Chapter 75: Perceiving Life

He Xueyao wasn’t too surprised to receive Fu Rangyi’s call. What he didn’t expect was that Fu Rangyi, who had previously shown no interest in the matter, was now uncharacteristically urgent, even saying things like “the sooner, the better.”

Only after a phone call with Zhu Zhixi did he learn that it was to treat an illness.

“Don’t worry,” He Xueyao reassured him. “If it’s confirmed that they are father and son, never mind using gland fluid for treatment; given his attitude towards his late wife, he might even try to pluck the stars from the sky for him.”

When Zhu Zhixi took this call, he was at the museum making final preparations for the next day’s exhibition. Fu Rangyi was also there helping. He deliberately moved away and whispered to He Xueyao, “If they are really father and son, could you mention that Professor Fu’s current life is very stable and he loves his job? I don’t want this whole ‘finding his family’ thing to turn his life upside down…”

He Xueyao was a smart man and quickly understood. “Mhm, I get it. You don’t need to worry. After all, Mr. Huo’s identity is also very sensitive. To protect his own child, he couldn’t possibly make a big fuss about it. Otherwise, it would just be putting Fu Rangyi in the hot seat. It would be even more troublesome if his political enemies found out. He has definitely considered this more thoroughly than anyone else.”

“That’s good…” Zhu Zhixi thought for a moment, then added, “Brother Xueyao, I know you’re actually a very good person. I’ll have to trouble you to help with Professor Fu’s treatment and follow up on it.”

The other end of the line was quiet for a moment, then suddenly said, “What’s wrong? Saying things like that, it sounds like you’re entrusting me with your final affairs.”

Zhu Zhixi chuckled a few times, covering it up. He shifted the white flannel shoulder bag from his left shoulder to his right. Inside was Snowball.

“I heard… you were at the hospital yesterday. Xiao Xi, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, doing great,” Zhu Zhixi smiled. “Sister-in-law is so concerned about me.”

“There you go again,” He Xueyao sighed. “I’ll keep what you said in mind. But don’t be so quick to believe others are good people. There aren’t that many good people in the world. Remember that.”

After hanging up, Zhu Zhixi stood in the corner, muttering to himself, “Anyone who helps Xiao Fu get treated is a good person.”

He was still worried. After thinking for a moment, he called Li Qiao, explained the whole situation in detail, and asked him to accompany Fu Rangyi, whether for the test or the treatment. Li Qiao agreed without a second thought. Only after hanging up did he suddenly send him a message.

[Muzi Shanqiao: What about you?]

A minute later, Zhu Zhixi replied to his message.

[The World’s Longest-Lived Beta: If I have time, of course I’ll go. I won’t miss a single one.]

Li Qiao always replied quickly.

[Muzi Shanqiao: At least you have some conscience. You have no idea how much Xiao Fu has worried about your reproductive cavity. And a few days ago, our institute held a seminar, and a top reproductive specialist from abroad talked about a new case. An SA also had a relationship with a Beta and had behavior similar to a permanent mark. It was later discovered that the SA also showed signs of counter-marking, a phenomenon that usually only occurs between a small number of AOs.]

[The World’s Longest-Lived Beta: Counter-marking? What does that mean? What happens if it appears?]

[Muzi Shanqiao: Simply put, the Alpha becomes severely dependent on the person they permanently marked. This situation has almost never happened between an A and a B before, since Bs don’t have pheromones. So this case has great research value. Right now, that B doesn’t want to get married and wants to break up. As a result, the A had a complete pheromone collapse and went insane.]

[The World’s Longest-Lived Beta: Insane?]

[Muzi Shanqiao: Mmm, still undergoing treatment. Anyway, this counter-marking phenomenon is very dangerous. I always feel that Fu Rangyi is too insecure about you, to the point of physiological anxiety. But it might not be pathological; maybe he’s just anxious because he can’t mark you. Fu Rangyi is still quite rational.]

[Muzi Shanqiao: Besides, you two are married and always together, so nothing major can happen. It just means you’ll have to suffer a bit more. Can’t be helped, who asked you to marry an SA~]

Seeing these messages, Zhu Zhixi squatted down.

[3 days 23 hours 29 minutes 01 seconds]

He let out a long sigh, buried his face in his knees, and ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up.

