Chapter 22 Effort

Chapter 22: Effort

No matter how positive or unreserved one appears, the moment of truth for something deeply feared and anxiety-inducing still brings panic.

Qiao Zhimian sat on the rehabilitation machine, his almond-shaped eyes darting nervously, continuously psyching himself up.

Lian Yi knelt beside his leg, meticulously adjusting the straps according to the doctor's instructions.

The omega was so slender and small that the safety harness, designed to secure his body, barely fit even at its tightest setting.

His narrow, delicate waist was cinched. When Lian Yi's large, veined hand pressed against it, he could still easily encircle it. The size difference was so stark it seemed a little force could snap him.

After securing his upper body, Lian Yi gently cradled the omega's slender, pale calf, his other hand cupping the sole of his foot. He warmed the cool, smooth toes before fastening the buckle.

Once everything was ready, the alpha leaned in and kissed the boy's ankle, causing the deeply focused omega to flinch and look at him. Lian Yi responded with an encouraging gaze.

Qiao Zhimian's vulnerable eyes shimmered, as if infused with a powerful surge of strength.

He took a deep breath, clenched his small fists, and declared firmly, "Let's do this!"

With the hum of the machine, Qiao Zhimian's body was slowly lifted.

The traction pulled at his stiff joints, first bringing a gentle tingling sensation to his legs. Countless subtle warm currents spread along his muscle fibers.

Instinctively, he tensed his ankles, trying to calm his nervous breathing. A dull, indescribable ache radiated from his thighs to his knees.

Lian Yi stayed close, moving with him, his hand hovering near his side, observing his condition intently.

The alpha's powerful glands continuously released soothing pheromones, helping to alleviate his tension and stress.

"Does it hurt? Are you okay?" Lian Yi frowned, noticing the omega's bitten lips and the thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. He gently wiped it away, asking softly, "Should we lighten the setting?"

Qiao Zhimian's delicate brows furrowed as he gave a slight shake of his head.

He was about to say it didn't hurt.

But suddenly, his leg nerves felt as if they were yanked by an invisible string. A sharp, tearing pain instantly wrapped around his glands. With each movement of the machine, the throbbing pain drilled deeper into his glands.

He abruptly threw his head back, gritting his teeth, his breathing rapid. A suppressed groan escaped his throat.

"Mian Mian? Does it hurt badly?" Lian Yi's heart clenched with anxiety. He glanced at the doctor, wondering if they should intervene. "We're not rushing, baby. Don't push yourself! Mian Mian?"

Initial rehabilitation sessions typically last 10 to 30 minutes, depending on individual tolerance.

The omega endured it stubbornly, his slender neck taut, delicate veins protruding. His fists, clenched so tightly they dug into his palms, trembled uncontrollably.

His handsome features twitched slightly with pain, and cold sweat streamed down his back.

The doctor kept a close watch on the time and gave Lian Yi a reassuring look, signaling him not to worry too much.

After bonding, omegas and alphas are deeply intertwined and influence each other.

Every twinge of pain Qiao Zhimian felt pierced Lian Yi's heart like a sharp weapon, evoking an indescribable ache.

Time crawled by agonizingly slowly.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the machine beeped, signaling a pause.

Qiao Zhimian's forced willpower instantly drained away. His thin, taut shoulders went limp, and his legs relaxed, leaving him dangling lifelessly in the air like a rag doll.

Lian Yi rushed forward, catching him securely. His large hand cradled the back of the omega's head, and he pressed a tender kiss to his sweat-dampened temple.

"Are you okay, Mian Mian? Does it still hurt?" he asked urgently.

Qiao Zhimian's face was pale, his lips utterly devoid of color. He leaned weakly against the man's shoulder, managing a faint, strained smile.

Habitually, he shook his head, still breathing heavily as residual pain continued to seep out with his sweat.

"Baby?" Lian Yi, noticing his silence, gently lifted his small face to look at him.

The omega met the alpha's gaze, filled with tenderness and concern.

That one look shattered his composure. He could no longer hold back his grievances or resist the comfort of this secure embrace.

