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HOYSE CHAPTER 48
Chapter 48 — It’s Back Again
Rong Jing froze all over.
He could feel Gu Xi’s tongue. It even seemed to circle his Adam’s apple before slipping away. A fine, prickling heat raced up, and a flush crept over Rong Jing’s neck.
A second later, Gu Xi went boneless and slumped into his arms.
Rong Jing caught him, then looked at the already stupefied Zhou You. “You saw that?”
Zhou You shivered. “I did not see anything.”
I am a tool man without feelings.
Rong Jing touched the spot that had been bitten. It was light and it did not hurt, but it was damp. An undeniable proof that the bite to his Adam’s apple had been real. He felt as if someone had deliberately or accidentally teased him. He could not handle it.
A line from the original novel flashed through his mind:
A blood-scented, heavy rose blooms for an instant and kills without a trace.
Rong Jing took a deep breath and swept stray thoughts aside. “Wait 15 minutes, then take them to the hospital.”
Fifteen minutes was not a small delay, was it? Zhou You looked at the blood soaking beneath Xu Juelian and thought, serves you right. They had been delayed dealing with other matters, not intentionally wasting time.
Rong Jing carried the newly fainted Gu Xi back. The surveillance should be linked to a phone and a computer, yet when Rong Jing discovered that after a single wrong password entry the phone had begun wiping itself, he stared. What kind of black-tech was this?
“Zhou You, have someone come and haul the computer out.” No need to guess, that computer’s password might also be single-use. Who knew what decisive evidence was inside. Better to let that computer ace he had poached earlier take a crack at it.
Zhou You nodded and called people over at once. Their young master lacked many things, but not execution.
Rong Jing looked around at the blood splashed everywhere. Gu Xi had been reckless, yes, but compared to what the scum-gong had done and was preparing to do, Rong Jing had no sympathy to spare.
More importantly, he had to head off a rabid counterattack. You nip the sprout early.
He did not get cocky and assume he alone could smother this. He called Xie Ling. “Ge.”
Xie Ling lifted a hand to pause his meeting, stepped into a quiet corridor. “Talk.”
“I made a mess.”
“Mm.” A faint smile tugged Xie Ling’s lips.
At last the kid was acting like a normal child who caused trouble. And he came home to tell the parent after he did it. Progress.
“Do you know Xu Juelian?” Rong Jing asked.
Xie Ling thought a beat. “You mean the Xu family that makes electronic components, the good-for-nothing youngest son?”
“… Yeah.” Rong Jing had no idea how to react to his brother’s description. Venomous and precise.
He gave a rough account, leaving Gu Xi’s name out. He only said that Xu Juelian had used a Wu family solar-powered monitoring system to do illegal things, surveilling others for years. A victim had come knocking and overreacted, and he had helped.
“You were fanning the flames?” Xie Ling asked.
“Wrong idiom. I was upholding justice, stepping in when I saw unfairness.”
“How come you never uphold justice for others then.”
“I cannot manage everyone, and he…” is different.
“How overreacted?”
“Unable to perform as a man?”
“Was the victim an A, B, or O?” Xie Ling still remembered the question mark over his little brother’s preferences, and that Ji Leping had taken money and done nothing. Unacceptable.
“What does that have to do with it?”
“Of course it does. The law protects Omegas more. If it was extreme enough, an Omega’s actions can be ruled legitimate self-defense.”
“Omega.”
Xie Ling quietly pressed down the anxious thump in his chest. If it was an O, everything was easier to handle. He did not want his brother to be gay, not out of prejudice, but because this world was too hard on same-sex couples.
“Since they were at fault first, how is this trouble you caused? They were in the wrong, and the outcome is deserved. It is just that if it goes to court, an Alpha left disabled is bad optics for us. Better to settle privately. I will talk to the Xu family about terms.”
“Ge, the Xu and Wu families have some ties, right?”
“Xu supplies components. The Wu family is the biggest buyer. It is mutual benefit. You are worried the Wu family will intervene?”
