Chapter 137
Because of Xiao Xiao’s unique constitution, Li Jie’s temporary mark had no effect; Xiao Xiao couldn’t feel it at all. But Gu Qian could sense the pheromones Li Jie had left behind.
His eyes filled with hatred, but looking at the pitiful, crying Xiao Xiao huddled in his arms, he finally released his own pheromones. He held the back of Xiao Xiao’s neck and bit down on his gland.
“Ngh…”
With Gu Qian’s pheromones and temporary mark, Xiao Xiao finally felt some relief. His consciousness gradually returned, but he remained silent, hiding in Gu Qian’s embrace.
Gu Qian held him and said, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t let anyone who bullied you get away with it.”
Xiao Xiao didn’t know what new madness had taken hold of Gu Qian. Worried he might do something irrational, he said wearily, “Nobody bullied me.”
Gu Qian knew it was all Li Jie’s fault. Xiao Xiao didn’t even realize he’d been bullied. He kissed Xiao Xiao’s cheek tenderly and coaxed, “Mm, I know.”
They had been apart for so many days. Although Xiao Xiao still relied on Gu Qian when he was conscious, beyond that dependence, he no longer knew how to interact with him. But Gu Qian, seemingly oblivious, held him as if nothing had happened and cheerfully recounted the events of the past few days.
“Xiao Xiao,” Gu Qian said, “last night, An Le was taken by my father to the Gu family home.”
Hearing that An Le had been captured by Gu Chen, Xiao Xiao instantly became agitated. He gripped Gu Qian’s clothes tightly and asked frantically, “How could that happen? Why would your dad take Lele? He didn’t do anything to him, did he? You… you…”
“Don’t worry, he’s fine.”
Gu Qian felt unhappy when Xiao Xiao was silent, so he had brought up An Le to get him to talk. He hadn’t expected Xiao Xiao to care so much, to get so worked up just hearing the news.
“Really?” Xiao Xiao pressed. “You said he’s fine, but is he really, really okay?” His heart was in his throat. Even though Gu Qian said An Le was fine, he didn’t quite believe it, afraid Gu Qian was lying and would tell him something terrible had happened next.
“Yes,” Gu Qian said. “You know my family has… issues. My dad didn’t hurt him right away. He forced him to wear a dress. Luckily, Lu Heng arrived in time to save him.” He had to admit, his father’s癖好 were strange. To go through all that trouble to get someone, only to make them put on makeup and a dress.
Xiao Xiao was stunned. “Wear a dress?” He couldn’t believe it. Gu Chen had gone to such lengths to find An Le just for that? As much as he didn’t want anything bad to happen to An Le, the reason sounded completely implausible.
Gu Qian smiled. “Surprising, isn’t it? I was surprised too, but it’s the truth. The media has already reported it, a lot has… well, you can see for yourself when we get back.”
“Okay.”
Xiao Xiao let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. No matter how surprising or absurd it was, as long as An Le was safe, that’s all that mattered. Lu Heng hadn’t let him down; he was a good alpha.
Just as he relaxed, he heard Gu Qian say, “An Le is fine, but the Gu family might be in trouble.”
Xiao Xiao looked at Gu Qian, confused.
“Lu Heng is going to deal with my father,” Gu Qian explained. “And the only way to do that is to bring down the Gu family.” If the Gu family didn’t fall, even if Gu Chen was forced into prison, he’d be bailed out quickly. Only by dismantling the family’s power could Gu Chen be truly held accountable and imprisoned with no one left to save him.
But if the Gu family was gone, Gu Qian wouldn’t have as much money to spend.
Xiao Xiao stared at him. “Why are you telling me this?” He had always known An Le was looking for Gu Chen to investigate the past and bring him to justice. Gu Chen had done so many terrible things and deserved to be in prison, but his background and status made it a difficult task for An Le. But no matter what, he wasn’t with An Le now, nor was he involved in his affairs. He wasn’t really with Gu Qian either. So why was Gu Qian telling him this?
Gu Qian was a little hurt that Xiao Xiao didn’t seem to care about him, but he couldn’t do anything about it. “If the Gu family falls, I might be affected too. Xiao Xiao, if I run out of money, will you look down on me?” As Gu Chen’s son, he was bound to be implicated. But he would definitely protect his assets and make sure Xiao Xiao never had to live a hard life.
Xiao Xiao secretly rolled his eyes. Gu Qian asking him this question was completely pointless. If he said yes, would Gu Qian let him go? No. And even if Gu Qian did, could he leave on his own? No.
Even though he knew the answers, Xiao Xiao had no intention of defying Gu Qian. After all, if Gu Qian was rational and calm, he’d suffer less. So, he hesitated before saying, “I wouldn’t.”
Gu Qian’s face lit up. “I knew you wouldn’t, Xiao Xiao. You’re the best.” He hugged him even tighter.
Xiao Xiao’s face was pale. He desperately wanted to call An Le right now, but he was afraid of upsetting Gu Qian, so he suppressed the urge.
