“President Qin, everything’s been sent to your phone,” He Rui said. “Also, about the trending topics…”
Qin Yu’s tone was calm. “Go on.”
“Last night’s trending topic was about him and Yu Xile,” He Rui continued. “A very popular singer in the entertainment industry right now, an Omega. Xie Wangyuan has been rumored with Yu Xile more than once in the past but the current public opinion seems to suggest that Yu Xile is actually an adopted son of the Xie family…”
Qin Yu casually skimmed through the trending news, then exited and opened Xie Wangyuan’s personal records from the past six years.
After reading everything from beginning to end, Qin Yu frowned and swiped back a few pages with his finger. “This hospital he frequented during his university years, there are no detailed medical records?”
“No,” He Rui shook his head. “That private hospital places great importance on patient privacy and the Xie family has made multiple donations in the past. For now, we can’t find anything.”
He Rui glanced at Qin Yu’s expression again and lowered his voice. “Isn’t it said that he only likes to provoke Betas? Then during his susceptible periods, he could only go to the hospital to deal with it… If something like that were exposed, it would definitely be bad for the Xie family.”
Qin Yu continued swiping, staring at the dense list of club names and the ambiguous photographs and let out a cold laugh. “So, he treated me as just another one of those Betas?”
He Rui didn’t dare respond. He stared straight ahead, silently praying that Qin Yu wouldn’t continue asking him questions like that.
From behind them came the background audio of the video from that extravagant night. He Rui shrank his neck slightly. “President Qin, should we continue investigating that hospital?”
Qin Yu closed the video, swallowed two pills and said coldly, “No need.”
Qin Yu didn’t like clubs. To him, they were no different from the bars he had worked in years ago yet he appeared in places like this often, for the company, for business, for negotiations… for far too many reasons.
He leaned back and rested for a moment before opening the car door and stepping out. “Call me at 8:30. Wait for me at the entrance.”
He Rui hurriedly replied, “Yes, President Qin.”
Qin Yu didn’t have a high alcohol tolerance. Fortunately, the directors hadn’t really pressured him to drink. He took half a glass as a formality, then used the excuse of going to the restroom to leave the small banquet hall.
Since Qin Yu took over, Qin Weihong had stopped participating in the company’s affairs. Although he was still the chairman of Qin Corporation, he had long delegated his duties to Qin Yu under the pretext of poor health.
Qin Yu’s capabilities were evident to all. However, because of his identity, there were many people in the board who were secretly restless, led most notably by Vice Chairman Qin Huajie.
In terms of seniority, Qin Huajie was Qin Yu’s uncle. Back then, aside from Qin Weihong, he had been the most qualified to take charge of Qin Corporation.
Six years ago, when Qin Jingxuan was hospitalized after an accident, Qin Huajie thought that the opportunity he had waited for all these years had finally arrived. He was determined to push his own son into the position. Unexpectedly, Qin Yu appeared out of nowhere.
Being an illegitimate child would have been one thing, no wealthy family was free of such unsavory matters but to make it worse, he was a Beta.
As soon as Qin Yu left, Qin Huajie immediately sneered with disdain. “Can’t even handle his liquor. No wonder he’s a Beta.”
Several members of the Qin family’s collateral branches laughed and echoed him, while the other directors said nothing.
In the position of president, Qin Yu was undoubtedly competent and outstanding but as for the internal power struggles of the Qin family, they didn’t care and had no intention of getting involved. As long as whoever ended up in power could manage Qin Corporation well, that was enough.
The small banquet hall was some distance from the restroom. Qin Yu’s steps were unsteady, his stomach burning fiercely. He lowered his head, intending to call He Rui.
“Already drunk after such a short while?”
Qin Yu’s hand paused. He lifted his head.
Xie Wangyuan was leaning against the wall in the corridor, lighting the cigarette held between his lips, openly sizing up Qin Yu’s face, now tinged with alcohol under the lights.
That blatant, undisguised gaze made Qin Yu uncomfortable. He frowned and coldly looked back at him. “Second Young Master Xie has this kind of fetish?”
