Chapter 3 Part II

Just Like a Mother and Child Would Do.

    In China, Beijing Province

    When talking about the five main influential families in the Land of Dragons, it's impossible not to mention the Xu Family. Though this family isn't one of the five great families, the Xu Family is respected by those five families. Everyone knows that the Xu Family is directly affiliated with the government, acting as a secret hand for official work in exchange for benefits.

    The current head of the Xu Family is Xu Bo Ren, aged sixty-seven, an old man now needing a wheelchair for support, yet still unwilling to hand over the leadership to his eldest son.

    "It's surprising that Big Brother agreed to do business with the Zhang Family."

    The voice of the younger brother called the tall figure to turn and look before averting his gaze indifferently, sipping tea leisurely. The ignored person sighed but was used to it, knowing his brother's nature well.

    Eldest Young Master Xu Tian Chen, the next leader of the Xu Family, stood nearly one hundred ninety centimeters tall, with jet-black hair and a perfect handsome face. He had just turned thirty-eight, but the older he got, the more power and authority he exuded. Yet, it was strange that his father still refused to pass on the leadership of the family.

    As for himself, he was Xu Nan Long, the third son, but technically the fourth son after his father's son with the second wife was expelled from the family. The reason was that the other was born with a secondary gender as an Omega, something the Xu Family had opposed for over a hundred years.

    "Big Brother," he called out, hoping to engage his elder sibling in conversation.

    This year, Xu Nan Long turned thirty. He had recently married a male spouse from Hong Kong, who was an Omega, despite objections from the family. Fortunately, Nan Long wasn't a key figure in the family, so the issue didn't last long. However, his spouse was now pregnant, and if the child turned out to be an Omega, they planned to leave the Xu Family and return to his spouse's hometown, rather than entrust their child to someone else's care.

    "Who do you think I should agree to do business with, the Li Family or the Lin Family, as Dad wishes?" He glanced at his younger brother.

    Of course, Xu Bo Ren wished for his eldest son to strike a deal with the Lin Family, as they were currently connected to them. The other party was considered a brother-in-law to Xu Tian Chen, the husband of Xu Lu Si, the Omega son of the Xu Family leader who had been expelled from the family since childhood.

    "Dad wants us siblings to be close. Even though we didn't grow up together, we share the same father."

    "Besides Dad, whenever he sees us, he glares as if we've been enemies for a hundred years."

    Xu Nan Long understood his brother's calm words. That person had been cast out like an animal; it would be strange not to hold a grudge. But Xu Tian Chen couldn't care less. If not for the Western nations starting to invade their business territories, the proud Xu Family wouldn't even consider working with anyone other than the government.

    "Right now, the Zhang Family is thriving and catching the attention of many. Moreover...his wife makes delicious sweets."

    Xu Tian Chen smirked, recalling the wife of Zhang Cheng Yi, their latest potential business partner. His younger brother laughed after hearing this. Though they had a towering figure like this, they were so obsessed with sweets. Not just the two of them, but all four siblings, including their father, had a special fondness for sweets, even hiring a chef to make them at home.

    "I heard his wife is Thai and an Omega..." the younger brother probed.

    "What are you trying to say?"

    The stern voice of his elder brother made Nan Long bow his head. Regardless, Xu Tian Chen was the eldest brother whom the younger ones respected and feared, perhaps even more than their father.

    Xu Tian Chen wasn't prejudiced against genders, but he did have some bias against Omegas due to a past betrayal in love, especially Thai Omegas.

    "Uh... I heard Big Brother found that Thai woman," Nan Long changed the subject, referring to the Thai woman who had once worked as a housekeeper but took advantage of his brother's unconscious state to climb into Xu Tian Chen's bed.

    When his brother refused to marry her, the ambitious woman fled back to her homeland, not taking a penny with her. Xu Nan Long believed she might have truly loved his brother, dreaming of marrying and living with Eldest Young Master Xu, not realizing that real life was no fairy tale.

    Xu Tian Chen's heart had dried up, devoid of love, and as the future head of the Xu Family, he would never elevate a woman of such low status to be his wife, like in a melodramatic novel.

    Her departure caused no trouble for Xu Tian Chen, except for the fact that years ago, they accidentally discovered she was pregnant with a child carrying Xu blood.

    "She's dead, but the child is still alive," Tian Chen stated flatly. "Waiting to make sure it's my child before bringing them back to the family."

    "Don't you trust her, Big Brother?"

    "Should I trust someone who easily climbed into my bed, Nan Long?"

    "Is the child a boy or a girl?" The uncle asked, curious to see the child's face.

    "A boy. As for the secondary gender, I'm not sure."

    "And if..."

    "If he's an Alpha, everything's simple. If he's a Beta, he can be raised within the family. Actually, besides Mama, no one in our family is a Beta," Tianchen elaborated, as if anticipating his brother's question.

    "And if he's...an Omega?"

    "Then we'll send him to the secondary family to be cared for, like Li Yin."

