ROT CH 15

Chapter 15: Bai Chengyu, there’s nothing wrong with admiring strength

Bai Chengyu’s cycle arrived a week earlier than usual. When Han Junzhou was notified by Xiao Hei to come to Qinglangxuan, he expected an urgent situation. However, he found Bai Chengyu standing calmly under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard, with wine and food already laid out on the marble table.

“The osmanthus flowers are blooming,” Bai Chengyu turned around, pointing to the wine on the table, “This osmanthus wine was brewed two years ago. I had forgotten about it, but when I smelled the fragrance of the flowers recently, I remembered it. Would you like a drink?”

Han Junzhou was a bit surprised. He had expected Bai Chengyu to be restless and agitated since his cycle had arrived early, but instead, he was so relaxed, calmly inviting him for a drink. This was his first time entering Qinglangxuan without immediately heading straight to bed—it was quite a novelty. He looked up; the full moon from the Mid-Autumn Festival had just passed, but the moon was still round and bright, making it the perfect time to appreciate the moon, flowers, and wine.

“I thought you’d be feeling unwell,” Han Junzhou said, more gently than usual. The fragrance in the garden was overwhelming; osmanthus was the most fragrant of all osmanthus varieties. But besides the flowers, he could also smell a faint, elegant rose fragrance on Bai Chengyu. The rose scent was much subtler than the strong osmanthus aroma, but it was sweet and tender, still in its gentle stage without any overwhelming intensity.

Bai Chengyu sat down. “I’m fine; it’s only just begun. It’s nice to share a drink with you,” he said. Han Junzhou sat down too. The food and drink on the stone table were all prepared, and the servants quietly retreated, leaving the two of them alone. “When my eyes start to glow green, I’ll need your help,” Bai Chengyu joked, aware of his tendency to become uncontrollably passionate when his desires arose. He casually made light of it, pretending to be polite.

Han Junzhou couldn’t help but laugh when he heard the “green light” comment. He studied Bai Chengyu, who looked so comfortable in his own territory. Bai Chengyu was only wearing pajamas with a robe thrown over, his soft indoor slippers muddy from walking outside. Looking back, those slippers might get thrown away soon.

“You’re in a good mood, wanting to admire the flowers and drink today?” Han Junzhou asked.

Bai Chengyu shook his head. “Not in a good mood. I don’t want to admire flowers or drink. I prepared this osmanthus wine for you. I thought you’d like it.”

Han Junzhou raised an eyebrow. “When did you become so considerate, knowing I like osmanthus wine?” He poured himself a glass, enjoying the scent.

“The osmanthus-flavored one… that Alpha,” Bai Chengyu lazily leaned over the table, tilting his head to look at him. “Yue Laoshi, your lover.”

“Cough…” The wine that Han Junzhou had just taken in made him choke and cough it out. Bai Chengyu gave him a disgusted look. “So dirty!” He got up and grabbed some tissues to wipe off the spots he thought had splashed on him.

Han Junzhou wasn’t sure what Bai Chengyu meant now. “He… he’s not my lover anymore. We’ve moved past that.” He looked at the now-resting Bai Chengyu and hesitated before asking, “What… is it? What’s wrong?”

For a brief moment, Han Junzhou had thought this was going to turn into a confrontation full of jealousy, a “court scene” demanding explanations. But when he looked into the boy’s eyes, he saw only a lazy, exhausted look full of calm. Then he realized. Bai Chengyu was indeed upset, but it wasn’t because of his past relationship with Yue Qi. He wasn’t feeling jealous or testing him. Han Junzhou gave a wry smile. How could he have forgotten? The relationship between him and Bai Chengyu wasn’t the kind that could spark jealousy. He clearly understood his place in this boy’s heart. Bai Chengyu might acknowledge him as his doctor and teacher, but he certainly wasn’t the lover who could make him jealous.

So why was he now acting so dejected and lethargic?

Bai Chengyu had set up a whole spread of wine and food, intending to invite Han Junzhou over to talk. He had a lot of resentment and confusion he needed to vent, and Han Junzhou, as his doctor, teacher, and sometimes a “massage stick,” was probably the best person he could turn to for complaints at the moment.

