Chapter 120 You're Not My Husband?! (31) And...
Upon seeing Luo Ran again, Fu Li remained remarkably calm, greeting them gently. Even when Luo Ze took her hand, seemingly deliberately asserting his ownership, her expression remained tender. Her shimmering eyes were as calm as a still pool of water, crystal clear and revealing everything.
"Weren't you here for dinner? We've been chatting for a while now, and the food is ready. Let's go over there." He gestured to his guests like a host, leading them to the dining room. His handsome face wore a serene smile.
When Luo Ran heard him speak to her, her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes, which had been able to maintain a calm facade, suddenly darkened as she stared intently at the person standing beside her brother, her eyes reflecting the young man's calm and refined demeanor.
Countless random thoughts arose in my mind, but finally settled on this: Ali is not as lively as before; instead, she has become quiet and thinner.
Even though that look of deep affection only lasted a moment, it was caught by the extremely sensitive and perceptive man. Luo Ze's lips curled into a cold smile, followed by a flash of anger and disdain in his eyes. He glanced quickly and imperceptibly at the young man beside him. Fu Li didn't look up to meet Luo Ran's gaze, or even look at him at all; his eyes were slightly lowered, lost in thought, his expression still calm. He breathed a sigh of relief, but for his own brother, only a chilling feeling remained in his heart.
This kid is still up to his old tricks!
However, neither of them showed it outwardly.
Internal strife, fighting over a Beta, is a major taboo in aristocratic families. If word gets out, it will become a laughing stock. Even if everyone present knows the truth, they cannot show it in public.
Luo Ze sneered inwardly, but said with a faint "hmm" on his face, "Let's eat."
As he spoke, he naturally pulled Fu Li's hand to his side, their fingers intertwined tightly, and then turned around and walked towards the dining area under the guidance of the servants.
Fu Li seemed unaware that he was doing this to spite his younger brother and rival in love. He maintained a smile on his handsome face and let him pull him forward.
Thus, Luo Ran and Lilith could only follow behind the two. The tightly clasped fingers of his brother and sister-in-law kept flashing in his eyes, like a silent mockery from his brother. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, a sinister light flashing in the corner of his eyes, but in the end, he could say nothing and could only hurry to catch up.
A dining table was installed in what was originally a living room, serving as a place for the family to gather and eat. Soon, a sumptuous meal was laid out, with carved bowls and chopsticks that were both simple and elegant, all showcasing the family's extravagance.
During the meal, Luo Ze was particularly attentive to Fu Li. His handsome, sharp face was always adorned with a gentle smile, as refreshing as a spring breeze, making one almost forget how ruthless and decisive he was in the family and in the business world. He would serve Fu Li a bowl of soup one moment, and gently wipe the grease from his fingertips with a towel the next. Their interaction was intimate and natural, making others envious. It was as if he had forgotten that his nominal brother and sister-in-law were sitting opposite him.
Luo Ran wasn't blind or stupid; he could tell that Luo Ze was doing this on purpose for him to see. Yet, he was still provoked by this level of intimacy, his heart filled with a torrent of jealousy. He couldn't show it too obviously, so he could only grip his chopsticks, lower his head, and secretly glare at them with cold, sharp eyes.
Lilith, standing to the side, remained calm and composed, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around the table. In this chaotic scene, she was a perfectly competent bystander and spectator, showing no intention of being drawn into it.
Fu Li, in the center of the chaotic scene, seemed oblivious to the man opposite him who was staring at him intently with his dark glasses. That needle-like gaze felt like it was hitting cotton, utterly unnoticed. He either accepted food from Luo Ze or spoke softly and gently to him, never once looking up at the other man.
His eyes were warm and gentle, calm and serene.
Until Luo Ze suddenly spoke up unexpectedly: "A Ran, when is your wedding with Miss Vili? Ali and I will come to celebrate your wedding together."
A perfect smile curved his lips, and his eyes shone with a gentle light, as if he were genuinely concerned about his younger brother's marriage.
