Chapter 27: Dark-Skinned Rugged Honest Man 27

“This is your quarters. The servants in the Li Family Villa generally share rooms in pairs…”

The middle-aged butler paused in his words, his smile unwavering as he continued, “The Master specifically mentioned that we should look after you. You’ll just need to follow the others in cleaning the grand hall and handling miscellaneous tasks. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me.”

The frail beta, now dressed in servant’s attire, slowly pursed his lips. After a long moment, he managed a weary smile. “All right. Thank you so much, sir, for your care. It’s just…”

Hang Liu spoke warmly, a touch of embarrassment in his voice. “May I ask where A Rang is staying?”

The butler sized up the beta, his expression unchanging after a pause. “Jiang Rang is the Master’s personal attendant, so he naturally stays next to the Master’s master bedroom.”

“Mr. Hang, if I may remind you—in the Li Family Villa, it’s best to ask fewer questions about certain matters.”

Hang Liu’s brows furrowed slightly. After a moment, he nodded in acquiescence, behaving like a docile sheep without a trace of temper.

Satisfied, the butler nodded and thought no more of it. He simply instructed the young man to wait in the front hall for now.

This was Hang Liu’s first glimpse of such an opulent mansion. Its classical Western style made it resemble a beautiful oil painting, perched at the heart of power and wealth. The heavy gates stood grandly ajar, their intricate carvings exquisite; the garden paths were laid with translucent pebbles that lent even the wayside flowers an air of delicate nobility.

Yet more striking and radiant than any of this was the garden pavilion in the morning light—and the beta and omega within it.

They evoked the timeless odes to love found in poetry and paintings. The beautiful omega, clad in a long black trench coat, sat gracefully upon a chair entwined with vines. The morning tea at his side lay untouched. He appeared deeply troubled; even with his face so pale and frail, the male master refused to eat.

The tall beta servant standing beside him, by contrast, was the picture of patience.

The young man first tested the temperature of the bowl, then took up a gold-rimmed porcelain spoon. He stirred slowly, now and then lowering his head to blow gently on the porridge within. At last, the handsome beta murmured something to the male master, coaxing a pleased expression from him. Only then did the man lean down and take a sip from the youth’s proffered wrist.

The beta moved with practiced ease, whether in his patient coaxing or the tender way he wiped a stray droplet from the omega’s lips.

He seemed the ideal husband—patient and gentle as he tended to his glamorous, dependent wife. Flecks of early morning sunlight bathed their soft, affectionate gazes. Beside the pavilion, red roses—the very emblem of love—bloomed in wild profusion. It was all so perfect, it bordered on infuriating.

Hang Liu had no idea how long he stood there watching. He only knew a chill had settled over him, as if he’d plunged into an icy abyss. The bone-chilling dampness mingled with the cold sunlight, piercing him to the marrow.

“Mr. Qi and Jiang Rang really do make a perfect pair…”

Nearby, some servants were whispering. They lingered idly at the edge, with time enough even for gossip about the master’s household.

“You know, haven’t you noticed how special Mr. Qi has been to Jiang Rang from the very first day he arrived?”

Another servant nodded. “True. We all thought Mr. Qi would send him packing. Who could have guessed he’d end up so dependent on him, so fond…”

