When they returned, Lu Jingran realized how deep the marks he left on Zhou Le’s body were. The bruises were a stark blue-purple.
He held Zhou Le in his arms and apologized.
Honestly, what right did he have to blame Zhou Le? As Chen Xiang pointed out, wasn’t he the one who left Zhou Le alone for three years? He had chosen to leave, abandoning the person he should have protected, only to now turn around and complain?
“What’s wrong? Why are you apologizing to me?” Zhou Le cupped his face, noticing his Alpha’s gaze fixed on the marks on his neck. He quickly reassured him, “It doesn’t hurt at all. Really. Besides… isn’t this just… part of intimacy?”
“I… I actually like it.”
Even Zhou Le felt embarrassed after saying it, so he kissed Lu Jingran on the cheek.
Lu Jingran was always gentle. If Zhou Le had shown any sign of discomfort, he would have stopped immediately, no matter the situation.
This moment of losing control was still well within Zhou Le’s tolerance.
And, being possessed so completely by his Alpha gave Zhou Le a sense of security as an Omega.
Lu Jingran hugged him tightly and promised in a low voice, “I won’t leave again. Never.”
Zhou Le felt warmth fill his heart. He wrapped his arms around Lu Jingran, releasing the soothing chamomile scent of his pheromones, letting it surround and comfort the sensitive Alpha’s soul.
He knew that he was also afraid. Over the past three years, it wasn’t just him who had felt insecure—so had Lu Jingran.
“I know.” Zhou Le buried his face in Lu Jingran’s embrace. “I won’t let you leave again either.”
—
By the end of the first semester of their junior year, winter break arrived, and the weather had grown even colder. Zhou Le only wanted to stay wrapped up in bed all day. During these moments, Lu Jingran would envy him—he still had to drive to work and attend several meetings for business deals.
Despite his busy schedule, every morning, Lu Jingran would snuggle with Zhou Le in bed for a while, only getting up when his assistant’s reminders left him no choice.
Zhou Le, feeling bad for him, diligently studied at home, thinking of one day opening several courier stations to make money and support Lu Jingran, hoping to ease his burdens.
Additionally, he began learning to cook from the family housekeeper, focusing on nutritious meals. After returning from abroad, Lu Jingran’s appetite had declined, and he’d grown picky—vastly different from his habits in their sophomore year of high school. Zhou Le later learned that, in his rush to graduate and return home, Lu Jingran had spent meal times studying, making presentations, or listening to lectures, often skipping proper meals.
Just thinking about how hard his Alpha had worked to reunite with him softened Zhou Le’s heart. He became determined to master cooking so Lu Jingran could always enjoy warm and healthy meals whenever he was home.
Lu Jingran, too, cherished these days. Returning home to Zhou Le felt like recharging his energy.
This peaceful routine continued for over twenty days until, one night at eleven, just as they were drifting off to sleep, Lu Jingran’s phone rang.
His assistant had strict instructions not to call unless it was an emergency. However, this wasn’t a work call—it was a personal one.
The caller ID read: Auntie Chen.
Half-asleep, Zhou Le mumbled, “Who is it?”
“Chen Nan’s mother,” Lu Jingran replied.
Zhou Le instantly woke up.
They hadn’t heard from Chen Nan in a long time, but now his mother was calling Lu Jingran.
Lu Jingran answered, and Zhou Le could only hear sobbing from the other end of the line.
As the call went on, Lu Jingran’s brows furrowed deeper.
“Auntie, you and uncle don’t worry. I’ll go right now and bring him back,” Lu Jingran said before hanging up.
“What’s going on?” Zhou Le asked anxiously.
“They found Chen Nan.”
….
It turned out Chen Nan had been located—at a debaucherous Alpha party.
After that meeting with Sheng Qian where he was left behind, Chen Nan disappeared. He spent his days asking his parents for money, indulging in food, drink, and entertainment. He gave up on the college entrance exams and university altogether, moving from place to place. Even his family didn’t know what he was doing, only that he was withdrawing large sums from the family card—one transaction after another.
Initially, his family didn’t intervene. Mother Chen was highly indulgent with him, especially since Chen Nan was the only child and an Alpha at that. They believed he needed to explore the world and focused on running their family business instead. But when the expenses on the family card kept increasing, eventually nearing 70 million yuan, the Chen family started to worry and demanded to know what Chen Nan was up to. Asking only led to either no answers or hung-up calls.
