Chapter 88 Avoidance

Chapter 88: Standoff

Fengduo was inwardly reeling, yet his expression remained calm. As the pain receded, he was once again the impeccable commander.

"What do you think I'll say? Be touched by your profound feelings? Xi Siyan, you've never been on the battlefield. You're in no position to lecture me. There are plenty of miserable people in this world who can't even pursue material things. Your sanctimonious inner world is nothing compared to the hell I've witnessed."

Xi Siyan nodded. "I'm not lecturing you. You have your convictions, which I respect and understand. I have mine as well. Let me make two things clear. You are the No. 3 Commander of Tianfuze. Here, your decision-making authority is equivalent to that of the lords of the Upper Three Districts. So, first, if my value in your mind is irreplaceable, for the good of the many, please drop any idea of using Jing Miao. Second."

He approached Fengduo, making as if to walk past him. "Mind your own morals. Don't get any ideas about my Omega. As you said, I'm a madman."

After saying this, Xi Siyan walked straight past him toward the others' camp as if nothing had happened.

If the first matter was merely a warning for Tianfuze not to exploit everyone indiscriminately, then the second matter made Fengduo's back break out in a cold sweat.

It wasn't fear, but guilt.

Jing Miao's youthful, blossoming face flashed in his mind—only for an instant, then vanished like a mirage.

He had simply been wading through the filth and mire of hell for too long. He hadn't fallen in love with a place of pure innocence.

He wasn't envious of Xi Siyan.

He hadn't been captivated by the romantic, fragrant evening breeze on Sunset Boulevard.

He was motivated by duty, not desire.

He wasn't.

Gan Zisen went to visit Gu Chong in his hospital room.

Wang Song was seriously injured, but as long as the bullet fragments were removed, he would recover gradually. An Alpha soldier's robust physique would heal even faster than a civilian's.

Omegas were different. Even if they could match or surpass Alphas in appearance and ability, the differences hardwired into their genes were immutable.

Gu Chong had been unconscious for three days before waking up.

His talent, "One-Minute Delay," could only be used once per minute. By burning through his own vitality and a powerful stimulant injection, he had doggedly persisted for 12 hours to bring Wang Song back to Tianfuze.

The prognosis was that he would likely never be able to use his talent again.

If only that were all.

When Gan Zisen entered, Gu Chong's deputy was still beside him, showing him the preliminary interrogation results from the hostages rescued from Yinshu Town.

Omegas were the Creator's favored design, born with inherent beauty. Gu Chong, half-leaning against the headboard, was as pale as paper. Without his military uniform, he was actually a very beautiful and striking Omega.

Gan Zisen knocked on the door. "Patients who don't follow doctor's orders aren't good patients."

Gu Chong turned his face and, seeing him, smiled faintly. "Doctor Gan."

—Diagnosis result: Talent permanently unusable. Glandular damage difficult to repair. Complication: Hormonal imbalance. Cannot be temporarily marked until it's healed. Loss of reproductive function.

"Tianfuze isn't short on interrogators. You should focus on taking care of your own body first." Gan Zisen walked to his bedside. The deputy officer, at Gu Chong's signal, temporarily turned off the communicator and left.

Gu Chong watched him pick up his medical report and read it carefully, his serious face showing great concentration. "If possible, could you turn over and let me take a look at your gland?"

He was the most famous gland specialist in E'yan. If even Gan Zisen couldn't treat it, then it was probably beyond repair.

Gu Chong cooperated, turning over to expose the gland on the back of his neck.

The doctor's cool, gloved fingers touched his skin. Gu Chong shivered instinctively, then stilled.

Gan Zisen examined it for a long time. "Alright, my apologies."

"Gender-based medical avoidance is something from over a hundred years ago." Gu Chong smiled, pulling his clothes back on and sitting up straight. "Is there any hope?"

Gan Zisen was contemplating a conservative treatment plan: first, recuperate the external injury to the gland, then surgery might be feasible. This thoughtful expression, in Gu Chong's eyes, seemed like a death sentence. Instead, he smiled and comforted Gan Zisen. "It's alright, Doctor Gan. My diagnosis report is indeed devastating for an Omega, but for a Beta, it's irrelevant. Hormonal imbalance just means I won't easily react to an Alpha's pheromones anymore. Honestly, I don't mind much. Being free from the troubles of heat cycles is more convenient for me."

Gu Chong paused, then his eyes curved. "Then I'll leave it in your hands, Doctor Gan. But please don't feel burdened. Whether it's good or not really doesn't matter to me."

