Although the little snake was ostensibly no longer affiliated with the Omega Protection Association, Shen Zhiheng still felt anxious about his brother leaving the island. In any case, snake-type Omegas remained on the world’s blacklist. Before the complaint materials Shen Zhiheng submitted were made public, snake-type Omegas were still viewed by the general public as dangerous and terrifying figures.
Shen Zhiheng carefully planned the route, ensuring that they would not encounter anyone else until they reached the hospital’s examination room. He even wrapped a thin layer of plush fabric around the little snake’s large tail, covering up the slippery, reflective scales that fed into people’s stereotypes. He was busy doing all of this in a desperate attempt to hide the truth, but the moment he looked up, he saw the little snake staring blankly at him, unblinking.
A flash of guilt crossed his mind. He worried that the little snake was again indulging in thoughts like, “Nobody in this world likes snakes.”
“Big Brother is doing this so?”
“Wow, it is so fluffy!”
Shen Zhiqi did not hear his brother’s explanation; he excitedly pounced on his large tail and hugged it. The fine cotton fabric felt fuzzy, effectively covering the smooth snake tail with a soft texture. Shen Zhiqi hugged his large tail, rubbing his little face against its surface. The soft sensation was just like stroking a fluffy kitten or puppy, just like the feeling of Dog Mom’s tail in the little snake’s memories.
He actually possessed a fluffy tail! So, would many, many people praise him for being cute now? Just like they did with kittens and puppies? Would someone say to him in a strange, high-pitched voice, “Xiaoqi, you are so cute; you are the most obedient puppy in this world!”
There was no gloom in his eyes as Shen Zhiheng had expected; instead, they were filled with joy and anticipation.
Shen Zhiheng felt relieved and walked over to pat his head. “Alright, my fluffy little puppy, it is time to set off for the hospital. Come here, let Big Brother carry you.”
Shen Zhiqi reluctantly let go of the large tail in his arms and opened his arms to be picked up by his brother. He lived happily on the island, and now that he had a fluffy tail, his mood was even better; he remained cheerful the whole time.
At the hospital, after a series of tedious and detailed examinations were completed, Shen Zhiqi was so tired that he lay on the examination bed. He stared blankly at the light overhead; his pupils shrank into thin lines, and his eye sockets quickly became dry and red.
A warm palm covered his eyes. “Sleep for a while if you are tired. I will call you when it is time to go.”
Shen Zhiqi blinked, his long, dense eyelashes rubbing against his brother’s palm with slight resistance. As a super low-energy snake, he was already exhausted. However, he was in a completely unfamiliar environment, and the unpleasant smell of medical disinfectant was once his most hated scent. Still, staring at his brother walking back and forth felt more interesting.
“I cannot fall asleep here. I do not like this place, but I can still hold on.”
There was a moment of silence beside him, followed by a voice: “Shall I carry you back to the car to rest? It will still be a while before the reports are ready.”
Shen Zhiqi nodded, and he was scooped up from the examination bed by his brother. He tilted his head and rested it on his brother’s shoulder, causing his soft cheek to bunch up. Dr. Lin was tapping out reports nearby and looked up at the two brothers.
“I have never seen anyone spoil a child like this.”
“Now you have,” Shen Zhiheng replied indifferently, turning to carry the little snake back to the car.
There was Uncle Wang guarding the car, and they could adjust the temperature and play some soothing, hypnotic music. Most importantly, the watch on Shen Zhiqi’s wrist was still fully charged and functioning. Shen Zhiheng checked it repeatedly before soothing the little snake and returning to the doctor’s office.
Dr. Lin showed the examination report to Shen Zhiheng.
“Primarily, it is still malnutrition. It is shocking that at such a young age, he has such severe osteoporosis. Look, his leg bones look like a honeycomb.”
The surface of the bones presented with holes of various sizes; this degree of osteoporosis was a condition usually found in the elderly in their seventies or eighties. His little snake was only eight years old. Shen Zhiheng’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the report tightly.
“What is the treatment plan?”
“He is indeed too young. I suggest applying a layer of repair liquid to the surface of the bones first to prevent him from fracturing as easily as a porcelain doll if he happens to bump into something. Then, it will be a long process of dietary supplementation.” Dr. Lin’s expression was not good, and he swallowed hard. “However, even with dietary supplementation, it must be done slowly. Your little guy’s stomach and intestines are also extremely fragile.”
