The "Honest" Beta Deceived Day and Night by a Twisted Obsessive - Chapter 28

The pattern Xie Yun bit into his collarbone formed the shape of an “eye.”

The following morning, as Xie Yun headed downstairs, he caught the faint sound of a conversation drifting from the kitchen. The speaker’s voice was hushed, as if trying to avoid being overheard. As the person on the other end spoke, the voice in the kitchen quickened, taking on a tone that bordered on a plea.

Xie Yun paused, glancing toward the kitchen. He usually knew everything regarding Duan Huaijing; he didn’t need to eavesdrop to stay informed. Just as he was about to turn away, he heard Duan Huaijing snap firmly into the phone, “I have no money.”

Xie Yun’s eyes flickered with a hint of surprise.

In the eyes of others, Duan Huaijing was a pushover, someone without a shred of his own will. Even when he was dissatisfied with his mother’s constant demands for money and effort, he never voiced his resentment openly. Today, something was different.

Suddenly losing his desire to leave, Xie Yun leaned against the wall, settling in to watch how Duan Huaijing would handle the situation.

Duan Huaijing was unaware of his audience, but he knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn’t stupid. He was fully aware that his mother had spent years using him to pave the way for his younger brother. To say he felt no resentment would be a lie.

In the past, he had stayed silent because he knew his voice carried no weight; his opinions were never solicited, and his feelings were never valued. Furthermore, he had needed the family’s influence. While the Duans couldn’t compare to the Xies, they weren’t nobodies. He had relied on that status to maintain his engagement to Xie Ming and gain entry into social circles far above his own station. Every link in that chain had been essential.

His family offered no support—in fact, they were more likely to stab him in the back—but until he reached the final stage of his plan, he couldn’t afford a total fallout. His mother needed his status as “Xie Ming’s fiancé” to secure funds and opportunities for his brother. Likewise, he needed the family name to stay by Xie Ming’s side. If he burnt those bridges before his escape route was ready, he would find himself in a precarious position.

But now, he had a way out.

He had saved enough money to support himself and his grandmother after he faked his own death and disappeared. If he gave in this time, his mother would only demand more. If he could give today, why not tomorrow? It was a never-ending cycle. Since he intended to leave anyway, he no longer cared about maintaining these ties. Every penny given to her now felt like throwing money into a void.

He knew his mother would lash out if he refused, but the confrontation was inevitable. Better to say “I have no money, and I’m not giving you any” now than later.

The line went silent for a few seconds, his mother seemingly stunned by his bluntness. In that silence, Duan Huaijing felt not a single shred of regret.

“So, your wings have grown strong, have they?” Mother Duan’s voice suddenly shrieked, her tone shifting into that of a common scold. “What are you trying to do? Are you rebelling against me? Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to raise you? And you won’t even give me this pittance?”

Duan Huaijing gripped the phone, feeling as though he had split into two people: one who quietly endured his mother’s vitriol, and another who hovered outside himself. These two souls formed a protective shield around his body, letting the noise bounce harmlessly off the surface.

As his mother began her next sentence, Duan Huaijing hovered his finger over the screen and muted the speaker. The world went blissfully quiet.

Knowing her habits, he waited a few minutes before unmuting. She was still ranting, though her voice lacked the fiery venom it had moments ago. She was clearly tiring herself out.

Duan Huaijing stared down at his toes, remaining silent. Finally, his mother blurted out, “When are you and Xie Ming getting married?”

Duan Huaijing looked up, startled by the abrupt shift in topic. “Hmm?” he murmured, falling back on his habit of playing dumb.

He kept his head down, exposing the delicate line of his neck, unaware that someone was drawing closer. A new, larger shadow eclipsed his own, erasing it completely. When he finally sensed something was wrong and looked up, he was met with the sight of long legs clad in tailored suit trousers. The man stood with a disciplined, formal posture that brought to mind a stern academic.

Before his brain could register who it was, his heart skipped a beat. He looked up, but the man was so tall he blocked out the light, leaving his features in shadow. As Duan Huaijing stared, the man looked back, a few stray hairs falling over his forehead, lending him an air of casual lethargy.

It was Xie Yun.

On the other end of the line, his mother continued to curse. She sounded nothing like the refined socialite she pretended to be in public. Little did she know that the very man she most wanted to curry favour with was standing right there, hearing every word. Duan Huaijing didn’t bother to warn her.

Her words were foul, filled with personal attacks that would have stung anyone else. But Duan Huaijing was used to it; he didn’t even flinch. At that moment, his entire focus was on the man who had stepped out of the shadows to reclaim his lonely silhouette.

