Chapter 14: Late Night

Oak Bay lay shrouded in profound darkness beneath the night’s heavy curtain, every sound silenced. A gentle spring breeze wafted across the terrace as Wen Yan tipped the last two painkillers from the candy box into his mouth. He sat cross-legged against the rattan chair’s backrest, gazing out at the hazy, alluring nightscape of the Capital on the distant horizon.

His mind was a whirlwind, cluttered thoughts churning relentlessly.

He had always believed Liang Shijing treated Liang Wangyou well, but now it seemed otherwise. From what he had seen and heard, when Liang Wangyou complained about being bored alone at home, Liang Shijing offered no comfort. When Liang Wangyou kept mentioning his desire to visit the Aquarium, Liang Shijing merely brushed it off with a cold “We’ll talk when I get back.”

The motives behind Liang Wangyou’s secret trip to the Aquarium had been plain to see all along. The boy had been wrong to go, but Liang Shijing bore some responsibility too. A single caring question back then might have prevented the afternoon’s disaster. Wen Yan drew a deep breath, fully aware that he had no right to criticize Liang Shijing.

Liang Shijing was merely negligent, while he himself had been entirely absent as a… father. What gave him the authority to meddle?

Blood from Liang Wangyou stained his shirt, oxidized now into dark red splotches that had stiffened the fabric. In a daze, Wen Yan touched the hardened material, then reached back to his neck and switched off the alarm. A piercing alert blared at once.

“Detected gland degeneration at 70%. Seek medical attention immediately!!”

The reading had been 40% when he left the Little Cabin. In less than a month, it had climbed to 70%—likely tied to the vibrations from this custom-made Neck Ring.

The more it was used, the worse the degeneration became.

If only Liang Shijing weren’t ill. If he didn’t need Wen Yan’s pheromones, then Wen Yan could care for Liang Wangyou a little longer. If only he himself weren’t sick—he would find a way to take Liang Wangyou away.

Wen Yan curled into himself, pain twisting through him.

After he was gone, if Liang Wangyou erred again and faced another beating, who would protect him?

It was so unfair…

If only he could live much longer…

He had once wanted nothing more than to die, but now that he yearned to live, he couldn’t.

Tonight would be agony for Liang Wangyou. Could the childcare workers soothe him? Wen Yan slipped out the door and padded through the brightly lit, elongated corridor… then gently twisted open the door to Liang Wangyou’s bedroom. A soft, warm glow emanated from the hallway wall lamp. He tiptoed to avoid waking the boy, moving silently through the living room and cloakroom. Faint, whimpering sobs reached his ears; his heart clenched, and he hurried his steps. But as he entered the master bedroom via the corridor, he froze in his tracks.

It wasn’t the childcare workers watching over him—it was Liang Shijing.

A single cozy sleep light illuminated the master bedroom. White gauze curtains draped loosely to either side of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The gleaming mirror reflected Liang Shijing cradling Liang Wangyou from the front, the boy’s bandaged hands—like little rice dumplings—draped over his shoulders. Liang Shijing’s eyes were shut tight, tear tracks still drying on his face.

Their gazes met in quiet stillness.

Liang Shijing patted Liang Wangyou’s back with steady rhythm, turning as he did so.

He had shed his usual sharp, aloof suit like a discarded shell. Strands of hair fell loosely over his forehead; he wore black pajamas. No longer the exalted Chief, but an alpha father lulling his child to sleep. The way he held Liang Wangyou was so natural, his long, elegant fingers resting on the boy’s spine amid gentle rocking.

Wen Yan watched him silently. Liang Shijing watched Wen Yan in turn.

In that space neither too close nor too distant, the air hung in a wordless standoff—tense yet not hostile. Still, Wen Yan burned with anger. If Liang Shijing could be this gentle now, why had he inflicted such harsh punishment on Liang Wangyou earlier?

Even if Liang Wangyou was in the wrong a thousand times over, Wen Yan had no intention of forgiving him.

