The chicken soup in the kitchen was served, and Xie Mu sat at the dining table, drinking the soup one mouthful at a time.
The chicken soup had been simmering for a long time, and it tasted very good. Drinking it made his whole body warm up, showing how much the original owner cared about it.
Unfortunately, despite all his efforts, all he got in return was betrayal.
The original owner, Xie Mu, came from the reputable Xie family. Being the youngest child, although his parents passed away early, he was always pampered and grew up spoiled. In college, he fell in love with his current husband, Bai Zeting. After graduation, they got married, Bai Zeting worked hard on his business, and the original owner, following his words, became a freelancer and worked as an illustrator to take care of his husband.
Yes, husband.
This is an era where men can marry and have children. The children are created by combining the genes of both parties and placing them in an artificial womb to be nurtured. Before the child is born, it stays in the nurturing facility where parents can visit at any time, watching the child grow up until “birth.”
At this time, the child of the original owner and Bai Zeting was already six months old. The original owner would go to see the child every day, coming back excitedly to tell his husband about its changes. Unfortunately, Bai Zeting always showed little interest, which made him quite disappointed.
The reason Bai Zeting was not interested in the child with his genes was simple. He firmly believed that only a child born naturally was truly his.
Even though the child had half his genes and blood, he had no feelings for it.
Moreover, he didn’t like the original owner at all.
From Bai Zeting’s perspective, his life was one of blood, sweat, and struggle.
He came from a poor family, looked down upon and beaten by peers because his mother was a prostitute and he had no father. Of course, he retaliated against everyone who had mistreated him. Starting from high school, he began investing. Just when he had some savings, his mother fell seriously ill and told him on her deathbed that his biological father’s surname was Xie. After they were together, due to her weak health, they chose the nurturing facility, resulting in Bai Zeting’s birth. However, after he was born, his father married someone else to have a naturally born child.
His father’s wife, resenting his mother, used tricks to drive her away, forcing her to rely on prostitution to raise her son.
Eventually, Bai Zeting’s mother passed away. They had depended on each other for years, so the bond between them was real. After grieving, Bai Zeting was left with a deep hatred for the Xie family.
He found out his biological father’s name only to learn he had long since died.
In college, he met the original owner, who admired him.
Bai Zeting went along with it and agreed to the original owner’s pursuit.
Then, naturally, they got married, had a child, and the Xie family, who loved the original owner, did not guard against him, but instead tried their best to help him develop his company without reservation.
Until the Xie family fell into trouble, Bai Zeting coldly refused to help, watching the family collapse.
In the end, he personally killed the child in the nurturing liquid.
At that point, the original owner still wanted to plead with him, only to discover that the whole disaster aimed at the Xie family was orchestrated by Bai Zeting.
From the beginning, he planned to take over the Xie family.
There was no love.
No marriage.
Even for the person lying beside him, Bai Zeting felt nothing but disgust and indifference.
[Ding! Bai Zeting’s favorability: 0]
Xie Mu scooped another bowl of chicken soup, sneering with a gentle laughter.
It had been a long time since he had seen such a fresh, clean and refined scumbag.
However, this was also good.
It meant he wouldn’t have to hold back.
After drinking the soup, he directly searched on his phone and called for a nanny.
After eating, it was time to sleep.
***
By the time Bai Zeting returned, it was already getting dark. He opened the door and turned on the light, noticing a young man lying on the dining table. Hearing the noise, the young man rubbed his sleepy eyes and slowly straightened up. Seeing Bai Zeting, a big smile immediately appeared on his fair, beautiful face.
Even his voice was slightly hoarse and lazy from sleep, “You’re back.”
“Mm.”
Bai Zeting responded coldly, changing his shoes, completely ignoring the young man’s exposed fair skin due to his rumpled clothes. Watching the young man busy himself in the kitchen to heat up the meal, he said indifferently, “I’ve eaten outside.”
He said this while loosening his tie, heading upstairs.