He held it in until Gu Qian brought him home—to the apartment Gu Qian had said was a gift to him. The place Xiao Xiao had seriously considered his home, even if only for a short while.
After they got back, Xiao Xiao’s body still felt warm. He knew it was that so-called heat acting up again. But he couldn’t let it control him now. He needed to contact An Le.
He looked at the alpha who was about to pull him into an embrace and said quietly, “Husband, I want to call An Le.”
Gu Qian paused, his hands halfway to holding him. He pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Xiao. “The password is your birthday.”
Xiao Xiao nodded, quickly unlocking the screen and dialing An Le’s number. The call connected quickly, and Xiao Xiao tensed up, worried he wouldn’t handle the conversation well. While he was distracted, he heard An Le’s excited voice cry out, “Xiao Xiao!”
An Le sounded thrilled. “How have you been? Are you well-rested? Gu Qian hasn’t found you again, has he?”
Xiao Xiao was silent for a moment, then glanced at the person beside him. He hesitated, then lied with a guilty conscience, “I… I’m fine. He hasn’t found me. How are you? I heard… you found your mom’s secretary. So, did you… did you find the evidence?”
Xiao Xiao didn’t know that Gu Qian’s words meant he was already planning to intervene in the conflict between Lu Heng and Gu Chen. He also didn’t know that his own location had been exchanged for Gu Chen’s downfall. He was just genuinely concerned about An Le’s situation, worried the matter wouldn’t be resolved. In his eyes, even with Lu Heng’s help, a powerful official like Gu Chen wouldn’t be easy to topple.
Just as he thought, An Le said helplessly, “I have evidence that An Qiang was on the verge of bankruptcy and tricked my mom into marrying him while he had a mistress. But I still don’t have proof of how my mom and grandparents died, or of the dirty deals with Gu Chen.”
An Le sounded incredibly dejected. Xiao Xiao’s heart ached for him. After a moment of silence, he asked, “What about… the secret room in An Qiang’s study? Have you opened it?”
“No.” An Le’s voice was even more disheartened. “I’ve tried every password I can think of, but it won’t open.”
Without giving Xiao Xiao a chance to speak, An Le quickly asked, “So, Xiao Xiao, where are you now?”
Xiao Xiao didn’t answer. He didn’t know how. Should he continue to lie and say Gu Qian hadn’t found him? Or should he tell the truth—that he had been found and was sitting right next to Gu Qian at that very moment?
Seeing his silence, An Le added, “We haven’t seen each other in so long, Xiao Xiao. I miss you.”
Xiao Xiao gave a small, quiet laugh. “I miss you too.”
“But we can’t meet yet. You need to finish what you’re doing first.” He wanted to see An Le too, but An Le was in a very dangerous situation. It was better for them not to meet, or An Le would surely be affected by his own troubles.
An Le was confused. “But aren’t you already…”
Before he could finish, Xiao Xiao interrupted him in a low voice, “Lele, don’t be willful. This is serious, not a game. As for us, we’ll see each other eventually. There’s no rush right now.”
“And about An Qiang’s password,” he added, “try one your mom used often. An important date. After all, that house was where your mom lived. Like everything else, the most dangerous place is the safest.”
“Huh?” An Le was taken aback.
“You can go try it now,” Xiao Xiao said. “I have something to do. Don’t call this number again. I’ll contact you when I have time.”
With that, Xiao Xiao hung up. The phone belonged to Gu Qian. Even if An Le called back, Gu Qian would be the one to answer. As for the password, “the most dangerous place is the safest place” was something he had overheard Li Jie say once. He hadn’t paid it much mind at the time, but it had suddenly come to him while talking to An Le. He hoped it would be useful.
Hanging up, Xiao Xiao handed the phone back to Gu Qian. “Husband,” he said quietly, “if Lele calls in the future, can you let me know?”
Gu Qian was silent for a second, then nodded. “I can.”
Xiao Xiao said no more.
Gu Qian placed the phone on the coffee table, then pulled Xiao Xiao into his arms. “Do you want to go to work?” he asked softly.
Xiao Xiao was taken aback. He touched his still-warm gland, feeling anxious and uncomfortable. “But aren’t I in heat? Can I still go to work?” If he remembered correctly, omegas didn’t come to work during their heat. They might come in the days leading up to it or after it passed, but never during. His body was still so hot; could he really go to work? Even if other alphas and omegas couldn’t smell his pheromones, they would surely notice something was off, right?
Gu Qian released his pheromones and gently stroked Xiao Xiao’s gland. “You can go when the heat passes.”
Perhaps it was the influence of Gu Qian’s pheromones, but as time went on, Xiao Xiao felt himself getting hotter and hotter. He couldn’t control it. He gripped Gu Qian’s clothes, rubbing against him involuntarily and crying out, “Husband…”
Gu Qian leaned down and kissed him on the lips. “I’m here, Xiao Xiao. Don’t be afraid. I’m here. Be good…”
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