For a moment, Qin Jingxuan forgot to be afraid. A bone-deep chill crawled up his spine and countless images from that night flickered before his eyes. The memories were hazy, fragmented, impossible to stitch together into a coherent sequence.
Qin Yu straightened, his gaze soft but piercing, filled with an almost cruel pity as he looked at Qin Jingxuan. “Qin Jingxuan, without the pride of your precious pheromones, you’re nothing more than a mindless waste and yet… even now, can you still call yourself an Alpha?”
Qin Jingxuan lunged forward, gripping Qin Yu’s clothing tightly. “What do you mean? Speak clearly! That Omega… wasn’t he your little lover? I saw you with him… You did this on purpose. You and that bastard, deliberately plotting against me?!”
His eyes were bloodshot, veins standing out as he hammered on the bed in front of him, cursing violently. “I should have let them go harder on you from the start! I should have killed your crazy mother outright, made sure you could never survive in City C… No, I should have destroyed both of you the moment you came looking for me!”
A cold, calculating smile curved Qin Yu’s lips. “The Omega who was taken straight from your hotel suite to the hospital a few years ago… he ended up committing suicide not long after. That night’s Omega was his brother,” Qin Yu said abruptly. “A life that seems worthless to you… someone’s always keeping track and eventually, it comes back, multiplied, to you.”
“He wanted your life, Second Brother. You should be thanking me,” Qin Yu said, curling a faint smile at the corner of his lips. He raised his right hand, twirling it in front of Qin Jingxuan’s scarred face. “I told you the moment you left this scar, you’d better not regret it.”
Watching Qin Jingxuan’s expression twist with rage and despair, Qin Yu continued, his voice calm but cutting, almost meditative in its cruelty: “The feeling of being outmaneuvered by the very ‘bastard,’ the illegitimate son, the Beta you’ve always looked down on… You’ll get to experience that slowly, intimately, on your bed and don’t worry, your days are long.”
For a moment, Qin Jingxuan’s hands loosened, stunned by the weight of Qin Yu’s words. Then, hatred flared again in his eyes. “Zheng Jingyu, you’ve come this far only because Father had no other children. He had no choice. If he knew you were…”
“You’re welcome to go tell him. See if he’d ‘do justice’ for you,” Qin Yu said lightly, tapping the corner of the shirt Qin Jingxuan still clutched. “You’ve been his son for over thirty years. You should understand him better than I do, right? Second Brother?”
Qin Jingxuan went silent, a bitter chill rising in his chest.
Of course he understood Qin Weihong. The reason he had been able to act so recklessly, so unrestrained, was that he had always known he was Qin Weihong’s only choice.
Ten years ago, when that madwoman arrived in the Qin family with her son, Qin Jingxuan had temporarily kept the news to himself. Later, that mother-and-son pair settled in City C, becoming nothing more than entertainment, tools for Qin Jingxuan to vent his boredom in idle moments.
Qin Jingxuan despised the boy’s gaze, hated the way his back was always straight and unyielding, despised how, despite being a Beta, he was still exceptional. So Qin Jingxuan had resolved to crush him completely: to break his pride, to make him kneel, to stain those eternally calm eyes with despair.
And he had succeeded. He had enlisted several Alphas to drive that madwoman entirely insane, pulled all scholarships and sponsorships from the school and then watched, enthralled, as the boy ran endlessly on a metaphorical wheel, struggling in vain.
It was far more entertaining than tormenting those Omegas who cried and begged in bed.
Qin Jingxuan had known that his deeds could not remain hidden from Qin Weihong yet both understood the unspoken truth: a Beta, an illegitimate child, was forever the stain on the Qin family.
Until that night… Qin Jingxuan was no longer an Alpha. His reputation was ruined, his movements restricted and his life had barely been saved.
Not to mention, he had long heard from Wu Zhiyun that the Qin family, now under Qin Yu’s control, was not only intact but thriving, surpassing the old Qin family.
A Beta surpassing most Alphas, Qin Weihong had no reason to forsake him.
