ITF Chapter124

He spoke too directly. Not wanting to clash with him, Jiang Han had no choice but to offer a gentle, apologetic smile, “I owe you an apology. The way I spoke that day was truly too rude.”

It was another apology. It seemed as though Physician Jiang had nothing else to say except apologies. Bei Yang took a step toward him, facing him directly as he said, “I’m the one who owes you an apology. I never said sorry for injuring your hand before.” His gaze moved from that slender wrist he had once dislocated to the right hand tightly gripping the lemon. “I heard you’re going back to medical school. Will this injury affect your ability to operate on patients later on?”

“It’s no longer an issue…”

Startled, Jiang Han cut off the rest of his sentence in his throat.

Bei Yang had actually lifted his right hand.

“Do I press like this?” Bei Yang asked casually.

“Lin Qian taught me this,” he said to Jiang Han while massaging his wrist. “When we were on the island before, she told me to apologize to you properly, but I never knew how to bring it up.”

He didn’t know medicine, but his massage technique was quite professional, and the force he applied was just right. However, an Alpha’s body temperature was higher than a Beta’s, and Jiang Han felt as if the skin of his wrist was being scorched by the heat of his touch. “It’s fine, you don’t need to apologize.” His voice also became a bit stiff. “You also don’t need to…”

The strength in Bei Yang’s hand tightened slightly.

“Back then, my brother being caught by Shao Yixiao might not have been an accident.”

Jiang Han was stunned by this unexpected sentence.

“Why do you say that?” He looked around the room, asking in astonishment, “Did you discover something?”

That was precisely the problem. Bei Yang lowered his eyes. “No.” His voice also sank. “I searched the entire house and found nothing. I heard from Mister Su that this room was kept exactly as it was when my brother left. He hid things very well; even when an unexpected accident occurred back then, he left no suspicious clues for anyone.”

Jiang Han said, “Senior Brother Bei has always acted with caution.”

“Exactly, he has always acted with caution.” Bei Yang repeated after him.

With that, his tone suddenly shifted, “But, he was so smart and so cautious, how could he easily let Shao Yixiao find a flaw? He disguised himself in the capital for so many years and even managed to blend into Bai Yi’s team of imperial physicians. He never slipped up, and he was never suspected by anyone.”

What he said was not without reason, and Jiang Han’s heart gave a sudden jolt.

A bitter smile appeared on Bei Yang’s face, “Everything back then happened too fast, too easily, and too coincidentally.”

“But…” Jiang Han said blankly, “There’s no reason for him to…”

“He wanted to bring Pei Yan home.” When this name was spoken, Bei Yang already felt a bit unfamiliar with it. “Perhaps, he wanted to use his own life to push Pei Yan over to our side. He succeeded. Even though everything that happened later definitely didn’t align with his plan, he did succeed.”

This conjecture was far too wild. Jiang Han shook his head, “This is just your speculation. There is no evidence whatsoever to prove he exposed himself voluntarily. Once exposed, it would inevitably drag more people into danger. He wouldn’t take such a massive risk.”

Bei Yang lowered his head to rest his forehead lightly against Jiang Han’s shoulder and stayed quiet for a moment. He had to admit that Jiang Han’s words made sense, but as for what the actual truth was, only his heartless brother would ever know.

“Physician Jiang,” he didn’t continue the previous topic, asking abruptly instead, “why don’t you want to be friends with me?”

This question was entirely outside Jiang Han’s expectations as well, leaving him unable to answer for a moment.

Bei Yang released his hand and smoothly wrapped his arms around his waist. Jiang Han couldn’t help but take half a step back, only for the small of his back to bump against the edge of the table.

“Is there any difference between his notes and me?” Bei Yang pursued him another half-step forward. “You said you think of him whenever you see me, but when you look at his notes, don’t you think of him then?”

“Let go.” Jiang Han raised his hands to push against his chest, attempting to break free from his embrace. But standing in front of him was an Alpha who had trained in martial arts for years; how could he possibly push him away?

Bei Yang asked, emphasizing each word, “Are you afraid of remembering him, or are you afraid of seeing me?”

