55: Don’t worry, little beauty – if you lose him, you still have me
Sheng Shaoqing took this dinner very seriously — he arrived at the private room before three in the afternoon.
The restaurant was on the third floor of the building. The space wasn’t large, with only four staff members, but each of them clearly deferred to Sheng Shaoqing alone.
He was intensely curious about the so-called “future sister-in-law” Sheng Shaoyou had mentioned.
He knew his older brother wasn’t a man of lasting affection — over all these years, he’d never even publicly declared a single relationship, let alone introduced anyone as his “sister-in-law.”
But recently, the whole social circle of Shanghai’s second-generation elites was gossiping that Sheng Shaoyou, for the sake of an Omega, had gotten into a public brawl with Shen Wenlang of the HS Group.
So this Omega who could make the famously cold-hearted Sheng Shaoyou lose his composure… Sheng Shaoqing was dying to see.
And when he did — when he laid eyes on Hua Yong — he thought: Damn, that fight was worth it.
Better to die beneath a peony than to live without love.
For such a stunning Omega, never mind a one-on-one fight — even a chaotic brawl to the death would be worth it.
Except…
Staring at the faintly visible suppressant patch on the back of Hua Yong’s neck, Sheng Shaoqing thought regretfully:
I just wonder what his pheromones smell like…
Beneath his brazen, hot gaze, Hua Yong wordlessly followed behind Sheng Shaoyou and took his seat.
When his eyes met Sheng Shaoqing’s, they curved into two crescents as he smiled lightly:
“Hello.”
“Hello.” Sheng Shaoqing stood up, extending his hand: “I’m Sheng Shaoqing. A pleasure.”
Their hands clasped gently — the little Omega’s fingers were slender, warm, soft, making one’s thoughts run wild.
Sheng Shaoqing wet his lips unconsciously.
Seeing his older brother bring in such a delectable Omega made his eyes turn red with envy, his heart sour with jealousy — yet his mouth was sweet:
“Big brother often mentions you. It’s great to finally meet you in person.”
Hua Yong withdrew his hand, his smile even gentler now:
“Really? Mr. Sheng talks about me often?”
“Of course.” Sheng Shaoqing pulled out a chair, gesturing politely:
“Brother, sister-in-law, please sit.”
Sheng Shaoyou nodded faintly, flipping through the menu:
“Why pick a place like this?”
“It’s very popular lately,” Sheng Shaoqing chuckled. “I was worried about being disturbed, so I booked the whole place.”
“Mm.” Sheng Shaoyou replied lazily. “You’d have done better putting that money into a real investment.”
The restaurant’s decor was mediocre, its location remote, and the menu fairly ordinary — hardly worth booking out entirely.
Sheng Shaoqing forced a smile:
“Big brother is right.”
But in his heart, he thought smugly:
What luck tonight — two birds with one stone. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get myself a little companion for bed tonight.
Thanks to the private booking, dishes came out fast.
The waiter — a tall, broad-shouldered man with his face half-hidden behind a dark mask — kept darting glances at Hua Yong, his behavior anything but proper.
The food itself was equally disappointing — the soup was cold, the presentation poor.
Hua Yong took one sip of the soup and set his spoon down.
He propped his chin on his hand and silently watched Sheng Shaoqing clink glasses with Sheng Shaoyou — though Sheng Shaoqing’s gaze never strayed far from Hua Yong.
What a rare treasure, Sheng Shaoqing thought greedily. Too beautiful to look away from — even just sitting there, he looked like a specially-painted portrait.
When Hua Yong’s dark, cold eyes rose and met his, they cut like a bell hammer striking true — reverberating straight through his chest.
Sheng Shaoqing felt a chill under that gaze but still plastered on a honeyed smile.
Hua Yong thought to himself that this so-called “little brother-in-law” was nothing but a petty, shallow schemer.
What a shame — how could his Sheng Shaoyou, who was kind, proud, and strong, have such a mediocre half-brother?
If not for maintaining relations for Sheng Shaoyou’s sake, he’d have cut off this man’s hand the first time he poured wine for him.
Yet Sheng Shaoqing kept pressing — filling Sheng Shaoyou’s glass, then leaning over to pour for Hua Yong.
“I don’t drink,” Hua Yong said softly.
“Then learn,” Sheng Shaoyou interjected with a faint smirk, as if enjoying the spectacle. “You want into the Sheng family? You better learn to drink.”
The implication was obvious — yet Hua Yong only smiled sweetly and replied:
“But I really want to be with Mr. Sheng. What should I do?”
Sheng Shaoqing’s heart itched all over at the delicate way he said that — but Hua Yong’s eyes only ever looked at Sheng Shaoyou.
Sheng Shaoqing raised his glass to him anyway:
“Doesn’t matter if you can’t drink — big brother can drink for you.”
“No.” Hua Yong still smiled, but his eyes glinted coldly. “Mr. Sheng feels sick when he drinks too much. I’d feel sorry for him.”
Sheng Shaoyou didn’t mind the banter, sneering:
“Trying to avoid drinking with all that nonsense?”
Sheng Shaoqing jumped in to smooth things over:
“It’s normal for an Omega not to drink.”
“Omega?” Sheng Shaoyou snorted. “Is that what you are, Mr. Hua?”
“If Mr. Sheng says so, then it is.”
Sheng Shaoqing froze at that — “Mr. Hua”? That sounded serious, but maybe it was just some pet name.
He continued studying Hua Yong, whose features were flawless — like a painted doll — until Hua Yong’s eyes snapped up and met his with a cold, cutting stare.
That sent another chill through Sheng Shaoqing, though his smile only grew sweeter.
He kept pouring drinks — Hua Yong kept refusing, though finally, for appearances’ sake, he raised a glass and swallowed a sip.
It tasted bitter, and with his heightened senses, he immediately detected something wrong.
Sheng Shaoyou, despite having a strong tolerance, was already moving more slowly after a few glasses.
He grew quieter and quieter, his gaze growing distant.
Hua Yong quietly unlocked his phone under the table and began recording.
“Big brother seems drunk,” Sheng Shaoqing commented, his smile turning sharp. “Sister-in-law — don’t like my wine? Why just holding it without swallowing?”
“I don’t drink,” Hua Yong murmured softly.
“Then learn,” Sheng Shaoqing laughed darkly. “You’re so pretty — you’ll have plenty more to drink in the future.”
Oh? Not calling him “sister-in-law” anymore?
“Swallow it.” Sheng Shaoqing’s voice went cold. “Big brother’s drunk. If you won’t drink with me, you’re not giving me face.”
No one else would dare demand “face” from the uncrowned king of P-country.
Hua Yong smiled faintly and swallowed the wine, curious what trick Sheng Shaoqing was planning.
Sheng Shaoyou slumped bonelessly, his head lolling. Hua Yong caught him just before he struck a table corner.
Sheng Shaoqing’s eyes darkened, his fake smile turning real as he pulled a spring-loaded knife from his sleeve.
“Don’t worry, little beauty,” he sneered, licking his lips. “If you lose him, you still have me.”
And with that, he raised the knife —
—and brought it slashing down toward Sheng Shaoyou’s nape.
Shhk—!
The blade bit into flesh; thick, hot blood sprayed over the camera lens, painting it red.
Sheng Shaoyou lay there, seemingly asleep, oblivious as the blood stained his face.
But the strike had landed — not on him — but on Hua Yong, who had thrown himself into the path.
The blade plunged deep into his own vulnerable gland — and in that instant, the room was filled with a fierce, overpowering scent of orchids, surging and suffocating.