Chapter 89

Gu Yang rarely fell ill. From childhood to adulthood, he could count the number of fevers he had on one hand, but each time, they had been quite severe.

This time was no exception.

When Lin Xiaoran took his temperature, Gu Yang still managed to speak with what little energy he had left. But after taking the medicine, he grew weaker, and the medication soon took effect, causing him to fall into a deep sleep.

The bedside lamp cast a dim light, which couldn’t hide the exhaustion and pallor on his face.

Lin Xiaoran felt a bit regretful. He must have been so happy to see Gu Yang that he didn’t realize how badly Gu Yang had been pushing himself. He must have been under a lot of pressure lately.

In fact, during this time, Lin Xiaoran had occasionally felt a little hurt, even a bit resentful, about Gu Yang’s apparent neglect.

He thought he was being too sentimental. After all, two grown men—was it really necessary to video call every day?

But despite knowing this, he still felt disappointed.

He couldn’t tell whether this feeling was simply due to his Omega nature—his deep attachment to his Alpha—or if it was because Gu Yang had never been this distant before. It had caught him off guard.

Either way, he didn’t like this feeling.

What he didn’t realize was that during the time Gu Yang seemed to be neglecting him, he had been working relentlessly.

Lin Xiaoran knew Gu Yang well.

Gu Yang had always been ambitious and had known what he wanted from a young age. He was someone who would plan early and work hard to achieve his goals, but he was also laid-back by nature and preferred to follow his whims.

Even from his school days, it was clear he didn’t like to participate in competitions. He didn’t like being under constant pressure.

In recent years, Lin Xiaoran had noticed that the tense nerves Gu Yang once had due to starting his business had loosened up. He had let go of as many responsibilities as he could, rescheduled meetings when possible, and no longer followed his old routine of going to the office early, sometimes not leaving until 10 a.m.

Lin Xiaoran had already heard Gu Yang mention the company’s plans to open a branch in North America, but at that time, Gu Yang hadn’t even considered coming here himself.

Now, however, he had come—ultimately, because of him.

Lin Xiaoran knew that Gu Yang’s decision to come wasn’t just for work.

He didn’t believe that Gu Yang couldn’t bear being separated from him for a year, even though it might appear to others that Gu Yang preferred to be close to him. Lin Xiaoran understood that was just Gu Yang’s personality—he was always more proactive when they were together.

But deep down, Gu Yang wasn’t someone who couldn’t stand being apart from him.

He would miss him, of course, but it wasn’t to the extent of needing to rush after him.

It was Lin Xiaoran himself who had become more dependent.

Lin Xiaoran absentmindedly touched the gland on the back of his neck, his soft lips pressing together in a light pout.

He had spent a month apart from Gu Yang before, but knowing it would only be for a month, it didn’t feel as strange.

However, after being marked by Gu Yang, extended separation became rare, and now he realized that, without Gu Yang by his side, he began to feel a sense of insecurity.

That insecurity couldn’t be soothed by just Gu Yang’s pheromones.

He needed Gu Yang next to him.

Of course, being an adult, he could control these emotions.

But what about after three months? Or six months?

Would he still be able to tolerate it?

Most Omega individuals would feel some dependency after being marked by their Alpha. The intensity varied from person to person, and sometimes, as the relationship faded, the bonds created by the marking weakened, and the dependency gradually diminished.

Lin Xiaoran had always believed that he wouldn’t develop strong dependency. Not because he thought there was something wrong with his relationship with Gu Yang, but because many traits of a latent Omega were not obvious in him.

However, when he was fully marked, his dependency lasted much longer than most Omega. While others might recover in a week, it took him over half a month to regain his balance.

Now, even though he had been fully marked for years, the feeling of dependence still lingered after being apart from Gu Yang for a while.

Perhaps Gu Yang had noticed this, which was why he had insisted on coming.

Gently brushing Gu Yang’s face, Lin Xiaoran’s soft, rosy lips parted slightly, silently whispering, “Thank you.”

That night, Lin Xiaoran barely slept.

Even though Gu Yang had taken medicine, he couldn’t rest well. Due to the medication, he sweated profusely throughout the night.

Lin Xiaoran used a towel to help cool Gu Yang down, constantly wiping the sweat from his body, and even changed him into clean clothes in between.

In the middle of the night, Gu Yang finally fell into a more peaceful sleep. Lin Xiaoran touched his forehead and found that his fever had subsided somewhat. He felt a bit more at ease but still couldn’t fall asleep. He lay beside Gu Yang, keeping him company. From time to time, he couldn’t resist opening his eyes to check if Gu Yang was sleeping soundly. Each time he confirmed that, he would close his eyes, telling himself to sleep for a while, but five minutes later, he couldn’t resist opening his eyes again.

This cycle continued until dawn.

He didn’t know how long it had been since Gu Yang had had a proper sleep, and given his illness, there was no sign of him waking up.

However, the fever had completely subsided.

Lin Xiaoran covered him with the blanket, then got out of bed, heading to the living room to call the hospital and take a sick day.

The candlelit dinner from last night had yet to be cleaned up. When Gu Yang suddenly fell ill and took medicine, Lin Xiaoran hadn’t thought to call someone to clean up. It was only now that he remembered, so he called the service desk and also ordered some ingredients.

He was staying in a suite, which had a separate kitchen, so he could make simple meals. Of course, he wasn’t particularly skilled in the kitchen.

Using the basic kitchen tools, he made some porridge, cucumber salad, and shredded chicken salad.

These were among the few dishes Lin Xiaoran could prepare, and they all had a common trait—they didn’t require chopping, and the seasoning was nearly identical for each dish.

It took him quite some time, as he wasn’t particularly good at cooking and often forgot things.

Finally, after some struggle, it was almost noon.

Inside the bedroom, Gu Yang, fully rested, was awakened by the faint smell of food. Groggily, he opened his eyes, seeing unfamiliar surroundings for a moment, unsure where he was.

Then, the door slowly creaked open, and the beautiful Omega poked his head inside quietly.

Their eyes met.

Both of them froze for a moment.

Lin Xiaoran was surprised that Gu Yang had woken up but quickly recovered and approached the bed. “You’re awake? How do you feel?”

He asked softly, then touched Gu Yang’s forehead.

Yes, the fever had definitely gone down.

But Gu Yang didn’t respond much. His gaze stayed fixed on Lin Xiaoran without saying anything.

Lin Xiaoran was a bit concerned, gently touching his face and asking, “Do you still feel unwell?”

Only then did Gu Yang react. He reached out to pull Lin Xiaoran into an embrace. His brain, still foggy from the fever, finally realized that he hadn’t been dreaming. Last night, he had seen the Omega he had missed for so long.

But before he could express his longing, he had fallen ill.

Now, finally, he could hold him close and get some comfort.

“I’m feeling much better, just a little hungry.” His throat was still sore from the fever, making it painful to speak.

Lin Xiaoran ruffled his hair gently and said softly, “I made porridge. I’ll bring it over. After you eat, have some throat lozenges and rest again.”

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.” Gu Yang said this, but still clung to Lin Xiaoran, reluctant to let go.

Lin Xiaoran was patient with Gu Yang, especially when he was sick. He let him cuddle as much as he wanted, waiting for him to let go before going to get the porridge and salad.

Gu Yang wasn’t picky about food to begin with, and considering that Lin Xiaoran had cooked it for him with care, he quickly finished everything in just a few bites.

In the afternoon, Gu Yang continued to rest, with Lin Xiaoran staying by his side.

It wasn’t so much accompanying him as it was that Lin Xiaoran himself was tired, having had poor sleep the night before.

As for Gu Yang, he was still recovering from the intense work schedule he’d had recently, and slept soundly through the afternoon.

They didn’t wake up until evening.

Now that Gu Yang had recovered and gotten enough rest, the weakness he’d felt earlier had disappeared, replaced by full energy, and his pheromones were as intense as ever.

The Omega who had been planning to get up and order dinner now found himself weak and soft, his body honest in its need for the Alpha’s pheromones after over a month without that comfort.

After a bit of playfulness, it was already midnight.

They had missed dinner, but there was no rush. The hotel offered room service at any time.

Lin Xiaoran called for food, but Gu Yang, still unsatisfied, pulled him from the bed and into the bathroom with him.

When they came out, the meal had already been delivered.

It was only now that Lin Xiaoran had a chance to ask Gu Yang about the little one. Last night, Gu Yang had only mentioned that the child would be coming in a few days, but given Gu Yang’s condition, Lin Xiaoran hadn’t had the opportunity to ask more. However, he had been thinking about the little one a lot.

“He should be here in two or three days. He’s coming with Grandpa and Grandma, taking a cruise,” Gu Yang explained.

The little one was only a little over three years old, and Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang had always avoided having him fly. Over the years, whenever they went back to their hometown for the New Year, they would drive, but driving to America was obviously not an option.

Coincidentally, Grandpa and Grandma were also coming to the U.S. to recuperate, and since it wasn’t safe for the elderly to fly, Gu Yang arranged for them to take a cruise with the nanny and doctor accompanying them.

The journey was longer because it required a transfer, so it would take a bit more time. The little one had originally set off a week earlier than Gu Yang, but they would still arrive a few days later than him.

It was only now that Lin Xiaoran realized something strange in the little one’s video calls these past few days. The child always seemed to be in a very small space.

At first, Lin Xiaoran hadn’t thought much about it, but now he realized that the little one must have been trying to avoid showing the background, so Lin Xiaoran wouldn’t notice they were on a cruise.

That meant Gu Yang and the little one had already planned this, keeping it from him.

It was definitely Gu Yang’s idea!

Lin Xiaoran frowned and glared at Gu Yang, who, thick-skinned as ever, moved closer and hugged him, “I just wanted to give you a surprise. The little one was holding back because I told him not to tell you. I promised him that when he suddenly appeared in front of you, you would be really happy. So, he held off.”

“But you broke your promise and told me ahead of time,” Lin Xiaoran gave him an exasperated look.

“If I had told you earlier, would you have been upset?” Gu Yang teased.

Of course not!