The family panicked, fearing that Chen Nan had gotten himself into trouble or picked up bad habits. If that were the case, no amount of family wealth could save him.
“They hired a private investigator and found him here,” Lu Jingran explained to Zhou Le in the car.
Zhou Le asked, “Why don’t they just take him home? Why was Aunt Chen crying?”
Lu Jingran’s expression grew more serious as he read the message on his phone.
[Chen Nan has become infamous in the high society circles of City A. Known for his wild behavior, he even hosts parties where he claims to enjoy watching Alphas doing it. At one point, he boasted that he’d pay one million yuan to anyone who could put on a good enough performance in front of him. He’s held dozens of such gatherings—the more outrageous the spectacle, the more money he gave away.]
[Because of the chaos at these events, some participants ended up contracting diseases. However, Chen Nan never participated himself. He simply sat on the sidelines, drinking and observing, like an outsider.]
[It’s unclear what his motives were, but anyone who tried to approach him romantically was harshly rejected. He once kicked someone into a pool and beat them so badly they ended up in the hospital.]
[Oh, one more thing: he has a peculiar preference for bespectacled, scholarly-looking Alphas. Whenever he meets someone like that, his tips are always upwards of 100,000 to 200,000 yuan.]
Lu Jingran turned off his phone and rubbed his temples.
Zhou Le asked cautiously, “Is it… really bad?”
When they arrived at the location, it was a party venue of sorts. The moment they stepped inside, Zhou Le frowned in discomfort.
The air was thick with the pungent scent of multiple Alphas, mixed with a metallic undertone. He felt nauseated, unable to suppress the feeling.
Lu Jingran took off his jacket and draped it over Zhou Le’s shoulders. “Wait here. Don’t go in,” he instructed.
Zhou Le nodded.
Not long after, Lu Jingran emerged with Chen Nan in tow, carrying him like a sack.
Chen Nan was wearing a black shirt with an unbuttoned collar revealing much of his chest. His hair was messy, his dark circles were more pronounced than Xia Linchuan’s, and his body was alarmingly thin.
“Let go of me! Lu Jingran!” Chen Nan shouted, struggling violently.
Behind him, a group of scantily dressed people surged forward, clearly intending to take Chen Nan back. But Lu Jingran’s men easily blocked their path.
It wasn’t difficult—money handled everything.
Chen Nan, who used to be obedient to Lu Jingran as a child, now reeked of alcohol and seemed emboldened by it. Even after recognizing Lu Jingran, he wasn’t afraid and began hurling curses.
Just like when they were kids, Lu Jingran didn’t tolerate him. He landed a few punches on Chen Nan until he was spitting blood and subdued. Then, gripping Chen Nan’s collar, he dragged him to the fountain and shoved him under the spraying water.
The cold fountain water drenched Chen Nan completely—his face, his body, everything.
The icy sensation cut to his core. He shivered violently, and the chill gradually sobered him up.
Through the water curtain, he caught a glimpse of the person before him and muttered in a daze, “Brother Lu…”
Lu Jingran shoved him to the ground.
“Does this amuse you?”
“…”
“Do you think pulling something like this will make Sheng Qian come back to see you?”
“…”
“You pushed him away, and now you want him to come back of his own accord? And if he doesn’t, you blame him? Chen Nan, are you a child?”
“I blame him?! Who do I blame?” Chen Nan tilted his face upward. “What is Sheng Qian to me? I don’t even remember him! Who wants him back? If he dies out there, it has nothing to do with me.”
“Oh, really?” Lu Jingran looked down at Chen Nan on the ground. “Then who are you putting on this half-dead act for?”
Chen Nan retorted, “I like it this way! None of your business!”
Lu Jingran said, “I couldn’t care less. If Aunt Chen hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have come looking for you.”
Chen Nan said nothing.
Zhou Le walked over, taking off his coat and draping it back over Lu Jingran.
He looked down at Chen Nan, the once confident and high-spirited young man now reduced to this pitiful state. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Zhou Le wanted to help him up, but Lu Jingran stopped him.
“He said he doesn’t need our help, so let’s leave him alone.”
