Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Ten days later, it was the month-old celebration for Li Qin and Han Qiyu’s newborn son.

A short while ago, Ying Zhiyu returned from his visit to the southern laboratory and finally had time to start looking for a home near the school.

He had pretty much made up his mind while reviewing the options.

But since Li Xi would also be living there, and to ensure they could move in as soon as possible, they only considered move-in ready homes.

Ying Zhiyu felt it necessary to have Li Xi see the place too before making the final decision together.

After viewing the property, Li Xi had no objections, so once all the purchase paperwork was completed, they could plan their move.

Up to this point, everything had gone very smoothly.

However, just as they were fully prepared to move into their new home and begin their official life together as newlyweds,

Li Xi remembered the two-bedroom apartment Ying Zhiyu’s parents were renting.

"What about buying a house for your parents as well?"

So far, Ying Zhiyu had maintained the habit of returning once a week to his parents’ old, small, rented fifth-floor apartment in the northern district.

Although it had been three to four months since they got married in July, and Ying Zhiyu’s account regularly received monthly transfers of at least thirty million,

when Li Xi suggested buying a house for Ying Zhiyu’s parents, he certainly didn't mean for Ying Zhiyu to pay for it himself.

Upon hearing this, Ying Zhiyu instinctively declined: "Not yet. They’re used to living there, and it’s close to their shop, so it’s convenient for them to get to work."

To this day, Ying Zhiyu’s parents only knew that their son was dating the Third Prince of the LI Pheromone Group.

Since marriage is a serious matter for the older generation, to avoid worrying his family, Ying Zhiyu had only mentioned that his relationship with Li Xi was going well, without revealing the reality of their "flash marriage."

Li Xi added, "We could buy a shop for them too. That area is too remote. Your parents’ buns are of excellent quality—they could easily move to a busier commercial district."

However, Ying Zhiyu still shook his head.

"Shop spaces in central business districts are too expensive. Even if we told my parents it’s rented, they’d feel too much pressure. Besides, they’ve been running their shop there for so long and have regular customers. They know exactly how much they earn each month."

He explained, "If they relocate, on one hand, their breakfast variety isn’t extensive enough to compete with big chain breakfast shops. Charging too much wouldn’t be suitable, but if they keep the current prices, they’d definitely be losing money every month."

Ying Zhiyu had indeed considered getting his parents a better home and shop.

But his parents had always been hardworking, straightforward people. Being able to settle down in the northern district of the capital was their biggest dream all these years. There was no need to put them through big changes at their age.

Moreover, as his parents grew older, they wouldn’t be able to run the breakfast shop for much longer.

Hearing this, Li Xi pursed his lips and said nothing more.

But Ying Zhiyu could sense that Young Master Li was unhappy.

He found a moment when the young master was in a better mood to address the issue.

Running his thumb over the damp ends of Li Xi’s hair, Ying Zhiyu’s voice was particularly deep in the quiet night, laced with a post-satisfaction tenderness.

"If you’re bottling up your frustration, why still cooperate with me so well? Wouldn’t that make you feel even more wronged?"

Li Xi’s still-uneven breathing hitched for a moment.

He turned his head slightly, avoiding the young Alpha’s fingers, as if he were a kitten or a puppy.

"It’s not like you’re the only one enjoying it. Why would I feel wronged?"

Li Xi retorted.

He did feel a little upset because Ying Zhiyu refused to accept his kindness.

But the Alpha always had good reasons for his words and actions, and Li Xi wasn’t an unreasonable person.

"Then, do you want to vent now?"

Ying Zhiyu chuckled, with full self-awareness: "Go ahead, accuse this ungrateful heartless Alpha."

"..."

Li Xi was silent in the darkness for a long time.

Ying Zhiyu waited patiently, not pushing him. After a long while, Li Xi finally spoke: "Are you afraid to accept things from me?"

The Alpha could accept an allowance of tens of millions monthly without guilt because it was clearly stipulated in the prenuptial agreement—it was what he, as the Li family’s live-in son-in-law, deserved.

