Chapter 34

The living room lights were on. Aunt Fang stood to the side, holding Chen Shuhui's suitcase, looking extremely torn—unsure whether to leave or try to mediate.

"This is outrageous, bringing every stray cat and dog into the house!"

Chen Shuhui was wearing a rather elegant and refined suit, looking expensive and upper-class, but her tone was full of disgust and contempt. Fang Yisen stood in front of the coffee table, his face expressionless and calm.

Wen Ran quickly stepped over, placing himself in front of Fang Yisen. "Ge insisted on keeping Assistant Fang locked up here. He can't leave even if he wants to."

A sharp gaze landed on Wen Ran's face. Chen Shuhui asked, "Are you lecturing me?"

"Just explaining, so you don't get too angry." Fang Yisen was standing right behind him. Wen Ran could hear his calm, faint breathing, which somehow gave him courage. Wen Ran said, "If Ge would just let him go, you wouldn't have to get so worked up."

"Who knows if it's an act? Some people will do anything to climb the ladder."

That phrase was most fitting for the Wen Family itself. Wen Ran asked, "What does our family have that's worth climbing for?"

Maybe he was crazy too. After being family with two lunatics for so long, chances were he wasn't exactly normal either.

With a dull thud, Chen Shuhui threw her bag onto the sofa and stared at Wen Ran. "Have you forgotten what you are? The Wen Family has raised you all these years, fed you, clothed you. Do you think you've latched onto the Gu Family now, that you have a backer?"

In Chen Shuhui's mind, it seemed rebellion had to be built on having something to rely on. A bare-handed fight was just a laughable act of overestimating oneself.

Fang Yisen's hand was already on Wen Ran's shoulder, ready to push him aside at any moment, but Wen Ran stubbornly stood his ground, refusing to move.

"I haven't latched onto the Gu Family. I'm just telling the truth."

Chen Shuhui seemed to study Wen Ran's face for a moment, then gave a contemptuous laugh, as if implying something. "Betas really are all a bunch of delusional trash."

"Still better than a crazy omega like you."

A low voice came from behind. Wen Rui stepped through the doorway, his face heavy with exhaustion, but his expression was cold enough to be frightening.

"I'm the one who brought him here. If you're angry, take it out on me." Wen Rui walked in front of Wen Ran, his tall frame completely blocking Chen Shuhui.

"Take it out on you?" Chen Shuhui sneered. "Would you listen? Do any of you still see me in your eyes?"

"You treat everyone like chess pieces, and you still want others to see you? That's too greedy. Don't you realize you've already turned this home into a prison?" Wen Rui showed no intention of backing down. "I suggest you focus your energy on real problems. Think about how to clean up those messes, instead of going crazy at home. What's the point?"

"Messes? Did I create those messes alone? You think you're not involved?"

"Stop pinning everything on me all the time. Haven't you all done enough dirty deeds? Might as well let it all crash and burn sooner. I'm sick of it anyway."

Chen Shuhui scoffed. "You think you're so noble, clinging to a Beta. Isn't he just a substitute?"

The hand on his shoulder shifted slightly. Wen Ran looked at Wen Rui's back, remembering a rumor he'd once heard: years ago, Wen Rui had an omega first love. Their family backgrounds didn't match, so Chen Shuhui opposed it. Later, the person went abroad and was never heard from again.

He suddenly understood why Wen Rui had fallen for Fang Yisen at first sight, why he was so desperate to keep him by his side—and that threat about implanting an omega Gland into Fang Yisen. It also contained the desire to make the substitute more to his liking.

Wen Ran wondered if everyone in the Wen Family had some obsession with omegas. From himself to Fang Yisen. The difference was, he was forced to become an omega for profit, while Fang Yisen's misfortune was completely random—imprisoned, humiliated, even facing the risk of having his sex changed, all because of a similar face.

"So what? How do you know if I'm treating him as a substitute now, or as himself?" As if afraid she wasn't provoked enough, Wen Rui continued, "Bringing him home this time meant nothing special. I'm just letting you know, while I'm at it, that I'm going to marry him."

Abruptly, Wen Ran felt Fang Yisen's hand tighten, gripping his shoulder.

