Chapter 73: I will never interfere in your affairs again

Li Mu and Fang Rong emerged from the conference room and descended the stairs, spotting Xu Lin standing in the yard.

Xu Lin was looking down, idly fiddling with the leaves of a shrub. The droplets of water on the leaves shattered with each touch, falling one by one and moistening his fingers.

Li Mu was surprised. “Xu Lin, what are you doing here?”

Xu Lin turned his head, his gaze unfocused for a moment before settling on Li Mu. “Oh, I saw you two were taking a while, so I came to check.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Just arrived.” Xu Lin rubbed the moisture from his fingers. “How did it go?”

Li Mu and Fang Rong exchanged a glance. Li Mu said, “Chief Ji said he can treat him, but only after he talks to Xiao Zhao first and asks for his opinion.”

They did not realize Xu Lin already knew. The three of them walked back in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

No one spoke, not even Fang Rong, who was usually the most talkative.

Xu Lin glanced at Li Mu beside him. “What’s wrong? Feeling down?”

Li Mu let out a sigh. “I just realized how careless I’ve been.”

“How so?”

“I thought I was close to Xiao Zhao, but I didn’t even understand something so simple. It took an outsider to point it out to me.” Li Mu laughed bitterly. “I’ve been so foolish.”

Because Xiao Zhao’s father was a high-grade Alpha, with bloodline and genes to match, his parents, including Li Mu, had all naturally assumed that Xiao Zhao, who had a gland, would one day differentiate into an Alpha. This assumption had led them to unconsciously impose their own wishes on Xiao Zhao, believing he too would want to be an Alpha.

When they learned of his gland atrophy, they immediately set out to find a cure. But no one had ever asked Xiao Zhao himself what he wanted.

Perhaps he did not mind not differentiating. Perhaps he would be perfectly fine being a Beta.

Ji Jinxuan had pointed out this crucial oversight, and Li Mu was filled with self-reproach.

Xu Lin could not bear to see him like this and said gently, “You were just worried. It clouded your judgment.”

Not just Li Mu—even Xu Lin had been surprised.

Ji Jinxuan had always been indifferent to matters and people that did not concern him. He was arrogant and ruthless in achieving his goals. For his own selfish desires, he had forced Xu Lin to differentiate into an Omega. For the sake of compatibility, he had done so many things against Xu Lin’s will. He did not seem like someone who would consider others’ feelings.

Xiao Zhao’s situation reminded Xu Lin of his own past. Back then, no one had spoken up for him.

But now, Ji Jinxuan had done just that—he had given Xiao Zhao a choice.

Ji Jinxuan was not the type to put on a show for others. There was no need, and he would not stoop to it. So those words were likely what he truly believed.

Xu Lin had always thought that the Ji Jinxuan he knew was a facade. When they first met in the capital, Ji Jinxuan had helped others and treated him, a person from District Thirteen, with equanimity. Later, Xu Lin had laughed at himself for being blinded, foolishly mistaking Ji Jinxuan’s casual words for sincerity. He was not that kind of person.

Ji Jinxuan had bitten his gland and forced him to differentiate, making all the decisions himself, acting as he pleased. He had not given Xu Lin a choice. Now, with someone else, he was willing to offer one.

Could people change? Of course they could. But Ji Jinxuan—Ji Jinxuan would not change. At his core, he would always be that arrogant, indifferent Ji Jinxuan.

Just then, Fang Rong, who had been walking behind them, suddenly spoke up. “Xiao Zhao won’t want to be a Beta.”

They both stopped and looked at him.

“How do you know?” Li Mu asked.

Fang Rong’s expression was grim. “I asked him before.”

Earlier, he and Xiao Zhao had been hanging on the horizontal bar. Fang Rong, not knowing about his gland issue, had casually asked why he had not yet differentiated. “You haven’t differentiated because you don’t eat properly. Are you the only one in your class left?”

“I eat fine!” Xiao Zhao protested, then blushed and admitted, “Yeah, I’m the only one left. I don’t know why. My best friend and I got our glands checked the same year, but he differentiated early. He’s an Alpha now and way taller than me. I wish I could be like him.”

Fang Rong asked, “Do you want to differentiate?”

Xiao Zhao answered without hesitation. “Yes!”

“Do you want to be an Alpha or an Omega?”

“Alpha!” Xiao Zhao replied instantly. “My father was a powerful Alpha. Li-ge is an Alpha too. I want to be like them! When I become an Alpha and grow up, I’ll join the military like you. That would be so cool.”

Fang Rong watched him. Xiao Zhao was hanging from the bar, his face red from exertion, holding on despite his exhaustion, his face full of hope for the future.

