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When Wu Ming found Xie Lian, he was not surprised to discover that His Highness was with child. He already knew.
He also knew who the alpha father of the baby was, and truthfully, he did not care. There was no room for greed in his heart; his only duty was to care for His Highness and for the little prince or princess on the way.
By grace alone, Xie Lian accepted his company.
But accepting it was not the same as welcoming it with open arms. His Highness remained cautious around him—still alert, still wary, still afraid that someone might endanger the life of the small person growing inside him.
That small person was all he had left of the one he had lov- Had he loved him?
Wu Ming understood all of that. He respected it and continued to accompany him. Soon, he guided Xie Lian to a humble cabin he had prepared for them. He showed him the soft, suitable materials he had gathered to build a nest, and then presented the healthy foods he had obtained as well.
His Highness looked at him in surprise—and thanked him sincerely for everything he had offered.
When Wu Ming announced that he would take his leave to patrol and adjust the surroundings, Xie Lian looked at him, but did not stop him.
“Just… be careful, Wu Ming.”
“Your Highness need not worry about this one. I will be fine.”
For the first three months, everything was fine. Wu Ming did not intrude much on His Highness’s space, despite his desire to see him more. He went back and forth clearing weeds and planting gardens for the little prince or princess.
Once, Xie Lian caught him at it and asked why he was doing such things.
Wu Ming looked at him from behind his mask.“I only wish to offer a pleasant view to His Highness’s son or daughter.”
With one hand on his belly, Xie Lian looked at him. “I can help you. It isn’t fair for me to let you do everything alone.”
“It is not necessary. Your Highness should rest.”
Xie Lian frowned. “You too? This isn’t my first pregnancy. I know what I should and shouldn’t do.”
“Your Highness—”
“Wu Ming.”
The phantom alpha yielded.
“…Very well,” he thought for a moment. “Your Highness may help me when it is time to move the flowers and plant them. Would that be acceptable?”
Though he felt he could do more, Xie Lian accepted the arrangement.
After another three months passed, Xie Lian’s belly had become visibly round, and the omega began nesting more intensely. He always used his own clothes, along with the scentless blankets and pillows Wu Ming provided. His cravings also became frequent, and the alpha supplied everything without complaint.
At first, Xie Lian viewed all of these behaviors with suspicion—somewhat incredulous and confused that a soldier who had died in battle for him would go this far to serve him, even when everyone else had left or been lost.
Perhaps he should have doubted him, suspected ulterior motives—but surprisingly, he felt no desire to question Wu Ming. He simply wanted to know him better.
Once, Xie Lian asked him to remove his mask. Wu Ming refused, and Xie Lian did not insist.
Once, Xie Lian invited him to stay during lunchtime.
“It feels a little lonely—and unfair. You only leave the food and go, while I stay here and take advantage of your kindness.”
“Your Highness is not taking advantage of anything. This one simply wishes to serve you.”
Xie Lian sighed. “If you wish to serve me, then stay for lunch, alright?”
Normally, it would have been said that an alpha and an omega should not be alone together—but one was dead, and the other was a widower. What did it matter?
Wu Ming stayed. And Xie Lian accepted his company with a smile.
Each day, Wu Ming watched Xie Lian’s growing belly with curiosity.
Was there truly a child of His Highness inside?
What would they look like? What kind of person would they become?
Wu Ming had not known much about Xie Lian’s first husband, but he knew he had not been a bad person. He wondered if the unborn cub would resemble him.
For reasons he understood yet refused to examine too closely, he did not want that.
“It would be nice if His Highness’s child resembled His Highness.”
As he folded blankets, Xie Lian looked at him for a moment.
“I…” He returned to his task. “I would prefer that they learn from Wu Ming.”
Wu Ming "…?"
Because he was a wild-level ghost, Wu Ming could not produce a scent, so his confusion could not be smelled—but Xie Lian felt it anyway and grew slightly nervous under his gaze.
“I mean…” Xie Lian tried. “My first child, A-Lin, was good—but he learned quite a few bad habits from Qing Qiu. And while Qing Qiu was good, he wasn’t exactly exemplary. On the other hand, Wu Ming…”
Xie Lian laughed softly. “All cubs should learn from how good Wu Ming is.”
“Your Highness, I am not good.”
