His stomach felt painfully empty. Xie Wangyuan instinctively wanted to light a cigarette again but the cigarette pack was already empty. On top of that, he felt so nauseous he might throw up, so he could only give up.
Ren Yi was still a little indignant and couldn’t help teasing him. “The Xie family is really something. Bankrupt already and can’t even afford clothes anymore?”
Although the possibility of the Xie family going bankrupt was practically zero, Xie Wangyuan imagined the scene for a moment and still found it somewhat amusing. “Maybe.”
“I’ve got isolation patches in my car.”
The isolation patch he had just applied earlier was already soaked through, so Xie Wangyuan had casually peeled it off. He had assumed that Ren Yi, being a Beta, wouldn’t carry something like this. Opening the armrest compartment, Xie Wangyuan took out a brand new one.
“I bought them for my sister,” Ren Yi explained, then asked, “So what are you planning to do next?”
Xie Wangyuan smiled. “What else? Go find my brother, I guess.”
“Your brother…” Ren Yi hesitated before asking, “He wouldn’t just ignore your health too, would he?”
“Who knows.” Xie Wangyuan didn’t care about Xie Jun’s thoughts in the slightest and said coolly, “But he’ll probably also persuade me to listen to my dad.”
After all, Xie Jun had married a well matched Omega lady whose pheromone compatibility rate was extremely high back then.
Ren Yi sighed with emotion. “Enemy in front, enemy at the back, Brother Yuan. You’re basically the standard hot blooded manga protagonist right now.”
Xie Wangyuan laughed. “Come on, have you ever seen someone like me, an Alpha everyone loves to curse, be the protagonist?”
“Being a villain is pretty good too. Handsome and flashy.” Xie Wangyuan adjusted the seatback, stretched both hands behind his head and leaned back comfortably. “Best if, before getting written out of the story, I can also get a cliché redemption arc.”
“That’s my favorite kind to watch.”
The next day, Xie Wangyuan slept until noon. After waking up, he ordered food. Ren Yi had already made arrangements early in the morning and as soon as Xie Wangyuan woke up, several sets of clothes were delivered upstairs.
At two in the afternoon, Xie Wangyuan sat sprawled on a sofa in the lobby downstairs of his own company building, chewing gum lazily with his legs wide open.
Before long, the receptionist hurried over, an awkward smile on her face. “Second Young Master, I’m really sorry. The colleague just now is new, ”
Xie Wangyuan thought that it would be more believable if she just said the girl didn’t follow entertainment news. “It’s fine. Is my brother in his office?”
“He is.”
Xie Wangyuan stood up with both hands in his pockets and even blew a bubble, looking exactly like a hooligan hanging around the streets. “I’ll go up myself.”
As the elevator doors closed, the people at the front desk were still shaken.
“I really don’t follow celebrity gossip usually. How would I know he really is the second young master! I’d only heard the name, never seen the person. I didn’t dare let him go up casually.”
“Even if you didn’t see the news from a few days ago, shouldn’t you at least know where you work?”
“Forget it, forget it. She just started anyway, let it be a lesson learned. She’d better remember properly next time. The second young master is back in the country now. He might even enter the company in the future.”
“I was honestly scared stiff by his presence just now. Are all Alphas this terrifying?”
“Not really. They’re all Alphas and even from the same family but the second young master’s vibe is nothing like President Xie’s at all. No wonder people say he’s a rich second generation wastrel.”
“Hey! He just went upstairs. You’re really bold, talking like that on the Xie family’s turf!”
Xie Jun was thirty six this year. Although they were biological brothers, the two of them were not actually very close.
Xie Jun had been raised as the heir since childhood and his secondary gender had manifested early. He rarely went home and the only thing he remembered about his younger brother was that, from a young age, he had been withdrawn, unwilling to talk to anyone and his relationship with Xie Tiancheng had always been rather distant as well.
