最佳契合 (Perfect Match) – 十九瑶
Chapter 75
Yuanjiang University’s midterm exam week always takes place in the middle of November.
After the lunch bell sounded in the classroom building, the younger students walked out in small groups of three or four, some on foot and some on bikes, and made their way to the cafeteria for lunch. Those who still hadn’t finished their exams ate lunch from lunch boxes as they studied nervously by the convenience store window. After finishing their exams, the students rushed to the school gate, where they formed a line in front of the meat loaf and fried chicken vendors.
He An left the exam room, said goodbye to his classmates, and came down the stairs with his reference books.
It was early winter, and the weather was cold. He was wearing a white sweater and carrying a shoulder bag. He had a beige plaid scarf around his shoulders that was wrapped loosely. With his fair and delicate features, he resembled a 17 or 18-year-old high school student, radiating enthusiasm and energy.
After going around a corner, he walked out into the warm sun and along the big lawn to the east gate.
Yan Ning was not at home in the morning because he had a professional class for graduate students scheduled. Barton and Mrs. Zhou were the only ones with Linglan. It took a while for the little girl to get used to the times when her father wasn’t always with her. Without seeing him in a long time, she would definitely be angry again. Luckily, it was Friday today, and he got the whole weekend to spend with her after taking the exams.
With this in mind, He An sped up.
He has been going to school for a month and is now in the second business class. Each and every one of his classmates is great to be around. He made quite an impression when he first came. After all, he was recently the center of attention after making headlines in the entertainment industry. Even he wouldn’t believe it if he said that no one knew who he was.
The classmates who knew him were pretty much split into two groups. One group was interested in rumors and wanted to find out more, while the other group was more interested in work and wanted to meet Zheng Feiluan through him. He An would tell the former a few trivial things to feed their curiosity, but the latter he declined one by one.
After a week or so, as everyone became acquainted, the extra attention was no longer directed towards him.
A peaceful life happened faster than imagined.
As an aftermath of the cheating scandal, the actors from “Immortals in the Mirror” and the guests in the variety show that Xie Yan signed a contract with had been fired and replaced. But it’s expected that, following a major scandal, negative stories will circulate for a few weeks, and He An’s name will be brought up in whatever manner or form. And the more He An’s name gets brought up, the more difficult his life will be.
This time, however, things were different.
No one saw or heard anything about Xie Yan at all. There wasn’t any bad news, digging up or analyzing, complaining, or feeling regretful. Nothing came of him, like a stone dropped into a deep well; it left barely any ripples.
He An knew that this was Zheng Feiluan’s way of keeping him safe.
Zheng Feiluan even appointed a very skilled bodyguard to follow him. Except for safe places like classrooms, offices, and libraries, the bodyguard would disguise himself as a Yuanjiang University student and move in a discrete manner within a 100-meter radius.
“Is it actually that dangerous?” He An once asked Zheng Feiluan.
“There have been too many people with their own ideas lately, so it’s best to be cautious.” Zheng Feiluan answered.
Zheng Feiluan was right.
He An was like a moving goal for the first few days of school. On the several hundred-meter walk from one building to another, one could hear conversations and hostile glances from afar. But now everything is much better. Nobody bothered to stop him after he walked along the lawn path for a good three or four minutes.
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As He An walked, a car discreetly drove from behind, slowed down, and followed him for more than ten meters.
He cast a glimpse at it from the corner of his eye.
He does, however, know the license plate number and the three-pointed star emblem by heart.
He An pretended not to see and casually walked forward with the book in his hands. After patiently following him for a while, the car owner finally had to pull forward a meter, slowly lower the window, and ask, “Hi there. Are you from the School of Finance?”
“Yeah.” He An tried not to laugh and just nodded as he walked.
The other person asked again, “Have you just finished your midterms?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“So… how did you do on the exam?”
“It was fine. I probably got more than 90 percent.”
The other person grinned and said, “You seem like a great student. Would you grant me the privilege of asking you out on a date?”
He An stopped and turned around, and the car did the same.
“Sir, I think you’re a bit ignorant and insincere.” He An purposely made his face look a little cold as he looked at Zheng Feiluan in the car, “Aside from that, I haven’t graduated yet. I’d like to focus on university instead of thinking about love for the time being.”
Zheng Feiluan shrugged, “Then successful people like me are allowed to think about that, right?”
Successful?
Why does this bragging sound a little too proud?
He An wanted to laugh even more. While holding the book, he tilted his head and said, “I don’t know much about you. Can you tell me exactly how successful you are?”
