Chapter 22

Chapter 22

The partition in the car lowered as they sped toward the Ruan residence.

Yan Zhuo held that delicate, pretty face, reluctantly pulling away, watching Ruan Yunchu panting softly, his gaze somewhat unfocused, his lips a vivid red and slightly swollen, still wet and glistening from being nibbled.

"You really..."

His heart was racing with excitement, at a loss for words.

The rich floral scent spread through the car, and he knew the young master's heat had come on again. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, yet he was unwilling to let go.

"I can't play the gentleman anymore. You initiated this, got it? So if you wake up pissed off, don't blame me—you know I have little self-control to begin with."

They hadn't reached home yet, so he didn't plan to do anything, but he couldn't resist holding him in his arms, kissing him again and again, unable to stop.

The young master obediently sat on his lap, his weak legs dangling slightly, his shirt wrinkled from Yan Zhuo's handling, without any complaint—at most, just a slight frown.

Before meeting Yan Zhuo, every heat cycle was something he endured alone, making this sensation completely foreign. Now, hearing someone chattering incessantly in his ear, he got annoyed and reached up to cover Yan Zhuo's mouth.

Seeing the slight irritation in his brows, the man raised an eyebrow. Unable to speak, he simply kissed the tender palm and darted his tongue out...

The next second, the young master jerked his hand back as if shocked, staring at him in disbelief.

Yan Zhuo couldn't help but laugh, "Sorry, Master, I'm such a pervert."

"... "

He leaned in to press a kiss to the omega's soft gland, which finally soothed him.

The physical structure of alphas and omegas differs greatly from betas. At the back of the neck lies a gland that concentrates pheromones, used for marking and calming.

Normally, you can barely see the gland with the naked eye—the skin just feels softer than the rest—but during heat cycles or when stimulated, it reddens slightly, taking on a different look.

At that moment, the young master's gland looked like a petal fallen on his snow-white nape, stunningly beautiful.

Even a gentle kiss made his body tremble.

"Enough."

The car pulled up. Yan Zhuo kissed his lips, wrapped him in his coat, then carried him out the door.

Chen Quan was still in District C and hadn't returned. Wu Ming was waiting at the entrance early, and when he saw him carrying the young master down, his eyes nearly bugged out.

"Seal off the backyard. No one is allowed in."

Yan Zhuo said flatly, then strode off with him.

Ten minutes later, only the two of them remained in the house. The room was thick with a rich fragrance. The omega had almost lost his mind. When Yan Zhuo carried him into the bathtub, he couldn't stop trembling and instinctively curled into his arms.

"Master, you're so obedient." Yan Zhuo lingered to breathe in his scent, but was still hesitant inside. "Is this really okay? You're not clear-headed right now. What if you wake up and take it all back?"

Though he wanted to continue, he was even more afraid that the young master would wake up and ship him off to some godforsaken place.

Just as he was hesitating, the person in his arms slowly turned to look at him, breathing softly. "Yan Zhuo."

Yan Zhuo's eyes lit up, and he held him tighter, thinking he was going to kiss him again. His hand on his back moved upward, almost ready to respond.

But Ruan Yunchu only let his unfocused eyes trace over his brows and eyes, finally staring straight at him.

"In my life, what I hate most is being lied to. You really don't have any hidden agenda toward me, do you?"

Yan Zhuo paused for two seconds before answering seriously, "I've always been sincere with you, Master. This affection has never been false."

Ruan Yunchu held his gaze for a long time, then finally lowered his eyes and leaned into his embrace.

The water in the bathtub rippled inch by inch, spilling onto the floor.

The pheromone scent nearly filled the small space. Yan Zhuo bent down to hold the exhausted omega in his arms. One dangling fingertip had a water droplet on it, and even the side of his finger had a suggestive hickey.

It was an unprecedented sense of fulfillment. He had finally gotten what he wanted, falling asleep and waking up holding the one he loved.

The seven days felt like a beautiful dream to him. Those beautiful eyes followed him everywhere, obedient to an extreme degree, making him overflow with tenderness.

That body was utterly captivating to him, always pulling his gaze.

But the more he cherished it, the more intense dissatisfaction welled up inside him as he looked at those weak legs.

A beautiful jade with a flaw—though he could monopolize it, it wasn't what he truly wanted.

When he woke again, Ruan Yunchu could barely open his eyes. In the past, only his calves were numb, but this time even moving a finger took monumental effort.

-

He almost wondered if Yan Zhuo had torn him apart.

