Chapter 26: Dark-Skinned Rugged Honest Man 26

Foggy daylight filtered through the thin gauze curtains, scattering fragmented beams into the narrow, warm, and chaotic nest.

Several items of clothing lay balled up and tangled on the dark wooden floor, mingling urgently with the room’s inescapable air of intimacy, blatantly proclaiming the desperate frenzy of the previous night.

The bed had shifted slightly out of place, and a gap between it and the bedside cabinet faintly leaked a damp, salty scent.

The young man on the bed slept soundly. His beautiful honey-colored body seemed coated in a layer of soft, glowing fuzz under the hazy sky. But amid the rising and falling contours of his chest and abdomen, a pair of arms pale enough to be translucent were wrapped around him. Those arms were covered in thin muscle, with slender hand bones tensed, blue veins bulging prominently—a sight brimming with raw sexual tension.

Perhaps the air was too stuffy, or maybe the sheets were too soaked, but the beta’s brows furrowed slightly in his sleep. His thick eyelashes fluttered instinctively, like a butterfly struggling to take flight from the darkness.

Soon, however, a pair of excessively pale wrists gently caressed the youth’s flushed face, brushing aside his short hair, which was half-dry with fine sweat, as if brimming with endless tenderness and affection.

Jiang Rang groggily half-opened his heavy eyelids. He was utterly exhausted; his entire body felt beyond his control, reduced to pure instinct.

The moment he opened his eyes, he was met with an enlarged, exquisitely flawless face of stunning beauty.

The Male Master no longer looked as pallid as before. Countless rouge-like reds gathered on his eyelids, nose tip, and cheeks, like a flower bud on the verge of blooming.

But what drew the eye most was the black silk nightgown draped over the omega’s body.

The nightgown was very short, with high slits that coyly half-concealed the thighs right up to their roots.

Seeing Jiang Rang’s dazed, just-awakened gaze fall between his legs, the man even gently lifted the hem of the nightgown, revealing an even more brazenly intimate angle.

A low, husky chuckle echoed through the room.

The beta snapped awake as if doused in cold water. His honest and conservative nature turned his face beet red in an instant. Not only that, he scrambled backward across the bed, nearly tumbling off the edge.

The low laughter grew more pronounced. Only after a long moment, when the youth seemed on the verge of breaking, did Qi Yu half-sit up. His long hair draped over his shoulders, and his pitch-black eyes held waves of spring water. In a soft voice, the man said, “Jiang Rang, breakfast is ready. Wash up and come down to eat something.”

The youth stayed silent, head bowed low, clutching the gray sheets tightly over his aching waist and abdomen.

Qi Yu understood the beta’s temperament well and knew how rural upbringing could make the young man prone to overthinking.

Thus, the man narrowed his eyes slightly and mentioned casually, “The servants at the villa all have the day off today. I made breakfast myself.”

“You know,” the omega said, a shy blush rising on his face as he lowered his gaze, “this was my first time. You have to comfort me a little, don’t you?”

The nearly explicit, unabashed words turned Jiang Rang’s entire body crimson. His mind felt like a mush of molten pulp, leaving no room for other thoughts. Clutching the sheets tighter, the beta stammered instinctively, “M-Mr. Qi…”

The Male Master’s glossy red lips curved into an arc, adding a mature allure to his gorgeous features. In a gently reproving tone, he murmured, “No one’s around now. Are you still calling me Mr. Qi?”

Like the body of a snake, his cool, pale wrist slithered slowly up the beta’s waist. In a daze, the Snake Demon gently nestled against the youth’s shoulder and breathed softly against his ear, “You should call me Qi Yu.”

Jiang Rang’s eyelids trembled violently, and the death grip on the sheets was gently undone by the beautiful Male Master.

The collapse of his willpower happened in an instant. Jiang Rang didn’t even know when his breathing had grown so ragged and embarrassing.

By the time he came back to himself, the stunningly icy Male Master had planted a gentle farewell kiss on the corner of his lips. A trembling thread of silver, shimmering with hazy luster, connected their lips.

This was just… too much…

The poor Honest Person had little experience and was left utterly bewildered. His healthy, handsome body was completely at the man’s mercy, even down to his intimate undergarments, which the man coaxed him into changing.

Jiang Rang had always been the one taking care of others. Now, being pampered and served by a beautiful omega—who even planned to feed him his meal—finally made him shift uncomfortably away.

The beta nervously twisted the soft hem of his clothes, eyes downcast, not daring to glance at the Male Master even once.

In a tight voice, he said, “Sir, you don’t have to… don’t have to do this.”

Qi Yu didn’t force the beta. He knew the wisdom of quitting while he was ahead, but the man also made sure the atmosphere didn’t cool off.

