The Top-Tier Enigma’s Alpha is Both Pampered and Wild - Chapter 4

Lu Yubai’s brows furrowed as he looked at him suspiciously.

“A private auction? How did you know that the ceramic piece was taken by the Old Gentleman’s son?”

“My mentor and Old Mr. Yang were old friends. I once saw that square vase in Old Mr. Yang’s private collection gallery.”

“Old Mr. Yang has been respected all his life. I never thought that in his twilight years, he would risk his reputation like this.”

Yan Chi looked slightly regretful, a faint sadness flickering in his eyes. In the world of antiques, there were far too many such sordid affairs. One wrong step leads to many more.

Lu Yubai did not press further.

This morning, Yan Chi had used the Jiangcheng Institute’s official Weibo account to post a formal certification, proving that the ceramic vase donated by Lu Bo was genuine. Once the post went live, it sparked an immediate reaction from netizens.

Old Mr. Yang was considered a highly prestigious figure in the world of cultural relics and had never before used any platform to call out a fake. His fierce verbal attack on Lu Bo this time could not help but arouse suspicion. Many netizens began to question if Old Mr. Yang had taken money to frame him.

However, these were no longer things Lu Yubai needed to consider. Regardless of the circumstances, it was a personal choice. Since the deed was done, the consequences had to be faced.

Half an hour later, Yan Chi finally finished his work.

Lu Yubai looked up at him. “Can I take a tour of the research institute?” His eyes sparkled with anticipation.

That burning gaze scorched Yan Chi’s heart. “You can. But why the sudden interest in cultural relics?”

In the past, Lu Yubai was not as mature as he was now. He had not quite understood Yan Chi’s passion for artifacts and even found him a bit old-fashioned. But things were different now.

“People change, you know,” he said with a smile. Just as he had previously disliked Enigmas but now liked one, artifacts were the same. As long as Yan Chi liked them, he could try to like them too. Love me, love my dog.

Yan Chi handed him a pair of rubber gloves and led him through the institute.

When they stepped out of the administration building, they passed many ancient trees with lush foliage. The sunlight dappled across the two of them. Lu Yubai turned to look at Yan Chi; a faint smile was playing on that cold face. The white lab coat made him look exceptionally sacred, like a deity who could not be profaned.

Yan Chi took him through the exhibition hall, which was filled with various artifacts.

Lu Yubai leaned over a bronze sword and pointed at it. “This must be very old. How much is it worth?”

Yan Chi raised an eyebrow. “That cannot be appraised. It depends on the speed of your sewing machine.”

“What does that mean?” He looked completely confused.

“This is a Grade I National Cultural Relic. Illegal trade carries a sentence of at least five years of treading the sewing machine in prison,” Yan Chi said with an entirely serious expression.

Lu Yubai immediately took two steps back, waving his hands in a panic. “No! I did not want to buy or sell it!”

Seeing him panic, the smile in Yan Chi’s eyes deepened, though he did not notice it himself.

Lu Yubai walked away huffily, but his eyes were soon drawn to a beautiful cloisonné enamel bowl. The inside was sky-blue, while the exterior patterns were masterfully crafted, brilliant, and dazzling.

“This one is pretty,” he said as he reached out, wanting to touch it.

Yan Chi’s voice drifted over lightly: “Intentional damage to cultural relics: five years.”

Lu Yubai: ? ? ?

He snapped his hand back instantly. He pointed toward a landscape painting instead. “And this?”

Yan Chi: “Three years.”

Lu Yubai: “That one?”

Yan Chi: “Six years.”

Refusing to give up, Lu Yubai pointed randomly at another. “What about that?”

Yan Chi: “That one does not need a sentence. Possession of a collection-grade relic like that carries the death penalty; executed by Gatling gun.”

Lu Yubai: …

He broke into a nervous cold sweat, and his tongue felt tied. “No, no, no! I do not want to tour anymore. Let us go see Grandpa.” He ripped off his gloves and bolted for the exit.