Before Luo Ran could speak, he added, "We didn't invite you to our wedding last time, but this time, when you and Miss Willy get married, Ali and I will definitely come."
Luo Ran paused, the veins on his knuckles bulging. Luo Ze's words were clearly sarcastic, mocking his previous attempt to force his way into the wedding to take his beloved away, only to be futile and all his struggles a joke.
Her thoughts were drawn back to that despair, the regret for her lover, the pain and helplessness of losing her forever, especially seeing Fu Li being forcibly taken away by her brother in front of her, while she could only lie helplessly in a pool of blood.
He gripped his chopsticks tightly, letting out a short, almost cold laugh, and said unhurriedly, "No rush. We didn't say we had to get married this year. As long as the Luo family and the Vili family maintain their cooperation, it can happen anytime."
Upon hearing his words, Lilith did not respond, but gracefully placed a slice of grilled meat into the plate in front of her.
Luo Ze smiled enigmatically after hearing this, and simply said, "Yes. But Father and Mother must really want to see you get married."
After the exchange, dinner was almost finished.
Although Luo Ze was eager to retaliate against Luo Ran, he hadn't forgotten the purpose behind this meal. After the servants cleared away the dishes, they took Luo Ze upstairs to the study to discuss matters. Fu Li was left to entertain Lilith as the host.
The two arrived in the garden, and Fu Liwen gently introduced the flowers in the flowerbed to the woman, explaining which ones he was taking care of.
A gentle evening breeze brought a touch of coolness. Under the streetlights, the young man's handsome face appeared even more striking. Lilith glanced sideways, looking at him with a curious gaze.
Compared to the flower seeds in the soil and the two men discussing matters upstairs, she was more interested in the tall, thin, and beautiful Beta in front of her. She interrupted him and asked, "Do you know why we came here for this meal today? Luo Ran came for you. He snatched a big project from Luo Ze, and one of the prices he paid for the negotiations was to have a meal with you and see you. He's been thinking about you a lot."
She stared at Fu Li's face, watching the young man's gentle smile gradually fade, eventually turning into an incomprehensible calm.
He didn't say anything, not even a single comment.
The woman asked, somewhat puzzled, "Don't you want to say anything?"
She always loved watching the drama unfold, and with the Luo brothers, Luo Ze and Luo Ran, pulling one stunt after another, she simply tore away the mask that was nothing but self-deception, just to see Fu Li's attitude.
Fu Li shook his head and said softly, "I don't want to dwell on these things anymore." His brows furrowed slightly, and for a moment, an indescribable weariness seemed to appear in his clear eyes, clouding everything. After he finished speaking, Lilith seemed to hear a soft sigh, but as she tried to hear it more clearly, it was mixed with the evening breeze, making her wonder if it was just a hallucination.
Two hours later, Fu Li and Lilith returned to the mansion. The men had finished their business, and Luo Ran and Lilith would be staying at the Luo residence that night.
Both men's faces bore the sharp edge of a fierce confrontation, yet neither noticed the same unwavering determination emanating from their eyes.
Seeing the two returning from the side corridor, Luo Ze smiled gently and asked, "A Li, did you take Miss Lilith for a walk in the garden?"
Fu Li nodded and walked straight to his side, letting the tall man reach out and gently brush away non-existent dust from her shoulder.
Seeing this, Luo Ran felt a surge of jealousy. He didn't say anything more and turned to walk towards the guest room. Before leaving, he glanced at Fu Li with a deep look. Through the man's back, the two made eye contact for the first time that night. The latter's gaze suddenly paused for a second, then instantly looked away, so quickly that no one could see the emotion in his eyes at that moment.
"Let's go, we should head back too." Fu Li gently patted the collar of the person in front of her, her gaze tender and affectionate.
Luo Ze felt a surge of tenderness in his heart as he was looked at like that. He gave a soft "hmm" and led him upstairs.