    Xu Nan Long's handsome face fell. If the child were an Omega, they would either be sent to the secondary family or abroad. This had been the tradition for over a hundred years. Other families had weakened significantly, like the Zhang Family, whose youngest son was an Omega, as well as the Lin and Li Families. Only the Xu Family remained unyielding, thanks to the old-fashioned patriarchs.

    Even the four siblings born of the main wife were all Alpha like their father.

    "Did you visit him this year, Big Brother? Li Yin, I mean," he asked about his nephew, Xu Tian Chen's third son.

    Nan Long noticed his brother's silence, the coldness in his sharp eyes intensifying when mentioning this child. The atmosphere around him seemed to freeze, the rainy season unable to quell the heat in the young man's heart.

    "Dad visiting him is the same as me visiting."

    Xu Nan Long felt disheartened by his brother's indifference towards his little nephew. However, he knew better than anyone that Xu Tian Chen's apparent lack of affection for this child wasn't because he was Omega, but rather due to doubts about the boy's bloodline.

    “Eldest Young Master, Third Young Master, pardon my intrusion.”

    The deep voice called the two brothers to turn their heads. At the door of the living room stood the tall figure of An Yan Qiao, Eldest Young Master Xu's close confidant. His urgent demeanor made Xu Nan Long suspect that Xu Tian Chen had sent him on an important errand.

    "How did it go?"

    "Eighty percent indicates he's Eldest Young Master's son. We just need the blood test to confirm. Also, his secondary gender is Beta."

    Xu Tian Chen sighed with relief. The three-year search for the child hadn't been in vain, and it was even more gratifying that the boy was a Beta. His fingers tapped the teacup thoughtfully, then he spoke with a firm voice.

    "Bring him here."

    By the time Homlom brought Homnoi back, it was nearly evening. The two Homs walked until their legs were tired, but neither complained of fatigue or weariness. Homlom was so engrossed in choosing outfits for the boy, as children's clothes were irresistibly cute. Homnoi, feeling considerate, handed him two green banknotes[1] as if wanting to help pay for the clothes. Homlom could only smile at the boy's innocence, willing to give everything he had.

    Grandpa Kloi himself came out to sit and wait for his grandson in front of the temple. Seeing the items Homlom bought, he felt grateful and helped carry them back to the small hut. Homlom had bought several sets of clothes for the old man, as well as snacks for the little one and health drinks for the elderly man.

    "Tomorrow, the bedding will be delivered," Homlom informed the grandfather and grandson while serving food onto plates. He intended to donate mattresses and pillows to the temple as well. The Venerable Father was very old now, and sleeping on hard floors only caused back pain.

    Grandpa Kloi could only thank his benefactor, intending to raise his hands in gratitude, but Homlom stopped him. Homlom asked to stay for dinner with the pair, showing no signs of disdain. The grandson of Loei’s wealthy matriarch sat and ate sticky rice with the two, smiling and laughing.

    He had already said it; not only did Homlom want Homnoi to be his family, but he also wanted Grandpa Kloi to see him as family. It might be quick for someone who had just met, but he saw no reason to prolong it.

    Grandpa Kloi watched Homlom carefully debone the fish for his grandson, quickly wiping away tears as he remembered his life partner who had gone far away. I wish you could meet him, dear.

    "Eat plenty too, Grandpa."

    The old man looked at the fish on his plate, meticulously deboned. He looked up at the person who had done it and saw a genuine smile before eating the rice and fish with tears of joy.

    He wanted to reach out and pat Homlom's head affectionately, like his own descendant, but didn't dare.

    The grandfather and grandson walked out to see Homlom off to his car. It was so dark that the old man had to light a candle to guide the way. Homlom only then realized that the small hut had no electricity and relied on candles when night fell. He couldn't help but worry about the risk of fire and the potential danger to the two of them.

    "I always put it out before bed," Grandpa Kloi reassured Homlom to ease his mind.

    Homlom simply nodded, not wanting to say anything that might cause the old man concern. He pondered how he could help Grandpa Kloi and Homnoi get electricity. Looking down, he saw the little boy already gazing up at him.

    "Kind Uncle, will you come again tomorrow…?"

    "Oh, Noi…you've already troubled him for several days," his grandfather gently chided, causing the little boy's face to fall.

    It was Homlom who made the promise. "Of course, I'll come. I told you I'd visit every day."

    This time, Homlom knelt down and pulled the little boy into a hug. Homnoi beamed and quickly hugged him back, resting his small face on his Kind Uncle's shoulder. The Kind Uncle's embrace was warm, just like Grandpa's, but the Kind Uncle’s body was softer and smelled really nice.

    They reluctantly parted, each feeling a pang of longing. Homlom looked up at the dark sky. He had stayed longer than yesterday and found it hard to leave the little boy. How wonderful it would be if he could see Homnoi all the time, without worrying about his safety when out of sight.

    Sadly, he didn't have that right. All he could do was pray that little Homnoi would eat well and sleep soundly every night.

[1] A green banknote of Thai Baht is equal to 20 Baht.