Work Text:
Shen Yuan knew that something was up, he had started feeling like he was being watched. In odd places and sometimes when he goes out for a walk in the hallways and garden, he felt eyes on him. As a famous young master, Shen Yuan had mastered the technique of being numb to stares unless they are of malicious intent.
Yet for some reason, he couldn’t get himself to ignore the feeling of burning eyes he feels on himself. It might have something to do with the fact that the one staring at him happens to be the omega that he picked up.
For some reason that only the heavens and the omega himself knows, Shen Jiu had taken into an interest to peek at him secretly whenever Shen Yuan was in the vicinity.
It wasn't unnerving or anything but it just seems weird to Shen Yuan. After the little incident at the courtyard, Shen Jiu seems to avoid him like a plague. Which didn’t bother Shen Yuan that much since the omega was still probably trying to adapt to a new home, but then Shen Jiu’s action took a 180-degree turn, and then the omega seems to have developed a hobby of secretly observing and watching him.
The omega was sneaky alright, but this wasn’t the street where everybody minded their own business, this was a noble household with trained guards and a young master talented with cultivation. Of course, his action would be noticed. But to save Shen Jiu’s face, Shen Yuan told the guards to leave the events alone and to pretend to be ignorant.
Shen Yuan doesn’t know what is going on in Shen Jiu’s head but if that was what the omega wanted to do then he’d let him. What was the harm to it?
Okay, Shen Yuan takes back what he had said, this was turning into a problem. For some reason, some demented gossiping lunatics thought that the reason that Shen Jiu was following him around was that the young omega had fallen for him. Which was utterly ridiculous since the kid was literally turning 13 in about 3 months.
And because their alpha young master had never shown any interest in any omega aside from taking in Shen Jiu, some servants had decided to ‘help’ them out. Shen Yuan had a vague feeling that those servants had a backer of sorts because he knows they don't have the courage to dare do it by themselves. Looking at the crescent eyes of Housekeeper Chou who was smiling innocently, Shen Yuan had a feeling the fox might just be living under his nose bah.
Shen Yuan was going to go bald if this continued. From inconspicuous things like making Shen Jiu serve him tea to being direct as making the omega serve him in the bath. Those fuckers know that Shen Yuan had always bathed alone ever since he had entered puberty and could convince his mother that he didn’t need any more servants helping him bathe.
Thankfully, Shen Jiu didn’t know that and only thought that it was normal for a servant like him to serve tea and draw a bath for the young master. But Shen Yuan was having none of that and glared at Housekeeper Chou for a whole day before the snooping stopped.
But Shen Yuan guessed that the events, as stressful as they are, actually have some benefits.
While Shen Jiu spends time with him by serving him tea or being told to join him in the garden to serve whatever Young master Shen Yuan might ask, Shen Yuan had learned more about Shen Jiu’s personality.
He was right about the kid being a stray cat. Shen Jiu, despite the fake mask of obedience he wore could not completely hide the feisty fire and attitude he had from living in the streets for so long.
The kid barely talks but when Shen Jiu does, they come out more of a bite than anything, the kid seems to have a permanent scowl on his face and curses like a sailor. And sadly enough, the kid seems to not know how to react to positive emotions.
When Shen Yuan compliments him, the kid seems to immediately take it as an insult and prickly up into a cactus ready to prick. Shen Yuan had used more patience trying to talk and coax Shen Jiu than he did trying to study in his university in the last life.
The kid could not understand that people would give him love and respect, and when Shen Yuan finally managed to hammer that into the kid’s head. The kid seems to buffer and crash like a shitty computer with low wifi. It was as if Shen Yuan didn’t just call him a good child and tell him that whatever Shen Jiu needed then just to tell him so that this master could accommodate as well as give him some basic things like clothes and food, but instead confessed his ever dying love and laid the world at his feet.
It was plain ridiculous. Shen Yuan was just treating the kid like he would treat his meimei, just less physical affection because such things were looked upon with suspicion in their world, especially because of their status and secondary genders. But that didn't stop Shen Yuan from giving head pats as often as he could to this oddly cute ferocious stray.
