Chapter 70: The Married Beta Accidentally Enters a Mysterious Room

Chapter 70: Married Beta Enters a Mysterious Room by Mistake

A Christmas tree stood adorned in the center of the first floor of Hengyu Headquarters, with HR staff setting out gift boxes beneath it.

Every employee leaving work today could pick a gift, with values ranging from 5 to 10,000 yuan.

Situ Jing, dressed in a black overcoat and looking stern, passed by, followed by his assistant and several project managers from his business trip.

As soon as they saw the boss return, all the employees straightened up and greeted him, "Boss, Merry Christmas."

Situ Jing gave a slight nod and walked toward the elevator.

After going upstairs, Situ Jing gave a few instructions, sent away the accompanying managers, and pressed the intercom button on his desk. "Have the brand representatives come in."

A few minutes later, a brand designer entered, followed by a salesperson, each carrying a silver suitcase.

The large office was cozily heated, and both the salesperson and the designer appeared extremely nervous upon seeing Situ Jing.

The salesperson walked up to Situ Jing with an ingratiating smile. "Mr. Situ, we’ve brought the jewelry for your selection."

Situ Jing said, "Open them."

The designer and salesperson hurriedly opened the silver suitcases, revealing various gemstone necklaces and bracelets nestled in black velvet.

The designer put on white gloves and began describing the features of each piece of jewelry.

Situ Jing gave a cursory glance before finally picking up an aquamarine bracelet to examine.

Thinking Situ Jing had taken a liking to the bracelet, the designer immediately emphasized its design and gem-cutting techniques, speculating on what appealed to Situ Jing.

After staring at it for a long time, Situ Jing looked up at the designer. "Does it look like the bell, or the umbrella-shaped body, of a lighthouse jellyfish?"

The designer’s eyes widened, completely baffled by what the VIP client meant, and was at a loss for how to respond.

The salesperson quickly chimed in, "Yes, the shape of the lighthouse jellyfish’s bell is just like this aquamarine. Mr. Situ, does the person you’re gifting this to like jellyfish?"

Situ Jing merely looked at the aquamarine bracelet in his hand, thought for a moment, and ignored the salesperson’s question. "Is there a matching necklace for this style?"

The salesperson replied with an ingratiating smile, "No."

Situ Jing frowned, his tone tinged with displeasure. "No?"

Seeing Situ Jing’s expression darken, the salesperson broke into a cold sweat and quickly improvised: "The bracelet (shǒu liàn) symbolizes 'guarding the bond' (shǒu liàn), representing cherishing each other’s relationship, expressing a commitment to protect or confessing feelings. This bracelet is also very delicate and can be worn on any occasion without standing out. Aquamarine is especially suited for those with fair skin."

Situ Jing placed the bracelet back on the black velvet. "This one."

The salesperson wasn’t sure which part of his explanation had satisfied the inscrutable head of the conglomerate, but he was certainly curious about the recipient of the bracelet.

Though the man said nothing, his expression while looking at the bracelet spoke volumes.

The designer and salesperson packed up the jewelry boxes, leaving only the bracelet, which they were placing into an exquisite Christmas gift box, when someone burst into the office.

Mu Qingkong popped his head into the office, beaming at Situ Jing. "Jing-gege, Merry Christmas!"

Mu Ga followed him in, holding some documents and smiling ingratiatingly. "A-Jing, Qingkong insisted on coming with me to see you. He’s grown up but still acts like a child, clinging to his brother."

Secretary Zhou and the assistant couldn’t stop the two, and they watched as Situ Jing’s face darkened.

Situ Jing said to the designer, "Take these away."

Mu Qingkong noticed the aquamarine bracelet in the gift box on the desk, his eyes widening in surprise, his smile freezing.

"Jing-gege, it’s so beautiful. Who is it for?"

Seeing the tension, the salesperson quickly wrapped the gift box, bowed to Situ Jing, and hurried out with the designer.

Situ Jing placed the gift box in a drawer, crossed his hands on the desk, and suddenly sensed something amiss. "Don’t you have classes today?"

Mu Qingkong said, "We had classes in the morning, but the afternoon classes were canceled. I’m a good student who never skips classes."

Situ Jing’s eyes darkened as he scrolled through his phone, asking Mu Ga casually, "Uncle, what brings you here today?"

Mu Ga set down the documents on the desk. "It’s about what I mentioned before..."

