Chapter 61: Seduction – Is This How a Normal Brother Looks at His Younger Brother? / No…
A hint of thin anger pooled in the depths of Xie Huaijin’s eyes. He reached out and grabbed Jiang Chenyan’s collar, yet his lips curled into a cold, sardonic smile: “Why should I scram? Do you know what my status is?”
Jiang Chenyan frowned. “I don’t care what your status is.”
The Alpha took a step forward, leaning down to close the distance. His warm breath nearly brushed Jiang Chenyan’s ear, his tone rising slightly at the end, “I am the VIP guest your Jiang family specifically invited.”
“So, shouldn’t you have a better attitude toward me now?”
Jiang Chenyan abruptly tilted his head to dodge, stepping back to put half an arm’s distance between him and Xie Huaijin.
In the movement, his hair fell, barely masking the gloom in the depths of his eyes.
Given the Xie family’s strength and status, the Jiang family was a long way behind them. How could they possibly look down on the Jiang family?
Sparse stars dotted the night sky, their faint light falling on the few people.
Seeing the scene before him, Bai Ning’s eyes flickered. He softly broke the silence: “So it turns out you and Mr. Xie have known each other for a long time.”
Jiang Chenyan pursed his lips and didn’t respond.
Seeing this, the smile on Xie Huaijin’s lips grew even deeper. He intentionally draped his arm over Jiang Chenyan’s shoulder. “We are classmates.”
Jiang Chenyan’s brow furrowed slightly. He raised his hand almost instantly and brushed the arm off his body.
Bai Ning’s cheeks were still flushed. He completely failed to notice the strange atmosphere between the two, his gaze fixed on Xie Huaijin. “Mr. Xie, I really didn’t expect you to come.”
They hadn’t seen each other in so long; he had dreamed of seeing Mr. Xie again.
“I wasn’t able to thank you properly back then. It really was thanks to you that I was rescued from that place and escaped that misery…” Bai Ning gripped his hem, rambling about the past, his eyes turning slightly red.
Jiang Chenyan’s thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
He didn’t believe Xie Huaijin was that kind-hearted.
But now…
Bai Ning was overly dependent on Xie Huaijin, acting as if he had been hexed by the other.
Regardless, it was only natural for Bai Ning to be grateful to Xie Huaijin for helping him. Ultimately, it was his own lack of consideration for having forgotten this matter.
Although Xie Huaijin was a bastard, he possessed an exceptionally deceptive and handsome appearance. His nature, however, was worse than ruthless; to him, the emotions and situations of others were nothing more than inconsequential dust that he wouldn’t spare a thought for.
Right now, Xie Huaijin glanced at Jiang Chenyan. Perhaps noticing his detachment, he finally became somewhat impatient.
The Alpha was enveloped in a bone-piercing indifference. That sense of aloofness that kept people at a distance of a thousand miles dug straight into one’s bones. He turned toward Bai Ning and said flatly:
“Enough. I’ve noted your sentiment. We have business now, so go on and do your work.”
“Ah? I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I talked too much.” Bai Ning hurriedly lowered his head to apologize, waving his hands. “Then you two chat, I’ll go back to work.”
Before Xie Huaijin could speak, Jiang Chenyan gave Bai Ning a nod and started walking forward. Xie Huaijin’s eyes darkened, and he followed with his long legs. There was always a half-step distance between them.
Jiang Chenyan walked in front, the footsteps behind him never stopping, following closely…
He paused and turned around. “Xie Huaijin, what exactly is your motive?”
He finally stopped—
Xie Huaijin’s lips curled up. He leaned lazily against a nearby pillar. “What motive could I have? If you’re worried about Bai Ning, there’s no need. My helping him wasn’t born from any ulterior motives; it was purely a whim.”
When he had been taken to the bar by Luo De, they were forced to choose people to play with. Among the twenty-some people—Alphas, Betas, Omegas—Jiang Chenyan had specifically chosen Bai Ning and even handed him a business card later.
Based on those two points alone, it was hard for Xie Huaijin not to notice Bai Ning. He had mistakenly thought there was something special about him and, on a whim, wanted to take him to play with, just to see what Jiang Chenyan’s reaction would be at the time.
He hadn’t expected a bunch of distractions to pop up later. By the time he had settled Bai Ning, that impulse to toy with him had faded, so he simply couldn’t be bothered to care anymore.
As for why he arranged for Bai Ning to be at the Jiang house, his thought was simple: he just wanted to see what it would be like when Jiang Chenyan saw Bai Ning. It would be best if it stirred up some waves.
But the result had disappointed him. After so long, Jiang Chenyan had only returned to the Jiang family once, so his previous calculation hadn’t been put to use at all.
Jiang Chenyan: “It had better be like that.”
He shot a glance at Xie Huaijin and drew a direct line: “Don’t follow me. We’ll walk separately.”
