After a Real Person Plays the Protagonist of an Anguish Novel [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 23.2

At this moment, Shen Mingzheng and Shen Zeqi arrived, having finished whatever intense verbal sparring or physical exchange they’d had, and walked toward opposite sides of the scene.

Hearing Shen Shanyu’s wailing, Shen Mingzheng felt like his head was about to explode. He looked at He Chenguang, who was trying to soothe the boy, and asked impatiently, “Why is he crying again?”

He Chenguang remained silent, gently coaxing the child. He was doing nothing wrong, yet at this moment, Shen Mingzheng found him eyesore no matter how he looked at him.

Then Shen Shanyu spoke between sobs, his voice muffled and slurred, “Daddy… Mommy doesn’t want me anymore… waaaaah…”

Shen Mingzheng’s face darkened, his breath hitching as he couldn’t help but curse under his breath, “It’s all because you’re useless!”

Shen Shanyu froze, then simply sat on the ground and wailed, throwing such a tantrum that Shen Mingzheng felt an urge to strangle him.

Shen Mingzheng’s temples throbbed. He looked over to the other side: Tang Yiqing was holding the well-behaved Zhou Mo, while Shen Zeqi stood by smiling and teasing the child. It was a picture of peaceful, quiet beauty.

Before his eyes was a calming stretch of green, and the “family of three” appeared exceptionally harmonious. Shen Mingzheng’s heart sank for a split second. He suddenly realized that he and Tang Yiqing had never shared a moment like this; he had never spent time with the child alongside Tang in such a relaxed manner.

He also noticed that Tang Yiqing was wearing a garment with a relatively bright color. In his memory, Tang Yiqing’s clothes were always pale and plain.

Thus, this piece—not even that vivid—stood out. Tang was very fair, and bright colors suited him beautifully. Shen Mingzheng slowly recalled: last year, Shen Shanyu had clamored to go to the amusement park, and the three of them had gone together.

Tang Yiqing had dressed up specially, appearing different from his usual self. It was a rare occasion where they gathered to go somewhere—the only time they went to the amusement park. But how had he reacted then?

He was impatient the entire time, barely sparing Tang Yiqing a glance, his words nothing but prompts to hurry up. And the ending? He had left early. He had very little memory of that trip to the amusement park.

If not for the clothes Tang Yiqing was wearing now, he might never have remembered such an event…

The crying pulled him back from his memories. He saw that He Chenguang had picked the child up, but Shen Shanyu continued to cry in his arms—not loudly anymore, but with ragged gasps and a hoarse voice.

A surge of irrational fury rose in Shen Mingzheng. He looked at He Chenguang. “Can you just get him to stop?”

He Chenguang bit his lip, looking humble and submissive. “I am trying… this child has such a temper…”

Shen Mingzheng didn’t know why, but for the past few days, he felt a constant tightness in his chest. At this moment, he couldn’t help but shout, “You can’t even soothe a child! What use do I have for you!”

He Chenguang froze. He restrained himself, but the words came out anyway: “I don’t want him to cry either. Why don’t you try soothing him then?”

Shen Mingzheng felt even more incensed. That nameless fire had no outlet. “Me? Then what use do I have for you!”

“You tell me, Mingzheng. What use do you have for me?” He Chenguang’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He forced himself to swallow the anger in his chest so he wouldn’t truly lose his temper with Shen Mingzheng.

He had thought that after Shen Mingzheng and Tang Yiqing divorced, Mingzheng would clarify his stance once he came here. But looking at it now, it wasn’t like that at all.

Shen Mingzheng also froze, realizing he had no reason to be angry at He Chenguang. He had done quite well, yet Shen Mingzheng felt a suffocating pressure in his chest; his very internal organs felt uncomfortable.

Shen Shanyu unconsciously grabbed He Chenguang’s necklace. His sobbing body swayed, causing the necklace to swing and the beads to clink.

Shen Mingzheng’s gaze swept over it. The necklace He Chenguang was wearing was one he had bought. During an auction, He Chenguang had kept emphasizing how beautiful that gemstone necklace was and how much he loved it. So, he had bid for it and given it to him.

Looking at He Chenguang now—bedecked in jewels, dressed in the latest luxury designs, and adorned with top-tier brands—his attire was not inferior even to the Omegas of the great established families.

He wasn’t criticizing him for being extravagant, but He Chenguang was full of contradictions. He always said it wasn’t easy for a lone orphan and mother, yet every time, he hinted that he wanted the best. His favorite thing was accompanying him to auctions; his favorite hobby was shopping.

He had noticed this long ago, but he hadn’t thought deeply about it. Now…

Compared to Tang Yiqing, who was still wearing last year’s clothes, his heart suddenly constricted for a moment.

Shen Mingzheng took a deep breath and exhaled. “Tang Yiqing, come here. We need to talk.”