Jiang Han’s pupils dilated in shock. He opened his mouth, but before he could utter a single word, Bei Yang’s face was already looming close. The lemon in his hand rolled to the ground once more. With nowhere left to retreat, Jiang Han had no choice but to squeeze his eyes shut.

His brow was furrowed tightly, and his distinct eyelashes trembled uncontrollably. Bei Yang didn’t kiss him; he merely pressed his forehead against Jiang Han’s before letting out a soft sigh.

He had originally decided to let go.

“Give me a month.” He said softly.

Jiang Han abruptly opened his eyes, looking at him with a face full of astonishment.

Bei Yang explained to him seriously, “Going back this time, I am going to rebuild the armed defense network within Urdan’s borders. Once I have everything properly arranged, I still have to rush back at full speed to form a royal guard to protect the palace.” He laughed softly under his breath, “Bai Heting really has gone mad by entrusting the life of his enemy’s daughter into my hands.”

Jiang Han finally confirmed that he had not misheard.

And he had probably not misunderstood the meaning behind those words either.

He pursed his lips, using an imploring tone, “Let go of me first…”

Bei Yang let go of him. He picked up the lemon that had fallen for a second time from the ground and stuffed it back into Jiang Han’s hand.

“My brother is already dead.” He stared fixedly at Jiang Han’s lowered eyelids, pressing aggressively, “Did your heart die along with him? You’re a physician. Tell me, at this very moment, is your heart beating fast?”

Even if Jiang Han weren’t a physician, he could still feel just how fast his heart was beating right now. He didn’t dare raise his head, only gripping the lemon tightly in his hand as he stared down at the floor.

Bei Yang raised a hand and pressed it against his own chest.

“My heart feels like it’s about to leap out of my chest.” He paused slightly, a trace of weariness creeping into his voice. “Just because I share a slight resemblance with my brother, you keep me thousands of miles away. That is what’s truly unfair to me.”

Jiang Han could not utter a single word of rebuttal. He remained silent for a long time, long enough for both of their breathings to quiet down a bit, before he murmured, “I…”

“Make a bet with me.” Without waiting for him to finish, Bei Yang caught him off guard by lifting his chin, forcing him to look directly into his eyes.

“When you are with me, I won’t let you think of him,” he said with absolute certainty. “My brother and I are nothing alike.”

The lemon that had just been picked up rolled onto the ground yet again.

This time, Jiang Han didn’t have time to close his eyes before Bei Yang’s kiss fell upon him.

The youth picked up a lemon that had accidentally rolled onto the ground and placed it back into the silk pouch on the horse’s back.

The sunset clouds rolled like liquid gold, dyeing the calm lake surface a fiery red. An evening breeze drifted by, carrying a crisp woody scent along with the sharp tang of liquor. However, since the youth had not yet manifested his second gender, he was clearly unable to detect the faint, lingering pheromones woven into the air.

But at a single glance, he spotted two intimate figures on the grass by the lakeshore.

One of them saw him too. The man sat up from the grass, raised a hand to fix his messy short hair, and waved at him, gesturing for him to come over.

The youth’s steps were somewhat sluggish as he reluctantly led the horse over.

“Physician Jiang asked me to bring back some lemons.” He patted the pouch on the saddle. “Don’t mind me, carry on.”

He was born with bright eyes, white teeth, and a face as beautiful as crowned jade, yet there was a conspicuous, fresh bruise on his handsome face. Luo Congye studied the new injury on his cheekbone and said speechlessly, “You got beaten up again?”

“What do you mean ‘beaten up’?” Pei Jing looked elsewhere, muttering defiantly, “I was letting her win.”

The moment the words left his mouth, a flash of blade-light suddenly streaked past. Fortunately, his reactions were fast enough; he dodged to the side, evading the dagger that had flown at him from a low angle.

“Mother!” He was so shocked his mouth couldn’t even close.

Luo Congye lowered his head, equally shocked, “You actually threw it?”

“It was a scrape at most.” Bai Heting sat up, supporting himself on the turf.

