Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Soon after the celebratory banquet, Ji Qingyu had his last medical appointment in Jiangcheng. Outside the hospital windows, the day was bright. Ji Qingyu held his medical chart, with Fu Han by his side.

"Your glandular condition has largely stabilized, but you'll need another surgery," the doctor explained. "You might have to return to Beijing. The procedure is too complex, and we don't have the expertise to perform it here."

The day had finally arrived. His gland was too fragile; without intervention, its fate was uncertain. Another surgery was absolutely essential.

The surgical principle was intricate. The doctor elaborated at length that it essentially involved stimulating Ji Qingyu's functionally impaired gland to undergo secondary development, enabling it to secrete hormones and maintain bodily balance.

Ji Qingyu nodded, appearing to grasp some, but not all, of the explanation.

"How high are the risks?" Fu Han inquired.

"The risks are very high, but your husband must undergo this surgery. Otherwise, not only will having a child be out of the question, but his own bodily functions will gradually fail," the doctor delivered the grim prognosis.

Ji Qingyu lowered his gaze, his body trembling slightly. Was this fate's ultimate trial, or yet another cruel jest, pushing him into the abyss?

He had witnessed too many unforeseen events and much capriciousness—Lin Ying's situation was a prime example, a devastating blow delivered at the most hopeful moment. Was history repeating itself now?

Countless thoughts raced through Ji Qingyu's mind before he finally forced out, "What are the approximate chances of success?"

The doctor paused, adjusted his glasses, and answered truthfully, "Less than thirty percent."

The consultation room fell into a profound silence. After a long moment, Ji Qingyu found his voice again—soft, yet remarkably steady.

"Is there a more conservative approach, perhaps delaying the surgery until after the child is born?" Ji Qingyu clung to a sliver of hope, struggling to ask. With such low odds, was he to drag his child down with him? The child was innocent, still so small, having never seen the light of the world or experienced anything. He didn’t want to burden him.

The doctor remained silent for a long moment, his expression tinged with sorrow. "Without the surgery, your body will become increasingly disordered as the child develops, eventually leading to total collapse. You likely won’t survive until the child’s birth."

What did hormonal imbalance mean for an omega? It meant the entire body would rapidly deteriorate, lose its functions, and wither away. Ji Qingyu never imagined that the six years he thought he could simply endure would leave such severe aftereffects.

He curled his fingers tightly, taking deep, steady breaths.

"I'm sorry to deliver such harsh news, but we had to inform you," the doctor added. "However, there have been cases of successful recovery. We, along with the medical team in Beijing, will do our utmost."

"Alright, thank you for your efforts," Ji Qingyu said slowly. Fu Han remained silent throughout. As they walked out of the consultation room, Ji Qingyu noticed Fu Han watching him intently before saying in a deep voice, "I’m here. Nothing will happen."

Fu Han enveloped Ji Qingyu in his broad chest, his palm covering Ji Qingyu’s slightly trembling hand. Ji Qingyu could smell the green plum scent on him, and the warmth of his skin spread through him, slowly calming Ji Qingyu down.

It was strange—someone like Fu Han, who often seemed to invite chaos and conflict, now made him feel incredibly secure.

Leaning into Fu Han’s embrace, he wondered if he should get all his affairs in order beforehand, just in case—if the worst happened, there might be no chance later.

He didn’t have many possessions. All his money would be left to the child. As for everything else, who could he give it to? Leave it all to Fu Han? That would be too cruel of him.

Ji Qingyu’s lips trembled, but in the end, he only managed a weak smile. Tilting his head slightly, his light brown hair fell, making his pale profile even more pronounced. He sighed softly and said, "Then I’ll trust your reassuring words."

Winter was approaching in Beijing. It was cold when they flew back, and the surgery was scheduled for a week later. Ji Qingyu had to undergo a series of preoperative examinations. Lying on the hospital bed, he stared at the wall.

Fu Han stayed with him the whole time, releasing calming pheromones to help ease his nerves. The hospital gown wasn’t as comfortable as his own clothes. He disliked hospitals, yet as an adult, it felt like his second home. He curved his lips into a helpless smile.

After returning to Beijing, Luo Sheng was the first to visit, bringing Nuannuan along. The moment he saw Ji Qingyu, his eyes reddened. Nuannuan, dressed in a pink wool coat, rushed over to Ji Qingyu like a little snowball.

Ji Qingyu never expected their reunion to happen under such circumstances—it was too disheartening. Lying in bed, looking at Luo Sheng and Nuannuan, he suddenly felt as if an eternity had passed.

Luo Sheng looked at Ji Qingyu, about to say something, when the door behind him suddenly swung open with a loud creak and a bang. An unexpected visitor had arrived.

"Ah Sheng?" It was a familiar voice. The moment Luo Sheng heard it, his entire body stiffened. Standing at the doorway was a figure he knew all too well—the person he least wanted to see in his life had appeared in the most unexpected way.

A crack appeared in Fu Yunbai’s composure. Luo Sheng stared blankly for a few seconds before grabbing the nearest piece of fruit and hurling it at him. Fu Yunbai dodged sideways. Remembering the younger ones were present, Luo Sheng spoke first, "Let’s talk outside."

