Chapter 105: The Married Beta Can’t Sleep (Chasing Wife 1.0)

Chapter 105: The Sleepless Beta Husband (Winning Back His Husband 1.0)

On Sunday morning, Jiang Ming drove to Yan Ting for Situ Jing’s routine physical examination. The thought of facing this detestable capitalist always put him in a sour mood.

As Jiang Ming entered the foyer, a servant informed him that Situ Jing was dining in the restaurant. He walked over with heavy steps, pleasantly surprised to find Bai Yu there as well.

Bai Yu held a cup of soy milk with both hands, taking small sips. He wore a white linen shirt and light khaki casual pants, which made his skin appear particularly fair. Sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast a gentle glow upon him.

Situ Jing, dressed in a black bathrobe, sat across from him, calmly reviewing documents on his tablet while sipping coffee.

Jiang Ming’s mood instantly brightened; his motivation to work suddenly returned. When Bai Yu wasn’t around, Mr. Situ’s expression was never good. Just being near him, the cold, tense aura was suffocating. Now that Bai Yu was back, perhaps his two years’ worth of bonuses would finally be secured?

Jiang Ming approached Situ Jing. "Mr. Situ, shall we schedule the physical examination in half an hour?"

Situ Jing glanced at Jiang Ming calmly. "Examine him first and prepare some nutritional supplements."

Jiang Ming smiled. "Understood."

Bai Yu nodded slightly to Jiang Ming. For some reason, he sensed that Jiang Ming was in unusually high spirits today, happier than during previous visits to Yan Ting.

After breakfast and a half-hour break, Bai Yu went to the medical examination room and lay down on the examination bed.

Jiang Ming skillfully operated the equipment. Since Bai Yu was a beta, the routine checkup did not include hormone level tests, so the examination proceeded quickly.

While waiting for the results, Bai Yu hesitated before asking, "Dr. Jiang, if someone’s femoral artery is cut, how can another person save them?"

Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow. "Why are you suddenly interested in medical knowledge?"

Bai Yu clutched the hem of his shirt, making up an excuse. "I just saw a news report about it and wanted to learn more."

Jiang Ming clasped his hands behind his back and explained patiently, "Typically, after a femoral artery rupture, a person can lose a critical amount of blood within half an hour. It’s an emergency. At home, you could use positional drainage and apply pressure to the bleeding point, but the person must be taken to the hospital immediately for treatment."

Bai Yu pursed his lips. "What if someone sutures the wound for them? Could that stop the bleeding without going to the hospital?"

Jiang Ming didn’t expect such a detailed question and grew serious. "A femoral artery rupture requires vascular repair surgery in a hospital. Neither someone without medical knowledge nor an inexperienced doctor can handle it—it might even hasten the patient’s death. Don’t believe those dramatized reports online; some are just clickbait."

Bai Yu was taken aback, his face turning pale.

After Qiao Yihan sutured his wound, the bleeding had stopped.

Besides doctors, only people in high-risk professions prone to injuries would know how to suture under such circumstances.

After Qiao Yihan left, Bai Yu never went to the hospital.

At that time, he had spent all his money on signing up for college entrance exam training and couldn’t afford medical treatment.

Later, when the wound scabbed over, Bai Yu painfully removed the sutures himself. In the end, not even a scar was left, as if he had never been injured.

But the shadow Qiao Yihan cast over Bai Yu never faded.

It was like a haunting midnight phantom, always seizing him when he least expected, dragging him back to that blood-soaked scene, pinning him firmly in place.

As if time had never passed, as if the nightmare never ended.

Just then, Situ Jing walked in and said to Jiang Ming, "He had stomach discomfort before."

Bai Yu quickly interjected, "I’m fine now."

Jiang Ming stroked his chin. "I didn’t notice anything abnormal during the examination. Let’s wait for the results."

Twenty minutes later, the electronic report was ready.

