DPT chapter 55

On Christmas Eve, Sheng Li also finished an early shift. At 6:30, Xiang Yiqun called, “We’ve already opened two bottles of wine, and you’re still at the office?”

“Almost done,” Sheng Li said. “Just finishing up an email.”

“Alright, hurry up,” Xiang Yiqun said. “Xingyu and I are video-calling Xu Hui, watching him on set.”

“Got it,” Sheng Li finished his work and took a cab to Tai Xingyu’s place.

There was a bit of traffic on the road. Sheng Li looked out the car window and saw many people standing in front of a fruit shop by the roadside, curiously observing.

“They’re selling apples,” the driver said. “I’m not sure when eating apples on Christmas Eve became a trend.”

Sheng Li asked the driver to pull over and joined the crowd in front of the fruit shop. He randomly selected a few apples, and the shopkeeper wrapped each one in a gift box.

The gift boxes were quite ugly, with cartoon characters printed in double images. The Santa Claus was even wearing a green hat.

Sheng Li took them with a bit of disdain and noticed a flower shop nearby. He went in and chose the reddest apple to be repackaged.

He personally picked out the packaging materials and star lights. The florist praised him, saying, “This packaging looks beautiful. Are you giving it to your significant other? They will definitely love it.”

“No,” Sheng Li replied, “It’s for a… friend.”

Friend.

He and Zuo Chi were no longer friends, but he couldn’t find a better term. He used to think that being friends was safe and that they could be together forever, but now it seemed ridiculous.

They hadn’t seen each other for almost two months, and he didn’t know how he managed to get through it. He threw himself into work to make the time pass faster.

People around him said he had changed a lot recently. Sheng Li didn’t know or care what outsiders said, but Sheng Changyu and Li Mingchuan were pleased to see him working hard, and Xiang Yiqun and others privately introduced him to some potential clients.

At first, it was really tough. He couldn’t stop thinking about Zuo Chi, wondering what he was doing, whether he was working overtime too. Looking at the moon outside the window made him feel they were close, but looking at the documents on the table made them seem distant.

Actually, back in college, Sheng Li had the same feeling. He would think about how great it would be if Zuo Chi were there while playing basketball, as Zuo Chi was his best partner. He wondered about the food in Zuo Chi’s school cafeteria while eating, and he wouldn’t forget to invite Zuo Chi to play a game before bed.

But back then, he could run to Zuo Chi’s school to find him. Now, he couldn’t.

After learning about Zuo Chi’s pseudo-heat condition, Sheng Li researched a lot of information, read many related papers, and consulted Dr. Wu about gland damage treatments.

Dr. Wu said that current domestic treatment generally leaned towards conservative methods, which could partially restore gland function but not completely.

Sheng Li asked about surgery.

Dr. Wu said surgery was risky. Although it generally wouldn’t threaten life, a failed repair could require gland removal. Hence, there were very few experienced gland repair surgeons in the country.

Glands were crucial, directly linked to pheromones, heat cycles, and fertility. While a small number of Omegas claimed that gland removal surgery gave them a second chance to avoid heat cycles and live like Betas, many Omegas felt incomplete without their glands.

Faced with risks on one side and possible lifelong side effects on the other, Sheng Li couldn’t predict Zuo Chi’s choice.

He heard about a renowned gland repair surgeon in Switzerland and planned to visit him once his visa was approved.

Sheng Li had the driver detour to Zuo Chi’s home, hung the apple flower bouquet gift box on the door handle, and left.

“Merry Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas.”

He didn’t know if Zuo Chi was home or if he would accept the apple. He had tried hard not to disturb him, but occasionally, he couldn’t help it.

He often found himself staring at Zuo Chi’s WeChat profile picture, scrolling through their old chat records, checking Zuo Chi’s moments for any updates. He even meticulously read the financial news Zuo Chi shared, imagining how Zuo Chi would comment.

He longed for anything related to Zuo Chi.

He had looked at their engagement photos countless times during this period. Zuo Chi never liked taking photos, so they had few pictures together despite knowing each other for so many years. What he once scorned, he now desperately wished to relive.

In the photos, Zuo Chi wore a fog-gray suit, holding a bouquet with his arm around Sheng Li’s neck. Sheng Li could recall the scene, Zuo Chi’s skin temperature, and his own heartbeat. If he could do it again, he would hold Zuo Chi tighter and smile more happily at the camera.

Because he detoured to buy apples, Sheng Li arrived at Tai Xingyu’s house around eight. Xiang Yiqun and Tai Xingyu teased him about a drinking penalty.

Sheng Li downed two cups in one go and waved his hand. “I can’t drink anymore.”

Xiang Yiqun shouted, “That’s not like you! you took over an hour to get here from your office? We almost thought you fell asleep at work.”

“I drank a bit too much during a business dinner yesterday. Really can’t drink anymore,” Sheng Li said. “I went to buy you guys apples.”

“Aw, how thoughtful.” Tai Xingyu accepted the apple gift box and laughed at the simple design. “This Santa hat is green!”