He stepped out of the room first, brushing past Fu Yunbai, who followed silently behind without a word.

"Is everything okay?" Ji Qingyu worriedly glanced toward the door.

"Let them handle their own affairs—it’s the older generation's business," Fu Han said. "Mom probably expected this day would come."

"No, I’m still worried." Recalling the empty syringes, Ji Qingyu frowned and got out of bed. Leaning on Fu Han, he said, "I’ll go check. Wait here for me."

"I’ll go with you," Fu Han replied.

"Me too!" Unable to dissuade Nuannuan, the three of them went together.

The weather had turned cold. Ji Qingyu wrapped himself in a furry coat, but the chilly air still seeped in. They searched along the hallway and soon found the two at a corner of the hospital.

Luo Sheng was dressed casually, wrapped in an inexpensive down jacket, his chin buried in a slightly pilled secondhand scarf. No matter how you looked at him, he seemed like an ordinary middle-aged man. In contrast, Fu Yunbai was impeccably dressed, his perfectly tailored clothes making him appear aloof and refined down to the last button of his suit.

"You ended up like this after leaving me?" Fu Yunbai frowned, reaching out to brush aside Luo Sheng’s stray hair, but Luo Sheng slapped his hand away.

"All your doing," Luo Sheng replied coldly.

"There are bodyguards everywhere. Do you really think you can run away today?" Fu Yunbai sneered, his gaze fixed intently on Luo Sheng. "You’ve changed so much. I almost didn’t recognize you, little Ah Sheng."

The nickname sounded intimate, but Luo Sheng showed no reaction, his eyes filled only with disgust, aversion, and even... hatred.

"Then try it. See if I can run away a second time," Luo Sheng gritted his teeth, enunciating each word clearly.

Fu Yunbai’s expression remained blank as he stared intently at Luo Sheng. "You’re still as stubborn as ever."

"I warn you, don’t make a scene in front of the children," Luo Sheng retorted.

"Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough in front of me already?" Fu Yunbai laughed mockingly, reaching out recklessly to grab Luo Sheng. But Luo Sheng quickly pulled a ballpoint pen from his pocket and pressed it against his own neck.

Fu Yunbai’s expression finally changed. His eyes widened slightly as he reached out to grab Luo Sheng’s neck. The ballpoint pen scratched a frightening gash on Fu Han’s hand.

Outside the window, an old tree that had stood for who knows how long had lost all its leaves, with only a few remaining swaying in the cold wind.

"Are you insane?" Fu Yunbai’s tone finally shifted.

"Fu Yunbai, if you dare provoke me again, I’ll kill myself."

Ji Qingyu covered Nuannuan’s eyes and retreated back into the room.

"Brother, do they like each other or hate each other? Uncle Luo Sheng is never this harsh with anyone," Nuannuan asked, clutching Ji Qingyu’s hand in confusion.

"Who knows," Ji Qingyu shook his head.

Their matters were theirs alone—no one else could possibly understand.

After a while, Luo Sheng returned to the ward, hurriedly said goodbye, and left first.

Perhaps sensing Ji Qingyu’s worry, Fu Han reassured him, "Don’t worry. Now, whether it’s you or Mom, I can protect you both."

In the following days, there were endless examinations. Between the various complicated examinations, Ji Qingyu tried to catch his breath. Bored, he picked up the remote control from the bedside table and turned on the TV, hoping to find a soap opera to pass the time.

He didn’t find a soap opera, but there was plenty of coverage about Ji Ran. Over the years, Ji Ran had schemed against more than just Ji Qingyu—his list of misdeeds was long. Thanks to Fu Han’s relentless efforts, he was finally sentenced and would likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

At the same time, staggering amounts of compensation were demanded—the figures were astonishing. The contract termination fees alone were astronomical. What was even more shocking was that the person who reported and exposed him was Fu Yunsheng, the former lover Ji Ran thought he could manipulate.

Ji Qingyu watched the report. Ji Ran had been smiling throughout the court hearing, but as supplementary evidence was presented one after another, hitting him like blows, his insincere smile finally faltered. In the end, the moment he caught sight of Fu Yunsheng, his expression froze solid.

Entertainment bloggers were reporting extensively on the case. Just as Ji Qingyu was engrossed in the news, the phone beside him rang. Talk about timing—the screen displayed a long-unseen name.

Ji Ran.

Ji Qingyu stared at the two characters for a few seconds before finally answering. Ji Ran was somewhere with no background noise at all. It wasn’t until someone nearby urged him that he spoke: "I want to see you one more time."

"Where are you?" Ji Qingyu still had an indwelling needle in his hand. He had been so preoccupied with the hospital's endless series of examinations that he hadn't thought about Ji Ran for a long time. As for his dear younger brother, he truly felt it would be best if they never saw each other again in this lifetime.

"Songshan Road No. 2 Prison in the outskirts of the capital." Ji Ran seemed to want to say more, but a cold voice beside him stated, "Time's up."

"I'll be waiting for you." Ji Ran left these final words, like a chill sigh, before the line went dead with a sharp tone.