The cab pulled up to the mansion gates at half past five.

Guiying paid, got out, and walked up the driveway with the particular contentment of someone who had eaten well and spent the afternoon doing nothing more complicated than talking to a person they liked.

He pushed open the front door himself since Wang Chengli wasn’t at the entrance and walked in.

He nearly walked straight into someone.

They both stepped back.

Guiying looked at the person in front of him.

The young man looked back.

He was tall, broad shouldered, with the particular Alpha energy of someone who took up space without meaning to.

He was also clearly not staff, wasn’t dressed like it, wasn’t carrying himself like one, and he was standing in the middle of Liuxian’s entrance hall with the comfortable ease of someone who believed he had every right to be there.

Guiying did not recognize him immediately.

But the young man recognized Guiying.

Something shifted in his expression.

"Xue Guiying?" he said.

And then Guiying recognized him.

The recognition was not a pleasant one.

"Ugh..ugly Mo? Why the hell are you here?" he said with a sneer.

The air in the entrance hall changed.

"Ugly Mo? Some nerve you’ve got and I should be asking you that question. What the hell are you doing here?" Moying said. His voice had an edge that was trying to stay controlled and was not entirely succeeding.

"I live here," Guiying said. "Why would butler Wang let a street rat like you in?"

Moying stared at him. "You live here? Don’t make me laugh, are you sure you’re not some maid here?"

-_-

"I live here. The one out of place here is you."

Moying laughed, did he hit his head somewhere? Why was he sprouting nonsense?

"You live in my brother’s house? Is that what you’re trying to say."

Guiying looked at him steadily, even though he was freaking out on the inside.

Liu Moying was Liuxian’s young brother? No wonder he was so high and mighty back in University.

"Your brother’s house is also my house. Yes."

Moying’s jaw tightened. "What exactly are you to my brother? You can’t be his partner, and since when does my brother go for country bumpkins like you."

"That’s correct. Your brother is my husband."

-_-

Guiying still had the sneer, he just wanted to slap that stupid expression off Moying’s face.

"Are you serious right now?" Moying said, and the control slipped a little. "Of all the people in this country my brother had to pick you? Do you know what you did? Do you even—"

"I didn’t do anything." Guiying said. His voice was flat and entirely certain.

"I was the only one in the room and something happened and everyone decided I was responsible because it was convenient. You decided I was responsible. You made sure everyone knew it."

"One of the Omegas at that table ended up—"

"I know what happened to her," Guiying said. "I was there. I was only trying to help her. And then I spent the next three months being told I caused it by people who weren’t even present." He looked at Moying directly. "Including you. And do you know the funniest thing? What happened to her only happened because she was trying to impress a fool like you..."

Moying opened his mouth, then closed it.

"You were the main attraction. They came there for you and would have done anything to get your attention.."

Guiying sighed, the more he talked about it, the angrier he got but he needed to say it.

So he could dislike Liu Moying in peace.

"I received hate messages for weeks," Guiying said. "From people you told. About what kind of person I was. What I deserved." His voice did not waver. "I know you found out the truth afterward. That doesn’t change what was said."

The entrance hall was very quiet.

"Master Xue."

Wang Chengli had appeared from the corridor with the composed urgency of someone who had heard enough to understand that this needed to stop.

He looked between them both. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Master Xue," he said again, more gently. "This is Liu Moying. The Young Master’s younger brother. He arrived earlier this evening." He turned to Moying. "Young Master Moying, this is Xue Guiying. The Young Master’s partner. He lives here."

The introduction landed in the space between them like a door closing.

Moying looked at Guiying.

Guiying looked at Moying.

Neither of them said anything.

"I’ll prepare the sitting room," Wang Chengli said, with the particular tone of someone who was going to give both parties a moment whether they wanted one or not, and withdrew.

"No need. I’m going upstairs. Liuxian won’t make it for dinner so I’ll be skipping dinner.."

Butler Wang hesitated "Master Xue, you know how the master feels about you skipping meals. I’ll ask Old Li to cook something tasty just for you. So you and the young master please come down at seven for dinner."

After he smiled pleasantly and left them.

"Hey.." Moying spoke after a while, but Guiying completely ignored him and began heading up the stairs.

"Hey! I’m talking to you! Just because you’re my brother’s wife doesn’t mean you can ignore your brother-in-law.."

-_-

Guiying’s lips twitched but he kept walking anyways.

"Hey! I’m sorry." Moying finally said the very word to Guiying who was filled with grievances.

"I actually wanted to apologize when I found out the truth but I couldn’t find you anywhere. But seeing as we’ll be seeing each other often, it’s better to clear the air. I was a jerk to you, I’m sorry.."

Guiying stopped at the fifth step, and turned to face Moying.

"I really suffered because of you, I was a loner already but then I came an outcast. But that’s all in the past, my life was already shitty one more shitty thing wouldn’t make a difference."

Moying scratched his head, he could tell his brother went for looks, because there was nothing special about Guiying.

"Anyways. Thank you for apologizing. Ugly Mo."

-_-

"Hey! Don’t call me that, you skinny bastard.."