“Yeah,” Rong Jing analyzed. “There are two likely plays. One is sacrificing the car to save the general. If the scandal blows, let the Xu family take the hit alone. Two is help the villain, press down the news for Xu.” He hated dealing with Wu Hanxi. It was too easy to get played. You could never predict what that man would do.
“Wu Hanqi’s style is clear. He rarely sides with anyone. Even without the Fang family, the Wu family can find other suppliers. The Fang family, however, cannot lose the Wu family.”
“So the Xu side begs the Wu side. If I make sure the Wu family does not step in, this stays controllable.”
“More or less.” Thinking of Wu Hanxi, Xie Ling added, “In business, you will meet all kinds of people. You cannot avoid contact. You cannot block every malicious intent. Better to understand them, and when necessary borrow force to strike, break them one by one.”
He had already walked back into his office, teaching as he went.
This time, he had truly sent the younger one, and Xie Ling would not fail to see it.
Translated: keep your head down and outlast them.
Rong Jing understood. He needed to be oblique. Better yet, act first.
He dialed. “Uncle Qi, it is Rong Jing.”
Wu Hanqi’s breathing was slightly uneven, but his tone remained easy, with a hint of laziness. “Rare to get a call. You did not forget me after all. How are you lately?”
After a few pleasantries, Rong Jing cut to the point. “If someone used your company’s product to illegally surveil others, for years, and that hit the news, that would be a scandal forI just noticed that the tech name
has been used inconsistently. Sometimes it's called
Payson but Paisen is the correct name.
Moving forward, I'll use the correct one
and fix any mistranslation errors.
Sorry about that! Paisen
“The little brat does not come up to the hall of three treasures without reason. Be specific.” Wu Hanqi had never been threatened by someone younger. The audacity piqued his interest.
Rong Jing outlined it. “Uncle Qi, you see how your house has caused a mess. Should you not come clean it up?”
The solar-powered monitor had some controversy already. If it climbed onto the trending pile now, it really would ding Paisen’s operations.
Wu Hanxi lounged in a chair at his private club while a beautiful Omega below was pleasing him. Hearing the call, the Omega grew displeased. He reached to take the phone, but a light glance from Wu Hanxi cooled his entitled mood at once.
“You say it is for Paisen’s reputation, but in the end is it not your friend who benefits most?”
“When a product is used for illegal ends, the harm to the Wu family’s reputation is not small. Doing some remedial work is the right thing, is it not? It is a win-win. How did Uncle make it sound like I am taking advantage.”
“Silver tongue. You rely on that mouth. Enough. No need to circle me. I will not help the Xu family. What do I get in return?”
With the phone to his ear, Rong Jing wandered back into Xu Juelian’s place. Zhou You was still dealing with bloodstains. The ambulance had been called. Now they only had to wait.
Rong Jing tried door after door. One room had an electronic lock. Electronic. There had to be something in there.
He thought a moment. Forcing it was no use.
He dragged the unconscious Xu Juelian over, pressed his index finger to the reader. Beep. It opened.
I am such an unremarkable little genius.
It was a studio filled with portraits. Beyond the stylized portrait in the living room painted from Gu Xi as model, there were many other figure paintings.
Just like when Ji Jiongjie had made those composite photos, they did not need to see a real body to make trouble. Since Gu Xi had been used for that living-room painting, it was likely the other canvases all had real-life originals too.
Smiling, Rong Jing spoke into the phone. “Uncle Qi, looks like I will not have to pay you back after all.”
“Oh?” Wu Hanxi was amused. “Tell me.”
Rong Jing hung up, photographed every oil painting, and sent them over. These faces, Uncle, do you recognize them?
Most of them, came the reply. Where did the paintings come from?
From this very room. They should be returned to their rightful owners at once.
He did not believe the people in those paintings could stay calm knowing they had been put on canvas like a parade of naked Venuses.
After a long while, Wu Hanqi replied with two words. Not bad.