“But this…”
Lu Jingran gripped Zhou Le’s hand tightly.
Chen Nan noticed and let out a bitter laugh. “What are you two doing? Showing off your love in front of me?”
Lu Jingran replied coldly, “Yes. We are in love because we don’t act stubborn or push away those who love us.”
“You don’t deserve love because you’re not capable of loving others.”
Chen Nan flushed red with anger and snapped, “Did you come here just to lecture me?!”
Lu Jingran said, “Of course not. I came to tell you that Sheng Qian is about to get engaged abroad. He invited you to his wedding.”
Chen Nan froze, his expression turning blank.
Zhou Le: ?
Lu Jingran tightened his grip on Zhou Le’s hand again.
Zhou Le then looked at Chen Nan and nodded seriously, even offering a bit of advice. “Chen Nan, don’t be like this. If you keep going on like this, you’ll never get Sheng Qian back.”
For once, Chen Nan didn’t argue with Zhou Le.
He only repeated to himself in disbelief, “He’s getting married… He’s getting married…”
He couldn’t describe what he was feeling, but it was as if something deep inside him had completely collapsed.
Why did it turn out like this? Sheng Qian really didn’t want him anymore.
Of course, he wasn’t so childish as to think all his actions were just because he liked Sheng Qian and wanted his attention. But no matter how stubborn he was, upon hearing the news of Sheng Qian’s engagement, Chen Nan finally panicked.
He panicked like a child, helpless and soaking wet, sitting on the ground and looking even more pitiful.
The Chen family eventually brought him home, silencing everyone about the incident to avoid damaging their reputation. After all, no one in their right mind would oppose wealth.
This time, Chen Nan’s mother put aside her business to stay with him. She didn’t expect him to be as successful as Lu Jingran or Sheng Qian, who both went abroad for their studies. She didn’t even require him to attend university. All she wanted was for him to live a peaceful and safe life.
Chen Nan returned home and unusually obeyed the family’s wishes, staying quiet and no longer causing trouble. This made his mother incredibly happy, and she even went to thank Lu Jingran in person.
After seeing off Chen Nan’s mother, Zhou Le grew concerned. “Is he… okay like this?”
Chen Nan was never a quiet person. His sudden compliance didn’t feel like him at all.
Lu Jingran held Zhou Le’s hand and pulled him into his arms. “With that brain of his, he needs time to process everything.”
Sure enough, five days after returning home, Chen Nan disappeared again.
The family’s detective quickly tracked him down. Chen Nan had gone abroad.
This time, Chen Nan’s mother felt a bit relieved. She knew her son well enough to guess that he had likely gone to find Sheng Qian. Ever since coming home, Chen Nan had been asking about Sheng Qian’s engagement, inquiring whether there had been any news within high society. When no one could provide answers, he became increasingly distracted. Finally, unable to wait any longer, he left on his own.
“Sigh, it’s really a cursed fate. Poor little An.” Chen Nan’s mother knew her son’s temperament all too well. Sheng Qian had always been like a parent, accommodating him. When she first learned about their relationship, she had been somewhat relieved. Chen Nan, spoiled by the family, had a temper no one could handle—except Little An.
Sometimes, though, she felt guilty toward the Sheng family. Anyone stuck with her troublesome son was bound to suffer.
—
Chen Nan didn’t really know what he was doing. By the time he realized it, he had already landed abroad.
Standing outside the airport, he looked around blankly. The unfamiliar faces on the streets glanced curiously at him, seemingly intrigued by this handsome young man with exotic features.
Chen Nan had never been abroad and didn’t know the language. Everything around him was unfamiliar, which made him instinctively uneasy.
Thankfully, his phone still had service, and he managed to use a translation app to hail a cab to Sheng Qian’s school.
Beyond that, he had no plan.
It seemed to be the end of class, and a crowd poured out of the campus gates—but Sheng Qian wasn’t among them.
Right, Sheng Qian had probably graduated by now and was managing the family’s business. He might not even be in school anymore.
So where was he now?!
D*mn it!
He didn’t know anything!
Growing frustrated, Chen Nan crouched in a corner like a homeless person. Though he was an Alpha, he looked pitifully disheveled and lost.
Should he ask Lu Jingran? No, they had argued just a few days ago.
