Chapter 113: I Accept My Fate
Nan Zhi wondered why Lin Qiuwu wanted to speak with him alone. From the moment the alpha appeared, Nan Zhi hadn't taken a seat, anxiety evident in his posture.
He stood off to the side like a student punished for some wrongdoing.
"What does the young master prefer to eat? Does he eat fish or meat?"
"Hmm."
Across from the shelf filled with porcelain figurines was the dining table.
Nan Zhi remembered that Lin Qiuwu's favorite dish was fish. Except for breakfast, there was almost always fish in his meals – of course, always deboned.
So, Nan Zhi wasn't worried about Lin Yunjian choking on a fishbone.
Lin Qiuwu, with a slight frown, shot an icy glance at the silent man beside him and said irritably, "Using Yunjian to approach me, what's your game? I've told you, I don't need someone as insincere as you in my life."
Lin Qiuwu's words not only interrupted Nan Zhi's wandering thoughts but also felt like a tiny needle piercing his already fractured heart.
He slowly raised his head, looking towards Lin Qiuwu, who was seated with relaxed legs on the sofa.
"I didn't..."
"Hmm, have you been pretending for so long that you've forgotten you're playing a role?"
The alpha's words always cut deeply without any reservation.
Nan Zhi's gaze fell despondently to his own feet, lost in thought.
Every time he faced Lin Qiuwu's disdain, he felt the urge to abandon everything he'd held onto.
"Will your opinion of me never change, no matter what I do...?"
For the first time, he voiced the feelings he harbored deep within, right in front of the alpha.
Perhaps it wasn't truly the first time. He recalled in a past life, from a nightmarish memory, having asked countless times only to be met with even greater revulsion.
"I'll never be fond of you. Someone like you isn't worthy."
"Yes, you'll never care for me..." How much longer would he deceive himself
Lin Qiuwu, hearing his mumbled words, furrowed his brows even more.
"Lin Qiuwu, if only..." If only I had never met you.
I'd be happy. I'd have a harmonious relationship with Nan Yi, free from envy, without bullying him. Perhaps I would have found an alpha who would unwaveringly choose me, or maybe even a content and pure-hearted omega.
Thinking of Nan Yi, Nan Zhi wondered if he'd have been just as happy had he never met Lin Qiuwu.
He would have protected his younger brother, just like in his past life.
"Next month, I'll send Lin Yunjian back to the Lin family. It's time he acclimated."
Although Lin Qiuwu was somewhat indifferent to Lin Yunjian because of Nan Zhi, the young one was still his little alpha.
After falling for Yun Luo, he hadn't given much thought to having a little alpha or omega.
Lin Yunjian was unexpected, but upon reflection, having a young alpha wasn't such a bad thing.
As the sole heir to the Lin family in the future, Lin Yunjian couldn't be led astray by an omega like Nan Zhi.
"What! That's unacceptable!"
"And you think you have the right to refuse?"
Even though the alpha was seated, the weight of his gaze bore down on Nan Zhi with the oppressive air of one in authority. Nan Zhi felt slightly panicked under his scrutiny.
Nan Zhi: "Yunjian... he can't be without me."
Lin Qiuwu: "Can't be without? Ha, do you think playing this card will ensure your place in the Lin household? Such wishful thinking."
Nan Zhi's tone became frantic: "That's not what I meant. Yunjian truly can't be without me."
Lin Qiuwu: "No one is indispensable! He's still young; I will arrange for someone competent to care for him."
Nan Zhi's pleading eyes locked onto the man on the sofa, "Lin Qiuwu, I'm begging you... He's just a child. Let me take care of him for now."
Nan Zhi knew that once Lin Qiuwu made up his mind, even against his wishes, Yunjian would still be taken back to the Lin family.
Being a man without wealth or power, he stood no chance against Lin Qiuwu in claiming custody over Yunjian.
Moreover, the alpha before him wouldn't spare him even a shred of pity.
Lin Qiuwu, visibly irritated, stared intently at Nan Zhi, his voice laced with a cold edge: "Had he not been so pitiable with his tears, do you think you would have been allowed to keep him this long? Don't test my patience."
Nan Zhi: "He's still very young, you..."
Lin Qiuwu cut him off coldly: "He's turning two soon; a few tears won't hurt him."
The alpha's resolve was unwavering, and Nan Zhi's entreaties seemed futile.
Lin Qiuwu had no intention of taking him back, truly wanting to keep Yunjian away from himself.
"You won't dare! You were the one who abandoned him initially. I secretly kept him! Lin Qiuwu! You have no right to take Yunjian away from me!"
It was rare for Nan Zhi to shout Lin Qiuwu's full name, especially with such raw emotion.
Lin Qiuwu, evidently taken aback, furrowed his brow, his cold gaze piercing through his glasses onto Nan Zhi.
Tears welled up in the omega's eyes, spilling over and dropping like heavy beads.
"You were the one who abandoned him..."
After his outburst, Nan Zhi murmured the phrase once more.
Every word felt like a piercing pain to Nan Zhi, suffocating him.
Lin Qiuwu was most annoyed by Nan Zhi's tearful demeanor, those crocodile tears that seemed to fall on command, "I'll give you a substantial amount, enough to ensure your comfort. Lin Yunjian is nothing but a pawn in your game. Stop pretending in front of me..."
Choking back emotion, Nan Zhi interrupted, "Lin Qiuwu, you are heartless."
A weight seemed to press on his chest, making every breath an effort.
In this moment, the long-suppressed feelings of grievance from both his past and present life erupted, tears pouring out more fiercely than ever before.
He rambled on, listing the grievances he had held deep within:
"You never saw the hand I cut while preparing food for you, never saw the Nan Zhi who, despite being exhausted, still prepared midnight snacks for you during your sensitive periods. You never noticed the careful affection, the Nan Zhi who was framed by your lover, or the Nan Zhi who suffered by your side but never wished to leave. You only see me as deceitful, ready to do anything for my objectives."
"But Lin Qiu Wu, do you think I wanted to be manipulative? Did I ever want to become a spiteful Omega?"
"Why are you so affectionate? Didn't you love Yun Luo? Then just love him! Why do you call me during every sensitive period, giving me the illusion that you need me too?"
"Is it because I brought this upon myself, that I enjoy this suffering?"
"You claim I'm vain... but have I ever asked you for a dime?"
Lin Qiu Wu remained expressionless, finding this outburst from Nan Zhi irritating.
He snapped, "Silence!"
Nan Zhi felt drained, all his accumulated grievances seemingly absorbed by cotton. He knew that no matter how much he said, in the alpha's eyes, it would all be perceived as manipulative.
To someone who doesn't love you, whatever you say is wrong.
It was he who took the wrong path, loved the wrong person.
He slowly closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, but his gaze still trembled uncontrollably.
"Lin Qiu Wu, I was the foolish one to fall for you first. I concede."
He gave up, accepted his fate. The weight of the word 'love' was too much for him. After encountering Lin Yun Jian, he realized that letting go of his obsession with Lin Qiu Wu was not as terrifying as losing Lin Yun Jian.
"Give me Jian Jian. I won't plot against you anymore, never again."