The Beta Wife Claimed by Competing Alphas - Chapter 2

“My name is Shang Qiyue,” the man said, as if he had not heard Mu Yan’s words. He introduced himself with a self-assured air. “We have met once before, at the entrance of Liuguang. Do you remember me?”

The man possessed the natural aura of someone in power. He was handsome and had a unique presence; once seen, he was not easily forgotten. Mu Yan instinctively searched his memory for the man’s face.

They had met.

At that time, Mu Yan’s brother was overwhelmed because of the gambling debts Lin Guojun had incurred. To secure a major contract, the brother had gone to Liuguang to drink with clients.

Liuguang was a high-end club, and its inner workings were far beyond what people like them could handle. Mu Yan’s Omega brother had offended a guest for some reason. The brother’s husband called Mu Yan, saying he was going to find him and asking Mu Yan to watch their niece. Lin Guojun, the biological father and the root of the trouble, had also tagged along.

Worried, Mu Yan left his niece with a close colleague and followed them to Liuguang. However, a place as exclusive as Liuguang operated on a membership system. Without a membership card, they could not even get through the front door.

The brother’s husband, a Beta who had been honest and simple his whole life, clumsily offered a cigarette to a security guard, hoping for some leniency. The guard did not take the cigarette. Instead, several guards looked on with expressions of surprise and suppressed laughter.

The three helpless Betas stood at the entrance, likely moments away from being forcibly removed. Passersby cast glances at them. While no one spoke a word, the mockery in their eyes was unmistakable.

Shang Qiyue appeared then.

He seemed to be out for fresh air, holding a cigar. He let it burn nearly to the end without puffing it, standing at a distance and watching the farce with detached interest. It was only when a guard’s hand gripped Mu Yan’s shoulder that he stepped forward.

A clump of cigar ash fell onto the guard’s arm. The guard holding Mu Yan immediately let go. “Mr. Shang.”

“They do not look like troublemakers. What are you doing at Liuguang?” He turned to Mu Yan, his expression neutral.

Perhaps his initial intent was merely to find some amusement, but after asking for the room number where Mu Yan’s brother was located, he actually brought the man out within minutes.

The brother’s clothes were disheveled and his eyes were full of terror. Even after walking out of Liuguang, he could not stop shaking. His husband wrapped a coat around him while Mu Yan thanked Shang Qiyue repeatedly.

“Thank you so much for bringing my brother out. I remember you, sir.” Mu Yan had not expected it to be him; for a moment, he was at a loss for words.

Shang Qiyue bypassed the gratitude entirely. “I have a pheromone disorder. I cannot stand the scent of ordinary Omegas. Your scent is pleasant, so I remembered it.”

“Your father,” Shang Qiyue paused briefly, “if we can call him that, or your nominal father, seemed to have memorized my license plate then. Later, he blocked my car and asked if I was interested in you. I suppose I looked at you a few times back then, though I did not pay much attention to it myself.”

Shang Qiyue spoke as if this were perfectly natural. For a man like him, having his preferences guessed by others was a common occurrence; he felt neither like nor dislike toward the situation.

“Clearly, he did not discuss this with you beforehand. Since this has happened, I am also at fault. You truly suit my tastes, Mu Yan. Stay with me. I will resolve your family matters. If you are willing, we can sign an agreement when my assistant arrives shortly.”

Mu Yan instinctively wanted to ask what kind of agreement he meant. Such things were so far removed from the life of an ordinary university graduate that he could not immediately process the implication.

Shang Qiyue remained silent, looking at Mu Yan and waiting for him to understand.

A light knock sounded at the door. The sound made Mu Yan realize his current disheveled state. Shang Qiyue smiled and said it was likely the person delivering clothes, as yesterday’s clothes were no longer wearable.

He closed the bathroom door. Mu Yan heard him walk to the entrance, open the door, and politely thank the person outside. When Shang Qiyue opened the bathroom door again, he had changed out of his white hotel robe. His new clothes were well-fitted and elegant, making Mu Yan feel even more pathetic.

A paper bag was held out to Mu Yan. “See if these fit. If not, I will have my assistant buy more.”

Shang Qiyue had no intention of watching him change; he closed the door and stepped out. Mu Yan did not recognize the logo on the bag, but he knew these clothes were far beyond his means. He wanted to call Shang Qiyue back and tell him he could not afford such expensive clothes, nor could he agree to the deal.

But could he really walk out wearing nothing? What would Shang Qiyue think of him?

Mu Yan looked at the bruises and red marks on his body. He could not face the impeccably dressed Shang Qiyue like this. Ultimately, he put on the clothes the assistant had purchased.

“You are actually quite handsome. You just do not like to dress up, do you?” Shang Qiyue complimented him without hesitation as he emerged from the bathroom. “You could trim your hair a bit. Your eyes are beautiful; it is a shame to hide them.”