Chen Nan pulled out his phone and stared at Sheng Qian’s number. When Sheng Qian had left, Chen Nan had blocked him on WeChat and hadn’t added him back since. But the phone number was so familiar that he could dial it from memory, even without looking.
Gritting his teeth, Chen Nan made the call.
Only later did he realize how foolish it was. After two or three years, how could Sheng Qian possibly still be using the same number? Even though this was the number Chen Nan had bought him back in middle school after accidentally sitting on and breaking Sheng Qian’s phone and SIM card. Chen Nan had replaced both, and Sheng Qian had used the number through high school without changing it.
But now, Sheng Qian must have changed it. He was moving on with his life—why wouldn’t he change his number too?
Unexpectedly—
“Hello?”
Chen Nan froze in shock.
“Hello? Who’s this?”
For the first time in two or three years, Chen Nan heard Sheng Qian’s voice.
It was as if a thousand pounds weighed down on his throat, and his nose began to sting.
He couldn’t open his mouth. He couldn’t speak.
On the other end, Sheng Qian also went silent. After a long pause, his voice turned hoarse. “Chen Nan?”
In that moment, Chen Nan almost broke down crying.
He held it back but still choked up as he asked, “Where are you?”
He admitted it—all the reckless things he’d done back home were to provoke Sheng Qian, to make the news reach him, to force him to come running back like last time. Back then, Sheng Qian had flown across the world just because he’d seen Chen Nan touching someone else’s abs.
But it didn’t work anymore. Sheng Qian had ignored him for years. Chen Nan had lost his leverage. He was about to lose him entirely.
He felt angry, sad, heartbroken, and aggrieved.
Sheng Qian was slipping out of his life.
“Where are you?” Chen Nan cried, his face wet with tears. “I’m overseas now. I came to find you. I don’t know where you are. Please, will you see me?”
“Sheng Qian, I like you. I’m about to die from liking you so much.”
“Don’t get engaged. I don’t want you to get engaged. I was wrong. Please forgive me. I’m begging you.”
On the other end, Sheng Qian blinked, making sure he wasn’t dreaming.
He listened to the voice over the phone, taking a deep breath.
Someone nearby called his name, but his mind was in a haze, and he couldn’t respond.
“Where are you?” he heard himself ask.
“I—I don’t kn-know… It looks like your school. Th-there are a lot of homeless people here.”
“Stay there and wait for me.”
Sheng Qian abruptly stood up from the banquet table. The sudden motion made his head spin, and he pressed a hand to his forehead.
“Oh Sheng, you can’t just stand up like that. You’ve had too much to drink,” said a foreign woman in a white dress, catching him as he swayed.
Sheng Qian was attending a banquet to celebrate a major success. The project he’d led recently secured significant investment, making it one of the most promising initiatives within his family.
The woman, Saliya, was the project director from his partner company and a fellow alumnus from his school. She had been by his side for years, even longer than Lu Jingran.
“Sorry, Saliya. I need to go somewhere now.” Sheng Qian adjusted his glasses, his cheeks slightly flushed as he tried to steady his breathing, disrupted by the alcohol.
Saliya nodded and offered, “Okay, let me take you there.”
When Sheng Qian arrived, Chen Nan was huddled in a corner. The weather here was colder than back home, and Chen Nan wore only a thin layer, making his already slim figure look even more pitiful than the last time Sheng Qian had seen him.
Chen Nan looked up when a car stopped in front of him, and someone stepped out.
He stared for a long moment, his pupils dilating.
Sheng Qian… Sheng Qian!
Chen Nan lunged forward and hugged him tightly.
The familiar scent of Sheng Qian mixed faintly with red wine.
“You’ve been drinking?” Chen Nan mumbled into his embrace.
He refused to let go. This was his Alpha. Just inhaling Sheng Qian’s light pheromones made every cell in his body relax and come alive.
Sheng Qian held him, feeling the sharp outline of his bones beneath his hands.
How had he gotten this thin? Sheng Qian frowned.
He took off his coat and draped it over Chen Nan, wrapping him up completely.
Chen Nan didn’t resist, allowing Sheng Qian to handle him. He basked in the long-awaited care, his heart swelling as if it were about to overflow. Wrapped warmly in the coat, he felt both physically and emotionally comforted.
