During Zuo Chi’s hospitalization, friends and business partners came to visit him one after another.
Han Qice heard the news from somewhere and brought a big bouquet of lilies, wishing Zuo Chi a speedy recovery.
After he left, the nurse watered the flowers, looking at Zuo Chi with strange eyes, as if he were a manipulative Omega playing with Alphas.
Zuo Chi: “…”
Shu Qingyu also came twice, each time staying briefly. She seemed unsure of what to say to Zuo Chi. Despite their twenty-odd years together, they had nothing to talk about apart from family business, work, and studies.
Shu Qingyu looked a bit haggard: “I inquired about a doctor in Switzerland who has performed over ten thousand gland repair surgeries with a very high success rate. Once your left hand is healed, we can go to Switzerland for treatment.”
Zuo Chi looked at her in surprise, not expecting her to genuinely care about his gland damage: “I can’t leave right now. I’ve missed a lot of work because of the hospitalization. Let’s talk about it later.”
Shu Qingyu unexpectedly asked him, “Is work more important or your health?”
Zuo Chi scoffed, “You’re asking me?”
He had been taught from a young age that one must endure hardship to become successful, and until he reached the top, he had no right to complain or feel tired.
Shu Qingyu tried to persuade him, inadvertently mentioning that gland damage could affect an Omega’s fertility, shifting the topic to his marriage: “Now that your engagement with Qin Xu is off, what do you plan to do? You’re already twenty-six, the prime age for an Omega to have children is almost over.”
Zuo Chi calmly replied, “What do you mean, what do I plan to do? Will not getting married or having children kill me?”
The atmosphere dropped to a freezing point again, and the mother and son parted on bad terms.
Shortly after Shu Qingyu left, Cheng Xiangwan came. Afraid Zuo Chi would feel bored, Cheng Xiangwan took him for a walk downstairs.
He usually had endless things to say, but this time he seemed preoccupied.
Zuo Chi asked, “What’s wrong? Heartbroken?”
“How could that be? When have I ever been heartbroken?” Cheng Xiangwan held a hand warmer, the winter wind blowing his hair slightly messy. “But there’s something I’m not sure if I should tell you.”
Zuo Chi: “You’ve already said this much, aren’t you planning to tell me?”
Cheng Xiangwan stopped walking and lightly touched the anti-bite ring on Zuo Chi’s neck. “Yesterday, Sheng Li called me.”
Zuo Chi raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”
Cheng Xiangwan: “He asked me for a favor.”
Cheng Xiangwan didn’t have Sheng Li’s number saved, so when he answered the call, he thought it was a delivery: “Leave the package at the station, thanks.”
“…It’s Sheng Li.”
Cheng Xiangwan was stunned. Why would Sheng Li call him?
Cheng Xiangwan: “Zuo Chi isn’t at my place.”
Sheng Li: “I know.”
Doctor Alessio had replied to Sheng Li punctually within a week, deciding to accept Sheng Li’s investment in the gland soothing liquid and planning to visit China at a convenient time for both parties.
So, how to arrange a meeting between Dr. Alessio and Zuo Chi? Sheng Li remembered that last Chinese New Year, Zuo Chi had stayed at Cheng Xiangwan’s place for two days and decided to ask Cheng Xiangwan to relay this information.
Cheng Xiangwan: “He thought I knew about your gland injury and wanted me to tell you that Dr. Alessio would be coming to China for a seminar. To promote gland repair technology, he would be performing surgery for free on a few Omegas.”
Cheng Xiangwan: “This reasoning is too far-fetched and sloppy. I don’t know how Sheng Li came up with it. I figured you wouldn’t believe it even if I told you, so I refused. It’s better to tell you the truth directly.”
Cheng Xiangwan: “You, you’re always used to bearing everything yourself. Do you know that friends are there to listen to you even if they can’t help? If I hadn’t called you yesterday, you wouldn’t have told me about the car accident.”
