Does An Inferior Omega Also Have To Marry First, Then Fall In Love? - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The First Day of the Performance Just…

The first day of the performance came to an abrupt halt just like that.

Everyone backstage hung their heads. The first day was the most attended, yet they had to refund the tickets. No one felt good about it.

Ji Qingyu’s mind was also in chaos. His fingers clenched the cup, his knuckles white. He forced a smile and comforted everyone: “It’s alright. We still have two days. Today is just the beginning.”

A plump child among the students buried his head and sighed, “Teacher, could you look at your own expression before you say that?”

Ji Qingyu looked up. In the mirror, his face was gloomy and pale, showing deep disappointment.

That gloom traced his bones, almost swallowing his body whole.

Lin Feng was actually Luo Sheng. Ji Qingyu couldn’t accept this coincidence; it felt like a huge joke played on him by fate.

He felt uncontrollably terrified.

Luo Sheng knew his secret; he knew about Lin Ying. If he told Fu Han, Ji Qingyu could forget about leaving forever.

Luo Sheng didn’t dare to look at Fu Han’s face, silently keeping his head down like someone who had done wrong. Fu Han’s expression was still blank, but he asked Ji Qingyu, “How much did you lose today?”

“You don’t need to cover it,” Ji Qingyu said. “We’ll earn it back.”

“I’m sorry,” Luo Sheng said. “I didn’t expect things to turn out this way.”

“It’s alright,” Ji Qingyu thought. If I were in Luo Sheng’s position, I would probably have run faster than him.

Luo Sheng’s voice was still very low, almost helpless and uneasy. “I’m sorry, Xiaohan. You know, I wasn’t trying to hide from you… I was just afraid of being found by Fu Yunbai.”

Fu Han tilted his head slightly, still wearing the bite-guard. His gaze fell on Luo Sheng’s neck, ignoring Luo Sheng’s words, and asking on his own, “How is your body now?”

Ji Qingyu found the father and son relationship somewhat tragic. After meeting for the first time in years, all that was left was apology and awkward small talk.

“I’m much better,” Luo Sheng said. “I had the gland surgery a long time ago. Now I just need regular pheromone supplements.”

“Come to the hospital with me for a check-up.” Fu Han seemed to know what Luo Sheng was concerned about, his eyes indifferent. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him know. I won’t interfere with the kind of life you want to live.”

Luo Sheng remained seated, the wooden chair wobbling precariously. He leaned forward to look at Fu Han. “Xiaohan, it’s not that I didn’t want to see you all these years. I tried, but there were cameras and bodyguards outside. I couldn’t get in.”

Fu Han didn’t speak, his eyes lowered, lost in thought.

Silence fell over the area. Ji Qingyu didn’t dare to speak, trying to minimize his presence.

“Xiaohan, I’ve always thought of you…” Saying this seemed to have exhausted all of Luo Sheng’s strength, making him look even more pitiful. After so many years apart, only one phrase remained: “I’m sorry…”

From Ji Qingyu’s direction, he could only see Luo Sheng’s back and the scar on his neck, which was striking, knotted, and abnormally ugly. His own wound seemed to ache in sympathy. Fu Han remained expressionless, neither accepting nor rejecting.

His gaze returned to Ji Qingyu. “Do you still want to perform in a better theater later?”

“But… but if we do that, Fu Yunbai might find out,” Ji Qingyu countered with some hesitation.

“Are you misunderstanding something?” Fu Han’s gaze was cold. “I am your Alpha. All you need to do is trust me and rest assured under my protection, instead of worrying about other irrelevant people.”

Fu Han lowered his head and held Luo Sheng’s still-trembling hand, still maintaining that indifferent and nonchalant demeanor. “Mother, you need to know that it’s not ten years ago anymore. I’ve grown up.”

Fu Han took Luo Sheng to the hospital.

Ji Qingyu stayed behind to see the children into the car, still feeling somewhat helpless, unable to understand why such a coincidence would fall upon him. These causes and effects were like tangled knots, looping back and forth, from which no one could truly escape—they were all tying their own cocoons.

Ji Ran’s fans, who were watching the excitement, posted online, gloating over the spoiled performance.

“Haven’t seen entertainment like this in a long time. An actor jumped off the stage halfway through and tried to run away. Were they not paid enough?”

“I was there, too. Fu Han was there. I don’t know what happened, but Fu Han went to grab the person.”

“What kind of high-society drama is this?”

Soon after, Ji Ran himself received the news. His call came through: “Congratulations! The performance was a huge success. There’s a dinner party in a couple of days. I’ll congratulate you in person then.”

Many audience members came with the mindset of watching a spectacle. Fortunately, there were no photos, preventing the matter from escalating.

The next two days went smoothly. Ji Qingyu hadn’t expected Luo Sheng to come back, but surprisingly, Luo Sheng performed with them for the entire run.

Not only that, Fu Han was also there.

Ji Qingyu thought it was normal. After all, Fu Han had just reunited with Luo Sheng and would naturally want to watch his mother’s performances. As for himself, Fu Han still seemed angry at him. It was so inexplicable. Ji Qingyu still didn’t know what he had done wrong.

