1122 - Chapter 39.1

They held this position, kissing passionately.

As if trying to make up for all the kisses they hadn’t shared in those five years apart.

It wasn’t until half an hour later, when Jiang Yi felt oxygen-deprived from the prolonged kiss, that he finally pushed against Yan Nanchen’s chest and turned his face away, panting softly, “Wait, I can’t breathe.”

Then he heard Yan Nanchen chuckle softly by his ear, followed by a trail of feather-light kisses moving from his lips to his cheeks, then from his cheeks to the tip of his nose, a gentle peck there before finally landing on his eyelids.

“Yi Yi, I’m so happy.”

Perhaps it was because Yan Nanchen’s voice was too intoxicating husky yet laced with laughter, tender and magnetic as he whispered by Jiang Yi’s ear, punctuating each word with a kiss.

“Yi Yi, these past five years, there wasn’t a single day I didn’t love you.” Yan Nanchen caressed the nape of Jiang Yi’s neck, tilting his head slightly to brush his lips against Jiang Yi’s cheek. In this seated embrace, he continued speaking before placing another kiss on Jiang Yi’s chin. “Having you here makes life worth living. I’m truly so happy.”

His lips traveled downward, finally pressing against Jiang Yi’s Adam’s apple.

Jiang Yi was still catching his breath when he felt the soft kiss on his throat. Instinctively, he arched his neck back slightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. In that moment, it felt as though Yan Nanchen had stolen his breath away.

Maybe it was his body’s instinctive reaction to Yan Nanchen that made it so hard to control himself.

“Yan Nanchen, you!”

Yan Nanchen’s hand slid to the small of Jiang Yi’s back, unerringly finding that spot he was most sensitive to the dip where he was most ticklish. Feeling Jiang Yi tremble, noticing the flush creeping up to the corners of his eyes, and catching the intoxicating whiff of Tuberose Jasmine pheromones that he adored, Yan Nanchen drank in the sight of Jiang Yi’s blushing face.

The more he saw, the more he craved.

“Yi Yi, still so ticklish?”

Unable to take it anymore, Jiang Yi pushed Yan Nanchen down, straddling his waist and pressing his shoulders into the floor. His glistening eyes reflected Yan Nanchen’s smiling face as he glared down at him. “Yan Nanchen, we still have to decorate for Qiao Qiao’s birthday. Don’t provoke me.”

The movement sent a few balloons floating around them.

Their gazes locked.

Just as a balloon drifted toward Jiang Yi’s face, Yan Nanchen’s hand moved faster than his eyes could track, swatting it away. Then Jiang Yi felt it, the scorching heat pressing against his backside, seemingly casual, as if unintentional, yet undeniably present.

Jiang Yi jolted as if burned. First, shock flickered across his face, followed by embarrassment and irritation, before he finally sighed and climbed off Yan Nanchen. “Enough playing. Let’s blow up the balloons.”

Just as he tried to stand up, Yan Nanchen pulled him back, sending him tumbling back into his arms.

“We just got back together. One more minute, okay?”

Listening to Yan Nanchen’s coaxing whisper in his ear, Jiang Yi felt transported back to the past. But back then, he would never have imagined this because he had always thought it was Chu Beiheng who was the clingy one. In his eyes, the proud, aloof Yan Nanchen would never act spoiled.

Yet in reality, Chu Beiheng never acted spoiled at all, it was Yan Nanchen who loved to.

“Yan Nanchen, if you had just been honest with me back then, if you had just acted a little spoiled, maybe we wouldn’t have broken up.” He spoke the truth, voicing the question he had asked himself over and over something he had never told anyone, not even Chu Beiheng.

If Yan Nanchen had come clean sooner back then, maybe he wouldn’t have been so angry, so heartbroken, so utterly disappointed that he left.

Yan Nanchen froze, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before his eyes reddened moments later. He lowered his head to press a kiss to Jiang Yi’s ear, murmuring hoarsely, “Wife, I know I was wrong.”

