WT Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Method. Like you are now, can you still bite?

Chapter 45: Method. Like you are now, can you still bite?

The phone vibrated continuously in his palm, but Wen Shixi showed no expression, staring at the name on the screen.

His gaze seemed endless, yet abruptly stopped, pausing just beyond the screen.

Wen Shixi didn’t understand if this call from his brother was because of what his uncle had said in front of the reporters, or because his brother had received news that Cheng Xuan had entered his home again.

Seeing this, Cheng Xuan quickly removed his hand.

After a moment, Cheng Xuan saw that Wen Shixi wasn’t moving and asked, “Shixi, aren’t you going to answer it?”

Wen Shixi flipped his wrist, placing the phone face down on the dining table.

“No, no need to answer it.”

As he said this, he took another bite of bread.

The phone vibrated for a long time before stopping, and then it didn’t ring again.

Wen Shixi silently finished the bread in two bites, his eyes without the slightest ripple.

In the long silence, Wen Shixi went over many things in his mind, came up with many answers, and then felt that there were actually no answers at all.

Across the table, Cheng Xuan saw that Wen Shixi wasn’t speaking and gradually revealed a look of pity.

For Cheng Xuan, he really liked Wen Shixi.

Even though Wen Shixi was difficult to approach and scandalous rumors were rampant, he still thought Wen Shixi was very good.

That’s why, when he heard the news in Vienna that Wen Shixi was injured, he hurriedly asked the orchestra for leave and rushed back home.

Cheng Xuan hesitated for a moment, finally gathering his courage to ask softly.

“Shixi, why have you never told me about these things?”

At least, weren’t they friends?

Hearing this, Wen Shixi silently looked up, meeting Cheng Xuan’s face full of disappointment.

Wen Shixi thought for a moment, then asked calmly, “Would you knowing or not knowing these things affect our relationship?”

Cheng Xuan was stumped by the question, slightly stunned.

“It wouldn’t, but…” Cheng Xuan revealed a hint of anxiety, “But if I knew you’d always been alone…”

As Cheng Xuan spoke, he gently took Wen Shixi’s hand, “I maybe, maybe would be more…”

“Cheng Xuan,” Wen Shixi suddenly interrupted.

He didn’t mean to intentionally interrupt Cheng Xuan, but suddenly showed a bit of seriousness, frowning, “I suddenly remembered something urgent. If what you’re about to say isn’t very important, can we talk about it later?”

Cheng Xuan: “…What?”

“It really is urgent.” Wen Shixi said as he got up, picking up his phone again.

Rather than feeling sad and being comforted, or answering Jiang Quanyu’s call, he had to deal with a more important task first.

Wen Shixi searched through his contacts, found someone, and tapped to dial.

Then, Wen Shixi got up. After the connection was established, the person on the other end answered quickly.

“Mr. Wen, hello.”

“Hello.” Wen Shixi went straight to the point, saying to the person on the other end of the phone, “Lawyer Liang, I’d like to meet with Li Chen now to discuss the settlement agreement. Is that convenient?”

–

It was just past eight o’clock, and the hospital’s inpatient area was peaceful.

Inside the corridor of the neurosurgery intensive care unit, the cold smell of medical equipment and disinfectant permeated the air.

In the distance, several figures appeared at the end of the corridor. Wen Shixi and the lawyer walked in the front, talking as they walked.

Lawyer: “I asked the doctor. Mr. Li is recovering well and hasn’t shown any signs of amnesia or cognitive confusion, which is helpful for the accident assessment. But he insists on not signing the settlement agreement. I checked his family’s assets a few days ago, and the funding chain has been broken. He probably wants more compensation.”

Wen Shixi nodded, “Okay, I understand.”

Wen Shixi was eager to find Li Chen to take advantage of his identity, before the news completely spread, to obtain confirmation documents from Li Chen that he would not request further compensation.

“Are you sure you want to talk to him in person?” The lawyer, leading two assistants, asked cautiously, “If you don’t want to come forward, we can act as your full representatives.”

