Lao He’s thoughts were somewhat complicated. He had been closest to Yang Huaijin in recent years, witnessing firsthand how his health had slowly deteriorated over time. In the early years, oral medication couldn’t effectively suppress Omega’s estrus period. Lao He had seen a drawer full of syringes and medication at Yang Huaijin’s house. Lao He, being a Beta, had realized for the first time how cruel it was for a marked Omega to lose their Alpha.
Lao He had advised Yang Huaijin more than once to remove the mark or find a new partner. For Lao He, Yang Huaijin was not only the head of the Zhuque Hall but also a friend he valued greatly. Until one day, Yang Huaijin said, “At least with the mark, I know he’s still alive.” After that, Lao He never advised him again. He knew that Yang Huaijin had never given up searching, and that person lived in his heart like a plant, with roots tightly entwined with his flesh.
Yang Huaijin had planned to set a trap for Feng Zhi for a long time, but only acted on it this year. Yang Huaijin’s pretext to their close aides was, “I want to talk to Feng Zhi alone. Our relationship must remain undisclosed.” Lao He had never expected Yang Huaijin to employ such a method of ‘asking.’ Yang Huaijin was very morally upright and would never casually find an Alpha to meet his physiological needs. Moreover, after a period, Yang Huaijin’s health noticeably improved. Lao He was certain that Feng Zhi was the person Yang Huaijin had been searching for all along.
However, why? Feng Zhi is essentially the one in power at the Crimson Alliance Hall. The Qingyan Gang has been dealing with the Crimson Alliance Hall for more than just a year or two. Since Yang Huaijin recognized Feng Zhi early on, why did he only act now? And what kind of romantic relationship requires such secrecy?
Lao He tentatively asked Yang Huaijin about this, but Yang Huaijin’s attitude at the time also puzzled him. However, one thing was certain: Yang Huaijin did not resist Feng Zhi. Yang Huaijin said, “I seem to be not very good at handling my own affairs.” Lao He always remembered the way he looked when he said that, confused and hesitant.
Well, since it’s Yang Huaijin’s own business, Lao He thought it best to let him handle it himself.
After all, avoiding it isn’t a good solution.
When Feng Zhi found Yang Huaijin, it was already dusk.
Under Lao He’s guidance, he traversed from the garden of a seaside restaurant into the woods behind, pushing aside bushes and dry branches, walking a difficult path before seeing a trail, obviously less traveled, partly covered by vegetation, extending towards the mountaintop.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Ojb Lf abiv Mfcu Itl atja Zjrafg Alc bmmjrlbcjiis ubfr ab atlr wbecajlcabq ab gfijz. Po tf kjcar ab olcv tlw, tf rtbeiv ub jcv kjla atfgf!
Ktlr wbecajlc jcv yfjmt jgf fcalgfis klatlc atf qglnjaf vbwjlc bo j ijguf tbafi. Ktf miloor jgf raffq, wjxlcu la vloolmeia ab olcv j kjs, jcv atf cjaegji abqbugjqts jvnjcajuf wfjcr tjgvis jcs abeglrar kbeiv nfcaegf eq atlr rlvf bo atf wbecajlc. Ktf rfjrlvf gfrajegjca jirb yfibcur ab atlr tbafi. Rb bcf kbeiv fzqfma atja ogbw rbwfktfgf lc atf teuf ujgvfc yftlcv atf gfrajegjca, bcf mbeiv olcv remt j qjat ifjvlcu eq atf wbecajlc.
Feng Zhi’s phone rang, and the matter he had asked someone to investigate received a quick reply. Sure enough, the biggest shareholder behind this hotel is Yang Huaijin. Although the hotel is new, since the planning of the Sixth District Docks, this mountain has been designated as Qingyan Gang’s territory. It’s clear that this ‘relaxation area’ was designated by Yang Huaijin for himself ten years ago. He’s been climbing this hill for a decade.
Why?
When Feng Zhi climbed to the top of the mountain, he saw Yang Huaijin standing not far away. The sea breeze tousled the soft ends of his hair, and Yang Huaijin looked too thin, as if he could be blown away at any moment.
