Distant city, laboratory.
“Professor Xie, the data comparison for Group B is done. Should we have the meeting now?”
Xie An was taking off her lab coat. Upon hearing this, she turned to glance at the person and nodded lightly. “Yes, is Professor Lu already here?”
The person, feeling a bit embarrassed under Xie An’s gaze, nodded. “Yes.”
In the entire laboratory, they envied the people under Professor Xie the most. Research professors were generally high IQ individuals, and having a haughty or short-tempered demeanor was normal due to the frequent failures in experiments. However, Professor Xie was different. No matter the issue, she patiently taught and guided others. Even when experiments failed, she never blamed her team members. Moreover, Professor Xie was beautiful, despite her age, making her the most attractive professor in their lab.
Xie An seemed oblivious to the person’s demeanor and smiled as usual. “Alright, I’ll be there soon.”
After they left, Xie An pinched her brow.
Her assistant immediately came over to massage her. “Professor, aren’t you going home?”
Xie An shook her head. “I find it hard to calm down at home right now. A day or two won’t make much difference.”
“And we haven’t spent much time together lately. He won’t be used to it either.”
As she spoke, she glanced at her phone.
Just as she had come down from the experiment table, now she finally had time to check messages.
The first thing that caught her eye was a new message from Jiang Heng.
Seeing Xie An’s subtle change in expression, her assistant asked quietly, “Professor, what’s wrong?”
Xie An furrowed her brow slightly, a hint of impatience in her tone that was uncommon for her. “Jiang Heng has returned to the nearby city.”
–
When Xie An’s message reached him, Jiang Heng had already entered the vicinity of the nearby city.
The car was driving smoothly. After lunch and having not slept all night, Jiang Heng even managed to doze off for a while in the car. However, sleeping in the car, no matter how smooth the ride, wasn’t particularly comfortable. Coupled with his troubled thoughts, Jiang Heng woke up shortly after.
Perhaps because it was the first day of the Lunar New Year, there were hardly any people on the streets. Aside from large malls and supermarkets, almost no shops were open. Despite the good weather and unusually warmer temperatures, there was an unexpected sense of desolation.
Jiang Heng pulled the blanket covering him tighter and then glanced down to read the message Xie An had sent.
【Mom: Please don’t act on impulse, okay? I’ll worry about you like this.】
The smile on his face faded. Jiang Heng’s expression even turned somewhat indifferent. He thought for a moment but decided not to reply.
Jiang Heng didn’t quite understand if Xie An sent this message out of genuine concern for him or for some other reason. He didn’t dare ponder too much about what Xie An was thinking or doing.
But in the next moment, Xie An’s phone call came through.
Jiang Heng’s expression grew colder, looking more fierce than usual. He held onto his phone for a moment, adjusted his emotions, and then pressed the answer button.
“Why did you suddenly return to the nearby city?” Xie An’s voice was slightly subdued, and Jiang Heng couldn’t hear any background noise from her surroundings.
Jiang Heng lowered his eyes, unable to maintain his usual demeanor facing Xie An. He stayed silent for a while before lightly chuckling, “Didn’t want you to suddenly transfer me, did you?”
His tone was somewhat nonchalant, as if he didn’t think there was anything wrong with his abrupt departure without informing her, and he didn’t detect any hint of concern in her voice either.
Knowing her son well, Xie An sighed upon hearing his words. Indeed, it was something Jiang Heng could do. This child had grown up without much supervision, accustomed to freedom, always following his own feelings in whatever he did.
“No, it’s okay,” Xie An’s voice was gentle and calm, naturally soft-spoken with an inexplicable charm. But now, Jiang Heng didn’t know if this was her true nature or if she was putting on an act.
“It’s my fault. I was too impatient before. I just wanted to be closer to you.”
For a moment, Jiang Heng almost blurted out, “Then why didn’t you before?” Why didn’t she make time to accompany him when he was studying in the distant city? How many promises made were actually kept?
Jiang Heng tightly grasped the blanket, perhaps to soothe himself. The scent of Shen Huaizhi’s pheromones lingered faintly on the blanket, still comforting to an Omega’s emotions.
Jiang Heng breathed silently.
“It’s only New Year’s Day. I promise I’ll make time to be with you. Our project is nearing completion, and before your winter break ends, we’ll definitely find time,” Xie An said more than usual, almost as if she was persuading Jiang Heng.
In previous years, Xie An rarely inquired about where Jiang Heng wanted to go during winter or summer break. This year was different.
Was it because he had undergone differentiation? Or because of the experiment?
Jiang Heng didn’t dare to delve deeper into his thoughts.
“I’ve already reached the vicinity of the city,” Jiang Heng replied, turning his head to glance out of the window. The scenery outside flashed by, devoid of any signs of human activity.
