DPT chapter 33

Zuo Chi and Sheng Li got engaged at the end of January, with plans to get married and register the marriage in July or August of the same year. But starting from early May, Zuo Chi traveled for two whole months. Apart from Shu Qingyu, no one in the Zuo family urged him to return, and he didn’t receive any documents related to the wedding.

He could guess that there were some problems in the cooperation between the Zuo and Sheng families. But he no longer cared about what the issues were.

During these two months, he visited five countries and fourteen cities. Except for heat periods and rainy days, he scheduled activities for himself almost every day. There were always some unexpected events during the trip, like hearing an old Chinese song on a foreign street, sitting in a square listening to a street performer sing for an entire afternoon, realizing how fast time passed as the sunset glow spread. Or like sitting next to a slightly famous foreign artist on a plane, whom he recognized when the artist asked him in English, “Don’t you want my autograph?” during landing. Or being captured in a traveler’s photo by Lake Geneva, who gave him a Polaroid as a keepsake.

Zuo Chi suddenly realized that happiness should never depend on others.

During this time, Sheng Li called him a few times with a different phone card, no longer saying any nonsense, just asking when he would return.

Zuo Chi’s answers were always vague—

“In another month or so.”

“In about a month.”

Sheng Li said, “You said the same thing last time. You can leave some places for future visits, it’s about time to come back.”

Zuo Chi was getting a bit tired of traveling, but his house renovation had just finished, and he wanted to let it air out for a while before moving in, so he planned to visit two more countries.

After returning to S City, he would move out of Sheng Li’s house. He didn’t want to hide in his room during his heat, didn’t want to be kept awake all night, and didn’t want to see Sheng Li bringing others home.

He replied evasively, “I know what I’m doing.”

“If you don’t come back soon, I’ll come find you,” Sheng Li said seriously, but Zuo Chi thought he was joking.

He tried to respond in a friendly tone, “Sure, Vienna has a rich entertainment industry, and the Omegas are beautiful.”

Sheng Li was silent for a while before changing the subject.

He had a lot of questions he wanted to ask. He wanted to ask if Zuo Chi had gone to any entertainment venues, wanted to know who the pretty Omega he mentioned was. He was desperate to know every detail of Zuo Chi’s life abroad, but he was afraid of hearing things he didn’t want to hear, and afraid of getting blocked again.

He knew he wasn’t acting normal. In June, he experienced his heat period and spent that week in Zuo Chi’s bedroom.

Alphas have heat periods once or twice a year, which are unpredictable. During this time, Alphas become psychologically sensitive, fragile, and lack a sense of security. They also intensely crave the presence of an Omega.

In the past, Sheng Li scoffed at the heat period because it never affected him. He would have fun, eat, and live as usual without any difference.

But this time was different. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t alleviate his unease. He couldn’t focus on games in the office, couldn’t read reports, and felt restless. It was as if someone was about to take away his most precious possession, but he couldn’t pinpoint when the crisis would strike. He felt empty — the office felt empty, home felt empty, and his heart felt empty.

Assistant Liu was shocked when he opened the door. “…Young Master Sheng, why are you crying?”

Sheng Changyu told him to go home and rest. Back at home, Sheng Li couldn’t help but open Zuo Chi’s bedroom door. The air no longer carried the scent of blackcurrant. He turned the entire room upside down, desperately searching for even a trace of the pheromone, whether on a piece of clothing or a book.

He missed the scent of blackcurrant.

He missed Zuo Chi.

For the first time, he used Alpha inhibitors to manage his emotions and suppress his desires, making the heat period less unbearable.

He realized how painful the heat period could be. How did Omegas endure their monthly heats? Sheng Li couldn’t imagine how Zuo Chi managed.

After the heat period ended, his other symptoms improved, but he still felt an emptiness inside.

Guided by Tai Xingyu’s advice, Sheng Li thought a lot about directions he had never considered before, becoming increasingly uncertain about their friendship. But he still couldn’t find an answer — could friends become lovers? Could love be prefixed with “forever”?

He thought, maybe everything would be better when Zuo Chi returned. Perhaps he could get answers from him. So he looked forward to Zuo Chi’s return every day.

In late July, when continuous high temperatures began in S City, Zuo Chi returned. He only told Cheng Xiangwan about his flight, and Cheng Xiangwan rushed to pick him up after work. They had hotpot near the airport.

Zuo Chi brought many gifts for Cheng Xiangwan, who was thrilled and kissed him on the cheek.

Zuo Chi said, “You still have chili oil on your lips.”

“Didn’t notice.” Cheng Xiangwan laughed, grabbed a napkin, and wiped Zuo Chi’s face clean. He was very interested in Zuo Chi’s travels, asking about the places he visited, which sceneries were the most special, and how the cultures differed from their own.

He exclaimed, “That sounds amazing! If I ever quit my job, I want to travel for two months too.”

