Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Upon returning home, Ji Qingyu felt a deep unease.

He was unsure what those documents signified for Fu Han. Lately, Fu Han had been exceptionally busy, and the frequency of his subordinates being reprimanded had doubled. Perhaps he was indeed engrossed in a project of paramount importance.

Frowning, Ji Qingyu clutched the phone, deliberating for a long time before finally tossing it into the deepest drawer of the guest room.

For the next few days, he felt a pang of guilt whenever he faced Fu Han.

However, he soon had no time to dwell on it. The stage play had added extra performances and a creator roadshow, achieving remarkable success and earning widespread acclaim.

He specifically invited Nannan to one of the additional shows. Standing on stage, bathed in countless camera flashes, he faced a barrage of diverse questions during the reporter Q&A session: "Mr. Ji, could you tell us about your creative inspirations?"

"We meticulously refined the script many times. This production, including the director and actors, has been a true labor of love," Ji Qingyu replied, unaccustomed to such intense spotlight. He consciously kept his voice calm and gentle, striving to prevent his hands from trembling.

The venue buzzed with the clicking of camera shutters. The young reporter, however, seemed dissatisfied with his answer. "We've heard your personal emotional journey is quite complex. Given that this work involves a love triangle and marriage, was its creation influenced by your own experiences?"

Everyone on the team held a fondness for Ji Qingyu. Stage actors, often more direct than their screen counterparts, reacted immediately. The actress playing the student omega frowned and seized the microphone. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

The reporter, lacking any media credentials, had clearly come solely to target Ji Qingyu. The live broadcast intensified the already tense atmosphere.

Ji Qingyu, too, felt uncomfortable. His mind was in turmoil, and he deliberated for a long time before finally speaking.

"It has no bearing on reality. The songs I wrote are based solely on the story of the two protagonists," Ji Qingyu interjected, gently restraining the actress who was about to leap to his defense, and turned his gaze to the reporter.

The reporter, having failed to unearth any sensational scoop, remained persistent. "Mr. Ji, I haven't finished my question."

"What else is there to ask? Are you here to ask questions or to badger him?" the actress retorted sharply.

Ji Qingyu stepped in, shielding the actress and shaking his head gently. He wished to spare others from his personal troubles.

"The two protagonists in the play ultimately face a tragic end. Do you feel a sense of regret about that? And did you choose to participate in this stage production, despite its low budget and relatively unknown director, because the story itself resonated with you?" The reporter fixed Ji Qingyu with an intense stare, as if trying to tear a piece of flesh from him.

A hush fell over the venue. Most of the invited guests were industry professionals. Although the stage play’s theme was niche, its positive reception had led to its submission for awards, drawing numerous professional critics and mainstream media outlets that day.

Under the glare of several powerful spotlights, Ji Qingyu couldn't distinguish anyone in the audience.

He squinted, then slowly stated, "The two protagonists exerted their utmost effort. There's nothing to regret. I also deeply admire the pure affection they shared."

Security personnel swiftly moved in and escorted the reporter out of the venue.

It was Ji Qingyu's first encounter with such a situation. He never imagined someone would publicly utter such offensive remarks for the sake of sensationalism. A cold sweat broke out on his back, and he instinctively took a step backward.

As security approached, the reporter continued to shout, "Recently, there have been many online discussions about Fu Han and Ji Ran. Have you considered that you might face similar real-life challenges as the protagonists in the future?"

A ripple of commotion spread through the audience. Ji Qingyu stood frozen for a moment, unsure how to respond. Staff members quickly intervened, and the director, quick-witted, skillfully steered the conversation in another direction.

Ji Qingyu remained silently on stage until it was time to exit.

After the interview, Nannan peeked backstage, her face etched with worry. Ji Qingyu waved her over, and she hurried to him. "Teacher... Brother Fu Han just video-called me. He said he wanted to watch your interview, so I recorded it for him. He must have heard all those questions."

Ji Qingyu froze, his heart plummeting. He stood there for a moment, barely maintaining his composure. He sighed inwardly, hoping Fu Han would be working late at the company that night.

"Teacher Ji, are you and Brother Fu Han okay?" Nannan looked at him with wide, innocent eyes.

A young girl like her couldn’t possibly grasp such complexities. Ji Qingyu wasn’t so fragile as to burden Nannan with his worries. He simply patted her head and, addressing the creative team, said, "Children shouldn't fret over adult matters. Come on, teacher will treat you to something delicious."

Ji Qingyu and Nannan spent a long time at a nearby mall before he took her home late that night.

Recently, the weather in the capital had been dreadful, with continuous heavy downpours. The road home was completely gridlocked, intensifying the frustration weighing on Ji Qingyu’s heart.

It was past nine when he arrived home. Ji Qingyu hadn't expected the dining room lights to be on, with Fu Han waiting for him to have dinner. He had forgotten to tell Fu Han that he had already eaten. Fearing Fu Han's anger, Ji Qingyu reluctantly sat down at the table.

