Hearing that he was fine, Shen Jiayu felt relieved. He glanced at the man and looked away quickly, mumbling, “You… rest well too.”
“Mm, okay,” Wen Xiuheng responded warmly, then left the room and closed the door.
Inside the room, Shen Jiayu slowly raised his head and bit his lip, which still seemed to hold the sensation of the Alpha’s kiss. His cheeks felt hot. In his fluster, his gaze fell on the bedside, the pot of roses had been returned, blooming quietly.
Later that evening, Wen Xiuheng came to deliver topical medicine, hoping for a chance to talk more. He stood at the door and knocked gently. “Jiayu, are you resting? I’ve brought some medicine for you.”
He stood there silently, listening for a movement. Inside, Shen Jiayu was awake. Hearing the knock, he got out of bed and walked past the mirror.
His loungewear collar was loose, revealing his white neck. From the nape to the collarbone, there were dense, dark red hickeys. The spot where the Alpha’s teeth had pierced the skin was not deep and had been treated with a small white bandage.
Shen Jiayu took one look at the marks and quickly looked away, turning his head in embarrassment. He walked toward the door, his slender arm reaching out to touch the handle. After a moment, he let go.
He still hadn’t figured out how to face the man. Panic, shyness, and helplessness were piled in his chest, making his heart race. He lowered his eyes, his trembling lashes revealing his inner struggle.
Unbeknownst to him, Wen Xiuheng had already seen his shadow approaching the door through the gap. However, the door never opened. A single door separated the two.
The man’s silver-grey eyes were filled with helplessness and loss. He pressed his hand against the door panel and murmured softly, “Jiayu, don’t push me away, okay?”
The earnest words reached Shen Jiayu’s ears, and on the other side of the door, he suddenly held his breath.
At Chengya Hospital.
The tall, handsome Alpha lay on the scanner, undergoing an examination. In the observation room, Lu Jun and his colleague Yu Ming stared at the screen, both showing surprised expressions as they exchanged looks.
After the check-up, Yu Ming approached Wen Xiuheng with the report. He was the primary doctor for the Alpha department. Lu Jun had come along because he was close friends with both.
Yu Ming adjusted his glasses. “The results show that even though the special medicine failed, your pheromone disorder levels did not continue to rise. This is unexpected but a pleasant surprise.”
Wen Xiuheng froze. “They didn’t continue to rise?” Usually, after a rut, the disorder levels would rise to varying degrees despite temporary medication. He didn’t expect this result.
“Indeed,” Yu Ming nodded, then asked, “Did you spend this rut alone?”
Lu Jun suddenly started coughing to clear his throat.
Wen Xiuheng answered truthfully, “No, I was with my partner. I… temporarily marked him.”
“No wonder…” Yu Ming realized. “Is it convenient to ask what rank Omega your partner is?”
Lu Jun winked frantically at him, leaving Yu Ming confused.
Wen Xiuheng: “He is a Beta.”
Yu Ming’s glasses almost fell off. His knowledge of Wen Xiuheng was limited to their doctor-patient relationship. If he hadn’t heard it himself, he would never have guessed the famous head of the Wen family would have a Beta partner.
After some more questions, Yu Ming explained the next steps. On one hand, the team would try to develop a new targeted medicine, which required Wen Xiuheng’s cooperation. On the other hand, they needed to study why the disorder levels didn’t rise. Theoretically, Betas cannot release pheromones to soothe an Alpha. Until it was verified, the possibility remained that the partner had provided help in some way.
Coming out of the exam room, Lu Jun jokingly asked why he looked so preoccupied. Wen Xiuheng gave him a flat look and didn’t reply. Lu Jun smiled, he could guess it was related to Young Master Shen. He put his hands in his lab coat pockets and watched the man leave. He was actually happy for Wen Xiuheng, at least he didn’t seem like a heartless machine anymore.
Back from the hospital, Wen Xiuheng had important work waiting. An international conference required him to go abroad for at least a week. For the past two days, Shen Jiayu was still avoiding him.
On the morning of his departure, Wen Xiuheng went to Shen Jiayu’s door. He stood outside and knocked gently, telling him about the business trip.
Shen Jiayu woke up to the knock and heard the news. Realizing the man would be gone for over a week, he got up and bit his lip in confusion and conflict. He had thought a lot about the man over the last few days. In his memory, the man was always gentle, even caring for him like a child. That one night of losing control couldn’t erase all that previous kindness. Thinking of this, his panic was slowly fading.
He originally planned to wait until he was mentally prepared to find the man, but now the man was leaving. He would have to wait a week to see him again.
Then…
Outside, Wen Xiuheng stood silently, waiting for a response. He wasn’t sure if Shen Jiayu was awake or could hear him. After a moment, the man lowered his eyes dejectedly and headed downstairs.
The car was waiting at the door. Wen Xiuheng walked down the steps and looked up at the second floor. Shen Jiayu’s figure was nowhere to be seen at the window. The Alpha’s shoulders slumped.
Just as he turned to get into the car, a familiar voice called out from the doorway.
“Sir!”
Wen Xiuheng turned immediately. The youth, with flushed cheeks and an urgent expression, was running toward him. The man’s pupils contracted as he quickly stepped forward to meet him.
Shen Jiayu had run out in a hurry, having scrambled into his clothes after hearing the man leave. Because he was running so fast and urgently, his footing was unsteady as he rushed down the steps.
Wen Xiuheng caught him immediately, holding the youth firmly in his arms. The familiar and gentle scent enveloped Shen Jiayu, giving him a strange sense of peace.
