Translator: Lynn
In South America, Lima, the capital of Peru.
The sky is consistently clear, high, and blue, casting a reflection on the majestic Spanish colonial cathedral. Zhu Ling recalled Ji Kai mentioning two places on the opposite side of the earth that he had always wanted to visit: Bolivia’s “City of Mirrors” and Peru’s “City in the Sky.”
Initially, there was a hint of disdain, as he regarded the “City in the Sky” and “Lost Residence of the Gods” as mere marketing gimmicks. Little did he expect that Ji Kai would be swayed by a travel marketing account after reading numerous books.
However, when the crew finally arrived at Machu Picchu, often referred to as the “Pompeii of South America,” everything changed.
Witnessing the Incan ruins nestled amidst fresh greenery between two open mountain peaks—the buildings, temples, gardens, passages, and terraces dating back thousands of years concealed within the interplay of light and shadow—Zhu Ling was completely captivated by the stunning but desolate remnants of a glorious past. He found himself speechless for an extended period of time.
Under the vast sky, time remained silent, with only the stones able to recount their tales.
Amid the roaring wind, the once tiny human figure transformed into a diminutive ant, a creature both absurd and poignant.
Drowning in the suffocating and bustling city, overwhelmed by high-intensity and high-pressure work, Zhu Ling realized the consequences of indulging in the ever-expanding desires, which gave rise to a chaotic array of selfish pursuits. Arrogance, deception, unrestrained actions, the illusion of having it all—only to lose the most significant thing in the end.
…It’s quite simple, isn’t it?
What was your original intention? What were you contemplating three years ago before gaining popularity?
Back then, the goal was clear: make money, write songs, establish a career, accumulate wealth, and, with a bag in tow, travel the world hand in hand with Brother Kai. A journey marked by stops and turns, where every glance backward reveals the radiant smile of their beloved baby bear.
As the wind subsided, a chilling sensation enveloped Zhu Ling’s body.
Head bowed in silence, a sense of emptiness pervaded his heart. Despite the sun shining warmly upon him, an internal coldness lingered.
…
Recently, Zhu Ling has been contemplating a lot. Upon returning home after an extended period, he hopes to find forgiveness from Baby Bear Ji Kai. There are so many things he wishes to share with him.
He wants to convey to Ji Kai the myriad experiences he encountered in a foreign country, the novel sights and sounds that he documented in his notebook, and the numerous stories he wishes to recount to him page by page.
Peruvian cuisine, in particular, has captivated him with its delectable flavors, notably the rice-based dishes that bear a resemblance to Chinese food. Zhu Ling explains the historical influence of Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish immigrants, which has contributed to the rich tapestry of Peruvian culinary delights.
Despite the simple and endearing nature of the Peruvian people, Zhu Ling notes the challenges posed by the stark wealth disparity and the prevalence of crimes such as robberies, fueled by lax firearm regulations.
Unfortunately, Zhu Ling found himself caught up in a horrifying incident during the crew’s holiday. Terrorists, in an act of violence, drove cars onto a crowded square in Lima and indiscriminately opened fire on tourists and businessmen. Witnessing the chaos and bloodshed, Zhu Ling was deeply affected.
Overwhelmed with despair upon returning to the set, he attempted to reach out to Ji Kai, only to have the call abruptly ended. He felt congested, aggrieved, and uncomfortable, yearning for Ji Kai’s understanding and concern.
Zhu Ling reflects on the sacrifices and efforts he’s made during this period—enduring scoldings, diligently memorizing scripts, collaborating with seniors, burning the midnight oil, and gaining profound insights from extensive reading. He wishes to show Ji Kai the transformation he has undergone and hopes that, in time, Ji Kai will comprehend his newfound determination.
Unbeknownst to Zhu Ling, the one who disconnected the call that day wasn’t Ji Kai but Li Weidu. The phone was still stained with blood, as Ji Kai lay in the operating room, his life hanging in the balance.
…
The news of the crew falling victim to a terrorist attack in South America had been a major talking point in China for at least a week, garnering an outpouring of concerns and well-wishes from fans.
However, Ji Kai remained oblivious to all of it.
Confined to the hospital with idle hands and no access to his mobile phone, Ji Kai, in ordinary circumstances, would have resorted to activities like eating, drinking, and watching TV news reports. Yet, recently, he had found a new pastime—engaging in the “art appreciation of Li Weidu’s hands.”
For instance, observing Mr. Li peel oranges became a captivating experience. The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the crystalline tangerine petals as Li Weidu delicately held them with his almost translucent fingers. In Ji Kai’s opinion, it was far more delightful than some supernatural TV series.
