Chapter 33

Ruan Tang was stunned by his inexplicable words, and after a long daze, it belatedly occurred to him that Auston was talking about how he had told him a story yesterday.

Hearing his sudden compliment, Ruan Tang couldn't help but feel a flutter of panic, unconsciously thinking to himself that this madman praising his voice, could it be that this time he had taken a liking to his voice and wanted to cut out his vocal cords to keep as a collection?

But how was one supposed to collect a voice?

Cutting out the vocal cords probably wouldn't work, right?

A thousand thoughts raced through Ruan Tang's mind, but his mouth still calmly thanked Auston: '...Thank you for the compliment.'

'Come and tell me a bedtime story every night from now on.' This time, Auston's request was unexpectedly normal.

So much so that Ruan Tang, who was pondering countermeasures in his mind, didn't snap out of it for a moment: 'Ah?'

'What? Not willing?' Seeing this, Auston immediately shot him a glare.

Ruan Tang came back to his senses and immediately said with good grace, 'Of course not. I would be delighted to tell you a bedtime story, Your Grace. I just feel so honored that I didn't react in time...'

Auston looked at his obedient and submissive manner, and immediately hummed with satisfaction.

Last night, listening to Ruan Tang tell that incredibly childish story, he, who had suffered from long-term insomnia, slept exceptionally soundly, beyond all expectation.

This discovery made him overjoyed...

This Omega was like a treasure; from time to time he could unearth another use from him, giving himself a reason to continue keeping him well and pampering him.

Watching Auston's satisfied appearance, Ruan Tang suddenly felt that the Bluebeard Duke, who was feared by everyone in the imperial capital, wasn't so scary after all—he was this easily satisfied with just a bedtime story.

He was even a little cute.

This... Alpha who liked listening to fairy tales.

From then on, in the daily routine between Ruan Tang and Auston, besides Ruan Tang getting bitten every day, there was an additional item: Ruan Tang going to Auston's room at a fixed time every day to tell him stories and coax him to sleep.

While Ruan Tang was more than happy with this, he also began to feel that his current life was very much like 'One Thousand and One Nights'.

The news that Ruan Tang's mother and his older brother and sister had been brought to live permanently at the Auston Ducal Palace quickly spread through the noble circles of the imperial capital.

Once again, it confirmed the rumor that Auston was extremely infatuated with Ruan Tang, this black-hearted lotus, utterly bewitched by him...

Just seeing that Auston had first changed the daily schedule of the entire mansion for him, and then allowed his relatives to live there, it was clear that the Auston Ducal Palace was now Ruan Tang's domain.

It truly made all the married Omegas in the imperial capital envious, yet they also had to sigh that Ruan Tang could make that madman favor and dote on him to such an extent—it was something they couldn't envy even if they tried.

...

After agreeing to marry Auston, Ruan Tang had quit his previous job.

At that time, he didn't know what kind of person Auston was, nor how he would fare after arriving at the ducal palace, whether he would get along pleasantly with Auston, or whether Auston, as the duke, would be willing for him to work after marriage.

Therefore, after marriage, Ruan Tang spent most of his time relatively housebound, staying within the ducal palace.

But now, seeing that he and Auston were getting along harmoniously and that staying at home all day was very idle, Ruan Tang was already planning to find another job and go to work.

However, before that, Ruan Tang still intended to enjoy the current rare leisure time...

Feeling a bit bored at home, Ruan Tang happened to see a performance by his favorite theater troupe, so he went out to watch a play starring an actor he liked.

After watching the play, Ruan Tang was about to call a car to go home.

Unexpectedly, he ran into someone at the entrance of the theater...

It was Wen Run.

Ruan Tang had no intention whatsoever of communicating with this guardian of Ruan Xi, his former friend, so he immediately looked away, pretended not to have seen him, and turned to leave.

Just as he was about to leave, Wen Run blocked his way. 'Wait, Ruan Tang—'

'Don't leave yet. I have something to tell you.' Wen Run seemed very afraid that Ruan Tang wouldn't give him a chance to finish, so he spoke quickly.

Ruan Tang looked at him with a very cold gaze. 'I don't think I have anything to say to you.'

