1122 - Chapter 22

“He is part of the Secondary Differentiation Population and has gone a long time without receiving alpha pheromones from the Alpha who marked him, leading to a pheromone concentration imbalance. This imbalance can be mild or severe his case, where his temperature spikes instantly to 39 or 40 degrees, is already severe.”

“The most obvious symptom of this imbalance is fever. Mild cases involve persistent low-grade fevers, while severe cases cause sudden, extreme spikes in body temperature. When the fever gets too high, it can trigger nosebleeds.”

“On top of that, his constitution is extremely weak. He not only has hypertension but also Sheehan’s syndrome.”

“What is Sheehan’s syndrome?”

“It’s a condition caused by postpartum hemorrhage. After a cesarean section, he experienced hemorrhagic shock, which damaged his anterior pituitary gland, leading to hormonal imbalances and deficiencies. Although he’s a male Omega and doesn’t need to breastfeed like female Omegas, this syndrome requires hormone medication. Looking at everything, his body has been severely weakened by childbirth, almost completely drained.”

With every diagnosis the doctor listed, Yan Nanchen felt as though a knife were being driven into his chest. His face paled, and he didn’t even know how to continue questioning.

He glanced down at his hands, still stained with blood, his lips trembling slightly as his eyes grew wet.

God only knew how shattered he had felt when he saw Jiang Yi collapsed on the ground, his face covered in blood. That devastation was even worse than when he couldn’t find Jiang Yi before.

“Postpartum hemorrhage…” Yan Nanchen choked out the words, his voice breaking. He was smiling, but tears streamed down his face.

The doctor added, “All of this might be related to his Alpha, his Alpha wasn’t by his side during the entire pregnancy, depriving him of the pheromone comfort he needed. Secondary Differentiation individuals already have a higher risk of difficult labor and postpartum hemorrhage compared to the general population.”

Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Yan Nanchen grabbed the doctor’s arm, his eyes red-rimmed. “Doctor, if an Omega has been marked by an Alpha, is it possible for them to conceive a child with another Alpha?”

“Impossible,” the doctor shook his head. “Only the Alpha who marked the Omega can be permitted to open the birth cavity.”

Yan Nanchen froze as if struck by lightning. His grip on the doctor’s arm slackened, and he staggered back two steps, as though he had just realized something.

Maybe, his father had lied to him?

That miscarriage report was fake.

“Doctor, can you estimate how long he’s had Sheehan’s syndrome?”

“Based on his full-body examination particularly the ultrasound and birth cavity scans about five years.”

Yan Nanchen’s lips parted. He took a deep breath, struggling to steady himself, his eyes now completely red. His clenched fists trembled before he suddenly slammed them against his own chest, once, twice hard, as if trying to shatter his own heart.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he crouched down, clutching his head, his muffled sobs tearing from his throat hoarse, broken, and utterly devastated.

Under the bright fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway, the tall man was bathed in sterile white light. Yet despite the brilliance, all that radiated from him was guilt and despair. Overwhelming regret coiled around him as he wept like a child.

“It’s my fault, I’m the one who made him like this, it’s my child.”

“Nanchen!”

The fathers rushed to the hospital immediately upon hearing their son was in trouble.

When First Dad Chu Guzhi saw his son crouched in the hospital corridor with his head in his hands, completely broken, he hesitated before approaching and called out softly, “Nanchen?”

Yan Nanchen slowly raised his head from his arms at the sound of his father’s voice. His eyes were bloodshot, his entire being radiating agitation and dark fury.

He stood up, tears streaming silently down his face as he looked at his father, his voice trembling as he asked:

“Dad, why did you lie to me?”

Seeing it wasn’t his son who was injured, Chu Guzhi seemed to guess who it might be. Glancing at the adjacent hospital room, he asked worriedly, “Nanchen, you didn’t hit Jiang Yi, did you?”

“WHY DID YOU LIE TO ME ABOUT YIYI NOT LOSING THE BABY!!!!”

Yan Nanchen could no longer contain his emotions, shouting at his father with a hoarse, broken voice that echoed through the corridor. Trembling with rage, his sharp jawline tense, his bloodshot eyes reflected his father’s image while radiating palpable fury, a clear manifestation of his grief and anger.

Not being able to find Jiang Yi and losing their child had been an unresolved wound in his heart for the past five years.

Only something this enraging could make him lash out at his beloved father. Even if it was a well-intentioned lie, what did it matter? Just like how he never wanted to deceive Jiang Yi either, but what good did that do?

Chu Guzhi stared at his son in shock, his heart aching at the outburst. Perhaps he had no defense. Noticing his husband’s darkening expression, he quickly reached out to stop him, patting his hand reassuringly.

“Dad, why did you lie to me?” Yan Nanchen choked out through tears, his face drenched as he gazed at his father. “He suffered so much these past five years, and I knew nothing about it. His pheromone concentration imbalance, his hypertension, his Sheehan’s syndrome caused by postpartum hemorrhage. Did you know? Now you see how my heart is breaking, how I can’t bear this.”

“If I’d known meeting me would bring him so much suffering, that night I would have rather died alone from my rut pain outside than ever approach him.”

Yan Nanchen’s lips trembled as he turned his tearful gaze toward the hospital room, droplets falling from his jawline down his neck. “Knowing he was sick, knowing he’s had such a hard time these years this hurts worse than my depressive episodes. So why keep it from me? It was my fault, why didn’t you let me beg for his forgiveness?”