I, this short-lived ghost, am truly a great sinner, a great sinner.

“What are you doing?” Footsteps approached and stopped in front of him.

A large hand landed on top of his head, gently smoothing his hair, then slid down to pinch his ear.

Zhu Zhixi reflexively pressed his cheek against the palm of his hand. “Hubby.” He opened his eyes and blinked at Fu Rangyi.

“Hmm?” Fu Rangyi cupped his face and gazed at him.

Please don’t go crazy, hubby. A lump formed in Zhu Zhixi’s throat, and he couldn’t say it out loud.

Fu Rangyi stared at him. “You called me. Is there nothing else you want to say?”

Zhu Zhixi shook his head with a grin. “I just wanted to call you.” He said, then hopped forward in a squat, frog-leap style, got close to Fu Rangyi, and wrapped his arms around his neck. “Hubby, hubby.”

An idea popped into his head, a good way to keep Fu Rangyi busy. But it required time and props. He couldn’t say it yet.

“Mhm,” Fu Rangyi responded to his casual calls. His neck felt a bit itchy, so he dodged slightly, raised his mobile left hand, and slowly, methodically smoothed out Zhu Zhixi’s messy, fluffy hair, like a large cat engrossed in grooming its kitten.

The kitten finally rewarded him with a kiss on the side of his neck.

The work that needed to be done had mostly been finished a few days ago. After inventorying all the exhibits, a specialized cleaning company came for the final site cleaning. So they left too.

The last few days were planned to the brim by Fu Rangyi. Now they were going home to check off a very important item on the list: making a sumptuous dinner for his father and brother.

They went to the supermarket together for the first time. Fu Rangyi asked him if he knew how to pick fruits. Zhu Zhixi nodded, then picked up an orange and held it to his nose, sniffing hard.

Fu Rangyi said helplessly, “Are you an animal? Determining ripeness by smell?”

“A ripe one smells sweeter,” Zhu Zhixi said, switching to another one. “You don’t understand.”

“My nose is better than yours,” Fu Rangyi said.

“Oh, right. You’re an Alpha.” Zhu Zhixi smiled and held up the one in his hand for him. “Smell it. Is it fragrant?”

Fu Rangyi sniffed it. “Not fragrant.”

“Why?” Zhu Zhixi was puzzled.

“Your orange-scented assistant has pheromones that smell like this when you come home every day. I don’t like it,” Fu Rangyi said with a straight face.

Zhu Zhixi was shocked. “You’re not happy about that either? What can I do? I just absorb scents easily. Maybe I was a fragrance tester strip in my past life.” He extended his wrist to Fu Rangyi. “Here, shake me.”

Fu Rangyi: “Why would I shake you?”

Zhu Zhixi: “To get the scent off faster.”

Fu Rangyi was amused. Looking helpless, he adjusted his wristband, then reached out with his left hand, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him into his arms. Knowing that Zhu Zhixi would try to dodge to avoid bumping his injured hand, he deliberately circled him with his left arm and lowered his head to kiss the top of his hair.

“Aren’t you going to shake me?” Zhu Zhixi asked, looking up.

Since he had already lifted his face, Fu Rangyi took the opportunity to kiss his forehead. His hand also moved up to pinch his cheek. “Shake what? You’re covered in my scent now.”

After speaking, he quickly withdrew his hand and pushed the shopping cart forward with one hand. Zhu Zhixi laughed and caught up with Fu Rangyi.

The two called a car to go back to Zhu Zhixi’s family home, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in the back seat for a change. The car swayed. Zhu Zhixi lowered his head, opened the notes app on his phone, edited some things, and deleted others. Suddenly, a weight fell on his shoulder. Turning his head, he found that Fu Rangyi had actually fallen asleep against him.

Was the hospital bed uncomfortable? Didn’t he sleep well? Zhu Zhixi’s heart ached. He reached out to touch his face, then lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on his slung arm. After thinking for a moment, he took a pen from his bag and carefully began to draw on the cast.

The tree he drew was very obvious, but Fu Rangyi didn’t notice it until he was in the kitchen, starting to cook the first dish.

He had been rolling up Zhu Zhixi’s sleeves. He’d done one, then suddenly froze, tilted his head, and his gaze shifted to his own right arm.

