Chapter 29 Damp Yet Innocent

Chapter 29: Tender and Pure

A doctor?

The light in Lin Juangui's eyes dimmed with recollection.

The first time Huo Zeshen appeared before Lin Juangui, he was a doctor.

It was a rainy day.

Lin Juangui, who had been working overtime relentlessly, was doubled over with stomach pain due to irregular eating habits.

He had just returned from a business trip, and the company had another meeting to attend. After the meeting, Lin Juangui managed to choke out "meeting adjourned," but after taking just two steps, he clutched his stomach and vomited up all the coffee he had drunk earlier. His assistant immediately rushed him to the hospital.

Huo Zeshen happened to be on duty in the ER. After inquiring about the situation, he simply muttered "Ridiculous" under his breath.

At the time, Lin Juangui was still dazed and only heard Huo Zeshen instruct his assistant to buy a bottle of soda and then ordered a series of tests for Lin Juangui.

The final diagnosis was that Lin Juangui had chronic gastritis. Coffee increased the burden on his stomach, and although it was sometimes necessary for work, it was best to avoid it whenever possible.

By the time he regained full consciousness, it was already the next afternoon. Lin Juangui sat expressionlessly on the hospital bed, sipping a bowl of bland congee. The gastroenterologist's advice went in one ear and out the other—clearly, he hadn’t taken it to heart.

Those who came to visit him included former business partners, socialites, and wealthy elites, each carrying flowers and various gifts. The hospital room was piled high with gifts.

Lin Juangui thanked them one by one, forcing smiles until his cheeks hurt. But when Zhou Yi arrived, Lin Juangui’s glare seemed sharp enough to kill.

"Was it you who spread the news that I was hospitalized? Are you treating me like a tourist attraction? Are these gifts the admission tickets?"

Zhou Yi was dressed flamboyantly, looking every bit the extreme "shamate" fashion style popular years ago. He picked up a box from the floor, opened it, and upon finding it was an aromatherapy diffuser, he made a bored face. "My cards got frozen—I need to find a way to get some money. It’s not like you’d give me an allowance, right?"

Lin Juangui forced a smile. "Have your people come and clean up this room within ten minutes. Don’t make me come after you."

"You’ve already wrecked me enough. Spare me, Director Lin—should I kneel for you?"

Lin Juangui snorted coldly and pointed to the door, signaling Zhou Yi to leave quickly. Zhou Yi blew him a kiss and had his bodyguards come in to take all the gifts away.

Once the room returned to its original empty state, Lin Juangui leaned back on the soft pillow and let out a long sigh.

He really had been pushing himself too hard. During college, he worked back-to-back shifts, never eating on time, stuffing rice balls into his mouth whenever he was hungry. After starting his career, he drank coffee like water to meet project deadlines. His body had suffered greatly from his neglect.

As Lin Juangui spaced out, the hospital room door was pushed open. The person entering wore a white lab coat and, from his silhouette alone, was tall and long-limbed—someone who might easily be mistaken for a male model.

A bouquet of jasmine was placed on the cabinet next to Lin Juangui’s bed. The man asked how he was feeling.

"I was the one who treated you when you came to the hospital that day. I tried to give you soda to help you feel better, but you vomited after every sip, all the way to the gastroenterology department."

Lin Juangui pursed his lips silently. He knew this illness had made him look foolish. If it weren’t for the help of his HR colleagues, the photos of him vomiting profusely at the conference room door would likely have spread all over the company’s internal network.

Lin Juangui offered a polite smile. "Sorry for the trouble."

"No trouble." Huo Zeshen smiled amiably. In his white coat, he projected an air of clean professionalism.

The man took a business card from his pocket and handed it to Lin Juangui, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone. "This is my card. From the people who visited you these past few days, it’s not hard to guess you’re an executive at some company. You probably skip meals for work and drink coffee like it’s water. To avoid this happening again, if your stomach ever hurts unbearably, you can call me for help."

After Lin Juangui took the card, Huo Zeshen turned and left, his movements smooth and effortlessly cool.

The card bore Huo Zeshen’s name, along with his current position.

[Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine—Associate Chief Physician—Huo Zeshen]

A chief physician this young?

