Something Beautiful and Wicked

0The food was hot and ready, and Yuan Xinyi did most of the talking. She filled them in on how her courses were like at school. And how she was doing in her job as a manager at one of the branches. She inquired about Shi Ailin and Luo Wanting, and Shi Yen told her about their journey, except she had said it was a long trip filled with romance and adventure, leaving out the danger and searching aspect of it.     0

Yuan Xinyi clapped her hands and smiled. "That sounds likely a lovely trip," she said, glancing at everyone. "We should all go on a trip, too, as a family!"      

Shi Yen gave her a gentle smile and nod, but Yuan Ning said nothing, and Yuan Shun picked at the food on his plate. "Not unless Ning disappears, again," he muttered bitterly.      

"Shun!" His mother scolded, her face turned ashen.      

Yuan Shun took out a cloth and patted his lips. "I can't sit here and pretend that we're a normal, happy family again. Ning left us. He chose to leave us. And yes, I pleaded for him to come back to us, but it was at a desperate attempt not to have him kill my wife!"      

His sister and mother pressed their lips into thin lines, not knowing what else to say. Yuan Ning rose from his seat and strode towards the door. His hand paused at the doorknob. "You're leaving again. How rich!" Yuan Shun shouted.      

"Please don't go," Yuan Xinyi whimpered, but not loud enough for him to hear.      

Yuan Ning gritted his teeth. He then stepped away from the door, heading towards Yuan Shun. Shi Yen was positive he was going to punch Yuan Shun, and maybe some part of him wanted to, but he restrained himself.      

"You don't know half of what I've been through!" he countered.      

Yuan Shun raised his hands out dramatically. "No, I don't know because you never thought to confide in us—your family—and instead, you chose to go on some vengeful rampage!"      

The criticism hit Shi Yen like a ton of bricks. She went through the same path, which is why she never did and would never hate Yuan Ning for what he did.      

"And like you haven't done terrible things to get the things you want!" Yuan Ning said.      

"We're not talking about me!" Yuan Shun countered.      

They walked away, toward the anteroom, spewing arguments back and forth, away from perched ears.      

It seems that Shi Yen got what she wanted. They were talking, albeit arguing, but sometimes it can do good as well as damage.      

Shi Yen followed them as they stepped closer to the terrace of the estate, where they took their argument by the wide balcony doors. It was connected to the vast dining room, but the anteroom concealed them.      

Fang Qi unexpectedly walked into the dining room. He stalked towards Sun Xiaolan, greeting her before he turned to Yuan Xinyi, and he kissed her right on the mouth.      

Yuan Shun and Yuan Ning stopped arguing.      

Yuan Xinyi widened her eyes, horrified, and Fang Qi arched a brow in question before he turned to see three other guests, who were an audience he hoped never to have.      

Yuan Shun was looking at him pointedly, his brother mirroring his expression. He took steps forward, Yuan Ning shadowing him as if they were the pack closing in on their prey. Fang Qi was part of the Wolf organization, but he had nothing compared to the Alphas themselves.      

He stepped back as Yuan Shun darted his eyes between Fang Qi and his sister. "Since when did you start greeting my sister by the lips?" He questioned coolly, his anger simmered.      

"I—" Fang Qi stumbled. There was no other reason, no excuse. Fang Qi spent years walking in and out of the estate, as Yuan Shun's friend, like a brother. Yuan Shun didn't question why he was here because he had always come over. But he'd never seen Fang Qi greet Yuan Xinyi in that manner before. Ever.      

Knowing there was no way talking out of it, Fang Qi grabbed Yuan Xinyi's hand and tucked her against him. He released a deep breath and said, "We're dating!"      

Yuan Xinyi's cheeks heated and didn't deny what he said.      

Yuan Shun smiled, but it was far from kind and gentle. It was sardonic, taunting, and vicious. Shi Yen had never seen that smile before, and it made her shiver. But this cruel side of him thrilled her to the core—because it was directed at someone else.      

He yanked Fang Qi by the collar, separating them, and he wordlessly dragged him outside and into the front landscape of the estate.      

"Shun!" Yuan Xinyi pleaded. "Please don't hurt him!"      

Yuan Shun didn't answer, but Fang Qi looked back at her. "Don't worry about me. This is how men deal with things."     

Yuan Xinyi did not look assured. She chased after them, and Shi Yen and Yuan Ning followed. Yuan Shun was boiling with anger—all his pent up rage was about to be unleashed.      

"This won't do," Shi Yen said as she watched them, and Yuan Xinyi looked at her hopefully. One word from Shi Yen and she could stop the fight. Shi Yen turned to Yuan Ning. "Can you bring me one of those porch chairs? I feel like it's going to be a long fight, so I might as well sit down for it as I watch."      

Yuan Xinyi's face fell.      

Yuan Ning did as she asked, bringing himself one, too. They both sat down casually like spectators, casting their eyes over at Yuan Shun and Fang Qi. The two men positioned themselves, hands balled into fists, guarding their faces.      

Yuan Xinyi whirled to her eldest brother, who had propped a leg over his thigh, leaning back lazily. "Can you stop them?" she asked.      

"There's nothing I can do for you, little sister. Don't forget I've known Fang Qi as long as you've known him."      

Shi Yen smiled at his comment.