“Hold me a little longer…” Even a mere inch of distance was unbearable for him. It was as if he had developed a desperate craving for physical closeness, wanting nothing more than to remain in Sheng Qian’s arms.
“Oh, Sheng, is this your boyfriend from back home?” Saliya stepped out of the car, approaching them.
She was a stunning European beauty—and an Omega.
Chen Nan’s movements stilled. He looked at Saliya, then at Sheng Qian.
A bad feeling began to creep over him.
“This is Saliya,” Sheng Qian introduced. “My partner.”
Chen Nan’s heart sank.
It felt like the curtain had fallen, hitting him square in the head.
He didn’t understand English, and Sheng Qian didn’t elaborate. Combining Lu Jingran’s words with the pair’s appearance, Chen Nan concluded that this must be Sheng Qian’s fiancée.
The warmth in his body drained away, replaced by an icy chill. Even the thick coat couldn’t block the cold that seeped into his bones.
In the car, Chen Nan sat in the back, watching Sheng Qian and Saliya chat and laugh in the front.
He felt like an outsider.
A deep sense of disconnection settled over him. Sheng Qian was getting engaged, so what was Chen Nan doing chasing him across the world? Was he here to congratulate him?
A crushing sadness enveloped him.
The expression on Chen Nan’s face shifted dramatically from when they had first reunited. Sheng Qian noticed every detail through the rearview mirror.
Saliya dropped them off at the apartment and hugged Sheng Qian goodbye.
Chen Nan felt a pang in his chest, instantly lowering his head, his nose stinging with suppressed emotions.
Saliya approached him as well, but Sheng Qian stopped her. “He’s still adjusting. He just arrived from home.”
Saliya seemed to understand immediately, smiled, and left.
Chen Nan followed Sheng Qian into the apartment like a lifeless shell.
The space was clean and tidy, decorated in muted greys, exuding Sheng Qian’s distinct presence.
“Have you eaten?” Sheng Qian loosened his tie and poured Chen Nan a glass of water.
Chen Nan sat silently on the couch, refusing to answer. Sheng Qian brought him a slice of bread before heading to the bathroom to boil water.
“Take a shower later. The pajamas are clean and unused.”
Chen Nan’s clothes were filthy from his rushed journey—his pants, shoes, socks, even his face and hair were stained with dust.
“I’ll make you something to eat. I only have noodles, so bear with it.”
Chen Nan remained silent for a long while before finally blurting out, “What’s your relationship with that… woman?”
Sheng Qian turned, meeting Chen Nan’s red and swollen eyes.
“There’s nothing between us,” Sheng Qian replied, turning back to slice a tomato.
He was preparing tomato and egg noodles—Chen Nan’s favorite.
“Liar!” Chen Nan retorted stubbornly.
Sheng Qian didn’t reply.
Chen Nan stood up from the couch, wanting to press him further, but when he looked down at himself—covered in dirt—he froze.
Dust had scattered onto the clean floor.
Sheng Qian paused his work, glancing back at him.
After a moment of eye contact, Chen Nan grabbed a towel and pajamas and walked into the bathroom.
Inside, as he showered, anger bubbled within him.
Why?!
Why did the pain Sheng Qian caused him force him to give up the college entrance exam and drown himself in indulgence just to escape, while Sheng Qian moved on so easily, even talking about marriage? It wasn’t fair!
If it had been the past, Chen Nan would’ve caused a scene.
But now, he didn’t dare say a single harsh word to Sheng Qian. He feared that one wrong move would shatter what little connection they had left.
The more he thought, the sadder he felt. By the time he finished his shower, his anger had been replaced by quiet despair, and he no longer had the courage to question anything.
What was he, anyway?
Stepping out in clean pajamas, Chen Nan felt utterly exposed under the living room lights.
D*mn it. He had confessed on the phone earlier, saying over and over how much he liked Sheng Qian. What a clown he’d made of himself.
And Sheng Qian showing up with his “fiancée”? Wasn’t that just his way of telling Chen Nan to stop deluding himself?
Realizing this, Chen Nan regretted staying—he should’ve left immediately.
Lost in thought, he suddenly noticed Sheng Qian approaching with a dry towel in one hand and a pair of slippers in the other.
When Sheng Qian held his ankle, Chen Nan instinctively held his breath.
Sheng Qian knelt and began drying his feet, carefully wiping away every drop of water.
