Chapter 24 – All that Left was Regret
Novel Title: 长夏醒迟 (Long Summer, Late Awakening)
Author：麦香鸡呢 (McChicken)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 余炀 (Yu Yang -MC/Gong), 靳吾栖 (Jin Wuqi -ML/Shou)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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Jin Wuqi is hospitalised.
Ever since his last heat, he has been feeling uncomfortable. A few days ago, his glands inexplicably became swollen and red, his appetite plummeted, and he couldn’t muster any interest in food. Then he started running a fever. So after arranging his work yesterday, Jin Wuqi checked into the hospital.
“Because the last heat cycle didn’t involve ‘marking’ with gland biting, his pheromones are once again in disarray, causing a recurrence of the old gland issue. Coupled with loss of appetite and a cold, his immunity quickly decreased. This leads to a fever.”
His private doctor, aware of Jin Wuqi’s situation, frowned. “Your past heat cycles have been too extreme. This time, it was without the soothing and incorporation of alpha pheromones. If this continues, your entire pheromone system, along with your glands, will completely be gone.”
Du Yele was pacing back and forth in the hospital room, feeling furious. “You’re such a lunatic! I knew it wouldn’t be that simple! How could you possibly safely go through a heat without the incorporation of alpha pheromones? What’s the harm in letting him bite you? The important thing is not whether you’re ‘marked’ or not. It’s the alpha’s pheromones!”
Jin Wuqi looked at the back of his hand with the IV line inserted and said, “Even if it’s ruined, it’s fine. I don’t want to be an omega.”
“It’s really exhausting. I was always being dragged down by my gender and nature. If only I was a beta like you.”
“You’re not allowed to say such things anymore!” Du Yele clenched his fist, glaring with his blue eyes. “If you dare to give up on yourself, I’ll tell everything to Yu Yang right now. Wei Yi has been quiet all this time. It was like a time bomb. You’d be better off telling everything to Yu Yang. He can protect you.”
“I can protect myself too. I’ve been through even tougher times before. So what is there to be afraid of now?” Jin Wuqi closed his eyes, sighed, and said wearily, “Du Yele, stop bothering Yu Yang. Let’s just focus on our own matters.”
“I didn’t bother him.” Du Yele walked over to Jin Wuqi and started peeling an apple for him as he muttered, “This morning, while you were sleeping, Yu Yang called. I answered it.”
Jin Wuqi frowned. “What did he want?”
“Wow, he was so rude when he heard a stranger answering the phone!” Du Yele exaggerated, “Then I explained that I’m your assistant. And he asked if you were available to take the call.”
“I said you weren’t available because my boss is hospitalised.”
“He asked me what happened to you. I couldn’t exactly say it was a gland issue. So I just told him you have a cold and fever, resting in the hospital.”
“He didn’t say much after that. He didn’t say he’d come see you or tell you to rest well. He’s really indifferent.”
Jin Wuqi took the peeled apple and smiled faintly. “It’s only natural for him to be like that towards me.”
“It’s natural?” Du Yele slammed the fruit knife on the table. “He brought an omega home last time. He shouldn’t be thinking about you anymore. What’s more, he calls but doesn’t say anything, so cold. What does that mean?”
“I hurt him so much back then. But after coming back, didn’t I still can’t help but go find him?” Jin Wuqi said. “Du Yele, it’s me who owes Yu Yang. Compared to what he suffered, what I’m going through now is nothing.”
Du Yele, feeling frustrated, stormed out again, saying he would go ask the doctor about the situation.
Not five minutes later, there was a knock on the door of the ward. Before Jin Wuqi could say “come in,” Du Yele pushed open the door, eyes shining. His first words were, “Yu Yang is here!”
The second sentence was, “He’s so tall and handsome!”
Jin Wuqi slowly sat up. He took off the hair tie on his wrist, gathered his loose hair, and tied it loosely. He leaned back against the pillow and said, “I see.”
After a while, Yu Yang appeared at the door of the ward. Du Yele sensibly left the scene.
Yu Yang, in a black suit with a pure black long coat over it, stood by the door. His figure almost touched the top of the doorframe. Dressed all in black, he exuded a faint coldness even from outside. It was a feeling Jin Wuqi could sense while sitting on the hospital bed.
“Long time no see,” Jin Wuqi smiled.
“Just a cold?” Yu Yang walked to the end of the bed, looking at Jin Wuqi as he asked straightforwardly.
“Yes, my glands are a bit inflamed,” Jin Wuqi said. “The weather is too cold. It was easy to catch a cold.”
“I thought you were pregnant,” Yu Yang slowly spoke. His gaze was firmly fixed on the omega.
The alpha’s lemon soda pheromones were mildly cold. But for Jin Wuqi, they were like a calming and soothing antidote. He greedily sniffed at them secretly, feeling they were still distant, unable to smell enough. He really wanted Yu Yang to come closer. A little closer.
Feeling impatient, Jin Wuqi tightly grabbed the blanket. He raised his head with a smile and said, “No. I took medicine afterwards. So I won’t get pregnant. You can rest assured.”
Yu Yang’s eyes were calm. It was as if they were slowly covered with a layer of icy chill, freezing the air into silence.
“You are quite aware of yourself.”
The alpha’s indifferent tone carried a hint of sarcasm. Jin Wuqi’s glands were still hurting. Now, even his heart ached. It was so uncomfortable.
“After all… it’s not good for either of us, right?” Jin Wuqi carefully sniffed at the lemon soda pheromones. His face was pale but he was still smiling. “You always have to have a new beginning, Yu Yang.”
A new beginning.
Yu Yang looked at him. The omega in front of him had once destroyed his entire youthful love with just a flick of his finger. Now, he shamelessly talked about starting anew. How ironic.
He had thought that after that heat, they could be honest with each other once. He didn’t know what Jin Wuqi wanted to resolve. Since Jin Wuqi said he would tell him after resolving it, Yu Yang waited. But now he was told that he should start anew. Jin Wuqi wouldn’t leave any ties between them. He had even taken contraceptive pills to prevent pregnancy.
Perhaps he was just a tool to help Jin Wuqi through his heat. Sweet talk when necessary, then discard like an old shoe, with no obligations to each other.
He had grown up. But what’s the use of growing up? Some omegas will never let you be part of their lives, regardless of your capabilities. They just want to play with you.
“I regret everything I’ve had with you,” Yu Yang said coldly.
Jin Wuqi felt like his heart had been ruthlessly stomped on, collapsing rapidly. His glands felt like they were burning. His head was hot. In his gradually blurring vision, he saw Yu Yang turn and leave. The refreshing lemon soda pheromones also instantly withdrew, as if taking away his lifeblood. A sense of helplessness and despair surged up in his chest. Jin Wuqi struggled to prop himself up.
“Yu Yang…”
He called out Yu Yang’s name. But no sound came out. He watched as the figure disappeared at the door.
His vision spinning wildly, Jin Wuqi fell back onto the bed. And then everything went black.
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*Translator’s Note: I’d have to tell you guys since I know you all might be suffering as I was when I read the raw chapters. It will be resolved in a few more chapters, okay? Just bare with it for three to four more chapters. Let’s be strong! -K
Next update: 2024.05.17
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