Chapter 18: The Father of He Yu Shen
Nan Yi stood in front of him, as if punished to remain still, not daring to move.
After a few seconds, He Yu Shen spoke again, "Do you know who those two were?"
Nan Yi shook his head.
He Yu Shen clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
"Next time, don't bring back flowers you couldn't deliver," He Yu Shen suddenly stood up, snatching the phone from Nan Yi's hand.
After a brief pause, he said with a slightly raspy voice, "In the future, refrain from gifting flowers recklessly."
The towering figure nearly overshadowed the fragile omega.
Nan Yi gently nodded in agreement.
He Yu Shen yanked him by the shoulder; it was still rough, but noticeably gentler.
He commanded coldly, "Come downstairs for dinner."
Nan Yi was forcefully pulled upstairs by him and then dragged out the room. As they left the bedroom, they bumped into Ling Ran, who was about to knock on the door.
The hand holding him was abruptly let go.
The man at the door seemed taken aback, "I came to call you both for dinner."
The butler wouldn't have sent him up just to invite them for dinner. He Yu Shen didn't call out his clumsy excuse, simply murmuring an acknowledgment.
He Yu Shen took the lead and went downstairs, leaving the two in a somewhat awkward situation.
Ling Ran cleared his throat, "Let's go down for dinner."
As Nan Yi followed the omega downstairs, the butler enthusiastically greeted them.
"Madam! Mr. Nan!"
The title from the butler made Nan Yi pause. The person beside him was being addressed as 'Madam'?
During dinner, Nan Yi discreetly observed the omega addressed as 'Madam'. Despite meticulous grooming, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were evident.
Not exactly young, and upon closer inspection, those attractive eyes bore some resemblance to He Yu Shen's.
But Nan Yi remembered, on the day he was to replace his younger brother and marry into the He family, Nan Zhai Min mentioned that He Yu Shen's stepfather was actually surnamed Liu.
Moreover, the photos didn't match the omega in front of him.
But the more they looked, the more striking their resemblance...
When Nan Yi pondered, his reactions always seemed delayed.
Eating was always a slow process for him, now it felt akin to a snail's pace.
Song Jing: "Uncle Ling, try this; it's delicious."
Song Jing continued his usual routine of dining with the group, actively serving dishes to Ling Ran beside him throughout the meal.
Ling Ran: "That's enough, Little Jing, you're so thoughtful."
Out of curiosity, Ling Ran inquired, "How old are you this year, Little Jing?"
Song Jing: "I'm already nineteen, Uncle Ling."
Ling Ran: "Already an adult, huh? When I was your age, Shen Shen was only two."
Ling Ran and Song Jing kept up their conversation, with Ling Ran occasionally bursting into light laughter.
It was evident he took a liking to Song Jing's sweet and obedient nature.
Throughout the meal, Nan Yi silently ate the dishes placed directly in front of him, never reaching for those farther away.
As he was engrossed in his meal, a peeled shrimp suddenly appeared in his bowl.
Surprised, Nan Yi looked up.
He met Ling Ran's doting smile.
"Why only focus on eating? Have more protein."
"What's your name?"
Ling Ran, with a kind expression, directed two consecutive questions at Nan Yi.
Instinctively, Nan Yi reached for his phone in his pocket, only to find it empty, leaving him momentarily stunned.
His chopsticks clattered to the floor in his distraction, leaving him visibly flustered.
"His name is Nan Yi."
He Yu Shen, noting Nan Yi's actions, spoke on his behalf.
Ling Ran: "How old is he?"
He Yu Shen: "Twenty."
Song Jing: "Uncle Ling, how do you maintain such youthful skin?"
Thankfully, the topic was swiftly shifted by Song Jing. As Nan Yi bent down to retrieve his chopsticks, someone beside him took the soiled ones and replaced them with a new pair.
Nan Yi accepted them and continued to quietly eat the food in his bowl.
After the meal...
The butler approached, stopping Nan Yi who was preparing to head upstairs. Gently, he massaged Nan Yi's swollen wrist.
The massage caused some pain, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
He Yu Shen did not go upstairs but sat in the living room, engrossed in his phone.
With He Yu Shen present, Song Jing also stayed.
Only Ling Ran, who was continuously yawning, left for upstairs after setting down his chopsticks.
The remaining two sat opposite Nan Yi. When the pain intensified, not wanting them to hear his strained voice, he bit his lip to suppress any sound.
Just as Nan Yi was about to leave the living room after his wrist massage, several individuals clad in black suits and sunglasses burst into the villa.
All of the intruders were alphas with imposing auras, appearing as if they hailed from the underworld.
As the group unexpectedly stormed in...
Song Jing, startled, took refuge behind He Yu Shen.
Nan Yi, on the other hand, stood his ground with clenched fists, his face having lost some color from the shock.
He Yu Shen rose with a stern face, barking, "Get out!"
The intruders, aligned in two rows, neither moved nor spoke.
After a few moments, a man in pajamas entered from outside. His prominent nose was adorned with fine gold-rimmed glasses.
He was nearly as tall as He Yu Shen, and their facial features bore an almost 80% resemblance. However, the man's eyes behind those glasses betrayed fine wrinkles.
"What do you want?"
He Yu Shen's expression darkened further, displaying an evident disdain for the man who looked so much like him: He Zhang, his father.
He Zhang replied, "I've come to take your mother home."
He Zhang took a seat amongst the group. Despite wearing a pink pajama that seemed ill-suited to his stature, his imposing presence remained undiminished.
Veins on He Yu Shen's forehead became prominent as he retorted, "In your dreams!"
He Zhang's icy gaze lifted. Even seated, the lethal intent in his eyes was palpable.
Standing to the side, Nan Yi felt his legs becoming somewhat weak.
He Zhan coldly stated, "Either hand the person over, or I'll take them myself."
He Yu Shen retorted, "What right do you have to take him?"
As their eyes met, He Zhan refrained from further idle talk.
The person on the sofa made a slight gesture, and the alphas behind him swiftly moved to block the path of He Yu Shen and Nan Yi.
"Brother Shen..."
Song Jing's face turned pale, an innate fear omegas have towards alphas overwhelming him.
He Yu Shen commanded, "Move aside!"
With a serene expression, He Zhan leisurely ascended the stairs, treating the fury around him as mere air.
Just minutes later, a figure descended from the stairs, cradling a sleeping omega.
Ling Ran seemed restless in his sleep, his brows deeply furrowed.
Soft murmurs escaped his lips, forming disjointed phrases.
"Zhan... Bro... I... hate you..."
The previously stoic individual, upon hearing the gentle whispers from the one in his arms, slightly furrowed his brow.
A soothing pheromone reminiscent of roses wafted out, causing the person in He Zhan's embrace to relax.
Nan Yi seemed to also find comfort in this fragrant scent.
But a pressing, angry peppermint aroma quickly followed.
He Yu Shen glared menacingly at his father, "Let him go! You have no right to touch him!"