My Fierce Beta Husband is Surprisingly Sweet | Chapter 50 | The Truth Behind the Shadows | Novela.app

Chapter 50 - The Truth Behind the Shadows Liu Yan’s newly acquired job had vanished into thin air, but to him, such external matters paled in comparison to Li Zhenting’s current state. Since their childhood, it had always been "Big Brother" looking out for them, shielding them from the world's harshness and providing a steady hand. Now that Li Zhenting’s world had crumbled with the passing of his grandmother, Liu Yan could not possibly find the peace of mind to pursue his own romance or enjoy the fruits of a new life. Ignoring Li Zhenting’s protests, he moved into the house, terrified that his mentor might succumb to despair in the silence of the empty rooms. Li Zhenting initially believed Liu Yan was being overly dramatic. He didn't think himself so fragile that he would shatter, yet as the days bled into one another, a crushing insomnia took hold. In the beginning, he would call Li Zi. They would keep the voice call active throughout the night, a silent tether in the darkness, finding solace in the rhythmic sound of each other's breathing. But during one such night, he realized Li Zi wasn't sleeping either; she was staying awake, her heart heavy with worry as she monitored his every shift and sigh. He couldn't bear it. He refused to let her precious rest be consumed by his darkness, especially when her academic schedule was already so grueling. He began to apply pressure on himself, swallowing melatonin to force a simulated peace, but the nightmares were punctual guests. They arrived every night without fail, leaving him hollowed out, drenched in cold sweat, and perpetually exhausted. Liu Yan soon noticed the cracks in Li Zhenting’s facade. On several occasions, he caught the man standing on the balcony at dawn, a cigarette glowing between his fingers. Li Zhenting had never been a smoker. Alarmed, Liu Yan reported these incidents to Li Zi. It took a long, stern phone call from her before Li Zhenting finally agreed to stay in bed, though sleep remained a stranger to him. During the day, Li Zhenting maintained a semblance of normalcy. He ate his meals and went to the auto repair shop to work alongside the others. However, his frame withered visibly, and he had long since abandoned his fitness routine. Tang Jiu and the other employees, aware of his grandmother's passing, treated him with a fragile, clumsy reverence. They tried to shoulder his burdens, practically forcing him into the breakroom to "enjoy the perks of being the boss" and simply watch the revenue come in. They were a group of simple-minded, straightforward men, and their kindness, though well-intentioned, only served to isolate him further. Li Zhenting could not sit still. Being trapped in a quiet, confined space only made his heart race with an inexplicable panic. After a few sips of water, he would wander out to the floor, looking for something to do. He watched the repair zone, the wash bay, the counter, and the warehouse; everyone was performing their duties with practiced efficiency. Everything was running smoothly. A bitter realization dawned on him: the shop didn't need him anymore. His brothers had grown, the troublemakers had been dealt with by the police, and the business was stable. *There is no place for me here,* he thought. The shop he had poured years of his life into suddenly felt alien, creating a jarring sense of dissociation. Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, Li Zhenting slipped out the back door. He wandered the streets in a daze, his thoughts a tangled mess. The sun was bright and the weather was fair, yet he felt as though he were sinking into a deep, cold abyss. He often felt his soul detach from his body, floating above to watch his physical form move through the motions of living with cold, detached eyes. Eating and sleeping had become mere chores performed to keep those around him from worrying. In reality, he had no appetite; often, after a meal, he would find a private corner to vomit everything back up, hidden from Liu Yan’s watchful gaze. With nowhere else to go, he returned to his grandmother’s house and retreated into her room. He curled into a ball on her bed, seeking the phantom warmth of her presence. *"Grandmother will always love you..."* *"There is a box in my room..."* The old woman’s final whispers suddenly echoed in his mind. A box? Li Zhenting’s eyes snapped open. A strange, feverish energy surged through him, turning his pale face a sickly, vibrant red. He scrambled off the bed and began a frantic search. What could it be? A final gift? A source of strength to pull him from this mire? After a long search, he found it hidden beneath the floorboards under the bed frame, right where the pillow would rest. It was a vintage tin box, rusted at the edges and unlocked. With trembling hands, he lifted the lid. Inside lay a letter addressed to "Li Zhenting" and a bankbook he had never seen before. He carefully unfolded the yellowed paper. *"To my most beloved child, Zhenting:* *Child, by the time you read this, I will no longer be by your side. Do not be sad, and do not feel lonely. A child as good as you must surely have many friends who care for you, and perhaps even someone who loves you as much as I do.* *I was hesitant to write this. Since you were small, you asked about your parents, but the moment I showed grief and told you they were gone, you were too sensible to ask again. How could I ever dare to tell you the truth? Sometimes I feel I am the reason you grew up without them. Every time I saw you looking enviously at other families, I questioned my past decisions.