Jiang Ming handed the tablet displaying the report to Situ Jing. "He’s in good health, just slightly underweight. I’ll prepare the nutritional supplements and deliver them in a couple of days."

Situ Jing passed the reviewed report to Bai Yu. "See for yourself."

"Okay."

Bai Yu got off the examination bed, holding the tablet and carefully reading the report.

He used to struggle understanding the values, but after caring for his sick mother and sister for so long, he had learned to interpret them.

All his indicators were within normal range. Aside from being underweight, he hadn’t been eating less—perhaps he’d been burning more calories lately.

Bai Yu was taking his time reading when Situ Jing suddenly took the tablet from him.

Situ Jing said calmly, "Starting now, you must finish every meal. I’ll check, and you must also finish the nutritional supplements."

Bai Yu nodded. "Understood."

Next, Situ Jing underwent his examination. His hormone levels were stable, his physique extremely strong, with high testosterone levels and strong fertility.

Jiang Ming marveled at the data on the report. "This is the genetic advantage of an S-Class Alpha. You might maintain this level even ten years from now."

Bai Yu couldn’t help but think that Mr. Situ’s future wife would need to be in good health to keep up with his high drive.

After reviewing the report, Situ Jing seemed pleased. "Let’s play golf at the course later."

Jiang Ming, who hadn’t played on Yan Ting’s spacious golf course in a long time, rubbed his hands in excitement. "Sure thing!"

Bai Yu accompanied Situ Jing to the course, but his skills were rusty. After just two swings, he stopped playing.

Jiang Ming gave him a thumbs-up. "Much better than before. You have potential."

Bai Yu said, "Mr. Situ taught me."

Situ Jing looked at Bai Yu. "You weren’t focused while playing. What were you thinking about?"

Bai Yu looked flustered. "..."

Situ Jing lowered his gaze to the golf ball and continued swinging. "Watch from the sidelines for now. Practice again later."

"Okay."

Bai Yu handed his club to the caddy and sat under a shade umbrella, watching Situ Jing and Jiang Ming play.

As he watched, Bai Yu unconsciously remembered details about Qiao Yihan that he had previously overlooked, surprising himself with the realizations.

The first time Bai Yu met Qiao Yihan was when he was helping his mother run their fruit stall.

Qiao Yihan’s facial features weren’t particularly handsome, but he was an elegant, mature man with a certain charm.

That day, he stepped out of his car, bought a pineapple from the stall, and left.

From then on, every weekend when Bai Yu and his mother set up their stall, they would encounter Qiao Yihan.

Gradually, Qiao Yihan struck up conversations with his mother, discussing topics like the weather in southern cities, travel anecdotes, religion, race, and music.

Later, Qiao Yihan invited his mother for coffee, to watch movies, and even invited them over to his home, teaching Bai Yu how to play the piano and listening to jazz records together.

Bai Yu had to admit that this man had been his musical mentor.

Qiao Yihan never resented his mother for bringing a child along. He was attentive to their needs, considerate, very talkative, and managed everything excellently.

At the time, he really did seem like a good man.

So, after Qiao Yihan married his mother, Bai Yu briefly saw him as someone he could view as a father figure.

That Easter, Qiao Yihan took Bai Yu to paint Easter eggs. He painted quickly and skillfully, arranging various colorful eggs neatly on the counter.

Qiao Yihan asked Bai Yu, "Which egg do you think is the most beautiful?"

Bai Yu pointed to a blue egg painted with sea creatures and said, "This one."

Qiao Yihan narrowed his eyes slightly, smiled, and said, "How funny, I think so too."

Then, Qiao Yihan smashed the most beautiful egg and threw it into the trash.

Bai Yu looked at Qiao Yihan with confusion, "Why did you throw it away?"

Qiao Yihan gave an enigmatic smile, reached out to stroke Bai Yu's pale, young face, and said slowly, "Because destroying beautiful things brings me pleasure."

