Chapter 46 The Ungrateful One
The banquet hall was brightly lit, with crystal chandeliers casting soft shadows. Guests chatted in twos and threes, clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries.
Mu Yan was dressed up like a doll by Shang Qiyue and brought to Lu Zhi and Fu Jiayan's engagement banquet.
He recognized several celebrities, even those who didn't follow entertainment news. The omega chatting with the bride and groom looked like he'd been on last year's Spring Festival Gala. And that young alpha with shoulder-length blonde hair—Mu Yan's magazine had been given to him by a young woman in the office before.
He had never seen such a scene before. It wasn't just those few celebrities; everywhere he looked, there were people dressed in expensive clothes, some of whom were even big shots who had appeared in newspapers or on television economic and political channels.
Mu Yan sat in the corner, feeling like a dusty little mouse, completely out of place with the people around him.
But he happened to be someone brought by Shang Qiyue, and this was the first time in many years that Shang Qiyue had someone by his side. All eyes, whether subtle or overt, were on him; everyone wanted to know what kind of beta could win his favor.
Mu Yan could sense that someone was watching him; he had considered this possibility before coming. However, when he actually stood under the magnificent crystal chandeliers of the banquet, a feeling of unease still crept over him.
He subconsciously turned his gaze to Shang Qiyue in the distance.
Shang Qiyue told Mu Yan to wait for him there for a while, as he was going to attend to some social engagements and would be right back.
Mu Yan looked down at the time on the wristwatch that Shang Qiyue had given him a few days ago. It was so unbearable. Less than an hour had passed, but it felt like an eternity.
Shang Qiyue went to talk to someone. Mu Yan couldn't hear what he was talking about, but he could see that Shang Qiyue was calm and composed. Occasionally, when he smiled and raised his glass to indicate his presence, the sharp edge in his eyes softened a bit.
He was perfectly at ease in this setting, while Mu Yan felt like he couldn't breathe.
He tried his best to shrink himself into the shadows and minimize his presence.
Shang Qiyue remembered that he didn't drink alcohol, so he gave him a sparkling beverage before leaving. The bubbles kept rising, but he didn't take a sip.
"Hello, may I sit here?"
Mu Yan looked up and saw a beautiful omega, dressed in a well-tailored tuxedo, with slightly lowered eyes and a gentle demeanor.
“Sure,” Mu Yan nodded. This land wasn’t his, and he couldn’t find a reason to refuse the person in front of him. “There’s no one here.”
"Did you come with Mr. Shang?" The omega smiled gently. "This is the first time I've seen him bring someone with him."
Mu Yan was stunned for a moment before realizing that the omega in front of him had come with a problem. He became somewhat uneasy, nodded, and took a sip of his water.
Is it possible that he... can't say anything carelessly, otherwise it might not be good for President Shang? That's how it's always said in TV dramas.
"My surname is Wen, and my name is Wen Ling." The omega smiled warmly and honestly, and even though Mu Yan knew he had a spying intention, he couldn't feel any dislike. "May I ask your name?"
"My name is Mu Yan."
Omega was lively and talkative, and he seemed to be very good at breaking the ice with strangers. Omega frankly told Mu Yan that there were also circles among the rich second generation in City A. The pie was only so big, and the newly established families were naturally inferior to the old-established wealthy families. His elders had let him live a comfortable life as a rich second generation for more than 20 years, just so that he could find a rich husband when he got married and take the family business to the next level.
Before long, the conversation shifted from the drinks and his own family background to how Mu Yan and Shang Qiyue met.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not jealous of you. Everyone in the industry knows he's not interested in omegas, and no sane omega would even consider him."
Mu Yan lowered his head. He wasn't afraid that someone would try to take Shang Qiyue away. If Shang Qiyue found someone new who could make him tired of him, and the one-year agreement could end early, he might actually feel relieved.
However, he found it difficult to talk about the circumstances of his acquaintance with Shang Qiyue, whether it was that night at the hotel or their first meeting in Liuguang.