“Is there anything else?”
“There are no other serious issues for now, but not many of his indicators meet the standards.”
Shen Zhiheng frowned. “Do you call this ‘no serious issues’?”
When they returned to the car, Shen Zhiqi was already fast asleep. He lay in the reclined position, curled up with his knees tucked in just like when he was young, assuming a defensive posture. It was only when Shen Zhiheng sat down beside him that he groggily leaned against his sleeping partner in his dream.
Shen Zhiheng protected his frail body, pressing the blanket over him more securely. The little snake’s human body was too thin and weak; the newly emerged leg bones were fragile, and with no muscle coverage, he could not drag that thick, heavy tail at all. Shen Zhiheng reached out to compare; the little guy’s ankle was not even as thick as his wrist.
His heart ached, and his urge to protect him surged again. How has this child survived until now?
This minimally invasive surgery of applying a layer of repair liquid to the bone surface was not difficult in the rapidly developing technology of Star C. However, the machines for the surgery were rare throughout the planet, and the medicine relied on imports, making it worth a thousand pieces of gold. Shen Zhiheng was persistent about this; he had always been sparing no expense when it came to his brother.
“Although the medicine is hard to come by, it is not a big deal for your family’s fortune, Young Master. It is just…” Dr. Lin looked very troubled. “Actually, as a snake-type Omega, it is perfectly fine for Zhiqi to rely on his tail to walk…”
Shen Zhiheng said decisively, “After having legs, his tail is not as thick as it used to be, which makes it more prone to injury.”
Dr. Lin continued to analyze, “Rehabilitation is also a very difficult process. He has not walked with his legs for a long time, and this process is also very easy to cause injuries…”
“I know.”
“If Xiaoqi is unwilling to restore his legs and is willing to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, I can be his legs for the rest of my life. However, he yearns to run, he yearns to jump, so I will support him at all costs.”
Dr. Lin knew that there was no point in saying anything else. Even if he could come up with a million reasons regarding the difficulties, he could not shake this one reason from Shen Zhiheng. He touched his nose and coughed twice, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.
“You are a brother without blood ties who is more devoted than many parents.”
“Of course.” Shen Zhiheng rarely stopped maintaining his serious expression and replied relaxedly. Perhaps he was answering that he was indeed very dedicated to his younger brother, or perhaps he was answering that he naturally knew how parents with blood ties could ignore their own children. He sighed with immense relief and laughed, “An older brother is like a father, after all.”
The two went to great lengths to find a professional organization, transporting machines that not even a few hospitals on the entire planet could afford from other planets to Shen Zhiheng’s home. This was done simply to avoid the little snake having to run to the hospital and endure the fatigue of travel. As for the consumables that were hard to queue for and buy, the purchasing approval process was also accelerated under Shen Zhiheng’s immense financial power.
Shen Zhiheng ran through several social gatherings with Dr. Lin and finally got it settled. Considering that Shen Zhiheng had only just reached adulthood, the several big shots who finalized the surgery did not make things too difficult for him, though Dr. Lin and the acting president of the branch office, Lin Ze, drank a bit more. Shen Zhiheng asked someone to send them back, while he returned home with Uncle Wang.
“Is the surgery scheduled?” Uncle Wang asked with concern.
“Of course. The top technology, the best medicine, the most professional doctors. I will naturally give my Xiaoqi the best.” Shen Zhiheng leaned back against the seat and rubbed his forehead, which was slightly dizzy from the alcohol. His father had not taught him the skills of interpersonal maneuvering, but he had mastered them by himself.
On the monitoring software on his phone, the little red dot moved back and forth slightly on the screen, and the heart rate showed that the little guy was still awake. Shen Zhiheng tilted his head back and downed half a bottle of hangover drink, frowning with dissatisfaction.
“Why is this little kid not asleep yet? Children need to grow their bodies.”
“Do you even need to ask? Zhiqi is obviously waiting for you, Young Master. This little guy mumbles all day, ‘How can I fall asleep without Big Brother by my side?’ and then drags everyone in the villa to stay up late with him.”
