Chapter 37

Ten days later was the full-month celebration of Li Qin and Han Xiyu’s newborn fourth son.

Earlier, Ying Zhiyu had returned from his southern lab visit and finally had time to look into buying property near the school.

In fact, he had basically made up his mind while reviewing the options.

But since Li Xi would also live there, and they wanted to move in quickly, they chose fully furnished units.

Ying Zhiyu insisted on taking Li Xi to view the properties, so they could make the final decision together.

After seeing the units, Li Xi had no objections. Once the purchase was complete, they could plan their move.

Everything had gone smoothly so far.

Yet just as everything was ready, preparing to start their married life together, Li Xi mentioned Ying Zhiyu’s parents’ rented two-bedroom apartment:

“Should we buy one for Uncle and Aunt too?”

Ying Zhiyu still kept his weekly visits to his parents’ old fifth-floor apartment in the North District.

Though three or four months had passed since they registered in July, and his account received at least thirty million monthly, Li Xi’s suggestion clearly wasn’t expecting him to pay.

Ying Zhiyu instinctively declined. “Not yet. They’re used to living there, and it’s convenient for their shop commute.”

His parents only knew that their son was dating LI Group’s third young master.

Marriage was serious to their generation; to avoid worry, Ying Zhiyu only shared that his relationship with Li Xi was stable—no mention of a “flash marriage.”

Li Xi added, “We could buy the shop too. It’s too remote there. Their buns are great—they could be moved to a busier commercial area.”

But Ying Zhiyu shook his head.

“Shops in central districts are too expensive. Even if we told them it was a rental, it’d stress them. They’ve been there for so long, have regular customers, and know their monthly earnings.

“Moving would be risky: fewer breakfast options, can’t compete with big chains; too high a price would fail, but pricing as before guarantees a monthly loss.”

He had considered buying for his parents before, but they had always been honest, simple people. After so many years, settling in the North District was their biggest dream. At their age, no need for major upheaval—and they couldn’t run a breakfast business for much longer.

Li Xi pursed his lips, saying nothing further.

Ying Zhiyu sensed that the Third Young Master was displeased.

He picked a moment when Li Xi was more receptive and gently rubbed the damp ends of his hair, his voice low and tender in the quiet night.

“Working so smoothly while keeping your feelings in—doesn’t that frustrate you?”

Li Xi’s uneven breathing stuttered. He tilted his head, dodging the young Alpha’s playful fingers.

“It’s not only you having fun. Why should I be frustrated?” Li Xi retorted.

He felt a little awkward because Ying Zhiyu wouldn’t accept his offer of help, yet the Alpha’s reasoning and fairness were undeniable.

“So… want to vent a little now?”

Ying Zhiyu smiled knowingly. “Complain about this ungrateful, clueless Alpha of mine.”

“….”

Li Xi remained silent in the dark for a long while.

Ying Zhiyu, patient, didn’t rush. Eventually, Li Xi spoke:

“Are you afraid of something, refusing the gifts I give?”

An Alpha could comfortably accept millions monthly because it was stipulated in the prenuptial agreement, rightful for him as Li Xi’s Alpha.

But Ying Zhiyu never asked for anything else—name, wealth, resources, connections, or protection against ridicule.

“I, Li Xi’s Alpha, come home one day a week and sleep in the living room,” he said, rolling over to lie flat, voice detached.

“Those who don’t know would think I’m stingy with my Alpha.”

Ying Zhiyu chuckled.

The Omega beside him turned to look at him. Even in darkness, Ying Zhiyu knew he was likely being shot a glare.

“Everyone knows you spoil me most. I’m the favorite!” Li Zhiyu hurried to justify.

Li Xi: “….”

Ying Zhiyu became serious, explaining patiently:

“I planned to wait until after graduation and stable work to move my parents.

“They’re from a traditional generation. If I bought property and shops now, they’d think I’m leeching. They’d scold me.”

Li Xi paused half a second. “You’re not leeching.”

In this marriage, Ying Zhiyu fulfilled every Alpha obligation perfectly, creating immeasurable value. Even what wasn’t required, he did well.

Thus, the money was rightfully his—no question of leeching.

Though Ying Zhiyu’s self-deprecating comment about “leeching” wasn’t satisfying, their small disagreement was essentially resolved.

On the way to Li Xi’s family garden villa for the full-month celebration, Li Xi sat in the back seat behind the partition, saying:

“Li Qin chose to hold the celebration at home to assert her status as the eldest daughter of the Li family Alpha.”

The celebration for Li Qin and Han Xiyu’s fourth son was intentionally low-key, a small family gathering.