“Only Alphas are cool?” Fang Rong teased. “What about me? I’m a Beta. Am I not cool?”

Xiao Zhao lost his grip, fell, and sat down on the ground.

Fang Rong jumped down too.

Xiao Zhao looked up at him, grinning. “Of course you’re cool, Fang-ge! You’re a Beta, but you’re tall and strong!”

“But look at me.” He waved his thin arms in the air. “I’m short and not strong. If I end up as a Beta, I’ll probably fail the physical exam. I don’t want that.”

Fang Rong teased, “What if it hurts a lot when you differentiate?”

“You’re a Beta. How would you know?”

“Just in case,” Fang Rong said. “What if it hurts?”

“Then I’m not afraid,” Xiao Zhao said.

Li Mu and Xu Lin fell silent.

Fang Rong’s eyes were bloodshot. “So there’s no need to ask. He’ll definitely say yes. He’ll definitely want treatment.”

“Chief Ji said treating gland atrophy can be very painful.”

The joke Fang Rong had made had become a reality in another way.

Fang Rong lowered his head, his body tense, veins bulging on his arms.

No one spoke again.

The next day, Xu Lin went to find Xiao Zhao. As he approached the boy’s room, he saw Li Mu and Fang Rong leaning against the corridor wall. They saw him too.

Li Mu raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence.

Xu Lin quieted his footsteps. Through the half-open door, he could see inside.

Xiao Zhao sat on the edge of the bed. Another person sat on a chair beside him, his back to the door.

It was Ji Jinxuan.

From this angle, Xu Lin could only see Xiao Zhao’s face. It was complex, full of emotion. He looked sad.

Ji Jinxuan asked, “Do you want to be treated?”

Xiao Zhao blinked and nodded. “Yes.”

“It will hurt. It will be difficult. Recovery might take a very long time.”

Xiao Zhao lowered his head and nodded again, unwavering. “I’m not afraid.”

Ji Jinxuan stared at him for a long time, then stood up. “Alright.”

Seeing him about to leave, Xu Lin quickly stepped back.

He had only taken a step back when the door opened from the inside.

Ji Jinxuan unexpectedly found himself face to face with him.

Xu Lin froze and instinctively looked away.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Ji Jinxuan’s expression remained unchanged. He closed the door, ensuring their conversation would not be overheard by Xiao Zhao.

“I’ll treat him, but not here.” Ji Jinxuan’s voice was calm and steady as he spoke to the three at the door. “I need to take him to my research institute. It has the equipment, medication, and everything I need—more convenient and safer. He’s young, and with his parents absent, I can’t take him alone. Discuss it among yourselves. Choose one person to accompany him.”

No one had expected this.

“Why only one person? Can’t we have more?” Fang Rong asked.

Ji Jinxuan said flatly, “This isn’t a market where anyone can just walk in.”

Without another word, he walked to the end of the corridor, giving them space to discuss.

Throughout it all, his gaze never lingered on Xu Lin for a moment.

Fang Rong was the first to push the door open and enter, followed by Li Mu. Xu Lin paused, resisting the urge to turn his head, and followed behind Li Mu.

Inside, after Fang Rong explained things to Xiao Zhao, the boy quickly chose his companion. They all expected him to pick Fang Rong, but Xiao Zhao quietly took Xu Lin’s hand.

“Li-ge, can you come with me?”

Fang Rong looked a little hurt. “You little brat, I’m the one who’s always with you. I’ve bought you all those popsicles. In your heart, it’s only Li-ge who’s good. I’m worthless, huh?”

Xiao Zhao quickly said, “No, no! Fang-ge, you’re great! It’s just… it’s just…” He hesitated, looking at Xu Lin, not daring to speak.

Xu Lin understood immediately. It was because they shared the same “illness.” Xiao Zhao felt closer to him because Xu Lin had been through the same thing. But it was their secret, and Xiao Zhao had promised to keep it, so he could not tell Fang Rong. He was so flustered his ears turned red.

He was just a child. No matter how well he hid it, he was scared and anxious. That was why he had chosen Xu Lin, who understood him better than anyone and could empathize with him completely.

He was a clever child.

“Okay.” Xu Lin rubbed Xiao Zhao’s head and agreed.

He could not refuse such trust.

Xiao Zhao chose Xu Lin, and Li Mu hesitated.

“Are you… sure you can do this?” he asked Xu Lin.

Xu Lin paused, then laughed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Li Mu was clearly thinking of Ji Jinxuan. He knew nothing of their past, but he sensed something off between them. Even without eye contact or physical touch, there was a palpable strangeness.

