Chapter 30: Dark-Skinned Rugged Honest Man 30

Hang Liu woke up in the dead of night on the third day.

The lights in the hospital room at night were dim, shrouded in a hazy fog like a layer of dust had settled on the white lampshade.

Outside, the world was a deep, inky black without a hint of moonlight. The ward was on a low floor, and every so often, the piercing beams from a passing night vehicle would slice through the thin gauze curtains, illuminating the bed and the young man dozing at its side.

Hang Liu slowly pushed himself up to a half-sitting position. In one fleeting moment, the car lights swept across his pale face, making it seem almost transparent, as if it might dissolve into vapor.

He endured the dizziness throbbing in his skull and the nausea that came with it, taking a good while to steady himself.

He wasn’t in any rush to examine his own condition. Instead, he gazed intently at the sleeping young man’s half-exposed face by the bedside.

Jiang Rang wasn’t sleeping well. Over this period, his brows had been perpetually furrowed, never relaxing even in slumber. The beta had lost a lot of weight; the sharp line of his jaw stood out starkly beneath the half-mask of his hand, giving him an excessively gaunt appearance.

Hang Liu stared in a daze, his pale lips pressed lightly together.

He had always found himself lost in thought while watching the young man like this. That face had long since been traced and retraced by his gaze until it was etched into his very bones—yet he still couldn’t stop himself from thinking about it, looking at it, yearning for it.

A warm, damp sensation brushed his fingertip, accompanied by the gentle puff of breath like steam rising from a kettle in winter.

Startled, Hang Liu’s dark eyes flicked over, meeting the young man’s newly opened, misty gaze.

He instinctively pulled his hand back, lips pressing together as he lowered his thin, pale eyelids.

Just like that, he seemed to revert to the shy, soft, and gentle Hang Liu of old.

Jiang Rang straightened up. Having rested with his head pillowed on his arms for so long, a vivid red mark now creased the other half of his face. The smile tugging at his lips was strained and faint.

The young man did his best to act as if nothing had happened, pasting over the awkwardness. He grabbed the thermos cup, poured some water, and offered it to Hang Liu with earnest concern. “A Liu, have some water. You’ve been asleep for so long—you must be thirsty, right?”

Hang Liu didn’t take the cup. His forehead was wrapped in thick layers of gauze, faint traces of fresh red blood seeping through, which only made him look all the more frail and pitiable.

Jiang Rang sighed. Under that soft, unwavering gaze, he dutifully lifted the cup to the young man’s lips himself.

Only then did Hang Liu lower his eyes demurely and sip at the water in small, obedient mouthfuls.

Perhaps he drank too quickly; the young man choked and broke into a low, hoarse cough. His porcelain-pale face flushed deep red as stray droplets of water trailed slowly down his cheek.

Jiang Rang patted his back soothingly, helping him catch his breath.

From start to finish, Hang Liu hadn’t uttered a single word.

After a long moment, Jiang Rang seemed to surrender completely. The beta rubbed his temples and sighed. “A Liu, you just woke up—can we skip the silent treatment for now? Whatever you want to ask, I’ll tell you.”

It was a little unspoken agreement from their days in the countryside. Hang Liu had a gentle temperament, while Jiang Rang was hopelessly dense. So, to make him aware of his low mood, Hang Liu would hold his tongue until the other finally opened up.

Perhaps recalling those old times softened Jiang Rang’s expression further. Combined with the days his fiancé had lain unconscious—which had given him ample time to sort through his thoughts—he found himself unwilling to let Hang Liu stay hurt. He didn’t want the young man turning extreme or reactive because of him, and he especially dreaded the thought that he might even harm himself.

In the end, his dealings with Qi Yu were nothing but a transaction. Once it was over, the money and goods would be settled, leaving no lingering ties.

So when his fiancé inevitably brought up the question again—why he kept getting entangled with Qi Yu—Jiang Rang pressed his lips together, hesitated for a beat, and finally told him the truth in a quiet voice.

The beta fixed Hang Liu with a serious stare. “A Liu, the truth is, I’ve been lying to you all along. Dad’s illness… there was never any fundraiser or kind-hearted friends stepping in. Qi Yu didn’t help me out of the goodness of his heart either. What happened between us… it was a deal.”

“He needed a child, and I needed money.”

