TCFGBH Chapter 72

Currently, Xia Yan still has three tasks left to complete.

They are: Main Mission 6 – “Being Abandoned by Shen Wenqing”; the newly refreshed Mission 7 – “Leave the city with Xu Rang… then disappear quietly”; and the critical side mission: “Help the ‘Halda’ Lab complete the Omega prototype inhibitor.”

Let’s prioritize these tasks in order of importance, with the most important being the side mission.

Now that the stalker has been caught, ensuring his safety, he should focus on Wen Changming and gradually distance himself from Shen Wenqing.

Having made up his mind, the young man glanced at the two silent men out of the corner of his eye, stood up casually, and covered his mouth as he yawned. “It’s getting late; I’m going home.”

Since deciding to work together to catch the stalker for his own safety, Xia Yan has been staying with Shen Wenqing.

The two of them were inseparable, with close gestures, enough to make someone immensely jealous.

But now, he casually said, “I’m going home,” leaving Shen Wenqing out of the picture.

Wu Qin’s eyes lit up, and a faint smile appeared on his handsome face.

Shen Wenqing’s brow furrowed slightly as he pretended not to understand the underlying message. “Let’s go together.”

“You’ve been busy with the wedding and the bar tonight, you must be exhausted,” Wu Qin cut in first. “Let me drive Xia Yan home.”

“We live together, so there’s no need to trouble an outsider.”

“Well, we’re… friends.”

Wu Qin forced out the last two words with great effort, barely managing not to gag. With a thick-skinned expression, he continued, “No need to be polite.”

Shen Wenqing: “…” Friends? Are you even worthy?

The short exchange inflicted significant mental anguish on both of them.

The tension between the two men was palpable, almost like an invisible string pulled to its limit, ready to snap at any moment.

The young man stood by the doorway, his tall and lean frame radiating vitality.

In his dark pupils, the reflections of the two men appeared, as if he were making a decision.

Shen Wenqing immediately raised the stakes for himself. “Your place hasn’t been occupied for a while; it must be dusty. It’s so late; it’s inconvenient to go back now.”

The young man turned his gaze toward him.

Shen Wenqing continued, “Why don’t you stay at our place tonight, and we can have it cleaned tomorrow?”

His suggestion was reasonable and left no room for debate.

In matters of affection, Wu Qin was straightforward and couldn’t compete with Shen Wenqing’s finesse, and so he could only watch as Xia Yan was taken away by Shen Wenqing.

“… Damn!”

–

The steady black car drove along the empty road, with the bodyguards already dismissed; only Xia Yan and Shen Wenqing remained inside.

After a day of turmoil, Xia Yan was exhausted.

He fastened his seatbelt, tilted his head drowsily, and drifted off to sleep at some point. When he woke up, he was back at Shen Wenqing’s place, soaking in warm water, with the familiar warmth of someone behind him.

“Awake?”

“Huh? Mm.”

Xia Yan tried to turn his head to look at him, but as soon as he moved, the man pressed him back down, saying, “Don’t move, or you’ll get foam in your eyes.”

?

Xia Yan’s eyes opened, though his brain was still not fully awake, and he felt a bit disoriented.

Instinctively, he touched his hair, feeling its soft, fluffy texture. His fingertips were coated in foam. Was Shen Wenqing… washing his hair?

The bathtub, designed for one person, was a bit cramped with two adults inside.

The young man sat on his lap, held in the other’s embrace.

The bathroom was filled with steam, and the mirror was clouded. Xia Yan’s body instinctively tensed, not daring to move, wary of any accidental mishaps.

Shen Wenqing carefully groomed him, as though tending to a doll.

When they finally stepped out together, half an hour had passed.

The man picked up the hair dryer and carefully dried Xia Yan’s short, messy hair. The steady hum in his ears created a calm and peaceful atmosphere, lulling the young man back into a state of drowsiness.

“Yan Yan.”

