Chapter 117: His Command
Nan Zhi taught the little one to make a wish, blow out the candles, eat the cake, and finally cleaned up with the help of an auntie.
In his free time, he washed clothes for his little treasure, cleaned shoes, and didn't even notice when his hands were submerged in cold water.
He felt that being this busy gave him a chance to breathe.
The moment he had a break, his heart would ache sharply.
Having what one relies on for survival completely extracted from the body is such a painful experience.
That black jacket in the wardrobe, he picked it up countless times only to return it to its place.
Getting accustomed to unconditionally yielding to someone is indeed a terrifying habit.
"Find something to do!" He admonished himself.
Not wanting to make much noise, he gently seated himself on the carpet beside the bed.
Lin Yunjian was deep in slumber, tightly clutching his favorite toy.
No calls from Lin Qiuwu had come through since, and in Nan Zhi's phone, there was nothing to distract him.
Upon opening WeChat, he saw only a handful of friends.
His finger lingered on Nan Yi's profile picture for a long moment. Clicking on it, then exiting, he felt he had no right to burden Nan Yi with his troubles.
As he was lost in thought, his phone vibrated.
[Come to me now.]
[Or be prepared to never see Lin Yunjian again.]
From Lin Qiuwu's warning, even just this cold text, he could infer that the Alpha must be teetering on the edge of losing control.
He knew all too well the nature of Alphas in their sensitive phase.
Nan Zhi knew that Lin Qiuwu wasn't one for empty threats; he always followed through.
He never imagined that such reliability could feel so oppressive one day.
Without a doubt, Lin Qiuwu would indeed take Lin Yunjian away.
He couldn't bear to lose Lin Yunjian.
So what if he humbled himself once more? It wasn't a big deal.
Nan Zhi's fingertips trembled as he struggled to his feet. Before he could grab his coat, his phone vibrated again.
[You have one minute to come downstairs.]
Without time to fetch his coat, wearing only his pajamas, he softly exited his bedroom and dashed out.
Lin Qiuwu was outside! If he didn't go out, Lin Qiuwu would surely come in and take Lin Yunjian!
The evening mist had thickened, obscuring the streetlights, and the rain was coming down harder.
Despite wearing light clothing, Nan Zhi broke out in a sweat as he stepped outside.
Without hesitation, he dashed into the rain. His plush slippers became drenched, yet he sprinted on the muddy path.
Beyond the rusted gate, a familiar car was parked by the roadside.
Nan Zhi's pace slowed. Even though it was a short distance, he needed immense courage to approach.
The rear car window was halfway down, while the front passenger side window was fully up, leaving him uncertain if someone was inside.
Through the window, he could see Alpha, head slightly bowed in restrained coldness. The glow from his phone illuminated his face, revealing how taut and agitated Lin Qiuwu appeared.
Time has changed things; seeing that once-charming face now only evokes feelings of oppression and fear.
"Did you hurt your leg? You're moving so slow," he remarked without a trace of warmth.
Nan Zhi deeply feared the word "limp." Upon hearing it, his body tensed subtly.
Through the window, he caught a whiff of the intoxicating scent of red wine. As the car door opened, the fragrance enveloped him, and intoxicated, Nan Zhi felt weakened.
The strong aroma of red wine inside the car began to be complemented by a fresh scent of oranges.
The Alpha's gaze remained cold, but his hand pressed against the nape of Nan Zhi's neck, which carried the scent of oranges.
"I'm here now... Please don't take Jianjian away," Nan Zhi implored in a hushed tone.
The affected Omega, despite his anguish, spoke in a tone thick with emotion.
"Close the window," he ordered calmly.
"Not here... can we not do it here?"
Even though it was night and unlikely for anyone to pass by, Nan Zhi still felt uneasy.
Lin Qiuwu frowned in displeasure, reaching over to close the partially opened window.
Without uttering another word, the long-restrained Alpha's movements were brusque.
Nan Zhi bit his lip, forcing himself to remain silent in the confined space.
The sound of rain intensified, masking the occasional, muffled sweet moans.
It felt tiring, painful, as if the body wasn't his own.
............
A subtle tobacco scent began to permeate the car.
The Alpha's tie was slightly askew, and his suit and trousers bore a few creases.
Between Lin Qiuwu's fingers, a cigarette lazily rested, its tip glowing faintly.
His gaze fixated intently on the Omega's pale, silky back, his palms seemingly still tingling from the soft touch.
With his back to him, Nan Zhi slowly donned his thin nightwear, his exposed skin marked with fresh rosy spots.
"I'm leaving now," he murmured, his voice hoarse.
There was no response from the man behind him, and Nan Zhi let out a silent sigh of relief.
As he opened the car door, a gust of cold air accompanied by droplets of rain hit him.
The gaze of the Alpha on his back seemed to darken a shade.
Eyeing Nan Zhi's fragile silhouette with discontent, the Alpha began to remove his expensive, slightly wrinkled coat.
Without hesitation, Nan Zhi rose from his seat and stepped into the rain.
The hand extended to him found no taker. Lin Qiuwu, feeling agitated, clicked his tongue, "Put on the coat."
Nan Zhi turned around, locking eyes with the Alpha in the car for a brief moment.
"I don't need it."
The distance from the gate to his home wasn't far. That coat wouldn't shield him from the rain nor warm his body. He didn't need it.
Not anymore.
Watching Nan Zhi's retreating, staggering silhouette, Lin Qiuwu felt a subtle shift in something.
In the past, the Omega would've clung to his coat with concealed delight. But now, Nan Zhi did not.
............
Nan Zhi moved at a deliberate pace. The winter rain that dripped onto him felt chilling, causing him to wrap himself tighter and continue mechanically towards home.
Once home, he took a hot shower, washing away the scent of red wine that clung to him.
In the end, he tightly embraced little Lin Yunjian, void of any thoughts, and fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed, utterly exhausted.
After that night, Lin Qiuwu never visited or contacted Nan Zhi again.
Without the previous sense of loss, Nan Zhi felt significantly more relaxed, both mentally and physically. Every day he spent with Lin Yunjian at home felt fulfilling.
His only concern was, after this winter, how he would manage to keep Lin Yunjian by his side.
Run away? Such an impractical thought; such things only happen in fictional worlds.
If he truly dared to elope with Lin Yunjian, they might not even get out of City A before being captured by Lin Qiuwu.
Risking everything on such an uncertain gamble wasn't something Nan Zhi dared to do. He feared that if Lin Qiuwu became utterly furious, he might never see his beloved "little crybaby" again.
"I'll find a way to plead with Lin Qiuwu after winter passes," he thought.