Chapter 21 The Rascal

Chapter 21: The Scoundrel

Qiao Zhimian was rushed to the emergency room with a high fever and immediately admitted for an IV drip.

The intravenous treatment proved more effective than oral medication, and by the time he awoke the next morning, his fever had largely subsided.

Lian Yi had stayed by his side until the early hours, only allowing himself a brief nap once he was certain Qiao Zhimian was out of danger.

His internal clock roused him once in the morning. He used a warm towel to wipe down the omega’s sweat-damp body from the night before, then quickly showered, changed, and went out to fetch some food.

Qiao Zhimian, clad in a dry, breathable hospital gown, sat on the bed, his large, moist eyes fixed on the nutritious porridge the alpha was spoon-feeding him. He took small, delicate bites.

He appeared significantly better, though a small piece of tape still marked the back of his slender, pale hand where the needle had been.

“No more…” The omega turned his head slightly, a faint frown creasing his brow, his fingers stiffly gripping the bedsheets.

Lian Yi withdrew the spoon. More than half the bowl was gone, so he assumed Qiao Zhimian was full and didn’t press him further.

He finished the remaining half bowl himself in one gulp, wiped Qiao Zhimian’s mouth, and then stepped out to take a work call.

Qiao Zhimian watched wistfully as the man’s figure vanished and the door clicked shut. His composed expression instantly crumbled.

Clutching his lower abdomen and biting his lip, his fair face flushed crimson. He shifted his waist slightly, pressing his thighs together.

He was desperate to pee. He hadn't used the bathroom since the IV, and after consuming porridge and water, his bladder felt on the verge of bursting.

The omega propped himself up, stretching an arm out to reach for the wheelchair beside the bed, his fingertips just inches away.

He strained forward with all his might, the urgency bringing a vivid flush to his eyes. The pressure was becoming unbearable.

Just as he was about to succeed—

The door opened.

Lian Yi stood in the doorway, phone still in hand, looking bewildered at the boy on the bed.

Qiao Zhimian froze, his watery eyes meeting the alpha’s gaze. Having held his awkward position for too long, his strength suddenly gave out, and he nearly toppled off the bed.

Lian Yi snapped back to reality, covering the distance in a few strides to steady him.

“What’s wrong? What do you need?”

“I, I—” The omega tightened his thighs, covering his lower abdomen, too embarrassed to articulate his need.

“Need to use the bathroom?” Lian Yi quickly deduced from his expression. Without another word, he scooped him into his arms. “I’ll carry you.”

“Ah? No! Don’t!” The moment he was lifted, the urge to pee surged like a tide. Qiao Zhimian barely dared to breathe, his ears burning red as he clutched the man’s shirt. “Put me in the wheelchair, I can do it myself!”

“You don’t have the strength. What if you fall again like just now?” Lian Yi dismissed the idea without a second thought. “It’s fine, I’ll hold you while you go.”

Qiao Zhimian’s face crumpled in distress, his lower lip marked with faint teeth indentations, his eyes reddening as if on the verge of tears.

Before he could fully process the situation, the man held him in a position akin to potty-training a child, aiming him at the toilet.

This was utterly humiliating…!

He held back, grabbing the man’s firm arm in a mix of frustration and fear. “I don’t want to! Put me down!”

“Good Mian Mian.” The alpha’s urgent voice fell, and Qiao Zhimian felt a sudden coolness on his bottom—his pants were effortlessly pulled down to his knees.

He truly couldn’t hold it any longer…!

The omega’s soft, pale belly, slightly distended, suddenly quivered twice.

The distinct sound of urine flowing into the toilet echoed.

He relaxed, leaning back against the man’s chest, his head resting on his broad shoulder, his slender neck arching gracefully.

In a gesture of utter resignation, he covered his face with his hands, his body trembling lightly.

A flush spread from his collarbone all the way to the crown of his head, leaving him a vibrant, almost unbelievable pink.

The boy’s swollen belly visibly deflated as the sound continued.