Bai Yu said, "I don’t understand."

Qiao Yihan raised an eyebrow, "It’s okay if you don’t understand."

The following spring, Qiao Yihan was trimming the rose bushes in the garden. Bai Yu followed behind him, watching as he cut the branches with pruning shears.

Standing on a ladder, Qiao Yihan looked down at his young shadow and said, "Go see which rose in the garden is blooming the best?"

Bai Yu found a pink rose in full bloom and pointed it out to Qiao Yihan, "Over there. Are you going to give it to Mom?"

"No, at least not today."

Qiao Yihan gave Bai Yu a knowing smile, walked over to the rose, and used the shears to slice the petals to shreds.

Bai Yu watched as the petals drifted down, his eyes filled with shock and confusion, before eventually calming down.

"I understand what you meant now."

Qiao Yihan put down the sharp shears, walked over to Bai Yu, crouched down, and looked at him, "Oh? Tell me."

Bai Yu said, "You like to pursue beautiful things and then destroy them. The pleasure you enjoy comes from the poignancy and fragility of something beautiful shattering and fading."

Qiao Yihan looked at Bai Yu with interest, a smirk tugging at his lips, "Maybe you're right, little Bai Yu."

Bai Yu frowned and asked worriedly, "But that feeling can only be experienced once—it can’t be repeated. Haven’t you thought of other ways to make yourself happy without harming anything?"

Qiao Yihan gazed into Bai Yu’s clear, round, tea-brown eyes, seeing his own reflection in them.

"No, there’s no other way. Only this method gives me any pleasure."

Bai Yu looked down at the scattered petals on the ground, thought for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Are you happy now?"

"No, only briefly. It’s gone now." Qiao Yihan handed the shears to Bai Yu, "Do you want to try?"

Bai Yu took the shears hesitantly, walked up to a flower, but couldn’t bring himself to cut it. He felt a surge of fear.

His grip loosened, and the shears fell to the ground.

Bai Yu turned to Qiao Yihan and said, "Maybe this isn’t for me."

Qiao Yihan picked up the shears, dusted off the dirt, and said, "That means you’re lucky. You can find happiness elsewhere."

From time to time, Qiao Yihan would go on business trips, sometimes short, sometimes long, but he always returned in the middle of the night.

Once, by chance, Bai Yu got up late at night to drink water and heard a phone ringing on the living room table. Qiao Yihan was not around.

So, Bai Yu answered the phone, "Hello?"

The person on the other end didn’t speak. After a long silence, a man’s extremely deep voice said, "Put Qiao on the phone."

Somehow, hearing that man’s voice sent a chill down Bai Yu’s spine.

Qiao Yihan came out of his room, saw Bai Yu holding his phone, flashed a look of surprise, immediately took the phone back, and went outside, closing the door behind him.

Bai Yu looked down from the living room window and saw Qiao Yihan on the phone, his expression serious.

Perhaps sensing Bai Yu’s gaze, Qiao Yihan looked up at the window and waved for Bai Yu to go inside.

At the time, Bai Yu thought the call was just from someone Qiao Yihan did business with.

The summer Bai Yu got into a top secondary school, Qiao Yihan bought airline tickets for his mother and her friend to go on a trip together.

Qiao Yihan then took Bai Yu hiking in the mountains outside the city. By evening, the two had reached the mountaintop.

Since it was his first time camping in the mountains, Bai Yu was especially excited, assisting Qiao Yihan with the tent and collecting kindling for the fire.

The sky was dotted with stars, and the warm glow of the fire lit up Bai Yu’s face. He asked Qiao Yihan, "Can you tell me a story?"

Qiao Yihan buried potatoes from his backpack in the fire, took a bottle of liquor from his coat, drank a few sips, and said, the flames flickering in his dark eyes, "Today, I’ll tell you the story of Death and Enosh."

