What Bad Intentions Could a Spoiled Little Brat Possibly have? - Chapter 15

“Are you… going to abandon me again?”

Cheng Huai felt the surrounding crowd pressing in tighter and tighter. The air seemed to turn viscous, weighing down on his chest until he could barely breathe.

Under the influence of the alcohol, all his reactions had instinctively slowed down. It wasn’t until someone firmly grabbed his wrist and called his name several times “Cheng Huai!” that he turned his head in a daze.

“Mo Qing?” Cheng Huai squinted, barely recognizing the other man.

“You actually remembered my name!” A flash of surprise and joy shot through Mo Qing’s eyes. The strength in his hand increased unconsciously, easily leaving a red mark on Cheng Huai’s delicate wrist. “You never showed up for military training. I was worried something had happened to you. I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

Recalling Mo Qing’s excessive “care” during military training, a wave of discomfort washed over Cheng Huai. He tried to pull away, but accidentally agitated the injury on his shoulder, causing him to gasp in pain.

“Let go of his hand.” Fu Zheng’s frigid voice pierced through the clamor. His face, shadowed and grim, looked somewhat terrifying as his figure became clear under the flickering lights.

He walked with a rapid stride. Even though Mo Qing’s grip on Cheng Huai’s arm was tight, Fu Zheng reached out and hauled the boy toward him in one swift motion.

Cheng Huai was completely limp and weak. Though he had been desperate to escape Mo Qing just a moment ago, the second he heard Fu Zheng’s voice, he leaned into him with total abandon.

With a dark expression, Fu Zheng pried away the hand Cheng Huai had been using to protect his shoulder. The moment he touched the injury, Cheng Huai kicked out at Fu Zheng’s shin in pain. “It hurts, it hurts, it hurts…”

Zhou Yuan noticed the commotion and hurriedly pushed through the crowd.

Upon arriving, he saw Cheng Huai kicking Fu Zheng. Looking closer, he realized wasn’t this the boy he had bumped into earlier, the one who had shot him those murderous glares?

Zhou Yuan immediately sensed trouble. He rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists, preparing to step forward to teach this “scammer” a lesson on behalf of his boss and perhaps settle his own score.

Before he could swing a punch, he saw his boss steadily trap the boy’s second kick between his own legs. Fu Zheng pinched the boy’s chin, leaned in to sniff him, and frowned, his voice cold. “Have you been drinking?”

Zhou Yuan’s mid-air fist froze.

Wait, wait, wait…! Why didn’t this look like the scene he had imagined?

Mo Qing stared at the intimate posture of the two men. Seeing Cheng Huai nestling into Fu Zheng’s embrace without a shred of defense, he couldn’t help but frown.

Fu Zheng’s reputation at Beijing University’s School of Computer Science was well-known. Just a few days ago, Mo Qing had personally witnessed this man carry away a fainted Cheng Huai from the training grounds. For a moment, he wasn’t sure what the relationship between Fu Zheng and Cheng Huai actually was.

Thinking of how Fu Zheng had been chatting pleasantly with the Lin family father and daughter earlier, Mo Qing assumed Fu Zheng was tied up for the moment. Seizing the opportunity, he spoke up: “Cheng Huai seems unwell. I can take him to the hospital.”

Fu Zheng’s aura was oppressive. He merely glanced up at him, and Mo Qing felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar. “Thank you, but his temper is terrible when he’s unwell. You won’t be able to handle him. I’ll take care of him.”

Having said that, he ignored Mo Qing entirely, looking down to check on Cheng Huai, who was flushed and whimpering about the pain.

Fu Zheng felt the boy’s shoulder blade; it was clearly dislocated. Taking advantage of a moment when Cheng Huai wasn’t paying attention, he used a skillful jerk to snap the bone back into place.

“Ah! What are you doing?!” Cheng Huai cried out, his voice drawn out and melodic with pain a soft, sticky sound that caused the expressions of those standing around to turn complicated.

Fu Zheng expertly massaged the area to relieve the ache before asking in a low voice, “How did you get hurt?”

“Someone bumped into me…” Cheng Huai, emboldened by the alcohol, leaned against Fu Zheng’s midsection, craving the gentle comfort.

