Once Ying Zhiyu arrived at the hospital, he sent Li Xi a message, simply saying he would be a little late because of something urgent at the lab.
But Li Xi was extremely perceptive.
Less than half a minute after the message was sent, Li Xi called.
At that moment, Ying Zhiyu was in the ER having his fingers treated.
While helping the bodyguard remove his suit jacket in the underground garage, he had accidentally touched some of the sulfuric acid with his fingertips, causing blisters. The doctor was now cleaning the wounds.
His phone rang. Ying Zhiyu paused for two seconds, then chose to answer.
The instant the call connected, a voice on the other end sounded anxious yet uncertain: “Ying Zhiyu?”
“It’s me,” Ying Zhiyu replied.
A deep exhale came from the other side before Li Xi asked, “Something urgent at the lab?”
Ying Zhiyu hesitated. He had planned to explain everything in person—afraid that talking over the phone might not make things clear and would only worry him.
But Li Xi had clearly already realized something was wrong. Otherwise, with his usual attention to personal privacy, he wouldn’t have asked about the lab.
So Ying Zhiyu answered honestly: “I’m at the hospital. One of the bodyguards got hurt, and I’m staying with him for the checkup.”
Before Li Xi could respond, Ying Zhiyu glanced at his own fingers and reassured him: “I’m not hurt. I’ll explain everything when I come see you.”
Then, before Li Xi could speak, he emphasized again: “I’m really fine. I’ll be with you within an hour.”
There was silence on the other end for a while. After a long pause, Li Xi finally said, “Okay. I’ll wait for you.”
After having his fingers treated, Ying Zhiyu checked on the injured Alpha bodyguard.
Another bodyguard was accompanying him, and thanks to the timely response—and the partial protection of the suit jacket—the injury wasn’t severe.
The ER doctor said, “Rest well. If it heals properly, it’s very likely there won’t be any scars.”
The bodyguard, feeling much better now, looked up as Ying Zhiyu entered the partitioned room and said, “Thank you, Young Master Ying.”
Ying Zhiyu walked over, placing his uninjured hand lightly on the man’s shoulder.
“No, I should be the one thanking you,” he said sincerely.
If it weren’t for that bodyguard today, Ying Zhiyu would have been seriously injured.
It was also his own oversight—he had been thinking that the period of time since all the events of his previous life was still far off.
But this life was different. Too much had already changed, and he had been too lax.
After arranging care for the injured bodyguard, Ying Zhiyu left the hospital first.
As he got into his car, he sent Li Xi a message saying he was on his way.
When his car approached the LI Group headquarters, even before reaching the underground parking entrance, he saw Li Xi standing by the building.
The driver stopped, and Ying Zhiyu got out.
He knew that once inside LI headquarters, he was absolutely safe.
The security around the LI Group headquarters, managed by the Li family, was practically airtight.
The moment the Alpha stepped out of the car, Li Xi’s gaze immediately fixed on Ying Zhiyu’s bandaged left hand.
Coincidentally, it was the left hand that had brushed against the sulfuric acid.
Ying Zhiyu didn’t bother to hide it and smiled faintly. “It’s a minor wound. The bandage is just to prevent infection.”
He briefly explained the encounter with the disguised assailant. When he mentioned that he’d accidentally touched a bit of sulfuric acid while helping the bodyguard remove his jacket, Li Xi immediately grabbed Ying Zhiyu’s uninjured right hand.
He could imagine that even just brushing against a corrosive liquid on the bodyguard’s clothing would require immediate cleaning and bandaging. Without the bodyguard’s intervention, Ying Zhiyu would have been the one injured.
Ying Zhiyu changed the subject: “By the way, he got hurt for me—Director Li should give him a good bonus.”
Li Xi was never short on money, and actually, it didn’t even need to be mentioned. The bodyguard had risked himself not just out of professional duty but also because the Li family compensated well.
After arriving at LI Group’s headquarters, a professional medical team checked Ying Zhiyu again.
The doctor gave him a tetanus shot, since he had touched scissors with his damaged finger and there was a chance the wound had been contaminated.
Ying Zhiyu couldn’t help but feel a bit reflective—this life, he had received a tetanus shot so early.
That evening, the LI Group’s year-end gala went ahead as planned.
Li Xi would still announce his marriage during the event.
However, because of Ying Zhiyu’s earlier injury, Li Xi planned to cancel the part where he would publicly introduce his Alpha partner.
Ying Zhiyu disagreed.
“If it’s meant to be found out, those with intentions will discover it anyway. Better to do it now than wait.”
The young Alpha spoke firmly, but Li Xi still didn’t yield.
Ying Zhiyu joked half-seriously: “I got hurt anyway. I’d rather be hurt openly than sacrifice myself for nothing.”
Finally, Li Xi relented and revealed Ying Zhiyu publicly.
Throughout the gala, Li Xi’s expression remained stern and cold.
Whenever bold employees approached to toast or congratulate them on their marriage, Li Xi blocked it all for Ying Zhiyu.
