Kill The Marriage Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Night Sea

The lights inside the house were too bright; if he hadn’t walked to the seaside, Ren Zhong wouldn’t have known the moonlight was so gentle tonight.

The wheels of the electric wheelchair were somewhat wide, allowing it to barely move across the sand, albeit a bit slowly.

Zhang Qingyuan stepped into the ruts left by the wheels, leaving behind his own footprints. He followed behind Ren Zhong, watching the moonlight fall upon the shoulders of the person in front of him.

“Even in summer, the seaside gets a bit cold at night,” Zhang Qingyuan said, making conversation. “Captain, do you have any memories related to the ocean?”

Ren Zhong replied casually, “I used to do push-ups in the waves for physical training. How should I put it? Looking back, all I remember is that the seawater was very salty, my muscles ached, and… I had to apply a very thick layer of sunscreen, the kind that was waterproof and friction-resistant.”

“Soldiers apply sunscreen too?” Zhang Qingyuan was a bit surprised.

After all, in the public’s impression, a fierce Omega with a healthy complexion like the Captain should be neglectful of skin management.

A scoff escaped Ren Zhong’s nose, seemingly expressing disdain for Zhang Qingyuan’s prejudice. “What, military personnel don’t deserve to wear sunburn protection? During training, everyone must protect themselves to prevent non-combat casualties.”

“I see, I’ve learned something new.” Zhang Qingyuan tried to keep the awkward conversation going. “When ordinary people mention the seaside, they usually associate it with romantic or happy things. Who would’ve thought that for the Captain, it’s arduous and gruelling training.”

Ren Zhong intentionally retorted, “Romance? What counts as romance? Do you have to run on the beach and shout, ‘I yearn for freedom, I want to fall in love’ for it to be romantic?”

“I can’t out-argue the Captain.” Zhang Qingyuan sounded like he was smiling. “I’m the ‘scholar meeting a soldier, unable to reason things out clearly’.”

He had been thinking about communicating more with Ren Zhong to build trust, but it turned out his attempt at small talk had just been annoying.

Unexpectedly, Ren Zhong seized upon even this slightly petulant remark to strike at his weak point.

“I’m really sorry, but this ‘soldier’ also has a master’s degree. Compared to you, an undergrad graduate who hasn’t even started your master’s program yet, I think I’m more like the ‘scholar’.”

Behind him, Zhang Qingyuan cupped his hands in a salute. “This humble one humbly concedes defeat!”

Amidst the sea breeze and coconut shadows, a swing stood on the shore.

During low tide, it was entirely on the shore; if it encountered a high tide, it would be slightly submerged in the water. The person on it could brush their toes against the seawater while swinging, or even dive straight into the ocean when swinging to the highest point.

During the day, tourists had to queue up to play on this thing. Mi Li and Shang Liwei had spent plenty of time on it, screaming about how thrilling it was.

Ren Zhong’s electric wheelchair came to a stop next to the swing.

He quietly stared at the swing. After a while, he pushed his upper body up from the wheelchair.

“Be careful!” Seeing that he was about to walk, Zhang Qingyuan quickly went to support him.

However, Ren Zhong raised a hand, gesturing for the other to stop. “It’s fine, I’ll do it myself.”

He kicked off his slippers, letting his braced feet step into the damp sand.

The sea breeze was strong, blowing his hair into a messy flutter. But he stood perfectly straight in the wind, like a tree rising firmly from the ground.

He took a gentle step forward but stumbled, barely managing not to fall by grabbing the slanted support pole of the swing.

“Walking on sand is truly different from walking on a floor…” Ren Zhong swayed left and wobbled right, acting as if he were drunk, until he finally managed to sit on the swing.

Zhang Qingyuan was very surprised by the speed of Ren Zhong’s rehabilitation.

He also sat on the swing next to him, dangling his beautifully muscled calves.

“Zhang Qingyuan.” Ren Zhong looked up at the moon. “When an Alpha is strong and robust, do people find it strange?”

He answered, “Of course not.”