Xie An sighed, “Shall I send someone to pick you up? Don’t forget, you have to go back to the hospital for a follow-up examination in a few days…”
As soon as she said this, Jiang Heng’s carefully adjusted emotions collapsed. Perhaps when someone starts to doubt another person, no matter what she says, attention will always be drawn to what concerns them.
The purpose of Xie An’s call was actually for the follow-up examination, wasn’t it?
Jiang Heng remembered that from childhood to adulthood, regardless of any illness or routine check-up, he always went to this hospital. Before, he thought it was because Xie An knew doctors there, but now, what if it wasn’t just because of acquaintances?
Where did all those records come from?
Jiang Heng’s brows furrowed instantly.
“No need, I’ll go to the hospital for a check-up if I’m feeling unwell,” Jiang Heng said, feeling he sounded a bit harsh. He paused for a moment, then added, “I’m not a child anymore, Mom.”
He was about to hang up the phone.
Xie An wanted to say something more, but someone on her end suddenly called her back to a meeting.
“I’ll go to the meeting first. If there’s anything, I’ll talk to you after the meeting,” Xie An said, sighing with a hint of helplessness. “Don’t act impulsively.”
After hanging up, Jiang Heng curled up his legs, covering himself entirely with the blanket. His nose pressed against it, the faint scent of pheromones lingering. Despite his height, this position on the chair wasn’t very comfortable, yet it unexpectedly provided a sense of security.
Seeing his expression wasn’t quite good, the driver hesitated for a moment. “Young Master Jiang, are you going to the Imperial Garden or back home?”
Hearing this vintage address, Jiang Heng paused for a moment. “I don’t know,” he said somewhat blankly.
He felt a bit lost.
“Then should I take you to the Imperial Garden first?” The driver paused and then smiled. “Young Master said you might want to see him.”
“If you’re feeling down, you can have some fruits. They’re sweet.”
As the driver said this, Jiang Heng belatedly realized that the driver was trying to comfort him.
He hesitated for a moment, then softly replied, “Okay, thank you.”
–
When Jiang Heng arrived at Yujing, the sky had already completely darkened. Having received a call from Shen Huaizhi earlier, he saw the tall Alpha standing at the Shen family’s gate as soon as he got out of the car.
The suppressed feelings of unease, fear, and suspicion reached a peak the moment Jiang Heng laid eyes on Shen Huaizhi. It almost suffocated Jiang Heng.
Standing still for a moment, Jiang Heng’s fluctuating emotions caused his Omega pheromones to unconsciously emit a rich scent of roses, spreading in the air. He watched as Alpha approached him step by step, a faint smile on his lips, his gaze fixed on Jiang Heng the entire time, never wavering.
Night fell, the lights shimmered brightly. Before Jiang Heng could react, Alpha had already embraced him, enveloping him completely in the familiar scent of melting snow.
With their bond marked more than three times, the effect of pheromones on each other far exceeded their previous encounters. Even a hint of these potent pheromones could soothe an Omega. This direct and intense pheromone from Alpha itself felt like a dense web wrapping around Jiang Heng, making his head spin, but also generating an overwhelming desire to unconditionally trust the other.
Despite the inherent submission to Alpha’s pheromones that Omegas were known for, Jiang Heng didn’t feel any discomfort. On the contrary, he found himself enjoying it, even wanting to immerse himself in it.
At that moment, Jiang Heng finally understood why it was said on Baidu that Omegas naturally submitted to Alphas. While this might seem unfair to many, it explained the higher social status of Omegas and the numerous legal protections they enjoyed compared to Alphas or Betas.
Yet, in this instant, Jiang Heng felt that only this Alpha before him could evoke such feelings within him. He could keenly sense the affection this person held for him, and he willingly surrendered to it.
“Jiang Heng, welcome back,” Shen Huaizhi murmured softly.
–
The room was warm and cozy. Jiang Heng immediately took off his coat and slumped onto the sofa, feeling drained. Although he hadn’t felt particularly sleepy before, being comforted by Shen Huaizhi for a while inexplicably brought on drowsiness.
However, Jiang Heng couldn’t sleep just yet. When Shen Huaizhi emerged from the kitchen with some food, he found Jiang Heng curled up on the sofa, lost in thought, completely distracted, seemingly unaware of Shen Huaizhi’s approach.
Shen Huaizhi furrowed his brow lightly. “Jiang Heng?”
Startled by the call, Jiang Heng snapped out of his reverie slightly. Even beside Shen Huaizhi, he couldn’t achieve complete calmness. He softly replied, “I’m here,” then buried his head again.
Seeing him like this, Shen Huaizhi felt powerless. He had a faint sense that something might be seriously wrong. Despite his own anxiety, he knew he had to let Jiang Heng speak willingly.
