IAAA Chapter 6

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"You’re awake?" I looked at Shen Junshan as he opened his eyes and asked.

He glanced at me, his expression completely returning to its usual calm. Shen Junshan rubbed his sore forehead, seemingly trying to recall last night's events.

I interrupted his thoughts. "Where did you go yesterday?"

"I went to the hospital," he said steadily. "His condition isn't good. The doctor suggested removing the ventilator and turning off the life support."

"The doctor also said..." He sat up and looked at me, suddenly changing the subject. "What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" I rubbed my red eyes. "Stayed up all night, I guess I couldn't hold on."

He moved his arm slightly and suddenly asked, "How is your body now?"

"Still alright." I wiped my dry eyes. "After being in a coma for so long, no matter how good my body was, I'm already in my thirties. I should thank you for not throwing me out of the hospital."

"Do you know Tang Tang?"

"Tang... sugar?" I shook my head. "How would I know him? Who is he?"

"My lover." Shen Junshan actually curved his lips into a smile. "I thought you two knew each other."

"Why?"

"Because he was the one who insisted on continuing your medical care and keeping your position at Quanta. I always thought you were acquaintances."

"That just means your lover is a good person." I avoided his eyes, but Shen Junshan continued speaking.

"He is indeed very good," Shen Junshan was still smiling. "These years with him, I’ve been very happy."

"Is that so?" I wanted to make a sarcastic remark but lowered my head instead. "No matter how much it hurts, it’s just something that lasts for a while. Once it's over, it's over."

Shen Junshan didn’t say anything. I knew he was looking at me. My words were too heartless, but the sad truth was, that’s just the way things were.

"Shen Junshan, let me tell you this—one day, you will realize that the pain and longing you feel now are nothing. After enough time has passed, at most, you’ll think it’s a pity, but you won’t suffer for him anymore."

In a place where he couldn’t see, my palm was clenched tightly as if I wanted to crush my own bones. But my voice remained incredibly calm. I lifted my head and looked into his weary eyes, at the reflection of myself in them.

"You are an Alpha, an excellent—even outstanding—Alpha. Even without him, do you think there will be any fewer Omegas lining up for you? Yes, you loved him, you were happy together, you built a home, and you had three lovely children." I looked at the expression of myself reflected in his eyes, speaking so seriously it was almost laughable. "But Tang Tang is gone. You know this. He will never come back… And one day, another Omega will appear in your life. The natural chemistry between an Alpha and an Omega is inevitable. You will fall in love again, just as you once loved him!"

"Impossible." Shen Junshan stubbornly looked at me. "Du Tang, do you know what we went through to be together?"

"We had just gotten together when something went wrong at the company. Ten years ago was Quanta’s worst period—we had nothing, all our assets were pledged to cover the company’s losses. Cash flow was completely broken. No matter how big a reputation is, it means nothing in the face of financial problems. At that time, he was the only one by my side, the only one left.

My employees ran away if they could, jumped ship if they had a chance—everyone was waiting to watch me fail. The ones who were still on good terms with me advised me to sell Quanta; at least that way, I could get rid of the mess. But he was the only one still working tirelessly in the planning department, negotiating up and down for contracts...

Back then, I was too young to know how to take care of someone. I lost my temper without thinking, lashing out without reason. He was always the first to suffer from my anger. I was burning with anxiety, unable to sleep, my body barely holding itself together."

Shen Junshan had always been reserved and composed. I had never heard him talk about this, never known this was how he remembered that time.

"I was a mess, neither fully human nor a ghost. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have made it through. That year, we had Wenshu, but he didn’t tell me. I didn’t find out until he was so exhausted that he nearly had a miscarriage and was rushed to the hospital. I was his lover, yet I didn’t even know about his condition. When I saw his frail body lying unconscious in that hospital bed, I ran to the stairwell and cried alone. That was the moment I swore I would give him a good life.

I watched over him all night. When he woke up and saw me, the first thing he said was ‘I’m sorry.’ But I was the one who owed him...

Later, life got better, but I was always so busy. I never spent enough time with him or the kids. The two children were closer to him, always siding with their ‘Papa.’ I felt jealous, but more than that, I was happy—there were two more people in the world who loved him."

"Don’t tell me about Alpha and Omega attraction. What does a poor man have to attract anyone? Even if Omegas flock to me, how many of them actually want me for who I am? Without status, power, wealth, or even this face…" He didn’t finish his sentence, just wiped his face. "If only he could come back, I would do anything..."

"Tang Tang won’t come back. An Omega—"

I tried to cut him off, but he interrupted me instead.

"He’s not just an Omega. He’s my pillar of support."

His words stunned me, shattering the last bit of control I had over my tears.

"Why are you crying?"

I laughed, letting the tears fall freely. "The person I love just confessed his love for someone else right in front of me. How could I not cry?"

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