After My Engagement Was Broken, I Married My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 7

Jiang Xingyuan froze for a moment, realizing he wasn’t alone in the room.

Following the sound through the dim light, he saw a back as straight as a pine tree, kneeling before the Buddha in a posture of devout prayer.

Perhaps a monk hasn’t left yet, he thought. Men of the cloth are usually kind-hearted and compassionate.

Outside, the sound of Xie Chao’s voice was drawing closer.

Pressed by necessity, Jiang Xingyuan devised a plan on the spot. He pinched his thigh hard, before long, his eyes were brimming with tears. He threw himself to the ground, grabbing the monk’s cassock and sobbing uncontrollably: “Master, please save me!”

“How shall I save you?”

Hearing the monk respond, Jiang Xingyuan felt a surge of confidence.

“Just let me hide here for a while. I’m so scared… someone is chasing me outside, trying to do… unspeakable things to me.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Junqing, who had been silently chanting sutras with closed eyes, suddenly opened them. The hand moving the prayer beads paused imperceptibly.

Committing violence and attempted assault within the Xie family ancestral home…

He felt as though he had heard the biggest joke of his life. This was getting interesting.

Seeing no response, Jiang Xingyuan’s brow furrowed in anxiety. He couldn’t afford to be kicked out now, so he continued his tearful plea: “I… I’m just a poor Omega. My father is paralyzed, my brother is sick, and I’ve been working part-time in a restaurant to make ends meet. I never expected the Young Master of the Xie family to take an interest in me and lure me here. I thought he was sincere, but he only craved my body. He brought me here and locked me up. I barely managed to escape, I almost… almost had my body defiled… wu wu wu.”

As if to provide proof, he scrambled in front of the monk and tore open his collar. “Look at the marks on my neck, this is the evidence of him forcing himself on me.”

Suddenly, his eyes met a pair of moist, beautiful eyes, eyes that looked like a handful of stars crushed into the surface of a calm lake.

Xie Junqing’s gaze fell upon the youth’s face, and a flicker of amazement flashed through him. The boy’s lips were vivid, his features exquisite, and his black hair, damp with sweat, clung to his face, giving him an air of bewitching beauty. He seemed strangely familiar, yet Xie Junqing couldn’t place him at that moment.

Before this room full of gods and Buddhas, the youth didn’t look like a pitiful Omega, he looked like a demon from an old folk tale, come to steal souls in an ancient temple.

A demon daring enough to appear before the gods? Bold.

A sneer played at the corner of Xie Junqing’s mouth. His gaze was drawn to the boy’s pale neck, where a ring of dark bruises stood out against the cold white skin, the sharp contrast of red and white was startling.

The youth’s trembling, weak, and pitiful appearance didn’t evoke pity, but rather a desire for more frenzied plunder.

Suddenly, a familiar sharp pain struck, and Xie Junqing’s face turned pale. He set down his prayer beads, his expression turning cold.

“Stand up.”

This boy should not be here. He closed his eyes and resumed chanting, yet a second later, he uttered a cold command: “Get out.”

Jiang Xingyuan blinked in disbelief. What! Are monks these days so stone hearted? I told such a tragic story, and he still won’t help?

Jiang Xingyuan decided to give up, there was no point in provoking this monk. He rubbed his legs, which had gone numb from sitting on the floor. He pressed his palms together and bowed to the Buddha.

Lord Buddha, sorry for the disturbance just now. I said a lot of things I didn’t mean, please don’t be angry. To make it up to you, I’ll definitely come to a temple and burn incense for you next time.

He muttered to himself for a bit and prepared to leave. However, as he stood up, his numb legs betrayed him. His knees buckled, and he lost his balance.

Panic-stricken, Jiang Xingyuan flailed his arms. Seeing he was about to fall, he shouted in a panic: “Monk! Get out of the way!”

Xie Junqing snapped his eyes open.

Thud…

Everything went silent.

Jiang Xingyuan crashed down, hitting his nose so hard it stung. A warm liquid gushed from his nostrils, and he tasted the tang of blood. At the same time, he caught a whiff of rich sandalwood, different from the incense earlier.

His cheek was pressed against something warm. It smelled like the scent of burnt incense—quite pleasant, actually. Like winter snow: pure, white, and cold. It felt familiar.

Suddenly, Jiang Xingyuan felt a force at the back of his neck and a cool touch. He froze. Looking up, he met a pair of deep, narrow eyes.

Xie Junqing looked at the boy who had tumbled into his arms. His gaze fell on the startling smear of red. He reached out, grabbed the boy’s loose collar, and hoisted him up. His fingertips accidentally brushed against the warm skin of the boy’s neck, sending a spark of electricity through him.

He saw the boy staring at him with wide eyes, dazed and with blood running from his nose. The beautiful eyes he had admired moments ago now looked decidedly foolish.

