Chapter 1

Chapter 1

It wasn't particularly good weather. The stifling cicada drone made Ji Qingyu unbearably uncomfortable. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed slightly to say goodbye to his student.

He disliked this kind of weather—the heat seemed to condense into something tangible, beading sweat on his brow. Whenever it got like this, he felt the ugly bite mark on his neck aching with a dull throb.

Ji Qingyu had just stepped across the threshold of his student’s home when he received the message. His eyes carried a calm weariness, yet they remained clear.

"Teacher Ji, be careful on your way back. Nannan, say goodbye to your teacher."

"See you next week, teacher! Next week, I’ll treat you to osmanthus cake!"

Ji Qingyu patted the little girl’s head, revealing a beautiful smile. His tone lifted, his eyes curving into crescents like tiny moons as he softly said, "Alright, see you next week, Nannan."

His phone vibrated insistently in his pocket.

He lowered his head to retrieve it, and a strand of hair slipped loose from his loosely tied braid, falling against his porcelain-smooth cheek. His hand slipped, and the phone tumbled down the stairs, cracking the screen when it hit.

He sighed and walked over to pick it up.

The voice on the phone urged him to get to the hospital as soon as possible. He asked, "What’s happened?"

"Nothing’s happened yet, but if you don’t come soon, I can’t make any promises."

"...I’ll be right there."

The sunlight glaring down was almost blinding.

He thought it was just an ordinary day—perhaps Ji Ran had encountered some setbacks in his social circles and was suppressing his temper to take it out on him. He didn’t feel anything particularly unusual; after all, this was how he had lived for a long time.

This was the city’s most expensive private hospital, with clean, bright decor and spacious hallways. An unknowing visitor might mistake it for a five-star hotel.

Ji Qingyu didn’t wait for the elevator. Familiar with the route, he climbed the stairs to the landing, where someone was already waiting outside the room he had visited countless times before.

The person’s face was completely covered behind a pair of oversized sunglasses. He was looking down, absorbed in his phone. When he noticed Ji Qingyu approaching, he glanced sideways, his tone casual and familiar. "You’re here?"

"What’s wrong? Did something happen to my mom?" Ji Qingyu asked urgently. "Where is she?"

Ji Ran watched Ji Qingyu’s anxious, agitated demeanor and spoke unhurriedly, "Why the rush? I moved Auntie to a VIP room. I’ve arranged for the top medical team. The attending physician says she’s been doing well lately—looks like she might regain consciousness soon. She might even be discharged soon."

Ji Qingyu blinked, his expression guarded. He remained silent.

Ji Ran sighed, a note of exasperation in his tone. "Brother, if I really wanted to make things difficult for you, would I need to lie?"

Ji Ran reached out, grabbed Ji Qingyu’s arm, and guided him forward. "Don’t be so wary. Actually, I called you here today because there’s something I need to discuss with you."

Ji Qingyu turned to look at Ji Ran, his brow furrowed as he tried to pull his hand back. "Discuss? ...What is it?"

"It’s good news. The Fu family and our family are forming a marriage alliance. Fu Han is going to marry you."

Ji Ran’s gaze fixed intently on Ji Qingyu, watching for his reaction. A faint, unmistakable smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Ji Qingyu took a few seconds to process the words, as though he couldn’t quite grasp their meaning. His face instantly went pale, his eyes widening in complete disbelief. Stiffly, he said, "Don’t... joke with me."

"Who has time to joke with you?" Ji Ran said impatiently. "Do I look like I’m joking?"

Ji Qingyu fell silent, taking a few steps back. His fingers twined together, and his complexion grew even worse.

"I mean, it’s not like he bit you in high school—you were the one who suffered, not him. Besides, he doesn’t know about the child."

Ji Qingyu froze completely. The word "child" sent a numbing shock through his body. A ringing filled his ears. He opened his mouth but found himself speechless, mumbling, "I don’t want to. I don’t want to marry him."

"Then I’m sorry," Ji Ran said, glancing back at him. "I’ll have to ask Auntie to leave this hospital."