“Mm…” The young man let out a soft sound, his half-closed eyes showing a slightly obedient side, less brash and somewhat endearing.

“Do you really have to leave?”

“…”

“Isn’t it nice to live together like this?”

His voice was soft, blending into the noise of the hair dryer, making it feel like a casual question, yet his expression in the mirror was deadly serious.

The young man lifted his eyelids and gave him a faint glance, saying nothing.

An unspoken refusal.

“Yan Yan.”

The man put down the dryer, embraced him from behind, and gently kissed the side of his face.

The mirror reflected the two figures intertwined like vines, their roots tangled and inseparable.

–

Xia Yan woke up dazed, feeling sticky, with sore limbs and swollen lips—an overall sensation of discomfort.

Oh! And a large doll of a man clinging to him, sound asleep.

The curtains were drawn tightly, shutting out all sunlight, leaving the room dim and obscuring the surroundings. Xia Yan pushed Shen Wenqing without hesitation.

The other man stirred slightly, muttering, “Good morning.”

Xia Yan opened his mouth, wanting to ask many things, but the words caught in his throat, and he swallowed them back down, given how much Shen Wenqing had helped before.

It was just… a bit intense, that’s all.

“Get up; we need to go to the police station for a statement.”

“Mm… okay.” The man nuzzled closer and kissed his face.

Xia Yan pushed him away and sat up, wincing at his sore muscles as he touched the bite marks on his neck, his mouth twitching.

Last night, Shen Wenqing was practically like a wild animal, biting everywhere with unrestrained aggression.

And also…

Damn it! Perhaps it was the effect of the sedative; he had fallen asleep in the middle, and it didn’t seem like he’d cleaned up afterward. He felt uncomfortable all over.

“I’m taking a shower.” Xia Yan turned on the bedside lamp.

A bright light illuminated the mess in the room. He rubbed his temples, shivering slightly under the man’s intense gaze.

“…”

What are you looking at?!

Without missing a beat, Xia Yan got out of bed and looked for clothes.

Shen Wenqing: “Yan Yan, you have a great figure.”

“…You too,” Xia Yan replied.

Shen Wenqing’s gaze lingered on the bite marks on his shoulder blades, his dark eyes brimming with satisfaction as they traveled slowly over him. He asked again, “Can’t you stay?”

“No.”

Without thinking, Xia Yan shook his head.

“Not even for a hundred million?”

“…!” What?! Since when did the protagonist shou become so good at using money as a bribe? He could easily slip out of character like this!

Xia Yan felt a flicker of panic in his heart but didn’t let it show. He turned, glancing at Shen Wenqing with a deliberately tempted look.

“Do you really have a hundred million?” His attitude visibly softened.

Shen Wenqing’s eyes lit up. “Of course. I can write you a check right now.” After a pause, he continued the financial persuasion, “As long as you’re with me, everything I have is yours.”

“That sounds like—” A dream come true.

Before he could finish the sentence, a thought crossed his mind, and his expression darkened, clicking his tongue in irritation.

“…?”

“Forget it.” He forced a smile. “You still haven’t even finished processing the ruby you gave me. What kind of money could you possibly have?”

Processing custom jewelry requires a designer’s sketch and then painstaking polishing and crafting, taking a month or more.

And with such a large, flawless ruby as Shen Wenqing’s, the processing time would naturally be even longer.

But… how would someone like ‘Xia Yan,’ from humble origins, know such information?

The young man held his head high, haughtily rejecting Shen Wenqing’s explanation, looking at him with a face that practically spelled out “don’t try to bluff me.”

Shen Wenqing: “…”

Xia Yan quickly entered the bathroom, turned on the heat lamp, and finally let out a breath of relief.

His character hadn’t broken! Points preserved.

Yes!

—

Xia Yan’s whole day was packed.

By the time he finished giving his statement to the police, had his place cleaned, and moved back, the sky was already painted with fiery clouds as the evening drew near.

