After Being Aroused By Beauty, I Got Entangled With The Gloomy and Sinister Enigma - Chapter 9

Marriage alliances between families were nothing unusual, especially between Alphas and Omegas. Even Chen Yao’s parents had come together through an arranged match.

Love and romance could never outweigh family interests. What’s more, an AO union made it easier to give birth to children with strong Alpha or Omega genes. Chen Yao, a Beta, was an exception.

His parents were an Alpha and an Omega, and their pheromone compatibility had been as high as ninety-five percent. By all reasoning, their child should never have been a Beta.

Chen Yao’s expression didn’t change as he looked at the old master of the Chen family. Calmly, he said:
“I will not marry for alliance.”

The old man gave a heavy snort.
“That’s not for you to decide.” He added, “This time it’s the Lu family’s Lu Jianchuan. Next time, who knows who it will be.”

“In my twenty-four years of life, you’ve controlled sixteen of them,” Chen Yao said, his breath deepening. “I won’t marry for alliance.”

The old master fixed him with a steady gaze. He had been in power for so many years that even now, at the twilight of his life, the authority in his eyes had not dimmed.
“Your father’s health worsens by the day. While he’s still alive, don’t let him suffer.”

“Then I won’t mind if we go down together.” The old man wanted to use his father to force his compliance, but Chen Yao wasn’t about to give in so easily.

The old master spoke earnestly:
“Young people shouldn’t be so hot-blooded. Do you think rebelling against me will make your father’s family accept him? Wishful thinking! An Omega, a sick Omega, an old, fading Omega—how can he compare to a union between two great clans?”

A union between clans… laughable!

But Chen Yao knew: the powerless had no say anywhere. Even so, hearing those words still made him feel suffocated.

They didn’t even treat people as people, just as commodities to be traded.

“Set up a time, I’ll meet him,” Chen Yao said after a pause. At the moment, there was no other choice but to agree to the old man’s demand.

The old man always kept his word. If Chen Yao refused, his father might truly suffer for it.

The old master nodded with satisfaction. He walked to Chen Yao’s side, patted his arm, and said warmly:
“That’s my good grandson. Rest early tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll arrange for you two to meet.”

Chen Yao stood in the study for quite a while before returning to his room. He picked up a change of clothes and went into the bathroom. Turning on the shower, he stood under the spray, closed his eyes, and let his mind go blank.

When he finished his shower, he found a message from the hacker investigating Li Ying. It said they hadn’t found anything—too many encryption layers on the other’s identity.

[Si: If someone’s identity information is protected this heavily, their connections are far more extensive than you imagine. I suggest you stay away from him.]

Chen Yao took the advice to heart. He would keep his distance from Li Ying and avoid crossing paths.

For the time being, he decided to stay at the family estate, which would also help him avoid seeing Li Ying.

The next day.

Chen Yao had gone to bed late the night before, so he didn’t wake until ten.

After eating a little something, he found the sun too bright outside and returned to his room to coordinate with DM about scheduling the shoot. He wanted to finish filming quickly, or at least settle on dates, so he could plan around it.

A call came from Dong He. Chen Yao answered.

“That young man you brought yesterday—have you considered letting him model?”

Chen Yao forced himself to say:
“No. He’s not suitable.”

“By your own standards for choosing models, he has a unique personal style, and whether face or figure, there’s nothing to criticize. Why wouldn’t he be suitable?” Dong He was no fool—she could tell immediately who he had his eye on.

And she had to admit, the young man Chen Yao favored had truly impressed her. All that remained was for Chen Yao to give a definite answer. She hadn’t expected him to reject so bluntly. That displeased her.

The reason she’d given Chen Yao veto power wasn’t just his talent but also the Chen family name. The Chen family’s standing in City A was extraordinary—no one dared offend them lightly.

“Because he’s overly sensitive to cameras. That doesn’t work for filming.” Chen Yao had worked with countless people in his career as a photographer. He avoided mentioning that Li Ying was actually afraid of cameras; he didn’t want more trouble.

Dong He pressed:
“If he agrees, then would you choose him?”

“President Dong, if you can make that happen, of course I’d be willing to shoot him.” However reluctant, Chen Yao couldn’t deny he wanted to photograph Li Ying—it had become an obsession.

Dong He laughed.
“I can give it a try. Pass me his contact information.”

“I don’t have it.” Chen Yao received several calls a day, most from unknown numbers. Where was he supposed to find the one he’d blocked days ago?

Dong He was surprised.
“With the kind of relationship you two have, how can you not have his number?”

Chen Yao’s temple throbbed.
“What relationship?”

Dong He hesitated, then said:
“He told me he was your… bed partner.”

Chen Yao went silent. Yesterday she’d been looking at him strangely—so it was because Li Ying had said that.

“President Dong, something’s come up. I’ll hang up now.”

As soon as he ended the call, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” he said.

The butler entered quietly.
“Young master, Master Chen has already arranged the meeting with the Lu family. Two o’clock this afternoon, Yuanshan Blue Café.”

Chen Yao nodded.
“I understand.”

After the butler left, Chen Yao went to his father’s room.

His father lived at the far end of the second-floor corridor. He liked peace and quiet, and the downstairs opened onto the back garden. He loved to lie on a recliner in the sun. If flowers bloomed, he would enjoy them for a while.

Chen Yao had endured sixteen years in this prison-like Chen family. His father had endured over twenty. It was hard to imagine how he had managed.

He pushed the door open. Sunshine streamed into the room, offset by the cool air from the AC.

His father lay in his chair, a thin blanket over him, holding a book he read with great interest.

Chen Yao didn’t want to disturb him. He stood at the door for a moment, then quietly left to prepare for the meeting.

At 1:50 in the afternoon, Chen Yao arrived at Yuanshan Blue Café.

The café kept many cats. Seeing the little animals, Chen Yao made sure to avoid them, worried he might hurt them by accident.

He chose a quiet seat by the window. When the server came, he ordered a slice of Black Forest cake and a coconut latte.

As he flipped through Lu Jianchuan’s profile, he noted that the man was still in school. Yet his family was already rushing to arrange a marriage. Clearly, his situation wasn’t so different.

Someone sat down opposite him.

“Sorry, this seat is taken—” Chen Yao began, then stopped when he saw who it was. He matched the face to the photo in the dossier, confirming it was Lu Jianchuan.

He greeted him:
“Mr. Lu, hello.”

Lu Jianchuan wore a light blue short-sleeved shirt, looking fresh and clean.

He smiled and extended his hand.
“Hello, I’m Lu Jianchuan, your arranged partner.”

Chen Yao dazedly extended his own. The man didn’t look forced at all. How was he supposed to explain that he’d only come here under family pressure?

Just as their hands were about to meet, another hand shot out, intercepting the shake and grasping Lu Jianchuan’s firmly.

“He’s mine. You can’t cut in and steal love.”

Li Ying smiled with eyes narrowed, speaking to Lu Jianchuan.