Older Brother - Chapter 27

41.

The atmosphere in the room turned ice-cold instantly. Fu Yu looked like he was truly prepared to pull the trigger; there wasn’t a hint of a joke in his expression.

The other guests in the private box, who had been enjoying the spectacle, scrambled to intervene. “Mr. L, why such a massive temper over a single Omega?”

Fu Yu’s lips twitched slightly, though there was no warmth in the gesture. He stared at the man whose face, even through the mask, had gone deathly pale. “Apologize.”

The man’s lips were pressed tight. To bow his head to an Omega seemed to be a profound insult to his Alpha dignity. After a long, tense silence, he finally muttered begrudgingly to Bai You, “I apologize for my rudeness.”

The episode was quickly glossed over. The lingering, suggestive, and overtly bold gazes that had been roaming over Bai You were also reined in.

Bai You’s expression remained flat. He didn’t explode with anger over the insult, nor did his expression soften because of the apology. He sat down beside Fu Yu in silence. Noticing Fu Yu’s gaze on him, he said indifferently, “This fits your usual taste for the depraved, doesn’t it? Or did you have an explanation?”

Bringing him to this planet, to this place filled with eerie, grotesque revelry, only to let him be insulted like this.

Fu Yu opened his mouth as if to speak, but stopped. His primary reason for bringing Bai You here was, in fact, to give him a vacation.

This was the only planet in the nearby systems with a perfect climate and vast, soft, beautiful snowy landscapes. Coming to this cruise ship was merely a secondary errand. From the holographic clips the bodyguards sent daily, Bai You was incredibly sensitive to the cold; during his ten days on that remote planet in the Fifth Galaxy, he had spent every day wrapped in blankets, huddled by the fireplace, refusing to take a step outside. Every time he tried to go out, the biting wind and snow would slap him right back into the house.

And yet, Bai You was clearly fascinated by the snow. Since it rarely snowed on Central Star, he would press himself against the window and watch it intently, even if he was freezing.

He had even softly asked the bodyguards—whom he usually treated as invisible—how to build a snowman, looking very much like he wanted to try. Fu Yu had forbidden the guards from helping, and in the gaps between his duties, he had taken the time to study three hundred different methods and techniques for building snowmen.

He hadn’t intended for Bai You to be insulted by these people.

But saying these things out loud would make it seem like he cared for Bai You deeply, as if he were constantly holding him in his thoughts.

He had wanted Bai You to understand that they were only together because of pheromones and compatibility, but this. this didn’t feel like it was about pheromones.

Ultimately, Fu Yu kept his mouth shut. He raised an eyebrow and accepted Bai You’s appraisal. There was nothing to say; he was, indeed, a depraved person.

Items were being auctioned on stage. Bai You scanned them with a calm heart. Unsurprisingly, they were all illegal: prohibited drugs, slaves, smuggled cultural relics, and even the mining rights to unclaimed resource stars.

Bai You patted his empty pockets, feeling very much at peace.

Where exactly did Fu Yu hide those fake documents that cost me my life savings?

Clearly, the others in the box weren’t here for the auction either. They resumed their chatter, talking business, though they used vague codes to hide their identities.

Bai You propped up his cheek, listening with half an ear. He had a vague guess about these people’s identities—they were undoubtedly prominent figures, which explained the need for such secrecy in a place this shady. As he pondered, he couldn’t help but glance at Fu Yu, who looked perfectly at home in this environment.

What was Fu Yu’s goal here? Was he really that confident, bringing Bai You along without fear of being betrayed?

As he stared, Fu Yu misunderstood the gaze. He paused his conversation with the others and leaned in to drape an arm over Bai You’s shoulder. Like a lover sharing an intimate kiss, his lips brushed against Bai You’s ear as he whispered with a slight smile, “Brother, look at the private box on the opposite side, one floor down.”

This box was the highest and most secure in the venue. From this vantage point, they had an unobstructed view of the other boxes a deliberate design choice that allowed the elite to watch every movement in the lower-tier sections.

Perhaps feeling that too many people were coveting his Omega, Fu Yu had been radiating a pressurized aggression since entering the box. His hand remained possessively around Bai You’s shoulder, asserting his claim.

It had only been ten days since they were entangled during the warp jumps. Their pheromones had mingled deeply; the moment Fu Yu got too close, Bai You’s glands began to throb with a traitorous sense of joy.

Bai You took a soft breath, turned his head to push Fu Yu’s face away, and lifted his lashes to look. He saw someone who truly surprised him.

