Married To My Childhood Friend: An Alpha Business Contract - Chapter 8

There were only two night scenes scheduled for the film crew. If all went well, filming would conclude within half an hour.

However, today of all days, Jiang Shuyao was out of form and simply could not get into character. The director, a perfectionist, called “cut” repeatedly, pointing out flaws and demanding retakes. The Omega lead, brimming with resentment, took his anger out on his co-actors, blaming the heavens, the earth, and even the air, claiming there were issues with both the script and the dialogue. He clamored to go on strike.

The entire crew had to coddle him like an ancestral deity. With the delivery date looming and the second episode waiting to go online, the lead actor’s lack of cooperation forced everyone to chase the schedule with gritted teeth. Everyone on set had to endure his temper and defer to him until after midnight, when a heavy rain finally forced the production to a halt.

Anxious and frantic, Lu Siyan squeezed through the crowd to make his appointment. It was in a moment of inexplicable impulse this afternoon that he had sent the man an invitation via text; by the time he regained his senses, the deadline to unsend it had already passed. The other party had replied with a sluggish, singular “Okay.”

The stagehands were busy directing the removal of expensive props, and the extras dispersed in a chaotic swarm, forcing Lu Siyan back several steps. He hadn’t brought an umbrella. He had the hood of his sweatshirt pulled over his head, braving the rain with the drawstrings tied tightly under his chin in a small butterfly knot. The ground beneath his feet was a mess of mud.

The dense crowd and the sea of umbrellas blocked his entire line of sight. Lu Siyan struggled to push his way out, whispering small pleas: “Excuse me, please let me through. Sorry, excuse me.”

In the chaos, someone accidentally tripped him. The Omega let out a soft cry as his body lost balance, his arms flailing forward to break his fall. Just as he was about to scream in embarrassment, the crowd ahead parted, and a beam of bright light cut through the gap.

From amidst the light and shadow, a hand reached out, firmly catching his arm just as he failed to find any leverage. He collided into the person’s chest with a muffled “thud.” Even his heart seemed to tremble.

Soaked by the heavy rain, the Omega lifted his misty eyes to see a massive black umbrella above him. Holding the handle and embracing him was an Alpha, his brows furrowed in displeasure. They stared at each other amidst the ethereal wind and rain of the night. The film crew’s lights flickered and swayed in the background.

Sharing a brief moment of intimacy with Xiao Yanxiu, Lu Siyan nervously shrank back and pulled away. “So… sorry, I didn’t mean to be late.”

The scent of camellia and cedar was no longer cold; instead, an unexpected warmth surged forth. Fingers brushed the wet strands of hair from his forehead, scattering water droplets. Lu Siyan ducked his head, the tips of his ears quietly turning red.

“Cold?” Xiao Yanxiu asked.

Lu Siyan shook his head.

Upon a signal, an assistant nearby quickly draped a high-end lambswool coat over the Omega’s shoulders. Lu Siyan was startled. “This… this must be very expensive.” He moved to pull it off, but Xiao Yanxiu reached out and held it in place.

The man didn’t answer. He waved his hand to dismiss his subordinates, then turned and urged him forward in a flat tone, “Let’s eat.” Any later, and the restaurants would be closed for the night.

Lu Siyan followed in small steps behind Xiao Yanxiu. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, blocking the light and shielding him from the wind and rain.

After a ten-minute walk, the Alpha sat down on a red plastic stool at an open-air food stall with a look of slight bewilderment. Comparing it to the surroundings, Lu Siyan had actually gone out of his way to pick one with a tent.

When Xiao Yanxiu was speechless, he had a habit of tapping his knuckles on the table. “You’re treating me to… this?”

Lu Siyan was flustered, seeing his dissatisfaction. “This is already the most expensive buffet within a five-mile radius.”

It was even a buffet?

Within the man’s helpless smile, there was a hidden trace of imperceptible indulgence. Especially after the food arrived, he discovered it was actually a seafood buffet. However… there was no sashimi. Lobster, king crab, bluefin tuna, and foie gras were nowhere to be found.

No one was there to peel the shrimp, nor were the veins removed. The tomato pot was boiled with plain tomato sauce, and the wasabi used for flavor was packed in plastic tubes that one had to squeeze onto their own plate at the condiment station.

Xiao Yanxiu stared at the dollop of wasabi Lu Siyan had proactively squeezed into his soy sauce dish. His expression was a kaleidoscope of emotions. Every step, from serving to eating, had to be done by oneself. Only the two small, individual copper pots seemed to show a modicum of hygiene.

