Zuo Chi needed treatment every week, with check-ups on his gland recovery every two to three months. No one else could enter the examination room, so Qin Xu waited outside.
The doctor took out some instruments while asking, “Your boyfriend is an Alpha, right?”
Zuo Chi still found it a bit strange to hear the term “boyfriend.” “Yes.”
“You two…” The doctor hesitated.
Zuo Chi prompted, “Go ahead.”
“Well, I was wondering if your pheromone compatibility is high? I’ve mentioned before that your current condition is somewhat difficult to mark. But if your pheromone compatibility is high, the likelihood of a successful marking will greatly increase,” the doctor said. “Even if it’s a temporary marking, it will help stabilize your glands and have a certain effect on treatment. Plus, for you, it would make it easier to go through heat periods.”
Zuo Chi understood but took some time to react.
The doctor continued, “Of course, I’m just informing you of the situation. Whether to mark or not is up to you. After all, marking is based on emotions and responsibilities.”
Zuo Chi lowered his gaze. “I understand.”
After the check-up, while waiting for the results, Zuo Chi went to another room for treatment. When he came out, he saw Qin Xu sitting outside the door, asleep on the chair.
Qin Xu had his eyes closed, still holding his phone in his hand, his head gently swaying.
He had a remarkable appearance, coupled with his mixed-race features, causing passing doctors, nurses, and patients to glance at him.
Zuo Chi sat down quietly next to him, not waking him up.
But with the hospital bustling around them, Qin Xu couldn’t sleep soundly either. Two minutes later, he rubbed his eyes and, upon seeing Zuo Chi, looked a bit embarrassed. “I stayed up late last night. My younger brother called me in the middle of the night saying his dormitory door was locked, and he was stuck outside. He wanted to stay overnight with me. He’s twenty-two, but he still acts like a kid with a crush, insisting on telling me about the Omega he likes.”
When mentioning his younger brother, Qin Xu’s expression softened, a smile lingering at the corners of his lips. Although they didn’t share a biological father, their relationship seemed very close.
Qin Xu’s current personality didn’t match the typical stereotype of a “bastard child,” probably because his mother and stepfather provided him with a good family atmosphere.
Zuo Chi said, “You could have told me. I didn’t mind coming to the hospital myself.”
“I promised you,” Qin Xu said. “How was it? Did the treatment hurt?”
Throughout the entire treatment process, there was a sore feeling in the glands, but it was bearable. Zuo Chi replied, “It didn’t hurt.”
Qin Xu reached out and rubbed his head. “Good, as long as it didn’t hurt.”
After the results came out, they had lunch at the hospital entrance. Then, Zuo Chi gave Qin Xu a ride home on his way to the company office, where he lay down to rest for a while before heading to a teahouse for a scheduled investment meeting.
The investment talks didn’t go very smoothly. There was a discrepancy in the estimated values from both sides, but there was still room for negotiation. Zuo Chi didn’t plan to give up.
As he left the teahouse, he saw a familiar car parked at the entrance. His gaze swept down to the license plate, confirming he wasn’t mistaken.
“Mr. Zuo,” Assistant Liu came downstairs to get some documents and nodded in greeting. “Young Master Sheng is upstairs having tea with President Xiao.”
President Xiao was in the timber processing business and was in his thirties, running a substantial operation. Zuo Chi knew that the Sheng family had discussed cooperation with President Xiao a few years ago but hadn’t reached an agreement. Now it seemed Sheng Li was trying to secure it again.
It was Saturday, and it was also Christmas. Sheng Li wasn’t attending any Christmas parties; instead, he was in a teahouse drinking tea. For the first time, Zuo Chi could tangibly feel that Sheng Li was taking his work seriously.
“Alright, I won’t disturb them then,” Zuo Chi said, unsure of his own feelings, and turned to get into his car.
Sheng Li sat in a private room on the second floor of the teahouse. He had arrived at two o’clock and recognized Zuo Chi’s car upon arrival. Although Zuo Chi had several cars, his favorite was the Phantom.
Knowing that Zuo Chi might be just a wall away, Sheng Li didn’t dare to approach rashly.
He felt distracted, his mind split in two—half engaged in the conversation with President Xiao about cooperation, the other half drawn to Zuo Chi.
He sat by the window, catching a glimpse of Zuo Chi’s back, unable to resist turning his head to look down. Zuo Chi seemed to have lost weight again, his waist looking thin enough to encircle with one hand. Perhaps he had been too busy with work lately to eat properly.
Assistant Liu exchanged a few words with Zuo Chi, then Zuo Chi got into his car and drove out of Sheng Li’s sight within a minute.
“What are you looking at?” President Xiao followed his gaze.
“I saw a friend,” Sheng Li apologized with a smile, steering the conversation back to business.
President Xiao was actually interested in cooperating with the Sheng Group. The previous negotiations fell through partly because the former representative’s proposal was unreasonable and partly because Sheng Changyu had pressured him with his seniority.
He rarely paid attention to business gossip but had heard that Sheng Li was a spoiled son after agreeing to his invitation. However, Sheng Li turned out different from what he imagined. This reputedly irresponsible Alpha was sharp and decisive in negotiations, yet not overbearing, allowing ample room for discussion.
President Xiao decided on the spot to cooperate but said he needed to discuss it with the shareholders.
“Alright,” Sheng Li said. “Next time, you pick the place to sign the contract. Tea or drinks, it’s up to you.”
After sending President Xiao to his car, Sheng Li eagerly asked Assistant Liu, “What did you say to Zuo Chi just now?”
