Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)

He Juan pinched the crimson earlobe and relished in the tenderness that was akin to holding a delicate petal between his fingers. "What should you do if you keep being so shy, hmm?" He teased with a mirthful chuckle. "Will you run away if a girl confesses to you?"

Mu Yuze gaped at him as if he could not believe such shameless words coming out of He Juan’s mouth. Then, he slapped He Juan’s hand away and glowered with eyes that seemed to spit daggers. But for some reason, in He Juan’s eyes, it looked more like... he had been wronged.

He seethed in the mixture of rage and mortification, "Don’t worry, no one has ever confessed to me!"

Oops. He Juan took his hand back, feeling a little guilty out of nowhere. Had he stepped into a landmine and unknowingly wounded Mu Yuze’s fragile pride? But more importantly, how come Mu Yuze had never received any confession before? It was illogical! Just look at him, his bruises had almost disappeared to reveal the fair and unblemished skin beneath. His sharp features were also starting to show. In a glance, it was apparent that he was a diamond seedling, the kind that would grow up into a national treasure in a few years time!

He Juan shook his head with an exasperated look. "Goodness, all of your peers must be blind. Xiao Ze is so adorable and cool, how can nobody ever try to snatch you for themselves?"

Mu Yuze rolled his eyes in an exaggerated gesture. "I’m sorry to break the news to you but you are the only one who thinks this way."

"Then, it means only my eyesight is excellent!" He Juan declared righteously. When he saw Mu Yuze glaring at him with a look of murder, He Juan cleared his throat and shifted the topic, "Where are we again? Ah, that’s right, an Alpha’s rut. Okay, okay, don’t look at me like that, Xiao Ze. I swear, I am serious this time! I don’t know about other people but for me, the rut period has always been unpleasant. So please erase the idea in your head that rut is the time for Alpha to have fun, okay?" He wrinkled his nose in disgust even by the mere reminder of it.

Mu Yuze’s face betrayed nothing when he asked, "Even with a partner?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Even with a partner," He Juan nodded sagely, not noticing how Mu Yuze’s expression sank as soon as he heard that.

Earlier, He Juan said that he had no one to turn to, but now he could confidently attest that a rut was horrible even if he did not spend it alone. So did it mean that he had taken partners before... and for some unknown reason, decided to spend it alone this year?

Mu Yuze hurriedly caught himself in time once he found his mind venturing down that line of thought again. He gave his head a little shake. What did it have to do with him whom He Juan had spent his rut with? It was entirely the man’s freedom to choose anyone he wanted!

"Mn," he nodded. "I understand."

With the discussion closed, He Juan urged Mu Yuze to drink more soup, yet the ravenous hunger that had attacked him so strongly earlier seemed to vanish without a trace like thin mist blown by a fierce typhoon. He forced himself to swallow a few more spoonfuls before stopping.

"So fast?" He Juan asked, surprised. "Does it not suit your taste?"

I think I’m sick, was what Mu Yuze wanted to say. Or else why did he keep getting stomach bugs out of nowhere? But when he opened his mouth, what came out was, "I’m full. I don’t think I should eat too much lest I will feel bloated later."

Mu Yuze had no idea how convincing his excuse was, but he was very grateful when He Juan merely nodded and ruffled his hair. The weight of that large hand on his head was familiar, so familiar that Mu Yuze was certain he could recognize it even with his eyes closed, even during his deepest dreams.

His heart gave an abrupt, painful squeeze. Since when did he start to learn the shape of He Juan’s hand so well?

"Okay, don’t force yourself if you can’t eat anymore," the man said gently. "We don’t want you to have stomachache in the middle of the night, do we? By the way, have you done your homework? Did you get along well with your friends? Winter vacation is arriving soon, isn’t it?"

After answering He Juan’s barrage of questions that yes, he had done his homework; yes, he got along well with his friends (it was an utter lie because he was a loner through and through) and yes, the winter vacation was indeed approaching but he still had no plans whatsoever, Mu Yuze excused himself and retreated to the room like a pathetic boy he was.

Under the tight cocoon of his blanket, he found brief respite from the deformity of emotions that seized his heart like a vice. Here, he did not have to worry that anyone would catch his unsightly expression. Here, he did not have to put on a mask and pretend that everything was fine.

"You can’t be like this," he told himself fiercely, again and again like a mantra. "You have to go back to normal tomorrow. Don’t make him more worried than he already is!’

It was yet another sleepless night.

***

The time for He Juan’s meeting with Liang Yuanjun arrived in a flash.

After back-to-back communication with Jia Molei as the middleman, Liang Yuanjun finally decided on a location: a luxurious five-star hotel within the city.

He Juan arrived on time and finally saw the omega in flesh for the first time. She did not look too different from the photos on the public website, always appearing in neat suits with her shoulder-length hair combed neatly. Years did nothing to leave a mark on her delicate face. Despite being in her mid-forties, she looked no older than thirty.

As it turned out, she had heeded He Juan’s words and bought two bodyguards along with her. One man and one woman. They wore matching black suits, shiny black leather shoes and earpieces, standing behind Liang Yuanjun like two door gods. On the other hand, the aforementioned omega was sitting elegantly on the couch with a porcelain glass in one hand, slowly enjoying her coffee sip by sip.

If He Juan had not known better, he wouldn’t have associated this stern and dignified woman with the terrified and helpless omega who took shelter in Jia Molei’s clinic.

These past few days, He Juan had been investigating her and discovered that she was an unmarked and unbonded omega. No spouse and children. Her entire life had been focused on building her career in the party and joining various campaigns for omega’s welfare. Too bad, an accident always occurred in the last step, preventing her from taking a qualitative leap in her position. It was really not easy for an omega to survive this long in a society dominated by Alphas and Betas. And the fact that she was still here, willing to meet and hear He Juan out despite the terrible mishap she had gone through, just further proved her capability in He Juan’s eyes.

He liked her — her spirit, boldness, courage and ambitions.

"I apologize for making you wait," He Juan walked in casually under three pairs of scrutinizing and vigilant gazes. He took a seat opposite Liang Yuanjun and waved his gloved hand. "Pardon me, I don’t really like to leave any fingerprints behind. You don’t mind, do you, Miss Liang?"

"Of course not, Mr. Xiu," she said courteously. She glanced at the door and saw that no other person came in. "You’re alone?"

"Yes," He Juan let out a meaningful chuckle. "Just me alone is more than enough."

His eyes swept over the two average betas before landing on the subtle bulge on the side of their waist which He Juan believed was a gun. He Juan himself did not bring any weapon for fear that Liang Yuanjun would feel threatened and terminate the meeting right here and then. In spite of that, he was certain that he would be able to defeat the two bodyguards easily.

Was this woman naïve or did she really think that this was all it took to bring He Juan down?