Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The first day's performance ended abruptly.

Everyone backstage hung their heads. The opening night was supposed to draw the biggest crowd, yet they had to refund all the tickets. No one could feel good about that.

Ji Qingyu's mind was in a whirl. His fingers clenched around a cup, knuckles white. He forced a smile to reassure everyone, "It's alright, we still have two more days. Today was just the beginning."

A chubby student sighed, head bowed, "Teacher, could you please look at your own expression before saying that?"

Ji Qingyu looked up. In the mirror, his face was ashen and pale, etched with profound disappointment. That gloom seemed to seep into his bones, threatening to consume his entire being.

Lin Feng was actually Luo Sheng—Ji Qingyu couldn't accept such a coincidence. It felt like a cruel joke played by fate. He couldn't control the rising panic. Luo Sheng knew his secret. He knew about Lin Ying. If he told Fu Han, Ji Qingyu would never be able to escape for the rest of his life.

Luo Sheng didn't dare look at Fu Han's face. Like someone caught doing wrong, he kept his head down silently. Fu Han's expression remained impassive as he turned to Ji Qingyu, "How much did you lose today?"

"No need for you to cover it," Ji Qingyu said. "We'll earn it back."

"I'm sorry," Luo Sheng said. "I didn't expect things to turn out like this."

"It's fine." Ji Qingyu thought to himself that if he were in Luo Sheng's position, he'd probably have run even faster.

Luo Sheng's voice was still very low, almost tinged with unease and fluster: "I'm sorry, Xiao Han. You know I wasn't trying to avoid you… I was just afraid Fu Yunbo would find out."

Fu Han tilted his head slightly. Still wearing a bite guard, his gaze fell on Luo Sheng's neck. Ignoring Luo Sheng's words, he asked, "How is your health now?"

Ji Qingyu found something tragic in this father-son reunion. After so many years apart, their first meeting consisted only of apologies and stiff pleasantries.

"I'm much better now," Luo Sheng said. "I had gland removal surgery a long time ago. Now I just need regular hormone supplements."

"Come with me to the hospital for a check-up." Fu Han seemed to anticipate Luo Sheng's concerns. His eyes were calm as he said, "Don't worry, I won't let him know. Whatever life you want to live, I won't interfere."

Luo Sheng remained seated. The wooden chair wobbled precariously as he leaned forward to look at Fu Han. "Xiao Han, it's not that I didn't try to visit you all these years. I did, but there were security cameras and guards everywhere. I couldn't get in."

Fu Han didn't respond. His eyes lowered, lost in thought.

For a moment, silence descended. Ji Qingyu didn't dare speak, trying his best to be inconspicuous.

"Xiao Han, I've been thinking about you all this time…" Luo Sheng seemed to have exhausted all his strength saying this, looking even more pitiable. After so many years apart, all that remained in the end was an apology: "I'm sorry…"

From Ji Qingyu's angle, he could only see Luo Sheng's back and the glaring, twisted, hideous scar on his neck. It felt as though his own wounds ached in sympathy. Fu Han's face remained expressionless, neither accepting nor rejecting the apology.

His gaze turned to Ji Qingyu again: "Do you still want to perform in better venues later?"

"But… if we do that, Fu Yunbo might find out," Ji Qingyu hesitantly objected.

"Have you misunderstood something?" Fu Han's gaze was cold. "I am your Alpha. All you need to do is trust me and safely stay under my protection. Don't worry about other irrelevant people."

Fu Han lowered his head and grasped Luo Sheng's still-trembling hand. His tone remained aloof and casual: "Mom, you should know—it's not ten years ago anymore. I've grown up."

Fu Han took Luo Sheng to the hospital.

Ji Qingyu stayed behind to see the children onto the bus. He still felt somewhat helpless, unable to understand why such a coincidence had befallen him. These cause-and-effect relationships were like tangled knots, cycling over and over. No one could truly escape; they were all just trapping themselves.

Fans of Ji Ran who had come for the drama posted online, gleefully celebrating the failed performance.

"Haven't seen such entertainment in a long time. An actor jumps off stage mid-performance and tries to run away. Was the pay not enough?"

"I was there too. Fu Han was also there. Not sure what happened, but Fu Han went to grab someone."

"What kind of rich family drama is this?"

Not long after, Ji Ran himself got wind of it. He called: "Congratulations on a hugely successful performance. There's a banquet in a couple of days—I'll congratulate you in person then."

Many in the audience had come for the spectacle. Fortunately, no photos were taken, so the situation didn't escalate.

The next two days went smoothly. Ji Qingyu had thought Luo Sheng wouldn't return, but to his surprise, Luo Sheng stayed and performed with them until the end. Not only that—Fu Han was also there.

Ji Qingyu thought about it and found it reasonable. After all, Fu Han had just reunited with Luo Sheng and surely wanted to watch a few more of his mom's performances. As for himself, Fu Han still seemed angry with him—so completely baffling. Ji Qingyu still had no idea what he had done wrong.

