Chapter 40: A Battlefield of Chaos
The door had been knocking for a while, but Zhu Zhixi kept his back pressed against it, acting as if he had not heard a thing.
Director Wang looked at him, then glanced at Fu Rangyi, and said cheerfully, “This little Beta’s possessiveness is pretty strong. You put your shirt back on first.”
Fu Rangyi glanced at Zhu Zhixi.
“Mm.” He put his shirt back on.
But Zhu Zhixi still did not move.
“What’s wrong?” Fu Rangyi asked again.
The doorknob was forcefully turned several times. Zhu Zhixi knew very well that this time, there was nowhere left to hide. So he quickly left the door, intending to hide behind the consultation room curtain. Unfortunately, no matter what he did, he could not pull the curtain shut.
Just then, the door opened.
Fu Rangyi was somewhat surprised. Standing outside the door was actually Zhu Zeran. He looked the same as before, dressed head to toe in expensive couture, even his cufflinks set with diamonds—the typical getup of a rich playboy. The only difference was that this time, he had brought someone with him. And that person was…
Fu Rangyi faintly detected an Omega’s pheromones, a scent of pink pepper and camellia.
Both of their pheromones were rather aggressive. Mixed together, they gave him a headache.
“Yo.” Zhu Zeran’s gaze swept around the consultation room and finally landed beside him. He raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t this my dear little brother? What a coincidence. We just hung up and now we meet. As expected of brothers born from the same mother.”
After saying that, he dragged the Omega in by the wrist. However, the other person did not seem particularly cooperative and directly pulled his wrist free.
Since there was nowhere to hide, Zhu Zhixi simply gave up and went straight on the offensive. “Coincidence? You’re stalking me, aren’t you?”
After saying that, he looked at the Omega beside Zhu Zeran and asked with a grin, “And who might this be? Don’t tell me this is my sister-in-law! Hello, sister-in-law.”
The Omega was also dressed expensively, wearing a dark red cashmere coat. Around his neck was a platinum-colored suppressor collar. His pale skin contrasted sharply with his deep black brows and eyes, while his lips were strikingly red. There was a faint mole at the right corner of his mouth, and he had a pair of upturned fox-like eyes. His appearance was memorable and impactful.
When he spoke, that face seemed even more indecent. “Who’s your sister-in-law? You’ve got the wrong person.”
After saying that, he smiled, turned his wrist, and looked Zhu Zhixi up and down. Then he sat down on a chair nearby and cast Zhu Zeran a glance, his eyes flirtatious. “Your little brother is really good-looking. Red lips, white teeth, bright eyes. He looks likable at first glance. Much better than you.”
Fu Rangyi frowned.
Beside him, Li Qiao turned his head and whispered, “Who’s grinding their teeth? Did you hear that?”
Fu Rangyi: “…No.”
Zhu Zhixi had not expected such an opening, so he smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, I’m married.”
The Omega smiled. “Little darling, don’t call me that. You may be married, but I’m not.”
Before Zhu Zhixi could reply, Fu Rangyi’s voice sounded from behind him, darker than usual.
“We’re about done here, right? Can we leave first?”
Zhu Zeran leaned against the doorframe. “Now that you mention it, I’m kind of curious. Why did you two come to reproductive medicine for no reason? Impotence? Or did the Beta accidentally get pregnant?”
“Zhu Zeran, are you sick or what?” Zhu Zhixi rolled up his sleeves, ready to hit someone.
“Huh? You all know each other? That’s good.” Director Wang suddenly reacted. While writing an order for Fu Rangyi, he said, “Wait a bit. After I finish writing this Alpha patient’s orders, I’ll see you two. Hey, Omega, did you finish the medicine I prescribed last time?”
Zhu Zhixi’s eyes widened. He abruptly turned to look at Fu Rangyi, then turned back to stare at Zhu Zeran.
Oh.
So the gossip he had just heard—the main characters had come running here themselves, and one of them was his own brother?
Wasn’t this just handing him blackmail material?
Fu Rangyi, however, showed no reaction. He even wanted to stop Zhu Zhixi a little. He had a feeling that if these two brothers started fighting, he would get dragged in too. So he tugged Zhu Zhixi over to his side and said in a low voice, “Don’t get involved in other people’s family affairs.”
Zhu Zhixi was not very satisfied, but he still held back.
Zhu Zeran knew nothing about this and still wanted to hide it, so he said nothing. Since he did not answer, the Omega beside him also kept quiet.
“He Xueyao, the doctor is asking you a question.” Zhu Zeran said unkindly. “Are you deaf?”
