The Sickly Beauty is Too Good at Seducing - Chapter 11

“…This is Shen Que.”

Shen Congbai froze instantly. “Why is it you?”

He murmured to himself in a daze, “I clearly dialed Feng Yu’s number.”

From the other end of the line came a sharp, crisp sound the sound of something shattering. Shen Congbai’s grip on his phone tightened. He opened his mouth to ask what had happened, but the memory of their bitter argument earlier that afternoon flashed through his mind, and he forced the words back down.

Shen Que’s voice was hoarse and low. “Do you really love him that much?”

“I…” Flustered and annoyed, Shen Congbai snapped back, “Who I love is none of your business!”

“I don’t want you meddling, you big bully!”

As soon as the words left his lips, Shen Congbai hung up, unable to bear another second of the conversation.

Listening to the dial tone, Shen Que sat despondently on the floor. In the few short hours since he and Shen Congbai had parted, he had consumed an unknown amount of alcohol; he was surrounded by a dense cluster of empty bottles.

Shen Que looked at the bottle he had accidentally knocked over, a self-deprecating smile crossing his face. Does he really love Feng Yu that much? He had just gotten away from Shen Que and already he couldn’t wait to reconcile with Feng Yu.

Feng Yu… what right does he have? How is he better than me? Three years ago, Feng Yu had managed to snatch away the person Shen Que had raised for twenty years. Now, three years later, after failing to keep an eye on him for just one night, Shen Congbai had already gone running back to him.

Shen Que’s eyes grew dark and inscrutable. He tilted his head back and drained half a bottle of liquor, hoping the alcohol would numb the resentment and fury burning in his chest.

Instead, the flames in his heart only grew fiercer, fueled by the drink. Finally, unable to restrain himself any longer, Shen Que hurled the bottle in his hand against the wall with a loud crash.

As the liquid splattered, the expression on Shen Que’s face gradually smoothed out. The outward rage he had just displayed was tucked away, hidden once more beneath his mask of gentle elegance.

He idly toyed with a shard of glass. The sharp edge sliced into his palm, causing dark red blood to seep out. Shen Que seemed oblivious to the pain, allowing the wound to deepen.

Just then, his phone rang shrilly. Shen Que loosened his tie and answered, throwing the phone onto the floor beside him. “Hello,” he said, his voice laced with exhaustion.

Feng Yu’s voice came through: “Shen Congbai left his phone at my place. Remember to tell him to come pick it up.”

Hearing Feng Yu’s monotonous tone, Shen Que opened his bloodshot eyes and let out a cold laugh. “No wonder he often tells me you’re childish. It seems he wasn’t exaggerating; you really have to gloat over such a trivial matter.”

Finding himself mocked for no apparent reason, Feng Yu spat back, “Are you sick?”

“I can’t compare to you, Young Master Feng you were born deficient.” Shen Que was not a kind man; he had never been one to wish others well. The stinging pain in his palm grew more pronounced, yet it only served to feed the darkness growing in his heart.

He heard himself say, “Xiao Bai said he never wants to see you again. Do whatever you want with that phone. It’s an unimportant object; if it’s thrown away, it’s thrown away.”

“Suit yourself.” Feng Yu grit his teeth, his jawline tensing into a sharp, blade-like arc before he hung up.

Feng Yu looked at the phone lying silently nearby and felt a secret sense of relief. At least Shen Congbai wasn’t as stupid as his brother; the boy knew how to find his own way home. If something had actually happened to him right outside Feng Yu’s door, there was no telling how much trouble it would have caused.

Meanwhile, after Shen Que hung up, Shen Congbai became visibly despondent.

Realizing he had made a mistake, Tu Zhi leaned in to apologize. “I’m sorry, Xiao Bai. I didn’t know the person you were talking about was Feng Yu.”

Shen Congbai gave him a bitter, strained smile. “It’s not your fault. I didn’t explain it clearly to you.”

“It’s all my fault and my pig-brain! I’ll call Big Brother Shen right now and explain everything.” Tu Zhi reached for his phone to call back.

Shen Congbai stopped him, shaking his head gently. “Don’t bother. I have nothing to say to him, and I don’t care what he thinks.”

Tu Zhi started to say something but ultimately chose to stay silent. He held up his phone and asked, “Do you still want to call Feng Yu?”

“Let’s forget it for today. I don’t remember his number anyway.” Shen Congbai was exhausted. He tried to muster some energy. “Let’s just go back. I need to get over the jet lag. I’ll deal with this once I’ve adjusted.”

Since Shen Congbai had put it that way, Tu Zhi felt it would be overbearing to push further. “Alright, I’ll take you back first. Get some good rest.”

The apartment Shen Congbai stayed in upon his return was a gift from Shen Que before he went abroad. It had been purchased as a temporary place for Shen Congbai to recover from his illness. Though the location was average, the environment was excellent perfect for a quiet convalescence. Once his health had improved, the place had sat vacant.

Thus, when Shen Congbai reached the door only to be seized by the waist and carried into the bedroom, he was so shocked he forgot to struggle. Even when a chain was locked around his ankle, he simply stared at the intruder in a daze.

Shen Congbai caught the heavy scent of alcohol and wrinkled his nose. “You smell terrible!”

A cold sensation brushed against his ankle. Shen Congbai couldn’t help but twitch his foot, causing a crisp tinkling sound to emanate from the bells on his ankle.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Shen Que. “Are you insane? Take this thing off me right now!”

Shen Que lifted the boy’s ankle. His darker palm contrasted sharply against the snow-white, smooth skin of the calf. With a slight exert of pressure from his fingertips, the soft flesh spilled over.

Shen Que seemed very satisfied with this masterpiece. He flashed a smile at the boy. “Isn’t it beautiful? I think it suits Wuwu perfectly.”

Shen Congbai was both ashamed and furious. He tried to pull his leg back to undo the chain, but in his struggle, he accidentally kicked Shen Que square in the chest.

Shen Que let out a muffled groan, his eyes darkening as he stared at the boy.

The look made Shen Congbai’s skin crawl. “You… you’re the one who put this on me, that’s why I’m struggling.” He shook his leg, his face clouding with dissatisfaction. “Let go of me. I don’t like this.”

Shen Que suddenly spoke, repeating the words as if possessed. “You don’t like this? Then what do you like?”

“Do you like it the way Feng Yu does it?”

Not knowing why he was bringing up Feng Yu again for no reason, Shen Congbai grit his teeth and snapped back out of spite, “I certainly don’t like you acting like this! You’re a control freak!”

Shen Que didn’t get angry. His fingers toyed with the anklet. It was a custom-designed piece made of platinum, featuring a pair of wings poised for flight yet, at the tips of the wings, two heavy bells had been attached, firmly locking away his freedom.

Shen Congbai felt an itch and began to struggle again, but then he heard Shen Que speak. The magnetic, low-pitched voice sounded like a demon’s whisper, sending a chill down his spine.

“Wuwu is being naughty. How is Brother supposed to teach you a lesson?”