Xia Yan lay back on the couch, raised his phone, and snapped a photo of the sunset.

[Recipient: Wen Changming]

[Beautiful sunset. (Photo attached)]

Wen Changming responded as quickly as ever: [It really is beautiful. I’d love to watch it with you.]

The photo was actually poorly framed and amateurish, with part of Xia Yan’s balcony visible. But… Xia Yan sent it himself, and that was more than enough for Wen Changming.

Xia Yan: [There’s a place called ‘Hai Ruo’ restaurant on the 53rd floor with a huge floor-to-ceiling window where you can watch the sunset beautifully.]

Was… was that a hint?

Wen Changming tested the waters: [What a coincidence; I actually have a reservation for tonight. Are you free?]

[I’m moving today. I’m exhausted.]

Rejected.

“…What am I thinking?” Wen Changming sighed heavily and laughed at himself. Why was he getting the impression Xia Yan was leading him on?

Ding!

His phone lit up.

Xia Yan: [But, I heard tomorrow’s weather will be nice, and I’ll be free.]

[I’ll reserve a spot for tomorrow.]

[Okay.]

Even after the conversation ended, Wen Changming could hardly believe it.

Xia Yan… agreed?

These days, Xia Yan often messaged him, mostly about casual topics, sometimes even asking about Omega pheromones.

Wen guessed it was probably for Shen Wenqing’s sake.

But tonight… this was a date, right?

A rare flash of joy lit Wen Changming’s face.

“Knock, knock!”

The office door opened, and his secretary’s calm voice announced, “Mr. Wen, Mr. Pix is here to see you.”

Wen Changming blinked, setting his phone down. “Let him in.”

Pix, a man in his thirties, looked disheveled, his suit wrinkled and chin stubbled, with exhaustion written all over his face.

He strode right up to Wen Changming, slamming both hands onto the desk with a heavy thud.

Speaking in English, he said, “Wen! My friend, you need to take back your absurd decision.”

“I’m very sorry, Pix.”

“No! I don’t need an apology; I just want to continue my research,” Pix’ eyes widened, bloodshot. His expression filled with pain. “I can’t lose this, lose my lab.”

The Omega suppressant project was funded by the Wen family and developed jointly by Wen Changming and Pix.

Pix, who had invested years into it, felt the blow the hardest when Wen Changming decided to halt the project.

Wen Changming knew his actions had been selfish, even unethical.

“You will have it back, I promise.”

Pix: “When? I need a concrete timeline.”

“…”

“Can’t give one?” Pix ran his hands through his hair, unable to believe what he was hearing. “I truly don’t understand—where’s your dream?”

“…”

“You’ve been running for so long, Wen. I need a reason—a reason good enough to convince me to let it go.”

“It’s… complicated.”

“Fine, I’ll listen. I need someone to help me assess the situation.”

Wen Changming rubbed his temples, explaining the essentials to Pix.

—

A long silence later, Pix muttered a curse. “My god, I can’t believe you’d make such a ridiculous choice for a man.”

“I love him, Pix.”

“You’re so selfish.”

Wen Changming: “Yes, I know. That’s why I’m willing to take full responsibility.”

“Okay, I get it. So, as soon as you win over this crush of yours, you’ll restart the lab?”

Pix was generally calm, but from Wen Changming’s words, he sensed his resolve.

Scolding Wen Changming and demanding that the lab resume immediately wouldn’t work.

“Yes,” Wen Changming nodded, “Honestly, this is my first time truly liking someone.” He paused, continuing, “I’ve never dated anyone before, so I feel a bit lost.”

“Maybe I could help you talk it through.”

“Thank you, Pix.”

Pix, a passionate Italian with a romantic history, had become a dedicated workaholic after joining the lab.

After hearing Wen Changming’s story, he let out a sigh of relief and spoke confidently. “Hey, Wen, the kid’s clearly into you. Just give it two weeks—no, half that time—and you’ll have him.”

