Beta Chapter 50: Control

Chapter 50: Control

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

While someone was sound asleep, Duan Yizhou tidied up the luggage neatly. He even noticed that socks weren’t packed and quickly went to grab them, putting them into a sealed bag and stuffing them into a corner. He also worried about the little ancestor’s low blood sugar, so he packed some candies and chocolates and placed them where they would be seen as soon as the suitcase was opened.

After packing everything, he put the suitcase back in its original position, so that if the little ancestor wanted to run away from home in the middle of the night, he could just grab the suitcase and go.

He also placed a glass of milk and some chocolates on the table downstairs, fearing that he might wake up hungry. Recently, he was picky with his food, but his appetite and weight had increased; after all, he was pregnant. Whether he ate or not was one thing, but just in case.

Master bedroom, Luo Songran woke up groggily, first staring at the ceiling for a minute, lost in thought, wondering how he ended up sleeping in the room. Wasn’t he just packing his bags to run away from home? Could it be that he got tired halfway through packing?

He glanced at the bedside table, grabbed his phone, and found that it was already past three in the morning. Immediately, he sat up, “What an opportunity!”

Now fully awake, he got out of bed and walked towards the wardrobe. Just then, he had an idea and went to the door of the next room, pressing his ear against it to listen for any movement inside. Due to the good soundproofing of the door, he couldn’t hear anything, so he cautiously opened the door. The room was pitch black, with only shallow breathing audible.

This was Duan Yizhou’s room. Luo Songran stood at the door for about half a minute, not knowing why he was angry with himself, but feeling that he couldn’t stand this atmosphere. He didn’t necessarily need Duan Yizhou; life didn’t revolve around him.

He had managed just fine on his own when he was abroad, and he could do the same now, especially since he could go back home. And he wasn’t without friends; he could still hang out with them. Even if he couldn’t find close friends to hang out with, he could always hang out with his brothers and sisters.

As he thought about it, he suddenly felt a bit depressed. He gently closed Duan Yizhou’s door and returned to the wardrobe to grab his suitcase. But as he pulled the suitcase, the noise of the wheels was a bit loud. He reflexively looked outside the door and saw no signs of movement. Feeling a bit frustrated, he lifted the suitcase and headed towards the elevator.

He took the elevator down to the basement garage, where instead of using the frozen berry Duan Yizhou had given him, he opted for his own white Porsche. He came in this car, so he might as well leave in it. It was just simpler that way.

As the garage door slowly opened when he turned on the headlights, Luo Songran glanced at the time. It was already too late to go back to school, and going back home was out of the question; returning at this hour would surely raise suspicions.

So, a hotel it was. Unbeknownst to him, shortly after he left, a black Maybach drove out of the garage, maintaining a distance from the white Porsche ahead but still within sight.

Luo Songran went to the nearest Zun Duan International Hotel. After checking in, a staff member approached him, “Hello, may I assist you in bringing your luggage up now?”

Luo Songran was startled by the prompt service. He remained silent for two seconds before replying, “Oh, it’s okay. I can take it up myself.”

Wasn’t the room he booked just a regular one? Did they offer this kind of service?

The staff member insisted, “No, it’s our hotel’s policy to ensure that every esteemed guest feels comfortable when entering and satisfied when leaving.” He quickly took Luo Songran’s suitcase and smiled, leading him forward. “Please, follow me.”

With a slight sense of doubt, Luo Songran followed along, but he couldn’t help but think that the hotel’s service was really good. “Could I get some food later?”

“Of course, no problem. Whatever you need, just let us know.” As they entered the elevator, the staff member added, “Oh, and if you have any special dietary requirements or allergies, please inform us. It wouldn’t be good if it caused you any discomfort.”

Luo Songran exclaimed inwardly, Wow, the service here is amazing. Isn’t it better than the service at home? He almost forgot to mention his allergy.

“Yes, I’m allergic to eggs and plant-based proteins.”

“Is there anything special you’d like to eat then?”

