HOYSE CHAPTER 71

Chapter 71 — The Next Part of the Story?

Rong Jing blinked.

Gu Xi’s personality was something everyone in the industry knew: cold, distant, and all business. That was the baseline.

He was proud to the bone, the kind of person who, no matter how many Alphas tried to pressure or tempt him, would never agree to be anyone’s “kept lover.”

Gu Xi blinked too, clearly confused.

Turn himself in? What was he talking about?

Wait, hold on. Why did Rong Jing’s thoughts jump straight to “turning himself in”?

Was there something so serious about last night that he was already thinking about legal consequences?

Was he planning to describe those eight hours in detail… to the authorities?

Both of them stared at each other blankly, certain they must have misheard.

The knocking at the door went completely ignored; the person before them was all that mattered right now.

Gu Xi had already prepared for several possibilities.

No matter what Rong Jing said this morning, he had a response ready.

Still, “turning himself in” was so far beyond anything he expected that for a second he nearly broke character.

But he was Gu Xi. He’d seen storms far worse than this.

Within seconds, he steadied himself.

Then, his eyes welled with tears. They didn’t fall, just shimmered there, trembling in the light, as if snowflakes had melted into warm water.

Yet there was no despair in his gaze like in the original book, only brightness, clear as crystal.

Gu Xi hugged himself, his voice soft and shaking, though he forced it to sound calm like the spring water running down a snow-capped mountain.

“Yesterday was an accident. Let’s not talk about whose fault it was, alright?”

Rong Jing froze. He had never faced an emotional offensive quite like this.

And yet, somehow, Gu Xi didn’t seem pretentious at all. The sight of him just made the heart ache.

Rong Jing, flustered, didn’t know what to say. He shook his head, then nodded.

He couldn’t find his handkerchief, so he reached for a tissue box and immediately saw the pile of tissues by the bed, used to wipe away the mess from last night.

His face flushed bright red again as he quietly placed the box next to Gu Xi.

Gu Xi caught the microexpression from the corner of his eye and tucked that information away before continuing softly, “If you don’t want to ‘keep’ me, then… do you want to be in a relationship with me?”

Rong Jing was caught completely off guard. It seemed the thought had never even crossed his mind.

“You see? You’ve never considered it,” Gu Xi said, tone gentle but words sharp.

“We don’t even like each other that way, yet because of one accident we’d force ourselves together. That’s not love, it’s being irresponsible toward each other.”

Step one of fishing: never admit you’ve already fallen for him.

With Rong Jing’s personality, guilt alone could make him convince himself to “like” Gu Xi.

And Gu Xi didn’t want that. He couldn’t bear that.

A relationship born out of guilt would only rot over time.

Rong Jing wanted to argue, but for once, he couldn’t find a single word.

He hadn’t expected Gu Xi to say something like that, especially when Gu Xi was the one who’d suffered more.

After all, for an Omega, particularly a male Omega, the first time was often painful. Anyone who had ever browsed the OGA forums would know the endless threads of complaints and trauma stories.

Looking at the soft crown of Gu Xi’s head, Rong Jing suddenly felt an urge to pat it.

It looked so soft…

Ah. So that’s why Xie Ling always ruffled his hair, an unconscious show of fondness.

Rong Jing sat cross-legged on the bed, head lowered. “It was my fault. I lost control.”

Gu Xi clenched his fists tightly. He was on the verge of exploding.

Why was Rong Jing so cute? His heart was shaking all over.

No. Stay in character. Don’t break now.

The fish was about to bite.

Gu Xi’s expression, however, was the complete opposite of his inner chaos, pitiful and delicate.

“As for… being ‘kept,’ it’s just a formality. Think about it, if we make it official, neither of us will carry guilt for what happened. It’ll make things easier for both of us, right? A win-win.”

Only with that label can I justify what I plan to do next.

Otherwise, with Rong Jing’s personality, he might push him away again, maybe even further than before.

Rong Jing was getting dizzy. “You’re not some canary in a cage, and I’ve never—”

But Gu Xi’s teary eyes were impossible to look away from.

“If we don’t call it ‘keeping,’” Gu Xi whispered, “you’d still try to ‘make it up’ to me somehow, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes.” No hesitation.

“Then let’s just do it this way.”

“…Why?”

Gu Xi lowered his voice. “Because I don’t want to lose you.”

Crap. Too real. That sounded too real!

Would that line scare him?

But it worked. The impact of those words hit Rong Jing like a wave.

He had actually planned to leave after “making it up” to Gu Xi.

After all, with two partial markings and one… intense night, he was already struggling to control himself around the Omega.

The only safe choice was to walk away.