Hearing such praise, Mu Yan instinctively lowered his head. “I did not grow it long on purpose. Work has been busy, and I have not had time to get a haircut.”

He was not used to people noticing his appearance. He was a Beta; words like “beautiful” were usually reserved for Omegas. Even Lu Chong had never used that word to describe him.

Mu Yan was startled by his own thought. How could he compare Shang Qiyue to Lu Chong? Lu Chong was his boyfriend, while Shang Qiyue was a stranger he had met through his father’s greed. The night before, when the man had pressed down on him, he had practically been a criminal in Mu Yan’s eyes.

“Thank you for the clothes,” Mu Yan spoke awkwardly, trying to mask his strange thoughts. “I have no money to pay you back, and I cannot give you a gift in return. Regarding the agreement you mentioned, I will not consider it. If you have already given money to my father, I have no way to get it back for you.”

Shang Qiyue seemed to have anticipated the rejection. His expression remained calm.

“I would not ask for it back; it was just a small tip. Why are you unwilling to consider it? You have not even asked about the terms I can offer.”

Mu Yan shook his head. “It is not a matter of terms.”

It was not about the conditions. Some doors, once opened, could never be closed. He had a boyfriend. He wanted to live an honest, upright life and marry Lu Chong.

As for Lin Guojun’s debts, he never intended to pay them all. He only wanted to gather enough to stop the collectors from harrassing his brother’s family. His brother was moving soon, and Mu Yan had promised to delete all of his father’s contact information.

“Money can be discussed,” Shang Qiyue interrupted. “I can find a housekeeper to watch over that old man at your home, providing food and clothing while ensuring he does not gamble. Your brother is in sales, but it is clear he is not suited for it. I can find him a more stable, respectable, and less exhausting job. You have your own job; I can work around your schedule. Once a week is enough. I will send someone to pick you up.”

There was also a very objective factor. Shang Qiyue considered himself good-looking. If he had to pay extra for “mental distress” due to his appearance, most male models in H-City might as well pack up and leave.

Countless Omegas had tried to climb into his bed without wanting money, just to be his partner. But because of his gland issue, he could not accept Omegas. He was also incredibly picky; no one had ever succeeded. An Alpha born into such privilege was practically humble just for not being a narcissist.

“It is not about the terms. I know you are generous and capable of solving my problems. But I still do not want to do such a thing. I…”

Mu Yan’s voice trailed off. In a world that often mocks the poor rather than the immoral, it felt almost ridiculous to talk about principles and wanting a clean life, especially after having already slept with the man.

“You do not like being kept?” Shang Qiyue smiled with understanding. “Why feel embarrassed to say so? Having principles is a good thing. I do not have a lover, and I do not like messy relationships. Why not just consider us as dating? Is it unusual to help a boyfriend with small troubles or give him an allowance?”

Shang Qiyue spoke beautifully and gently. Status, pride, money; he was willing to give it all. He looked nothing like the stereotypical “sugar daddy.” Even if Mu Yan introduced him to his brother or stepmother as a boyfriend, they would not suspect a thing.

“I have a boyfriend, Mr. Shang. Thank you, but I am truly sorry.”

At that moment, a message arrived. Mu Yan’s phone on the cabinet lit up. Shang Qiyue glanced over. The lock screen wallpaper was a photo of Mu Yan and an Alpha. Mu Yan was leaning toward the man, smiling tenderly and shyly, looking completely different from the timid person standing here.

“Boyfriend?” he asked.

In the photo, Lu Chong did not look as green as Mu Yan. He stared calmly at the camera. Now, it felt as if he were staring directly at Shang Qiyue and Mu Yan.

For no reason, Mu Yan’s heart jolted. He instinctively avoided Lu Chong’s gaze on the screen. He turned off the phone and nodded to Shang Qiyue.

Shang Qiyue smiled. The smile did not reach his eyes; his lips simply curved slightly. It was a smile that seemed to contain no meaning. Mu Yan could detect no comfort or attempt to lighten the atmosphere in it.

“I have no interest in being a third party.”

Shang Qiyue walked to the bed, took a business card from his bag on the nightstand, and handed it to Mu Yan.

“However, if you regret your decision, you can call the number on this.”

Mu Yan wanted to wave it away, but it was just a business card; there was no reason he had to refuse it so adamantly. Would a man of Shang Qiyue’s status really continue to harass him just because he accepted a card?

Shang Qiyue watched him take the card and hurry out of the room like a startled rabbit. He found it somewhat cute. His assistant was waiting downstairs and could have driven Mu Yan home.

While he had never kept anyone before, letting a “canary” go home on their own after a night together was likely something his wealthy friends would mock him for. But Mu Yan was clearly terrified and on guard; he certainly would not have agreed to a ride.

It did not matter. He would come back.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

“Sister Lu Zhi, it has been a long time.”

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