But beyond that, Ying Zhiyu had never asked Li Xi for anything.

Fame, profit, resources, connections—or even when he faced snubs or mockery from others—he never mentioned any of it.

"My Alpha—Li Xi's Alpha—has to sleep in the living room when he comes home once a week."

Li Xi paused, rolled onto his back, and said, his tone cool,

"Anyone who didn’t know better would think I’m stingy with my own Alpha."

Hearing this, Ying Zhiyu burst out laughing.

The Omega next to him turned his head to look at him.

Even though he couldn’t see the other’s expression clearly in the dark, Ying Zhiyu knew he was probably getting glared at.

He quickly defended himself: "I know Director Li spoils me the most. I’m the most cherished!"

Li Xi: "..."

Ying Zhiyu got more serious and patiently explained: "I originally planned to buy my parents a new house after I graduate and secure a stable job."

"Their generation has traditional values. If I suddenly buy them a house and a shop now, and they find out I’m ‘living off soft rice,’ they’d scold me."

Li Xi was silent for a moment. "You’re not living off soft rice."

In this marriage, Ying Zhiyu had fulfilled every duty required of an Alpha, performing nearly flawlessly and creating immeasurable value and benefits.

Even tasks that weren’t required—Ying Zhiyu had... also handled them exceptionally well.

Therefore, that money was rightfully his.

There was no such thing as "living off soft rice."

-

Although unsatisfied with Ying Zhiyu’s self-deprecating remark about "living off soft rice," the couple’s disagreement was basically settled.

As Li Xi and Ying Zhiyu rode to the Li family’s garden villa to attend the month-old celebration...

Li Xi raised the rear partition window and said, "Li Qin chose to hold the full moon banquet at home precisely to publicly assert her status as the eldest Alpha daughter of the Li family."

The full moon banquet for Li Qin and Han Xiyu’s fourth son saw Li Qin insist on avoiding extravagance, opting for a low-key, small, intimate family gathering.

The underlying purpose, however, was to hold it at the Li residence located in the central building of LI Headquarters.

Otherwise, with so many luxury hotel banquet halls and exclusive clubs to choose from—or even the countless extensive properties the Li family owns in the capital—why did it have to be held specifically at that small garden villa?

Li Xi said without expression, "Li Lü has been investigating your school’s laboratory research projects lately. It’s likely directed by Li Qin behind the scenes—she’s long thought there was something off about you."

Ying Zhiyu laughed, "What’s so off about me? I’ve just got two eyes and one mouth."

After a cool glance at the person who was once again joking around, Ying Zhiyu went quiet obediently.

Li Xi continued, "I’ll watch Li Lü for you. Are all the members of your lab trustworthy? If there’s anyone who might be easily swayed, let me know in advance."

Li Xi was still bothered by the incident with that Alpha PhD from Ying Zhiyu’s School of Biology.

And where there’s one, there are bound to be more.

Ying Zhiyu shook his head. Li Xi thought Ying Zhiyu was completely absorbed in his research and studies, paying little attention to social dynamics.

He was about to say that it didn’t matter—if Ying Zhiyu wasn’t sure, he could handle it anyway.

However, Ying Zhiyu spoke up instead, answering, "Let Elder Sister and Second Brother investigate if they want."

Li Xi looked up at Ying Zhiyu.

Ying Zhiyu said casually, "They won’t find anything beyond what you did. Besides, although our lab projects are confidential, if they want to investigate, let them. Even if they find something, it has nothing to do with LI’s business."

Li Xi asked, puzzled, "Last time, didn’t you say…"

Ying Zhiyu smiled and explained simply, "What I said was just a hypothetical. I’m really not conducting research on pheromone drug research. Think of it as a precaution, but the current project has nothing to do with any of that."

At that, Li Xi fell silent.

However, speaking of precautions—

Ying Zhiyu paused, then suddenly placed his hand over the back of Li Xi’s right hand resting on his own leg.

