Chapter 35: He’ll Have a Hard Time if he Escapes; Jiang Chenyan, do you like this type?
Everyone looked at Jiang Chenyan, and Shen Shiyue’s eyes suddenly darkened as he also locked onto him intensely.
Jiang Chenyan cursed Xie Huaijin dozens of times in his heart, his brows tightening. “To be honest, I have no interest in this kind of thing.”
Luo De leaned back on the sofa, one leg casually crossed over the other, the corner of his mouth hooking into a slight sneer: “What? Is this not giving me face?”
Jiang Chenyan was speechless for a moment. Was the Alliance branch really not picky? How did this guy in front of him pass the layers of screening to get in?
Since he couldn’t avoid it, he simply no longer hesitated and walked straight in front of the dozens of people. Scanning the group, he finally picked one who looked panicked and was constantly trying to avoid his gaze; he seemed a bit timid.
That was an Omega. His palm-sized face made his features look exceptionally delicate, but his eyes were as red as if they had been soaked in water, and the tip of his nose was also slightly red. He looked pitiful.
Jiang Chenyan’s gaze settled on him, his tone without much ripple: “Just him.”
The Omega clutched the edge of his clothes and carefully took a step forward, stopping in front of Jiang Chenyan. His voice was as thin as a mosquito’s buzz: “Sir…”
Jiang Chenyan didn’t say anything, just watching the Omega walk in front of him, feeling a massive headache.
Xie Huaijin raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a bit of playfulness: “You like this kind of soft one?”
Jiang Chenyan didn’t pick up his conversation. The surrounding atmosphere stimulated him so much he could hardly breathe. Staying here for one more second felt suffocating. He looked up at everyone. “I’ve chosen. You guys pick.”
As soon as these words were out, the expressions of the others darkened instantly, especially Ji Xuan and the others whose faces were ugly to the extreme.
Ji Xuan really didn’t want to choose. It was so awkward; he really wanted to leave.
Xie Huaijin didn’t care. He casually pointed out a few people, his movements as natural as if he were just picking up some insignificant items. He then strolled back to the sofa and sat down, his posture still lazy.
Seeing this, the remaining people had no choice but to suppress their respective emotions and reluctantly picked people one after another.
Shen Shiyue was the last to pick. He pointed to someone at random and without staying long, walked straight over to sit beside Jiang Chenyan.
At this time, Jiang Chenyan was holding a wine glass and drinking. Suddenly, a sinister question floated into his ear, carrying an indescribable coolness: “You like this type?”
Jiang Chenyan was unguarded, and a mouthful of wine almost choked in his throat. He coughed violently: “Cough cough… What?”
Seeing this, the Omega hurriedly stepped forward, his voice full of panic: “Are you alright?” As he spoke, he wanted to reach out to help Jiang Chenyan wipe the wine stains that had splashed onto his clothes, but he was blocked by Shen Shiyue.
Shen Shiyue’s movement wasn’t heavy. “I’ll do it.”
The Omega’s hand frozen in mid-air stiffened, replaced by an undetectable bit of awkwardness. “…”
Jiang Chenyan looked down at his lapel. The wine stains were only a few scattered spots. “Actually, it’s nothing… no need to trouble you.”
He looked up and happened to meet the gazes of Ji Xuan and the others. Their expressions were terribly ugly, not far from a breakdown.
Especially Ji Xuan, who had accidentally picked a spicy beauty who was constantly burrowing into his arms. Ji Xuan didn’t even have the strength to push her away and was being suppressed firmly. He just held a stiff face, his expression becoming increasingly gloomy.
To an outsider, they might even mistake Ji Xuan for the one in the weaker position—the one on the bottom.
Finally, someone couldn’t hold back and spoke up: “Senior, can we change the place?”
“Change what? Are you not playing happily here?”
One sentence instantly shut that person’s mouth.
If it weren’t for the fact that the other was a senior, with his personality, someone would have probably slammed the door and left.
On this side, Jiang Chenyan was talking in a low voice with Shen Shiyue when the Omega beside him suddenly leaned over, his voice weak and careful: “Sir… do you have any other instructions?”
Jiang Chenyan looked up and casually handed him an unopened drink. “Just drink this on the side. Don’t worry about us.”
The Omega was stunned for a moment. His fingers holding the cup tightened, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes before he softened again, saying softly: “You are different from the others.”
Jiang Chenyan was speechless for a moment. After a period of silence, he asked: “You don’t look very old. Why would you come to a place like this to work?”
Bai Ning lowered his eyes, his fingertips clutching the wall of the cup. His voice was light and bitter: “I’m actually quite vulgar; it’s mainly for money. My dad drinks and gambles all day, and my mom got a serious illness and needs money for treatment.”
A gambling dad, a seriously ill mom—these pieces made up a broken him.
“What is your name?” Jiang Chenyan asked again.
“Bai Ning.”
Hearing these two words, Jiang Chenyan was startled. This name was too familiar to him. If he remembered correctly, Bai Ning was not some ordinary Omega, but a key character in the subsequent plot.