His lips quivered, and tears welled up in his almond eyes, falling in large drops. "It hurts... wuwu... it really hurts... so much..."

Qiao Zhimian buried his face in the man's neck, weeping miserably. Tears and snot smeared against the warm, dry skin that carried a faint scent of bamboo.

He sobbed heart-wrenchingly, his thin shoulders shaking with each sob.

Before, without pheromones, he had endured even greater pain without such an unrestrained outburst.

He didn't want to put on a brave face in front of him anymore.

It just hurt.

It hurt so, so much!

Lian Yi's heart broke. His brows furrowed deeply as he let out a heavy sigh.

He held the omega tightly, continuously soothing him with kisses to his flushed earlobes and gentle reassurances.

"It's okay, baby, it's over. We're done for today."

While wiping away his tears and helping him blow his nose, he cooperated with the nurse to remove the straps from his slender arms.

"Don't cry, baby, Mian Mian," Lian Yi coaxed, lifting the omega's face from his neck and gently wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. "You've exerted yourself—you'll get hiccups from crying so hard."

"Mmm..." The omega stifled his sobs, responding in a muffled voice.

The alpha's heart melted. He didn't care who was watching, leaning in to kiss the omega's flushed cheeks.

He whispered generous praises into his ear, "Mian Mian was very brave today. You did great."

Qiao Zhimian sniffled, nuzzling affectionately against the man's chin, shyly seeking comfort.

Lian Yi patted his head, exchanged a knowing smile with the doctor, and then followed him out to discuss the next steps.

"Mr. Qiao used to be very resilient during his previous rehab sessions," the doctor remarked, glancing at Qiao Zhimian nestled in Lian Yi's arms with slight surprise. "Back then, Chairman Qiao accompanied him. No matter how much it hurt, he always smiled. Even when Chairman Qiao couldn't make it, he handled everything on his own—never cried like this."

The omega, who had stopped crying but couldn't suppress his hiccups, buried his face deeper.

He felt a little embarrassed by the comment.

But right now, he couldn't muster any strength to be tough.

Lian Yi's expression turned complex, a mix of a smile and a grimace, as he gently squeezed the back of the omega's neck.

An aching bitterness welled up uncontrollably in his heart.

How had he never realized before that an omega could be this endearing?

He was actually such a delicate crybaby.

Had he suddenly changed, or had he always been faking it in front of him?

He couldn't imagine how painful that car accident must have been.

How did someone so small and fragile manage to endure it all?

The doctor explained that because Qiao Zhimian had stopped for too long, starting again would initially cause a more intense reaction. After a few days of adaptation, the pain wouldn't feel as stimulating.

After rehab, he'd let out his emotions, and the alpha would comfort him, using his pheromones to soothe him.

Whether it was psychological or truly effective, he wasn't sure.

But Qiao Zhimian felt as if he really was less afraid and resistant.

In the following rehab sessions, he continued to clench his fists, pump himself up, and bravely face the challenge each time.

The omega was both obedient and delicate. Lian Yi's heart broke each time; on several occasions, he couldn't bear to watch and wanted to stop early.

But instead, the little one would insist on pushing through, his eyes reddened.

As the treatment progressed and the sessions grew longer, the pain he had to endure also intensified.

Later on, before heading out in the morning, the omega would even be so nervous he'd end up eating through tears, looking utterly pitiful.

Yet even so, he never once said he wanted to quit or skip a session.

Scared but brave at the same time.

After rehab, he'd continue to be drenched in sweat, nestling into the alpha's arms to whine and act spoiled, demanding to be comforted.

Sometimes Lian Yi even thought he was unbelievably cute.

"You've worked hard, baby." As usual, Lian Yi embraced the omega stepping down from the machine to soothe him.

Qiao Zhimian melted weakly in the man's arms, his beautiful almond eyes wide and teary, lips slightly parted in a daze, clearly not yet recovered.

His head was spinning from the pain, and hearing those words, he instinctively nodded in agreement.

"Mhm!" he said whining, "It was so hard..."

Lian Yi wasn't sure how to respond to that reaction. He pinched his soft, palm-sized cheek and gave it a firm kiss.

A big, round kiss mark was left on the boy's fair cheek.