The omega's pheromones still lingered in the room. His gaze swept over the sunlit balcony window and then fell on the sofa and bed. Fragments of memory came flooding back, and he closed his eyes in exhaustion.

Annoying.

The door gently opened, and a faint scent drifted in.

Yan Zhuo approached the bed, looked down, and saw that he was already awake. He immediately softened his tone as he had in recent days, "Are you hungry? How about something to eat?"

Ruan Yunchu didn't respond, instead staring out the window, feeling like dying.

Seeing this reaction, Yan Zhuo's heart sank. He figured the young master was fully awake now, so he cleared his throat, "Master, have something to eat. I made light yam congee."

Ruan Yunchu ignored him.

Yan Zhuo had no choice but to put down the bowl and walk around to the other side, meeting his gaze. He knelt on one knee by the bed, resting his chin on the edge, looking at him.

"I knew you'd be angry with me when you woke up. But back then, I only went ahead after you gave your consent."

He sounded reproachful, but Ruan Yunchu's eyes were calm.

"Yes, I agreed."

As he spoke, he realized his voice was hoarse, completely different from usual, so he fell silent again.

Yan Zhuo tactfully brought him some water and let him take a few sips.

After drinking, Ruan Yunchu leaned back against the bed. Under Yan Zhuo's expectant gaze, he asked, "What did the people we caught that day say?"

"... "

Yan Zhuo almost didn't want to answer, but seeing his serious expression, he still gave a thorough explanation.

"The ones we caught all had their mouths shut tight—they didn't crack. They were taken away by the Allied Forces and have since been confirmed as rebels. Ruan Jing is fine. The hospital was in chaos for a while, but only some trivial things were lost."

Ruan Yunchu listened thoughtfully, "Then what about Ruan Jing..."

"He's been protected for now."

Yan Zhuo felt irritated and simply said, "Since that thing is only something Ruan Jing might know about, why not just kill him? In his current state, pull the breathing tube and he'd be done for."

"..."

Ruan Yunchu looked exhausted, "Do you want them all to come after me?"

"Don't you already know?"

"If it were you, you wouldn't believe it either."

Ruan Yunchu suddenly realized that the assassination attempt earlier might not have been entirely Qin Jingli's doing; there could have been the rebel forces behind it as well.

Yan Zhuo remained silent, then suddenly stood up and pressed down on him.

"What are you doing?"

Startled, Ruan Yunchu tried to push him away, but his whole body felt weak and powerless, allowing Yan Zhuo to hold him through the blanket.

"I'm never leaving your side again, young master. To hell with Ruan Jing, I don't care if he lives or dies."

Yan Zhuo's voice was low and subdued. Feeling the struggle in his arms weaken, he couldn't resist adding, "A good man only protects his own wife."

"Who's your wife!"

Face flushed with anger, Ruan Yunchu struggled to push him away, his expression turning serious.

"Yan Zhuo, there's nothing between us. There have been too many betas by my side before you, and you don't even rank among them."

"I don't believe that."

Yan Zhuo snorted.

The young master was more stubborn than he had expected. Despite how inexperienced he was, he still pretended to be experienced.

The phrase "don't even rank among them" stung him, but when he lowered his gaze and saw those tear-reddened eyes, those swollen and chapped lips, and the pale skin covered in savage kiss marks beneath the loose pajamas, he couldn't bring himself to argue.

In the end, he simply lowered his head and earnestly kissed those soft lips.

"A good man's first time is always reserved for his future wife, and the same goes for the wife. Once you've slept together, you're together forever."

"Get the hell out!"

Instead, Yan Zhuo coaxed him into eating the entire bowl of yam porridge, and it wasn't until two hours later, with two red slap marks on his face, that he went downstairs to wash the dishes.

A week had passed. Chen Quan had already finished dealing with matters in Sector C and returned. Knowing that the young master was still in his heat period, he didn't dare disturb him yet.

He paced around downstairs and found it strange when he saw Yan Zhuo walking out in high spirits.

"Is the young master awake?"

"He's awake." Yan Zhuo said with a wide grin, "But he's still not feeling well and needs to rest for a couple more days. Uncle Chen, please postpone his leg therapy plan to the day after tomorrow."

"Alright."

Chen Quan looked at his cheerful demeanor, puzzled. "Have you been with the young master these past few days?"

"How did you know?"

Yan Zhuo's tone was delighted, but he made no effort to hide it, as if he had been waiting for someone to ask, "At the start of his heat period, the young master asked me to stay with him, so I..."

