Chapter 75
Lu Wanqing remembered those books Shu Ci had bought. especially the time he overheard Shu Ci saying he wanted to study marriage laws, which had left him with a rather unpleasant memory.
“You are going for a prison visit, not delivering express packages.”
Seeing Shu Ci pack several large boxes of books, the corners of Lu Wanqing’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
“Even if visits are allowed, personal items have to be carefully inspected before they can be brought to the inmate. Do you want them to inspect these until the end of time?”
Shu Ci paused what he was doing. “Right. They are workers too; let’s lighten their workload.”
As he spoke, he dug out a heavy, thick compendium of laws from the bottom of the box.
“Let’s go with this one. The concentrated essence is all in here. If the font wasn’t so small that it’s a strain to read, I would have wanted to take notes directly on this book.”
For a moment, Lu Wanqing felt as if Shu Ci were selecting study guides for Gu Lanzhu.
“Do you really have to send it?” He sat cross-legged opposite Shu Ci, helping him organize the other books. “I can go instead.”
Shu Ci lowered his head, his pen moving like dragons and snakes across the title page. Only after finishing the last stroke did he say, “We go together. I think things aren’t that simple.”
Gu Lanzhu being pushed out by the Gu corporation as a scapegoat made perfect sense logically; it was the best way for Gu Yan to cut his losses.
Leaving aside whether Gu Lanzhu himself could accept it, this method of handling things completely contradicted the logic of the original novel.
Everything the Gu corporation had was merely a ‘Golden Finger’ cheat added onto Gu Lanzhu.
Now, the background scenery and the cheat codes were usurping the host’s role. How could that “force” that controlled Yu Xingxing’s actions on the cruise ship be willing to sit and wait for death?
Lu Wanqing’s eyes darkened. “You want to lure the snake from its hole? Isn’t that too risky?”
“If a book must follow its predetermined plot to reach the end, then naturally, both protagonists must participate in the event under a specific scenario.”
Mentioning protagonists, he pointed at himself.
“Of course, whether it can lure anything out is another matter. But I am someone with a sense of crisis. Mere imprisonment doesn’t count as a true grand finale for a law-breaking character.”
Thinking back to the scripts he had flipped through when he was a director’s assistant in his student days, the plot twists were often sky-high.
For Gu Lanzhu, who possessed the male lead’s halo, a prison break wouldn’t be difficult.
A reversal where Shen Lin accidentally loses to Gu Yan and Gu Lanzhu makes a comeback wasn’t impossible either.
He was far from the point where he could completely relax.
“As for risk,” Shu Ci met Lu Wanqing’s eyes. “From the moment I came here until now, there hasn’t been a single moment that wasn’t an adventure.”
Including taking that brave step to like someone.
Lu Wanqing looked at the scorching heat in Shu Ci’s eyes, feeling as if he had been burned by firelight. Being forced into this housebound cohabitation with Shu Ci over the past few days made his heart increasingly uncontrollable.
He looked away. “Don’t rush. Let me make arrangements.”
If the two of them just marched openly to the prison, their front door would probably be crushed by the media. They needed to make preparations in advance.
Shu Ci nodded in agreement. It was only a few days later that he realized Lu Wanqing hadn’t just arranged the prison visit—he had arranged Shu Ci’s life as well.
First, he introduced a professional business manager, allowing both Shu Ci and Shen Ti to become hands-off bosses with peace of mind. Then, he helped Shu Ci process the paperwork to suspend his schooling for a year, sending the unscrupulous reporters who had been squatting near A University home in disappointment.
Caught off guard, Shu Ci began a life of being truly pampered at home. He didn’t have to worry about a thing, and his cheeks even seemed to have become a bit rounder under Lu Wanqing’s care.
“If I didn’t know he wanted you to relax, nourish your body, and treat the Disorder Syndrome, looking at this setup… I’d think you were on bed rest for a pregnancy.”
Yi Xingshui visited again after many days, dragging Shu Ci into a long session of roasting and gossip. Even the school forums were spreading rumors that he had suspended his studies because he was pregnant with a cub.
