Chapter 56

'Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi… Shi Qi!'

Someone was repeating her name by her ear, the concerned voice drawing nearer, pulling her abruptly from the dream back to reality.

Shi Qi's eyelids fluttered, meeting Shi An's face in the morning light.

'Did you have a nightmare?' Shi An gently grasped her arm. 'I saw you frowning, crying out in pain.'

The pain in the dream felt especially real; even awake, her gland seemed to retain a burning sensation.

Shi Qi closed her eyes, then slowly opened them again; her muddled brain gradually cleared:

'The last day in Qi Jiang six years ago… was it a Thunderstorm Day?'

'You remember?' Shi An said, surprised. 'Yes! You'd gone somewhere, came back and fainted straight away, scared me half to death!'

'That night you began your Differentiation, and that's when they discovered you had Gland Atrophy Syndrome… It's too rare, impossible to detect before onset, and they couldn't treat it in Qi Jiang, so we had to rush back to the Capital City overnight.'

Gland Atrophy Syndrome is a rare primary disease. Its domestic prevalence is less than one in a hundred thousand, and among those, very few ever recover fully.

Patients show no abnormalities before Differentiation, but during Differentiation they experience various complications, most commonly high fever and amnesia.

Shi An hadn't expected her to recover memories after six years and hurriedly asked, 'What happened to you that day? Was it related to your Differentiation?'

Most patients cannot complete Differentiation smoothly, mistaking themselves for Pheromone-insensitive Beta, only to have their immune systems collapse without warning as they grow older, and learn on the verge of death that they were meant to become Alpha or Omega.

The doctors judged Shi Qi's Pheromone levels to be far below normal; she likely would have been unable to differentiate, like most patients.

It was only because she came into contact with an Alpha of high Compatibility Index that she miraculously completed her Differentiation.

As far as Shi An knew, back then the only Alpha around Shi Qi with high compatibility was Fu Siyue.

Shi An was therefore full of gratitude towards Fu Siyue, but also somewhat puzzled.

Shi Qi and Fu Siyue had only met once in Qi Jiang; while their Compatibility Index exceeded the average, it wasn't high enough to prompt Shi Qi's Differentiation from a single encounter.

But aside from Fu Siyue, they couldn't find any other factor that could have helped Shi Qi differentiate successfully.

The whole thing was too complicated to explain in a few words. Shi Qi said for now, 'I only remember part of it.'

Seeing this, a look of self-blame surfaced on Shi An's face. 'It's my fault. I was too busy having fun with your dad back then, I didn't take good care of you.'

'What are you thinking?' Shi Qi cut her off. 'This illness is something I was born with. It just happened to flare up during that time. It has nothing to do with you.'

Seeing Shi An fall silent, Shi Qi said deliberately, 'If you'd been watching me all day every day, the vacation would've felt like prison.'

'…' Knowing she was trying to comfort her, Shi An finally smiled at her. 'If you really can't remember, just let it be. It's been so long, don't force yourself.'

She thought Shi Qi would agree with a simple sound, but Shi An waited and waited without an answer.

A long time later, she heard Shi Qi's low voice:

'But… I've forgotten him for a very long time.'

What?

Shi An wanted to press further, but Shi Qi picked up her phone and went downstairs.

Images from the dream kept flashing through her mind. Shi Qi hesitated for a moment, then sent a message to Shang Sui:

17: [Where are you? I want to see you.]

While waiting for a reply, someone tapped her shoulder from behind. 'Xiao Qi!'

Jiang Yoning was in pajamas and slippers, her hair simply tied back, looking like she'd just woken up not long ago.

But her expression was unusually excited, as if she'd discovered something incredible. She grabbed Shi Qi. 'I remembered something!'

'I said before, I had a bad feeling about Shang Sui, right? That inexplicable, just-from-a-photo kind of dislike.'

Jiang Yoning had mentioned this several times. Shi Qi nodded. 'Because you're in the same lane?' Both art students, both Alphas.

'…No, no! I saw him in Qi Jiang six years ago!'

Seeing Shi Qi's expression shift slightly, Jiang Yoning said, 'You were there too! But you might not remember. There's a lake at the top of Yishan. That evening we were walking back from the lakeside and passed an Alpha on the road.'

'That guy had these gloomy eyes, kept staring at you,' Jiang Yoning recalled. 'I was pissed, glared back at him, and he happened to look at me too.'

