ROT CH 61

Chapter 61: We’re Breaking up

“We’re breaking up.” Bai Chengyu said coldly, with a hint of provocation, as he called for the separation. His tone was frigid, and even the rose scent in the air felt cold and distant.

“Break up? I don’t agree.” Han Junzhou was about to lose his temper. “I don’t know what you overheard outside the study that made you so angry, but neither I nor your father meant any harm. If we just talk it out, any misunderstanding will be resolved.” Han Junzhou tried to calm the furious Xiao Yu with his rosewood scent, but it was useless. This strong-willed Omega resisted with his sweet fragrance, rejecting the wood’s calming effect.

“It’s no longer about misunderstanding. I’ve suddenly come to a realization. I don’t want to be with an old man anymore.” Bai Chengyu enunciated each word with gritted teeth as he bit out his rejection to Han Junzhou. “Did you hear me clearly?”

Just yesterday, he had been marked, and today, Han Junzhou’s Alpha pheromones were almost irresistible. But Bai Chengyu was tense, fighting it with all his strength. The effort was incredibly hard, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Seeing him like this, Han Junzhou suddenly felt disinterested. The anger he had been holding back slowly dissipated. He let go of Bai Chengyu, withdrew his rosewood scent, and stopped suppressing him. Han Junzhou’s expression and tone remained calm. “Xiao Yu, stop saying such nonsense.” But inside, he felt a slight pain.

He wasn’t blind. He knew that Bai Chengyu had turned back into the prickly little leopard, seeing him as an enemy. Bai Chengyu was all claws and teeth, posturing and unreasonable, simply because of some meaningless verbal misunderstanding. It might be because he was upset over Bai Lin wanting to give the Black Corner to someone else, or perhaps he only heard Han Junzhou refuse the marriage and didn’t catch the explanation that followed. Either way, he was hurt, angry, and acting irrationally.

But… those hurtful words truly stung. A misunderstanding that could be solved with a few simple sentences had escalated into this, and he couldn’t understand why Bai Chengyu was being so stubborn, refusing to listen to any explanations.

“I’m not talking nonsense.” Bai Chengyu took advantage of Han Junzhou’s momentary slackened grip, pushing him away with all his strength. “Please leave my sight immediately. Get out of my house. I don’t want to see you anymore.”

Forget it. Bai Chengyu was clearly angry, and nothing he said could get through to him. Han Junzhou was also a bit emotional after being pushed by those words. They should both cool off for now. In a few days, when Bai Chengyu had calmed down, they could talk it over properly. He would make sure Bai Chengyu knew what was acceptable to say and what wasn’t. Breaking up… Could such things be thrown around so easily?

Afterward, when Bai Chengyu calmed down, he would definitely make him understand the power of an old man.

For now, Han Junzhou could only helplessly say, “Alright, I’ll go for now. Once you’ve calmed down, we’ll talk.”

“I have nothing to talk to you about.” Bai Chengyu didn’t even look at him.

Han Junzhou, however, fixed his gaze on the little leopard for a moment. His calm eyes were filled with lingering affection. He wanted to say goodbye, but even that felt difficult. He tried to speak several times, but in the end, he just turned around in silence.

He packed his things, and Bai Chengyu just sat on the bed, not moving. As Han Junzhou was about to leave, his hand gripped the door handle, and Bai Chengyu called out to him.

“Hey,” Han Junzhou turned back, and saw Bai Chengyu raise his hand, forcibly ripping the red string off his left wrist. He tossed it at Han Junzhou. “Take your trash with you.” His words were a bit broken, likely due to his anger, but he threw the string with a force that made it seem like he wanted to hit Han Junzhou with it.

Han Junzhou watched as the red string flew towards him, hitting his chest before bouncing to the floor. Looking down, it was the unique little fish string—the birthday gift, the token of their relationship. It was Han Junzhou’s one-of-a-kind, delicate token of love.

That light string, so fragile, hit his chest and actually hurt? Han Junzhou touched his chest and then bent down to pick up the string, walking back to Bai Chengyu.

“What are you doing?” Bai Chengyu looked at him warily. “What do you want now? Just go.”

