Chapter 10 Contraception

Chapter 10: Aftermath

Lian Yi gave them both a quick wipe-down before scooping up Qiao Zhimian and carrying him to the clean bed in the guest room, summoning the family doctor to examine Qiao Zhimian's gland.

The omega's delicate gland was red and swollen, bearing his bite impressions, the skin deeply broken, his entire body carrying the scent of his exclusive claim.

Fortunately, after examining it, the doctor smiled and said everything looked good—the mark and soothing pheromones from a top-level alpha could help stabilize his condition.

He had suggested this before, but Qiao Zhimian had never taken the advice.

After the doctor left, Lian Yi returned to the master bedroom and turned off the ventilation.

The scent of green bamboo entwined with white roses still lingered.

In his hurry, he wore only a bathrobe, the muscles of his chest exposed, showing small marks where Qiao Zhimian had bitten and scratched him in his weeping and disoriented state.

The man’s handsome brows were relaxed, carrying a hint of the sensual laziness that came after marking an omega, radiating pheromones.

The mess on the floor hadn’t been cleaned up yet.

Used condoms, clothes stained with bodily fluids, and the photos scattered during their argument all lay quietly there.

Among them were shoe prints from where Lian Yi had stepped in his panic.

He first uncomfortably cleaned up the intimate traces, then got a brown paper bag to collect the photos.

His dark, thoughtful gaze lingered on them for a long time before he let out a soft sigh, deciding not to dwell on it, and stored them in the study’s safe.

After finishing all this, Lian Yi went to the guest room, carefully lifted the sleeping omega from the blankets, and gently carried him to the bathroom for a bath.

Their bathtub was large, more than enough to accommodate both of them.

After cleaning up, Lian Yi held him and sat in the tub for a while, soaking in the hot water.

The omega’s light weight rested entirely in his arms, his head pillowed against his firm chest.

His slender eyelids and lips were still slightly swollen and red, his delicate brows furrowing uneasily.

Lian Yi looked down gently at the small face in his arms, his thoughts complex, and released pheromones to envelop him, letting him continue sleeping peacefully.

The boy’s voice had been soft and broken with tears at the time, his buttocks flushed red as he cried, calling him "Senior," saying it hurt, begging him to be gentler.

Now his body was covered in red marks he had left—bite marks on his inner thighs, fingerprints on his waist, his neck and chest all bearing the traces.

The alpha’s large hand inexplicably covered the omega’s thin belly.

Perhaps because the knot had just formed, the usually flat lower abdomen was slightly swollen into a small curve, looking quite pitiful.

Still too thin, just a thin layer.

Further down were those injured legs, still slender and pale.

Every day, someone came to the house to give muscle massages, so the muscles had only atrophied slightly.

Because he couldn’t move, however humiliated or furious he felt, he couldn’t kick him.

Back in school, whenever those alphas interested in Qiao Zhimian talked about him, they always praised his face and his legs first.

He likes wearing loose Japanese-style overall shorts in the summer, his legs straight, long, and dazzlingly fair, confident and poised.

But now, he always wears long pants to cover them.

With such a bright future ahead, someone so vibrant and full of life suddenly unable to stand—no one could accept it without being crushed.

It’s hard to imagine how he’s made it through this past year.

Lost in thought, Lian Yi suddenly felt the Omega in his arms frown and let out a few uncomfortable murmurs, nuzzling his face against Lian Yi’s chest.

He snapped back to reality, tightened his embrace to hold him more securely, and steadily offered calming pheromones.

Unable to resist, his thin lips gently kissed the Omega’s smooth forehead, and he softly rubbed his uncomfortable stomach.

A freshly marked Omega becomes especially dependent on his Alpha; even a brief separation can bring anxiety and fear.

After their bath, Lian Yi wasn’t so uptight anymore. Worried that the Omega might sleep restlessly, he combined their two beds into one.

The Omega’s cheeks were soft and tender, but after being soaked with tears for so long, they were flushed and feverish. If left unattended, they’d likely become peeling and painful by the next day.

Before settling into bed, Lian Yi fetched some moisturizing lotion and clumsily smoothed moisturizer onto his face.

.

“Qiao Zhimian, wake up.”

“Let’s get some food in you.”

The man’s familiar, pleasant voice reached his ears. Qiao Zhimian’s eyebrows twitched, and his eyes rolled slightly as he gradually woke up.

Lian Yi sat on the edge of the bed, observing the Omega’s subtle changes. He wanted to wake him but didn’t want to be too loud, afraid of startling him.

It's almost afternoon now, and he's still half-asleep.

After a while, the alpha noticed something and felt relieved.

He said helplessly, "Qiao Zhimian, stop pretending to sleep. I know you're awake."

The omega who'd been caught shyly cracked his eyes open, stealing glances at the man.

The clear mark on the back of his neck made him feel flustered yet happy, his heart racing wildly, his head spinning like he was floating on cloud nine.

He and Lian Yi have completed the mating bond—he is now his omega, and Lian Yi is his alpha. They are now truly mated.

Under the covers, Qiao Zhimian secretly moved his hand to his sore lower abdomen, which still felt somewhat achy and bloated.

His senior's muscles are so firm, and he's so strong—you can't tell when he's clothed.

And that part down there… is just too… exaggerated…

He pursed his lips, his cheeks and the tips of his ears involuntarily flushing, showing cute dimples.

Lian Yi couldn't understand what the omega was doing, his expression wavering between worried and puzzled.

"What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"

His dirty thoughts in Qiao Zhimian's mind instantly vanished. His almond-shaped eyes widened, blinking a few times as he shook his head.

"Nothing, I wasn't thinking about anything." Flustered, he almost slipped up but quickly corrected himself, "No, I mean… I'm a little hungry… I want to eat…"

Eat...