As soon as he spoke, the adults and children present went silent. Only Tang Yiqing acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing to play with Zhou Mo.

Shen Mingzheng took another step forward. “Tang Yiqing, we should talk.”

Tang Yiqing still didn’t speak. Beside him, Shen Zeqi couldn’t help but reveal a mocking smile. This was the first time Shen Mingzheng had been snubbed by Tang Yiqing. It was like a soft knife—seemingly harmless, yet just as painful and just as bloody.

His chest felt tight and miserable. How long was Tang Yiqing going to hold this grudge! Now he was even rejecting a direct attempt at communication!

Shen Mingzheng’s chest heaved. This was indeed Tang Yiqing’s style—he wouldn’t engage in direct conflict, only passive resistance. He had clearly offered a way out, yet Tang refused to take it. How much more was he expected to do?

At this point, He Chenguang walked over and tugged on Shen Mingzheng’s arm. He felt very wronged as well; he had been called here, isolated and without help, and it seemed he wasn’t getting what he wanted.

But then Shen Mingzheng abruptly shook off He Chenguang’s hand, appearing utterly annoyed. “What are you pulling me for!”

He Chenguang was startled. He felt that from the moment they woke up, Shen Mingzheng had been acting strangely.

He also wondered if it was because Shen Mingzheng hadn’t slept all night. His eyes were dark-circled, his spirit was low, and thus his mood was foul.

This morning, the moment he opened his eyes and got out of bed, he had said to him, “Pull your pheromones back, it’s cloyingly sweet.” Those words were hurtful. For an Alpha to find an Omega’s pheromones “cloying” was a blow to one’s self-esteem.

From that moment on, Shen Mingzheng had appeared very agitated. Until now, his temper was like a firecracker. He had never seen Shen Mingzheng like this.

“Mingzheng, what’s wrong with you?” He Chenguang asked softly. “Is your rut approaching? You seem to have a lot of fire in you these past two days.”

“What rut? If you can’t stand me, just say so,” Shen Mingzheng said crossly.

He Chenguang didn’t speak again. He lowered his head, and tears began to fall one by one.

This scene even made Shen Zeqi, who was watching from a distance, laugh. He squatted next to Tang Yiqing, who was sitting on the grass playing with Zhou Mo. He nudged Tang Yiqing’s arm. “Look, dog eats dog.”

Tang Yiqing didn’t look over. Instead, he said to Shen Zeqi with concern, “You don’t look well. Why don’t you go rest?”

When he had come over with Shen Mingzheng earlier, Tang had noticed it. Shen Zeqi’s face was pale, and his pheromones were somewhat out of control. Although subtle, Tang Yiqing detected it—that faint scent of peach was lingering in the air.

Shen Zeqi was someone who normally had absolute control over his pheromones; not a trace would leak unless intentional. Now, he was clearly struggling.

Shen Zeqi shook his head. He leaned into Tang Yiqing’s ear and whispered, “I’ll go to the hospital in a bit. It’s fine. I’ll take Shen Mingzheng away with me.”

Tang Yiqing took a moment to react, then nodded. “Good.”

Shen Zeqi laughed. “That Omega is no match for you, wouldn’t you say?”

Tang Yiqing couldn’t help but chuckle. “What match? I don’t take him seriously.”

He had known about He Chenguang’s existence long ago and was immune to him. It was just having him brought right in front of him that felt unpleasant.

Shen Zeqi said softly, “I’m just afraid you’ll suffer.”

Tang Yiqing’s ear felt itchy. He shook his head helplessly. Shen Zeqi added, “I’m overthinking it. You are a member of the Shen family. He is nothing. No one here will take his side.”

“I truly love deeply and care greatly,” Shen Zeqi said, bumping his shoulder against the other’s. “You’re very impressive, aren’t you, Yiqing?”

Tang Yiqing couldn’t stand this cloying attitude. His face flushed slightly, and he couldn’t help but lean away. “Alright, go to the hospital quickly.”

“Driving me away already? Heartbreaking,” Shen Zeqi said. He leaned in again, his lips brushing Tang Yiqing’s ear. “I’m going now.”

Tang Yiqing lowered his head, blushing, not knowing what to do. “Mm, go. Hurry up.”

The number of times Shen Mingzheng had been infuriated was skyrocketing; he felt as though he needed blood pressure medication.

He took several deep breaths to suppress the raging fire in his heart, then looked at He Chenguang and Shen Shanyu in front of him. He reached out to wipe He Chenguang’s tears. Even though his movements seemed gentle, his hand was trembling with rage.

“Stop crying, I was wrong just now,” Shen Mingzheng coaxed softly. “I might… I might really be entering my rut.”

Shen Mingzheng made a random excuse and continued, “I wasn’t targeting you. My mood is just off. Stop crying, okay?”