Bai Zeting had drunk some alcohol today and didn’t want to deal with Xie Mu, so he went straight to take a bath.
Today, at a business dinner, he noticed the daughter of the host, Mr. Wang, showing interest in him, inviting him several times. Although Bai Zeting found her heavy makeup repulsive, he politely entertained her because of her father.
The Wang family, though not as influential as the Xie family, was still significant. If he could gain their support, his plans could advance.
Bai Zeting didn’t mind using his body for support, but the Wang family’s daughter was a woman, which could lead to complications if a child were involved.
He finished washing in a hurry and was about to get the towel, but found that the towel was not on the shelf. Bai Zeting frowned impatiently and simply soaked for a while longer, knowing Xie Mu would bring one.
Sure enough, the young man soon knocked on the door and, after being told to enter, brought in a towel, speaking softly, “Did you drink again? I made some hangover soup. Drink it before sleeping.”
Slightly more sober from the soak, Bai Zeting rubbed his temples, his tone less cold, “No, I’m tired today. I’ll sleep early.”
“You should drink some. Otherwise you’ll feel uncomfortable all day tomorrow. I’ll bring it to you and you can just drink it.”
Xie Mu handed him the towel and went out. Bai Zeting’s face turned slightly gloomy and he stood up to wipe himself with a cold face.
Because of the experience of being looked down upon as a child, what he hates most is others making decisions for him without any authorization.
When Xie Mu brought the hangover soup, Bai Zeting’s cold expression made the young man smile, offering him a piece of candy, “Why do you always look like that when drinking this? Is it that bad? Have a candy to take the edge off, and remember to brush your teeth after.”
This time, Bai Zeting accepted it easily. He likes sweet things.
“Zeting…”
Seizing the moment when Bai Zeting seemed in a better mood from the candy, the young man cautiously asked, “How about I go to work?”
“Why work? Isn’t it nice to be at home?”
Bai Zeting replied, his tone softening at Xie Mu’s hesitant expression, “Xiao Mu, I don’t like strangers in our house. If you go to work, what about the house?”
The young man’s hopeful expression dimmed, and he softly said, “You’re not home all day. I get a bit bored.”
“My company is busy. I’ll try to come back more often,”
Bai Zeting replied perfunctorily. Seeing Xie Mu reluctantly nod, he lay down.
Except when doing those affairs, the two of them slept in separate quilts, as Bai Zeting disliked sharing one.
For some reason, possibly due to the hangover soup, Bai Zeting couldn’t sleep. Bai Zeting was not in a hurry, he just laid there, closed his eyes and breathed slowly, his body motionless.
After a long time, he felt movement behind him. The young man whispered, “Zeting, are you asleep?”
Bai Zeting remained silent, curious about Xie Mu’s intentions.
He felt his quilt being carefully pulled open, like a cat pawing, quiet and cautious, as if avoiding making any noise.
He could sense Xie Mu’s breath, soft and light.
Once the quilt was open enough, the young man slowly squeezed in, pressing his body close but doing nothing else.
Then, as if he was satisfied, Xie Mu fell into a deep sleep, and there was no more movement.
Though Bai Zeting disliked physical contact, the warm, soft body against his own surprisingly didn’t bother him.
Pushing Xie Mu away now, though the young man wouldn’t complain, revealing any signs to the Xie family would be troublesome.
Bai Zeting hated trouble.
Frowning, he decided to sleep, although restlessly, waking up frequently until dawn. As the morning light broke, he felt movement again.
Just like the night before, Xie Mu carefully retreated from his quilt, making no sound.
When Bai Zeting finally opened his eyes, the alarm was ringing.
The young man in another quilt yawned and turned off the alarm. When he saw him looking over, a dazed smile immediately appeared on his face, “Good Morning, Zeting.”
So naturally, it was as if he had been under his own quilt all of last night.
Bai Zeting nodded, “Morning.”
Outwardly calm, he felt a strange sensation inside.
Did Xie Mu really like him that much?
[Ding! Bai Zeting’s favorability: 5]