It was just IV fluids, clear and clean, almost like…

Lian Yi’s dark eyes stared, growing somewhat dazed. His Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably, and his previously calm heart was suddenly in disarray.

“Stop looking…” The omega’s tearful voice came from beside his ear, sounding noticeably less strained.

Lian Yi snapped out of it, pretending to adjust the slender legs in his grasp. A few drops landed on his pants, but his germaphobe instincts remained completely dormant.

“That was quite a stream…” He cleared his throat awkwardly, brought the boy’s legs together, and adjusted his grip, holding him face-to-face once more. “It’s fine, no big deal. There’s nothing about you I haven’t seen.”

He then reached for tissues to wipe him but found the box empty. Instead, he pulled at the hem of his own shirt, using the clean inner side to gently clean him.

Qiao Zhimian shivered sensitively, sniffing pitifully.

Only when he felt the alpha pulling his pants back up did he lower his hands from his face, leaning on his shoulder with a tearful complaint. “But you hadn’t seen me pee before!”

“Well, now I have,” Lian Yi said with a placating laugh. Then, as if remembering something, he kissed the omega’s reddened ear and added meaningfully, “Actually, I’ve seen it before too.”

Qiao Zhimian looked at him with watery eyes, tears threatening to fall, pouting. “What do you mean?”

“You forgot?” Lian Yi leaned in mysteriously, whispering as they walked out. “Last time, you sprayed me all over my face.”

“Ahh! Stop talking!” Qiao Zhimian felt he might die of embarrassment.

*Click*—the door lock sounded.

The two, lost in their moment, froze and looked over simultaneously.

The nurse who had come for rounds was also frozen in place. The three of them stared wide-eyed at each other.

Qiao Zhimian was the first to react. Following the nurse’s gaze, he looked down at his own flushed and disheveled appearance.

“Sorry, I’ll come back later,” the nurse said awkwardly, averting her eyes politely before leaving.

It was over. She’d definitely misunderstood.

“This is so embarrassing, wuu…” The omega buried his face in his hands, actually beginning to sob.

Coupled with what had just happened in the bathroom, tears flowed uncontrollably—a mix of anger and shame.

Lian Yi immediately dropped the playful tone, carefully laid him back on the bed, and tried to coax him while holding his hand. “Alright, alright, Mian Mian, don’t cry. Your fever just went down; we don’t want it coming back.”

Qiao Zhimian angrily shook off the man’s hand, his shoulders trembling as he glared with red, almond-shaped eyes, full of reproach.

Tears rolled down his cheeks one after another.

He looked utterly pitiful.

Lian Yi felt guilty under the omega’s gaze and hurriedly yet gently wiped away his tears.

When that didn’t work, he planted a kiss on him instead: “Don’t cry, good Mian Mian, my bad. I won’t do that again, okay, baby? You just got better.”

This crying fit really made Qiao Zhimian feel a bit dizzy again; he was slow to react.

He choked back his sobs and stared, tears welling in his eyes, at the man: “What did you just call me?”

Lian Yi froze, thought for a moment, and fell silent, his eyes glinting with amusement.

The omega, still red-eyed, stared stubbornly at him, as if he wouldn’t let it go without an answer.

They were already married—there was no need to feel embarrassed.

The alpha braced himself and awkwardly called out again: “Baby.”

Once he said it, he realized it wasn’t as hard as he’d thought. In fact, it felt pretty good, so he repeated it several times, trying out different pet names: “Baby, Mian Mian baby, sweetie?”

The omega’s lip trembled.

“Mian Mian sweetie?”

He frowned.

He cried even harder.

“Wahhh, you’re the worst!” Qiao Zhimian covered his face with his arms again, his emotions crumbling for some reason. “You’re really too mean…”

*You clearly don’t like me, yet you always make my heart flutter.*

*You’re so good to me, making me feel the illusion that I'm loved—I just can’t forget you.*

Lian Yi gazed tenderly at the boy, realizing this actually worked to make an omega happy.