He Chenguang finally looked up and asked with a trembling voice, “Really?”

Shen Mingzheng glanced in Tang Yiqing’s direction and replied, “Of course.”

Then, Shen Mingzheng very deliberately pinched Shen Shanyu’s cheek. Shen Shanyu had stopped crying and was thoughtfully wiping He Chenguang’s tears, saying in a milky voice, “Uncle He, my Daddy didn’t mean it.”

Shen Mingzheng forced a stiff, gentle smile. “Shanyu, if you call Uncle He ‘Mommy’, he probably won’t be sad anymore.”

As those words fell, He Chenguang’s eyes widened. A bright light shone in his wet eyes, and his gaze toward Shen Mingzheng was full of joy.

Shen Mingzheng avoided his gaze. He Chenguang looked at Shen Shanyu in his arms, his eyes becoming even wetter, appearing to hold his breath in anticipation.

Shen Shanyu, however, hesitated. He looked toward Tang Yiqing and found that his mother was finally looking at him.

Shen Shanyu remained silent for a long time until Shen Mingzheng urged, “Shanyu, call him Mommy. Even Zhou Mo can do it, why can’t you?”

Shen Shanyu seemed to remember something that made him angry. He turned his head and called out to He Chenguang clearly, “Mommy.”

He Chenguang seemed immersed in the emotion of the moment, while both Shen Shanyu and Shen Mingzheng looked at Tang Yiqing.

Tang Yiqing’s eyes darkened for an instant, but then he acted as if nothing had happened, lowering his head to continue playing with Zhou Mo.

If he didn’t care about a child, it wouldn’t matter who the child called “Mommy.” But for a child he had cared for devotedly since birth, it would be hurtful. It was just that Tang Yiqing was past that stage; now, he only found it absurd and finally admitted in his heart: truly an ungrateful wolf.

That momentary shift on Tang Yiqing’s face was enough for Shen Mingzheng. He knew Tang Yiqing was putting up a front.

Actually, these past two days, although he appeared to have the upper hand… he felt it was truly meaningless. Every day was torture.

Shen Zeqi kept saying he had to go to the hospital, but he didn’t get up from Tang Yiqing’s side. “Tsk tsk tsk. Truly an ungrateful wolf. Don’t be good to him anymore in the future.”

Tang Yiqing said, “I won’t. He is now He Chenguang and Shen Mingzheng’s child.”

Regardless of whether Tang Yiqing was speaking out of anger, it made Shen Zeqi laugh. His laughter grew louder, and then he stood up. “I’m going to the hospital. Don’t miss me too much.”

Tang Yiqing didn’t bother responding. Shen Zeqi walked up to Shen Mingzheng. “Let’s go. It’s time for you to go to the office, isn’t it? I’m going to the hospital. All Alphas, let’s leave.”

Shen Mingzheng looked at Shen Zeqi without responding. Shen Zeqi added, “You haven’t been to the office for days, have you? Can you give an account when Big Brother returns?”

Shen Mingzheng’s expression shifted slightly. He turned and left. Shen Zeqi followed behind him, looking at his back and laughing, “Big idiot.”

Seeing everyone gone, Tang Yiqing got up from the ground, intending to take Zhou Mo for a stroll inside.

He Chenguang was still coaxing Shen Shanyu to call him “Mommy” again when he saw Tang Yiqing about to pass by him. He immediately called out.

Tang Yiqing paused and looked at him. The He Chenguang who looked so pitiful just moments ago now showed no trace of having cried. He had a smile on his face; although he tried to suppress it, he still looked somewhat triumphant.

“Yiqing, do you know why I am so good to Shanyu? You’re all quite curious in your hearts, aren’t you?” He Chenguang said.

Tang Yiqing’s expression remained neutral. “Not interested.”

He Chenguang’s face stiffened, but he continued smiling. “Actually, some things are destined. Some people are born to live a life of wealth and honor; that is only natural.”

“Some people get what they shouldn’t have, but they don’t have the fate for it. Everything has to be returned,” He Chenguang’s smile deepened further. His gaze swept over Tang Yiqing and then over the child he was holding. “Those things never belonged to him in the first place.”

Tang Yiqing was stunned. He Chenguang had already walked away with Shen Shanyu. He pondered over what He Chenguang had just said; it was very bizarre.

He looked at the child beside him. He Chenguang had looked at him just now. What was he looking at?

When he spoke of Shen Shanyu, was he comparing him to Zhou Mo? Shen Shanyu could bring wealth and honor, so he fawned over the child who could give him everything?

Inhuman.

It was very strange. If he was being sarcastic toward Tang, it fit, but it still felt off…

Tang Yiqing felt a headache coming on. It felt as though something were about to break through the soil, yet he couldn’t see it or touch it.