Returning from the auction, Wen Song originally wanted to find an opportunity to return the Fish Jade Pendant to Guan Sui. However, work was rather busy, and he immediately threw such an important matter to the back of his mind.
He had already turned down Zhao Mingzhuo’s invitations twice, both times using work as an excuse. Continuing like this would easily incur the other person’s dissatisfaction.
A week later, the mark on the back of his neck completely disappeared, and after his skin returned to its original state, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
After finishing his work, Wen Song decided to take the initiative to contact Zhao Mingzhuo.
As a result, when he took out his phone, he discovered he had received another anonymous multimedia message.
The protagonist remained Zhao Mingzhuo.
This time, alongside the photos, there was a sentence: [The Omegas around him have never stopped.]
Wen Song didn’t know who kept persistently sending him anonymous multimedia messages providing photos of Zhao Mingzhuo’s infidelity. Every few days, they sent a picture, ranging from low-key to explicit, and could even supply high-definition versions of photos from various private settings. Anyone unaware would think the person came from the paparazzi industry.
However, it was clear that the sender must also be someone within their social circle.
Unsurprisingly, they were right around them.
Yet who could it be?
After running through a circle of guesses, Wen Song figured the Omega who had drugged Zhao Mingzhuo was the most likely suspect.
Because aside from that person having a motive, it seemed no other Omega was this brazen.
Regarding this, Wen Song continued not to give any response, deleting the content of the text message as usual.
He then sent a WeChat message to Zhao Mingzhuo.
[Song]: Do you still want to eat noodles? I have time right now.
The other side replied instantly: [Come on over. I am not feeling very well, and my whole body is burning up.]
When Wen Song saw this message, he first frowned and then sent another reply: [Are you running a fever? Check it with a thermometer. It is in the second drawer near the balcony in the living room, and the fever-cooling patches are in the third drawer.]
After sending that, he added another sentence: [I am coming over now.]
He pressed his phone screen dark, stood up, packed up simply, and went out to hail a cab heading toward Silver Lake Mansion.
As Zhao Mingzhuo’s boyfriend, aside from the activity of sleeping together being exempted, Wen Song executed everything else up to standard.
For instance, he would occasionally come over to take care of the other person’s daily life.
During these past two years in Sui City, Zhao Mingzhuo was the one who had continuously provided him with assistance.
Compared to that, what he gave the other person, cooking a manager’s meal, accompanying him to social engagements, and holding the title of a legitimate boyfriend, were all trivial matters.
Although what existed between them was a transaction, and Zhao Mingzhuo’s private life was chaotic, the man had never treated him half-heartedly or poorly.
Wen Song knew that it was impossible for the other person to harbor genuine romantic feelings for him.
As the young master of Zhengrong, with a fellow Alpha half-brother eyeing the company position from the shadows back home, the man would definitely have to marry a well-matched Omega in the future to consolidate his status, rather than an illegitimate Beta from the countryside.
This included Guan Sui just the same.
Therefore, as he maneuvered amidst them, he needed to maintain his clarity of mind at all times.
Arriving at Silver Lake Mansion.
Wen Song carried a bag of fresh vegetables bought from the wet market and walked into the villa.
At that moment, Zhao Mingzhuo, who had been lying on the living room sofa, rocked and sat up, squinting his eyes toward the Beta changing his slippers at the entryway.
“You’re here.”
After changing into his slippers, Wen Song first went to the kitchen to put his things down and washed his hands along the way before walking back out.
He very naturally reached out to touch Zhao Mingzhuo’s forehead.
“You really do have a fever,” he let go of his hand. “Lie down for a bit first, I will go cook you some noodles, and you can take your medicine afterward.”
Zhao Mingzhuo suddenly grabbed Wen Song’s wrist, his tone gentler than ever before: “I want more meat, don’t put in any cilantro, I don’t want to eat it this time.”
Wen Song shifted his gaze from the slender fingers on his wrist up to the other man’s face, flashing a faint smile: “Understood.”
In truth, this meal was merely a simple clear-soup noodle dish; some of the ingredients and steps were learned from his grandmother. It was similar to the noodles cooked by others, but the taste was worlds apart.
Zhao Mingzhuo, who had grown weary of delicacies from land and sea, happened to prefer this clear-soup noodle dish with only greens and lean meat as toppings.
“You can come eat now.”
Wearing an apron, Wen Song brought out both bowls of freshly cooked noodles.
Supporting his weak body, Zhao Mingzhuo slowly shuffled over to the dining table. Having lost his sense of smell, he couldn’t smell the fragrance, but his stomach let out a rumbling sound.
He hadn’t eaten anything since last night until now.
Now, a steaming bowl of noodles placed right in front of him made his appetite soar.
“Xiao Song, if you were an Omega, that would be great.” Zhao Mingzhuo suddenly sighed with such a remark.
Yet his father had an illegitimate son outside eyeing the position of Zhengrong’s heir; he could not easily fall for someone, let alone if that person happened to be an Alpha or a Beta.
For all these years, he deliberately kept ambiguous relationships with Omegas, sleeping with a few, but most of them were just for show.
If you asked Zhao Mingzhuo: “Isn’t Wen Song good?”
Good.
Extremely good.
Gentle, considerate, obedient, and with a great figure, even his facial features bore a three-tenths resemblance to that person.
Aside from his Beta gender, he was practically flawless and unblemished as a marriage partner.
Yet he simply couldn’t genuinely marry a Beta.
If he truly married a Beta, then the happiest person laughing out loud would be his father’s illegitimate son outside.
Romance was a facade, making it known all over town was exploitation, and the purpose was to make the other party successfully lower their guard.
Upon hearing Zhao Mingzhuo’s words, Wen Song’s smile paused for a split second before returning to normal.
“It’s a pity I am a Beta.”
Zhao Mingzhuo took out his phone and snapped a photo of the two bowls of noodles.
“It’s not a pity.”
“Betas are pretty good too.”
It was just that this romance would ultimately end up as a transaction that came to an end.
“Alright,” Zhao Mingzhuo fiddled with his phone for a good while before finally putting it down and picking up his chopsticks. “I posted it to Moments, we can start eating now.”
Wen Song knew that Zhao Mingzhuo liked to share interesting things on Moments.
However:
He had never shared anything about him.
Why on earth was he sharing this simple bowl of noodles today?
After finishing the meal, Wen Song went to wash the dishes.
Along the way, he poured a glass of warm water for Zhao Mingzhuo, who was lying back on the sofa, and popped out a fever-reducing pill.
“Take your medicine before resting,” he said.
Zhao Mingzhuo was running a pretty high fever. His stomach had just eaten a little food, so taking the medicine half an hour later would be better.
After swallowing the medicine, he continued to lie down and sleep.
Wen Song took out a small blanket and tucked it over him.
At that moment, the phone in his pocket emitted a ding-dong sound.
Someone was sending him a WeChat message.
Standing beside the sofa, Wen Song pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Tapping into WeChat, he discovered it was a message from Guan Sui.
There was only a vague, inscrutable period.
For some reason, Wen Song suddenly thought of Zhao Mingzhuo. He exited the chat interface and checked the other man’s Moments.
[Zhao Mingzhuo]: Whose boyfriend is so sensible? Knowing I had a fever, he rushed right back and cooked me a bowl of noodles.
Down below, several mutual friends had liked and commented.
Among the ranks of those who liked it was Guan Sui.