He could tell he wasn’t angry anymore, but why was he still crying?

All his life, people had called him unfeeling, but no one had ever called him mean.

Thinking he was referring to the earlier incident of holding him while he relieved himself, Lian Yi steeled himself and leaned in, covering his face in kisses.

“Yeah, I’m mean,” he said, taking the omega’s hand and gently kissing his cheeks, eyes, and tear-streaked face. “Don’t cry, baby. How about I let you watch me next time?”

Qiao Zhimian sniffled, freezing for a moment, staring at the man’s handsome, earnest face so close to his. Suddenly, he broke into a smile and playfully punched his shoulder.

“Who wants to watch that?”

Lian Yi chuckled softly, brushing his thumb over the omega’s tear-stained eyes. “Fine, don't watch then. Not angry anymore, okay?” He coaxed him, leaning in for a kiss. “Smile for me again.”

Qiao Zhimian took the tissue from the man’s hand and wiped his tears himself, then turned his head away with a pout. “I won’t let you kiss me…”

Lian Yi wrapped his arms around the omega’s waist, pressing their foreheads together as he continued coaxing him. “Why not?”

Qiao Zhimian pursed his lips, ignoring him and muttering that he wouldn’t allow it, but when the man leaned in to kiss him, he didn’t pull away at all.

His lips were gently suckled, and he instinctively lifted his arms to wrap around the man’s neck, his small tongue actively tangling with Lian Yi's.

When the kiss ended, the two gazed at each other breathlessly, the hospital room's atmosphere suddenly grew intimate and tender.

Just as Lian Yi’s eyes darkened and he leaned in again to capture those soft, moist lips—

A light cough from the doorway abruptly cut them off.

A male omega, who bore a sixty or seventy percent resemblance to Qiao Zhimian but was older and more mature, had appeared silently at the door.

Qiao Zhimian stared at him blankly, blinking twice. “D-Dad?”

Lian Yi all but leaped away from the omega. After a brief, tense glance at Qiao Zhimian’s father, he averted his eyes and awkwardly rubbed his lips with the back of his hand.

“Uncle,” he instinctively said, but when he noticed both father and son staring at him, he quickly corrected himself, “Dad!”

“Hmm,” Qiao’s father replied coolly, walking straight to his son’s bedside and sitting down.

Qiao Zhimian sneakily observed the alpha’s reaction, finding it novel.

It was the first time he’d seen his senior, Lian Yi, look so nervous.

He stifled a laugh, shyly biting his slightly swollen, red lips.

Lian Yi felt the atmosphere grow heavy instantly, as if the weight of his father-in-law’s presence was pressing down on him. Hesitantly, he spoke up, “Well, Dad, I’ll let you two talk. I’ll go take care of Mian Mian’s discharge.”

The doctor had said that once the fever broke, he could go home.

“Hmm,” Qiao’s father responded coolly again.

Lian Yi didn’t want to stay a second longer and made a swift exit.

The omega’s gaze followed the alpha’s figure, burning intently, his ears tinged red, a shy dimple appearing at the corner of his lips.

“Still watching him?” Qiao’s father asked indulgently, though he couldn’t stand his son’s lovesick expression.

Qiao Zhimian pulled his gaze back to his father, pouting, his demeanor turning even more coy.

That little expression of his, even without words, seemed like a plea for affection.

“Mian Mian,” Qiao’s father said, used to this, holding his son’s slender hand while looking at him with concern and heartache. “That Lian kid—he didn’t bully you, did he?”

“He didn’t bully me… why would he bully me?” Qiao Zhimian hurriedly explained, afraid his father would misunderstand.

“Then why are your eyes so red?” Qiao’s father studied his son’s damp eyelashes and recently dried tear-streaked face. “It’s obvious you’ve been crying. Dad knows you best—did he make you cry?”

