After Xie Wangyuan had left, one of the shop clerks hesitantly asked, “Manager… didn’t we never offer customized services before?”
“We didn’t, usually not but for this person, we can make an exception.” The manager’s eyes were wide, filled with both disbelief and excitement as he looked at the puzzled young clerk. “Do you even know who he is?!”
“I… I don’t… Who?” the clerk replied uncertainly.
“That’s someone from the Xie family!” The manager’s eyes gleamed with the unmistakable sparkle of profit, his imagination running wild with possibilities. “One custom set today, ten sets tomorrow, twenty the day after… with just this, who even needs to worry about sales?!”
The clerk muttered quietly, “Giving the same gift to everyone… isn’t that a bit lacking in sincerity?”
“Sincerity?” The manager chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “For a young master like him, taking the time to pick gifts meticulously is already extraordinary. If he just grabs ten random blades of grass off the street, those betas receiving them will treasure them like precious heirlooms, you know that, right?”
Meanwhile, the very meticulous and attentive Xie Wangyuan, clutching a hedgehog plush toy, got into a taxi. On the way, he received a call from Xie Tiancheng.
Xie Wangyuan held the phone to his ear, waited for silence on the other side, then put it back: “I’ll come by later.”
“Besides playing and sleeping, what else could you possibly have to do?” his father’s voice teased.
“Of course I have things to do.” Xie Wangyuan pinched the soft spikes of his hedgehog toy. “I have to go deliver some love to a certain Beta who’s both capable and high profile. Dad, you don’t know, this guy gave me quite a hard time before. Today, I absolutely have to…”
The call abruptly ended.
“Left me stranded in the middle of nowhere and you call that not giving me trouble?” Xie Wangyuan continued, tucking away his phone and glancing forward. “Right, Master?”
The driver, who had been eavesdropping, nodded in agreement. “Yeah! Just a little squabble but your little someone’s temper is pretty feisty, huh?”
Xie Wangyuan chuckled softly. “Tell me about it… very difficult to handle indeed.”
He stepped out of the taxi and, familiar with the surroundings, walked confidently toward the front desk, a smile playing on his lips. “Did President Qin leave any message for me today?”
The receptionist cast a glance at the Alpha cradling the adorable plush toy. “No.”
Xie Wangyuan nodded knowingly. “Makes sense. After what President Qin did to me, it would be embarrassing for him to lecture me any further…”
That, that kind of thing?!
A Beta… could actually do something to an Alpha?!
The few receptionists and passing employees nearly popped their eyes out with curiosity.
“But that’s me, thick skinned, tough and fearless. I’m not afraid of whatever your President Qin can throw at me.” Xie Wangyuan patted the hedgehog’s head, sighing dramatically. “After what happened… and yet I still rush over to give him gifts, your President Qin…”
He turned toward the just opened elevator, lazily propping one leg up. “Well, well, isn’t this our ruthless President Qin? After finishing, just leave me behind. If I hadn’t intercepted you, would you have acted like nothing happened?”
He Rui, trailing behind, muttered under his breath, still a little shaken by Xie Wangyuan’s boldness, even though he had been present at the scene, he could still be intimidated by this outspoken second young master.
Satisfied with his theatrics, Xie Wangyuanyuan held out the plush toy toward Qin Yu. “Here’s a little toy for you to play with today.”
Knowing Qin Yu wouldn’t accept it, Xie Wangyuan casually handed the hedgehog to He Rui instead, then scrutinized Qin Yu’s expression. “Who angered you this time? Those old men forcing drinks on you?”
“But I won’t be around tonight.” Xie Wangyuan pointed to his forehead, his mischievous little thoughts bubbling up again. “The last incident isn’t even resolved yet. Tonight, I bet there’ll be a whole new addition. Qin Yu, aren’t you going to properly repay me?”
He leaned down to light a cigarette, oblivious to the way Qin Yu’s eyes slightly narrowed at his words.