“He was pregnant. Without an Alpha by his side, how did he survive alone.”

Seeing his son break down completely, Chu Guzhi’s heart ached. He knew this day would come eventually, just not so soon. With a silent sigh, he approached his son, worried about his emotional state and its potential effect on Jiang Yi resting inside.

Fortunately, this floor of Galaxy Hospital was reserved for their family’s use, otherwise they’d truly be disturbing other patients.

“Nanchen, listen to me first. At that time, your condition was already unstable, and Jiang Yi was pregnant. Could you guarantee your depression wouldn’t accidentally hurt him?”

Yan Nanchen remained silent, his tear-filled eyes fixed on the hospital room.

“And it was Jiang Yi who wanted to leave. Though yes, I was the one who helped him go.”

Yan Nanchen turned his head abruptly upon hearing his father’s words, his expression stunned: “You were the one who sent him away? You don’t approve of us being together?”

“Of course not. When have I ever been that kind of person? If you had been in a stable condition back then, I wouldn’t have stopped you from pursuing your happiness. The problem was, I couldn’t let Jiang Yi, who had already been hurt by you risk further harm by learning about your illness or being provoked by you into hurting himself.”

“Nanchen, Dad doesn’t want you to regret anything either, but your depression was already severe at that time. Neither your First Dad nor I could take proper care of you, we even had to hire two nannies to help. How could I possibly let you go after Jiang Yi under those circumstances? Did you want to scare him?”

Yan Nanchen fell silent. It was true after breaking up with Jiang Yi, not only had his First Dad beaten him, but his grandfather had also broken his leg. Combined with his emotional instability, he had been in a wretched state. Back then, he wouldn’t have known how to win Jiang Yi back even if he had tried.

How could he have taken care of a pregnant Jiang Yi when he couldn’t even take care of himself?

“It was Dad who sent him abroad. You don’t need to worry about those years he spent overseas.I arranged for dedicated caretakers to look after him. I knew about his illness and did everything possible to help him recover. The caretakers were very attentive.”

Chu Guzhi noticed his son’s expression softening slightly and sighed. “I was also surprised Jiang Yi chose to come back. Earlier, I thought you two had gotten into a fight it scared me half to death.”

Yan Nanchen’s mood remained somber. “How could I ever bring myself to hit him? I cherish him too much for that. But I never even got the chance, he doesn’t want me. He even said, he’s married, and the child isn’t mine.” He covered his face, on the verge of tears again.

Chu Guzhi: “…” It was probably best he didn’t get involved in this matter, especially since he had no idea what kind of script Jiang Yi was following. He could only pat his son’s arm encouragingly. “It’s alright, Nanchen. The fact that Jiang Yi came back means there’s still a chance, right, First Dad?”

Yan Lü, the First Dad who had just been called upon, quickly nodded. “Right, right, right.” Whatever his wife said was correct that was the rule.

“But he might not forgive me.” Yan Nanchen turned his gaze back to the hospital room, staring deeply with guilt-filled eyes. “He even pushed me away by claiming he has a husband and that the child belongs to another Alpha.”

“Son, you can’t take his words at face value. Now that you know the child is yours, you should let Jiang Yi have this excuse.” First Dad Yan Lü stepped closer to his son and cleared his throat. “Bending for the one you love isn’t shameful.”

“How do I do that?” Yan Nanchen looked at his First Dad.

“Just go along with what he’s saying now. If he claims he has a husband and the child isn’t yours, then believe him. But deep down, you know would Jiang Yi really marry someone else? Would he have a child with another man? If you’re certain he wouldn’t, then follow your instincts. If you want to win him back, do it shamelessly and without hesitation.”

Yan Nanchen choked up. “I don’t believe he stopped loving me. I don’t believe he could forget me. I don’t believe he married or had a child with this so-called husband he mentioned. He hasn’t even removed our tattoo or the mating mark.”

As he spoke, tears fell once more. He raised his hand to cover his face. “Just now, he asked me what I had to be upset about. Only now do I understand what he meant. I truly am the one least qualified to feel wronged, it was I who wronged him.”

Yan Nanchen, what right do you have to feel aggrieved? I’m the one who’s truly suffered.

The more he thought about it, the more his heart felt stifled and heavy. Him, what right did he have to feel wronged?

His depression was his own doing. If he hadn’t deceived Jiang Yi, if he had confessed sooner, things wouldn’t have come to this. All of this was the result of his own actions.

His father, Chu Guzhi, listened with tears welling in his eyes. He knew how much suffering these two children had endured separately. As a parent, his heart ached, yet he had no choice but to respect Jiang Yi’s decision because in the end, it was Jiang Yi who had suffered the most, who had endured the greatest injustice.

“I’ll win Jiang Yi back. I’ll bring him home, give him a family.”

Yan Nanchen turned and embraced his father, weeping. “Dad, I’m sorry for being so harsh earlier. I didn’t mean to lose my temper with you, I was just too desperate. All these years, thank you for taking care of Jiang Yi for me.”

Chu Guzhi shook his head, patting his son’s back. “I only hope the two of you can find happiness.” What he really wanted to say was, Son, you should thank your elder brother. But perhaps it was better to let them settle this themselves, he worried his younger son might grow suspicious.

“Dad, I want to take some time to win Jiang Yi back. Could you ask my brother to come back and manage the group for a while?”

Chu Guzhi hesitated. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

If he returned, wouldn’t Qiao Qiao come back too?

Why did this scene feel so familiar?

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