"Of course it matters." Gan Zisen adjusted the speed of his IV drip for him, then placed the hot water bottle he carried with him under Gu Chong's hand. "Your caretaker is being negligent. This should be more comfortable."

Gu Chong was taken aback. The warmth in his palm was unexpected.

"Gland health affects the entire body. Your excellent judgment and combat abilities might very well owe something to your gland. I will do everything in my power to heal you." Gan Zisen paused. "I don't know if I have the right, but I want to say thank you. Not on behalf of Wang Song, but on my own behalf."

Gu Chong looked at this Alpha, as clear and bright as the wind and moon, and suddenly said, "Wang Song took that bullet for me."

Of course he knew. This fact had been reported meticulously to the military department in the mission report after Wang Song woke up.

He just didn't know why Gu Chong was emphasizing it now... Gan Zisen mocked his own foolish thoughts. Perhaps in the other's eyes, he didn't even have the standing to receive such a display.

"So there's no need for thanks. We're comrades-in-arms; it's what we should do. It's just that when that non-coagulating bio-round passed through Wang Song's body, I thought of you, Doctor Gan." Gu Chong looked at him, his tone filled with regret. "I was thinking, if only you were there."

Gan Zisen went rigid.

"If you were there, he would have survived. You could have saved him. Why couldn't I?" Gu Chong's eyes curved again. "I didn't want to lose to you, Doctor Gan."

When Gan Zisen returned to Wang Song's hospital room, he saw a familiar person—one of Wang Hanzhang's subordinates, a general of the Tianfuze Guard, whom Wang Song called Uncle Liu.

"The Commander says the Wang family doesn't produce irresponsible cowards. Once you're better, you'll marry Xiao Gu."

The Alpha stopped at the doorway, his entire body turning cold.

"Tell the old man to go cool off somewhere."

"Xiao Song! Do you know Gu Chong's current condition? After he's discharged from the military, what Alpha would want an Omega who can't bear children and doesn't react to pheromones? Without Xiao Gu, you'd be dead long ago."

Yes. Gan Zisen thought, he said if only I were there. But by Wang Song's side, there was only Gu Chong, not him. Without Gu Chong, Wang Song would have died.

Wang Song's tone was flat. "I have a thousand, ten thousand ways to thank him. I owe him for this lifetime. I would go through fire and water for him without hesitation. Except marrying him. What do you take him for? What do you take me for?"

Uncle Liu was heartbroken. "Xiao Song, how can you live with yourself? The Commander won't think any less of him because he can't have children. Having such a daughter-in-law would be a source of pride for your parents and the whole family."

"My conscience can bear it. And have you asked for his opinion?"

"I'm so disappointed in you, Xiao Song. It's not like you don't know that Xiao Gu has always... Never mind. Focus on recovering first. We'll talk about this later."

The hospital room door opened. Gan Zisen and the general came face to face.

"Zisen." He greeted him with a smile. "Back from seeing Xiao Gu?"

"Yes, Uncle Liu."

"Is he... alright?"

Gan Zisen nodded. "Uncle Liu, please trust in my ability."

"Zisen!" Wang Song urgently interrupted their conversation from inside. "Come in quickly! I have something to ask you!"

Uncle Liu shot a look back at the sleazy Alpha inside and sighed before leaving. "Go on in."

"Here, have this." Wang Song handed him a plate of scooped-out custard apples. "Rare to get these this season, huh? I only got three. Saved two for Xi Siyan's sweetheart, this one's for you."

Gan Zisen took it but didn't start eating. "I heard what you said to Uncle Liu. What are you thinking?"

"Me?" Wang Song shrugged nonchalantly. "Not much to think about. Just... I guess I understand Xi Siyan a little bit now. But I'm different from him. He's crazy about someone but won't own up to it, acting like he's under some moral obligation."

"Gu Chong likes you." Gan Zisen placed the plate on his bedside table. "I examined his scent gland. The chances of a full recovery are very good. I'll develop a treatment plan as soon as possible."

"It's not about whether he's good or not. My dad just wants me to get married. Compared to setting me up on blind dates or other options, he just prefers Old Gu. A highly capable Omega, and my closest comrade, someone I've been through life and death with." Wang Song's expression turned slightly more serious. "But I won't be with him."

"Why?" Gan Zisen reiterated. "He likes you. And he ended up like this to save you."