Lin Juangui looked up in surprise, but Huo Zeshen had already disappeared.

Although Lin Juangui didn’t know why Huo Zeshen had given him his card, it seemed hospitals had follow-up requirements, so he tucked the card into his wallet upon discharge and soon forgot about it.

Until one day when Lin Juangui had drunk too much. Sitting in the car, he broke out in a cold sweat and couldn’t catch his breath.

For some reason, Lin Juangui suddenly thought of Huo Zeshen, who had left his card at the hospital.

With trembling hands, he took his wallet from his briefcase, pulled out the card, and called Huo Zeshen.

The call was answered immediately. Lin Juangui took a deep breath and said with a weak laugh. "Hello, Dr. Huo. Sorry to bother you so late."

"It’s fine. What are your symptoms now?"

Perhaps because he was in too much pain, Lin Juangui overlooked the small strange detail that Huo Zeshen didn’t even ask who he was.

After explaining his condition, Huo Zeshen asked where he was, adding jokingly, "If you happen to run into a traffic police check for drunk driving, consider yourself lucky."

Lin Juangui, in his drunken state, seemed languid. Even though his stomach hurt, he spoke unhurriedly. "I hired a sober driver. I wouldn’t dare drink and drive—I value my life."

Huo Zeshen fell silent for a moment on the other end, his voice suddenly lowering. "If you care about your life, why do you push yourself like this?"

Before Lin Juangui could respond, Huo Zeshen continued, "If possible, have your driver buy a hot compress for your stomach. Drink some warm milk or warm water. I’ll bring you medication now."

"Ah? What medication? I can have someone buy it. No need to trouble—"

Before Lin Juangui could finish, the driver said they had arrived at the destination. Lin Juangui glanced at the driver’s obvious eagerness to be done with his shift, and sighed helplessly before giving his location to Huo Zeshen.

The driver left, and Lin Juangui sat alone in the back seat, his cell phone pressed to his ear. Huo Zeshen hadn’t hung up.

After understanding the situation, Huo Zeshen immediately bought medication and a hot compress. He even remembered to ask if Lin Juangui was lactose intolerant.

Lin Juangui breathed shallowly. His alcohol-fogged mind couldn’t process complex thoughts, and he didn’t have the energy to ponder why Huo Zeshen was being so kind. When Huo Zeshen asked, he said he wasn’t lactose intolerant and even made a request: he wanted to drink yogurt.

Huo Zeshen couldn’t help but laugh on the other end. The sound coming through the receiver was inexplicably heart-fluttering.

"Yogurt is cold. For the sake of your stomach, you should avoid that."

Lin Juangui blinked. For some reason, he curved his lips into a smile and sighed. "Actually, there’s no need to push so hard. I know that."

But not working at all seemed pointless. Lin Juangui needed the sense of achievement that came with completing a project—it was addictive and drove him to tirelessly devote his energy to it.

But as he grew older, even an iron constitution couldn’t withstand Lin Juangui’s relentless pace.

Lin Juangui seemed to realize he wasn't so young anymore.

Huo Zeshen soon arrived at the hotel parking lot.

Following the information Lin Juangui provided, he searched for the license plate. When he found Lin Juangui’s white business car, he stepped forward and gently tapped on the rear window. He held a bag in his hand, looking slightly windswept, with one strand of hair sticking up.

Lin Juangui leisurely opened the back seat door. The moment he looked up, the parking lot lights dazzled him. Squinting, he faintly made out Huo Zeshen before him.

Dr. Huo had a strikingly handsome face.

His features were deep and well-defined, his gaze gentle yet carrying a hint of intensity. Lin Juangui’s figure was reflected in his eyes, his pupils seemingly filled with scattered starlight.

Lin Juangui had no idea how glistening and captivating his own eyes were at that moment. He was admiring Huo Zeshen, his gaze almost unabashedly direct.

Huo Zeshen first took out the adhesive heat patch and placed it on Lin Juangui's abdomen, then handed him two pills to take with warm water. He also gave Lin Juangui the hot milk he had bought, for him to warm his hands.