Shen Huaizhi stood there for a moment, sighed again, then sat beside Jiang Heng and gently cradled his head. Jiang Heng leaned into Shen Huaizhi’s shoulder as if finding solace. The two remained quietly together, and even Shen Huaizhi lost track of time before Jiang Heng eventually drifted off to sleep.
However, Jiang Heng’s sleep was restless. He nestled into Shen Huaizhi’s embrace, seemingly greedily absorbing the Alpha’s scent. This sleeping position wasn’t comfortable at all, evident from Jiang Heng’s furrowed brow.
Several times, Shen Huaizhi thought Jiang Heng would wake up any second, but he didn’t. Jiang Heng merely burrowed deeper against him, seeking protection like a vulnerable creature.
Eventually, Shen Huaizhi became concerned and decided to gently wake him. Although he enjoyed how Jiang Heng depended on him while sleeping, Jiang Heng’s condition wasn’t good for sleeping. He worried Jiang Heng might have nightmares, and sleeping in the living room, despite the heating and blankets, posed a risk of catching a cold.
Jiang Heng’s sleep was actually quite light; he was aware of what he was doing and seemed to rely completely on his own thoughts. When Shen Huaizhi called him, Jiang Heng woke up.
Seeing Jiang Heng still slightly dazed, Shen Huaizhi gently tapped the back of his head. “Let’s go sleep in the room, okay?”
Shen Huaizhi’s voice was soft and gentle, his gaze as tender as ever.
Jiang Heng was slow to respond, hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. He hadn’t slept much earlier, just a short while in the car, and now another brief nap. His head felt a bit dizzy, but his brain was clearer than before.
He licked his lips, climbed off Shen Huaizhi, enduring a slight dizziness, and declined again, “I’m not sleeping.”
Seeing his insistence, Shen Huaizhi didn’t press further. He regretted not carrying Jiang Heng directly to the room earlier.
“How about eating something then?” Shen Huaizhi suggested, preparing to reheat the food he had brought earlier, which had cooled down.
Jiang Heng shook his head again, this time reaching out to grab Shen Huaizhi’s hand. With some strength, as if pulling Shen Huaizhi down.
Shen Huaizhi complied easily, letting himself be pulled down, looking somewhat resigned.
Jiang Heng pulled Shen Huaizhi close, then remained silent for a while with his head hanging low. Shen Huaizhi began to think he had withdrawn into himself before Jiang Heng slowly spoke up, his voice a bit hoarse, noticeably different from usual, his emotions seemingly completely subdued.
Shen Huaizhi turned to look at him and replied softly, “I’m here.”
Jiang Heng paused for a moment, his hand trembling slightly as he took out his phone. He had wrestled with the decision whether or not to tell Shen Huaizhi. Though he had always dealt with everything on his own before, now he selfishly wanted someone to share the burden with him. Even if Shen Huaizhi could only offer comfort, it would still be something good.
Back home, he would eventually have to resolve things on his own, but right now, Jiang Heng wanted someone to lean on. Perhaps wanting independence was difficult, yet habitual reliance on others was simple.
Jiang Heng closed his eyes, lifted his head, and smiled faintly at Shen Huaizhi, though his eyes lacked their usual sparkle. Then, he handed over the photos he had taken earlier to Shen Huaizhi.
As Jiang Heng anticipated, Shen Huaizhi looked down at the photos for a while. His initially gentle expression gradually faded, and even the faint smile on his lips disappeared.
Apart from that, Shen Huaizhi remained composed. “Where did these come from?” he asked.
Jiang Heng lowered his eyelids, no longer meeting Shen Huaizhi’s gaze. His tone was calm as if stating a fact, “From the study at home.”
Everything that had been swirling in his mind for a whole day and night came out in a jumble when Jiang Heng spoke. Despite having organized his thoughts before, Jiang Heng realized he couldn’t handle or articulate this matter calmly.
The person who had been sitting quietly beside him, listening to him, suddenly grabbed his hand after reading the experimental report he had translated. It was at this moment that Jiang Heng realized the person beside him wasn’t as composed as he appeared on the surface. Shen Huaizhi’s hands were even trembling.
It was also at this moment that Jiang Heng realized Shen Huaizhi, despite being an Alpha, was still an underage Alpha, just a few months older than himself. He felt a twinge of regret. Though people often said “sharing hardships,” which didn’t quite fit the current context, the sentiment was similar. He had selfishly involved Shen Huaizhi in this matter without much consideration.
He could have pursued this on his own. After all, it was his own issue.
Jiang Heng opened his mouth, glanced down, concealing the frustration in his eyes. Just as he was about to say something, Shen Huaizhi’s voice came through.
