Translator: Lynn
The last time he witnessed this kind of smile was two years ago.
Back then, Zhu Ling had suddenly caught the spotlight when a famous singer affectionately performed his single during a concert. The new song quickly climbed the charts, transforming him from an unnoticed nobody into an overnight sensation.
For a period, the media frenzy continued, and he became intoxicated with the praise and attention, his head swelling with pride.
“Look at this! It’s been said for so long that you’ll become popular, why did you rush into marriage?”
“Your public image claims you’re single. You look handsome, and you’ve been linked with so many boyfriends and girlfriends. If it comes out that you’re married, it might harm your future prospects. How much negative impact will it have? Besides, what kind of partner are you seeking now?” His manager’s complaints were a constant buzz in his ears.
Battered by these words daily, Zhu Ling gradually internalized this negative perspective.
His heart began to feel unbalanced. Upon returning home, he started noticing all sorts of negative traits about Ji Kai.
Ji Kai, ever patient, always put up with various troubles, irritations, indifference, and provocations. Until one day, perhaps he reached a tipping point, and he suddenly stopped responding altogether.
Just like that, he chuckled a few times to himself, slammed the door, and left. He didn’t return home all night.
Nor did he return on the second day, the third day, or even the fourth day, leaving behind an eerie silence.
Zhu Ling had a faint sense that he was in the wrong. But he stubbornly thought, “Who’s afraid of whom? If you love staying out, then stay out! What wealth do you have now that you expect me to go to you and beg you?”
So he slung his bag over his shoulder and threw himself into work. They went on without seeing each other for about two or three months.
During those two or three months, a few days were spent at home, but most were spent outside.
Gradually, he realized he was lying half-awake and half-asleep in bed, often unconsciously folding his arms, only to touch empty space. He would toss and turn after being jolted awake and struggle to find sleep again.
Beside him… There should have been someone, someone who enveloped him with warmth and reassurance.
That person’s silhouette was perfect, with a solid waist and firm abdomen, exuding strength and suppleness. His entire body radiated warmth and smoothness, striking the right balance between health, vitality, and sensuality.
He… should have had a home.
A place where someone who cherished him waited, ready to break into a smile as soon as they saw him.
…
In the months following his rise to fame, Zhu Ling gradually acclimated to this new stage of life, and he began to awaken from the illusion of popularity and applause.
Despite the glitz and glamour of the outside world, returning home to a room devoid of any traces of fame created a stark psychological contrast.
He asked himself, what was he chasing after? Ambition? Wealth? Dreams? But what value did career, money, and dreams hold without happiness in one’s personal life?
It wasn’t about basking in the spotlight or accumulating riches; it was about finding joy with loved ones and family.
After returning home after a span of over three months, the walls remained bare. Ji Kai hadn’t returned, and the emptiness was only exacerbated by the coldness that seemed to envelop him.
Switching on his computer, a recent search result caught his eye: “Which agency to contact for divorce agreement.”
At that moment, he felt a profound unease settle over him like a lightning strike, leaving him with a gaping void in his heart.
As he stood on the brink of losing him, he finally comprehended the immense significance of that person in his life. Swiftly mobilizing all available resources, he embarked on a relentless quest to find Ji Kai. With humility and genuine remorse, he adopted various methods of atonement. Delays in work spanned over half a month as he doggedly followed Ji Kai’s trail, employing every effort to coax him back.
It was during this time that he gained a fresh perspective on Ji Kai.
He realized that while Ji Kai had always doted on him, the same person could also coldly sever their love with unwavering determination once his limits were crossed, devoid of any trace of sympathy.
He discovered that mutual respect was paramount.
Exceeding boundaries and disregarding others’ sensitivities was not an option; they didn’t owe him any leniency if he overstepped.
…
Now, the faint smile tugging at the corner of his lover’s mouth triggered an overwhelming surge of dread within him.
