Returning to his Lakeside Apartment, Fang Fengqin wearily buried himself in the sofa.
Professor Gu’s words echoed endlessly in his ears.
“You currently have two treatment options. The first is to immediately stop injecting suppressants and find an Alpha who can help you get through your heat; this is the conservative treatment approach.”
“The second is to undergo a gland excision surgery.”
Resting his palm gently against the back of his neck, Fang Fengqin stared blankly into the empty air, lost in thought.
Wei Jinlin had waited for Fang Fengqin for a full three hours.
Countless phone calls went unanswered, and Ji Binglu glanced at him indifferently from the side, his gaze sharp enough to see right through him.
“Your little boyfriend doesn’t seem very reliable,” Ji Binglü remarked in a flat tone.
Wearing a smile on the surface, Wei Jinlin clenched his back teeth secretly. “He hasn’t been feeling well these past two days.”
“Uncle, I’ll head back first and come visit you another day.” Wei Jinlin stood up to leave.
“Wait.” Ji Binglü called him back.
Wei Jinlin looked up, hearing him speak in a voice so calm it carried not a single ripple:
“As for your marriage, have the eldest young master of the Fang family come talk to me in person.”
Looking somewhat bewildered, Wei Jinlin nodded.
After getting the address from Gu Song, he immediately rushed over.
Hearing the doorbell ring in a daze, Fang Fengqin felt entirely lacking the strength to get up.
After struggling for two seconds, he dragged his weak limbs forward, taking slow, unsteady steps to open the door. Only upon seeing Wei Jinlin’s cold expression did he remember what he had forgotten.
“Sorry.” Fang Fengqin muttered a dull apology, stepping aside to clear a path.
The anger Wei Jinlin had been holding in for half a day was choked right back down, making him feel thoroughly uncomfortable.
Glancing at Fang Fengqin’s pale complexion, he ultimately swallowed his curses, let out a cold snort, and bumped his shoulder against Fang Fengqin as he strode into the living room.
“Do you have any concept of contractual spirit?” Wei Jinlin plopped down onto the sofa as if he were in his own home. “Pour me a glass of water.”
Fang Fengqin managed to roll his eyes at him before burying his head straight back into the soft cushions.
“I’m dying,” he mumbled in a muffled voice.
Wei Jinlin paused, startled. “Professor Gu said that?”
“Pretty much,” Fang Fengqin mumbled vaguely.
Both solutions offered by Professor Gu had been dismissed by him.
After two seconds of thought, Wei Jinlin said, “Then we need to get engaged as soon as possible. I need to secure the Wei family shares before you kick the bucket.”
Fang Fengqin bolted upright and lashed out with his foot to kick him.
Dodging the kick with a couple of hurried noises, Wei Jinlin showed no shame whatsoever. “We agreed on this. I help you hide your identity, and you enter a political marriage with me so I can reclaim my shares. Don’t go backing out now.”
“Besides, I nagged my uncle for half a day before he finally relented and agreed to consider future cooperation with the Fang family.”
Fang Fengqin couldn’t be bothered to entertain him.
Staring at Fang Fengqin’s face for a moment, Wei Jinlin acted on a sudden impulse and blurted out, “Are you busy tonight?”
Fang Fengqin shoved his face back into the sofa. Being young, he simply didn’t know what to do when faced with a life-and-death crisis of this magnitude.
“Hey!” Wei Jinlin poked him in the waist. “How about I treat you to watch my performance?”
Fang Fengqin’s ears twitched. He lifted half his face, casting a suspicious look at Wei Jinlin.
Wei Jinlin flashed him a brilliant smile. “Live each day happily while you can, Young Master Fang.”
Located on Xinghe Road No. 3, the Black Wind Bar had been hidden away here for several years, situated just a few streets away from Qin Tingfeng’s underground clinic.
Fang Fengqin had never set foot in this place before.
Bathed in garish, colorful lights, the moment he stepped into the entrance, wailing, ghost-like music assailed his ears. Fang Fengqin paused in his steps, feeling a sudden wave of regret for letting a momentary impulse lead him to follow Wei Jinlin here.
Walking ahead for a few steps before realizing Fang Fengqin hadn’t kept up, Wei Jinlin turned around, grabbed Fang Fengqin firmly by the wrist, and hauled him quickly toward the open seating area.
“Can you drink?” With the DJ music blaring loudly, Wei Jinlin leaned close to his ear and shouted, “Order whatever you want to drink!”
Nearly deafened by the noise, Fang Fengqin stepped back, instinctively covering his ears as he shouted back at the same volume, “Got it!”
Deeming him cooperative, Wei Jinlin gave him a comradely pat on the shoulder before turning around to head toward the backstage area.