It was his “dear” uncle, Chen Zhuo.

Aside from those in the top-tier boxes, the people in the lower-tier sections likely didn’t realize their privacy was exposed to those above. Consequently, they had felt safe enough to remove their masks once inside.

Because of this, Bai You could see clearly who Chen Zhuo was meeting: a high-ranking official from the Empire, a nation that had been in a cold diplomatic standoff with the Federation for years. He wasn’t interested in political figures, but this man stood out because, like Madam Singh, he was a renowned jewelry collector.

It seemed Chen Zhuo was truly desperate to save his company. Not only was he sucking up to the socialites of Central Star, but he was also establishing ties with the Empire.

Given the current diplomatic tension, meeting with an official from a rival power was a highly sensitive move.

Without hesitation, Bai You raised his terminal and surreptitiously filmed several clips of Chen Zhuo chatting and laughing with the Imperial official.

When he turned back, he met Fu Yu’s smiling eyes. “Brother, do you have any idea that your face is screaming: ‘Just you wait until I ruin you’?”

Bai You’s lips curled. “Maybe you’ll be the one who dies first.”

“Oh—” Fu Yu raised an eyebrow. “Then I’d better seize the chance to ‘ruin’ you first.”

Bai You didn’t want to talk to this shameless delinquent.

After several rounds of discussion, the business in the box didn’t seem to be going particularly well, and the auction had concluded. The Alpha in the lead seat raised a glass of red wine and smiled. “Let’s set these matters aside for now. The banquet is about to begin. If I may be so bold, the forecast says today’s sunset on this planet will be the most beautiful of the month.”

The guests stood up, preparing to head down to the ballroom.

Fu Yu’s steps suddenly faltered. For a few brief seconds, Bai You smelled a pheromone scent so thick and aggressive it was choking.

But in an instant, Fu Yu reined it back in, though he left a group of Alphas and Omegas nearby trembling for no apparent reason.

A top-tier Alpha’s pheromones are a powerful deterrent to anyone of a lower rank. The guests, feeling a sudden, inexplicable prickle of fear, turned to look at each other in confusion.

“What’s wrong with you?” As an Omega who had been intimate with him, Bai You sensed the anomaly immediately.

While he didn’t particularly care if Fu Yu lived or died, if something happened to Fu Yu in a place like this, he might not be able to get out safely.

There was visible sweat on Fu Yu’s brow as he endured something, yet his tone remained as flippant as ever. He smiled. “Is Brother worried about me?”

Bai You walked past him with a blank expression, but his wrist was suddenly caught in a light grip.

“Brother, I need to step away for a moment. I’ll be back soon. Go to the deck where the crowds are and wait for me. My men are following you in the shadows; don’t be afraid.” Fu Yu paused slightly. “Don’t talk to strangers. The Alphas here are all bastards.”

Was that last part necessary? Was there any Alpha who wasn’t a bastard?

Bai You shot him a bewildered look but didn’t ask what he was doing. He followed the flow of the crowd down to the deck.

The Alpha in the box, Carson, hadn’t been lying. The sky was filled with a sea of burning clouds reflected on the water; it was indeed breathtaking.

As the clouds shifted, the temperature began to drop. Bai You leaned comfortably against the railing, his silhouette elegant and sharp. The hem of his shirt, which had been tucked into his pants, had somehow worked its way loose. As the sea breeze whistled past, the thin fabric billowed, making his waist look as thin as a sheet of paper.

He was admiring the crimson sun sinking into the horizon when he sensed someone approaching from behind, seemingly trying to drape a coat over his shoulders.

Bai You immediately dodged, his mind filled with exasperation. Can someone please rewrite the Alpha source code?

His agile movement left Carson stunned, standing there with a suit jacket draped awkwardly over his arm. “The wind is strong on the deck. Aren’t you cold?”

Bai You glanced at him but didn’t respond. He had a pair of very beautiful eyes, the contours of which were still visible beneath the mask.

“You don’t seem to like talking.” Carson didn’t mind the cold shoulder. He leaned against the railing beside him, looking intrigued. “What would it take to get you to open your mouth?”

This man was clearly one of the “bastards” Fu Yu had warned him about. Bai You decided to play dumb until the end; after all, he had spent years perfecting the art of being invisible.

Carson, however, was persistent. He seemed exceptionally interested. “Others have to pay a steep price to learn a secret from me. But since you are such a beautiful Omega, I can give you one free chance.”

