Chapter 83

Chapter 83

He hauled Qian Zhangli out by force, only stopping once they were completely away from the operating table.

The weight of the adult Beta male made the dragging heavy, the soles of his shoes scraping against the floor with a grating, teeth-on-edge screech.

Qian Chunyan's knuckles dug deep into Qian Zhangli's throat, the force so great it felt like it would crush his windpipe.

His movements were rough, but for some reason his head was bowed low, barely meeting Qian Zhangli's gaze, as if by doing so, his anger and the indescribable sorrow could be buried within his body, hidden from the light of day.

Qian Zhangli offered no resistance, but his face, when facing Qian Chunyan, gradually revealed his inherent arrogance and disdain.

He looked at Qian Chunyan as if looking at a dog caught in its own trap, struggling pointlessly.

This standoff didn't last long.

Soon, from outside the busted door, the two guards Qian Chunyan had shaken off earlier rushed back, seizing Qian Chunyan's arms from left and right, yanking him away from the spot.

They pinned Qian Chunyan against the wall, their expressions blank.

Qian Zhangli casually straightened his disheveled collar and walked slowly back to the operating table.

Qian Chunyan watched helplessly as he approached the unconscious Meng Shijiu again.

Qian Zhangli's attention, however, wasn't on him. His gaze was like a scalpel, meticulously dissecting the silver-haired Alpha from brow bone to waist:

"Is he your new toy?"

The words struck like a thunderclap, instantly clearing the chaos in Qian Chunyan's mind.

Cold sweat broke out on Qian Chunyan's back.

He still kept his face lowered, his expression unreadable, his voice flat and monotonous like reciting a script: "I'm busy."

"—I don't have that much free time. I've long grown tired of such games. I have no interest in casually finding someone to mess with just to alleviate my boredom—"

Like a bird suddenly cut down mid-flight, Qian Chunyan's voice abruptly ceased.

Those sharp, violent emotions that had surged the moment he saw the silver-haired Alpha were forcibly suppressed.

This suppression came so swiftly, as if not born of reason, but a survival instinct etched into his very bones.

Only the image remained in his mind, replaying over and over: the silver-haired Alpha lying silently in the laboratory, eyes closed, lifeless.

He had already been in this agitated state when he received Zou Yun's message. But when he actually saw the scene, the immense impact still shattered Qian Chunyan's composure in an instant.

Although it was impossible to determine whether Qian Zhangli had intentionally let Zou Yun see Meng Shijiu—after all, Zou Yun had been working for Qian Zhangli for a long time—it no longer mattered.

Qian Chunyan couldn't describe the feeling he had upon seeing that message.

He could only beg himself to be rational, to stay calm, to face Qian Zhangli, whom he never wanted to lay eyes on again.

The Beta in the white lab coat casually waved his hand.

The two guards slowly released Qian Chunyan.

"...When did you start targeting him?"

Qian Chunyan spoke.

Qian Zhangli smiled, answering Qian Chunyan's question: "Naturally, from the first moment he appeared before you."

Qian Chunyan's head snapped up as if electrocuted.

His limbs seemed to instantly lose all sensation. His previously tense spine felt as if its bones had been pulled out. His golden, curly hair inexplicably lost its luster.

If Qian Zhangli had targeted Meng Shijiu because of him... If he hadn't arrived in time... If he hadn't received the message... If...

If.

After a long pause, Qian Chunyan uttered with difficulty: "I'm taking him away."

Hearing this, Qian Zhangli suddenly adopted a surprisingly accommodating demeanor.

He leaned against the bed rail beside Meng Shijiu, his fingers lightly tapping on the lab bench surface.

"Alright..." Qian Zhangli's tone shifted, "But taking someone from me always requires paying a price, doesn't it?"

"..."

Qian Chunyan knew he shouldn't expose his bottom line.

But he understood even more clearly that bargaining with a madman like Qian Zhangli, whose moods shifted unpredictably and whose mind could change thirty times a minute... was out of the question.

...He just wanted Meng Shijiu to leave this place quickly.

Immediately. Right now.