The location—Li family villa in the LI headquarters center—was deliberately chosen. Even though there were countless hotels, private clubs, or other luxury options, this modest garden villa was picked.

Li Xi expressionless: “Li Lü has been checking your lab projects lately. Probably under Li Qin’s instruction. She noticed something off about you early on.”

Ying Zhiyu laughed. “What’s off about me? Just two eyes and a mouth.”

Glancing at the teasing companion, he wisely stayed silent.

Li Xi continued: “I’ll keep an eye on Li Lü. Are your lab members trustworthy? If any are vulnerable, let me know.”

He still held a grudge over that Alpha doctor in their biology institute. And one like that rarely comes alone.

Ying Zhiyu shook his head. Li Xi assumed he was fully focused on research, paying little attention to social dynamics.

About to reassure him that it was fine, Li Xi could handle it anyway…

But Ying Zhiyu replied, “If your elder sister or second brother want to check, let them.

“They won’t find more than you already know. Our lab projects, though confidential, even if they uncover something, won’t intersect with LI’s business.”

Li Xi frowned. “But last time you said—”

Ying Zhiyu smiled and explained: “That was hypothetical. I’m not doing pheromone drug research. Think of it as a preventive warning. But the current project is unrelated.”

Hearing this, Li Xi said nothing further.

But speaking of preventive measures…

Ying Zhiyu paused, then suddenly took Li Xi’s right hand resting on his leg.

Li Xi glanced down at his own hand and turned his head away.

Ying Zhiyu hesitated a moment before speaking slowly: “There might be something wrong with my hand.”

Li Xi froze, immediately sitting upright and staring at him. “What do you mean ‘something wrong with your hand’?”

He looked down at Ying Zhiyu’s hands, saw nothing unusual with the left one he was holding, and reached to check the right.

Ying Zhiyu stopped him. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. It’s probably psychological.”

Li Xi frowned. “Psychological?”

Ying Zhiyu invented an excuse. “When I was little, I saw someone have their fingers and arms chopped off. While on a business trip, handling biological samples in the lab, something suddenly triggered that memory. Since then, I’ve felt a little… off.”

In truth, Ying Zhiyu wasn’t reminded by any lab sample.

He had never forgotten losing his fingers and later undergoing amputation in his past life, so it wasn’t a sudden memory.

He only noticed something was wrong when he was visiting the southern lab, removing his ring too quickly and scratching the base of his finger.

At that moment, the sensation in his left ring finger seemed to disappear briefly.

It was fleeting, so he didn’t think much of it.

However, after returning from the trip, two nights ago, he awoke to a sharp, stabbing pain in his sleep.

His heart raced, sweat beaded on his forehead, and he stared incredulously at his left hand and arm.

In his past life, he had passed away shortly after the amputation, never experiencing phantom limb pain. But that didn’t mean he didn’t understand the symptoms.

The next day, he went to the hospital for a checkup.

Ying Zhiyu didn’t deliberately avoid a Li family hospital. With the national medical record system linked, even if he had checked elsewhere, the report would reach Li Xi in a few days, potentially raising suspicion.

Better to go directly to the Li family’s private hospital, examined by a top surgeon from their medical team.

He had taken half a day off yesterday afternoon for the checkup.

Afterward, he requested that the doctor send the report to Li Xi the next day. The doctor found it odd, as the results showed nothing wrong, yet agreed.

Now, Ying Zhiyu gently stroked Li Xi’s hand, smiling. “The report should be in your inbox. There’s nothing wrong—you can check it yourself.”

Li Xi immediately released his hand and opened the email on the car’s tablet.

After reading it, he didn’t immediately relax.

He stared at Ying Zhiyu’s left hand. “How does your arm feel now?”

Ying Zhiyu shook his head. “Fine, it’s perfectly fine.” He smiled. “I think my brain just had a minor malfunction hallucination. Could you help me arrange a psychologist?”

Since hearing Li Xi’s grandparents call him “Xi Xi,” he’d started occasionally saying “Xi Xi Gege” during certain moments—mostly at night when they were both lying down, and it usually worked to fluster Li Xi.

This was the first time he’d done it in broad daylight.

Yet Li Xi remained unmoved, brow furrowed, eyes fixed on Ying Zhiyu’s left hand.

Even when Ying Zhiyu held him, Li Xi didn’t dare squeeze back.

Ying Zhiyu tilted his head and kissed Li Xi’s lips, pressed into a straight line.

“Really nothing. I just didn’t want you to worry yourself guessing.”

The Alpha sighed. “When someone with a 140 IQ says something, isn’t it worth believing?”