“Wasn’t I thinking? What’s your rush?” He Xueyao rolled his eyes, then said to Director Wang, “Doctor, I’ve taken too many medicines. I can’t remember.”
“That won’t do.” Director Wang raised his head and looked at the two of them, especially Zhu Zeran. “As the Alpha, you need to remind him.”
Zhu Zeran looked as if this was utterly absurd, but if he said too much, he would only bring trouble on himself and expose things in front of his younger brother. So he only gave a cold laugh. “Sure. Remember to take your medicine. If you can’t finish it and die, I’ll have to burn the rest for you as offerings.”
Zhu Zhixi looked shocked. “Zhu Zeran, the way you talk is really awful.”
Fu Rangyi muttered very softly to himself, “Isn’t that an excellent tradition of the Zhu family?”
Li Qiao chimed in even more softly, “You’re not exactly qualified to criticize others either.”
Everyone in this family had mouths like heavy artillery. If they all sat together for New Year’s dinner, wouldn’t it be like World War II?
He even began to pity this Omega in advance. After all, he was the only vulnerable group in the entire room.
But in the next second, He Xueyao leaned against the wall and smiled. He raised his head and said to Zhu Zeran, “It’s not like I’ll die in your bed. If you’re this eager, I’m going to misunderstand.”
Good grief. Another general had joined the battlefield.
It was rare to see Zhu Zeran get choked up, so Zhu Zhixi could not hold back and burst into laughter.
“What are you laughing at?” Zhu Zeran immediately turned his fire. “I haven’t even settled accounts with you yet!” He strode forward and snatched the examination order from Zhu Zhixi’s hand. “What is this? B-scan? Of where?”
Director Wang had never seen such a scene either. After clicking print, he immediately turned his face to watch the drama and helpfully added, “Oh, what I prescribed is a reproductive medicine B-scan. It includes things like the reproductive cavity and glands.”
The moment Zhu Zeran heard this, his temper rose even higher. “Reproductive cavity? Do you even have one? Has it developed? With that little belly of yours, what could you possibly carry? Do you have any idea how many ignorant Betas die from difficult labor every year? Oh, right, I forgot. I even did your final physiology assignment for you!”
Zhu Zhixi’s face flushed. “You have the nerve to mention that 59-point assignment? You made me retake the exam!”
“I did that on purpose!” Zhu Zeran slapped the examination order onto the desk. “Tell me honestly. Are you pregnant? I already told you before—are your ears there to receive signals from aliens?”
Fu Rangyi raised an eyebrow.
Pregnant?
Li Qiao elbowed Fu Rangyi. “Whose?”
Fu Rangyi: “Shut up.”
“I’m not pregnant, I’m not pregnant! How many times do I have to say it?” Zhu Zhixi was speechless. “We haven’t even done it, what am I supposed to be pregnant with? Air?”
“Didn’t do it? Smell yourself. Oh, I forgot, you’re a little Beta and can’t smell it. You’re walking around like an idiot covered in an Alpha’s pheromones.”
Fu Rangyi tugged at the corner of his mouth. “…So it was your brother who told you.”
“What did he say?” Li Qiao could not understand the gossip and was practically spinning in circles with anxiety.
“I’m married. I’m happy to go out openly covered in pheromones. What does that have to do with you?”
“It reeks so much. If you can’t smell it yourself, don’t go around torturing others!”
He Xueyao, who was sitting behind them, laughed and inserted a comment. “I think it smells pretty good. A floral scent. Much better than someone’s typical scumbag cologne pheromones.”
Zhu Zeran suddenly fell silent and turned to glare fiercely at him.
Hearing this, Zhu Zhixi suddenly felt a small knot form in his heart. He looked at the red fox, then turned his head to look at the big iceberg.
Smells good? Floral scent?
He felt a little uncomfortable.
And he had also noticed that this person kept looking at Fu Rangyi’s face from time to time.
“Enough, enough. If you want to argue, go outside.” Director Wang suddenly picked up the phone.
Both brothers thought he was about to call security, so they both shut up at the same time.
“Hello?” Director Wang paused, scratched his head with the end of his pen, took the orders from the printer, and signed them while on the phone. “Little Zhou, order me chicken-leg rice. Less oil, less salt, extra vegetables.”
A false alarm.
Zhu Zhixi was still furious and declared again, “Stop spreading rumors. I didn’t do anything. If you don’t believe me, ask Director Wang!”
Zhu Zeran found it inexplicable. “Why would I ask Director Wang?”
“Because Director Wang already asked just now!”