Later, when Xie Wangyuan grew a bit older, on the rare occasions when Xie Jun returned home and saw him again, he seemed to have grown even more crooked. Xie Jun wanted to discipline him but he would always hear Xie Tiancheng say that as long as he didn’t do anything illegal, at worst the Xie family could support him for the rest of his life. So Xie Jun eventually let his brother be.
After all, who would truly blame a child whose mother had died giving birth to him?
Xie Jun lifted his head from a desk full of documents and asked, “After fooling around for so long, you finally decided to come back?”
Xie Wangyuan didn’t sit properly at all, slouching sideways into the sofa. “Brother, lend me a lighter.”
Xie Jun searched through several drawers before finally finding a brand new lighter, which he tossed over, asking helplessly, “Where’s your own?”
“Forgot it.” Xie Wangyuan lit up, exhaling smoke leisurely as he turned the lighter over in his hand, examining it from every angle. “Brother, this lighter’s pretty nice. Who gave it to you? I’m taking it.”
The secretary came in carrying tea, hesitating as if she wanted to say something. “Second Young Master, ”
Xie Jun shook his head slightly and the secretary immediately closed her mouth, placing the tea in front of Xie Wangyuan. “Sorry, Second Young Master. Please have some tea.”
After she left, Xie Wangyuan lazily lifted his eyes. “Brother, smoking isn’t allowed in this office, is it?”
“Go ahead.” Xie Jun got up and opened a window, then asked, “What about what I asked you earlier?”
“What?” Xie Wangyuan lowered his gaze again and fiddled with the lighter, replying casually, “Got bored of playing with Betas abroad, so I came back to change up my taste.”
Xie Jun took another ashtray out of the drawer and placed it on the coffee table in front of Xie Wangyuan. He then stepped back a few paces, leaned against the desk, stretched out his arms and rested them on the edge. “Since you’re tired of Betas, why not consider an Omega?”
A flash of light passed through Xie Wangyuan’s eyes. “You’ve seen him?”
“Lele? Not yet.” Seeing that Xie Wangyuan’s expression remained fairly calm, Xie Jun continued, “Dad already talked to me. He can help stabilize your pheromones. After you go through another of his heat cycles together, you won’t resist it so much anymore.”
Same old talk. Xie Wangyuan curled the corner of his mouth.
“Isn’t he pretty popular right now? Even if his background from an orphanage isn’t ideal, with his current status, entering the Xie family wouldn’t give anyone much to talk about and besides, no one knew about what happened when you were hospitalized back then, so there’s no need to worry about outsiders finding out about your illness either.”
“So he’s ‘pretty popular,’ huh…” Xie Wangyuan laughed scornfully. “I heard Dad even bought shares?”
“I only found out about that later too,” Xie Jun said. “Otherwise, with his lack of background, it wouldn’t be that easy for an Omega like him to gain a foothold in the entertainment industry.”
Xie Wangyuan gave a malicious grin. “I control my pheromones just fine. I don’t need his help. Since Dad likes him so much, why not make him the Xie family’s third young master? Brother, you’re the one calling the shots in the Xie family now. However you want to arrange it is fine. When the time comes, I’ll definitely show up for the banquet introducing this younger brother to the outside world. How about that?”
“Wangyuan…”
“Let’s not talk about this anymore. If you really want to tie me down in C City, you might as well give me some random position in the company.” Xie Wangyuan stood up, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, then walked to the door and grasped the handle. “Oh, right, brother. I’m going to a club tonight to have some fun. Since my card’s been suspended, I’ll borrow your name for now. If you think I’m ruining your reputation, then get Dad to unfreeze my card.”
Xie Wangyuan opened a private room at Chunshuixifeng and, as usual, called for a few Betas to keep him company.
He dodged one Beta’s hand as it reached for him, tossed two decks of cards onto the table, then took out the lighter he had snagged from Xie Jun. After lighting a cigarette, he tossed the lighter onto the table as well. “Limited edition, 18K. Whoever wins the most tonight gets the lighter.”