Assistant Liu answered truthfully, “He seemed to recognize your car, so I told him you were upstairs.”
Sheng Li asked, “How did he react?”
“Uh…” Assistant Liu saw the light in Sheng Li’s eyes brighten and felt saying Zuo Chi had no reaction would be too harsh, but he didn’t want to lie either. “Mr. Zuo said he wouldn’t disturb your business.”
“Oh.” The light in Sheng Li’s eyes dimmed again.
Soon it was New Year’s Eve. The previous New Year’s Eve, Zuo Chi had spent it at the Sheng family’s place, ending on bad terms with Sheng Li.
This New Year’s Eve, Qin Xu had arranged to spend it with him. The downtown shopping district had a festive atmosphere, with red lanterns hanging from tree branches and a riddle contest with prizes. A market was set up at the mall entrance, selling spices, handmade ornaments, and paper-cutting art.
Qin Xu was very interested in the riddles, spending a long time trying to solve them without success.
Zuo Chi rarely teased him, “I thought you were good at Chinese?”
“It’s too hard,” Qin Xu replied. “Can you solve any?”
Zuo Chi looked at many riddles and only solved one. He went to the information desk to give his answer, and the staff confirmed he was correct, awarding him a bar of transparent soap worth three or four yuan at the supermarket.
“Take your prize,” Zuo Chi said, handing the soap to Qin Xu.
Qin Xu smiled, holding the soap with one hand while lining up for milk tea, asking Zuo Chi what flavor he wanted.
Zuo Chi rarely drank milk tea. He stared at the menu on the phone app for a long time, finding it hard to choose, and finally opted for a fruit tea.
While waiting, he stood under a nearby tree, looking at his phone, when a skinny hand suddenly appeared in front of him.
It belonged to an elderly beggar dressed in ragged clothes, with dirty, messy hair and a strong, unpleasant odor. The old man held a broken ceramic bowl in his right hand and shook it in front of Zuo Chi, saying, “Kind person.”
Zuo Chi patted his pockets but found no cash. “Do you have a QR code for payment?”
The old man looked at him with cloudy eyes, seemingly not understanding.
“What’s wrong?” Qin Xu had just bought the milk tea and, seeing the situation, understood without needing an explanation.
He took Zuo Chi’s hand and led him away from the old man.
Zuo Chi looked back. “I think he’s quite pitiful.”
“Yeah,” Qin Xu said. “But many beggars in big cities are controlled by others. Even if you give him money, it won’t reach his hands and might even encourage this exploitative practice.”
Zuo Chi felt conflicted. He knew Qin Xu was right and that his momentary “kindness” wouldn’t really help. But still…
However, if it were Sheng Li… They once encountered a disabled beggar asking for money on the street. Sheng Li didn’t have any cash on him, so he asked the beggar to wait a moment, went to the nearby supermarket to exchange money, and then gave it to him.
Zuo Chi forced himself to stop thinking about it. Comparing the person in front of him to someone else had no meaning. Everyone has their own principles and way of doing things, and there’s no right or wrong.
“What’s wrong? Still thinking about that old man?” Qin Xu carefully inserted a straw into a fruit tea and handed it to him. “Maybe I spoke too harshly, but there are many people like that in this city, this country, the whole world. We can’t help them all.”
“You’re right.” Zuo Chi took the fruit tea and took a sip. It was a bit too sweet for his taste. He noticed the label on the cup: 70% sugar.
The sweetness made it hard to swallow. He bit the straw, contemplating whether to tell Qin Xu that he didn’t like sweet drinks.
If he didn’t mention it, it might hinder their further understanding of each other.
If he did, it might seem like he was blaming Qin Xu for not asking how much sugar he wanted.
It was difficult.
In the end, Zuo Chi didn’t say anything. He drank half of it and threw it away when he couldn’t take any more.
Around midnight, they followed the crowd towards the riverbank, where they heard fireworks would be set off.
Qin Xu loved the New Year atmosphere. Holding Zuo Chi’s hand, he navigated through the crowd and even bought two balloons.
He asked, “Do you know the name of this bear balloon?”
Zuo Chi shook his head, as he didn’t pay attention to cartoons.
Qin Xu said, “Lotso. Don’t you think it’s cute?”
Zuo Chi thought the bear looked a bit silly and didn’t like the pink color, but to avoid spoiling the mood, he said, “Very cute.”
The crowd was dense, with no gaps between people. There was even a stampede incident ahead, and several traffic police officers came to control the scene. A nearby girl couldn’t steady her ice jelly and spilled some brown sugar water on Zuo Chi’s jacket sleeve.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” The girl apologized repeatedly.
“It’s okay.” Zuo Chi wiped it with a tissue. He wasn’t angry, but his mood was inevitably affected.
Qin Xu asked, “Did it soak into your clothes? Do you want to change jackets with me?”
Zuo Chi replied, “No, it’s fine.”
At midnight, fireworks indeed started by the river. Some resembled shooting stars, while others formed intricate patterns, blooming into scattered petals—beautiful and romantic.
“Happy New Year!” someone shouted, and more people joined in. For the next few minutes, “Happy New Year” echoed everywhere.
“Happy New Year,” Qin Xu whispered softly into Zuo Chi’s ear and kissed his forehead.
“Happy New Year,” Zuo Chi said to Qin Xu, but also to himself, as he watched the fireworks.
The past year had been filled with unpleasant events, and he hoped the new year would be better.
What he didn’t know was that Sheng Li was in a car just ten meters away.