Li Xi looked down at his own right hand, then turned his head away.

Ying Zhiyu hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, "My hand… might be having a problem."

Li Xi was startled and immediately sat up straight, staring at Ying Zhiyu. "What do you mean, your hand has a problem? What is it?"

He looked down at Ying Zhiyu’s hands, noticing that the left hand holding his seemed normal, then tried to look at the right hand.

Ying Zhiyu held him back and explained, "Don’t worry, it’s not a serious issue. It’s likely psychological."

Li Xi frowned, "Psychological?"

Ying Zhiyu fabricated an excuse, "When I was little, I witnessed someone having their fingers and arm cut off."

He lowered his gaze, looking at his left hand, and said partly truthfully, "While on a business trip, I was looking at biological samples in the lab and somehow suddenly remembered that moment. Ever since then, I’ve felt a little strange."

In truth, Ying Zhiyu hadn’t recalled the memory from looking at biological samples.

He had never forgotten his experience of having his fingers severed and later amputated in his previous life, so there was no sudden recollection.

The reason he noticed something wrong with his hand was that, during a business trip to a southern lab, he removed his ring too quickly and scratched the base of his finger.

At that moment, he felt as though the sensation in his left ring finger vanished for an instant.

But it was very brief, and Ying Zhiyu didn’t pay much attention to it at the time.

However, after returning from his trip, two nights ago, he woke up in the middle of the night from a sharp, needle-like pain.

His heart was pounding violently, sweat beading on his forehead, as he looked down in disbelief at his left arm.

In his previous life, Ying Zhiyu had passed away shortly after his amputation surgery, so he never experienced phantom limb pain.

But even without firsthand experience, that didn’t mean he was unaware of the symptoms.

The next day, he immediately went to the hospital for a check-up.

Ying Zhiyu didn’t deliberately avoid the Li family’s hospital.

Now that medical records are networked nationwide, even if Ying Zhiyu had undergone a physical examination elsewhere, his report would have reached Li Xi within a few days.

Doing otherwise would only raise suspicion.

So instead, he went directly to the Li family’s private hospital, where he was examined by an authoritative surgeon from the Li medical team.

He took half a day off yesterday afternoon to go for the check-up.

After the examination, he asked the doctor to delay sending the report to Li Xi until the next day.

The doctor found it strange—Ying Zhiyu’s report showed no issues—so why worry about when to send the results?

Still, it was only a half-day delay, so the doctor agreed.

Ying Zhiyu gently stroked the back of Li Xi’s hand and smiled, "My medical report should have just arrived in your inbox. There’s nothing wrong—you can check it yourself in a bit."

Li Xi immediately let go of Ying Zhiyu and opened his email on the car tablet.

After reading the report, Li Xi didn’t immediately relax.

He stared intently at Ying Zhiyu’s left hand. "How does your arm feel now?"

Ying Zhiyu shook his head, "It feels fine now, no issues."

He smiled and added, "I just think it might be some kind of neurological glitch in my brain causing hallucinations. So, could Brother Xixi help arrange a psychologist for me?"

Ever since hearing Li Xi’s grandparents call him "Xixi," and with Li Xi forbidding Ying Zhiyu from using the diminutive, Ying Zhiyu had taken to occasionally calling him "Brother Xixi" at certain times.

Usually, this only happened during the nights they spent together, and it almost always worked—Li Xi could hardly resist.

This was the first time the Alpha had used this nickname in broad daylight under such circumstances.

Yet, it was also the first time Li Xi remained completely unaffected.

He continued to frown, his gaze fixed on Ying Zhiyu’s left hand.

When Ying Zhiyu held his hand with his left, Li Xi didn’t dare grip it firmly.

Ying Zhiyu tilted his head and kissed Li Xi’s tightly pressed lips.

"Really, it’s nothing. I told you because I didn’t want you to worry and guess on your own."

Ying Zhiyu sighed, "Shouldn’t you believe someone with an IQ of 140?"