He was certain Fu Han was still upset. Otherwise, why would Fu Han never look at him whenever Ji Qingyu glanced into the audience? The moment the music stopped, Fu Han would stand up and leave without a word.

Ji Qingyu watched Fu Han's retreating figure but didn't follow. He gathered with the children first and took a photo with some enthusiastic audience members. He had thought about calling Fu Han over to join the photo, but why would someone like him care about such trivial things? After a moment's thought, he gave up on the idea. In the end, Ji Qingyu just kept an extra copy of the group photo, planning to give it to Fu Han when he was in a better mood.

After everything wrapped up successfully, Ji Qingyu and Luo Sheng sat at the edge of the stage holding cups. They had thought they wouldn't break even, but surprisingly, there was leftover money. Ji Qingyu divided it into red envelopes and gave them to the children.

Nannan rushed over to hug them, her face flushed and happiness shining in her eyes. Ji Qingyu couldn't help but smile too.

The light gradually dimmed. Eventually, only the two of them remained on stage. Luo Sheng took a sip of warm water, his voice returning to its usual calm. "Xiao Han and I talked. I don't want to move back, and I don't want any news about me released to the public. Let me stay 'missing.'"

Ji Qingyu listened silently, feeling both sorrow and happiness for him. Though it cost him greatly, Luo Sheng could finally be himself now—not someone's Omega.

"You've probably seen my scar already. I cut myself back then because I was young and too impulsive." Luo Sheng lifted the hair at the nape of his neck, fully revealing the scar. "Qingyu, though we haven't known each other long, I see you as my own child. Your wounds haven't healed yet. If you get marked again, it'll be hard to turn back. Long-term medication use is harder than you imagine. It accelerates aging, like it did for me, and leads to health complications."

"I don't know the details between you and Xiao Han. He wouldn't tell me when I asked. You know I've always felt indebted to him—I can't speak to him from an elder's position." Luo Sheng sighed. "I won't tell him about your mother. You're the one involved; you have your own choices. Fu Yunbo used marking and children to trap me back then. It's the pain of my lifetime. We're very similar, but you're stronger than I was. I don't want you to repeat my mistakes."

"The only downside is I can't drink anymore, and I have to go to the hospital often." Luo Sheng also sounded somewhat resigned. "And they want me to quit smoking—how am I supposed to do that?"

"Come find me whenever you miss me in the future." Luo Sheng said, "I've been away from the stage for over a decade. These past few days felt like a dream."

Ji Qingyu felt a wistful sadness. He longed for Luo Sheng to be his father. But good things like that rarely happen in the world. Even suitable people don't always have good fate.

He promised Luo Sheng he would visit often in the future, then hurriedly said goodbye.

Ji Qingyu walked outside. A cool gust of wind blew his hair into his eyes. Squinting, he followed the winding path downward and saw Fu Han standing beside a car in the parking lot.

A cigarette was burning in Fu Han's hand. He had taken off his bite guard. The outline of the setting sun made him look like a cold illusion. Wrapped in his trench coat, his tall figure seemed distant and obscure. His profile was like a work of art left in the world by God.

*Can you please stop smoking? Smoking is bad for your health.* Ji Qingyu silently protested in his heart, not daring to say it out loud for fear of angering Fu Han again. It seemed like the Fu family had a smoking gene—Luo Sheng also loved menthol cigarettes. Even their smoking mannerisms were similar.

Fu Han's smoking habit seemed especially heavy lately. Ji Qingyu racked his brains, wondering how to broach the subject. Just as he was thinking, Fu Han seemed to possess a strange sixth sense. He suddenly turned and locked eyes with Ji Qingyu.

Ji Qingyu maintained his posture walking toward him, managing an awkward smile. Fu Han ignored him. Both remained silent as white smoke slowly curled upward. Fu Han resembled a shadow on a canvas—too beautiful, always holding Ji Qingyu's gaze captive.

The thought of possibly not being able to see this handsome face up close after leaving made Ji Qingyu feel a bit sad. He comforted himself inwardly, thinking that appreciating beauty is human nature.

Ji Qingyu thought that if Fu Han were an actor, he would surely be praised for how expressive his eyes are. For such a cold person, he actually had eyes that could be described as gentle.

Across a distance neither too far nor too close, Ji Qingyu felt his muscles stiffen. Fu Han was watching him—again with that kind of gaze. They were supposed to be the closest people in the conventional sense, yet so many things remained unspoken.

Ji Qingyu opened his mouth, trying to break the tense silence, but Fu Han strode over instead, cutting the distance between them, and put out his cigarette first.

"What's wrong?" Ji Qingyu asked slowly. Fu Han's lips pressed together slightly, betraying nothing of his thoughts.

With a rustle of his trench coat fabric, Ji Qingyu was yanked by the arm and thrown into the passenger seat by Fu Han. The car door slammed shut, leaving only dead silence inside.

Ji Qingyu was still processing what had happened.

A few seconds later, the car shook slightly as Fu Han got in from the other side.

Author's Note: