The medical center was overcrowded, with some police officers even beginning to disperse the crowd and setting up emergency barricades.
Several private helicopters hovered above the hospital, continuously transporting medical supplies. Elderly but highly professional doctors were escorted into the emergency rooms like cargo.
It truly resembled a swarm of worker bees desperately trying to save their queen.
Jiang Sen and his entourage had naturally already entered the emergency room, while I was kept outside the hospital building under the watchful eyes of a group of guards, not even allowed to step inside.
Not being allowed in was fine by me; it gave me a front-row seat to this movie-like spectacle.
I leaned casually against the car, mimicking the way I remembered Yalian doing it, only to be met with glares from the guards. I smiled at them and asked, “Don’t you have any other clothes? This is really uncomfortable.”
They ignored me.
So, covered in bloodstains, I tried to strike up another conversation. “Do you have a cigarette?”
“At this point, I’m as good as dead,” I said, touching the blood on my face and looking at them with a hint of sadness. “I just want a smoke. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.”
Perhaps my expression was too pitiful, as one of the younger guards clicked his tongue and tossed me a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
I quickly lit one and offered the pack back, but the young guard waved it off. “Keep it. Just stop talking and stay put.”
Truth be told, I wasn’t much of a smoker.
I just felt bored standing there.
After smoking half a cigarette, I saw Jiang Sen emerge from the building.
He walked briskly, the wind tousling his black hair, his expression cold and stern.
His dark eyes were filled with suppressed fury, his arm draped with a military coat, followed by a group of officers in black and gold uniforms.
Before I could take another puff, he strode up to me, grabbed my collar, and slammed me against the car. My back hit the vehicle with a loud thud, pain radiating through my body. His low, furious roar struck my ears first. “He’s in shock. Do you know what this means for you?”
“Tell me, why the hell did you bring a pen?” Jiang Sen tightened his grip, and I could see the veins on his pale hand bulging like streaks of blue paint.
I felt like a rubber duck, my throat constricted so tightly that only air escaped.
Bro, you gotta let go if you want me to talk!
Alphas—they’re all the same, with their unrestrained violence and desire to dominate. He was in full rage mode, his pheromones threatening to burst out, trying to assert dominance over another alpha. It was enough to make me question my tolerance for alphas.
My ears rang, my face burned, and my vision blurred.
Jiang Sen was still yelling at me, but I really wished he’d use his brain. You can’t talk when someone’s choking you. Either kill me or let go.
I wanted to struggle, but I was afraid it would only excite him more.
Honestly, all alphas should die—except me.
In my daze, I felt a tear slide down my cheek, and suddenly, the grip on my neck loosened slightly.
A moment later, he let go completely.
I slumped against the car like a slug thrown against a wall, but I managed to steady myself, leaning over and coughing violently, my shoulders trembling.
“Look at me,” I heard his polished military boots and his voice from above. “I said, look at me.”
Seriously, are you just going to keep tormenting me?
I gritted my teeth and turned my head to look up at him.
Backlit, his face was shadowed, making it hard to read his expression. He stared at me for a moment, then reined in his pheromones, his tone almost cheerful. “You’re just a plaything.”
…A bad feeling washed over me.
I tensed my body and buttocks.
Oh no, bro, please don’t. I’m not into this.
I forced myself to stand straight, my eyes red as I looked at him. “How’s Yalian?”
“He’s still getting a blood transfusion,” Jiang Sen said, his gaze shifting away. He seemed calmer now. “You have no right to care about him.”
“Nothing happened between us. It’s always been one-sided on my part,” I coughed, my throat still burning. “As for any promises, he never made them. It was all in my head. Looking back, maybe he just pitied me and wanted you to let me go.”
I added bitterly, “I never meant to come between you two.”
Jiang Sen sneered, “He didn’t save you for your sake. He did it for his own damn pride and his noble status.”
“As for you,” he grabbed my chin, his dark eyes scanning me, “you’re nothing but a pretty face. How dare you dream of climbing above your station?”
I couldn’t take it anymore—wall slams, chin grabs, and three alpha clichés in one go.
But as his anger subsided, I could sense something was off. I needed to stay alert.
