PE Ch7: Breakthrough point

“Sir!” The servant exclaimed joyfully, as if seeing a savior descend.

Xiu Liang’s expression remained unchanged. He looked up and smiled, saying, “I heard from Zhang Xing that you were in a meeting. I thought it would be best not to disturb you, so I decided to wait here.”

Huai Yu showed no expression on his face and didn’t even glance at Pan Yinchuan. He simply looked at the table and said, “Replace the two cups with affogato.”

The servant immediately lowered his head and stepped forward, replacing the teapot.

Xiu Liang laughed, “I didn’t expect you to remember my preference.” He said, patting his son on the shoulder, “Go, off you go. I’ll catch up with your Uncle Huai. There were too many people yesterday, and I didn’t get the chance.”

Pan Yinchuan was momentarily taken aback by these words.

Uncle Huai?

So, Mr. Huai was Xiu Ling’s uncle by rank!

Being obediently patted by his father, Xiu Ling stood up, glancing at Pan Yinchuan with a hint of mockery in his eyes.

As if to say, don’t think saying a few flattering words will work; the close relationship they had with Mr. Huai was beyond his imagination.

Pan Yinchuan avoided Xiu Ling’s gaze directly.

At this moment, his butt still hurt. No matter how close Mr. Huai and Xiu Ling’s family were, they wouldn’t send him back, would they?

Actually, he was quite puzzled. Xiu Ling had clearly relented and let Mr. Huai take him away. Why did he regret it in the end?

What had made Xiu Ling so angry?

Had Alpha’s harshness and dominance developed to such an extent? Saying he wanted him dead meant he had to kill him to feel satisfied?

Pan Yinchuan lowered his head and quietly sighed, now having to hope that his butt had some value.

Hmm, they had slept together three times in total. It shouldn’t be so easy to get bored, right?

He really didn’t want to fall into Xiu Ling’s hands.

As Pan Yinchuan thought about this, he felt a bit despondent.

This circle was still too terrifying for him; human life was worthless here.

“Come on, let’s catch up as well.” Xiu Ling’s voice sounded above Pan Yinchuan’s head.

He looked up, not knowing when Xiu Ling had come over.

“He needs to stay.” Huai Yu said coolly, then asked Xiu Ling, “What past do you have to catch up on with him?”

Xiu Ling was speechless, not daring to argue.

Huai Yu had already sat down beside Xiu Liang, with a distance between him and Pan Yinchuan.

He raised his hand and said, “Come here.”

Pan Yinchuan immediately slipped away from Xiu Ling, reaching Huai Yu’s side in just a few steps.

Huai Yu grabbed Pan Yinchuan’s waist and pressed him firmly to his side. Then, his fingers rested on Pan Yinchuan’s neck, gently rubbing it—a gesture strongly declaring his ownership.

Pan Yinchuan was enveloped by his scent, unable to move.

“Come on, tell me.” Huai Yu’s voice sounded in his ear, slightly deep, “What past do you have to catch up on with him?”

He seemed to be very jealous.

This scene deeply embedded itself in Xiu Ling’s eyes, causing his face to twitch slightly.

“Mr. Huai…” Xiu Ling’s voice choked with pain.

Xiu Liang pressed his forehead and interrupted, “During Xiu Ling’s high school years, I was abroad most of the time. He was closer to you than to me. He means no harm.”

This was said to both rekindle the bond with Huai Yu and to inform Pan Yinchuan.

Pan Yinchuan stared blankly, unsure if he understood.

Huai Yu’s expression softened a bit. He said, giving a way out, “Yes, for several semesters, I signed his report cards.”

The twisted expression on Xiu Ling’s face was replaced by joy, and his voice became extremely docile, “I still remember those days.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Pan Yinchuan in a very discreet and boastful manner.

Pan Yinchuan snapped out of his daze: …?

Xiu Ling then turned his head to look outside, seemingly at something far away, and said, “At that time, you also lived here. I often recited my lessons in the garden…”

His face was full of nostalgia.

