UNCLTRD chapter 52

“No omega with a tobacco-scented pheromone?” Chen Qiusu rubbed his forehead, finding it hard to believe. He was certain he hadn’t mistaken the scent of the other person’s pheromones—it was so distinctive.

Not only that, but Chen Qiusu had checked the surveillance footage. Unfortunately, when he had taken the omega out that night, he had covered their head with his coat. When the omega left, they avoided the hotel elevators altogether, completely evading the cameras. There was no trace of them to be found.

Just then, the nightclub manager received a phone call. He quickly apologized to Chen Qiusu, got up, and walked to the window to answer, “Yang Shao? Where the hell have you been? Do you know how busy we’ve been these past few days? Say goodbye to your perfect attendance bonus this month!”

Out of the corner of his eye, the manager glanced at Chen Qiusu. He vaguely remembered Yang Shao being the one assigned to handle Chen Qiusu’s private room. “Do you remember the night a few days ago—”

Before he could finish his sentence, something seemed to trigger Yang Shao. Suddenly, Yang Shao interrupted, “I quit.”

“Quit?!” The manager momentarily forgot Chen Qiusu’s presence, bursting with anger. “Fine, you said it yourself! Finish collecting your wages and get out!”

After abruptly hanging up, the manager was still fuming. He muttered a few complaints about Yang Shao, saying that for someone with no money, he had quite the temper. If he couldn’t handle the pressure, why bother working in this industry? The nightclub wasn’t lacking staff—what difference did losing one beta waiter make?

“Apologies, sir.” The manager regained his composure. Even though Chen Qiusu hadn’t explicitly identified himself, the manager could tell he was someone wealthy and influential. He had seen countless alphas come to the club looking for omegas, and this situation was no different. It was the same story of a fleeting night’s encounter leaving someone longing for more. “How about this? I’ll keep an eye out for you. If I find that person, I’ll contact you immediately.”

But after waiting for half a year, there was no news. Eventually, even that nightclub shut down, and with it, Chen Qiusu lost the last thread of connection to that omega.

Chen Qiusu had always believed that sex without love was nothing more than a primal act of desire. Yet, the matter of that omega remained a knot in his heart.

Late at night, when everything was quiet, Chen Qiusu would unconsciously think of him. During his heat, he would desperately try to recall the faint scent of tobacco lingering in his memory.

…..

“Stop it!” Yang Shao scolded, balancing on a chair to change the bathroom light bulb. As soon as he climbed up, the little one in his belly began to stir. Supporting himself against the wall, he stood still for a moment, waiting for the restlessness to subside before continuing his task.

After replacing the bulb, Yang Shao clumsily climbed down from the chair and went to wash his hands at the sink. Looking at himself in the mirror, he had come to terms with his pregnant appearance and accepted the little one inside him.

He thought back to the day he first got the prenatal checkup report—it had felt like a thunderclap out of nowhere. For days, he had been lethargic, nauseated, and gaining weight, especially in his belly. At first, he hadn’t paid much attention, assuming it was just some ordinary illness. He hadn’t even thought of visiting the obstetrics department until, while using the restroom, he encountered an omega accompanied by an alpha for a prenatal checkup.

“How many months are you?” the omega asked as their partner helped them sit on a bench in the hallway. With modern medical advancements, betas getting pregnant wasn’t uncommon, so the omega treated it as an opportunity to exchange experiences.

Yang Shao stared blankly at the omega. “What?”

“The baby. How many months along?” The omega glanced around and noticed Yang Shao was alone. “Are you here for the checkup by yourself? You look pretty far along—five or six months, maybe?”

Yang Shao’s mind buzzed. Memories from five or six months ago flashed through his mind like a carousel. Swallowing nervously, he ignored the omega’s questions and quickly went to re-register.

The doctor could tell from Yang Shao’s shocked expression that the news was unexpected. But for a beta to conceive, medical intervention was required, so the doctor assumed Yang Shao should have known.

“Do you not want this child?” the doctor asked.

The first thought that came to Yang Shao’s mind was, of course not. Living alone, barely scraping by, how could he raise a child—let alone one fathered by that alpha?

The doctor, unaware of Yang Shao’s circumstances, could tell he didn’t want the baby. “The child is already quite developed. To have an abortion, you’ll need approval from the relevant authorities. Most importantly, the procedure will cause significant harm to your body.”

The doctor suggested Yang Shao think it through carefully. If he decided not to keep the baby, he needed to return for a checkup and schedule the procedure soon.

What kind of cruel joke was this? How could this have happened?

Should he track down the alpha? But he didn’t even know the man’s name or where he lived. Besides, that night was already a shameful memory. How could he lower himself to confront him?

No, this child couldn’t stay.

Leaving the hospital, Yang Shao felt dazed, like he was floating through a fog. He boarded the bus home, staring blankly at the gloomy sky outside. The unfamiliar scenery passing by only deepened his disorientation. When the bus reached the last stop, the driver called out, “Where are you getting off? This is the end of the line!”

Snapping out of his trance, Yang Shao realized he had missed his stop. By the time he got home, it was already dark.

After tidying his rented room out of habit, hunger crept in, but he had no appetite. Sitting on the sofa to rest, he instinctively reached for a cigarette. He placed it in his mouth, but as he lit the lighter, he hesitated.

Even though he had decided not to keep the child, the thought of smoking affecting the baby still crossed his mind.

Lately, his smoking had decreased due to the pregnancy symptoms. Still, who could guarantee he wouldn’t harm the baby?

No!

Startled by his own thoughts, Yang Shao reminded himself he didn’t want this child. Why would he care about its health?

Resolute, he pressed the lighter. At that moment, his belly churned.

“Ugh.” Yang Shao set the lighter down on the sofa armrest and lifted his shirt, staring at his abdomen. Out of curiosity, he lightly pressed the bulging area with his finger, and the little one inside calmed down immediately.

Did he just touch its hand? Or its foot? Or maybe its head?

Life was such a miraculous thing. Thinking about how “it” was already forming inside him, ready to become a complete person, Yang Shao felt an inexplicable fullness in his chest.

Placing his hand over his belly, he wondered: Is it a boy or a girl? Would it become an alpha, an omega, or a beta like him?

Would it want to see this world?

Maybe… he should let it stay.