“Have you asked your mom about this?” Shen Huaizhi wanted to suggest, perhaps this was a misunderstanding.
Even he found it hard to accept—biological mothers conducting experiments on their own children, regardless of their motives, didn’t seem like something a normal person would do.
But the experimental data was too glaringly obvious. Jiang Heng might not fully grasp what these data represented, but Shen Huaizhi did.
After he asked, Jiang Heng lightly shook his head, “No.” After saying that, he smiled a bit self-mockingly, “I dare not.”
His voice was low, clearly self-deprecating but tinged with a hint of fear. In that fleeting moment, Shen Huaizhi felt like his heart was tightly gripped. It was hard to imagine what emotions Jiang Heng must have been feeling upon discovering those things.
Jiang Heng, a person who couldn’t suppress his temper, forcefully held back, not confronting Xie An directly in front of her, remaining silent until now. Shen Huaizhi thought to himself that this didn’t prove anything; perhaps it was just recording his physical condition.
But upon reflection, he swallowed those thoughts. It wasn’t the time for soothing words as if to comfort a child. After a moment of silence, he said, “Whatever you want to do, I will support you.”
He understood Jiang Heng’s intention in showing him those things. Despite Jiang Heng’s complete trust in him, Shen Huaizhi couldn’t feel any happiness about it. If possible, he would rather not be entrusted under these circumstances.
He didn’t want his Jiang Heng to go through this. His Jiang Heng should grow up happily and carefree, smoothly becoming whatever he wanted to be for a lifetime. Jiang Heng hadn’t anticipated Shen Huaizhi would suddenly say this. In reality, he was afraid Shen Huaizhi might tell him not to think about it anymore, promising to handle the matter himself. But now he understood that Shen Huaizhi truly understood him.
Knowing he wanted a harbor but didn’t need someone to row the boat for him, Jiang Heng softly replied, “Okay.”
“But I hope, whatever you decide to do, I can know about it, so I can ensure your safety, okay?” Shen Huaizhi added, making this the most significant concession he could offer.
Jiang Heng hesitated briefly, then softly responded, “Okay.”
Seeing him in this obedient manner, Shen Huaizhi reached out and gently tapped Jiang Heng’s head. After a moment’s thought, he reminded him, “Your dad might know something.”
It was also his negligence to assume that Jiang Jin’s earlier suggestion for Jiang Heng to undergo a physical examination was merely out of concern for his son, and that choosing a hospital near the city was just for Jiang Jin’s convenience in commuting. But now, in retrospect, Jiang Jin’s sudden and urgent contact might also be because she knew something.
Otherwise, it’s hard to explain why she had never done this before. Hearing Shen Huaizhi mention Jiang Jin, Jiang Heng paused slightly, then nodded, “I will go see him.”
He wanted to know why Jiang Jin and Xie An divorced back then. If it wasn’t because Jiang Jin was unfaithful, then why did Xie An have custody?
Perhaps because he was really tired, and because he had spoken about this matter, not long after, Jiang Heng fell asleep again leaning on Shen Huaizhi’s shoulder. This time, Shen Huaizhi didn’t wake him up again, but carried him into the room. After settling him down, Shen Huaizhi’s expression became extremely serious.
If Xie An’s actions were confirmed, it wouldn’t just be about Xie An; it might even involve Xie An’s laboratory, and could entangle some troublesome people. Shen Huaizhi was considering far more than Jiang Heng was.
He stood at the door of the room for a while, then finally called his father.
“Dad… Do you know about the laboratory where Aunt Xie works?”
–
Meeting Jiang Jin turned out to be much easier than Jiang Heng had anticipated.
It seemed like Jiang Jin had been waiting for Jiang Heng eagerly, perhaps even a bit impatiently.
In truth, even Jiang Heng himself couldn’t recall how long it had been since he last saw his father. In his memory, Jiang Jin’s image remained frozen from the time before his divorce with Xie An.
To be fair, among the crowd of Alphas, Jiang Jin’s appearance was quite outstanding. Although he had gentle features and carried an air of warmth and gentleness, he also possessed a presence that was no less commanding than other Alphas. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to expand his business so successfully.
Although Jiang Heng had chosen the restaurant, he only realized upon arrival that Jiang Jin had already booked the entire place. Aside from the two of them, there were no other customers.
“You… you’re here,” Jiang Jin greeted. He was dressed in a proper suit, and despite his age, there were few visible signs of aging on his face; he seemed to take good care of himself.
If one overlooked his nervous stuttering while speaking, his slightly fidgety hands unsure where to place themselves, and the slight loss of control over his facial expressions, Jiang Heng might have thought Jiang Jin was truly a successful person.
1TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading! ❤️”