Looking down, Chen Nan could see the dark strands of Sheng Qian’s hair.
“The other one,” Sheng Qian said.
Chen Nan obediently lifted his other foot, and Sheng Qian slipped it into a pair of warm, plush slippers.
Standing up, Sheng Qian instructed, “Sit on the couch. I’ll dry your hair.”
“…”
Chen Nan sat quietly, letting Sheng Qian fuss over him, feeling his emotional defenses crumble bit by bit.
In the past, Sheng Qian would take care of him like this too.
But now, this care would soon belong to another woman.
The thought hit Chen Nan like a heavy blow, leaving him breathless.
“The noodles will be ready soon. Eat while it’s hot so you don’t catch a cold,” Sheng Qian said, heading back to the kitchen.
Chen Nan’s eyes followed him.
Eventually, his body followed too.
Watching Sheng Qian cook for him, Chen Nan’s mind went blank. Without thinking, he rushed forward and hugged him from behind.
Sheng Qian froze mid-action.
“Don’t marry her. Don’t get engaged, please?” Chen Nan pleaded, his voice trembling. “I’ll treat you well from now on. I won’t say hurtful things anymore. I won’t make you sad again.”
“I’ll tell my mom tomorrow. We can get married when we go back. I’ll tell everyone I like you. Just don’t leave me. I’m begging you…”
Chen Nan buried his face into Sheng Qian’s back, his entire body shaking.
He had never lowered himself to beg anyone like this before. He was truly terrified.
After a long silence, Sheng Qian felt a dampness on his back—Chen Nan was crying.
Sheng Qian turned around, seeing Chen Nan’s tear-streaked, reddened face.
The two stared at each other for a moment before Sheng Qian sighed and pulled him into his arms.
That gesture made Chen Nan cry even harder.
Sheng Qian gently patted his back, soothing him.
“Saliya isn’t my fiancée—she’s just my business partner. There’s nothing between us.”
“I’m not engaged. I don’t know where you got that idea, but it’s false. I’ve never had a lover here.”
“From start to finish, I’ve only ever liked one person. His name is Chen Nan, and he’s the one I’m holding right now.”
“Thank you… for liking me.”
…
Chen Nan eventually fell asleep, but not before cursing Lu Jingran under his breath. Of course, he only dared to do it behind his back.
Sheng Qian tucked a blanket over him, watching his peaceful sleeping face.
Suddenly, he remembered back in middle school, he couldn’t match Lu Jingran academically, nor did his family’s circumstances compare. He was often compared to Lu Jingran by their peers. Some kids, with no filter, would openly criticize him. At the time, Sheng Qian didn’t seem to care much, but as a teenager, he was still sensitive to his image. Being called out like that in front of others did sting.
For the sake of his parents’ dignity, Sheng Qian never said anything about it.
Once, the school organized a family gathering and team-building event. The comments from others were especially cutting that day—not just from the kids, but from the parents as well. At the time, the Sheng family’s circumstances weren’t great, and offending others at such events wasn’t an option. Sheng Qian simply sat to the side, quietly observing, just as his mother did, coldly watching their endless chatter.
The comments grew increasingly unbearable, harsher and harsher. Phrases like “eternal runner-up” and “you’ll never amount to anything in this life, just look at your worth” were among the more polite ones.
When Sheng’s mother couldn’t sit through it any longer, Chen Nan suddenly stood up and flipped the entire table over.
“If you want to eat, then eat! If not, get out!”
He stood in front of Sheng Qian, shielding him completely.
Like a little grown-up.
Although he was later scolded throughout the entire banquet by his own mother, with his ear being tugged the whole time, Sheng Qian thought he looked incredibly cool.
When did he fall for Chen Nan?
Perhaps it was that moment after the banquet when Chen Nan grabbed his hand, stared into his eyes, and earnestly declared:
“If anyone bullies you again, tell me. I’ll beat them until they’re begging for mercy!”
—
The End.
Another novel completed!!! Thank you to all the readers who joined us on this journey and supported my translations, it really does mean a lot!!! <3 If you enjoyed the translations and the novel, please make sure to give the novel a good rating and review on Novelupdates or donate on Ko-fi or Paypal <3P.S. Go check out the other amazing novels being translated on this site :))