He was certain Fu Han was still angry. Otherwise, why would Fu Han never look at him every time Ji Qingyu glanced towards the audience? The music would stop, and he would get up and leave without a word.

Ji Qingyu watched Fu Han’s retreating back but didn’t go after him. He gathered with the children first, then took a picture with enthusiastic audience members.

He had originally intended to call Fu Han over for the picture, but how could that man care about such small things? He decided against it. In the end, Ji Qingyu simply kept an extra copy of the group photo, planning to give it to Fu Han when he was in a better mood.

After everything successfully concluded, Ji Qingyu and Luo Sheng sat on the edge of the stage with their drinks. They had initially worried they wouldn’t break even, but unexpectedly, they even had a surplus. Ji Qingyu put the money into red envelopes and distributed it to the children.

Nannan rushed up to hug them, her face flushed, and a smile pouring from her eyes. Ji Qingyu smiled with her.

The light gradually dimmed. Eventually, only the two of them remained on stage. Luo Sheng took a sip of warm water, his voice returning to its usual calm. “I talked to Xiaohan. I don’t want to go back home, and I don’t want to announce any news about me publicly. Just let me stay ‘missing’.”

Ji Qingyu listened silently, feeling a little sad but also happy for him.

Although he had paid a high price, he could finally be himself now, not someone’s Omega.

“You must have seen my scar. I cut myself because I was young and too impulsive,” Luo Sheng lifted the loose hair at the back of his neck, and the full extent of the scar finally appeared. “Qingyu, although we haven’t known each other long, I see you as my own child. Your wound hasn’t healed. If you are marked again, it will be hard to turn back. Taking medicine long-term is harder than you can imagine. It will accelerate aging, like it did to me, and cause complications.”

“Regarding you and Xiaohan, I don’t know the details. He wouldn’t tell me when I asked. You know, I always feel indebted to him, so I can’t speak to him from a senior position,” Luo Sheng sighed. “I won’t tell him about your mother. You are the person involved, and you have your own choice. Fu Yunbai used the mark and the child to trap me. That’s a lifelong pain for me. We are very similar, but you are stronger than me. I don’t want you to repeat my mistakes.”

“The unfortunate thing is that I can’t drink anymore and have to go to the hospital often,” Luo Sheng sounded a little helpless. “And he wants me to quit smoking, how can I do that…”

“Come find me whenever you miss me,” Luo Sheng said. “I’ve been away from the stage for over ten years. These past few days have felt like a dream.”

Ji Qingyu felt a wistful longing. He wished Luo Sheng were his father.

Unfortunately, there was no such good fortune in the world. Suitable people don’t necessarily have good destinies.

He and Luo Sheng agreed that he would visit him often, and then they quickly said their goodbyes.

Ji Qingyu walked out. A cool breeze swept past, lifting his hair. The strands made him squint slightly. He followed the winding path down and saw Fu Han by a car in the parking lot.

The cigarette in Fu Han’s hand was still burning. He had taken off the bite-guard. The silhouette of the setting sun made him look like a cold illusion. Wrapped in a trench coat, his tall figure appeared distant and dark. His profile was a piece of art left in the world by God.

Could you please stop smoking? Smoking is bad for your health. Ji Qingyu silently pleaded in his heart, but he dared not say it out loud, afraid Fu Han would get angry again.

He felt that the Fu family seemed to have a smoking gene. Luo Sheng also liked to smoke menthol crush balls. Even their smoking posture was similar.

Fu Han’s addiction seemed intense lately. Ji Qingyu racked his brain, considering how to gently advise him to quit. As he was thinking, Fu Han seemed to possess a strange sixth sense. He suddenly turned his head, his gaze locked onto Ji Qingyu.

Ji Qingyu maintained his posture, walking toward him, forcing a slightly awkward smile. Fu Han ignored him. Both were silent. The white smoke burned slowly. Fu Han was like a shadow in a painting, too beautiful, always captivating Ji Qingyu’s eyes.

The thought that he might not be able to see this handsome face up close after leaving made Ji Qingyu feel a little sad. He comforted himself internally, Desire is human nature.

Ji Qingyu thought that if Fu Han were an actor, he would be praised for acting with his eyes. Such a cold person surprisingly had a pair of gentle eyes.

Separated by a moderate distance, Ji Qingyu felt his muscles stiffen. Fu Han was watching him—that same kind of gaze. They should have been the closest people in the conventional sense, yet so many things couldn’t be spoken directly.

Ji Qingyu opened his mouth, trying to break the silent and tense atmosphere. Fu Han, however, lifted his leg and walked closer to Ji Qingyu, extinguishing his cigarette first.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Qingyu asked slowly. Fu Han’s lips were slightly pursed. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

The fabric of the trench coat made a rustling sound. Ji Qingyu was grabbed by the arm and thrown into the passenger seat. The car door slammed shut, leaving only dead silence inside the car.

Ji Qingyu hadn’t reacted yet.

A few seconds later, the car rocked slightly as Fu Han got into the driver’s seat from the other side.