Chapter 39

Ruan Tang sat in the director’s office at the First Research Institute, drinking coffee.

The director was an Alpha over two hundred years old. In all the years of the First Research Institute, this had never happened before. He pushed up his glasses and looked at Ruan Tang with eyes full of guilt.

After getting married, Ruan Tang had changed greatly compared to before. The director couldn’t quite pinpoint exactly what the change was—

But it was that his entire aura had become more vivid, and his exceptionally handsome face had become more lively and prominent, so that people couldn’t look away at first sight.

“I’m sorry, Researcher Ruan. In all the long years since the First Research Institute was founded, nothing like this has ever happened… On behalf of everyone at the First Research Institute, I extend my sincere apologies to you.” The elderly director formally apologized to Ruan Tang in front of all the senior management.

All the senior management of the First Research Institute had been following the events of the past two days. After the director spoke, they all cast apologetic looks at Ruan Tang and said, “We’re sorry, Dr. Ruan, we misunderstood you. We apologize to you.”

Although Ruan Tang had not been expelled from the First Research Institute at the time, he had chosen to resign because, after the incident with Ruan Xi, he could no longer bear the gossip and the work environment where everyone was talking about him.

And after he submitted his resignation, the upper management had not made any effort to retain him, as was customary…

This apology was something they owed Ruan Tang, no matter what.

Ruan Tang appeared composed, speaking gently to everyone: “It’s all right. At the time, I volunteered to resign. Since Ruan Xi did such a thing, without any evidence back then, I couldn’t expect everyone to believe me. I can’t blame everyone.”

But inside, his mind was churning. After he and Ruan Xi had made a big scene at the institute, although no one said anything to his face, in reality everyone believed Ruan Xi. They pointed fingers at him in private, and even many colleagues watched him with wary, vigilant expressions, afraid that he would repeat what he had done to Ruan Xi on them.

At the time, Ruan Tang had felt forced, with no other options, and so chose to resign. But he had held it all in, treating the matter as if nothing had happened.

Over time, he had come to believe he no longer cared.

Until the truth of what had happened came to light, and the director personally called him, hoping he would come to accept the First Research Institute’s formal apology.

Ruan Tang had immediately agreed to come and accept the apology. It was only then that he realized that deep down, he still felt wronged, that he still cared about this matter.

Hearing this apology, at this moment Ruan Tang felt that the grievances he had suffered in the past could truly be dispelled, fade away…

The entire office was silent. Seeing Ruan Tang so understanding, everyone present hung their heads in shame. This included Lu Yang, who had once asked Ruan Tang to elope but was rejected, and had never contacted Ruan Tang since, spreading rumors like everyone else. And many others who had previously followed the crowd, spreading rumors about Ruan Tang, calling him a black lotus.

Just because they had a good relationship with Ruan Xi, without understanding the situation between Ruan Tang and Ruan Xi at all, they had spread rumors and judged others with the worst intentions. It was truly excessive.

They were unworthy of being the most rigorous researchers.

“Dr. Ruan, if you are willing, everyone at the First Research Institute welcomes you back to work at any time.” The director looked at Ruan Tang and extended a warm invitation.

Ruan Tang looked at the director, but gently shook his head: “Thank you, Director, but it’s not necessary.”

Everyone looked at Ruan Tang as if they thought he was crazy. The First Research Institute was the holy grail of all researchers in the Empire. Ruan Tang had been forced to leave because of Ruan Xi.

Now that the truth was out and the senior management had apologized, why wouldn’t he come back?

Even if he was married and was a duchess consort, being able to say he worked at the First Research Institute was still an immense honor.

A former leader from the institute who had a decent relationship with him immediately advised: “Dr. Ruan, you need to think this through. The First Research Institute is not easy to get into. You shouldn’t let what happened with Ruan Xi ruin your own future.”

The First Research Institute was the empire’s top research institution. As long as Ruan Tang was still in this field and planned to stay in it, what workplace could be better than this?

“That’s right, Ruan Tang.” Wen Run also chimed in with advice.