The alpha’s face was grim. A laptop still sat on the table, and the food had grown cold. It was evident he had been waiting for a considerable time.

As Ji Qingyu sat down, Fu Han didn't even lift his head. After a moment of silence, he spoke in a cold, detached voice, "During today's interview, when someone asked if you had other choices, why did you hesitate? You envy their feelings—do you think our relationship isn't pure?"

"..." Ji Qingyu still harbored a fear of Fu Han. He had just picked up a piece of bok choy, but his hands trembled, and it slipped back into the bowl. He lost his appetite and furtively glanced at the other man.

Fu Han’s eyes held a scrutinizing gaze. Ji Qingyu didn’t know where to put his hands.

"Your nonsense today won't be reported. I've already sent people to suppress the online rumors. In the future, don't casually answer such sensitive questions." Fu Han's expression remained neutral. On the table was a bowl of easily digestible plum porridge, but lately, the sight of plums made Ji Qingyu nauseous.

"I didn't answer..." Ji Qingyu had completely lost his appetite.

"I have never restricted your activities or work, but if you continue to take on these inappropriate projects, causing outsiders to doubt our relationship and damaging the Fu Corporation’s image, then you won't need to go out anymore." Fu Han placed a few pieces of boiled meat into Ji Qingyu’s bowl. The meat, cooked in saltwater without any seasoning, was utterly bland.

Ji Qingyu had heard such words from Fu Han so often that he had become immune. Yet, today, for some inexplicable reason, he suddenly felt deeply wronged.

Perhaps the heavy rain also played a part; the steady patter made him particularly irritable.

He silently ate the bland, boiled meat, his head bowed. He thought about how he couldn't confide anything in Fu Han, and how Fu Han always spoke to him with cold words, making baseless accusations. The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt, and tears fell uncontrollably, plinking into his bowl.

Fu Han continued his lengthy monologue. The rain paused for a few minutes, and Ji Qingyu’s emotions had just begun to settle when, a second later, another muffled clap of thunder sounded, and the downpour intensified.

Not receiving a response from Ji Qingyu, Fu Han paused after a while and noticed Ji Qingyu’s head was almost buried in his bowl. He then gripped Ji Qingyu’s chin, forcing him to look up.

Seeing Ji Qingyu’s expression, he suddenly froze.

"Why are you crying? Did I say anything to you?" Fu Han frowned. Indeed, his tone had softened considerably compared to when they first married. Those veiled threats were, in truth, minor to Ji Qingyu.

But today, for some reason, he was overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming uncontrollably. His stomach spasmed, and he felt nauseous again. Ji Qingyu didn't want to look at Fu Han, shifting his gaze away, feeling utterly embarrassed.

After more than ten seconds, he finally spoke.

"Understood," Ji Qingyu muttered sullenly. "It's always your decision."

Fu Han’s grip on Ji Qingyu’s chin tightened further before he finally released it. Fu Han looked at him with confusion, but even more so, with an unreadable scrutiny and disdain.

Halfway through the meal, neither of them had any appetite to continue. Fu Han released Ji Qingyu, his tone softening slightly. "Why are you crying? Who are you crying for? Did I wrong you in some way?"

Fu Han took two tissues and slowly wiped the tears streaking Ji Qingyu’s face.

Ji Qingyu couldn’t eat anymore and didn’t want to see Fu Han’s face. He turned to leave, but Fu Han gripped his hand tightly, refusing to let go. Ji Qingyu struggled to hold back his tears, and an awkward, suffocating silence fell between them.

Fu Han sighed. "You're always like this, every single time. You never think you've done anything wrong."

He tossed the crumpled tissues aside, lowered his head, and bit Ji Qingyu’s lips. The air was thick with the cloying scent of sour plums. Ji Qingyu pushed against him with both hands, his fully healed wrist still aching faintly, like a fine drizzle lingering between them.

The sharp pangs of memory occasionally surfaced, pulsing with his heartbeat, turning Fu Han’s casual harsh words into devastating blows for Ji Qingyu.

An alpha knew no way other than to take, so he tried even more fiercely to consume the other, praying that physical sensation could cover their old scars.

"Ji Qingyu, as long as I don't agree, don't even think about leaving me." His fingers pressed into Ji Qingyu’s waist, causing him to tremble in pain.

That’s right, Ji Qingyu thought. No matter what he did, it was always the same in Fu Han’s eyes—scheming, pretending to be naive, being tactless and speaking nonsense.

Fu Han pressed down on the back of his neck, and he began to shiver.

In the middle of the night, Ji Qingyu woke up again. Lately, his insomnia had been worsening. Even when he managed to fall asleep, he often dreamed of Fu Han speaking coldly to him before turning and walking away.

His mind was a mess. As he stared blankly into space, the phone on the nightstand suddenly lit up, glaringly bright. Who would message him in the middle of the night?

He reached for the phone and opened it. It was from Ma Yu, followed by a picture: "Xiao Yu, I just had a drink and saw someone familiar. You’ve mentioned this person several times—isn’t this the omega from your high school who dropped out? Ruan Jing, right?"