Then, the next second—*smack*—Wen Rui's head was knocked sideways by a slap from Chen Shuhui.

In the dead silence, Chen Shuhui enunciated each word clearly: "Don't even think about it."

The sound of high heels clicked. She picked up her bag from the sofa, hurried up the stairs. Aunt Fang gave Wen Rui a worried look, then picked up the suitcase and followed.

"Psycho." Wen Rui casually wiped his face, turned around, and tilted his head to look at Fang Yisen behind Wen Ran. "Pack your things. Let's go."

"Go where?" Wen Ran asked instinctively, afraid Wen Rui, after being slapped, might be so angry he'd take Fang Yisen straight for surgery.

Wen Rui looked at Wen Ran calmly, the slap mark still on his face. "Back to his place."

Then he grabbed Fang Yisen's hand, which was still gripping Wen Ran's shoulder, and dragged him away.

A domineering mother, a checked-out older brother, and a useless younger brother—they formed this absurd, bizarre family. Any normal person would steer clear, let alone Gu Yunchi and Fang Yisen, who knew the inside story. One was tricked into an Engagement, the other was forcibly detained. Wen Ran thought he must still have some conscience left. Otherwise, why did he always feel guilty facing them?

Back in his room, Wen Ran spaced out at his desk for a while. But Li Qingwan's name and face kept surfacing in his mind.

He opened his Mobile Phone and searched for 'Li Qingwan'. The first thing that caught his eye was a photo of Li Qingwan performing, much clearer than in the group photo. Wen Ran stared at the photo for a long moment before continuing to read the text.

Li Qingwan, female, Beta, graduated from the Capital Conservatory of Music, formerly Assistant Principal of the First Violin section of the Capital Orchestra in the Capital City.

"Beta…" Wen Ran repeated unconsciously. He'd thought a beautiful, talented Violinist like Li Qingwan would at least be an A-grade omega. He never imagined she was a Beta.

After browsing all the web pages—mostly news about awards and performances—everything tied to her honors stopped eighteen years ago. After that, there were only scattered speculations about how this genius violinist had suddenly vanished from the public eye, until even those were drowned out by the long passage of time, with no further updates.

Wen Ran looked at his phone until the screen went black on its own. His own face was reflected in the dark screen—a face so similar to Li Qingwan's.

Was it just a coincidence? Could two unrelated strangers resemble each other to this degree?

Both in the Capital Orchestra, one a Violinist, one a cellist. Chen Shuhui couldn't possibly not know about Li Qingwan's existence. And she chose to adopt him—was it not only because he shared the same blood type and mole as the deceased Wen Ran, but also because he resembled Li Qingwan?

Did she hate Li Qingwan? If she did, why adopt someone who looked so much like her? Wen Ran didn't quite understand. In his first few years at the Wen Family, Chen Shuhui wasn't exactly warm to him, but she didn't show disgust either. Her attitude changed after Wen Ningyuan passed away.

Too many questions. Maybe he could find answers from Chen Shuhui herself. Unfortunately, Wen Ran couldn't ask her.

Monday. The Fenqi Period wasn't completely over yet, but it had little effect. Wen Ran went to the Preparatory School. Before he could even get to his classroom, Tao Susu hooked her arm through his in the hallway and whispered, "Check my hair, is it messy? Is it?"

"No." Wen Ran was baffled. "What's wrong?"

"Good." Tao Susu let go of him, turned around, and beamed a radiant smile at the Alpha walking toward them. "Xu Ze!"

The Alpha looked at her, giving a quiet, polite nod.

After the person walked past, Tao Susu asked Wen Ran, "Do you think he's handsome?"

Wen Ran said very sincerely, "Drop-dead gorgeous."

He really was drop-dead gorgeous. Not long after school started, Wen Ran once saw Xu Ze riding a beat-up bicycle past him, covered in bandages, completely out of place. He'd watched his retreating figure for a long time, feeling a strange kinship—like a sewer rat encountering a lonely stray dog in this Preparatory School full of lions and tigers.

Until one time he saw Xu Ze leaving school with Lu Heyang. The atmosphere between them made it hard to believe it was just simple schoolmate affection. Wen Ran felt like a clown.