Ruan Tang took in everyone’s gazes. He knew in his heart that this apology from the First Research Institute and the invitation to return had probably a lot to do with Wen Run, but he did not look at Wen Run.

He looked at his former leader and said softly: “Thank you all for your kind intentions, but I truly do not plan to come back.”

Back then, he had worked very hard to get into the First Research Institute. He had once hoped to spread his wings and fulfill his ambitions here. His determination and perseverance in getting in had been very strong.

And at the time he chose to leave, his determination and perseverance were also very strong…

An arrow shot cannot be turned back.

When he chose to leave himself, he never thought about coming back. Even with the passage of time and the truth revealed, it was the same. He came here only for an apology.

“In that case, I won’t persuade you further. But remember, Dr. Ruan… as long as you want to come back in the future, the doors of the First Research Institute will always be open for you.” The old director, seeing Ruan Tang’s resolve, sighed and gave him a promise that he could return anytime.

Ruan Tang smiled, appreciating the director’s kindness: “Thank you, Director.”

Surrounded and guiltily seen off by his former colleagues and leaders, Ruan Tang left the First Research Institute content, filled with inner peace and calm.

He felt that this time, he could truly let go of all this and step into a new chapter of life.

......

Ruan Tang hadn’t walked far from the First Research Institute when someone suddenly appeared and blocked his path.

It was Zhou Yao. Ruan Tang couldn’t remember how long it had been since he last saw this irritating ex, and he had no idea why he was appearing in front of him now.

Zhou Yao had likely drunk a lot; the smell of alcohol emanated faintly from him.

“Ruan Tang, why can’t you just let Xiao Xi go?” Zhou Yao began, the same relentless accusation as always: “You’ve already driven him to the hospital. How much further will you push before you stop?”

After Ruan Tang got married, Zhou Yao had not been doing well. He couldn’t help but think of Ruan Tang, recalling their past together.

Ruan Tang was obviously such a vicious and detestable Omega, but he just couldn’t forget him.

Whenever he let his guard down, he would think of him. So, to make himself forget and not think about him, Zhou Yao had recently been drowning himself in alcohol, living in a drunken stupor…

He knew absolutely nothing about the recent events between Ruan Tang and Ruan Xi.

When he received a call from Ruan Xi, who tearfully complained about how Ruan Tang had framed him, wouldn’t let him go, and ruined his reputation,

Zhou Yao was almost ecstatic. He didn’t even bother to comfort Ruan Xi, rushing over immediately to confront Ruan Tang and stand up for Ruan Xi.

Unwilling as he was to admit it, he had to acknowledge that upon learning that Ruan Tang had done something to Ruan Xi again, an irrepressible, inexpressible excitement and joy surged within him.

He hadn’t seen Ruan Tang in far too long.

He wanted to see him, even if it meant arguing with him, exchanging a few sharp words.

But he had never had a reason or excuse to seek Ruan Tang out, and now Ruan Xi had delivered a ready-made one to his doorstep.

Zhou Yao didn’t even want to clarify the details; he just charged straight over, all at once.

“Zhou Yao, I’ll tell you one last time: it’s Ruan Xi who won’t let me go, not me who won’t let him go.” Ruan Tang had been through such scenes too many times; he was no longer perturbed. “Don’t appear before me anymore, and don’t say these nonsensical things to me again… I don’t want to see you anymore.”

Hearing the same words to the point of boredom, to the point of fatigue, saying them to the point of weariness, often leads to hating the person as well.

With that, Ruan Tang turned and left without looking back…

But Zhou Yao seemed truly drunk. Seeing Ruan Tang about to leave, he staggered forward and instinctively grabbed Ruan Tang’s wrist like a stubborn dog, refusing to let go, unwilling to let him leave, whimpering: “Why? Why are you like this? Why can’t you just let Xiao Xi go?”

Ruan Tang hadn’t expected him to grab him. He frowned, struggled for a long time but couldn’t break free, and yelled at Zhou Yao: “Zhou Yao, you fucking lunatic!”