"Didn’t you ask the driver to turn on the air conditioning? Even though it’s autumn, you’re dressed too lightly. There are many triggers for stomach pain—you’ve been hospitalized before, and you’re still taking no precautions?"

Huo Zeshen massaged the pressure points on Lin Juangui’s abdomen to relieve the pain, maintaining a steady pressure. Lin Juangui felt the pain gradually easing.

At the same time, Lin Juangui’s senses became clearer.

He looked closely at Huo Zeshen, finally realizing that they had only met a handful of times and that he should at least be polite.

"Dr. Huo, did you just get off work? Or were you just passing through?"

Huo Zeshen smiled. "Neither."

"Huh?"

Lin Juangui watched Huo Zeshen’s fingers pressing on his acupoints, as if realizing something.

Someone as perceptive as him couldn’t possibly miss the implication, but Lin Juangui was a highly guarded person. All he could offer Huo Zeshen at that moment was a "Thank you."

"Is this part of a doctor’s follow-up appointment?" Lin Juangui asked.

Huo Zeshen was patient, showing no sign of urgency. "You could say so. But I rarely give out my business card. Usually, the hospital keeps me too busy to handle everything myself."

As the pain subsided, Lin Juangui relaxed little by little. He opened the milk bottle and took a small sip—the temperature was just right.

After drinking half the bottle, Lin Juangui tightened the cap and placed his hand on Huo Zeshen’s arm, gesturing for him to stop massaging the acupoints.

Huo Zeshen had been massaging Lin Juangui’s acupoints for over ten minutes without pause. Not only did his strength not wane, but he didn't seem tired at all.

Huo Zeshen observed Lin Juangui’s complexion, making sure he was truly better before speaking. "Are you staying at the hotel? Can you walk? Let me help you upstairs."

Lin Juangui felt he couldn’t let Huo Zeshen intrude any further, so he replied politely, "I can manage on my own, Dr. Huo. Thank you so much. Having a doctor as caring and responsible as you is a blessing for everyone. I’ll make sure to send you a commendation plaque."

"..."

Huo Zeshen chuckled wryly.

Who wouldn’t applaud such guardedness?

But at that moment, Huo Zeshen couldn’t do much, nor did he have any romantic intentions. He even softened his tone, refraining from pushing further. "I’ll just take you to your room door and leave. If you collapse halfway, it wouldn't be a complete job. Since you know I’m caring, you should know I won’t leave if I’m not assured of your safety."

Unable to refuse Huo Zeshen, especially under his sincere gaze, Lin Juangui nodded in agreement.

Huo Zeshen escorted Lin Juangui to his room. After telling him to take care of himself, he left without a backward glance.

After closing the door, Lin Juangui looked at the milk bottle in his hand and the adhesive heat patch on his abdomen, feeling a sudden pang of guilt.

Having been alone for so many years, Lin Juangui had received many confessions of love. But he knew his own personality and even his mental health issues, always feeling it was better not to burden others, especially since he wasn’t someone capable of giving love.

But Huo Zeshen was different.

How was he different? Lin Juangui couldn’t quite put it into words.

But he not only finished the milk, but after feeling better, he also ordered a commendation plaque. He specifically found out Huo Zeshen’s shift schedule and personally delivered it.

This time, Lin Juangui was completely lucid—without the embarrassment of their first meeting, the frailty from being hospitalized, or the haziness of drunkenness.

Dressed in a beige suit, he knocked on the door of Huo Zeshen’s office. The man’s tall, slender figure and handsome features were accentuated by a bright smile, drawing second glances from passersby.

Huo Zeshen, who was explaining pathology to his students, looked up and visibly brightened at the sight of Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui, too, was beaming. "Dr. Huo, sorry to disturb you."

That marked the true beginning of Lin Juangui and Huo Zeshen’s relationship. With just one step from Lin Juangui, he received Huo Zeshen’s unconditional love.

Lin Juangui’s eyes welled up. He wanted to tell Huo Zeshen that he could do whatever he wished—if he wanted to become a doctor, he should study, and Lin Juangui would unconditionally support him.

But reality was harsh. Lin Juangui still needed Huo Zeshen to grow stronger to face off against Mu Zhang.

