The Li family’s annual security budget—hundreds of millions—wasn’t for show.
With their level of preparation and protection, it was impossible for anyone to kidnap someone under their watch without making a sound.
This was ultimately how Li Xi answered Ying Zhiyu’s question.
From this, Ying Zhiyu could draw one conclusion—
No matter who on the outside wanted to harm him, in his previous life they couldn’t possibly have succeeded unless someone inside the Li family helped them.
Which meant he had to turn his attention back to the Li family.
Around the same time, through Li Qin’s connections, he finally managed to meet Wen Xinrui.
Wen Xinrui was the current head of the Wen family.
That an Omega had managed to climb to the position of patriarch of a major Capital family didn’t surprise Ying Zhiyu at all.
And it made him even less surprised that even without affection in her marriage back then, Wen Xinrui still gave birth to two Alpha children.
During dinner, Wen Xinrui spoke bluntly: “I just showed her the truth. She should thank me for it.”
As for what ultimately happened to Gan Ruyao—Wen Xinrui hadn’t thought about it, nor had she expected it.
September 9th was Ying Zhiyu’s 23rd birthday.
And Li Xi, now 36 weeks pregnant, was less than a month away from his due date.
On his birthday, Ying Zhiyu expected Li Xi to prepare something for him. Not wanting his pregnant Omega waiting around, he left the university lab two hours earlier than usual.
But when he arrived at the Li family’s garden villa in the LI headquarters complex, still sitting inside the car, he already spotted his parents and older sister through the rear window.
Coming home early wasn’t as good as coming home at just the right moment.
Li Xi had actually invited Ying Zhiyu’s entire family to celebrate his birthday.
Ying Zhiyu motioned for the driver to pull over. He sat in the car for half an hour before letting the driver take him back to the villa.
He thought—his Omega wanted to surprise him, just like his family did.
So the success of that surprise was something he should help protect.
After receiving the grand “surprise” at the door, Ying Zhiyu wrapped an arm around his heavily pregnant Omega, gently rubbing the taut curve of his belly.
“What made you think of inviting my parents and my sister over?”
To outsiders, this pregnancy held different meanings, but all of them were extraordinary.
Both Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi knew the best way to keep the child safe was to stay in the security zone and never give anyone a chance to strike.
Because of that, ever since Li Xi began showing at five months until now—approaching his due date—he had barely stepped foot outside the LI headquarters complex.
Ying Zhiyu had also been keeping Li Xi’s pregnancy a secret from his own family.
No matter what rumors spread outside, he hadn’t told them the truth.
Partly to keep them from worrying.
But also because if his parents knew Li Xi was pregnant, they would inevitably fuss over him.
Yet Li Xi was different. Ever since the Li family learned of his pregnancy, every aspect of his care had been meticulous, scientific, and thorough.
If Ying Zhiyu’s family found out, Li Xi might feel pressured—just like the first time he visited their home—forcing himself to consider their feelings while carrying a pregnancy.
And even though Ying Zhiyu was sure his family wouldn’t say anything inappropriate and would respect the Li family’s arrangements, he still didn’t want Li Xi to shoulder that emotional burden.
But now Li Xi had not only told his family about the pregnancy personally, he even invited them over.
By all logic, this birthday—so close to the due date—should’ve been extremely low-key. Just a quiet evening for the two of them.
But the Third Young Master of the Li family refused to let his Alpha feel even slightly wronged.
Besides Ying Zhiyu’s family, even Li Songqian showed up briefly at the start of the celebration.
Likely at Li Xi’s request, Li Songqian simply gifted a custom Montblanc pen, then left soon after.
Ying Zhiyu figured that Li Xi didn’t want his parents feeling stiff with the Li patriarch around.
But what surprised him the most was the gift delivered by the butler, Zhou Shen.
It was from Li Qin’s third daughter, Li Zhiyin.
After opening it, Ying Zhiyu couldn’t help lifting a brow. Li Xi said from beside him, “Zhiyin really likes you.”
Ying Zhiyu smiled with a hint of mischief. “And Chairman Li?”
Li Xi gave the Alpha a sideways look, refusing to dignify the teasing with a response.
Ever since the time he joked that the Alpha moved home to “accompany his father through the pregnancy,” anything he said afterward automatically sounded like jealousy to Ying Zhiyu.
The birthday cake was handmade by Li Xi.
When the cake was rolled out, Ying Zhiyu looked straight at him.
He knew Li Xi had been spending a lot of time in the baking room. Li Xi never hid the fact he’d prepared a birthday celebration for him. And it was precisely because of that that Ying Zhiyu never guessed his family would also show up.
Even the drone “firework show” he missed last year made a comeback.
Thousands of drones gathered in formation over the LI headquarters tower.
Under such a spectacular display, his family and Li Xi sang him a birthday song together.
When Ying Zhiyu opened his eyes after making a wish, his parents’ eyes were red.
Finally, the Li family’s precious Omega’s love for his young Alpha wasn’t just an online joke anymore—it was right there, visible, undeniable.
Only then did Ying Zhiyu’s parents truly feel relieved.
Their son had married someone who genuinely loved him.
After sending his family home, Ying Zhiyu and Li Xi didn’t return to their room right away. They stayed a while longer in the garden, looking at the stars.
At 36 weeks, Li Xi’s body was heavy, and standing too long wasn’t ideal.
His legs were slightly swollen lately. Supporting him, Ying Zhiyu asked, “Are you tired?”
Li Xi had maintained good condition throughout the pregnancy. He only shook his head. “I’m not that fragile.”
But this wasn’t about fragility. It was Alpha concern.
After answering, Li Xi pressed his lips together, then asked, “Are you… happy tonight?”
Ying Zhiyu smiled softly. “What do you think?”
But instead of only throwing the question back, he gave a direct answer: “Not just happy. I feel blessed.”
A birthday with family, with the person he loved, and with their soon-to-be-born baby.
He was lucky—and blessed.
Not wanting to agitate the pregnant Omega near his due date, Ying Zhiyu didn’t even hug him tightly tonight. His hands simply rested gently at Li Xi’s waist.
Li Xi called, “Ying Zhiyu.”
“Mm?”
Li Xi looked at his Alpha, wanting to say something.
But… what should he say?
Before he could speak, Ying Zhiyu said, “I know. I received everything. Thank you, Xixi-ge, for preparing all these birthday surprises for me.”
Li Xi’s love had shape. It had weight.
Just like the “little crystal” sleeping inside him—heavy, impossible to overlook.
From the moment they decided to have a child, it was as if fate delivered one instantly.
No one understood better than Ying Zhiyu—who had spent more than a decade studying Alpha–Omega offspring—what this meant.
The Omega had accepted every part of him, completely.
For someone like Li Xi—clear-headed, rational, self-disciplined, fiercely independent—that meant everything.
The child inside him was Li Xi’s silent yet deepest confession of love.