Any machine here, any drug, could turn a living person into a monster, neither human nor ghost.

"...I agree to anything."

"First," Qian Chunyan closed his eyes, "First, let him go."

The laboratory was quiet, filled only with the hum of the machines.

"Hiss..." Qian Zhangli finally turned around. "So obedient."

Qian Chunyan had already strode over.

He walked to Meng Shijiu's side, stared at the silver-haired Alpha's face, unable to stop himself from frowning deeply. He forcefully tore off the metal ring from Meng Shijiu's wrist.

Qian Zhangli walked to the other side, watching with a raised eyebrow.

Qian Chunyan just wanted to leave quickly.

He slipped his arm behind Meng Shijiu's back, trying to gently lift him up—as he moved, Meng Shijiu's collar slid to one side, revealing the mottled marks on his collarbone.

Qian Chunyan's eyes widened in shock. He jerked his head around.

The air almost seemed to carry the sound of his joints cracking.

Qian Chunyan's furious gaze shot directly towards the Beta watching the scene like he was watching a show.

"The marks on him aren't my doing. He was like that when he arrived," Qian Zhangli spread his hands.

Qian Chunyan's shoulders relaxed slightly, but he couldn't bring himself to fully believe it.

Those forcibly suppressed emotions surged up once again.

Was he late?

How long had Shijiu been here?

Why was he sent to WM?

Qian Chunyan was like a startled bird, growing more terrified with every thought, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

He frantically inspected Meng Shijiu from head to toe, meticulously examining his skin for any signs of needle injections.

Even after confirming this, he still couldn’t settle.

Qian Chunyan carefully laid Meng Shijiu back down, then strode past the nearby instruments toward several cabinets against the wall.

He began rummaging through the cabinets, his movements almost violent. Drawers screeched as they were yanked open, and medicine bottles were knocked over and scattered on the floor during his search.

Finally, deep inside one cabinet, he found a bottle labeled as an emetic.

Qian Chunyan snatched the bottle, twisted off the cap, shook out two tablets, walked back to Meng Shijiu, lifted him up, and had him swallow them.

The silver-haired Alpha’s naturally cool body rested quietly in his arms, long eyelashes motionless.

Qian Chunyan’s heart clenched.

As he moved, that pale throat slowly bobbed once.

…For some reason, Qian Chunyan subconsciously felt things shouldn’t be going this smoothly.

He suppressed that sense of unease and carefully observed the silver-haired Alpha’s reaction.

Meng Shijiu hadn’t eaten for a long time.

Qian Chunyan felt the body under his palm suddenly convulse.

Soon, the silver-haired Alpha began to cough feebly, then Qian Chunyan supported his waist, letting him hunch over, and he vomited.

Black liquid spilled onto the floor.

“…What is this?” Qian Chunyan’s knuckles turned white, his voice hoarser than he expected.

“Something to keep him asleep for a few more days.”

Qian Zhangli glanced at the door Qian Chunyan had kicked in: “Did you think anyone could just barge in here like you?”

Qian Chunyan ignored him.

He gently stroked the coughing Alpha’s back, wiping the cold sweat from Meng Shijiu’s forehead with his other hand, only to realize his own fingertips were still trembling.

Meng Shijiu’s lips had paled from coughing, his eyes still closed, eyelashes fluttering with each weak cough, until his head finally slumped softly against Qian Chunyan’s neck.

Long hair covered half of his face.

Qian Chunyan pressed his palm against Meng Shijiu’s waist, pulling him tightly into his embrace, resting his chin on Meng Shijiu’s hair: “…It’s okay, it’s okay.”

He kept his voice extremely low, as if speaking to himself.

He swept Meng Shijiu up into his arms, stood, and prepared to leave.

Guards blocked his path.

“Are you going back on your word?” Qian Chunyan shot them a cold sidelong glance, his spine instantly stiffening.

Qian Zhangli, who had been motionless nearby, raised his hand and rapped the cold lab table again, his face making it hard to guess his age.

Qian Zhangli: “Call someone to pick you up. You’re not that brainless, are you?”