It was like a bowl of oil covering hot water—no steam escaping, everyone assuming the water was cold and the bowl was cold. But when the oil was broken, scalding steam burst forth. The calm facade shattered, revealing magma-like boiling water beneath. A single drop would blister the skin.

They discussed it for a while longer, but Xiao Zhao did not change his mind. The companion was chosen by the person himself, and Li Mu and Fang Rong could not object.

Xiao Zhao’s situation had come up unexpectedly. Ji Jinxuan had originally planned to stay for a month, but his schedule was cut short. He left the rest of his team behind and took Xiao Zhao and Xu Lin back with him.

The next morning, Li Mu and Fang Rong said goodbye to Xiao Zhao. Fang Rong was worried, pulling the boy aside and giving him endless instructions. They had a mission that day, so they could not see him off.

Fang Rong said, “Be good there. Listen to what they say. If anything happens, tell Li-ge. We’ll find time to visit. Don’t be scared.”

Xiao Zhao nodded obediently.

No one knew how long the treatment would take or when he would recover—it all depended on his body. It could be short. It could be very long.

Xu Lin patted Fang Rong’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him. Not a single hair out of place.”

When it was time to leave, Ji Jinxuan sat in the passenger seat. Xiao Zhao and Xu Lin were in the back. Xiao Zhao leaned out the window, waving goodbye.

The engine started. The car drove out of the military district and headed for the airport.

When Li Mu and Fang Rong were out of sight, Xiao Zhao grew restless, instinctively pressing closer to Xu Lin. Seeing his nervousness, Xu Lin took his hand, squeezed it, and held it tight. Xiao Zhao looked up at him, and Xu Lin smiled.

“Don’t be scared,” he mouthed.

Xiao Zhao’s tense body relaxed a little, and he nodded.

The car took them to the airport in the city. The driver completed his task and left.

Ji Jinxuan took a call, then said, “This way.” He walked ahead, with Xu Lin and Xiao Zhao following behind.

Xu Lin watched Ji Jinxuan’s back. He had shed his white coat and changed into casual clothes. But the glove on his right hand remained.

They arrived at an apron where a plane was already waiting. Several uniformed staff stood below. When they spotted Ji Jinxuan, they hurried over to take his luggage, then Xu Lin’s. One even took Xiao Zhao’s small backpack with a cartoon water bottle attached.

“Ah, my… my water bottle…” Xiao Zhao thought he could not bring it, looking longingly as someone took his favorite possession.

The staff member crouched down with a perfect smile. “I’ll carry it for you.”

Xu Lin took Xiao Zhao’s hand and led him onto the plane.

The interior was much like the plane he had taken from the capital back to District Thirteen.

Ji Jinxuan poured a glass of water, not for himself, but handed it to Xu Lin.

Xu Lin paused for a moment, then took it and passed it to Xiao Zhao. “Thirsty?”

Xiao Zhao took the glass, sat down, and sipped it carefully.

Xu Lin sat beside him.

Ji Jinxuan sat across from them.

As the plane taxied and took off, Ji Jinxuan finally spoke.

“The military academy’s research institute requires approval for entry. You won’t be able to get in, so we’re going to my private institute.” Ji Jinxuan said, “It’s in the capital.”

Xu Lin was stunned.

“Wow, the capital.” Xiao Zhao’s eyes lit up. “That’s amazing. I’ve never been there. I heard there’s so much fun stuff. Isn’t that right, ge… Li-ge?” He turned excitedly to Xu Lin but was stopped by the sudden change in his expression.

Xiao Zhao was startled and fell silent.

“Are you doing this on purpose?” Xu Lin’s voice was cold. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Everyone, including him, had assumed Ji Jinxuan meant the military academy’s institute, a place with strict discipline where nothing untoward would happen even with Ji Jinxuan around. That was why Xu Lin had agreed so readily.

Who would have thought it would be in the capital? Was this some kind of forced revisit?

It was absurd.

Xu Lin was furious.

“This came up suddenly. You all wanted the boy treated as soon as possible. I didn’t have time to apply, and if I waited for the lengthy approval process, he would miss his optimal treatment window. I assumed that’s not what you wanted, so I made the decision.” Ji Jinxuan said, “My institute may not compare to the military academy’s, but it has more than enough to treat him. I didn’t mean to deceive you. This is the best option.”

Xu Lin was angry, but his rational mind told him Ji Jinxuan had a point. He could not argue, but he was still upset. With Xiao Zhao beside him, he could not explode, so he held it in and turned to look out the window.

“I know you hate the capital. And you hate me. Rest assured. Once we’re there, I’ll stay out of your sight as much as possible. Do whatever you want. Go wherever you want.”

“I told you,” Ji Jinxuan said softly. “I will never interfere in your affairs again. I mean it.”