Yu Xile had always suspected that Xie Wangyuan might still hold some resentment over the incident during their differentiation years ago but he had never expected him to be so blunt, so mercilessly direct.
Biting his lip, Yu Xile rose and got into the car. His voice softened as he murmured, “Wangyuan, I was still in the hospital when you went abroad. The doctor said our pheromones were very compatible and all these years I’ve always…”
“Kept yourself pure for me?” Xie Wangyuan swept his gaze up and down Yu Xile with clear disdain. “I don’t like things that have been touched by others.”
Humiliated, Yu Xile forced himself to speak, voice trembling. “I… I’ve never had another Alpha.”
“What a pity.” Xie Wangyuan leaned in close, suddenly curling his lips into a smile. “I’m not interested in Omegas. As for you, I’m even less ‘interested’, in every sense.”
Yu Xile’s face went stark white.
“There are some things I should make clear to you first. I don’t care what my dad told you before and I don’t care about any so called compatibility. I don’t have that intention. As for you, it’s best if you don’t have any ideas either. If you do, kill them early.” His tone was cold, unhurried. “You can keep getting close to the Xie family if you want but stop implying there’s anything between you and me.”
Yu Xile’s lips trembled as he tried to explain, “Wangyuan, it’s not that I implied anything. It’s the company…”
Xie Wangyuan let out a short laugh, resting one hand on the steering wheel. “You were made famous because of Xie Tiancheng and your company. If you have to obey them, that’s your own business. It has nothing to do with me.”
“You’ve been in the entertainment industry long enough. You should know very well that being tied to an Alpha like me will do nothing good for your career.” He tossed a pheromone blocking patch at him, voice low. “Unless, you want me to make things even uglier.”
Pressed back against the car door, Yu Xile’s hands trembled as he took the suppression patch. With shaking fingers, he tore it open and pressed it to the back of his neck.
Even though he couldn’t smell any trace of Xie Wangyuan’s pheromones, his legs still felt weak. He couldn’t force himself to act obedient anymore. Instinctively, he nodded along to whatever Xie Wangyuan said, wanting nothing more than to get this Alpha as far away from him as possible.
Xie Wangyuan didn’t want to be close to him either. His gland hurt even more than before, so swollen and throbbing it felt like it might tear apart. All he wanted was another injection. He stared at Yu Xile for a long moment before finally leaning back and restarting the engine.
The Xi Jun family had arrived long before them. The two twin boys were playing in the courtyard.
They were already eight years old but had never met Xie Wangyuan. Their mother had coached them beforehand, so they called him “Uncle,” then immediately ran toward Yu Xile, the man they’d seen countless times on television, their eyes shining in excitement.
Xie Wangyuan didn’t even consider helping Yu Xile with the fruit basket or bouquet. He walked straight in.
“Brother, sister in law.” He greeted the three people in the living room with a curt nod, then spoke to Xie Tiancheng, who kept glancing toward the door. “I brought him.”
“I know.” Xie Tiancheng snorted. “Dinner’s in a while. You didn’t forget, right?”
Walking upstairs, Xie Wangyuan nodded impatiently. “I’ll come down when it’s time.”
Xie Tiancheng was dissatisfied. He knew this was already a huge concession coming from Xie Wangyuan but regret still pricked him. If he’d known his son would be this obedient, he should have used that frozen credit card earlier to push him to spend more time with Yu Xile.
Stumbling slightly, Xie Wangyuan returned to his room, showered off the cold sweat coating his body and injected himself with another inhibitor.
Since this was such a rare opportunity, Xie Tiancheng naturally arranged for dinner to be served earlier than usual.
When Xie Wangyuan came downstairs, Xie Tiancheng was seated at the head of the table. The Xi Jun family sat on the right side and only one empty seat was left for him, the first one on the left, directly beside Yu Xile.
They had barely been together for half an hour yet Yu Xile had already won over Xi Jun’s partner and their children completely.
Being likable was second nature to Yu Xile, almost as effortless as eating or drinking. Everyone except the Alpha now approaching him with visible impatience.
Their pheromones were supposed to be perfectly compatible. If it had been anyone else, they would have naturally ended up together already but this Alpha couldn’t even show him a shred of warmth.
Remembering the harsh words from earlier, Yu Xile hesitated for a moment before standing but Xie Tiancheng was smiling at him so kindly that he had no choice but to push down his fear and walk toward Xie Wangyuan.
“Wangyuan,” Yu Xile said softly, intentionally adding a touch of coyness and familiarity to his tone, “I accidentally lost my ring in the courtyard earlier. Help me look for it?”
Under normal circumstances, he would have been able to hide every trace of emotion but his heart was still pounding from their earlier encounter, terrified that Xie Wangyuan would suddenly snap and expose the lie he’d told in front of Xie Tiancheng, that they got along well.
The Alpha’s eyes were a pale shade and when he kept his face expressionless, he looked fierce and severe. Being stared at like that made Yu Xile’s nerves jump. Bracing himself, he stepped half a pace closer, not daring to touch him. Tilting his head slightly, he whispered, “Wangyuan?”