After a pause, he strode past Liang Shijing as if he weren’t there. He touched Liang Wangyou’s forehead—no fever—then carefully turned over the boy’s bandaged hand to inspect the dressing. Satisfied, he prepared to slip out the way he had come.

As he turned, a warm hand seized his wrist.

“Do you think I was wrong?” Liang Shijing asked softly.

“How could you possibly be?” Wen Yan replied coolly, wrenching free.

“In your eyes, I’m just someone who lashes out without a second thought?” The alpha’s brows furrowed.

“Isn’t that right?” the omega shot back coldly.

“He wouldn’t explain himself when I gave him the chance, wouldn’t apologize when I waited for it—and now you think I’m the one at fault?” Liang Shijing let out a low, mirthless laugh. “Didn’t you want to know what he went to the Aquarium to see? You couldn’t get an answer out of him either. If I don’t teach him a lesson now, what happens next time he sneaks out and something goes wrong? Will we have time to react?”

Wen Yan had no patience for the argument. “Are you hurting? If you are, I’ll open the Neck Ring. If not, I’m leaving.”

Liang Shijing murmured his name.

“Don’t talk to me,” Wen Yan said flatly, then walked away.

The next morning, Consul Ji delivered an outdated but impeccably preserved old phone, saying Chief Liang had prepared it. The screensaver showed the Oak Corridor in autumn, golden leaves carpeting the ground like scattered potato chips—probably crunchy underfoot.

This must have belonged to that “omega.”

Wen Yan didn’t mind using someone else’s old phone. That was Liang Shijing for you—overbearing as ever. He wouldn’t let Wen Yan buy a new one during the state visit, but now he sent this secondhand one without asking. In the past, Wen Yan might have said thank you. Now, he wanted nothing to do with him, not a word or a glance.

“Consul Ji, could you help me prepare some things?” he asked.

“Of course.” Consul Ji was one of the few who never refused him. “Just say the word, and we’ll get them ready right away.”

After listing the items, Wen Yan added softly, “If Little You wakes up, please tell him I have a gift for him.”

“Understood.”

“By the way, did Liang Shijing mention anything about me going to the Chief’s Mansion today?”

Consul Ji looked sheepish. “He probably won’t dare—for now, at least.”

“What?” Wen Yan hadn’t caught it.

“Nothing. You’ll find out soon enough. You can use this phone without worry. If you don’t like it, we can get a new one, but don’t toss it, okay?” Consul Ji stood ramrod straight. “It’s one of the Chief’s treasures. Take a look at the photo album and messages.”

Wen Yan nodded politely, though he had zero interest in Liang Shijing’s so-called treasures.

Consul Ji mused, if Wen Yan saw the contents of that photo album, his memories should recover even faster. He hadn’t fallen into a coma during his pregnancy… Instead, he’d spent that year living such a blissful life with Liang Shijing.

Perfect. This family would be whole again soon.

Once the supplies arrived, Wen Yan returned to the bedroom and got to work in the small study. It took him the entire morning to finish. Then he headed to Liang Wangyou’s room, only to find the boy curled up on the living room sofa, watching a nature documentary.

“Mr. Wen.” The two childcare workers stood respectfully.

Liang Wangyou whipped his head around at once. His eyes lit up with anticipation as he scrambled to his feet and dashed over. “Wen Yan, you’re here!”

“Does it still hurt?” Wen Yan gently ruffled his hair.

Liang Wangyou held out both arms. “Uncle Hu gave me some medicine, but now that you’re here, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Wen Yan carefully unwrapped half the bandage to inspect the injury, then blew on it tenderly. “The redness and swelling have gone down a bit.”

“It’ll all be gone soon.” Far from being downcast about the punishment, Liang Wangyou was thrilled. “I don’t have to go to school for the next few days. We can play together all the time!”

“Sure.” From behind his back, Wen Yan produced an object the size of an apple, wrapped in a silk scarf. He said mysteriously, “Little You, guess what I brought you?”

“A present.” Liang Wangyou tilted his head up expectantly.