It really was not bad. The two Xie brothers each had their strengths. Their temperaments complemented each other. What would the pair of them do to a twilight Xie Group, especially Rong Jing. This call was less a request than a reminder not to step in for the Xu family, or risk losing the Xies’ friendship.
So young, so many thoughts.
And according to Rong Jing’s framing, if he pressured the Xu family, it would be the Wu family voluntarily wiping their own scandal.
That Rong Jing could find a way through this quickly was unexpected. The people in those paintings each had status. How would they tolerate being immortalized like this.
When they moved, the Xu family would face a storm from all sides. Four walls and enemies. If they fell, who would swallow the cake? Things were getting interesting.
Wu Hanqi shut off his phone. His breath came quick, like something had set him off. He abruptly finished and stepped out. After, he tapped the dazed Omega on the cheek. “Go to the front desk to settle your fee. I do not like people who make decisions for me.”
The Omega was one of his fixed lovers. A top-university graduate with a bright future, he had refused to leave because he pined for Wu Hanqi. But the man’s eyes held no feeling. He knew if he begged, the man would despise him. Better to retreat and perhaps earn a touch of respect. Through tears, he nodded.
Wu Hanqi liked that sense of measure. He lightly scraped a finger along the Omega’s chin. “This bit of temperament is rather like that little one. Knows how to read the room. Go on.”
Ecstatic, the Omega nodded furiously.
Zipping up, Wu Hanqi placed a call. “Find out what trouble Little Jing has stirred. One Alpha from the Xu family was ruined. No need to feud with the Xies. Let the Xu family handle it.”
He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Outside the glass the sunset bled into dawn-bright colors.
“If only the boy were my own.” This was the junior he had admired most in years.
Much more useful than his punk of a son. With a few phone calls he had nearly wrapped a major mess. Not only thorough, he had also worked to gather allies.
The young ones were terrifying.
Driving in circles searching for someone, Wu Fuyu sneezed hard.
Who is cursing me?
Rong Jing was boxing up the canvases and texting Xie Ling for the addresses of the owners. He packaged and shipped them one by one.
Sunset pooled at the horizon and poured into the room. Gu Xi stirred awake, lifted his head to the ceiling, blinked. Slowly the other personality’s string of major deeds filtered back. He was speechless for a long time. That persona was him, and also not him. In its own words, it was the deepest desire buried in his heart.
He pressed his temples. You crippled the man named Xu?
The other voice: I thought you were not waking up, so I went ahead and helped.
Gu Xi: Did you think through the consequences?
The other voice: At worst we quit being stars. Bare feet are not afraid of shoes.
True enough. If he burned his bridges, Xu Juelian could not gain much. Gu Xi did not regret it, but he worried Rong Jing would get dragged in. He had lost control earlier and let that persona act. Maybe deep down he had wanted it to.
A thought hit Gu Xi like a thunderbolt. Wait, you… you… you also kissed his throat.
The other voice: Did you not want to? I saw a chance and made sure I went first.
Gu Xi, furious: How could you kiss him?!
The other voice: Are you mad because I kissed him, or because the person who kissed him was not you?
Gu Xi: …
He was so angry he could not speak.
The other voice: You have peeked a lot. You keep thinking his Adam’s apple is sexy.
I did you a favor and you scold me. Thankless job.
“Get out,” Gu Xi snapped.
Shameless. I would never do something like that.
A voice cut in, pulling him back. It was Rong Jing. “You are awake. Bad dream?”
Rong Jing had just finished boxing the paintings and sent Zhou You to fetch a courier. The Xu family would send someone soon. Seeing Gu Xi space out, he sat on the edge of the bed.
Gu Xi held the back of his neck, head aching, the coolness of his demeanor softened by a thread of fragility. “What did I do, I…”
In front of Rong Jing, he seemed more willing to show that side. He felt like a bad person.
“You do not remember?”
“Bits and pieces. It is fuzzy.”
Rong Jing figured it was an acute stress response. Good. Best not to remember this one.
