Early in the morning, faint noises and commotion seeped through the hospital’s soundproof walls into the quiet room.
Ji Mian rested with his eyes closed, entirely ignoring the disturbances outside.
Time passed. The noise faded, and the electronic door to the room opened. A doctor entered hurriedly.
“Apologies, Young Master Ji. There was a delay due to some matters, but we’ll begin today’s treatment now…”
Ji Mian interrupted, his tone calm and detached: “Word about my return has spread, hasn’t it?”
The doctor froze, momentarily unsure of how to respond.
Ji Mian gave a soft chuckle. “Ji Tingyan couldn’t keep it under wraps for long.”
The doctor hesitated before responding, “Rest assured, this facility is secure. No one will disturb you.”
He quickly shifted the subject. “Let’s proceed with your routine treatment now. Please cooperate.”
“Alright,” Ji Mian replied indifferently.
The doctor silently breathed a sigh of relief. It was evident that Ji Mian’s attitude toward them had softened over time. Perhaps he had come to accept his circumstances, or maybe he realized they harbored no ill intent. Regardless, he no longer resisted their treatments like when he first arrived.
Following the treatment, Ji Mian asked, “How much longer before I can be discharged?”
The doctor paused briefly before replying, “For the sake of your health, it would be best to observe for a few more weeks.”
In truth, based on Ji Mian’s recovery rate, he could have been discharged in just a couple of days. While his depleted mental strength would take time to recover, his physical injuries were already healed.
However, Ji Tingyan had specifically instructed the staff to keep Ji Mian in the hospital for a prolonged period. Exactly how long? That remained unclear.
Ji Mian didn’t press further and leaned back against the pillows, closing his eyes once again.
The doctor retreated quietly and ran into Ji Cheng outside the room.
Ji Cheng, still resentful of being shooed out the previous day, didn’t bother masking his irritation. “Move aside.”
The doctor stepped back, watching as Ji Cheng strode confidently into the room.
Having witnessed Ji Cheng’s repeated visits over the past few days, the doctor mused to himself that the rumored animosity between the Ji brothers might not be as severe as people believed.
Shaking off the thought, he decided it was best not to meddle in family affairs. Gossiping about matters involving the Ji family was a dangerous game.
The doctor walked away.
—
Inside the room, Ji Cheng sat at Ji Mian’s bedside, peeling fruit while speaking.
“Brother, I’ve looked into what you asked me to investigate.”
Ji Mian opened his eyes slightly, his gaze sharp and focused.
Encouraged by this attention, Ji Cheng continued, “The E-13 planet was attacked by passing star pirates. I heard there were significant losses, and one of the port’s ships went missing during the raid.”
Ji Mian’s fingers tensed immediately. “Did you find out which pirates were responsible?”
“Uh… no, I didn’t get that far,” Ji Cheng admitted sheepishly.
E-13 was a small, insignificant planet in the Seventh Galaxy, so inconsequential that it didn’t even have an official name. Star pirate raids were a common occurrence, and an attack on such a remote planet garnered little to no attention.
Ji Cheng had spent considerable effort scouring the star network, only managing to find a brief mention of the incident in an obscure forum. Even then, the report was limited to a few lines.
To the wider galaxy, planets as insignificant as E-13 could vanish without anyone noticing or caring. Ji Cheng couldn’t understand why his brother was so concerned about it.
Hearing Ji Cheng’s explanation, Ji Mian’s heart sank like a stone into an icy abyss.
The Relief Society.
This was no ordinary group of star pirates. It was a secretive, terrifying organization—one that Ji Mian had never even heard of before this incident.
Could they be connected to the forces that had ambushed him outside the capital star?
Even if they weren’t connected, the attackers of E-13 were unquestionably part of the Relief Society.
Ji Mian’s expression darkened, his thoughts tangled in chaos.
Ji Cheng had never seen his brother look so pale before. He was startled and was about to ask when Ji Mian slowly closed his eyes.
“…Go home.”
Leaning against the pillow, his voice was faint and cold, as if all his strength had been drained.
“I want to be alone for a while.”
Ji Cheng hesitated. “…Alright. Brother, remember to eat this. I’ll come back to see you tomorrow.”
He gently placed the peeled fruit down and left the hospital room, glancing back several times before closing the door behind him.
–
Upon returning home and stepping into the foyer, Ji Cheng was met with the sound of a heated argument coming from the staircase.
“So what if I said it?! I am your wife! You were the one who hid it from me first!”
Slap!
A sharp slap echoed through the house. The shrill female voice was abruptly cut off, followed by a few moments of silence before a trembling voice spoke again.
“You hit me… You actually hit me for that woman’s son?”