He let go of me as if I were dirty and wiped his hands with a handkerchief. “If he dies, I won’t let you off. But if he pulls through, I might let you live a little longer.”
The polite, aristocratic demeanor Jiang Sen had shown during our first meeting at the police station was gone, replaced by pure arrogance as he looked down at me.
But his arrogance shattered in the next moment.
A guard approached and announced, “The surgery was successful. Young Master Yalian has regained consciousness, but he’s insisting—”
Jiang Sen gestured for him to continue.
The guard added, “That Miss Chen accompany him during his post-surgery recovery.”
Jiang Sen’s face darkened immediately. He glanced at me with a mocking smile and nodded.
*
The days following the surgery were the most painful of my life.
Honestly, this guy was beyond spoiled and insufferable.
Even though my life was in his hands, there were moments when I wished it wasn’t.
“The birds outside are so noisy,” Yalian said, clutching the blanket and turning to me. “Can you close the window?”
I silently went to close the window.
Ten minutes ago, he’d complained it was too stuffy and asked me to open it.
I returned to his bedside and continued peeling fruit for him.
He watched me for a while and said, “You’ve been so quiet these past few days. Do I annoy you?”
Well, duh.
I tightened my grip on the fruit knife and replied flatly, “No.”
He stared at me for a moment, then suddenly knocked the knife out of my hand. The fruit fell to the ground.
I looked at him as he, pale-lipped, struggled to sit up and swept everything off the nightstand—fruit, flowers, and all. Something flew up and grazed my face.
Master of clearing tables, huh?
He looked at me, momentarily stunned.
I touched my face and felt blood. I couldn’t help but feel drained.
Yalian’s shock quickly turned to defiance. He tilted his chin up, the thick bandages around his neck making him look even more fragile. His pale face showed faint veins, and his dry lips pressed together tightly. “If you don’t want to do it, then don’t. I’m not forcing you. If I knew you’d just sit here in silence, I might as well have tied up a dog.”
“You acted so sincere that day, but now you’re bored of taking care of me?” Yalian sneered. “Who do you think you are, giving me that cold look?”
I had nothing to say because he was right.
Yalian stared at me with an almost obsessive intensity before suddenly slamming his fist on the bed. “Get out! Get out of my sight!”
I obliged, standing up and leaving.
As the door closed behind me, I heard the sound of more things being thrown.
Looks like he cleared another table.
No wonder Jiang Sen had agreed so easily. He must have known how difficult Yalian was to deal with.
Ha, I really wanted to die.
On my way out, a few nurses offered to clean my wound, but I declined. I just wanted to step outside for a smoke.
Naturally, it was the same pack the guard had given me.
As I stepped out of the building, I ran into Jiang Sen.
Damn, he hadn’t shown up in days. Who’s the fiancé here, him or me?
He was still in his military uniform and raised an eyebrow when he saw the blood on my face.
Jiang Sen’s first words were dripping with sarcasm. “Seems like even when given the chance, you’re still useless.”
“I fell,” I said with a smile. “It’s got nothing to do with him.”
Jiang Sen raised his eyebrows again, "You and we are not from the same world. Even if you drain your blood and tear out your heart, you still can't be together. Even if you manage to cling to him, you'll just be a pastime, a mere distraction. Don't forget, I promised to keep him unharmed for a month, but I never said what would happen after that month, once he’s confirmed whether you’re alive or dead."
"Will he even remember you by then?"
He laughed, his features sharp and handsome.
"From the very beginning, I never hoped to win him over," I said after a moment of silence. "I just wanted to do something, because I’m the one who directly hurt him."
He sneered, "So I should thank you for having such feelings for my fiancé?"
I didn’t answer, only saying, "He’s in a bad mood right now. You should wait before going up to see him, or you’ll just end up arguing."
He stared at me for a while, his expression filled with confusion and his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Do you have no self-respect? Hovering around him like a lackey, groveling in front of me—are you really an alpha?"
Self-respect is something only people like you have.
Oh, wait, no—some poor people have it too, those who have nothing else but their pride.
I lowered my head, playing the role of the humble servant. "I… I’m not worthy of him."
"Ah, good, it’s nice to have some self-awareness."
