Chapter 48: He Wants Him to Live, Even If It Doesn't Belong to Him.

Pei Jiqing stared at him for a few seconds, then forced a smile that bordered on pity. "Chen Huixing, what should I do?"

He spoke softly, "You'll be stuck with me for the rest of your life. Do you hate me that much?"

Chen Huixing stared at him, emotion swirling in his eyes. Finally, he replied coldly, his voice so low it seemed to come out through teeth: "Yes, I wish I could just swallow you whole."

Over the years, Pei Jiqing had told so many lies, a cacophony of truth and lies that even Chen Huixing couldn't tell which was sincere and which was calculated.

Sometimes, he thought those gentleness and indulgences belonged only to him, but the next moment, reality would mercilessly shatter his illusion.

Pei Jiqing was like the wind, seemingly close at hand, but when he reached out to grasp him, his fingers were always empty.

Pei Jiqing pushed Chen Huixing aside and turned to walk out, as if staying a second longer would suffocate.

But before he could take two steps, Chen Huixing suddenly grabbed his wrist with a force so strong it nearly crushed his bones. The Alpha's warmth radiated through their contact, carrying an irresistible aggression.

"Let go," Pei Jiqing shook his hand away. "I don't want to do it."

Chen Huixing didn't let go, but instead pulled him closer. Those dark eyes swirled with naked desire, a look Pei Jiqing knew all too well—after all their years of marriage, Chen Huixing always looked like this when she wanted him, like a wolf stalking its prey.

"Stop talking about that ridiculous puppy love," Chen Huixing suddenly said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Pei Jiqing scoffed, "Excuse me, Executive Officer, is this what youth in the Lower City looks like? Let me think, what was Young Master Shen doing back then? Oh, right, freshly admitted to the military academy, receiving his first medal and freshman award, his chest adorned with a gleaming medal..."

He gestured, his fingertips lightly tapping Shen Huixing's chest, a playful smile on his face.

Chen Huixing's expression was a bit subtle. He grabbed Pei Jiqing's wrist and pinned him against the wall. "Did my dad tell you?"

Pei Jiqing snorted twice and deliberately turned his head away.

Chen Huixing looked down at him. "I don't understand why you're still fussing with me. I've been patient with you enough—"

Before he could finish his words, Pei Jiqing suddenly looked up. "That's just the kind of person I am. Unreasonable and willful. My previous gentleness and consideration were all fake. Do you see clearly now?"

Chen Huixing: "...It couldn't be clearer."

"You're so stupid. Actually, you're a big part of the reason I tricked you. You don't care about anything at home, so that gave me the opportunity." Chen

Huixing grabbed his wrist with such force that Pei Jiqing hissed softly.

The media always praised Chen Huixing, claiming he was incredibly intelligent and skilled. But now, this child of destiny, admired by countless people, was infuriated by Pei Jiqing's repeated calls of "stupid."

"Shut up." Chen Huixing suddenly grabbed Pei Jiqing's head and kissed him. He only realized now that this was the best way to shut Pei Jiqing's mouth.

Pei Jiqing pushed him hard at first, and his fist hit his shoulder with a dull sound. But Chen Huixing didn't move at all, and instead hugged him tighter. Gradually, Pei Jiqing's struggle turned into a weak scratch, and finally his hands unconsciously climbed onto Chen Huixing's shoulders.

Low-level Omegas are naturally sensitive to pheromones. This is a physiological instinct engraved in their genes. When the pheromones of Alpha hit, their bodies will react before their reason - their knees become weak, the glands on the back of the neck become hot, and all the strength in the body seems to be drained away.

This physiological characteristic makes it easy for Omegas to be led by the nose by Alphas.

Just like now, Pei Jiqing knew he should resist, but his body betrayed him. The breath of the Alpha was like an invisible chain, nailing him firmly to the ground, and even his fingertips were shaking uncontrollably.