Tao Susu covered her face, giggling happily. Wen Ran hesitated, wanting to tell her that Xu Ze seemed to be dating Lu Heyang, but considering it was someone else's privacy, he ultimately chose to keep his mouth shut.

Apart from slight dizziness, he was fine. After smoothly finishing three classes, Wen Ran went to the office to hand in the test papers he'd missed due to his absence. Just as he stepped out of the classroom, he saw He Wei—who had somehow gotten hold of a loudspeaker—standing by the corridor railing, smiling slightly at the ground floor below, then flipping the amplifier switch.

"A warm welcome to Young Master Gu, gracing our school with his presence! Our humble halls are honored! We are deeply privileged! A warm welcome to Young Master Gu, gracing our school with his presence! Our humble halls are honored! We are deeply—"

It was He Wei's own recorded voice, amplified by the speaker, sounding passionate and ringing with force, instantly echoing through the entire senior-year building. Wen Ran looked down. Gu Yunchi, who had been walking beside the flower bed, stopped and looked up at the instigator, his annoyed face turning icy.

Thirty seconds later, the batteries were ripped out of He Wei's loudspeaker, and He Wei himself was grabbed by the collar of his uniform and dragged into a classroom, leaving behind only a shrill, anguished cry of 'Heyang, save me—!'

Walking toward the back door of He Wei's classroom, Wen Ran pretended to pass by but was actually watching the show. However, something that drew him in even more than He Wei's head being stuffed into a drawer appeared right in front of him—the drone in Song Shuangang's hands.

Wen Ran jogged over a couple of steps, looking left and right. "Is that yours?"

"Mhm. It's a bit bulky, so I left it in the teacher's office for a few classes. Planning to take it to film the library during lunch break." Song Shuangang gently placed the drone on the ground. "Want to see?"

"Thanks." Wen Ran squatted down to examine it carefully. "Is it safe for indoor filming?"

"Had someone modify it a bit, added some accessories—lidar and stuff. Positioning is more accurate."

"Are you filming alone? Can I come watch?"

"Sort of alone… not really. Tao Susu's coming too." Song Shuangang's expression turned slightly troubled. "She asked me to film a video of her dancing on the library rooftop while I'm at it."

The thought of Song Shuangang, who only loved filming books, being forced by Tao Susu to shoot a dance video was unexpectedly funny. Wen Ran did laugh. Just then, Gu Yunchi, having finished dealing with He Wei and about to head back to his own class, walked out the back door. Wen Ran, still laughing, met his gaze.

For no reason, he felt nervous. Wen Ran quickly wiped the smile off his face, stood up, and said to Song Shuangang, "I'll find you at the library after lunch then."

"Okay." Song Shuangang picked up the drone, glanced at Gu Yunchi, then headed into his classroom.

Knowing Gu Yunchi disliked other classmates noticing their relationship, Wen Ran didn't initiate conversation. He just stood there watching him until Gu Yunchi returned to his classroom with a cold expression. Only then did Wen Ran take the test papers to the office.

The last class before lunch was self-study, but Wen Ran was distracted. After thinking and thinking, he secretly took out his Mobile Phone and texted BDH-339 for the first time.

Wen Ran: BDH-339, can you give me his phone number?

BDH-339: Your first time messaging me on your own, and it's to ask for the young master's phone number! (Sad for one second) I don't have permission to disclose the young master's personal information. Need his consent, please wait!

So he still had to ask Gu Yunchi. This was awkward, but it was too late to stop it. Wen Ran could only wait in awkwardness.

BDH-339: No

Realizing this was BDH-339 directly forwarding Gu Yunchi's reply, Wen Ran braced himself: Is he in self-study right now?

BDH-339: None of your business

Wen Ran: I have something to ask him. If he's free now, can he go to classroom 109?

BDH-339: No

Wen Ran: Okay then…

He turned off his phone and started working on problems. A minute later, his phone vibrated.

BDH-339: Come over

He froze for a second, then immediately snapped his pen cap shut. To throw people off, he made a point of grabbing his workbook too. Tao Susu, who was sneakily watching kangaroo footage from her family estate's security cameras on her phone, looked up. "Where are you going?"

"S-self-study room."

