Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Days flowed by, and Ji Qingyu gradually settled into the rhythm of life here. Jiangcheng was a place of gentle pace and low pressure; he had spent the last couple of days simply watching old men play chess.

Sometimes, he would think of Lin Ying. If only she were still here. Jiangcheng was so warm; she would have loved it.

Heaven is unjust, never granting good people more chances. Ultimately, who can truly define good or bad? Lin Ying had toiled her entire life, strong and resilient, always protecting Ji Qingyu. Yet, she was so cruel to herself, never once considering self-love. In the end, she met such an unresolved fate.

Ji Qingyu wished that in another life, Lin Ying could be reborn as an Alpha, free from the almost cruel curse of her gender. Though, deep down, he knew this was merely another form of escape and weakness…

Shaking off these sudden emotions, Ji Qingyu headed to a rehearsal for Yu Yue’s new stage play. He sat beside the director, watching the entire run-through.

The stage was vast, and under the spotlight, everyone was lost in the drama. Yu Yue was a girl brimming with energy; watching her, Ji Qingyu felt his own spirits lift.

He listened to each character’s lines, making notes. A cup of warm water with goji berries sat beside him, untouched, and before he knew it, dusk had fallen.

Yu Yue and the others pulled Ji Qingyu along to dinner at a home-style restaurant, where the stir-fried eel slivers were a particular delight.

The persistent heavy weight in Ji Qingyu’s heart began to dissipate. The warm, cozy room was beautifully decorated, with a fire gently crackling in the fireplace.

Yu Yue quietly approached him, a glass of beer in her hand. She seemed a little tipsy, her voice hushed: "Xiao Yu, what’s going on with you and your husband? Have you seen what’s on Weibo?"

Given Yu Yue’s personality, she had probably been holding back all day, finally mustering the courage to ask under the influence of alcohol.

"We broke up," Ji Qingyu stated matter-of-factly.

"No, Xiao Yu, why? Last time backstage, his eyes never left you. You don't know, he even asked me how you were when you were writing songs, if your throat was bothering you, if you were in low spirits when you were with us. My jaw nearly dropped, I was so shocked. I thought he was this aloof person, but he just kept rambling on to me," Yu Yue rattled off in one breath.

"That's just how relationships are," Ji Qingyu replied, surprised that Fu Han had done such things. He said stiffly, "Let's change the subject."

"Oh…" Yu Yue quietly retreated, lowering her head to eat, looking as if she was about to burst.

Ji Qingyu felt a faint smile touch his lips, then sighed inwardly. Slowly, he said, "Alright, ask everything you want to know, all at once."

Yu Yue quickly leaned in again: "I'm just curious—the internet is going crazy over your brother and your husband. Haven't you seen it?"

"I uninstalled Weibo," Ji Qingyu said quietly. "And it wasn't for my sake. In matters like this, the more weaknesses you find in the other party, the more advantageous it is for him and his corporation."

"Is that so?" Yu Yue frowned and murmured, "But I think…"

"Alright," Ji Qingyu interrupted as the fireplace crackled and the rest of the crew chattered and laughed loudly. Infected by the lively atmosphere, Ji Qingyu found himself smiling too, his body gradually relaxing.

He was wrapped in a blanket, having felt unusually cold lately. He picked up a crab for Yu Yue, trying to change the subject. "Why are you suddenly advocating for him?"

"So, you two… are really done with each other?" Yu Yue asked regretfully. "He's so handsome—I'm sure many people like him. And he cares about you so much…"

"Well… actually, there was never much between us to begin with. He'll be fine without me," Ji Qingyu said, though he suddenly found the stir-fried eel slivers unappetizing, too greasy. He put down his chopsticks.

"Okay," Yu Yue said. After all, she was an outsider and didn’t know the full story. "No matter what, I’m on your side."

Hearing this from a young woman he’d only worked with once, Ji Qingyu felt touched. Such unwarranted kindness was rare in his life, and it warmed his heart.

Halfway through the meal, Ji Qingyu chugged two glasses of water, fighting the urge to throw up. He thought he should see a doctor tomorrow.

Just then, his phone rang.

He looked down—it was Luo Sheng. Ji Qingyu answered, and the voice on the other end sounded serious: "Qingyu, you really haven't heard anything?"

Why was everyone asking if he knew something? Ji Qingyu felt puzzled but asked anyway, "What’s happened?"

"Fu Han came to me, asking if I knew where you were. He’s been targeting the Ji family lately. Ji Deyong has been pushed to desperation, forcing Ji Ran to apologize to him."

Ji Qingyu was stunned. No wonder Yu Yue felt sorry for him—Fu Han really seemed to be holding onto something. But he didn’t believe it. Fu Han was probably just regretting the loss of a compliant Omega he could control.