“What is this?” Fu Rangyi asked.

“A cypress tree,” Zhu Zhixi said, tilting his head just like him.

Fu Rangyi murmured, “Cypress…” He looked at Zhu Zhixi. “The other hand.”

“You’re not even going to praise my drawing?” Zhu Zhixi held out his hand to him.

Fu Rangyi was dazed for a moment. “It’s beautiful, a very good drawing.” Disabled but determined, he rolled up his sleeve with one hand and even helped him put on an apron.

Ten minutes later, he was finally fully awake and switched to strict teaching mode, acting as the stabilizing force in Zhu Zhixi’s chaotic kitchen games. He personally tasted every seasoning until it reached an edible standard.

The meat was simmering in the pot. Fu Rangyi stirred it with a spoon and suddenly said, “I forgot to buy basil.”

“Basil?” Zhu Zhixi thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up. “We grow it at home!”

Fu Rangyi was very surprised. “You grow it?”

“In the backyard. There’s a small patch of land specifically for growing all kinds of herbs. My dad said my mom had it planted before.”

The back door of the western-style kitchen led directly to the backyard. Pushing open the glass door, the two of them went into the yard to look for basil.

“Turn right, the patch surrounded by the small blue fence.”

The afternoon light filled the gaps between the leaves and branches. Zhu Zhixi was clearly the one familiar with the path, yet he deliberately followed behind Fu Rangyi.

Walking through the small grove, he looked up and found that with every step forward, the light was different, appearing and disappearing, flickering as if it were a person’s long breath. Looking down, the soft grass was marked with clear footprints. He carefully placed each step into Fu Rangyi’s footprints, as if tracing a precious work of art.

The aroma of steaming rice, the tartness of tomatoes and lemons, translucent tender leaves, the chirping of insects, floating dust motes, clouds, the smell of grass, his lover’s hand reaching back without turning around.

He suddenly discovered that the “feeling of being alive” was so specific, so clear. Modern people were busy and mundane. Everyone was alive—that was obvious—but how many could be aware of it, could feel it?

In that moment, Zhu Zhixi felt so lucky. He could. His heart was beating forcefully, and every pore enjoyed the gentle caress of the wind. Even the countdown he detested and feared now seemed like life’s metronome.

Tick-tock, tick-tock–

This terrible mistake had unexpectedly given him a superpower, a heightened sense of all five senses. The whole world condensed into a piece of cake for him to savor.

Fu Rangyi suddenly stopped and turned back. A small, light pink flower had appeared in his hand at some point. He tucked the flower behind Zhu Zhixi’s ear and said with a smile, “It suits you.”

“What kind of flower is this?” Zhu Zhixi asked.

Fu Rangyi clearly didn’t know. He was not familiar with flowers and plants at all. After a few seconds, he replied faintly, “A flower that looks very beautiful on Zhu Zhixi.”

The strawberry on the cake was Fu Rangyi’s heart. Zhu Zhixi tasted a sour and bitter flavor.

“Then take a picture of me and my flower.”

Fu Rangyi did as he was told, taking out his phone. He was so serious it was almost funny. In the photo, Zhu Zhixi was smiling with his eyes closed and face tilted up, his teeth round and shiny, his cheeks soaked in sunlight, as full and bright as the flower.

After Zhu Zhixi checked it, he quietly placed the photo into an album named “Rabbit.” Not long ago, Li Qiao had complained about this album: for a name like that, there wasn’t a single real rabbit in it.

A real rabbit wouldn’t be this cute.

By the time they found the basil, the sun was about to set, a red orb hanging in the pink and purple sky. With their backs to the sun, the two returned to the house and finished cooking the remaining dishes.

Zhu Yu and Zhu Zeran, who were always too busy to come home, were surprisingly proactive this time, returning more than ten minutes early.

Zhu Zeran, who never set foot in the kitchen, washed his hands and helped serve the dishes as soon as he got back, joking, “You have no idea, Dad heard you were cooking and was rushing so much, Lao Wang almost floored the accelerator.”

Zhu Yu also came in. “Who said that? We were driving civilly. Don’t listen to your brother’s nonsense.”

“Lao Zhu, you dare swear you weren’t rushing? Who was it that said, ‘My baby is cooking for the first time, drive faster or the food will get cold’?”