Off to the side, Zhou Yuan silently lowered his head.

He was guilty.

From an angle no one else could see, Cheng Huai’s predatory gaze locked onto the Lin family members nearby. Just as his eyes were about to meet Lin Yarou’s, he suddenly looked down and buried his face back into the crook of Fu Zheng’s neck, pretending to sleep.

The collapse of the champagne tower had affected a wide area. Shimmering shards and flowing liquid spread across the floor in a mess.

After soothing the other guests, Lin Lunian approached with his daughter, Lin Yarou.

Lin Yarou’s gaze briefly met Cheng Huai’s, a flash of undeniable curiosity crossing her eyes. She took two steps forward, gave Cheng Huai a slight nod, and then turned to Fu Zheng. Her voice, stripped of its previous flirtatiousness, was gentle as she asked, “President Fu, is this a friend of yours?”

Standing behind his daughter with a steady demeanor, Lin Lunian asked in the tone of a host, “President Fu, do you need any assistance?”

Fu Zheng felt Cheng Huai squirm further into his arms. With so many people watching, he couldn’t allow Cheng Huai to keep fumbling against him. He rubbed the back of Cheng Huai’s neck and wrapped an arm around the boy’s waist to still his movements.

He turned to the Lin family, offering a polite smile. “Mr. Lin, Miss Lin, I will arrange for an identical champagne tower to be delivered. My apologies for disturbing your evening.”

As he spoke, he gave a firm press to the back of Cheng Huai’s neck, whispering a reminder: “Don’t be rude. Stand up straight and say hello.”

Only then did Cheng Huai reluctantly stand upright. The alcohol was hitting him hard, making his temper uncontrollable and his clinginess toward Fu Zheng even worse. He wrapped his arms around Fu Zheng’s waist, clutching the back of his suit jacket, and mumbled a vague, “Hello.”

Lin Lunian and Lin Yarou exchanged a puzzled look.

Fu Zheng’s voice was flat and emotionless: “This is my brother.”

“Brother?!”

Not only were Lin Lunian and Lin Yarou shocked, but Zhou Yuan and Mo Qing were equally stunned.

“Qingqing, do you know him?” Lin Lunian looked at his nephew, noticing he had been hovering nearby the whole time.

“Uncle, Cheng Huai is my university classmate.”

Lin Lunian was surprised. “He’s at Beijing University too?”

Mo Qing nodded.

Lin Lunian couldn’t help but remark, “Both of you brothers are so intelligent. Truly, you come from the same mold.”

Lin Yarou, however, lightly knit her brows and interrupted her father. “Dad, they aren’t biological brothers. Their surnames are different.”

Her gaze drifted lightly over Cheng Huai before returning to Fu Zheng’s face, searching for answers. “Is he a cousin?”

Cheng Huai looked up at Fu Zheng, pinching the firm flesh of the man’s waist, wanting him to deny this fake blood relation.

However, Fu Zheng seemed not to receive the signal. He only let out a low “Mm” from his throat before saying, “The kid at home accidentally drank some alcohol and isn’t feeling well. Please excuse us. I will certainly host a dinner another day to apologize properly.”

As Fu Zheng spoke, he looked down at Cheng Huai. The chill in his eyes was so biting that Cheng Huai couldn’t help but shiver.

The champagne tower had mostly been cleared away, and the guests had returned to their networking. No one paid much attention to the small interlude on the sidelines.

Lin Yarou offered a kind smile and stepped forward, attempting to pinch Cheng Huai’s cheek, but he dodged her. She wasn’t annoyed; instead, her smile deepened, and her voice was soft but carried a certain conviction. “Beautiful brother, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other in the future.”

Fu Zheng turned back to the still-dazed Zhou Yuan and reached out his hand, being brief. “Coat.”

Zhou Yuan snapped back to reality. Feeling too guilty to look at Cheng Huai, he walked forward and handed over the jacket, only to suddenly lock eyes with the boy.

“You…” Cheng Huai was drunk, but he wasn’t so gone that he couldn’t recognize a face.

Standing diagonally behind Fu Zheng, Zhou Yuan watched his boss wrap the coat tightly around Cheng Huai, covering that pale neck. He immediately pressed his hands together in a silent plea toward Cheng Huai, whispering, “Please, please.”