Li Qiao could not hold back and laughed again. Seeing both brothers turn to glare at him, he hid behind his iceberg-faced friend and said with a smile, “Sorry, my laugh threshold is pretty low.”
“Are you done arguing?” Director Wang handed the signed pheromone test order to Fu Rangyi.
Zhu Zeran was no longer in the right, and his momentum had weakened by more than half. “Then what examination did you come here for?”
Zhu Zhixi stopped speaking.
He could not exactly say that he was about to die and needed his whole body checked.
At this moment, Fu Rangyi suddenly took his wrist, stepped forward, and said very calmly to Zhu Zeran, “We’re here for premarital checkups.”
“Premarital checkups?” Zhu Zeran laughed. “Playing house, and you’re taking it this seriously?”
Li Qiao blinked.
No, bro, wasn’t the whole fake marriage thing something only heaven, earth, you, me, and the two of you knew? How many people know now? Was the contract just for decoration?
Zhu Zhixi could not stand seeing him make things difficult for Fu Rangyi and directly shot back, “You’re the one playing house. You got someone pregnant and then came here to make things hard for me. You’re sick.”
“Hm? President Zhu got whose belly big?” He Xueyao smiled mischievously. “That’s big news. Say it out loud and let me have some fun too.”
“Shut up. What does this have to do with you?”
“Nothing to do with me, huh?” He Xueyao stood up, a car key hooked around his pinky as he twirled it. “Then I’m leaving.”
“Sit down.” Zhu Zeran frowned. “Wait until Director Wang finishes seeing you before you get lost.”
“You really should make an appointment with psychiatry and get your brain treated.” He Xueyao smiled sweetly.
“Huh?” Zhu Zhixi grabbed Li Qiao, who had been busy watching the drama. “Here’s someone who treats brains. Let me introduce him to you, Big Zhu.”
Li Qiao gave a dry laugh. “Oh, so I have a role here too.” After saying that, he muttered softly, “If I’d known reproductive medicine was this lively, why did I even study neuroscience…”
Zhu Zeran sneered. “Keep such a wonderful connection for yourself.”
All the examination orders were printed, signed, and ready. Fu Rangyi took them and, while he was at it, picked up Zhu Zhixi’s from the desk too. Then he took Zhu Zhixi by the wrist and said softly, “Let’s go do the examinations first.”
“Oh.” Zhu Zhixi could only temporarily cease fire and glared fiercely at Zhu Zeran.
“Behave yourself. Careful, or I’ll tell Dad everything about all this.”
“You’re threatening me?” Zhu Zhixi flared up again, and even Fu Rangyi could not hold him back. “I’m married. I can do whatever I want. Unlike some people, who screw someone unconscious and send them to the hospital!”
“You!”
Fu Rangyi’s vision went black. Before the situation could explode again, he quickly dragged his fiery little rabbit out.
After experiencing public execution and a consultation-room battle, he felt that nothing in this world could ever embarrass him again.
But just as he was about to take Zhu Zhixi away, He Xueyao, who had been sitting by the door, suddenly stood up.
He held a business card between his fingers and handed it over.
Zhu Zhixi even smelled the perfume on the card.
“Handsome, I think you look pretty familiar. Really, I’m not joking. Want to be friends?”
Zhu Zhixi finally understood. Compared with a real fox spirit, he had been nothing last night. No matter how hard he tried to seduce someone, he did not have this kind of natural charm.
Fu Rangyi naturally did not take it. He did not even look at him. But that business card had already been slipped into the front pocket of his coat.
“I’m married.” Fu Rangyi’s tone was very cold as he wrapped an arm around Zhu Zhixi’s waist. “This is my partner, and you are… the biological younger brother of my friend.”
“That’s not important.” He Xueyao smiled, tilting his head as he threw Zhu Zhixi a flirtatious wink. “It’s just making friends. Little brother won’t mind, right?”
After saying that, he stuffed another business card into Zhu Zhixi’s pocket and even patted it. “The more friends, the better.”
Zhu Zhixi turned his head and gave Zhu Zeran what he believed to be a fierce, murderous expression, only to discover that Zhu Zeran’s expression was also very gloomy.
“Keep your husband under control,” Zhu Zeran said rudely.
Zhu Zhixi got anxious. “You’re the one who should keep your—”
“Let’s go.” Fu Rangyi wrapped an arm around him and led him away. As soon as they stepped out, he took the business card from the front of his coat. With nowhere to throw it, he simply stuffed it into Zhu Zhixi’s hand.
Zhu Zhixi looked baffled.