Mu Qingkong stood by, watching Situ Jing and Mu Ga talk, feeling a mix of anger, jealousy, and confusion overwhelming him.

Situ Jing’s attitude toward him had indeed changed.

It seemed to have started after he saw Situ Jing taking that omega upstairs at the club.

Situ Jing now treated him like air, ignoring his questions, yet he placed that Christmas gift in a drawer, valuing it so highly he didn’t want others to see it.

Was it a gift for Situ Jing’s lover?

Consumed by resentment, Mu Qingkong gritted his teeth, determined to find out who this person was, when suddenly he heard his uncle raise his voice.

Mu Ga asked, "Uncle’s company is really tight on funds lately. Can’t you help me?"

Situ Jing glanced up coldly. "Uncle, since you started investing and doing business, how many losses have you incurred? Investing in Taihu stone tables, losing half your capital, investing in a kindergarten that got shut down, investing in wedding photography and cosmetics—which year didn’t you lose money? If you had any self-awareness, you’d go back to singing and stop wasting time here."

Mu Ga slammed the table, pointing at Situ Jing’s forehead. "My cousin and I were your mother’s closest friends. After all these years of friendship, how can you be so heartless?"

Situ Jing grew impatient and placed his phone face down on the desk. "If I were truly heartless, I wouldn’t have let you in again. Is there anything else?"

This was a clear dismissal.

Mu Ga frowned deeply. Without Situ Jing’s support, the reputation and advertising he’d built would vanish, and his funds would be gone.

Suddenly, Mu Ga realized that Situ Jing no longer cared about their past ties—a bad sign.

"A-Jing, Uncle is begging you, alright?"

Mu Qingkong said, "Jing-gege, has someone clouded your judgment? We are the ones you should cherish the most."

"Is that so?" Situ Jing shot a casual glance at Mu Qingkong.

Mu Qingkong met Situ Jing’s intense stare, thinking he was willing to talk to him again, and stepped forward. "Yes, Jing-gege, we all cherish you deeply. We visit you every Christmas and will continue to do so every year."

Situ Jing laughed coldly, his tone icy. "You’re wrong. The person I cherished the most is dead. Now, there’s no one I cherish. And please don’t come here again. If you have business, make an appointment with my Secretary in advance."

Seeing that Situ Jing was refusing to help, Mu Ga leaned over the desk, crying and shouting, "A-Jing, Uncle has sunk all his money into this business! If you don’t help me, all my money will be wasted!"

Situ Jing looked at Mu Ga expressionlessly. "That’s your problem, not mine. You’re a public figure—why are you crying and shouting here? Have you no shame?"

Mu Ga cried even louder, toppling a pen holder and a calendar, and reached for a red ladybug ceramic sculpture.

Situ Jing snatched the ladybug and pressed the intercom button. "Secretary Zhou, call security!"

Two minutes later, five tall and burly security guards ushered Mu Ga and Mu Qingkong out of the office.

After the office quieted down, Situ Jing straightened his clothes, opened his phone to check messages, and tapped into the tracking app, zooming in on that small red dot.

A shadow crossed his face.

Two minutes later, Situ Jing grabbed his overcoat and left the office, striding swiftly toward the elevator, with Secretary Zhou closely following behind.

Mu Qingkong was standing outside the Hengyu Headquarters, clutching desperately at the jewelry brand salesperson. "Who did he give it to?"

The salesperson’s mouth was dry from explaining, and he said with a pained expression, "Sorry, I really don’t know, I’ve never seen them. Mr. Situ needed it urgently—we only got the call today."

Suddenly, Mu Qingkong saw Situ Jing walking out with a gloomy expression, looking rushed, and getting into his car.

It wasn’t even time to get off work yet—where was Brother Jing rushing off to so urgently?

Mu Qingkong let out a light snort, released the salesperson, went to the parking lot to get his own car, and quietly followed Situ Jing’s car.

He was determined to find out just what kind of tricks that omega had used to snatch away Brother Jing.

*

After an indefinite amount of time, Bai Yu heard his phone ring, fished it out of his bag, and held it to his ear. "Hello?"

A deep, magnetic voice came from the other end. "Where are you?"

Bai Yu frowned—why did this voice sound like that mad dog’s?

He opened his eyes to check the caller ID on the screen—it was actually Situ Jing?!

Bai Yu sat up in shock, stammered out, "I’m… at school."

