Hong Yi stormed out of the mansion, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He needed space, some air to clear the suffocating fog of suspicion and unanswered questions swirling in his mind.
Sliding into his car, he gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white. The fragmented memory offered no solace, only a gnawing sense of unease. His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his reverie. A glance at the caller ID revealed "Pei Xin." A familiar face flickered in his memory – a friend, a confidante.
"Hello," Hong Yi answered, his voice hoarse.
"Hong Yi, it's Pei Xin. I just got back to the city and heard about Uncle Hong. I'm so sorry for your loss. How are you holding up?" Concern laced Pei Xin's voice.
Hong Yi forced a smile, the gesture strained. "I'm managing," he replied.
"Look, I know this isn't the best time, but would you be up for meeting at Halo? There's something important I need to discuss with you." Pei Xin's voice held a hint of urgency.
Hong Yi hesitated. "Pei Xin, I'm swamped right now. There's a lot on my plate." The truth was, the thought of facing another conversation, another unanswered question, felt overwhelming.
"It's about Yang He," Pei Xin cut in, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
Hong Yi's eyes narrowed. Yang He. The mere mention of his name reignited a spark of defiance within him.
"Alright, I'll be there soon," Hong Yi conceded, starting the car. He needed answers, and perhaps Pei Xin held a missing piece to the puzzle.
As he navigated the city streets, Hong Yi remembered something crucial. He needed scent patches. Alphas, like himself, emitted pheromones that could influence others. In a public setting, it would be wise to mask his own scent to avoid unwanted attention.
However, as he entered the supermarket, a wave of unexpected energy hit him. He realized people were staring, their gazes filled with something akin to awe. Confused, he caught snippets of whispered conversations.
"Isn't that the heir to Zenith Media?"
"He looks even more handsome in person!"
Hong Yi recoiled from the sudden surge of attention. He had always preferred a life of anonymity, and this sudden shift in public perception was unnerving. Little did he know, the news of the contested inheritance, coupled with his recent erratic behavior, had inadvertently thrust him into the spotlight.
Reaching the checkout, he felt the cashier's gaze linger a beat too long. "Thank you, Mr. Hong," the cashier said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
Hong Yi forced a small smile in return, the social interaction leaving him drained. He hurried out of the supermarket, clutching the scent patches like a lifeline. The anonymity they offered felt more valuable than ever.
Slipping into his car, he popped a patch on and started the engine. Made his way to Halo bar and restaurant. The familiar buzz of Halo bar and restaurant greeted Hong Yi as he pulled into the valet parking. The scent of grilling meat and hops mingled with the city's evening air, momentarily distracting him from his churning thoughts. Inside, the dim lighting and rhythmic music created a vibrant atmosphere. Patrons filled the booths and high-top tables, their laughter and conversations weaving into the background noise.
Suddenly a person came in front of him. "Mr. Hong, its nice to meet you. I am Ji Li manager of Halo." he extended the hand towards Hong Yi. "Its nice to meet you manager Li" Hong Yi said by shaking his hands. "Mr. Pei is waiting for you in the private room Mr Hong, this way" saying so Ji Li guided him to a private room on the second floor.
As Ji Li opened the room he saw a tall man with a mop of dark hair, engrossed in his phone. "Mr Pei, Mr Hong is here" listening to Ji Li's voice Pei xin lifted his head to see Hong Yi standing at the entrance.
"Hong Yi!" Pei Xin exclaimed, his face breaking into a wide grin as he looked up. "Thank goodness you made it. Come, have a seat."
Hong Yi slid into the plush chair opposite him, a wave of exhaustion hitting him. He offered a weary smile. "Manager Li can you get us something to drink" Pei Xin said making Ji Li bow and leave.
Hong Yi without hesitation jumped into the matter "So," he began, his voice raspy, "what did you need to talk about? You said it was important."
Pei Xin leaned forward, his eyes holding a mixture of concern and trepidation. "It's about Yang He," he said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "There's something you need to know."
"About two months ago," Pei Xin said, leaning closer, "I finally got a lead. Someone spotted him in a remote village in a faraway country. But by the time I reached there, he was gone again. No trace, no forwarding address, nothing."