“You think so?” Wen Changming asked uncertainly. “He’s friendly to anyone willing to spend money on him.” He emphasized, “Anyone.”

“Then spend the most.” Pix suggested sincerely. “A gold-digger is easier to woo than someone who wants nothing.”

“I hope so.”

“Alright, Wen. Be bold. Bring roses tomorrow. Playing the fan might make you approachable, but he needs to know you’re serious about him.”

Wen Changming thought for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you, Pix. I’ll give it a try.”

“Good luck.” Pix replied sincerely.

—

At the Hai Ruo restaurant that evening, a stunning guest caught everyone’s attention.

As they dined, guests couldn’t help but steal glances at him. If not for the strikingly handsome Alpha at his side, many would have approached.

Bright red roses reflected the glow of the sunset outside.

The young man’s fair face was bathed in the warm golden glow of the sunset as he toyed with a flower bud, casually remarking, “Tonight’s sunset is beautiful, isn’t it?”

The man looked at Xia Yan, enunciating carefully, “Yes, it’s very beautiful.”

It was unclear whether he was admiring the sunset or the young man himself.

Xia Yan didn’t notice the subtle nuance, as his mind was entirely on his task. After some polite small talk, he tactfully shifted the topic to Omega inhibitors.

“Being an Omega is tough. Every time Shen Wenqing uses an inhibitor during his heat, he ends up with headaches for the next few days. It would be great if a new inhibitor could solve that problem.”

Wen Changming, having just discussed inhibitors with Pix the day before, was sensitive to the subject.

He instinctively looked up, his gaze sweeping over the young man.

There he was, resting his chin on one hand, his eyes on the sunset, his expression relaxed and joyful. It seemed he was just making a casual comment—or was he expressing sympathy for Shen Wenqing?

Wen Changming gripped his knife and fork tightly, dragging them across the plate and creating an unpleasant sound.

“Mm?” The young man turned his head, looking at him in confusion. This wasn’t something a refined young master would normally do.

Wen Changming put down his knife and fork. “Apologies, my hand slipped.”

“…”

“I have a very important question I’d like to ask you.”

Xia Yan looked puzzled. “What is it?”

The man looked at him intently, his expression serious. “Mr. Xia, are you curious about Omega inhibitors because of Shen Wenqing?”

No! It was for his mission.

But he couldn’t say that.

Fortunately, the question offered a plausible excuse, though he couldn’t seem overly concerned… He suspected that his involvement might have affected the recent inhibitor research delay.

The timing of his task was just too coincidental.

It was assigned right after he had assured Wen Changming that he wouldn’t break up with Shen Wenqing. And the rose today suggested that Wen Changming did have some affection for him.

Although Wen Changming didn’t seem like the type to let feelings cloud his judgment… you never know.

Xia Yan’s gaze shifted slightly as he responded casually, “Well, he’s my boyfriend, so of course I’m a little curious.”

Curious, not concerned.

Before Wen Changming could respond, Xia Yan added, “And I’m more curious… If a new inhibitor comes out, it would probably make a lot of money, right?”

He played the part of a money-minded person, keeping up his facade.

Wen Changming’s expression softened with a hint of a smile. “Possibly.”

“You’re a doctor, Mr. Wen. Have you done any research in this field?”

“I did at one point.”

Those two words, “at one point,” were perfectly timed.

“That’s impressive.” Xia Yan raised his glass of champagne, clinking it lightly with the man’s glass. “Here’s to your research’s success.”

Xia Yan almost wanted to press him on why he had stopped the research, but that would’ve been too forward.

More importantly, the man’s expression was a bit tense.

He quickly decided to switch his approach. “If you succeed, you might become famous… or even make history?”

“Possibly.”

“Wow!” The young man picked up a rose, hiding half his face behind it, his eyes full of emotion. “I’d like to be remembered, too.”

For a Beta with nothing but his looks, how could he be written into history?