"Don't... don't use pheromones..." Pei Jiqing gritted his teeth, but his voice was unnaturally soft.

The concentration of pheromones by the pool suddenly increased, mixed with the smell of disinfectant, filling the air.

The coach frowned and sniffed, then immediately bent down and picked up Zhizhi: "Let's go find Daddy."

The child's bare feet dangled in the air, and before leaving, he turned his head and called out "Dad", his voice quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

In the locker room, Pei Jiqing's back slammed heavily against the locker. His swimming trunks were still hanging at his ankles, and the white tile floor had already splashed with several suspicious water stains.

Chen Huixing pinched his waist, his movements fierce and urgent.

"Slow...slow down..." Pei Jiqing's fingers scratched several marks on the metal locker door, and his knees kept shaking.

Alpha's pheromones were like an airtight net, nailing him to the spot and letting him be slaughtered.

Certain feelings accumulated too quickly, his eyes went blank, and he almost fell to the ground, but was caught by Chen Huixing.

"Do you know how to beg for mercy now?" Chen Huixing bit the gland on the back of his neck, the strength in his hand not decreasing at all.

Pei Jiqing's legs were shaking so much that he couldn't stand up. He had to rely on the support of the person behind him to avoid sliding to the ground.

Pei Jiqing himself couldn't tell when Chen Huixing started to change.

Perhaps it was because he was getting older, and the stubbornness that was once well hidden gradually surfaced.

He became fond of tormenting others, especially Pei Jiqing, and would not stop until he heard the other party begging for mercy in a low voice.

Pei Jiqing's tattoo suffered, and the teeth marks covered it densely, as if to cover up the old marks that had long faded. But the more he tried to cover it up, the more glaring the tattoo became.

"I said I would wash it off..." Pei Jiqing took a breath and looked up at him, "I lied to you."

This tattoo will be with him for the rest of his life. Just like some people, some things, they have been engraved in his bones and cannot be removed.

A few days later, Pei Jiqing was shopping in the mall with Zhizhi in his arms, and he didn't even notice that his credit card slipped out of his pocket.

"Sir, your card."

A bony hand was handed to him.

When Pei Jiqing turned around, he happened to meet Lin Qin's warm eyes behind the glasses. The sunlight poured through the glass dome, reflecting tiny rays of light on the gold wire frame. When Lin Qin saw him clearly, his fingertips trembled slightly, and his work badge swayed gently in front of his chest, with the words "Project Manager" on it particularly eye-catching.

"Brother Pei..." Lin Qin's Adam's apple rolled, and his voice was so soft that it was almost drowned out by the surrounding shopping mall broadcasts, "Do you still recognize me?"

Pei Jiqing subconsciously hugged Zhizhi tightly in his arms.

The little girl was pulling at his collar for fun, and didn't notice his moment of loss of composure at all.

"Lin Qin." Pei Jiqing heard his own dry voice, "Do you work here?"

"Yes, in Building A." Lin Qin's eyes fell on Zhizhi's round little face, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously, "Her eyes are very similar to yours."

Pei Jiqing's fingers unconsciously stroked his daughter's soft hair.

"I didn't leave without saying goodbye back then..."

"It's all in the past. It's just that my father always talks about how the cradle he made for you is still in the attic."

Zhizhi reached out for Lin Qin's work badge. Lin Qin asked, "Can I hold her?

" Pei Jiqing said yes.

Zhizhi was held obediently by Lin Qin, her little hands tugging at the buttons of his shirt. When she tilted her little face up, the soft ends of her hair brushed Lin Qin's chin.

"I saw you when you were very young." Lin Qin looked down at her.

Zhizhi's eyes immediately widened: "Then brother knows my father and Father's Day."

She twisted her body, and one of her little feet dangled restlessly.

Lin Qin was amused by her naive question: "Well... how should I put it."

Zhizhi tilted her head: "Because my uncles always said that they watched me grow up. Brother, you like me too, right?"