Huai Yu said unhurriedly, “Yes. Take young Xiu Ling to the garden to relive old times.”

The servant immediately moved, “Young master, please.”

The nostalgia on Xiu Ling’s face froze.

Just like that, he was sent away.

And this Beta?

He still got to sit beside Huai Yu?

Xiu Liang couldn’t help but press his forehead again.

His son was so easily led by Huai Yu’s words…

“Alright, go to the garden.” Xiu Liang ordered.

Xiu Ling took a breath, reluctantly leaving.

Pan Yinchuan actually didn’t want to sit here either because Xiu Liang’s gaze made him very uncomfortable.

But Huai Yu’s fingers kept lightly and repeatedly brushing his neck, as if petting a small animal, showing no intention of letting him go.

Pan Yinchuan had no choice but to stay there like a wooden stake.

Xiu Liang and Huai Yu indeed started to catch up.

In a few words, Pan Yinchuan finally understood their relationship.

When Xiu Liang was young, he attended a research society at a top global university. Ten years later, Huai Yu also joined this research society.

Later, the research society organized a reunion. Several powerful Alphas bonded during this reunion and afterwards, they referred to each other as brothers.

There were six in total, with Huai Yu being the youngest and Xiu Liang ranking second.

As time passed, these six also rose to high positions, and their meetings became less frequent.

Xiu Liang said, “Given the current chaos, we might have a chance to gather again and have a good time.”

“Is that so? That’s good.” Huai Yu’s voice carried an indescribable nonchalance.

Xiu Liang glanced at Pan Yinchuan before continuing, “A few days before I came here, the eldest gave me a call. He said a proposal he was pushing encountered enormous resistance. He said…”

“Hmm, what did he say?”

“He said it was you.”

“Oh, really?”

“I told him he misjudged you. How could you be that kind of person?”

“Mm.” Huai Yu’s tone remained indifferent. “He misjudged me.”

Pan Yinchuan listened on the side, heart pounding. Their conversation was too high-level; was he even supposed to be hearing this?

He slowly blinked, pretending to be drowsy.

But Mr. Huai’s fingers on his neck suddenly moved, then cupped his face, one finger pressing on his lips and another on his eyelid, forcibly lifting his face up.

Pan Yinchuan: “…”

This action was ambiguous and domineering, making even Xiu Liang’s eyelids twitch involuntarily.

Xiu Liang felt a bit annoyed.

His visit today was not just to stand up for his son.

After all, those were just childish matters.

The youngest member of the former research society had, in recent years, begun to show signs of overshadowing everyone.

The “brotherhood” was becoming precarious.

Especially with the recent turmoil in various regions, everyone suddenly realized that the youngest among them, Huai Yu, had unconsciously amassed terrifying power and influence.

He came to trouble this Beta, more to probe Huai Yu’s attitude.

To his disappointment, Huai Yu’s attitude was not strong, but dismissive.

Yes, dismissive.

From his blatant retention of this Beta, to discussing such important and confidential matters while still having the mood to toy with his little lover… that dismissiveness was almost impossible to ignore, hitting Xiu Liang in the face.

Xiu Liang put aside his probing and got straight to the point: “Why not set it for next Wednesday, at the Yanshan Lake Hotel, for us to gather?”

Huai Yu nodded: “Okay.”

He appeared impeccable, courteous, and easy to talk to.

Xiu Liang stood up and smiled, “I hope I didn’t delay your work. Alright, I’ll take Xiu Ling and leave first.”

“Wait.” Huai Yu looked up. “Let Xiu Ling stay.”

Xiu Liang’s expression twisted imperceptibly. He asked, “Why leave him here?”

Huai Yu wasn’t planning to keep his son as a hostage, was he?

No, that couldn’t be. Their intentions hadn’t been exposed, so Huai Yu had no reason to go that far. Otherwise, he could have held onto Xiu Ling back in Nanta City.