Lin Xiaoran had missed the little one so much. He had dreamed of him often, and now that he knew he was coming, it would still be a surprise when he arrived.

But, he still had to wait two or three more days before he could hug the little one.

During those two or three days, he wasn’t idle either. Since it was the weekend, he and Gu Yang moved his few belongings from the hotel to a house not far from the hospital.

Gu Yang had arranged the house in advance, saying that since they would be staying here for a year, it should feel like a real home and not just a hotel. He’d found a place for them.

However, with the time being rushed, they were missing a few things. The two of them had to run to the supermarket a few more times to complete the shopping.

Once the house was fully set up, the little one and his grandparents finally arrived.

The weather was particularly nice that day, and the two of them went to the location early.

Lin Xiaoran wanted to surprise the little one, so he deliberately didn’t show up with Gu Yang.

The little one didn’t seem disappointed by not seeing Lin Xiaoran because Gu Yang had told him to surprise Lin Xiaoran by suddenly appearing in front of him, so he still thought Lin Xiaoran didn’t know he was coming.

But it was clear the little one was eager. As soon as he saw Gu Yang, he rubbed against him and asked in his soft voice, “Can we go find Daddy now? Do you know where Daddy is? I want to see Daddy.”

Hiding nearby, Lin Xiaoran couldn’t resist and quietly approached the little one, covering his eyes with his hand.

The little one jumped in surprise, “Who’s that? Who’s that? I can’t see!”

“Guess who I am. If you guess right…” Lin Xiaoran teased.

“Daddy!” The little one immediately recognized his voice and joyfully shouted.

Lin Xiaoran released his hand, and the little one turned around, immediately squirming out of Gu Yang’s arms and leaping into Lin Xiaoran’s.

Lin Xiaoran caught him and hugged him tightly, unable to resist kissing his cheek repeatedly.

Since the little one was born, they had never been apart for such a long time.

The little one clung to him, rubbing against him with all his strength. No matter how anyone else tried to comfort him, he didn’t want to leave Lin Xiaoran’s side for the rest of the day.

Lin Xiaoran also missed him terribly, so he barely paid attention to Grandpa and Grandma.

Meanwhile, Gu Yang took care of all the necessary arrangements.

Grandpa’s health hadn’t been great for the past few years, and it had been an ongoing issue. When Gu Yang was in high school, due to this health problem, Grandma had stayed with him in the U.S. to help him recover, and it was only after he got better that they returned to China.

This time, the old ailment had flared up again, so Grandma had accompanied him back to the U.S. once more.

Gu Xuyuan’s place wasn’t far from where Lin Xiaoran and the others were. In the afternoon, Gu Yang drove over to drop him off, made sure everything was settled, and only came back late at night.

When he got home, he saw his Omega patiently sitting on the floor playing games with the little one. In the kitchen, the nanny was busy cooking Chinese food, filling the house with the familiar aroma of home-cooked meals.

Gu Yang tossed the car keys aside and leaned against the wall, watching them with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Before the new year, Lin Xiaoran had suddenly told him he would be staying in the U.S. for a year. To Gu Yang, this was truly bad news.

However, he never tried to restrict Lin Xiaoran, so he had decided to come to the North American branch himself. Fortunately, Gu Xuyuan didn’t throw in the towel at that moment and left everything at home to him. He spent more than a month sorting out matters in China.

Everything had gone smoothly.

Though this past month had been exhausting, leaving him almost no time to contact Lin Xiaoran, the result was fantastic.

And after coming to the U.S., Gu Yang realized just how popular his Omega was here. It seemed like every few days, someone was trying to get close to him.

This was unacceptable!

Within a few days, Gu Yang had made a name for himself at Lin Xiaoran’s hospital, making it clear to anyone with ulterior motives that his Omega was already taken.

The effect was remarkable.

Even though Lin Xiaoran had clearly stated that he was married, it hadn’t had much of an effect, but after Gu Yang made a few appearances, things quieted down.

Lin Xiaoran was relieved.

Life here had felt much the same as back home, but Gu Yang was clearly busier than before. The North American branch was still in its early stages, so it felt like he was building his career from the ground up. However, it was easier than before, thanks to the foundation they already had.

The first game their company developed was still the most popular MMORPG in the world. The professional league had expanded from China to worldwide competitions, and its influence was massive.

This year, the World Championship final was being held in the U.S., and the host city had already begun promoting it. Using this as an opportunity, the North American branch’s development was clearly much easier compared to how things started back in China.

A week before the World Championship began, Chu Yan arrived.

Chu Yan had planned to retire when he entered university, but how could the team let go of such a cash cow? They offered him a very generous contract, with the stipulation that he didn’t need to play in matches. He was only required to stay with the team and make occasional appearances when needed.

Chu Yan had agreed in the end, though he was reluctant to leave the competition scene. His only worry had been that his academic work would affect his game skills, and he didn’t want to become a burden on the team.

Since the team thought it was better for him to stay, he agreed to remain. Over the years, he had stayed with the team and occasionally played in matches.

This time, the team had qualified for the World Championship. He had planned to join the team a week later, but he decided to come early to see his brother and the little one.

 

<Previous.........................Next>

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content is protected !!