Chapter 95: Ye Zhile, Love Me One More Time
Ye Zhijin and Xiao Yuanqing had been together for two years. Two Alphas had overcome the AO matching system and pheromone attraction, yet Xiao Yuanqing had failed to overcome the pressure from his family.
The Xiao family was a medical dynasty; how many generations it had been passed down to Xiao Yuanqing, no one knew. Xiao Yuanqing was an only son, and his parents hoped he would marry and have children to carry on the Xiao family medical legacy. However, Xiao Yuanqing falling in love with an Alpha violated the rules set by their ancestors. In a fit of rage, his father ordered him to break up with Ye Zhijin.
Pressured by his family and nagged by his parents, Xiao Yuanqing eventually felt he was being unfilial. He developed a deep sense of guilt, and unable to take the pressure, he turned around and left Ye Zhijin.
During that time, Ye Zhijin had begged Xiao Yuanqing many times. He had grabbed Xiao Yuanqing’s hand.
“If we can’t have children, we can adopt. I don’t think that is a reason for us to break up.”
However, Xiao Yuanqing shook his head. He had no choice. “I’m sorry, A-Jin. I have to consider my family. A-Jin, you should also find an Omega to marry, not an Alpha.”
“So you considered everyone except me.” Ye Zhijin’s eyes were full of disappointment. “No matter how much I beg you, you still won’t change your mind.”
Xiao Yuanqing didn’t dare look into his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Xiao Yuanqing pulled his hand away and left without looking back. Later, Ye Zhijin tried to understand his feelings, but he found his own heartache couldn’t be eased. Thus, he slowly tried to let go, until he met Xiao Yuanqing again at the hospital.
After breaking up with Ye Zhijin, Xiao Yuanqing had tried an arranged marriage, but he couldn’t go through with it in the end. He ultimately chose to stay single. After meeting Ye Zhijin again, he tried to reconcile, but Ye Zhijin was no longer waiting for him in the same spot. Xiao Yuanqing thought this life would probably end this way, but unexpectedly, today, Ye Zhijin actually said this to him.
Guilt flooded Xiao Yuanqing’s heart. He lowered his head. “I’m sorry, A-Jin. I was self-righteous before. I thought I could let you go, but I found I couldn’t do it at all, and I even came back to disturb you.”
“So I’m asking you: can you settle down and never have those thoughts again? Will you stay with me wholeheartedly from now on?” Ye Zhijin no longer dwelled on the past; he decided to give them both another chance.
Xiao Yuanqing nodded. “I can.”
Ye Zhijin chuckled and placed food in his bowl. “Eat. Later, I’ll tell Lele that you’ve become his sister-in-law again.”
However, Xiao Yuanqing froze upon hearing this. A trace of sadness flashed in his eyes as he asked hesitantly, “You… didn’t come to find me just because of Lele, did you?”
Seeing his dark expression, Ye Zhijin knew he was overthinking. He stood up and sat next to him. “Do you think… I’m that kind of person?”
Ye Zhijin looked him straight in the eye. “I’m not like a certain someone who throws me away and picks me back up whenever they want, even telling me to marry an Omega because they didn’t want me anymore.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yuanqing’s tears instantly gushed out. He grabbed Ye Zhijin and buried his face in his neck. “I’m sorry…”
Ye Zhijin hugged him back, stroking the back of his head. “Xiao Yuanqing, what I want isn’t an apology. It’s your love. It’s for you to never leave me again, and to love me always.”
“I swear.” Xiao Yuanqing cried. “I will love you forever.”
Ye Zhijin chuckled softly.
For the past few days, Ye Zhile had lived a life of ‘two points and one line’—school and home. He even warned Leng Xingtu not to wander around. Time flew by, and soon it was Ye Zhile’s twentieth birthday.
He celebrated his birthday at home. This time, Lu Xingyan and Han Haocheng also came, bearing gifts. Ye Zhile didn’t stand on ceremony and reached out to take them. “Are these birthday presents for me?”
“Who else would they be for?” Han Haocheng teased him. “Is there more than one birthday boy?”
Ye Zhile smiled. “Thank you, Haocheng! Thank you, Xingyan-ge!”
