“Cheng Yue…” Ji Xu’s voice was somewhat low.
“… What is it?” Cheng Yue didn’t want to listen to Ji Xu at that moment.
Ji Xu, his brows tightly furrowed, looked at Cheng Yue’s reflection in the car window, feeling heartbroken, “You…”
“I’m going… to buy a bottle of water,” Cheng Yue interrupted Ji Xu with a choked voice, turning his face away, which showed no expression, but his eyes were still red.
“Listen to me…” Before Ji Xu could finish his sentence, he saw Cheng Yue quickly push open the car door and jump out.
Ji Xu hurriedly followed, and as soon as he got out, he saw Cheng Yue, who had walked a short distance ahead, almost colliding with an approaching small electric scooter.
Cheng Yue, head down and walking fast, was about to crash into it.
“Cheng Yue!” Ji Xu’s eyes were reddened, and just as he wanted to rush over to pull Cheng Yue back, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.
Cheng Yue, hearing the voice but not having time to turn around, saw the small electric scooter abruptly stop next to him, just inches from his leg.
The woman on the scooter looked terrified, desperately patting her chest.
Cheng Yue wasn’t scared by the scooter. He intended to turn back and tell Ji Xu it was okay when he saw Ji Xu, who was supporting himself against the scooter, slowly kneeling down, looking weak.
Cheng Yue, frightened, ran over and quickly held him, “Ji Xu! Ji Xu!”
Ji Xu, supported by Cheng Yue, managed to slowly stand up, though his vision was still dark.
Seeing Ji Xu not speaking, Cheng Yue was so scared that his voice trembled as he hugged him, tears streaming down, “Ji Xu… don’t scare me…”
After Ji Xu’s vision cleared a bit, he looked at Cheng Yue, who was both crying and clinging to him, and felt both heartbroken and amused, “Why are you crying? I just got a bit dizzy.”
Seeing him finally speak, Cheng Yue’s tears flowed even more fiercely, “You scared me to death!”
“I’m fine.” Ji Xu embraced him back, gently comforting him.
Cheng Yue’s crying was not only due to worry about Ji Xu but also because of his recent state.
Although Cheng Yue usually seemed silly and carefree, he was actually very sensitive to the emotions of those around him. Despite trying to adjust himself in recent days, Cheng Yue must have noticed some of Ji Xu’s concerns.
Ji Xu understood this but had no way to change the current situation.
After Cheng Yue’s tears subsided, he wiped his face with his hand, sniffled, and lowered his head in embarrassment without speaking.
The incident of almost fainting in front of the car was one thing.
Ji Xu’s sudden attitude was also quite alarming to him. He was eagerly looking forward to a change in their relationship with excitement, but he never expected things to turn out like this.
He didn’t know what Ji Xu would say, but given Ji Xu’s recent behavior, he was sure it wouldn’t be anything good.
“Lift your head,” Ji Xu gently touched his ear. Seeing Cheng Yue not raising his head, he pinched his chin to force him to look up, “Did you bump into anything?”
Cheng Yue glanced at him, quickly turned his head back, shook it, and said, “Let’s go to the hospital.”
Ji Xu looked at him for a moment, knowing Cheng Yue wouldn’t leave anytime soon, so he nodded, “Ask the teacher for leave. We still need to eat later.”
At the hospital, Cheng Yue was so worried about Ji Xu’s condition that he forgot everything else. After registering, seeing the doctor, and starting an IV drip, Cheng Yue finally sat by the bed, watching Ji Xu lying there.
“I’m really fine,” Ji Xu reassured him, “It’s just a little recurring.”
Cheng Yue responded quietly, lowering his head, lost in thought.
After the IV drip, Ji Xu, feeling uncomfortable all over, was helped back to his room by Cheng Yue and fell asleep.
After Ji Xu was asleep, Cheng Yue slowly returned to his own room.
The next morning, Cheng Yue got up early to buy breakfast and then went to check Ji Xu’s bedroom.
He was still asleep.
