The Honest Man Was Targeted by His Ex-Boyfriend's Alpha Brother - Chapter 3

In this desolate, godforsaken place, no one would have heard Chen Wang even if he had cried, had he not encountered Hua Yunlian.

“Hey.”

Sensing that the man did not realize who he was, Hua Yunlian felt a sudden surge of displeasure. He intended to pull him out of his embrace, but unexpectedly, his chest felt heavy. The weight made his heart skip a beat.

The money-grubbing liar had fainted.

Hua Yunlian stepped back irritably, but the unconscious Chen Wang only pressed against him more firmly. In the freezing night air, their sweltering body temperatures melded together.

The footsteps of the thugs grew closer. Through the darkness came malicious curses and the harsh, piercing sound of steel pipes dragging across the ground. The tall man clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“What a hassle.”

He hooked a single hand around Chen Wang’s thin waist and stuffed him into the passenger seat without a shred of tenderness.

A thug with dreadlocks rushed to the front, eyeing the luxury car that looked completely out of place. His expression held more malice than envy. “Hey kid, do not mind other people’s business. Hand over Doctor Chen!”

After all, they could never afford a luxury car, but they could certainly have their way with a stubborn, handsome, and upright-looking Beta like Chen Wang.

Hua Yunlian leaned against the car with predatory ease. “Oh? And who are you to him?”

“Creditors!” someone shouted loudly. “We contact him every month. You are just a stranger with no connection to him, so stay out of it and get lost!”

A specific word must have soured the young master’s mood. He tilted his neck, and his sharp, chiseled profile instantly darkened with an ominous aura. The scent of the low-grade Alphas’ pheromones made him even more irritable.

“That is truly unfortunate.”

Under the biting, deep blue night sky, the eager thugs did not even have a chance to strike before they witnessed a sight they would never forget. The tall, lean silhouette of the man seemed human one moment and a massive, hideous monster the next, appearing several times larger than a person.

“What is that thing?”

“Second Brother, did you see that kid clearly?” someone stammered, their voice thick with horror. “Is he a human or a monster?”

“This is the Federation Era. There are only humans. How could there be monsters?”

In this world of six genders, many people could trace their origins back to different animals through evolution. However, humans remained humans. It was considered impossible to break biological barriers and experience an atavism where one was simultaneously human and animal. If such a thing existed, it was no different from seeing a ghost.

The air became thick with an absurd terror, awakening the most primal, genetic fears deep within their hearts. The man’s golden pupils reflected a chilling light in the darkness, resembling a bloodthirsty beast.

“I am also his creditor.”

Before his overflowing pheromones had even fully manifested, the thugs began to feel a violent sensation of suffocation and chest tightness. Several of them fell to their knees as blood leaked from their noses and mouths.

Exactly what level of Alpha was this man? If they stayed any longer, their ribs would surely snap. The group abandoned their thoughts of revenge and fled in disgrace while they still had their lives.

Finally, it was quiet.

Hua Yunlian’s expression was cold and indifferent. The leopard ears among his hair flickered, and his thick leopard tail struck the ground like a steel whip, kicking up clouds of dust. He turned and opened the car door.

The unconscious Chen Wang looked frail and fragile, lying limply in the leather seat. For once, he was not annoying him with that stubborn, bull-headed energy. Hua Yunlian did not know how the man got into so much trouble, nor did he know why he had inexplicably helped him.

He stared down at him for a moment. The tip of his tail curled over, and with a bit of malicious force, he poked the bruises on the corner of Chen Wang’s mouth.

“Brother, does it hurt?” he asked wickedly.

There was no response. Hua Yunlian narrowed his eyes. Even if he was unconscious, why did he not respond? He reached out with his long arms, scooped the man from the seat, and held him under the moonlight with a look of utter indifference.

“Then you can just fend for yourself here, Brother.”

The Dream of the Past

Chen Wang had a very vivid dream.

During high school, due to his excellent grades, he was admitted to a prestigious noble high school in Central City as a specially recruited student. In the vast and bustling city, the heart of the teenage boy was empty and aimless, with nowhere to belong.