Bai Yu looked at Qiao Yihan with rapt attention, waiting for him to continue.

Qiao Yihan gazed into the fire and said slowly, "Long ago, there was a philanthropic young man from a wealthy family named Enosh. While on a pilgrimage to Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, he unexpectedly encountered Death. Death told Enosh, ‘I will come for you three years from now, on a certain hillside, to take your life.’"

"Terrified of death, Enosh decided to devote all his resources to build a grand temple, hoping to earn blessings and avoid that hillside."

Bai Yu asked curiously, "What happened next?"

Qiao Yihan took a sip of liquor, his Adam’s apple bobbing, "To finish within three years, Enosh hired the best architect of the time to design the temple’s layout and employed five thousand craftsmen to build it."

"Three years later, the temple was completed on schedule. It stood by the Jordan River, facing Jerusalem. Outside the temple were two golden ponds blooming with lotuses. Inside, all the pillars, doors, and windows were inlaid with jewels and gold edging, and the dome was painted with images of gods."

Bai Yu asked, "Did he avoid Death?"

Qiao Yihan used a stick to retrieve the baked potatoes, peeled one, and handed it to Bai Yu, "On the day the three years were up, Death did not appear. Enosh, overjoyed, ordered a feast to celebrate having overcome Death. However, that night, Death descended outside the temple and appeared before Enosh."

Bai Yu ate the warm potato, his eyes wide with curiosity as he looked at Qiao Yihan, "But didn’t Death say he would come on the hillside?"

Qiao Yihan reached out and stroked Bai Yu’s soft cheek, "Enosh thought so too. Knowing his time was up, he defiantly asked Death, ‘I built such a magnificent temple. Why have you come for me here by the Jordan River?’"

"Death said, ‘That is because every great stone used to build this temple was quarried from the very hillside foretold. You spent everything, yet you never escaped fate, mortal.’ After saying this, Death raised his scythe and took Enosh’s life."

Bai Yu finished eating the potato, mulling over the story, "So, you mean people can never escape fate?"

Qiao Yihan looked at Bai Yu meaningfully, "Yes, the harder you fight against it, the more clearly you can make out its unshakable outline. When the god of fortune smiles upon revenge and killing, you will find that not only does God exist, but someone is carrying out His wishes."

At that time, Bai Yu didn't quite understand the last sentence Qiao Yihan said, only treating the story as an ordinary fable and not taking it to heart.

After eating several roasted potatoes, Bai Yu gradually grew drowsy and slumped over asleep by the fire.

Half-asleep, Bai Yu felt Qiao Yihan carry him into the tent, lay him down, and tuck the blankets around him.

The tent was dim and quiet, and Bai Yu didn't hear any more sounds, thinking Qiao Yihan had also lain down to sleep beside him.

Just as his consciousness slowly faded and he sank into slumber, a touch of cool warmth, like night dew, landed on his brow.

The hand didn't stay but slowly traced the curve of his brow bone, then slid down his nose bridge, lingering on his lips. The touch was as light as a feather brushing the water, as if tracing the contours of his bone structure in the darkness.

This gave Bai Yu a faint itch, and his eyelashes fluttered. He suddenly realized Qiao Yihan had never left and was even right there.

The man's warm breath brushed against his temple as he examined him carefully, whispering, "You've grown up, becoming more and more beautiful. Would you be even more beautiful if you became an omega?"

Bai Yu found Qiao Yihan's words a bit strange, and a dark thought emerged in his heart—

Would Qiao Yihan also see him as something that needs perfecting, and once he presented as an omega, he would treat him like shattering a decorated egg or cutting up a flower?

But soon, Bai Yu dismissed the idea.

Years of harmonious living had given him trust in Qiao Yihan. Even if Qiao Yihan had some quirks, he would never harm anyone. Besides, his parents were both betas, so he would most likely present as a beta, not an omega.

So Bai Yu didn't pay attention to Qiao Yihan's words and went back to sleep.