The man, who was unstoppable in the business world, understood human nature all too well. People often felt pangs of regret or other ugly emotions in the aftermath of certain things.

Especially since this youth had been half-coerced and half-seduced into his bed, the man wasn’t about to give him any chance to overthink or second-guess.

So before the beta could even bring it up, the man took the initiative and addressed the youth’s deepest concern, speaking in an unhurried tone. “Jiang Rang, the medical expert I reached out to a few days ago—the one who specializes in ALS—has already arrived in Juecheng.”

Jiang Rang froze. The omega pursed his lips, and for once, his usual icy expression softened with genuine warmth. “The experts have already examined Uncle’s condition and put together a targeted treatment plan to ease his symptoms. Barring any surprises, he should wake up in just a couple of days.”

“This morning, I had Uncle moved to the best private room and brought in several caregivers with plenty of experience in this kind of illness to look after him around the clock. You don’t need to worry about things over there.”

Those words hit home. The youth’s eyes lit up. Jiang Rang’s eyes slanted gently downward, framed by long lashes, and now those dark pupils gazed over at him against the backdrop of his wheat-toned skin and sharply defined features—an image of pure, unadorned handsomeness.

He seemed overwhelmed with gratitude, his palms clenched tight, a faint flush creeping into his cheeks and eyes. Stumbling over his words as always, he managed a muffled thank-you. “M-Mister… thank you. Thank you so much.”

Qi Yu felt his heart melt. He ground his top teeth together lightly, struck by just how pitiful and endearing the youth was.

He rested his cool wrist gently atop the youth’s feverish palm and gave it a soothing pat, his voice softening. “All right, let’s eat.”

With that, the long-haired Male Master—hair tucked neatly behind his ear—rose to his feet. He personally lifted the lid from the warming pot of porridge and ladled out a bowl for the youth and one for himself.

Jiang Rang was still reeling from the good news, not quite pulled free from his emotions, when he suddenly heard a soft cry of pain from the Male Master at his side, followed by the sharp clink of a porcelain spoon hitting the porridge bowl.

The beta’s heart lurched. He whipped his head around.

The man’s alabaster face bore a faint stress-flush, his delicate brows pinched tight, a deep red rimming his eyes. His pitch-black gaze was sheened with swelling tears, hovering on the brink of spilling over.

Catching Jiang Rang’s attention, the omega murmured softly, unable to hold back. “I got scalded.”

Jiang Rang panicked even more. All thoughts of the Male Master’s nighttime antics flew from his mind; all he could think about was how sensitive and fragile an omega’s body could be.

The beta shot to his feet and hurried over, cupping the Male Master’s slender jaw with one hand. “Mister, open up.”

A few fine tears trailed from the hauntingly beautiful tail of Qi Yu’s eyes. He let out a soft hum of compliance and parted his lips, extending his scalded, crimson tongue tip.

The gesture carried an excessive demonic allure—not the pain of a burn, but something more like ecstasy from the youth’s touch.

The honest guy had no room for such ideas right now. Head bowed in concentration, he carefully inspected the Male Master’s injury before dashing upstairs to retrieve the water-based topical ointment the doctor had prescribed specifically for omegas.

Frowning in concern, Jiang Rang set aside the disinfection tray, dipped a clean cotton swab in the medicine, and gave careful, quiet instructions. “Mister, part your lips. Stick your tongue out as far as you can—don’t let it close.”

Qi Yu’s expression grew hazy, almost entranced. He followed the youth’s directions to the letter, his hands curling unconsciously at his sides.

Jiang Rang exhaled softly and leaned in closer, dabbing the medicine ever so gently onto the man’s scarlet tongue tip.

But even that lightest touch drew another pained cry from the Male Master, who recoiled on instinct.

Tears brimming, Qi Yu mumbled thickly, “Jiang Rang… lighter, please.”

The beta’s hand jerked. Snapping back to reality, he seemed to grasp something, his lashes quivering wildly. A sheen of sweat beaded on his honeyed forehead, and the hand clutching the cotton swab shook harder than ever.

The omega let out a soft sigh. He gently plucked the swab from the youth’s grip and murmured, “Just use your hand.”

Jiang Rang’s throat worked visibly. After their night of intimacy, even the most innocent contact sparked a flood of memories—not to mention this medicine application, laced as it was with such loaded words and gestures.

The beta kept his eyes firmly downcast, no longer daring to meet the Male Master’s gaze. He dipped his thumb in the ointment, secured the man’s pointed jaw with his other hand, and pressed the pad of his thumb to the tongue tip, rubbing the medicine in with exquisite care.

Jiang Rang felt the sweat trickling from his forehead down his jawline. His throat burned dry, his mind assaulted by a barrage of illicit images.