He had no idea what Zhou Yao was going on about.

The more he struggled, the more Zhou Yao held onto his arm, unwilling to let him move. Zhou Yao was strong and an Alpha; in a standoff, Ruan Tang was no match for him.

In the past, although his words were unpleasant, he had at least some gentlemanly manners; he had never laid hands on Ruan Tang.

But this time, he was drunk, his mind completely unclear, fully immersed in his own world, completely ignoring Ruan Tang’s struggles, and simply subdued him…

“It’s all your fault, all your fault! Why did you always target Xiao Xi? If you hadn’t repeatedly targeted Xiao Xi, we would have gotten married…” He sobbed, lost in his own world, crying out loud: “We would have gotten married, we would have been so happy.”

Zhou Yao’s eyes were bloodshot, his mind dazed: “How did it come to this? How did it come to this?”

Although he thought he didn’t love Ruan Tang, he had always planned to marry him. Breaking off the engagement was just a way to teach Ruan Tang a lesson, to make him stop targeting Xiao Xi…

But how had it turned out like this?

He had originally just been sulking with Ruan Tang, and then suddenly Ruan Tang married someone else, and suddenly they became two parallel lines, with no connection at all anymore.

Recalling the sweet times they had once shared, Zhou Yao couldn’t accept the current situation, and didn’t know how it had come to this.

He could only blame all the errors on Ruan Tang. If Ruan Tang hadn’t targeted Ruan Xi, then none of this would have happened, and they wouldn’t have separated…

It was all Ruan Tang’s fault, all Ruan Tang’s fault.

“Zhou Yao, you’re overthinking it.” Ruan Tang listened to his twisted logic and let out a cold laugh: “With you being like this, not to mention that I couldn’t possibly marry you; even if we did marry, I would divorce you… We could never have been happy.”

There cannot be the slightest place for Ruan Xi in his Alpha’s heart. That was his bottom line.

Hearing his words, the light in Zhou Yao’s eyes faded, and his mind grew even more confused.

“Let go, let go of me right now! I don’t want to see you anymore!” Ruan Tang scolded him coldly.

But Zhou Yao seemed completely lost in his own world, unable to hear anything. He grabbed Ruan Tang and tried to pull him into his arms, muttering repeatedly: “Why? Why do you have to be like this?”

But before he could pull Ruan Tang completely into his arms, someone grabbed him from behind and yanked him away, slamming the reeking drunk onto the ground.

“Zhou Yao, what do you think you’re doing? As an Alpha, putting your hands on an Omega is a disgusting act! Why aren’t you guarding your precious Ruan Xi? What are you coming to Ruan Tang for?” Wen Run had appeared at some point, scolding Zhou Yao, who lay like a dead dog.

Ruan Tang, seeing Wen Run, breathed a sigh of relief: “Wen Run.”

Towards this former friend who might or might not be his nephew, Ruan Tang’s feelings were quite complicated, but he knew the other’s combat ability was much stronger than his own.

“Wen Run? Why are you here? What business is it of yours?” Zhou Yao suddenly flew into a rage upon seeing Wen Run: “Weren’t you on the same side as me, abhorring Ruan Tang’s actions? What, now that you know you’re Ruan Tang’s nephew, you’re going to protect him and help him frame Xiao Xi?”

He loudly accused Wen Run: “Don’t you remember our past friendship and how good Xiao Xi was to you?”

He was very jealous of Wen Run. He had been jealous even back when he was with Ruan Tang. The relationship between Ruan Tang and Wen Run, in Zhou Yao’s eyes, was almost abnormally close.

He had always felt that Wen Run had some feelings for Ruan Tang, but he never voiced it… Later, when Wen Run, in his great righteousness, helped Ruan Xi and stood against Ruan Tang, he never brought it up again.

Now, seeing Wen Run, who was clearly on their side and hated by Ruan Tang, but because of a nephew identity, he had returned to Ruan Tang’s side, and Ruan Tang was so cordial to him.

Zhou Yao became even more jealous.

He was so jealous he almost contorted with envy.

