Chapter 51: He finally tasted the remorse that pierced his heart like a thousand arrows...

Wei Ji gestured for the others to leave the downtown area first, then turned to Pei Jiqing, "Where are you going?"

Zhizhi was sound asleep, her little face buried in the collar of Pei Jiqing's windbreaker, her breathing steady and long.

The child had been running around with Pei Jiqing all day, and had just been startled by the sudden shock, and now she had finally fallen asleep. Pei Jiqing reached out and gathered the hem of the clothes wrapped around her, his fingertips touching her warm cheek, like a hibernating animal.

Ever since Zhizhi was born, his glands had become extra sensitive, causing him to have minor ailments from time to time. Either a low-grade fever from pheromone imbalances, or dizziness from slightly swollen glands. Hospital examinations couldn't find anything serious.

The doctor simply said it was a common symptom after Omega childbirth and that he would just prescribe some inhibitors and nutritional supplements.

Zhizhi unconsciously nuzzled him in her sleep. The child loved the scent of his and Shen Huixing's pheromones; it made her feel safe.

Pei Jiqing looked at his daughter's rosy face as she slept, and suddenly felt that the minor ailments and pains of the past few years didn't seem so unbearable.

Once, while hospitalized, Pei Jiqing awoke from a drowsy sleep to find sunlight slanting across the edge of the bed.

He tilted his head slightly and saw Shen Huixing sitting beside the bed, holding the already asleep Zhizhi in his arms. The little girl's face was flushed, her tiny hand still clutching the edge of Shen Huixing's shirt. Shen Huixing patted her back with one hand while reading a document with the other, occasionally glancing up at him.

As their eyes met, Shen Huixing put down the document and whispered, "Are you awake? Are you still feeling unwell?"

Pei Jiqing shook his head, his gaze fixed on Zhizhi's small body, which rose and fell with each breath. Seeing this, Shen Huixing adjusted his position to make his daughter's sleep more comfortable.

The sun shone through the gauze curtains, casting tiny spots of light on them. At that moment, Pei Jiqing suddenly felt that such an ordinary moment seemed so precious.

Pei Jiqing withdrew his thoughts and gave an address: "Just drop me off there."

Wei Ji chuckled: "Jiqing, you're mistaken, I'm not here to be a driver."

"What do you mean?"

"Four years ago, Chen Huixing was able to steal the truth. This is the day I've been waiting for."

He suddenly reached out and held Pei Jiqing's wrist, the warmth of his palm burning: "Come with me, I can give you a better life."

Pei Jiqing pulled his hand back abruptly, his eyes turning cold: "Wei Ji, I'm not a trophy for you Alphas to fight over. You're asking me to go with you now, what kind of life do you plan to let me live?"

He curled his lips sarcastically: "Checking your schedule suspiciously every day? Or waiting to smell the pheromones of other Omegas on you one day?"

Wei Ji: "Jiqing, I was bewildered that time. I swear..."

Pei Jiqing turned his head to look at the street scene passing by outside the window, his voice lowered: "You said that an Alpha like Chen Huixing would cheat sooner or later... I had a fight with you at that time."

He smiled bitterly: "Think about it now, you were right."

Wei Ji's breathing stagnated.

Of course he remembered what he said that year - at that time he had just been rejected by Pei Jiqing, and he had to watch him and Shen Huixing being affectionate, and he was jealous to the point of madness, and he cursed to Pei Jiqing viciously that Shen Huixing, a pretentious Alpha, would sooner or later cheat on him outside!

Now that these words came out of Pei Jiqing's mouth, it should have made him feel happy, and it seemed that he was not so unforgivable.

But looking at Pei Jiqing's pale profile, Wei Ji felt a tightness in his chest.

He cut Shen Huixing into pieces in his heart. This bitch hypocrite clearly had the treasure that he wanted but did not know how to cherish it. In the end, he still couldn't control his lower body?

"Shen Huixing is a bastard, he doesn't deserve you."

Pei Jiqing did not respond, but turned his face deeper towards the car window, and the light spots of the street lamp flickered on his face.

Wei Ji asked the driver to stop the car and got out. His voice was husky, "So... there's no chance for either of us, is there?"

Pei Jiqing pulled Zhizhi closer to him, the child's warm breath wafting through the fabric of

his clothes. "Even if you hadn't come today," he said calmly, "I would have found a way to leave. It's just a matter of time."