Shen Yuan couldn't help but worry about the omega he took in. It was obvious that Shen Jiu was going to have trouble socializing and it wasn’t like therapy was available in this world. But all Shen Yuan knew was that he was going to raise this kid into a good upstanding citizen! Just after he teaches the kid to stop growling at anybody that even so much as looks at him for more than a few seconds.
Shen Jiu was counting the time when his master would finally snap and show his true colors.
After the events at the courtyard, Shen Jiu was utterly confused as to why the Young Master Shen acted like that.
At first, Shen Jiu had no interest in whatever his Shen Yuan was up to. As long as he leaves Shen Jiu alone and acts like he doesn’t exist then Shen Jiu is beyond ecstatic. But things started changing when the alpha defended him. Why, though?
Shen Jiu thought that maybe this was all a wicked plan by that bastard. To fool Shen Jiu into believing him to be kind and generous in order to make him lay with him on his own then mocked him right after he got what he wanted from Shen Jiu. Too bad for Young Master Shen, Shen Jiu wasn’t stupid and would not be fooled by such cheap tricks.
After making up his mind as to what Shen Yuan wanted from him, Shen Jiu decided to rip off the hypocritical mask that Shen Yuan wore. He would make sure to snap the hypocrite’s patience and force him to show his true colors.
So Shen Jiu started to follow Shen Yuan around and irritate the young noble. Shen Jiu knew he could not be outright rude to someone who has not yet harmed him, that is why he opted for biting and sarcastic remarks.
Shen Jiu knew that he only needed to wait a few days or maybe less than a week before Shen Yuan snaps and beats him like what alphas his standing does to omega slaves like him.
(Shen Jiu knows this could end up breaking the peaceful facade and plunge him straight to hell with his own hands but it is much better to face the harsh reality than to live a lie than wake up each day feeling like walking on eggshells, waiting when the sweet delusions were over. When Shen Yuan would finally tire out of the drama and break him. It was better to feel only pain than to have a taste of happiness for it to be trampled over and over)
But Shen Yuan never did. Even when Shen Jiu ripped off his own mask of obedience and fiercely acted towards his owner. Not what an omega should do, much less a slave to his master. But again. Shen Yuan never snapped.
Instead, the alpha’s patience seems to run deep as the ocean, bottomless as the abyss. Shen Yuan coaxes Shen jiu as if Shen Jiu was the one wronged. As if Shen Jiu wasn’t a dirty street rat but a priceless treasure. With gentle hands and calming pheromones that the alpha always excludes, he spoiled Shen Jiu.
With each fierce remark, was returned with a gentle smile. Each scratch on the pale unblemished skin was repaid with gentle pats on the head. It wasn’t logical. This man was crazy. He could not treat Shen Jiu like this.
Shen Jiu tried to be willful and misbehaved, such as those noble brats that he hated, so that Shen Yuan would hate him too. But Shen Yuan does not.
The alpha continues to tenderly care for him like he wasn’t a slave and the other, his master. The man dressed him in clothes soft as silk with threads of gold and treated it like it was normal, Shen Yuan gifted him with sweets and meals that he had never seen before yet tasted better than anything he had eaten or seen. Gently pats on the head were filled with nothing but kindness and fondness. Eyes that Shen Jiu once thought were indifferent and old were actually the warmest and kindest eyes that ever looked upon Shen Jiu. It wasn’t fair. All of this wasn’t fair. Shen Jiu was losing a game he started himself.
If only he continued on like in the past. If only he didn’t get curious
if only he didn’t hope.
Then he would not have fallen like this, addicted to the warm praise, and gentle touch. The calming smell of bamboo that clung to him whenever the alpha unconsciously scents him helped him sleep. Shen Jiu knew he had lost. And he only needed to wait for the end of this game. Shen Jiu doesn’t think he would survive it.
Shen Yuan finally managed to earn himself a vacation. After tiring weeks of overworking in order to manage the newly opened branch, they had at the north. It wasn’t easy especially since that part of the north was quite near the borders between the human realm and the demon realm but Shen Yuan needed to up his game and take risks. Especially since towns there were in great need of supply that their merchant group could provide. It was a great business opportunity that Shen Yuan was not going to miss.
He had been gone from his home for about a week and was excited to come back and sleep for the day away. He politely greeted the guards at the entrance of his mansion and released a sigh of relief when he finally stepped inside. Even his alpha felt relief upon entering his territory again.