Compared to jewelry, artifacts, or mining rights worth billions, a person’s hidden secret was often the most valuable commodity.

Bai You finally looked at him. “Anyone’s secret?”

His voice was as graceful as the rest of him, a pleasure to the ears. It wasn’t hard to see why those Alphas would fantasize about the sounds he would make in bed.

Carson’s smile deepened. “Of course. Including mine.”

…Why would I care about yours? Bai You had no interest in him. “Regarding the Federation’s most dazzling star, the Colonel—what do you know about him?”

Carson looked slightly disappointed, but he took the bait with a smile.

He casually took two glasses of red wine from a passing waiter’s tray and offered one gallantly to Bai You. “Well, that’s a long story. It starts with his foster father, Congressman Bai Mo.”

Hearing his father’s name, Bai You took the glass but didn’t drink.

“Congressman Bai Mo was born into high society; his career was almost entirely smooth sailing.” Carson paused. “I say almost.”

When he was in his thirties, the Federation President hadn’t yet fallen ill. The President had always had issues with the Bai family, and after a single political blunder, Bai Mo was packed off to the remote Sixth Galaxy.

The further out the galaxy, the lower the level of civilization. The Seventh Galaxy, which acted as a shield for the Federation, wasn’t included in that count, so the Sixth Galaxy was practically the worst of the lot. Many planets there were used as dumping grounds for hazardous waste—places known as “Trash Stars.”

For a high-born congressman like Bai Mo to be sent there was the ultimate shame of his life. But at his most pathetic moment in that place, he met an Omega who showed him kindness.

He actually fell for an Omega who lived among the refuse of a Trash Star.

Bai You felt a sudden surge of goosebumps; his expression turned subtly grim. “Is Fu Yu actually?”

“No, no.” Carson laughed. “Of course not. Although the Congressman was indeed like a randy terrier in his prime, the Colonel is definitely not his biological son.”

Bai You let out a silent sigh of relief.

Sleeping with the brother he had watched grow up was already terrifying enough. If Fu Yu were actually related to him by blood, that would be…

“After exhausting every method to return to Central Star, Congressman Bai Mo spent a decade solidifying his position. Of course, he stayed busy ‘producing’ children during those years, but then he decided to heroically return to the Sixth Galaxy to rescue the Omega from his time in exile.” Carson swirled his wine, letting out a mocking whistle. “When he got there, he found the Omega was already dead. And the child was already old enough to run errands.”

Bai You couldn’t quite adjust to the man’s humor. “…”

“Congressman Bai Mo couldn’t accept it, of course. He felt betrayed by the Omega. But he likely truly did have some feelings for that person, and in a fit of self-indulgent ‘generosity,’ he decided to ‘forgive’ the past and take the Omega’s child back to Central Star as a memento.”

Bai You was already well-acquainted with his father’s shamelessness, but hearing this made him want to dig up the man’s ashes just to scatter them again.

“The Omega was dead, but the Alpha husband was still very much alive. When someone showed up out of nowhere to snatch his child, he wasn’t about to let it happen.” Carson shrugged, a chilling smile crossing his face. “Shortly after, the Omega’s husband, the grandparents, the uncles, the older brother and his wife… they all died mysteriously in a massive fire. And the child vanished.”

Carson finished the story and asked meaningfully, “Darling, have you heard of memory-wiping surgery? It’s inhumane to use on a child, but hey, the Federation is a land of freedom.”

Bai You blinked, remembering the Fu Yu who had first arrived at the Bai estate with a completely blank memory.

“The surgery isn’t 100% successful. As long as you act well enough, you can fake the amnesia. So, imagine… after years of enduring humiliation and heavy burdens, just how much must the Colonel hate the Bai family?”

Bai You didn’t have to imagine. He had seen firsthand how Fu Yu took his revenge.

It was no wonder Fu Yu’s attitude toward him was so strange and volatile.

“I hear only one ‘Fifth Young Master’ is left in this world now. I wonder how long he can last?”

Carson raised his glass, clinking it against Bai You’s in a gentlemanly toast before drinking. “That’s all I know. Cheers. Don’t worry about me drugging you—because your Alpha is back.”

Bai You turned around. A coat saturated with the scent of an Alpha was already being draped over him, wrapping his thin frame tightly and overwriting the scent of the stranger. A hand hooked around his waist, pulling him back and away from Carson.

Fu Yu’s smiling voice came from above. “Darling, I told you not to talk to strange people.”

Bai You: “…”

Can someone please, please rewrite the Alpha source code?

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