“Hey, what’s it feel like to be an Alpha? Must be great, right?” Bai Chengyu asked with a muffled tone, “You can control everything, do whatever you want, no one looks down on you, and no one’s always doubting whether you can do it…”

Ah, so that’s what this was about. Bai Chengyu’s internal conflict since his shift to Omega had finally come to the surface, and now he was willing to talk about it.

“Being an Alpha is indeed great,” Han Junzhou said, agreeing with Bai Chengyu’s words, nodding earnestly.

“Right? I knew it,” Bai Chengyu muttered, sounding a little frustrated. “Who’d want to shift into a useless Omega…”

“Who says Omega is useless?” Han Junzhou cut off Bai Chengyu’s complaint and asked in return.

“Everyone thinks Omega is useless,” Bai Chengyu said defensively. “You just said it yourself, that being an Alpha is great.”

“I hadn’t finished what I was saying. Don’t put words in my mouth,” Han Junzhou frowned, tapping Bai Chengyu lightly on the head and then secretly stroking the soft hair at the top of his head. “Being an Alpha is great, but being an Omega, or even a Beta, is also great.” He raised his hand slightly, stopping Bai Chengyu from interrupting. “Everyone has their own strengths and their own responsibilities, regardless of gender, whether you’re an Alpha, Omega, or Beta. The important thing is, what kind of person do you want to be?”

“It’s not like I can just choose,” Bai Chengyu shot him a challenging look. “I want to be an Alpha. Can you help me with surgery?”

Han Junzhou laughed lightly, shaking his head and sighing. “You’re too obsessed with being an Alpha. Have you ever thought about why you want to be one?”

“Only Alphas are strong.” Bai Chengyu said this as if it were an obvious truth.

“So you want to be strong?” Han Junzhou asked.

“What’s the difference?” Bai Chengyu retorted.

“If you want to be strong, then go ahead,” Han Junzhou replied, confused. “Why must you become an Alpha to be strong?”

Bai Chengyu looked at him as if Han Junzhou couldn’t understand anything, and said each word deliberately: “Only Alphas are strong.” He impatiently repeated the mantra.

This was Bai Lin’s proud declaration to him since childhood. He used to say, “Chengyu, remember this: we Alphas are the strong ones.” Now, he still spouted the same words, but he no longer said “we“—Bai Chengyu had been kicked out of the world of the strong by his father.

Han Junzhou calmly stared at Bai Chengyu, repeating his words: “Only Alphas are strong? Then tell me, what is a strong person?”

Bai Chengyu quickly gave an example: “Mo Sen, he’s a strong one. He’s undefeated, having won every single martial arts competition he ever participated in since his youth. No one could ever beat him.”

“Mm, sounds impressive. And then?” Han Junzhou’s expression immediately turned cold. “Then, when he got older and couldn’t keep up with the younger, stronger people, after spending all his prize money, he started robbing people on the streets. He used his champion fists to assault unarmed passersby. He killed one Alpha and raped his Beta partner. Now, he’s facing life imprisonment and will spend the rest of his life in jail.” Han Junzhou furrowed his brow in disbelief at how Bai Chengyu couldn’t distinguish right from wrong. “You think this person is a strong one? Not only is he not strong, but he’s also a scum, a disgrace to the martial arts world. He’s not even remotely ‘strong.’ He only won martial arts championships because of his brute strength—he’s a fool with no brains.”

Bai Chengyu stood there, his mouth open, unable to argue. He had admired Mo Sen for so long, and when Han Junzhou asked, his mind had raced, and without thinking, he used this man as an example—someone whom he too had once been angry and heartbroken over for his wrongdoings.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I used the wrong example, sorry, I was wrong,” Bai Chengyu said, glancing at the martial arts trophies in his room. He said weakly, “I wasn’t trying to excuse the criminal. It’s just… winning martial arts championships isn’t only about being strong. It requires skills and tactics… It’s not something anyone can just win.”

Han Junzhou nodded in agreement. “Of course, not all champions are fools. I was only talking about him.” He glanced at Bai Chengyu. “You’re not like him. You’re good.”

Hearing Han Junzhou’s reassurance, Bai Chengyu sighed in relief, but then sulked and slouched onto the table.

Han Junzhou watched him defend “champions” and then slump back down, his face clouded with shame. He couldn’t help but comfort him: “Bai Chengyu, there’s nothing wrong with admiring strength.”

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