Previously, Ji Kai had never paid much attention to other people’s hands, but lawyer Zuo Yan, a dedicated hand enthusiast in his circle of friends, had changed that perspective. Zuo Yan declared that if a person’s hands were aesthetically pleasing, it elevated their overall appearance to perfection. Surgeon Li Mingxin’s hands, according to Zuo Yan, were a perfect score.
Ji Kai found this perspective unreasonable, arguing that while hands holding a scalpel might be attractive, Dr. Li’s overall appearance, coupled with the dignified white coat, should take precedence. He failed to comprehend the cuteness attributed to hands.
However, a revelation occurred recently.
It all started when a new trainee nurse attempted to administer a sling bottle to Ji Kai early one morning. Li Weidu, seated by the bed, had just peeled an orange for him. Watching the inexperienced intern struggle to insert the needle multiple times, Ji Kai was equally perplexed.
When the intern prepared for a fourth attempt, a hand suddenly reached out, covering Ji Kai’s eyes and triggering a flood of memories with the sweet scent of oranges.
…
Ji Kai rarely fell ill during his childhood, with only a handful of instances requiring a visit to the hospital for personal reasons. One specific memory stood out—around the age of seven or eight, he accidentally consumed hairy beef jerky destined for disposal and found himself in the emergency room in the middle of the night.
On that day, his sister stood by him through the entire process. As the nurse prepared to administer an injection and smeared his hands with iodine, she gently covered his eyes with hands scented with an affordable yet sweet orange perfume.
“Hey, little Kai, it won’t hurt.”
Indeed, it didn’t hurt, and Ji Kai wasn’t fearful to begin with. After the injection, his sister went out to fetch him a cup of hot water. From her small bag, she produced a pack of orange-flavored gummy candies and handed one to him. It was sweet.
Many years had passed. The once little-known town, transformed by expansion and reconstruction, no longer retained its ancient and humane appearance. The riverbanks adorned with green willows were now filled, and the small parks made of red bricks and rubble were demolished. Everything from his childhood had vanished.
Nevertheless, Ji Kai would forever cherish the small yet warm home in his memories—a family of four filled with love, laughter, and happiness. His nose tingled with emotion, and he chuckled. “Mr. Li, your hands are so cold.”
“Bear with it.”
The fourth needle was eventually inserted successfully, and just as expected, it still didn’t hurt. The coolness of the liquid flowing into his blood triggered a recollection. Ji Kai remembered asking his sister as a child, “Why do you cover your eyes when getting an injection?”
She responded with a laugh, “Haha, so Xiao Kai isn’t afraid? He’s so brave. Let me tell you a secret: my sister is terrified of injections and pain; she can’t even bear to look at them!”
Glancing at Li Weidu, Ji Kai inquired, “Mr. Li, are you… afraid of injections?”
Li Weidu admitted that he was indeed afraid, especially during his childhood, plagued by constant illness and frequent hospitalizations with repeated intravenous injections. Alone in the hospital bed, he yearned for someone to accompany him, hold him gently from behind, shield his eyes, offer candy, and whisper comforting words in his ear to alleviate his fear.
Unfortunately, such a person never appeared. Consequently, he didn’t ask for anything extravagant later in life; he simply wished for the opportunity to protect the person he cared about, ensuring they never experienced loneliness like he did.
…
“…Don’t shake!”
Ji Kai: I don’t want to shake either! But isn’t this just like Parkinson’s? I have no control over myself!
His fingers were currently held by the hands he had been admiring for several days. A gentle touch, an intimate entwining.
Mr. Li patiently worked on trimming his nails.
The silver nail clippers had a frosted, curved, and streamlined design that exuded a stylish vibe. At a glance, one could discern their stark difference from those cheap, flashy knives that cost a few yuan or even more than ten yuan.
Indeed, they were different. Even the sound of the “click” was distinctive. One couldn’t help but wonder if they could soar after the cut.
Am I surprised?
You people who don’t control things with your hands are so peculiar, aren’t you? Such splendid hands, so exquisite!
Ji Kai, be honest, do you truly not blush physiologically and feel your heart race when you gaze at them?
Don’t you fantasize about a hand slipping into your shirt, touching you, and enticing you to linger?
Recalling the days when he lived in Zuo Yan’s house after his divorce, Ji Kai heard similar comments almost daily, leaving him feeling quite down.
“Seriously, Zuo Yan, are you just infatuated with Li Weidu? You fell for him, and now you’re fixated on his hands?” He even mentioned “wanting to lick,” baring it all with such lewdness; what else did he have left to confess?
“It’s not the same thing at all! Sigh! People who don’t control things with their hands have truly missed out on a lot of life’s pleasures!”
