The Beautiful Wife I Picked Up Is A Little Mute - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Signal Failure

Ji Hanyue had no idea what Xie Mo was thinking. Even if he did, he didn’t believe he had done anything wrong. In his mind, he had rescued Xie Mo from a desperate situation; Xie Mo should be profoundly grateful.

After hearing Ji Hanyue’s “comfort,” Xie Mo felt only deeper despair. He had been away from home for so many days and had been marked by Ji Hanyue. What would happen if Tang Yingrui found out? The mere thought made him sick with worry.

Consequently, he hated the Alpha in front of him even more, failing to notice the shifting, peculiar look in Ji Hanyue’s eyes.

Earlier, unable to believe the reality, Xie Mo had stripped off his clothes in front of a mirror to inspect his body. Though it confirmed his fears, he had forgotten to put his clothes back on. Suddenly, two strong, powerful hands gripped his smooth, delicate shoulders.

Ji Hanyue felt an inexplicable thirst. He leaned in and pressed a kiss against Xie Mo’s skin. Xie Mo’s eyes widened in panic, and he hurriedly pushed his hands between them, thinking Ji Hanyue was going to start again.

But Ji Hanyue only gave him a fleeting touch before straightening up. He considered himself an Alpha with great self-control—nothing like those who thought only with their lower halves. Thus, even though the Omega was “deliberately” tempting him, he could restrain himself.

Ji Hanyue pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, wrapped Xie Mo tightly in the quilt to hide that dazzling white skin, and rummaged through a drawer. He produced a thick, hardcover notebook and a pen, handing them to Xie Mo.

“Write down whatever you want to say.”

Xie Mo’s hand was so weak he could barely hold the pen. Ji Hanyue, not being a patient man, instinctively sharpened his tone. “Don’t you understand?”

The shout made Xie Mo flinch. How is this Alpha’s temper even worse than Tang Yingrui’s? Under that burning gaze, Xie Mo had to spread the notebook on the sheet and write several words, stroke by stroke. When finished, he showed it to the other:

——”I want to go home.”

Ji Hanyue’s mood soured instantly, his voice laced with hostility. “You’re leaving just like that, after having your fun?”

Xie Mo didn’t understand what he meant, then heard him add unhurriedly, “I gave my ‘first time’ to you. Don’t you plan on taking responsibility?”

“…?” Xie Mo even forgot to cry. He gestured frantically in explanation: “That wasn’t voluntary! I wasn’t conscious, and you’re the one who brought me here!”

Seeing the Alpha’s confused face, he had to write it down. Ji Hanyue glanced at the handwriting, his jaw tightening. “As if I was conscious?”

“Besides, if it weren’t for me, those Alphas would have broken your door down and ruined you. What, would you rather have been forced by a whole group instead of me?”

The Alpha was so unreasonable that Xie Mo’s brain couldn’t keep up; he was left speechless. Seeing the little mute’s hesitation, Ji Hanyue remembered his original purpose and shoved the porridge into his hands.

“Eat the porridge. I have classes; I’ll be back tonight. Stay here and don’t go anywhere.”

Just like that, Xie Mo watched him slam the door and leave, leaving him alone in the empty room. During this entire period, he had barely eaten, save for a few times when someone had fed him water and porridge while he was semi-conscious. His stomach rumbled appropriately. Xie Mo glanced at the door but ultimately ate the bowl of porridge. He feared he wouldn’t have the strength to leave otherwise.

Before leaving the bedroom, Xie Mo braced himself for Tang Yingrui’s wrath. He played out countless scenarios in his head. However, he didn’t expect that he wouldn’t even be able to get out the front door.

Just as he walked down to the first floor, a man seemed to sense his arrival and was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. “What would you like to eat? I’ll have someone prepare it.”

While Nie Xi had been bored on the sofa, he had overheard Ji Hanyue’s servants gossiping. They said that on a dark and windy night, Ji Hanyue had returned in a hurry, carrying someone wrapped in his own coat. Since then, Ji Hanyue had practically lived in the bedroom and rarely came downstairs.

…

Nie Xi finally saw the legendary Omega. His eyebrows shot up, and his tone softened significantly, fearing he might scare the beautiful, docile creature before him. Seeing the Omega hesitate to speak, Nie Xi understood.

“I studied sign language for a few years. I can understand you.”

Xie Mo was somewhat distracted. In his nineteen years, almost no one besides his family and Tang Yingrui had been able to read his signs. He looked up in surprise, his fingers pausing in the air.

“Thank you. I had a bowl of porridge, I’m not hungry.”

Anxious to return, he declined the kindness and headed for the door. After two steps, his sleeve was gently caught. Nie Xi smiled warmly, holding the fabric loosely.

“A bowl of porridge won’t fill you up. There’s spare rib soup simmering in the kitchen; I’ll have them bring you a bowl.”

Xie Mo waved his hands urgently. “No, I have an emergency. I have to go.”

The heavy front doors suddenly groaned and swung shut. Xie Mo panicked, jerking his hand away from Nie Xi and stumbling toward the entrance. His fingertips touched the handle, but the metal knob was frozen as if it were welded to the frame.

After several fruitless attempts, Xie Mo turned around in terror, his signing so fast it was almost illegible. “Why won’t the door open?”

Nie Xi’s lips curled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Sorry, we don’t have the authority to let you go. You have to wait for Ji Hanyue.”

“But I don’t belong here! You can’t just imprison people!”

Xie Mo’s eyes burned; he was miserable. He had thought this man was a “good person.” Nie Xi spread his hands and shrugged.

“Coincidentally, I don’t belong here either, yet here I am with you. Does thinking of it that way make it feel more balanced?”

Xie Mo’s fingers froze mid-air. He signed blankly, “Were you kidnapped by Ji Hanyue too?”

“…You could say that.”

Nie Xi was annoyed just thinking about it. Had he known, he wouldn’t have followed Ren Wen here two hours ago. Just because he was fluent in sign language, Ji Hanyue had forced him to stay as a translator. Fortunately, this Omega was exactly his type, or he would have left ages ago.

As expected, after saying that, Xie Mo’s agitation died down. He stood stunned for a few seconds before suddenly rushing back to the door, pressing his head against the wood and messing with the lock.

Standing a few steps away, Nie Xi’s gaze swept over him and settled on the back of Xie Mo’s neck. The Omega’s neck was slender and white; several faint red fingerprints were visible at the edge of his suppressant patch, along with hickeys the collar failed to hide. It made one want to peek further.

“Tsk.”

Nie Xi nudged his cheek with his tongue and shot a glance at the butler standing in the side hall. The butler touched the remote control in his pocket and looked back in confusion.

Signal reception failed.

…

Just as Xie Mo was about to give up, there was a soft click, and the door miraculously opened. Overjoyed, Xie Mo stepped out, then remembered something and turned back to sign to Nie Xi:

“I opened the door! We can go now!”

A smile spread across Nie Xi’s face. “Very impressive.” He shook a set of car keys. “Need a ride home? I have a car.”

Possessing some sense of caution, Xie Mo shook his head and waved goodbye. He immediately chose a path at the fork in the road and hurried away.

Behind him, the butler hesitated. “Second Master Nie, letting him go like this… the Young Master might be angry.”

Nie Xi didn’t care. He glanced at the butler. “Ji Hanyue told me to watch him. If anyone is to be blamed, it won’t be you.”