My Fierce Beta Husband is Surprisingly Sweet | Chapter 26 | A Midnight New Year's Vow | Novela.app

Chapter 26 - A Midnight New Year's Vow To Li Zhenting’s surprise, Li Zi left for home with Golden almost immediately after they finished their meal. Although she no longer seemed truly angry, her demeanor remained somewhat cool and distant, as if they had regressed to the days before they had officially defined their relationship. The Lunar New Year was fast approaching. As Li Zhenting watched her retreating figure, a sense of melancholy settled over him. Back during Christmas, he had never imagined they would be welcoming the most important holiday of the year caught in the middle of a silent conflict. Despite his dampened spirits, his constitution proved resilient. He recovered quickly, a fact he noted with a touch of gallows humor; at least by the time the New Year arrived, his grandmother wouldn't be able to tell he had been injured. Meanwhile, after dropping Golden off at home, Li Zi headed straight for the local police station. Before arriving, she made a phone call. The recipient was a middle-aged woman who sounded genuinely startled to hear from her. "Little Li Zi? Why the sudden call? Did something happen?" Li Zi offered a polite greeting. "Auntie Zhou, Happy New Year. I have something I’d like to ask you. Is it alright if I stop by the station?" Zhou Yi agreed, noting she was currently at the precinct and not out on a call. Over the years, Li Zi and Li Zhenting had ended up at the station multiple times for various reasons, leaving a deep impression on Zhou Yi, who had handled their cases. From the time they were children being harassed while walking the dog to the fights that landed them in the hospital, Zhou Yi had seen it all. Li Zi’s mother, Li Shian, had visited the station so often that she eventually went through official channels to donate patrol equipment, fostering a good relationship between the families. Years had passed, and Zhou Yi had risen from a young captain to the Chief of the Police Station. When Li Zi arrived, Zhou Yi wasted no time. "What brings you here, truly?" Li Zi was equally direct. "Auntie Zhou, you must know about Li Zhenting getting hurt recently. The report came from Xi’an Street. I want to know exactly who those people are." The smile on Zhou Yi’s face faltered. She frowned, her fingers idly straightening the documents on her desk. "How did you and Xiao Li get mixed up with them?" she asked rhetorically. "I’ve heard of these people before. They aren't usually in our jurisdiction; they’re a particularly thorny group from Xi’nan Street. Word is they’re involved in some very dangerous underground trades. But they’re slippery—neither precinct has been able to pin down solid evidence, making it difficult to move against them." She leaned forward, her expression grave. "Even though they fled quickly the other day, these men have priors. I hope that regardless of what happened, you won't try to handle this privately. You must trust the police." With that, Zhou Yi signaled the end of the conversation. It was official business, after all, and she couldn't disclose more to a civilian. Li Zi didn't push further, unwilling to put her auntie in a difficult position. She offered her thanks and an early New Year’s greeting before departing. As Li Zi left the station, she dialed another number. Back inside, Zhou Yi stared at the case file, a lingering headache forming. She couldn't shake the feeling that a crucial thread was still missing. *** On New Year’s Eve, Li Zhenting rose early. He packed his things and caught a taxi to the nursing home. The facility was bathed in a festive atmosphere, with bright red Spring Festival couplets already adorning the doors. Many of the doctors and nurses recognized him, offering warm greetings as he passed. "Xiao Li, here to see your grandmother?" "Yes. Thank you all for your hard work this year. I’ll be counting on you again in the coming one." He handed out the New Year’s goods he had prepared—gifts for the staff who looked after his grandmother daily. Amidst the pleasantries, he pushed open the door to his grandmother’s room, only to find her deep in conversation with a group of fellow patients. "My granddaughter is a Beta too," one elderly woman was saying. "She’s well-off and has a lovely personality. The family wants her to find another Beta. Isn't your Xiao Li in his twenties now? Why not let the two of them meet?" His grandmother declined politely. "These things should be left to the children’s own wishes." Another neighbor chimed in, "True, true. But if you’re looking for a partner for your Zhenting, my granddaughter is an Omega. She’s a bit spoiled, but she’s quite fond of