"The whole grade is having self-study. Is there a need for the self-study room?"

Wen Ran gave a guilty smile and quietly slipped out of the classroom.

The hallway was quiet. The whole building was quiet. Wen Ran pushed open the self-study room door. It was empty. Gu Yunchi was leaning against the first-row desk, looking down at his phone. Outside the window were lush trees in the shade, dyeing the entire classroom a deep, hushed green.

"I thought you really weren't coming." Wen Ran placed his book on the second-row desk. His heart was inexplicably beating a bit fast.

Gu Yunchi didn't speak. He tapped his phone a few times, then handed it over for Wen Ran to see the screen.

BDH-339: Little Ran wants your phone number. Which one should I give him, young master?

Gu Yunchi: No

BDH-339: ToT Wuwu~ Are you in self-study right now~

Gu Yunchi: None of your business

BDH-339: Got something I wanna ask you~ Can you go to classroom 109 now~ I'll come right over too~?

Gu Yunchi: No

BDH-339: Pleeease~ I wanna talk to you~ Go on, go on~???

Gu Yunchi: Come over

That ghostly tone gave Wen Ran a chill. He clarified, "I definitely didn't say it like that. That was BDH-339."

"I know."

Good. Wen Ran sat down on the chair and looked at him. "Are you in a bad mood today? Because of He Wei and the loudspeaker?"

"If you have something to say, say it."

"Oh." Wen Ran hesitated, then asked, "I want to know, when you have someone investigate a person or something, how do they do it?"

Gu Yunchi glanced at him. "The same way the police do."

"Is it very expensive?"

"It's not about money."

Come to think of it, even if it were about money, the problem was he had none.

He gave up. Wen Ran said offhandedly, "Then you can probably find out anything, right?"

"There are exceptions." Gu Yunchi looked out the window. "To be precise, things that seem very suspicious, but when you look into them, you can't find a single thing that doesn't add up."

Wen Ran thought for a moment. "Could it be that the thing actually had no problem to begin with?"

"Sometimes no problem is the biggest problem. It means someone doesn't want me to know, and more than one person." Gu Yunchi turned his head to look at him. "What do you want to investigate?"

"Nothing, just suddenly curious, so I asked." Afraid Gu Yunchi would suspect something, Wen Ran changed the subject. "What about the bodyguard from the yacht before? Did you find out anything?"

"Someone kidnapped his daughter, threatened him to be an inside man."

Wen Ran was instantly startled. "How's his daughter now?"

"Safe. The ones caught were just scapegoats anyway. But it doesn't matter. The timing wasn't right yet."

"The bodyguard… how will he be dealt with?"

"Grandfather left it to me to decide. After all, he'd been with me for six years, and he was forced." Gu Yunchi lowered his lashes, looking at Wen Ran's ugly handwriting on the workbook. "But he can't stay by my side anymore. Gave him a sum of money, settled his family abroad."

Wen Ran rested his head on the desk, watching Gu Yunchi's lowered eyes. He thought maybe Gu Yunchi wasn't completely unaffected by betrayal and deception. Six years was long—it occupied a third of his life so far. How could he not be upset?

Six years was also short—so short that his parents, who passed away when he was six, couldn't leave behind more memories.

"The bad guys are the ones in the wrong. You're good. Really good." Wen Ran reached out and patted his waist comfortingly, then changed the subject again. "My mom came home yesterday. She was furious when she saw Fang Yisen, had a huge fight with my ge."

"Your family's quite lively."

"I also heard them mention 'messes'. I wonder if something's happened again with the Shengdian Group."

"Then you should at least know your ge was very close with Wei Lingzhou before, and those people like Tang Feiyi." Gu Yunchi said. "Acted like brothers when down on their luck, then secretly latched onto their biggest rival behind their backs. Of course they'd come looking for trouble."

Wen Ran felt a sudden realization. "I get it now."

"The Shengdian Group is now publicly and completely tied to the Boqing Group—shares, projects, foundations. It's equivalent to a complete betrayal of Wei Lingzhou and Tang Feiyi." Gu Yunchi crossed his arms and leaned against the window. "A reminder to be careful from now on. Whether because you're a Wen Family member or because of the Gu Family marriage alliance, you're an easy target. And your brain isn't great."

