The Fake Son Wants to Live [BL]

Chapter 170: Chapter 170 - A meeting

”Mates aren’t even a human concept. We don’t mate, we make love,” Li Wang grumbled, arms crossed tightly over his chest as he trudged behind Jian, his voice heavy with disdain.

His footsteps were just a bit louder than necessary, deliberately so. He wasn’t trying to be quiet. Jian, who was walking ahead, felt the tension building like a headache behind his eyes. Again.

Xing Yu, a step ahead of Li Wang, spun around with a sharp glare. ”You humans don’t even understand the concept of loyalty within your own kind. What do you know?” His tone snapped like a whip. ”We Farians mate for life. We never—never—give up our other half.”

His brows were pulled together in an irritated frown, the silver tint in his eyes gleaming slightly in the light. His shoulders tense as he stalked foward.

Li Wang didn’t back down. ”So what? You’re an alien,” he shot back flatly. ”He’s human.”

”He is Farain!” Xing Yu snapped, voice rising in defense.

”No, he is not,” Li Wang countered coldly, his gaze piercing.

”You saw him bleed gold, and yet you refuse to accept it. I don’t know whether to call you a fool or a brainless twit.”

Li wang stopped walking altogether. He scoffed in disbelief, spinning fully to face him. ”What did you just call me!?”

”I said—” Li Wang stepped forward, voice rising, ”—you’re a brainless twit!”

Their voices were starting to echo, drawing attention from the empty hallways. The tension between them flared like fire catching on dry wood.

Jian, who had been walking several paces ahead, clenched his jaw. His temples throbbed, the low, persistent pain of his headaches getting worse. He’d been grinding through it for hours—days, even—and these two throwing tantrums behind him like schoolboys wasn’t helping his patience.

His eyebrows twitched.

He stopped dead in his tracks.

”Can both of you be silent for a while!?” Jian suddenly barked, his voice booming down the corridor.

The sharpness of it sliced clean through the air.

Both Xing Yu and Li Wang immediately clamped their mouths shut. They looked at the ground like two scolded children caught misbehaving in front of a parent. Neither spoke. Neither looked at each other.

Jian sighed and pressed his fingers to his temple, rubbing slow circles. His head felt like it was being squeezed in a vice.

Seeing him rub his forehead with a pained expression, Xing Yu stepped forward almost immediately, his concern overtaking any residual annoyance from the earlier argument. His voice softened.

”Do you feel any pain?” he asked quietly, reaching out with one hand to gently touch Jian’s head, fingers just barely brushing his temple.

Jian instinctively backed away with a small flinch, frowning deeply. The touch, even though light, felt intrusive right now.

”Just be quiet for a while,” he muttered, his tone strained, more tired than angry.

He bent down without another word and carefully lifted Quangya—still unconscious or sleeping—onto his back. The boy barely stirred, limp against Jian’s shoulders, his weight surprisingly easy to carry given the strength Jian hadn’t quite come to terms with yet.

Without waiting for a reply, Jian started to walk again, boots crunching against the dusty concrete floor.

”Jian...” Xing Yu’s voice followed him, softer now, almost pleading. ”Tell me if you’re in pain. Please...”

Jian didn’t stop walking. He didn’t turn around either, but his steps slowed just a little. He glanced back at Xing Yu from over his shoulder, eyes tired and unreadable.

”What can you do, huh?” he asked quietly.

There was no venom in his voice—just exhaustion.

Xing Yu smiled faintly, and though it was small, it was genuine. ”I can help remove that pain,” he said.

Then his gaze slid past Jian, deliberately locking onto Li Wang, as if to say the real pain came from that direction. His meaning wasn’t subtle.

Jian saw it and let out a soft, tired sigh. He looked away and shook his head slightly.

”I don’t have a problem,” he muttered under his breath. ”Just... just try to be quiet if you guys are going to follow me.”

Jian’s headache was pulsing steadily now, like a heartbeat behind his eyes. It had been nearly two days—two full days of fighting, searching, thinking—and he still hadn’t found his grandfather.

It was starting to eat at him.

He was getting antsy now. More than that—he was starting to worry something had gone really wrong.

”Brother...” Quangya’s small voice whispered against Jian’s neck. It was soft, like he could feel Jian’s unease even in his sleepiness. The boy’s little arms wrapped tighter around him. ”Do you have a headache?”

Jian didn’t answer at first. Then he felt Quangya’s tiny fingers reach up and gently touch his forehead, making slow, careful circles with his palm.

”Mom said it helps,” Quangya murmured, his breath warm against Jian’s cheek. ”Did it go away?”

Jian smiled, something real and tender crossing his tired expression. The boy’s small gesture, so innocent and sincere, broke through some of the heavy cloud in his mind. He turned his head slightly and kissed Quangya’s hand.

”Yes,” he said softly. ”It’s gone now.”

”Yeah~” Quangya giggled, bouncing a little on Jian’s back in celebration.

”Careful—ow.” Jian chuckled and tightened his hold so the boy wouldn’t fall. He made sure to steady him with one arm while continuing down the corridor.

Behind them, Li Wang, who had overheard the interaction, stepped closer with a thoughtful look. ”Maybe you’re just dehydrated,” he suggested. ”That could be why your head hurts.”

Jian turned his head slightly and gave him a small smile. ”I... I think I’m just worried about my grandpa.”

Li Wang’s expression shifted into something more serious. His brows creased. ”Yeah... he wasn’t back at your house when I checked either.”

Jian nodded slowly. ”It’s a long story. But I know he’s out here somewhere. I just want to find him safe and sound.”

Xing Yu, who had been walking silently a few paces ahead, heard their conversation. His steps slowed. He glanced back, his eyes widening slightly as realization hit him. He turned fully and quickened his pace to close the gap between them.

”Jian,” he said, voice low but urgent, ”your grandpa is safe.”

Jian froze mid-step.

He whipped his head around so fast Quangya startled a little on his back. ”What? Where is he?” Jian strode up to Xing Yu, eyes wide and frantic. ”Did you see him anywhere? Is he hurt?”

Before Xing Yu could react, Jian had grabbed him by the shoulders. His grip wasn’t rough, but it was desperate—filled with fear and longing.

Feeling Jian’s touch, Xing Yu stiffened for a moment. His heart skipped a beat, and his breath hitched, but he didn’t pull away. He held Jian’s gaze, meeting it fully.

”H-He is safe,” Xing Yu said carefully, his voice barely above a whisper. ”He’s unharmed, I promise. He’s aboard the scout ship, right above us. Not a single wound on him. He’s being cared for properly and respectfully by my people. Because...” He hesitated for a second before finishing softly, ”Because he is your adopted grandpa.”

Jian didn’t move. His eyes were locked on Xing Yu’s, searching—digging for any trace of a lie, anything that might give him reason to doubt.

But there was nothing there. Xing Yu looked sincere. Steady. Honest.

Jian’s shoulders trembled slightly. ”I... I need to see him,” he said, his voice cracking just a little. ”I want to see him. I want my grandpa.”

Without another word, Xing Yu gently reached up and uncurled Jian’s anxious hands from his shoulders. He turned them over and lifted them slightly. Then, leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to Jian’s knuckles.

”I’ll arrange for your meeting,” he promised. His voice was quiet but firm. ”I’ll take you to him as soon as I can. You’ll see him.”

Jian didn’t say anything for a moment. He just nodded. Slowly. His throat was too tight to speak. But his eyes, suddenly glassy, said enough.