It was the first time in her life she'd felt suppressed by another Alpha's aura.

Though they never exchanged a single word, only locked eyes from a distance, Jiang Yoning felt her hairs stand on end. Even years later, when she couldn't quite recall Shang Sui's face, seeing his photo instinctively gave her lingering fear.

Jiang Yoning joked, 'You didn't know him back then, did you? Otherwise, why would he look at me like I'd stolen his wife?'

'If that's really the case, I can almost understand—'

As she spoke, she saw Shi Qi remain silent, and her heart sank.

The siblings stared at each other in silence. Jiang Yoning shrieked, 'Shi Qi!!!'

Shi Qi was startled. 'What!'

'No wonder you kept sneaking out, rain or shine! I thought you were going to see Fu Siyue, I even covered for you with our dads! Why did you never mention this?!'

Jiang Yoning grew more agitated, looking at her with the eyes of someone beholding a child bride. 'You even stayed over at his place, how old were you! Were you and him already…?!'

'No,' Shi Qi denied. 'We were just friends back then.'

In her memories, she and Shang Sui hadn't had any overly ambiguous contact. Plus, being young, their relationship felt more like close friends.

Before Jiang Yoning could sigh in relief, she caught the key point. 'Wait, you got your memory back?'

'Part of it.'

The whole thing was too unbelievable. Jiang Yoning sorted through it in her head.

So, Shi Qi knew an Alpha in her youth, they were once very close, but Shi Qi forgot him?

How had Shang Sui lived all these years?

If Li Zhao forgot her, she'd definitely go crazy.

Jiang Yoning couldn't help but feel a moment of sympathy for Shang Sui, then quickly thought of something else. 'You and Shang Sui have a high Compatibility Index. Before your Differentiation, you were in constant contact with him. That means the one who helped you differentiate successfully wasn't Fu Siyue at all, it was Shang Sui! We've been thanking the wrong person all these years!'

First love in youth, drawn to each other, even unintentionally alleviating the illness Shi Qi was born with…

It should have been a story like a summer fairy tale. Why did it end so abruptly?

Jiang Yoning almost felt regret on their behalf. 'You forgot him. Why didn't he come find you?'

Shi Qi's phone rang just then. Shang Sui replied:

Ss: [Awake?]

Ss: [Going to Yishan to see Shen Qianyu this morning. Meet in the afternoon?]

17: [Okay.]

'It wasn't his fault,' Shi Qi said to Jiang Yoning. 'There might have been some misunderstanding between us before. I want to talk to him face to face.'

-

'As mentioned before, you'll experience two Sensitivity Periods in a short time.'

Shang Sui clearly remembered this. He'd been idly admiring the wisteria blooming on the balcony, but looked up when Shen Qianyu spoke.

'The last one was New Year's. The next one is uncertain, possibly within this month.'

'Just in case, I brought what you need.'

Shen Qianyu gestured with his eyes towards the black square box on the table. Thinking of the Anesthetic Collar and some specially added items inside, he couldn't help feeling the latter part of the design was slightly redundant. 'Actually, you only need the collar. The extra parts…'

'I know. The extra one is a Cat Toy.'

Shen Qianyu took a moment to process before realizing who the 'cat' in his mouth referred to.

Treating such things as toys?

Shen Qianyu said with genuine sincerity, 'Shi Qi would think you're a pervert.'

'Would she?' Shang Sui propped his chin on his hand, saying lazily, 'I think Xiao Qi would really like them.'

Shen Qianyu was quiet for a moment, then decided to let him be.

Using an Anesthetic Collar instead of a Chain during his Sensitivity Period would be much easier for Shang Sui. By comparison, a little depraved hobby was really nothing.

'A long time ago, I suggested you didn't need to use the Chain, but you didn't agree.'

Shang Sui had always used a specially-made alloy Chain to get through his Sensitivity Periods. The heavy material kept him confined to a certain space. By the time the period ended, his ankles were usually bruised purple, sometimes even torn open and bloody.

In recent years, Shang Sui's Sensitivity Periods had been very stable, basically no different from a normal Alpha's.

Shen Qianyu had suggested it to him many times, but Shang Sui always brushed him off. Later, Shen Qianyu realized Shang Sui also knew he could control himself; insisting on using the Chain was more of a psychological issue.

Shen Qianyu asked, 'Why the sudden change of heart?'