* *I hope you can read the following words calmly, ideally with someone who cares for you nearby. Your parents are not dead. they have been living in this very city all along."* Li Zhenting’s pupils dilated in shock. *"I know you must be stunned. When your mother decided to be with your father, I was equally shocked. I spoiled her as a child, making her willful and capricious. I never imagined she would choose to be with an Omega man. Two Omegas—in that era, how could they ever form a happy family? Regardless of public criticism or their feelings for each other, suppressants were not as effective back then. They had to endure the agony of their cycles every month without the soothing pheromones of an Alpha. I knew my daughter; she was not strong, and your father was not enough to support her.* *I failed her as a mother. She insisted on being with him, even severing ties with me to pursue what she called love. In a fit of rage, I cast her out. But the next time I saw her, I saw you. These two young people, without stable jobs, had impulsively brought a child into the world. The reality of parenthood shattered their bubble. An Omega needs Alpha pheromones during pregnancy to stabilize their condition; without them, the physical and emotional toll is immense. She couldn't handle the pain, the nausea, or the poverty. When stretch marks appeared on her body, she suffered a total breakdown and demanded an abortion.* *Your father was a reserved Omega. Amidst the constant fighting and resentment, the courage brought by 'true love' finally withered away. He cheated, finding an Alpha. Your mother cheated as well. They were too immature, and you, the only innocent one, became the one to suffer the consequences. She brought you to me, saying she was marrying someone else and couldn't take you with her.* *I agreed, on the condition that they never appear before you again. I told you they were dead. Over the years, they sent money, but I never touched a cent of it. That money belongs to you; it is their compensation, and only you can decide what to do with it. The bankbook contains all of it. The password is your birthday.* *Child, do not be sad. None of this was your fault. It was my failure to teach your mother, and her failure as a person to take responsibility. Missing out on a child as wonderful as you is their loss alone. I hope I have looked after you well enough that I was no worse than them, right? I cannot know your reaction now, but you will be home from school soon, so I must stop here. No matter what, I am always with you."* Li Zhenting’s world was upended. He had never imagined his origin was so sordid. He wasn't a child of tragedy; he was a child of abandonment. He was the unwanted byproduct of a failed, impulsive romance. A twisted, bitter resentment coiled in his chest. He reached into the box again and found a photograph beneath the bankbook. It showed his grandmother with a young woman. The girl was beautiful but wore a defiant, impatient expression, looking away from the camera. *Is this my mother?* He flipped the photo over and found an address written on the back. Driven by a subconscious impulse, he hailed a taxi and headed toward that location. He found himself standing outside a kindergarten just as the school day was ending. Countless innocent children poured out of the gates, running into the arms of their waiting parents. Li Zhenting stood there, a haggard, fierce-looking man, unsure of what he was waiting for. His presence drew wary glances from the teachers, who grew protective of their charges. Suddenly, a little girl in a pink sweatshirt ran up to him, curiously tugging at his hand. "Big brother, why are you standing here? Are you here to pick someone up too?" Li Zhenting looked down at her soft, innocent face. His hand felt stiff as he hesitantly patted her head. "No." "Then what are you doing here? Xiao Ai hasn't seen you here before!" The girl seemed to take an immediate liking to him, chirping away with questions. Li Zhenting, unskilled with children and lost in his own turmoil, didn't know how to respond. He simply let the pampered child hold his hand. "Xiao Ai?! What are you doing? And who are you?" A middle-aged woman rushed over from a newly parked car, snatching the child into her arms. She glared at Li Zhenting as if he were a predator. "How many times have I told you not to talk to strangers? What would Mommy and Daddy do if you were taken? What about your sister?" She scolded the child with a voice full of maternal concern. The little girl pouted in her arms. "I just thought the big brother was handsome! He’s not a bad person, I liked him the moment I saw him!" "You still can't just approach people! What if?" The woman carried the child toward the car. Li Zhenting watched as they climbed inside. He saw another young girl in the back seat, and a man in the front turned around to speak to the child with an expression of pure adoration. The family drove away, leaving the brief encounter behind without a second thought. *That woman... was she my mother?* That little girl was his half-sister. A sudden, jarring sound erupted from his throat. He began to laugh—a loud, hysterical sound that drew stares from the remaining parents. "Hahahaha... so I really do have a sister. Hahaha, a sister." He remembered when he had taken Li Zi to her university registration. She had told her roommates he was her brother, and he had snapped, *"I don't have a damn sister."* How hilarious. He had a sister. He actually had a sister. *** **Glossary**