Yan Chi watched his retreating, fleeing figure and could not help but shake his head with a smile. His little friend was still the same as before.

When the two stepped out of the institute, they ran into the security guard from earlier. Seeing the smile on Yan Chi’s face, the guard swallowed hard in nervousness. The guard felt a chill down his spine; Yan Chi was usually stern and never smiled. Seeing him chatting so happily with an Alpha was as shocking as seeing smoke rise from one’s ancestral grave.

“Director, are you heading out?” the guard asked tentatively.

Yan Chi pulled back his smile and nodded indifferently.

As the guard watched them leave, he quietly took a photo of their backs and sent it to the Security Squad group chat.

Old Wang: The sky is falling! Director Yan’s iron tree has finally blossomed! The other person is an Alpha with a red wine scent!

At the hospital.

“Grandpa, I have come to see you,” Lu Yubai said with a smile as he walked to the bedside.

Yan Chi was carrying a fruit basket they had bought on the way. He placed it on the nightstand and greeted him respectfully, “Grandpa.”

Old Mr. Yan ignored him and immediately grabbed Lu Yubai’s hand, as if he had found a long-lost treasure. He refused to let go.

“Little Bai, Grandpa missed you so much! It has been three years, Little Bai!” Old Mr. Yan sobbed.

Lu Yubai’s mouth twitched. Why did it feel like he was calling a dog? Regardless, he had been like this since they were kids. He responded warmly to the old man.

Yan Chi, standing to the side, felt like a third wheel. He picked up an orange and sat down to peel it. Just as he finished and held it out, he was driven back by a cold glare.

“I want to eat what my grandson-in-law peels! Get lost!” Old Mr. Yan snapped fiercely.

Yan Chi: …

“Grandpa, Lu Yubai and I,” before he could finish his explanation, Old Mr. Yan began coughing angrily. Yan Chi immediately shut up and leaned over to pat his back.

“Go away! I want my grandson-in-law!” the old man growled. But when he turned back to Lu Yubai, his face was full of affection. “Grandson-in-law, I want an orange.”

Lu Yubai smiled and took the orange Yan Chi had just peeled, breaking it into segments and feeding them to him one by one.

“The ones fed by my grandson-in-law are the sweetest!”

Yan Chi: … He felt like he needed a DNA test.

After finishing the orange, the old man mysteriously pulled a sealed piece of paper from the nightstand drawer. He placed it solemnly into Lu Yubai’s hands.

“Grandson-in-law, this is the betrothal contract your grandfather and I made when he was still alive.”

“An old man like me does not know how many days he has left. I do not know if I will have the chance to see you two walk into the hall of marriage. I am ashamed! I would not have the face to see Old Mr. Lu in the afterlife!”

As he spoke, Old Mr. Yan began to cry. However, Yan Chi’s face remained cold.

“Grandpa, do not be like this.” He coldly took the paper from Lu Yubai’s hand and set it aside. Marriage was sacred, the highest oath between two people bound for a lifetime. It should not be based on threats or sacrifice.

Lu Yubai felt his palms turn cold.

“Grandpa, Yan Chi has someone he likes; it might not be me. I know this marriage contract is a vow between you and my grandfather, but marriage should be pure.” He coaxed the old man gently, stealing occasional glances at Yan Chi, hoping not to be caught.

“Like my foot! This boy is thirty-one years old, and you are the only person who has ever been by his side. Other than you, I have never seen anyone else! Who could he possibly like?”

“The tweezers he uses to restore artifacts? Or those rubber gloves? Those things cannot even speak! Even if they could, he could not marry them!”

Old Mr. Yan was so angry he began throwing orange peels at Yan Chi. Yellow juice splashed onto the white lab coat. Yan Chi furrowed his brows and complained softly, “Grandpa, this is hard to wash.”