Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Fu Han seemed to have set up his office at the theater. As the investor, the crew found it difficult to turn him away.

"What's this play about?" Fu Han asked, sitting beside Ji Qingyu, who was engrossed in writing with a pen.

"It's about two people who separate and never meet again."

"You're producing something like this? You actually like this kind of stuff?" Fu Han's voice dropped again, tinged with disappointment.

"Yes," Ji Qingyu replied slowly. "I just like this kind of stuff."

Fu Han looked somewhat annoyed, his hand clenching slightly before he forced a smile. "Alright, if you like it, then make it. After all, they say drama is fake."

He was still speaking when he turned and saw Ji Qingyu had already stood up, holding his newly bought goji berry mug, and was heading to discuss the plot with the director.

Fu Han sat alone where he was. None of the surrounding actors paid him any mind; some were even whispering and casting scrutinizing, hostile glances his way.

Fu Han ignored all the stares and lowered his head to focus on his work.

Finally, after rehearsal, Yu Yue pulled Ji Qingyu out for dinner that evening.

Fu Han, who had originally intended to pick up Ji Qingyu, followed them, maintaining a distance of about three steps.

Ji Qingyu walked ahead, with Fu Han trailing silently behind.

These past few days, Ji Qingyu's gland had improved significantly, likely due to the pheromones Fu Han occasionally emitted during emotional fluctuations.

"Seriously, it's kind of unsettling. How long is he going to follow us like this?" Yu Yue whispered, linking arms with Ji Qingyu.

"No idea," Ji Qingyu said, quite calmly. If he couldn't shake him off, he might as well get a free meal out of it.

Perhaps noticing Ji Qingyu's lack of obvious resistance, Fu Han moved a little closer.

"After dinner, come to the hospital with me. I've made an appointment with a doctor for a proper check-up," he said, tugging at Ji Qingyu's sleeve.

"I'll see a doctor on my own. No need to trouble you," Ji Qingyu replied, looking away and gently pushing Fu Han's hand off.

"I found this at my home in Jing City," Fu Han said, opening his palm to reveal a small pendant. "You've kept it all this time?"

His eyes were bright, fixed unblinkingly on the omega, as if eagerly awaiting Ji Qingyu's affirmative answer.

Ji Qingyu looked at the blue star, shimmering under the evening lights. "What is this? I've forgotten."

Fu Han was left speechless as Ji Qingyu and Yu Yue walked away.

"What did he mean, 'all this time'? Did something happen between you two when you were younger?" Yu Yue whispered, curious.

"Yeah," Ji Qingyu said. "I was the easiest to please among his many companions. He just gave me a pendant to amuse me."

"Wow, how could he do that?" Yu Yue glanced back at Fu Han, still standing frozen in place. "He's still back there, looking shell-shocked."

"Don't mind him," Ji Qingyu said slowly. "Let's eat at this place for crab roe soup dumplings."

Fu Han didn't come in, likely to avoid dampening their mood. He simply bought a wrap outside, ate it, and waited for Ji Qingyu and Yu Yue to finish.

When Ji Qingyu emerged, another omega was asking for his contact information, but he waved them off and declined.

Fu Han was smoking again, cigarette in one hand while talking on the phone. His trench coat was wrapped around him, his cold profile tired and aloof. He was still busy, seemingly with many unresolved matters.

Seeing Ji Qingyu come out, he quickly ended the call, put out his cigarette, and hurried over. Keeping a slight distance, his gaze was almost eager, like a large, devoted dog.

"If you have things to attend to, go handle them. Don't stay here all the time. It's a burden for us," Ji Qingyu said quietly.

"Exactly, we were having a nice meal, but you made it hard for us to enjoy it," Yu Yue fully sided with Ji Qingyu. After so many days, she had pieced together most of the story from Weibo and Ji Qingyu's scattered remarks.

She had initially found this guy handsome, but after hearing everything, his appeal dropped several notches.

Yu Yue had a new date, so she parted ways with Ji Qingyu at the intersection. Before leaving, she glared at Fu Han and reminded him uneasily, "Contact me anytime if anything happens."

"Go on," Ji Qingyu said. Yu Yue's bubbly chatter and noise made him feel less alone, and Fu Han's presence felt less intrusive and oppressive.

As soon as Yu Yue left, Fu Han spoke up again. "Let's go. The doctor is waiting. Your gland needs regular check-ups anyway. Just consider it for the child's sake."

Ji Qingyu sighed and nodded. He didn't want to argue too much about this, so he got into the car with Fu Han.

"Your body isn't in the best condition to carry this child. Your gland is already fragile, and without pheromone support, it's not good for the child's emotional state or yours," the doctor concluded after the examination. "Without proper care, your health will worsen in the future."

"I have to have this child," Ji Qingyu insisted, as always.

"You young people, your health should come first. Are you all trying to throw your lives away?" The doctor hadn't finished speaking when Ji Qingyu stood up and left.

Fu Han tried to grab him again, but Ji Qingyu shook him off, annoyed, feeling increasingly that this couldn't go on.

He thought for a moment and pulled Fu Han to an out-of-the-way table in the hospital. They sat facing each other.

Seeing that Ji Qingyu was finally willing to talk to him, Fu Han's lips curved into a slight smile.