“If you two weren’t already married, your husband would have surpassed Gu Lanzhu to become the new dream Alpha for Omegas everywhere.”
Knowing Lu Wanqing wasn’t home today, Yi Xingshui took the opportunity to say a few more things. Otherwise, her Senior Brother would be eyeing her coldly, annoyed that she talked too much.
Shu Ci glanced sideways, craning his neck slightly, and saw a gentleman in a grey coat standing quietly outside the courtyard.
He paused slightly, then hurriedly invited the person in. “And this is?”
Yi Xingshui slapped her forehead, realizing she had been so focused on gossiping that she hadn’t introduced him. she pushed Li Yi into the house.
“This is also my Senior Brother, Li Yi. He’s the pride of our medical school. He is currently the youngest person specializing in Disorder Syndrome research. Senior Brother Lu specially invited him to treat you.”
“I’m not as amazing as Ah Shui says.” Li Yi placed his coat neatly on his lap and looked up at Shu Ci. “After years of research, I have only learned the basics.”
Shu Ci poured tea for both of them and sat down opposite Li Yi.
This beta doctor with delicate features gave a humble self-introduction, but his gaze never shifted away.
Unexpectedly, Shu Ci saw a hint of probing and hesitation in his eyes.
After speaking, Li Yi’s lips remained slightly parted, and his fingertips tapping against the cup were barely visible, but his micro-expressions and movements didn’t escape Shu Ci’s keen observation.
It wasn’t the curiosity regarding a subject of news gossip, but the caution of someone with a heavy topic coiled in their heart.
“Do you have something else you want to tell me?” Shu Ci tilted his head, asking directly. Yi Xingshui followed his gaze, looking sideways.
A trace of surprise flowed through Li Yi’s eyes.
He quickly recovered his composure. “Indeed, but I haven’t decided if I should say it in this setting.”
Shu Ci’s expression relaxed. “Then let’s talk about the treatment for Disorder Syndrome first.”
Li Yi was silent for a long time before speaking slowly. “What I am about to say has not been published in any journals or conferences. It is purely my own opinion and might be somewhat difficult for a patient to accept…”
“It’s fine,” Shu Ci interrupted him. “Speak freely.”
Li Yi put down his teacup, clasping his hands together in front of him.
He looked at Shu Ci with a determined gaze. “I believe that Pheromone Disorder Syndrome is not a simple physiological disease, and there is no method to cure it radically through medication or surgery.”
Yi Xingshui nearly sprayed her tea out. She sucked in a breath, eyes widening as she tugged at this arrogant Senior Brother’s sleeve.
“Isn’t that equivalent to overturning the entire research framework of Disorder Syndrome?!”
She cleared her throat and looked at him seriously. “Senior Brother, tell me the truth. Are you saying this because you could never compete with Senior Brother Lu back then, so you deliberately don’t want to treat his partner?”
Li Yi gave Yi Xingshui a faint glance but didn’t speak.
Yi Xingshui’s teeth ached with anger. Every time this person encountered anything related to Lu Wanqing, he became mute and stubborn.
Seeing the atmosphere between the two wasn’t right, Shu Ci raised a hand to stop Yi Xingshui, who looked ready to start a fight.
“Dr. Li has been deeply cultivating this field for many years. I believe he wouldn’t say irresponsible things to a patient.”
He soothed their emotions and then looked at Li Yi.
“Since you have such a judgment, it surely doesn’t come from nowhere.”
Li Yi nodded slightly, shifting his gaze from Yi Xingshui back to Shu Ci.
This Omega’s eyes seemed to possess a magical power, as if no matter how unreasonable the things he said were, Shu Ci would stand on his side.
“Although the academic world says the manifestations of Disorder Syndrome vary from person to person and cannot be reasonably classified or defined, I have tracked nearly a thousand patients with Disorder Syndrome. After detailed communication with them, I discovered some commonalities.”
He pointed to his head.
“The commonality among these patients lies in cognition.”