That night, perhaps because Luo Ran was present, Luo Ze's actions were particularly intense, like a lion exuding pheromones, dominating its mate and threatening its rival. Fu Li cried out to stop several times, but the Alpha ignored her every time. It wasn't until late at night that the man's energy was finally released. He carried the young man into the bathroom to take a shower, and then sprayed the bedroom with a barrier spray to prevent the strong, overwhelming pheromones from spreading.
"If only Ah Li were an Omega, then she wouldn't confuse me with other people." For some reason, Luo Ze suddenly said. Fu Li didn't hear him clearly and made a low "hmm" sound, like some small animal that had played until it was tired, which made the man chuckle happily.
"It doesn't matter if I can't smell it, as long as Ali is by my side."
After taking a shower, Fu Li didn't fall asleep immediately as usual. She wanted to get some water but found that the servants had forgotten to change the bottled water in the master bedroom, so she told Luo Ze that she wanted to go to the kitchen for something cold and tiptoed downstairs.
The servants were all asleep, with only two lights left on in the kitchen and living room for anyone who needed to get up at night. Outside the window, the security guard on duty across the flower bed was still on duty, but no one else was awake.
Fu Li glanced outside, listening to the occasional chirping of crickets, and quietly entered the living room. She opened the refrigerator, took out an unopened bottle of ice water, and took a sip when she noticed someone beside her. Turning her head, she saw the lamplight illuminating the man's handsome face. Those eyes, once filled with charm, now held an indescribable emotion—longing, pain, and a deep, long-standing love intertwined, complex and impossible to ignore.
The young man froze, spilling some water from the bottle onto his soft silk pajamas, leaving a wet stain on the front.
Alpha's lips twitched, and finally he uttered the call he had longed for: "Ali..."
Fu Li stared at him intently, a torrent of emotions silently churning within her eyes. Then, she lowered her gaze, as if fleeing, put down the water in her hand, and quickly walked away from him.
Ke Luo Ran gave him no chance to escape. She stretched out her hand, grabbed the young man's thin arm, and pulled him into her arms, holding him tightly as if she had found a lost treasure.
"Ah Li, don't go, have pity on me, I miss you so much..."
Fu Li wanted to resist, but then he heard the Alpha's soft pleading voice. Just like countless times before, he couldn't refuse Luo Ran like this.
He felt the warmth of her body behind him, and her large, well-defined hands tightly embracing him in front of him. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke: "I...I'm already married. I've been with your brother for a long time..." He didn't know if he was speaking to her or to himself, but even he himself didn't notice the tremor in his voice.
The warm yellow light gently enveloped the two figures entwined, making the scene particularly jarring in the large, dark corner of the mansion. Just a few years ago, they were a loving couple, but now they could only embrace like lovers caught in a secret tryst, in the quiet of the night when no one knew them.
Luo Ran had waited for this day for far too long. Hearing Fu Li's words, she hugged him even tighter, as if afraid that if she let go, the other person would run into her brother's arms the next moment.
"I know, Ali, it's not your fault, none of this is your fault. Ali, wait for me, I'll rescue you soon, I promise..."
The young man's face was already streaked with tears. He listened to the other person's promise, but silently turned his head to one side, closed his eyes, and it was unclear whether he believed it or not.
Luo Ran felt a pang of heartache at Fu Li's slender arms and frail body. He lowered his head, wanting to comfort his beloved, but instead saw the mottled marks on Fu Li's clothes, visible under the light, extending deep into her collar, like a man's brand to assert his dominance.
Yes, Fu Li was covered in that strong cedar scent, clinging to every inch of his skin like a leech. Combined with these marks, it was hard not to think about what he and Luo Ze had just done together.
Luo Ran's pupils suddenly stung, and his pheromones surged forth, like a ferocious beast about to wreak havoc upon its invaded territory. But he quickly realized that now was not the time, and he couldn't be here. Besides, Ali couldn't even smell his pheromones.
A dull, powerless pain washed over me.
After he composed himself, as if he had made a decision, he closed his eyes slightly, and finally lowered his head slowly, solemnly kissing the young man's long and elegant neck.
"Ah Li, wait for me."
Author's note: Actually, there are only a few chapters left in this world.
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