Even if senior executives came over personally, Li Xi was ready to drink on Ying Zhiyu’s behalf.
Ying Zhiyu: “…”
The Alpha who couldn’t drink was now firmly established.
Since he couldn’t drink, Ying Zhiyu also stopped Li Xi: “If you’re not drinking, we won’t drink either.”
Then he leaned close to Li Xi, winking, and whispered: “Aren’t we trying for a baby? What if the child grows up a drunkard?”
“….”
Li Xi finally obeyed and put the glass down.
Less than half an hour into the gala, Li Xi got up with Ying Zhiyu to leave.
Ying Zhiyu hesitated: “Already? The raffle isn’t over—some big prizes haven’t even been drawn.”
Li Xi said plainly, “They care about the prizes. My presence doesn’t matter.”
LI had always been generous with employees, with big prizes like company stock options, houses, and cars, and smaller ones like electronics and paid leave.
Ying Zhiyu thought it over and agreed—if there are prizes, it didn’t matter. The leadership’s role was simply to hand out a few big bonuses.
On the way home, Li Xi said little, until they reached their downtown building.
Ying Zhiyu glanced at the elevator monitor and exclaimed, “Finally speaking up.”
Li Xi looked at him, lips pressed tight: “…Don’t scare me like that.”
His face had been tense all evening.
Too much had happened that afternoon for a proper conversation, but some words were inevitable.
Ying Zhiyu sighed: “I’m really fine. Want me to take off the bandage for you to see?”
Li Xi watched him and said, “By then, it’ll be too late.”
At last, a hint of worry slipped into Li Xi’s eyes.
After holding in tension all night, in the confined privacy of the elevator, he finally allowed himself to feel the lingering fear creep in.
He hadn’t expected anyone to stake out Ying Zhiyu specifically.
If it had been a planned, organized attack by an extreme group, security would have detected it more easily. A lone extremist blending into the crowd was far harder to guard against.
Li Xi looked at the young Alpha’s face—so superior, handsome, exceptional.
If someone like him had actually been hit with sulfuric acid, where would the damage have been?
If that bodyguard hadn’t been there, if he hadn’t noticed in time, if there had been other people lying in wait—what would the situation be now?
Li Xi’s brows furrowed deeply, and Ying Zhiyu gently smoothed them with his right hand.
“You’re thinking about something,” Ying Zhiyu said softly.
Li Xi allowed that hint of worry and lingering fear to show, but only for a brief instant, almost like a fleeting illusion.
He lifted his eyes and asked the young Alpha, “Would you regret it?”
Although he spoke of “regret,” Li Xi’s hands instinctively wrapped around Ying Zhiyu’s body.
Li Xi could drag Ying Zhiyu into the bedroom whenever he wanted, but this kind of close, warming embrace was not something he usually did.
He had said before that he wasn’t good at showing affection—he had grown up cold and disciplined.
Ying Zhiyu, on the other hand, quite enjoyed it.
He let Li Xi hold him, lowering his gaze gently. “Regret what?”
“Getting married? Having money, leisure, protection?”
Li Xi ignored the playful tease and went straight to the point: “In the future, there could be mortal danger.”
This time it was sulfuric acid; next time, it could be a sniper’s bullet.
Ying Zhiyu looked at the one holding him and thought: this was a question he had already answered in his previous life before he died.
And in this life, his choice was already clear.
“I’m actually just an ordinary person. If I hadn’t married, I’d just be a slightly smarter ordinary person.”
“I’m glad to have been part of something that seems meaningful.”
“I’m not trying to be anyone’s savior, and I know you aren’t either. We just want to contribute a little bit to society. Isn’t that enough?”
Li Xi developed calming agents; in the future, more drugs to release AO pheromones would emerge.
Ying Zhiyu devoted himself to research, and in his previous life, while establishing a foothold at the National Academy of Biological Sciences, he also helped newcomers gain recognition early.
They never really aimed to change the system or imagined themselves as heroic saviors.
They just did what they could in their position.
“Keep yourself well when poor, help the world when able.”
Since they happened to have the ability and position, they could at least do a little, even if it was just a tiny bit.
If everyone contributes a little in their own way, perhaps the world will be a slightly better place tomorrow.
Ying Zhiyu hugged Li Xi back. “A life this meaningful—why would anyone regret it?”
Author’s note:
Some comments in the last chapter referenced real-life parallels. First, a clarification: the ABO world in this story mainly revolves around discussions of pheromone inequality.
The AO conflict lies in Alphas not wanting Omegas’ pheromones to be independent, while Omegas have reached a point where they must break free. Beta social status gaps are involved, making the liberation of pheromones a complex issue.
The story’s career-related plotline is about helping Omegas break free from pheromone restrictions.
During this, extreme groups, each with their own stance and self-interest, react aggressively. (All of these are extremists, not normal activists.)
Finally, to avoid misunderstandings: the ultimate “boss” cannot be an Omega or extreme Omega. The career plotline ultimately leads to “pheromone liberation,” and they have no reason to harm the protagonists at that point. (The main storyline remains romance; the career plot is only background.)