Still, the feeling on his Adam’s apple would not fade. Whether Gu Xi remembered or not, he had bitten him. A little embarrassed, Rong Jing shifted his eyes away.
After a concise explanation of the aftermath, Gu Xi regained his composure. What worried him most had been dragging Rong Jing down, but the man never seemed to treat him like a burden.
Together they loaded Xu Juelian into the ambulance. On the way, Xu Juelian even woke. The pain had taken his voice. None of his usual grace or composure remained.
He glared, wild-eyed. The two fake dog men peered down with false concern. After asking the medics for a minute, Rong Jing leaned close and spoke softly. “I already moved your computer. It has plenty of evidence of the crimes you committed, along with those oil paintings. If you do not let them go back to their rightful owners, you should know what to say and what not to say.”
They had already been mailed, but who needed to know?
Xu knew exactly what he had done. He still could not help but look at Gu Xi. No matter how Gu Xi treated him, in his heart he was still a poppy swaying, all poison and sweetness.
Standing behind Rong Jing, Gu Xi looked at Xu Juelian, who had likely lost the use of his legs and his sight and his abilities as a man. A small smile touched his mouth. Xu Juelian, all my pain, take your time tasting it.
Xu could not believe what he saw. This flower that seemed unstained by the mire had been hiding himself all along. He stared, wanting to tear Gu Xi’s mask away.
Gu Xi shrank back as if frightened and pinched the hem of Rong Jing’s shirt. Sensing it, Rong Jing patted his back and soothed him. “Do not be afraid. He cannot hurt you again.”
He assumed Gu Xi was terrified.
The wail of the ambulance rolled away. On a nearby road, Wu Fuyu glanced over, curious, but the crowd was too thick. He had no interest in elbowing in.
“Where is Rong Jing? How did he vanish in a blink?”
A chill passed under him all at once, as if he had just dodged a calamity. Weird.
Evening, Terminal 2.
The concourse roared. Fans holding hand banners and LED signs lined up neatly by the departure hall. They whispered, sometimes with soft squeals. If you listened carefully, you could make out the name on their lips: Gu Xi.
Today the team of Lota was flying out for the Venice Film Festival. It was only a nomination, but in a sluggish domestic market, a nomination was a surprise gift. The site master for Lota, once she had the flight number, had organized a send-off. Almost everyone who responded was Gu Xi’s fan. He had exploded at debut, then lain low for three years, and now he was rising again. Old fans sighed that life had no regrets.
His new show, The Duke of Lu, had been scheduled to air. He was even taking on a villain. With his current reputation, the anticipation was high. It ranked at the top of the fall lineup’s most-anticipated list. His week-plus hiatus had barely dented his momentum. If anything, people now sympathized with him more. With trending-power and a stream of projects, Gu Xi had reclaimed his top-tier status.
Even his career fans were split into two camps. One wanted him back on stage. He had written ten songs for himself at debut, then seemed to cap the pen. These were the mama fans who had followed him since his teens. The other wanted him to keep acting, to build affection with the general audience. You could not just entertain your own circle. You needed a body of work to be accepted by the public.
“Will Gu Xi really come?”
“He should. This trip was set half a month ago.”
“He is responsible. He will not ditch.”
“He might have split with the agency, but the nomination is real.”
“I am worried about him. After that one Weibo, he has not come online again.”
“That company is awful. They look so good to him usually. Maybe it was all fake. They barged in with his agent and boss.”
“Support Gu Xi in suing that company into the ground.”
“Reliable rumor says Shenteng Entertainment is about to get new owners.”
“Serves them right. A company that cash-grabs trash should be flattened, and all the juniors on their roster should escape.”
“Exactly. If Gu Xi went through this, do not even ask about the others.”
Rong Jing and Zhou You had dumped Xu Juelian at the hospital and seen him through a successful surgery. Post-stabbing, the lower half had entirely lost function. To Rong Jing, this was good news. He had disliked this troop of scum-gongs for a long time. Now he could finally put a big X behind Xu Juelian’s name. A fifth of the pent-up breath had been released.