Hang Liu bit his lip. His eyes gradually reddened as he gritted out through clenched teeth, “How could he do that to you!”

“A-Rang.” His voice turned mournful, tears streaming down like they were tearing at his very soul, their glimmer reflecting the heartbreak in his gaze. Choking back sobs, the young man said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t notice something was wrong with you. We’ll pay the money back little by little, okay? You… you just stop…”

Jiang Rang met Hang Liu’s eyes calmly. He had never been this candid before—never exposed himself so raw and vulnerable to another person.

“A Liu,” he said, “there’s no going back for me anymore. The Qi Family wields real power and influence. We’ve come this far—he won’t let me off the hook.”

Hang Liu’s mind was a whirlwind of chaos in an instant. The truth was always far crueler than anyone could imagine.

The young man had thought that the widowed Male Master truly liked Jiang Rang. But in reality, what lay behind their relationship was a naked transaction of money. Strip away the facade of romance, and against a colossal entity like the Qi Family, how could ordinary people like them possibly escape the crushing weight of power and influence?

“A Liu.”

The beta’s soft voice pulled Hang Liu back to his senses. Jiang Rang pursed his lips and continued, “Mr. Qi said that once he gives birth to the child, I’ll be free.”

“But A Liu, this isn’t fair to you.”

Jiang Rang lowered his gaze. “You deserve someone better, so A Liu, we should just…”

“There’s no such thing as fair or unfair.” Hang Liu coughed softly. The glaring lights from outside fell on his slightly trembling lower lip.

He spoke in a quiet voice, his brows and eyes drooping downward, his tone almost ethereal and heartbreaking: “A-Rang, none of this has ever been your fault. I can’t deny the choices you’ve made, and I can’t just stand by and watch Uncle leave you.”

“I don’t care about any of it. I just feel pain—right here in my chest.”

The young man’s gaze was almost tender, yet sharp like the edge of a blade: “You never say anything, always shouldering everything alone, even if it means being misunderstood. You keep saying I’ll meet someone better, but A-Rang, in my heart, you’re the best. You just won’t believe me.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe—it was that he couldn’t bring himself to believe.

He couldn’t believe that there was someone who would stand by his side unconditionally.

Jiang Rang let out a soft sigh. After a long moment, his eyes reddened as he murmured an apology.