“Then why do people feel ‘panicked’ when they see an Omega who isn’t delicate and weak?” Ren Zhong closed his eyes in the moonlight.

Zhang Qingyuan’s mind buzzed. “Did you see the comments online?”

[Look at how skilled he is at beating people up. He must beat his husband at home a lot, right? Whoever married this Omega is truly cursed with eight lifetimes of bad luck.]

[Does this person have violent tendencies? Even if it’s to subdue a criminal suspect, there’s no need to splash them with boiling coffee. Truly ruthless.]

[An Omega being so ungentle is too terrifying. If it weren’t for the compulsory matching marriage, no one would want him.]

[Domestic abuser Omega man, hope he dies a terrible death.]

“It wasn’t that I wanted to look,” Ren Zhong explained calmly. “Mi Li was arguing online with those people with foul mouths. She didn’t win the argument and cried out of anger. I didn’t even take it seriously; keyboard warriors just venting because their lives aren’t going well. Why would I care about that?”

He looked toward the pitch-black sea and said, “What I’m thinking about isn’t just my own little plot of land. I’m thinking that any Omega, as long as they show even a tiny bit of strength, wisdom, or anything remotely related to being powerful, will be verbally attacked and condemned.”

Possessing “strength” is considered having violent tendencies; possessing “wisdom” is considered being deeply scheming.

In short, there wasn’t a single good word for it.

“Tell me, isn’t it strange?” Ren Zhong even smiled. “I’ve been in the military for so many years, and everyone has always hoped their comrades could be faster, higher, stronger, and smarter. Only an enemy would hope for you to be weak and helpless, easily knocked down with a single punch.”

Zhang Qingyuan stopped swinging and thought quietly for a moment.

He watched Ren Zhong’s clothes billowing in the sea breeze, observing how the fabric clung to his body, outlining his robust, muscular physique.

So beautiful, so powerful, like a masterpiece of the Creator.

It was enviable, making him feel ashamed of his own modest muscles.

Zhang Qingyuan looked away. “The rhetoric they often use is ‘provoking opposition’. But fundamentally, they have divided different genders into mutually hostile camps in their hearts, understanding the world through this mindset. What they see before them is merely a reflection of what they think inside.”

“Is there a need to speak so elegantly about that bunch?” Ren Zhong chuckled out loud. “Isn’t it just ‘having shit on the tip of your nose makes everything smell bad’?”

Zhang Qingyuan, very mindful of his image, rolled his eyes slightly and said, “Shouldn’t Master Ren pay some attention to civil language?”

“What, the word ‘shit’ can’t be mentioned? Does Bachelor Zhang consume the essence of heaven and earth and never use the toilet?” Ren Zhong shot back.

They went back and forth for a few rounds, unexpectedly dropping their scruples and wariness, and the atmosphere became relaxed.

Ren Zhong asked, “That knock-off KFC and McDonald’s organization of yours, what is its next step?”

Regarding this, Zhang Qingyuan, who had the intention of pulling him into the group, did not hide anything.

“First is the war of public opinion; we must ensure the majority of people reach a consensus. If no one questions the rationality of the compulsory matching marriage, then even if we destroy the big data system, we haven’t truly ‘killed’ the marriage.”

When talking about this, Zhang Qingyuan’s eyes were full of anticipation and longing.

“If the system crashes, it can be rebuilt. As long as matching marriages haven’t incited nationwide disgust, whatever we do will only treat the symptoms and not the root cause. Only by making the downfall of matched marriages the expectation of the vast majority, becoming a ‘shared pursuit’, can we truly achieve victory.”

Ren Zhong didn’t offer a distinctly clear evaluation or question regarding Zhang Qingyuan’s grand blueprint and ambitious dream; he merely gave an ambiguous “Mm.”

He said, “This organization should consist mostly of female Alphas, female Betas, and Omegas, right? Why would a male Alpha like you participate in such activities? Doing this shouldn’t bring much benefit to you…”

“I want to do something not just because there’s a ‘benefit’ to it. It’s more because this matter is worth it and aligns with my conscience. Moreover…”

Zhang Qingyuan’s gaze burned intensely. “How do you know I won’t gain any benefits? Isn’t ‘freedom’ the best benefit of all?”

