DPT chapter 27

Zuo Chi leaned back in his seat, startled by the sudden increase in pheromone intensity. He couldn’t understand why Sheng Li could so naturally point out his desire to marry him.

It was as if… as if his feelings were insignificant, unable to stir any ripples in Sheng Li’s heart.

Yes, apart from being Sheng Li’s long-time friend, he was no different from other Omegas and even less attractive to Alphas. With so many Omegas liking Sheng Li, Sheng Li wouldn’t consider his feelings valuable, nor would he care.

He was just another Omega who liked Sheng Li, nothing special.

Ignoring the pain in his heart, Zuo Chi lowered his eyes. “I told you, Cheng Xiangwan and I are just friends now.”

“Can ex-boyfriends be friends?” Sheng Li smirked, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. “You dated Cheng Xiangwan and were friends with me. Now you’re friends with Cheng Xiangwan and want to marry me? Your feelings are really easy to switch on and off.”

Ignoring Sheng Li’s sarcasm, Zuo Chi turned his face away. “Parking here is illegal.”

“I don’t need you to remind me,” Sheng Li snapped, every word dripping with sarcasm.

When they got home, they each went to their rooms and closed the doors. Zuo Chi took the medical records from his laptop bag and read the text again before carefully placing them in the bedside table.

He thought for a long time about whether to tell Sheng Li. The false heat could clear him of the suspicion of drugging, but it would also be like tearing open a wound for everyone to see.

He didn’t like that vulnerable version of himself.

Moreover, Sheng Li probably didn’t care. Whether or not he had drugged him didn’t matter; Sheng Li just wanted an excuse to vent his emotions, not to face the fact that they had slept together.

In the afternoon, Sheng Changyu and Li Mingchuan arrived as planned, bringing New Year’s goods, including nuts, fruits, snacks, and tonics, piling up on the table like a small mountain. Li Mingchuan said that since there was no New Year’s atmosphere at home, he had even brought a couplet written by a calligraphy master for them to hang on the front door.

They were old foxes nearing fifty, and after a round inside, they quickly grasped Sheng Li and Zuo Chi’s cohabitation situation from the traces of daily life.

Sheng Changyu frowned. “Why are you sleeping separately?”

Zuo Chi replied, “I sometimes get home late from work and don’t want to disturb Sheng Li.”

Sheng Li glanced at him with a mocking smile but didn’t refute, seemingly laughing at his hypocrisy.

Sheng Changyu expressed concern and advised him not to overwork himself.

When Sheng Li and Zuo Chi’s engagement was set, Sheng Changyu bought a villa as a wedding house. Originally, he wanted the young couple to discuss the renovations, but seeing their lack of interest, he found a reliable designer to draft some plans. He showed Zuo Chi a few good ones. “You should decide which design is best and start the renovations.”

Zuo Chi nodded. “Thank you, Uncle.”

Sheng Changyu smiled. “Once you’re officially married, you’ll need to change how you address me.”

Zuo Chi smiled back, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He looked at Sheng Li, sometimes feeling he was close, as they were about to marry and he would have him. At other times, he felt distant, as their original relationship had collapsed, and he could lose him at any moment.

Sheng Li turned to meet Zuo Chi’s gaze with a disdainful look.

The smile on Zuo Chi’s lips froze.

He had been in love with Sheng Li for so long that sometimes he couldn’t tell if his admiration was an emotion or an instinct. But before the arranged marriage, he never thought about having a home with Sheng Li. He had thought it was an unattainable dream, one that would make him cry with happiness just to imagine. But now, touching his chest, he felt only confusion.

After Sheng Changyu and Li Mingchuan left, Zuo Chi tentatively asked Sheng Li, “Which renovation plan do you think is better?”

Sheng Li sneered and didn’t look up from his phone. “Do it however you want. My only requirement is that our bedrooms are separate.”

For someone to have no expectations for a new home clearly indicated he had no longing for the future life. Zuo Chi felt even more confused. After comparing several design plans, he made a difficult decision.

The designer soon contacted him, asking if he had any other opinions. Zuo Chi had a thought and sent over the floor plan of a house under his name.

This house was originally an investment, but Zuo Chi decided to convert it for his own use. Cheng Xiangwan made a good point; he couldn’t be without his own place, and he couldn’t stay in hotels every time he found it hard to face Sheng Li.

The designer asked, “Does this house also need renovation?”

Since Sheng Changyu had found the designer, Zuo Chi didn’t tell the truth: “Yes, the one below is my friend’s. He’s abroad and asked me to help with the renovation.”

The designer then asked him some design requirement questions, saying they had a rough idea but that it would take some time to draft the initial design.

After the holiday, Zuo Chi returned to work. The seven-day break had left him with a lot of work piled up, and he was so busy that he didn’t have time for lunch, but he felt more relaxed mentally.

He and Sheng Li resumed their life under the same roof, but they barely saw each other in a week, living like mere roommates.