Shang Sui didn't answer immediately. Just as Shen Qianyu thought he wouldn't reply, Shang Sui said softly, 'I always felt I'd done something wrong, had to lock myself up. Now I realize it might not be as serious as I thought.'

'Because of Shi Qi?'

'No.'

Shang Sui denied it quickly. Shen Qianyu was about to say he was protesting too much, but Shang Sui said, 'Using the Chain was my own choice. Can't push the responsibility onto someone else.'

Shen Qianyu praised, 'Rare indeed. You have a decent day.'

Shang Sui didn't pick up the thread, looking down at his phone.

After replying to a message, he said thoughtfully, 'Speaking of which, Xiao Qi has been a bit strange lately, always sticking to me, the way she looks at me is hard to describe…'

If he had to put it into words, it was like seeing himself from a few months ago.

When he and Shi Qi reunited and grew familiar again, the joy of regaining what was lost and the fear of losing it again lingered in his heart, making him wish he could stick to Shi Qi every day.

'Do you think… she might have remembered something?'

Shen Qianyu's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he was quietly astonished.

Shi Qi had been taking the medication for nearly a week; it was very possible she'd recalled part of the past. But Shang Sui, completely unaware, had guessed the truth accurately…

This guy probably used all his cunning on Shi Qi. Scarily perceptive.

To protect patient privacy, Shen Qianyu said naturally, 'It's possible. After all, you two met in Qi Jiang before.'

'But last time we came to Qi Jiang, she didn't seem to have any special reaction. Was there some trigger recently?' Shang Sui murmured. 'There's actually something I don't know.'

'You said before you did something wrong.' Alphas were creatures bursting with possessiveness. Shen Qianyu suddenly said, 'What if Shi Qi remembers and can't accept it again?'

According to Shang Sui's account, everything seemed to be his fault.

Because of this, Shen Qianyu had briefly hesitated about helping Shi Qi recover her memories, but ultimately laid everything out and let Shi Qi choose for herself.

'She won't.'

Shen Qianyu glanced at him, slightly surprised.

For someone with Shang Sui's insecure personality to give a definite answer like that… Shi Qi was really something.

'But, I've considered the situation you mentioned too.' Shang Sui said, half-serious, half-joking. 'If it really came to that, I'd probably go crazy.'

Shen Qianyu assessed objectively, 'You're not exactly normal now.'

'Gaining something then losing it can drive a person mad. I've already lost once. I can't go through a second time normally.'

Discussing this topic was putting him in a bad mood. Shang Sui changed tack. 'Xiao Qi was really clingy yesterday, even releasing Pheromones on me.'

Speaking of this, Shang Sui's previous sensitive, suspicious demeanor vanished, the whole man seeming to emit pink bubbles. 'Our baby's Pheromones are especially fragrant. So happy.'

Shen Qianyu, with great decorum, concurred. 'Congratulations.'

Thinking of his own romantic situation, Shang Sui's rare conscience surfaced. He decided to keep the fact that Shi Qi wanted to see him as soon as she woke up to himself, not to provoke Shen Qianyu.

Shang Sui thought to himself, where in the world would you find a brother as considerate as me? He asked proactively, 'Need me to do anything for you?'

'No need.' Shen Qianyu paused slightly, lowering his voice. 'Jiang Yan probably never wants to see me again in this lifetime.'

To drive the always good-tempered Jiang Yan to this point…

Shang Sui raised an eyebrow slightly, guessing they'd probably had a semi-forced encounter.

For a moment, he didn't know whether to mourn for Jiang Yan or praise Shen Qianyu for having guts.

'I know I should take it step by step, like you did.' Shen Qianyu rubbed his brow. 'But I can't do it.'

'Can't blame you entirely. Jiang Yan is an idiot. If you don't push him, he might think you're just playing with him.'

Shang Sui's phone flashed. He swiped it open casually, and his gaze gradually fixed.

He placed his phone in front of Shen Qianyu. The idiot who'd been missing for days had sent a message.

Jiang Yan: [Are you in Qi Jiang? I want to come play for a couple days.]

'If I recall correctly, you posted a photo on your social feed a few days ago. The lake at the top of Yishan, clearly Qi Jiang.'

Shang Sui smiled, mercilessly exposing Jiang Yan. 'I never told him I was here. Who do you think he really wants to see?'