He had once considered Wen Run his best friend, sharing everything with him without reservation, but Wen Run had disappointed him time and time again, choosing to stand on Ruan Xi's side when he needed his support the most.

He hadn't expected Wen Run to oppose Ruan Xi for him; even silently staying by his side without saying anything would have been fine. But Wen Run had chosen to kick him while he was down, joining Ruan Xi and his guardians in negating his entire being.

From then on, Ruan Tang felt that he and Wen Run could no longer be friends.

And now, with Wen Run coming to him after what had happened with Ruan Xi, even without him speaking, Ruan Tang knew he was going to stand by Ruan Xi again and accuse him on behalf of the kind Ruan Xi...

Therefore, Ruan Tang felt he really had nothing to say to Wen Run and didn't want to hear him speak either.

Wen Run looked at Ruan Tang's cold and distant demeanor, and his heart ached. They were blood relatives, the two closest people who were currently clear-headed, supposed to be the most intimate, but because of his own selfishness and narrow-mindedness, he had forcibly turned his relationship with Ruan Tang into this.

At present, the storyline of this world, except for Ruan Tang's marriage to Auston, was almost entirely identical to their previous life.

Thinking of the Ruan Tang from the previous life who was just as cold to him, and how he had been indifferent about it, Wen Run thought that Ruan Tang must be disappointed in him. Even without knowing they were blood relatives, as a friend, Ruan Tang must be extremely disappointed and never want to see him again.

However, given his actions in the previous life, it was only right that Ruan Tang was disappointed in him...

'I... I really want to talk to you. Can you give me two minutes? Please, just two minutes, for the sake of our past friendship...' Wen Run immediately let out a bitter laugh, almost begging.

Even if Ruan Tang was disappointed in him, so be it.

As long as Ruan Tang was alive now, as long as his blood relative was alive and whole, that was enough.

Hearing him mention the past, Ruan Tang gave a faint 'hm,' then said coldly, 'Fine, but I won't discuss anything related to Ruan Xi.'

He didn't think there was any deep-seated hatred between him and Wen Run that would prevent them from exchanging a word, but he didn't want to hear a single word about anything related to Ruan Xi.

Hearing this, Wen Run immediately said hastily, 'Of course, I didn't intend to say anything about him anyway.'

Ruan Tang stopped walking and gave him a look, signaling him to speak quickly, his demeanor very cold.

Wen Run, however, didn't mind at all, only feeling extremely guilty and extremely sad.

'You... how have you been lately?' Wen Run looked at him nervously and awkwardly, wanting to find an opportunity to tell Ruan Tang about his own background and acknowledge him, to indicate that he would stand on the same side from now on, but not knowing how to start, he could only dryly squeeze out an extremely distant greeting.

At this time, the relationship between him and Ruan Tang had become distant.

Once a rift appeared in feelings, it was hard to return to how things were, whether it was familial love, romantic love, or friendship.

'Pretty good.' Ruan Tang felt that Wen Run was a bit different now, very strange, but he didn't want to investigate, so he said flatly, 'Is there anything else?'

Wen Run looked at Ruan Tang's attitude toward him as if he were a stranger and the reply 'pretty good,' and his heart ached immediately.

Married to Auston, that madman who coveted digging out his gland and cutting off his skin, how could Ruan Tang possibly be doing well?

Wen Run's heart felt like it was being cut, and his voice unconsciously became hoarse: 'I... I know you must not be doing well. In your heart, you must not have been willing to marry Duke Auston...'

'I... I don't know how to make you believe me, or how to help you, but as long as you say the word, I will do everything in my power to help you divorce him and save you from his side.' Wen Run spoke incoherently.

He had always known that Ruan Tang's personality was stubborn and strong-willed, never willing to show any weakness in front of others, especially before them, Ruan Xi's guardians.

Even if he was not doing well, he would definitely put on a strong front as if everything was fine...

Wen Run had once been very disdainful of Ruan Tang's 'saving face at the cost of suffering,' but looking at Ruan Tang now, he felt incomparable heartache.