Just as Jiang Rang could no longer endure it, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated with an abrupt ringtone.

Jiang Rang gasped for breath, dragging his chair back several exaggerated steps.

The young man didn’t glance at the man again. He nervously wiped the glistening liquid from his right hand and then answered the phone.

The screen showed a familiar number along with an overly intimate label.

“Darling A Liu Wife”

Jiang Rang’s face turned pale in an instant.

Jiang Rang had personally gotten the phone and SIM card for Hang Liu. Back then, the young man had just followed Jiang Rang to Juecheng, and Jiang Rang couldn’t stay by his side at the hospital all day and night, so he simply bought him a phone and set up the card.

Hang Liu had insisted that Jiang Rang change the contact name at the time, saying it would remind the young man that someone was always waiting for him at home.

The moment the call connected, Jiang Rang’s throat felt parched—he couldn’t even utter a single word.

Hang Liu’s voice soon came through from the other end, laced with barely concealed fatigue and dejection.

“A-Rang, why did it take you so long to pick up?”

The young man’s questioning tone carried a hint of vulnerability as he tremblingly asked, “Where exactly were you last night? You said you were out discussing fundraising with someone, but A-Rang, are you really so busy that you can’t even spare a moment to return a call?”

Both of them fell silent for a moment. Jiang Rang parted his lips, but after a long pause, his eyes reddened uncontrollably, and he couldn’t say a word.

After a while, Hang Liu softened his voice. He tried his best to suppress his emotions and said warmly, “Alright, A-Rang, I didn’t mean to get upset with you. Come home first, okay?”

As he spoke, the young man’s tone grew choked with sobs. “I… I’m really scared. I can’t sleep, A-Rang. I’m afraid you’re going to abandon me.”

Jiang Rang opened his mouth, about to say something, when the phone was suddenly snatched away by a pair of pale hands.

Qi Yu nodded reassuringly at the young man and said softly, “Don’t say anything. Let me talk to him.”

The beta couldn’t hear a thing—he was clearly terrified that the male master would mercilessly expose their sordid deal in front of Hang Liu.

But the omega leaned close to the young man’s ear and whispered, “Relax, Jiang Rang. I just don’t want to put you in a tough spot. I won’t say anything out of line.”

Only then did Jiang Rang calm down a bit.

By now, Qi Yu was already speaking with Hang Liu. When dealing with outsiders, the man’s demeanor visibly shifted—he was refined yet sharp in his words, exuding the air of someone in a position of power.

“Hello, I’m Jiang Rang’s employer here in Juecheng. I’ve heard about how busy he’s been with his father’s illness lately, and since I happen to know some medical experts in that field, I offered to help out.”

Something seemed to be said on the other end, but Jiang Rang couldn’t make it out clearly. He only saw Qi Yu nodding slowly, his dark eyes fixed on Jiang Rang as he calmly said, “I’ve always been very satisfied with Jiang Rang’s work ethic, and I’m glad I could assist him.”

“It’s just that, as compensation, he’ll need to stay busy for a while longer, handling matters by my side.”

The man lowered his gaze, slowly rubbing his index finger. After a long moment, he suddenly narrowed his eyes and said meaningfully, “You’re saying you want to come here and apply for a job too?”

“It’s possible, of course, but shouldn’t you ask Jiang Rang what he thinks?”

Jiang Rang’s mind went blank for a moment, a fine sheen of cold sweat breaking out on his back. Without thinking, he snatched the phone from Qi Yu’s hand and said urgently in a low voice, “A Liu, your health isn’t good—how could you come out to work?”

The young man’s words stumbled out, the fear and desperation buried within them nearly laid bare.

Yet Hang Liu’s tone on the other end was gentle and upbeat. “A-Rang, what’s wrong with that? You’re the only one supporting the family right now—it’s too hard on you. I want to help out too. Your employer sounds like a good person. I could come and share some of the burden…”

“A Liu!” The young man’s tone was almost frantic. He swallowed hard and lowered his voice. “Be good and listen—you can’t come.”

The breathing on the other end lightened for a moment. After a long pause, Hang Liu suddenly asked, “A-Rang, what are you so afraid of?”

Jiang Rang’s breath hitched, his fingers trembling—he didn’t know what to say.

After a long while, the beta finally heard Hang Liu say softly on the other end, “A-Rang, I just want to be useful somehow.”

Jiang Rang’s fingers clenched tightly. After a long moment, he finally let out a low response from his throat.

He couldn’t refuse Hang Liu’s request.

He had wronged A Liu, broken their vows, and betrayed A Liu’s trust most of all.

The young man listened in a daze to the faint breathing on the other end. After a moment, he took the initiative to end the call.