After My Engagement Was Broken, I Married My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 16

In his sudden state of urgency, Xie Huai didn’t think too much. He looked toward Jiang Xingyuan with eyes full of desperate pleading.

Why aren’t you explaining?!

Jiang Xingyuan acted as if he hadn’t seen a thing, pointedly avoiding Xie Huai’s gaze.

He couldn’t help but snort inwardly. Now you know to beg me? If you’d known this would happen, you should have acted differently from the start.

The corners of Jiang Xingyuan’s mouth curled into a smirk as he took a direct step forward. Seeing Jiang Xingyuan move, Xie Huai felt a momentary wave of relief.

However, in the next second, he was pushed aside by a firm, yet controlled force. He was shoved away by Jiang Xingyuan. Stumbling back two steps, he stood there in a daze, not yet realizing what had occurred.

By the time he regained his senses, he saw Jiang Xingyuan standing in his original spot. One of Jiang’s arms was draped familiarly over Jiang Yi’s shoulder, while the other held a cigarette he had produced from nowhere, which he was now offering to Jiang Yi with intense cordiality.

“Cousin, care for a smoke?”

Jiang Yi looked at the cigarette held before him. “I don’t smoke…”

At that, Jiang Xingyuan immediately withdrew the cigarette. “I don’t smoke either. I specifically went out and borrowed this from someone because I knew you were coming today.”

Outside the door, Huang Hao couldn’t help but curl his lip upon hearing this. That cigarette was obviously snatched from me!

In the next moment, Jiang Yi was pressed down into a seat.

“Cousin, sit down, sit down! You’re the star of the party today.”

Jiang Xingyuan noted that Jiang Yi still hadn’t quite recovered his composure. He clicked his tongue mentally. Cousin’s ability to adapt is really lacking. If Xie Huai ever impulsively confessed to him, would he be so scared he’d never return to the country? Simply put, his moral compass is just too high!

Jiang Xingyuan looked up, his eyes darting around the room. Seeing the crowd frozen in place like statues, he flashed a warm, radiant smile.

“Everyone, sit! Don’t be nervous. You are Cousin’s friends, so you are my friends. Tonight’s entire tab is on my fiancé, don’t hold back!”

Xie Huai stared at Jiang Xingyuan acting as if he owned the place, his mouth hanging open in shock. He wanted to tell Jiang Yi that Jiang Xingyuan was a total liar, that he shouldn’t believe a word of this nonsense.

But in the next second, he felt a light pat on the head. Looking up, he saw Jiang Xingyuan shooting him a meaningful look.

“What are you standing there for? It’s rare for Cousin to come back after so long. Hurry up and offer him a toast.”

Before he knew it, a glass of wine was shoved into his hand. Xie Huai stood frozen, staring at the glass in a daze. Where am I? What am I doing?

He looked up and saw Jiang Xingyuan sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking completely nonchalant. Fury began to simmer in his heart. The welcome banquet he had meticulously prepared for his cousin had been ruined by Jiang Xingyuan, and now Jiang Xingyuan dared to order him around!

He desperately wanted to splash the wine right into that bastard’s face. With that thought, he took a step forward.

However, just as he was about to raise his hand to throw the drink, Jiang Xingyuan suddenly looked up, his eyes full of “praise.” “Oh! Is Ah Huai going to toast Cousin?”

In a flash, the glass was snatched from Xie Huai’s hand. He was pulled to Jiang Xingyuan’s side.

“You just sit here. An Omega can’t handle much alcohol, so don’t join the chaos.”

Jiang Yi was about to speak, but a glass of wine was quickly pressed against his lips.

“Come, Cousin. This is the toast Ah Huai personally prepared for you. You must drink it.” Jiang Xingyuan added, “Once Ah Huai heard you were coming back, he was so excited he couldn’t eat or sleep. You absolutely have to drink this.”

Jiang Yi had no choice but to take the glass. Just as it touched his lips, a force applied to his wrist tilted the glass, sending the wine gurgling down his throat. He frowned, the alcohol was making his thoughts sluggish.

Something felt very wrong, but whenever he looked up, he met Jiang Xingyuan’s sincere, honest eyes, and another glass was poured.

He tried to check on Xie Huai, but Jiang Xingyuan didn’t give him a moment to breathe.

“Cousin, don’t blame me. I heard Ah Huai was going to meet an incredibly excellent Alpha, and I was so nervous and scared that I was blind enough not to recognize you at first.”

“Now, I toast you to apologize, and I apologize to everyone else as well. We’re all young people; it was just a joke. No one will mind, right?”

The guests’ expressions remained awkward, especially the Alphas who had felt their hearts flutter when they first saw Jiang Xingyuan. Looking into his pure, earnest eyes, they cursed themselves inwardly for being “scum.” The kid is just a high school sophomore!

“Student Jiang, we… of course we don’t mind.”

Jiang Xingyuan good-naturedly filled everyone’s glasses. “Hey, don’t be so formal. You’re all older than me; just call me Xiao Jiang.”

As he spoke, he poured a glass for himself, but everyone immediately stopped him, insisting that minors shouldn’t drink.