He was like a grain of sand that had mistakenly entered a jewelry box: shabby, hard, and intentionally cold to others to protect himself. Only when the grades were posted and he saw himself firmly at the top of the list did his sensitive, adolescent self feel a sliver of comfort.

The person in second place was always Hua Jingchen. He was wealthy, gentle, and possessed the perfect background and personality that Chen Wang had only imagined in dreams. He would always appear when the wealthy students bullied Chen Wang, acting like an umbrella that shielded him from the wind and rain.

Chen Wang had nothing to give in return, so he often tutored him. Over time, the two became friends. During their senior year, Hua Jingchen invited Chen Wang to his home to study. Sitting in such a luxurious, clean house for the first time felt like a hallucination that made him restless.

It was then that he caught sight of a pale little face through a crack in a door. It was a beautiful yet gloomy boy.

“Who is that?” Chen Wang asked curiously.

Hua Jingchen’s attitude cooled slightly. “My younger brother. He is my half-brother and has a strange personality. Do not talk to him. I am afraid he will scare you.”

Sometimes the child would stare gloomily at him through the crack, and sometimes he would be gone. Eventually, Chen Wang began to look at the door nervously and frequently.

As his relationship with Hua Jingchen grew closer, they had more opportunities to study together when no one else was home. Perhaps Hua Jingchen had feelings for him even then. He would often create physical contact, holding Chen Wang’s hand while explaining problems or ruffling his black hair when praising him. Later, he even tried to kiss him.

However, Chen Wang was oblivious. His attention had long been stolen by those peeping amber eyes. If he did not see them, he felt uneasy. He joked with Hua Jingchen, saying, “Do you take me for an Omega? I am a Beta.”

Hua Jingchen looked disappointed.

Taking advantage of a bathroom break, Chen Wang snuck into the back garden. He did not realize that what he was about to face might be the curse from Pandora’s box. He thought it was just a lonely child who lacked love, and he wanted to see him.

The garden was filled with a sea of red Damascus roses. Under a European-style vine swing, a youth with light chestnut hair sat with his knees pulled to his chest, staring blankly. He only showed a deeply contoured profile.

Chen Wang’s breath hitched. It was the first time he had seen such a handsome, exotic face. He was truly stunning. Furthermore, he had not expected the child to be so mature. Looking at his silhouette, they could not be more than a few years apart in age. That should make him easier to get along with.

“Hello,” the young Chen Wang said as he approached and sat on the swing. “What is your name?”

The eyes, as clear as citrine, turned toward him without a word. Chen Wang paused for a moment. “I heard you are Jingchen’s younger brother. I am the same age as him. If you do not mind, you can call me Brother.”

The boy remained silent. His hollow, confused gaze was unsettling. Chen Wang felt as though he were facing an animal. Not only was there a language barrier, but there was also a species gap.

“Alright then, I am leaving.” He smiled helplessly and stood up, only for his wrist to be bitten suddenly.

His wrist was held in the boy’s mouth like prey caught by a beast. A sudden wave of warm moisture hit his skin, and Chen Wang broke into a cold sweat. “What are you doing?”

The angelic, clear eyes became more cruel the clearer they were, because he understood nothing.

“Let go of me! I want to go!” Chen Wang was terrified, shaking his hand and struggling forcefully. “Do you hear me? I want to leave!”

For the first few seconds, it did not hurt much. It was only disgusting. But then, a sharp pain shot through his wrist. He had been bitten until he bled. The stunningly beautiful youth still stubbornly held his hand in his teeth. Provoked by Chen Wang’s struggle, a strange, low growl vibrated in his throat. He stared at the crying Chen Wang like a vengeful demon.

“Why are you doing this to me? Let me go!”

The Hospital Confrontation

Chen Wang woke up drenched in sweat. He snapped his eyes open and looked directly into those same amber eyes from his dream. His face turned even paler, and he instinctively recoiled.

Hua Yunlian sat by the bed with a fake smile. “Did you see a ghost?”

The smell of disinfectant filled his nose. He realized belatedly that he was in the hospital and his wounds had been bandaged. His hand resting on the edge of the bed was thin, and there was a faint scar on his wrist that looked like a crescent moon tattoo.

Chen Wang tried to touch his face, but he hissed in pain as he hit a bruise. “Thank you for bringing me to the hospital.”