“Baby bear…”
His voice grew hoarse as it softened, “Don’t be upset. Let’s all take a deep breath and calm down, alright? Here’s the plan: you, first take him to the hospital. Meanwhile, I’ll head upstairs to find out where Xiao Yin lives. Once I’ve got that information, I’ll come join you immediately. How about we discuss everything once we’re back?”
Ji Kai added with a touch of insistence, “By the way, it sounds like you were asking me for an apology just now, right? Okay, I’m sorry to both of you. It’s entirely my fault, is that okay?”
“Brother Kai, no! That’s not what I meant…”
“Ugh…”
Li Weidu staggered, struggling to maintain his balance. Ji Kai clicked his tongue in mild annoyance, then simply scooped him up and carried him in his arms, striding toward the car.
A man standing at 187 centimeters… Even if he’s all bones, he’s not exactly light. Fortunately, he keeps himself fit with regular exercise.
Behind them, Zhu Ling’s protests continued: “Ji Kai! I, I…”
“Alright, enough of that nonsense! I’ll handle my part, and you should focus on yours!”
“Brother Kai! I’ll come find you at the hospital later! Wait for me!”
… Weidu clutched his stomach, grimacing in discomfort.
“It’s okay, just hold on a bit longer. We’ll be at the hospital soon, okay?” His voice was gentle and low, but the accelerator was pressed with a hint of impatience as he sped toward their destination.
For heaven’s sake, bear, how old are you?
Why am I the one driving you to the hospital? What did I do to deserve this?
–
The hospital’s emergency department, is a luxurious private room.
Ji Kai was starting to believe that this beleaguered CEO genuinely had a problem with his brain. He had asked a simple question, “Mr. Li, did you actually hit Ye Yin?”
He was expecting a straightforward “yes” or “no” response to such a straightforward question.
But Mr. Li seemed to be greatly affected by this question.
Originally lying on the bed, looking half lifeless with his hands clutching his abdomen and his face half-buried in the pillow, he abruptly sat up in his ailing state, almost sliding off the bed in the process.
“I didn’t! How could I? Cough… cough cough…”
“He… he deleted the message right in front of me, so I… cough, I might have raised my voice a little… and he locked the room and didn’t let me in. I admit it’s my mistake that I banged on the door and frightened him, but…”
“…”
“Mr. Li.”
“Hmm?”
Are you trying to put on a performance for Ye Yin in the rain? What’s the point of acting in front of me?
“Do you need anything else to say? Once you’re done, I’m wondering if you can… get me a rabies shot first?” As he spoke, he extended his tanned arm, still marked with bite marks and iodine stains, and held it up.
The white invoice clearly displayed the cost of a tetanus shot at seventeen dollars and forty-four cents.
“After all, these bites on my hand were all thanks to your chihuahua’s appetite for me. Including the cab fare and the psychological trauma, can we round it to a total of 30 Yuan?” Li Weidu’s lips twitched, momentarily leaving behind the grievances he’d displayed a moment ago.
… He really didn’t grasp the everyday life of common people.
He could only recall that on the day he purchased the clothes, he had just offered a bit of wisdom to the wife of Zhu Ling’s street stall right in front of him.
He had kindly informed her that if she wanted to retain the admiration of her beloved, she should learn to refine her manners. And if that proved too difficult, she could at least attempt to appear sophisticated, graceful, gentle, virtuous, and profound.
She should avoid displaying the coarse, petty, unambitious, and capricious attitude that could lead people to look down on her from time to time!
The outcome had proven him completely wrong! This man was a lost cause!
…
The invoice for the tetanus shot was waved in front of me again.
Li Weidu tried his best to endure it, but his patience gave way: “Are you really short by a few dozen dollars?
“Considering you splurged on those expensive clothes for me just a few days ago, we can just add this to the tab, right?”
Let’s set aside the clothes for now—Li Weidu huffed in annoyance; his stomach was acting up once more. He was wearing his usual street stall vest, even today!