It was his fault, all his fault. They were blood relatives, and he now had the ability to help Ruan Tang, yet he hadn't taken the initiative to help him. Instead, he had watched step by step as Ruan Tang faced desperation and fell into the abyss, and even stood by Ruan Xi, kicking Ruan Tang when he was down.

Ruan Tang hadn't expected that as soon as he opened his mouth, he would say such inexplicable things, so he said coldly, 'I have no intention of divorcing. My husband and I are doing very well. He treats me very well, and I don't want to leave his side at all...'

'If you came to find me for such inexplicable matters and to persuade me to divorce, then don't waste your time. I have nothing to say to you.'

He didn't know what Wen Run's strange intentions were in coming to see him, but he didn't want to continue talking to him at all.

The first half of his life had been bleak enough; now that things had finally improved and Auston was very good to him, he had no need for Wen Run's so-called 'help'...

Having said that, Ruan Tang turned and left.

Seeing him about to leave, Wen Run immediately grabbed his hand and said urgently, 'Don't be so resistant to me. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me. I won't abandon you again. Actually, we...'

He knew that Ruan Tang, though appearing cold, actually craved warmth the most and feared being alone, destitute, and without family.

It was precisely for this reason that he had been trapped in the imperial capital because of the burden of his mad older sister, his simple-minded mother, and his comatose older brother.

Unfortunately, in the previous life, he hadn't seen through this and had always misunderstood Ruan Tang as insincere... But in this life, Wen Run wanted to tell Ruan Tang that he wasn't alone...

That he was actually his relative too, and that he would stand by his side.

He was just about to reveal his background.

'Chief Wen, is the work at the First Research Institute so leisurely that you can come out and chat with people during work hours?' Just then, a sarcastic, taunting voice came from behind the two of them.

Both of them turned to look, and saw Auston pushing his wheelchair behind them, though it was unclear how long he had been there.

Having nothing to do, he had decided to come pick up Ruan Tang, only to see this Wen Run, whom he had driven out a few days ago, bothering his Omega...

Hearing Auston's voice, Wen Run immediately stopped his unfinished words and greeted Auston with proper etiquette: 'Greetings, the Honorable Duke Auston.'

As the youngest chief of the First Research Institute, he was a key talent being cultivated by the empire.

Even the top nobles of the imperial capital would show him some respect and treat him with courtesy.

But this madman Auston was different. It was as if he had no such concept in his mind at all; his attitude was extremely condescending, giving the feeling that even though he sat in a wheelchair, in spirit he stood at an unreachable height, looking down on you contemptuously.

This made Wen Run very uncomfortable, and he also realized that this was no longer a good time to talk to Ruan Tang.

He had no choice but to swallow his unfinished words and wait for the next time he could contact Ruan Tang.

But seeing how closely Auston guarded Ruan Tang and how resistant Ruan Tang was toward him, Wen Run didn't know when he would next have the opportunity to speak these words.

Without even glancing at Wen Run, Auston, under the protection of his adjutant, directly pushed his wheelchair up to Ruan Tang. 'I came to take you home.'

Ruan Tang was a bit surprised, but still obediently replied, 'Okay.'

Auston extended his hand.

After a moment of hesitation, Ruan Tang took Auston's hand, and together they pushed his wheelchair onto the ducal palace's hovercar.

Wen Run watched their receding figures, and seeing how Ruan Tang, usually so proud, was unexpectedly submissive and cautious in front of Auston, he became even more convinced that his little uncle must be living poorly at Auston's side.

He silently vowed to himself that he would, he must find a way to rescue Ruan Tang from Auston's clutches.

On the way back, Auston suddenly spoke up: 'Is that Wen Run your friend?'

Ruan Tang hadn't expected him to ask this question, so he was taken aback and didn't know how to answer, then said, '...Not really.'

'What do you mean, not really?' Auston's face darkened. He hadn't expected that even after Wen Run had treated Ruan Tang like that, Ruan Tang still couldn't give a definite 'no,' being so ambiguous.

Ruan Tang was stunned by his sudden change of expression and immediately said, 'He was a friend before. Now... and from now on, he won't be.'