He knew too well what Gu Xi had suffered since childhood and he didn’t want to become another source of pain.

What he didn’t realize was that, to Gu Xi, he had already become someone worth breaking every personal rule for.

Gu Xi tugged gently at the hem of Rong Jing’s shirt.

“Stay with me, alright? Don’t stay silent… It scares me.”

And just like that, the tears finally fell perfectly timed.

Rong Jing looked at the tear-streaked face, heart twisting painfully. “I’m sorry. I still can’t promise you that.”

Gu Xi froze.

What? Seriously?

After all that effort? After I gave my Oscar-worthy performance?

He suddenly thought of how Qi Ying had once been ruthlessly dumped and now it was his turn to taste the same.

But Rong Jing went on. “Something like this should come from me. Gu Xi… would you be willing to temporarily become my… contract lover?”

Gu Xi’s tears still clung to his lashes as he blinked, then slowly burst into laughter, half exasperated, half amused.

A soft smile bloomed. “Alright.”

Rong Jing continued, serious and awkward. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens again. You’ll have full freedom during the contract period. If you meet someone better, I’ll end it immediately.”

He couldn’t promise more than that.

Because, frankly, Alphas had awful self-control. They should probably be humanely put down.

Gu Xi bowed his head shyly. “Okay. Whatever you decide.”

I knew it. I knew it!

If I hadn’t said “keep,” you’d have run faster than a rabbit!

I’m so mad!

No, calm down. Stay elegant. Smile.

Smile?
Forget that, I’m fuming!!!

Gu Xi puffed his cheeks, forced a deep breath, and made himself calm down. It was fine. This outcome was the best he could hope for.

Rong Jing was exactly this kind of person. Even getting a “contract lover” out of him was practically a miracle.

It was fine. If it’s easy, it’s not Rong Jing.

Thinking that way, his irritation faded.

Even excitement replaced it.

Every day from now on would be a challenge and he was ready.

Rong Jing, meanwhile, was still not used to any of this.

He averted his gaze, embarrassed. “I’ll draft the contract later, if that’s okay.”

“Sure,” Gu Xi said.

Only after they finished their private conversation did they realize the noise outside was getting louder.

It sounded like a crowd was about to break down the door.

Gu Xi whispered, “Hide, quickly.”

Rong Jing glanced at his phone.

Because of the nonstop calls last night, he’d put it on airplane mode while he was in the bathroom and had only been using the hotel’s Wi-Fi.

Bad idea.

As soon as he stood, a wave of dizziness hit him.

Huh?

He blinked toward the mountains in the distance.

Why did it feel like the world was spinning? Like space itself was tightening.

He rubbed his temples. The view looked normal again. Just his imagination?

Still, it reminded him of the three assassination attempts before. Yesterday, he had dared to completely break apart the main couple of the story, snatching Gu Xi’s “first” for himself.

And yet… after the thunder, blackout, and phone bombardment, the heavens were strangely quiet.

Too quiet.

A bad sign.

Gu Xi hurriedly gathered the mess, shoving everything under the blanket.

He wiped his face, composed himself, and went to open the door.

He hadn’t expected to find a crowd waiting outside.

Xie Ling, meanwhile, was in full crisis mode.

After realizing his brother had vanished overnight, he’d ordered Zhou You to pull the hotel surveillance footage, but because of the blackout, most of it was useless.

So he came straight to the director’s room himself.

Director Liu Yu was so startled by the sudden visit that he nearly dropped his script. “Mr. Xie, you came personally? Is there something I can do for you?”

Even though the production had been flooded with money, it was still shocking. Xie Corporation had poured in several times the planned budget through their subsidiary, Xietian Entertainment, practically saving the movie.

No one expected a man of Xie Ling’s level to show up in person.

These business giants, every minute of their time was worth a fortune.

“Director Liu,” Xie Ling said politely, despite his rumpled hair and clear fatigue, “congratulations on your award. You deserve it. A work made with heart always gets recognized.”

Liu Yu stammered, overwhelmed. “Th-thank you, Mr. Xie! I’ll do my best!”

Why did every word out of this man sound so sincere, even when he was just being polite?

“My brother is in your crew,” Xie Ling continued. “But since last night, I haven’t been able to reach him. I went to his room early this morning, he wasn’t there. Can you help me find him?”

What? Someone had gone missing?

Wait… did he just say… his brother was in this production?

Who? When? Which role?

Why did no one know about this?

“Your brother is…?”

“Rong Jing.”

The room fell silent.

Oh.

So that explained why the entire catering had been upgraded overnight. Xie family’s private chef from Xielier Restaurant, discreetly repackaged in takeout boxes.