A waiter approached and handed Fang Fengqin a drink menu. Glancing through it from top to bottom, Fang Fengqin ultimately ordered a moderately named drink called “Jasmine Sake.”
Ten minutes later, the music inside the venue suddenly cut off. The blinding lights plunged into simultaneous darkness, leaving only a white laser spotlight converging on the circular stage in the center of the bar.
Wei Jinlin was already seated on a high stool in the middle of the stage.
He had changed into an outfit for the performance and applied stage makeup. A large cross earring hung from his right ear, swaying slightly with his movements.
The crowd gradually quieted down.
Without offering any opening remarks, he adjusted the microphone stand in front of him and began casually strumming the strings of his guitar, the musical accompaniment kicking in right behind.
Sitting in a dimly lit corner, Fang Fengqin looked toward him along with the rest of the crowd.
Wei Jinlin’s vocal timbre was exceptionally clean, his enunciation crisp and sharp. Singing with a completely expressionless face gave him an aura of cool detachment, presenting yet another side of him Fang Fengqin had never seen before.
The waiter delivered the drink. Taking a small sip, Fang Fengqin kept his gaze fixed intently on Wei Jinlin.
Watching the person on stage casually strumming the guitar strings, his thoughts drifted far away. He thought of the bass guitar smashed to pieces by Zhong Lu, and suddenly remembered that he still had another bass left behind at Shen Jiyun’s place.
Thinking of Shen Jiyun made Fang Fengqin’s expression grow complex.
When Professor Gu mentioned the first treatment option, he had thought of Shen Jiyun for a split second.
This man had marked him multiple times, and during a previous incident, had inadvertently helped him get through a pseudo-heat.
Yet, remembering his own true identity, Fang Fengqin quickly suppressed the thought.
Right now, Fang Rongxi was at a critical juncture in his struggle for power and could not afford any setbacks. He simply could not afford to hand over such a vulnerability to others.
Lazing against the counter, Fang Fengqin drank more than half the glass without realizing it, his cheeks flushing a faint pink.
Wei Jinlin had transitioned into his next song, a soft, gentle melody that sounded as though it were narrating a story.
Fang Fengqin listened closely for a moment.
What I can imagine are only fleeting moments.
Using new life and disillusionment to draw close to your lips.
His brows furrowed slightly. Having downed the alcohol a bit too eagerly, a delayed wave of dizziness washed over him.
From the very moment he stepped into the bar, several pairs of prying eyes had been locked onto him from the shadows, stirring with restless anticipation.
Why are your eyes still blind to it?
Is my flesh and blood not bare enough for you?
Secrets exist simply to be leaked,
Just to find an excuse to surrender myself.
Hearing those lyrics, Fang Fengqin’s heart suddenly gave a violent thump.
Covering his face with his hands as if he could hear the pounding of his heartbeat hammering like a drum right beside his ear, he stood up as though unable to bear it any longer and headed toward the restroom.
Splashing cold water over his face and temples, Fang Fengqin raised his eyes to meet his own reflection in the mirror, pulling a stiff, awkward corner of his lips.
His mind grew increasingly murky. He had severely overestimated his alcohol tolerance. Staggering a couple of steps, he pulled out his phone intending to call Gu Song to pick him up when a hand suddenly reached out from behind to grab his wrist.
“Little beauty, all by yourself?” It was a tall, unfamiliar Alpha who loosely embraced Fang Fengqin from behind, his tone reeking of absolute certainty. “Care to share a couple of drinks with big brother?”
He had mistaken Fang Fengqin for an Omega out looking for fun.
Fang Fengqin’s expression turned glacial as he met the man’s gaze expressionlessly through the mirror.
Struck by the flushed, pretty face, the man swallowed hard, his desire stirred as he reached out to stroke Fang Fengqin’s cheek.
Lowering his eyelids, Fang Fengqin said softly, “Three seconds.”
“What?” the man didn’t catch it.
“Time’s up.” Before the man could react, Fang Fengqin suddenly droves his elbow backward with heavy force. Crying out in pain, the Alpha stumbled back in astonishment before he could even utter a word, receiving a vicious kick straight to the groin.
“Ah!” he shrieked, doubling over in agony as he failed to stay upright, cursing furiously, “Stinking bitch, you just wait.”
“I won’t wait.” Fang Fengqin delivered a swift kick straight to his face, offering a cold sneer. “Still want a drink?”
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed someone walking into the restroom. Casually raising his gaze, Fang Fengqin caught sight of Shen Jiyun’s aloof and cold face, causing his expression to freeze abruptly.
Why, how, is this guy everywhere?
“Just how many part-time jobs do you even work?” Fang Fengqin finally lost control and blurted out the question.