-

The afternoon sun blazed, a rare clear day.

As if knowing Shi Qi was waiting for news, just past two o'clock, Shang Sui arranged to meet.

Ss: [Shall we meet at Yishan?]

Ss: [Take the sightseeing bus from your place up, the middle stop on Line Two.]

Seeing Shi Qi rise from the sofa, Jiang Yoning asked, 'Going to see Shang Sui?'

Shi Qi nodded. She teased, 'Need me to cover for you with our dads this time? Like back then.'

Shi An's voice came from the Courtyard, asking if everyone wanted to go sightseeing in the Ancient City later.

Shi Qi smiled too, saying to her, 'I probably won't be back tonight.'

Following Shang Sui's instructions, she walked all the way to the Line Two platform.

The bus heading to Yishan was a bright terracotta red, operating four trips daily. Compared to the lakeside area they rented, there were fewer tourists heading to Yishan, but the scenery along the way unfolded like a slowly unrolling scroll painting.

Most tourists entered the mountains aiming for the colorful lake perched high atop the peak. Shi Qi got off alone at the middle stop.

Shang Sui seemed able to predict her progress, sending a message right on time:

Ss: [At the stop?]

Ss: [To your right, there's a small path planted with larkspur and hollyhocks. Follow it all the way in.]

Shi Qi followed his words into the flower-blooming path, gradually realizing something.

The scenery on both sides of the path felt both unfamiliar and familiar. The flowers, varied in height and dazzlingly colorful, were like fragments of lost memory. Shi Qi's heartbeat quickened uncontrollably, as if returning to many years ago, the first time she'd inadvertently stepped onto this path.

Back then, she'd simply thought the path was beautiful. Under the clear summer sunlight, it seemed to lead to a fairyland.

Ss: [Keep going to the end. At the fork, the right leads to an oak grove, the left to Endless Summer.]

Shi Qi stopped at the fork in the path.

She didn't need Shang Sui to say; she knew which way to go.

Vast stretches of Endless Summer filled her vision, layers upon layers of brilliantly colored flowers in full bloom. In the middle stood a small Western-style house with wooden shingles and white walls, like a miniature of a fairy-tale world.

She saw three scarecrows of different shapes placed among the flowers: one holding a cigarette, one dozing off, the last looking down at the ground.

Shi Qi quickly realized what they represented. For a time, he'd thought those three bodyguards were guards who each had their own weakness; only later did he learn it was Shang Sui's deliberate arrangement.

Shi Qi walked forward, fragrant, warm wind brushing her face. She passed through the flower-lined path bright as rosy clouds, as if step by step transforming from the undifferentiated youth she was into her present self.

Compared to back then, she wouldn't be blocked from view by the Endless Summer, could easily see the scene on the second floor.

The second floor of the little house had a balcony running its length, with folding doors on one side and lattice windows on the other. By the white windowsill stood an Alpha.

As if this image touched a switch in her memory, fragmented scenes flooded her mind at this moment. Shi Qi heard her own youthful voice:

'I thought about it all night yesterday after I went back.'

Another voice asked casually, 'What profound insight have you reached?'

'When I grow up, I'm going to marry you.'

'…'

The other person seemed choked into silence. A long time later, he finally said, 'We'll talk about it when you grow up.'

'Today is August 17th, exactly half a year past my birthday. I'm fourteen and a half now.' She finished discontentedly. Seeing the other unmoved, she suddenly thought of something. 'When's your birthday?'

'March 3rd.'

Hearing this answer, she seized the key point. 'You're three years older than me, so you're not an adult either, right?'

'You haven't even differentiated yet,' the other countered. 'We'll talk after you differentiate.'

Realizing this was also an issue, she couldn't help feeling troubled. 'Alphas seem to marry Omegas. Do I have to differentiate into an Omega then?'

'No one requires that.' The other seemed amused by her, finally saying, 'You can differentiate into anything.'

……

The two voices in the dialogue faded from near to far, gradually disappearing.

Shi Qi woke from the flashback and realized that when that conversation happened, he had been sprawled beneath the windowsill, while the other person stood inside looking at him. Shi Qi raised his head again.

Shang Sui waved to her, a gentle smile on his face.

Memory and reality overlapped in this moment, everything rewinding to the midsummer of six years ago, like a long-awaited celebration finally arriving.

Long time no see.

Shi Qi said silently in her heart.