“Xiao Jiang, you’re young. You shouldn’t drink.”

Jiang Xingyuan stopped mid-pour, a shy, bashful smile appearing on his face. “Actually, one or two glasses is fine. Don’t worry, I often accompany my father when he drinks at home. He always says that if an Alpha can’t drink, what’s the point of being an Alpha?”

Seeing his optimistic and cheerful attitude, the guests were filled with even more self-reproach. “Xiao Jiang… about earlier… we’re sorry.”

Jiang Xingyuan stood up with a grand wave of his hand. “It’s fine! Let’s skip the formalities. All our friendship is in this glass. In ancient times, there was the ‘Oath of the Peach Garden’, today, we have ‘Three Rounds of Toasts.’ After this drink, we’re brothers!”

“Xiao Jiang, that… mmph…”

Before they could finish, Jiang Xingyuan stuffed glasses of wine into their hands, effectively silencing them. These researchers, who usually lacked social experience, were no match for Jiang Xingyuan. With a mix of coaxing and trickery, he had them downing glasses until many began to flush red.

“Drinking alone is boring. We need games! Rock-paper-scissors, Truth or Dare, anything goes.”

His eyes darted over to Xie Huai, who he had been treating as invisible until now. “Ah Huai, do you want to join?”

Xie Huai was gnashing his teeth in anger, startled by the sudden call. Looking at Jiang Xingyuan’s playful smirk, he feared the guy was up to something else. Worried that Jiang Yi would be bullied, he blurted out, “I’m in!”

Jiang Xingyuan raised an eyebrow. Quite cooperative!

By now, Jiang Yi had calmed down. Looking at Xie Huai’s concerned gaze, he finally pieced together what was happening today. This boy was targeting him specifically because of Xie Huai. The thought of competing with a high schooler over Xie Huai made him feel both amused and frustrated. He decided then and there that when he returned, he would tell Xie Rong’an that they couldn’t possibly choose a fiancé like this for Xie Huai!

“Since Ah Huai is joining, if he loses, I’ll drink for him,” Jiang Xingyuan declared heroically.

“Why should you?” Xie Huai snapped immediately. He had nothing to do with Jiang Xingyuan right now. “I don’t want that!”

In an instant, a flash of hurt appeared in Jiang Xingyuan’s eyes. His smile vanished, his lips thinned, and he said sorrowfully, “Ah Huai… I know you’re unhappy with me, but today is Cousin’s welcome party. Don’t be like this… when we get back, I’ll do whatever you want.”

The crowd sighed. Xiao Jiang has such a good temper.

Xie Huai: “…”

Xie Huai’s eyes widened in disbelief. He finally realized Jiang Xingyuan’s terrifying ability to distort the truth. He hadn’t done anything, yet Jiang Xingyuan played the victim so perfectly it made Xie Huai look like the unreasonable one. It was infuriating.

“You…” Xie Huai took a deep breath. He didn’t want to argue now. This was a banquet he prepared for his cousin, and with so many of his cousin’s colleagues here, he couldn’t lose his temper. “Fine. I agree.”

Jiang Xingyuan’s face immediately brightened with joy. He turned to Jiang Yi and flattered him, “Cousin, you see? Ah Huai only treats me well because of you. You have to say some good words for me.”

Jiang Yi didn’t speak, he just gave a soft smile and said gently, “Feelings can’t be rushed. Take it slow.”

Xie Huai finally breathed a sigh of relief. Good, at least Cousin is on my side.

“Alright, didn’t you want to play a game?” Jiang Yi didn’t want to hear any more of Jiang Xingyuan’s chatter. To him, Jiang Xingyuan was just an arrogant, boastful kid trying to show off in front of Xie Huai. It’s just a drinking session, how much could a high schooler handle?

Sure enough, Jiang Xingyuan lost three rounds in a row right at the start. Between Truth and Dare, he chose to drink. He drank cleanly, three glasses down, which made everyone’s hearts jump. Soon, a flush crept up his face, and he let out a small burp. “Hic~ Sorry about that.”

Xie Huai looked at the seemingly drunken Jiang Xingyuan with disdain. “If you can’t drink, don’t force it!”

This single sentence reignited Jiang Xingyuan’s fighting spirit. He slammed the table and jumped up. “Who says I can’t drink? Are you looking down on me?! Everyone, listen to Ah Huai! Today, as a favor to me, no one leaves sober! I, Jiang Xingyuan, am no coward!”

The guests looked at each other awkwardly, turning to Jiang Yi for help. “Senior… this… what should we do?”

Jiang Yi looked at Jiang Xingyuan’s beet-red face and gave a warm smile. “It’s fine. I’ll drink with you as much as you want.”

Outside, Huang Hao finally understood what Jiang Xingyuan was doing. Hearing Jiang Yi’s words, he cried out in his heart: Cousin, you’ve been tricked! He knew Jiang Xingyuan’s tolerance, the guy was a bottomless pit! He chuckled to himself. Another one falling into Jiang Xingyuan’s trap.

Inside the private room, the tide turned. Soon, it was Jiang Yi’s turn to lose.

