“Sir, are you truly certain about this?” The butler bent low, barely daring to breathe.
Li She had announced his engagement to the public, as if letting go of his obsession with Ye Qiushi.
A few nights ago, though, he had secretly visited the small courtyard where Ye Qiushi now lived, peering through the wooden fence to catch a glimpse of him.
The elderly doctor, following instructions, lived next door, ready to provide assistance at any moment in case of emergencies.
Ye Qiushi spent most of his days curled up asleep—sometimes for half a day at a time. The old doctor had remarked that it was a good sign; his body was slowly recovering, and the second pregnancy wasn’t as taxing as the first.
That was a relief.
Under the cover of darkness, Li She slipped into the house and, with restrained gentleness, stroked Ye Qiushi’s hair. He bent down and pressed soft kisses to his face.
“You’re so heartless,” he murmured, a mix of bitterness and sorrow in his tone. “You said you didn’t want me, and that was that.”
In that moment, he desperately wished Ye Qiushi were an Omega—an Omega who could sense his pheromones.
Maybe then Ye Qiushi would be drawn to him, unable to leave. Or maybe he would detect something within Li She’s overwhelming, uncontrollable pheromones and give him just a sliver of a chance.
The person he thought of day and night was right there, so close. His pheromones almost seemed to bloom in response to him.
The next morning, Han Mei entered the house and immediately wrinkled his nose. “Why does it smell like an Alpha? Did that Li—whatever his name is—come here?”
“No,” Ye Qiushi replied, one hand resting on his stomach. He lowered his gaze, suppressing a moment of unease.
“Hmph, I doubt he’d come anyway,” Han Mei huffed indignantly, raising the bag of groceries he’d just bought. Recently, he’d been having incredible luck at the market, always managing to snag the freshest fish and the most tender greens.
“Mm.” When Ye Qiushi looked up again, his usual calm expression had returned. He didn’t pursue the topic, but Han Mei couldn’t hold back his words any longer.
“Why are you so calm?! That Li—what’s-his-name—Li She is getting married! Your son is about to have a stepmother—or maybe a stepfather!”
He had overheard the gossip while buying groceries. Two old men at the market had been discussing the upcoming grand wedding in vivid detail, right down to the time and place. It was clear the high-society event was the talk of the town.
Ye Qiushi sat silently for a long time. Finally, he touched the small pillbox in his hand, turned his back to Han Mei, and said softly, “I’m going to sleep.”
“You just woke up!” Han Mei protested, but quickly backed out. “Alright then, get some more rest. I’ll take the fish to my mom to make carp soup. Call me when you wake up.”
The cheerful voice of the young man faded away, along with the sound of his bustling movements. Soon, everything fell quiet, as though Ye Qiushi were the only person left in the world.
“Qiuqiu and Jiu Jiu—one doesn’t talk much, and the other can’t stop babbling. Don’t you think their names suit them perfectly?” That person had once leaned down, kissing his forehead with a gentle smile, trying to make him laugh.
As if he were someone truly, deeply important.
The shell of the clam had long since snapped shut. Not because there was no attraction, no affection.
But because the soft flesh inside had rotted, and the pearl had shattered. Ye Qiushi feared disappointing that precious person and feared even more the possibility of shattering completely once again.
He was already broken.
The festival’s celebratory music echoed joyously within a chapel adorned with white hibiscus flowers. The tall, handsome Alpha stood silently, his back turned, staring at the intricate patterns of the stone floor.
“Sir.” A familiar, light voice called out to him softly.
“What are you doing here?” Li She didn’t turn around, his emotions in turmoil—feeling both wronged and inexplicably elated.
Hearing that voice made him happy. It always did.
“I came to congratulate you on your wedding.”
“Alright.” Li She quelled the fleeting joy, turning to face him.
“Your spouse must be very beautiful,” Ye Qiushi said, suddenly more talkative than usual.
“She is.” Li She nodded, his gaze lowering to meet Ye Qiushi’s, his pupils reflecting the man’s image.
Ye Qiushi tried to suppress the bitterness in his eyes and stated his purpose for coming.
“I think… I think you’ll have more outstanding children in the future. But if you find Jiu Jiu troublesome, if she disrupts your married life, could you let me raise her? I’ll love her very much and be a responsible father to her.”
Li She didn’t respond, didn’t react. He simply asked, “Anything else?”
“Yes, I…” Ye Qiushi stammered, suddenly unsure of what to say. “I…”
“Is this a marriage of convenience?” he blurted out awkwardly, his question catching even himself off guard.
Li She suddenly laughed. “Why does that matter? What does it have to do with you?”
“It does.” Ye Qiushi’s voice trembled slightly as he mustered the courage to piece together his shattered pearl and offer it to the man before him.
“If it’s a marriage of convenience… she’s very beautiful, I know. But you don’t love her yet, do you?”
“Then… could you consider me, us, I…”
He faltered, panic setting in. What was he doing? What was he saying? This was someone else’s wedding. His bravery was misplaced, ridiculous, and utterly pathetic.
“Would you marry me, Ye Qiushi?” The Alpha, his expression softened, interrupted his incoherent words and raised a hand to shield him from the blinding sunlight.
“I’ve wanted to give you this ring for so long, but you keep running away.”
Ye Qiushi stared at him, wide-eyed, unable to believe what he was hearing.
It was a rare expression for him.
So Li She bent slightly, drawing closer to his face, and said seriously, “There’s no one else. I’ve been waiting for you here.”
“If you came, I’d ask you if you’d marry me. If you didn’t come, I’d just smell the flowers and quietly sulk.”
“Will you marry me, Qiuqiu? I’m not a good person, but I’ll change. Give me a chance.” The Alpha, unaccustomed to expressing himself or seeking approval, pulled out a small velvet box and knelt on one knee.
Looking up at Ye Qiushi, he lowered himself completely. “There’s no one I want to spend the rest of my life with but you. Please try to love me.”
“Then… let’s get married,” Ye Qiushi replied, pretending to be calm as he extended his hand. But the flush spreading to the tips of his ears betrayed his true feelings.
The cool metal of the ring encircled his finger—it fit perfectly.
It was an Alpha named Li She, who caught his fractured pearl and promised to nurture it back to wholeness.
It was the Alpha who seized the kite string and tethered him, so he would no longer drift aimlessly.
It was the Alpha who loved him.