He’d changed into an even uglier street stall fan-patterned vest, more garish than the plain black one!
All those thousands of yuan worth of clothes were in vain, the wallowing was real!
He had wanted to express gratitude for getting him to the hospital, but now it was forgotten… Ouch! It’s too painful to even lie down!
“Mr. Li, is the pain really that bad?”
“…”
“Mr. Li, Mr. Li, would you like me to call a nurse for you?”
What’s the point of calling a nurse? I’ve already taken the medicine and started the IV drip! The doctor said to wait a while for the medication to take effect!
“You… get out.”
“…”
“I’ll make it up to you… I’ll double the amount! Just stop hovering around in front of me.” Lying on the bed like a crumpled shrimp, curled up while enduring the throbbing pain, a warm hand suddenly, gently covered his stomach from behind through the quilt.
Li Weidu froze, taken aback by Ji Kai’s actions. Ji Kai stepped onto the bed with one leg, leaning over almost against his back, wearing a serious expression as if he might embrace him in the next second.
What was his intention? Li Weidu’s thoughts were a jumble.
“Don’t move. Just let me rest like this for a minute.”
“…”
“When Zhu Ling had a stomachache, I used to do this, and his pain would go away soon after. He always claimed I had some sort of healing power in this regard.”
Li Weidu felt a mixture of amusement and annoyance; he had never heard such pseudoscience before. “Are you really going to believe everything Zhu Ling tells you?”
“… It really works.”
It only works if you’re gullible enough to believe it!
The second hand ticked away one frame at a time, and a minute passed.
Strangely enough, the pain really seemed to have subsided.
It’s just a coincidence.
Pure coincidence! The medicine from the IV drip must be working!
“Mr. Li, are you admitting that I have some kind of supernatural power?”
“… Get your hands off!”
“Oh.”
“Ugh…” Damn it!
The moment Ji Kai withdrew his hand, a sudden surge of pain shot through Li Weidu’s abdomen. It was as if Ji Kai’s hand had been crushing his internal organs, and his whole body felt empty and throbbing. His pillowcase was damp with cold sweat.
“See.”
Pressing his hand back, Li Weidu gasped for air like a fish out of water. Once the pain subsided, his face was pallid, and his teeth were clenched.
“Perhaps I really do possess some supernatural power.”
“… Just go away.”
“Ah?”
“Leave me alone, don’t bother me! I don’t need…”
“Is this how you always are, Mr. Li?”
Ji Kai grinned mischievously. After days of being on the receiving end, he finally had a chance to get his own back.
[Sit or don’t sit, eat or don’t eat, if you’re like this at home, it’s no wonder Zhu Ling doesn’t want to stay with you.]
“Arrogant, pretentious, deceitful – it’s really irritating, no wonder Ye Yin doesn’t want to be with you.”
“…”
“…”
The one lying down’s body froze, the air thick with eerie silence. Tremors rippled through him, abnormal and unsettling.
Ji Kai was dumbfounded for a moment, realizing that things might not be as he thought…
President, President… Could it be that you didn’t take my jabs as jokes, and they truly hurt you like a river?
He weakly nudged Li Weidu’s shoulder a bit, and the man turned to him, red eyes brimming with resentment. He wasn’t crying just yet, but it seemed imminent, like a pufferfish full of pressure, ready to explode with the slightest touch.
Hey, isn’t this a bit unreasonable?
Ji Kai found it amusing – when you confronted me face-to-face that day about sitting, eating, shopping, temperament, attire, and depth, I took it like a champ, smiling all along!
Was my giving you a face not enough? I didn’t break down in tears right there and then, nor did I cause you to lose face, did I?
So, what’s your problem with me? Why can’t you take a little teasing?
So, Mr. Li, turns out you’re a tough shell with a soft interior? Looking at it this way, you and your little beauty really make a perfect match—both born to be easily hurt, right?
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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