Ha.
In that moment, Zuo Yan probably regarded him as if he were mentally impaired, just as he regarded Zuo Yan in the same light.
…
Returning to reality, Li Weidu’s hands with well-defined joints and long fingers were right before him.
With perfect arcs, bulges, and depressions, along with a small, tempting mole on his ring finger, an ambiguous silence enveloped the entire ward.
“Ji Kai, you’ll understand one day! At that time, haha, maybe you’ll have more sinful thoughts than just wanting to touch or lick it!”
Ji Kai was quite taken aback: “Is there a more advanced way to play than kissing and licking?”
“Compared to, for example, being forced into deep-throating by those fingers… or something like that.”
Ji Kai suddenly shook violently.
This time it wasn’t PTSD. He shouldn’t let his thoughts wander so wildly! However, it seemed that… Li Weidu’s earlier eccentric image, coupled with the scene painted by Zuo Yan, appeared… strangely…
alluring…?
Unfortunately.
“He’s not here, so I should probably remain indifferent.”
“Really, I’ve heard many people in the industry say this.”
Qi Yang is probably a typical “friend who is naturally dark when he goes deep.”
“Think about it, you’re tall and handsome, with money-making and homemaking attributes. What else is there to find fault with? If… if it weren’t for his particularly bad skills, why would he be disliked and dumped by others? Sigh, how can it be like that! By the way, Ji Kai, don’t you have a good friend who is a doctor? Do you know any home remedies…”
Home remedies—perhaps they’re not needed at all.
After all, they all have such a pair of hands that spark the imagination. Even if it’s cold or distant… there must be someone who can climax directly.
…No, that’s sinful, sinful!
If this continues, he’ll plunge into the bottomless pit of hand obsession like Zuo Yan in minutes!
He coughed quickly: “Mr. Li, thank you very much for taking care of me these days. Also, I really want to thank you for Xiaoyan’s matter.”
…
A few days ago, Li Mingxin rushed downstairs out of breath: “Kai, something bad happened!”
His partner, Lei Nanyu, just hurriedly called him, saying that Zhu Yan was doing homework at home in the morning, drawing at home, when the doorbell rang.
Upon opening the door, he saw a handsome boy with blond hair and fair skin.
Lei Nanyu had met Ye Yan before. After all, he was a painter. Zhu Ling had given him a photo of this beautiful boy before. How could he not recognize the model he had painted?
However, it was also a well-known fact that Lei Nanyu responded extremely slowly in all aspects.
So, when he finally remembered that this person seemed to be the trigger for Ji Kai’s divorce, the little beauty had already passed him and entered the room. He walked up to Zhu Yan and divulged all the details about Zhu Ling’s divorce in front of his children.
Then, the upset child ran away from home, crying.
Ji Kai: “Is Lei Nanyu particularly anxious? Did he chase him all the way? Did he still tell him to stop and persuade him to have a talk?”
“Yes! In the end, we lost him! What should we do? Now he doesn’t answer the phone, and we can’t find him! What if something happens?”
“You don’t know Xiaoyan very well, really. In this case, Lei Nanyu should tell him that if he likes to take a walk, remember to close the door before leaving, and then I won’t leave dinner for you.”
“…”
“If I deduct half of his pocket money next month, he’ll probably not leave. Really. I know that kid very well.” He’s exactly the same as his brother-in-law in some ways. He’s a natural actor. Ji Kai swallowed these words alive and did not finish them.
“Anyway, don’t worry; he’ll come home naturally when he gets hungry.”
The playwright is akin to Zhu Ling, but the vulnerability of being unable to live without food is just like him. If you don’t learn well at a young age, you’ll only pick up the wrong habits.
“I hope… he can return home safely.” Li Mingxin was still very concerned. “But this time, after all, it’s not the usual petty fights. What if he gets hurt and does something foolish?”
Ji Kai was stunned and fell silent.
Li Weidu could sense the deep uneasiness between his brows but couldn’t think of how to comfort him.
Moving closer, she touched his shoulders and suddenly had an idea: “Ji Kai, does your child usually play games?”
“Just for fun! Plays every day, he’s obsessed!”
Li Mingxin replied promptly.
Usually plays.
As the CEO of a game company, he has conducted numerous market analyses and surveys; how could Li Weidu not be aware of the gaming habits of today’s teenagers?
“Don’t panic. I have all the popular online games and mobile games on the market with fully leveled-up equipment. Trust me, there’s absolutely no internet-addicted teenager who can resist the temptation of these high-level transactions. No matter which game he’s in, as long as he’s online, I’ll definitely be able to find him.”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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