Wen Shixi: “It’s okay, let me talk to him.”

Wen Shixi didn’t want others to handle the dispute between him and Li Chen, and he couldn’t be sure what unpleasant things Li Chen would say. Furthermore, he didn’t want strangers to put an unknown price on his attitude toward the marking.

The group walked not far and stopped outside a private room.

The lawyer checked the bed number and gently knocked on the door.

Soon, a woman came to open the door, welcoming the group into the simple, clean ward.

Li Chen was lying half-reclined in bed, leaning against the inclined headboard, his head still wrapped in gauze and netting.

Wen Shixi walked into the room, stopping a few steps away from the bed.

Li Chen’s eyes brightened as he gazed at the slender figure entering the room, his expression suddenly becoming pleased.

Beside Wen Shixi, the lawyer took out a business card and handed it to the woman in the room, “Madam, hello. I called before. I’m here with my client to discuss the settlement with Mr. Li Chen.”

The woman accepted the business card with both hands, looking a little flustered, and quickly said, “Hello, I’m not…”

“Aunt Fang.” Li Chen, lying in bed, gradually shifted his gaze from Wen Shixi to the nanny, Aunt Fang, and the lawyer, as well as the assistants behind them, and bluntly said, “And lawyer, can you all please leave first?”

Lawyer: “Leave?”

Li Chen said earnestly, “For the settlement, I only want to talk to Wen Shixi alone.”

Hearing this, the lawyer glanced sideways.

Logically speaking, if Wen Shixi and Li Chen could reach a consensus without resorting to harsh legal procedures, that would be the best.

But for a moment, the lawyer also felt that if he left with the other assistants, leaving Wen Shixi alone in the room… Jiang always would be angry.

In the silence, Wen Shixi calmly said, “Okay.”

He was only wearing a thin windbreaker today, and the hand that had been in his pocket slowly came out, as he calmly said, “Lawyer Liang, please leave first. Let’s talk alone.”

The lawyer thought for a moment, then looked at Li Chen in the bed.

At least Li Chen had broken two ribs and wouldn’t be able to get up and fight with Wen Shixi now.

“Alright, Mr. Wen,” the lawyer said, “We’ll be right outside. If you need anything, please call me at any time.”

With the sound of footsteps, the group left the room one by one.

Aunt Fang glanced at Li Chen with worry, then quickly followed the others out.

The air in the ward suddenly fell silent with the closing of the door, surrounding Wen Shixi.

Under the bright light, the entire room was a simple, pale color.

Wen Shixi’s gaze was distant as he looked at the wound on Li Chen’s head and the various instruments beside the bed.

Wen Shixi calmly asked, “Are you okay?”

Li Chen: “I’m fine… How about you?”

Wen Shixi smiled distantly, “Weren’t you the one pushed down the stairs?”

“I remember…” Li Chen said, “I scratched your face.”

After the scab fell off, there was only a shallow mark that could be completely ignored if not carefully looked at.

Wen Shixi let out a light breath, not wanting to continue this meaningless greeting with Li Chen.

Wen Shixi: “How much money do you want?”

The cold voice carried indifference, stating it directly.

Wen Shixi knew that the contracts Li Chen couldn’t obtain, along with other losses, might need to be compensated by him in order for this matter to be resolved peacefully.

Unexpectedly, Li Chen in the bed answered, “Shixi, I don’t want money.”

Wen Shixi was puzzled, “You want to send me to jail that much?”

Li Chen lowered his eyes for a moment, then seemed to make a decision, slowly getting up.

“I don’t want money. As long as you agree to be my omega, I’ll write the settlement agreement.”

Wen Shixi frowned.

“What did you say?”

“I guessed you’d come to see me today.” Li Chen said, frowning, as if he was still in some pain, slowing down his speech, “I saw the news. I know that the Jiang family has severed ties with you.”

Hearing this, Wen Shixi’s fingertips lightly contracted.

It seemed he still… hadn’t made it in time.

