Everyone looked at the intruder. Meanwhile Xian's heart dropped to his stomach. He thought it was the alpha still putting up a facade in front of his wife. Luckily it wasn't.
The man in front of them wasn't as tall. He had a black cap over his red hair and a nose mask covering most of his face.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: Potential connection.]
"I said get your hands off," the stranger repeated in a cold voice. "I don't appreciate people touching what's mine."
Jia's assistant released Xian who fell to the floor. But Jai, who had been momentarily stunned, regained her composure.
"And who are you?" she asked, looking him up and down. "And how dare you interrupt me."
He pointed at Xian. "His boyfriend. And what business do you have with him that makes you think it's okay to treat him this way?"
Jia snickered. "He slept with my husband. Your filthy boyfriend wants to break up my marriage."
The stranger moved closer, he towered over her. "I say take it up with your husband. He's the one whose responsibility is to remain faithful in your marriage. I'll deal with my boyfriend as I deem fit, and you'll deal with your husband as you deem fit."
Jia's face turned pink with embarrassment. "You should learn to keep your omega on a leash so he stops running wild. I won't be so merciful if I see him again." She signalled to her assistant to follow her as she walked away.
Xian felt like he could finally breathe. "Thank you for saving me," he said to the stranger who held out his hand and helped Xian stand up.
"What was that about? I saw her drag you out of the elevator."
Xian shook his head. "It was all a misunderstanding. I really don't go around sleeping with people's husbands. In fact if I had known he was married, I'd never have agreed to…" he trailed over when he realized how much he was rambling.
"Do go on," the stranger urged but Xian shook his head.
"Thank you once again for helping me." He straightened his clothes. "But I have to go now, my sister should be getting ready to enter the operating room. I want to make sure everything is going as it should."
The stranger simply nodded before watching Xian sprint to the elevator, luckily it just arrived on that floor. He gave the stranger a simple wave before the doors closed.
He found his mother outside the operating room. His other sister was beside her.
"Mom? Is everything okay?"
The expression on her face was cold as she raised her head. "What are you doing here?" I thought I told you never to show your face to me again?" Her tone was angry.
His younger sister Ginny stood up. He could tell from her red and puffy eyes that she had been crying.
"Brother Xian," she said in her small voice. She was about to go to him when Ms. Lin pulled her back.
"He is no longer your brother."
"But mom?"
"Listen to me when I talk." Ms. Lin's voice wasn't loud but it echoed down the hallway. "And you, leave here. Don't make me call security to walk you out."
Xian felt the pain from before, only this time it hurt even more. "But I promise mom, I'm not sleeping around for money. It really was a misunderstanding."
"I've told you before you're good for nothing. And it's better I cut you off now before you corrupt my kids. I don't want anyone to even know we're related. Sometimes I feel like giving birth to you was the punishment I was given for following your father instead of chasing my dreams."
Every word hit Xian like a bullet, but it was all more painful because he'd heard these words before, when he was in his real body, in the other world he had left behind.
The only time his family ever paid him any attention was when he was able to pay their bills. And even when his first book had gained a little attention they blamed it on him being a girl and sleeping to the top with the editors at his company.
All the times he had written BLs, he'd thought the world was more forgiving to men. But now that he was actively in a man's body, he came to a realization that life was hard all the same.
"So you're punishing me for choices you made yourself," he said, trying to sniff back the tears that were falling down his cheeks. "All you needed me for was the bills and now that you have the money you're discarding me like I'm some trash you picked up on the way?"
"That's not all I need you for, Lui Xian. There's still your father's debt. It's your responsibility to clear them whether I see you as a son or not."
Xian nodded, "Of course that's the only thing I'm good for."
[SYSTEM UPDATE: Stres levels are high!]
[SIDE QUEST: Cool off and gain one connection.]
His chest hurt even more with every notification that came from the robotic voice. He'd been fighting all his life, and even in a whole new reality he still had to keep fighting for his place in the life of his family.
"Can I at least talk to Ginny before leaving?"
Ginny stood up with tears in her eyes, hating the way their mother treated him. But she was too young to do anything concerning it. Ms. Lin dragged her back to the seat.
"But I miss brother Xian," she cried. "Jenny is not here, he's the only one that can play with me." She cried into her hands. "Let him stay until Jenny comes out from her surgery."
"I won't have him influencing you into thinking the life he lives is okay," Ms. Lin said. She turned to Xian. "If there's nothing else, please leave. Send the money for the debt as soon as you can. I don't want them coming to the house to harass me."
Xian understood then, his mother only saw him as something disposable. A son she could use and drop as she wished. He gave Ginny a small wave before immediately turning so she wouldn't see the tears running down his cheeks.
He prayed that the surgery would go well and that Jenny would recover before walking away.
What was he to do now? He had no apartment of his own and he had no friends either that could help him. He checked the money left in his account, it would be enough to pass the night at a motel.
He was turning the corner when someone ran into him and he fell. He groaned when his butt hit the hard ground.
"I'm sorry—" the person that ran into him was apologizing.
Xian looked up, only to see the guy from earlier. He recognized his red hair under the black cap. "It's you."
"Oh- hi. We meet again." He looked back like he was in a hurry. "I have to go."
Xian saw a group of girls running towards them. He wondered who they were looking for. The elevator dinged and they both looked at it.
The stranger immediately grabbed Xian's hand and pulled him into the elevator. Luckily the door closed before the girls could get to them.
Xian eyed the taller guy, growing weary. "You're not a thief are you?"
The stranger laughed. His voice was beautiful. "I can assure you I'm not a criminal."
"Then why are those girls chasing you?"
The guy shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "It's a little complicated. I was involved in a scandal so I'm avoiding the public right now. Everything is messy. And I can't let my manager know I'm out of the house.
Xian scoffed. "Scandal? What are you? A celebrity?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm more interested in why you're crying." He wiped under Xian's eyes with his thumb, raising his chin with a delicate hand.
It was an innocent gesture but it had Xian's heart beating more than normal. He couldn't see the guy's face because of the mask but he knew he was easily his type.
The stranger was really tall, and slender, and the colored hair was like a cherry on top. Maybe Xian's female hormones from his former life were acting up right now at how close they were.
"Does it have anything to do with your sister that's getting surgery? Is she okay?"
Xian nodded. "She is."
"Then what's wrong?"
Xian couldn't see his eyes because of the sunglasses he was wearing, but he felt his piercing gaze all this same. It made him feel like he was getting undressed.
"It's something I'll rather not burden you with." He looked down at his worn-out shoes.
The stranger tipped Xian's head up. "How can I not worry when you sound like a wounded puppy? How about I buy you a drink and I listen to your sob story? I've been told I'm a very good listener."
Xian didn't get the chance to refuse because the stranger dragged him out immediately the elevator doors opened on the ground floor.
What they both didn't know as they walked out was the hidden camera that took every shot of them as they left the building. The scandal just got juicier.