The current situation was something Zou Yuqing had never imagined. He had thought he made himself clear enough that Wei Mingjue would never come looking for him again, and he had mentally prepared himself to spend a lifetime trying to forget that night. Yet Wei Mingjue had appeared once more, and now he was even sitting on his living room sofa, looking around the space.
“Is your mother still sleeping?” Wei Mingjue swept his gaze across the tiny apartment in just a few glances. It was a cramped two-bedroom unit of barely fifty square meters, and because it was an old building, the wallpaper was peeling off. In short, it was not even as large as his own bathroom.
Zou Yuqing frowned slightly, walked over to his mother’s bedroom door, and glanced inside. She was still lying motionless on the bed, apparently exhausted from the midday commotion, and sleeping soundly.
He walked back to the living room, looked at Wei Mingjue, and said expressionlessly, “We only have noodles at home. If you do not want to eat, leave now.”
“I will eat. Go make it quickly. Do not you have to go back to the supermarket later?” Wei Mingjue raised an eyebrow, watching as Zou Yuqing pressed his lips together and walked silently into the kitchen. He pulled a pot with a charred bottom from the cabinet, filled it with water, and turned on the stove.
The kitchen faced the living room directly without any partition door. Wei Mingjue watched Zou Yuqing’s slightly rigid back, the corners of his mouth curving upward. Zou Yuqing was solidly built, standing at one hundred eighty-three centimeters. Although he was still a bit shorter than Wei Mingjue’s one hundred ninety-two centimeters, there was no denying that the Alpha in front of him would undoubtedly be very popular outside.
Zou Yuqing was completely different from his cowardly older brother. Zou Yuqing looked every bit like an Alpha, with a healthy build, a buzz cut, and a rugged, tough-guy aura. His gaze was even more resolute and unyielding, leaving an unforgettable impression on him. Wei Mingjue licked his lips, watching that busy back, and could not help standing up to walk over quietly.
He had not yet caught the scent of the fresh mint because he noticed Zou Yuqing had put another suppressant patch on. The spot where he had been bitten days ago had stopped bleeding and had healed considerably, truly displaying an Alpha’s robust physique. Wei Mingjue narrowed his eyes and reached out toward that eyesore of a patch.
Zou Yuqing was about to lose his mind. He felt a gaze fixed on his back, making his skin crawl. Being targeted by an Alpha was never a good thing, let alone by the Alpha who had violated him. He could not understand why Wei Mingjue could act as if nothing had ever happened. Then again, the one who always got hurt was him.
Just as he cracked an egg, he suddenly felt a chill wash over him, followed by his suppressant patch being peeled away.
“What are you doing?” Zou Yuqing whipped his head around to see Wei Mingjue looking at him with a smile, holding the removed patch tightly before tossing it straight into the trash can.
“Your wound is not fully healed yet. The doctor said it is best not to keep it covered; trapping it is no good.” With that, Wei Mingjue took a deep breath, finally inhaling that haunting mint scent mingled with his own vodka. It smelled even better now.
Logically speaking, they were both Alphas, and an opponent’s pheromone carried inherent aggressiveness. Every time in the past, he never let his one-night partners release their pheromones, making them hold it in instead while he gorged himself, watching those Alphas display expressions of agony and pleasure. But facing Zou Yuqing, he actually wanted him to release more, even more than that.
Thinking this, Wei Mingjue leaned in closer to Zou Yuqing’s neck. But Zou Yuqing reached up to cover his gland, wearing an expression of half-hidden panic and confusion. “I am an Alpha.”
“I know you are an Alpha. Stop backing away, the pot is about to spill.” Wei Mingjue watched Zou Yuqing’s reaction with amusement, then took half a step back. “Step forward.”
Zou Yuqing certainly was not going to get close to Wei Mingjue. Muttering that he should go outside and that the noodles would be ready in a moment, he turned around, used a dishcloth to grab the pot handle, straightened the pot, and began dishing out the noodles. Wei Mingjue shrugged with a smile and walked back to sit on the sofa. Soon after, three bowls of egg noodles were brought to the table.
“You guys eat just this?” Wei Mingjue looked somewhat surprised at the clear soup and plain noodles before him, the bowls used to serve them making him feel as though he had stepped back into a bygone era.
“Did I not tell you we only had noodles? If you will not eat, leave.” Ignoring the man in front of him, Zou Yuqing picked up his bowl and ate while standing, as he had to get back to work soon and had no time to waste with Wei Mingjue.