Huai Yu leaned back, his posture upright, head slightly tilted. He lightly tapped Pan Yinchuan’s shoulder and said, “Didn’t Xiu Ling like his care very much? Didn’t he even want to rehire him?”

“So let Xiu Ling stay.” Huai Yu’s words flowed naturally.

Xiu Liang’s expression almost cracked.

What’s it called when you shoot yourself in the foot? This is it.

For a moment, Xiu Liang couldn’t even tell if Huai Yu genuinely wanted to hold a hostage or was just venting for his little lover.

“This isn’t very appropriate, is it? Xiu Ling staying here would just be a third wheel,” Xiu Liang said, showing no worry on his face, but rather a deeper smile.

“Not appropriate?” Huai Yu stared at him and asked back.

Xiu Liang was unwilling.

But his son was too willing.

Xiu Ling, walking back, heard this and happily said, “Alright, I’ll stay!”

Xiu Liang’s throat choked: “…Fine.”

Huai Yu casually pointed to someone: “Secretary Wu, please see Mr. Xiu Liang out.”

Secretary Wu had returned with Huai Yu.

He was responsible for handling Huai Yu’s external affairs, holding some authority, and to some extent representing Huai Yu himself.

Having him see off the guest at least made Xiu Liang’s chest feel less stifled.

Once completely out of Huai Yu’s residence, Xiu Liang took out his phone and affixed an anti-eavesdropping module to its back.

Then he dialed a number: “I saw Huai Yu today.”

“He didn’t show anything special.”

“But he kept Xiu Ling… I wanted to lower his guard, so I relented.”

The person on the other end took a long time to respond.

Xiu Liang listened intently, hesitatingly said, “No, we do have a breakthrough. Huai Yu now has a Beta lover, who is very favored. Huai Yu openly brought him around. The two have been entangled for three days, and Huai Yu even showed up late to two meetings because of him.”

The person on the other end spoke again.

Xiu Liang sighed after listening: “Okay, I understand.”

Inside the villa.

Xiu Ling asked, “Mr. Huai, am I still staying in my previous room?”

He refused to call Huai Yu “uncle.” Pan Yinchuan found this rather odd.

“That room belongs to Yinchuan.” Huai Yu said, finally removing his hand from Pan Yinchuan’s neck.

Pan Yinchuan was startled, only then realizing that he was being addressed by name.

Xiu Ling’s face paled: “Then my things, that were left behind…”

Huai Yu looked at a nearby servant, who immediately said, “They’re all stored, in a box.”

Xiu Ling’s face didn’t improve much: “Fine, I’ll stay in a room on the first floor.” He voluntarily retreated, which was quite rare.

But Pan Yinchuan still doubted whether he would break in at night to kill him.

Huai Yu was very busy. As soon as he left to handle affairs, Assistant Zhang came to accompany Pan Yinchuan, seemingly to prevent Xiu Ling from causing trouble.

Sitting in the bedroom, Pan Yinchuan couldn’t hold back anymore and asked Assistant Zhang, “That Xiu Ling…”

“Hmm?”

“Does he… like Mr. Huai?”

Assistant Zhang: “…”

Pan Yinchuan: “Did I ask the wrong question? Can we pretend I didn’t ask?”

Assistant Zhang: “I thought this was obvious and didn’t need asking. Did you just realize?”

Pan Yinchuan: “…?”

Pan Yinchuan was a bit shocked.

Mr. Huai, an Alpha, didn’t like Omegas but liked Betas.

Xiu Ling, an Alpha, was even more outrageous, liking an Alpha of a higher rank, Mr. Huai.

The rich were too playful, shaking his simple values.

Assistant Zhang was also quite shocked.

A rival declaring war, yet he hadn’t noticed? How dense must one be?

Did Mr. Huai always have this preference?

Though speechless, Assistant Zhang dutifully stayed with Pan Yinchuan for a long time, until Huai Yu returned.

During this time, Xiu Ling didn’t cause any trouble.