In the elevator, Luo Songran pondered for a few seconds, then suddenly had a bold idea. “I kinda feel like having airplane food.”

The smile on the waiter’s lips froze, and he fell silent. He glanced at the young man beside him, whom the CEO had specially instructed to take good care of, fearing that he might say something wrong and lose his job.

Luo Songran felt a bit out of line after saying that. “I suddenly feel like having Vietnam Airlines’ Santo Domingo with salmon spaghetti.”

The waiter started sweating on his back, awkwardly smiling, “I might need to check with the restaurant for that.” This was the most appropriate response for now because he really needed to check with his superiors if this was even possible. If not, he could always fabricate an excuse.

“Haha, I was just kidding,” Luo Songran laughed. “No worries, just get me a spicy shredded chicken, extra spicy, with a cold Coke, extra ice, oh, and a bowl of wonton noodles, thank you.”

The waiter breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this request. Thankfully, he wasn’t dealing with a difficult guest. So, he politely bid farewell and left, quickly informing his superiors about the previous request. Though not necessary, it was something the CEO had instructed, so it had to be done.

Luo Songran walked into the room, casually placing the suitcase aside, and lay down on the large bed. It was quite big, probably around two meters, but it felt so hard and uncomfortable, unlike the bed at Duan Yizhou’s place. His bed was soft, not overly so, but incredibly comfortable, giving him a feeling as if he was lying on Duan Yizhou’s chest.

With these thoughts in mind, he pulled the blanket over himself. Why did this blanket feel so uncomfortable? It wasn’t soft and snugly at all, completely different from Duan Yizhou’s blanket, which gave him a sense of security and embrace.

He tossed and turned on the bed, feeling uncomfortable no matter how he lay. Frustrated, he sat up, leaned against the headboard, and took out his phone, deciding to play games with his roommates. His roommates were night owls, often staying up all night gaming. As expected, all three of them were online when he logged in. He requested to join their game and immediately turned on his microphone.

Macho A is me, “Ran? You’re still up at this hour? Don’t you usually go to bed by midnight?”

The quiet brother chimed in, “We thought you were under strict supervision by your husband.”

Luo Songran felt inexplicably annoyed by his roommates’ comments. “What do you mean he’s supervising me? Do I look like I need supervision from him? I’m not being supervised by my husband. I do whatever I want. Can he control me?”

“To be honest, you’ve been quite restricted lately. We used to game until six in the morning without a problem, but now it’s suddenly off-limits for you.”

“So how come you’re gaming tonight? Did the old man go on a business trip, so you’re sneaking in some playtime?”

Luo Songran was speechless. Was this how he appeared now? Why did he feel like he was in charge when he was with Duan Yizhou, but in the eyes of others, especially his roommates who knew him well, he was tightly controlled? “I, I just want to play.”

“Are you two fighting?”

The words hit home, leaving Luo Songran speechless. “It’s not exactly a fight. I just don’t want him anymore.”

…But deep down, he still kinda did. But once spoken, words were like spilled water. Regretting them would make him seem spineless. Besides, Duan Yizhou had already sent him the divorce agreement. If he went back now, wouldn’t it seem like he was causing trouble on purpose? No, no, he was doing it on purpose.

“Do you want to break up with him? Wow, it’s been, what, three months since you started dating? From that bar until now, Ran, this is really different from your previous style. You’re serious now.”

Luo Songran widened his eyes. “Who says I’m serious? I’m not serious at all. I don’t like him! How could I like him? Who likes him anyway?”

His series of denials left his roommates silent for two seconds.

“Hmm?”

“Do you really not like him? You keep mentioning him all the time, especially during lunch when you complain about the food in the cafeteria.”

“Last time, you asked me to find athletes based on his type. We’re all brothers here; we get it. Are you trying to compare and see which one’s better?”

Luo Songran’s eyes flickered slightly as he put his phone back on his lap, staring at the TV in front of him. His mood suddenly became very complicated. He knew exactly what he wanted from Duan Yizhou from the beginning. It was just for novelty. He liked Duan Yizhou’s face, his figure. He was well aware of his own intentions.