He could only reach out to tidy the stray hairs on Huo Zeshen’s forehead, comforting him, "You can do it. If you want to, you will succeed."

But Huo Zeshen shook his head, extinguishing his own dream.

"The teacher at the welfare home said that after differentiation, we have to leave and go to school. Cai Yu left after differentiating into a Beta, and after I differentiated into an Alpha, the only place I could go was military school."

Lin Juangui’s eyes showed reluctance. "Military school... you have to take an exam for that, and it’s very difficult."

Though Huo Zeshen had the ability, it pained Lin Juangui to think of him suffering, making him feel he had failed.

Huo Zeshen reached out, carefully holding Lin Juangui’s wrist. "Brother, I know I’m not capable, and my personality isn’t great. I’ve caused you a lot of trouble. But I want to do my best not to disappoint you, to live up to your kindness. I will become stronger..."

Unconsciously, Huo Zeshen had completely suppressed his pheromones, but his palm was still warm.

Lin Juangui didn’t pull away. The concern in his eyes was genuine. Under Huo Zeshen’s earnest and honest gaze, he removed the neck guard from his throat.

On his way over, Lin Juangui had consulted a doctor. An Omega’s pheromones were a potent remedy for an Alpha. Unable to bear seeing Huo Zeshen suffer, he decided to use his pheromones to help him.

His gland didn’t react too badly to Huo Zeshen’s pheromones. Lin Juangui could even detect a hint of mellow alcohol scent within the green plum aroma.

When he had helped Mu Zhang through his rut, Lin Juangui felt as if his body was being torn apart by Mu Zhang’s pheromones. But Huo Zeshen’s pheromones made him feel cool and relaxed.

In any case, the green plum wine scent was much milder than the asphalt-like pheromones of Mu Zhang. Not all Alpha pheromones were as hard to endure as Mu Zhang’s.

After smelling Lin Juangui’s pheromones, Huo Zeshen’s cheeks grew even redder. The intertwining pheromones of the Alpha and Omega eased the young man’s expression—Lin Juangui’s pheromones were effective.

"Brother..."

Huo Zeshen called out, his tone soft and unconsciously pleading.

Lin Juangui urged Huo Zeshen to sleep well. "I’ll stay by your side. Don’t be afraid. Whether you want to enter military school or do something else, I’ll help you. Oh, and this."

Lin Juangui took out a necklace from his pocket, from which hung a small fragment of a mirror he had brought back from the temple in Green Valley.

Not daring to entrust the fragment to anyone else, he had bought some silver-colored copper wire online and woven it into a diamond-shaped pendant.

As a child, Lin Juangui often watched Fan Meiyi use copper wire to turn stones that were too hard to drill into pendants sold at her stall. Over time, he learned many styles and became skilled at making them.

Huo Zeshen solemnly accepted Lin Juangui’s gift. His face half-buried in the pillow, his eyes were moist and innocent, as if longing for something.

But he bit his lip, seemingly unable to articulate his feelings, and could only murmur, "Thank you, brother."

"You’re welcome." Lin Juangui gently patted Huo Zeshen’s back. Affected by the pheromones, his voice grew slightly hoarse. "Sleep well. Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you. Close your eyes and rest easy."

Huo Zeshen nodded, obediently closed his eyes, and soon his breathing became even.

Lin Juangui let out a sigh of relief. With Huo Zeshen safely through his maturation phase, he could finally relax.

But then again, kids who grow up too fast don't get to be happy. Huo Zeshen's situation meant he had to mature quickly, or he would have been bullied endlessly.

Lin Juangui still hoped to smooth the path for Huo Zeshen, at least to make his life easier than his own childhood was.

Before long, Lin Juangui re-fastened his collar. He pulled the blanket up a little higher for Huo Zeshen and gently touched his forehead to make sure his fever hadn't returned before withdrawing his hand.

Lin Juangui took a dose of suppressant from the medical kit he’d brought and injected himself. Rubbing his temples, he felt a bit dizzy from the effect of Huo Zeshen’s pheromones, so he remained seated, planning to sit for a bit longer before leaving.

Just then, his phone rang. Lin Juangui glanced at the screen—it was Mu Zhang.