“A fetish?” Xie Wangyuan didn’t move, his words muffled around the cigarette. “That depends on who it’s for.”
He exhaled a puff of smoke toward Qin Yu and smiled roguishly. “For you, not to mention following you, peeping wouldn’t be out of the question either.”
Xie Wangyuan walked closer, looking at Qin Yu’s complexion. “I thought you stood me up for something important. Drinking with this bunch of old men, might as well drink with me. My drinking manners are pretty good. Want to give it a try?”
“Xie Wangyuan.” Qin Yu’s eyes were icy, his voice even colder. “I’m not interested in Alphas.”
“But I’m very interested in you.” Xie Wangyuan smiled, stepping closer again. The scent of mint mixed with a trace of alcohol, then was overlaid by the smell of smoke he exhaled. “How’s that little cat doing?”
Qin Yu ignored him and walked straight into the restroom.
Xie Wangyuan lazily followed behind, leaning against the doorframe as he listened to Qin Yu finish his phone call. He watched Qin Yu turn on the faucet and wash his face, water beads sliding along the contours of his face to his chin, dripping onto the marble countertop.
“There’s a driver right here yet you don’t use him. Who are you calling instead?”
Qin Yu lowered his lashes as he dried his hands. Once the heat in his face subsided, he tossed the paper towel away and walked out.
Xie Wangyuan shamelessly followed him again, his eyes landing on the ring on Qin Yu’s pale, slender fingers as he searched for something to say. “I have to say, that ring of yours is quite… ”
Qin Yu’s fingers twitched and curled into a fist. He shifted his body slightly to avoid Xie Wangyuan’s hand. “Second Young Master Xie, have some self respect.”
Xie Wangyuan watched Qin Yu’s tall, straight back as he walked away, then let out a smile filled with ambiguous meaning.
No more footsteps followed behind him. Qin Yu had no intention of staying at the club any longer. He returned to the banquet hall, exchanged a few polite words with the directors and prepared to leave.
“I’m sorry for arriving uninvited and disturbing everyone.”
Unexpectedly, the person who had just confronted him in the restroom now appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall. As he walked in, Xie Wangyuan spoke, “I shall be borrowing President Qin for the evening, surely you won’t hold it against a junior like me?”
Xie Wangyuan picked up a glass of red wine. “This one’s my apology.” He drained it in one go, then picked up another glass. “And this one.. ”
That bandage was particularly glaring. Qin Yu raised his hand to undo his shirt cuff and turned to leave. “I’m not feeling well, so I won’t trouble everyone further.”
Xie Wangyuan raised an eyebrow and stopped bothering with small talk with the old men. He tipped his head back, finished the wine in his glass and followed Qin Yu out.
“Is that the one from the Xie family?”
“How did Qin Yu get mixed up with him?”
“Doesn’t look like an ordinary relationship.”
“Wasn’t it said that that guy likes to mess with Betas the most?”
“Hah. A Beta getting involved with an Alpha, especially a notorious playboy. Who Qin Corporation will belong to in the future is really hard to say…”
Xie Wangyuan reached out and pressed a hand against the car door, twirling the car keys in his hand. “I’ve been drinking.”
“I can’t drive,” Xie Wangyuan emphasized. “I drank to get you out of trouble. Qin Yu, aren’t you going to take responsibility?”
Xie Wangyuan had thick skin. He spoke blatant distortions without blushing, clearly having chosen to drink himself yet shamelessly dumped the responsibility onto Qin Yu.
He Rui was sitting in the front passenger seat. With Xie Wangyuan blocking him, he couldn’t get out of the car and could only look back and forth helplessly.
Qin Yu walked around to the other side and opened the door. “He Rui, call a designated driver for Second Young Master Xie.”
“Y.. Yes, Second Young Master Xie…”
“No need.” Xie Wangyuan patted his pocket, then directly tossed the lighter out through the front car window, landing it beside Qin Yu. “It’s been with me for years. Don’t lose it. I’ll come get it from you next time.