Fu Rangyi was amused and looked at Zhu Zhixi, only to find him turned away, pretending to get a bowl, secretly wiping the corner of his eye.

He didn’t expose him. With some effort, he untied his apron strings with one hand and then patted his back.

The meal was joyful. The father and son duo made exaggerated exclamations with every dish they ate, pointing their chopsticks at the plates in mid-air, their eyes wide, as if they were about to ask, “What did you put in this?”

Zhu Zhixi thought they were being too dramatic, especially after he tasted the food himself. “Oh no, I salted these scrambled eggs twice.”

“It’s just right,” Zhu Zeran said.

Zhu Yu also nodded repeatedly. “It would have been a bit bland with just one salting. This is perfect. My baby is so smart. Very talented.”

Zhu Zeran looked speechless. “You’re overdoing it, Lao Zhu.”

“You shut up. Learn from your brother. You’ve never even been in the kitchen. Tell me, what can you cook? You can’t even boil noodles properly.”

Zhu Zeran muttered, “I can cook dumplings…”

“Cook them for a ghost?” Zhu Zhixi deliberately provoked. “I haven’t even seen a bowl of dumpling soup from you.”

Fu Rangyi, sitting beside him, had been quietly watching them bicker. He suddenly felt like laughing, and so he did.

Zhu Yu immediately said, “See, even Rangyi is laughing at you.”

“Fine, fine, I’m the family joke,” Zhu Zeran surrendered.

For the first time, Fu Rangyi discovered what it felt like to have a meal at home. No one talked about annoying topics, there was no invisible pressure or urging, and everyone remembered what he didn’t like to eat.

Most importantly, the person he loved most would laugh and laugh until he leaned on his shoulder, then suddenly sit up because of his injury and touch his arm. Startled and jumpy, he was very cute.

After dinner, Zhu Zhixi hid in his room. Fu Rangyi understood his mood and deliberately stayed in the living room to talk with Father Zhu. After half an hour, he went up to the second floor and knocked on the door.

“Just a minute!”

After a while, Zhu Zhixi opened the door. Fu Rangyi immediately saw the tripod set up on the desk, with a phone on it.

Was he recording a video for his father and brother?

“You’re here,” Zhu Zhixi looked up at him, his eyes red, looking even more like a rabbit.

Fu Rangyi touched the corner of his eye. “Are we staying here tonight?”

“No,” Zhu Zhixi shook his head. “I have to be at the exhibition early tomorrow morning, and some of the prepared pamphlets are still at home.” As he spoke, he dragged out a large box. “This needs to be taken back too.”

“What’s this?” Fu Rangyi was curious.

“This is…” Zhu Zhixi said mysteriously, “A soothing toy.”

Fu Rangyi had a gut feeling this had something to do with him, but Zhu Zhixi was determined not to reveal more, and he had no way to get the truth out of him. Besides, he had his own mission now and had to keep it from Zhu Zhixi tonight.

Fortunately, this meal seemed to have truly drained all the energy from the little electric rabbit. As soon as they got home, Zhu Zhixi was so tired he fell asleep on the sofa. In the end, it was Fu Rangyi who carried him back to the room.

He tidied up Zhu Zhixi’s room, lit a calming aromatherapy incense, closed the door, and went to the study with Snowball. He emptied the contents of his bag, took inventory, and then continued with the unfinished part.

Thankfully, my fingers aren’t injured. It’s a bit awkward, but it doesn’t affect much. That’s what Fu Rangyi thought at the time.

However, the next day, the soreness in his shoulder belatedly reported for duty.

He also used the excuse of being late. “I have some last-minute work. You go first, I’ll take a taxi over later.”

“Alright, then be quick, and remember to bring our Snowball.” Zhu Zhixi was anxious about the exhibition opening. He took off his pajamas, threw on a blue coat, kissed his cheek, and left the house, driving to the museum.

As he took the elevator to the first floor, he was extremely nervous. He didn’t know what he would face next. Perhaps because he had worked here for two months, Zhu Zhixi had developed a deep affection for this museum. Or perhaps, this building that housed ancient artifacts, like him, faced a very possible fate of disappearing, which is why he felt such empathy.

