The "Honest" Beta Deceived Day and Night by a Twisted Obsessive - Chapter 24

 My sister-in-law my fiancé? 

In the thick, hazy atmosphere, their illicit connection flourished like a weed in the dark.

In the silent room, every sound was amplified. The rhythmic, wet sounds of their kissing rippled in Duan Huaijing’s ears; one moment it felt miles away, the next it was right against his skin. He didn’t know how long they had been at it. His lips were numb, his tongue tingling and senseless. He felt lightheaded, as if drifting on a small boat in a gentle swell, ready to faint at any moment.

The drug’s effects were receding. The heat that had once surged through his veins was cooling, fading into a dull hum before merging back into his bloodstream, waiting for the next “summons.” With enough pheromones to satiate his body, the physical agony subsided, and reason finally began to claw its way back. His mind told him to stop this madness.

And yet, he didn’t push Xie Yun away. He couldn’t tell if he was addicted to the breathless kiss or if Xie Yun was leading him on or perhaps his own body had developed a sort of muscle memory. The moment they touched, a battle of lips and tongues was inevitable.

Just five more seconds, he told himself. Five more seconds, then I’ll push him away.

Duan Huaijing hid the fact that he was sober. Just as he went to wrap his arms around Xie Yun’s neck to pull him closer, he heard the tentative turn of a door handle outside. He froze, his eyes darting toward the door.

Xie Yun seemed not to hear a thing. He followed Duan Huaijing’s lead, lowering his head to press his lips against the younger man’s with a sudden, prayer-like gentleness. It wasn’t the predatory hunger from before; it felt more like the tender lingering of a long-term couple.

“Are you better?” Xie Yun’s voice was a dark rasp. He looked down, his thumb grazing Duan Huaijing’s glistening lower lip.

Duan Huaijing’s lips were soft and easily yielded under the pressure. They were also bitten raw. Even though Xie Yun was being gentle, the touch made him hiss in pain. The sensation snapped his focus back to the man in front of him. His eyes, misty from the intensity of the kiss, blinked in confusion.

“Are you still in pain?” Xie Yun leaned closer.

At this distance, Duan Huaijing could see every detail of Xie Yun’s eyelids specifically a tiny beauty mark that appeared whenever he looked down.

Duan Huaijing was momentarily dazed by the man’s beauty. He remembered how others described Xie Yun’s eyes: some said they were cold and emotionless; others said they were terrifying, as if they could see right through you.

But seeing him like this, Duan Huaijing had a different perspective. Xie Yun’s eyes were like a thousand-year-old glacier. From the outside, they were impenetrable and forbidding, but once you stepped inside, you realized they contained a hidden world. The cold exterior was just a facade; inside, a fire raged, building a dreamlike castle for one specific person.

The thought that this beauty mark had been so close to him during their intimacy made Duan Huaijing’s throat go dry. He missed his chance to reply as he stared, caught in the spell. Only when Xie Yun’s face loomed larger did he snap out of it.

Embarrassed at being caught staring, his eyes darted around, but that tiny mole seemed to taunt him, flickering in and out of view. He looked away hastily.

Their lips had undergone such “high-intensity training” recently that they seemed to be on autopilot. Without a word or a thought, they tilted their heads, closed their eyes, and found the perfect angle to breathe and intertwine.

This was the first time Duan Huaijing had kissed him while fully conscious. He was acutely aware of how Xie Yun’s tongue swept through his mouth, and even more aware of how instinctively he responded.

It was a mortifying realization. He regretted not telling Xie Yun he was better, yet he was relieved he hadn’t. Given their identities, how could they ever look at each other again? He tried to pull back, but Xie Yun bit his lip not hard, but enough to claim territory, like a dog marking its own.

Duan Huaijing wanted to cry. He knew that for the next week, every time he ate or swallowed, he’d be forced to remember this.

Outside, Xie Ming rattled the locked door repeatedly. Xie Yun ignored him, kissing Duan Huaijing as if the world outside didn’t exist.

Duan Huaijing knew he had to end this. Xie Ming might act carefree, but he was incredibly petty. If he saw his brother with his fiancé, there would be hell to pay. After a few seconds, Duan Huaijing feigned a sudden return to consciousness. He let out a soft groan, pushed Xie Yun away, and looked at him with wide, startled eyes, like a frightened rabbit.