“Stand up.”

Jiang Xingyuan snapped out of it and hurriedly scrambled to his feet. “I’m sorry.”

Seeing the vivid red stain on the man’s clothes, he felt embarrassed. This time, it really wasn’t intentional.

Xie Junqing let go and stood up slowly, his face devoid of emotion. “I will go out with you.”

“Huh?” Jiang Xingyuan was bewildered. “Why go out together?”

By now, the “monk” was standing in front of him. Jiang Xingyuan finally noticed… this man wasn’t a monk! He had hair!

I got the wrong person!!!

“To get justice for you.”

Just then, a familiar voice sounded from outside.

“Ninth Uncle, I am Xie Chao. I apologize for the intrusion, please do not be offended.”

Jiang Xingyuan’s eyes widened. Xie Chao had found him and was right outside the door. I’m dead!

He immediately followed the man, pleading: “Don’t… don’t open the door.”

“You seem nervous. Is it the Xie family disciple outside who kidnapped you?”

Jiang Xingyuan forced a smile, his brow knit in a conflicted knot. He neither nodded nor denied it. He had just realized Xie Chao called this man “Ninth Uncle.”

No way. I can’t be this unlucky. This guy is Xie Chao’s relative!

The story he just made up wouldn’t hold up under scrutiny, the slightest check would blow his cover. His heart hammered against his ribs.

Xie Junqing’s gaze swept over the boy’s comical expression, and he hiddenly curled his lip. “Is it him?”

Without waiting for an answer, Xie Junqing pushed the door open.

Sunlight flooded into the room. Jiang Xingyuan instinctively shut his eyes. Outside, Xie Chao, who was now fully dressed and waiting, looked up.

A tall, elegant man stepped out of the room. He was handsome and refined, with a cold, clean aura. His collar, buttoned to the neck, exuded an air of asceticism and distance, yet the faint smile on his lips felt strangely scholarly.

Xie Chao noticed the bloodstain on Xie Junqing’s collar and frowned. “Ninth Uncle, what are you…”

Before Xie Chao could finish, a voice cut him off.

“He saw everything!”

“Weren’t you looking for me?”

Jiang Xingyuan stepped out from behind Xie Junqing, eyes brimming with tears as he shouted: “How dare you show your face here, Xie Chao! Everything has been said, I have nothing more to say to you!”

Before being exposed, he was going to lean hard into his role as a pitiful, kidnapped Omega.

Xie Chao stared in shock as Jiang Xingyuan walked out so boldly. Hearing the accusations, he began to shake with rage. And now he’s acting like the victim? What kind of game is this!

“I’m telling you, I’m not afraid of you. Ninth Uncle is here to get justice for me!” Jiang Xingyuan stood behind Xie Junqing, acting as if he’d found a powerful backer. “You know exactly what you did. Do I really have to spell it out?”

Xie Chao was completely bewildered. What did I do? Who took those photos? Who stripped me? And who gave me that cursed kick! How could someone be so shameless as to flip black and white so brazenly?

Xie Chao trembled, his eyes turning bloodshot as he glared at Jiang Xingyuan. “Ninth Uncle, don’t believe this liar’s words! He’s deceiving you!”

Jiang Xingyuan jumped out and yelled: “How am I deceiving you? Did I steal your heart or your body? No, it was you who conspired with another Alpha to bring me to that club, intentionally got me drunk, then stripped me and took photos to post online and ruin my reputation! Luckily, I have a high tolerance and didn’t let you succeed. Ninth Uncle was there too; he can testify for me!”

Jiang Xingyuan had just remembered, this “monk”… no, man… he had seen him at the club. The man had helped him then. Although he had only seen his profile, he remembered that scent vividly.

Hearing this, Xie Junqing’s gaze shifted toward him. He hadn’t expected they had met before. Jiang Xingyuan felt the man’s gaze and immediately offered a brilliant smile.

“I haven’t thanked you yet. Thanks to the two security guards you left for me, they were a huge help.”

He didn’t realize that with half-dried blood under his nose and a silly grin, he looked absolutely ridiculous.

Xie Junqing narrowed his eyes, observing the youth as if for the first time. The image of the “weak and terrified” boy from moments ago was shattering into pieces, replaced by the memory of the slick, cheerful boy from the club. One person can be so multifaceted. He couldn’t help but smirk. Interesting.

“Am I lying? I have evidence! I have the records of your conspiracy with Huang Hao right here!” Jiang Xingyuan whipped out his phone and pulled up the chat logs. He puffed out his chest and leaned closer to the man, his heart racing, whispered: “See, Ninth Uncle? The evidence is right here. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

As the boy leaned in, Xie Junqing caught a faint scent of tea with a sweet finish. An Omega… He suddenly smiled.