“Big…” Duan Huaijing began, either out of habit or a slow-burning politeness.

“I’m talking to you! Have you gone mute?” his mother interrupted. “Why can’t you show some backbone? Plenty of people are desperate to marry into a family like the Xies. You have the status, why haven’t you made a move to seal the deal? Get married and get that certificate; that’s all that matters!”

Xie Yun’s brow furrowed slightly.

Duan Huaijing bit his lip, his greeting cut short. He noticed Xie Yun’s frown and felt a wave of embarrassment. He couldn’t blame him, Xie Yun was currently witnessing a masterclass in manipulation: a calculating brother-in-law-to-be and a mother-in-law with nothing but ill intentions.

Duan Huaijing picked at his phone case, wishing he could just hang up. Xie Yun had been kind enough to let him stay, only for his mother to start plotting his forced marriage the very next second. It was enough to make anyone’s conscience ache.

Just as he was about to say something to diffuse the tension, an arm reached across his field of vision. Duan Huaijing looked up and met Xie Yun’s gaze. Xie Yun’s eyes were dark, swirling with an unreadable, heavy emotion that felt like it could swallow him whole.

In the next motion, Xie Yun took the source of the “firepower” from his hand. Mother Duan was still lecturing, attempting to awaken Duan Huaijing’s sense of duty.

“Auntie,” Xie Yun said, his voice calm and steady.

The voice on the other end sputtered and died out. Her attitude did an immediate U-turn. “Oh! Xiao Yun!”

Xie Yun turned his head, his gaze locked onto Duan Huaijing, who was staring back at him. He addressed the phone: “He won’t be marrying Xie Ming.”

Mother Duan, still caught up in her excitement, babbled, “Auntie isn’t usually so temperamental, it’s just a mother’s frustration when her son fails to meet expectations. Eh? What?”

She wondered if she had misheard. Duan Huaijing looked at him, equally bewildered.

Xie Yun’s eyes shifted as he considered his next words. His gaze was like that of a wolf that had brought its prey back to the den, hesitant to eat, yet unwilling to let go while the prey remained blissfully unaware, thinking it had found a sanctuary.

Xie Yun’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked away and, without giving Mother Duan a chance to respond, hung up the phone.

As the call ended, the spell seemed to break. Duan Huaijing replayed Xie Yun’s words in his head, and his blood began to boil with a mixture of hope and anxiety. Ignoring everything else, he jogged after Xie Yun as the older man left the kitchen.

“Yes?” Xie Yun stopped and turned to ask.

Duan Huaijing had a thousand questions, but they vanished the moment he met those eyes. He looked aside, stammering, “Big Brother. what did you mean by what you just said?”

Xie Yun looked at him deeply, but before he could answer, a door opened behind them.

Xie Ming stumbled out, shoes dragging and hair a mess. He had clearly just woken up and come to investigate the noise. “Can you keep it down? Some of us are trying to sleep.”

Duan Huaijing remained where he was, standing close to Xie Yun. He glanced up at the sound. Xie Ming was prepared to continue his rant, but the sight of Xie Yun standing there instantly snapped him out of his grogginess. He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms, his sleepy expression replaced by a chilling solemnity.

The air grew heavy. For a few seconds, no one spoke.

Then, Xie Ming looked away with a short, cold laugh. When he turned back, a sharp, icy smile was fixed on his lips. He jerked his chin toward Duan Huaijing. “You. Come here.”

Duan Huaijing froze. Me?

He didn’t move immediately; instead, he instinctively checked Xie Yun’s reaction. Xie Yun’s face was a mask of composure, yet Duan Huaijing sensed an underlying tension.

“I told you to come here. Why are you looking at my brother?” Xie Ming’s tone turned dangerous.

Knowing he had to appease Xie Ming’s temper, Duan Huaijing lowered his gaze and prepared to take a step forward.

“Don’t you want to know why I said that?” Xie Yun spoke up. He was facing away from Xie Ming, his eyes never leaving Duan Huaijing. As Duan Huaijing moved, Xie Yun adjusted his stance to follow him. He ignored his brother entirely, though Xie Ming was clearly visible in his peripheral vision.

Duan Huaijing was caught in the middle.

“I said” Xie Yun began, but Xie Ming raised his voice, drowning out the end of the sentence.

“If you want me to deal with your mother, get over here now. Don’t make me say it a third time,” Xie Ming barked, his anger palpable.

Duan Huaijing bit his lip. To an outsider, he looked his usual timid self, but his mind was racing, weighing his options. His mother was relentless; if Xie Ming was willing to handle her, it would be far easier than trying to decipher Xie Yun’s cryptic motives.