“Cousin, Truth or Dare?” Jiang Xingyuan poked his head forward.

Seeing Jiang Xingyuan’s mischievous, ill-intentioned grin, Jiang Yi narrowed his eyes. “Truth.”

“Great!” Jiang Xingyuan’s smile didn’t waver. “When was Cousin’s first love?”

This immediately caught Xie Huai’s attention. Jiang Yi sensed Xie Huai’s gaze, chuckled, and shook his head.

“None?” Jiang Xingyuan’s expression was exaggerated. “How can such a handsome Alpha have never dated? You’re lying!”

“I’m not lying. When I was a student, I was busy studying. Later, I was busy starting a business, going abroad for projects… I simply didn’t have the time or energy. If you don’t believe me, ask the others.”

Xie Huai’s expression visibly relaxed.

In the next round, as luck would have it, Jiang Yi lost again.

“Then, does Cousin have someone he likes?”

Xie Huai’s gaze snapped back to Jiang Yi. The others looked at Jiang Yi, then at the devoted Xie Huai, and finally at the three of them. The atmosphere turned strange. The more perceptive ones could already smell the smoke of a battlefield.

Jiang Yi lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the wine glass. “Yes.”

That single word struck Xie Huai’s heart like a hammer. His heartbeat accelerated.

“Who is it? Who’s the lucky one? Can you tell us?” Jiang Xingyuan noticed that Xie Huai’s soul seemed to have been hooked by that sentence. His eyes turned playful.

Jiang Yi reminded him, “One round, one question.”

“Alright, alright,” Jiang Xingyuan said regretfully. “Maybe Cousin will lose the next one too.”

As if on cue, Jiang Yi lost the next three rounds. No one knew if Jiang Yi was lucky or unlucky.

“Dare or Truth? If it’s a dare, let’s go big, walk out of this room and confess to the first person of the opposite sex you see.” Jiang Xingyuan gave a wicked grin. “Cousin, what do you choose?”

“Truth, of course,” Jiang Yi said. He wouldn’t do something so childish in front of everyone.

Jiang Xingyuan grinned. “Is the person Cousin likes in this room?”

The moment the words left his mouth, the room went deathly silent. Xie Huai’s heart was in his throat, he stared at Jiang Yi without blinking. The guests exchanged looks of shock. If we knew this was a trap, we wouldn’t have come. Despite that, their curiosity took over, and they leaned in to eavesdrop.

If Jiang Yi said yes, how would he face Xie Huai’s feelings? If he said no, it would crush Xie Huai’s heart and damage their relationship. It was a lose-lose situation. What a poisonous question! They realized this “arrogant” teenager wasn’t stupid at all.

Jiang Yi looked at Jiang Xingyuan’s triumphant face. After a long silence, he said, “I choose to drink.” He downed three glasses in a row.

Xie Huai’s tension was palpable. The game continued, but Jiang Yi’s luck remained abysmal. Knowing Jiang Xingyuan was out to get him, Jiang Yi stopped choosing Truth or Dare altogether and just kept drinking.

Eventually, most people in the room were slumped over. Aside from the sober Xie Huai, only a “drunken,” swaying Jiang Xingyuan remained standing.

“I can’t… hic… Xiao Jiang… I’m really done.”

But in the next second, another glass was forced down the speaker’s throat. “Brother Zhang, what are you saying? How can a real Alpha say he’s ‘done’? There’s an Omega watching, it’ll look bad if word gets out.” The man laughed bitterly and downed glass after glass.

Jiang Yi was now lightheaded. He watched the swaying figures before him. He had underestimated Jiang Xingyuan, he didn’t expect the kid to be able to drink this much and still stay upright. He tried to push himself up from the table, but a wave of vertigo hit him, and he collapsed onto the sofa with a thud.

“Cousin! Cousin, what’s wrong?” Seeing him fall, Xie Huai rushed forward in alarm.

Jiang Xingyuan, seeing everyone was down, let out a faint smirk. He opened the door and ran into Huang Hao.

“What are you crouching here for? Go on, go in and carry them out.”

Under Jiang Xingyuan’s gaze, Huang Hao didn’t dare complain. He made a call, and soon a group of black-clad security guards entered, carrying the drunken guests out one by one.

Xie Huai stood up in a panic. He looked toward the door, but Jiang Xingyuan was already gone. “What are you doing?” He tried to block the path to Jiang Yi. However, the men ignored him. After taking the others, they simply shut the door.

Soon, only Xie Huai and the unconscious Jiang Yi remained in the room. The silence was broken only by Xie Huai’s heavy breathing.

“Cousin… wake up.”

In the quiet, the desires buried deep in his heart began to grow in the darkness. He reached out cautiously to touch the man before him. At the slightest contact, his fingertips felt scorched, and he flinched back. So hot.

Under the dim lights, he stared intently at the handsome face of the man on the sofa. His heart was racing. He couldn’t help but lean down.

Suddenly, the door was slammed open with a bang.

Jiang Xingyuan entered and saw the two figures in an ambiguous position. His expression darkened as he roared:

“What are you doing to my cousin?!”