Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Pheromonal imbalance isn't considered a particularly severe condition, as it doesn't cause irreversible harm to the body.

In Nian Nian's case, it manifests as convulsions, restlessness, and developmental delays. Medically, these symptoms don’t even require treatment, as they will naturally disappear as Nian Nian grows older. Overuse of synthetic calming agents, however, might suppress the normal development of his glands. Nian Nian’s genetic test showed a high beta-gland value, meaning he will inevitably undergo secondary gender presentation as an adult. Thus, synthetic calming agents must be used with caution.

Doctors don’t have any particularly effective solutions either. Although they understand that a lack of security during infancy may cause psychological effects, no one dares to prescribe stronger medication for Nian Nian. Fu Yanhuai is an S-rank Alpha, and all A-class and above Alphas and Omegas are registered in a special registry. If using medication now to calm Nian Nian affects his gland’s classification, no one can bear that responsibility—so it’s better to avoid medication altogether.

This was all the information Lu Yao learned last night.

The caregiver's hesitation and evasiveness left an indelible impression on Lu Yao. Even after Nian Nian fell asleep, tear tracks remained on his face. Lu Yao watched him, unable to sleep at all.

He should have taken care of Nian Nian, yet he left during the period when Nian Nian needed him most after birth. What’s worse, Lu Yao still has no way to make up for it now.

His gland is already nonfunctional.

Lu Yao finally understood why he had to wear an oxygen mask infused with Fu Yanhuai’s pheromones in the hospital, and why his glands had a faint stinging sensation—it was likely because gland extract had been taken for Nian Nian. But he left soon after, so naturally, Nian Nian had no pheromones to rely on and had to grow up getting by with artificial calming agents.

“I should have gone to the hospital,” Lu Yao murmured to himself. “Even if it was expensive… I shouldn’t have done nothing.”

Perhaps he had used too many suppressants. In that case, unstable or collapsing pheromones wouldn’t matter—at least they could have helped Nian Nian. But now…

Lu Yao couldn’t remember how many times he had pressed on his gland. No matter how hard he pressed, it remained completely silent, as if it had never existed at all.

Nian Nian had been restless all night and still hadn’t woken up. His little face was flushed from sleep, peaceful and content.

Apart from his flare-ups, Nian Nian seemed completely normal at other times.

Lu Yao didn’t know if this was truly normal—if all these negative effects would disappear as Nian Nian grew up. Nor did he know when “growing up” would be.

Fu Yanhuai arrived early. The caregiver tactfully went to the car, and when Lu Yao emerged from the bedroom, Fu Yanhuai was waiting on the sofa.

The sofa looked small compared to Fu Yanhuai, his legs somewhat cramped as he sat. Still, he appeared patient, without any trace of reluctance.

Fu Yanhuai watched as Lu Yao closed the bedroom door, then quietly looked away. “Has Nian Nian been obedient these past two days?”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Lu Yao said, standing by the door after closing it. His gaze was unfamiliar, as if he had never truly known the man before him. “Are you so sure Nian Nian would be disobedient?”

Fu Yanhuai frowned slightly. “You’re reading too much into it.”

Lu Yao looked up bitterly. “I wish I were overthinking it. At least then Nian Nian wouldn’t actually be suffering.”

Fu Yanhuai paused uncomfortably. “You… Did Nian Nian cry excessively?”

“Fu Yanhuai, so you knew all along and just didn’t dare to tell me.” Lu Yao clenched his teeth. “You don’t like me—fine, I accept that. But you should at least take responsibility for Nian Nian. I don’t understand—does it make you happy to see your child in pain?”

“Lu Yao, listen to me. The doctors are already looking for other ways to alleviate Nian Nian’s symptoms. And compared to his first month after birth, his condition has shown significant improvement.”

“I don’t want to hear any of that!” Lu Yao dug his fingernails into his palm. “All I know is that Nian Nian was perfectly healthy when he was inside me! Every prenatal examination was fine. Dr. Xu said he was developing normally and was very active. But… but…”

But after birth, Nian Nian wasn’t like that at all. Lu Yao couldn’t even tell whose fault it was anymore. He had blamed himself endlessly—if only he had been more careful back then. If he hadn’t fallen, maybe Nian Nian’s condition would be better now.

Having stayed up all night, Lu Yao had no energy left to argue with Fu Yanhuai. In the end, he looked down sorrowfully. “This child… you agreed to have him in the first place. Later, it was also you who wanted to raise him.”

Lu Yao felt dizzy. He leaned against the wall, digging his nails into his palm. Fu Yanhuai noticed his discomfort and stepped forward quickly. “Little Deer, are you feeling unwell?”

Lu Yao turned his head away, his voice quiet. “Don’t touch me.”

Fu Yanhuai’s outstretched hand froze. “Is it because Nian Nian isn’t healthy? So seeing him makes you unhappy too?”

Lu Yao gave a bitter laugh. “No matter what, Nian Nian is my child. The only reason I’m unhappy is because his other father is you.”

Unlike the loving gaze of the past, Lu Yao’s eyes now held no emotion. “I wish I had never fallen in love with you.”

He might have moved out of the Lu family alone, slowly saved up some money, opened his own dessert shop, and one day, while idle, happened to see Fu Yanhuai’s name in the news. He would have lived a life completely separate from Fu Yanhuai.

A look of confusion and disbelief flashed across Fu Yanhuai’s face—an expression he had never displayed so openly before. He spoke with difficulty, his voice thick with shame and reluctance. “I’ll find a way to fix Nian Nian’s condition…”

“What way could you possibly have?” Lu Yao had no patience left for this. “If you had a solution, Nian Nian wouldn’t be like this now. Bring him back on Sunday as scheduled. I have nothing else to say to you.”

