Chapter 128: Good Brother

Chapter 128: Brotherly Bonds

Tan Yan watched the alpha at the center of the crowd from afar, his gaze sharp with displeasure.

What right did a blind alpha have to stand before everyone, basking in their attention?

Tan Shu was merely savoring his last moments of joy.

He was unlike the others; he stood with Song Yuqing.

He bet Song Yuqing would eliminate Tan Shu, just as he had two years ago.

Tan Yan glanced at his watch; the hands pointed to nine. The banquet was about to begin, but Song Yuqing had yet to arrive.

At the very last moment, Song Yuqing made his entrance, precisely on schedule.

His appearance instantly drew all eyes—or perhaps, they had been waiting for him all along.

The champagne tower shimmered with a hazy glow, while cigar smoke curled lazily in the air, outlining the slender, delicate figure of a beauty.

Under the lights, the young man’s skin was almost translucent, his features as delicate and pale as fresh snow. His lips, a faint hue and beautifully shaped, invited a kiss.

Across the throng of elegantly dressed guests, their gazes met, and for a moment, neither looked away.

Everyone held their breath, as if anticipating a confrontation between the two.

Though only two years had passed, it felt like an eternity.

In Westland, Tan Shu had meticulously woven an intelligence network, gathering every detail about Song Yuqing, collecting countless photographs to piece together his appearance at every stage of his life.

Yet, at this moment, truly seeing Song Yuqing again, Tan Shu still felt a sense of unreality.

That cool, ethereal moonlight had finally illuminated him once more.

At twenty-one, Song Yuqing had shed the last vestiges of youthful awkwardness, maturing into an unparalleled, captivating elegance uniquely his own.

Tan Shu leaned back lazily in his chair, a faint, careless smile playing on his lips. "After all these years, still the same."

The alpha who had been gossiping about Song Yuqing moments earlier snapped back to reality at these words, swallowing nervously. "Indeed, still as unremarkable as ever."

"I think Second Young Master Tan is more capable," the alpha continued, insincerely flattering Tan Shu.

Tan Shu’s gaze remained fixed on Song Yuqing as he smiled. "Then you’re nothing but a boar unable to appreciate fine rice—utterly blind."

The alpha: "..."

Was this truly a rivalry? He had jumped to Song Yuqing's defense in a mere second.

But the alpha accepted it almost immediately—Song Yuqing’s face truly held an irresistible allure.

Even as rivals, one couldn’t help but be drawn to that face.

He’d heard that Tan Shu had once pursued Song Yuqing relentlessly, even resorting to slipping him drugs, which was why Song Yuqing had eventually put him in his place.

That was how their feud began.

Pei Huai: "..."

Pei Huai gritted his teeth. "You’re looking at him again."

Don’t look at Tan Shu.

Song Yuqing tilted his head to glance at Pei Huai. "Then should I look at you?"

It was a question, but Pei Huai heard it as a statement. The words, slipping from Song Yuqing’s lips, carried a hint of flirtatious intimacy.

Pei Huai’s ears flushed red. He wanted to look away but felt it would be too embarrassing. "Go ahead, I’m handsome—it’s your gain to look at me."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Tan Hongzhen had been waiting for Song Yuqing. He hadn’t appeared at the launch event but arrived precisely as the banquet began.

His attitude was blatantly dismissive, as if the Tan family had never been his equal, never worthy of even a fleeting glance.

The Tan family had built a vast empire, and Tan Hongzhen had never been treated with such disregard. For years, he had managed the family using the methods passed down by his ancestors.

Eliminating rivals when necessary, controlling talented researchers when needed.

Those who didn’t cooperate would meet a brutal end.

But Song Yuqing was the exception—a man who gained power and then delivered results.

It was bad enough that Qi Zhengqing disrespected him, but now Song Yuqing was doing the same. Tan Hongzhen, accustomed to being in control and respected, felt intensely displeased.

"Call Tan Shu over," Tan Hongzhen instructed Tan Yan, then strode directly toward Song Yuqing. His previously gloomy expression instantly shifted to one of warmth and friendliness as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Mr. Song, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time," Tan Hongzhen said with a friendly smile.

Song Yuqing: "I didn’t ask you to wait for me."

Tan Hongzhen’s expression tightened. "..."

Did Qi Zhengqing learn to talk like this from Song Yuqing?

He always thought Qi Zhengqing wasn’t one to chat like this—at most, he ignored everyone. But after just two sentences with Song Yuqing, he’d killed the conversation.

"Next time, there’s no need to wait," Song Yuqing said coldly.

Tan Hongzhen was speechless, his tone stiff. "Fine, I won’t wait next time."

The surrounding guests struggled to suppress their laughter. This old fool, Tan Hongzhen, had pretended to show respect for Song Yuqing while subtly criticizing his late arrival. But Song Yuqing had bluntly pointed out that Tan Hongzhen was creating drama for no reason—no one had asked him to wait.

A few alphas and Omegas sneaked glances at Song Yuqing. He was straightforward, almost to the point of coldness.

Very different from what they had imagined.

Tan Shu arrived just in time to hear the entire exchange, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Tan Hongzhen caught sight of Tan Shu from the corner of his eye and put on a fatherly smile. "Come here."

Tan Shu didn’t even glance at Tan Hongzhen, walking straight to Song Yuqing instead. He smirked as he said, "Song Yuqing, I’m back."

His eyes fixed on Song Yuqing, he slowly uttered three words: "Surprised?"

