The Honest Man Was Targeted by His Ex-Boyfriend's Alpha Brother - Chapter 6

Intense, offensive, and pleading.
Relentless and maddening.

Hua Yunlian had coldly watched countless people try every trick to get close to him, but this was the first time he had been kissed in such a manner. The Beta before him was twenty-seven years old, yet this kiss was so green and clumsy that it could not even compare to that of a seventeen-year-old.

A glimmer of complex emotion rippled in the depths of Hua Yunlian’s eyes. The flirtatious remarks that usually came so easily to him vanished completely. There was no need for them now.

The moment the brief, superficial contact ended, Chen Wang recoiled a few steps as if he had been electrocuted. He then walked back to the opposite side of the desk. His heart was racing, but he fought to maintain a calm facade. His suit and slicked-back hair remained undisturbed. He bowed and, incredibly, began a formal introduction of his academic background, work history, strengths, and weaknesses. He even provided a thorough analysis of his MBTI profile.

“Good grief,” Hua Yunlian said as he rested his chin on his hand. He sighed, realizing he had never seen anyone so wooden.

Chen Wang was like a block of wood or a shard of ice. If Hua Yunlian was a wide-spraying thermal weapon, Chen Wang was a traditional cold blade: silent, but drawing blood with every strike.

Chen Wang remained focused. Once he finished speaking, he stared at Hua Yunlian without blinking. Hua Yunlian tapped his chin with his fingertip, beat by beat, before suddenly curling his lips like a predatory cat.

“Brother,” he drawled, “that was a great speech. But does what you just did count as seducing the interviewer?”

Faced with this sudden flirtation, Chen Wang’s body stiffened. At a loss, he looked down and pushed up his glasses. “Uh…”

Behind the lenses, his dark eyes looked panicked, and his eyelids flushed a faint red. How would he know? He had never been a kept man before.

Soon, Assistant Lu arrived with a specially retained lawyer to walk Chen Wang through the contract details. Hua Yunlian would be responsible for paying off Chen Wang’s father’s gambling debts in one lump sum. Consequently, he would become Chen Wang’s new creditor. The interest rate was fair and reasonable. Chen Wang would regain his freedom once the debt to Hua Yunlian was cleared.

However, for the duration of the arrangement, Chen Wang would be Hua Yunlian’s underground lover rather than his boyfriend. He was to be at Hua Yunlian’s beck and call, appearing whenever summoned, and was forbidden from resisting.

Even so, for Chen Wang to pay back over a million dollars was a distant dream. Having escaped the den of loan sharks, he had no idea what kind of living hell awaited him at Hua Yunlian’s side.

With faint dark circles under his eyes, Chen Wang listened without objection. He signed the contract and pressed his thumbprint with clinical efficiency. Even if there were unreasonable clauses, he could not afford a lawyer to contest them. The modern deed of sale was complete.

“Thank you, Director Hua.” Chen Wang looked dazed, yet his back remained ramrod straight, retaining a flicker of stubborn pride. “Once I have repaid my debt, I will leave. I will not pester you. Please do not feel burdened.”

Hua Yunlian crossed his long legs, enjoying the view. “Brother, every word you say is so cute. Burdened?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you worried I will fall in love with you?”

Chen Wang’s gaze flickered to the collectibles in the office display case. Each was exquisite, ancient, and priceless. Perhaps that was all he was to Hua Yunlian: a Beta to be placed on a shelf, useless, but desired for a collection.

Chen Wang nodded, then added, “I cannot find my sister. I want to see her. I need to see her standing before me unharmed, Director Hua.”

Now that the contract was signed, he spoke with newfound backbone.

“Oh?” Hua Yunlian mused. Where was he supposed to find a child for him?

Furthermore, Hua Yunlian knew well that Chen Wang and Chen Yuxi had a poor relationship. The day he had thrashed that vodka-scented Alpha at the KTV, Chen Yuxi had repeatedly shouted that it was none of Chen Wang’s business and told him to stay out of her life. Despite her hostility, Chen Wang was still preoccupied with her safety.

“If I had known, I would have signed up to be your sister too,” Hua Yunlian snorted irritably. He pulled out his phone to send a message.

Chen Wang fell silent. He did not particularly want this 190cm-tall man acting like his child.

The Reunion

In a small, empty reception room, Chen Wang took a sip of hot coffee and clutched his aching stomach. Hua Yunlian had disappeared to an unknown location, clearly unwilling to grace him with his presence during the wait.

“Chen Wang, why were you looking for me in such a rush?”

The door was pushed open, and Chen Yuxi walked in reluctantly. Seeing his haggard appearance, she froze. Chen Wang stood up abruptly. The siblings shared a strange sense of having survived a disaster.

It seemed nothing had happened during the day she was missing. Her wounds were neatly bandaged, and her Alpha constitution was rapidly healing her. Chen Wang stood at 183cm, while Chen Yuxi was 185cm. She was sturdier than her brother and in much better spirits.

