Married, but Still Strangers

One month into their marriage, Zhuang Yan and his Alpha partner, Yue Lu, have yet to even meet.

Theirs is a marriage of convenience; Zhuang Yan married Yue Lu solely to uncover the truth behind his brother’s death. Yue Lu, however, is far from satisfied with this arrangement. His heart has long belonged to someone else, and Zhuang Yan was merely the choice of Yue Lu’s mother a means to ensure the family lineage continued as quickly as possible.

As a result, Yue Lu fled the wedding, leaving Zhuang Yan to face a hall full of guests entirely on his own.

Yet, a month later, Zhuang Yan encounters Yue Lu, who is acting as if nothing ever happened. Dressed in sportswear and looking like he just finished a game of badminton, Yue Lu even has the audacity to sit across from Zhuang Yan and strike up a conversation.

Zhuang Yan thinks: Is this even right?

Despite his confusion, Zhuang Yan maintains a polite smile. As long as he achieves his goal, nothing else matters.

The child is conceived, but the Alpha involved has gone abroad and cut off all contact.

Left behind, the Omega, Zhuang Yan, stands bewildered in the wind, holding the divorce papers Yue Lu left for him. But life goes on the child must be born.

Without an Alpha’s pheromones, an Omega’s pregnancy is grueling and painful. Out of necessity, Zhuang Yan turns to a close Alpha friend for help.

During a routine prenatal check-up at the hospital, Zhuang Yan is leaning wearily against his friend’s shoulder when he is suddenly jerked upright by a powerful force.

Zhuang Yan opens his eyes only to meet Yue Lu’s gaze a look filled with both grievance and rage.

“You’re carrying my child,” Yue Lu demands, “yet you’re leaning into the arms of another Alpha?”