Evil Love Appears chapter 84

Xu Jiale had a dream.

In the dream, he returned to his childhood.

A tall Alpha was leading him through a long, dark underground tunnel, passing by a small newsstand with snacks and melon seeds, and then waiting for a train on an open-air platform.

It seemed like a real memory, but in the dream, he couldn’t recall their destination. He just felt the hand holding his was broad, warm, and dry, and he thought, “This must be Xu Lang’s hand.” Because these hands had been the source of all his security in his childhood.

As the green train rattled along the tracks, the entire world became surreal.

There were only two people in the carriage, Xu Jiale and Xu Lang, but strangely, he couldn’t see Xu Lang’s face clearly.

The sun occasionally shone brightly outside, and then it would disappear into a long, dark tunnel, as if there was another dream inside the dream.

When the train suddenly stopped, Xu Lang stood up and silently led him outside.

They walked strangely through identical open-air platforms, past an unattended newsstand, through the long, dark underground tunnel, and then stopped.

“Go.” Xu Lang suddenly let go of his hand.

Go?

The petite Xu Jiale looked up but still couldn’t see Xu Lang’s face.

So he looked forward and saw Fu Xiaoyu’s back as he walked away.

He was instantly excited and rushed to catch up. However, something strange happened. Even though Fu Xiaoyu was walking slowly, he couldn’t catch up, no matter how hard he ran. He watched helplessly as the Omega’s figure grew smaller and disappeared.

He couldn’t run anymore, and when he turned around, he was horrified to find that even Xu Lang was gone. Only his childhood self remained, trapped between two identical platforms.

The next train seemed like it would never arrive.

…

When Xu Jiale woke up, it was just dawn.

He still felt a bit shaken, with a cold sweat breaking out on his back. He had fallen asleep on the phone with Fu Xiaoyu, but he had this strange dream, and it made him feel uncomfortable.

The next thing he felt was a headache, stomachache, and his entire body aching. Xu Jiale had always had a good tolerance for alcohol, and he couldn’t remember the last time he had a hangover. However, this time, perhaps because he had drunk beer and then chugged a bottle of strong liquor at the same time, a strong feeling of nausea surged up instantly.

Xu Jiale stumbled into the bathroom, quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth, and then rushed out barefoot to search for his passport.

His last thought before falling asleep was that he wanted to go to Vietnam, and this dream had intensified his determination.

This was not a joke; he even seriously checked. He had informed Jin Chu a few days ago that he had something to do that day. And because he had been to Vietnam before, he had already obtained a long-validity visa, which was still not expired. He didn’t even need to get a visa on arrival.

After finding his passport, Xu Jiale picked up his computer to book a flight and opened WeChat on his phone. Fu Xiaoyu’s conversation was pinned at the top.

So he saw the first message from Fu Xiaoyu: “I’m returning to the country for my birthday, arriving soon.”

Was Fu Xiaoyu coming back?

Xu Jiale was taken aback. He was about to reply but suddenly realized that there were more than ten message notifications under Jin Chu’s profile picture under the pinned chats.

That number looked unusually high.

Even if he had this thought, there seemed to be no time to think about it. Xu Jiale entered the chat without much thought.

With a “slap,” his passport suddenly fell to the ground.

The next second, Xu Jiale was already rushing out in his pajamas.

The road to the Renxin Pediatric Hospital seemed hazy to Xu Jiale, even long after. He couldn’t even remember how he hailed a taxi, how he spoke to the driver, and how he called Jin Chu. Everything was a blank.

What remained in his mind was the repeated thought of several missed calls from Jin Chu and the several anxious messages.

“Nanyi had an acute asthma attack.”

“Can you answer the phone?”

“I took Nanyi to the pediatric hospital in the North District.”

…

The pediatric hospital was quiet in the early morning, and Xu Jiale ran all the way down the long corridor to the end, where he saw Jin Chu sitting on a bench outside the emergency room.

The Omega was also in his pajamas, holding an empty paper cup in his hand, looking down, sitting there in an almost hunched position.

“Jin Chu.”

When Xu Jiale spoke, he realized how hoarse his voice was.

“Yeah, you’re here.” Jin Chu finally looked up. His eyes were bloodshot, and he spoke with a pale face, “Nanyi just had an acute asthma attack last night, and now he’s asleep inside.”

His breath was faint, his voice soft, and he seemed exhausted, filled with the aftermath of distress and tension.

Xu Jiale immediately wanted to push the door open to see Nanyi. But as he held the door handle, he stopped, turned around, and whispered, “Last night…”

“Last night, Nanyi had a severe asthma attack,” Jin Chu put the empty cup to his lips but realized there was no more coffee. He continued with his head lowered, “I was sleeping pretty deeply, and I was startled awake. I gave him several puffs of the inhaler, but this time the attack was too severe, and the medication didn’t seem to work well. I saw him struggling to breathe, and I…”

“Xu Jiale, I called you several times, but you didn’t answer. I was really panicking.” Jin Chu’s voice trembled as he spoke, “I quickly called 120 and followed the ambulance to this pediatric hospital. Luckily, Nanyi inhaled oxygen at the hospital and gradually recovered. Nothing serious happened.”

Jin Chu wasn’t someone who could handle stress well. They usually had a nanny to assist with taking care of Nanyi, and before their divorce, Xu Jiale was there to help too. This time, Nanyi’s asthma attack happened suddenly, and since Jin Chu wasn’t very familiar with B City, he was even more flustered, which was why his eyes turned red when he mentioned last night’s events.

Xu Jiale gripped the door handle so hard that his nails turned slightly white.

“I’ll go in and see Nanyi first.”

He didn’t dare to think any further and just muttered that sentence.

Nanyi lay on the bed in the emergency room, fast asleep and very peaceful.

Xu Jiale pulled up a chair and sat by the little one’s bedside, being careful with each breath. He gently, very gently, brushed his hand over Nanyi’s cheek with the back of his hand.

The little one’s face, like a pale dough, had a faint smile on it, with the exception of his lips being paler than usual. He seemed to be immersed in a sweet dream.

Xu Jiale just stared at him, almost in a daze, until a doctor walked up and said, “Are you the Alpha father of the child?”

“Yes, I am.” Xu Jiale was about to stand up but was patted on the shoulder by the doctor, who continued gently, “Sit down; we can have a brief chat.”

“The child had a severe asthma attack, but luckily, he was brought here not too late. We gave him some oxygen and administered a shot, so he’s fine now.”

“Thank you,” Xu Jiale said. “He has had asthma for a while, but he had an acute asthma attack when he was three. Afterward, we’ve always carried an inhaler with us, and if he felt unwell, he’d use it. He gradually transitioned from a chronic state to a remission. So, why did it suddenly…”

“The triggers for asthma are numerous,” the doctor paused and continued, “It could be due to changes in the environment, pollen in the summer, emotional fluctuations, stress, and it’s challenging to identify these causes.”

“Children have narrow and underdeveloped airways, which makes asthma more dangerous for them. There’s not much that can be done. When the child grows up, asthma will likely improve. So, during this time, parents must be vigilant both during the day and at night.”

The doctor’s gaze swept over Xu Jiale and the final piece of advice carried a hint of meaning.

But even without the doctor’s words, from the moment he saw Jin Chu’s messages, to the rush to the hospital, and then talking with Jin Chu and sitting by Nanyi’s bedside, every second, Xu Jiale hadn’t let himself off the hook.

Yesterday in the middle of the night, when Nanyi struggled to breathe due to asthma, when Nanyi lay in the ambulance…

It was when he was terribly drunk, falling asleep after intense phone sex with Fu Xiaoyu, thinking calmly, “I must go to Vietnam tomorrow.”

What kind of father would do such a thing?

This thought, like a sword piercing through the void, chilled his body.

Shortly after the doctor left, little Nanyi woke up again.

“Daddy!” He opened his eyes, saw Xu Jiale, and couldn’t help but call out happily, but because of the discomfort in his chest, his high-pitched “Daddy” was accompanied by a hint of weakness.

“Daddy’s here.” Xu Jiale used all his strength to hold back his emotions, leaned over, and hugged Nanyi’s tiny body. “Daddy’s here, Nanyi, Daddy’s precious baby… Daddy’s late; Daddy’s late.”

His voice grew hoarse and almost inaudible towards the end.

“Daddy, I had a severe asthma attack last night.”

Nanyi, nestled against Xu Jiale’s neck, whispered softly, “I couldn’t breathe at all… it felt like, like drinking soda through a very thin straw.”

The little boy described the feeling during his asthma attack in childish terms, but it made Xu Jiale feel even more terrified. It was the terror of not being able to get any air.

Nanyi seemed to sense the emotional distress on Xu Jiale, and he touched Xu Jiale’s prickly chin with his small hand. “Daddy, you have a beard now, it’s scratchy.”

The little one touched Xu Jiale’s stubble a few more times and then suddenly remembered something, looking out of the window. “Where’s Aiden?”

“Aiden is outside, he’ll come in after having a cup of coffee.”

“Daddy,” Nanyi suddenly asked in a low voice, “Did you… have a fight with Aiden?”

Xu Jiale found it difficult to respond.

“You never told me, but you guys don’t seem to spend much time together like you used to. Aiden also always looks unhappy.”

The little one was still very weak, and after speaking a slightly longer sentence, his breathing became rapid.

He had to lower his head and sniffle before looking seriously at Xu Jiale, asking in a timid, soft voice, “Daddy, don’t fight with Aiden. Can you both be like before, staying with me? Is that okay?”

…

Xu Jiale’s heart was breaking.

No father could bear to say “no” to their child at a moment like this.

“Yes.”

When he said that word, he didn’t even dare to think about what it meant.

His hands were very cold, and he felt like a fish with salt sprinkled all over it.

Not long after, Nanyi fell asleep again, and Xu Jiale’s phone was running out of battery.

He informed Jin Chu and said he would go home to get a charger and return to let Jin Chu get some rest.

As he walked through the long corridor of the hospital once again, he suddenly had an eerie feeling that the place seemed oddly familiar.

The hallway resembled the dark underground tunnel in his dream, leading to the train platform.