Qiao Zhimian got flustered by the question. He wiped his face with the back of his hand, his cheeks flushing red. “No… well, yes, but he wasn’t bullying me,” he stammered before adding, “Dad, you saw it yourself—he was comforting me earlier…”

Qiao’s father studied his son’s expression carefully, understanding something from his shy, flustered demeanor.

Feeling slightly reassured, he smiled meaningfully, a hint of teasing in his eyes.

“Ugh…” Qiao Zhimian lowered his head, his face turning even redder.

Qiao’s father had come this time because he’d heard his precious youngest son was hospitalized with a fever and wanted to check on him.

Since the two had gotten married, they’d had almost no contact with the family.

He was well aware of the complicated grudges and tensions lying between them.

He could only hope things would turn out as his eldest son had said.

This shotgun marriage might actually help Mian Mian's condition improve.

.

Qiao’s father and Qiao Zhimian talked alone in the hospital room for a while, and even when parting ways after discharge, they lingered by the car, unwilling to part, chatting for a long time.

Sitting in the back seat, Father Qiao lowered the window and gave Lian Yi a deep look before telling the driver to drive off.

Lian Yi could sense that unfriendly gaze but chose to play dumb and pretend not to notice.

On the way back, the omega seemed to be in low spirits again, likely because something affecting his mood had been discussed.

Lian Yi parked the car near their home and carried Qiao Zhimian out from the passenger seat.

Qiao Zhimian lay limply against the man's shoulder, adjusting his cheek to find a comfortable position. "Dad asked me if you’ve been bullying me~"

Lian Yi laughed. "And what did you say?"

"I said yes."

"I bullied you?" The alpha tightened his grip on Qiao Zhimian's buttocks teasingly. "How did I bully you?"

"Hmph..." The omega just hummed without answering.

"Anything else? Was that all you talked about?" Lian Yi asked casually.

As they passed through the living room, he nodded politely at the housekeeper who greeted them.

Qiao Zhimian fell silent, his eyes slightly downcast, revealing a faint sense of loss.

*There was more...*

*He asked about our future plans.*

*He asked what you think about our marriage now.*

*Our fathers and my brother don’t know about the agreement.*

*I lied and said I didn’t know.*

*I plan to explain everything properly once the agreement expires.*

Thinking of this, the omega shifted his head slightly, quietly gazing at the man’s handsome profile.

*Do we have a future?*

"Nothing else..." He hid his bittersweet thoughts and changed the subject. "I’m not feverish anymore. Let’s continue rehab tomorrow!"

"Huh?" Lian Yi tilted his head in surprise, his hand resting on the other’s back as they walked upstairs. "So eager? Not taking a day off? You just got better."

"No need..." Qiao Zhimian mumbled. "I’m not that delicate."

"Really?" The alpha chuckled.

"Who are you looking down on!" The omega put on a cheerful front.

*Thanks for being so thoughtful and sticking with me this year. No matter what state my legs are in after a year, I won’t hold you back anymore.*

After saying this, Qiao Zhimian wriggled a bit, his dimples showing. "Hurry up, I’m hungry~ I want dinner."

Lian Yi didn’t notice anything unusual about the person in his arms. He adjusted his grip and teased, "Oh? Qiao Zhimian is actually asking for food on his own?"

"What’s that supposed to mean!" The omega protested. "I’m going to eat a lot tonight so I’ll have energy for rehab tomorrow!"

"Alright." Lian Yi drew out the word, responding affectionately. "After changing clothes, I’ll ask the housekeeper to serve you two extra bowls of rice, until your little belly is round and full."

"Erm, maybe not that much. It’d be a waste if I can’t finish it..."

"I’ll help you finish whatever’s left."

"Okay! Then I’ll have ten bowls!"

"Are you trying to kill your alpha?"

"Hahahaha."

The omega’s clear, joyful laughter grew softer and gradually faded away at the staircase.

The housekeeper setting the table in the living room was also affected by the cheerful atmosphere. She glanced upstairs and smiled warmly.

Author's Note: Mian Mian: Seriously, how is this guy rewarding himself? [Question mark]