After Duan Yizhou explicitly expressed his affection for him, he felt like the situation was no longer under control. However, he believed he shouldn’t feel this way. He should have been able to continue without any burden. But that wasn’t the case. Duan Yizhou’s honesty became his burden. What’s worse, when he unexpectedly became pregnant, this burden became even heavier, temporarily becoming something he couldn’t shake off. He had never encountered someone like Duan Yizhou before, someone who didn’t seek anything in return, willingly accepting losses, enduring his temper and caprices. Why? Was he really worth trusting wholeheartedly like this? Just because of fleeting sweet words and deception?

“What do I have that’s so good?” Luo Songran murmured, tapping the edge of his phone. “I have a bad temper, and I can be quite arrogant sometimes. Maybe you guys can’t stand me at times. I act like I’m invincible just because I have some money.”

Indeed, that’s why Duan Yizhou couldn’t stand him tonight. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he coax him anymore, and why so serious? He knew he had a bad temper.

“I think nobody is perfect, but if someone can accept your imperfections and fall in love with you, then your imperfections become perfect in their eyes.”

“Yeah, Ran, although you can be a bit temperamental sometimes, you’re very straightforward and direct. You never beat around the bush. You like it or you don’t, plain and simple. We all enjoy hanging out with you.”

“With food, drinks, and even cars to play with, really, we’re happy to have you as a roommate. We’re willing to take care of you because you’re good to us, and we’re good to you. That’s how it works, right?”

Luo Songran hadn’t expected such high praise from his roommates. But roommates were roommates, and Duan Yizhou was Duan Yizhou. He was different in front of his roommates than he was in front of Duan Yizhou. He was more unrestrained and selfish in front of Duan Yizhou. He had never restrained himself. He preferred the state of being with Duan Yizhou.

At that moment, the doorbell rang, and the room door was knocked. The voice of the same waiter from before came, “Hello, your meal has arrived. Can you please open the door?”

Luo Songran’s stomach happened to be growling, so he told his roommates to wait and got out of bed to open the door. As he opened the door, he saw the waiter pushing a food cart over. There were Santo Domingo, salmon spaghetti, and even shredded chicken. But next to the shredded chicken was a glass of milk?

The waiter smiled, “Here’s your Vietnam Airlines Santo Domingo and salmon spaghetti.”

“Is it really from Vietnam Airlines?” Could they fulfill such an absurd request?

The waiter nodded, “Yes, it was specially prepared for you.”

Luo Songran couldn’t help but sigh. Even though he was running away from home, this hotel made him feel happy. The Zun Duan Hotel was really something. They even fulfilled such absurd requests.

“I also brought you mildly spicy shredded chicken and wonton noodles. Since there was no Coke, we gave you a glass of milk, warmed up.”

Luo Songran’s expression became subtle as he looked at the glass of milk in the waiter’s hand. He asked tentatively, “Is your boss named Duan Yizhou?”

The waiter smiled and nodded, handing him the milk, “Yes, that’s right.”

Luo Songran fell silent as he received the milk. He looked at it and felt his eyes welling up with tears. So what was he doing? Why was he so angry with Duan Yizhou? What was he trying to prove? Was he trying to prove how much Duan Yizhou loved him, or was he trying to prove that he didn’t like Duan Yizhou at all? Wasn’t that contradictory?

Completely contradictory.

Seeing the young man in front of him suddenly burst into tears, the waiter’s heart sank halfway. Oh no, he didn’t make him cry, did he? If Mr. Duan, who instructed him, found out, he would be in big trouble. “Sir, is there anything else you need help with?”

Luo Songran shook his head with a smile, “No, thank you.”

He really should think about what Duan Yizhou meant to him. Do you want him, or not?

 

This Title is available for faster chapter releases through paid Patreon membership. Any proceeds go to keeping the website running. Check it out HERE.