Regardless of the ingredients—meat or vegetables—everything was dumped into the pot in one go. Even the bread crabs had a strong fishy smell, making it difficult to swallow. Seeing Xiao Yanxiu reluctant to move his chopsticks, Lu Siyan felt caught in a dilemma and grew embarrassed. He proactively asked the shopkeeper for hot tea, scalded and rinsed all the tableware, and then pushed them in front of the man.

“This place has a very good reputation and high cost-performance,” Lu Siyan explained. “The crew members often come here for gatherings. Xiao Yi also said it’s delicious and wanted to come along.”

Xiao Yanxiu asked, “Then why didn’t you bring him?”

Lu Siyan pinched his own hand. “Because… because I specifically invited you.” That made it inconvenient to bring anyone else.

The man was relentless. “Why invite me specifically?”

“Because… because…” Lu Siyan couldn’t think of a reason for a moment. The atmosphere was just right, and he had his own selfish desire to see him alone, but he couldn’t say it directly.

Xiao Yanxiu changed his tactic to remind him: “Has the trouble with your family business been resolved?”

Lu Siyan nodded. “Yes, my family has handled it. Even though you didn’t help, I should still thank you.”

Xiao Yanxiu nearly laughed out loud. “I didn’t help?”

Incensed, he immediately pulled out his phone. “Notify the head of Huayun. Kick the bidding documents submitted by the Lu family out of the selection.”

“Wait!”

Lu Siyan didn’t know which sentence had offended him again. His parents had worked so hard, begging and pleading for this opportunity. Even though it let Lu Shiyuan take all the credit, he didn’t want to mess it up and make everyone’s efforts go to waste. After all, the Lu family had tens of thousands of employees to support. Behind them were countless families and livelihoods.

In a moment of urgency, Lu Siyan grabbed the hand holding the phone. The veins on his arm bulged slightly, and his knuckles were tight. The man looked down, his gaze quite playful, staring at those fingers Lu Siyan had proactively intertwined with his own.

The Omega realized the transfer of body heat a beat late and slammed his hand away. As if he had been burned by Xiao Yanxiu, he jumped up and stood by the table. “I… I’ll go get drinks.”

Panicking as he ran away, the Omega turned and bumped straight into a drunk Alpha getting up from the next table. Holding his forehead, he apologized while backing away, “Sorry, I’m sorry.”

He turned around and bumped into another. “Apologies.”

Whether he went left or right, he hit someone. Stepping back, there was a belly larger than an eight-month pregnancy waiting for him. Lu Siyan was instantly surrounded by three burly Alpha men.

“Where did this little Omega come from? So rude.” “You think you can just leave after bumping into us?” “You stepped on my foot, little brother.”

Lu Siyan retreated hastily, fumbling with his feet. Every path was blocked. He apologized repeatedly, but was told: “You have to drink three penalty shots before we see your sincerity.”

A greasy, bloated hand, reeking of alcohol and accompanied by a lecherous tone, was about to be placed on the Omega’s thin shoulder. Suddenly, a powerful arm cut through the crowd, seized that “salty pig hand,” and bent it backward with force. There was a crisp “crack.”

The drunkard’s fleshy face twisted as he let out a guttural scream. “AAAAAHHHH!!!!”

Lu Siyan was pulled by the shoulder and hidden behind someone. The Omega instinctively clutched the hem of Xiao Yanxiu’s shirt at his waist, his fingertips trembling with fear.

“Where did this brat come from, daring to act wild here?” “Do you know who your grandpa is?” “Flaunting a cheap little slut around… that Omega is just meant to be used.”

A hand reaching out to slap his face was met with a swift, accurate, and ruthless over-the-shoulder throw by Xiao Yanxiu, hurling the man away. The brute crashed into the front counter, and crates of alcohol tumbled down with a loud clatter. Glass bottles shattered everywhere, and screams erupted from customers in all directions.

“Brat, don’t you run!”

In the chaos, Lu Siyan wrapped both arms tightly around Xiao Yanxiu’s narrow waist, refusing to let him move forward. “Stop fighting, please stop fighting!” The little Omega had never seen such a scene and was scared to death.

Xiao Yanxiu was pulled back several steps. Just as his anger subsided by half, he heard someone curse obscenely.

“Little tramp, don’t think you’re getting off easy.” “We know exactly which crew you’ve been hanging around these past few days.” “We’ve had our eyes on you for a long time. One day, us brothers will take turns showing you a good time.”

Lu Siyan hugged Xiao Yanxiu, begging the man to leave the tent. The light rain was still drizzling. The Alpha didn’t seem like an easy-going person, but at this moment, he was exceptionally willing to accommodate him, obediently following as he was pulled toward the roadside.