But after hearing how much Zuo Chi spent, he quickly dismissed the idea. “Forget it. I’d have to sell myself how many times to afford that?”

Zuo Chi: “…”

Cheng Xiangwan sincerely asked, “Which country’s Alphas are the biggest?”

Zuo Chi: “…How would I know!”

Cheng Xiangwan said, “I thought you’d figure it out. Traveling alone without any flings seems incomplete.”

“I did figure something out.” Zuo Chi lowered his gaze. He figured out that he should give up the marriage arrangement, but that didn’t mean he could quickly sort out his feelings for Sheng Li.

“Good for you. Let Sheng Li regret it.” Cheng Xiangwan propped his chin on his hand. “Your apartment is all set up. When do you plan to move in?”

Zuo Chi thought for a moment. “Tomorrow.”

Cheng Xiangwan: “So soon?”

“Yeah.” He was afraid that if he delayed, he wouldn’t be able to leave.

When Zuo Chi returned to Sheng Li’s house, there was no one home. He wasn’t surprised. Sheng Li was likely out somewhere at this time.

He turned the bedroom doorknob, intending to tidy up a bit. After all, he still had to sleep there for the night, and the room had been unoccupied for over two months, likely collecting dust.

The room seemed different from when he left. Zuo Chi frowned, trying to recall the arrangement of the room’s items but couldn’t be sure if anyone had touched his things.

Perhaps a cleaning service had come through. Zuo Chi touched the nightstand, finding it clean and dust-free.

He dismissed his doubts, took a shower in the bathroom, and was about to sleep when the front door opened.

After not seeing Sheng Li for over two months, Zuo Chi’s gaze swept over Sheng Li’s face. His expression remained calm, but his heart tightened.

For a moment, Sheng Li thought he was hallucinating. Then, his senses returned, his heart pounded, and every cell in his body came alive.

“Ah Chi!”

Zuo Chi had lost some weight. Wearing a bathrobe, his protruding collarbone was more noticeable than before. There were no pheromone patches or bite-prevention collar. His long, slender neck curved gracefully, and the blackcurrant pheromones were tantalizingly sweet.

Sheng Li blamed Sheng Changyu for making him attend that damn charity gala, wasting time and preventing him from seeing Zuo Chi sooner. He licked his lips, trying not to appear too excited. “When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Zuo Chi tilted his head, thinking that Sheng Li’s attitude was different from when he left, but he didn’t think much of it. “Not long ago.”

Sheng Li stared intently at him, feeling an impulse to hug him. “Have you had dinner?”

Zuo Chi nodded and walked straight to the bedroom, intending to close the door.

“Wait.” Sheng Li stepped forward and grabbed his wrist. Zuo Chi’s wrist was slender, his hand could encircle it with space to spare, and his skin was smooth like jade.

He was momentarily stunned, as if realizing for the first time how delicate and soft Zuo Chi’s hand was.

Having just showered, aside from the pheromones, Zuo Chi’s body also carried the scent of milk and lemon, making Sheng Li want to get even closer.

Zuo Chi was puzzled and slowly pulled his hand away from Sheng Li’s grasp. “Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Sheng Li hurriedly asked, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Zuo Chi had been away for more than two months. They had known each other since kindergarten, and this was the first time they had been apart for so long. Why was Zuo Chi’s reaction so indifferent? Was he still angry about his careless words?

Zuo Chi must have something to say to him, even if it was just to talk about his travel experiences. They could talk all night, from Paris to the Vatican. No matter what Zuo Chi said, Sheng Li would want to listen.

“Yes, I do have something to say to you.” Zuo Chi stood in the doorway. “Let’s break off our engagement.”

Did he hear that right?

Sheng Li stared at him in a daze. “What?”

Zuo Chi thought he had spoken too softly, so he repeated himself, this time more firmly. “Let’s break off our engagement.”

Sheng Li couldn’t believe it. A huge sense of loss hit him, as if a rope was tightening around his throat, making it hard to breathe.

But wasn’t breaking off the engagement what he had always wanted? Why did he feel… sad?

By ending the engagement, he and Zuo Chi could go back to being the way they were before. He wouldn’t have to worry about whether to advance or retreat, wouldn’t have to struggle with his feelings for Zuo Chi, and wouldn’t have to bear the risk of losing him.

Without the engagement, they could naturally hang out, play games, and have late-night snacks together, without awkwardness or embarrassment, just a relaxed relationship.

By all accounts, it should be beneficial for him. He should be happy.

Sheng Li’s lips trembled. “That’s impossible. Your parents won’t agree.”

Zuo Chi pursed his lips. “I have a way to make them agree. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Really? That’s great.” Sheng Li forced a smile, his eyes unfocused. He didn’t know where to look and felt disoriented.

“Zuo Chi,” he heard himself ask, “are we still friends?”