Situ Jing sneered. "All your classes this afternoon were canceled. What are you doing at school?"

Bai Yu scratched his head, threw off the blanket, and stood up, his voice growing increasingly hesitant. "Well, I was looking through materials in the library. We need to prepare for the arrangement competition."

Situ Jing said, "Should I tell you your current location?"

Bai Yu’s face turned pale, and a surge of anger rose in his heart. "You installed a tracker on my phone? I was just at the professor’s house listening to records!"

Situ Jing let out a cold hum from his throat and issued an order in a tone that brooked no argument. "I’ll be at your school in thirty minutes. You’d better show up at the library within thirty minutes, or you'll face the consequences."

With a sharp click, Situ Jing hung up.

At that moment, Bai Yu had no time to think about anything else. If Situ Jing arrived first, he was done for!

Song Huaiqian wasn’t in the living room; Bai Yu wanted to say goodbye before leaving.

Bai Yu called out toward the hallway, "Professor?"

No one answered.

"Song Huaiqian?"

Bai Yu ran to the door of the piano room Song Huaiqian had been in, pushed it open, and looked inside—no one was there.

Next, Bai Yu checked the other rooms to see if Song Huaiqian had also fallen asleep.

Bai Yu noticed that Song Huaiqian had clearly designated the functions of the rooms: two guest rooms, one piano room + studio, one master bedroom, and a storage room.

There was another room at the very end, which had two locks, though they weren’t locked now.

Bai Yu pushed the door open and looked inside—it seemed like an art studio, with canvases, spilled paint, a large object covered with a black cloth that resembled something like a plaster statue, and tools like a wood saw and an electric drill.

"You’re awake?"

The sudden voice made Bai Yu jump. He turned around and saw Song Huaiqian standing at the doorway, wearing an apron and holding a brown paper bag.

"Did I scare you?" Song Huaiqian gazed into Bai Yu’s eyes.

Bai Yu said, "A little. I woke up and found you weren’t here—"

Song Huaiqian suddenly stepped forward and, without warning, gently hugged Bai Yu, soothing him. "How about now?"

Encircled by Song Huaiqian’s tall frame, Bai Yu froze for a second, his eyes filled with disbelief, his body stiff. But Song Huaiqian’s expression was so natural, as if he were only trying to calm him down.

The scent of benzoin spread through the air, and for a moment, Bai Yu almost wanted to close his eyes and lose himself in that embrace.

Song Huaiqian really was like the father he had always imagined having.

After a moment, Bai Yu politely pulled away. "I’m fine now."

He had to go.

In a place Bai Yu couldn’t see, a hint of hidden reluctance flashed in Song Huaiqian’s eyes, and a deep hunger roared within him.

Song Huaiqian showed Bai Yu the contents of the paper bag. "I went to the supermarket to buy sea salt. Stay for dinner tonight—let’s celebrate Christmas together."

Bai Yu shook his head. "No, I need to go back."

Song Huaiqian glanced at the object covered by the black cloth. "Are you sure you won’t stay a bit longer?"

"No." Bai Yu walked toward the living room, his gaze caught sight of the records in the cabinet. He hesitated and stopped. "Can I borrow a couple of your records?"

Song Huaiqian said, "Of course. You can listen to as many as you want."

Bai Yu picked out three records and bid farewell to Song Huaiqian. "Thank you for listening. I feel much better. See you next time."

Song Huaiqian took off his apron. "Do you need me to drive you home?"

"No, I’ll go back on my own." Bai Yu waved to Song Huaiqian and closed the door.

The door didn’t latch shut—it opened again, and Bai Yu stuck his head in. "I wanted to tell you—I really wish I had a father like you."

Song Huaiqian feigned offense. "Am I that old?"

"No, it’s not that."

"You’re too old to be my foster son, but you can always trust me, even rely on me."

Bai Yu smiled at Song Huaiqian. "Yeah."

"One more thing." Song Huaiqian walked to the doorway. "I’ll look into the school matter. If you run into trouble in the future, come to me. Don’t do anything dangerous."

"Okay."

The door closed, and the living room fell quiet.

Song Huaiqian picked up the blanket from the sofa, inhaling deeply Bai Yu’s scent, then walked to the locked room and lifted the black cloth.

If Bai Yu had seen it, he would have been shocked—but he hadn’t looked—

It was a nude statue of him.

Though unfinished, the silhouette had already been fully carved out.