"It's hard to take care of a child," Wei Ji's eyes fell on Zhizhi's sleeping face. "Think about the time your mother raised you alone. I know you don't feel that way about me now, so let me help you, okay? I don't want you to suffer so much. Just... just be friends. Besides, you've adjusted to a good life, haven't you?"

Pei Jiqing suddenly laughed, a hint of self-deprecation in his laughter. "I do enjoy the rich life. Who wouldn't?"

Pei Jiqing recalled the time when he'd held a glass of champagne and smiled gracefully at every guest. Those envious glances and flattering words had made him feel like he'd truly blended in with that world.

But that wasn't the case.

His respectable job was just a bargaining chip used by Chen Huixing to control him.

Pei Jiqing was silent for a moment: "But these years have finally made me understand one thing - there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

Of course he loves money, loves those luxuries that are within his reach, and loves a comfortable life without having to worry about making a living. What's wrong with that? Who doesn't yearn for a life of luxury? In those years as an executive's wife, he wore hand-made suits and went in and out of high-end places. He looked bright and beautiful on the surface, but he was walking on thin ice on the inside.

Every check on the stability of pheromones, and the forced compliance in bed and out of bed - these are the prices behind the glamour. His work, his social circle, and even the air he breathed were all labeled as Chen Huixing.

Later, even that decent job was lost, like a charity that was taken back.

Outsiders only thought that he was lucky to be favored by an Alpha like Chen Huixing. But how could there be such a thing as favor without reason? What Chen Huixing valued was simply their high compatibility—an Omega who could steadily provide high-quality pheromones, safeguard his career and give him an extra bargaining chip against his political opponents.

Now that Shen Huixing has grown strong and his position is secure, he no longer needs this guarantee.

In fact, from the beginning, his position was just a chess piece to be used and discarded.

In the past few years, they had been at loggerheads, and Pei Jiqing thought he had become numb. It was not

until Chen Huixing returned with someone else's pheromones that Pei Jiqing was really tired.

They had only endless suspicion and distrust towards each other.

One night, their argument was sudden and intense. Pei Jiqing remembered that he had just put Zhizhi to sleep.

The quarrel grew louder until a faint sob came from the door. Pei Jiqing turned his head and saw Zhizhi standing barefoot by the door in a pink nightgown, holding a doll tightly in her arms. The four-year-old girl was obviously frightened, tears welling up in her big eyes, but she did not dare to cry out loud, and just kept rubbing her eyes with her small hands.

"Baby..." Pei Jiqing immediately squatted down and tried to hug her.

"Take the young lady back to her room," Chen Huixing ordered coldly.

The nanny hurried over and picked up Zhizhi. The little girl leaned on the nanny's shoulder, finally unable to hold back her soft sobs, her tears wetting her doll-like golden curls.

Pei Jiqing stood there, his heart aching.

Pei Jiqing never got pregnant again, so he believed what Chen Huixing said about the sterilization, but it was not irreversible.

The reproductive desire in the bones of Alphas is like a time bomb.

Pei Jiqing knew too well that these Alphas at the top of power are always pursuing more powerful genetic combinations.

Zhizhi's frightened little face lingered in Pei Jiqing's mind. He could no longer let his daughter grow up in such an environment - how would a daughter who was despised by her Alpha father cope in the future? Pei Jiqing finally made up his mind to leave at that time.

He had seen that Shen Jiqing come to the house, and he also heard their conversation.

The young man stood in the study, and amid the rustling sound of turning papers, Chen Huixing signed one document after another.

Pei Jiqing read the document under the pretext of tidying up the study. The clauses were densely packed, but the core content was clear at a glance - Chen Huixing was shielding the Shen family's smuggling business.

His signature was strong and powerful, like a venomous snake entwined on the document.

In the corner of the study, the carefully framed photo was particularly eye-catching. There was no photo inside, but a signed divorce agreement.

Pei Jiqing's signature was on it. Chen Huixing said that this was his wake-up call, and he should always remind himself not to make the same mistake again. The photo frame was wiped spotless and occupied the most conspicuous position on the bookshelf, like some twisted trophy.

Pei Jiqing said to himself that he must hide better. He didn't want to be easily found and forcibly taken back like last time, like a canary that couldn't escape from the cage.