Gu Xi was unnaturally quiet. Rong Jing thought he was feeling soft. “Do you think it is too miserable for him?”
Gu Xi was good in every way, only too soft-hearted.
He did not pity him at all. He only felt that after that throat-bite, Rong Jing had not reacted at all. Why? Was it because he himself had no charm?
They would fly that night. Gu Xi had grabbed clothes from home. He had always been on the front edge of fashion. Aside from underwear, everything he wore was a finished look sent by his personal stylist. It was late summer, but his daywear was autumn-winter. He wore a light, irregular beige sweater, draping loose, a black leather cord at his neck, minimal rings on index and middle fingers, legs in cropped black trousers, black sneakers. It was youth with a lazy twist, autumn arriving early.
The car radio was playing the classic instrumental “Ballade pour Adeline.” The lilting melody flowed between them.
Suddenly he felt a little dizzy. Heat prickled at his gland without warning. After a short while it faded. Gu Xi took out a blocker, peeled it open and sprayed around the suppressor patch.
Turning his head, Rong Jing happened to see it. He caught a glimpse of the pale neck, where a faintly pink gland lay.
His heartbeat went ragged. The faint fragrance of blocker spread in the car and slipped into every capillary.
Gu Xi was an Omega who had never been marked by anyone. A seed buried in the soil, ready to break ground.
Rong Jing could hardly look away. The Alpha’s urge to control crept in without him noticing, colonizing his reason. He knew he should not stare. He could not stop.
Gu Xi, just in case, sprayed again. He felt safer. In his eyes, Rong Jing was a monk without desire. Any other Alpha beside him and he would not have so casually torn up his suppressor patch. But Rong Jing, heh.
When they reached the second-floor drop-off, Gu Xi stepped out. Rong Jing called him back. His voice sounded lower and a touch hoarse. Gu Xi glanced back.
“There is something in your bag,” Rong Jing said, looking away on purpose. “Turn it on when you are on the plane.”
“What is it?”
“I cannot say yet. When you see it, get mad later if you must. Call me after you land. I will explain.” He had slipped the necklace in while Gu Xi was not watching. He had searched online and seen that Omegas generally hated trackers, deemed them feudal junk. Truth was, he could not bring himself to give it openly. He could only sneak it in.
Gu Xi had never suspected a thing. When he had helped choose it, Rong Jing had clearly said it was not for him. He had his own on order anyway. He would not be jealous. He pulled his suitcase. At last there was a time when it was you watching me leave.
He had already spotted his assistant Mo Dian waiting and hurried over.
Rong Jing watched his back. After a beat of hesitation he told Zhou You, “Pick me up later at the shuttle stop.”
Maybe it was the string of incidents. He was not at ease. He got out too.
He had barely entered when he heard the far-off rising wave of screams, most of them shouting Gu Xi’s name. Even the people around him were excited and surged toward it.
The send-off point was packed, ringed by three dense rows of fans. They were excited but didn’t disrupt operations. Gu Xi’s fandom had a solid reputation. The support club often stepped in to rein others in, making sure he wouldn’t catch hate. Omegas had it harder in the industry than As and Bs.
Rong Jing watched from a distance. There were simply too many people. He could not see Gu Xi, only the staff around him. In the crush, Gu Xi greeted fans politely and smiled at the cameras. Only when no one was looking did a small frown crease his brow.
The heat from the car returned in a rush. Like a spark running up his spine, straight to the gland. He knew something was off.
A beat late, he realized that ephemeral heat period might be back. He urgently scanned for a restroom. He might need ten inhibitors. His hand, reaching for the blocker, paused.
Through a gap in the crowd, he saw Rong Jing far away.
By habit, he seemed to forget something important. The state had matched him to an Alpha.
Rong Jing froze, their eyes locking across the distance. Gu Xi’s gaze was like a handful of tiny hooks, scratching at his heart, barely there and impossible to ignore.
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