Clutching the cigarette, Xie Wangyuan proudly displayed his new two yuan lighter. “I’m not asking for much. Just compensate me with something of this quality.” He tapped the plush toy cradled by He Rui and waved off casually. “I’ll leave now. See you next time.”
That evening, Meng Chao had arranged a meeting for him at a small, remote tavern. By the time Xie Wangyuan arrived, night had fallen.
“Brother Yuan! Over here!”
Following Ren Yi’s voice, Xie Wangyuan found the barely noticeable corner booth. Only Ren Yi and Meng Chao were present.
“Who picked such a place?” Xie Wangyuan strode over, settling into the seat. “On such a dark, windy night… is this some secret rendezvous?”
Meng Chao tossed a cigarette to Xie Wangyuan. Ren Yi said, “Do you even know where we are, Brother Yuan?”
“Where?”
“The film city.” Meng Chao’s face was clouded with frustration. “An’an is filming here. I’ve been accompanying him for three days and only met him twice. They even assigned him a new manager to prevent me from visiting too often and getting photographed, which could turn into negative press. Damn it, I’m basically getting myself in trouble just trying to help him.”
Ren Yi laughed heartily. “Isn’t that great? With such a dedicated manager, Qing’an will become a top actor soon. Your little struggling company will rise along with him.”
“Top actor? If he gets any more popular, I think his manager will tear us apart.” Meng Chao groaned. “I’m spending money to suffer… my wife is practically a netizen’s wife now.”
“Then just stop the filming. Quit the industry, you’re not short of money.”
Meng Chao lit the cigarette, taking a puff, muttering, “…Fine, he likes it.”
Ignoring Ren Yi’s feigned jaw ache gestures, Meng Chao leaned closer to Xie Wangyuan. “You probably haven’t been keeping up with Yu Xile’s latest, right?”
Xie Wangyuan leaned in, using the lighter Ren Chao had lit to spark his own cigarette. “What?”
“Yesterday, Yu Xile attended a concert as a guest for a Beta, pretending to be just a friend. He was photographed backstage, seemingly losing control of his pheromones and behaving rather intimately with that friend” Meng Chao explained. “Because your previous two trending topics caused such a stir, the company prefers to handle it this way.”
Xie Wangyuan raised an eyebrow. “So… Yu Xile is being piggybacked for popularity? Then what happened?”
“He got targeted by paparazzi. Even if he wanted to clarify, it wouldn’t help but there are plenty of trending topics in the entertainment industry, so soon this one was pushed down. Recently, Yu Xile seems to be getting close to Zhu Zhengcheng.”
Xie Wangyuan frowned. “Zhu Zhengcheng… who?”
Ren Yi laughed and reached toward Meng Chao. “See? I told you Brother Yuan wouldn’t remember. Pay up, pay up, quick!”
Meng Chao sighed and reluctantly transferred ten thousand to Ren Yi. “Couldn’t do without you.”
Watching them gamble in front of him, Xie Wangyuan slammed the table. “Wait, you two are betting on me?”
Ren Yi grinned after pocketing the money. “Since we’re driving, we can’t drink. Waiting here was boring, so just a little fun. When we get back, drinks are on me.”
Xie Wangyuan knocked the table lightly. “So, who exactly is this Zhu Zhengcheng?”
“Only child of the Zhu family. Our middle school classmate. You even dealt with him back then,” Ren Yi explained. “In high school, he went to the same school as Zhi Ge, remember? You even went to confront him once.”
Xie Wangyuan had already forgotten but after a brief pause, he muttered thoughtfully, “Surname Zhu… Huangda?”
“Mm, that’s Master Huangda’s son. He only recently joined Huangda.” Meng Chao flipped through his phone’s photo gallery and handed it over. “It’s him.”
Xie Wangyuan glanced at the picture and said casually, “Oh, him? I’ve met him already.”
Ren Yi’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’ve met him? When?”
“That night when it was raining, before you came to pick me up.” Xie Wangyuan shrugged lightly. “All that snide, sarcastic nonsense, like a long tongued gossip. Barely exchanged a few words before he ran off scared, a real coward.”
