ROT CH 13

Chapter 13: Strengthening Ties

Bai Chengyu lowered his gaze, ensuring his demeanor was calm as he promised not to overexert himself.

Bai Lin seemed slightly surprised by his son’s submissiveness. He stiffly nodded in acknowledgment, but Bai Jun was quick to interject.

“If Chengyu is so fond of practicing martial arts, Chongwu can accompany him. After all, he’s your older brother and a strong Alpha. He can protect you on the court,” Bai Jun remarked with a meaningful smile. “Although Chongwu is quite busy, he adores you. Knowing your interests, he’d be more than happy to keep you company…”

“No need,” Bai Chengyu coldly interrupted. “I already have a sparring partner I’m accustomed to. Switching partners wouldn’t be ideal.”

“Is that so? That makes sense. Just keep practicing diligently, as your father suggested, so you can at least protect yourself,” Bai Jun replied with his ever-present grin. “Personally, I don’t fully agree with Omegas engaging in such physically taxing activities. Studying suits you better, especially since you’re in medical school. You can manage the family hospital in the future. As for all that fighting and chaos, it’s really not for you. Fortunately, Chongwu has the toughness to handle those frontier matters. He’s very capable, you know. Take that issue a few days ago—it was he who led the team to resolve it.”

Capable? Bai Chengyu sneered inwardly. The so-called “issue” had been a mess of Bai Chongwu’s own making—a fabricated scam to trick some naive investors into pouring money into his ventures. Predictably, he squandered the funds, leaving the victims furious and at his doorstep, demanding justice. His so-called resolution? Having his henchmen rough up the complainants.

The disgraceful incident had escalated to the main household, where the steward, fearing Bai Lin’s wrath, sought out Bai Chengyu instead. Reluctantly, Bai Chengyu resolved the matter by compensating the victims with a hefty sum to keep them quiet. And now, Bai Jun had the audacity to frame the fiasco as an achievement.

Nearly thirty years old and still utterly incompetent, Bai Chongwu had no business dreaming of inheriting Heijiao’s mantle. What a joke.

“Really? Chongwu seems to have matured, more responsible than before,” Bai Lin remarked, oblivious to the truth, his tone filled with approval. His praise nearly made Bai Chengyu choke on his frustration.

Bai Jun seized the opportunity to add, “Indeed, he’s been working hard these past two years, finally stepping up to share some of the burdens from us elders. As you know, sooner or later, we’ll have to pass the torch. Unfortunately, our family only has one Alpha, and since people might accuse me of favoritism, I’ve been reluctant to push him forward. But, well, children grow up with their own ideas and responsibilities. Seeing him take initiative for the family gives me some peace of mind.”

“That’s true,” Bai Lin said, nodding appreciatively. He patted Bai Jun on the shoulder. “You’ve had it tough. Thank you for your efforts.”

“It’s not that difficult. I’m just worried I won’t be able to teach him enough. That’s why I brought him over today, hoping you could guide him a little. Let him follow you, familiarize himself with the family business. That way, when he’s needed, he’ll be ready to step in seamlessly,” Bai Jun said, his smile brimming with calculated humility.

“Always following me around, risking your life on the edge of a knife, isn’t exactly a proper career path,” Bai Jun quipped, a sly smile curling on his lips as he spoke.

Hearing Bai Jun suggest introducing Bai Chongwu into the company, Bai Chengyu couldn’t help but find it laughable. Bai Chongwu—dim-witted, lacking integrity, and even less intelligence—spent his days causing trouble, bullying the weak, and avoiding anyone stronger. Bai Lin wasn’t blind to these faults. Even with his father shamelessly sugarcoating reality, Bai Chongwu’s qualifications were so lacking that, at best, he’d secure a minor clerical position in the group. Rising to even a small managerial role was a pipe dream, let alone wielding actual power. He couldn’t even manage his own branch family, yet he dared to eye the main household? Bai Chengyu scoffed internally, mocking Bai Jun’s obvious ploy.

Bai Lin, however, didn’t share Bai Chengyu’s outright disdain for Bai Chongwu. To him, all the children were part of the family. Although Bai Chongwu lacked aptitude, since Bai Jun had personally vouched for his entry into the company, Bai Lin saw no reason to refuse.

The discussion between Bai Lin and Bai Jun grew earnest. Bai Chengyu, meanwhile, was unconcerned about Bai Chongwu’s potential entry into the group. With his father overseeing operations, there was little chance for Bai Jun’s family to stir up trouble. Feeling irrelevant to the conversation, Bai Chengyu began contemplating an escape.

Sensing his cousin’s intent to slip away, Bai Chongwu hurriedly stepped forward, grabbing Bai Chengyu’s hand to initiate conversation. Bai Chengyu yanked his hand back immediately, glaring at him with visible disgust.