He gave Xie Yun a polite nod and moved to pass him. The fabric of his sleeve brushed against Xie Yun’s hand as he walked away. Xie Yun’s gaze swept over him, but he said nothing.

Duan Huaijing walked toward Xie Ming, leaving Xie Yun behind. Suddenly, the back of his neck felt cold. A voice in his head screamed: Turn back! Don’t go!

He ignored it, Dismissing the feeling as mere hesitation. He squeezed his fingers to steady his nerves and reached Xie Ming’s side. Because he was looking forward, he didn’t see Xie Yun’s gaze following him, settling like a dark weight on Xie Ming’s doorway.

Xie Yun’s eyes were like deep, still pools, hiding a violent storm beneath the surface. There was a morbid, obsessive devotion in the way he stared as if the water was only rippling because of Duan Huaijing’s presence, coupled with a suffocating need for control. He looked like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, torn between the urge to drag his prey home and the desire to punish it for being so disobedient.

The wind stirred the curtains, casting shifting shadows across his face.

The moment Duan Huaijing stepped into Xie Ming’s room, he was slammed against the wall. The back of his head throbbed so sharply he couldn’t even manage a protest. Tears pricked his eyes.

“It hurts.”

Xie Ming didn’t let go. Instead, he maintained his grip, leaning in close to scrutinize Duan Huaijing’s face. There was no denying that Duan Huaijing was beautiful, possessing an androgynous grace. Even with tears in his eyes and his usual melancholic air, he didn’t look pathetic; he looked like someone people wanted to unravel and protect.

Xie Ming seemed to lose himself for a moment before snapping back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Is this the look you used to seduce my brother?”

What on earth is he talking about?

Duan Huaijing didn’t understand. Sensing the grip on him loosen, he took the opportunity to gasp for air, feeling his strength return. Xie Ming released him fully, looking down with hooded eyes.

Duan Huaijing looked like a fish out of water lips parted, eyes glazed, sliding down the wall as his legs gave way. In the struggle, his collar had shifted, revealing his collarbone and the pale, jade-like skin of his neck.

“Tsk.” Xie Ming clicked his tongue, his eyes lingering on the sight. Showing it off on purpose, are we? Still pretending to be innocent.

Xie Ming was the type to act on every impulse. He lunged forward, and before Duan Huaijing could react, he bit down hard on the side of his neck.

The sensation was surprisingly pleasant to him, and he began to suck at the skin instinctively. Duan Huaijing pushed him away in pain, but Xie Ming was determined to have his way. In the scuffle, Duan Huaijing’s shirt was torn.

Xie Ming stepped back, looking satisfied, as if he’d just had a hit of something addictive. He admired his handiwork: a dark, prominent hickey on Duan Huaijing’s neck.

Duan Huaijing felt a surge of murderous intent. Firstly, he loathed Xie Ming; anything the man did felt repulsive. Secondly, the “Eye” might come for him at any moment. Given that person’s temperament.  if they saw this mark, he was dead.

Yet Xie Ming remained oblivious, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Isn’t this what you wanted?” he said hoarsely. “You know what to tell your mother.”

He acted as if he had done Duan Huaijing a massive favour by marking him. Duan Huaijing clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked. To stop himself from doing something drastic, he closed his eyes and forced his anger down. He realized that while everyone thought being near Xie Ming meant money, the reality was that any money he got wouldn’t even cover the therapy he needed.

He lost track of time. Eventually, Xie Ming had to leave for an appointment and finally let him go. As soon as he stepped out, the fury inside him began to churn. His fringe shadowed his eyes, hiding his dark expression.

As he reached the corner, he felt a gaze on him. He looked up and saw Xie Yun leaning over a desk, signing a contract. But Xie Yun wasn’t looking at the papers; he was looking at…

Duan Huaijing looked down and tried to pull his torn collar back into place, but the fabric was hanging by a thread. The more he tried to fix it, the more obvious the mark became.

“Sir, would you like me to prepare a fresh copy?” an assistant whispered to Xie Yun.

Xie Yun snapped back to reality, noticing that the ink from his pen had bled into a dark blotch where his signature should be. “Replace it,” he said tonelessly. Only those close to him would realize he was in a foul mood.

Duan Huaijing didn’t want to provoke him. He clutched his clothes and tried to slip away, but a voice stopped him.

“Wait.”

Duan Huaijing froze with his back turned. After a moment’s hesitation, he turned around. Xie Yun walked toward him until their shadows merged once more.

Duan Huaijing took a small step back, feeling a wave of humiliation. It was the awkwardness of having his messy secrets exposed to someone he respected. He desperately wanted to hide, but the more he struggled with his clothes, the more frantic and tearful he felt. He lowered his head further, letting a tear fall to the floor so it wouldn’t leave a trail on his face.