So he planned for a long time.

Even if Liang Yi didn't make a move, he might give the evidence to Cen Yuean. He knew that he couldn't defeat Chen Huixing with this, but at least it would be better to delay it for a while.

He asked Cen Yuean to help him and his daughter get two fake identities. With several years of social experience, it would be no problem for him to integrate into society.

The Asian United Nations is so big, he didn't believe that Chen Huixing could find him so quickly.

Now Pei Jiqing always has a question in his mind - how did Wei Ji find him? Unless... Wei Ji's people had been planted around Chen Huixing a long time ago.

His tone was calm, almost cold. "You say you love me now, but do you believe that?"

Wei Ji said, "I'm serious."

Pei Jiqing said, "Just send me to Haicheng. I owe you a favor."

Wei Ji was silent for a moment, finally saying, "Let me see you settle down safely."

The drive took three days. Upon arriving in Haicheng, Pei Jiqing received his pre-prepared new identity. He clutched the certificate and turned to Wei Ji, saying, "It's time to leave."

Wei Ji was now a wanted criminal in the Asian Union. Why would he risk so much to return?

"Come with me," Wei Ji suddenly grabbed his wrist. "Only by leaving the Asian Union can you truly escape Chenhui Star."

Pei Jiqing looked down at the certificate in his hand, the edges of the paper a little rough.

"Don't feel like you owe me. I owe you more."

"I've prepared accommodations. It's not in the city center, but it's convenient and quiet. You can stay as long as you want and leave at any time."

Pei Jiqing had to admit the offer was tempting. As long as he remained in China, he would never escape Chenhui Star's control.

Perhaps this truly was a chance to start over.

But what was the price of agreeing to Wei Ji?

Pei Jiqing was thinking about the conditions for agreeing to Wei Ji.

Wei Ji suddenly said, "I'm going to get married. My partner is the governor's daughter. I'm rich and her family is powerful."

"That's good." Pei Jiqing responded briefly.

He would no longer use himself as a bargaining chip to exchange for any opportunity - if he had to pay the price, he would rather not have anything.

Pei Jiqing suddenly felt a lot more relaxed, as if he had unloaded an invisible burden.

Everything went very smoothly, even beyond Pei Jiqing's imagination. They left by boat. When leaving, Zhizhi said to Pei Jiqing, "When will father come back?"

Pei Jiqing looked at his daughter's innocent and tender face, and said with some reluctance, "We won't bring father this time. He will come when he is done with his work."

Zhizhi hugged Pei Jiqing tightly, pursed her lips and said nothing.

*

As winter approached, Pei Jiqing began to prepare supplies for the winter.

He drove the second-hand car to the supermarket to buy various daily necessities. The shopping cart was full of flour, canned goods and long-lasting vegetables.

Zhizhi adapted well to the nearby kindergarten.

With his outstanding appearance and quick mind, Pei Jiqing found a job as a front-end consultant in an auto parts company.

Although the income is not as good as the days of luxury in the past, it is enough for them to live a stable life. Every time he saw the gradually increasing numbers in his salary card, Pei Jiqing would breathe a sigh of relief - everything was slowly getting better.

His face was always particularly eye-catching in the crowd.

The Asian neighbors next door often sent fresh milk from their cows, packaged in glass bottles, with the fragrance of the pasture.

Zhizhi gradually got used to the new life, but occasionally blinked her big eyes and asked, "When will Dad come to see us?"

Whenever this happened, Pei Jiqing would gently braid her hair and change the subject: "Baby, can Dad buy you that new doll tomorrow?"

He began to affectionately call his daughter "Xiaonan". Children's memories are always short, and Pei Jiqing enjoyed this hard-earned peaceful life.

Wei Ji would come to visit occasionally.

Pei Jiqing advised him to stop contacting her since he had a new life, but Wei Ji always forced a smile: "Can we still be friends?"

He liked to see Pei Jiqing busy in the kitchen with an apron on. At that moment, he would have the illusion of happiness, as if they were really a family of three.

Until one day, Xiaonan pointed at the piano performance on TV and said she liked it.

Not long after, Wei Ji had a Steinway delivered. Pei Jiqing watched helplessly as the workers moved the piano into the living room, and Xiaonan circled around excitedly.