Ren Yi burst out laughing. “Of course it had to be you, Brother Yuan! Honestly, you were ruthless back then. No wonder he’s still so wary of you now.”
Xie Wangyuan lifted his gaze to Meng Chao, seeing him signal to continue scrolling through the photos and began flipping through the pages. “So Yu Xile got involved with him?”
Meng Chao smiled wryly. “Your father’s still in Huangda. As long as Yu Xile isn’t completely foolish, he wouldn’t dare get entangled with Zhu Zhengcheng and Zhu Zhengcheng, while he enjoys playing around, only targets small, unknown Omega artists. Yu Xile is way too big a name for him to consider.
“Zhu Zhengcheng’s track record over the past few years? He’s already ruined two companies playing around. He wouldn’t gamble the same way in his own company just to settle some eight hundred year old personal grudge with you. Even if he’s careless, the Zhu family wouldn’t approve.”
Xie Wangyuan flipped through a few more pictures, Zhu Zhengcheng escorting Yu Xile into various restaurants and private clubs. He gave no comment, only observing. “On the surface, sure, it looks like that.”
“I used to think Yu Xile was just a brainless pretty face,” Meng Chao continued, a hint of intrigue in his tone. “But a few days ago, I noticed something interesting. His previous assistant was assigned by your father and when you returned to the country, his team changed completely. This trending topic, was it someone piggybacking off him or did Huangda take advantage of it? That, my friend, is hard to say.”
Ren Yi blinked, stunned. “But didn’t you just say the two of them wouldn’t get involved together?”
“Huangda’s internal management had long been critical of Xie Tiancheng. For a company, nothing is more forbidden than an outsider meddling, especially when Xie Tiancheng’s focus is solely on Yu Xile, completely ignoring the company’s overall interests. How could anyone else tolerate that?
“For Zhu Zhengcheng, Yu Xile’s popularity is right there and as an Omega, he’s easy to manage. On top of that, he can subtly annoy Wangyuan, why wouldn’t he take advantage?” Meng Chao explained matter of factly.
Ren Yi was curious. “But Brother Yuan, his dad’s still in Huangda, right? Surely he’d notice Yu Xile getting so close to Zhu Zhengcheng?”
Meng Chao pushed a glass of lemon soda toward Ren Yi, looking utterly exasperated. “Yi, listen to me. These things aren’t for you to worry about. Just go play on the sidelines, alright?”
Ren Yi took a long sip of the soda, silently conceding.
“These are photos of Zhu Zhengcheng taking him to meet some investors,” Meng Chao said, pointing at the images. “After this, Huangda will likely start gradually reducing any news tying Yu Xile to your family.”
Ren Yi thought for a moment and said, “Well, isn’t that good? Yu Xile doesn’t want to be tied to Brother Yuan anyway. Now that neither of them is willing, even if Brother Yuan’s father tries, it won’t make a difference.”
Xie Wangyuan flicked off his cigarette, lifting his chin slightly. “Drink up. Then we head home.”
Meng Chao glanced at his watch. “Time’s about right. An’an should be finishing filming soon. I’ll go pick him up.”
Ren Yi asked, “His manager told you to go?”
Meng Chao rose, pride in his posture. “He didn’t tell me to go but I’m the boss.” He turned to Xie Wangyuan. “I’m leaving first.”
Xie Wangyuan nodded. “Thanks.”
Ren Yi hadn’t fully understood the conversation all evening and muttered quietly, “Why so cryptic…”
Xie Wangyuan said simply, “He’s giving me a warning.”
“A warning?”
Xie Wangyuan opened his mouth, then shook his head. “Nothing. I’m going back to the Xie residence for a bit.”
Ren Yi looked at Xie Wangyuan’s forehead. “And this time… what for? Did your dad find out about the Qin Yu incident?”
“Eventually, he’d have to know,” Xie Wangyuan said, turning the car key. “Perfect timing, tonight, I’ll give him a proper ‘report.’”
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
✦ END OF CHAPTER ✦ BEGIN COFFEE NEGOTIATIONS ✦
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
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