The boy’s smile felt so familiar—the faint curve of his lips, his swollen eyes now back to their narrow, almond shape with double eyelids, and those deep black pupils sparkling with just a hint of mirth. They were beautiful. Wen Yan had never thought he resembled anyone before, but in this moment, as that smile bloomed, he realized these were Liang Shijing’s eyes.

But how would he know what Liang Shijing looked like when he smiled? And why would Liang Shijing ever smile at him?

A headache throbbed…

“Wen Yan.” Liang Wangyou poked his leg with the fingers of his one good hand. “What are you thinking about?”

Snapping back to the present, Wen Yan smiled and unveiled the pearlescent silk scarf. There, nestled in his pale palm with its faint rosy tint, sat a lifelike little sea turtle in deep green.

The square-shelled turtle stretched out its four limbs contentedly, as if swimming through the ocean. Its shell, painted with natural pigments, gleamed with a warm, translucent luster in the natural light. Though small, the patterns on its back and the textured skin of its flippered limbs were rendered in exquisite detail.

“It’s the smallest sea turtle in the ocean—the hawksbill!” Liang Wangyou exclaimed, his broad knowledge shining through in his delight. “Wen Yan, is this a specimen?!”

“Were you hoping to see one of these at the aquarium?” Wen Yan held the little turtle closer. That morning, he’d researched the aquarium and learned it housed over three hundred species of marine life. He couldn’t pinpoint which one Little You meant by “almost gone,” but the official news had mentioned a hawksbill sea turtle that had fallen ill and was nearing death just a few days ago.

Liang Wangyou shook his head. “I don’t want to tell you.”

“Then could you tell your father?” Wen Yan suggested after a moment’s thought.

“No.”

“How about this: every day from now on, I’ll bring you a different animal from the aquarium. Sound good?”

If he wouldn’t say, Wen Yan would just have to test them one by one.

“Thank you, Wen Yan.” Liang Wangyou replied politely. “What do you like? I have lots of money. I can buy anything.”

“Me? I like you just fine.” Wen Yan scooped him up and headed for the door. “Is all that money from your father? Has he taught you how to use it properly? I mean, not to spend it recklessly.”

Liang Wangyou had overheard Wen Yan telling Liang Shijing yesterday that he hated him. Mentioning his father was sure to annoy Wen Yan, so the boy pretended not to hear. “My financial advisor comes every month to give lessons. They’ve taught me.”

“You’re such a good boy. What do you want to do now? I’ll play with you.”

“Let’s eat first!” Liang Wangyou nuzzled his soft cheek against Wen Yan’s neck. “After lunch, we can go to the amusement park. Am I talking too much today? Do you think I’m clingy?”

Liang Shijing was such a jerk! He wanted to sew that man’s mouth shut!

Wen Yan’s lips curved faintly as he replied softly, “I love hearing you talk. Not just me—everyone does.”

After a brief hesitation, Liang Wangyou whispered, “Father says I talk too much. That’s why you didn’t eat dinner with me that night.”

Remembering the lonely sight of Liang Wangyou playing with blocks in the hallway that morning, Wen Yan’s heart turned to ice, inch by inch. When his expression went blank like this, an innate chill emanated from him—the subtle intimidation of someone raised in luxury from birth.

“Ignore him,” Wen Yan said. “He’s the one who’s annoying.”

Liang Wangyou’s dark eyes darted about. “I think so too! From now on, we won’t pay any attention to him!”

The pair grumbled as they stepped out of the room. There, standing impassively in the hallway in his suit, was the S-level Alpha… He didn’t know how long he’d been there or how much he’d overheard. Wen Yan felt no guilt whatsoever and pretended not to see him. But Liang Wangyou, having just badmouthed his father, felt a twinge of guilt and murmured, “Father.”

“Let’s talk.” Liang Shijing stepped aside to block their path, his tone flat.

Wen Yan ignored him completely and veered around, continuing down the hall. As their backs receded, Liang Wangyou peeked over Wen Yan’s shoulder, pulled a face at the alpha left standing there, and mouthed, “Wen Yan hates you. He likes me~”

Liang Shijing’s face darkened.