He drew out the last word, infusing it with an eerie blend of mockery and anticipation.

Even his pupils dilated slightly from excitement.

A chill ran down everyone’s spines.

Just as the eerie silence was filled with Tan Shu's venom.

"What are you doing?"

A sharp, low command cut through the air. An alpha's dominant aura instantly wedged itself between Tan Shu and Song Yuqing, standing like a solid wall that shielded Song Yuqing.

Although Pei Huai didn’t know what Tan Shu and Song Yuqing had planned, he was still deeply displeased. The way Tan Shu spoke to Song Yuqing was dripping with malice and open desire.

Song Yuqing grabbed Pei Huai’s wrist, lowering his gaze. "I've got this."

The hand gripping Pei Huai’s wrist was unexpectedly delicate, with long, elegant fingers. Under the light, the skin was so pale that the faint blue veins were visible.

At this moment, this hand was resting on the slightly darker wrist of an alpha.

Though it was a seemingly minor exchange at the party, it captured everyone’s attention.

The scene was both shocking and crackling with tension.

Song Yuqing’s fingers couldn’t even fully encircle Pei Huai’s thick wrist bone, the tips barely managing to clasp together.

It involuntarily called to mind more private, heated moments.

One could imagine these seemingly delicate hands, in moments of passion, clinging to an alpha’s strong arms or broad back, leaving red marks on taut muscles.

With a tug, Song Yuqing pulled Pei Huai back.

Tan Shu watched as Song Yuqing effortlessly moved Pei Huai aside, his smirk widening, laced with smug understanding.

"Heh..." A scornful chuckle escaped Tan Shu’s throat.

His gaze swept over Pei Huai’s tense, angry face before settling back on Song Yuqing’s snow-pale face. "It seems Mr. Song never lacks a loyal lover by his side?"

The word "lover" was uttered with particular frivolity, directly referencing the ambiguous, possessive physical contact between the two.

"Now there's an obedient dog, isn't he?"

The onlookers continued to discreetly observe the trio, everyone understanding the implication behind Tan Shu’s words.

Belittling Pei Huai—given his family background—for acting as Song Yuqing’s bit on the side was nothing short of absurd.

Similarly, one might refer to their own subordinate as a "dog," but when someone else says it, it’s different. To insult a subordinate is to disrespect their master.

Tan Hongzhen, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, finally felt the stifling frustration in his chest dissipate. Even Tan Shu was looking better to him now.

Wasn't Tan Shu implying that Song Yuqing relied on alphas, or what?

Noticing Song Yuqing’s expression turn cold, Tan Hongzhen took a glass of wine from a waiter’s tray and offered it to Song Yuqing. "My son is immature, Mr. Song. Please forgive him."

Song Yuqing accepted the glass. Just as Tan Hongzhen thought Song Yuqing would take the insult lying down, a sudden liquid hit his face.

Song Yuqing splashed the wine directly into his face. Before the first splash was even finished, Song Yuqing threw a second, coldly stating, "If he’s immature, then you should've taught him better."

His voice was low but clear, cutting through the silence, impossible to ignore.

The surroundings grew even quieter. In the momentary silence, all eyes were locked on Song Yuqing’s strikingly cold, beautiful profile.

Along with these words, the wineglass in Song Yuqing’s hand was flung at Tan Shu's chest. The few remaining drops of wine splattered upon impact, leaving a spray of dark spots on the expensive fabric of Tan Shu’s suit.

Song Yuqing cast a cool, dismissive glance at Tan Shu, offering no further courtesy before turning to leave, his retreating figure cold and unapproachable.

Tan Shu watched Song Yuqing's aloof retreating figure, the smile at his lips growing even more pronounced.

The alpha's slender fingers, with an almost sacrilegious intention, gently brushed over the wine-stained patch on his chest, his thumb slowly rubbing the damp fabric.

Tan Shu looked at Tan Hongzhen and said, "Why did you even invite him?"

"Now it's as if we all owe him billions."

Tan Hongzhen, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze, wore an expression of acute embarrassment, yet he was forcing a polite smile in front of the crowd, making the scene all the more absurd.

Tan Hongzhen felt deeply frustrated. Although his plan to pit Song Yuqing against Tan Shu and escalate their conflict had succeeded, he had also lost face, leaving him with a sense of pyrrhic victory.

As soon as Tan Hongzhen turned away, Tan Shu raised his glass to the guests, signaling for the banquet to continue and encouraging everyone to have a good time.

"They've been inside for so long, why aren't they out yet?"

"If only we could go in. Honestly, Mr. Song still prefers Pei Huai—he always keeps Pei Huai by his side."

"So, Mr. Song likes submissive alphas?"

As they spoke, the two emerged one after the other. Pei Huai leaned in, seemingly saying something to Song Yuqing, and then took hold of Song Yuqing's hand, actually...

"Have you found Pei Huai's wife? I'm going to send her the photos. Damn, they’re so close—biting fingers... Wow, who knew Pei Huai was such an alpha?"

"Hey, bro, I know that number. Send it quickly."

"Expose this scumbag alpha."

Several alphas quickly reached a consensus, gathering around to send the sneak photo of Pei Huai biting Song Yuqing's finger to his poor, deceived "wife."

After sending the photo, they quickly rejoined the group, pretending nothing had happened, and returned to acting like Pei Huai's loyal friends.

Author's Note:

Song Qingqing: Poor wife?