Lin Qin smiled: "Yes."

Pei Jiqing left Lin Qin's contact information, watched Lin Qin walk into the elevator, then turned to look at the nanny: "Don't let Mr. Shen know about what happened today."

The night sky permeated the entire room like thick ink.

Pei Jiqing turned over in his sleep, and his fingertips touched the cold sheets - the place where Chen Huixing was was empty.

Normally, if Chen Huixing didn't come home at this time, someone would always come to pass on a message: a phone call, a text message, or even just send a driver to let him know.

But tonight, nothing happened.

At 3:24 a.m., the sound of the door lock turning startled Pei Jiqing from his light sleep. Chen Huixing rushed in, reeking of alcohol, his suit jacket casually draped over his shoulders, his tie long gone.

The moment he reached out to touch Pei Jiqing, the strong scent of Omega exploded like an overturned perfume bottle, and the sweet jasmine almost solidified and wrapped around him.

Pei Jiqing jerked back, his back hitting the headboard. He reflexively covered his mouth and nose, his knuckles turning white. The unfamiliar smell permeated Chen Huixing's hair, collar, and cuffs.

"Pei Jiqing," Chen Huixing's voice was hoarse, soaked in alcohol. "You're right. I tried someone else—a high match, and it's indeed different."

"Slap—"

A slap exploded in the silent room, so crisp it was almost piercing.

Pei Jiqing's hand was still hanging in the air, his knuckles were red, and his palms were hot, as if burned by something.

His eyes were red, and there was a fire burning in his eyes, but the fire was not filled with hatred, but something deeper and more painful.

"Chen Huixing," his voice was trembling, like a string stretched to the extreme, "We are finished, completely finished, get out - don't touch me!"

The strange Omeg scent was still floating in the air, sweet and aggressive, like some malicious invader, drilling into his nostrils and corroding his sanity.

He could almost feel it gnawing at his nerves, one by one, sharp and fast.

Pei Jiqing emphasized the matching degree again and again, as if he was stubbornly trying to confirm something. Because he really cared about those cold data, and really cared about the damn physiological fit!

He just wanted to hear Chen Huixing say it—that he was different, that even if he one day became a lunatic like Ying Chen, he wouldn't need the soothing power of high compatibility. But Chen Huixing was a staunch believer in data. Ironically, when he found that high compatibility a few years ago, Chen Huixing was on the verge of collapse.

Reason told him he should ask, that Chen Huixing might not have done anything out of the ordinary, though the probability was low.

But his emotions prevented him from considering how other Omegas comforted their Alphas. The thought of that was driving him crazy!

A chasm of scientific rationality separated them.

Pei Jiqing knew better than anyone how awkward he felt.

And now, the unfamiliar Omega aura emanating from Chen Huixing was like a slap in the face. The only thing

holding them together until now was hatred.

Ever since the sudden death of another S-class Alpha in the Asian Union, Pei Jiqing had scoured every confidential file he could find on S-class Alphas. Every report came to the same conclusion: these monsters at the top of the genetic chain would eventually be consumed by their own talents.

Their bodies are like overly sensitive alarms, with high demands and high sensitivity. A little pheromone fluctuation can trigger a chain reaction. Without a highly compatible Omega as a tranquilizer, these so-called chosen ones will either go crazy or die in the end. The data will not lie: after the age of 25, pheromone outbursts will occur at least once a year, aggressiveness will double after the age of 30, and the mortality rate will be as high as 60% after the age of 35.

So they will be implanted with bio-electric wave flow since childhood. No matter

how much Pei Jiqing pretends to be a high match in front of Shen Huixing, it will not increase his chances of survival and his level of harmlessness to society.

Pei Jiqing is always uneasy. Even when he was in Nan'an, he would feel stuffy in his chest and couldn't help crying when he thought of Shen Huixing.

He wanted him to live.

Even if it didn't belong to him.