SL Chapter 18

“Tan… Tan Tan?”

For a moment, it was as if Min Yang had forgotten how to speak. When he called out to Tang Zhe, he stammered even worse than the little stutterer himself.

“I’m… not…”

Countless excuses flashed through Min Yang’s mind—concealments, justifications, evasions—but in the end, as he met Tang Zhe’s earnest gaze, Min Yang closed his eyes, choosing to say nothing.

What could he even say? He was nothing more than a cornered beast, a shadowy figure unfit for the light, far removed from any sense of righteousness or integrity. Only this foolish little stutterer would believe he was the one being wronged, that he needed protection.

Protection?

Min Yang thought bitterly. What a luxury.

Tang Zhe stood at the door for a long while before finally sighing and walking over to Min Yang.

“Why… why aren’t you… asleep yet?” Tang Zhe asked, taking Min Yang’s hand and checking his forehead.

“Did you… did you take the… the cold medicine? Why is your forehead… still so hot?”

“Sit down, let’s… let’s take your temperature.”

Tang Zhe took out the thermometer he had brought and motioned for Min Yang to sit.

Min Yang was indeed running a fever; his forehead was burning hot. Tang Zhe’s tone carried some weight, and he didn’t bother with pleasantries.

The two bodyguards who had just been brought in swallowed nervously, thinking that Mr. Min’s little lover was truly fearless, commanding Mr. Min like that. Didn’t he see that Mr. Min was still angry?

The burly bodyguards clearly didn’t fully grasp what Min Yang had been upset about earlier. They knew it was about that video, but they assumed it was because the video had been seen by others. After all, Min Yang was the head of the Min family. A man of his stature getting into a brawl with someone he grew up with, regardless of the reasons, wouldn’t be seen as a good look.

This Omega, they thought, really had no sense. Even if he was skilled, it didn’t mean he could take on Mr. Min.

The two bodyguards exchanged glances, both of them seeing the anticipation of a good show in each other’s eyes. They even rolled to the sides, giving Tang Zhe some space.

—Just in case Mr. Min got physical and kicked the little stutterer out of the room, they didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire.

But in the next moment, the two bodyguards nearly had their jaws drop to the floor.

The alpha who had just been giving off a dark and dangerous vibe actually sat down on the couch obediently, almost like he was being extra careful. He even brushed aside the hair on his forehead to make it easier for Tang Zhe to take his temperature.

“Tan Tan…” The alpha seemed like he had more to say.

“Don’t move,” Tang Zhe said, frowning.

“Okay.”

The bodyguards: …

Even the assistant, who had never seen Mr. Min act so docile, was taken aback, looking around in disbelief. The housekeeper, however, seemed completely used to it, and even handed Tang Zhe a glass of warm water and a box of medicine with impeccable timing.

Tang Zhe glanced at the temperature displayed on the thermometer and asked, “Did you not… take the medicine?”

Min Yang defended himself, “Medicine is bitter.”

“Tan Tan… didn’t you forget to get me some candy?” The alpha looked at Tang Zhe pitifully.

Tang Zhe: …

Min Yang, familiar with the routine, covered his forehead, “My head hurts, and I’m feeling dizzy.”

Tang Zhe glanced at the two bodyguards lying on the floor, bruised and battered, and said grumpily, “But you weren’t dizzy when… when you were beating people up?”

Min Yang readily admitted, “I was wrong.”

Tang Zhe asked, “Wrong… about what?”

Min Yang replied, “I shouldn’t have hidden it from you.”

Min Yang hesitated, then added, “And I shouldn’t have been so harsh.”

“That video—” Min Yang began to explain, but Tang Zhe interrupted:

“Harsh?”

Min Yang wasn’t sure what Tang Zhe meant and cautiously tried to explain. But before he could, Tang Zhe’s eyes had already reddened with anger, “If that person… really was your friend, why… why would they betray you?”

“Someone… wanted to take your life, and you only hit… hit them in non-lethal places.”

Tang Zhe puffed up with anger, “You’re… you’re just… dumb.”

For some reason, Min Yang felt his eyes sting after hearing Tang Zhe’s words.

The alpha, for once, was serious as he repeated Tang Zhe’s words, though he wasn’t sure if he was saying it for Tang Zhe or himself, “Yeah, I’m dumb.”

Tang Zhe continued, “And you’re… sick and still… still not taking medicine.”

“Idiot!”

Min Yang held Tang Zhe’s hand and apologized more smoothly this time, “I’m really sorry, Tan Tan.”

Min Yang thought for a moment, then called Tang Zhe, “Wife.”

Tang Zhe’s ears instantly turned red, and the flustered, angry Omega stammered for a while, unable to come up with a retort. Finally, he fished out a piece of candy from his pocket and stuffed it into the alpha’s hand.

“Eat… eat the candy.”

“Then take… take the medicine.”

“That way… it won’t be bitter.”

Tang Zhe added, “Next time… if anyone tries to mess with you, I’ll… I’ll help you beat them up.”

He had learned from Tang Mu growing up, and after years of fighting his way through the ranks in the Tang family, he knew exactly where to hit to make it hurt the most. Min Yang might be soft-hearted, but he wasn’t.

Min Yang replied, “Okay.”

After making sure Min Yang had taken the cold medicine, Tang Zhe asked, “Does your leg… still hurt?”

Tang Zhe remembered what he had overheard outside the study earlier. The bodyguards had said that someone had betrayed Min Yang, almost costing him a leg.

Alphas had extremely sharp hearing, and even though Tang Zhe had lowered his voice, the two bodyguards, who had been watching this display of affection for a while, couldn’t help but perk up their ears.

Mr. Min’s leg should be fine by now, right? After all, he kicked them so effortlessly…

Besides, alphas had incredibly strong healing abilities, especially high-level ones.

But the next moment, history seemed to repeat itself as the two bodyguards were once again utterly shocked.

The alpha who had been kicking them around like it was nothing just a moment ago suddenly turned soft, lowering his head and murmuring, “It still hurts.”

Min Yang showed Tang Zhe the scar on his eyebrow, “This scar is also from when I was betrayed. It still hurts sometimes.”

The scar had indeed come from that betrayal. It was because someone he had grown up with had sold out his location that Min Yang had accidentally ended up in that abandoned village, where he had also accidentally… encountered his little stutterer.

Their first meeting had been messy and rushed, fraught with danger.

But after all the twists and turns, they had found each other again.

Min Yang looked into Tang Zhe’s eyes, “Wife, my wound hurts…”

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