Three seconds later, Jiang Xingyuan pulled his phone back. He pointed at Xie Chao’s nose. “Do you dare say I’m lying? If you’re so brave, swear an oath that your future children will be born without assholes!”

“You… you… you!” Xie Chao’s chest heaved with fury. He took a deep breath, his eyes red. “You are shameless, crude, and despicable!”

“You don’t dare swear, which means you have no defense!”

Xie Chao didn’t want to talk anymore. He took a step forward, intending to use force. Jiang Xingyuan’s mouth was too good at twisting the truth.

In an instant, Xie Chao’s aggressive, strong liquor scented pheromones exploded, surging toward Jiang Xingyuan. Jiang Xingyuan felt the violent pressure and immediately ducked behind Xie Junqing.

The moment the pheromones appeared, Xie Junqing’s eyes darkened. “Xie Chao, this is a sacred Buddhist ground.”

His voice carried a sharp warning. Xie Chao snapped out of it, his face turning pale. “Ninth Uncle… I didn’t mean to, it’s all Jiang’s fault.”

Xie Junqing frowned. “No shouting in the presence of the Buddha.”

“Ninth Uncle!”

“Is there anything else you’re dissatisfied with? Was there any lie in what he just said?”

Everything Jiang Xingyuan mentioned was true, but it omitted everything Jiang Xingyuan had done to him. Xie Chao lowered his eyes and remained silent, which amounted to a confession.

“But… Jiang Xingyuan, he…”

“Enough. Since you admit it, there’s nothing more to say. For causing a disturbance today, you are sentenced to transcribe the sutras twenty times.”

Xie Chao looked dazed, swaying as if he might faint.

“What, still not convinced?”

Xie Chao took a deep breath, suppressing his indignation. He bowed his head. “No.”

“Then go back.”

Xie Chao gave Jiang Xingyuan, who was hiding behind Xie Junqing like a fox pretending to be a tiger, one last hateful glare before turning to leave, his heart bleeding. That bastard Jiang Xingyuan better hope I never catch him.

Jiang Xingyuan breathed a sigh of relief as Xie Chao disappeared. His heart finally slowed down. However…

Feeling a strange presence nearby, Jiang Xingyuan looked up at the ascetic, elegant man. Realizing the man had cowed Xie Chao with just a few words, he was filled with admiration but also fear of being exposed. If this man could handle Xie Chao, he could certainly handle him.

“Ninth Uncle, thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in Xie Chao’s clutches. You saved me. I truly cannot repay your kindness,” Jiang Xingyuan said sincerely. “Actually… Ninth Uncle, I lied to you just now.”

Jiang Xingyuan lowered his head, looking ashamed. Xie Junqing looked surprised. “What did you lie about? Was everything you said to Xie Chao a lie? If so, then I have wronged him.”

“No!” Jiang Xingyuan countered immediately. “Everything I told him was true.” He rubbed his nose. “It’s just… I’m not actually an Omega. It was an emergency, and I had to do it. If Xie Chao had caught me, I’d be dead. An enlightened person like you wouldn’t hold it against me, right?”

Xie Junqing was genuinely surprised. He hadn’t expected Jiang Xingyuan to admit it. However, he found the boy clever. The longer a lie is held, the higher the price when it breaks.

“Those were words spoken before the Buddha, they have nothing to do with me.”

Jiang Xingyuan thought for a moment and grinned. “As they say, ‘Put down the butcher’s knife and become a Buddha.’ The Buddha forgives those who are honest and admit their mistakes.”

Since Jiang Xingyuan had smoothed it over, Xie Junqing had nothing more to say. “I will have someone see you out.”

“No need, I don’t want to trouble you.”

“The Xie ancestral home is large, it is easy to get lost. Xie Chao is only three courtyards away.”

Jiang Xingyuan understood immediately, the man was afraid Xie Chao would ambush him. He felt a wave of warmth. Xie Chao’s Ninth Uncle is such a good person.

Before leaving, Jiang Xingyuan said earnestly: “Ninth Uncle, you are such a good man! If you ever need anything, just say the word. I’ll do whatever it takes to help you.”

Following the servant, Jiang Xingyuan turned and waved as he reached the exit. “Ninth Uncle, goodbye!”

Once the man was out of sight, Jiang Xingyuan finally relaxed, wiping non-existent sweat from his brow. He didn’t know how long he’d have to stay at the Xie house, but so much had happened in less than a day. When will this ever end!

Shortly after Jiang Xingyuan left, Xie Junqing returned to his bedroom and changed into dark robes. A figure in black appeared silently beside him.

“Well?”

The man in black reported: “Jiang Xingyuan, male Alpha, second son of the Jiang family. He came to the Xie house to discuss a marriage contract with the third branch’s Third Young Master. The third branch is constantly making moves, they likely have other plans this time.”

Xie Junqing raised an eyebrow. “I see.”

If this boy was staying, the coming days would likely be much more interesting.