"You really took it all in, Qiao Zhimian."

The man’s deep, husky voice from yesterday flashed through his mind.

Qiao Zhimian jolted as if electrocuted, suddenly biting his lip and covering his face, wishing he could burrow back under the covers and play dead.

Lian Yi simply thought he was dazed from hunger, frowning as he asked the auntie to bring in the prepared meal.

Qiao Zhimian reined in his wandering thoughts and obediently sat up in bed, eating small bites.

Meanwhile, the alpha went to his study to work.

After he finished eating and the auntie cleared the dishes, Lian Yi came back in with a cup of warm water and some pills.

"Take these," Lian Yi handed them over.

"?" Qiao Zhimian looked at him blankly, puzzled. "What are these?"

Lian Yi didn’t overthink it and replied casually, "Contraceptive pills."

After a bonding mark, high-quality omegas have a pregnancy rate of over 98%.

Given their marital situation and Qiao Zhimian’s health, there was no need to try for a pregnancy.

Pregnancy is risky, and Lian Yi didn’t think Qiao Zhimian’s current frail state could withstand it.

Those three words echoed in his ears.

Qiao Zhimian’s once rosy complexion instantly paled, as if his blood had frozen for a moment.

His budding joy was shattered; all his happiness and excitement were dashed.

He had been too quick to indulge in wishful thinking.

The intimacy and tenderness of the previous night had almost made him forget—all of this was something he had forced.

The omega’s slender frame, hidden beneath his pajamas, trembled lightly, his fingers curling inside his sleeves.

Of course, they only had a one-year marriage contract. Having a child with someone he didn’t love would only bring trouble and complications.

He wouldn't want the omega parent of his child to be someone who couldn't even stand or walk.

Even if there were a child, he surely wouldn’t want it.

"What’s wrong?" Lian Yi asked after a moment.

Qiao Zhimian forced a smile, feigning calmness as he shook his head, extending his hand from his sleeve to take the pills and the water cup.

After a slight hesitation, he grimaced and pushed them into his mouth, swallowing them down.

When Lian Yi returned after stepping out to set down the cup, he found the omega on the bed reaching for his wheelchair.

"Where are you going? To the bathroom?" He walked over, supporting his unsteady body, ready to carry him. "I’ll carry you."

Qiao Zhimian’s eyes were slightly red as he lowered his head, pulling his arm back from the alpha and pushing away the large hand that tried to touch him, pressing against his abdomen to create distance.

"No..." he mumbled nasally, "I just want to go to the living room for a while. You don’t need to worry about me."

Lian Yi, pushed away, moved closer again, his arms hovering around the omega to prevent a fall. He sensed something was off with his mood but could only see the top of his head.

"I’ll carry you," he insisted.

"I said I don’t need it!" Qiao Zhimian’s tone grew irritable. "I can use the wheelchair myself, I—"

Before he could finish his refusal, the man lifted him by the hips, carrying him along.

Qiao Zhimian struggled lightly, but he had little strength left, and a wave of distress washed over him.

His resolve lasted less than two seconds before his anger dissipated, yielding to the warmth of this embrace.

He wrapped his arms around the alpha’s sturdy neck, burying his face in the crook of his neck and sniffing softly.

Once they reached the living room downstairs, he breathed in the alpha's green bamboo scent that had marked him, resting his head on the alpha’s shoulder for a long moment before letting go.

"Alright, you can put me down now."

Lian Yi frowned slightly but didn’t move immediately.

His eyes filled with concern as he watched the omega. After a moment’s hesitation, he leaned down and kissed the lowered corner of his eye soothingly.

He whispered gently, "It’s okay. It’s normal for newly bonded omegas to feel uneasy. Don’t be afraid."

Qiao Zhimian pouted, his eyes growing warm again. He nestled back into the alpha’s embrace, wiping away the tears at the corners of his eyes.

"Can you... stay with me for a while?" he asked plaintively.

"Of course," Lian Yi kissed the crown of his head.

He carried the omega to the sofa and sat down, holding him close, letting his soothing scent envelop him.

Qiao Zhimian curled up in the man’s arms, his thoughts drifting from one thing to another, suddenly feeling a wave of sorrow.

He touched his swollen belly—his reproductive cavity had been forcibly opened outside of his heat, leaving him trembling in pain.

But this pain was nothing compared to even a tenth of what he’d endured during the car accident.

"Does your stomach still hurt?" Lian Yi observed the movement of the person in his arms, his broad palm covering the omega’s small hand.

The bite mark on the omega’s slender nape was still very visible, though thankfully not too red or swollen.

Qiao Zhimian snapped out of his daze and looked down. The alpha’s hand nearly covered his entire lower abdomen, warm and comforting.

He lifted his face to meet the alpha’s gaze, tears welling in his eyes as he nodded. "Yes, it hurts."

Lian Yi’s heart softened at the sight. As he massaged the omega’s stomach, he carefully wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes.

Author's Note:

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Everyone knows that young, handsome head of the Jiang family

is a moody and formidable king of hell.

His father lacked ambition, and he, as the eldest grandson and a top-tier alpha,

was strictly groomed by the old master from a young age to be the successor.

This forged a decisive, ruthless, cold-hearted, and suspicious nature

that made many opponents tremble with fear.

Rumors outside said that the naive youngest son of the Ren family would surely get pushed around a lot after marrying into the Jiang family!

That was until the annual chamber of commerce banquet,

Ren Huai, with his slightly swollen baby bump, sat in Jiang Yuqun's arms, tugging at his hair and making a fuss.

That look of being spoiled and arrogant was a far cry from someone who had been bullied.

—Click to read "The Little Fool Omega's Arranged Marriage"