DPT chapter 57

The Sheng family’s tradition was to gather for a meal at the end of every year. Sheng Li’s grandparents didn’t celebrate the Gregorian New Year, so they didn’t return to the old house but spent it at Sheng Changyu’s home.

Sheng Li went straight there after work, stopped by the bank to withdraw some cash, and bought two red envelopes for his younger cousins.

He arrived just in time for dinner, washed his hands, and headed towards the dining table.

“Sheng Li,” Sheng Changyu called out.

Sheng Li turned around and saw an unfamiliar male Omega sitting on the sofa. He knew it was an Omega because he could see the patch on the person’s neck from the side.

“This is Luo Jia, your Uncle Luo’s son. Your Uncle Luo is abroad for some business, so I invited Luo Jia over for dinner,” Sheng Changyu said. “You two are around the same age, so get to know each other.”

Sheng Changyu’s intentions were obvious. Sheng Li still hated his presumptuous arrangements. He nodded, his tone indifferent, “Hmm, now we’re acquainted.

Sheng Changyu continued, “Luo Jia is three years younger than you. You both graduated from the same high school, so you should have common topics to talk about.”

Sheng Li replied, “Three years? That’s quite unfortunate. When he was in high school, I had already graduated.”

He had no interest in this Omega but noticed the Omega’s unease among the relatives. It reminded him of Zuo Chi’s discomfort during last year’s New Year’s Eve when he couldn’t join the red envelope game. Back then, Sheng Li had noticed Zuo Chi’s awkward situation but didn’t help him, sitting there as if nothing was wrong.

Regardless, it was impolite behavior.

It was Sheng Changyu who, knowing he had feelings for Zuo Chi, still tried to set him up with another Omega. Luo Jia wasn’t to blame.

With a sigh, he went over to greet Luo Jia and started a conversation. When he wanted to, he could be a good conversationalist.

Luo Jia wasn’t outgoing, but once he opened up, he became more comfortable. He had a bit of a pampered attitude, accustomed to attention. Seeing that Sheng Li was talking to him but not paying him much attention, he got the hint. Many pursued him, but he wouldn’t chase after an Alpha.

Sheng Changyu was pleased with their seemingly pleasant conversation but noticed that Li Mingchuan looked displeased.

He pulled Li Mingchuan aside and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li Mingchuan whispered, “You can invite Luo Jia for New Year’s Eve, but you should have informed Sheng Li and me in advance.”

Sheng Changyu replied, “If I had told Sheng Li, he probably wouldn’t have come home.”

“You know Sheng Li’s character,” Li Mingchuan complained. “He’s home now, but do you think he’ll accept the matchmaking you arranged?”

Sheng Changyu argued, “It’s just an introduction, not a matchmaking. Besides, aren’t they getting along well?”

Li Mingchuan was speechless.

The dinner went fairly well. After the meal, Sheng Li even drove Luo Jia home. But once all the relatives left, he immediately told Sheng Changyu to stop interfering in his personal affairs.

Sheng Changyu: “personal affairs? We are father and son, how can I not care about your personal affairs?”

“Aren’t you and Luo Jia a good match?”

“No, we’re not,” Sheng Li replied. “I just want to focus on my work right now.”

Sheng Changyu frowned. “In a few months, you’ll be twenty-six. It’s time to start thinking about marriage and children. Your grandfather is getting old, and he wants to see his great-grandchildren…”

Sheng Li: “I want to make Grandpa happy too. But I can’t use my life’s important decisions just to please him. I’ll be straightforward—I like Zuo Chi. If I get married, it will only be to Zuo Chi. Otherwise, neither I nor any Omega I marry will be happy.”

Thinking about Zuo Chi’s injured glands, Sheng Li added, “As for great-grandchildren… I’ve never believed that marriage must lead to children. It’s the Omega who bears the child, not the Alpha. The decision lies with the Omega.”

“Rubbish!” Sheng Changyu erupted. “What nonsense are you talking about? Zuo Chi isn’t the only Omega in the world! Feelings can be nurtured! How can we ensure the family’s lineage without children? Do you want the Sheng family to end with you?”

Sheng Li never expected to convince Sheng Changyu. Arguing would only deepen their conflict. “In any case, stop introducing Omegas to me. This is my life. If I make a mistake, I can bear the consequences. But if you make the choices for me, you can’t bear the consequences of the mistakes.”

“I’m going back to sleep,” he said, standing up and walking out.

Sheng Changyu, furious, slammed a cup on the dining table and turned to Li Mingchuan. “Aren’t you going to say something? Did you hear the nonsense he’s spouting?”

Li Mingchuan crossed his arms. “Feelings can be nurtured…I’m wondering, if your arranged partner back then wasn’t me but another Omega, would it have been the same for you?”

“…” Sheng Changyu said, “We’re talking about Sheng Li here.”

Li Mingchuan raised his eyes. “Stop pressuring him. You’re only pushing him further away. Don’t you understand your own son? If you could control him, he wouldn’t have just started putting in effort at twenty-five. If he and Zuo Chi start their own business, forget about grandchildren—you might not even have a son.”