He even showed a hint of shyness, "I'm the young master's man now."

"..."

Chen Quan was completely dumbfounded. It took him a long time to find his voice, "The young master hasn't said anything yet."

"I've already taken it as a given."

Chen Quan returned to the front hall, his lips moved, but no words came out.

Yan Zhuo was about to prepare a nutritious lunch for the young master. As soon as he entered the kitchen, he saw a familiar figure.

When the figure turned around, it was the pretty boy from Sector C.

Yan Zhuo's face darkened, "What are you doing here?"

Lin Qing's mood immediately soured when he saw him, "I'm preparing lunch for the young master. His heat period just ended, and he needs to replenish his energy."

He turned his back and ignored Yan Zhuo.

Yan Zhuo laughed angrily, "What the hell do you know about cooking?"

"I'm a doctor. I know the nutritional balance best. I could work as a nutritionist straight out the door. So, what do you say?" Lin Qing was still wary of Yan Zhuo, who had once beaten him up, so he only replied coldly, afraid that saying too much would provoke another unpredictable action from the other.

Yan Zhuo tossed the bowl into the sink, "Fine, then you better make it good. If it's not nutritious enough, I'll kill you."

"..." Lin Qing had had enough, "Why are you always picking on me? What did I ever do to you?"

"Just you existing pisses me off." Yan Zhuo said darkly, standing next to him with a murderous look.

Lin Qing felt a chill run down his spine, so he had no choice but to turn away and focus on cooking.

Yan Zhuo had no outlet for his martial arts skills. Thinking the young master was probably still resting, he made his way to the flower garden out back.

Under his diligent care and watering over this period, the newly planted flowers had blended in with the others, forming a stunning sea of flowers.

He was itching to show off.

Other people giving a few flowers in a relationship was too shabby. What he gave could be enjoyed every day and lift the mood.

After working hard all noon, he calculated the time, cleaned himself up, and went to the front yard to shamelessly take the meal Lin Qing had cooked all morning.

Ignoring the curses behind him, he carried the tray steadily into the backyard and locked the door before whistling as he went upstairs.

Entering the room, he habitually looked toward the bed, only to find it empty.

His heart lurched. Hearing a faint sound from the windowsill, he hurried over.

Ruan Yunchu was sitting in his wheelchair, soaking up the sun. His soft hair rested on his shoulders, and his usually pale face had a slight flush. He looked tired but his spirits were high.

When Yan Zhuo saw him, he instinctively slowed down. The young master gave him a glance before continuing his conversation with the person on the other end of the terminal.

"Alright, just do as you say."

After ending the call, Yan Zhuo carried the lunch out and set it on the table.

"You're already starting to go on about these things so soon. I don't think even the guys in the military are as busy as you."

Ruan Yunchu remained silent, frowned slightly at the food on the table, but still ate quite a bit under his care.

"Did you make this?"

Yan Zhuo, holding the bowl, hesitated for a moment and was seen through by the other.

"Lin Qing made it."

Yan Zhuo was extremely thick-skinned, showing no embarrassment at all. "I brought it, so it's mine now."

"..."

Ruan Yunchu was at a loss with him. After finishing the meal, he picked up a napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth, but couldn't help saying, "Lin Qing is top in all majors at the C District Medical School. He chose that path because his family was in debt. This time, bringing him back to A District, I plan to let him into the main hospital."

"Go ahead, I agree."

Yan Zhuo didn't care at all; going to work at the hospital was perfect—he wouldn't have to see him all day anyway.

"By the way, I also need a reliable professional doctor." Ruan Yunchu completed the second half of the sentence.

Now it was Yan Zhuo's turn to be silent. He put on a stern face and asked, "Isn't the current one professional enough?"

Ruan Yunchu was silent for two seconds, then couldn't help glaring at him. "Didn't you ask me to treat my legs? Otherwise, why would I have gathered all these people?"

Yan Zhuo was speechless and finally forced out, "I don't like Lin Qing."

"Who have you ever liked?" Ruan Yunchu sneered. "You don't even like Uncle Chen. If I let you choose, then I won't get treated."

"That's not what I meant." Yan Zhuo couldn't help squatting beside his legs and resting his head on them. "Young master, don't be angry. I was just saying. If they don't get handsy with you later, I can still allow them to stay."

He wouldn't mention the others, but the looks that Lin Qing and the family doctor gave the young master were filled with such obvious affection—how could he feel at ease?