Since formal rehab began, Qiao Zhimian no longer avoided Lian Yi during his daily muscle massages.

Lian Yi would watch from the side and learn some basic massage techniques.

He planned to master them so he could give him a massage whenever possible.

But every time his gaze lingered a little too long on the omega's pale, slender legs, Qiao Zhimian would grow visibly shy.

"Would you like to give it a try, Mr. Lian?" the massage therapist suddenly invited Lian Yi, who had been practicing the motions in the air. "The technique you were just watching."

Lian Yi paused slightly, met the omega's somewhat shy and surprised eyes, curved his lips, and readily agreed.

Following the massage therapist's guidance, he reached out with his long fingers and gently stroked those slender legs he had kissed before.

Each movement was filled with great care and caution as he kneaded.

He tried to make his technique as professional as possible, all while observing the omega's expression.

Qiao Zhimian's eyes flickered several times, his small throat bobbed, and he pursed his lips, nervously avoiding the man's gaze whenever their eyes met.

Even though there was little sensation, it felt as if the places he touched were heating up.

The omega endured this awkwardness, but as those strong hands moved up to his thighs and near the root, he began to feel something was off.

"Mmm... stop massaging..." A strange soreness emerged from somewhere, and Qiao Zhimian looked at the alpha and whimpered.

Lian Yi halted his movements, his gaze slowly traveling up the boy's legs and settling on a certain spot.

Qiao Zhimian didn't realize what he was looking at until he followed his gaze.

His eyes widened abruptly, and his face flushed deep red.

He hurriedly grabbed a nearby blanket to cover his lower body.

Biting his lip, he lowered his head, the tips of his ears burning as if on fire. His hands clutched the blanket tightly, and tears of embarrassment threatened to fall again.

This is so embarrassing, how could this happen in front of him...

It was just a massage—aside from slight soreness, there was no other sensation, so how did this...

The omega felt uncomfortable and utterly mortified.

Before marriage, he rarely even touched himself and was somewhat inexperienced in such matters.

Now, in front of him and the massage therapist, he felt so vulnerable.

"This is a normal physical reaction," the massage therapist broke the awkward silence first, explaining professionally. "There's no need to feel embarrassed, Mr. Qiao. In fact, having sensation is a good sign—it shows our efforts and persistence these days are working."

He then turned to Lian Yi and said, "Shall we call it a day for today?"

Lian Yi nodded politely and said, "Thanks," before turning his attention back to the boy on the bed, who was still looking down.

The bedroom door clicked shut.

Lian Yi reached out slowly, pulling the boy into his arms from the side of the bed.

He thought for a moment, then leaned in to peck the bright red tip of the omega's ear, comforting him, "This isn't embarrassing, Mian Mian. I'm your husband—what's there to be ashamed of in front of your husband?"

The man's hot breath brushed against his ear, and hearing the word "husband," Qiao Zhimian's heart raced with both excitement and resentment.

Timidly, he raised his flushed face, almond eyes glistening with clear tears.

Lian Yi stared at the omega's innocent yet tempting expression, his dark eyes growing intense.

His throat moved, he kissed his moist lips, and murmured, "Good baby, so adorable." Then he deepened the kiss, his hand moving downward.

They had never gone further than the marking and his heats...

He remembered Qiao Zhimian's whole body was pink, every part of it.

He was so sweet and soft that he didn't dare use any force, afraid of hurting him no matter what he did.

Qiao Zhimian clutched the man's collar, his body trembling lightly and his breathing quickening. The blush on his cheeks spread to the corners of his eyes, his gaze growing dazed.

Lian Yi sucked on the lips and delicate tongue of the man in his arms, his deep eyes wide open as he took in his lust-filled expression.

Just as the omega was becoming dizzy and disoriented, he abruptly ended the kiss.

The silvery thread of saliva connecting their lips broke as he gently sat him down in the wheelchair beside them.

Qiao Zhimian's waist went limp, his hazy eyes looking up at the man in confusion, as if displeased with his sudden stop.

Then, he watched as the man knelt down in front of him, pried his knees apart.

"What are you doing? Ah... Mmm..."