By finding a powerful partner, of course!

He said nothing but conveyed everything.

Wen Changming was momentarily taken aback, lost in thought.

Xia Yan internally cringed. ‘…How embarrassing.’

–

After the first date, there was inevitably a second, then a third.

As they grew closer, Wen Changming felt himself falling in love. Yet, every time he hinted at breaking up with Shen Wenqing to be with him, Xia Yan would tactfully dodge the question.

He looked at himself in the mirror, his tall stature, refined appearance, and privileged background… He was no less than Shen Wenqing.

Where had he gone wrong?

Wen Changming couldn’t understand.

“Changming, are you ready?” his mother called from outside his room. “Everyone at your uncle’s is waiting; we’re running late.”

He shook his head, clearing away his useless thoughts. “Let’s go, Mom.”

Wen Changming’s uncle, Wu Jing—his mother’s elder brother—had abruptly halted his Omega inhibitor research last month. The family had helped him overcome numerous obstacles.

Now that things were “settled”—at least on the surface—they had arranged to meet for a meal.

The Wu family was relatively small in this generation, with Wu Jing’s older daughter, Wu Li; second son, Wu Jing; and youngest daughter, Wu Yue. Except for the eldest, who had twins, the others each had one child.

At the dinner table, the adults were deep in conversation.

Meanwhile, the younger generation sat quietly.

Wen Changming ate absently, occasionally glancing at his phone, waiting for a message, the watch on his wrist peeking out from his sleeve.

“Cousin.”

“?” Wen Changming looked up to see Wu Qin across from him.

“That’s a nice watch you’ve got. A recent purchase?” Wu Qin’s expression was strange, a mixture of tension, unease, and resentment.

Wen Changming had little interest in others’ affairs.

He shook his head, a hint of emotion in his eyes. “It was a gift from… someone important to me.”

Wu Qin: “???”

His cousin’s “someone important” could only be one person, he realized.

Then this watch…

He gripped his glass tightly, forcing a smile. “Can I see it?”

Wen Changming’s eyes flickered slightly. “No.”

“…”

After a moment’s silence, Wu Qin muttered, “That watch… Did Xia Yan give it to you?”

?

The man looked up sharply, shocked, as if to ask, ‘How do you know?’

Words were unnecessary.

The crystal chandelier sparkled above, the sounds around him faded, and despite being indoors, Wu Qin felt as though he’d been plunged into winter.

After a long silence, he finally looked at his cousin.

“I gave that watch to him.”

A storm brewed in the man’s eyes as he laughed bitterly, his voice low and hoarse. It was hard to tell if he was mocking Wen Changming or himself.

“A gift with no heart at all.”

“…”

Wen Changming said nothing.

Wu Qin: “Cousin, you know he’s dating Shen Wenqing, don’t you?”

Wen Changming’s brow furrowed slightly. “Yes.”

“Are you also dating him?”

“Not yet.” Wen Changming had come to realize that his cousin not only knew Xia Yan but likely also liked him. Calmly, he twisted the knife a bit: “But… we do go on dates often.”

A hint of smugness seeped into his tone.

Wu Qin: “…”

He clenched his teeth in frustration, feeling a pang of jealousy.

He had failed to win over Xia Yan and had resigned himself to the idea that Xia Yan only had eyes for Shen Wenqing.

But now, he discovered that Xia Yan was also seeing someone else.

The shock left Wu Qin’s mind in turmoil.

And just then, Wen Changming added to his misery. “I know the watch was from someone else, but considering his personality, the fact that he gave me an expensive gift and spent time with me…”

He adjusted his glasses and smiled at Wu Qin. “I’m already very satisfied.”

“…” Wu Qin stared at him blankly. “Xia Yan still hasn’t broken up with Shen Wenqing, cousin. Don’t get too excited.”

Wen Changming replied softly, “They’ll break up.”

The twins at the table on either side were stunned. “What the…!?”

What a shocking revelation!