“You’re welcome.”
Ji Shuohan and Ye Zhijin took charge of the kitchen, while Xiao Yuanqing, Leng Xingtu, and the two newcomers helped decorate the party. Ye Zhile walked around holding Dudu, who was grinning happily, making everyone want to reach out and play with him.
Ji Shuohan glanced over from the kitchen. Seeing Ye Zhile holding Dudu and chatting happily with Lu Xingyan and Han Haocheng, he looked away.
A moment later, Xiao Yuanqing also entered the kitchen and walked to his side. “Do you need help?”
“No need, go rest,” Ye Zhijin said to him.
The gaze between the two was intimate, the atmosphere thick with affection. Ji Shuohan felt he was in the way. He sighed and chose to ignore them.
At the dinner table, everyone was seated in pairs. Even the pair that hadn’t quite happened yet—Leng Xingtu and Ye Zhichen—were sitting together, chatting and laughing. Although Ji Shuohan was sitting next to Ye Zhile, the Omega didn’t pay him any attention at all, and he had to endure the ‘dog food’ being scattered all around him.
“This spicy swimming crab is something you like,” Ji Shuohan said, placing food in his bowl.
Ye Zhile glanced at it. “I can serve myself.”
Ji Shuohan stopped talking. He was already a man of few words, and since the Omega was ignoring him, he became completely quiet.
After dinner was the time for blowing out candles and cutting the cake. Ye Zhile was surrounded by everyone, wearing a birthday hat. Under everyone’s birthday wishes, he pressed his hands together and made a wish.
I hope my family and friends are healthy in body and mind, and that Dudu grows up healthy.
To give the young people their own space, Wen Yumiao and Ye Junting left after the birthday celebration. The rest of the time belonged to the youth.
The living room was lively. The little couples were all teasing Ye Zhile, the birthday boy. Ye Zhile couldn’t win at any of the games; his pleas for help went unanswered. Finally, unable to take the teasing anymore, he ran away and suddenly saw Ji Shuohan sitting in the garden.
A beam of light hit him. The lonely mood of the person in the garden formed a sharp contrast with the liveliness of the living room. Ye Zhile’s footsteps paused.
“Where’s my birthday present?” Ye Zhile walked over, acting arrogant.
Ji Shuohan stood up. He instinctively touched his pants pocket but didn’t pull anything out. He said, “I’ll give it to you in a few days.”
“You’re giving it to me in a few days on my actual birthday?” Ye Zhile was displeased. “Ji Shuohan, are you playing with me, or are you lying to yourself about liking me?”
“No…” Ji Shuohan explained hurriedly, “I prepared one for you, but I felt it wasn’t appropriate to give it to you right now.”
“Let me see.” Ye Zhile made him take it out. After a moment of hesitation, Ji Shuohan finally produced it. It was a velvet square box. When opened, it revealed a plain band ring.
Ye Zhile froze. A cynical smile touched his lips. “It really isn’t appropriate. We’re already divorced, yet you’re just now giving me a ring.”
Ji Shuohan gently closed the box, preparing to put it back. At that moment, Ye Zhile asked, “Where’s yours?”
After asking, Ye Zhile realized there was a plain silver band on the ring finger of Ji Shuohan’s left hand. That hand was long and powerful; the ring suited it perfectly. He reached out his hand. “Give it to me.”
Ji Shuohan couldn’t help but feel joyful. He opened the box, took out the ring, and put it on Ye Zhile’s finger. Ye Zhile looked at the ring on his finger; there seemed to be letters engraved on the inner band. He chuckled softly. “You say… things that weren’t there when we were married are actually here after we’ve divorced.”
Seeing the tears shimmering in Ye Zhile’s eyes, Ji Shuohan could no longer control his emotions. He pulled Ye Zhile into a hug and said in a low voice, “I’ve wronged you.”
Translator’s Note: Happy 20th Birthday, Lele! But ouch, that line about things only appearing after the divorce really hit hard. Ji Shuohan is finally starting to understand the weight of what he lost. Also, we got an official reconciliation for Zhijin and Yuanqing! Two Alphas together is quite rare in this world’s setting, but love is love!
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