Shen Yuan heard the familiar footsteps of Housekeeper Chou and turned to his side to see the housekeeper with that genial smile on his face as usual.
“Greetings to Young Master Shen, this servant hopes that the Young Master had a pleasant journey. Welcome back to the Shen estate”
Shen Yuan smiled and told the housekeeper to order some servants to prepare his bath so that he could rest right after.
Housekeeper Chou left soon and Shen Yuan decided to walk around the estate to see if anything changed or happened during the week he was gone. Although he really doubted it since Housekeeper Chou made sure to tell him of any changes that could occur.
Shen Yuan passed by the large willow tree that was centered at the courtyard and saw a familiar figure sitting at the foot of the giant tree. Shen Jiu sat upon the ground with a large assessment of books surrounding him as the young omega seemed to be deep into his reading.
Shen Yuan chuckled fondly before turning around to the estate for his bath.
When he finally finished bathing and relaxed in his room. Shen Yuna began to map out the plot in his head. Shen Yuan doesn’t know exactly which part of the timeline in PIDW he is. But since the current peak lords weren’t the ones mentioned in the novel he still had a lot of time.
Based on the things he remembered in the novel, Shen Yuna would guess that the peak lords from the novel were still more likely disciples at this point. In order to plan out the best ways to destroy the plot, Shen Yuan needed the main factors that affect the storyline.
First was Luo Binghe’s parents. Luo Binghe’s parents were one of the biggest plot holes that Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky left. The only information the novel gave about Luo Binghe’s parents was the ones that the Old Palace Master of the Hua Hua Palace gave. And after living the novel and knowing more about the real PIDW, Shen Yuan begins to doubt the words of the Hua Hua Palace Master. In real life, that guy wasn’t a grandfather figure, but rather a real creep.
Shen Yuan did some digging using the connections he had painstakingly made and acquired using all the power he had as the Young master of the Shen family as well as a transmigrator with knowledge unknown to normal people and found the truth of things. Shen Yuan really pitted Su Xiyan, the woman had a disgusting master that kept a watchful eye on her every move. It was known to people with enough connections that some of the men that tried to get close to the woman had suffered mysterious deaths. It wasn't hard then to connect the dots.
The father on the other hand was a heavenly demon that was for sure. There weren’t many full-blooded heavenly demons around. The only known heavenly demon roaming the continent right now was known as Tianlang-jun. Tianlang-jun ruled the demon realm as the Jushang. The only known affiliate of the man was his general as well as nephew known as Zhuzhi-lang.
So in the future Su Xiyan and Tianlang-jun would produce Luo Binghe. The story of how that happened was hazy and unclear thanks to Airplane. Then due to unknown reasons, Su Xiyan would be mortally wounded during her pregnancy and give birth near the Luo river and send Luo Binghe there to float and be found by the fishermen and soon his adopted mother.
The fate of what happened to the father was left as a plot hole and Shen Yuan isn’t even sure if Tianlang-jun was really the guy he was looking for. But Shen Yuna would make sure that on the day of Luo Binghe’s birth he would try to find a dying pregnant woman and save her. and if that doesn’t work then he’ll search the whole Luo rivers and the town beside it for the protagonist and his adopted mother. Prevention was better than the cure. Shen Yuan just hoped that fate would allow him to do that.
Shen Yuan was pulled away from his musing when he heard a knock on his door. He sat up and fixed himself to look appropriate.
“Who is it? State your purpose”
The person at the other side of the door was quiet for some time and Shen Yuan was beginning to feel suspicious and tried to reach for the sword he had always placed beside his bed when a small familiar voice resounded behind the door.
“Young master Shen Yuan, this lowly servant is Shen Jiu and was hoping to speak to Young Master Shen”
Shen Yuan began to relax and gave the young omega permission to enter. Shen Jiu slowly pushed open the door and the scent of uneasy and anxious omega spread to his room.
‘Right, newly bloomed omega’
Shen Yuan then started to worry as to what might cause Shen Jiu this much distress and how bad was it that the normally tsundere omega actually ask for help.
He beckoned the omega to him while doing his best to release more calming pheromones for the omega in distress. Shen Jiu seems to calm down and the scent of burnt sugar lowered.