Xie Huaijin’s eyes narrowed slightly, let out a cold huff in his heart.
Walk separately? Not a chance.
He took a half-step forward. The light stretched his shadow long, nearly covering Jiang Chenyan entirely. His tone carried a hint of a question that couldn’t be avoided.
“Hey, Jiang Chenyan. Out of all those people back then, why did you specifically choose that Bai Ning?”
Jiang Chenyan’s brows snapped together. Those pitch-black eyes seemed to be quenched in cold light. He only said two words: “First impression.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Heh.” A soft laugh escaped Xie Huaijin’s throat, though his tone held no warmth. “Of course there’s no problem.”
Jiang Chenyan didn’t give him another look. Too lazy to continue bickering, he turned and walked straight toward the entrance of the banquet hall.
Inside the hall, glasses clinked and lights flickered. The radiance of the crystal chandeliers spilled over the elegant clothes and shadows.
Jiang Chenyan found a corner seat and sat down, taking a sip from the wine glass on the table. Out of the corner of his eye, he scanned the surroundings; Xie Huaijin hadn’t followed him.
He had just breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed a gaze with an immense presence falling upon him.
Jiang Chenyan lifted his eyes and met the other’s gaze directly.
Jiang Xuanshen had changed into a different set of clothes at some point—a charcoal gray patterned suit. The fabric was sharply tailored without a single redundant decoration, yet it carried an air of unspoken pressure. He stood by the champagne tower not far away, as if separated from the world by an invisible barrier; despite being in a noisy environment, he exuded a steady aura that warned strangers not to approach. The look in his eyes as they fell on Jiang Chenyan was terrifyingly deep.
Jiang Xuanshen was surrounded by many people. Those offering toasts and those seeking conversation were endless; he was clearly one of the focal points of the banquet hall.
Jiang Chenyan withdrew his gaze, his fingertips pinching the rim of his glass, deliberately pretending not to see that gaze fixed upon him.
Just as he was about to get up and leave, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of the banquet hall.
Xie Huaijin walked in high-profile, and everyone’s gaze focused on him instantly.
Even Father and Mother Jiang, who had been accompanying the guests, immediately stopped what they were doing and went to meet him with full enthusiasm.
“Ah, that must be the one from the Xie family, right? I didn’t expect to see him here.”
Someone nearby immediately leaned in, their voice even lower: “Yeah, when did the Jiang family climb onto a relationship with the Xie family? I haven’t heard of this before.”
“Who cares how they climbed it? Anyway, this is a rare opportunity. We must find a way to say a word to him.”
…
Jiang Chenyan felt only a sense of speechlessness and wanted to make a quiet exit.
Before leaving, he unintentionally scanned the center of the hall. Jiang Xuanshen and Xie Huaijin were already together, the two of them saying something unknown while Father and Mother Jiang were all smiles.
Jiang Chenyan didn’t plan to get involved. He stood up silently, preparing to leave, but just as he reached the entrance of the hall, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Mother Jiang pulled him. “Chenyan, Young Master Xie specifically asked to see you.”
Jiang Chenyan was silent for a moment before responding flatly: “Mhm.”
Following Mother Jiang to Xie Huaijin, he lifted his eyes to meet the other’s. Xie Huaijin’s lips curled up as he gave a nonchalant greeting: “You’re here.”
Jiang Xuanshen stood to the side, his fingertips unconsciously stroking his wine glass. His gaze was gloomy. Before Jiang Chenyan could speak, he spoke first, “It seems my younger brother is quite well-liked by Young Master Xie.”
Xie Huaijin curled his lips. “We are in the same year. Our relationship is indeed quite good.”
The words “quite good” were bit slightly harder, and there was a hidden, unidentifiable meaning in his tone as his gaze swept over Jiang Chenyan almost imperceptibly.
“As for ‘liked’…” He paused intentionally. “That remains to be seen.”
As soon as these words were out, the atmosphere froze abruptly. Everyone’s expressions were different.
Jiang Chenyan frowned, a flash of disgust appearing in his eyes. Jiang Xuanshen’s words were already bizarre enough, but Xie Huaijin’s deliberate emphasis on “quite good” was like a thorn, making him feel uncomfortable all over.
The two of them singing in harmony was nauseating.
Seeing this, Father and Mother Jiang tactfully exchanged a look and smiled to smooth things over: “You young people chat. We’ll go over there to attend to the guests.”
Saying so, they retreated, leaving the space entirely to the three of them.
Jiang Chenyan was sandwiched between the two, with two extremely heavy gazes locked onto him almost simultaneously.
His throat tightened. He didn’t speak for a moment, merely raising his hand silently. With his well-defined fingers, he picked up a glass from the table, gave a faint toast to the two of them, and threw his head back to drink.
The moment the liquid entered his throat, a drop of crimson escaped his control and slid down the corner of his mouth.