Was he awake already? The main character's body is really tough.

When the call connected, Lin Juangui heard Mu Zhang’s raspy, low voice: “You’ve been keeping busy while I was out.”

Lin Juangui sized up Mu Zhang’s tone—calm, with no sign of emotional outburst. That made it easier to talk to him.

“I’m just fulfilling the promises I made when we got married. To outsiders, we’re a package deal. What I did also took pressure off you. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Good, of course it was good.

Lin Juangui didn’t bat an eye giving away those artifacts. Mu Zhang had to admire his decisiveness.

But the mystery of Bada remained unsolved, and Mu Zhang seemed still stuck there.

After waking up, Gu Mi brought him up to speed on everything that had happened during his coma.

Besides the fact that Lin Juangui had rescued him from Bada Star, Gu Mi also hinted, “The past can’t be changed. Even if that mirror on Bada had some extraordinary magic, the price would’ve been steep.”

When Gu Mi first learned Mu Zhang had chosen an Alpha, he’d given it two thumbs up and said it was cool. But seeing how painful things were between Mu Zhang and Mu Yuanqing, he’d gently advised Mu Zhang not to hold on too tight.

Mu Zhang wasn’t foolish; he got what Gu Mi was hinting at.

His “reunion” with Mu Yuanqing had elements of mutual exploitation—Mu Zhang got intel from the military from Mu Yuanqing, and Mu Yuanqing received military supplies from Mu Zhang.

How long could such a relationship last? The answer became clear after Mu Zhang’s marriage.

Marrying Lin Juangui wasn’t a rash decision. Mu Zhang had thought about it all night. The marriage offered too many advantages—Lin Juangui presented an option Mu Zhang simply couldn’t refuse.

Not only did it keep the family matriarch happy, but Mu Zhang had already guessed Mu Yuanqing’s true intentions. The wedding was both a test of Mu Yuanqing and a way for Mu Zhang to put his own hopes to rest.

So, in response to Gu Mi’s well-meaning advice, Mu Zhang gave a bitter smile. “You’ve misunderstood. If that mirror really worked, I’d wish to go back to a time before I ever met Mu Yuanqing.”

The Mu Yuanqing of their school days had been a rare sweet thing for Mu Zhang. But as adults, their experiences diverged, the people they met changed, and their lifestyles and ways of handling things became completely different. What was left besides a few memories and lingering feelings?

Gu Mi was surprised; he hadn’t expected Mu Zhang to be so resolute.

Gu Mi “hehe” chuckled and pulled up the holographic screen in the room. Lin Juangui’s face appeared before them, and they listened to every word of his speech from the press conference.

“What he did took a lot of pressure off you from the military. You know those old guys have been looking for excuses to make you give up everything you've got. Now that your Omega has made such a big move, they’ll have to think twice before trying to drag you down.”

“Just showing off.”

Mu Zhang laughed, especially when he heard Lin Juangui thanking him.

But Gu Mi was right—Lin Juangui had indeed shielded Mu Zhang from major trouble. His positive image would benefit Mu Zhang’s business dealings going forward.

Mu Zhang had initially thought Lin Juangui’s “usefulness” would lie in socializing with the wives of high officials to gather information, but Lin Juangui’s ambitions were greater than he’d imagined.

It was truly fascinating. Mu Zhang found it deeply interesting.

The Alpha’s smile was unmistakable as he asked where Lin Juangui was now.

Gu Mi checked his light computer. “He’s back on Cygnus Zero, currently at the orphanage... Hm? There’s a child there going through differentiation. The place is on lockdown.”

“If differentiation is causing that much commotion, it must be a powerful Alpha. Send someone to check it out and find out what’s happening.”

“On it.”

After Gu Mi left, Mu Zhang immediately called Lin Juangui. Hearing Lin Juangui’s clear, calm voice, Mu Zhang actually felt a sense of relief.

He had some memories of Lin Juangui rescuing him from Bada Star.

Mu Zhang knew he’d been impatient when he pulled Lin Juangui’s hand to open the temple door. But in his dream, seeing Lin Juangui in ceremonial robes walking step by step toward the altar filled him with an unexplainable unease and panic.