The sweltering summer heat surged up abruptly, enveloping him like a tsunami. An inexpressible restlessness and stifling anger churned inside him. He curled his fingers, frowning as he stared at Ji Ran.

Ji Ran, however, showed no urgency. Leaning against the wall, his delicate, pretty face lit up with the joy of having cornered his prey. The smile on his lips carried certainty—he was sure Ji Qingyu would agree.

He was right.

Ji Qingyu had no choice at all.

Ji Qingyu stood by the hospital window, sunlight casting a pale golden glow on his profile. He was dressed plainly, his expression weary.

"Hey, no need to worry too much," Ji Ran added, turning the knife. "He was originally supposed to marry me. I refused, so I called you here. It’s not like he specifically wants revenge on you."

"Besides, even if he did want revenge, what could he do? Withhold his pheromones? Say some harsh words? It’s not like he’d hit you, right? You’ve made it through all these years of heats on your own anyway," Ji Ran said. "An omega who’s been permanently marked and still endures heats alone—surely you can handle anything else."

Ji Ran’s words were merciless, deliberately targeting Ji Qingyu’s most vulnerable spots. They tore at him, making him ache as if an awl had pierced his heart.

Ji Qingyu opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

This world was divided into three designations: alpha, beta, and omega. Alphas could mark omegas—even multiple omegas. But once an omega was marked, they could only obtain pheromones from the alpha who marked them.

After a permanent mark, suppressants became far less effective. Only their alpha’s released pheromones could soothe the inner turmoil. Otherwise, they had no choice but to endure.

Ji Qingyu was a prime example.

Hormonal imbalance caused him insomnia, lack of concentration, and increasingly sluggish reactions. He had lost count of how many nights he had endured—soaked in cold sweat, curled up in broken and helplessness. No one helped him. No one saved him.

Ji Qingyu dug his nails into his palms compulsively, pressing until they bit into his flesh.

"Let’s go. Stop thinking about useless things. I’ll take you to see Auntie."

He let Ji Ran drag him step by step upward, his wrist held firmly in Ji Ran’s grasp. The woman in the VIP room lay quietly, still and silent, as if asleep.

Ji Qingyu watched in silence for a while, his fingers pressed against the clean, broad glass wall of the room, turning white. His eyes remained fixed, as memories of past warmth surfaced vividly, as though it were only yesterday. In reality, he hadn’t been able to exchange a single word with his mother for a very long time.

After what felt like an eternity, Ji Qingyu withdrew his hand. His voice carried exhaustion as he closed his eyes and slowly said, "I agree."

Ji Ran showed no surprise. He laughed softly and produced a pre-prepared agreement. "Wouldn’t it have been easier to agree earlier? You wasted my time. Here, this is the prenuptial agreement. Sign it if there are no issues."

Ji Qingyu lowered his eyelids, avoiding the contents of the agreement. "Give her the best treatment. Otherwise, I can leave anytime."

"Fine, I will," Ji Ran shrugged. The next moment, his hand reached toward the back of Ji Qingyu’s neck. His cold fingertips brushed against Ji Qingyu’s skin. "Your mark needs to be removed. That’s Fu Han’s requirement."

"Why? It’s his mark."

Ji Qingyu’s expression turned strange. That mark was given to him by Fu Han. Now that they were to be married, Fu Han wanted to take it back. Did he despise him that much?

Ji Ran shrugged. "It’s Fu Han’s decision. How would I know? Don’t think you’re losing out. He’s giving you a large sum of money. Just live well with him after marriage."

"A gland removal surgery, or your mother’s life. Choose one," Ji Ran concluded, leaving no room for argument. His gaze fell on the guitar, carrying a hint of disdain. "What good does it do even if you can play, brother? Your feathers are collecting dust. Your wings have been clipped. How could you still fly?"

"Finish the gland removal surgery properly and stay quietly by Fu Han’s side. Being a caged bird trapped beside him is already a good outcome. Don’t you know that yourself?" Ji Ran finally sighed and stood up. "Don’t let Fu Han know about what’s between us. Don’t invite trouble."