And the young master was so naive.

"Get lost."

Ruan Yunchu slapped him on the head.

-

It wasn't until the third day after the heat period that Chen Quan finally got to see the young master.

The temperature in A District was gradually dropping. Ruan Yunchu wore a loose high-neck sweater with a shawl over his shoulders, looking incredibly beautiful.

Yan Zhuo stood outside the floor-to-ceiling doors watching the two talk. Every move the young master made fell within his sight, making him itch with desire.

The overly intense gaze from the side made Chen Quan unable to continue. He didn't know how the young master could ignore it.

"The forensic examination of that fire is out. Ruan Jing is a major suspect. Transfer him directly to the military hospital and have the Allied Forces guard him."

Chen Quan pondered for a moment. "They might not accept him. The military hospital mainly serves the soldiers."

"You leak the news to Peng Zhongying. He should find a way." Ruan Yunchu leaned back in his chair, hands crossed on his knees, fingertips tapping the back of his hand thoughtfully. "I have a feeling that the reason Peng Zhongying approached us is precisely for this matter. So he will definitely take Ruan Jing."

Chen Quan nodded. "I understand, but... there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"Go ahead."

Chen Quan sighed. "After all, Ruan Jing is also a vegetable who may or may not wake up. If the Alliance is really researching what the Ruan family left behind, why not come directly to you? A living dead man's mouth may not open, but getting information from a living person like you is not difficult."

Though these words were harsh, they were the truth.

Ruan Yunchu just shook his head. "I don't know either. By common sense, even if everyone in the galaxy knows I'm an outsider to the Ruan family, they shouldn't truly ignore me, unless... they are very sure that I am completely ignorant of this matter."

But how did they get this information? Even Chen Quan, who has served the Ruan family diligently for decades, knows nothing about this. Shouldn't they focus on suspecting the Ruan family? How could they let him off easily for something they've gone to such great lengths to obtain?

"Could it be... they have planted someone inside?" Chen Quan said cautiously.

Ruan Yunchu lowered his eyes, clearly having thought of this possibility long ago.

Yan Zhuo, having nothing better to do outside, paced around for a while and then turned back to see the young master inside suddenly looking at him. His eyes immediately lit up, and he raised his hand to wave.

He stood under the sun, with large shadows at his feet. He clearly had a wild and untamable appearance, yet he showed such an innocent smile.

Ruan Yunchu studied him for a long time, then slowly withdrew his gaze, feeling perturbed.

-

After they finished talking, Yan Zhuo pushed the person to the back for treatment. He couldn't resist taking a detour to the back garden and insisted on bragging until Ruan Yunchu got impatient, then entered the house.

He slowly lay down in the healing pod. Through the thick transparent door, he could see Yan Zhuo standing outside, consulting with the doctor beside him.

The treatment that used to cause him pain every time passed in the blink of an eye this time.

It seemed he had only slept for a second. He slowly opened his eyes to see a handsome, relaxed face. The man's brow bones were deep, his lines and contours cold and sharp, looking unapproachable, but now he was looking at him with a smile.

"Young master, you slept for an hour."

He parted his lips slightly, thought for a moment, and asked, "How was it?"

"It was fine. The doctor said it needs to be combined with massage. He said my technique wasn't quite right, so I just practiced with him for a long time. I'll try massaging you tonight, young master." As Yan Zhuo spoke, he naturally extended his arm to slowly lift him up and wrapped his body with a towel. "Take off the wet clothes and take a bath."

Ruan Yunchu clutched his clothes without a word and let himself be placed into the bathtub.

His body, which had been soaked in the cold healing liquid, slowly warmed up. His tense body gradually relaxed. His mind went blank, and for once, he thought of nothing.

Suddenly, a light laugh sounded beside him.

He looked up in confusion and saw Yan Zhuo's face tense, full of struggle.

"I'm too sinful."

Ruan Yunchu, rarely slow, took two seconds, then his gaze followed down to his waist and abdomen, and his face instantly turned cold.

"Get out."

"..."

In the following days, Ruan Yunchu kept up with daily treatments. Yan Zhuo ran back and forth between the front and back yards all day, learning many massage techniques.

He accompanied him for treatments during the day, and at night there was endless massage and hot compresses, almost nonstop.

However, even with experts from all fields called in, Ruan Yunchu still didn't feel anything below his calves, no different from before.

If there was any improvement, perhaps it was that the rainy days no longer hurt as much.