The weather today was just as Feng Zhi had said earlier, exceptionally good. At this moment, the sky was filled with crimson clouds, and the setting sun cast a golden-red light, giving Yang Huaijin a layer of exquisite color. The large stone beneath his feet protruded from the mountain, with a sea of trees spreading beneath it. In the distance, the sea was sprinkled with fragments of gold by the setting sun. The view here was excellent.
Yang Huaijin heard Feng Zhi’s movement but did not turn around.
“Yang Huaijin…” Feng Zhi cautiously called out to him, hesitating in his words. He kept his voice gentle. “Can we talk?”
Yang Huaijin glanced at him before turning back to face the direction of the sea. His lack of response was a refusal.
Feng Zhi approached step by step. “Could you… come over here a bit? I have something to tell you.”
“…,”
Yang Huaijin glanced back at Feng Zhi and suddenly chuckled softly. “Why are you nervous? It’s just a pregnancy. Am I going to jump off the cliff? Besides, there are trees below, not exactly the best place for suicide.”
At first, when he found out about his pregnancy, he couldn’t accept it. But after standing here and feeling the sea breeze for the whole afternoon, much of the fear weighing on his heart had dissipated. He had a child again. What could he do if he didn’t accept it? He couldn’t turn back time to correct his mistakes, so all he could do was face them.
Yang Huaijin sounded relaxed, and Feng Zhi was momentarily taken aback. He looked at Yang Huaijin, feeling a bit stunned—Yang Huaijin looked very attractive when he smiled, standing in the sunset, his features softened by the light. Feng Zhi felt a sour ache in his heart, a feeling he had never experienced before—liking someone so much that every little expression of theirs could tug at your heart.
He quickened his pace, reaching out to grab Yang Huaijin’s wrist. “Yang Huaijin, I regret it.”
“Fang Xingping and Lao He told me things about you, things from these years. On my way here, I told myself I had no right to demand anything from you. If you don’t need me, I should just stay far away and not bother you anymore. But, I regret it.” Feng Zhi stared at Yang Huaijin, forcing out a self-deprecating smile. “I’m a fool, a scoundrel. Twelve years ago, when I was still a little scoundrel, I deeply marked you. Twelve years later, I still want to keep you by my side. I don’t know what happened between us, maybe I’ll never remember, and I can’t return your ‘A-jiu’ to you. But, I can’t go back to the past, and neither can you. So, could you give me a chance to pursue you again?”
Yang Huaijin listened quietly, his gaze falling on the hand Feng Zhi held his wrist with.
“No.” Yang Huaijin said.
He turned around, facing the distant sea. “This mountain is the best vantage point for the view of the Sixth District Docks. When I came back from the sea, I landed on the beach at the foot of this mountain. At that time, I came here every day to watch the sea. I wanted to see if that ship that caught fire was still there, and I wanted to wait for you. Later, when District Six Docks was built, I secretly fenced this area off, so only a few people know about this excellent viewing platform.”
Yang Huaijin tried to twist his wrist to pull away from Feng Zhi’s grasp, but the other held on too tightly.
He sighed and continued, “Feng Zhi, I’ve never been able to wait for you, but over the years, I’ve learned to live well on my own. Yes, I’m pregnant now, and I need you, but only my pheromones need you. There are no longer any emotional ties between us. You’re right, the past is the past, and no one will live for the past.”
Feng Zhi didn’t release his grip; he stared at Yang Huaijin. “The flame tattoo on your neck is also because of me, isn’t it?”
“…” Yang Huaijin fell silent, his gaze landing on Feng Zhi’s hand holding his wrist. “I thought you were dead.”
“I’m not dead.”
“Yeah, I know,” Yang Huaijin said. “Let’s go down the mountain. It’ll be difficult to walk after sunset.”
He thought he was dead. Twelve years ago, that boy gave him a fierce kiss, and then his figure disappeared on the ship that caught fire, never to return. The fire that night became his last memory of A-jiu.