That faint, quiet voice was like a little insect fluttering in his palm. It was swept away by the heavy evening breeze into the depths of the night, slowly fading from existence.

~~~

“Mr. Qi, this is your second artificial insemination procedure this month. If it fails again, you must allow your body to recover for a long time to ensure your condition returns to normal.”

The man seated at the desk looked deathly pale, his beautiful eyes slightly sunken, giving him an air of exhaustion and haggardness. Considering the doctor’s vague implications earlier, the omega seemed as if he had just suffered a recent miscarriage.

Qi Yu’s hands were crossed, his long black hair draped over his chest like a heavy, oppressive boulder.

The man’s voice was hoarse and cold. He seemed utterly indifferent to his body’s condition, obsessively and urgently forcing a single outcome. Thus, the pitch-black, lightless whites of his eyes gazing upward carried an especially eerie, sickly chill.

“When will the results be out?”

The doctor in the white coat sighed softly. Affiliated with the Qi Family Hospital, he naturally had no choice but to follow the man’s wishes.

He clicked the mouse a few times with his right hand before finally saying, “Sir, the results should be confirmed in about three days.”

Qi Yu’s expression eased slightly, his clenched palms relaxing a fraction. From gripping too hard, glaring red marks streaked across the webbing of his hand, which contrasted strangely with the dark navy of his outer shirt—like blood-red flowers blooming from thick spiritual vines, feeding on human blood.

The Male Master rarely wore anything but black, always exuding a pallid, solemn air, like a living corpse.

But since the pregnancy preparation plan had begun some time ago, following the doctor’s advice to change environments and colors to maintain a pleasant mindset, Qi Yu had stopped fixating solely on black.

In truth, he had long since abandoned that dull, stagnant hue. For instance, the vibrant flowers that now appeared in his deep, lightless bedroom; or the quirky little ornaments gradually accumulating by his bedside; or the orange-red armchair by the window for resting.

It was a subtle feeling, like a pitch-black sheet of paper slowly soaked by another person’s moist liquid. The black faded first into shades of gray, then passionately blended with reds, greens, and whites.

Yet this shirt was perhaps too dark. When the light shone down from above his head, it cast a pallor of sickly blue across his creamy white face. His deep black eyes gleamed with a ghostly yin energy, creating an illusion as if he were a paper effigy.

The doctor didn’t dare glance at Mr. Qi even once. Even a single look from the man made his hair stand on end and his skin crawl.

After a long while, Qi Yu seemed to snap out of some deep reverie. Perhaps due to the various hormones from the pregnancy drugs he’d been taking lately, the man’s thoughts had grown restless and prone to wandering. Even during work, he couldn’t help thinking of the beta, to the point where he needed to keep all the home cameras—and even the micro-surveillance devices—on just to focus.

The omega exhaled slowly, his voice hoarse: “What else do I need to watch out for in the next few days?”

The doctor thought for a moment before saying cautiously, “These next few days, you just need to keep in a pleasant mood. The results aren’t clear yet… Of course, when it comes to bedroom matters, you’ll need to exercise some restraint. A bit of intimacy is fine, but nothing too intense.”

As he spoke, the doctor suddenly seemed to realize that the omega before him was a widower who already had a lover. His words were a blatant offense. The young doctor’s face drained of color in fear, and he could barely stammer out an apology.

Unexpectedly, the omega—who had long held a position of power—didn’t seem to mind at all. The man calmly acknowledged the instructions, his fingertips rubbing absently against one another. It was as if some thought had crossed his mind, for a faint blush even crept into his earlobes.

Truth be told, matters of the bed usually required cooperation from both sides. In the past, it had always been the omega taking the initiative to seek pleasure. But these past few days, that fool Jiang Rang had suddenly wised up. Not only did he come to him proactively every day, but he acted as if it were never enough…

The more the Male Master thought about it, the more vivid the flush on his face became.

He seemed every bit the young, delicate omega lost in the throes of love, endlessly pondering Jiang Rang’s every move, utterly captivated.

In such high spirits, Qi Yu even found that eyesore of a fiancé far less irritating.

After all, when it came down to it, he would be the first to bear Jiang Rang’s child. Once there was a child, Jiang Rang wouldn’t be able to escape.

Qi Yu was a clever man. He had always understood how much the young beta valued family and kinship. With love and attachment came vulnerability.

Even if Jiang Rang could never love him wholeheartedly in this lifetime, the child would serve as the red rope binding them together for life.

~~~

The bed was a tangled mess, the sheets twisted into knots and marked with deep and shallow traces.

The man lay on his side atop it, his long hair draping over his pale back, leaving his chest and neck fully exposed.

Clusters of marks bloomed across his skin—exquisite and ornate as carvings. They were too light and airy for dandelions, too vibrant for roses; no words could fully capture their beauty.

They were the very symbol of love.

Qi Yu was scrolling through the young man’s phone. He knew Jiang Rang’s honest nature meant he wouldn’t stray, but he couldn’t stop himself from checking anyway.

The man examined it meticulously, even scrutinizing chat windows that were obviously just bots.

Naturally, the main point of interest was the conversation between Jiang Rang and Hang Liu.

Hang Liu had bumped his head and hadn’t been helping out at the villa these past few days. As a result, Jiang Rang had grown restless, sneaking off to see him multiple times during breaks.

Qi Yu wouldn’t openly interfere. He knew all too well how impulsive and rebellious young people’s affections could be.

Even someone as steady and good-tempered as Jiang Rang had that stubborn beta streak deep down.

If the whole world tried to keep them apart, it would only fuel an irrational belief that their love could conquer all.

Qi Yu couldn’t allow that to happen.

But understanding the logic was one thing; jealousy was another.

Fortunately, Jiang Rang was plenty enthusiastic toward him at night. These past couple of days, he’d even vaguely hinted at wanting a break in deference to the doctor’s advice, but the beta had acted like he was addicted, staring at him intently the moment he entered the room.

Those eyes, brimming with desire, seemed to conjure endless love and passion. They wove a inescapable net, trapping the omega and squeezing the life from him.

Layer upon layer of flames leaped from the young man’s gaze straight into Qi Yu’s heart. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though the thin layer of fabric covering him had burned to ash under that stare.

Qi Yu couldn’t imagine staying calm in the face of such a look.

They tangled together every night. Their love had grown so frequent that even the scent of the bedroom air freshener was enough to stir unwelcome physiological urges.