Even if in his eyes Wen Run had long ceased to be his friend, Ruan Tang couldn't deny that there was a time when the relationship between him and Wen Run was truly good—so good that they could say anything from the heart to each other, so good that Ruan Tang had once thought they would be close friends for life.

Even though things had changed now, Ruan Tang didn't want to deny the beauty of their past.

That represented Ruan Tang's youth.

'Since you're not friends anymore, why does he keep coming to you?' Auston frowned, feeling inexplicably irritable, and asked in a displeased tone.

Ruan Tang had no idea where Auston's 'keep' came from, but he could only let it slide, seeing that Auston was a madman.

He could only speak gently, as if coaxing a child: '...I don't know either. He was actually quite strange today.'

Ruan Tang really felt that Wen Run's behavior was especially odd, but he was too lazy to probe into it...

'Since he's not your friend yet keeps coming to you, that's harassment.' Auston's gaze deepened. Recalling Wen Run's recent pestering of Ruan Tang, murderous intent immediately rose in his heart. With a casual, inquiring tone toward Ruan Tang, he uttered terrifying words: 'In that case, how about I have someone kill him?'

Ruan Tang was stunned on the spot, immediately on alert, terrified: 'Your Grace, why would you want to have him killed for no reason?'

He really didn't know what this habit of Auston's was, suddenly wanting to kill someone on a whim! Although Wen Run pestered him and kept saying nonsense that was annoying, he didn't deserve death.

Moreover, he was the chief of the First Research Institute, a key person being cultivated by the empire and the Caland Family. If Auston casually said he would kill him as if slicing vegetables, it would cause considerable trouble, wouldn't it?

'Aren't you annoyed with him?' Auston couldn't understand Ruan Tang's thinking at all.

Ruan Tang had become more familiar with him day by day, and his boldness toward him had increased a lot: '...But I don't want him dead either. If I'm annoyed with him, I just won't see him and will distance myself. Your Grace really shouldn't be so quick to have murderous intentions toward people. Especially since Chief Wen is a pillar-type talent useful to the empire...'

The hovercar had just arrived at the doorstep, and Ruan Tang still wanted to pull Auston aside to talk to him properly, to get him to change this murderous habit.

But Auston suddenly let out a cold laugh, left Ruan Tang behind, and turned to leave.

Ruan Tang: '...'

Ruan Tang watched his back, completely bewildered, with no idea what he had done wrong this time or how he had offended this Alpha with such an unusual way of thinking.

Ruan Tang didn't see Auston until dinner. After dinner, the male servant Seth, whom Ruan Tang hadn't seen for a long time and who had a wound on his face, appeared in Ruan Tang's room carrying a glass of milk.

'Madam, your milk.' Auston, carrying the tray with the milk, bowed to him.

Ruan Tang was quite surprised to see him. 'What are you doing here? I haven't seen you for a long time. I thought you had already left the ducal palace.'

He hadn't seen this clumsy male servant for a long time, but there had been too many things going on for him to ask about it.

He hadn't heard any news of Auston hurting anyone in the mansion, so he had thought Seth had already left the ducal palace to find another way out.

'Recently, I had some family matters, so I asked the butler for a long leave and couldn't come to attend to you, Madam.' Auston replied in a deep voice.

Ruan Tang immediately said, 'The butler is pretty good to you then.'

Although he had never been a male servant, Ruan Tang knew that the rules in noble mansions were strict, and ordinary male servants were not allowed to take leave, especially such a long one...

'...Not bad.' Auston blurted out subconsciously, then thought about it and felt that a male servant wouldn't talk like that, so he quickly added, 'The butler has always taken good care of me.'

Ruan Tang didn't pay much attention to this, just looked at the milk in the cup and asked, 'Didn't I order coffee? Why is milk being sent?'

'Madam, drinking coffee at night makes it hard to fall asleep, so I replaced it with milk for you, which is better for sleeping.' Auston said in a low voice.

He himself had long suffered from insomnia, so he didn't want Ruan Tang to drink coffee at night and cause insomnia...

He had always been willful and arbitrary in his actions, so he directly changed Ruan Tang's drink without considering that no male servant would dare to do such a thing.