“You have been very good to me.”
“Only to Your Highness.”
Sometimes, Xie Lian wanted to ask why.
But truthfully, he did not dare.
He was still mourning.
When another three months passed and the birth drew near, Xie Lian was filled with fear.
The first birth had not been easy. What if this one was worse? What if something happened and the baby didn’t survive? What if he died and left his child alone?
No—said a part of his mind. My baby would not be alone. Wu Ming would be with them.
“…Eh?” Xie Lian startled at the thought.
Why did he believe that so firmly? What truly assured him that—
A small noise drew him back. He saw Wu Ming in the kitchen, preparing another craving for the omega. When Wu Ming turned slightly, Xie Lian saw again that snow-white face, unruly hair, and mismatched eyes.
…
Ignoring whatever his heart was doing, Xie Lian sank back into his pillow nest. When he sniffed the blankets, he found that they carried only his own scent.
He wished they carried someone else’s as well.
He pushed the thought aside and tried to sleep.
That same night, His Highness’s daughter was born.
Xie Lian was utterly exhausted, yet he still gathered the strength to hold his daughter and nurse her, while Wu Ming hovered nearby, ensuring Xie Lian’s comfort.
He had returned to wearing his mask. He did not wish to frighten His Highness’s daughter.
When His Highness turned his attention to the alpha, he frowned upon seeing the mask and asked him to remove it.
Wu Ming refused. Xie Lian insisted.
“I don’t think she would be afraid. She’s too young to form those kinds of ideas. In fact, I think she would like it.”
“How can Your Highness be so certain?”
“It’s simple faith.”
…
Wu Ming removed his mask before His Highness’s daughter.
The alpha cared for them that night.
And he continued caring for them for many nights thereafter.
Normally, an omega bonded to another alpha who had just given birth would be reluctant—even aggressive—toward strangers approaching during such a vulnerable time.
But Xie Lian had long since stopped seeing Wu Ming as a threat. He allowed him to draw close to his daughter.
Wu Ming stepped forward, and forward again, and like a flower slowly opening its petals, he allowed himself to be known.
Xie Lian admired every aspect of that flower—and soon found deep affection for it.
Yet even when feelings were found, there were still no actions.
Xie Lian was still mourning.
They both devoted themselves to caring for the child, who had been born a small alpha.
When Wu Ming asked about her name, Xie Lian replied softly:
“Yue. I want to call her Yue. She was born on a moonlit night, wasn’t she?”
“Then perhaps Qing Yue? Or Xie Yue?”
Xie Lian’s smile dimmed slightly.
“I don’t know yet. I think… I want to wait for something. For now, let her be A-Yue.”
Thus, A-Yue it was.
Due to aftereffects of the pregnancy, Xie Lian did not go into heat during the first year after the birth, and that was fine. Both omega and cub recovered under Wu Ming’s care.
Wu Ming watched A-Yue grow, and he truly did not know what kind of feelings he was developing toward the baby.
As proof of who her parents were, A-Yue smelled of orchids and pine—and in truth, she took more after Xie Lian.
Xie Lian was pleased.
“A-Lin took more after his father. I suppose it’s only fair that Yue’er takes more after me.”
“She is a lovely child.”
Xie Lian looked at him. “I think…” He glanced at his daughter, then at his friend. “Her hair might resemble yours more, Wu Ming.”
“Your Highness?”
“I’m feeling better now. Let me cook something—will you hold Yue’er?”
A routine soon formed.
And for Wu Ming, watching His Highness explore the home he had built together with his daughter became a deeply cherished sight.
The omega carried her everywhere, showed her the garden flowers, and told her how Wu Ming had obtained their door.
“He’s quite talented, don’t you think, Yue’er?”
“Gu~”
“He treats you well, so I hope you’ll respect him too. If things go well, he may allow you to call him Yangfu.”
“Jaja.”
Days passed, and Xie Lian kept watching Wu Ming.
And when Xie Lian looked away, it was Wu Ming who was watching him.
It was a curious exchange that unfolded under the dark eyes of A-Yue—
Who, during a quiet day of calligraphy practice—Xie Lian had discovered the phantom alpha had terrible handwriting—approached the two adults at the low table, leaned on it, and smiled.
“Ba.”