“What I do and what I’ve done has nothing to do with you! You laid hands on an Omega, and today I’m going to show you what I’m made of.” Wen Run was also furious. Normally, he was not as strong as Zhou Yao, but today Zhou Yao was drunk. He pulled Zhou Yao back and landed a punch directly.

The connections between him, Shen Mozhi, and Zhou Yao were first because of Ruan Tang, then because of Ruan Xi… Actually, their relationship wasn’t particularly deep.

Now that he had returned through rebirth and seen Ruan Xi’s true face…

Seeing that the former fiancé who had betrayed Ruan Tang in the previous life still dared to be so arrogant and harass Ruan Tang, Wen Run immediately lost his composure.

Recalling Ruan Tang’s fate in the previous life, Wen Run deeply hated himself, but he also hated these two who should have been on Ruan Tang’s side but betrayed him and stabbed him in the heart.

They had jointly caused Ruan Tang’s ending in the previous life.

Neither them nor himself — Wen Run planned to forgive none.

In this life, he had come only to repay his debts, to return everything he owed Ruan Tang…

Zhou Yao staggered back from the punch. Regaining his senses, he immediately threw a hook at Wen Run.

Ruan Tang watched them brawling, still entangled in those issues that bothered him. He frowned and without looking back, turned and left.

He had intended to speak alone with Wen Run, but it was clearly not a good moment.

......

Zhou Yao was reborn when he woke up in the hospital, his face bruised and swollen. Seeing the hospital ceiling that dated from before the Imperial Capital Star had been breached, and his manservant who had long since passed away, he was completely dumbfounded.

“Young master, young master…” His manservant, who had been dead for years, kept calling him by his ear.

Zhou Yao was in utter disbelief. He asked his manservant: “What year is it in the interstellar calendar?”

“It’s the year 712 in the interstellar calendar.” Tim looked at his young master, baffled, as if unable to understand why he would ask such a strange question.

Zhou Yao murmured the year, then fell into deep thought: “Interstellar year 712.”

He hadn’t expected to be reborn, to actually come back…

Looking back on his life, his greatest regret was that he was deceived by Ruan Xi, unable to distinguish truth from falsehood, misunderstanding Ruan Tang and creating such a rift with him. It wasn’t until it was too late, when there was no turning back, that he saw Ruan Xi’s true face and realized that the person he truly loved had always been Ruan Tang. How laughable that he had never seen it before, that he had been helping the villain betray and hurt his most beloved Omega…

After that, he had tried every way to make amends, to win Ruan Tang back, but the damage was done. No matter how he begged, Ruan Tang never looked back for his entire life.

Later, as the Imperial Capital Star was about to fall, he went to Ruan Tang to persuade him to come with him, but Ruan Tang refused. The next day, when he went to look for Ruan Tang again, Ruan Tang had disappeared…

Zhou Yao never married for the rest of his life, spending his entire life searching for Ruan Tang, but finding no trace.

This was his greatest regret in his entire long life. On his deathbed, Zhou Yao was fixated on wanting to see Ruan Tang one more time, and vowed in his heart that if there was a next life, he would cherish and make it up to Ruan Tang, and live well with him…

And never again do the foolish things he had done that led to such regret in the past life.

Zhou Yao had thought that could only be his wishful thinking, but he never expected that heaven had heard his inner call and truly granted his wish by letting him return.

In the interstellar year 712, he and Ruan Tang should have just broken off their engagement not long ago. The greatest harm and rift had not yet occurred. He should still have a chance to win Ruan Tang back, treat him well, and repay everything he owed him…

“Where is Ruan Tang? Where is Ruan Tang? Where is Ruan Tang? I need to see him!” With this thought, Zhou Yao was ecstatic. Without caring about the pain in his body or even thinking about how he had been injured that year, he was eager to go see Ruan Tang.

To see the one who lived in his heart, whom he could only search for in his memories, the one who haunted his dreams and kept him suffering heart-wrenching regret every moment, wanting to see but never being able to see for the rest of his life.