Cheng Huai decided not to settle the score with him for now. As he shifted his gaze, he met Fu Zheng’s grim expression. He curled his lips into an innocent, friendly smile.

Fu Zheng said no more. He tossed the car keys to Zhou Yuan. “Let’s go.”

After a brief nod to the Lin family, he half-carried, half-embraced Cheng Huai as they walked straight out of the banquet hall.

Zhou Yuan understood and ran ahead to open the back door of the car.

Fu Zheng placed Cheng Huai inside first, then climbed in from the other side, slamming the door shut.

The car drove steadily into the night. The interior was deathly silent; all three passengers were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

As the night breeze blew, the drunkenness that had slightly subsided in Cheng Huai surged back again.

Within two minutes, just as Fu Zheng had expected, red hives began to break out on Cheng Huai’s body, starting from his neck beneath the suit jacket.

Cheng Huai curled up in a daze, feeling a prickling itch all over. He pulled up his sleeve to find his arm covered in red spots.

He reached out to scratch, but Fu Zheng grabbed his hand, warning him, “Don’t scratch!”

“It itches…” Cheng Huai squirmed in discomfort, his voice bordering on tears.

“You know it itches and you still drank? Didn’t you know you’re allergic to alcohol?” After saying it, Fu Zheng realized something Cheng Huai might truly not have known about his own allergic constitution.

Topical alcohol didn’t affect Cheng Huai much, but when he was five, he had accidentally consumed white liquor. A single sip had sent him into shock and a coma, requiring emergency resuscitation. From then on, Fu Zheng had strictly controlled every type of food he consumed.

Fu Zheng was frustrated. Sometimes he really wanted to lock this restless little thing at home; otherwise, the moment he looked away, the boy would find a way to make a mess of himself.

He simply pulled the boy into his arms, wrapping his long arms around Cheng Huai’s back and chest to pin those restless hands. He commanded Zhou Yuan in the driver’s seat, “Drive faster.”

Terrified, Zhou Yuan floored the accelerator, the car racing through the night like a bolt of lightning. He was stunned by Fu Zheng’s coldness, but even more shocked by the excessive concern and care his boss showed for this boy he claimed was his “brother.”

He had never seen Fu Zheng so tense over anyone.

In the rearview mirror, Fu Zheng’s face was like stone as he looked down at the person in his arms. Occasionally, he would brush aside Cheng Huai’s collar to lightly touch the reddened neck; the person in his arms would tremble sensitively and look up at him with watery eyes.

But Fu Zheng only shook his head sternly, suppressingly the boy’s urge to scratch with an unquestionable authority.

The atmosphere in the car was both flirtatious and oppressive. Zhou Yuan tried to break the silence to ease the awkwardness. “Boss, there’s a pharmacy up ahead. Should I go buy some allergy medicine?”

“No need,” Fu Zheng rejected without a second thought.

Cheng Huai’s constitution was different from most; standard allergy medication had no effect on him.

“Brother…” Cheng Huai’s eyes were filled with tears. He looked up at the man so close to him, his lips almost brushing Fu Zheng’s chin.

“Speak.”

“That Miss Lin… is she your blind date?”

Fu Zheng’s movements stiffened. His eyes met Zhou Yuan’s prying gaze in the rearview mirror.

When no answer came, in Cheng Huai’s clouded mind, silence equaled confirmation.

His hands were pinned, and his body felt like it was burning in a furnace. The alcohol had completely demolished the dam of his reason. Cheng Huai no longer cared that someone else was present. He choked out a sob, “Why did you go on a blind date… I hate that person…”

In the front seat, Zhou Yuan was breaking out in a cold sweat.

Thinking about it, he was technically the “hero” behind the scenes who had pushed for tonight’s events.

How could he have known his boss was hiding such a clingy, “brother-complex” sibling?

Just as Zhou Yuan was having an internal struggle, debating whether to explain to Cheng Huai that tonight wasn’t just a blind date but involved an important business partnership, another tearful question came from the back seat. The voice was as light as a feather, yet it landed heavily in the silent car.

“Brother… are you going to abandon me again?”

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