Wu Ming and Xie Lian stared at her in shock.
“Yue’er, wh—”
“Ba!”
Xie Lian panicked slightly and turned to explain to Wu Ming. He didn’t know where his daughter had learned that word. He never spoke to her about her biological father, and he didn’t want to create expectations toward Wu Ming that he himself had not addressed.
To his surprise, his words died in his throat.
A sensitive Wu Ming took the child into his arms.
…
“Yue.”
“Ba! Bába!”
“Yes, yes—ba, Bába.”
…
That night, the two of them talked.
"You… did you teach her that word?"
"Maybe I let it slip a couple of times."
Xie Lian was suspicious; it couldn’t have been just a couple of times if his daughter had learned it so well.
He referred to himself as Diedie all the time! And yet his daughter still learned Bába first!
"Wu Ming… she isn’t your daughter, at least not by blood."
Wu Ming lowered his gaze. "I know"
He knew. Better than anyone, Wu Ming knew.
A-Yue had the eyes of her real father, like shining stars glowing in the dark. She had shown a reserved demeanor, just as Xie Lian had once told him his first husband was like.
Not a single flower of her own adorned A-Yue, and she never could have one. Because he was a dead man who could not produce pheromones. And because he was a miserable alpha who only wanted to take someone else’s place. Not because he felt they owed him anything—it was simply the desire to do it, to see them, to have them.
Since he had no pheromones, no feelings could be conveyed through them. But Xie Lian could still see it in his eyes. He felt guilty for not explaining himself properly.
"Wu Ming ". he called " she can call you Bába if she wants, but there will come a time when she realizes things and might change how she addresses you to Yangfu. I… don’t know how you feel about that."
Wu Ming looked at him, surprised. "I wouldn’t mind". he said "As long as I can be in A-Yue’s life, I wouldn’t mind at all how she addresses me. I can be Bába, Yangfu, Qianbei—whatever she wishes."
Xie Lian looked at him in surprise. "You… you have those feelings for me, don’t you?"
"Your Highness…"
"Answer properly or I’ll get angry."
Wu Ming gave in. "I said long ago that I would take care of the one I love."
The confirmation of his suspicions pierced his heart. "... But you’re a ghost. You wouldn’t be able to rest in peace."
"Then I pray to never rest in peace."
"…"
In the end, Xie Lian only asked him for time.
"Please, wait until the three years of mourning have passed. It won’t take long—I myself have already been waiting."
"I’ve stayed by Your Highness’s side without complaint for so long. What are a few more months?"
Hearing that, Xie Lian smiled. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
When time passed, Wu Ming noticed something surprising.
Xie Lian stopped cutting his hair.
And when the three years were close to ending, Xie Lian made a request.
"Please, let’s travel together for a short while to my family’s Royal Mausoleum."
Wu Ming suspected why, but chose not to ask and arranged everything.
Once they set out, Xie Lian delighted in showing everything to his daughter.
"Look, Yue’er, aren’t those birds lovely?
"Yes."
"And those fish?"
"Red."
"They’re very pretty, aren’t they?"
"Bába eye?"
"Yes, like your Bába’s eye."
A-Yue smiled.
It didn’t really take long to reach the Royal Mausoleum, though getting inside was troublesome at first. The child was a little frightened by the darkness of the place, but once Xie Lian activated the lighting system, the gemstones embedded in the structure illuminated everything.
Both A-Yue and Wu Ming were awestruck by the sight. Xie Lian felt his heart soften as he watched them.
In a precious way, he realized they both wore the same expression when surprised.
Xie Lian laughed and asked the others to wait a moment before entering.
"I want to clean up a few things."
"Let me help you."
"No, no. I’d rather you stay with her. I won’t be long."
When Xie Lian entered the area where the tombs and memorial tablets were, his emotions became complicated.
He greeted his parents, his husband, and his son. He knelt properly before his friend’s tablet, let out a sigh, and began to speak.
"Qiu’er, do you remember the last time we shared the sheets? Well, before we parted, and before I even knew it, you left a little person inside me —he smiled—. It’s a girl. I named her A-Yue. She’s an alpha and she was born with your eyes. Those shining, star-like eyes I always admired in you. Those. She’s very beautiful, and I think she’ll grow into a reserved young lady, just like you. I only hope she won’t be quick to resentment."