Sheng Changyu’s face turned various shades of green and white. “… Are you blaming me now? Starting his own business? Does he even have the capability?”

“He might not have it now, but it doesn’t mean he won’t in the future. Didn’t you just tell me last week that our son has a good business mind?”

Indeed, Sheng Changyu had said that. Recently, Sheng Li’s team had won a promising project through bidding. As a father who had longed for his son’s success, Sheng Changyu was naturally pleased with Sheng Li’s progress.

Li Mingchuan continued, “In just a few months, he has closed several major deals. Isn’t that more impressive than what you achieved in your twenties?”

“Why bring me into this? I wasn’t as rebellious as he is in my twenties…” Sheng Changyu met Li Mingchuan’s eyes and softened. “Fine, I’ll leave him alone for now.”

Sheng Li walked out, got into his car, and aimlessly drove through the streets. He didn’t want to go home to his empty house. He had never felt the house was so big before, but now, no matter where he looked, he couldn’t find a trace of blackcurrant scent.

He didn’t want to meet new Omegas, and he wouldn’t marry anyone but Zuo Chi. He knew no one would take his words seriously, considering he was only twenty-five, with plenty of time to forget someone.

But he couldn’t forget Zuo Chi, not even with all the time in the world. He didn’t want to forget. He wanted to remember every detail of his time with Zuo Chi.

He had known Zuo Chi since he was four. This person had long been etched into his life. Without Zuo Chi, his life felt incomplete.

As he reached downtown, traffic came to a standstill. Sheng Li changed lanes, only to find himself stuck again. He could hear the drivers around him cursing and complaining.

“Bang—”

Fireworks exploded outside his window, lighting up the night sky.

He looked out, seeing the riverside crowded with people waiting for the fireworks to burst.

“Happy New Year!” Voices of well-wishes filled the air.

The cars ahead moved a few meters, and just as Sheng Li was about to follow, he caught sight of a familiar figure.

Zuo Chi, in a cream-colored down jacket and black jeans, was looking up at the fireworks, his face beautifully illuminated by the light.

Sheng Li’s heart pounded, as if it would leap out of his chest. But then, he saw Qin Xu standing close to Zuo Chi, their shoulders touching. Qin Xu smiled and planted a kiss on Zuo Chi’s forehead.

Sheng Li’s heart felt like it was being wrenched and then plunged down.

It hurt so much.

An Alpha and Omega standing together by the river, watching the fireworks at New Year’s, was a romantic scene to anyone else but was an immense blow to Sheng Li.

His mind went blank, only his pheromones frantically spilling out.

The car behind him honked, urging him to move forward.

Sheng Li numbly drove a few meters, not daring to look back.

Zuo Chi should have been his Omega, should have been his… should have been his! He was the one who should be spending New Year’s Eve with Zuo Chi, watching the fireworks together…

He had considered the possibility of Zuo Chi accepting Qin Xu, but imagining it was nothing compared to witnessing it.

They were kissing under the fireworks now—what would come next?!

He couldn’t bear to think about it. The hand on his chest turned into a knife, causing him pain, making him bleed.

His chest heaved, veins bulging on the back of his hand gripping the steering wheel, sweat soaking his back. His instincts told him to get out of the car and rush over, but a voice in his head warned: Don’t act impulsively. Impulsiveness will push Zuo Chi further away. Getting out now will only cause a traffic jam.

Sheng Li admitted he wasn’t magnanimous. He could never learn to be. He could never bless Zuo Chi with someone else. He could only feel jealousy toward anyone standing next to Zuo Chi.

The more jealous he got, the more he hated himself for creating this situation.

Sheng Li’s breathing was all over the place, and he didn’t know how he managed to drive back home.

It wasn’t until he reached the parking lot that he removed his hands from the steering wheel. Because he had been gripping it tightly, his palms were red.

He leaned weakly against the seat back, staring blankly at the car roof, his eyes bloodshot.

He didn’t sleep at all that night. Early the next morning, he went to the company.

Since it was the New Year holiday, there were almost no employees in the company, only the security guard and a few on-duty subordinates.

Assistant Liu was still a bit groggy when he received the call, but due to his professional ethic, he quickly got dressed and went to the company to deliver some documents. He noticed the dark circles around Sheng Li’s eyes and hesitantly asked if he wanted to rest for a while.

“Young Master Sheng, these documents aren’t urgent. You can handle them after the holiday.”

Sheng Li’s voice was hoarse and filled with fatigue from not sleeping all night: “Thank you for coming. You’ll get a full day’s overtime pay for this. You can go back to celebrating with your family now.”

“I’m just idling at home,” Assistant Liu made Sheng Li a cup of coffee, “I wanted to say, you’ve already got the hang of things, there’s no need to be so hard on yourself. You should balance work and rest.”

“Thank you,” Sheng Li forced a smile, “The visa should be processed soon. I’ll take a few days off to go to Switzerland, so I want to handle as much work as possible now to avoid a backlog.”

Since it wasn’t regular working hours, Assistant Liu was more relaxed than usual: “Switzerland? For vacation?”

Sheng Li shook his head without answering.