The sound of running water from the bathroom tapered off. After a moment, a pair of honey-toned, muscular wrists—veins faintly bulging—pushed open the door.

Qi Yu set the phone aside. He wore nothing, merely a thin gray sheet draped lightly over his key areas.

Seeing Jiang Rang emerge from the bathroom, radiating that post-coital laziness and allure, the man swallowed subtly and unconsciously pressed his thighs together.

By now, they knew each other’s bodies inside and out. Their constant, intimate exchanges had led to one obvious outcome: a single glance was enough to convey everything.

Jiang Rang paused mid-wipe of his damp hair. He slung the towel casually over his neck, and his bathrobe fell open boldly with the motion. Yet both men were used to it by now, with not a hint of embarrassment between them.

The young man frowned slightly, staring at the omega on the bed whose fragrant shoulder was half-exposed. He hesitated. “Do we have to keep going?”

Qi Yu subconsciously stroked his abdomen. Even though he wasn’t sure if Jiang Rang’s seed had taken root inside him yet, he didn’t dare to continue recklessly.

The man averted his gaze. His sleek black hair cascaded down his pale cheek like a gentle stream. A flush colored his face, as vivid as peach blossoms scorched by sparks. The omega let out a soft complaint. “Jiang Rang, day after day… Can’t you give me a break? You’re always in such a rush…”

Jiang Rang said nothing. After a long moment, the man sensed something off and lifted his eyes to look.

By sheer coincidence, Qi Yu’s phone buzzed to life right then.

The man let out a low hum, slowly propping himself up by the waist. He shifted into a comfortable position, leaning back against the tall silk pillows piled high at the headboard, and answered the call.

“Hello?”

Whatever the person on the other end said, it left the omega frozen in place.

He lost all ability to form words. The blush on his cheeks spread further, until it enveloped his entire body like drifting smoke.

A strange sheen gathered in Qi Yu’s eyes. Slowly, he directed his dark, shimmering gaze—like fractured moonlight on water—toward his slightly rounded abdomen.

His long, trembling fingers brushed over it gently, sliding across the skin as if beholding an unbelievable miracle.

Only after a long while did he finally hang up.

“Jiang Rang.” Qi Yu’s voice trembled as he slowly raised his misty eyes. In a soft whisper, he said, “I’m pregnant.”

The Male Master choked back his voice, sounding on the verge of tears. “Jiang Rang, Jiang Rang… We’re going to have a child.”

Perhaps it was the pregnancy hormones causing his emotions to swing wildly. This was Qi Yu’s first time carrying a child, and even with mental preparation, he couldn’t fully control the hormonal shifts.

One moment, excitement brought tears to his eyes. The next, he clung to the beta, insisting he feel the baby. Then he fretted over the child’s gender. Finally, he even started worrying about whose surname the child would take.

As he thought about it, the man grew dejected. That usually gloomy, cold face softened into something tender and self-deprecating. He lifted his gaze to the beta and stammered out an apology.

The omega’s voice was hoarse. Sad tears shimmered in his beautiful, melancholic eyes as he pursed his lips. “Jiang Rang, I’m sorry. Once the baby is born, he won’t be able to take your surname.”

The Male Master seemed to steel himself with resolve. Earnestly, he said, “Believe me, Jiang Rang. As soon as I fully take over the Li Family’s influence in Parliament, I’ll head straight to the Police Station and change the child’s surname back.”

The air hung silent for a few seconds.

After a long pause, under the man’s expectant gaze, Jiang Rang pursed his lips. In a calm, measured tone, he said, “Mister, if I remember correctly, an omega’s pregnancy requires not just screening and verification but also a full-body checkup at the hospital to confirm the results.”

The young man had answered a different question entirely, but his words made perfect sense.

Qi Yu’s fingers had been trembling with excitement ever since he picked up the phone, and they hadn’t stopped. He obeyed Jiang Rang without question. If the young man said they needed to verify it, Qi Yu immediately got out of bed, started dressing, and called the driver.

In his current state, Qi Yu had lost all capacity for rational thought. He didn’t stop to wonder why Jiang Rang was so eager to confirm the pregnancy rather than sharing his own excitement and anticipation at becoming a father.

Lost in his own joy, one leaf blinded him to the tree. He couldn’t see the spark of hope and relief igniting in Jiang Rang’s eyes.