Jiang Sen laughed again, as if pondering the truth of my words, but as he brushed past me, he made sure to shoulder-check me hard.
What a bully.
If I’d known your system was so unreliable, I wouldn’t have bothered stealing that damn ring.
Can’t even get a single peaceful day. I really want to go back to the factory and tighten screws—no need to think too much.
I lit another cigarette, and soon heard the sound of military boots stomping on the floor.
Turning around, I saw Jiang Sen storming out, his face dark and streaked with blood.
I took a closer look—the scratches were deep, as if he’d been clawed at.
He walked past me again, sneering, "You really are just a dog, with no self-respect at all."
With that, Jiang Sen left.
It was clear—they’d had a fight in the hospital room, and he was proud that he hadn’t compromised his pride.
Thanks to him, I now knew I couldn’t go back yet.
But I really wanted to tell him, "This was a good opportunity, and I gave it to you, but you still couldn’t handle it."
I stubbed out the cigarette, aimlessly wandered around the hospital, and eventually climbed a tree to lie down.
While others can afford to play with their smart devices, I’m left to commune with nature.
*
By evening, I returned to the hospital room.
The moment I stepped inside, a storm began raging outside.
Yalian woke up from his sleep, his lips trembling slightly, "Close the window! Go close the window now!"
I hurried over and shut the window just as a bolt of lightning struck. Yalian screamed in terror behind me.
Damn, so noisy. Omegas are really only useful in bed—everywhere else, they’re just a burden.
The next moment, Yalian proved me wrong. After the rustling of clothes and sheets, he wrapped his arms around me from behind, his warm skin pressing against mine. I turned around and held him tightly. "It’s okay, I’m here."
His beautiful face was streaked with tears, looking utterly helpless, but his mouth was still sharp, "Where did you go? Are you that impatient? You’re just like him!"
I covered his ears and guided him back to the hospital bed.
He didn’t want to let go, so I had to lie down with him, letting him rest his head on my chest as he shivered.
I pulled out a small box from my pocket, opened it, and handed him a pair of earplugs. "Put these on."
He looked confused, whispering, "Did you buy these?"
"Yeah, you said it was noisy, so I went and got them." I pursed my lips and turned my head away. "The nearby mall was expensive, so I took on a temporary job. This is my pay."
Thunder rumbled outside.
"You had to work for something like this?"
Yalian shivered again, but still couldn’t resist questioning me.
Good, very skeptical, but if you’re not smart, don’t question things carelessly—you might end up sounding like a conspiracy theorist.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t have any money on me," I said.
Yalian pursed his lips, his eyes wandering, unable to settle on anything. Then he asked, "Was it tiring?"
Not really, I just flirted with a beta and got them for free.
I didn’t answer, instead taking the earplugs from his hand, brushing the black hair behind his ear, and gently inserting them.
"I’m putting them in now. Tell me if it hurts."
As soon as I finished, Yalian’s face turned red, and he slapped me lightly.
"Sorry," I quickly apologized, handing him the other earplug. "You can do this one yourself."
Yalian didn’t say anything, leaning against my shoulder, his warm breath hitting my neck. "I don’t have the strength. Help me."
I sighed and nodded, about to act, when I felt him pluck something from my collar.
A chill ran up my spine.
Shit, don’t tell me it’s a hair.
I blinked and saw Yalian holding it up to my face—it was a leaf.
The chill vanished, only to transfer to Yalian’s face as he asked suspiciously, "Are there leaves in the mall?"
"No," I replied.
"Then how—"
I cut him off.
"I climbed a tree to chase away some birds, but they just flew back as soon as I came down. So I thought it’d be better to buy earplugs. It felt stupid, so I didn’t want to tell you."
Yalian looked at me, his brown eyes flickering, his lips parting slightly.
It was strange—though his face was still pale and fragile, it was as if some kind of magic had taken place, making his eyes and cheeks radiate a vibrant, blooming vitality.
His face moved closer to mine, and his previously dry lips now seemed to exude the fragrance of roses.
Outside, lightning still flashed and thunder roared, but the other earplug fell from my fingers onto the bed, unnoticed.
I kissed two people today.
A bit over the quota.