Ji Qingyu took a deep breath, pressed his lips together, and finally spoke, his voice slow and gentle.

"Fu Han, you know many things have an expiration date. Maybe before that date, things don't spoil, but once it passes, there's no going back to how things were. People have expiration dates too." Ji Qingyu's expression was impassive as he spoke.

"Your hand—you injured the tendon. Remember not to let it touch cold water, or it'll act up on damp, rainy days. This kind of pain won't kill you, but it'll constantly remind you that you're different from others. That injured place will never be as good as new."

"If you're wondering how I know this so well," Ji Qingyu pointed to his gland and then his throat, "it's because my body has many scars like that."

"I'm telling you this not to make you pity me or to demand more compensation from you, but to let you know that our expiration date has passed." Ji Qingyu's throat felt dry from talking, but he wanted to say it all in one go. Maybe then the occasional chest tightness and flashes of pain would lessen. "Don't lift heavy objects with your hand. Don't ignore it. Jiang City's dampness is too high. For your own good, you should go back soon. If you don't leave, I'll have to move again... I really like it here, and I like my current job. You... you're in my way."

Fu Han stared at Ji Qingyu, silent for a long moment.

"The doctor just said that during pregnancy, you need an alpha's pheromones. If I'm here, at least it's better for the child," Fu Han said, his voice low and hoarse, as if aware he was using a despicable tactic.

"It's fine. The six years I was marked by you, I didn't need pheromones either. It's not a necessity." After saying this, Ji Qingyu stood up and left.

Such hurtful words. Fu Han took two deep breaths to act unfazed, continuing to linger around Ji Qingyu as if nothing was wrong.

As they walked out of the hospital, Fu Han followed behind. He didn't dare get too close, staying two steps behind Ji Qingyu. After a few steps, Ji Qingyu heard the alpha making small talk: "I haven't heard you sing in so long. Could you sing for me again? On my birthday, my wish was to live well with you and hear you sing."

"My singing voice is ruined. It doesn't sound good when I sing," Ji Qingyu said, holding his medical records. He was looking at the scans—his gland damage was causing nerve pain, something he never expected to face. He put the images away. "Besides, not everyone's birthday wishes come true."

Fu Han was left speechless again as Ji Qingyu hailed a taxi. He suddenly felt an invisible wall between him and Ji Qingyu, immovable. It seemed Ji Qingyu had firmly decided to shut him out.

"When are you planning to go back?" Ji Qingyu asked. "Ji Ran is only going to be detained for fifteen days. The trial hasn't started yet. You must be very busy. What about Fu Yunbai? He must be angry too."

"Fu Han, you don't really love me that much, do you? You could avoid looking for me for six years over one thing. Now you're just feeling remorse. Guilt eventually runs out." Ji Qingyu sighed. He was wearing a thin, fluffy jacket that made him look very young. Standing outside the hospital, people kept turning to look at him. "When that time comes, you can return to your world and live the way you're used to. What about me? What about the child?"

"Back then, those people... it was all just a performance," Fu Han said, a pang of panic shooting through him, and reached for Ji Qingyu, but Ji Qingyu pushed him away.

"Ji Qingyu, didn't you like me back then? I'll only like you from now on. Why can't we keep going?"

"No," Ji Qingyu said. "I'm tired. You should head back too."

"Why are you so calm with me? You could blame me, or let me make it up to you—why do you treat me like a stranger, even colder than you'd be with a stranger? You weren’t like this before. If I got hurt, you'd hurt more than I did." Fu Han said, "You’ve long stopped caring about me, haven’t you?"

"I was eighteen back then, a fool. If I act foolish again now, I'll just get fooled again." Ji Qingyu said, "Back then, all you had to do was crook a finger, and I’d foolishly believe you were only good to me. Now, if you say a few nice words, should I just forgive you? My mother is watching from above. If she sees me treating myself so poorly, she’ll be sad. I don’t want her to worry."

Ji Qingyu left. He thought that after saying so many harsh words, Fu Han would surely know when to retreat.

His mind was in turmoil. He wandered aimlessly through Jiangcheng and didn't get back to the guesthouse until the wee hours.

The wind in Jiangcheng carried moisture, damp against his face and lifting the ends of Ji Qingyu’s hair.

The night was pitch black, with only a few streetlights still glowing. Ji Qingyu faintly saw someone sitting by the entrance, head buried in their knees, apparently asleep.

The peace he'd fought to regain shattered again. After saying so much, it had all been in vain. Why did Fu Han keep clinging to him? Ji Qingyu thought about it for a long time and finally reached a conclusion. He walked over and patted Fu Han.

The other person stirred groggily, grabbed Ji Qingyu’s calf. Fu Han’s hands were broad, and he seemed to have been drinking again—his ears were flushed red as he leaned against Ji Qingyu’s leg, barely conscious. "You’re back…"

Ji Qingyu sighed.

"Fu Han, are you unwilling to let go? Do you still want to do it? If so, go ahead. Once it’s done, leave." Ji Qingyu looked down at Fu Han. In those eyes, Fu Han could see no emotion—only a coldness like an icy plain.

A knockout punch.

Fu Han was utterly stunned. That softly spoken sentence felt like a slap. He froze for a long time, too shocked to react, his drunkenness mostly gone. Dazed, he muttered, "What did you say?"