Zheng Feiluan’s expression turned icy as he clenched his fists on the wheel and said, “I own a company worth hundreds of billions.”
He An shook his head to show that he wasn’t happy.
Zheng Feiluan quickly added, “I have also sunk money into 22 other businesses.”
He was still dissatisfied.
Zheng Feiluan thought about it and declared in a very dominant and irritating manner, “I’m financially powerful; anything you want, I can acquire it for you.”
“But I’m really content with my life. I don’t want anything.”
Zheng Feiluan couldn’t help but burst into laughter as he met his cheeky yet dazzling eyes. He lowered the back window. He noticed Linglan seated in the child safety seat, looking upwards, smiling affectionately at He An, and saying, “Dad!”
“I have the sweetest daughter in the world. Am I good enough to be called successful?”
Zheng Feiluan played his trump card.
He An lost, and he had no choice but to admit it. He quickly opened the car door and stepped inside. He warmly brushed Linglan’s cheek and asked, “Did you miss me?”
“Yes!”
Linglan answered, fluttering her thick lashes.
The car started up again and moved slowly toward Yuanjiang University’s east gate. Zheng Feiluan looked in the rearview mirror at the charming father and daughter and joked, “Are you willing to date me now?”
He An was embarrassed and annoyed, “Aren’t you tired of doing this all the time?”
“Never.” Zheng Feiluan smiled and said, “I’ve been thinking about what I would do if I met you at school instead of at the Jinyuan gate the first time. He An, let’s explore every option, and if one appeals to you, let’s make it real, all right?”
He An felt a faint bitterness in his nose.
He lowered his head to avoid seeing the reflection in the rearview mirror and instinctively grabbed his shoulder bag.
He was stunned for a second, unsure of what to say in reply to such a confession.
“Well, thanks for helping me with my studies… A lot of stuff was on the exam today, and you explained it better than the teacher, so… so I answered pretty well.” He suddenly changed the subject.
At first, Zheng Feiluan was taken aback, but he soon composed himself and asked, “It’s alright. Why are you being so polite to me? It must be tiring to study all the time lately. Let’s go get you something to eat.”
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He planned to eat at a famous Turkish restaurant in the city, but he ended up having this “midterm dinner party” at a fairly inexpensive restaurant close to Yuanjiang University.
The restaurant’s name, “Petite Potato,” is quite humble and simple. He took Zheng Feiluan there after hearing his classmates rave that the crab roe tofu and loofah soup dumplings were so good that they topped all famous vloggers’ lists online.
Just as he walked in the door, he unexpectedly ran into an old acquaintance.
At the very least, he knows He An.
Han Xiaoli, the owner of Petite Potato, is an omega with a charming round face from birth. When he noticed He An, he squinted, pinched his chin, and turned his head.
“Oh my goodness… you’re…”
He An also felt a sense of familiarity. They looked at each other for a while, and then both said at the same time, “Two years ago… did you—”
“Yanshi Second Hospital!”
Han Xiaoli finished speaking first and was very articulate.
He An’s face lit up with a smile as he said, “It’s you. What coincidence is this?”
“We’ve been operating a restaurant here for almost a year. It’s even more of a coincidence that you showed up today!”
“I’ve just gone back to Yuanjiang University to finish my degree.” He An added, “My classmates talk about Petite Potato a lot, but I kept putting it off. If I’d come earlier, I could’ve met you sooner!”
Zheng Feiluan didn’t know Han Xiaoli, so he was a little confused when he saw them talking about the past right away after meeting. It looked like they knew each other a lot. Han Xiaoli examined him from head to toe before asking, “Are you He An’s alpha?”
“Yes.”
After straightening his back, Zheng Feiluan nodded politely.
Since the other person is likely to be an old acquaintance of He An’s, it’s important that he make a good first impression.
Soon after, Han Xiaoli unexpectedly said, “Then you have to protect He An! He had a jerk for an alpha in the past. He didn’t come see the baby after she was born or pay for their medical bills, so He An was left in the hospital hurting. He also did his hardest to sabotage him behind his back. He’s the absolute worst of the worst! You appear quite nice, really… privileged. You need to step up and don’t let anyone push He An around anymore!”
As he spoke, he firmly patted Zheng Feiluan on the shoulder, as if he had placed a lot of faith in him.
Zheng Feiluan said, “…I understand.”
It turned out to be another patient He An had met in the hospital that year.
He felt a slight sting in his chest.
The “midterm dinner party” that was supposed to happen turned into an “omega reunion dinner.” Han Xiaoli reserved a private room, excitedly invited He An to sit down, and then called his alpha.