He could only pray that Shang Qiyue would return soon and rescue him from this seemingly endless conversation.
Why can't time move faster?
"A one-night stand?" the omega asked, seeing that he couldn't utter a word after three punches.
Mu Yan felt his face burning. He didn't know how to answer, so he simply nodded.
“I can’t really tell,” the omega said sincerely. “You seem very well-behaved, just like my friend who studied at A University. You don’t seem like the type to go to bars or have one-night stands.”
"I just want to ask if President Shang has said anything to you about Mr. Meng, such as whether he has anyone around him, or whether his family is urging him to get married."
Mu Yan shook his head blankly. Shang Qiyue had never mentioned anything about himself to him, such as who his friends were, their names, or even whether they had anyone around them.
He finally relaxed a little. He figured Shang Qiyue probably wouldn't tell him anything important that couldn't be leaked.
“The gentleman didn’t tell me any of this…” Mu Yan was afraid the other person would think he was hiding something and didn’t want to tell him. “He and I are just… he gives me money… I accompany him… he wouldn’t tell me these things.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just asking,” Wen Ling said without any disdain or dissatisfaction. He knew very well that he and Mu Yan were essentially no different. “When I was still with Meng Shao, I hung out with President Shang a few times. I remember he was a nice guy, quite generous, but maybe a little wicked and had a lot of dirty tricks. If you don’t mind, it’s fine to follow him.”
"This watch is a Vacheron Constantin, isn't it?" Hearing Wen Ling say this, Mu Yan glanced down at the watch Shang Qiyue had given him. Wen Ling's words were so blunt that he felt a little ashamed to respond. "It's over 400,000 yuan. You've only been with him for a month, that's pretty good. If you have the chance, ask him for more. The watch is expensive, but it would be best to ask him for a house too. Shang Qiyue's real estate business is quite large. Although even if he breaks up with you, he'll definitely give you a breakup fee, by then there won't be any feelings left, so it's definitely not as easy to get as it is now..."
Wen Ling spoke frankly and honestly, without any malice, but it made Mu Yan feel particularly embarrassed.
He hadn't said a single wrong word; that was indeed his relationship with Shang Qiyue. But why did telling the truth make him feel so uncomfortable?
"What are you looking at?" Wen Ling noticed that he seemed a little distracted and followed his gaze.
"I'm sorry, I was a little distracted just now... I heard you, thank you for your suggestion..."
Mu Yan subconsciously looked up and smiled apologetically at him, but an unusually familiar figure suddenly came into his view.
He was a tall, handsome man in a white suit, surrounded by several beautiful and expensively dressed omegas.
He was talking to the Omega beside him, his head slightly lowered, his gaze gentle, and his tone polite.
He occasionally nodded slightly, his smile not reaching his eyes, and even the lines of his fingers holding the champagne glass appeared composed and noble.
“That’s Young Master Lu, Miss Lu’s younger brother.” Seeing Mu Yan staring blankly, Wen Ling quickly said, “He’s handsome, but it’s best not to get any ideas about him.”
Mu Yan paused slightly, his gaze shifting somewhat blankly back to Wen Ling's face.
Seeing that he was stunned, Wen Ling continued, "Don't let his current appearance fool you, he actually has a terrible temper. Just recently, my friend was thinking of dating him. Their compatibility was over 90, almost 100. They should have been a perfect match, right? But in front of so many people, my friend touched his hand and he shook it off."
"He even called my friend shameless and told him to get lost. How could he be like that? He's so difficult to please. No matter how good-looking or rich he is, I wouldn't want him..."
Mu Yan listened in a daze. Wen Ling did not mention the question he cared about most: what was the name of that young master Lu?
Is he... the Lu Chong that Mu Yan knows?
Could there really be two people in City A who look so alike, and both have the surname Lu...? But Lu Chongming clearly told me that his family had gone bankrupt and his father had committed suicide by jumping off a building.
Lu Chong lost his temper with him and spoke harshly to him, but... they've broken up now, so Mu Yan can consider all of that a thing of the past, and he doesn't care anymore.