The reason he would be dragged in was entirely because his features were somewhat similar to Shen Shiyue’s. After Shen Shiyue ran away, Xie Huaijin couldn’t hold back and treated Bai Ning as a substitute. But once the novelty wore off, he discarded him without a care.
Who would have thought that Bai Ning would act as if he were possessed, frantically envying Shen Shiyue and setting him up in various ways.
His ending was also quite tragic—he was shot dead.
If Jiang Chenyan was cannon fodder, then Bai Ning could be considered a villainous male supporting character.
Bai Ning had always stayed in this venue, and precisely because of this, he would later become entangled with Xie Huaijin and have an unspeakable relationship.
Jiang Chenyan looked at him, his tone serious: “I’ll give you my contact information. Contact me later, and I’ll send you some money at that time. Leave this place.”
Bai Ning was completely stunned. His hand holding the cup trembled slightly, and his eyes were full of disbelief. He had never thought that someone would offer him a helping hand for no reason.
But Jiang Chenyan knew very well in his heart that doing this was not redundant. Since he knew the subsequent tragedy in advance, then before it happened, doing a little more intervention was just that—intervention. Matters depend on the individual; things can be changed.
Bai Ning’s eyes turned red again, his voice carrying an uncontrollable sob: “Why do you want to help me?” He looked up at Jiang Chenyan, carefully tracing that face that was so exquisite it made it hard to look away.
He couldn’t help but have a thought in his heart: could the person in front of him be an angel? Only an angel would be this good.
Jiang Chenyan avoided his overly burning gaze. “Maybe we have a bit of destiny.”
Only now did he have time to observe Shen Shiyue.
The features of the two were indeed somewhat similar, especially that bit of curve at the end of the eyes. It was just that Shen Shiyue’s aura was cold, with a detachment that kept people away, while Bai Ning was as soft as a ball of cotton, very timid.
The difference in their height and aura wasn’t just a tiny bit; it was normal that Jiang Chenyan hadn’t noticed at first.
Shen Shiyue had heard their conversation clearly. His gaze fell on Jiang Chenyan, his tone unreadable: “You’re going to help him?”
“Maybe it’s because I’m kind-hearted.” Jiang Chenyan curled his lips. As he spoke, he took the contact information Bai Ning handed over and carefully noted it down.
Bai Ning clutched the edge of his clothes, his eyes still red, but he squeezed out a grateful smile and said softly, “Thank you, sir.”
He had never thought someone would help him like this.
Jiang Chenyan picked up his wine glass and took a sip. But the noise in the box became louder and louder, the singing so loud it shook the sky, as messy as a pot of porridge.
The noise poured into his ears. Jiang Chenyan only felt his head buzzing and his temples throbbing.
He put down his wine glass and frowned as he stood up: “I’m going to the bathroom.”
Shen Shiyue looked up almost instantly. “Do you want me to accompany you?”
“No need.” Jiang Chenyan waved his hand. “It’s just a trip to the bathroom.”
And he could wash his face to clear his head.
Shen Shiyue’s gaze turned cold bit by bit, but in the end, he didn’t say much. “Then you go.” He looked at Bai Ning on the side, the chill in his eyes deepening by several points.
What to do if he was feeling very unhappy?
Bai Ning’s spine felt cold, and he shivered. He seemed to have offended someone.
The noise in the box continued. Not many people noticed Jiang Chenyan leaving.
Both sides of the corridor were lined with identical box doors. Jiang Chenyan casually turned into a fork in the road, and the further he walked, the more he felt this place was much larger than he had imagined.
The corridors intersected; it truly was easy to get lost.
Finally finding a restroom, he turned on the faucet and scooped up cold water to splash on his face.
When he looked up, the mirror reflected an exquisite contour. It was just that the fragmented hair on his forehead was dampened by the water vapor, sticking somewhat messily to his skin, looking a bit bedraggled.
After staring at that face in the mirror for a few seconds, the coolness brought by the cold water spread across his skin, and his muddled brain cleared up quite a bit.
Jiang Chenyan simply tidied his messy hair. Once settled, he finished using the restroom and prepared to return to the box.
The corridor was so quiet he could hear his own footsteps. Compared to the noise and clamor inside the box, it was like two completely different worlds.
This place was said to be a bar but didn’t look like a traditional bar; the decoration was too luxurious, looking more like a five-star hotel or guesthouse.
To be honest, it was a bit strange. It was just a bar; was there a need for such luxurious decoration? Even the carvings on the corridor wall lamps were gilded, and the wine glasses he had seen in the box earlier were as exquisite as works of art.
Those who could come to this kind of place were likely either rich or powerful. Thinking this way, Luo De’s appearance was completely explainable.
Jiang Chenyan followed his memory back. After walking a few steps, he stopped. The layout of the boxes before him was different from before. He had accidentally turned the wrong way and blundered into another box area.
He just wanted to turn back to find his way when he caught a glimpse of a box door slightly ajar, leaving a crack. Jiang Chenyan grumbled in his heart, thinking to close it on the way, so he walked over.
His finger had just touched the door panel, and before he could apply force, his wrist was suddenly grabbed by an icy hand.