Night fell.

Pan Yinchuan cleaned himself and laid on the bed.

An Alpha’s stamina was far superior to that of a Beta. Pan Yinchuan pondered whether Mr. Huai should come tonight.

If they didn’t sleep together every night, the money Mr. Huai was paying him wouldn’t seem worth it.

But Pan Yinchuan waited until he was almost asleep… Mr. Huai didn’t come today.

He woke up with a start and scrambled off the bed.

The reason he could push Xiu Ling that day was mostly because he was wearing a buffer, making him largely immune to the suppression of Xiu Ling’s pheromones, and Xiu Ling was unprepared.

But Xiu Ling was still an Alpha.

And his background allowed him to legally carry firearms.

Was life important?

Of course, it was.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t obediently let Mr. Huai do as he pleased.

Pan Yinchuan quickly made a choice. He didn’t want to face an “assassination” from Xiu Ling here.

So he plucked up the courage, grabbed a pillow, and walked to Mr. Huai’s bedroom, raising his hand to knock on the door.

The door didn’t open.

Pan Yinchuan lowered his head and thought, was Mr. Huai not coming today because he was experiencing some kidney deficiency?

Could Alphas have kidney deficiency?

…Maybe?

Alphas were human too.

So how could he make a somewhat kidney-deficient Mr. Huai let him stay together to avoid Xiu Ling’s harm?

While thinking, Pan Yinchuan continued knocking on the door.

Suddenly, his hand hit empty space as the door finally opened.

Mr. Huai stood there, his expression dark and unclear, asking, “What is it?”

A straight guy suddenly turning gay didn’t have enough experience.

Facing Mr. Huai’s oppressive gaze, he stammered, “I… I’m afraid of the dark.”

After saying that, Pan Yinchuan fell silent.

This excuse seemed… not very good.

If you’re afraid of the dark, wouldn’t you just turn on the light?

Pan Yinchuan already anticipated how Mr. Huai would impatiently rebut him.

He thought about whether he should fabricate some childhood trauma.

Mr. Huai raised his hand and pushed the door wider.

He said, “Come in.”

The lights were on inside.

Pan Yinchuan walked in, following the light, and the door closed and locked behind him.

“Afraid of the dark?” Mr. Huai walked behind him and asked again.

Having already spoken, Pan Yinchuan could only nod: “Yes, afraid of the dark.”

As he said this, he nervously glanced back to gauge Mr. Huai’s expression. But before he could see clearly, a pair of hands reached from behind, and his vision went black.

Mr. Huai casually removed his tie and blindfolded him, even tying a knot at the back of his head.

The man forcefully, almost roughly, pressed him down on the sofa near the entrance.

Pan Yinchuan’s world was pitch black, his hearing instantly amplified.

He heard the rustling of a belt being undone and Mr. Huai’s voice close to his ear, asking, “How afraid of the dark are you?”

Pan Yinchuan opened his mouth, trembling, and raised his hand to cling to the man’s waist.

The man seemed very satisfied with his reaction, gripping his waist as if to crush him on the sofa.

How could he be kidney deficient?

Not at all.

In the darkness, Pan Yinchuan gradually found it hard to breathe, blindly grabbing at the man’s sleeve.

Now, it seemed he was genuinely afraid of the dark.

…

The door wasn’t locked, Xiu Ling pushed it open with a cold face and walked in.

He was familiar with every piece of furniture, but had no time to reminisce. He slowly walked to the bedside and loaded his gun.

He reached out and yanked the blanket away.

…No one.

Xiu Ling’s face turned livid, and he quickly turned and rushed to Mr. Huai’s room.

As he got closer, he deliberately softened his footsteps, not wanting to disturb Mr. Huai and annoy him.

But as he got really close, he realized he didn’t need to soften his steps at all.

Because through the heavy door, he could faintly hear the broken, amorous sounds coming from inside.

Obviously, Mr. Huai had no mind to care about anything outside the door.