“Hey, how long do you think it’ll be before they announce they’re together? Or even get engaged?”

~~~

The servants continued their hushed chatter until one young man noticed Hang Liu standing rigidly nearby, his face drained to a ghostly pallor. “You’re new here, aren’t you?” he asked in surprise.

Hang Liu clenched his wrist, his expression grim. He forced a thin smile. “Yeah… What were you just talking about, by the way?”

The servants obligingly repeated their gossip. But before they could finish, the pale-faced beta cut in softly. “Don’t you all know? Jiang Rang has a fiancé back home—one he hasn’t married yet. And they’re deeply in love.”

A hush fell over the group for a moment. Then one servant with soft, effeminate features dismissed it airily. “Never heard about Jiang Rang having a fiancé. But even if he does, what’s a fiancé without a marriage certificate? Besides, if Jiang Rang can win over Mr. Qi now, he’ll have made it big!”

Many nodded in agreement.

Hang Liu’s fists clenched tight, his smile twisting into something strained. “A-Rang doesn’t seem like the type.”

The servant glanced at the beta and said, “You wouldn’t have fallen for Jiang Rang too, would you? He’s indeed a prime marriage prospect—thoughtful and capable. But I advise you to drop that idea sooner rather than later. This is the Li Family, and these days, it’s Mr. Qi’s show. Mr. Qi set his sights on him ages ago, even handing over the omega’s access permissions to him.”

With that, he shook his head wistfully. “People like us can’t hold a candle to Mr. Qi.”

As they spoke, the employer and the young man finished their breakfast and started walking over.

All the servants immediately fell silent and obedient, not daring to utter another word.

Hang Liu watched as the young man’s expression grew even more unnatural upon seeing him, his nails digging into his palms until they nearly turned white.

Yet he still had to maintain his facade of fragility and helplessness.

He couldn’t show jealousy, couldn’t fly into a rage, couldn’t lose his temper.

He had always known that Jiang Rang cherished this sickly, delicate side of him the most.

But to his surprise, though Jiang Rang did stop for him, that handsome honey-toned face no longer lit up with the joy and hazy affection it used to show every time they met.

The beta avoided his eyes, his expression somber and ashen, even his scattered words of concern coming off as perfunctory and half-hearted.

The contrast was stark and devastating. Hang Liu felt like a traveler teetering on the edge of a cliff, despair threatening to shatter him at any moment. The pain enveloped him, leaving him unable even to cry for help.

He could only smile, pretending nonchalance as he said softly to the young man, “A-Rang, if you’re busy, you should go. I’m fine here—no need to worry about me.”

Hearing this, Jiang Rang finally pressed his lips together. In a low voice laced with guilt, he replied, “Alright, A Liu. Come find me right away if anything comes up. The Master and I are heading to the company; we probably won’t be back until tonight.”

Hang Liu blinked his slightly reddened eyes. He said nothing, swallowing all his suspicions and emotions like a knife to the gut, revealing only his gentle, virtuous side.

He extended his pale wrist and gently brushed aside the stray hairs fluttering across the forehead of the man he loved, murmuring softly, “Okay. I’ll wait for you.”

Pity deepened in Jiang Rang’s eyes. He seemed about to say something, his lips parting, but in the end, he fell silent.

Over there, the Male Master had apparently grown impatient. The long-haired man stood at a distance, his dull, lightless eyes fixed intently on the two of them.

Jiang Rang said no more. Clearly, no matter how much he pitied Hang Liu, it couldn’t outweigh a single glance from Mr. Qi.

The beta’s handsome, athletic figure receded into the distance until he was walking side by side with the black-clad omega.

From afar, the wind carried the low voices of the young man and the man.

“Why so slow? That reluctant to leave?”

“A Liu, he…”

Hang Liu slowly withdrew his gaze, a flicker of darkness passing through his gentle eyes.

~~~

Jiang Rang’s mood remained low all day, his mind wandering constantly.

He couldn’t stop worrying about his fiancé, wracked with guilt and unable to face him. Fortunately, the Male Master was understanding and didn’t hold it against him.

As dusk fell, Jiang Rang emerged weary from the bathroom and opened the door to his small room. Just as he was about to close it, a pair of warm arms wrapped tightly around him from behind.

“A-Rang…”

A hoarse voice, thick with sobs, came from his back.

That weeping tone brimmed with grievance, humiliation, and dejection. Jiang Rang could even feel the warm tears spreading across his spine.

Hang Liu was crying.

The young man panicked in an instant. Hang Liu had always been soft yet resilient; he wouldn’t cry like this without reason.

Jiang Rang hurriedly turned around and half-embraced the young man’s waist. Seeing Hang Liu’s face pale and tear-streaked, his eyes red and pitiable, he felt both heartbroken and anxious. His voice trembled as he said, “A Liu, A Liu, what’s wrong? Did someone wrong you? Tell me, okay?”

Hang Liu half-collapsed against the young man’s sturdy shoulder, tears streaming down his cheeks one after another. He cried like a willow bending in the wind, utterly pitiable, and no matter how the beta coaxed him, he refused to explain.

Helpless, Jiang Rang held him with one arm while gently patting his back with the other to help him catch his breath.