"And then…" Luo Sheng paused. "Fu Han came to me, asking if I knew where you went."

"He looked terrible and said a lot of irrational things. He’s convinced the child you’re carrying is his," Luo Sheng said. "I couldn’t help it—I slapped him…"

Ji Qingyu’s heart sank, and his chopsticks stilled. He stood up and stepped outside to hear more clearly. "Is he okay? I never wanted anything to happen to him."

Ji Qingyu thought that someone like Fu Han would just be moody for a couple of days before indifferently going back to his life. Fu Han didn’t care deeply about anything and certainly didn’t need anyone worrying about him.

This time, it was Luo Sheng who fell silent.

"Qingyu, as his mother, I've failed him. I failed to raise him properly. But, I still have to ask—is there really no hope left for the two of you?" Luo Sheng continued, "He and I are distant. Since we reunited, he’s rarely sought me out, only having people check on me when I go to the hospital. He used to cling to me as a child, but this is the most emotional I’ve ever seen him. He asked me if I’d seen you with anyone else, and if he was becoming more like Fu Yunbo."

The scent of grass in the air grew stronger. Ji Qingyu felt as if his heart had been squeezed, an aching numbness spreading through his bones.

"Xiao Yu, I’m sorry. I couldn’t hold back—I told him."

"Told him what?" Ji Qingyu’s reaction was still slow, his words faltering. Mud from the wall smudged his pants. He thought, today’s linen clothes probably would be hard to clean.

"I told him that the reason you left wasn’t because of a third person, but because of your mother…" Luo Sheng paused. "I’m sorry, Qingyu, but I felt he shouldn't remain clueless. He needs to learn a lesson."

Ji Qingyu paused, almost able to picture Luo Sheng scolding Fu Han. He didn’t want to see someone so arrogant being reprimanded.

He just wanted to cut all ties with Fu Han.

"He asked me why you never told him anything. I said it’s probably because you never managed to build trust with him," Luo Sheng added. "He asked a lot more—whether you’d leave even if your mother recovered, whether you’d never stay with him no matter what. I thought yes, so I told him that."

The restaurant lights were bright, casting warm light on his face. Ji Qingyu blinked.

"After I said that, he left. I don’t know what he’s doing now—maybe looking into what happened back then, or maybe… I don’t know. But Xiao Yu, I’ve never seen him like this," Luo Sheng said. "I have my own selfish reasons, and I should apologize to you. But I didn’t want him to remain ignorant. Maybe knowing will hurt him deeply, but it’s better to face the pain now than prolong it."

Outside the restaurant, a long river flowed quietly, silently winding through the water town. Jiangcheng’s autumn melted into tranquility. Perhaps because Ji Qingyu had been gone too long, Yu Yue came out with a blanket and draped it over him.

"What’s wrong, Xiao Yu? Ji Qingyu?" Yu Yue waved her hand in front of his eyes. She was pretty, her eyes especially lively. "Was what I said too much? I think you’re wonderful, and you must have your reasons for your decisions. I was just being nosy—you’re not upset, are you?"

"No," Ji Qingyu said, exchanging a few more words with Luo Sheng to reassure him. After all, he was out here, and even with Fu Han’s influence, he would have trouble finding him. He hung up and returned to the private room with Yu Yue.

After eating crab and eel, he felt like drinking. Perhaps a warm cup wouldn’t hurt, but after just one sip, he felt unwell.

Even though the baby hadn’t been acting up these days, it suddenly started bothering him again. He frowned, his stomach churning, feeling nauseous. This time, he really couldn't push through it.

Using discomfort as an excuse, he stood up and left early. Yu Yue offered to see him home, but he waved her off.

Stepping outside, the night had fallen. A few potted plants sat by the restaurant wall, and few shops were still open. Nightlife here was quiet, with few people out.

Ji Qingyu lowered his head and opened his phone. After being the subject of gossip all day, he realized he knew nothing about the situation himself. He considered reinstalling Weibo but feared disrupting his hard-earned peace and decided against it.

He missed Lin Ying. Suddenly, he remembered that his old WeChat chat history hadn’t been cleared. He quickly switched back—fortunately, there was a 15-day recovery period after deletion. He saved all the chat logs and leaned against a wall, reading them over and over.

Midway, a voice message notification appeared. Ji Qingyu stared at the familiar name, feeling almost confused.

Why did Fu Han keep contacting him?

Ji Qingyu sighed. The call rang once, then a second time, on and on, annoying him. Was Fu Han really this persistent?

Looking at the 99+ unread messages, he still couldn't bring himself to open them. Instead, he deleted the chat, erasing all of Fu Han's messages along with it. He was soft-hearted, but no matter what others said, he wouldn't budge an inch on this matter.