That drop of wine slid down his long neck and over his fine, porcelain skin, finally disappearing into his collar.
Xie Huaijin’s eyes suddenly darkened like thick ink. His Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably.
He was seducing him again, without making a sound.
“This glass is a toast to you both. Since I’ve finished it and there’s nothing else for me to do, I’ll be leaving first.”
Jiang Chenyan’s voice held no warmth as he leaned over to put down the glass.
As he bent down, the back of his collar slipped down slightly, revealing a patch of delicate white skin—the location of his gland.
Xie Huaijin’s gaze suddenly fixed on that patch of skin. He felt a sudden dryness in his throat, and a strong thought surged in his heart: What would Jiang Chenyan’s pheromones smell like? Would it be a crisp, cold fragrance, or would it hide a bit of unexpected sweetness?
Or would it be like the person himself—looking cold, but hiding an alluring pull?
Xie Huaijin let out a low laugh. “What’s the rush? I have a cooperation to discuss with your Jiang family. Don’t you want to hear the specifics?”
“No.” Jiang Chenyan lifted his eyes to look at Jiang Xuanshen. “With my brother handling it, there’s no need for me to stay.”
Hearing this, Jiang Xuanshen’s brow furrowed immediately.
Xie Huaijin: “You surely can’t be saying you don’t understand it, can you?”
“What does it matter to you whether I understand or not?” Jiang Chenyan was getting annoyed. He had only followed Mother Jiang over to give his elders face. Did Xie Huaijin really think he was willing to stay?
“You two discuss whatever you need to discuss. Why drag me into it?”
Jiang Xuanshen: “…”
Xie Huaijin stopped speaking. He had seen this side of Jiang Chenyan before—a temper that would explode at any moment, not fearing him in the slightest. It left him with no options.
His gaze was glued to Jiang Chenyan’s departing back. It wasn’t until the figure disappeared at the banquet hall entrance that he lightly shook his head, repeatedly mulling over one thought.
How can he still be so stubborn?
Xie Huaijin withdrew his gaze from the entrance and turned his head to look at Jiang Xuanshen beside him. The latter’s eyes were even darker, like a deep pool of ink, with unidentifiable emotions swirling within.
Xie Huaijin couldn’t help but look at Jiang Xuanshen for a few more seconds.
Is this the look a normal brother gives his younger brother?
…
Jiang Chenyan somehow muddily endured until the end of the banquet. He hadn’t seen his second brother throughout the entire event; he heard the other was busy with military affairs on another planet and couldn’t make it back.
Xie Huaijin was one of the last few to leave. As he passed by Jiang Chenyan, his steps paused slightly. He didn’t speak a greeting, merely turning his head to give Jiang Chenyan a deep look.
After a long while, he let out a soft laugh. “See you at school.”
Jiang Chenyan ignored him.
Xie Huaijin wasn’t annoyed either; being annoyed was of no use.
After all the guests had departed, Father and Mother Jiang suddenly spoke up, hoping Jiang Chenyan would stay home for a few days. “We were thinking of requesting a few days’ leave for you. You should learn about corporate matters; you need to have some understanding, don’t you?”
His biological relatives in name were all staring at him with burning eyes. Jiang Chenyan originally wanted to refuse, but when he met Jiang Xuanshen’s bottomless eyes and Jiang Qingye’s strange, unfathomable expression, the words died in his throat.
He nodded slowly, a faint smile curling on his lips: “Then I’ll stay for a few days.”
This was a good opportunity to get some money.
Jiang Chenyan’s answer was beyond everyone’s expectations. Smiles piled up on Father and Mother Jiang’s faces as they hurriedly said: “That’s good. We’ll prepare a room for you today…”
“No need.”
An extremely cold voice suddenly interrupted Mother Jiang. Jiang Xuanshen looked down, his fingertips carelessly stroking his suit cuff. His tone left no room for negotiation: “I will teach him. He will stay at my place tonight.”
Jiang Xuanshen had his own independent villa, separated from the main Jiang residence by a significant distance.
Jiang Chenyan was startled and instinctively took half a step back. “No need…”
Who wanted to stay with Jiang Xuanshen? It was almost certain the two would end up fighting.
“What?” Jiang Xuanshen lifted his eyes, which were terrifyingly deep. “Is it not good for me to teach you?”
“Or are you afraid of me?”
The air froze instantly. No one spoke.
Jiang Xuanshen looked down at Jiang Chenyan, no warmth at the corners of his eyes. The aura around him was cold to the extreme, like a layer of ice. Whether intentionally or not, he moved much closer to Jiang Chenyan.
“You must be joking.” Jiang Chenyan forced a smile. “How could I possibly be afraid of you?”
As soon as these words were out, the atmosphere dropped to its lowest point—
The expressions on Jiang Qingye and the others’ faces stiffened. How did they feel? Did Jiang Chenyan’s words sound particularly like a provocation?
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