TMDP CH 39

Chapter 39: Let’s See How Long You Can Hold On

The journey home was a bit long, and since he had woken up early in the morning, little Li, who had been in an excited state for the past few days, finally felt at ease once he was with his father. He sat for a while before falling asleep, hugging his teddy bear. Once Han Mingxiu saw that the child was asleep, he spoke again to Xia Ye, “After we get back, just stay at the house? There are plenty of rooms, and Xia Li wants to spend more time with you.”

Xia Ye shook his head. “It’s not very convenient. I’ve already booked a hotel, but I’ll slowly look for a place afterward.” He mentioned the name of the hotel and asked Han Mingxiu to drop him off there later so he could check in.

Han Mingxiu groaned. “Ah, Yun Jing Hotel is also part of the Han family, why do you need to—”

“I know it’s part of the Han family,” Xia Ye smiled and said, “So I’m asking Young Master Han to help me with a discount.”

“…” Han Jun Mingxiu had no energy to argue. “Alright. I’ll give you a discount and upgrade you, okay?”

“Then, thank you in advance,” Xia Ye smiled happily.

“By the way, mom…” He heard Xia Ye’s slight cough and immediately corrected himself. “I mean, my mom said she wants you to come to our place for dinner tonight, to help you get settled in and also celebrate your return after completing your studies.”

“Okay,” Xia Ye readily agreed. “I should thank them in person, for both their financial help and for looking after Xia Li. I’m really grateful.” Without thinking, his left hand brushed over the platinum ring on his right ring finger.

Han Mingxiu had noticed the ring as well. He had seen it before during video calls, but now it was directly in front of him, and his heart still felt a lump.

“The ring is beautiful,” Han Mingxiu said.

“Thank you.” Xia Ye smiled as he touched the wooden crystal stone hidden on the inside of his palm.

“Is it… your… new… friend who gave it to you?” Han Mingxiu asked cautiously. “The one who came through customs with you just now?” He couldn’t quite bring himself to say the words “boyfriend.”

“No,” Xia Ye replied.

“Not?” Was it the ring, or was it that the person wasn’t a boyfriend?

Xia Ye didn’t elaborate further. Seeing Han Mingxiu looking so uncomfortable, he couldn’t help but feel a little pleased.

Han Mingxiu u felt stifled. In addition to the ring, Xia Ye also carried a faint wood scent, wrapped around the slightly sweet fragrance of watermelon, hazy and unclear. Was that from the person just now? Xia Ye’s new boyfriend, another wood-scented Alpha?

“Is your gland… healed?” Han Mingxiu pointed to his nose. “I smell a bit of… “

Before Han Mingxiu could finish speaking, Xia Ye suddenly panicked. “What did you smell? My pheromones?” He immediately reached into his bag and sprayed a large amount of pheromone blocker on himself, even spraying some on the back of his neck. “Sorry, I didn’t realize.”

Xia Ye sincerely apologized to Han Mingxiu. He thought the wooden crystal stone could mask the scent of his pheromones, at least for others. Over the years, besides the doctor, very few people knew what his real pheromone scent was. What they smelled was the wood crystal stone’s pheromone-like scent. However, Han Mingxiu was highly sensitive to his pheromones. Even a tiny trace of them, even just one percent of what an ordinary person could smell, he would be able to detect.

Remembering how Han Mingxiu had reacted to the watermelon scent, Xia Ye felt a little down. He had forgotten that he hadn’t resolved that matter yet.

“Is there still a smell?” Xia Ye asked.

“…No,” Han Mingxiu answered. Seeing Xia Ye’s panicked reaction, eager to hide his own pheromones from being detected, Han Mingxiu felt a bit of frustration. He had just seen Xia Ye comfortably leaning into someone else’s embrace, so close to the other person. That person had held him from behind, and Xia Ye definitely let his guard down around him. Was his sweetness being freely expressed without reserve?

They had broken up long ago, and he was the one who brought it up. Xia Ye had made it clear that he didn’t want him anymore. Now, Han Mingxiu didn’t even have the right to ask anything, but he was really unwilling to accept it. Han Mingxiu drove in silence, but eventually, he couldn’t hold it in. He tentatively asked, “Earlier, you said… do you really think I should go find someone I like again?”