Hua Yunlian crossed his arms and sneered. “Of course. You are worth more to me alive than dead. Your twenty-four hours are up.”

The man took a peeled apple from his female secretary. Instead of giving it to Chen Wang, he began to eat it himself. “Tell me your proposal.”

Chen Wang’s lips were cracked and dry. He stammered but did not forget to keep his voice low. “I have done some research in the field of gland genetics. I can perform a surgery on your fiancée to remove a temporary mark.”

“Pffft!”

Hua Yunlian froze before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. He tossed the apple aside. Though he was smiling, his expression was full of sarcasm. “Are you saying you want to perform a third-rate black market surgery on the only daughter of the Qiao Group? Do you think what I care about is her chastity?”

At the mention of the Qiao Group, Chen Wang’s mind went blank. His throat tightened. Hua Yunlian narrowed his eyes, every word sounding as though it were being crushed between his teeth. “Brother Chen Wang, you are quite bold.”

“It is not what you think!” Chen Wang was still weak. His anxiety caused a lack of oxygen to his brain as he tried to explain. “Those third-rate surgeries are advertised by scammers who do not actually know how to perform them, but I—”

The secretary handed over a paper contract, cutting him off.

“A pair of useless parents and a trashy, low-level younger sister,” Hua Yunlian said disdainfully. “Your family is truly worthless. Especially you, Brother. You are the most useless of all. You cannot even seduce an Alpha.”

The man carried a faint scent of Damascus rose pheromones mixed with cologne. What should have been a warm scent felt cold and terrifying to Chen Wang.

Chen Wang took the contract, his fingertips instantly losing all warmth as a thousand possibilities flashed through his mind. Were they going to cut out his sister’s glands? Remove his organs? Or were they buying the lives of his entire family?

Hua Yunlian’s deep voice rang out above him, sounding as though he held absolute power over his life. “Sign this. I will be your sole creditor.”

Chen Wang’s pupils trembled. As intelligent as he was, he had to read the clause several times before he could understand it. “Underground lover?”

Hua Yunlian sneered. “Do you think debt is that easy to repay? With compound interest, you would not finish paying it off in two lifetimes. You should pay the price for your vanity and materialism.”

Chen Wang looked up, his handsome face cold and rational. “I will not sign it.”

“What?”

“I will not sign it.”

Hua Yunlian took a deep breath and held it, his posture relaxed yet searching. “Brother, are you pretending to be innocent? You are aging, and you cannot be marked. Does it matter who plays with you? Lowly Beta,” the man’s pressure intensified as he gritted his teeth, “do not think too highly of yourself.”

Chen Wang was furious. He had not expected Hua Yunlian to humiliate him in such a way. As the man said, he was just a Beta with no particular beauty and should have no attraction for an Alpha. This was purely an attempt to strip him of his dignity.

Chen Wang had always known Hua Yunlian had a wicked personality. Because he had a younger sister and was a few years older, he had always viewed Hua Yunlian as a younger brother—a spoiled child who relied on his good background. What Hua Yunlian was doing felt like incest.

“Young Master Hua, after all these years, you are still just as perverse and willful,” Chen Wang said, staring directly at him. His bloodshot eyes were filled with the indignation of being insulted and a sense of pity. “You are not even half the man your brother is.”

Hua Yunlian’s expression went blank. The hospital room fell into a brief, suffocating silence. Even the secretary realized something was wrong and whispered, “Mr. Chen, you…”

Hua Yunlian suddenly lunged forward and practically lifted him up. His large hand gripped Chen Wang’s scarred wrist so hard that the veins on his own hand bulged. As the blood flow was constricted, Chen Wang frowned in pain but refused to make a sound.

The Alpha’s handsome face was full of uncontrollable ruthlessness. “Chen Wang, do you miss Hua Jingchen’s body that much? He looks like he suffers from impotence, yet he can satisfy you?”

Hua Yunlian curled his lips and smiled slowly, looking utterly unrepentant. “Brother, you are truly a slut.”

Before the words had even finished hanging in the air, Chen Wang threw a heavy punch that landed squarely on the left side of Hua Yunlian’s face.