Caught in the heat of the moment, Xie Yun was caught off guard. His gaze hadn’t yet softened; it was still thick with the possessive hunger of a beast.

Duan Huaijing scrambled backward on the bed. “Thank you, Big Brother. I’m… I’m okay now.”

Xie Yun, who had known exactly when the drug wore off, let out an ambiguous, almost frustrated chuckle. He raised his hand. Duan Huaijing flinched, instinctively shielding his head, expecting a blow like the ones he received at home. Instead, a soft handkerchief dabbed at his lips.

“Xie Ming is outside. I’ll go deal with him,” Xie Yun said, his eyes scanning Duan Huaijing’s position.

“Don’t worry, Big Brother,” Duan Huaijing promised. “I’ll stay hidden.”

Xie Ming stood in the hallway, his nose twitching at the scent of cedarwood pheromones. He kept replaying that muffled groan in his head. Was it Duan Huaijing? Or did it just sound like him? He knew his brother wouldn’t like someone as boring as Duan Huaijing, yet he couldn’t bring himself to leave.

Suddenly, the door opened.

A wall of Alpha pheromones hit him like a physical blow. His own pheromones recoiled in rejection, making his chest tight. He immediately tried to sniff for any other scent, but Xie Yun had hidden everything too well. He caught a glimpse of a moving bedsheet before the door was pulled shut.

“Is something the matter?” Xie Yun asked, his voice cold and professional.

Xie Ming coughed to hide his awkwardness. “You said you had a cat, and then you left early saying someone was at home… I was just curious if I had a sister-in-law yet.”

The word “sister-in-law” seemed to please Xie Yun. He replied with a rare hint of a smile, “Not quite yet.”

Xie Ming, a self-proclaimed expert in romance, grinned. “What’s the hold-up?”

Xie Yun’s hand was in his pocket, fingering the handkerchief he’d used on Duan Huaijing. He remembered the way those red lips had looked, glistening and parted. I shouldn’t have used the cloth, he thought. The scent will fade. I need to save it.

“His husband doesn’t agree,” Xie Yun said casually, as if talking about the weather.

Xie Ming’s smile froze on his face.

While they were talking, Duan Huaijing took the opportunity to escape. He left a thank-you note, climbed out the window, and fled the scene. He was too ashamed to face Xie Yun. Now that his head was clear, he wanted to die of embarrassment.

I knew getting involved with the Xies was a bad idea! 

A few days later, Duan Huaijing returned to work and put Xie Yun on “Do Not Disturb.” However, he soon realized his “Peace Knot” charm was missing. After frantic searching, he remembered he had attached it to his phone for safekeeping during his stay at Xie Yun’s house. He must have dropped it during… well, the incident.

The charm was expensive and held sentimental value. He didn’t want to lose it, but he had run away to avoid Xie Yun. He opened his phone and saw a single message from the day he left:

Xie Yun: 

Duan Huaijing could feel the resentment through that single question mark. He felt a pang of guilt anyone would be annoyed if their guest vanished without a word.

He tentatively typed: Hello, Big Brother.

No red exclamation mark. He wasn’t blocked. He sent a photo of the charm and asked if Xie Yun had seen it.

After a few minutes, a photo came back. It was his charm.

Duan Huaijing: That’s very important to me.

Before he could finish, a message popped up: Come and get it yourself.

Duan Huaijing paused. Those words felt hauntingly familiar.

Duan Huaijing: Okay. I’m heading that way tomorrow. Is tomorrow alright?

On the other end, Xie Yun was about to reply when a message from Xie Ming appeared: Big Brother, help! The old lady found out I was racing again and wants to kill me. Can I come stay at your place tomorrow to lie low?

Xie Yun looked at the two messages. They had arrived at the exact same time, as if the universe were mocking him with how well-matched the fiancé and the “husband” were.

A flash of madness crossed Xie Yun’s eyes. He had waited four days for this. He had the charm, and he knew Duan Huaijing wouldn’t stay away.

Xie Yun: Fine. I’ll be waiting.

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