Chapter 28 Marital Crisis

Chapter 28: Marriage Upheaval

"Last 5 seconds, hold on."

Lian Yi stood half a step away from the Omega, his palm gently guarding the slender waist.

His fingertips could clearly feel the tension in his body.

"Don’t panic, keep your center of gravity steady."

The Alpha’s voice was deep and calm, like a soothing pill, making Qiao Zhimian feel incredibly safe and reliable.

He gritted his teeth, gripping the walking aid tightly, his fingertips turning white.

The soreness in his leg muscles grew more intense, his ankles visibly trembling, but he stubbornly resisted the body's protest.

"Time’s up." Lian Yi’s voice tinged with amusement, immediately reaching out to support the Omega’s waist: "You did it, darling."

Qiao Zhimian’s legs gave way, and he leaned his full weight into the man’s arms, his rosy lips slightly parted, breathing rapidly and weakly.

A wide smile spread across his face, his almond eyes shining as he looked up at the man excitedly.

"I stood for a whole minute!!! I’m so amazing!"

The doctor said that his glands and gland nerves were recovering exceptionally well.

As long as he continued practicing standing.

Being able to maintain a standing position for about a minute confirmed that his body could stably support itself.

They can then begin walking practice at home under family supervision, using the walker while coordinating with their lower body rhythm and attempting to take steps.

Lian Yi gazed into the boy's eyes, brimming with anticipation and longing, feeling warmth spread through his heart like flowing water.

He tightened his arms, lifting him up, and lowered his head to gently press a kiss against his sweat-dampened temple.

These words made Qiao Zhimian's face flush and his heart race.

He pursed his lips shyly, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Why did he feel that Senior Lian Yi lately...

was becoming more and more good at delivering such cheesy, sweet-talking phrases?

Lian Yi naturally knelt in front of the Omega, his broad hand enveloping the other's slender, pale calf and placing it over his bent knee.

With patient expertise, he massaged it, helping to relax the overworked muscles.

"Ahh~" Qiao Zhimian pressed his small hands against the chair seat, tilted his head back, narrowed his almond eyes, and let out a contented sigh.

After a brief recovery.

The young, energetic little Omega once again perked up with renewed determination.

"I'm okay now! Again, again!" His fair feet wiggled slightly within the man's embrace.

Looking down from above, he eagerly urged him on.

Let him continue practicing with me.

"Alright, you little powerhouse." Lian Yi helplessly held the sole of his foot, coaxing him to take a break. "You've been practicing all afternoon. Even superstars need to pace themselves, or you'll be uncomfortable again tonight."

From the day the little one could stand, he’s been super eager and happy every day.

It’s as if he never gets tired, making amazing progress.

He almost wishes he could skip resting and sleeping altogether, trying to become an expert overnight.

Lian Yi stays by his side every day, coaxing and persuading him to take it easy.

If he really doesn’t listen, he’ll hold him in his arms and kiss him.

Once kissed until he's soft and dazed, he won’t have the energy to fuss.

Qiao Zhimian pouted, still wanting to plead his case.

But when he met the man’s gaze—filled with doting amusement yet with a hint of danger—he bit his lip and immediately behaved.

The massage ended.

Lian Yi took a break to go to the study and handle his busy work.

He settled the Omega in the living room at the table, letting him entertain himself with books or the computer.

Qiao Zhimian propped his chin in his hand, fully engrossed in studying the "step-by-step breakdown of walking movements" on the screen.

His beautiful almond-shaped eyes were wide open, completely focused, his long, curled eyelashes fluttering with each blink.

He was totally absorbed in his research.

A news pop-up in the lower right corner caught his attention.

His smile faded, he slightly furrowed his brows, and clicked on it.

It was a financial news report about the Qiao Group and Qiao Baichen.

A major brand under the Qiao Group was involved in a major compensation case.

Competitors seized the opportunity to make a big deal out of it, spreading rumors to damage the group’s commercial reputation.

They claimed that the Qiao family, with their immense wealth and power, acted without restraint.

Rich but heartless, thinking money puts them above the law.

These reports didn’t bother Qiao Zhimian.

He trusted his brother could handle it—the group had its legal and PR teams to manage the situation.

But a series of gossip and speculation stemming from the news got to him.

"Insider reveals! The truth behind the Qiao family’s young master’s marriage: Full of drama!"

【Powerful Omega strong-arms marriage, Alpha gives up dreams to become a "caged bird"】

"Exposé! Details of the forced marriage of a prominent family’s heir: Super lawyer’s career ruined, all for being forced to marry into the family?"

“Capital Meddling in Relationships: When an Omega Family's Power Exerts Pressure, a Genius Alpha's Compromise”

[The Game Between Business and Love: A Wealthy Omega's "Marriage Manipulation Tactics," Trading a Promising Law Career for Marriage]

Entertainment news channels, financial news channels, social news channels.