Jiang Chenyan’s heart tightened as he was startled. He instinctively wanted to retreat, but the other person suddenly increased the force. Before he could react, he was suddenly pulled into the box, his back hitting the door panel heavily.
With a “click,” the door was locked from the inside.
In the next second, a cold metal sensation pressed against his neck; a knife was steadily held there.
The hand holding the hilt trembled slightly, causing even the blade pressed against his neck to shake.
Jiang Chenyan looked up at the other person. The other wore a loose white shirt with the hem hanging casually, and his waistline could be vaguely seen. His face was very outstanding, with handsome features, but he was frighteningly pale.
In terms of height, he was a bit taller than him. But his hair was messy, and he looked very bedraggled.
Like someone on the run.
The person suddenly moved closer, his breathing somewhat hurried. He suddenly lowered his head to sniff at Jiang Chenyan’s gland, his brows furrowing. “Are you an Omega?”
Jiang Chenyan was stunned, his mind full of question marks: “?”
The force of the knife against his neck clearly loosened. Jiang Chenyan seized this fleeting opportunity and grabbed the other’s wrist holding the blade, twisting it violently to the side. The knife fell to the floor with a crisp sound.
Jiang Chenyan stared at the other. “You’re that certain I’m an Omega?”
“How is it hard?” The person was still struggling, saying through gritted teeth, “I can tell as soon as I smell it. I can’t be wrong.”
Jiang Chenyan was completely stunned.
Was this considered naturally gifted? He had clearly taken inhibitors long ago, and his pheromones were suppressed until almost no trace remained, yet the other could still distinguish it.
Jiang Chenyan became interested. “How did you do it?”
“Why do you care how I did it?” He struggled and glared at Jiang Chenyan. Looking at Jiang Chenyan’s clothing, he became confused again. “Looking at you, are you a soldier? No… you’re a student of the Alliance Military Academy. But aren’t you an Omega?”
Jiang Chenyan gave a tsk. His fingertips were still holding the other’s wrist and hadn’t let go. “I’m quite impressive; the military academy admitted me as an exception.”
One sentence, spoken lightly, instantly shut the other up. But he clearly didn’t believe it. “How is that possible? Stop lying to me…”
“I…” Jiang Chenyan just wanted to speak, but before he could finish his words, he heard footsteps coming from the corridor not far away.
They were unhurried, but sounded like they were calling for a life.
The person being held couldn’t stop shaking, his face becoming incredibly pale. Jiang Chenyan noticed his abnormality, and his brows knitted together: “What happened to you?”
“They’re coming to catch me… what to do?” His voice trembled, his eyes full of fear, almost about to cry.
The footsteps came closer and closer. Seeing they were about to reach the door, the door handle suddenly made a sound.
Jiang Chenyan didn’t have time to think much. He grabbed the person and quickly rushed to the balcony, nimbly hiding under the balcony table.
The tablecloth was very long, hanging all the way to the floor, covering the two of them tightly without even a corner of their clothes showing outside.
Jiang Chenyan lowered his voice to ask further: “What exactly is going on? Why are they catching you?”
But the person didn’t respond. He just buried his head, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably, his mouth repeatedly murmuring: “If I’m caught, I’m dead… I’m dead…”
A person who was normal just a moment ago was now mentally disordered and frightened to this extent.
Jiang Chenyan just wanted to ask again when the box door was suddenly pushed open. Several cold voices drifted in: “Where’s the person? Didn’t you say he was in this room?”
“Be faster. Don’t let him disturb the distinguished guests in the building. Damn it, if he escapes, you’ll have a hard time.”
“What do you mean I’ll have a hard time? He’s the one who’ll have a hard time. Nothing but trouble for us.”
The footsteps came closer and closer, accompanied by the sound of turning things over.
“He wasn’t found here. I’ll go check on the balcony.”
Jiang Chenyan’s brows knitted together. From the corner of his eye, he saw the person beside him was almost unable to hold on, close to a breakdown, his fingertips trembling.
If this continued, they would be discovered sooner or later.
Jiang Chenyan stared intensely at the floor outside the tablecloth. His heart suddenly sank; the knife he had snatched earlier was still on the floor in the room, and he hadn’t had time to pick it up.
He had been careless.
These people had clearly seen the knife on the floor and weren’t leaving the room.
A set of footsteps stopped right in front of the table, and a shadow instantly enveloped the tablecloth.
Intuition told Jiang Chenyan that the person’s gaze was falling on the tablecloth, and in the next second, they would lift this layer of shielding.
The person beside him also sensed it and trembled even more violently, almost holding his breath.
Translator’s Note: Omg, the plot is thickening! We meet Bai Ning, who apparently has a tragic future, and now this mysterious runaway Omega? Jiang Chenyan really is a magnet for trouble. And Shen Shiyue is getting jealous! I love it. By the way, “替身” (Tìshēn) is the term for a “substitute” or “stand-in,” which is what Bai Ning was supposed to be for Xie Huaijin in the original plot. Poor Bai Ning. Let’s see if Jiang Chenyan can escape this new danger!
— Lili