“Zheng Jingyu! You’re a heartless, vile beast! I heard your crazy mother’s about to die, this is your retribution! You’ll end up just like her…”
Qin Yu’s expression remained unchanged as Qin Jingxuan’s curses spilled over. He responded lightly: “You can yell a bit louder, if you like or perhaps, would you like me to ring the bell for you before I leave? There should be someone downstairs taking care of you.”
With a casual tap of the shirt corner Qin Jingxuan had once gripped, Qin Yu left without another glance. The door closed behind him, cutting off the ceaseless stream of curses and howls.
He stepped out of the building, lifted his gaze to the night sky, thick as swirling mist and melted seamlessly into the shadows.
That afternoon, the carpet was strewn with several throw pillows and a thin blanket. The tea table was messy and a phone that had slipped under the sofa rang abruptly. An arm dropped from above to fish it out, fumbling until the last second before answering.
Xie Wangyuan sprawled across the sofa, a pillow perched on his head, his face buried in the narrow gap between the armrest and backrest, mumbling a barely audible, “Hello.”
After a few words, the call ended. The phone slipped onto the carpet again. Xie Wangyuan rolled over, the pillow tumbling off his head with him.
The sudden light made his closed eyes uncomfortable. He tugged the thin blanket over his head, calming himself before sitting up, expressionless as he waited for his body to adjust.
Kicking aside the obstructing pillows, Xie Wangyuan entered the bathroom, removed the underwear that had mysteriously become soiled and took a quick shower.
He emerged, having carefully selected a peacock-print shirt, changed and yanked the pale green sweatshirt that had been washed and returned to the wardrobe into the trash before leaving. “…Bad luck.”
Earlier, the gift shop manager had sent a message. Xie Wangyuan stopped by the shop after leaving the neighborhood to pick up a carefully wrapped set of nesting dolls, placing it on the back seat of his car.
At the private restaurant, he waited for nearly half an hour for Xie Jun to arrive. When he finally pushed open the door, he removed his suit jacket while speaking. “I went to inspect the branch office. Got stuck in traffic on the way back, that’s why I’m late.”
“I’ve already ordered what I wanted. Keep an eye on it, will you?” Xie Wangyuan tossed the menu at him, teeth clenched around a cigarette. “You really carry that capitalist weight on your shoulders, huh? Just the two of us eating but you had to reserve such a large private room?”
“What capitalist weight…” Xie Jun brushed the menu aside, loosened his tie and despite holding back, walked over to open a window. “I didn’t reserve it deliberately. This place tastes good; I come here often.”
Xie Wangyuan stubbed out his cigarette. “If you’re so busy, you don’t have to take time out for lunch with me and if the company ever collapses without you, don’t pin it on me.”
“Wangyuan,” Xie Jun said helplessly, pulling a stack of documents from his briefcase. “These days, your sister in law has been keeping an eye out for Omegas for you. See if any catch your eye.”
“So urgent… I guess you’ve heard about Qin Yu.”
Xie Jun paused briefly, then placed the files casually in front of Xie Wangyuan. “I told you last time, Qin Yu isn’t someone to provoke. Now, it seems, he’s not the type you’d like either.”
“Who says?” Xie Wangyuan replied lazily, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. “That night I said it, he’s striking, I like him. All these years, people have been throwing themselves at me but encountering someone who refuses to indulge me? I absolutely love it.”
Xie Jun’s voice softened, pleading with reason. “He’s different from other Betas. In that position, the Qin family would never allow him to be with an Alpha. You’re just playing, there are plenty of beautiful Betas. Why waste time on him?”
Xie Wangyuan grinned. “Hey, I’m only interested in him now. No one else catches my attention.”
Xie Jun continued: “Wangyuan, the Qin family is about to be chaotic. Qin Huajie has been making moves recently and at a time like this, you!”
“I don’t understand, brother,” Xie Wangyuan interrupted, refusing to listen to company affairs. “Before, you said Qin Yu was skilled, hard to provoke and you warned me. Now you say he can’t hold the Qin family together?”
“He’s just one person. Do you think he can take on the rest of the Qin family? Qin Huajie is even craftier,” Xie Jun explained. “And your uncle’s health has been deteriorating. If the Qin family collapses, Qin Yu will be in the eye of the storm. You’d better stay out of it.”