The alpha remains his huge, strong, honest, and cheery self. He no longer works at the car repair shop and instead helps Han Xiaoli run the business. He’s served with Han Xiaoli’s special meals every day.
He carried a two-year-old boy on his shoulders.
“This is Danbing.” Han Xiaoli explained, “He was born on the same day and year as your Linglan.”
“He wasn’t even able to open his eyes the last time I saw him. It’s amazing how quickly he’s grown. He’s even stronger than our Linglan,” He An remarked.
Linglan gave Danbing a sharp look and blinked. The little boy laughed loudly, jumped off his dad’s shoulder, and dashed over to play with Linglan.
Han Xiaoli pulled out his phone and leaned over to show He An a couple more photos, “Look, here’s Fantuan and Zicai. They’re twins, only two months old.”
In the picture, two babies are sleeping next to each other.
“You… you guys are going a little too fast…”
He An was really shocked.
Han Xiaoli felt very shy and scratched his head, “Oh, our omelette1“Danbing” means egg roll or omelette in Chinese. was so cute that we had to make a rice ball2“Fantuan” means rice ball in Chinese.. And God was so generous that he also gave me a seaweed3“Zicai Bao” means seaweed bun in Chinese. bun… Y-you should work hard too and try to grow some hydrangeas, lilacs, monk fruit, or something else…”4Han Xiaoli’s children are named after food, and since Linglan’s name means Lily of the Valley, he suggested these flowers as names for He An’s future children.
“Xiuqiu5“Xiuqiu Hua” is the Chinese term for the hydrangea flower. and Dingxiang6“Zi Dingxiang” is the Chinese term for purple lilacs. are great, but Luohan7“Luohan Guo” is the Chinese term for the monk fruit. It is not ideal to give to a child. should be left alone.” He An smiled and put his chin up.
While eating soup dumplings and side dishes, the two omegas reflected on their time in the hospital. After two years, the weight of the emotions between the parties had subsided, but for Zheng Feiluan, every moment stayed fresh in his memory.
When he first heard that He An had been in a coma for five days in the hospital bed because he had lost too much blood, Linglan was alone in the neonatal intensive care unit from Christmas to New Year’s Day. When he heard that He An woke up so weak that he could hardly sit up, Cheng Xiu was the only person caring for him day and night. When he heard that his new assistant came to his house with gifts and “politely invited” He An to move to another ward, He An was so frail and couldn’t say no.
No matter how much Zheng Feiluan tried to avoid it, he knew that, as a regretful offender, he had to face these facts.
A little later, Han Xiaoli left for work, leaving the three of them alone in the private room.
“Now it’s time for us.”
He An gave him a smile, bent down to blow on the soup dumpling that had been bit to cool it down, and then carefully gave it to Linglan. He looked normal, like what he had just done was a normal conversation between friends.
Zheng Feiluan felt grateful and nodded in agreement, “I don’t have any work planned this afternoon, so I’d love to go with you. Should we take Linglan to the zoo? What do you think?”
“That sounds good, but… I need to go to the library first.”
“Library?” It caught Zheng Feiluan off guard, “I thought the exam was already over.”
He An put down his spoon and drank the last bit of mushroom soup in his bowl, “I’d like to borrow some books to read at home this weekend. It won’t take long. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes, so wait for me in the parking lot. I’ll come down after I finish the borrowing process.”
“Okay, take your time. No need to hurry.”
Zheng Feiluan took the soup spoon, poured soup into his bowl, and gently pushed it across to him.
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The book He An requested to borrow actually had nothing to do with his major.
He entered the library using his student ID but never went on to the business area on the fourth floor. He veered off-track and went into the psychology and literature area on the third floor instead.
He needs to work out some problems he’s having inside.
He noticed about a month ago that the pheromone extract around Zheng Feiluan’s neck was getting thinner and thinner. Today, there was barely any left—just a thin layer big enough to cover the tube’s bottom. Just give it another week, and the glass tube might be totally empty.
Once he loses everything, how can Zheng Feiluan keep living?
The answer was painfully clear, but Zheng Feiluan pretended not to see it and never told him anything about it.
Although He An knew that Zheng Feiluan had given him full control over the future, he was happy with the way things were and didn’t dare take any steps forward.
It was because he was scared.
He’s scared that if he replaces his native glands, all of the great things he has now will break down.
He didn’t despise Zheng Feiluan; in fact, he enjoyed their current relationship. He felt comfortable teasing and snuggling with him, and there was no such thing as who was more humble or respectable. Their love was more profound and passionate than he thought. Zheng Feiluan’s love for him and his positive perception of him weren’t changed by their extremely low level of compatibility.
