chapter 98

Chapter 97: My Brother, I Apologize

Nan Zhi was fully aware of how undeserving Lin Qiu Wu was - a man of singular devotion, yet so capricious.

How many lovers had he taken besides Nan Zhi?

Time and again, he tried to convince himself to abandon Lin Qiu Wu, to let go of the Alpha who captivated him at first glance. Still, he harbored the hope that perhaps, just maybe, the man would grow a little fonder of him the next day.

He even went to great lengths to bear Lin Qiu Wu's child, deluding himself into thinking he was the protagonist of some drama, hoping the shared bond would draw the Alpha's attention.

But how could fantasies ever align with reality? His machinations only deepened Lin Qiu Wu's distaste for him. Even their son, Lin Yun Jian, was deprived of an Alpha's paternal love because he had an Omega father like Nan Zhi.

"Daddy."

Perhaps sensing his Omega father's dejection, Lin Yun Jian placed a hand on his face, calling out softly.

Nan Zhi tenderly kissed the hand, comforting the young Alpha.

Subconsciously, Nan Yi moved a bit closer towards Nan Zhi.

His heart ached for Nan Zhi at that moment.

"You should leave; it's getting late. Jian Jian needs to sleep."

Nan Zhi didn’t look towards Nan Yi. With his back to him, Nan Zhi's voice held a tremble. Nan Yi knew he was crying.

"Daddy... good... boy."

The young alpha, having only recently learned a few words, frantically rubbed his little hand against his face.

Nan Yi noticed the glistening tear on the child's hand.

Nan Yi was silent for a few seconds. As the person on the bed began to quiver, he started to turn away.

The hospital room door closed with a "click."

"Brother, I'm sorry."

The faint, choked-up voice made Nan Yi halt in his steps.

He wasn’t sure what Nan Zhi was apologizing for: not calling for help when he saw him nearly drown at the age of seven, or the years of harsh words between them.

Nan Yi remained still but silent. He wasn’t a saint or an exceptionally forgiving person. He could never truly harbor resentment towards Nan Zhi, but he also couldn't bring himself to utter words of assurance.

"What happened?"

He Yushen, who had been waiting outside, approached quickly upon hearing the door. The moment his hand touched Nan Yi, he sensed the tension in his back.

"Did he say something to you?"

The alpha's gaze was as cold as a blade, sweeping over Nan Zhi on the bed.

The person with their back to the room's door held the small alpha tightly in their arms. Their slender body, reminiscent of Nan Yi’s frailty, trembled.

"No, he gave me the deed to the house; we're going back," responded the other.

Nan Yi spoke softly, yet there was a stifled quality to their tone.

The pleasure expected from the address 'brother' and the subsequent apology was absent, only making their mood heavier.

"Are you really alright? You promised not to hide anything from me," they pressed further.

Nan Yi was forced to look up, locking eyes with the deeply concerned gaze before them.

"Really, I’m fine. Can we talk about this back home?" Nan Yi pleaded, snuggling against He Yu Shen’s waist.

In that moment, they too felt fortunate to have encountered such a wonderful alpha.

He Yu Shen was always rendered powerless when Nan Yi acted coquettishly.

He bent down, holding Nan Yi face to face, and gave Hu Wen a nod indicating they would leave first.

Hu Wen nodded in response, watching as He Yu Shen, with Nan Yi buried in his shoulder, walked away.

The door to the sickroom remained ajar, revealing the trembling shoulders of the omega inside.

Hu Wen stiffened, wondering if the couple had been unkind to the omega.

Quietly, he closed the open door.

He Yu Shen carried Nan Yi all the way to the car. Unexpectedly, the omega did not let go, so he maintained the embrace, holding the omega as they sat in the car.

He Yu Shen felt both content and worried, wondering if the omega had been mistreated.

“He Yu Shen,” came a soft voice.

Whenever Nan Yi called him with such a delicate tone, it meant they needed him.

“I’m here.”

“Mhm.”

Nan Yi didn't wish to speak for the moment. All he wanted was to hold onto his alpha tightly, not even sparing a thought for the absent He Siyi.

It was just a half-hour journey to their cozy abode, and throughout it, Nan Yi remained nestled in the embrace of his alpha.

The journey was swift. When the car came to a halt, He Yushen, cradling the diminutive omega, headed straight home. Even as they ascended the stairs and settled onto the bedroom bed, he maintained the embrace.

Nan Yi cherished these moments of closeness, his head buried in his alpha's shoulder, enveloped gently, brimming with a sense of security.

“He Yushen, Nan Zhi called me 'big brother.' But unexpectedly, his little alpha is even older than our Xiao Bao and can even call out 'daddy'."

Nan Yi's eyes sparkled, and just as his lips curled into a smile, his brow furrowed, dampening the elation.

“But the one he loves doesn't love him back. Even his little alpha doesn't. Did you know? Lin Qiuwu likes Yun Luo, and Nan Zhi's little alpha is named Lin Yunjian.”

Upon seeing the little alpha, He Yushen felt he bore a resemblance to Lin Qiuwu.

However, other than concerning himself with Nan Yi, he paid little heed to the affairs of others, especially when it came to someone who once bullied Nan Yi.

But now, the young one was upset because of someone else.

“Are you sympathizing with him? He once bullied you.”

“But he called me 'big brother'…” Nan Yi said, dropping his gaze with a hint of guilt. Recalling being called 'big brother' still left him feeling surreal.

“Soft-hearted over a simple 'big brother', huh?”

He Yushen was at a loss about how to deal with his tender-hearted omega. He ruffled Nan Yi's hair vigorously, leaving the soft black strands in disarray.

An omega with tousled hair was equally endearing.

“He's my brother. Apart from you and Xiao Bao, he's the only family I have left in this world. Maybe he bullied me in the past because he was young…”

“Alright, let’s not discuss him anymore.”

He Yushen didn't want his omega's attention diverted to others.

His large hand caressed Nan Yi's belly, giving it a gentle rub, asking, “Hungry?”

“A bit, yes.”

Truly, Nan Yi's attention was easily steered by his alpha.

He Yushen embraced him once more as they descended the stairs.

Due to He Yushen's urgent trip to the hospital, He Siyi was temporarily cared for by Ling Ran. Fortunately, Ling Ran had prepared everything He Siyi might need, as he frequently stayed at the old mansion.

As dusk turned to night, Xiao Bao was left at the old mansion and wasn't brought back.

The two of them had a candlelit dinner planned with red wine, steak, and delightful desserts. He Yushen attentively cut the steak into bite-sized pieces for Nan Yi.

Although usually reluctant to let the Omega drink, he now actively brought the glass of red wine to Nan Yi's lips.

“Have a taste.”

The wine was delectable, and Nan Yi drank quite a bit from his glass.

Not known for holding his liquor, the little one turned rosy-cheeked and spontaneously nestled into He Yushen's embrace.

He seemed to be tipsy.

“Sitting like this, you're making a commitment,” he teased with a light chuckle, anticipating the young one's flustered reaction.

“What kind of commitment?”

The slightly inebriated Omega was not just unembarrassed but even boldly wrapped his arms around He Yushen's neck.

He Yushen gazed at the suddenly audacious figure before him, with a deep intensity swirling in his eyes.

The closeness between them was palpable, especially their thighs pressed tightly together.

Feeling playful, he took a sip of the wine and leaned closer to those rosy lips.

The sound of swallowing echoed, and those blush-tinted eyes were fixed on He Yushen.

"He Yushen... I like it."

The hands encircling him tightened, their faces pressed close, nose-to-nose.

The scent of butterscotch wafted into his nostrils.