A week after hosting the barbecue at their home in the university city, Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi returned to the Li family garden villa at the LI Group headquarters for dinner.
It was raining heavily outside. They bypassed the underground garage; Ying Zhiyu stepped out first from the rear door, where the Li estate’s bodyguards held an umbrella. When Li Xi alighted from the other side, Ying Zhiyu took the umbrella from the bodyguard and shared it with him as they walked toward the villa entrance. Their personal bodyguards and the Li estate guards followed closely behind.
Amid the sound of rain drumming on umbrellas, pavement, flowers, and fountains, Ying Zhiyu glanced sideways with a seemingly anxious expression. “I wonder how my brother-in-law’s health is?”
A week ago, during the barbecue, Han Qiyu had been rushed to the hospital for a severe nut allergy. His body was covered in hives, affecting his breathing, and had he been brought in later, he might have suffered anaphylactic shock.
Of course, Han Qiyu’s nut allergy was real—a fact Ying Zhiyu had known since his previous life. But since Li Qin had been recruited as a collaborative ally this time, exploiting her allergy for leverage would never involve actually serving her nuts.
Yet Ying Zhiyu hadn’t expected Li Qin to play her part so effectively. Not only had she made the incident appear dramatic enough to send the Omega to the hospital, she had also kept her there for a full week, only personally escorting Han Qiyu home yesterday.
Entering the Li villa dining room, the meal had been specially arranged by Li Songqian to ensure family harmony, unbeknownst to outsiders. Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi sat on one side of the table with Li Yue, while Li Qin and Li Lu took the opposite side.
Although Han Qiyu had officially “discharged” yesterday, Li Qin did not bring her recently recovered Omega to this reconciliation meal—a subtle but pointed expression of her stance, given her meticulous attention to etiquette and family protocol. Ying Zhiyu noted this keenly.
The Li family table was quiet throughout the meal. Once most had finished, Ying Zhiyu rose and personally poured a drink for Li Songqian, Li Qin, and Li Lu, carrying a decanter. During this, Li Songqian nodded, tacitly approving the gesture. Li Qin, without much reaction, still accepted her glass.
Then came Li Lu. The second young master of the Li family snorted coldly. Li Songqian furrowed his brow. “What’s that snort for?”
Clearly acting as a mediator between Li Xi and Ying Zhiyu, Li Songqian was unaware that the allergy incident had been staged. Li Lu smirked mockingly, “The doctor said I should abstain from alcohol. I’m not afraid of an allergic reaction sending me to the hospital, so I’ll drink anyway.”
True to his character, even this brazen defiance didn’t feel out of place. Li Songqian’s expression darkened, but with Li Qin’s Omega just discharged, he couldn’t overtly side with the third son and son-in-law. Opting to avoid conflict, Li Songqian finished his drink and left first, escorting Li Qin with him.
Only Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi remained in the dining room. Ying Zhiyu helped the servants clear the dishes from the table, keeping his focus on the subtle dynamics at play.
Across from him, Li Lu tossed out three words—“so fake”—and slowly left the dining room.
Li Xi, still seated at the table waiting for Ying Zhiyu, suddenly curled his fingers tightly.
Ying Zhiyu glanced at Li Xi’s hand and laughed to lighten the mood. “Almost thought you were about to fly off the handle for me, all for your blue-faced Omega.”
Of course, given that he had taken care of Li Xi for ten years and knew the Li family inside out—including Zhou Shen’s territory—it was impossible for Li Xi or Li Qin to actually fall out in public. So “flying into a rage for one’s beloved” wasn’t realistic.
Still, Li Xi was genuinely a bit uncomfortable. He couldn’t stand seeing his Alpha act submissive in front of anyone. Even knowing it was just a performance, when Ying Zhiyu poured drinks for a few family members earlier, Li Xi’s lips had tightened involuntarily.
Ying Zhiyu, staying true to his character even in Zhou Shen’s surveillance zone, draped an arm around his Omega’s waist. He could tell that Li Xi’s emotions were half real, half acted, so his own comforting gestures were similarly half playful, half sincere.
“I’m really fine. It was my fault to begin with,” Ying Zhiyu said softly.