Cheng Xiangwan: “I searched online, and the Dr. Alessio he mentioned is indeed very famous in Switzerland. How did Sheng Li manage to get him to come to China?”
Cheng Xiangwan: “I think you need to seriously consider whether to have the surgery, but while you’re considering it, you shouldn’t factor in your feelings for Sheng Li.”
Zuo Chi was stunned. When did Sheng Li find out about his gland injury? He had no idea.
And when did he contact the doctor behind his back? Sheng Li had been hovering around him a few days ago but didn’t mention a word.
A wave of bitterness surged in Zuo Chi’s chest. He hadn’t thought that Sheng Li had done so much for him in secret.
He remembered Sheng Li’s words: “I like you.”
Sheng Li had said it more than once. Every time Zuo Chi heard it, he would repeatedly tell himself not to take it seriously.
Sometimes, it can be hard to distinguish where a feeling comes from, especially when they’ve known each other for so long. Some memories have faded, becoming fragments of lost moments of affection. If it hadn’t been for the summer when he was sixteen, when he timely examined his feelings for Sheng Li, he might have mistakenly thought that what they had was just friendship.
They were in a complicated circle. Sheng Li was a late bloomer but pretended to be mature, being able to say “I like you” without blushing or stuttering even when he didn’t understand what liking someone truly meant. When he genuinely liked someone, he didn’t realize it because that person was right in front of him, within reach. Without loss, there’s no understanding of treasure.
Zuo Chi didn’t disbelieve that Sheng Li liked him; he was unwilling to believe it. Because once he believed, it would feel like fate was deliberately toying with him.
Possessiveness, pride, impulsiveness… He found many reasons to explain Sheng Li’s “liking.” Even when Sheng Li took care of him in the hospital, Zuo Chi thought: if it were another friend of Sheng Li’s who was sick and hospitalized, Sheng Li would do the same. What does that prove?
But…
He remembered Sheng Li carrying him to the isolation room at eighteen, remembered Sheng Li choking with sobs as he apologized, remembered Sheng Li in pajamas and slippers kneeling by his hospital bed.
Zuo Chi’s heart twisted into a knot. Feeling the genuine wavering inside, he felt even more pain.
It was late in the evening, and the weather outside was cold. A chilly wind blew by. Cheng Xiangwan zipped up his down jacket tightly. “Are you moved?”
Zuo Chi’s lips parted slightly. “I’m very confused.”
“It’s too cold, let’s head back.” Cheng Xiangwan put his arm around Zuo Chi’s shoulders and walked towards the inpatient department.
He said, “I can’t give you any advice because I haven’t experienced such deep feelings. Only those who don’t love enough can stay rational and selfish. Being clear-headed is certainly good, but sometimes, coming to this world, one has to get completely drunk once to be happy.”
“I want you to move forward boldly, but I also want you to be truly happy.” Cheng Xiangwan stepped onto the stairs. “We both know that looking back requires more courage than giving up.”
Zuo Chi’s fingertips dug into his palm, unsure if he still had the courage Cheng Xiangwan mentioned.
He wasn’t a gambler, but he was always forced to bet.
…
That night, Zuo Chi received a call from Sheng Li. After the call connected, Sheng Li hesitated for a long time before asking, “Dr. Alessio agreed to come to China. Did Cheng Xiangwan tell you?”
“Yes.” Zuo Chi asked, “What conditions did you offer to make him agree?”
“He’s researching a soothing agent for Omega glands, and I decided to invest in the project.” Sheng Li said, “Don’t worry, I did a project survey. If the soothing agent is successfully developed as planned, it won’t be a loss.”
He did the survey, but only after deciding to invest.
Zuo Chi: “When did you find out?”
