Chapter 36: I won’t touch your beta

After confirming Ji Jixuan had left, Xu Lin jumped out of bed and ran downstairs, retrieving the phone from the flowerbed and turning it on.

Shuangshuang had already sent him several messages.

He replied briefly. Within minutes, she called.

Xu Lin answered.

“Why did you reply so late?”

“I had something on last night. Didn’t have time.” Xu Lin explained, “I might not see your messages right away. I’ll reply when I can. Try not to call out of the blue, I’m afraid I’ll…”

“Afraid of what?” She caught on quickly, thinking he was just a diligent worker. “Afraid your boss will catch you slacking off?”

Xu Lin smiled and went along with it. “Yeah. I’d lose pay.”

“Got it. Are you free today? Want to hang out?”

Today…

Ji Jixuan had just left—he probably wouldn’t be back soon. Going out for a bit should be fine. But—

Xu Lin felt an inexplicable twinge.

“I’ll pass today.”

She sounded disappointed. “Fine. When you’re free, definitely let me know! I’ll come find you!”

Xu Lin said, “Okay.”

After hanging up, he looked at the phone. It wasn’t his. He could hide it anywhere, but nowhere felt safe enough.

He went back to the bedroom, turned it off, and tucked it under the mattress.

Ji Jixuan wouldn’t think to check there.

At 1 PM, Ji Jixuan returned. Xu Lin was napping. He slipped into bed and wrapped his arms around him.

Xu Lin woke with a start, surprised. “Back so early? Are you done?”

“Yeah.” Ji Jixuan nestled against him, resting his head on Xu Lin’s shoulder, eyes closing.

He looked tired.

Xu Lin stroked his hair. “Going out again this afternoon?”

“No.”

Xu Lin was grateful he’d trusted his instincts. Good thing he hadn’t gone out.

After holding him a while, Xu Lin patted his back. “Did you find a doctor?”

Ji Jixuan opened his eyes. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“No.” Xu Lin was puzzled. “You said Dr. Qin was transferred and would find me a new one, remember?”

He pointed at the scar. “This is almost gone.”

“I want to go home and see my teacher,” he said. “Find me a doctor.”

Ji Jixuan closed his eyes in silence.

He didn’t respond. Xu Lin gently scratched his ear. “I’m talking to you. Hear me?”

Ji Jixuan finally answered with a grunt, “Got it.”

A few days later, Ji Jixuan brought in a new doctor.

He was about sixty, white-haired, sharp-eyed, quiet and steady. His back was always straight.

Xu Lin thought he looked like the textbook photo of a doctor.

This time, Ji Jixuan accompanied him throughout the treatment.

When Xu Lin finished his facial therapy and got off the machine, the old doctor flipped through Qin Yu’s notes and suddenly said to Xu Lin, “Sit down.”

Xu Lin sat, confused. The doctor took out tools and tied a tourniquet around his arm. “What’s this for?”

“Drawing blood.”

Xu Lin blinked. “Why draw blood for a face treatment?”

The doctor glanced up expressionlessly and plunged the needle into his vein without hesitation.

“Hiss!”

Xu Lin turned to Ji Jixuan in confusion, but Ji Jixuan had no objection. It seemed normal.

So Xu Lin went along with it.

After drawing several vials, the doctor went behind Xu Lin, lifted his hair, and pressed on his nape.

His neck was covered in bite marks and other marks. The doctor ignored them, pressing and kneading firmly.

It hurt. Even Ji Jixuan’s expression shifted, but he didn’t stop it.

After a while, the doctor released him. “That’s enough. You can leave.”

“… Strange. Dr. Qin was nicer.” Xu Lin thought to himself.

At the door, the doctor called, “Mr. Ji.”

They both turned. The doctor looked at Ji Jixuan. “You stay.”

Xu Lin asked, “What’s going on?”

Ji Jixuan glanced at the doctor, then said to Xu Lin, “Go eat something. I’ll be right there.”

“Okay.” Xu Lin left.

The door closed, leaving only the two of them.

Twenty minutes later, they came out. The old doctor gave a few brief instructions and left.

Afterward, Xu Lin asked, “What did he say to you?”

Ji Jixuan was silent for a moment, looking at the back of Xu Lin’s neck, then looked away.

“Nothing,” he said.

The old doctor was odd, but skilled and busy. Dr. Qin had come weekly; this one visited far less often. Sometimes half a month, sometimes months. His excuse: hospital business, too many patients.

The scar that should have faded quickly dragged on with little progress.

He was also hard to talk to. Qin Yu would at least respond. This one wouldn’t even open his mouth.

Half a year passed like this. Ji Jixuan was suddenly busy again, spending less time at home.

One night, he came back completely drunk.

It was Xu Lin’s first time dealing with a drunk Ji Jixuan. He half-dragged, half-carried him upstairs, took care of him, and got him into bed. As he was helping him change, Ji Jixuan threw his arms around him and hugged him tightly.