Why there was an on-site medical team? Xie family’s own staff.

Why funding seemed endless? The Xies never let their own suffer, even in the name of “independence.”

The producers and crew members exchanged wide-eyed looks.

That polite, soft-spoken “rookie” everyone adored was actually the Xie family’s young master?

Xie Ling looked at their stunned faces. “Please continue to act as if you don’t know. My brother’s… shy.”

He’d wanted to announce it long ago, but Rong Jing insisted on earning his fame through his own work.

Xie Ling never understood that.
Zhou You, however, did. If people knew who he really was, they’d never see him, only the Xie family’s heir.

Everyone nodded in unison.

Got it.
Translation: We saw nothing.

The crew began calling and searching, but Rong Jing’s phone was still off.

A missing person that was why the hallway was so noisy.

Everyone was accounted for except for one room, Gu Xi’s.

The door was closed tight, with candles and a hotel apology note outside, showing no one had come out all night.

A staff member remembered Gu Xi curtly refusing service the night before. Since the power outage, his door had stayed shut.

Given how overworked he’d been recently, people feared he might have fainted inside.

They decided to use the hotel’s spare key.

But before they could, the door opened from inside.

And there stood Gu Xi.

His whole being looked… different.

Not cold and untouchable like before, but radiant, human, soft.

A beauty you couldn’t look at too long without losing your breath.

He wore a long robe that covered him from neck to ankle, perfectly neat. “Is something wrong?”

Everyone’s faces turned red. “Are you alright?”

Gu Xi blinked. “I’m fine. Just overslept.”

Someone said hesitantly, “It’s Rong Jing… he’s missing.”

“You came knocking because you thought he was here?” Gu Xi frowned, displeased.

“Of course not,” they hurried to explain. “It’s just you hadn’t come out since last night. We were worried.”

Ha! What a joke.

Even in ten thousand years, no Alpha would ever show up in Gu Xi’s room!

And besides, weren’t Gu Xi and Rong Jing supposedly at odds?

After some reassurance, Gu Xi managed to send them away, though several Alphas and Betas lingered, unwilling to leave.

They said that last night, a faint but incredible scent had drifted through the building, so enticing that it had driven all the Alphas half crazy.

Even diluted by wind, it had them restless and irritable.

Under those circumstances, they insisted Gu Xi not go anywhere alone, it would be too dangerous.

Gu Xi finally shut the door with a sigh.

Meanwhile, Rong Jing, nerves frayed, switched off airplane mode, only for his phone to explode with calls.

“Ge, I’m coming back right now!”
And he hung up immediately, guilt all over his face.

Both men looked at each other.

Yeah, this conversation couldn’t continue.

Gu Xi decided quickly. “I’ll distract them. You sneak out.”

He opened the wardrobe and, right before Rong Jing’s eyes, started changing.

That slender waist, fair skin, the graceful butterfly bones on his back and faint traces of red marks that made Rong Jing’s heart jolt.

Images from last night flashed through his mind, skin against skin, that unbearable sweetness, and he immediately turned his head away.

Gu Xi changed into new clothes, noticed Rong Jing’s flushed ears, and couldn’t help but smile, sly and pleased, like a little fox who’d gotten his way.

Then, the moment Rong Jing turned, his expression shifted back to calm and melancholy.

Bit by bit, he thought, I’ll make you fall too.

He didn’t want a fleeting high.

He wanted something much more dangerous, something that could last.

This “bite of the forbidden fruit”… he’d had one taste, then another.

And now, he couldn’t stop.

Even if, in the end, Rong Jing never fell for him, he would still choose to stay.

Give up? Impossible. Then I’ll just love him quietly.

For a lifetime.

A lifetime isn’t that long.

Only a few decades, after all.

Gu Xi said a few words to draw attention away from their room.

After about ten minutes, when the hall was finally empty, Rong Jing slipped out carefully.

He had just taken a few steps when a familiar voice came from behind.

“Not going to explain yourself?”

Rong Jing froze and slowly turned his head. “…Ge.”

Xie Ling leaned against the wall, half in shadow, eyes cold as knives.

He had spent the entire night worrying about this idiot of a brother, only to find this.

And just as that happened, Gu Xi, who had doubled back halfway because the lower part of his body was aching too much, arrived at the elevator.

He stopped dead at the sight of the two brothers facing off.

Caught in the crossfire, Gu Xi straightened up, pretending calm. “Ah… hello.”

Inside, he was in chaos.

What do I do?

I wasn’t ready for this.

I’m meeting the family already?

Wait. If this follows drama logic, then next comes… the talk.

And then…

The five-million-yuan breakup check?

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