Pei Xin pulled out his phone, scrolling through a series of grainy photos. Each one depicted a figure wearing a wide-brimmed hat, their face mostly obscured, hurrying down a dusty street.
"These are all I could find," Pei Xin admitted, pushing the phone towards Hong Yi. "I think there's a lot more to Yang He's disappearance than just your argument."
Hong Yi studied the photos, a frown creasing his forehead. Could there be something else at play?
Suddenly, a sharp rap on the table startled them. A waiter materialized, balancing a tray laden with drinks. Just as Hong Yi reached for his phone, it buzzed to life. Pei Xin glanced at the screen, his eyes widening.
"Demon Hong?" he whispered, his voice tight.
Hong Yi recognized the name on his caller ID – Ling Wei.
"Don't tell your sister you're here," Pei Xin pleaded in a hushed tone. Hong Yi raised an eyebrow but nodded in agreement before answering the call.
"Hong Yi, where are you!?" Ling Wei's voice crackled with irritation through the phone.
Hong Yi sighed. "What's going on now?"
"Look what I sent you," she replied curtly.
Hong Yi unlocked his phone, confusion etching on his face. Ling Wei had sent him a photo – a recent one of him leaving the supermarket.
The caption beneath the photo read: "Heir Apparent? More like Grocery Heartthrob! Spotted leaving Central Market today– Who knew billionaire Hong Yi could be so down-to-earth?"
"This is bad," he muttered, his voice laced with worry. "The media attention, it's going to get out of control."
He thought for some time and scrolled the comments
@heartheart: agh man he is so handsome.
@butterfly: Leave the poor guy alone! He's grieving and trying to live his life. Grocery shopping isn't a scandal.
@failed_abortion: This is ridiculous! Who cares if the heir to a company buys his own groceries? #SupportHongYi.
@living_for_spicy_news: I heard he's been going through a tough time since his dad passed away. Maybe that's why he looks stressed.
@MrKiller03: Seems staged to me. Trying to appear relatable? #PRStunt
@gossipgossip: I heard there's a huge fight going on within the family over the inheritance. Maybe he's lost some privileges.
@DramaQueen: This is the kind of drama I live for! Can't wait to see how this plays out! #RealityShowPlease.
Hong Yi took a deep breath and dialed Ling Wei's number again. "Ling Wei, maybe going into hiding isn't the best move," he suggested. "Instead, let's control the narrative."
"Control the narrative?" Ling Wei echoed, confused.
"Yeah," Hong Yi continued. "I have an idea. Why don't you leave the grocery shopping photo up, but add another post?"
"Another post?" Ling Wei repeated, still unsure.
"Exactly," Hong Yi explained. "We can say something like, 'Heir apparent or not, everyone has errands to run. But unlike my uncles who are eyeing Dad's legacy, I'm focused on keeping things running smoothly.'"
Ling Wei's breath hitched. "Hong Yi, are you sure about this? Bringing the family feud public could backfire."
"It'll come out eventually, Ling Wei," Hong Yi countered. "Better now, while we're still in control. Trust me, this will put the pressure on them."
A long silence followed. Finally, Ling Wei sighed. "Fine. Do as you think best. But keep me updated."
"Thanks, Ling Wei," Hong Yi said, relief washing over him. "One more thing. Can you see if we can schedule a meeting with the board of directors tonight? We need them on our side."
"Alright, I'll try," Ling Wei replied before hanging up.
Hong Yi turned to Pei Xin, who was watching him with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Hey, Pei Xin, I need your help with something," he began.
"Sure, anything," Pei Xin responded, his brow furrowed. "What's going on?"
"I need to know everything about my uncles and their families," Hong Yi said, taking a sip of his drink. "Every detail, no matter how small."
"Everything?" Pei Xin echoed, bewildered. "Why?"
Hong Yi knew he couldn't reveal his full plan just yet, but he needed Pei Xin's investigative skills. "There's a reason," he said simply. "Can you do this for me?"
Pei Xin nodded curtly. "I can definitely do that. But be warned, digging up dirt on family can get messy."
"I know," Hong Yi acknowledged, a grim smile playing on his lips. "But sometimes, you have to fight fire with fire."