Chapter 15 2/2

The sleeves of the robe were too long, dragging on the ground. Jiang Li caught both sleeves, pinched them in his hand, and placed them on his lap, waiting for the hot pot to boil. A row of sapphire studs adorned the cuff next to his slender fingers, resembling a model showcasing jewels. His fingers, white and well-mannered, held them neatly. Underneath was a layer of indigo fabric, exuding priceless luxury without the need for an introduction.

Cen Lang withdrew his gaze from admiring the buttons and poured a stack of fresh and sweet seafood and fish slices into the white porridge pot.

“You can start eating,” he said.

Jiang Li, not understanding, didn’t move and just stared intently. A bowl of seafood porridge, full of color and fragrance, was scooped out and placed in front of him.

Back in N9 District, Jiang Li thought that Cen Lang was probably the type to drink nutritional supplements casually. Now, thinking about it, with that physique and muscles, nutritional supplements probably weren’t enough.

“Thank you.” Jiang Li lowered his eyes, blew the steam off the seafood porridge on the spoon, and his long eyelashes seemed to flutter.

“Next time, I’ll treat you to a meal; of course, nothing too expensive,” Jiang Li said candidly, almost expressionless.

Cen Lang: “Sure.”

During the time Jiang Li lowered his head, he didn’t see Cen Lang checking the messages on his phone.

Cen Lang’s gaze darkened for a moment but soon returned to normal. He then helped himself to a plate of beef.

…

Jiang Family.

At this moment, the Jiang family was also having dinner. Mr. Jiang was more traditional, and the whole family sat together for dinner several days a week.

He had two Alpha sons, but currently, there are no grandchildren. The elder son was not mentioned, and the younger son had been married for several years, but…

“Jiang Ji, where’s your wife?” Mr. Jiang asked.

Jiang Ji’s wife was from an arranged marriage and found the atmosphere at home dull, so she rarely appeared.

“Dad, she’s on a business trip,” Jiang Ji said.

Jiang Lu chuckled. “I saw your sister-in-law coming out of the bar this morning. How can you, as her husband, not look for her when she hasn’t returned?”

Mrs. Jiang had never been satisfied with her younger daughter-in-law. Initially, she had only considered the family background, but the result was a daughter-in-law who rarely came home.

Mr. Jiang, with deep wrinkles on his forehead, exuded authority in the house. Mrs. Jiang was the same: stern and not given to laughter.

“Jiang Ji, your wife is out of line. Give her a call and tell her to come back for the night,” Mr. Jiang said.

Jiang Ji rolled his eyes secretly and went to the balcony to contact his wife.

Taking advantage of the situation, Jiang Lu took out a photo. “Dad, Mom, this is my beta boyfriend.”

It was a photo of Jiang Li, wearing a white coat, conducting an experiment.

Mr. Jiang, who had a background in chemistry, felt a three-point goodwill just by looking at the photo. “Not bad.”

In terms of temperament and appearance, he was suitable as a daughter-in-law.

Beta? Beta was good.

Jiang Lu continued, “Little Jiang comes from a humble background, but he’s very ambitious. He’s studying at the Third Military Medical University, and he has a promising project for a tumor drug. My friend told me that Jiang Wanlan has a problem with his gland, and I plan to negotiate with Jiang’s family using this and try to secure the cooperation of Starlight Project.”

Mrs. Jiang had always had certain requirements for her daughter-in-law’s family background. Upon hearing about the cooperation with Jiang’s family, she became much more satisfied.

Mr. Jiang reminded, “Beta’s ability is good, and he can support you, but when it comes to being in the limelight, it should be done by Alpha. You two don’t have children yet, and the company can’t afford to lose someone.”

Jiang Lu understood the feudal tendencies of the two elders. They hoped for a virtuous daughter-in-law who would serve her parents well and take care of household chores, and with the progress of the times, the requirements for a daughter-in-law had evolved into a “virtuous and talented high-achiever.”

He smiled. “I met Xiaojian in a hospital. I hired him to accompany my mother to the hospital for a reexamination.”

“Auntie praised Xiaojian a lot, saying she had never seen such a considerate Beta. When he comes to our house, he will surely serve you well.”

He promised Jiang Li the position of chief research and development officer, but after marriage, wasn’t it up to him?

Mrs. Jiang said, “Have him over for dinner when you have time.”

Mr. Jiang nodded. “I think this is quite stable, better than the wife you chose for Jiang Ji.”

“Good, I’ll arrange it as soon as possible.” Jiang Lu smiled. Using Jiang Li as a candidate was too perfect.

Upbringing, presentability, a cover, self-sufficient dowry to attract the Jiang family, and good care for the elderly—the more satisfied the two elders were with Jiang Ping, the more they would dislike their younger daughter-in-law.

The only problem was his reluctance.

Ungrateful, his conditions were enough to make any poor Omega swoon. What was an arrogant Beta?

Jiang Lu frowned, and if he doesn’t agree tomorrow, don’t blame him for using other means.

Unbeknownst to Jiang Lu, the message he sent was intercepted and directed to Cen Lang’s phone.

Cen Lang’s phone had a function that wasn’t quite aboveboard. Most of the time, it was used in conjunction with warships to cut off enemy communication.

In rare cases, like now, it was used for less honorable purposes.

Jiang Li was oblivious. Having eaten his fill, he noticed a very inconspicuous oil stain on Cen Lang’s indigo suit jacket.

Unbearable.

He was sure he had been careful, but when Cen Lang put the beef into the mushroom pot just now, he seemed a bit absent-minded and applied too much force.

Jiang Li found it hard to convince himself to return such a jacket to its owner.

He wanted to wash it.

Jiang Li frowned.

Cen Lang didn’t know the real reason for Jiang Li’s inner struggle. Seeing him frowning, he thought Jiang Lu was truly despicable.

“I’ll take you back to the dormitory; don’t go out tonight.”

It was getting colder outside, so Cen Lang asked Jiang Li to put the jacket back on and keep it for next time.

“Okay, I’ll clean it,” Jiang Li said.

Cen Lang said, “No need… Well, do as you wish.”

Jiang Li thought Cen Lang would drop him off at the school gate, but instead, he took out some kind of card, scanned it at the entrance guard, and calmly entered, leaving the security guard baffled.

Jiang Li was surprised. What kind of pass was this?

Cen Lang escorted him to the dormitory building, looking at Jiang Ping’s attire—he didn’t drape it over himself.

Like the female lead in a drama but wore it properly, with all buttons fastened.

Jiang Li felt a bit embarrassed. His clothes did seem too natural. But there was no other way; if he draped it, the cold wind would blow directly on his belly, and he was afraid the little one would catch a cold.

Cen Lang clenched the hand hanging by his side and slipped it into his pocket.

What should I do? He suddenly wanted to know if Jiang Li was that beta nurse.

Could Jiang Li, with his cleanliness, go as far as doing a grand cleaning of nutritional supplements?

He was expending so much effort on someone whose background he didn’t know.

To verify, it was simple. He just needed to release a bit of pheromones. If Jiang Li could withstand it, then it was basically confirmed.

What if Jiang Li couldn’t? His slight pheromones would make Jiang Li suffer a headache, revealing a more painful expression than being threatened by Jiang Lu.

Growing up steadily and securely without any broken limbs or childbirth pains, Cen Lang’s pheromone probe was probably the most painful moment of his life.

Reluctant, forget it.

“Go up,” Cen Lang said.

Cen Lang had tortured many spies and traitors with his pheromones, but Jiang Li was not one of them.