Ji Qingyu felt lost, unsure how to face the sudden turn of events.

His life always seemed to find stability only to have it disrupted again. Much of the reason lay with the person before him, yet he could do nothing about Ji Ran. He could only drift along in this small boat, whose ending had been written from the very beginning.

He still insisted, "I don't want to get married."

"Alright, brother, just take some time to accept this. It’s not a bad thing for you, really. There are so many people lining up, who'd kill to marry him." Ji Ran put away the contract and put on his sunglasses. "I have to get to my appointment now. I’ve wasted a lot of time with you, and the other party is still waiting. I’m really busy with the upcoming concert."

Ji Ran glanced sideways, lowering his sunglasses to smile at Ji Qingyu. "By the way, try to talk less. Your voice is grating on my ears."

Ji Qingyu stood frozen in place. After a long while, he cleared his throat, his voice carrying a hoarseness from eroded vocal cords. Ji Ran had specifically called him over, deliberately targeting his most sensitive issues, enjoying his distress and helplessness up close—it was a routine that had remained unchanged for years.

And it always worked. Ji Qingyu pressed a hand to his throat and fell silent, while Ji Ran left surrounded by bodyguards.

A doctor approached with a medical chart. "Mr. Ji, the mating gland removal needs to be done in the next couple of days. Your rut cycle just ended, so it might not be the best time for recovery. It will be slow. An omega’s gland is fragile, and one mating gland removal is already the limit of what it can endure. You need to be prepared."

"I understand," Ji Qingyu replied, somewhat helpless and even feeling a bitter urge to laugh. He thought Ji Ran had already squeezed every last bit of value out of him, but it seemed there was still more to come.

Bracing against the wall, he slowly sat down in a seat. He thought, maybe it’s for the best. At least he wouldn’t have to face Fu Han in such a wretched state.

He comforted himself inwardly—the ruts and the mating mark had tormented him for six years. Now, someone was offering to remove it for free. He should be happy.

After discussion, the mating gland removal was scheduled for the next day. Ji Qingyu sat in the seat outside Lin Ying’s hospital room and decided to cancel his tutoring gigs.

"Brother, aren’t you coming next week?" A voice message from Nannan popped up. Ji Qingyu listened, feeling a tightness in his chest.

"Something came up, and Brother might not be able to come next week. I’ll send you the sheet music. Nannan, remember to practice every day even if you’re alone. Practice makes perfect, and you need to build a solid foundation."

"I understand! But brother, I still want you to try the osmanthus cakes. Can you come by when you have time? You promised to see me next week!"

"Brother, don’t lie to Nannan."

Ji Qingyu didn’t know how to respond. He thought about sending a sticker to cheer Nannan up, but his vision blurred slightly. He quickly moved away, backing away from his mother’s window. His phone buzzed with an automatic entertainment news notification.

"Ji Ran’s Secret Older Half-Brother’s Background Revealed."

"Fu Han Was Once Ji Ran’s Top Fan, Attended Three Concerts in a Row, Pursued Him Passionately but Failed, Settled for the consolation prize—Ji Ran, the Man the Fu CEO Couldn’t Have."

"Breaking News! Uncovering The Other Man Between the Singer and the CEO’s Romance, the Biggest Beneficiary of a Lavish Marriage: High School Dropout, Permanently Bonded, Shady Reputation…"

"Are my OTP about to meet their end? Recounting the sweet moments of FuRan."

Ji Qingyu read each line, gritting his teeth as he struggled to stay calm.

The words cut like knives through his heart. His heart raced violently. He couldn’t understand why Fu Han was still willing to marry him. Perhaps, for Fu Han, as long as it benefited his career, marrying someone he despised didn’t matter.

Ji Qingyu gripped his phone until his knuckles whitened. A notification popped up on the screen: "Fu Han sent you a friend request."

"Contact me only after the mark is completely cleansed."

Ji Qingyu's fingers curled inward, staring blankly at the message.

Author's Note: