Unsaid Love Story

Chapter 55

It has been a month since Cheng brought his little brother with him, thinking he was saving him from Yibo. Despite the act, he cannot find happiness. Zhan is not his usual self, and he does not come around as often as before. He moves around like a corpse, doing whatever he believes will keep him occupied. It is painful for Cheng to see his little brother no longer acting like the sibling he once knew.

Cheng tries to reach out to Zhan but is only met with silence and a blank stare. He misses the days when they could laugh together, play pranks on each other, and share their dreams for the future. Now, it appears as if Zhan is fed up with him and everything life has presented. Cheng wishes he could go back to the past and undo all the mistakes he made, but that is sadly impossible.

Sometimes Zhan tries to talk with him of his own will but hesitates and stops mid-sentence. Even if he manages to speak up, the topic always circles back to Yibo. Cheng can tell from Zhan's words that it's not annoyance toward Yibo but rather an attraction. Why? Because of the silly mating mark that the lunatic placed on his neck!

Can a simple mating mark really destroy their years of brotherhood in two weeks? Is their brotherhood so fragile in the face of mating rituals? No way! If it were, Zhan would never agree to come with him again. Cheng knows he made a mistake, but he also knows that if he failed in his responsibilities, it would be because of Yibo. And let's not forget that the lunatic has taken advantage of Zhan's heat!

Despite knowing Zhan needs time to heal, Cheng suppresses his emotions and puts on a strong façade, hoping their mutual attraction will diminish. He reassures Zhan that everything will return to normal once they return home, but he doubts it. Since arriving in China two weeks ago, Zhan has been behaving strangely and appearing nervous constantly.

Each passing day widens the distance between them, instilling a fear of losing Zhan. Cheng is at a loss for what to do, but that doesn't stop him from trying to repair their fractured relationship. Despite his best efforts, Zhan, Ji Li, and even his cousins look at him as if he has done something unforgivable.

He does not understand how the lunatic has managed to sway everyone's opinion against him. Despite his disappointment, he hides it well and instead shows support for their final concert, trying to gain their attention. However, his efforts are in vain as Zhan remains focused on rehearsals and barely acknowledges his presence in the rehearsal room.

Cheng feels his heart ache. The thought of his little brother causing him pain only makes it worse. He curses himself for feeling this way—he's supposed to be a dominant alpha, strong and unwavering. With the final concert just a week away, he can't afford to lose focus and let their hard work go to waste. Even if his bandmates falter, he will step up and lead them to showcase their talent and pride to the world.

Wanting to cheer them up a bit, he brings all of them to Xishan Waterfall for a picnic. Despite the morning rain, the sun dries the grass and rocks by afternoon. It's beautiful watching the minnows dart in and out of the water thyme, growing in the shallows, creating a mesmerizing display of movement. The children run around, playing games and laughing, their spirits lifted by the fresh air.

Everyone wonders the natural beauty surrounding them, but Zhan watches blankly as he follows them through the butterfly bushes and cattails along the bank, lost in his own thoughts. The sound of the rushing waterfall seems to fade into the background as he stares off into the distance, a pensive expression on his face.

Cheng feels unsatisfied deep within his soul, a restlessness that he can't quite shake. He moves to approach Zhan, but Ji Li grabs him by the hand and shakes his head. He tries to refuse and pulls his hand off the grip when Zhan sits on a rock and watches the river. He doesn't know what halts his actions suddenly, but it does well. It is as much as he can say now.

Nodding at Ji Li, Cheng helps his bandmates spread the food out at the edge of the river and watches them eat cold noodles, bean soup, fresh watermelon slices, and small eggplants cooked with sesame and ginger. He also wants to join in and enjoy the moment, but he can't when he sees Zhan still sitting over there, like he's missing something or probably someone, fiddling with his fingers and wrestling with something internally.

"Are you happy, Cheng?" Ji Li asks as he kicks the alpha's ankle.

Cheng glares and turns to look away, trying hard not to get angry.

"I suppose you should be happy, but you're not!" Ji Li states with a smile as he gazes up at the falling water spray.

Cheng's eyebrows twitch upward incredulously because Ji Li is guessing correctly. He watches with an expectation that Ji Li will say something more, but Ji Li doesn't, so he initiates the talk. "What are you trying to say?" He raises his voice, wanting him to know he's serious about whatever Ji Li is trying to imply.

"Nothing," Ji Li responds, turning to watch the betas bickering over their card game and smiling. "You wouldn't like to hear it even if I said so," he adds, tilting his head to glance up at the waterfall again.

Cheng shuts his eyes and sucks in a slow breath. He feels a low, raging fire passing through his entire body, from the top of his head to his fingertips. His heartbeat goes faster. When he opens his eyes next, he clenches his fists at his sides and grinds his teeth. "Don't irritate me. Just spill out what you want to say."

Ji Li raises his head, peering at Cheng through his bright brown eyes. "I really don't want to say, but I like to show you something!" With that, he turns toward where a lonely soul is and tries to get its attention. "Zhan?"

There is no response, so he shares a glance with Cheng, who stares at him with noticeable expectation in his gaze at what the omega is trying to show. With a bright smile, Ji Li claps his hands together this time to attempt his task. "Zhan?"

Again, no response. Ji Li opens his mouth to say something but pauses, his brows creasing slightly, as he seems to be in thought. Then he picks up a small stone from the ground and throws it at the other omega. "Zhan?"

The stone hits Zhan's arm and makes him flinch, gazing at them with large eyes that are red-rimmed and tear-shining. It's not because of hitting that Cheng can understand; it's because of longing. Understanding that, he feels a pang of guilt inside his chest. When Zhan notices him beside another omega, he gives him a smile that's practiced because his eyes don't join in.

The moment feels like a slap in the face, causing him to instinctively touch his cheek as if feeling phantom fingers there. His mind races as Ji Li starts to speak, but he interrupts with a shake of his head before walking away with an unreadable expression. He doesn't want to dwell on what it all means, sensing there is something deeper at play.