Xia Ye, who had almost fallen asleep because of the heavy atmosphere, paused when he heard Han Mingxiu’s question. He thought, “How dare you?” But his face maintained a friendly smile. “Yeah, if you meet someone you truly like, you should act quickly. Time waits for no one. You’re already thirty. If you drag it out, you’ll end up an old man.”

Han Mingxiu stared ahead, expressionless, and nodded. “I understand. I’ll go after them.” After a moment’s consideration, he added, “There’s someone I’ve liked for a while. I’ve been wondering whether I should be more active in pursuing him, but he’s already with someone. Is it immoral to steal someone else’s lover?”

Xia Ye was shocked and confused. “He’s married?” Han Mingxiu had fallen for someone who was already married?

“It should be fine,” Han Mingxiu replied.

Xia Ye’s mood soured greatly. “If it’s not, then it’s not! What do you mean, ‘it should be fine’? You don’t even know whether the person you like is married, and you’re going to pursue someone?”

Xia Ye suddenly exploded, and Han Mingxiu quickly said, “Shh, quiet down.” He glanced at Xiao Li in the rearview mirror. Fortunately, the child was sleeping soundly, only shifting a bit and clicking his tongue before continuing to sleep without waking up. Han Mingxiu then continued, “He’s not married. He’s probably just a boyfriend.”

“Then go chase him if you like him. Anyway, he’s not married, so if you can win him over, then it’s your skill. Where’s the issue of morals?” Damn it, bastard. If you have the ability, just go ahead and chase him.

Han Mingxiu hummed in acknowledgment. “Then I’ll start pursuing him.”

“Start? Just go ahead! Why even tell me? Damn, go already!” Xia Ye irritably turned his head to look out the window, a small feeling of desolation creeping into his heart.

“My doctoral degree…” he thought.

“Cough, cough,” Han Mingxiu cleared his throat. “Xia Ye, although you said I don’t need to explain, I still want to tell you, I’m not really familiar with that Zheng Shuangshuang. Not just her, since we broke up, I’ve been alone all these years.” Han Mingxiu felt a bit uneasy, but forced himself to make his feelings clear. “I know you might have someone new now, but could you, for the sake of these past two years where I kept my promise and didn’t disturb you, give me a chance to pursue you?” He stared straight ahead, acting like he was seriously driving, but his heart was in turmoil. “Just a fair chance. If in the end, you decide to choose him, I’ll still bless you both.”

“…”

Xia Ye turned his head in shock to look at him. “You’re crazy. You’re insane. Damn, you scared me. I thought you, like a pig, really fell for someone else.”

Han Mingxiu kept his eyes straight ahead, not daring to steal a glance at Xia Ye. But he could feel Xia Ye glaring at him. He kept his tone as steady as possible, using Xia Ye’s own words to block him. “You just encouraged me to act quickly if I meet someone I truly like. You said I’m already thirty, and if I wait, I’ll end up an old man…”

“Fine.” Xia Ye suddenly spoke.

Han Mingxiu was startled, thinking he would have to drag it out longer, preparing a bunch of reasons to slowly convince Xia Ye. But Xia Ye agreed so suddenly.

“Really?” Han Mingxiu blurted out, surprised, as if he had received an unexpected gift.

“Mm.” Xia Ye’s tone was a bit weary. After a small hum, he added, “Sorry, I’m a bit tired. I want to nap for a bit.” After being emotionally stirred by Han Mingxiu’s unclear intentions, Xia Ye didn’t actually want to sleep anymore; he just didn’t want to talk to Han Mingxiu. The ups and downs were exhausting.

He had returned as planned, waiting for the other person to open up and ask for reconciliation, and indeed, Han Mingxiu had taken the initiative to speak. But somehow, there was a slight discomfort in his heart.

Is it a little similar? Back then, he had decided on his own that he was carrying someone else’s child. Now, he was doing the same thing, assuming without asking that there was someone new by his side. Even though he had intentionally avoided explaining, would it have killed him to ask a question?

Xia Ye bottled up his frustration. Fine, you go ahead and chase me! Let’s see how long you can hold on.

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– End of chapter –

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