Clicking on one of these headlines is like kicking a hornet's nest; a flood of similar ones comes pouring out.

Some are from a long time ago, but most have popped up in the last couple of days.

Who knows who is rehashing old news.

He has been married for so long.

Yet they are reaching into his marriage, using it as leverage to pressure the Qiao family.

Qiao Zhimian's face visibly paled, his lips quivering.

His eyes darted anxiously over the headlines and content.

Netizens had all sorts of things to say; opinions were sharply divided.

Some were sincere, while others clearly had someone behind them deliberately stoking controversy.

— Keep business and personal matters separate; why bring someone’s marriage into a business issue?

— I think that alpha is just a pretentious gold-digger, seducing the young master’s heart while still putting on airs.

— Exactly, the Qiao family is so powerful, and the young master is so beautiful and adorable. It’s an honor for him to fancy you. You’ve struck gold and still don’t know what’s good for you.

— So what if they’re rich? Feelings can’t be bought with money!

— If he doesn’t like it, he doesn’t like it. He has his own pursuits and goals.

— A rising star in the legal world with a bright future, comparing a prodigy to you slackers—of course, their mindset isn't even playing the same game.

— So you think having power and influence makes you special, huh? You can take advantage of the situation and push people around, right?

Qiao Zhimian clenched his jaw, his pupils trembling as he struggled to suppress the surging agitation.

Gripping the mouse, he stubbornly continued scrolling down.

Near the bottom, a brief comment made him stop abruptly.

— Enough arguing. I bet they’ll divorce within two years.

Qiao Zhimian stared numbly at those words.

It felt like he'd been sucker-punched.

The fire in his heart was extinguished, leaving only loss and confusion.

He thought of that night when Lian Yi said, "We can’t have a baby."

And that long-forgotten marriage agreement, stored away in the study’s safe.

Qiao Zhimian’s bright eyes unconsciously lost focus, growing distant.

Scenes and memories from the beginning flashed through his mind.

Harsh words on their wedding night.

And his then gaunt figure, sitting at the dining table, painfully extending the agreement to the alpha.

"One year from now, when the contract ends, I can divorce you and let you go."

"Fine. Once the agreement expires, don’t show yourself again."

"And please, Mr. Lian, play the husband role well."

"Don’t worry, I will."

Things had been going so well lately that he had almost forgotten all this.

Qiao Zhimian’s breathing grew tight, his fine brows furrowing as his thoughts became chaotic.

The heartache and bitterness from back then came flooding back.

So, was he just acting, playing the role of a good husband?

So this is how he treats his "beloved"—so passionately, so reliably, with his full devotion, and so attentively.

Once you’ve experienced it, it’s impossible to give up.

The Omega’s eyes unconsciously clouded with sorrow and bitterness, along with a faint sense of unease.

The joy he had felt earlier about being able to stand was completely swallowed up.

"What’s my amazing baby looking at? It’s making you sad." Lian Yi’s magnetic voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

Qiao Zhimian jolted, snapping back to reality.

The unease in his almond eyes hadn’t yet faded as he automatically met the man’s concerned gaze.

His nose stung, and a rush of unexplained hurt surged up.

Lian Yi had his arm resting on the back of the Omega’s chair, originally intending to tease him a little.

But when he saw the glimmer of tears, his expression instantly turned serious.

"What’s wrong, baby?" Lian Yi’s voice softened by several degrees as he hurriedly drew him into an embrace to comfort him.

He sat down in the chair Qiao Zhimian had been using, his thumb brushing over his red-rimmed eyes before leaning down to kiss him.

The Omega sniffled, not saying a word, just mutely shaking his head.

Lian Yi thought for a moment, then looked at the computer.

It displayed a tabloid news story.

The gist of the first page was that Qiao Baichen was suspected of cheating, and the arranged marriage might be falling apart.

Lian Yi was taken aback.

Was it because of this?

"Hey, Mian Mian, that..." He thought about comforting words but wasn’t sure what to say. "Your brother, he may not be a good person, but he probably isn’t that kind of jerk. Don’t believe these clickbait fake news stories."

"…?"

The Omega, distraught in the man's arms, went still, lifting teary eyes to look at him uncomprehendingly.

After a moment, he turned to glance at the screen.

Only then did he realize he'd accidentally tapped it somehow.

Qiao Zhimian felt both like crying and laughing at the same time.

On one hand, he was relieved that the alpha hadn’t seen it.

On the other hand, he felt a little disappointed that he hadn’t.

"I know…" The Omega buried his face in the alpha's chest, his voice muffled and soft. "My brother loves my sister-in-law so much, so very much—he would never cheat, and he would never divorce her."

Not like you and me—

These last few words carried an undertone of envy, one even he himself hadn’t noticed.