Perhaps because Uncle Wang’s imitation of the little snake’s clingy tone was too funny, Shen Zhiheng could imagine the way that clingy little kid spoke from his imitation. He laughed heartily, his voice filled with smugness, “Then, Uncle Wang, please drive a bit faster.”
“It is already fast enough!” Uncle Wang put on an expression as if he could not stand this pair of brothers at all.
The constant temperature barrier and ventilation system on the island isolated them from the scorching summer heat outside. Shen Zhiheng stood by the car patiently, letting the wind blow on him until the smell of alcohol on him faded a bit, before he walked toward the villa.
His dedicated little gatekeeper was naturally crouching at the entrance waiting for him, wearing pajamas printed with cartoon patterns and holding a small porcelain bowl. Since his brother did not allow him to run around on his feet before the surgery, he obediently sat on his large tail and waited.
“Brother, you are finally back!”
Shen Zhiqi raised his face, his golden eyes sparkling, holding the small porcelain bowl like it was a treasure. “Brother said before that drinking alcohol makes your head ache. I asked the uncle and aunt, and they said that drinking hangover soup will make it better.” He held the small porcelain bowl high. “This is hangover soup for Brother!”
The little snake, who was already staying up late, had eyes full of fatigue, but as long as he made eye contact with his brother, he wore that happy expression with his eyes curved like crescents again.
Shen Zhiheng took the small porcelain bowl; his palm felt warm, and his heart felt warm as well. Having someone in the house always waiting for him at the door, guarding him, and worrying about him returning home was something Shen Zhiheng had once dreamed of. He rubbed the little snake’s head and smiled, “Thank you, baby.”
Just as Shen Zhiheng took it, he smelled a strange odor. It did not smell like ordinary hangover soup; instead, it had a strange mint and lemon scent. He tilted his head in confusion, examining the bizarre liquid in the bowl, and subconsciously glanced at the servants standing behind Shen Zhiqi. They all bowed their heads, not daring to make eye contact with Shen Zhiheng.
Shen Zhiheng looked away and looked down at the little snake, who was looking at him with anticipation, asking:
“Baby, who made this hangover soup?”
“Me! I made it myself!”
Shen Zhiqi became energetic the moment his brother asked. He held his two small hands high above his head, and even the tip of his little tail stood up, shaking slightly with excitement. “Brother won’t have a headache after drinking it!”
Uncle Wang, standing behind Shen Zhiheng, smelled the bizarre odor wafting from the cup, and his expression was extraordinarily twisted.
“Young Master, this.”
Shen Zhiheng did not wait for Uncle Wang to finish; he tilted his head back without changing his expression, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and he drank this bowl of bizarre special hangover soup.
Oh my god, it tastes like toothpaste.
He swallowed the hangover soup with a ferocious expression, forced himself to maintain some composure, and bowed to rub the little snake’s head.
“Thank you, baby. Brother feels much clearer; I am not dizzy at all.”
Except for Shen Zhiqi, who responded happily, the other servants showed expressions that could be described as terrified. That was hangover soup mixed with children’s toothpaste and lemon soda! Had the Young Master’s sense of taste run away from home?
“Really!”
Shen Zhiqi did not notice the strange looks from the adults around him at all. Hearing his brother’s praise, he only cared about pouncing into his brother’s arms, whose clothes still smelled slightly of wine.
“I tasted it; the hangover soup has medicine, and it is not delicious at all, so I added some other things! If Brother drinks alcohol in the future, I will make it for you again!”
Shen Zhiheng caught him steadily, the mint taste remaining in his mouth rushing straight to his forehead. He closed his eyes in endurance and patted the little snake’s back.
“Brother will not drink alcohol in the future.”
He could not give this little kid another chance to “murder his own brother.”
“Oh! Is that so? That is also good!”
Shen Zhiqi nodded in approval.
Shen Zhiheng, who had his sense of taste temporarily disabled by the silly little snake, laughed helplessly and indulgently as he picked the little snake up.
“The surgery is coming up soon. Have you been obedient recently, not walking with your feet, and resting properly?”
“I have been obedient, I am very good.”
Shen Zhiqi naturally wrapped his arms around his brother’s neck, his feet dangling by the man’s sides.