Betas." "Ah, our Zhenting has such a blunt, stubborn temper," his grandmother sighed. "If he were with an Omega, I’d be worried he’d bully her or fail to take proper care of her. Honestly, I still hope he settles down with a Beta." Hearing this, Li Zhenting knew he had to intervene. Putting on a bright smile, he stepped forward. "Grandmother, I’m here. Happy New Year, everyone." "Zhenting is here! Look at that—he arrives so early every year. Not like my grandson; he makes one phone call and acts like he’s fulfilled his duty," one of the elders joked. His grandmother smiled and shook her head, not responding to the teasing. She beckoned him over to sit beside her, her eyes scanning his face with concern. "Have you been busy lately? You look a bit pale." Li Zhenting took her hand. "It’s just the end of the year. The shop has been swamped with orders, and the cold weather makes everyone look a bit haggard." She patted his hand gently. "Regardless, your health comes first. Don't worry about me; live your own life well. I’m fine here. If you’re busy, you don't need to visit so often." "I’m fine," he countered. "I’m young and full of energy. You’re my only family; how could I not come to see you?" At the mention of "only family," his grandmother’s expression flickered with a complex mix of guilt and hesitation, but she remained silent. Li Zhenting wasn't disappointed; he was used to her silence regarding his parents. She was good to him, and that was enough. He was no longer the child who obsessed over the identities of the parents who weren't there. After chatting for a while, he wheeled her outside to soak in the winter sun. Neither of them were particularly talkative, and the path was quiet until they prepared to return. A family from the neighboring room—a couple with two mischievous but adorable children—passed by, waving enthusiastically. Seeing the happy family of four, his grandmother’s thoughts returned to the matchmaking talk. She watched her grandson as he peeled an apple for her. "Zhenting, have you been seeing anyone lately?" He paused, his knife hovering over the fruit. "Why the sudden question?" "You’re at the age where you should consider it," she said softly. "By the way, how is Li Zi doing? I remember you told me she did very well on her exams and got into Zhennan University, right?" At the mention of Li Zi, the tension in his shoulders eased. "Yes," he said with a hint of pride. "I’ve visited the campus. It’s an excellent university." "Yes, time flies. Li Zi is an adult now. Her family will likely start looking for a partner for her soon. With their status, I’m sure they’ve already planned her future." The knife stopped completely. "She’s still young," he said, his voice tight. His grandmother seemed not to notice his darkening expression. "An outstanding Alpha like Li Zi will surely have many Omegas pursuing her. Her parents will find her a perfectly matched Omega. Times have changed, and people marry later, but once an Alpha and Omega find each other and their pheromones are compatible, they tend to head straight for the altar." Each word felt like a blade piercing his chest. Her casual assumptions struck at his deepest insecurities—the fears he kept locked away. He found himself spiraling, visualizing Li Zi standing at an altar, exchanging vows and kisses with a delicate, high-status Omega, her face radiant with a happiness he could never provide. The thought made his heart feel as though it might burst from the pressure. "It won't happen," he blurted out. His grandmother looked at him. "Why do you say that? Do you think the Li family won't find her an elite Omega? Would they let her be with a Beta or another Alpha?" "Let’s not talk about this," he replied, his voice uncharacteristically sharp. His reaction confirmed the grandmother’s suspicions. She looked at the grandson she had raised with a profound sadness. "Zhenting, I don't ask for much. I don't need you to be wealthy or powerful. I only hope you find someone suitable—someone like you—who can take care of you and walk through life by your side. Some things... they don't belong to us. You cannot force what isn't meant to be." This time, Li Zhenting did not respond. Shortly after, his grandmother settled in for a nap. Li Zhenting took his phone and stepped outside to catch his breath, fleeing the room that had suddenly become suffocating. He felt a desperate, clawing need to hear Li Zi’s voice. He called her, but she didn't pick up. He sat on a bench outside, feeling a hollow ache. She was likely busy; New Year’s at the Li household was always a grand affair, with her parents surely setting aside their work to be with her. He tried to reassure himself—his grandmother didn't know Li Zi. Li Zi didn't like fragile Omegas. She was independent and would never let her parents dictate her life. But then the thought of children surfaced—a topic he had never truly considered. Did Li Zi want children? Most families did. But he was a male Beta. If she wanted a family of her own, he might never be able to give her a child of their own flesh and blood. The thought left him feeling utterly hollowed out. *If I can't give her a complete family, am I even less worthy of her?