"I ended up like this to save him too." Wang Song smiled, his eyes clear and frank. "We're comrades. What does that mean? In that situation, I would've taken a bullet for any one of them if they were hurt. If it were anyone else in my place, Gu Chong would have fought with everything he had. Why do you all insist on viewing such actions as a debt of gratitude or romantic love? In my view, that's profoundly disrespectful to him, to me, and to all the comrades we've fought alongside. An Omega officer retires and gets married? No one wants them? That's really too outdated. Don't sell Old Gu short like that."

Wang Song reached out, poked a piece of fruit, and brought it to Gan Zisen's lips, grinning. "Don't get caught up in those old-fashioned ideas with them, Doctor Gan. When I was at death's door, I really missed you."

When Ji Yue came to see Jing Miao, he was quietly reading a book.

To avoid radiation from computers and communicators, he was currently completely offline. Most people would be bored out of their minds, but Jing Miao adapted very well. No matter when Ji Yue visited, he was always holding that snow wolf plushie and reading.

"Brother Miaomiao, Colonel Wang sent over these custard apples. I got them ready for you."

Jing Miao lifted his eyelids, saw the snow-white fruit flesh, and smiled slightly. "Thank you, A-Yue."

Ji Yue waved off the thanks, then looked curiously at his abdomen with a sigh. "Brother Miaomiao, your little one here... must be a boy, right?"

"Mm." Jing Miao nodded, a glimmer of light in his eyes. "It's a boy. I can hear him."

"*Di Ting* is really amazing, even able to hear the gender. It's good that men and women are equal now. I learned in history class that before the emergence of glands and pheromones, humans only had two genders. Back then, hospitals couldn't tell parents the fetus's gender because some people were bigoted and ignorant. They would abort female babies, only wanting male ones." Ji Yue said.

Jing Miao widened his eyes. "Why? Girls are very cute. Girls are also very capable. Mom... both my moms are very capable."

"The dynamic between men and women back then was like that between Alphas and Omegas now. Over a hundred years ago, society also oppressed Omegas and revered Alphas. And even now, there are many upper-class families where Omegas only serve the purpose of arranged marriages." Ji Yue sighed. "But society is getting better."

Jing Miao seemed to understand but not fully, yet he inexplicably made a firm resolution. "Miao Miao will work hard!"

Ji Yue: "..."

They chatted a bit more. A male nurse pushed the door open, wearing a mask, a name tag pinned to his chest, his eyes smiling gently. "Time to check your blood pressure, little beauty."

Ji Yue struck up a conversation with this nurse named Zhou Min. "Didn't you usually come to check blood pressure at 4 o'clock?"

Zhou Min looked apologetic. "Two new patients were admitted to the special care ward—the ones the guard team brought in the other day. There are many casualties recently, most medical staff are assigned to the outer districts. We're a bit short-handed here, so I went to help."

"Oh, I see." Ji Yue expressed understanding. "Apart from the Tianfu Ze guard team, aren't other casualties uniformly placed in the outer districts?"

"These two are a bit special. One is a female Omega who had an organ replaced. The other is a male Alpha with signs of genetic rewriting. Both need to stay here for detailed examinations. Especially that male Alpha—the alarm went off three times last night, he almost died. His physical data is very valuable for both the Antidote Department and the Genomics Department. So they were urgently moved to this floor this morning."

"An Alpha?" Ji Yue was somewhat surprised. He glanced back at Jing Miao, who continued reading quietly as if nothing concerned him. "But there's a pregnant Omega on this floor."

"Don't worry." Zhou Min slightly lowered his mask, revealing more of his eyes. Jing Miao looked up at him once, then lowered his head again.

Zhou Min pointed to his own eyes, smiling. "This floor is divided into three zones: the left and right wards and operating rooms, the central doctor's office. All three zones have security systems that only my iris can open." He winked at Jing Miao. "Even doctors making rounds need me to open the doors."

Ji Yue suddenly understood. No wonder it was always Zhou Min who opened the door when he visited.

Jing Miao looked at him again. This, he thought, must be part of the highest-level witness protection program his brother had mentioned. This nurse wasn't an ordinary nurse; he was probably a senior medic.

Ji Yue felt relieved. "I'll count on you, then."

"Not a problem." Zhou Min finished taking the blood pressure and said softly, "You're nearing your due date, little beauty. Are you scared?"

Jing Miao shook his head. "Not scared."

"So brave."

Watching Zhou Min's retreating back, a number silently popped into Jing Miao's mind.

184.5.

Zhou Min's height was 184.5 cm. Minus the shoe soles, probably 183 cm.

A boring discovery, he thought. Jing Miao started reading seriously again.

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(The little snow wolf will be born within the next two chapters. It's not very angsty, how could it be? At most, it's just quite touching. Guilty conscience.)