When the tuner finished adjusting the piano, Pei Jiqing subconsciously sat on the piano stool and pressed the keys with his daughter's little hand. The next second, a smooth melody flowed from his fingertips.

Wei Ji vaguely saw the young man who performed in the school auditorium that year. Pei Jiqing was so dazzling under the spotlight that people couldn't take their eyes off him.

Those who called him an illegitimate child just wanted to pull him down from the altar. Wei Ji once vowed to hold him in the palm of his hand, but in the end he failed to keep his best years.

No one taught Wei Ji what integrity and shame were. It was Pei Jiqing who brought him back to the right path. Now he has finally learned to restrain himself, but he can never find the person who made his heart beat.

Wei Ji stood by the piano, his eyes hot - he finally understood that he would never meet a better person than Pei Jiqing in his life.

The incident happened on an ordinary evening.

Pei Jiqing came home from work, carrying a strawberry cake he bought for Xiaonan. As soon as he parked the car, there was a strange noise outside. He pushed open the car door in confusion, and the next second his mouth and nose were covered, and his consciousness fell into darkness.

When his consciousness returned, the first thing Pei Jiqing felt was a tingling pain in the glands at the back of his neck.

He slowly opened his eyes, and the unfamiliar ceiling swayed in his sight like a pool of muddied water. The shackles on his wrists rattled as he stood up, which was particularly harsh in the silent room.

"I shouldn't be too kind to you." Chen Huixing's voice came from the shadows.

Alpha had a blank expression, and his facial features were three-dimensional.

Pei Jiqing's throat was dry and painful: "Where is this?"

"A place no one can find." Chen Huixing held a silver metal box in his hand, which glowed coldly in the dim light.

"You told Dad that I would become a madman? That I would kill you. Is compatibility really that important to you?"

Pei Jiqing was stunned for only a second, then sneered and asked: "Isn't it important? Then why did you marry me in the first place?" Chen Huixing

was right. He opened the box, and inside lay a light blue potion, and the liquid swayed slightly in the glass tube.

"This is specially made with our pheromones," he said, his fingertips caressing the needle, his movements as gentle as if caressing a lover's skin. "From now on, we are the most compatible people in the world."

"You're crazy!" Pei Jiqing flinched back, the chains of his shackles straining straight.

"Chen Huixing, please, don't do this! My glands can't handle this!" Pei Jiqing shook his head and backed away, the chains scraping against the bedpost.

"Liar," Chen Huixing sneered, the needle tip gleaming coldly in the light. "Last time you said your glands were damaged, but it turns out it's because you're pregnant."

He watched helplessly as Chen Huixing unhesitatingly plunged a needle into his vein, the pale blue liquid slowly disappearing into the vein before moving back towards him.

There was no place to retreat.

The moment the cold needle pierced his skin, Pei Jiqing trembled all over, as if countless ants were crawling along his veins toward his heart.

The drug took effect as expected late at night.

Pei Jiqing's body was like dry firewood that had been lit, and every inch of his skin was screaming for Chen Huixing's pheromones.

They had been entangled in the dark for three days and three nights.

During this time, Pei Jiqing kept saying that he was in great pain, and cried and asked to let him go.

Chen Huixing turned a deaf ear to him and just called him a liar.

Until one day at dawn, Pei Jiqing suddenly convulsed violently in Shen Huixing's arms, and blood gushed out of his nose, instantly staining Chen Huixing's white shirt red.

The warm blood flowed down the fabric, leaving shocking marks on Shen Huixing's body.

"Pei Jiqing!" Chen Huixing's voice changed, and he hurriedly wiped the blood from his face, but found that the more he wiped, the more blood there was.

Pei Jiqing convulsed in his arms, and blood began to ooze from the corners of his mouth. His whole body was like a piece of broken glass, as if it would completely shatter in the next second. Chen Huixing

trembled all over and hugged the person in his arms tightly.

He could feel Pei Jiqing's body temperature rapidly dropping, and the face that always had a stubborn look on it was now frighteningly pale.

Blood was still flowing, staining his arms and his clothes red, and even dripping onto the floor.

"Doctor! Call a doctor!"

Chen Huixing yelled uncontrollably, with unprecedented panic in his voice.

He hurriedly tried to feel Pei Jiqing's pulse, but found that the weak beat was disappearing little by little. At this moment, he finally tasted the regret that felt like a thousand arrows piercing his heart.