Zuo Chi’s question was vague, but Sheng Li understood what he meant: “After the school anniversary, when I met you outside the restaurant, your medication fell out. Ah Chi, I’m sorry, I misunderstood you before…”
Zuo Chi: “Did you misunderstand me, or was it because you couldn’t accept reality and forced the blame on me?”
Sheng Li said quietly, “I don’t know, I was a jerk.”
Zuo Chi didn’t want to recall that day: “You’ve done so much now. Have you ever thought that I might not have the surgery? What if I don’t do it? Wouldn’t all your efforts be in vain?”
“I just wanted to give you the choice. Whatever decision you make is up to you. I never intended to use the surgery to threaten you, and you don’t owe me anything. If we have to talk about who owes whom, of course, I owe you more.” Sheng Li said softly, “But I think you’ll choose to have the surgery.”
Zuo Chi: “Why?”
Sheng Li: “The worst outcome of the surgery is gland removal… For you, being a Beta might be easier than being an Omega.”
Zuo Chi was speechless. Sheng Li, who had hurt him the most, was also the person who understood him best in the world.
It was absurd and helpless.
After arranging the meeting time with Dr. Alessio, Sheng Li wanted to talk to Zuo Chi more. He racked his brains for topics, speaking incoherently, asking about work issues, then about the caregivers’ duties, mentioning the car accident investigation, asking how Zuo Chi had been resting, and comparing the cooking of Aunt Chen and himself.
“…Where do you get the confidence to compare your cooking with Aunt Chen’s?” Zuo Chi said, “You need another 300 years of practice.”
Sheng Li laughed, his laughter transmitted through the receiver into Zuo Chi’s right ear, sounding as if it was right next to him. The static made a buzzing sound, causing an itch in his lower back.
He held the phone away: “Alright, it’s time to sleep.”
Sheng Li waited for Zuo Chi to hang up first: “Okay, good night.”
…
Zuo Chi stayed in the hospital for a week. On the day of his discharge, Qin Xu returned.
As soon as his plane landed, Qin Xu sent a message asking for his room number and took a taxi straight from the airport to the hospital.
The caregiver, upon hearing the knock, instinctively went to open the door and was startled by the handsome mixed-race man standing there. She turned back subconsciously to look at Zuo Chi: “Mr. Zuo…”
It had only been a few days since Zuo Chi’s birthday, but when their eyes met, it felt like a century had passed. Zuo Chi wasn’t wearing a hospital gown, but he was curled up in the bed, looking rather listless. Qin Xu had been on a plane for over ten hours, and though he was dressed neatly, he couldn’t hide the fatigue on his face.
“Chi.” Qin Xu’s gaze shifted from Zuo Chi’s face to the plaster cast on his left hand, frowning. “Is this what you call not serious?”
“It just looks exaggerated,” Zuo Chi said. “I was just about to handle the discharge procedures.”
Qin Xu: “Did the doctor say you could be discharged?”
“Yeah, but the plaster still needs to stay for a while.” Seeing Qin Xu’s skeptical look, Zuo Chi added, “Why? Do I look like someone who doesn’t follow doctor’s orders?”
Qin Xu pointed to the computer by the bedside: “What do you think?”
Qin Xu helped him with the discharge procedures and then returned to the room to help him pack his things. Zuo Chi didn’t have many personal belongings, just enough to fill a suitcase.
However, the flowers, milk, and fruit brought by friends and colleagues took up too much space and couldn’t all be taken. With Zuo Chi’s consent, Qin Xu distributed them to the nurses on that floor.
Standing by the room door, Zuo Chi watched as Qin Xu courteously handed out the fruits and milk. He was handsome, and two nurses blushed while talking to him.
Qin Xu was indeed charming, but…
When he walked over, Zuo Chi asked, “Are you free tonight?”
“Yes,” Qin Xu said, “but Qin Yanren wants me to go to the Qin family later. He said there’s something important to discuss with me.”
He reached out and ruffled Zuo Chi’s hair: “I’ll take you home first, it won’t take long.”