In the following period, Qiao Yihan reduced his business trips and often spent time with Bai Yu; they went out together.

Whenever Mom saw Qiao Yihan and Bai Yu being close from afar, her face showed a pleased expression, but she also hesitated as if she wanted to say something.

Later, one late night, Bai Yu heard Qiao Yihan and Mom get into a fierce argument in the room.

After the argument, Qiao Yihan drove away without saying where he was going.

When he returned again, he moved the whole family to Nangang City, claiming bankruptcy.

After moving to Nangang City, their living standard dropped sharply, returning to their previous state of poverty.

Mom sent Bai Yu to stay with his uncle, who ran a bed-and-breakfast. It was closer to Bai Yu's school, and there was a small church nearby where he could play the piano.

Mom went to work in a factory, while Qiao Yihan drove a taxi.

Bai Yu wasn't sure if Qiao Yihan actually drove a taxi. Sometimes during holidays when he returned home, he could see a taxi parked downstairs but no one around.

After Bai Li was born, Qiao Yihan was around even less, only occasionally returning suddenly in the middle of the night.

If Qiao Yihan wasn't a gambler but actually a killer, as Situ Hui said, who was punished for defying the organization's orders and doing certain things, and was secretly planning revenge—

Then did it all start from that time?

The last time Qiao Yihan appeared, he said, "On the day we meet again, I will never let you go."

Does "not let go" mean killing him, or selling him, or...

Bai Yu watched Situ Jing and Jiang Ming playing golf, growing more and more uneasy.

Because if Qiao Yihan really was a killer and had indeed built his own assassination organization over the years, it was even more likely he would make good on his words.

Only, Bai Yu didn't know when he would suddenly appear.

On the distant tee box, Situ Jing swung his club, and the golf ball drew an arc in the air, landing right in the hole.

Jiang Ming applauded, suggesting subtly, "Mr. Situ, Bai Yu is back. Shouldn't some things be handled now?"

Situ Jing glanced at him, "What did you contribute?"

Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow, "Do you dare say the things I said and the info I sent you were of no use at all?"

Were they useful? Maybe a bit.

At least one thing Jiang Ming said wasn't wrong.

Bai Yu might seem accepting of everything, but that doesn't mean he truly feels that way inside.

The supposed honesty is just superficial. He buries certain things that deeply affect him in his heart, never mentioning them.

Only at certain moments, when drunk or waking from a dream, when his defenses are down, do they surface.

Situ Jing paused for a moment, then said leisurely, "Access to the golf course and annual leave are approved. No discussion on the bonus."

Jiang Ming's heart dropped. What use were access and annual leave? The important thing was money—two years' worth of bonus!

He stuck his club on the ground and asked angrily, "Why?"

Situ Jing said coldly, "He didn't agree to return to Yanting to live with me, so it's not a success. Do you expect to get a free ride?"

Jiang Ming was furious and protested, "It's my bonus. How is that getting a free ride?"

Situ Jing sneered, "You made a mistake and got your bonus docked. Is that money still yours? You volunteered to make a deal with me. Not only was it of little use, but the deal wasn't even completed, and you're already asking for this and that. Did I say anything wrong about getting something for nothing?"

"?"

Jiang Ming was speechless, unable to find words to refute. Would this guy ever be silenced by his own sharp tongue?

Still, he was quite surprised that Bai Yu hadn't agreed to live with Situ Jing.

It was good that this wicked, heartless capitalist was being kept in check a bit. He deserved it.

But his bonus was stuck in limbo. When would he get it back?

He could only wait.

The normal dating methods didn't suit Situ Jing, and there was nothing he could do.

Jiang Ming snorted in frustration and swung his club hard, sending the golf ball into a hole on the distant green.

Situ Jing turned to look at Bai Yu under the sun umbrella. He was sitting obediently, hands on his knees, legs together, like a cat with its tail curled.