Qian Chunyan paused, then suddenly let out a cold laugh, mocking: “Hereditary.”

Qian Zhangli was taken aback.

He then smiled, his gaze falling on the Alpha in Qian Chunyan’s arms: “Hurry up. He’s about to wake up.”

Qian Chunyan didn’t look back, striding toward the main door.

“What a pity.” Just as Qian Chunyan was about to leave, Qian Zhangli spoke softly behind him.

Qian Chunyan stopped dead.

But Qian Zhangli had already fallen silent.

“…Pity what?” Qian Chunyan turned around.

Qian Zhangli looked at Meng Shijiu.

“I remember his eyes were very beautiful, weren’t they?”

His voice sounded as if it came from the depths of a cold well.

“Pity, I didn’t get to see them.” Qian Zhangli smiled gently.

Fear, lingering dread, and rage surged through his veins.

“I said, I’ll do whatever you want.” Qian Chunyan could barely control his body, wanting to stride over and punch the other, his voice squeezed through gritted teeth.

“—Don’t touch him.”

Qian Zhangli made a “please” gesture: “Oh. But I had to make sure, didn’t I?”

Qian Chunyan tightened his hold on the person in his arms and strode out of the basement.

See watched Qian Chunyan, who clearly wanted to avoid Qian Zhangli at all costs yet stopped the moment he heard his voice, and thought he seemed like a dog—one that had been disciplined and then tossed to a madman for repeated torment.

*

Qian Zhangli wasn’t lying when he said Meng Shijiu was about to wake up.

Not long after Qian Chunyan carried Meng Shijiu to the VIP ward, Meng Shijiu regained consciousness.

When he woke, the room was empty.

See: “Host”

Meng Shijiu: “Shut up”

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on a handmade gauze flower by the bedside, its shadow sinking into a pair of jade-green lakes.

Those cyan-blue eyes could still easily remind one of lakes shrouded in morning mist, their surface shimmering with the pale blue of sky light, yet beneath the water lay the gentle warmth of green jade.

Like light piercing through the deep sea.

Meng Shijiu stared at the ceiling, then suddenly raised a hand to touch his lips.

His lips were still moist. Qian Chunyan had given him water before leaving the room, bringing back a hint of color to his lips.

Footsteps echoed outside the door.

"...That's the situation. The Ye family just left. During our routine check, we learned the patient was actually your family's second young master. Out of safety concerns, we held him privately and only contacted you after confirming his identity..." Yu Zhao's account was seamless.

"Although WM has a business partnership with the Ye family, business is business. As a medical institution, our group always adheres to professional ethics and standards..."

He didn't get to finish before the door was pushed open by Meng Shiyan, who had hurried over.

A flood of light poured into his eyes.

—The curtains had been drawn open.

The silver-haired Alpha sat by the window, backlit.

His legs hung in the air, and he held a gauze flower, apparently lost in thought. Hearing the door open, he lazily looked over from afar.

Shijiu.

Meng Shiyan felt a weight lift from his chest.

He turned his head and whispered to the others, "Wait outside."

The door was closed once again.

Meng Shiyan approached step by step, as if wary of disturbing something, his pace deliberately slow, yet his gaze swept over the silver-haired Alpha with a covert, careful scan.

One step away.

Meng Shiyan stopped. The tall Alpha bent slightly, trying to meet Meng Shijiu's eyes at the same level.

Meng Shiyan consciously relaxed his expression, his dark purple eyes concealing a quiet storm as he looked at Meng Shijiu.

His low voice was like coaxing a newly awakened fledgling.

"Shijiu."

"Let's go home."

Meng Shijiu quietly met his gaze.

His elder brother had faint dark circles under his eyes, noticeable in the light. In just a few days, that authoritative face had visibly thinned.

Meng Shijiu raised his hand and gently pressed his finger against Meng Shiyan's brow bone. "I'm fine."

Meng Shiyan looked at him deeply and extended his hand.

"It's cold on the windowsill."

Meng Shiyan took his brother's hand. "Let's go home."

Meng Shijiu let himself be easily guided down from the windowsill and tilted his face up. "Alright."