BGPOTC CHAPTER 40

Thinking about this, Bo Xinghang couldn’t help but smile, his lips curving into a soft, beautiful arc, unaware that he was even smiling. He inhaled the familiar scent lingering on his clothes and quickly started typing on his phone.

Bo Xinghang: I woke up.

After sending the message, he thought it seemed too cold, so on impulse, he added two heart and rose emojis.

Having played the cool guy for so many years, this was the first time he had sent such a cheesy message. He stared at the screen for a long time, feeling more and more awkward, and after a few seconds of hesitation, he tried to delete it.

Just as he was about to hit “Confirm Delete,” Doctor Ji’s reply popped up.

The notification startled Bo Xinghang, causing his finger to slip. Deleting the message now would seem too deliberate, so he resigned himself and put his hand down.

Doctor Ji: Mm [Heart] [Heart]

Bo Xinghang’s heart raced as he stared intently at the message. Just imagining Doctor Ji’s serious face carefully sending those heart emojis made his heart beat even faster.

Trying to keep a straight face, Bo Xinghang asked: Is it lunch break yet? [Rose] [Rose]

Doctor Ji didn’t answer directly but implied his approval: What do you want to eat? [Kiss] [Rose]

Bo Xinghang: Anything is fine! [Kiss] [Kiss]

Uncharacteristically, the two continued sending emojis back and forth, chatting like this for a while. It wasn’t until Doctor Ji sent the message “I’m here” that Bo Xinghang snapped back to reality.

He was still lying in bed!

Wearing Doctor Ji’s slightly oversized clothes, he ruffled his messy hair. Even without a mirror, he knew he wasn’t presentable, but he didn’t want to keep Doctor Ji waiting.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Bo Xinghang opened the door to the break room.

Doctor Ji was setting lunch on the desk when he turned and saw the drowsy boy standing there.

Bo Xinghang had delicate, fair skin, and two faint red marks were pressed into his face, likely from restless sleep. The marks weren’t deep, but they stood out against his pale complexion, drawing attention.

As he moved, his collarbone peeked out from the neckline of the oversized shirt, and even lower… Ji Wenzhen lowered his eyes, choosing not to look further.

The northern May wind wasn’t hot yet, blowing softly with a slight chill. Sunlight streamed through the office window, gently highlighting Bo Xinghang’s collarbone. The shadows emphasized his slender figure, still full of youthful energy—though it seemed uniquely Bo Xinghang’s.

Despite the cool breeze, Doctor Ji felt an inexplicable heat rise within him. His voice was deeper than usual when he spoke, “Go freshen up first, then come back to eat.”

Bo Xinghang didn’t realize he had unintentionally stirred something in Doctor Ji. He simply thought Doctor Ji found him unkempt, so he obediently nodded, “Oh.”

The toiletries were already set out at the sink. Seeing the two toothbrush holders placed closely together, Bo Xinghang’s lips curved in a pleased smile.

He hadn’t felt particularly hungry when he woke up, but when Doctor Ji opened the lunch box, he couldn’t help swallowing.

Alright, he admitted he was hungry.

Especially since the three dishes Doctor Ji brought were all his favorites. Bo Xinghang’s heart felt warm, and it wasn’t until he put down his chopsticks that he realized he had eaten too much.

Doctor Ji gently rubbed Bo Xinghang’s stomach with one hand while intermittently tapping on his phone with the other.

Bo Xinghang squinted in comfort, resting his head on Doctor Ji’s shoulder. If he lowered his head, he could easily see what was on Doctor Ji’s screen, but he didn’t feel the need to.

After a while, Doctor Ji set his phone aside, ruffled Bo Xinghang’s hair, and asked, “Have you rested enough?”

Doctor Ji’s palm was so warm that Bo Xinghang couldn’t help but nuzzle into it and nod, “Yeah.”

He had eaten right after waking up, and after eating too much, Doctor Ji had even massaged his stomach for him. It was blissful, almost too good to be true. Even though he wasn’t really tired, he answered without a hint of shame that he had rested well.

He thought maybe Doctor Ji spoiled him too much, to the point where he felt like a human cub.

But if Doctor Ji was willing to indulge him, Bo Xinghang was happy to act a little spoiled.

Doctor Ji paused his stomach massage and held Bo Xinghang’s chin. Before Bo Xinghang could react, Doctor Ji gave him a light, fleeting kiss on the lips.

Just as Doctor Ji was about to speak, Bo Xinghang interrupted with another kiss. Dissatisfied with the brief peck, he boldly pressed his lips back onto Doctor Ji’s, even daring to lick at them clumsily, like a kitten testing its paws.

“Don’t make trouble.”

Doctor Ji turned his head slightly, smiling. Although he told Bo Xinghang to stop, he couldn’t resist leaning in for a deeper kiss.