Xie Wangyuan poured himself half a glass of alcohol. Sitting on the sofa to one side with his legs crossed, he lazily tapped on his phone screen now and then.
The phone in his hand vibrated. Xie Wangyuan lowered his eyes. It was nine in the evening, perfect timing.
Xie Wangyuan stood up and went around to check each of the five players’ cards. He bent down beside the Beta who had won the most, pulling him into his arms in an intimate posture and casually picked up the lighter from the table.
“Nice card skills,” Xie Wangyuan praised in a low voice by the Beta’s ear. Satisfied when he saw the ear at his lips flushing red, he finally withdrew the hand braced against the table. His fingers hooked open the Beta’s collar and with a smile, he released his grip, letting the lighter slide down the Beta’s fair chest and land on his thigh. “It’s yours.”
The Beta’s face was flushed red as well. Boldly, he grabbed Xie Wangyuan’s hand. “Second Young Master…”
Xie Wangyuan curled a strand of hair beside the Beta’s face around his finger and laughed softly. “What a pity. I can’t keep you company. Tonight, I already have a date with a ‘beauty.’”
The “beauty,” Xie Jun, returned to the Xie residence alone that evening and was sitting on the sofa with Xie Tiancheng, drinking tea. Hearing movement, he turned his head. “Wangyuan, want a cup of tea?”
Xie Wangyuan sat down in a single seater armchair and crossed one leg over the other. “No need. Drinking tea at night, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep.”
Xie Tiancheng snorted coldly. “You’re reeking of alcohol and aren’t worried about not sleeping but drinking tea with us would keep you up?”
“Let’s get straight to the point, Dad.” Xie Wangyuan was impervious to coaxing and scolding alike. “It’s already very late. Don’t delay my brother from going home or my sister in law will turn around and accuse us of ruining their marital harmony.”
Xie Jun: “……”
Xie Wangyuan lifted his eyes slightly, blocking whatever Xie Tiancheng was about to say. “Dad, don’t threaten me with freezing my card anymore. If one day you really push me too far and I run off abroad again or mess around in some disreputable places and bring back some equally disreputable Beta, that’s not something I wouldn’t do.”
Xie Tiancheng was so angered by Xie Wangyuan’s dead pig not afraid of boiling water attitude that his head throbbed. For the first time, he felt a twinge of regret for having let him grow so unchecked. “Fine, fine…”
Xie Tiancheng rubbed his chest and took a couple of deep breaths. His gaze lingered for a brief moment on the back of Xie Wangyuan’s neck before he said sternly, “I heard from Ai’jun that you want to go to the company?”
“It’s not that I want to go to the company. I have to at least make some kind of gesture for the sake of my card, right?” Xie Wangyuan spread his hands. “If you unfreeze it for me right now, what would I be going to the company for?”
Xie Tiancheng said expressionlessly, “I’ll have Ai’jun arrange it for you next week. Get yourself to work properly.”
Xie Wangyuan nodded, agreeing quickly. “Sure, I’ll go to work. Unfreeze my card first.”
“I’m not finished yet.” Xie Tiancheng continued. “You’ve been wandering outside all this time. Now that you’re back, there are some occasions you should attend and some people you should meet. Otherwise, everyone will say the Xie family raised a good for nothing waste.”
“Occasions.” Xie Wangyuan paused. “For example?”
Xie Tiancheng snorted coldly. “The nearest one is the Wang family’s banquet the day after tomorrow. Let Ai’jun take you along to broaden your horizons.”
Xie Jun explained from the side, “The day after tomorrow evening is the birthday banquet for the Wang family’s youngest grandson. Although the Wang family’s company has been declining these past few years and Wang Changlu ranks second in the family, his partner is Qin Jingzhuo. Quite a lot of people will be in attendance.”
The Qin family?
Xie Wangyuan’s eyes lit up. “Alright. I’ll definitely attend.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The magical Realm runs on stories, chaos, and suspicious amounts of coffee.
☕ 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