“Chengyu, dear cousin,” Bai Chongwu said in a soft, placating tone tinged with false vulnerability. “I just wanted to talk to you. Don’t avoid me. Even though I’m an Alpha, I wouldn’t bully you. I’ll protect you.”

To Bai Chengyu, it was as if he were witnessing the antics of a madman. Here was someone he barely knew—a nobody, at that—suddenly professing such nonsense with a faux-gentle demeanor. Should he spit at him or kick him? Holding back the urge to tell him to “get lost,” Bai Chengyu’s icy silence was broken by Bai Jun’s intrusive laughter.

“Chongwu, did you scare Chengyu again? How many times have I told you, Omegas are timid and fragile. You can’t be so careless around them. If you frighten Chengyu away, where will you cry to next?” Bai Jun teased. Turning to Bai Lin, he spun another tale. “Look at them—they grew up together as childhood companions, playing side by side. Now that Chengyu’s older, he must be shy. Every time he sees Chongwu, he’s uncomfortable! I say we should let them spend more time together. They’re brothers, after all. Family should be close. And who knows? If they grow closer, maybe we could unite the families even more in the future.”

Bai Chongwu stood to the side, his gaze fixed on Bai Chengyu with a foolishly infatuated smile.

Shock overwhelmed Bai Chengyu. Unite the families? What was this supposed to mean? So, Bai Jun’s true plan was to push Chongwu into the group first and then arrange a marriage alliance with him? They wanted to take everything—money, power, and even people. Unbelievable. Bai Chengyu’s expression tightened, disgust and fury blending with sheer incredulity.

Bai Lin’s expression soured as well. Initially, he had interpreted Bai Jun’s proposal as a mere gesture to provide Bai Chongwu with some experience. But the mention of “uniting the families” carried implications far beyond professional growth. Though he refrained from saying much out of respect for his elder brother, the grim set of his features was enough to signal his disapproval.

Realizing his misstep, Bai Jun scrambled to salvage the situation. “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that! I was just saying the two brothers should work closely together, helping and supporting one another. Like family should. ‘Uniting the families’—you’ve all misunderstood me, hahaha…”

Bai Lin nodded as if accepting the explanation, but his face remained grim. “Chengyu, go back and rest now,” he said abruptly.

This time, Bai Chengyu didn’t have to excuse himself. Bai Lin had proactively dismissed him.

Bai Chengyu stormed back to Qinglang Courtyard, still fuming. Bai Jun’s mocking parting words echoed in his ears:

“Ah, Omegas are so frail. A full day of classes and some basketball, and look—completely exhausted! Go rest; we’ll handle things here. Let Chongwu keep your father company a bit longer…”

Frail, your mother! Bai Chengyu fumed inwardly. I could tie my hands behind my back and still kick Bai Chongwu so hard his own mother wouldn’t recognize him.

The thought of his cousin harboring such disgusting intentions toward him was enough to make Bai Chengyu feel physically ill. Yes, he was an Omega—but that didn’t mean he had to tolerate any Alpha thinking they could climb into his bed whenever they pleased.

For the first time, he began to understand Liang Yuchan’s earlier anger:

Have any of you ever tried to understand us? No! All you Alphas have are your arrogant prejudices.

It was the height of Alpha arrogance.

No matter how strong or exceptional an Omega was, no matter how despicable or vile an Alpha could be, the Alpha always acted like they were doing the Omega a favor—offering a gift with that patronizing attitude. Why?

What infuriated him more was that Bai Jun and his son’s conversation had triggered a belated realization: one day, he might have to marry an Alpha for the family’s sake. Marriage—a union. Bai Chengyu’s usually composed features twisted in frustration at the thought.

The only reason he had ever allowed Bai Lin to send an Alpha to help him during his heat cycle was out of sheer necessity. That Alpha had been Han Junzhou, and their arrangement was purely pragmatic. To Bai Chengyu, their interactions were nothing more than a form of medical relief—an agreed-upon, professional service.

At the very least, he and Han Junzhou were equals.

The idea of being bound in marriage, forced to submit to some arrogant, domineering Alpha—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally—was unbearable. Just imagining it was enough to drive him mad.

The more Bai Chengyu thought about it, the angrier he became. His frustration fueled a restless energy that sent him pacing furiously around his room. When he entered, he flung his school bag onto the bed with such force that its contents scattered.

On top of the pile was a textbook titled Subgender Reproductive Biology.

The innocent book was promptly seized and thrown to the ground with all the force of his irritation. He stomped on it a few times, leaving frustrated footprints as a mark of his anger.

(To be continued…)

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