Ji Cheng recognized his father’s voice—cold, distant, as if he were speaking to a stranger.
“You are nothing compared to her.”
No more words followed. Shadows flickered across the staircase as Ji Tingyan strode down, his expression full of disgust. Behind him, Liu Jing lay sprawled at the stair landing, having fallen from the force of the slap.
Ji Cheng was stunned. He instinctively wanted to run forward, but when he caught sight of his father’s thunderous expression, he flinched and shrank back to the side.
Ji Tingyan cast him a glance, said nothing, and left without looking back, slamming the door behind him.
Ji Cheng rushed to help Liu Jing up. “Mom! What happened?! Why did Dad hit you?!”
Liu Jing’s hair was disheveled, her face partially swollen from the slap. She didn’t answer him. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the door Ji Tingyan had walked out of.
A few seconds later, she let out a low, eerie laugh.
“It doesn’t matter. Your father has made his choice.”
Her voice trembled slightly as she laughed, strands of loose hair swaying with her movement.
“This time, I still won. That woman… she will never win against me.”
At first, Ji Cheng was confused. But suddenly, as if realizing something, his expression changed drastically.
“Mom… What did you do to my brother?”
—
“The news of your return has already spread.”
Inside the hospital, Ji Tingyan stood beside the hospital bed, his voice devoid of emotion.
—But the next words he spoke took an abrupt turn.
“The Suoya family has their eyes on you. They want you to be engaged to their eldest daughter.”
Ji Mian kept his eyes closed, as if Ji Tingyan—and everything he was saying—was utterly insignificant. He didn’t even lift his eyelids.
A faint crease appeared between Ji Tingyan’s brows. He couldn’t explain why, but he had the distinct feeling that Ji Mian had already anticipated the reason for his visit.
Still, he continued, “Audrey, a B-rank combat-type Beta. Her uncle is Jose. You know him—an S-rank combatant.”
Back when Ji Mian was still an S-rank, the Suoya family had already proposed an arranged marriage. But their chosen match back then wasn’t Audrey—it was her S-rank uncle.
At the time, Ji Tingyan had refused. The Ji family had the power and confidence to reject them.
But now…
Ji Mian was no longer an S-rank.
And the Ji family’s confidence had disappeared along with his rank.
Ji Tingyan’s tone was firm and unyielding, as if carving words into stone. “The Ji family’s position isn’t what it used to be. Even though you’re still a B-class, the fact that the Suoya family is willing to accept you shows some sincerity. Marrying into their family won’t be a bad thing for you.”
To him, this wasn’t a negotiation; it was a decision, one Ji Mian had no room to contest.
Ji Tingyan finished speaking and watched Ji Mian carefully, waiting for a reaction.
Still, Ji Mian did not look at him. He didn’t even raise his eyes, offering only a faint “Mm” in response.
There was no refusal. No anger. Just a simple, indifferent acknowledgment.
Ji Tingyan should have been pleased—after all, this meant Ji Mian agreed. Yet somehow, he felt more unsettled than relieved.
His son resembled her too much.
Both in appearance and temperament. Even in moments like this, Ji Mian carried the same air of detachment that she once had.
For years, Ji Tingyan had disliked this resemblance. It was as if through Ji Mian, he was constantly reminded of her.
And yet now…
Ji Tingyan’s voice turned colder, as if trying to suppress something. “I don’t think you understand what I mean. You’re not marrying into the Suoya family as an equal. You’ll be fulfilling the role of an Omega.”
Finally, Ji Mian opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp and icy, like the deep, chilling waters of a frozen lake.
“Fine,” he said, his tone crisp and emotionless.
Ji Tingyan was taken aback, but before he could regain his composure, Ji Mian added, “The engagement ceremony will be held on Frann Star.”
Frann Star.
Ji Tingyan involuntarily stepped back. His pupils constricted, ripples spreading through his usually composed demeanor like a stone cast into a tranquil lake.
Ji Mian met his gaze steadily, his expression unchanging.
For a moment, Ji Tingyan seemed to struggle for words. When he finally spoke, his voice was faint, almost inaudible.
“Fine. Frann Star it is.”
As if escaping something unseen, he turned abruptly and left the room in haste.
Once the door shut, silence returned to the hospital room.
Ji Mian’s lips curved into a faint, sardonic smile.
Even though Ji Tingyan hadn’t said anything outright, Ji Mian could guess who had leaked his whereabouts.
It must have been Liu Qing.
As expected, everything had unfolded just as he had anticipated.
Ji Mian exhaled softly, his thoughts drifting to a familiar face.
Chu Shiye… Are you alright?
No matter what, the time to leave had finally arrived.
Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡
