The Villain Saves The Male Lead

Wade actually did turn up with Fang after a few days, when the latter came to pick up Ren from work. Ren shot Fang an enquiring glance, and Fang shrugged helplessly.

Wade also brought a basket of goodies for the babies - he'd carefully bought them under Fang's guidance.

The three furballs, who were stretched out on Ren's desk as he put away his papers, eyed Wade warily.

"I was rude the other day and didn't greet my niece and nephews properly," Wade said softly and bowed in apology. "I brought some treats today."

"Thanks," Ren said. He rubbed the three little heads on his desk and told them, "This is my younger brother, Wade."

Snow, Smoke and Shadow sat up and fixed their round eyes on Wade, but didn't call him uncle - in any case, Wade didn't have magic, so he wouldn't know either way.

"May I...touch them?" Wade asked hesitantly.

No way! The three fur babies were united in their decision.

Ren hadn't known that his little ones would hold a grudge like this!

"Er...maybe not now," Ren said lightly. "They're still very young and very clingy with Fang and I."

Wade, who had been stretching out a hand, froze. His pretty face crumpled in disappointment.

"Don't take it to heart," Fang told him gently. "It's normal for small children to dislike the touch of people other than their parents. And they're not familiar with you."

Wade bit his lip and nodded. Dissatisfaction rose up in his heart. His Big Brother, who used to dote on him so much...that Big Brother now cared more about cats and dogs than Wade himself?!

However, Wade didn't want to offend Ren again and was desperate to patch up their relationship. Even if it didn't return to the earlier situation where Ren would blindly give Wade whatever he wanted, at least a bit of indulgent affection would be good.

"Are you joining us for dinner?" Ren asked Wade.

"If I may," Wade said shyly.

"Sure, why not?" Ren said casually and looked at Fang. "Should we eat out or ask Jules to add an extra plate?" he asked.

"Let's eat at home," Fang suggested. "I'll inform Jules," he offered and stepped out.

Wade, who really wanted to go to a luxury restaurant he'd heard his classmates talk about, stiffened. Then he sighed and consoled himself that he could always ask his Big Brother to take him to the restaurant on another day.

"Wade? Is everything ok?" Ren asked, seeing the younger boy in a daze.

"Big Brother...some of my friends want to meet you, too," he muttered. "Would you...have time? We could meet up for dinner at a restaurant whenever you're free."

Ren frowned slightly. "Why do they want to meet me?" he asked.

"They admire you very much," Wade replied. "It's not like the guys from earlier, I promise!" he added hurriedly. "I'm more careful about my friends these days!"

Ren looked at him for a while and then nodded.

Wade smiled brightly at his Big Brother, feeling warm. Ren still cared about him, he thought to himself - why else would he be concerned about his friends otherwise?

"I'll ask my secretary to set up something for next week," Ren told him. "Did you have any particular restaurant you wanted to visit?"

Wade nodded eagerly.

Fang came back just then. "Ready to go?" he asked Ren.

Ren smiled and nodded at him. "Fang, we're meeting some of Wade's friends next week - Wade, which restaurant did you want to go to?"

Wade named the most popular luxury restaurant in town.

Ren frowned; the name sounded very familiar to him.

"It's almost impossible to get a reservation there," Fang said immediately. "When the minister took us there for the photoshoots, didn't he say that you need to book a table at least three months in advance?"

"Oh, right, that one," Ren murmured. He turned to Wade. "Sorry, little brother...I'm afraid I won't be able to get us a table there."

Wade was miserable. He wanted to go to that very restaurant because it had been featured in one of the tourism advertisements Ren had appeared in with Fang and the three furballs. Not only did the food look amazing, but the panoramic desert views from the restaurant were gorgeous! Wade had been dying to see it for himself.

"But aren't you their model? Won't they make an exception for you?" Wade begged. "Please, Big Brother! I really want to see it!"

Ren frowned. "Wade, did you promise to take your friends there?" he demanded.

Wade looked away awkwardly. He actually had boasted to his friends that his Big Brother CEO Ren could get in wherever he wanted. His new friends, who were more sensible than Wade, had simply laughed; they were more interested in meeting the legendary CEO Ren rather than some exotic restaurant.

"You'll just have to apologise to them, then," Ren said firmly. "I can take you to that restaurant in the future, if you want, but you'll have to let me know a few months in advance."

"But Big Brother..." Wade protested.

Ren held up a hand to silence him. "Wade - since your friends want to see the restaurant rather than meeting me - we may as well cancel the plan, right?" he suggested.

Wade shook his head. "No! No, Big Brother! My friends just wanted to meet you - one of them even suggested that we meet you at the cafe next to your office so that you're not inconvenienced too much." He looked down at the floor. "I saw your pictures in the restaurant and really wanted to see it, so...I thought it'd be great if we could have dinner there."

Ren and Fang exchanged a look.

"I don't mind meeting your friends, Wade," Ren said finally. "But that restaurant isn't happening. Let me know if you still want to go ahead."

"I do!" Wade said immediately.

"All right, then," Ren replied.. "We'll arrange for something."