When Xu Jiale got back home, he didn’t even notice Xia’an, hurriedly searched for the charger in the bedroom, and was about to use the restroom when he suddenly realized that the bathroom door was closed.

“Wait a moment,” there was an urgent tone in the voice from inside the bathroom. “Xu Jiale, just wait a moment.”

…

In fact, Fu Xiaoyu had arrived about twenty minutes ago.

He had arrived in City B before 9 a.m. Since it was still early, he made it home quite quickly.

The moment he arrived home, he spotted the flashy and conspicuous black Bentley parked in the driveway.

He knew that Xu Jiale was going to prepare a gift for him, but he had never expected it to be this valuable. It made him feel a bit nervous.

Fu Xiaoyu circled the Bentley several times, then happily entered their home.

To his surprise, Xu Jiale wasn’t home.

The bedroom was in slight disarray, the bedding had been dragged to the floor, and the computer was on, as if Xu Jiale had left not too long ago.

Fu Xiaoyu examined the room for a moment and noticed that the cigarette pack on the bedside table had been emptied. He guessed that Xu Jiale had gone out to buy cigarettes.

He sent Xu Jiale a WeChat message: “I’m home. Please come back soon!”

Then, he couldn’t help but glance out the window at the Bentley parked outside.

He really liked it. He liked the car and the fact that it was a birthday gift from Xu Jiale.

Perhaps it was the lingering effects of alcohol from the flight, or maybe it was the feeling of yesterday’s happiness continuing to this moment.

In that fuzzy, almost fluffy mood, Fu Xiaoyu suddenly couldn’t contain his excitement. He pushed his suitcase aside, opened it, and then found what he had bought in Vietnam for this occasion. Although it was meant for his birthday, it still felt a bit embarrassing to wear. Then, he went into the bathroom.

Fu Xiaoyu put the cat ears on his head first, which wasn’t too challenging.

In the mirror, his cheeks were slightly flushed, his eyes round, and on top of his head, two white fluffy cat ears stood out. He looked different from his usual self, like…

An unfamiliar, mischievous cat.

He was a bit excited.

His normally calm and composed self hadn’t explored such a fun side of life so actively even though he was in a romantic relationship. This was his first time.

The next part was a bit challenging. Fu Xiaoyu didn’t dare to look in the mirror, so he took off his shirt and pants, leaving him completely bare. Then, he lifted one foot, resting it on the edge of the bathtub, and carefully placed the furry white tail between his thighs.

That’s when Xu Jiale opened the door.

“Wait!” Fu Xiaoyu was so nervous that he accidentally pushed it in rather roughly.

“Ah,” he winced in pain, taking a deep breath, and curling his toes for a moment. After a few seconds, he felt more comfortable.

He couldn’t wait any longer; he was eager to see Xu Jiale’s reaction to him.

…

The moment the bathroom door swung open, Xu Jiale was completely stunned.

He was met with a tall Omega who was completely naked, except for the snowy white cat ears on his head.

Due to the tail, Fu Xiaoyu had to walk somewhat awkwardly, his toes raised slightly, but this walk only accentuated his grace and allure.

“I’m back,” he said, looking at Xu Jiale, his eyes curved in a smile.

But then, Fu Xiaoyu realized something was wrong.

Xu Jiale’s chin was covered in stubble, his eyes had a hint of bloodshot, his hair was disheveled, and he looked disheveled, nothing like his usual self.

“Xu Jiale,” Fu Xiaoyu asked in a soft voice, “What happened to you?”

“Fu Xiaoyu…”

When Xu Jiale said his name, his voice was so hoarse that it didn’t even sound like himself.

“Did something happen?” Fu Xiaoyu was getting worried, wanting to approach him.

But Xu Jiale suddenly took a step back, and his gaze had a kind of panicked avoidance.

From Fu Xiaoyu’s smooth face, to his completely exposed body, and down to the fluffy white tail hanging between his legs.

Fu Xiaoyu had rushed back from Vietnam early in the morning, dressing as a cat just for his preferences.

On his way back from the hospital, Xu Jiale had even thought about whether he could make Fu Xiaoyu wait a bit longer, as he was struggling to find a way to explain his divorce to Nanyi. Just minutes ago, he had a glimmer of hope, a bit of resistance.

But at this moment, fear had taken over his heart.

Fu Xiaoyu loved him too much.

And he… loved Fu Xiaoyu too much, the only person he had truly loved in his life.

But it was precisely that which filled him with unprecedented fear.

Desire, love, intense like a whirlpool, he was overwhelmed with fear that would drown him.

His breakdown truly happened at this moment.

The moment he saw his most beautiful cat.

He didn’t want Fu Xiaoyu to wait for him; he couldn’t even be sure how long it would take.

Days, or even years?

He could offer up his entire life to the role of being a father, but Fu Xiaoyu couldn’t. Fu Xiaoyu deserved to have the most complete, perfect, and happy love in the world.

“Fu Xiaoyu, let’s break up,” Xu Jiale heard himself say.

It was as if he had walked into another bizarre dream.

The wind whistled by, but there were no trains on the platform.