On Saturday, Zuo Chi took advantage of his break to go to the hospital again for a comprehensive check-up and decided to undergo gland recovery treatment. The treatment involved exposing the back of his neck for the machine to inject recovery medication into his glands and massaging to promote absorption. His glands ached faintly throughout the process.

The treatment took nearly two hours, and as he left the hospital, he received a call from Aunt Chen. Aunt Chen had returned home during the Spring Festival and brought back two home-raised chickens, which she had already cooked and put in a thermal container to bring to Zuo Chi.

Zuo Chi had little appetite but didn’t want to refuse her kindness, so he drove to pick up the thermal container on his way.

When he arrived at the door of the Zuo family home, Aunt Chen came out with the thermal container, smiling brightly at him. “Xiao Chi, why don’t you come in and sit for a while? Both Mr. Zuo and Mrs. Shu are home today.”

“No, thank you, Aunt Chen. I have something to do later.” Zuo Chi opened the lid and praised, “It smells delicious.”

“You work so hard; you need to replenish yourself,” Aunt Chen said. “You look thinner to me.”

Zuo Chi smiled. “I’m wearing such thick clothes; how can you tell?”

“You’ve definitely lost weight. My eyes are sharp and always accurate,” Aunt Chen said. “Don’t blame me for being talkative, but you mustn’t neglect your health just because you’re young.”

“Don’t worry, I’m twenty-five already. I can take care of myself.” Zuo Chi got into his car and looked towards the lit living room.

Why is it that people without blood ties, who have lived with him for so many years, always think of him, while those with blood ties are indifferent?

People are truly complex creatures.

In the evening, Zuo Chi poured the chicken soup from the thermal container into a bowl. Just as he was about to eat, the front door opened. Sheng Li walked in, followed by a man in a dark blue down jacket.

The man politely greeted Zuo Chi, “Hello.”

The face was unfamiliar, but the voice was somewhat familiar. Zuo Chi assumed he was one of Sheng Li’s friends. “I’ll get two more sets of chopsticks.”

“No need, thank you. I’ve already had dinner,” the man waved and raised an eyebrow at Sheng Li.

Sheng Li introduced him simply, “This is my personal doctor, Dr. Wu.”

Hearing the word “doctor,” Zuo Chi’s heart skipped a beat. He thought Sheng Li had found out something and couldn’t help but grip his chopsticks tighter.

“A few days ago, we… he came to check your health to see if there’s…”

Sheng Li couldn’t bring himself to say the word “pregnant.” His gaze drifted to Zuo Chi’s flat stomach, unable to imagine it nurturing a life inside.

Although Sheng Li was vague, Zuo Chi understood.

A few days ago, they had slept together. Both were not fully conscious at the time, and even though they used protection, it was not guaranteed nothing happened.

Realizing this, Zuo Chi felt a chill run down his back. He stiffly expressed his rejection, “I’m not pregnant, no need for a check-up.”

Sheng Li frowned, “How can you be sure you’re not pregnant? What if you are?”

Zuo Chi had just been to the hospital that day and knew he wasn’t pregnant. His gland was damaged, and even if he wanted to conceive, it might not be possible.

“What if I am?” He pondered Sheng Li’s question, staring straight at him. “Then what do you say we do if I am?”

Sheng Li blurted out, “Of course, we can only abort it.”

Zuo Chi hadn’t planned on being a father; he couldn’t psychologically accept the birth of a new life. But Sheng Li’s words cut deep, almost making him double over in pain.

Sensing the Omega’s emotional turmoil, Sheng Li softened his tone, “We both grew up in similar families. Our parents married without love, and you know how that negatively affects a person’s upbringing. I don’t want my child to go through the same.”

When Sheng Li said this, his expression was serious, with a hint of melancholy in his eyes, making Zuo Chi unsure whether to pity him or himself.

Ultimately, it was because Sheng Li had no feelings for him. Indeed, they were not suited to have a child.

Zuo Chi compromised, “No need for a check-up. A pregnancy test will do, right?”

Dr. Wu, feeling a bit awkward after their conversation, took a pregnancy test out of his bag and handed it to Zuo Chi.

Zuo Chi snatched the pregnancy test and headed to the bathroom. Once inside, he began searching on his phone for how to use it.

A few minutes later, the test result came back — indeed, it was a single line.

He showed the pregnancy test to Sheng Li, “You can relax now.”

Sheng Li asked, “Why don’t you want a check-up? Isn’t a check-up more reliable?”

Zuo Chi glanced sideways, “Do you suspect me of tampering with the pregnancy test? You’re overthinking it. What benefit would I have from having a child at this time?”

Sheng Li chuckled lightly, “That’s true. You always weigh the pros and cons in everything you do, and having a child is no exception. In this regard, you’re no different from your mother.”

Zuo Chi’s chest heaved violently. He felt it was utterly absurd for Sheng Li to compare him to Shu Qingyu. No matter how pragmatic he was, he wouldn’t gamble with his child’s health.

But in Sheng Li’s eyes, was that who he really was?

He didn’t argue, masking his feelings with an icy expression. “Is there anything? I haven’t eaten yet.”

“The chicken soup is getting cold.”