They continued teasing each other until Doctor Ji, holding a breathless Bo Xinghang in his arms, remembered the topic he had intended to bring up.

His expression grew more serious, though Bo Xinghang, still nestled against his chest, didn’t notice. “Xiao Xing, the person who attacked Grandma Bo is being transferred to another hospital this afternoon.”

The boy in his arms stiffened.

Bo Xinghang knew exactly who Doctor Ji was referring to. If Nan Ming was being transferred this afternoon, it would be his last chance to see him.

He had planned to confront Nan Ming the day before, filled with anger and a reckless urge to charge forward. But now, with his mind clearer, hesitation crept in.

Nan Ming’s presence had turned what was once a happy family into chaos. In the years following the upheaval, Bo Xinghang harbored deep hatred for Nan Ming, blaming him for taking his father away and destroying their family.

But now, it didn’t seem to matter as much.

Deep down, Bo Xinghang had always known that Nan Ming was just a catalyst. Even if Nan Ming hadn’t appeared, someone else would have come along to reveal the truth. At the root of it all was a man who, to appease his family, had married an innocent woman despite being gay.

How ridiculous, Bo Xinghang thought.

Doctor Ji observed the silent boy closely, his tone steady as he tightened his arm around Bo Xinghang’s waist. “I’m off this afternoon. Shall I go with you?”

Bo Xinghang hesitated for a few seconds before nodding.

It was the hospital’s lunch break, so the corridors were mostly empty. Taking advantage of the quiet, Bo Xinghang quietly took Doctor Ji’s hand.

Doctor Ji glanced at him, his dark eyes calm and steady, silently soothing all of Bo Xinghang’s nerves and worries. Under that gaze, Bo Xinghang felt himself relax without even realizing it.

When they reached the door, Bo Xinghang swung their hands slightly and smiled, “You can wait for me here.”

Doctor Ji didn’t say anything, his gaze lingering on Bo Xinghang’s face. He nodded and simply said, “Alright.”

Bo Xinghang knocked on the door, and a girl’s clear voice from inside called out, “Come in.” Only then did he step inside.

He had been smiling at Doctor Ji, but the moment he turned around, the smile vanished, replaced by a cold expression.

If Nurse Zhang had seen him, she would have been shocked. Bo Xinghang’s expression now was eerily similar to Doctor Ji’s usual demeanor. But while Doctor Ji’s coldness was distant and indifferent, Bo Xinghang’s was edged with aggression.

Nan Ming had noticed Bo Xinghang standing outside the door earlier. Now, fully awake and sitting up in bed, he seemed unsurprised by his presence and simply said, “You’re here.”

Bo Xinghang didn’t respond.

Nan Ming, not expecting an answer, continued as if speaking to himself. “When I saw you at the hospital before, I knew you’d come find me.”

He turned to the girl beside him. “Qian Qian, could you go get Daddy a glass of water?”

As he spoke, he forced a smile, but his lips had already lost so much color that it wasn’t really a smile at all.

Bo Xinghang paid little attention to the request, his expression remaining icy from the moment he entered the room. Only after the girl left, leaving him alone with Nan Ming, did his thoughts briefly linger on the word “Daddy” that Nan Ming had used.

He raised his eyebrows, almost unintentionally. “Your child?”

“I raised her.”

Nan Ming didn’t hide the truth, but he didn’t elaborate. Bo Xinghang didn’t care to pry further; instead, he watched Qian Qian’s retreating figure and found himself recalling memories from the past.

He, too, had once held onto a much larger hand, happily calling out “Daddy.”

Realizing he was getting lost in old memories, Bo Xinghang shifted his attention back to Doctor Ji, who was standing outside the door.

Doctor Ji’s face was expressionless, but his gaze never wavered from Bo Xinghang. Feeling that steady gaze, Bo Xinghang turned his head and met Doctor Ji’s eyes.

Instantly, he felt reassured.

Nan Ming: “Is he your boyfriend?”

The question seemed more like part of a mutual exchange, with each asking and answering in turn.

As the same kind, Nan Ming could tell from their interaction. There was no need to hide it. Bo Xinghang nodded.

Nan Ming appeared intrigued by the topic. Leaning back against the soft pillow, he said, “That’s good… It wasn’t like that for me when I first realized my sexual orientation. I was terrified.”

Bo Xinghang’s gaze drifted back to Nan Ming, watching him as he fell deep into thought.

Nan Ming’s head was bowed, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was recalling something unpleasant. His tone would rise as he mentioned certain details.

“Our era was different from yours. You know, I even thought of myself as a freak, a pervert… I planned to keep that secret my entire life,” Nan Ming spoke at a measured pace, his eyes clear beneath his disheveled hair.

A bitter smile tugged at his pale lips. “But then I found true love… We were together for four years, but we got caught. His family forced him to marry and have a child. They called me a pervert and a beast, told me to disappear.”