The first floor arrived.

The elevator doors opened outwards. Zhu Zhixi looked up and was stunned.

Thinking he had misread the time, he looked down at his watch. “Isn’t it… just starting?” How are there so many people lining up?

Baffled, he walked out of the elevator, looking around. The crowd grew denser, and every face was filled with anticipation and joy. He was surrounded by this emotion.

“Zhixi.”

He heard Zhou Ming’s voice. Turning his head, he saw a smiling Zhou Ming. He walked over and said, “You didn’t answer when I called you after you left yesterday. The reservations for today were already full by yesterday afternoon.”

“Really?” Zhu Zhixi was overjoyed. “No wonder there are so many people…” He breathed a sigh of relief. “I was worried no one would come, I didn’t even dare to look at the reservation page.”

“It’s because you put in so much effort, and the promotion was also done very well,” Zhou Ming lamented. “If this really is the closing exhibition, it’s a very, very perfect one.”

As the curator, Zhu Zhixi moved through the crowd of visitors like a nervous little fish. He secretly listened to people’s conversations, and when needed, he would kindly help them, explaining and giving reminders.

Two little girls stood in front of an installation, whispering, “Can we really touch this?”

“I don’t know.”

“You can touch it,” Zhu Zhixi went over with a smile. “These are pottery shards we borrowed from the archaeology team. They are real excavated fragments.”

“Wow.” The two girls took turns touching them, their faces showing expressions of delighted surprise. “How old are these?”

Zhu Zhixi recalled what Fu Rangyi had said at the time. “Um… over six hundred years old.”

He had just finished speaking when his sleeve was tugged. Looking down, he saw a small child.

“Big brother, I want to touch it too.”

“No problem, big brother will hold you so you can touch it.” Zhu Zhixi picked up the child. “Did you touch it?”

Suddenly, his shoulder was patted from behind. He thought it was someone else who wanted to touch it, thinking this little segment was surprisingly popular and that he should have made more.

“Just a moment, one at a time,” he said, turning his head, only to be stunned. The person who patted his back was a strange auntie. She was holding a small bamboo stick with a transparent fish line hanging from the top. At the end of the line was a snow-white origami butterfly.

“Are you Xiao Zhu?” the auntie asked.

“Yes,” Zhu Zhixi nodded.

The auntie smiled gently and handed him the bamboo stick. “You’ve done a really good job. I love this exhibition. This is for you.”

Zhu Zhixi was a bit overwhelmed. He put down the child and received it with both hands. “Thank you… ma’am…” Before he could finish, the auntie had already left.

Strange.

Zhu Zhixi walked forward a bit, wanting to see if there were any other visitors who needed help. But not long after, two middle school students in school uniforms came running up energetically and each stuffed an identical paper butterfly into his hand.

“Big brother, you’re amazing! So many of the setups here are so interesting, not boring at all.”

“Yeah, this is the most fun cultural relics exhibition I’ve ever been to. I told my classmates, and they’re going to make reservations for tomorrow!”

“Thank you…”

Zhu Zhixi was bewildered, staring at the three identical butterflies in his hand.

These butterflies seemed to be multiplying like they were undergoing mitosis. Zhu Zhixi walked around the first floor, heard more than a dozen people call him “Xiao Zhu,” praise him, and give him butterflies.

Holding a handful of bamboo sticks, Zhu Zhixi was completely confused. Have I entered some kind of weird rule-based horror story?

Suddenly, his phone vibrated. It was a call from Fu Rangyi.

“Are you here?” Zhu Zhixi asked immediately after answering.

“Mhm, just arrived. The traffic was bad. Where are you?”

“I’m on the first floor, right by…” Zhu Zhixi turned his head and looked at the nearest display case. “…right by this big bronze cauldron. You remember it, right?”

However, Fu Rangyi said, “Really? I’m near here too. Why don’t I see you?”

“You don’t?” Zhu Zhixi was surprised and spun around looking for him. Afraid he wouldn’t be found in the crowd, he even jumped a few times, shaking the fresh collection in his hand. “See me? I have a whole handful of butterflies!”

“Mhm, I see it,” the voice on the other end of the line was low, with a hint of an unnoticeable smile.

“But I only see one butterfly, a blue one, and it’s still bouncing.”