Xie Yun’s silence felt like a judgment. Duan Huaijing, feeling sensitive and worn down, assumed the man was laughing at him. He wasn’t in the mood to be anyone’s entertainment today. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Suddenly, a phone was held out in front of him.

Duan Huaijing blinked away a tear to see clearly. It was his own phone.

“I didn’t get a chance to give this back to you,” Xie Yun said, his voice low and soothing. He sounded as though he understood Duan Huaijing’s pain, there was no mockery, only a gentle attempt to smooth over the rough edges of his day.

“Oh.” Duan Huaijing whispered a thank you, his voice so quiet it was barely audible.

“I will handle Xie Ming. Go and rest.” Xie Yun reached out and adjusted Duan Huaijing’s collar, providing him with a modicum of dignity despite the torn fabric. However, the red mark on his neck remained glaringly visible.

Xie Yun paused for a second. Duan Huaijing remained silent, head bowed. As Xie Yun withdrew his hand, a single tear fell from Duan Huaijing’s eyes.

Xie Yun’s eyes flickered. That single tear was like a pebble dropped into a still well—it was light, yet it sent ripples across the surface. The tear traced the curve of Xie Yun’s hand and settled in his palm, marking the lines of his skin.

“Have sweet dreams,” Xie Yun said, curling his fingers closed to hide the tear.

Duan Huaijing nodded and walked back to his room like a ghost. He fell into a deep sleep almost instantly. He only regained a flicker of consciousness when he heard his bedroom door open.

After everything that had happened, his nerves were shot, and the slightest sound was enough to wake him. In Xie Yun’s house, no one entered his room without permission. Who was it?

The footsteps were light, as if trying not to disturb him. Duan Huaijing stayed still, feigning sleep. The intruder’s breathing was rhythmic. Duan Huaijing counted the seconds, three to breathe in, two to breathe out calculating the distance between them.

One step  two.

Could it be the “Eye”?

He didn’t dare move, keeping up the act while his hand crept under the pillow, ready to defend himself if necessary. The person stopped by his bedside. Duan Huaijing’s heart hammered against his ribs. He heard the rustle of fabric as the person knelt down.

What do they want?

He kept his eyes still, feeling exposed and vulnerable. A sudden chill made the hair on his arms stand up. Then, something cold touched his collarbone. He couldn’t help but shiver.

“How eyesore,” the person whispered.

Duan Huaijing’s hand froze under the pillow. Big Brother? Xie Yun? He couldn’t believe it. The world felt surreal.

As his mind raced, his body heat began to warm Xie Yun’s cold fingertips. Xie Yun traced the red mark gently at first, then with increasing pressure, as if trying to rub the colour right out of his skin.

Duan Huaijing had to maintain the facade of sleep while enduring the pain. He was spiralling. Is there anyone in the Xie family who is actually sane?! Is he not afraid I’ll wake up?

The mark refused to fade; instead, under Xie Yun’s friction, it turned an even more vivid, angry red. Xie Yun stared at it. Duan Huaijing didn’t dare make a sound. Why has he stopped? Is he treating my skin like clay? Has he not found a shape he likes yet?

In the next moment, a new sensation took over. Something warm and wet pressed against his collarbone, accompanied by a familiar breath. Duan Huaijing felt sharp teeth sink into his skin. It wasn’t exactly a bite; it felt more like being tattooed a series of sharp, stinging pains that were impossible to ignore.

He felt like he was going insane. And it was all because of the man hovering over him.

After what felt like an eternity, Xie Yun pulled back slightly to admire his work. Duan Huaijing couldn’t see it, but Xie Yun’s fingertip traced every mark he had made. He had used Duan Huaijing’s skin as his canvas and his teeth as the pen, etching a pattern into his mind.

The hickey Xie Ming had left was now surrounded by a ring of tooth marks. The vibrant red against his pale skin was startling.

When Duan Huaijing looked in the mirror tomorrow, he would see it: the hickey formed the pupil, and the teeth marks formed the eyelid. It was a “Red Eye.”

Hidden by his clothes, it would remain unseen, but the moment he undressed, it would look as though an eye lurking within his body had finally opened. Xie Yun had branded him. It was an overt display of possessiveness, as permanent and meaningful as an Alpha marking an Omega.

Duan Huaijing’s heart wouldn’t stop racing. His eyelashes trembled uncontrollably. The Xie Yun he saw today was different from the one he knew and it was terrifying.

Xie Yun looked down, rubbing the mark with his thumb. No one knew what he was thinking.

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