“Fine, no more drinking,” Xiang Yiqun chuckled, “Real friends don’t push. But just buying apples isn’t enough. Being an hour late, you have to peel an apple for us.”

Sheng Li washed his hands, sat on the sofa, and started peeling an apple. When he finished, he handed the whole apple to Xiang Yiqun.

Xiang Yiqun caught it with his hands, taking a bite, “You can actually peel an apple. I thought you’d leave no flesh.”

Sheng Li: “After a long separation, we should see each other with new eyes. Haven’t you heard of that?”

Xiang Yiqun joked, “Hmm, you’re not Sheng Li now, you’re Sheng Li the apple peeler.”

Dinner was a fragrant fish hotpot that Xiang Yiqun brought from a restaurant. They called Xu Hui over video chat while eating. Xu Hui, who had just finished work and was still in makeup, ate a vegetable salad in his hotel room.

Xiang Yiqun picked up a piece of fish deliberately and waved it in front of the camera, “Can you get full eating salad?”

“No choice,” Xu Hui ignored Xiang Yiqun’s antics, “Being a big star comes with a price.”

“Mm, big star,” Tai Xingyu asked, “When will filming be finished?”

Xu Hui: “I don’t know. According to the weather forecast, it might snow in a few days. If it snows heavily, filming will be affected.”

They chatted for a while, and Xu Hui said he was going to hang up.

Xiang Yiqun: “What’s up?”

Xu Hui smiled triumphantly, “Bai Fan sent me a video.”

Xiang Yiqun: “Tsk.”

Tai Xingyu turned around, “Tsk what? If it weren’t for Zhou Jing and his friend going on a trip, would you be spending Christmas Eve with us?”

Xiang Yiqun: “That’s true. After dinner, I also need to call my baby.”

After dinner, Xiang Yiqun indeed went to the balcony to make a call. The balcony door was not closed, and laughter occasionally drifted in.

Sheng Li and Tai Xingyu sat on the carpet, assembling and decorating the Christmas tree. The cheerful laughter from Xiang Yiqun’s end made them appear particularly desolate and pitiful.

Sheng Li asked, “The company is back on track, why haven’t you found a partner yet?”

“I’m not in a hurry. Even if I were, it wouldn’t make a difference,” Tai Xingyu said. “I heard you went to H City to inspect a project last week?”

Sheng Li: “Yeah, I’m quite satisfied with the project over there. If it goes well, we should make a lot of money.”

Tai Xingyu felt somewhat emotional. He had known Sheng Li since they were kids, never imagining Sheng Li would be so dedicated to work. Sheng Li was actually very smart; otherwise, his grades wouldn’t have improved so quickly during their senior year. It’s just that he rarely took anything seriously.

“You can do it,” Tai Xingyu said. “If you need any help, just let me know.”

“Okay.” Sheng Li was not polite. He extended his fist, bumping it against Tai Xingyu’s.

…..

The next day was Christmas, also a Saturday. Zuo Chi woke up early as usual, had breakfast, watched the news for twenty minutes, and then drove out.

When he arrived downstairs at Qin Xu’s house, he called him. Qin Xu quickly came down, looking unusually sleepy.

“Chi, good morning.”

“Good morning.” Zuo Chi asked, “Are you very tired?”

“A little bit.” Qin Xu naturally opened the door of the passenger seat and got into the car. “Have you had breakfast?”

Zuo Chi nodded. “Yes.”

Qin Xu said, “We’re short on time today. I’ll make you egg pancakes next time.”

“Okay.” Zuo Chi felt he sounded a bit indifferent, so he added, “Next time, I’ll make coffee for you.”

Qin Xu smiled. “I’ll look forward to it.”

At the hospital, Zuo Chi skillfully took a number and checked in at the self-service machine, then waited outside the corresponding examination room. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, his name was called over the speaker. He and Qin Xu entered the examination room together.

The doctor had a deep impression of Zuo Chi, an Omega who was handsome and stubborn, always coming alone and not very talkative.

Seeing a tall man accompanying him this time, the doctor was a bit surprised. After asking about his recent condition, he added, “Do you have a boyfriend now?”

Zuo Chi was taken aback. When Cheng Xiangwan asked, he said Qin Xu wasn’t his boyfriend yet, unsure if there needed to be a clear moment of confirmation between them or if they were already together naturally.

But Qin Xu had said he was pursuing him, Qin Xu was nice, and he didn’t want to deliberately string him along without giving an answer…

The room fell silent for a few seconds, the atmosphere slightly awkward.

Qin Xu felt a bit disappointed. Just as he was about to speak up and say it wasn’t official yet, Zuo Chi softly uttered a “Mm.”

Qin Xu turned his head, gazing at Zuo Chi’s profile. Zuo Chi pursed his lips and smiled. “Yeah.”

The doctor was happy for them. “You two make a good match.”

Qin Xu put his arm around Zuo Chi’s shoulder, thanking the doctor.