Yi Xingshui frowned. “Brain science?”
“No, I’m referring to a commonality in personal concepts,” Li Yi said. “Every patient with Disorder Syndrome exists with some degree of deviation from worldly concepts.”
Yi Xingshui: “Be specific. This isn’t your conference speech.”
“Including fear of the onset of the heat cycle, resistance to marriage, or disgust toward forced marriage by parents… If reproduction and procreation are the instincts of the species, then the subjective consciousness of patients with Disorder Syndrome is fighting against this instinct.”
“You mean it’s not that the academic world cannot explain the cause of Disorder Syndrome pathologically, but that their self-awareness is affecting the state of their glands?”
As she spoke, Yi Xingshui looked at Shu Ci.
That time she saw his Disorder Syndrome flare up at school, he had been in a state of complete unawareness.
Yet the examination results showed no abnormalities; every indicator was extremely healthy. Could it really be that psychological activity was affecting the state of the glands?
…Was that really reasonable?
Li Yi didn’t deny her interpretation. Lowering his eyes, he said, “This is just a personal viewpoint I haven’t made public. Junior Sister can question it.
“Based on the cases I’ve come into contact with, I am currently more inclined to believe that Disorder Syndrome is a self-protection mechanism that is forced to activate.”
Shu Ci silently went over Li Yi’s words in his heart, raising a hand to touch the camellia necklace on his chest.
“If I said there is a method to suppress the outbreak of Disorder Syndrome, from Dr. Li’s perspective, how would you view that?”
Li Yi thought for a moment. “Perhaps it is just a psychological placebo to relieve anxiety. Of course, it could also be that my understanding of Disorder Syndrome is still too shallow.”
Shu Ci nodded and didn’t say more.
Since there was no presentable treatment method, Yi Xingshui sat for a little while longer before taking Li Yi away from Jiqing Road.
When Lu Wanqing returned, he saw Shu Ci in the living room wearing a coat, a small suitcase standing beside him. His heart tightened.
Cui You had been nagging him all day about how Shen Ti started packing his bags not long after bringing up divorce. Now seeing Shu Ci looking ready to leave, a panic flashed through Lu Wanqing’s eyes.
He stepped forward quickly, grabbing Shu Ci’s wrist. Unaware of the slight trembling in his fingertips, his voice was hoarse. “Where are you going? Why didn’t you tell me in advance?”
If he had come back any later, was Shu Ci planning to leave without saying goodbye?
“I’ve already made arrangements for Gu Lanzhu. If you want to leave, wait until that’s confirmed and you can be completely at ease before going, okay?”
He leaned down slightly, looking at Shu Ci carefully.
Shu Ci was pulled back to reality by the sudden force. He took off his headphones. “Hmm? Wait a second, I’m confirming the port opening time with the island’s operations manager.”
Lu Wanqing was stunned. Only after Shu Ci finished the call did he ask, “You are preparing to go to the island now?”
“Mn.”
Shu Ci concisely relayed Li Yi’s words to Lu Wanqing.
“Shu Changze left research results on Disorder Syndrome on the island. The fact that he could use Purple Yuzu Stone to make a necklace that suppresses the syndrome means he definitely discovered something. So, I want to take the two of them to the island.”
Lu Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief. He lowered his head to button the last two buttons of Shu Ci’s coat. “Then, stay safe.”
“What are you saying? You make it sound like I’m going alone.” Shu Ci looked up and nudged the suitcase by his feet. “I packed your luggage too.”
Lu Wanqing’s eyes grew hot, the tension from a moment ago vanishing like smoke.
The next second, he saw Shu Ci curve his lips and lift his own wrist. “So, when are you planning to let go?”
Lu Wanqing, usually unflappable, was startled to realize he was still gripping the Omega in front of him tightly without letting go. Red marks were faintly visible.
To the onlooker, it looked as if every bulging vein on his hand was crawling with attachment.
Author’s Note:
Old Lu, whose heart rides a rollercoaster all day long, is about to be pushed into a corner step by step by Director Ci.
——
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