"You mean like kidnapping?" Wen Ran didn't feel too scared. He looked down at the problems. "Capturing me… wouldn't be useful, right? I don't seem like a threat to either side. The Wen Family could manage the Company fine without me, given the current situation. The Gu Family would probably be better off without me—should be better for you."

Gu Yunchi asked, "Better how?"

After thinking for a few seconds, Wen Ran said, "Actually, maybe not better. Because currently my Pheromone is still somewhat useful to you, right?"

Gu Yunchi looked at him for a while, then raised his hand and pushed the window beside him open about ten centimeters for air. Then he said, "You cheated on your final exam to get 28th place, didn't you."

"?" Wen Ran sat up straight immediately. "I wrote it myself. I study hard."

"Going to the library right after lunch. Very hard indeed."

"The library?" Wen Ran remembered. "Not to study. Song Shuangang is filming a video. I'm going to see the drone. Tao Susu will be there too."

"You're on good terms."

"Yeah. Tao Susu cares about me a lot. Song Shuangang is a good person too."

"Then why don't you ask him for his Pheromone."

"Huh?" Having had the facts of life explained to him, Wen Ran was starting to grow sensitive about it. He widened his eyes. "He and I are just ordinary friends. How could I smell his Pheromone? Isn't that a bit of a nasty thing to say?"

Gu Yunchi said lightly, "Thought you'd forgotten everything. But you remember this."

"Of course I remember. I remember most of it." Wen Ran stated firmly, then added, sounding a little less sure of himself, "What you just said was a bit hurtful. As compensation, can you give me your phone number?"

"What do you need a phone number for."

Wen Ran dodged the question and changed the subject: "I heard Tao Susu say last time that someone's selling your phone number on the sly, for a lot of money. Don't know if it's true."

Gu Yunchi said, "Try it and see."

"You haven't even given me the number yet, and you're already threatening me?"

This time, he didn't outright refuse. Gu Yunchi looked at Wen Ran's face. "Want it?"

Wen Ran hummed in affirmation. "Want it."

"Hand. Pen."

After a second to react, Wen Ran handed over the pen, then held out his palm.

Gu Yunchi took Wen Ran's hand, cradling the back of it in his palm. By comparison, Wen Ran's hand was at least two sizes smaller, clean and fair. When the pen tip touched down, Wen Ran ticklishly flinched. Gu Yunchi tightened his grip. "Don't move."

"Oh." Wen Ran looked at their hands, then at Gu Yunchi's eyelashes and the bridge of his nose. Suddenly he said, "Why is it that being with you makes me so incredibly happy?"

The pen, which was writing the ninth digit, paused briefly, then continued to finish. Gu Yunchi let go of Wen Ran's hand, lowered his eyes to close the pen cap, and said, "Well, you do like having affairs."

"……"

Wen Ran looked at the number in his palm, even blew on it lightly in case the ink wasn't dry. From his angle, the numbers were upside down, but it didn't matter. After reciting it twice in his mind, he could already memorize it.

"If I call you, will you answer?"

"No."

"What about if I text?"

"Won't reply."

Wen Ran said, "But you'll look at it, right? It's fine if you just look, no need to reply."

Gu Yunchi didn't answer, just looked at him. Wen Ran didn't avoid his gaze. Leaves rustled softly outside. After a long while, Gu Yunchi spoke. "I'm going abroad soon."

"Is something the matter?" Wen Ran was taken aback.

"Traveling." Gu Yunchi ended the eye contact, turning to look at the trees outside the window. "Might be gone for a while. After that, I'll be going out frequently too."

A strange, complicated feeling rose in his heart—like sadness, or reluctance, and unease. Wen Ran couldn't understand it. He looked down at the number in his palm, then nodded. "Then have fun."

Then he asked, "If you don't have anything else, could you stay here and keep me company doing problems for this class?"

Gu Yunchi turned his head back. "I'm very busy."

Wen Ran smiled and started working on the problems.

In the empty, shady classroom, only the sound of wind through leaves drifted in. Gu Yunchi leaned by the window. Wen Ran, head bent over his writing, his profile calm and focused, sat amidst the cold green tones, like a quiet, still tree.