It took a long while before Hang Liu finally calmed down.

The young man’s face was a mix of white and pink, evoking the image of some fragile little creature. As he steadied his breathing, he turned his face away and murmured, “A-Rang, you… you were so cold to me in front of everyone today.”

At this point, Jiang Rang had forgotten all about guilt or betrayal. The moment Hang Liu cried, his mind went blank, his heart pounding swollen in his chest.

The honey-toned young man lowered his voice and coaxed gently, “A Liu, I was wrong. Don’t be mad—let me apologize to you, okay?”

Hang Liu kept his eyes downcast, his lashes trembling. “No.”

After saying those words, he suddenly lifted his gaze. A pair of ink-black eyes, clear as if washed clean, were dotted with specks of red. He stared at Jiang Rang and said softly, “A-Rang, today someone told me that you have an improper relationship with that Mr. Qi.”

Jiang Rang’s heart lurched in panic. It felt like a pot of boiling water had been abruptly poured into his mind, the scorching heat burning away all reason and leaving his thoughts a bloody blur.

The young man had never imagined that such a humiliating secret would be exposed to A Liu so quickly.

He knew he was despicable for dragging things out with Hang Liu like this. He should have come clean long ago. But he was terrified of seeing the subtle affection they once shared turn into malice and disgust in the eyes of his former lover.

His cracked, dry lips felt rusted shut—he couldn’t pry them open no matter how he tried.

Jiang Rang squeezed his eyes shut, his palms clenching tight. Just as turmoil raged in his heart, the young man’s angry, frustrated voice suddenly rang in his ears.

Hang Liu looked utterly innocent. He gazed at Jiang Rang with complete trust, his soft, fragile voice turning slightly hoarse as he said, “They’re going too far, A-Rang. You’ve never been that kind of person, and you would never do something like that, right?”

Jiang Rang pressed his lips together. Suddenly, he didn’t dare look anymore. He was afraid of seeing that trust in Hang Liu’s eyes—and afraid of confronting the young man’s sincere heart.

He wanted to confess everything, but in the next instant, Hang Liu gently closed his eyes and sealed Jiang Rang’s lips with a kiss.

Jiang Rang froze in place, his gaze turning dazed.

This was one of the rare moments of true intimacy between them.

Though they were engaged, rural gossip was rampant. Jiang Rang had always been proper and reserved, while Hang Liu was equally prim. Apart from hugs and hand-holding, they had almost no other physical contact. Their relationship was pure to an unbelievable degree.

Jiang Rang’s mind turned to complete mush. The faint fragrance from Hang Liu’s body filled his nostrils—perhaps from body wash or soap.

Unlike the pheromones of an omega or alpha, Hang Liu’s scent was deeply reassuring and comforting. It was like the warm breath of bedsheets and blankets after a long day of exhaustion.

Noticing Jiang Rang’s distraction, his fiancé’s eyes flashed with a hint of anger. As punishment, he nipped at the beta’s lip.

Hang Liu had sharp little tiger teeth. Even a slight lapse in control left Jiang Rang’s lips slightly swollen and red.

“Hiss—”

The young man couldn’t hold back a wince, hissing softly in pain.

They were both so inexperienced and awkward. Seeing that he’d hurt Jiang Rang, Hang Liu panicked. He grabbed the young man’s wrist and leaned in close, apologizing in a soft, pitiful voice. “A-Rang, I’m sorry. Was I too rough?”

Jiang Rang pressed one hand to his upper lip and half-covered his flushed cheek with the other. He was too flustered to speak, managing only a mumbled shake of his head.

Seeing him like this, Hang Liu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Silly A-Rang,” he said lightly.

Jiang Rang’s face burned even hotter, steam practically rising from his head.

Just as the mood between them began to warm, a raspy electronic hiss suddenly emanated from the Bell Ornament on Jiang Rang’s nightstand.

After a moment, the static warped into the calm, low, hoarse voice of a man, chillingly cold.

“Jiang Rang, come to me.”

A shiver ran through Jiang Rang’s entire body. He suddenly remembered that the Bell Ornament’s function was entirely up to Qi Yu’s whims.

If the other man wished it, the thing was the perfect eavesdropping device.