Watching Ning Zhu reap what he’d sown, Dou Changxiao unexpectedly initiated a conversation: “Fang Huaixin. Do you remember him?”

Having met him just weeks ago, Ning Zhu hadn’t forgotten his name. “Mhm,” he replied. “What about him?”

“His sister had surgery last week. It went very well.”

“Oh, that’s good. Did he quit his job?”

“Yes. He’s been staying at the hospital with her. He’ll return to school to catch up on his studies later.”

Ning Zhu nodded. “That kid’s been through a lot.”

Hearing him refer to Fang Huaixin as “that kid,” Dou Changxiao asked, “How old are you?”

“Huh? You mean my age…”

Dou Changxiao: “…” What else could it be?

Ning Zhu: “Twenty-six.”

He looked younger than his actual age. If he wore brighter-colored casual clothes, he’d be mistaken for a student when going out.

Twenty-six—compared to the wealth and status Ning Zhu had achieved, it was a frighteningly young age.

Dou Changxiao remarked, “You’re only a few years older than Fang Huaixin.”

“But to me, he’s still a kid.”

Dou Changxiao was among the youngest in his cohort, the same age as Fang Huaixin. Hearing that comparison made him feel uneasy all over.

Ning Zhu asked curiously, “Why did you suddenly think to tell me this?”

There wasn’t any special reason. Dou Changxiao simply thought Ning Zhu would want to know the outcome, and since it happened to be a good one, he mentioned it.

“No particular reason. I just suddenly remembered.”

“Alright, then, thank you for ‘suddenly remembering’.”

Ning Zhu asked a few more questions about Fang Huaixin’s family situation. He learned that all three members of his household were Omegas. His Alpha father had passed away in an accident years ago, and his mother, unable to let go of her husband, had never remarried.

Over the years, though her income was meager, she adored her two children. After their younger daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition, she begged for help to cover the surgery costs, working day jobs and night shifts until she nearly broke down. Fang Huaixin, loving both his sister and mother, chose to jump into the fire pit without telling his family.

After hearing this, Ning Zhu remained silent, his lashes lowered as he drifted off in thought for a moment.

His quiet lasted a while, prompting Dou Changxiao to turn and look at him.

Ning Zhu’s clear amber eyes held a hint of compassion, yet also concealed an inexplicable look of envy… or perhaps it was just his imagination.

Sympathy or admiration were understandable, but Dou Changxiao couldn’t grasp what exactly in this story could inspire envy or longing.

Envy for Mother Fang, who worked day and night to raise two children alone?

Envy for Fang Huaixin, who jumped into a pit of fire and couldn’t escape?

…Or envy for the child born with an illness?

After a while, Ning Zhu seemed to snap out of his thoughts, his expression returning to calm.

He set down his “lemon juice,” glanced at Dou Changxiao, and reminded him, “After work, head home early.”

This place seemed to attract respectable folk, yet there were plenty like Brother Lei who played dirty behind the scenes. The problem was, they all dressed like respectable gentlemen, making it impossible to tell them apart.

This kid looks so gullible… It’s really unsettling.

Dou Changxiao sensed a hint of tenderness in those words for no apparent reason, though he didn’t understand a single word the other man said.

As Ning Zhu left, he picked up the forgotten glass of red wine and headed out of the banquet hall.

Dou Changxiao made no move to stop him from taking that filthy drink, knowing full well Ning Zhu wouldn’t be foolish enough to drink it.

Yet the thought of “Ning Zhu carrying a dangerous substance away” still made Dou Changxiao clench his fist on the tabletop.

He stared at Ning Zhu’s retreating figure until it vanished from sight.

Dou Changxiao took a considerable time to shake off the lingering emotions before lowering his head to take another sip of that “lemon juice.”

This time, a hint of spiciness surfaced in the aftertaste, making it still quite undrinkable. Dou Changxiao frowned, wondering what kind of peculiar local specialty this could be.

He wasn’t picky about food and couldn’t distinguish complex, sophisticated flavors. To him, food fell into two categories: tasty or edible. This drink in his hand belonged firmly in the latter.

He leisurely bit the straw with his canine teeth. After a few seconds, he held his breath and swiftly downed the remaining liquid in one gulp.

His canine teeth gouged a hole in the top of the plastic straw. Dou Changxiao tossed the cup aside, its ice cubes clinking pleasantly against the bottom.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Beyond the side exit of the banquet hall lay a corridor connecting to the back-of-house area, providing convenient access for the restaurant staff.

With the banquet still hours away, most staff were preparing in the back areas, leaving the corridor relatively quiet. Only a faint, angry shout could be heard—

“Can’t even handle such a simple task? You’re useless!”

After venting his frustration with a few curses, the man asked warily, “…Did that kid notice anything?”

The waiter who had fled earlier stood before him, head bowed, stammering a muffled explanation.

The Alpha standing opposite him was none other than Brother Lei, now thoroughly irritated after the plan’s failure.

He couldn’t be bothered to hear the rest of the explanation; instead berating the waiter harshly before dismissing him.