The expensive bone-reshaping injector, which had an astonishing cost, was moved into the Shen family island. The top experts in this field gathered in the operating room specifically built on the island to perform surgery on a little Omega they had never heard of. Many of them had traveled thousands of miles from other planets, all brought together by Shen Zhiheng’s financial power and Acting President Lin Ze’s connections.
Shen Zhiheng also disinfected himself and wore protective clothing to accompany the little snake by his bed. He did not know what the environment was like for the little snake in the laboratory in the past, and he was very worried that the little snake would be triggered by similar scenes.
However, Shen Zhiqi’s state of mind was surprisingly stable. Looking at the half of his brother’s face masked by the mask, his eyes were fixed on the gentle eyes behind the protective goggles. He narrowed his eyes and smiled, instead patting the back of his brother’s hand.
“Brother, do not be nervous.”
Shen Zhiheng tenderly patted his head.
For top experts, this surgery was definitely a minor one, but the surgery encountered problems from the very beginning.
“Young Master Shen, the patient’s lower body nerve sensation is different from that of ordinary humans, and the reaction is significantly more intense. But he is too young, and we cannot use excessive anesthesia on him.”
Shen Zhiheng understood what the doctor meant. During this highly precise surgical process, there was no way to make Shen Zhiqi completely pain-free. They had to ensure that he remained absolutely motionless while having clear perception.
Shen Zhiheng’s expression was serious as he asked, “Are there any other methods?”
“We can immobilize his legs, but as you know, his leg bones are fragile, and if he resists with too much force, he might break his own bones.”
Shen Zhiheng frowned tightly and nodded. “I will protect him and help him relax.”
They tried their best to explain the possible situations of the surgery to the little snake in simple and easy-to-understand terms.
“Little Young Master, we are about to start the surgery. It might be a little bit painful, but it will be over very soon.” The surgeon said gently to Shen Zhiqi, holding the special needle that glittered with cold light in his hand.
Shen Zhiqi tilted his head to examine the needle, but he was not as fearful or crying as a child of this age should be. He shook his head and proudly patted his little chest.
“Uncle, don’t worry. I am not afraid of pain at all. I am not afraid of such a small needle; I am especially, especially tolerant of pain.”
Small needle…?
Everyone present looked at the thick needle, which was more than ten centimeters long. No, his nerve perception was clearly stronger than that of ordinary people, and due to the snake, his body maintained a lower temperature. His lower body as a human would be more sensitive to pain than an ordinary person. He only possessed human body parts if his body was slightly better, and it was more delicate than they could imagine or describe.
How could such a delicate body say such a thing?
The expert doctors looked puzzled, and only Shen Zhiheng knew clearly. The needle that could never be applied to the little snake seemed to have stabbed his heart hard. One did not need to think to know that the little snake was merely accustomed to needles thicker and longer than this in the past, and he might not even have experienced anesthesia.
How could a delicate body and such sharp physical perception not be afraid of pain?
Shen Zhiheng could not show anything unusual in front of outsiders, so he had to force himself to suppress the anger in his heart. Luckily, he was wearing protective clothing, so even his expressions were not obvious. Having obtained the doctor’s permission, he sat sideways on the edge of the operating table and gently lifted Shen Zhiqi up.
“Xiaoqi, Brother is here with you. If you feel pain or discomfort, just bite me hard; it will be fine.”
“No.”
Shen Zhiqi shook his head vigorously, looking earnestly at the deep black eyes beneath the protective goggles.
“I am not a bad person who bites people, let alone you, Brother. Brother just needs to hold me; I already said I am very tolerant of pain, Brother, you have to believe me!”
Shen Zhiheng’s throat felt tight; he could neither refute nor comfort him, so he had to nod.
The surgeon thoughtfully placed a curtain in front of Shen Zhiqi so that he would not be afraid of seeing the very long syringe. A child of several years old should be afraid; they did not understand why the little snake was so obedient.
“We will first administer the anesthesia at a safe dosage, and then perform the surgery. Little one, you must not move, no matter what you feel, do not move.” The surgeon couldn’t help but soften his voice when he saw such an obedient child.