Chen Wang asked, “Did you go to the hospital? No? Then who bandaged you? You are too lazy to do it yourself, so you certainly did not clean up on your own.”

“Why are you more annoying than Mom?” Chen Yuxi muttered, refusing to explain. She scratched her head irritably. “By the way, you did not tell her, did you?”

“No.” Chen Wang gave her a sharp look. “Get back to school and study. Do not let me catch you skipping class again!”

Chen Yuxi’s temper flared the moment her brother started lecturing. She stood to leave, hesitated, but could not voice any warm words. Looking at her brother—a Beta with a gentle, husbandly vibe, she offered a worried warning.

“Stay away from Hua Yunlian. He is a lunatic. If the mood strikes him, he would probably kiss a dog!”

Chen Wang, who had just kissed the lunatic, remained silent.

In the underground parking lot, the window of a Maybach rolled down to reveal a gentle, exquisite face. Qiao Yuan’s voice was sweet and calm. “Are you relieved now?”

Chen Yuxi grunted and got into the car, her expression flickering. The rising partition blocked the driver’s view. Though the back seat was spacious, it was filled with a faint lily-scented Omega pheromone. At the smell, Chen Yuxi’s breathing deepened, and her vodka pheromones began to leak out uncontrollably.

“You siblings clearly care for each other; why always use such harsh words?”

“That is none of your business, Miss Qiao.” Chen Yuxi frowned and looked out the window. “Since you have explained things to Hua Yunlian, please just make sure my brother stays alive. I feel like Hua Yunlian’s interest in him is… concerning.”

Qiao Yuan smiled. “Very well.” Keeping him alive was doable. Anything else, she could not guarantee.

Before the car could start, they saw Hua Yunlian in a nearby parking spot. He was lazily draping an arm around a pretentious Omega wearing sunglasses. It appeared the Omega was a person of status.

Chen Yuxi sat bolt upright, angry. “Is that not your future husband?”

“Oh.” Qiao Yuan calmly applied hand cream. “I see him.”

Watching the unfaithful Alpha and the Omega drive off, Chen Yuxi’s eyes widened. “Unbelievable!” She turned to look at Qiao Yuan. This soft-spoken, delicate Omega seemed far too gentle to handle a rival like that. “Are you not angry?”

“It is a business marriage. What can I do?”

On the day of Qiao Yuan’s heat, she had been without her suppressors. About to lose control in public, she had stumbled into Chen Yuxi’s arms for help. Chen Yuxi, the helpful college student, had given the lady a temporary mark. That act had resulted in both siblings being targeted over the past few days.

“Now, things should be resolved, right?”

On the way back to school, Chen Yuxi kept thinking about Hua Yunlian’s arrogant attitude and began to wonder if she had made a mistake. Was it her fault her brother was now entangled with him? Was it her fault Qiao Yuan was being neglected? She felt incredibly guilty.

After a long internal struggle, Chen Yuxi stood in the wind as she got out of the car. “Um, Sister Qiao Yuan, do not give up on yourself, and do not take it to heart. That temporary mark was nothing. If Hua Yunlian looks down on you for it, he is simply a scumbag.”

Qiao Yuan looked at her in surprise, then blinked and laughed softly. “I know. I do not mind.” She stared at her. “The experience was actually quite good.”

Chen Yuxi’s heart skipped a beat. As the black Maybach drove away, she touched her burning face, only to realize her nose was bleeding. “Damn it!”

Chen Wang returned to his small hostel in the dark. He only dared to turn on the light after drawing the curtains tight. He locked the door and propped a chair against it, hanging a coat hanger and a water bottle on the handle as a makeshift alarm. Fortunately, the debt collectors had not found this place.

He showered and meticulously organized his clothes. With his cleanliness and obsessive-compulsive tendencies, he smoothed out every wrinkle and folded everything neatly. If he had not become a doctor, he would have made an excellent professional organizer. He was a person who cherished things and valued long-term stability.

Reality, however, had given him little chance for peace. Debt, physical abuse, hiding, and now this arrangement weighed heavily on him. He collapsed onto the bed, his body feeling heavy. He could not believe how much had happened recently. His money was running out; he had forgotten to ask Hua Yunlian for a place to stay.

Thinking of the kiss, Chen Wang’s face heated up. He had never asked anyone for anything, not even his parents. He had been independent for too long, so intimacy felt alien to him. Still, was he not technically an employee of a special department for Hua Yunlian now? Asking for a small apartment should not be too much.

Chen Wang drifted into a heavy sleep. In his dreams, Hua Yunlian was not satisfied with a kiss on the cheek. He grabbed Chen Wang’s wrist, pressed against his lips, and forced his way in. It was more terrifying than a horror movie.

The next day, Chen Wang’s dark circles were even more pronounced. After a quick breakfast at the hospital cafeteria, he began a grueling shift. Saturday was busier than he expected. He spent the entire day in the operating room without even a sip of water.

Leaving the hospital, Chen Wang clutched his increasingly painful stomach. He planned to go straight to the taxi company to pick up his car. He had to work harder than ever to pay off the debt. However, after a few steps, he received a call from Hua Yunlian. He was told to accompany him to a party as his male companion.