Li Qiao had not watched enough of the drama. Like a robot that had developed self-awareness but still had auto-follow turned on, he reluctantly followed them out.
Once outside, Zhu Zhixi struggled free from Fu Rangyi’s arms. He did not notice that this movement made Fu Rangyi freeze for several seconds.
For some reason, he felt a little angry, but he did not know what he was angry about. This had never happened before. Even with that Omega student of Fu Rangyi’s, he had been able to get along with him properly.
For now, he could only attribute it to that lunatic Zhu Zeran.
“I’ll go do the B-scan by myself.”
“I’ll go with you,” Fu Rangyi said.
“No need. You still have to get your pheromones checked. Let’s split up so we don’t waste time.” After Zhu Zhixi finished speaking, he ran off.
During the B-scan, he was a little absent-minded. When the doctor told him to undo his pants a little, he obediently did so. Only after unfastening them did he realize there were quite a few red marks on his hip bones, with the one on his mole being the most obvious.
The doctor, however, had clearly seen all kinds of things before. While chatting with a colleague, he applied coupling gel to Zhu Zhixi’s lower abdomen.
A new round of public execution.
After it finally ended, Zhu Zhixi asked uneasily, “Doctor, I don’t have a gland in my neck, right?”
“The results won’t come out immediately,” the doctor said. “Betas do have them too. It’s just that for some people, they’ve atrophied to the point where they’re practically gone. Everyone is different. Wait for the results.”
He nodded, dressed himself, and left. Alone, he headed toward the department where Fu Rangyi was being examined. The moment he arrived at the door, he heard the conversation inside.
“With this condition of yours, you really can’t keep taking medicine like this. Look at this pheromone index. It’s severely disordered. If this continues, each episode will only get worse than the last. A lot of medications also worsen depressive symptoms during your susceptible period. Look at your hands. You can’t keep muddling through like this.”
Li Qiao’s voice appeared. “Exactly. I’ve been advising him all along, but he even wanted to get a gland removal surgery.”
“How could that be allowed? How did you jump straight from the most conservative treatment to the most extreme? You’re an S-level Alpha. Removing your gland would harm your body far more than it would an ordinary person’s. Didn’t you see the recent medical incident? An Alpha had a fight with his lover, ran abroad to have his gland removed, and nearly died. We would never perform this kind of surgery.”
Fu Rangyi remained silent the entire time.
Zhu Zhixi’s heart tightened. He knew Fu Rangyi brooded over this illness, but he had not expected him to be extreme enough to want to remove his gland.
For no reason, he felt a little sad.
“Exactly. Hear that? It’s not me stopping you from doing it. Even the specialist says it’s dangerous.” After Li Qiao finished speaking, he explained, “Mainly, when he first differentiated, something happened. He has a bit of post-traumatic stress, and his reactions toward glands and pheromones are especially severe.”
When Zhu Zhixi heard this, he thought of what Zhu Zeran had previously found out—how Fu Rangyi, back when he was still a high school student, had gotten into a fight with a teacher.
Li Qiao knew too?
Of course. They had known each other since school and were friends. How could he not know?
Only I don’t know anything. I don’t understand anything.
Inside the room, Li Qiao asked again, “I heard from Professor Wang that there’s a new treatment plan with pretty good effects recently. The patient also has malignant susceptible-period syndrome. What kind of plan is it exactly? Can he try it?”
“Your friend’s case is much more serious. That patient’s condition was relatively mild. But there are some similarities,” the doctor said. “The most important part of that plan is extracting a kind of biotin from the gland and spinal marrow of a direct Alpha relative to use as a pheromone antibody, then administering it over several courses of injections. So far, that test subject has completed two courses, and there has indeed been improvement. If you want to try, you can ask Professor Wang to arrange it.”
Zhu Zhixi’s eyes immediately lit up.
Finally, some good news.
Unexpectedly, Fu Rangyi, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke. “We’ll discuss it later. Thank you.”
Zhu Zhixi could not hold back. He stepped out from beside the wall and appeared at the door. “Why?”
Fu Rangyi raised his eyes and froze for two seconds. There was a faint panic in his gaze.
“Why discuss it later?” Zhu Zhixi looked at Li Qiao. “Hurry and arrange it for him.”
Li Qiao did not know the exact situation, but he still respected Fu Rangyi’s choice. Smiling, he said to the confused doctor, “Thank you. We’ll discuss this a bit more.”
“That’s fine. Anyway, after the third phase of treatment ends, the paper will be published. Waiting a little longer is safer too.”
After Fu Rangyi came out, he only asked softly, “You finished your examination?”