“Hmph.” Jiang Yi let out a cold laugh. “Chu Beiheng said you’ve actually been living quite lavishly these past five years too busy to even think of me, with plenty of people surrounding you.”

“No, I only want you. I only love you.” Yan Nanchen buried his face in the crook of Jiang Yi’s neck. “I don’t want anyone else but you.”

Hearing the faint tremor in Yan Nanchen’s voice, Jiang Yi’s heart softened despite himself. He reached back to ruffle Yan Nanchen’s hair. “Forget it. It’s in the past.”

Even now, he still didn’t understand why Yan Nanchen had refused to come clean back then.

Even if he had lied at first, was Jiang Yi really so heartless?

The way things had escalated wasn’t what he’d wanted.

But what was done was done. Some pains and regrets would remain etched in his heart forever and Yan Nanchen, he truly still loved him.

They held each other for a long while before finally starting to decorate.

By the time the birthday party setup was complete, it was already three in the morning.

The spacious living room was adorned with pink and blue balloons arranged in semicircular white decorative arches. The white backdrop of the arches featured hand-drawn illustrations of a boy and a girl. On either side of the arches were neatly stacked gift boxes.

These were presents Yan Nanchen had already arranged to be placed here.

Jiang Yi stared blankly at the drawing of Qiao Qiao on the backdrop. The little princess, who dreamed of being the big boss yet loved wearing frilly dresses the most. And beside her Nian Nian, dressed in adorable overalls and a cool cap, looking so much like Qiao Qiao yet subtly different. There was a hint of resemblance to Jiang Yi and to Yan Nanchen as well.

Truthfully, he had no idea what Nian Nian would look like grown up. Maybe like him, or perhaps like Yan Nanchen.

But seeing it depicted this way left him dazed.

His body swayed slightly.

“I’ve already placed gifts for Nian Nian and Qiao Qiao inside. I missed the first four years of Qiao Qiao’s life, but now that you’re back, I want to make up for everything.”

Yan Nanchen’s gaze darkened as he embraced Jiang Yi from behind. Noticing the exhaustion on his face, he murmured, “You’re tired, aren’t you? Should we rest first?”

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Yi turned and hugged him tightly.

“Tired, but happy.” Jiang Yi rested his forehead against Yan Nanchen’s shoulder, closing his heavy eyelids. His voice was soft. “Yan Nanchen, no matter what you prepared for Nian Nian, I’m happy. Because I got to see Nian Nian, this is what they look like now.”

“I think Nian Nian will take after you.” Yan Nanchen gently caressed his cheek. “Because Qiao Qiao already resembles me a little.”

Jiang Yi laughed, the sound light and carefree. “Yeah, that’s good. I finally know what Nian Nian looks like.”

He leaned his full weight against Yan Nanchen, who supported him effortlessly, holding him steady giving him all the security he needed.

Perhaps it was the true release of all burdens, his mind floating in emptiness.

Hearing the weariness in Jiang Yi’s voice, Yan Nanchen kissed his temple. It was then that he noticed Jiang Yi’s skin felt unusually warm. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. “Let’s rest. Do you want me to hold you while you sleep?”

“Yes.”

The two of them retired to the suite adjacent to their daughter’s room.

One was in the room, the other in their daughter’s room while taking a bath.

Perhaps he was truly exhausted. Jiang Yi sank into the warm water of the bathtub and let out a contented sigh, leaning back against the tub as he slowly closed his eyes. The complete relaxation, along with the relief of no longer tormenting himself over reconciling with Yan Nanchen, made him forget everything.

He didn’t notice at all that he was slipping into an abnormal state blood trickling from his nose.

His eyes remained shut as his arm dropped heavily against the edge of the bathtub.

Gradually, the scent of Tuberose Jasmine omega pheromones filled the bathroom. It wasn’t the scent of Heat, but rather a warning signal from his body, an abnormal, dangerously high fever.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when urgent knocking sounded at the bathroom door.