Xie Wangyuan looked at the stiff expression on Yu Xile’s face, then slowly shifted his gaze to Xie Tiancheng, who was smiling in satisfaction at the table. The corner of his mouth lifted. “Alright.”
Relief washed over Yu Xile instantly. Still refusing to get too close, he turned and smiled awkwardly. “Then we’ll just…”
Xie Tiancheng waved his hand cheerfully, urging them on. “Go on, go look. Don’t worry about dinner, we can have the kitchen make more later.”
Only one lamp lit the courtyard, leaving most of it dim. Xie Wangyuan sat down on a chair in one corner, crossing his legs. He watched as Yu Xile followed him out and asked, “Where’s the ring?”
Yu Xile froze.
“Why aren’t you looking?” Xie Wangyuan tilted his head, glancing at the silhouettes behind the living room’s floor to ceiling window. “Isn’t acting supposed to include the whole show?”
“Doesn’t being a singer get boring?” he continued lazily, flicking open a lighter and playing with it. “A friend of mine has a small entertainment company with decent casting resources. Maybe you should try acting. I think it suits you.”
Yu Xile’s face went from pale to green.
When he was young, his family had been poor. His father, who beat and yelled at him for every little thing, died early and afterward he was passed around from relative to relative like a ball no one wanted.
From a young age, Yu Xile had learned to read moods, to please others. He was beautiful, obedient and sensible. People had adored him even when he’d lived in the orphanage. After debuting, he’d heard nothing but gentle words and praise. No one had ever spoken to him so sharply.
Digging his nails hard into his palm, he swallowed back every emotion, doing everything he could to placate the man in front of him. “Wangyuan, you have to give me some time. You know my situation. Whether it’s Uncle Xie or the company, I don’t get to make decisions.”
“Uncle Xie is your father, you know how he is and to the company, I’m just a valuable product. With just me alone, it’s really hard to…”
Seeing that Xie Wangyuan had paused the motion of his hands, he quickly added, “But I’ll talk to my agent when I go back. He’ll pass on my thoughts to the company. As for Uncle Xie, I’ll take it slowly and talk to him too.”
Standing under the dim courtyard light, with his head lowered but eyes lifted cautiously, he looked timid and pitiful. “Is that alright, Wangyuan?”
Xie Wangyuan didn’t answer. Instead, he stood. “Not hungry? Let’s finish dinner. I’ll send you back afterward.”
Delight flashed across Yu Xile’s face. He hurried after him in small steps. “O.. okay!”
Xie Wangyuan barely ate anything. Even when he finished, he didn’t get up right away, he just sat there playing on his phone.
He ignored all the conversations around him. Occasionally, when Xie Tiancheng chatted with Yu Xile and teased him about something related to Xie Wangyuan, Yu Xile would blush with embarrassment but Xie Wangyuan never reacted.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xie Tiancheng set down his chopsticks. Xie Wangyuan put away his phone. “You’re finally done?”
Xie Tiancheng was clearly displeased that Xie Wangyuan hadn’t spoken a single word to Yu Xile throughout the entire meal. He said forcefully, “Dinner’s over but Lele still has to stay and have a cup of tea with me.”
Understanding exactly what his father wanted, Xie Wangyuan nodded. He lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch before turning to Yu Xile. “I have something to deal with. I won’t be sending you back.”
“Uncle Xie, I’ll come again next time to keep you company for tea,” Yu Xile hurried to say. “My agent still needs me for something…”
“It’s already so late, what could he possibly need from you besides disturbing your rest?” Xie Tiancheng snorted unhappily, though he was secretly delighted that Xie Wangyuan would be the one to take Yu Xile home. After having someone pack up the pastries Yu Xile liked, he added coldly, “Lele gets carsick. Make sure you send him back properly.”
Xie Wangyuan didn’t reply. He simply held out his hand toward his father and lifted it lazily in a gesture of silent demand.
Xie Tiancheng’s face darkened. “It’ll be thawed tomorrow.”
Only then did Xie Wangyuan glance toward the others. “Brother, sister in law and you two little potatoes, see you.”
“Uncle, we’re not potatoes.”
Xie Wangyuan corrected himself without blinking. “Fine, two little onion heads. See you.”
The twins: “…”
The ride back was silent. When the car stopped in the underground parking lot of Yu Xile’s residence, Yu Xile put on his mask and sunglasses, hesitating as if wanting to say something but unsure how to start.
Without warning, Xie Wangyuan spoke. “There’s a gathering in a few days.”
Yu Xile blinked, surprised.
“Just a few friends. One of their little boyfriends said he’s a fan of yours.” Xie Wangyuan bit a cigarette between his teeth. He flicked his lighter, about to ignite it but his hand paused. He removed the cigarette and tossed it aside instead. His voice was indifferent. “Whether you go or not is up to you.”
Yu Xile didn’t miss that brief, subtle gesture. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “Then… I’d have to go in through the back entrance of the club.”
He knew Xie Wangyuan liked going to Chunshui Xifeng.
