?”

    Zhuo Jia Shuo: “Eighteen-year-olds can go to bed. Is it your thinking that has a problem, or mine?”

    Tong Yan’s face turned red again at the words “go to bed “. He felt irritated, why was he constantly blushing today?

    “Anyway, we don’t have that kind of relationship.” Tong Yan also didn’t bother with politeness, saying fiercely, “Why are you so much more despicable than your older brother?”

    Zhuo Jia Shuo cheerfully reclined back on the sofa and said, “Maybe it’s because my brother has never unfastened my seat belt, or walked around with his arm on my shoulders, or pass dishes to me, and he definitely has never pealed my shrimp! I’m too miserable!”

    Tong Yan speechlessly got up and walked to the other end of the living room, far away from Zhuo Jia Shuo. While fuming, he thought of how he used to think that Zhuo Xiang Ming’s younger brother was good-looking. Now it seems that, unlike Zhuo Xiang Ming, his head was just full of senseless thoughts. What use was it to look good?

===================================================

T/N:

The pavilion closest to the water enjoys moonlight first – to benefit from intimacy with an influential person

CEO of someone else’s house seems to be the name of another BL novel.

If you’re wondering why some first names are contracted, like Chai ManMan, it’s cause word processor’s grammar-check hates them

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Kleep
Kleep
4 years ago

Rip delicious shrimp

Ruth
Ruth
4 years ago

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes a small bowl of peeled shrimp rejected reveals how much this young wife is starving for love and is in denial about it. I only hope that TY’s hatred for his brother in law breaking through denial is just a Chinese way to exaggerate emotions in storytelling or a sign of TY’s stunted emotional growth and not a sign of how truly damaged our Omega is. Zhuo family is helping him to grow up into a fine young man.

It’s a juggernaut of a chapter. Huge. Satisfying… ?

Aria
Aria
4 years ago
Reply to  Ruth

To me, TY doesn’t seem stunted in emotional growth and I don’t think ZXM’s brother is breaking through denial. At this point, TY and ZXM have good feelings but aren’t in love yet. Rather the brother seems childish for his age antagonizing TY into an awkward situation while knowing the circumstances and when he’s like near double TY’s age. Idk, it’s just that he doesn’t give off a great first impression

Ruth
Ruth
4 years ago
Reply to  Aria

Aria, they are not even human. It’s an ABO universe. I try to remind myself about it from time to time. What’s normal for us, for our maturation schedule, might not be so for them. Otherwise it’s too weird. Tong Yan is 18 and married, having reached reproductive maturity, his first estrus, his capacity to give birth and care for the young, yet he takes care of no one, weaves no family into unity and feels spontaneous hatred towards a family member which is an opposite of love. H e acts a human three old. Or as a person so damaged, so ill, that anything and everything makes him hurt like hell.

Aria
Aria
4 years ago
Reply to  Ruth

But even so the story emphasizes his teenage/child mentality and maturation into adulthood and juxtaposes it to ZXM’s maturity and awkwardness. In contrast, ZXM’s brother is about the same age as ZXM. TY is a youngest child and omega, which means he’s cared for; however, his family is often busy and neglectful, so I can understand his familial disunity and frustration because he wants them to care. Not to mention, he’s hit an obstacle due to that familial neglect which is why he puts up with the Zhuo family in his awkward spot, which I think is still a sign of his emotional maturity.

Ruth
Ruth
4 years ago
Reply to  Aria

You are definitely gifted. You EQ must be sky high. I enjoy your take on this, Aria.
I mostly enjoy the storytelling, the language, the brushstrokes with which characters are painted so to speak. The word hate in the text triggered my comment. It’s a sudden, extreme and undifferentiated emotion in this context. Hate is also an attitude of separation, dominance and destruction. Going from zero to six hundred miles per hour. Such emotion or attitude makes one unable to experience empathy or compassion which are fundamental for love and belonging at any age. Hate over a bowl of shrimp, hmmm. ?

trippuchi
trippuchi
3 years ago
Reply to  Ruth

And this here is an example of what’s lost in translation. In Chinese, the word used in those sentences is probably 恨, which can mean either “hate” or “annoyance.” The only differentiation is context. Plus, I think this type of exaggerated usage is common in English as well. You might say something like “I really hate traffic,” but do you really murderously resent traffic? Probably not. It’s more likely that traffic irritates you. It’s more likely that TY was irritated and embarrassed by ZJS’s teasing (imo borderline sexual harassment).

trippuchi
trippuchi
3 years ago
Reply to  Ruth

(long comment, sorry) Ruth, have you ever considered that the author does mean for us to take her ABO universe as “our world (specifically RL China) + pheromones?” Honestly, that’s what most ABO universes tend to do, often choosing to magnify many social inequalities and discrimination that exist in the real life. It’s the very rare ABO that decides to truly take a nonhuman route with its worldbuilding (which so sad because those are very interesting).

trippuchi
trippuchi
3 years ago
Reply to  trippuchi

 So yes, I do believe that the maturation schedule for TY is supposed to be the same schedule for any other Chinese 18 year old that has grown up with a providing and privileged, if not necessarily present, family. The estrus is a reflection, as it often is, of menstruation in women. I would not say that any girl that has reached sexual maturity is capable or indeed should be expected to hold up a family, give birth, and care for children in a parental role. 

trippuchi
trippuchi
3 years ago
Reply to  trippuchi

Additionally, it seems you have forgotten that this marriage is by all accounts a “sham marriage” that is really just extended guardianship meant to let TY get used to the pheromones of an alpha that is not part of his family. Given that in Chinese culture, 18 year olds generally are still considered CHILDREN incapable of making big life decisions (I don’t necessarily agree with this, but Chinese parenting is not very laissez-faire) I’m really shocked that the Tong family agreed to this marriage, even if they wanted to cure TY’s condition.

trippuchi
trippuchi
3 years ago
Reply to  trippuchi

Author just wants to move the plot along so I guess it doesn’t have to make total sense. If it gives you perspective, TY is effectively a child bride. This is added on to the fact that he has no real world experience. This is actually very normal in among Asians, once again coming back to Chinese cultural norms, as high schoolers are generally discouraged from dating and sometimes even part time jobs because it will distract from studying. You just cannot divorce this story from it’s cultural background, though we are all reading it in English now.