Shang Yichen stood in front of the door, pressing the doorbell for what felt like an eternity. He expected Zhou Yi—or at least someone—to answer, but no sound came from inside.

His heart sank as he knocked on the door, calling Zhou Yi’s name. There was still no response, not even the faintest movement from within. It was as if no one was home.

His unease grew, and a sinking feeling of dread began to swirl in his chest. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he leaned against the wall and called the property management. He casually mentioned that the neighbor next door had been a bit noisy at night, hoping to gather some information.

The response left him numb: “The owner of 1602 moved out a few weeks ago.”

The words from the property management officer blurred in his ears as everything around him seemed to stop. Zhou Yi had moved out? Where could he have gone? Where should I go to find him?

The flicker of hope that had ignited in his heart was extinguished in an instant. Shang Yichen stumbled back into the apartment, his legs giving way as he collapsed onto the sofa. It was as if every ounce of his strength had drained away.

The room around him was all too familiar—yet, in its emptiness, it felt like a stranger’s home. In the past, Zhou Yi would have been curled up on the sofa, his warm smile greeting him as he entered. No matter how tired or late it was, Zhou Yi always left a light on for him, filling the room with warmth and dispelling the darkness.

Shang Yichen had never given it much thought before. With Zhou Yi always there, it had seemed natural for him to do those little things. But now, alone on the cold sofa in the dark, he realized how extraordinary and precious those small acts of love had been.

He shielded his face with his elbow, wincing at the slight ache from the bruise left by Meng Rongze’s punch. He couldn’t help but think that if Zhou Yi were here, he would be feeling sorry for him…

As the thought crossed his mind, his heart froze for a moment, then beat violently, the sudden rush making his nose tingle with the onset of tears. Meng Rongze’s harsh words echoed in his head, and Shang Yichen couldn’t help but agree with them. He was an idiot.

Even now, in the face of everything, he still wanted to find Zhou Yi and keep him by his side.

His emotions were overwhelming. He couldn’t even bring himself to lie down. His hand reached for his phone, checking for any updates from the secretary who had been tasked with finding Zhou Yi. But, as expected, there was still no useful information.

Shang Yichen’s mind raced. Compared to Liang Xianzhang’s family background and status, he was nothing. It would be easy for someone like Liang Xianzhang to hide Zhou Yi away, and even if he did get information, how could he ever “take” him back from him?

Panic set in as the fear gripped him—the fear that he would never see Zhou Yi again. He didn’t dare think about it any further. He stared at the ceiling, trying to focus his thoughts on finding Zhou Yi, but nothing seemed to make sense.

Then, another thought hit him. He still had no idea when or how Zhou Yi, a Beta, had become involved with someone like Liang Xianzhang.

Liang Xianzhang, an Alpha, surely didn’t need a Beta by his side. What could there possibly be about Zhou Yi—someone who couldn’t even have children, let alone help with business—that attracted him so much?

Could it have been a whim? Like keeping a pet to pass the time?

Shang Yichen’s thoughts began to spiral, and this new thought felt disturbingly reasonable. After all, it wasn’t uncommon in their circle for someone to keep a lover just for entertainment. Maybe Liang Xianzhang had been hiding Zhou Yi to avoid the rumors that would damage his image.

And now, Zhou Yi, who had once belonged to him, had been taken by Liang Xianzhang.

If they were secretly together, maybe what they shared was an affair—a relationship to be kept hidden. The thought of it twisted something deep inside Shang Yichen.

Maybe if I meet with Liang Xianzhang, I can talk to him, and he might return Zhou Yi to me…

With that thought in mind, Shang Yichen dialed the strange number that had once sent him a text message. He had a strong feeling that the number belonged to Liang Xianzhang himself.

His heart raced as the phone rang. This might be his only chance to see Zhou Yi, and he was terrified that the call would go unanswered, or worse, blocked.

But after a few tense seconds, the call connected. The silence on the other end made Shang Yichen’s grip tighten on the phone. He imagined the Alpha who had taken Zhou Yi away on the other end of the line and, though fury bubbled inside him, he forced himself to speak calmly, “Mr. Liang…”

Still, there was no answer.

Shang Yichen hesitated, unsure of how to approach this. He was about to try again when the other side finally spoke in a deep voice: “How about meeting?”

Shang Yichen was caught off guard by the offer, but this was exactly what he wanted. He quickly agreed.

Liang Xianzhang, who had been anticipating the call, hung up the phone. He opened the balcony door and stepped back into the bedroom. He had long been displeased with people who tried to covet his partner. Now that Shang Yichen had come to him directly, Liang Xianzhang intended to make sure he gave up any hope of reclaiming Zhou Yi.