He had slapped Lu Chong in the face, and he had also smashed the bracelet that Lu Chong had given him.
But why did he lie to himself?
This shouldn't be true... This can't possibly be true.
It's just a coincidence. City A is so big, with tens of millions of people, it's normal that two people happen to look alike.
If Lu Chong's family had never gone bankrupt, then why would a young master like him be living in a rented apartment with me?
Am I just playing with his feelings? But how much are my feelings worth? Why would he spend three years making up so many stories to deceive me?
Aside from worthless feelings, he gained nothing from himself.
What young master would have so much free time?
As Wen Ling continued her rambling, Mu Yan's wrist was suddenly grabbed. He looked up sharply and met a pair of deep, dark eyes.
Shang Qiyue had walked over at some point. His suit accentuated his tall and slender figure, and his demeanor was lazy and casual, but his eyes exuded a sense of pressure that made people unconsciously hold their breath.
"What are you talking about?" he asked casually, his gaze sweeping over Wen Ling with undisguised hostility.
“Mr. Shang,” Wen Ling froze instinctively when she saw him, and he stood up subconsciously. “It’s nothing, just a casual chat.”
Shang Qiyue ignored him, looked down at Mu Yan, and said in a calm voice, "Yan Yan, come here."
Mu Yan tried to stand up on his own, but Shang Qiyue grabbed his wrist and gently pulled him forward half a step.
"I remember Si Miao telling me that you two are over, right?" Shang Qiyue said to Wen Ling, his tone colder than Mu Yan had ever heard before.
Upon hearing his words, Wen Ling's eyes immediately welled up with tears, making her look extremely pitiful.
"General Manager Shang..."
Most people would have softened at the sight of such a handsome omega crying with tears streaming down his face, but Shang Qiyue clearly wasn't swayed by that.
“I don’t remember Si Miao ever mistreating you. When you broke up, your family had already made a lot of money. Don’t think about things you shouldn’t be thinking. I won’t hold it against you for what you said to my people today. Just don’t let me find out there will be a next time.”
Mu Yan wanted to speak up for the omega who had said a few words, since although he had asked many questions that Mu Yan found difficult, he was the only person in the banquet hall besides Shang Qiyue who was willing to talk to him.
But Shang Qiyue grabbed him and left, giving Wen Ling or him no chance to explain.
Shang Qiyue pulled him to sit down next to him and gave him some food.
When speaking to Mu Yan, Shang Qiyue's tone immediately softened: "Sorry, I neglected you just now. Are you hungry?"
The banquet hadn't officially started yet, and no matter how good Shang Qiyue and Fu Jiayan's relationship was, it wouldn't be appropriate to serve Mu Yan any main course at this time. Fortunately, Mu Yan wasn't very hungry, and simply obediently drank a bowl of warm borscht.
"I'm not hungry, it's alright. Sir, you're busy, don't worry about me."
"I've already said hello, and I'll stay with you from now on." Shang Qiyue patted his head. "That person didn't say anything to upset you, did they? I didn't think it through. I thought... no one would be so tactless."
"Mr. Wen didn't say anything to me, sir, please don't be angry with him..."
Shang Qiyue's tone was unfriendly, as if he was genuinely angry. Mu Yan, not wanting to cause Wen Ling any trouble because of her, quickly and gently tugged at Shang Qiyue's sleeve to explain on his behalf.
"It's good that he didn't say anything nonsensical. I was afraid he would say something that would upset you. Their family doesn't have much money, but they are spoiled by their families and have that kind of personality. Nobody pays attention to us, and they just like to find a sense of superiority in other people."
Shang Qiyue grabbed his hand and gently stroked the back of his hand with his thumb in a comforting manner.
From his perspective, looking over Mu Yan's head into the distance, he just happened to collide with a gaze from the shadows in mid-air.
"Those who don't know their place are such a nuisance."
[Author's Note]
Have you and he already developed genuine feelings for each other?
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