He was very resolute.

Resolute in his desire to possess freedom.

“I could be single if I wanted to, or date if I wanted to. I could like peach pink and baking without being mocked for my Alpha identity. I could dislike smoking and drinking, things that are considered very Alpha…”

Zhang Qingyuan enunciated every word clearly.

“Captain, I want the freedom to love or not to love.”

The sea waves rolled in, slapping coldly against their calves, yet it also felt as though it heavily and fiercely shook their hearts.

Unknowingly, the tide surged, wildly rising.

It was high tide; they quietly gazed at the moon together.

“From now on, don’t call me ‘Captain’ anymore. It’s too awkward. Actually, very few people in the military call me that.” Ren Zhong turned his head, reaching up to scratch his face. “Just call me by my name.”

Zhang Qingyuan turned to look at him, the corners of his eyes curving into a smile.

“Then, Zhongzhong.”

He said cheerfully, “Hello Zhongzhong, I’m Xiao Xin. When my mom first named me, she wanted to call me Zhang Qingxin, to pair with my sister’s name and complete the line ‘Fresh and new like Yu Kaifu, handsome and elegant like Adjutant Bao’, but…”

“Wait!” Ren Zhong suddenly thought of something and interrupted him. “The tide has risen so much now, my wheelchair…”

The two of them turned around in unison.

Half of the little electric wheelchair was submerged in the seawater.

“If it leaks electricity, we’re in danger! The motor can’t get wet!” Zhang Qingyuan quickly jumped off the swing, wading through the water to rush over and save the electric wheelchair.

Having just pulled the wheelchair out of the danger zone, he quickly turned back to drag Ren Zhong, who was soaking in the water, back onto the shore.

One leaning over, the other kneeling, they surrounded the little electric machine, trying various methods to turn it on.

However, the electric wheelchair didn’t seem to want to respond to these two fools.

Indignant, Ren Zhong took out the screwdriver and test pen from the wheelchair’s storage box, attempting to repair this rebellious son.

Regrettably, professions have their specialities.

The Captain could assemble several types of firearms dismantled into parts within thirty seconds, but he simply couldn’t fix a wheelchair.

Crack!

Because he used too much force, he even twisted off the connecting bearing of one wheel.

Ren Zhong: “…”

Zhang Qingyuan: “…”

They were left disheveled in the sea breeze.

“Forget it, let’s leave the wheelchair for now. The wind is too strong; I’ll take you back first.”

Zhang Qingyuan turned his back and squatted down, looking back at Ren Zhong.

“Get on. Come back to Gao Lao Zhuang with me.”

Ren Zhong cursed at him, “Get lost.”

However, people must bow their heads to reality. His feet weren’t enough to support him walking back with dignity.

Thanks to the subdermal implant, the Alpha’s pheromones wouldn’t force Ren Zhong into heat.

But his sense of smell and glands hadn’t malfunctioned. Lying on Zhang Qingyuan’s back, it was impossible for him not to smell the other party’s pheromones.

The pheromone-blocking patch had been worn for too long and was nearing expiration. The scent of chamomile was exceptionally rich near the glands on the back of his neck; closing his eyes felt like being enveloped in a warm cluster of flowers.

“Can you carry me?” Ren Zhong felt a bit sleepy and asked with his eyes closed.

Zhang Qingyuan carefully hoisted him up a bit higher, forcing himself to act tough. “Of course I can carry you.”

The distance back wasn’t short. Even if it were Ren Zhong doing a weighted march, it wouldn’t be very easy.

He didn’t expose Zhang Qingyuan’s minor display of bravado and vanity; he simply tightened his limbs to help the other save a little bit of physical strength.

Amidst the chamomile scent, Ren Zhong unknowingly fell asleep.

That night, when Zhang Qingyuan settled the deeply sleeping Captain and went back to drag the wheelchair…

The electric wheelchair had already been stolen.