The moment before entering the KTV, Chen Wang’s heart hammered in his chest. But on second thought, was this not just part of the job? He took a few deep breaths and knocked before entering.

The noisy music died down meaningfully. Countless gazes pierced him like arrows. Among this crowd of wealthy young men were friends of his ex-boyfriend, Hua Jingchen. Some recognized him and let out subtle chuckles.

“Isn’t this the most promising glandular neurosurgeon? Dr. Chen!”
“Welcome, welcome!”

Chen Wang had once been proud of that title. Now, it was the ultimate irony. His heart bled. Hua Yunlian sat in the center, surrounded like a king, remaining coldly silent.

A friend laughed and asked, “Even if it is just to spite your older brother, you do not need to go this far, right? Why keep him by your side?” The implication was clear: had Hua Yunlian fallen for the beauty? This Beta did have a certain charm, a forbidden, upright aura.

Hua Yunlian crushed his cigarette with the tip of his shoe. “He is not even worth as much as a toy. Who cares?”

An arrogant, rising young singer hooked his arm around Hua Yunlian’s neck, glancing at Chen Wang with disdain. The atmosphere quickly turned lively again. Chen Wang did not love Hua Yunlian; he did not even like him. If anything, he resented him. Naturally, Hua Yunlian’s words did not hurt him.

He found a seat neither too close nor too far. He pretended he was just like Assistant Lu or Mary. It was the only way to comfort himself. He wondered why the Omegas around Hua Yunlian were all so beautiful. They were like fresh flowers stuck in a vat of volatile chemicals.

“Want a drink?” The singer had approached Chen Wang, handing him a glass of whiskey.

With his stomach cramping violently and his complexion pale, Chen Wang waved him off.

“Baby, do not make things difficult for my sister-in-law,” Hua Yunlian spoke up, his amber eyes more intoxicating than the whiskey.

Chen Wang had only ever had one relationship, which was with Hua Yunlian’s brother. That green, self-deprecating love meant everything to him. Hearing the term “sister-in-law” incensed him. He gritted his teeth. “Does Director Hua not know exactly what our relationship is? Since this is what you want, I will naturally comply.”

Amidst the jeers and cheers, Chen Wang suppressed his nausea and dizziness and downed the drink in one go. Hua Yunlian gave a mirthless smile, his gaze playful, as if looking at a pet. “Good boy.”

The mint-scented Omega singer’s lip twitched. Seeing Hua Yunlian’s interested expression, he nearly lost his composure. These rich heirs never worked; their energy for partying was bottomless. It was 3:00 AM, and the party showed no signs of stopping. Hua Yunlian had wandered off to a dance floor, and Chen Wang was dozing off in the booth.

“Hey!” The mint Omega shoved Chen Wang’s head hard.

Feeling unwell and pale, Chen Wang shook off the hand and frowned. “What are you doing?”

The Omega looked him up and down. He was still annoyed about being rejected earlier. “I heard you are Director Hua’s former big sister-in-law? To be brought here, you must have some skills.” He called a waiter to bring over a dozen bottles of alcohol and an ice bucket. “Why do we not have a contest? If you cannot outdrink me, get lost!”

Chen Wang glanced at him and sneered. His perception of celebrities was shattered. “Childish.”

“What did you say?” The mint Omega exploded. He grabbed a bottle and seized Chen Wang’s hair, trying to force the drink down his throat. “Do you know who I am?”

“Let go!” Chen Wang was weak from lack of sleep and food. For a moment, he could not break free. The cold liquid poured into his mouth, the bitter alcohol stinging his fragile stomach. He shoved the singer away and began to retch.

The singer had recently become famous and was used to being the center of attention. Here, everyone catered to him except for Hua Yunlian. Now, Chen Wang was being disrespectful. He lunged again with another bottle, but someone suddenly grabbed his dyed hair from behind. He screamed in pain.

Hua Yunlian’s face was livid, his eyes murderous. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”

“I… uh…”

Before he could finish, Hua Yunlian kicked him aside. The singer crashed into the table, sent bottles flying, and landed in a mess of shattered glass. Feeling warm blood on his arms and face, he began to wail in terror. Others rushed over, but no one dared stop Hua Yunlian.

Chen Wang felt terrible but had nothing left in his stomach to vomit. He stood up unsteadily. “I want to go home.”

He paused. Home? Which home? Was the debt-ridden slum his home? Was the trashed apartment his home? Was the cheap hostel about to expire his home?

His eyes grew moist. Like a lost soul, he staggered toward the exit without a word.

This man actually dared to ignore him. Hua Yunlian took a deep breath, fury boiling in his chest. He sat back down and ordered, “Keep playing. I cannot be bothered with him.”

Following the young master’s orders, everyone forced a smile. But within seconds, Hua Yunlian’s expression darkened. He bolted upright and stormed into the hallway. He caught up just in time to see Chen Wang lean against the wall, sway, and lose consciousness.