But upon closer observation, it was clear Bai Yu's mind was elsewhere; he wasn't watching the game at all.

Daydreaming again.

Situ Jing handed his club to the caddy and walked over.

"From yesterday until now, what exactly have you been thinking about?"

Bai Yu snapped back to reality and looked up to find Situ Jing standing right in front of him, looking down at him.

Situ Jing had noticed his unusual behavior. Should he tell Situ Jing about Qiao Yihan?

If he directly told Situ Jing that Qiao Yihan might be the killer who kidnapped Situ Hui, it might set Situ Jing off.

He wasn't sure how Situ Jing would react upon learning that he might have some connection to that killer.

There wasn't enough evidence yet regarding the suspicions about Qiao Yihan—only his own memories and speculations. If it led to an argument, what would be the point, he wondered?

Although his relationship with Situ Jing had improved somewhat compared to before, it didn't mean much. He still didn't dare to bring up anything that might set Situ Jing off.

After thinking it over, Bai Yu said, "I was thinking about the album."

Situ Jing stared straight at Bai Yu with his deep eyes. "Really?"

Bai Yu nodded. "Mm."

Situ Jing reached out and gently touched Bai Yu's cheek. "No need to rush. Take your time—one or two years of preparation is fine."

Just then, Situ Jing received a phone call, his brow furrowed slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Send me the video."

Bai Yu watched Situ Jing, unsure what had happened.

After hanging up, Situ Jing said to Bai Yu, "That moth necklace wasn't circulated on the market, but on the day you moved, a stranger entered your building."

Bai Yu widened his eyes. "Was it stolen then?"

Situ Jing showed Bai Yu the surveillance video sent over by Secretary Zhou. "When this person left the residential complex, you happened to enter. You passed by each other, one on the left and one on the right. Did you notice him?"

"Let me see."

Bai Yu pulled up the video, and in the blurry footage, a man in black slowly appeared.

Shortly after, Bai Yu's own figure appeared on the other side, hurrying into the residential area.

At that moment, the man paused not far away, just as if glancing at him, before turning to leave.

Bai Yu got chills. He freeze-framed the video in disbelief, zoomed in on the man in black to get a better look at his face.

Unfortunately, the video was too blurry to see his face clearly.

Based on his clothing and height, he looked like the shadowy figure Bai Yu had seen at the hospital.

His intuition told him it was the same person.

Could it really be... Qiao Yihan had returned?

Had Qiao Yihan taken the moth necklace?!

If Qiao Yihan took the necklace but didn't sell it immediately, what would his motive be?

Bai Yu's fingers shook slightly as he handed the phone back to Situ Jing. "I didn't notice him."

Situ Jing texted a voice note to Secretary Zhou. "He didn't notice this person. Keep investigating."

Bai Yu tried his best to stay calm and asked cautiously, "Secretary Zhou and the others will keep investigating, right?"

Situ Jing said, "Of course, until the necklace is found."

Bai Yu nodded. "Okay then."

Jiang Ming walked over, giving a resentful look at Situ Jing. "I'm leaving, Mr. Situ."

Situ Jing waved him off. "Go ahead."

Bai Yu looked at Jiang Ming and noticed his gloomy expression, he seemed to have a dark cloud hung over his head. The good mood from this morning was gone as he turned and left the golf course.

"What's wrong with Dr. Jiang?"

"Do you have to care about everyone?"

"..."

In the afternoon, Bai Yu practiced golf with Situ Jing for three hours, until he was exhausted.

By evening, they had sex for a long time.

Usually, in such situations, Bai Yu would sleep deeply.

But that night, Bai Yu couldn't fall asleep no matter what—he was unable to sleep.

In the darkness, curled up in Situ Jing's arms, he lay awake with his eyes open, as if sensing that shadowy figure planning something in the dark.

He needed to go check out the house on Third Xinze Road again.