Xie Wangyuan let out a small laugh. “We’re not going there.” After speaking, he unlocked his phone and tossed it into Yu Xile’s arms. “I’ll contact you when the time comes.”
Obediently, Yu Xile saved his own number into the phone. He said goodbye softly, then got out of the car and took the elevator upstairs.
“Lele ge, you’re back!”
Xiao Wen, the new personal assistant assigned to Yu Xile by Huangda, was a Beta who had only graduated a few months ago. Cheerful and meticulous, he rushed over as soon as he saw Yu Xile enter. “Should I put these pastries in the fridge for you?”
“No need.” Yu Xile smiled. “It’s already late. You should go home and get some rest.”
“Alright. I’ll come over again first thing tomorrow morning, Lele ge.” Xiao Wen nodded, feeling lucky that the very first celebrity he worked for was someone so easygoing.
Once the door closed, Yu Xile carried the pastries into the kitchen. He opened the box, took out an apple pie and held it in his hand.
As he reviewed everything that had happened tonight, he slowly crushed the apple pie in his palm.
When he finished sorting through his thoughts, he brushed off the crumbs from his hand, tossed all the pastries into the trash and turned to head into the bathroom.
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Vynellia
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · A Beta who looks particularly attractiveChapter 2 · Illegitimate child? BetaChapter 3 · Am I going to kick a hornet’s nest?Chapter 4 · A banquet that only Betas can attendChapter 5 · The young man’s heart was wastedChapter 6 · What’s so fun about Beta?Chapter 7 · Your dad has too many loversChapter 8 · Date with a ‘beautyChapter 9 · Long Time no see…Chapter 10 · He’ll definitely be the dominant oneChapter 11 · Seeing Qin Yu was like a dog seeing a bone.Chapter 12 · Young Master Qin, what a coincidenceChapter 13 · I don’t like things that other people have touched.Chapter 14 · Just call him “little brother”Chapter 15 · Are you going to pursue Xiao Mei O?Chapter 16 · The dead are deadChapter 17 · Qin Yu, aren’t you going to take responsibility?Chapter 18 · Xie Wangyuan and his dog are not allowed insideChapter 19 · Got into his carChapter 20 · He really gave me a hard timeChapter 21 · You actually Like that beta?Chapter 22 · Like an Alpha catching his wife cheatingChapter 23 · How do you want me to repay you?Chapter 24 · An Alpha without pheromonesChapter 25 · I’m determined to get my hands on Qin YuChapter 26 · Whatever service you needChapter 27 · Honey, shall I put it on for you?Chapter 28 · Mr. Qin has a rather unique aesthetic senseChapter 29 · Who says Qin Yu is hard to deal with?Chapter 30 · Please teach me, Teacher QinChapter 31 · These are all he can lose.Chapter 32 · I’m looking for someone who has “disappeared”.Chapter 33 · A new meaning in his lifeChapter 34 · Your birthday is in a few days, right?Chapter 35 · Just the two of us.Chapter 36 · It was like Qin Yu’s O-selection banquetChapter 37 · He saw himself clearly in his eyesChapter 38 · Do those Betas really make you this comfortable?Chapter 39 · Qin Yu, you just wait.Chapter 40 · I’m to blame for stealing tonight’s main characterChapter 41 · If you have only one piece of clothing left, you winChapter 42 · I admit defeatChapter 43 · He is my lover!Chapter 44 · What kind of cult is Yuyuan?Chapter 45 · There are no other BetasChapter 46 · Go to bedChapter 47 · Susceptible periodChapter 48 · Qin Yu, are you a damn dog?!Chapter 49 · It would be best to lock us up completelyChapter 50 · I’ll give you five million, leave my sonChapter 51 · Other Alphas smell awfulChapter 52 · He can’t possibly be like those stupid Alpha dogsChapter 53 · Only youChapter 54 · Go ahead and say what you just said again if you dareChapter 55 · I thought you were going to meet someone at night.Chapter 56 · Swallow it.Chapter 57 · Service fee for the second young masterChapter 58 · He touched it himself and showed it to meChapter 59 · To make an Alpha no longer need an OmegaChapter 60 · They’re kindly taking me in?Chapter 61 · Qin Yu is different.Chapter 62 · HelpChapter 63 · At times like this and that with Qin Yu.Chapter 64 · We will never abandon themChapter 65 · My wife’s surname is QinChapter 66 · Two numbersChapter 67 · Qin Yu and dogs are not allowed insideChapter 68 · Eat a lotChapter 69 · It’s a must-eatChapter 70 · Batian misses youChapter 71 · Earn money to support your wife.Chapter 72 · I hug you like a crossChapter 73 · Use these to exchange for a wish.Chapter 74 · Extra 1Chapter 75 · Extra 2Chapter 76 · Extra 3Chapter 77 · Extra 4Chapter 78 · Extra 5Chapter 79 · Extra 6Chapter 80 · Extra 7Chapter 81 · Extra 8Chapter 82 · Extra 9Chapter 83 · Extra 10Chapter 84 · Extra 11Chapter 85 · Extra 12