Hong Yi's hand lingered on his throbbing cheek, the sting a harsh counterpoint to the luxurious surroundings. The woman, her anger barely contained, towered over him.
"Have you lost your memory with all your over-drinking, Hong Yi?" she spat, her voice low but laced with venom. "Or do you not even have a shred of respect for the dead?"
He swallowed, caught off guard by the intensity of her emotions. "I… I didn't know," he stammered, the truth hanging heavy in the air. Hong Yi noticed the flicker of suspicion in her eyes, a flicker quickly replaced by a deep breath.
She knew something was wrong, but this wasn't the place for explanations. With a calmness that surprised even him, she adjusted her composure, smoothing her dress.
"Don't make a scene," she hissed, her voice barely a whisper. "We can deal with this later." Then, with a grace that belied her earlier fury, she extended a hand towards him. "Come on, let's get you inside."
Confused but strangely drawn to her strength, Hong Yi allowed himself to be ushered into the venue. He stole a glance at her profile – sharp jawline, fierce eyes that mirrored his own, but softened by grief.
As they walked, the murmurs of the crowd followed them. Hong Yi felt a prickle of unease – not just from the slap, but from the way people looked at him, a mix of curiosity and disdain.
He wasn't used to such scrutiny. In his world, you were judged by your strength, your survival instincts. Here, it seemed, appearances mattered more.
He took a deep breath, trying to clear his head. He needed answers.
Turning to the ever-present system in his mind, he asked, "Who was that woman?" A wave of information flooded his head.
"That was Hong Ling Wei, your elder twin sister. She is an alpha, strong-willed and fiercely protective. She is CEO of Zenith Fashion Wing, a subsidiary of Zenith Media, and has been currently acting CEO of Zenith Media in your absence."
Hong Yi absorbed the information, his stomach clenching. He had a sister, an alpha no less. An alpha filled with concern and anger. Shame gnawed at him. He had failed his first mission, arriving at a memorial service in a flamboyant car, a stranger to his own family. He glanced at Hong Ling Wei again, her back straight, her long strides carrying them through the sea of mourners.
He had a lot to learn about this world, about this family, and about himself – the man he was supposed to be and the warrior he still was inside.
The hushed whispers followed Hong Yi like a shadow as he shuffled through the throng of mourners. Glancing around, he caught snippets of conversations, each one laced with curiosity and speculation.
"Is that really Hong Yi? He looks... different."
"Didn't they say he was reclusive? Makes sense why we haven't seen him around."
"Wonder what kind of mess he'll get himself into now."
These whispers stung worse than the slap he'd received earlier. Disdain and suspicion hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the camaraderie he was used to in his former life.
Finally, they reached a larger hall, its somber atmosphere suffocating. A large photo adorned a central stand, depicting a man with kind eyes and a weathered face that held a faint resemblance to Hong Yi himself. A nameplate beneath it simply read "Hong Shan."
Mourners filed past, bowing their heads in respect. Hong Yi followed suit, a wave of unfamiliar grief washing over him. He didn't know this man, this father whose absence echoed around him. Yet, a silent bond seemed to connect them, a shared lineage that transcended their physical meeting.
As they reached the front of the line, two women, elegantly dressed despite their obvious grief, stood beside the photo. Both were beautiful, their ages somewhere in the forties. Behind them, a young man, barely an adult by Hong Yi's estimation, leaned against a pillar, his face etched with a stoic grief.
Hong Ling Wei moved swiftly towards the first woman, enveloping her in a tight hug. A wave of sorrow emanated from her, raw and unyielding. Hong Yi watched, a stranger in the midst of a family's pain.
The woman, after a moment, pulled away from Hong Ling Wei. Her eyes, red-rimmed but holding a spark of defiance, met his. Grief gave way to a flicker of surprise as she recognized the resemblance. A small, sorrowful smile played on her lips.
She gestured gently towards him, her voice a soft murmur. Hong Yi, unsure of himself, stepped forward. The woman reached out, her touch warm and motherly, a stark contrast to the harsh realities of his past. Her hand cradled his face, her fingers tracing the same spot where his sister had struck him earlier.
He flinched, expecting another blow, but instead, her touch was gentle, filled with a mother's love. A wave of relief washed over him. No harsh words, no accusations – just a mother's yearning. Her voice, thick with emotion, broke the silence. "You've returned at last, Hong Yi," she whispered.
Just then, a sly whisper slithered into his ear. "Stay here with Mother, and for God's sake, don't make a mess," Hong Ling Wei's voice hissed. "Even though you can't make yourself useful, at least don't be a pain in the ass." She quickly turned and moved towards the remaining guests, her voice adopting a professional tone as she mingled with them.
Hong Yi stood awkwardly beside the woman, his entire body tense. Taking his palm in hers, a gesture wholly foreign to him, she gave him a comforting squeeze. It felt alien, this warmth, this display of affection. His life had been a constant struggle for survival, not a haven of love and family.
A wave of confusion washed over Hong Yi. He stood awkwardly beside the woman, her touch a beacon of warmth in the sea of grief. Taking a deep breath, he reached out to the system in his head, a silent plea for information.
"System, who are these people?" he thought, his voice barely a whisper within his own mind.
"The woman holding your hand is Shu Ya, your biological mother." The system responded instantly, a digital voice devoid of emotion.
"She is a beta, born into a well-respected family. Shu Ya married your father, Hong Shan, in an arranged marriage. She is known for her philanthropic work, running charity events and devoting her legal expertise to the Omega Rights Federation, earning her high respect within high society."
Hong Yi absorbed this information, a flicker of understanding dawning on him. This woman, his mother, exuded a quiet strength, evident in her gentle yet firm hold.
His gaze shifted to the other woman standing beside Shu Ya. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill. "Who is she?" he queried the system.
"That is Ci En, your stepmother." The system informed him. "An omega and a top actress of her generation, Ci En received numerous awards throughout her career. Her marriage to Hong Shan was a love match, quite unusual for the time. Despite coming from a relatively normal background, Ci En carved a place for herself in high society with her calm demeanor and refined social skills."
Hong Yi glanced at the young man standing behind them, his posture rigid with grief. "And him?" he continued his interrogation of the system.
"That is Hong Hao Yu, your half-brother." The system replied. "The son of Ci En and Hong Shan, he is an alpha four years your junior. Unlike you, Hao Yu possesses a more lighthearted personality and harbors a passion for entering the entertainment industry, mirroring his mother's legacy."
Hong Yi watched as Hong Hao Yu scoffed, deliberately turning his head away. So, there was already tension brewing between the siblings. "Half-brother?" he thought, a new wave of confusion hitting him. "This doesn't make sense. My father… he has two wives?"