“XiaoJiu come here, what is the matter? Did something happen? Does XiaoJiu need something? Just tell this master, this young master will handle it no matter what”
He spread his arms to show that the omega was welcome in his arms, but Shen Yuan knew that Shen Jiu would not actually go in for a hug. It was the thought that counts to Shen Yuan. To let Shen Jiu know that he was always welcome.
But a miracle happened and Shen Jiu actually plunge into his arms and hugged him. Shen Yuan eyes widened from shock and he stood frozen for about a minute before a sad whimper left the omegas lips and Shen Yuan snapped out to return the hug and comfort Shen Jiu.
No Shen Yuan was really afraid.
“XiaoJiu what’s wrong? Does something hurt? Did you eat anything weird before? Come on tell this Young Master”
Shen Yuan hoped that Shen Jiu did not encounter any weird things outside. Heavens knew what kind of weird shit Airplane placed into this world in order to make everything papapa.
Then suddenly the smell of distressed omega began to spread again and sobs echoed from the face buried in his chest.
“Y-you! The problem is you!”
Shen Jiu practically screamed in between his cries and his hands gripped Shen Yuan’s back to the point that Shen Yuan knew if he was a normal mortal then it would be bleeding now. But that wasn’t a matter of concern because right now he had a very aggrieved omega in his arms who is accusing him of crimes he did not know.
“What does XiaoJiu mean? Did this Young master do something wrong? Just tell me XiaoJiu, this one will make it up to you”
Shen Yuan was going to go bald from stress at this rate. His alpha was screeching at him like a fucking banshee to make the young omega happy again but he had no idea how. Shen Yuan would love to grab his alpha by the throat and yell out that if the damn beast wanted to comfort the omega then he better shut up cause the loud yowling ain’t doing anything but give him a headache.
“You-you! I Hate you! Why are you being so nice! Stop it! Stop it. Don’t fake it!”
Grief and anger bled from the tone of Shen Jiu’s voice and his scent showcased his emotions better than his voice ever could. And Shen Yuan was currently choking from those scents.
A light bulb lit up on top of Shen Yuan’s head as he finally realized what was currently going on. Shen Jiu finally snapped. Shen Yuan wasn’t a psychologist or a therapist but he was a millennial with too much time on his hands and wifi on his computer. He searched for things and bits of facts about everything. So he read somewhere about the behavioral issues of people and children from PTSD due to abuse cases or veterans from wars.
There was a lot of random shit on the internet and it was better to read things like that than to read about idols' private lives of who fucks who.
So Shen Yuan knew somewhere along his time with Shen Jiu that the kid would finally burst out like this. This was called progress. It means that Shen Jiu was now comfortable enough to state his real feelings to Shen Yuan. Now what he should do is comfort the kid and make him understand that nothing about their situation is fake and that Shen Yuan actually does care about him.
Shen Yuan cradled Shen Jiu in his arms and began to gently caress him. The crying stopped a bit but a few whimpers still left the kid’s mouth.
“Shen Jiu, nothing about this is fake. I really do care about you. This master’s wish is only for Xiao Jiu to be happy. You deserve all of this. The food, the clothing, the home, and the gifts. Shen Jiu deserves all of this. This young master will give it all to Shen Jiu because you are worth it. I want nothing in return, this Shen Yuan is happy when Xiao Jiu is happy. You are not a slave, not anymore and never will be. You are family, a member of my Shen Family. Be proud. You did not deserve the things that happened to you in the past. Shen Jiu deserves all the best in the world. You are not a dirty street child, you are Shen Jiu of the Shen Family and I love you”
Shen Yuan gently patted Shen Jiu’s back and comforted the omega in his arms. Shen Yuan lets out his scent that he had always kept tightly under wraps to show how genuine his words are.
For the citizens of this world, scents were a very important thing. Because a person might lie but their scents would not. It is important that an alpha or omega keeps their scent under control because it shows the intention and emotions better than the body ever could.
So Shen Yuan's scent right now was practically dripping with his care and fondness for Shen Jiu, portraying his intentions better than his words could. Because Shen Jiu might not believe his words, but as an omega, he would believe his scent. Shen Yuan hoped this was enough.
Shen Yuan continued to comfort and coax the silent omega for some time until he saw the sunset and Shen Jiu fell asleep in his arms.