Even with the effects of the anesthesia, the little snake still felt uncomfortable and painful as the doctor warned. He instinctively gripped his brother’s sleeve, the veins on his forehead bulging, yet he did not cry or make a scene; he did not say a single word.
Just as Shen Zhiqi said himself, he was very tolerant of pain, even though the pain he felt was more intense than that of a normal human. He endured the pain purely by willpower, furrowing his brows and closing his eyes tightly, his small hands curled into tight fists.
His back was gradually soaked with sweat, and the strands of hair on his forehead were dampened into wet clumps. Shen Zhiqi tensed his body, his small hands curled into fists, his body twitching slightly from the pain, yet he did not utter a single sound.
On the contrary, Shen Zhiheng, who was sitting sideways beside him, could not bear it any longer, leaning over to pull his trembling body into his arms. Warm palms gently stroked Shen Zhiqi’s cheeks; he touched the cheeks that were tensed from enduring the pain, but did not feel any tears.
His little brother, the snake, was clearly very prone to crying. When they first met, he cried because “Brother is not afraid of me,” and later he cried miserably because his brother took a blow with a stick for him. Now, this small body was undergoing surgery on the examination table; the anesthesia effect was only half, yet he hadn’t shed a single tear.
He endured it as a matter of habit, reminding his brother beside him about his past again and again.
“Baby good baby, it will be over soon. Big Brother is here; Big Brother is with you.”
Shen Zhiheng offered soft comfort again and again; even though his fists were tightly clenched, he could not hide the slightly trembling tone in his voice from his heartbreak. He felt heartbroken to the point of madness, experiencing physical difficulty breathing. He wanted to hear the little snake complain to him, but until the end of the surgery, even though the little snake had bitten his lower lip with his two pointed teeth until it bled, he had not heard a single sound of resentment or crying.
The surgery was declared a success, and the pain in his legs had already turned into numbness.
Shen Zhiheng gently stroked the lips that the little snake had bitten until they bled and coaxed him softly:
“You are bleeding, baby. Please let go a little; Brother will apply some ointment for you.”
Shen Zhiqi finally relaxed the teeth that were tightly biting his lower lip; there were two small holes on his lip, oozing beads of blood. The corners of his eyes welled up with tears due to physiological reactions, yet there was not a trace of grievance or complaining.
“The surgery is very successful; the Little Young Master is especially brilliant.”
Even the lead surgeon praised him from the bottom of his heart, and finally received a weak but sweet smile from the little snake.
“Thank you… thank you, Uncle…”
Shen Zhiqi contentedly closed his tired eyes, his breathing relaxed and heavy.
“Rest well, baby; Brother is with you.”
Shen Zhiheng wiped away his sweat bit by bit, his movements excessively gentle.
“Hmm… I did not lie to you, Big Brother. I really am especially good at enduring pain.”
Shen Zhiqi was exhausted, straining to say a little bit of strength.
“I know, I know the baby is an especially wonderful child. Rest well, you will be fine when you wake up.”
Shen Zhiheng’s tone remained heavy. He carefully wiped the beads of blood from under the little guy’s lips and rubbed a bit of ointment onto the wound. The little snake quickly fell fast asleep, obediently snuggled in his brother’s arms.
The doctor sent the postoperative care guide to Shen Zhiheng and whispered some additional precautions. For example, he should not run or jump for a short period of time, should rest in bed as much as possible, and should take calcium supplements. He looked at Shen Zhiheng’s still painful expression and added a word of comfort:
“The Little Young Master is especially resilient; I have never seen such an obedient child.”
“He should not have to bear such resilience.”
Shen Zhiheng’s voice was hoarse, the back of his hand gently stroking his brother’s pale little face.
“He should have been a child who would cry for a long time over a little pain and need someone to coax him for a very, very long time.”
He closed his eyes in pain, his emotions unable to be resolved for a long time.
“If only Xiaoqi were such a child…”
The doctor was lost for words for a moment; he was also being dragged into the state of physical and mental depression by Shen Zhiheng’s aura. He did not know what Shen Zhiqi had experienced in the past, and there was no way he could comfort him.
When leaving, the lead surgeon couldn’t bear it and offered a word of comfort:
“He will become that kind of child.”
This kind of comfort came entirely from instinct, or perhaps it was a future he could see based on his own experience.