Ren Yi, young, unattached and living solely for nightlife, arrived at a moment’s notice. He stared in shock. “Brother Yuan, what happened to your head? Tried to hook up with Qin Yu and failed, so he cracked your skull open?”
“What nonsense are you thinking?” Xie Wangyuan sounded exhausted. “My dad did it.”
“Your dad…” Ren Yi swallowed the rest of his words. “Because of yesterday’s trending topic? Damn, your dad didn’t hold back. He didn’t freeze your cards again?”
“No.” Xie Wangyuan waved it off. “This time I really pissed him off. He probably won’t bother with me for a while. I’ve already had someone start investigating that lab.”
There was progress on the inhibitor issue. At least the beating hadn’t been entirely pointless. Ren Yi finally relaxed a little, then immediately started worrying again. “No, wait, your head’s injured and you still went drinking?”
Xie Wangyuan scratched his forehead. “Mm. Helped Qin Yu block some drinks.”
Ren Yi burst out laughing. “You went, all injured, to help someone block drinks and still got dumped at the club entrance? So in the end, he didn’t even bother with you at all?”
Xie Wangyuan idly twirled his wine glass. “It was okay. At least I heard him say he’d get me a designated driver in the end.”
“Isn’t that still you throwing yourself at him and getting treated like air?” Ren Yi tried to persuade him again. “I told you a long time ago, why not just forget it?”
“How could I forget it?” Xie Wangyuan replied. “Let’s not even talk about my dad. My brother’s already trying to set me up on blind dates. I can’t do without Qin Yu.”
“Blind dates?!” Ren Yi sprayed a mouthful of wine. Amid Xie Wangyuan’s curses, he coughed violently. “Brother Yuan, you’re going on blind dates?!”
“Like hell I am.” Xie Wangyuan set his glass down, grabbed a napkin to wipe his unfortunate trousers, shifted farther away and pulled out his phone. As he searched, he muttered to himself, “…What is all this garbage?”
Curious, Ren Yi leaned over to look. On the screen, in glaring bold letters, was a headline:
100 Little Tricks to Flirt with Betas, Become the Top Alpha Who Makes His Heart Race
Ren Yi couldn’t hold it in again and spat out another mouthful of wine. “Pfft”
Xie Wangyuan scooted even farther away, backed out and tapped into another article, reading the title aloud. “Thirty three Secrets to Flirting with Bs: Tempt the Beta Who Doesn’t Belong to You Yet, Make Them Fall for You… Huh.”
Ren Yi was completely speechless, coughing like thunder.
Xie Wangyuan skimmed it at lightning speed, backed out again and opened yet another piece. “People actually believe this kind of made up crap? Let me see how ridiculous it can get, Shh, Eight Ways to Easily Ask an Innocent Beta Out, Things a Bad Alpha Must Know… Ha!”
Seeing the topic drift further and further off course, Ren Yi hurried to reel it back in. “You’re always saying Qin Yu’s got that ‘something.’ What exactly is so special about him?”
Xie Wangyuan had had enough of these nonsensical guides. He tossed his phone aside, thought for a moment, then said, “Everything about him is special. Especially when he ignores me.”
“You’re just bored out of your damn mind and acting, ” Ren Yi struck the classic subway old man pose mid sentence, then worked hard to straighten his face.
“Forgive me for being blunt, Brother Yuan but do you have some kind of masochistic tendency? The more someone ignores you, the more you like sticking your face in front of them, huh?”
Xie Wangyuan laughed and cursed. “Get lost. You’re the M.” He lifted his wrist to check the time and urged him on. “That’s enough, stop drinking. Wrap it up and go home to sleep.”
“So early? That’s not your usual schedule, Brother Yuan. Something important tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” Xie Wangyuan nodded solemnly. “Going to block someone at Qin Corporation.”
He added seriously, “No lighter, can’t smoke. That’s just not a life worth living.”
Ren Yi muttered, “Then why’d you even give it to him… Damn, what a scheming Alpha.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
No pressure. Just a tiny coffee-shaped bribe. ☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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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