The waiter cautiously asked, “About the money…”

“You failed the job and still have the nerve to ask for payment? Get out! Get out! Get out!”

The waiter’s face darkened. He’d taken such a huge risk helping someone, only to gain absolutely nothing in return.

He cursed his own bad luck under his breath as he made his way toward the banquet hall exit in the corridor. Filled with resentment, he walked with his head down, failing to notice someone ahead. He collided with a figure.

He immediately opened his mouth to apologize, but when he looked up and saw Ning Zhu’s face, it was as if someone had grabbed him by the throat. He couldn’t utter a single word.

But Ning Zhu merely gave him a faint glance before sidestepping him and continuing onward.

Brother Lei saw Ning Zhu approaching him. His peripheral vision then caught the wine glass clutched in Ning Zhu’s hand, making his heart skip a beat.

How did this end up in Ning Zhu’s hands? What does he want with me?

As Ning Zhu drew near, Brother Lei swallowed hard, feigning nonchalance. “Mr. Ning, you’re not here to pursue that incident at the nightclub, are you?”

Ning Zhu raised an eyebrow. “I was planning to. But seeing how badly you got beaten that night… I decided against it.”

Brother Lei: “…”

The humiliation of that night surfaced, and he clenched his fists, though he dared not show his anger in front of Ning Zhu.

Ning Zhu glanced behind him. The waiter had already hurried away down the corridor.

He turned back to Brother Lei and smiled. “The Lei family business isn’t exactly small, is it? Yet you’re so stingy with the people who work for you—you can’t even spare this little reward?”

Though Ning Zhu’s tone sounded gentle, Brother Lei wasn’t foolish enough to think he was just making small talk.

He swallowed his resentment and tried to make peace. “Last time, I just didn’t recognize you. If I’d known you were Boss Ning from Qisheng, I would’ve let you have that Omega in the shop. Just ask, and I’d have given him to you.”

“Haha…” Ning Zhu laughed. “I never imagined you were so money-grubbing. Otherwise, I would’ve shown you my business card right away.”

Brother Lei: “…”

“No need to be nervous. I said I wouldn’t pursue the last incident.”

Brother Lei just exhaled in relief when Ning Zhu suddenly changed tack: “But let’s keep things separate.”

Brother Lei: “…”

Ning Zhu slowly got to the point: “You resorted to dirty tricks when you couldn’t win fairly. Attacking my people today—that can’t be easily overlooked.”

Brother Lei: “…Your people? That Alpha is yours?”

Since Dou Changxiao wasn’t present to hear it, Ning Zhu brazenly nodded. “Of course.”

Brother Lei’s face twisted slightly. He never imagined these two rivals shared such a connection. Otherwise, why would he have provoked that Alpha?

Ning Zhu was spot on about one thing: Brother Lei was a thoroughly opportunistic snob.

“What did you put in here?” Ning Zhu tapped the glass rim with his fingertip.

Brother Lei remained silent for a long moment, refusing to answer.

“Fine, don’t say anything. You’re the one drinking it anyway.”

Brother Lei froze, his expression shifting to one of extreme panic and complexity.

“What’s wrong? Don’t want it?” Ning Zhu’s lips curved, though his eyes held little warmth.

Judging by the other’s reaction, whatever was in that cup must be far dirtier than he’d imagined.

Brother Lei pleaded, “I promise I’ll never bother him again.”

Ning Zhu remained unmoved, merely adopting a conciliatory tone: “You don’t have to drink it.”

You don’t have to drink it. Don’t drink it. Just walk away. You could try that.

Brother Lei knew there was always a “but” following that statement.

But what?

He stared into Ning Zhu’s clear, amber-colored eyes and felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.

This man hadn’t risen to his current position by being as mild-mannered and harmless as he appeared.

If Brother Lei simply walked away now, what would Ning Zhu do to the Lei family, given all the old grudges and new grievances piled up?

Though the Ren family had declined in recent years, their vast holdings meant even a starving camel still outweighed the Lei family. And if even Ren Shaokun—a man who held grudges like a grudge-bearer—dared not touch Ning Zhu, how could Brother Lei dare gamble his own business?

Ning Zhu waited patiently for two minutes.

Brother Lei stood frozen in place for a long while before finally approaching.

He picked up the cup, his facial muscles taut with resolve.

Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes and downed the liquid in one gulp before departing at a pace bordering on flight.

Ning Zhu watched his retreating figure vanish, letting out a soft snort.

Such a scaredy-cat.

When Ning Zhu returned to the banquet hall, Brother Lei had already made an excuse to leave early for the hospital.

The room gradually filled with more people. Ning Zhu glanced toward Dou Changxiao’s former seat—it was empty now, with only an empty cup left behind.

Ning Zhu suddenly chuckled to himself, finding the young man odd. If he didn’t like it, why finish it?

Then it occurred to him that the absence might mean the client had called him away. A subtle, indescribable feeling stirred in his chest. Ning Zhu suppressed his smile, averting his gaze from the empty seat. Instead, he turned to chat with the strangers around him. and met the coconut clutched in Ning Zhu’s left hand, Dou Changxiao’s body froze abruptly for a split second.