What did Han Junzhou want? He looked at Bai Chengyu’s mouth, opening and closing, spitting out words that were meant to hurt him. Han Junzhou just wanted to kiss him, to shut him up completely, to see if Bai Chengyu would dare speak recklessly again. But Han Junzhou was a gentleman, and in this situation where Xiao Yu treated him like a stranger and wouldn’t even call his name, forcing affection was not his style. He simply placed the little fish string into Bai Chengyu’s palm.

“Take care of it, don’t lose it.”

Xiao Yu, take care of it, don’t lose it. I’ll let you act out, let you cool off for a few days. But you must keep my heart, don’t throw it away.

After speaking, Han Junzhou left quickly. He stepped out of Bai Chengyu’s room and the house. He had only taken a few steps when he heard the sound of a window being forcefully opened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small red object fly out from Bai Chengyu’s bedroom window, disappearing into the rhododendron bushes.

Han Junzhou stopped in his tracks, staring blankly at the bushes, and smiled bitterly. Why do you have to be so stubborn?

He still left with grace, walking confidently out of Qinglangxuan. But inside, Han Junzhou felt that this might be the most embarrassing moment of his life.

Han Junzhou returned to his apartment and collapsed wearily onto the couch. He never expected that after enduring all the trials—the Bai Longqi, the pirate case, Black Corner, Yunbang, the ungrateful son, his father’s injuries, and the innocent little fish—after finally digesting all the guilt and unease that had been tormenting him day and night, and barely overcoming that self-reproachful hurdle, after desperately protecting the little fish, believing their love would make it through the tough times, this argument, this hurt, would come in such a childish form.

It was even worse than family feuds!

It was worse than Romeo and Juliet!

What a fool he was.

Han Junzhou was somewhat angry at Bai Chengyu’s willfulness, but behind that anger was a great deal of disappointment.

“I was so harsh on myself, carrying the guilt toward my father and my family, desperately protecting you, this innocent little fish, only for you to overhear a few words and cause such a scene, easily saying you want to break up.”

Was I really so unworthy of trust?

Can’t you stand by me the way I stood by you?

Facing Bai Lin’s self-righteousness, that unshakable declaration of “You don’t want him, I do!” still reverberated in his heart, but when he turned around, it was him who was being left behind.

The sour feeling that had been building up for so long seemed like it was about to explode.

Before, when he was so heartbroken, feeling like he had betrayed and hurt his whole family for just one person, the entire family had been so understanding. His relatives chose to support their love. So, as much as he felt guilty, he didn’t have any reason to cry.

But now, he called him an old man. Damn it, it pissed him off. Bai Chengyu’s sharp words, always on target, knew exactly how to hurt him. It was true what they said—arguing with the ones closest to you always hurt the most. They say there are no good words in a fight, but those words were particularly cruel.

Han Junzhou leaned back against the couch, a thought that he could no longer suppress gradually wore him down.

What if what the little fish said was true? What if he really cared?

Angry words are just that—angry words—but which part of what he said was wrong? The sixteen-year age gap was obvious. When he turned sixty, the little fish would only be forty, in the prime of his life.

A little fish in his forties could still be charming, more mature and handsome, even more alluring.

But what about him at sixty? Would he still deserve the little fish?

Ever since the first time he met him in the clinic, that sixteen-year age gap had been a thorn in Han Junzhou’s heart. If Bai Lin hadn’t approached him first, he never would have dared to pursue him so recklessly. But now, they were already dating, and the process had been so sweet. Yet, that age gap had surfaced, making the already chaotic situation even worse.

Han Junzhou felt so tired. And a little wronged.

(To Be Continued…)

Translator Message:

🎉 Happy New Year, dear readers! 🎉

As we welcome 2025, I want to thank you all for your continued love and support. To kick off the New Year, I have a special gift just for you—a 5-chapter release today! Chapters 61 to 65 are now uploaded for you to dive into.

Enjoy this rollercoaster of emotions and twists, and may your journey through 2025 be filled with joy, success, and plenty of amazing stories!

Happy reading and good luck with the new year! ✨

With love,

jj.ssatranslates

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