“Weren’t we supposed to have no dealings with the Qin family? If so, why do you know all this?” Xie Wangyuan’s sharp eyes didn’t let him off. “If you can’t say it outright, I’ll say it for you.”
Xie Jun’s face darkened. “Wangyuan, ”
But Xie Wangyuan pressed on, unrelenting: “Before, you were worried I’d provoke Qin Yu too much. If he resented me, he’d take revenge not just on me but on the Xie family. With my own reputation already bad, you didn’t want more trouble.
“Now, the Qin family is in turmoil. If Qin Yu can’t maintain his position, an illegitimate child like him won’t have a good end and by provoking him, I and the Xie family would also be dragged into the mess but if Qin Yu really has the ability to handle the ambitious Qin family members… either your previous concerns are justified or, ”
Xie Wangyuan lifted his gaze, smirking with sarcasm. “Brother, I have no attachment to the Xie family. I have no interest in the company and even if I’m an Alpha… So what? A useless playboy like me, what’s there to fear?
“It’s still Qin Yu. Is he really someone you fear this much?”
For once, Xie Jun struggled to maintain his usual composure. Xie Wangyuan was his younger brother. Though the world thought him reckless, Xie Jun had long known that beneath the surface, his brother understood everything and now, he laid it all bare without hesitation.
“Don’t dislike my bluntness. Compared to all the scheming and roundabout words, I prefer speaking plainly, cutting straight to the point.”
Xie Wangyuan glanced at the documents again, smiling. “And as for that Yu Xile… whatever Father decides is his business. You can’t influence him and you don’t need to do all this for me to remember your favor. I’ve already said it: I don’t like Omegas. It wouldn’t matter who it was, same difference.”
The door to the private room was knocked on and a waiter entered, beginning to serve the dishes. Xie Jun was about to speak again but Xie Wangyuan cut him off. “Even if one day I go insane because of illness… even if I die young, it wouldn’t matter. Can we just eat in peace now?”
With that, Xie Wangyuan began to focus on his food, as if the forceful words he had just spoken had not come from his own mouth. Xie Jun paused for a moment before picking up his chopsticks as well.
As Xie Jun had said, the private restaurant’s food was indeed excellent. Every dish was authentically prepared. Xie Wangyuan, just having woken up, had little appetite but he still gave Xie Jun face, taking two bites from each dish.
“I’m still determined to get Qin Yu, whether he likes it or not,” Xie Wangyuan declared after finishing, tossing down his chopsticks. “But don’t worry, I’m going after him of my own accord. If anything goes wrong, the Xie family won’t be dragged into it.”
“Besides, I have no interest in the company. Just don’t skimp on my share of the dividends. Brother, instead of wasting time worrying about me, you’d better go home and have more little potatoes with my sister-in-law. They can grow up and help you out one day.”
Xie Jun set down his chopsticks as well, loosening his tie once more in silence. Then he said abruptly, “Next week, come to the company and start working. I’ll make arrangements for you.”
Xie Wangyuan chuckled through a toothpick, nodding slowly. “Aren’t you tired of this? First you were worried I’d butt in, now you’re trying to recruit me. Since you’re my brother, I might consider it but if I’m going to show up and increase the Xie family’s face, shouldn’t there be some benefits for me?”
“The company will calculate your salary according to management level. You won’t be required to show up daily but you should come when you have time and you’ll need to attend any occasions where your presence is required.”
The occasions requiring his presence were mostly external business dinners or gatherings, to show the family’s unity and respectability and to demonstrate that Xie Wangyuan had reformed, at least on the surface.
“I have one more request,” Xie Wangyuan said, leaning forward, pointing a finger playfully. His grin was mischievous, full of irreverence. “Can we consider arranging some cooperation with the Qin family? Meetings, events… something convenient so I can run into Qin Yu. Doing it in the office… would be pretty convenient too.”
Xie Jun’s expression froze. He said nothing, letting the words hang in the air.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The coffee spirits are watching. 👁️☕
☕ 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