“Eat.” Wei Mingjue paused for a second before picking up the wooden chopsticks on the table. “Why are you not sitting down to eat? Come sit next to me.” He looked at Zou Yuqing again and patted the empty spot beside him.
“You probably do not want me to come over and drag you here, do you?” Seeing that Zou Yuqing did not move, Wei Mingjue added.
Zou Yuqing finally reacted. He froze for a moment, then walked over to sit at the very edge of the sofa, as far away from Wei Mingjue as possible. Wei Mingjue smiled indifferently and shifted closer to Zou Yuqing. “Your mother is not up yet. If we cook them this early, will they not get soggy?”
Predictably, Zou Yuqing ignored him. Wei Mingjue continued on his own, asking why he always went to help his brother, if his brother gave him money, and how much he gave him this time.
Money. If not for money, he would not have had to endure so much suffering. Zou Yuqing’s grip on his chopsticks tightened. He finished his noodles in a few quick bites and said, “He is not my brother. I have nothing to do with the Zou family.”
“Oh, he is not even your brother, yet you still help him. Does that not make you feel even more wronged?” Wei Mingjue slurped a mouthful of noodles. It was a very ordinary taste, but with a trace of mint mixed in, prompting him to take a second bite immediately.
“You have probably investigated everything already. Why ask me?” Zou Yuqing glanced at Wei Mingjue sideways. Clearly, this man had his life under a microscope, yet he was here mocking him. Was it fun? His family was already complicated enough, and his life was an utter mess. Did he have to become a laughingstock on top of that?
“You must hate Zou Yushen a lot, right? He…” Wei Mingjue wanted to continue, but Zou Yuqing suddenly lunged forward and covered his mouth. His hand, freshly washed after cooking noodles, was not greasy at all; instead, it carried a faint, clean soap scent. Wei Mingjue’s eyes widened abruptly as he stared at the close-up of Zou Yuqing, his heart skipping a beat for no apparent reason. The usually composed Alpha suddenly looked somewhat flustered, and the next second, he understood why Zou Yuqing wore that expression.
A sudden disturbance echoed from the bedroom, followed by faint cries calling out for Yushen. Soon after, Xu Jie ran out barefoot, her hair disheveled, her previously dim eyes carrying a strange, bright gleam.
“Qingqing, did your father come?” She rushed into the living room, grabbed Zou Yuqing’s arm, and asked anxiously. Looking around frantically, she caught sight of Wei Mingjue sitting on the sofa and suddenly retreated backward. “No, this is not your father. Yushen, where are you? I know you came to see me.”
Xu Jie let go of Zou Yuqing’s arm and dashed toward the door, only to be grabbed firmly by Zou Yuqing. “Mom, he did not come. Put your shoes on properly.”
“He came! Why will you not let me see him? He is your father!” Unexpectedly, Xu Jie grew agitated again, turning around and landing a slap across Zou Yuqing’s face. “Why will you not let me see your father?”
Zou Yuqing was stunned by the blow. Wei Mingjue strode forward and caught Xu Jie’s hand as she raised it for another swing, frowning deeply as he looked at Zou Yuqing. “Are you alright?”
This was the second time he had been hit today. Zou Yuqing felt a sting of sourness in his nose, but he forcefully swallowed it down, shook his head, and said, “I am fine. Let go of her. Eat your food and leave. Do not come back again.” His voice was flat, entirely accustomed to all of this. A mentally unstable mother and a screwed-up life were things he had endured for years.
“Just leave.” Zou Yuqing felt utterly exhausted. Lowering his head to the sound of his mother’s harsh screams and crying, his heart was in total chaos. However, the next second, Xu Jie fell silent, collapsing limply into Wei Mingjue’s arms as if she had fainted. “What did you do? What happened to my mom?” he asked, eyes wide as he stared at Wei Mingjue.
“I just let her sleep for a bit.” Wei Mingjue still wore a smile on his face. Without waiting for a response, he picked Xu Jie up horizontally, carried her back into her bedroom, and walked back out. “Do not worry, she probably will not remember any of this when she wakes up. I will be leaving now.”
“That is it then.”
Those were the last words Wei Mingjue heard before the door closed. He smiled, the faint fragrance of egg noodles still lingering on his lips, while the scent of mint seemed to remain suspended in his breath.
Just like that? That was impossible.