Lu Yao brushed past Fu Yanhuai, who took a step back. Lu Yao walked past him into the living room, avoiding even the slightest contact.

Fu Yanhuai remained silent for a long time before suddenly speaking in a low voice. “I’m sorry.”

“Hurting you was never my intention. For everything I’ve done… I apologize.”

Lu Yao’s eyes immediately welled up. He looked up and retorted, “What’s the point of saying this now?”

A single “sorry” couldn’t erase all the pain of the past—especially when Lu Yao could still feel its lingering effects.

Fu Yanhuai had no answer. He pushed open the bedroom door and walked inside.

No matter what, Nian Nian needed to return to the hospital for tests. The doctors would prescribe the proper dosage of calming agents for him.

Nian Nian was still asleep. Fu Yanhuai bent down to look at him, then reached out to pick him up.

The movement woke Nian Nian, who blinked groggily before bursting into loud crying upon seeing Fu Yanhuai’s face so close.

“Don’t cry.”

Fu Yanhuai sighed and adjusted his grip, but Nian Nian refused to cooperate. He kicked Fu Yanhuai in the face, writhing to escape his grasp.

Nian Nian hadn’t spent much time with Fu Yanhuai. After days apart, it was natural that he didn’t recognize him at first.

“If you don’t know how to hold him, put him down,” Lu Yao said coldly from the doorway. “Get out. I’ll take him to the car.”

He had no desire to say anything more. Fu Yanhuai stepped aside, watching as Lu Yao walked by without looking at him.

Fu Yanhuai didn’t understand how things had come to this. Though he had mentally prepared himself for Lu Yao’s coldness, facing it in reality still cut him deeply.

“Actually, ever since the day I first saw you again, I wanted to ask…” Fu Yanhuai spoke with difficulty. “Why are your pheromones gone?”

He had already vaguely sensed that Lu Yao’s physical condition wasn’t good, but he had deluded himself into hoping it wasn’t beyond repair.

“Because my pheromone levels were unstable after childbirth.” Lu Yao’s voice was distant and unfamiliar, calm yet sending tremors through Fu Yanhuai’s heart. “I couldn’t afford a hotel with adequate soundproofing, so to avoid disturbing others, I took multiple suppressant doses.”

How many had he taken? Lu Yao couldn’t remember.

“My gland is ruined, so of course there are no pheromones.”

Fu Yanhuai’s face darkened when he stepped outside. He began to understand that Lu Yao wasn’t just angry at him—nor was it solely about Nian Nian’s health. Perhaps it was something far deeper.

Lu Yao handed Nian Nian to the caregiver, who, sensing the tense mood, devoted all her attention to soothing the child.

Fu Yanhuai hesitated, wanting to suggest that Lu Yao have his gland examined—but he seemed to no longer have the right to speak.

Lu Yao only watched Nian Nian, who had been carried out by him and was now secured in his car seat. The windows were rolled down, and Nian Nian’s eyes remained fixed on Lu Yao, thinking they were playing. He cooed happily, grinning at him.

Fu Yanhuai wanted to say something, but he wasn't sure Lu Yao would listen.

The one cautiously testing the waters was no longer Lu Yao, but Lu Yao didn't care for Fu Yanhuai's submissive attitude either.

The driver asked softly from the front if they could leave now. Lu Yao stepped aside, and Fu Yanhuai pressed his lips together before responding with a quiet "Hmm."

The car slowly drove off. Lu Yao waved at Nian Nian, who still thought this was all part of a game and giggled happily—until the car turned a corner, and Lu Yao's figure vanished from sight.

Nian Nian froze. He struggled to press his face to the window, trying to look outside, but the nanny quickly said, "Close the window. He's trying to climb out—it's dangerous."

Even with the safety seat, better safe than sorry.

The nanny coaxed Nian Nian into lowering his hands, and the window rolled up smoothly, the glass obscuring the outside world.

Nian Nian turned to look around the car—there was the nanny, Fu Yanhuai, but no Lu Yao.

Finally, Nian Nian realized he was no longer by Lu Yao's side. He was in a completely unfamiliar environment. He sort of recognized these people, but what did that matter? Nian Nian wanted Lu Yao to hold him.

The nanny watched helplessly as Nian Nian's eyebrows, nose, and eyes all gradually flushed red. She hurriedly tried to soothe him, "Look here, look at this—how about we play with this little toy?"

Her words were drowned out by Nian Nian's sudden, loud, desperate crying. Fu Yanhuai frowned and let out a trace of pheromones. Nian Nian's cries hesitated briefly, but then he only grew more aggrieved.

This wasn't what he wanted!

Nian Nian's cries grew louder and louder. The nanny couldn't calm him down at all. Fu Yanhuai sighed and said, "Give him to me."

Nian Nian was lifted and placed into Fu Yanhuai's arms. Sniffling, he locked eyes with Fu Yanhuai.

"If you cry in the middle of the night, you'll wake Lu Yao and make him worry. So we need to use a little calming agent. Once you're stable, you'll go back. No more crying."

Fu Yanhuai was very patient, but Nian Nian didn't understand a single word. He thrashed and kicked, bawling.

This time, even the Little Deer Toy didn't work. Nian Nian couldn't accept Lu Yao suddenly disappearing. He didn't want anyone in the car.

"Just for this short while, and you miss him this much?"

Fu Yanhuai endured the aching heaviness in his chest. Lu Yao had indeed been gentle and patient with Nian Nian.

Once, Lu Yao had been like that with him too.

"Take us back..."