The sunny days in A District didn't last long. With the arrival of the cold spell, rain also came quietly.

The rain poured down, violently washing against the window, accompanied by rumbling thunder. The music was ineffective for a while.

Yan Zhuo closed all the doors and windows. The house was specially constructed, so it was actually hard to hear much noise, but Ruan Yunchu still had no sleepiness. His brows were slightly furrowed, and he felt no drowsiness at all.

The room was very hot. After tidying up the other things, he returned to the bed and absently reached under the blanket, only to touch an icy hand.

"Cold?"

Yan Zhuo, looking worried, got up and turned the temperature up higher. He was already sweating faintly on his back, but paid it no mind.

"It's fine." Ruan Yunchu sighed, turning his head to glance at the man by the bed, then suddenly asked, "Why don't you get in?"

He regretted it the moment he said it, but before he could take it back, Yan Zhuo had already happily agreed.

"Sure, I'll go wash up first."

With that, he disappeared into the bathroom without a backward glance. Ruan Yunchu thought it over but decided not to dampen his enthusiasm.

Time passed. The sound of running water came from the bathroom for a long time, until finally the man emerged again, now changed into a tank top and shorts. He lifted the blanket and lay down directly.

Yan Zhuo wrapped his arms around him firmly, immediately earning a hard punch.

"Get off." Ruan Yunchu could barely breathe from the embrace. "I only said you could come up, not that you could hold me."

"I'm keeping the young master warm." Yan Zhuo said shamelessly, tucking his icy feet between his calves. Even after taking another punch, he refused to let go, enveloping the other in his warmth.

After struggling for a while, Ruan Yunchu stopped moving.

He had to admit, Yan Zhuo's body temperature was indeed high. Soon, his body was warmed through, and his once-clear mind began to feel drowsy.

Yan Zhuo was satisfied, breathing in his light scent. Lowering his head, he could still see some lingering red marks on the fair nape, and his heart melted.

He leaned down, pressed a gentle kiss to his fair face, and whispered tenderly, "Sleep now."

As his words fell, the room fell into a long silence.

Rain pounded against the window, but inside it was warm and safe. After what felt like a long time, he was almost asleep when he suddenly heard a clear voice.

"Yan Zhuo, do you know how my legs got hurt?"

Yan Zhuo's eyes snapped open, a flicker of coldness passing through them, but his voice stayed soft. "If it's about the past, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"It was on a rainy day like this. My family was traveling. My parents were arguing. Ruan Mingyi was driving. When the accident happened... he chose to protect himself, shifting the impact to my mother in the passenger seat and me in the back. My mother died on the spot, and my legs have been no good ever since."

Feeling the slight trembling in his arms, Yan Zhuo instinctively tightened his embrace.

"The first hospital said it was incurable. When Ruan Mingyi got the news, he only cared about his own injuries and left me in a suburban hospital for a month. When they brought me back, the doctors in Area A said that if I had been brought in right after the injury, there might have been a chance to heal."

Ruan Yunchu chuckled lightly. "So, do you think someone like that deserves to live?"

Yan Zhuo held him tightly, said in a muffled voice, "If I had been there back then, I'd have made him pay a thousand times over. Being burned to death was too merciful for him."

"This is already good enough." Ruan Yunchu leaned into his embrace, but his eyes were hollow. "I really had no hope before. Whether I spend my life sitting or standing—it makes no real difference to me."

Yan Zhuo refused to accept that, hugging him tighter. "So after all this talk, are you trying to give up on treatment again? But you promised me—no matter what, you'd finish these sessions first."

"I won't break my promise to you." He simply wouldn't hold out hope anymore.

He didn't say the second half out loud. As Yan Zhuo continued to murmur, he slowly closed his eyes.

Saying so much had already exceeded his limits. And after all these years, this was the first time he had voluntarily brought up the past to someone.

"..."

That night, for once, Ruan Yunchu didn't have nightmares. When he opened his eyes, the rain outside had apparently stopped. Sunlight he hadn't seen in a while streamed through the curtains, bringing a flood of warmth.

Thinking back to the heart-to-heart from last night, he felt a twinge of regret, but he made himself stop thinking about it.

Slowly sitting up, he was about to reach for the wheelchair when he suddenly felt something. His body froze.

An unbelievable thought crossed his mind. Slowly, he pulled back the blanket and felt a soreness he hadn't felt in ages below his calves. Faint though it was, it was something he hadn't felt since the accident.

His legs had feeling again.