He said, “I’m sorry.”

Xu Lin thought he was apologizing for being drunk. “It’s okay. I’ve been drunk too.”

Ji Jixuan was an easy drunk—he didn’t throw up like Little Fatty and the others, or cry on trash cans. He just got clingier.

Xu Lin’s hair had grown past his shoulder blades, usually tied or pinned up. Ji Jixuan traced up his back to the nape hidden beneath it.

His fingers lingered there.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Lin asked.

Ji Jixuan flipped him onto the bed and bit him.

Xu Lin, used to it, didn’t move.

He heard Ji Jixuan saying something, but it was too soft to make out. He repeated the same words over and over.

Xu Lin took his hand, feeling a faint tremor.

His heart stopped for a moment. He soothed him gently. “It’s okay. It’s okay. I’m always here.”

Ji Jixuan knew Ji Wang would come for him eventually, but he didn’t expect him to be so impatient.

Six months after he gave the suppressant to Zhuang Xun, Ji Jixuan was called back to the main house.

In the study, Ji Wang sat behind the desk, looking at his grandson, whom he hadn’t seen in years.

Ji Jixuan sat across from him.

There was no warmth, no familiarity.

Though nearly eighty, Ji Wang was alert and immaculately dressed. His aging face still held sharp features, hinting at the confident, capable man he’d been.

The Ji family shared the same self-interest, the same sharp features.

“You didn’t visit Ji Hongyun while you were here.”

Ji Wang laughed. “Why visit a useless thing?”

Ji Jixuan, unsurprised, got straight to the point. “Why did you call me here?”

“I think you know.”

Ji Jixuan smiled. Yes, of course he did.

“It’s only a matter of time before KW-02 is replaced. Since you’re so capable, I’m sure you can develop something even better. I look forward to seeing it.”

Ji Jixuan stood to leave.

Ji Wang said, “That’s not why I called.”

Ji Jixuan paused and turned.

“I had dinner with your Uncle Chen recently. You remember his daughter, the Omega around your age.”

“A while back, I had your pheromone samples tested for compatibility.”

“Congratulations.” Ji Wang smiled. “Your compatibility is 92%. I’m sure you’ll have a perfect marriage.”

The air went cold.

Ji Jixuan’s brow furrowed, anger barely contained. “Are you insane?”

Ji Wang showed no displeasure at the rude retort. He looked puzzled. “You’re of age. Your grandfather found you a perfect match. Shouldn’t you be happy? Why speak to me like that? Your useless brother ruined himself over a Beta.”

Ji Wang tapped the desk, faster and faster, clearly disdainful.

“Now you’re the only one left. The right thing is to marry and continue the Ji line.”

Seeing Ji Wang drop the pretense, Ji Jixuan did too.

He sneered. “Then feed those Ji descendants to your experiments?”

Ji Wang’s fingers stopped.

Ji Jixuan continued, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning.”

“Continuing the Ji line? What a grand excuse. It’s all for your own selfish interests.”

Ji Wang leaned back, smiling more deeply.

“Can’t touch the grown one, so you’ll take the young. How noble. To sacrifice Ji blood for the public good—such a great reputation.”

Ji Jixuan said, “How selfless of you, Engineer Ji.”

The man obsessed with research cared only about creating unbeatable new drugs. These titles were just excuses for human experimentation—no scrutiny, no consequences.

“Don’t even think about it,” Ji Jixuan said.

Ji Wang’s smile faded, his lips pressing together.

He pushed a stack of papers across the desk, scattering photos everywhere.

Run-down streets, muddy paths, small yards, unfamiliar faces.

“I know you have a Beta.”

Ji Jixuan’s hands clenched, knuckles cracking. “If you touch him—”

Ji Wang laughed coldly, picking up the last photo, looking at it like a pest.

“Just like your brother,” he spat. “Useless.”

He tossed the photo. It landed at Ji Jixuan’s feet—a man in his forties.

“I didn’t expect him to survive a bullet. Tenacious cockroach.”

Ji Wang was talking about the man.

“But it’s a pleasant surprise. Know who he is?”

“The Beta who was tangled up with your brother.”

Ji Jixuan froze.

He’d never found out how the Beta died.

“You did it,” he said.

“Of course,” Ji Wang admitted without shame. “Your brother wanted to leave the Ji family for him. That wasn’t possible. Good Alphas should be with good Omegas, to produce good descendants.”

“Would he stop?”

“I didn’t think your brother would be so foolish—destroying his gland for a Beta. Brainless.”

Ji Jixuan couldn’t listen anymore. Being in the same room disgusted him.

Ji Wang smiled, studying his expression.

“And he happens to be your Beta’s teacher.”

Ji Jixuan’s pupils contracted.

“I won’t touch your Beta.”

“But people in District Thirteen disappear all the time. Who would notice?”

“Those are the ones he cares about most, I believe.”

Ji Wang’s smile widened. “Want to try?

“See who’s faster, you or me?”