* Just as his thoughts were reaching a breaking point, his phone buzzed. It was Li Zi calling back. He answered instantly, as if grabbing a lifeline. "Hello?" "Hey. I was making dumplings and didn't see my phone," she explained. "Mhm." "You’re at the nursing home, right? I’ll find a time in a few days to come by and pay my respects to your grandmother." "Mhm." "What’s with you? You sound like a broken record," she teased from the other end. "Nothing... I just wanted to hear you talk." His sudden, vulnerable tone caught her off guard, but she found she didn't mind it. She didn't want to dwell on their recent friction anymore. Her voice softened. "I’ll come find you after I finish the New Year’s visits tomorrow, okay?" Her words acted like a soothing balm, instantly quieting the storm in his heart. "Okay," he whispered. Someone called out to her on her end. "Dad’s calling me to help with the New Year’s Eve dinner," she told him. "I’ll message you on WeChat later. Have a good New Year with your grandmother." Though he loathed to let her go, he didn't act spoiled. He let her hang up. The brief conversation had shifted his mood entirely. He decided to pull himself together and return to the room to help his grandmother organize her things. *New Year, new beginnings,* he hoped. *May all the bad things stay behind in the old year.* Li Zi was indeed busy. Usually, their housekeeper handled the dinner, but she had taken leave this year to support her daughter-in-law’s pregnancy. Li Zi’s father, Yan Yan, had volunteered to prepare the feast, though most of the elaborate dishes were catered from a high-end hotel. Her mother, Li Shian, was also helping, as Yan Yan didn't want her overworking herself. As they folded meat filling into dumpling skins, Yan Yan looked at the oddly shaped results of their labor and chuckled. "I hope our guests tonight don't judge us too harshly." Li Zi was surprised. "We’re having guests on New Year’s Eve?" Yan Yan explained that they were old friends from their university days who had just returned to the country. Their schedule was tight, so they were stopping by for a meal. "Their child visited us when you were little," he added. "Stayed for a few days. I think you two got along quite well back then." "Really?" Li Zi mused. She had a vague memory of a playmate, but it was hazy. From her childhood to the present, most of her significant memories were occupied by a certain stubborn man. As evening fell, Li Zi plated the cooked dumplings and sent a photo to Li Zhenting. She smiled when he replied that he wanted to eat them too. *Next time I have the chance, I’ll make them for you,* she promised. Li Zhenting sent a photo of his own dinner—the bland, regulated meal provided by the nursing home. He added a crying emoji: *Tasteless.* He noticed the abundance of food in her photo. *Are you having a big party? That’s a lot of dishes.* *My parents’ friends are coming over,* she replied. *I see.* He was surprised anyone would visit on New Year’s Eve, but he didn't think much of it. In the nursing home, the family from the next room invited them over to watch the children perform. The kids were innocent and charming, capturing the hearts of the adults. Only Li Zhenting remained distracted, his eyes glued to his phone as he replied to New Year’s greetings from the boys at the shop. As midnight approached, the sky outside the window erupted in fireworks. In that instant, Li Zhenting decided he couldn't wait another second. He wanted to be with Li Zi. He wanted to spend the most important moment of the year by her side. He made a quick excuse to his grandmother, saying he had to step out. After waiting ten minutes on the curb, he finally hailed a taxi. With a heart full of anticipation, he gave the driver Li Zi’s address. The driver looked at him curiously. "Young man, why aren't you with your family on a night like this?" Li Zhenting smiled, his eyes bright. "Master, I’m going to find my lover." The driver laughed knowingly, a hint of envy in his voice. "That’s wonderful. Being with the one you love for the New Year... If I weren't trying to make some extra money, I’d be back home with my family too." "Happy New Year, Master." "Happy New Year to you too, kid."