The man raised his hand, carefully stroking the boy’s cheek. His voice was so gentle it could practically drip with water, and his tone was humble: “Jiayu, please forgive me.”
The boy looked up at the Alpha, the corners of his eyes still flushed, his voice soft and mumble: “I… I don’t blame you.”
Wen Xiuheng’s hand froze.
“You were in your rut then… and…” He was the one who chose to stay.
Shen Jiayu’s small face was as red as a tomato, even his earlobes were pink. Saying these words was his limit. He had only chased him because he couldn’t bear the thought of the man leaving immediately.
Shen Jiayu finished speaking and slowly lowered his gaze. He had no idea what those words meant to Wen Xiuheng. The man’s eyes were slightly red, he was already deeply in love with the boy. No one else had ever seen the Alpha show such weakness.
Wen Xiuheng gently tilted the youth’s chin up to look at him. His gaze was like warm spring water, reflecting the boy’s silhouette. “Is this what you came out specifically to tell me, Jiayu?”
Shen Jiayu was nearly drowning in that gentle gaze. He nodded lightly. “Mm, and I wanted to see you off…”
Wen Xiuheng’s heart overflowed with love. “I’m so happy, Jiayu. Thank you.”
Shen Jiayu’s eyelashes fluttered as he stared blankly.
Time was passing, and Wen Xiuheng had to leave for the airport. He told Shen Jiayu to go back inside and promised to contact him every day while away. Shen Jiayu nodded obediently and said goodbye. He thought he would miss the man too.
The car started and drove away. Shen Jiayu stood behind the car, watching. Through the rearview mirror, Wen Xiuheng’s gentle gaze remained on the boy.
Soon, Auntie Cui appeared hurriedly in the mirror, handing Shen Jiayu his phone. Shen Jiayu picked up the call, and his expression suddenly changed. He went pale, looking terrified and anxious.
Wen Xiuheng immediately noticed something was wrong. “Stop the car!” he said to the driver.
The car screeched to a halt and turned around. Wen Xiuheng jumped out and ran to the youth. Seeing him return, Shen Jiayu threw himself into the man’s arms, looking up with tears in his eyes. “Sir, the hospital called. My father had a sudden accident, he’s in emergency surgery!”
Wen Xiuheng’s jaw tightened. Without a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Don’t be afraid, Jiayu. We’re going to the hospital right now.”
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the hospital. Wen Xiuheng held Shen Jiayu as they arrived at the operating room. They had come as fast as possible. Along the way, Shen Jiayu was shaking all over. Wen Xiuheng held his hand and hugged him tightly, comforting him.
Shen Jiayu’s mother had just left the hospital and was on her way back. After confirming their relationship, the doctor explained the situation. This morning, Shen’s father had a sudden blood clot, which is not uncommon for patients in his condition. He was sent for emergency surgery immediately. The situation was not optimistic, and a direct family member needed to sign an emergency notice.
Looking at the black and white notice, Shen Jiayu’s hand shook as he held the pen. His face was terrifyingly pale. Wen Xiuheng’s heart ached intensely.
After signing, Wen Xiuheng sat with Shen Jiayu in front of the operating room. The only thing they could do was wait. Shen Jiayu was crying, his eyes red, sobbing as he leaned against Wen Xiuheng’s chest. The fear of losing a parent weighed on him like a mountain.
Wen Xiuheng frowned, his eyes full of heartache. His “little friend” was still just a child; such a crisis was too cruel for him. He stroked the boy’s cheek, wiping away tears, and whispered comfort: “Jiayu, nothing will happen. Be good, don’t cry. I’ll stay with you the whole time.”
“Wuu…” Shen Jiayu sobbed, clutching the man’s hem, his words broken by whimpers. “When I was seven and got sick… Dad… wuu… Dad was so worried getting me to the hospital, he didn’t even realize he was injured on the way…”
The boy cried as he spoke, his chest heaving. The man placed his hand over the boy’s heart, rubbing it to help him breathe. Wen Xiuheng knew the parents loved the boy deeply, he was a child raised in love. Similarly, Shen Jiayu loved them back, visiting every week.
At this moment, he was most worried that Shen Jiayu would have a heart episode from crying too hard. The man kissed the boy’s crown, patiently coaxing him: “Dad will be fine. Good boy, you can’t cry anymore. Listen to me, okay?”
Shen Jiayu looked up with his tear-stained face and nodded as best as he could, though tears still fell. Wen Xiuheng wiped them away again.
In front of the operating room, the red “In Progress” sign stayed lit. Doctors came and went, but no one could say when it would end. Shen Jiayu was cradled in Wen Xiuheng’s arms, his head buried in the man’s neck, fingers weakly gripping the collar. His crying turned into gasps, and his slender body wouldn’t stop shaking.
Wen Xiuheng was heartbroken. He rubbed the boy’s back, whispering, “Jiayu, don’t be afraid. It will be okay.”
“Mm… wuu…” Shen Jiayu was too sad to speak. He felt it becoming harder and harder to breathe, his chest feeling as if it were being chiseled by a blunt object. Then, he lost all strength, unable to even call out for “Sir.”
Soon, Wen Xiuheng noticed the change. He held the boy’s face, calling out urgently, “Jiayu, Jiayu!”
But in the next second…
The fingers clutching the collar slipped away, and the youth’s head fell limply into the Alpha’s arms. Shen Jiayu’s face was pale, his eyes tightly shut as he fainted.
Wen Xiuheng’s heart leapt into his throat. He scooped up Shen Jiayu and shouted at a white figure ahead: “Doctor!”