For a split second, there was a delusion. It felt as if Xiao Yanxiu really was his Alpha. The man, in a moment of violent rage and loss of reason, would actually listen to him.

Retreating all the way to the Bugatti parked by the road, Xiao Yanxiu opened the door and stuffed Lu Siyan into the passenger seat, then locked it. The Omega didn’t notice anything wrong, sighing in relief while waiting for him to get in.

To his shock, as soon as the Alpha had settled him, he turned back around without hesitation and walked straight back toward the center of the battlefield.

Realizing what was happening, Lu Siyan pounded on the window frantically, tugging at the door handle. “Xiao Yanxiu! Xiao Yanxiu!”

The man returned to the rain, picked up a red plastic stool from the street, and smashed it into the crowd, determined to vent his fury on Lu Siyan’s behalf. The Omega’s palms turned swollen and red from banging on the glass; his tears fell in desperation, yet he was helpless.

It wasn’t until ten minutes later that he remembered to call the police. They arrived quickly and controlled the scene. Xiao Yanxiu cooperated with the investigation and followed the three thugs to the police station; Lu Siyan followed closely behind.

The thugs continued to cause a scene in the lobby, shouting about their backgrounds and connections, demanding a certain official come to resolve it, only to be sternly silenced by a young officer. Lu Siyan couldn’t see Xiao Yanxiu. No matter how he pleaded, it was useless. He had no way to contact the Xiao family through his phone and didn’t know what to do.

As he sat there in restless anxiety, he suddenly saw a line of men in suits filing into the room. The leader at the front was the very assistant who had draped the coat over him earlier. Lu Siyan saw him as a literal lifesaver and moved forward with the crowd, only to be blocked by the officer at the door. The police told him that they were recording statements inside with lawyers present and asked him to wait patiently.

The Omega paced the reception hall in a feverish state. Soon, the three troublemaking thugs were escorted away in handcuffs. A crisp sound of a door opening echoed from the inner room. Lu Siyan’s heart leapt, and he rushed forward.

However, he was pushed to the side by a black-clad crowd that surged out, lining up to create a passageway. The lawyers, bodyguards, and other Alphas were tall and upright, completely blocking his view.

Lu Siyan hopped up and down, shouting, “Xiao Yanxiu! Xiao Yanxiu!”

His voice was small, and the scene was chaotic and noisy. The relevant personnel following out of the station were constantly explaining something. Xiao Yanxiu’s face was cold, with a graze near the corner of his mouth. As the cold wind blew in through the entrance, his hair shifted slightly, and his expression grew even grimmer.

The synchronized sound of umbrellas opening was imposing. The aura of a wealthy, powerful clan was displayed to the fullest in this moment. Like a movie scene, the air was thick with the suffocating pressure of authority.

Xiao Yanxiu walked at the front of the group. Staff on both sides bowed and scraped to see him out, followed by a professional elite team holding a row of black umbrellas. The wind and rain caught the edge of his coat. Dozens of black Bentleys were parked neatly along the road.

Xiao Yanxiu strode out, clearly furious. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned back. Cutting through the middle of the ranks, he grabbed the pitiful little Omega who was still trying to chase after him.

He grabbed his hand.

They returned to the very front of the procession. Lu Siyan stumbled two steps as he was shielded by him, then stuffed into the rear seat of the Bentley closest to the entrance. This time, he instinctively tried to scramble back out, only to be pushed back in by the man pressing against his head.

Xiao Yanxiu sat down beside him. The scent of camellia and cedar squeezed him into the corner. Mottled shadows spilled through the car window, falling in spots across the man’s exhausted features. He leaned back into the leather seat, his eyes half-closed as he rested.

The driver started the car slowly, and the convoy set off. Lu Siyan’s back was stiff as a board; he didn’t move an inch, as alert as a small animal that had accidentally wandered into a dragon’s den. He even suppressed his breathing, afraid of disturbing the arrogant and noble man beside him.

His gaze flickered around until he noticed that the back of Xiao Yanxiu’s hand was also grazed and slightly swollen, with no one tending to it.

The resting man suddenly felt his right hand being carefully cradled. When he opened his eyes, he found the Omega puffing out his cheeks, gently blowing on the wound.

Lu Siyan saw Xiao Yanxiu’s eyes flutter open and his breath hitched. His fingertips trembled. He hesitated, starting to push the hand away, but then pulled it back and asked:

“Does… does it still hurt?”

Xiao Yanxiu leaned back lazily, a smirk playing on his lips. He flipped his hand to interlock his fingers with the boy’s, his gaze intense enough to consume him. He deliberately brought the back of his hand to the Omega’s lips and said:

“It hurts.” “It hurts so much…” “Blow on it again.”