After that, Lin Juangui’s actions on Bada went completely beyond Mu Zhang’s control, which irritated him. He wouldn’t be satisfied until he got answers.

But that hellhole Bada was just that bizarre. After pushing open the temple door, Mu Zhang blacked out briefly.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself being pulled apart by weird vines. He struggled for a long time on fighting instinct alone until he finally passed out and caught a whiff of a familiar scent of white fir.

He caught a glimpse of Lin Juangui’s face in profile.

Yes, it wasn’t Mu Yuanqing who came to save him—it was Lin Juangui.

Mu Zhang let himself fall back asleep. He knew he was important to Lin Juangui; Lin Juangui wouldn’t let him die so easily.

But waking up without Lin Juangui there left him feeling a little disappointed. He wasn’t happy that Lin Juangui wasn’t by his side at a time like this.

Since their marriage, Lin Juangui had done so much for him—shooting first to protect him when he was in danger, remaining calm when Mu Zhang was furious without holding his mistakes against him, and even rescuing him when he was trapped in a dire situation.

For once, the Alpha felt a twinge of conscience. But he was too proud, too used to arrogance, to lower his head and apologize or make amends.

So he spoke to Lin Juangui in his usual manner, though a look of regret crossed his face right after.

Lin Juangui couldn’t see it anyway—he was busy checking on Huo Zeshen and didn’t care about Mu Zhang’s change in attitude.

“Are you upset that I donated those artifacts? I thought you didn’t care about such a small amount of money. Besides, we don’t have any shared assets.”

Mu Zhang didn’t care about the artifacts themselves; he was just curious. “I thought you were short on money. Those artifacts were valuable enough to keep you comfortable for life.”

Lin Juangui chuckled softly, his tone relaxed and almost teasing. “Whatever is on Bada Star has nothing to do with me. I just wanted the truth. You’ve already given me the answer, haven’t you? Since I’m a discarded pawn, I had to show you my value, Mr. Mu.”

Mu Zhang fell silent for a long time.

He’d almost forgotten—Lin Juangui ended up in this situation entirely because of his own greed. Not only had he made the Lin family shoulder the risks of P-L79, but he’d also made them willingly send Lin Juangui to him to serve as a human suppressant.

Lin Juangui knew everything now, yet he hadn’t torn into Mu Zhang. Mu Zhang couldn’t even sense any excess emotional turbulence from him.

Mu Zhang lowered his gaze. He knew what he needed to do, but some things were better said in person. So he told Lin Juangui to return to Luo Chen Manor as soon as possible.

“Let’s discuss these matters face to face.”

“Mm, alright.”

Lin Juangui stood up and took one last look at Huo Zeshen before leaving.

Seeing Huo Zeshen sleeping soundly, he smiled faintly.

As long as Huo Zeshen was not in any trouble, he could go about his business.

Shortly after the Alpha's pheromones retreated, the Alpha Association's instruments were able to detect them, though it would still take some time for the pheromones to dissipate completely. When the Director arrived at the dormitory, Lin Juangui happened to be stepping out, carrying the protective suit and clear face shield.

"Xiao Shen's condition should have stabilized by now. Thank you for taking care of him. I have some matters to attend to and need to leave now. Wen Rui, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you. Do you have time now?"

Wen Rui nodded, "Of course. Let's go to my office and talk."

Lin Juangui declined Wen Rui's offer, "No need, let's talk here. If we sit down, the questions might never end."

"Alright then, I'll walk you out."

Inside the room, Huo Zeshen cracked his eyes open.

The teenager's face was conflicted. Although Lin Juangui had spoken softly, he had overheard every word of his conversation with Mu Zhang.

Could it be that his brother and his Alpha didn't have a good relationship?

No shared assets, a discarded pawn, value.

Just hearing these words alone made it hard to associate them with anything positive, especially since Lin Juangui had referred to Mu Zhang as "Mr. Mu."

Their relationship was clearly not as loving as others claimed.

After some time lost in thought, Huo Zeshen closed his eyes.

At least it wasn't entirely hopeless. Finally, he could drift off to sleep peacefully.