He looked at his son’s tablet; Xie Lian’s gaze carried the pain of loss, and he swallowed. "Your meimei is quieter than you were. I don’t know how much I should worry about that. I wish you could have met—I’m sure you would’ve gotten along well, though at the same time I fear she might get annoyed by your games. She seems very sensitive."
He turned to the tablets of his family. He paused before speaking. "I… met someone."
This was the real subject. Xie Lian inhaled and slowly let the air out.
"He… he introduced himself without a name, so I called him Wu Ming. After this, I want to ask him again for a name—and join my life with his."
"…"
A small smile, sad and nostalgic. "I know. It sounds shameless of me, doesn’t it?"
Xie Lian sighed. "But I want to do it. He… he truly…"
He took another breath and moistened his lips. This was directed to his first husband. "I’m not asking for permission". he said "When we parted, you told me it was fine for us to walk our own paths and never meet again. But I know how insincere your tongue could be."
"…"
"Still, I’ll take your words. We married once, and now death has separated us. You gave me A-Lin and A-Yue, and I will always be grateful for that. Even if I can no longer enjoy A-Lin, at least I can take care of A-Yue and give her a father now."
"I’ll still come to see you, and in the future A-Yue will know you. I can’t hide who her father by blood was. I’ll come, light incense, and pray that you and A-Lin find a better life in the next cycle. But I’ll still return to his arms."
I love him.
When Xie Lian returned to Wu Ming and A-Yue, the alpha chose not to ask about His Highness’s expression.
He only said, holding A-Yue, "She’s very curious."
Xie Lian looked at her. "Oh? You didn’t give your Bába any trouble, did you?"
A-Yue smiled brightly. "No!"
Xie Lian looked at Wu Ming; he shook his head, backing up the child’s words.
Smiling, the omega led them forward to be introduced to his first family.
He presented them to his parents. And he presented them to them.
Xie Lian was very careful with his words. "Yue’er ", he crouched beside the little girl ", the one here "he pointed to a tablet "was your older brother."
"Huh?"
"He was, but he had to go on a very long journey."
"Far?"
"Yes, very far. Unfortunately, we won’t get to meet him."
The girl looked at him, then at the tablets. She didn’t say much, and after a while she pointed at Qing Qiu’s tablet. Xie Lian understood the gesture and couldn’t help glancing at Wu Ming.
Finding nothing but calm in his eyes, Xie Lian continued. "He was the one who gave you your chocolate scent. Without his help, I wouldn’t have been able to have you."
"Mnh?"
"I’ll tell you more about him in the future, but I can tell you he was a good friend of mine. His name is Qing Qiu."
"Qiu…?"
"Mn. Qing Qiu. He was very good with pups. He would’ve liked you very much."
After that, the adults talked a little more.
Wu Ming looked at the tablet of Xie Lian’s first husband. He seemed deep in thought, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but be curious.
"What is it? ". he asked.
"Nothing, just… "he paused "I’m promising Master Qing that I’ll take care of you."
Xie Lian smiled. "Oh. It’s a kind gesture, but he wouldn’t be very happy."
"Ah? He wouldn’t?"
Xie Lian shook his head. "No. Qing Qiu was very possessive of what he considered his "seeing Wu Ming’s expression fall, he quickly added "But! He was reserved and logical. Even if he didn’t like you, he’d still thank you for staying."
"He would hate me."
"I don’t think so. He never hated anyone "except Yong An ". He just wouldn’t like you for being involved with me. But he wouldn’t say anything."
The visit ended that day.
When they returned home, Xie Lian decided to ask Wu Ming.
"Truly… what is your name? Naming you Wu Ming was too cruel at the time."
This time, the alpha answered. "As a child, my mother called me Hong Hong-er."
Xie Lian confirmed a theory, but it didn’t stop his excitement.
The alpha continued. "In the future, I want to be called Hua Cheng."
"Why?
The alpha smiled "It’ll be a future surprise "he dropped the mischief and spoke sincerely ", but truthfully, I’d like you to call me San Lang."
Some time later, Xie Lian surprised him with this question:
"San Lang, which would be correct? Hua Yue? San Yue? Or Xie Yue?"
"Which would Gege prefer?"
"I…"