Li Chen: “I also know that saying these things at this time is despicable, but I’m already despicable enough in your eyes, so it’s probably okay to say it directly… My parents don’t plan to stay in Linggang anymore. My grandfather has some assets in Switzerland. Since that’s the case, come abroad with me.”

As Li Chen spoke, his eyes were full of anticipation, repeatedly drawing closer to Wen Shixi’s direction, “I’m not refusing to sign the settlement agreement, nor do I want money. I just want to say these things to you in person. Since the Jiang family has chosen to abandon you, come to my side. The past was all my fault. Afterward, I will definitely treat you well.”

The question was earnest, with a hint of inexplicable longing.

Wen Shixi watched Li Chen enduring the pain to get up, just to get closer to him, his eyebrows tightly furrowed.

Wen Shixi didn’t quite understand.

“You now want me to be your omega?”

“Is it laughable?” Li Chen twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing self-deprecation, “I’ve been lying in the hospital for a few days, constantly regretting why I treated you like that. I originally thought you wouldn’t come, thought I’d never see you again, until I saw the news this afternoon… At least in your heart, I’m still a little different from the others, right? Since you no longer have anything to do with the Jiang family, why not come with me?”

Outside the window, coated in light, was a drab night scene.

The dim light reflected the silhouettes of the two people in the room on the glass surface, separated by a long distance.

Li Chen’s voice took on a pleading tone, “Although we agreed a long time ago that it was just a simple marking… but I really love you.”

As Wen Shixi listened, his lips gradually parted.

He didn’t understand, really didn’t understand.

Wen Shixi’s voice was cool, asking,

“You… were almost killed by me, and you still say you love me?”

“I don’t blame you.” Li Chen insisted, “I know it was an accident that you pushed me down the stairs.”

Li Chen didn’t want money, didn’t even want him to apologize.

Wen Shixi lightly gritted his teeth, his hands, half-hidden in the cuffs of his windbreaker, lightly clenched. His voice changed unnaturally, becoming harsh, “I think I should call the doctor again and have your head checked out some more.”

As Wen Shixi spoke, he turned and walked toward the door of the ward.

Seeing this, Li Chen wanted to get out of bed to chase after him, but he only moved a little before the pain suffocated him, squeezing a muffled groan from his throat.

Hearing the sound, Wen Shixi stopped and looked back.

Li Chen, disregarding the pain, immediately shouted, “Don’t go! Shixi!”

Wen Shixi stood not far from the door, turned to the side, revealing a hint of dark color mixed with inexplicable feelings and evasion.

“Li Chen, I don’t like you at all.” Wen Shixi said seriously, “I can’t go to Switzerland with you either. You might as well give me a number. As long as it’s not too outrageous, I’ll find a way to get it for you.”

Li Chen watched Wen Shixi’s increasingly distant figure, listening to the extremely cold words, his obsession revealing a sharp edge, “But you have nowhere to go, don’t you? Why can’t you look at me!”

The single rooms within the sight of one’s eyes, were always similarly furnished.

Wen Shixi looked at Li Chen’s face and really didn’t understand why Li Chen could say these words in the face of someone who almost killed him.

Seven years ago, on the day he woke up from a coma, amidst the sense of near-death emptiness, he told himself countless times that he would never love Jiang Quanyu again.

“But you don’t understand me at all, so how can you say you love me?”

Wen Shixi slowly spoke, looking back at Li Chen’s urgent eyes.

After a moment, Wen Shixi let out a light breath, impatience spreading at the corners of his eyes.

He knew the possessiveness of alphas towards omegas was engraved in every cell, an innate instinct.

What Li Chen was constantly saying he loved and wanted was just his body.

Wen Shixi turned around and walked toward Li Chen, intending to handle it in his most skillful way, “Since you think that’s love, then do it. You can do whatever you want. Just cancel the charges immediately after we’re finished. We’ll trade fairly, then be clear of each other. Is that okay?”

In the bed, Li Chen was slightly stunned, looking at the figure walking toward him.

Wen Shixi took off his windbreaker as he walked.

“Like you are now, can you still do it?”