This is something to be happy about.
But what happens when the glands are replaced?
Will he become the frail person he used to be, who gave in to love and lost all of his pride?
At that time, he was so scared, weak, and submissive. In his eyes, Zheng Feiluan was all that existed, and he looked up to him constantly in adoration. Aside from Zheng Feiluan’s love, he was after nothing else.
No matter how slim the chances of him turning back to that lowly person were, the thought scared He An.
He had once gone to Yan Ning for advice, thinking that the scholarly and tolerant old man might show him the way. As Zheng Feiluan’s real father, he also thought that Yan Ning might love his son so much that he would push him to have the surgery and not make this uncomfortable choice.
But Yan Ning didn’t.
Although Yan Ning admitted he may be useful as a lobbyist, he claimed that nobody else should be involved with this matter. If you want to walk steadily and for the long haul, you need to loosen the knot in your own heart.
Time is running out, and there is very little extract left.
He needs to figure it out quickly.
In front of the bookshelf, He An looked through the mental paths that others had taken before him. He knew he wasn’t the first omega to lose his way. There have been countless omegas who have encountered the same dilemma throughout the years. They went searching up and down the maze of pheromones, dignity, and love, terrified by darkness and stung by thorns, hoping to find a genuine answer.
Eventually, some came out, but others didn’t, and some screamed until they died.
He An wanted to know what they were thinking because they might be soulmates he had never met.
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As soon as He An entered the reading area, a girl who had been expressionless as she sat at a study table began to perk up. She stared at He An with eyes that were getting darker and meaner until they were as intense as if they were filled with poison.
While He An was looking for a book, she opened her pencil case, took something out, and held it in her hand. Finally, she got to her feet and cautiously made her way toward He An.
“Are you also a psychology major? How come I’ve never seen you before?”
She had a soft voice and a smile on her face.
He An raised his head and saw a beta girl with a cute face and a simple outfit. He gave her a friendly smile and said, “I’m a finance major. I’m looking for two books about gender psychology.”
“Yeah, you omegas do get confused more often.” The girl nodded in agreement before asking, “And you? Are you also confused?”
“Just a little.” He An nodded.
After a brief smile, the girl remained silent.
Thinking it was only a short conversation, He An cut off after a few sentences to keep reading the book’s table of contents.
But then the girl’s voice came out of nowhere, and she asked, “…But, what’s causing you confusion? You must be the most proud person alive, am I right?”
Gentle, cheerful, gentle, and eerily unsettling all at once.
Just as he was about to turn around, a quick, excruciating pain shot through the nape of his neck, as if something sharp had sliced through his flesh. The pain went straight to his head, a cold sweat started to run down his face, and he couldn’t stop his lips from trembling.
Omegas are most vulnerable in the nape of their neck.
His body went limp as he sat there motionless, his head slumped, his eyes closed, and his hands clenched the shelves.
In the slowly getting darker vision, he saw the girl standing above him and looking down at him with a bloody copper hairpin in her hand, and then she whispered like a maniac, “You know, I haven’t heard from him in 23 days, not even a bit… It’s as if he disappeared. Those entertainment writers who used to rush to get into his personal life—where are they now? Everyone now acts like he doesn’t exist…”
“Ever think about how much he loved us? He constantly visited the fan group to share photos, send good morning and good night messages, and even send us gifts for festivals. He’s such a kind person. Simply because he provoked you, you unjustly banned him, and we won’t ever see him again. That must’ve felt good, huh?”
She knelt down, grabbed He An’s hair, and aimed the hairpin’s end at his throat.
After a while, she laughed quietly again, “Do you think I’ll kill you? Of course, I wouldn’t do that. Killing you would be jail time for me… But here’s a better idea, I can punish you in a small way.”
After saying that, she twisted the hairpin between her fingers and pressed it on the back of He An’s bloodied neck.
“You used it to defeat Yanyan, right? Then ask yourself this: Would Zheng Feiluan still love you if the glands were destroyed and you weren’t 100% compatible? Would he still, for no particular reason, throw out everyone who brought you nothing but misery?”
She grinned faintly as she walked up to He An, and muttered, “Life is so long, and winter in Yuanjiang is so cold…. You can slowly watch him fall in love with someone else, watch him grow tired of you and the children you gave birth to, and trample over you to pursue others—feel the suffering Yanyan feels, you understand?”
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Translated and edited by janemoyu (07/30/24)