“Yi Yi?”

“Yi Yi!”

Jiang Yi heard it. It took him a while to pry open his heavy eyelids, and then he registered Yan Nanchen’s anxious calls from outside. He responded, “What’s wrong?”

Only then did he sit up from the water.

But as he stepped out of the bathtub, his head felt strangely heavy. His face paled instantly, and he quickly steadied himself against the wall. Maybe it was because he wasn’t wearing his glasses his vision was completely blurred.

Outside, Yan Nanchen finally relaxed slightly upon hearing his response. “Why didn’t you answer me earlier? You scared me.”

Jiang Yi closed his eyes, trying to suppress the sudden wave of discomfort. He forced his voice to sound normal. “It’s fine, I was just using the toilet.”

“Yi Yi, open the door.”

Hearing the weight in Yan Nanchen’s tone, Jiang Yi took a few seconds to steady himself before opening his eyes. His vision was slightly clearer now. He let go of the wall and walked to the sink, slipping on his robe and putting on his glasses. Only then did he see his own reflection his face looked terrible.

And he had a nosebleed.

At least it wasn’t too heavy.

“Wait, let me wash my hands.”

Jiang Yi turned on the faucet, bent down to wash his face, then looked up again. His reflection showed his face was clean now. He pinched his cheeks lightly, forcing some color into them to mimic the flush from a hot bath.

Only then did he walk to the door and open it.

The moment the door opened, he met Yan Nanchen’s dark, worried gaze. He chuckled helplessly. “What’s the matter? I was just in the bathroom. Did you really have to listen in? It stinks in there.”

The second the words left his mouth, Yan Nanchen’s hand pressed against his forehead. Jiang Yi froze.

“You’re running a fever again.” Yan Nanchen withdrew his hand, the temperature seemed even higher than before. He studied Jiang Yi’s still-pale face. “What were you doing in there? I called for you for five minutes.”

Jiang Yi averted his gaze awkwardly, rubbing his nose. “Fell asleep.”

Though he didn’t know how he’d suddenly dozed off. Maybe it was because today was the day he’d finally unburdened himself his mind had registered the relief and let exhaustion take over more intensely than usual.

Yan Nanchen frowned, wondering if it was just fatigue. Noticing Jiang Yi’s hair wasn’t fully dry, he said, “You should’ve dried your hair before coming out. Your body can’t handle this kind of carelessness right now.”

With that, he stepped into the bathroom to grab a towel.

But as soon as he entered, his sharp senses caught the faint trace of omega pheromones mixed with the metallic tang of blood. Following the strongest scent, his gaze finally landed on the bathtub.

Yan Nanchen held a towel in his hand, pausing before the bathtub. His gaze fell on the porcelain-white bottom, where a couple of small blood clots, about the size of fingernails, had settled, with faint traces of blood spreading around them.

In an instant, his heart sank as well, an indescribable discomfort pooling in his chest.

His grip tightened around the towel, his eyes reddening.

So, Jiang Yi hadn’t been able to respond to him earlier in the bathroom because he was feeling unwell not because he was using the toilet. Had he also had a nosebleed? Then why hadn’t he said anything?

“It’s fine, my hair isn’t that long it’ll dry soon,” Jiang Yi said as he noticed Yan Nanchen standing in the bathroom. He turned to check on Qiao Qiao next door, likely afraid Yan Nanchen would worry. “Don’t worry, this fever will pass soon. It won’t have much of an effect.”

Yan Nanchen glanced sideways, his gaze lingering on Jiang Yi’s retreating figure. His eyes darkened with complex emotions, his expression grim. A sense of unease gnawed at him no, he needed Jiang Yi by his side.

He had to stay within his sight.

Close to midnight, Jiang Yi had originally intended to stay with Qiao Qiao for a while, worried she might wake up. But he began feeling increasingly unwell his body burning up, his pheromones growing unnaturally strong.

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