This attitude made Zhu Zhixi furious. He knew nothing, yet he had blindly given orders here. It made him feel terribly self-important.
His throat tightened. Zhu Zhixi did not know what to say. It felt as if all his organs had twisted together. In the end, he only squeezed out an “Mm,” then turned and left.
Seeing this, Li Qiao patted Fu Rangyi’s arm. “Go after him. There aren’t any more examinations after this. I’ll message you when the results come out.”
“Mm.” Fu Rangyi thanked him and quickly chased after Zhu Zhixi.
People were coming and going in the hospital. Zhu Zhixi charged straight ahead. He did not even wait for the elevator and went directly to the stairs, quickly descending three floors. He pushed open the heavy safety passage door, and outside was a snow-white hospital back garden, frozen in ice and snow.
His footsteps went from angry thud-thud-thuds to cautious crunch-crunches.
He walked forward gloomily, not wanting to turn around. He only pricked up his ears and listened. Hearing the footsteps following behind him, he felt a little better—but not much.
The cold air chilled his hands. Zhu Zhixi shoved them into his pockets and touched the two business cards from the red fox. His frustration grew even worse. He took the cards out and smelled them. They also carried a floral fragrance.
Damn floral fragrance. Everyone can smell it except me.
There were not many people in the garden. A few children were playing in the snow. One chubby little boy chased another shorter child in a snowball fight. As Zhu Zhixi walked, he arrived in front of a pine tree.
Why follow me? If you’re following me, why not catch up? Just trailing behind me the whole way.
Zhu Zhixi stood under the tree, unhappy, watching the two bundled-up little brats dart around. He wanted nothing more than to grab some snow from the ground and join them in a snowball fight.
The chubby boy was chased under the tree. His foot slipped and he slammed into the trunk. Zhu Zhixi was startled and instinctively moved to help him, only for his arm to be grabbed first. He was pulled into someone’s arms.
With a crash, the snow on the pine tree shook loose and fell all over the ground. Zhu Zhixi was spared the disaster, only getting a little snow on him.
He parted his lips, and several wisps of white mist drifted out, making his eyes look even clearer and brighter.
Fu Rangyi reached out, brushed the snow from his head, then released him and stepped back slightly.
Zhu Zhixi stepped back even farther, instantly widening the distance between them. He said dully, “Why are you following me?”
Fu Rangyi said in a low voice, “To go home.”
Who wants to go home with you? Zhu Zhixi casually made up a lie. “I’m meeting someone. I’m not going back. You can go first.”
Fu Rangyi frowned and asked, “Who?”
“A friend.”
“What friend?” Fu Rangyi pressed. “Which friend?”
Zhu Zhixi said, “You don’t know them.”
“Don’t know them?” Fu Rangyi asked with a dark expression. “Does this friend of yours not have a name?”
Zhu Zhixi was pushed close to breaking by the questioning. “You’re so strange. Can’t I have friends you don’t know? Who was it who said we wouldn’t interfere in each other’s private lives? It’s just a fake marriage. You’re the one who keeps reminding me of that. Why did you forget it now?”
Once again, Fu Rangyi’s focus went off track. “You didn’t black out this time.”
“Yes, I didn’t black out. I remember everything you said.” Zhu Zhixi laughed out of anger. “Oh right, yesterday you also said I took care of you once, and you repaid me once, so neither of us owes the other anymore. You’re really good at calculating, but I think your calculations still aren’t clear enough. I’m the one who got all the benefits. I used you to vent and used you to extend my life, so count it as me owing you.”
Another sharp, head-on outburst. Fu Rangyi stood where he was without saying a word, only silently looking at him.
Zhu Zhixi reached out and shoved the business cards in his hand at him. “And this. That Omega has taken a fancy to you and gave these to you. Why did you give them to me? Who am I to you that I have to hold these things for you?”
Fu Rangyi blinked slowly, lowered his head to look at the business cards, then turned and left.
Zhu Zhixi was so angry he almost stomped his foot. But very soon, he saw Fu Rangyi stop beside a trash can and throw the business cards into the recycling bin.
Fine. Zhu Zhixi kicked at the snow, neither hard nor soft.
Fu Rangyi came back and stood in front of him. His lenses reflected the snowlight, concealing the emotions in his eyes. Zhu Zhixi turned his head away and refused to look at him, but from the corner of his eye, he still saw Fu Rangyi reach out, as if wanting to pull him into his arms. In the end, however, he only gently pinched Zhu Zhixi’s reddened cheek.
Tentatively, he took a step forward, almost pressing close, then lowered his head and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Why are you so angry?”