He had simply wanted to test if Pei Jing was lying just now. Seeing that his movements were agile and his footwork solid, he said nothing more, merely asking in a deep voice, “What did you just call me?”

His expression was extremely solemn. Pei Jing turned around to pick up the dagger that had fallen into the grass in the distance, offered it back with both hands, and respectfully corrected himself, “Mother.”

Bai Heting took the dagger and, as if interrogating a prisoner, asked again, “Who taught you to let her win during a match?”

Pei Jing subconsciously looked toward Luo Congye.

Luo Congye hurriedly shot him a meaningful look.

Although Pei Jing was two years younger than Bai Qinghuan, he had always grown faster than boys his age. Given his height and weight advantages, he always deliberately held back his strength when clashing with Bai Qinghuan. However, his swordsmanship was clearly not yet at the level where he could rein it in at will, so the price of displaying his gentlemanly manners was getting beaten up from time to time.

Realizing his biological father was clearly unreliable, Pei Jing had no choice but to take the blame all on his own, “It was my own idea.”

Bai Heting continued to question, “Why let her win?”

“Because she’s a…”

The word “girl” was already at the tip of his tongue when Luo Congye suddenly cleared his throat. Pei Jing caught on instantly, “Her Majesty holds an honorable status. If I were to accidentally injure her, it would cause trouble for Mother.”

He answered with sound reasoning, so Bai Heting didn’t press further, merely instructing, “You are not allowed to let her win in the future.” After saying that, he added, “And you are not allowed to injure her either.”

Luo Congye finally couldn’t help himself, “Your son is only nine years old.”

Bai Heting said, “Nine is not young anymore.”

Pei Jing also chimed in, “What’s wrong with being nine?”

With the mother and son playing off each other, Luo Congye had nothing left to say. Taking a deep breath, he decided to end the topic, “Alright, let’s go back and have dinner.”

Hearing this, Pei Jing hurriedly unhitched the pouch full of lemons from the horse’s back and stood up straight, acting obedient, “I’m going to Teacher Xu’s place to eat.”

“Are you going to practice the piano again?” Luo Congye glanced at the setting sun in the western sky and frowned, “Look what time it is.”

“Don’t worry,” Pei Jing flipped himself onto the horse, “I’ll be back as soon as it gets dark.”

“It’s about to get dark right now!”

Before his father could even finish his sentence, Pei Jing squeezed the horse’s flanks and galloped away in a flash. Luo Congye lay back down on the grass and let out a long sigh, “He’s not even that old, yet he’s got quite a mind of his own.”

Bai Heting glanced sideways at him and lay back down as well.

Luo Congye raised an arm for him to use as a pillow, saying thoughtfully, “I wonder who he inherited this hobby from.”

Bai Heting lay quietly in his embrace for a moment.

“He resembles Luo Wanyin,” he said softly. “My mother also liked to play the piano.”

Luo Congye froze for a second before turning his face to look at him. Bai Heting gazed up at the night sky slowly falling overhead, continuing in an even tone, “Last week, the envoy from Ximo delivered a portrait. A portrait of my mother.”

That portrait was painted by a royal artist, captured during a hunting trip. The sixteen-year-old Luo Wanyin was dressed in splendid attire, riding a fine horse, full of high spirits—a side of him that Bai Heting had never seen before.

“Why are you only telling me now? Are you reluctant to let me see it?” Luo Congye bent his elbow to draw him closer into his embrace, asking softly, “Do you miss him?”

Bai Heting closed his eyes against the sound of the surging lake water.

He did not answer Luo Congye’s question directly, only stating evenly, “He is more beautiful than I remembered.”

Luo Congye said nothing more. He raised his other hand to hold him tight, tilted his face a bit closer, and continued the kiss that had been interrupted by their son.

This time, there was no one else to disrupt them insensitively.

However, an unknown bird soared across the sky, letting a feather drift lightly downward.

As the evening breeze brushed over the water, that pure white feather rode the ripples, gently floating upon the fiery red surface of the lake.

—End of Main Story—