“…”

There was no need to explain who the “he” was that Nan Ming mentioned. Both of them understood. Yet the person who had once been a central figure in Bo Xinghang’s life now felt like a stranger, as though Bo Xinghang had never really known him.

It was a story Bo Xinghang had never heard before.

He pressed his fingers into his palm, so hard that his fingertips turned white. But he remained silent, knowing Nan Ming wasn’t looking for a response. He was simply there to listen.

“I didn’t leave, but he chose to get married. He knelt before me, begging me not to break up with him. I couldn’t refuse him. But after agreeing, I thought to myself… maybe I really am a beast. No wonder everyone curses me.”

At this, Nan Ming paused for a long time. Perhaps due to his illness, his voice was soft, and with the flatness of his tone, it felt as if he were narrating someone else’s story.

But this was his own story—the one that had tormented him his entire life.

Nan Ming raised his hand and traced the scar that ran from the corner of his eye to his mouth with a finger. “I made this myself with a shard of beer glass. He told me my looks moved him, so during our last meeting, I slashed my face right in front of him.”

Bo Xinghang remained still, his gaze following Nan Ming’s finger to the terrifying scar and then back to his face.

For the first time, Bo Xinghang truly looked at Nan Ming’s features. Even beneath the scar, his appearance was striking. The passage of time hadn’t diminished the gentleness in his face. It wasn’t hard to understand why “he” had been moved by him.

Bo Xinghang couldn’t begin to imagine the moment Nan Ming had cut his own face. What had been going through his mind then?

But now, it didn’t matter anymore.

Bo Xinghang wasn’t sure if he completely believed Nan Ming’s story, but as he looked into his eyes, a strange tightness gripped his chest.

He couldn’t know the full extent of the chaos that had been hidden beneath the surface of their seemingly peaceful life. Perhaps there was much more to the story than what Nan Ming had revealed.

Suddenly, Bo Xinghang found his long-held beliefs laughable. He had hated his father, hated Nan Ming, and later, hated his mother for her smoking and gambling. But in the end, how much of this absurdity was really anyone’s fault? How much of it was just the result of a tragic series of circumstances?

“I’m sorry.” Nan Ming lifted his head. “I know that no matter what I say, it won’t change anything, and maybe it’s selfish of me. What happened has happened, and the fact that we’re meeting again is because of me. So… I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I just want to apologize sincerely.”

“I asked the nurse this morning. Grandma Bo’s surgery was successful. I’ll cover the remaining medical expenses—”

Bo Xinghang frowned and interrupted, “I don’t need you to pay.”

“No, I’m the one who hit her, so I should take responsibility. Just think of it as—cough” He spoke quickly, his face flushing as a fit of coughing overtook him. Bo Xinghang stepped forward to help, but Nan Ming raised a hand to stop him.

After the coughing subsided, Nan Ming’s face had turned ghostly pale. He finished his sentence, “Just think of it as easing my guilt, okay? If that’s not enough, then when you get into college… come back and see me.”

Bo Xinghang furrowed his brow, wanting to refuse, but when their eyes met, he saw the near-desperation in Nan Ming’s gaze. Bo Xinghang pressed his lips together and relented.

He had put his part-time work on hold to focus on his studies, leaving him with no income. Xiao Meng had already helped him so much, and he couldn’t bring himself to ask for more. As for Doctor Ji… he didn’t even want to think about it. Doctor Ji had already done more than enough for him. He didn’t want to treat such a good person like a tool to be used.

So, Bo Xinghang clenched his fists and made a promise. “Okay, after graduation, I’ll come see you and pay back the money.”

He didn’t want to burden anyone, and he certainly didn’t want to owe Nan Ming anything.

This was the best compromise he could offer. Nan Ming saw the resolve in his eyes and, instead of arguing, simply smiled. “Alright.”

Bo Xinghang was puzzled. “Why are you smiling?”

Nan Ming shook his head. “It’s nothing. I just think it’s good that you’re like this.” Then he turned to look out the door.

Following his gaze, Bo Xinghang saw a tall figure standing straight. Doctor Ji was on the phone, standing far enough away not to disturb those inside but still close enough to be within sight, just a reassuring presence if Bo Xinghang needed him.

Seeing Doctor Ji, Bo Xinghang understood the meaning behind Nan Ming’s words.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling as he nodded in agreement. “Mm, thank you.”

Things were good.

Even though his family had fallen apart, even though he had been a child drifting alone for so long, picking up bad habits along the way, things were “good” now.

Because at this age, he still had an unknown, promising future ahead of him, and on this journey, he had someone gentle and thoughtful by his side.

As Bo Xinghang left the room, Nan Ming’s voice called out softly behind him. He turned to see Nan Ming nodding at him. “…Thank you.”

The sound of the door closing wasn’t loud, but it echoed down the empty corridor. With that sound, the past was firmly shut behind him.