Li Xi immediately countered, “Ignorance is no crime.”
In a large family like theirs, it was normal for a spouse’s dietary restrictions or allergies to go unnoticed. Han Qiyu wouldn’t usually mention them, and such details were managed by the household staff, chefs, and doctors. If Ying Zhiyu hadn’t somehow learned about it beforehand, Li Xi, as Han Qiyu’s brother-in-law, would have remained completely unaware of the nut allergy after all these years.
So when Li Xi said “Ignorance is no crime,” he genuinely felt he was defending his Alpha.
Ying Zhiyu smiled, thinking, “Has our third young master gotten so deep into character that he’s genuinely angry?” He responded in kind, “Mm, I’m blameless.”
Glancing at the servants quietly clearing the table, Ying Zhiyu asked, “Your eldest sister drank the wine I poured today, so she shouldn’t be upset now, right?”
Li Xi, maintaining his stoic persona, replied coldly, “Whatever her feelings are, she wouldn’t show them in front of Dad.”
After a pause, he added, “I’ll strengthen your security from now on. And stay away from Li Qin—who knows what she’s thinking.”
This had been prearranged. Since they suspected the bodyguards around them were compromised, the more they exposed themselves, the more opportunities they gave any hidden enemies.
Throughout, Li Xi’s brow remained furrowed as Ying Zhiyu stroked his back. While doing so, Ying Zhiyu thought: if Li Xi weren’t wealthy, he’d make a great actor—quick to get into character, full of emotion, and a rare kind of Omega like him in the entertainment industry. Attractiveness to Alphas varied individually, but fans of Omega types would surely be numerous.
After a while, the Alpha suddenly kissed Li Xi on the cheek, saying, “Thanks, hubby, for having my back.”
Li Xi’s body stiffened instantly, his gaze slowly fixing on the speaker.
From Li Xi’s eyes, Ying Zhiyu saw genuine surprise. Smiling and raising an eyebrow, he said naturally, “I’m the small-time son-in-law here. You run this household, so of course, you’re the hubby.”
Long ago, when AOs made up 99% of the ABO society, “hubby” referred to the Alpha in a marriage, and “wife” to the Omega. Over time, male Betas and female Betas grew in proportion. Male Betas had low reproductive success—only 1-2 per 10,000 could conceive—so society came to call the male figure “hubby” and the female figure “wife” in most marriages.
However, female Alphas and male Omegas existed too, albeit rarely, which made traditional marital titles awkward—especially for a union like Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi, where both bore male traits, Alpha and Omega.
In over a year of marriage, Li Xi had never once called his Alpha “hubby.” Now, Ying Zhiyu spoke it first.
After a pause, Li Xi’s Adam’s apple rolled violently; his chest rose and fell as he whispered, uncertainly, “Ying Zhiyu…”
Had he misheard? How could an Alpha ever call his Omega that?
Ying Zhiyu’s hand gently stroked Li Xi’s back as he leaned in to kiss the young man—whose flustered reaction could have been from either being deep in character or hearing the shocking word “hubby.” A blush crept along his temple and ear.
The handsome, young Alpha smiled lazily, his voice teasing as he continued his barrage:
“Hubby, hug me.”
“Hubby, pat my head.”
“Hubby, mwah.”
Though part of this display was clearly meant to show affection publicly, Li Xi could not suppress trembling at each utterance. Clenching his teeth, gripping the sides of Ying Zhiyu’s waist, he abandoned the act entirely and prepared to drag him out of the dining room.
Caught mid-barrage, Ying Zhiyu froze. “…Where are we going?”
Through clenched teeth, Li Xi said two words: “To the bedroom!”
Spotting the Omega’s flushed neck and ear, Ying Zhiyu belatedly realized just how much more potent “hubby” was than even “brother.”
“…”
Ying Zhiyu fell silent. The longer they were married, the more convinced he became that in both past and present lives, when fate “chose” his Omega, it had clearly been because his mate had been craving him all along.
He gave Li Xi a gentle tug as the young man strode toward the first-floor elevator, silently reminding him that their scene wasn’t over yet.
Li Xi took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. “I need to see Dad in the study. You go back to your room… and don’t sleep until I get there.”