As Cheng Yue approached quietly, Ji Xu, who had his eyes closed, opened them.
Seeing Ji Xu suddenly open his eyes, Cheng Yue stepped back, then approached and said, “I left breakfast on the table. If you’re not feeling well, just call me.”
Cheng Yue adjusted the blanket that had slipped off as he spoke.
“Okay.” Ji Xu squeezed his hand.
Cheng Yue felt a lump in his throat, and with his backpack on, went to school.
In recent days, both of them had been doing poorly, with barely any chance to meet.
Cheng Yue was catching up with his studies, working from early morning until nearly midnight.
Ji Xu had also been increasingly busy for some reason.
So, except for the mornings, they hardly saw each other. When Ji Xu came home in the evenings, Cheng Yue would hide in his room, not daring to come out.
Cheng Yue missed Ji Xu every night, wanting Ji Xu to hold him as usual, to pinch his ear, and to cuddle in his embrace.
Thinking about it made his heart ache.
As the pain grew, Cheng Yue couldn’t help but resent Ji Xu but also looked down on himself.
In the morning, Cheng Yue opened his bedroom door and almost bumped into Ji Xu, who was about to knock.
Cheng Yue was startled, stepping back and lowering his head, not daring to look at Ji Xu.
“Time for breakfast,” Ji Xu said, looking at the top of Cheng Yue’s head, sighing, and heading towards the dining table.
Cheng Yue stood in place for a moment before going to the dining table. After eating a bun, he was about to leave when Ji Xu grabbed him.
He couldn’t stay with Ji Xu right now. He was afraid he’d end up questioning Ji Xu, worried he might say things he shouldn’t.
“Eat more,” Ji Xu said, looking at Cheng Yue’s now sharp chin, feeling a pang of pity.
Cheng Yue had been thinning out over the past six months. He was already slim, and now that he was growing taller, there was no flesh left on his waist. Even the youthful roundness in his cheeks had disappeared, making him look pitiful and gaunt.
After Cheng Yue reluctantly finished the bowl of porridge, he took his backpack and went to school.
After Cheng Yue left, Ji Xu’s expression darkened as he dialed Tang Jing’s number.
Tang Jing answered the phone quickly.
“Hello,” Tang Jing said cheerfully, “So early, have you had breakfast?”
“How is the matter coming along?” Ji Xu asked normally, but his face looked troubled.
“Almost done,” Tang Jing replied, then sighed, “What’s this about? The kid is just a month away from turning 18. Why do you want to dissolve the adoption now…”
Before Cheng Yue finished school, he received a message from Ji Xu asking him to go home early due to some matter, which left him feeling dispirited.
After the teacher finished the class, he remained seated, not moving.
When the classroom was empty, he was about to pack his bag and leave when his phone rang.
He pulled out his phone from his bag and saw it was his mentor.
His mentor usually didn’t call without reason, so Cheng Yue quickly answered.
“Hello, mentor.”
“Mm, are you done with school?” Qi Kang asked.
“Yes,” Cheng Yue replied.
“I have an event here, and the ages are about the same. Are you interested in coming to try it out?”
Cheng Yue hesitated for a moment and asked, “How many days?”
“Three days,” Qi Kang answered.
Today is Friday, so going for three days means only needing to take Monday off.
Cheng Yue hesitated again and said, “I’ll ask my uncle.”
“Alright,” Qi Kang agreed with a smile, then asked how Cheng Yue had been and if he was working hard on his painting.
After Cheng Yue answered all the questions, they ended the call.
Looking at the dimmed screen, Cheng Yue took a deep breath and dialed Ji Xu’s number.
The call was answered quickly.
“Ji Xu.” Cheng Yue buried his head in his arm.
“Mm? Have you gone home?” Ji Xu asked.
“Yes.” Cheng Yue looked at his feet, then tentatively said, “My mentor has an event and wants me to come for three days.”
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Just as Cheng Yue’s hope, which had been on the edge of his fingertips, began to brighten, Ji Xu finally spoke.
“Mm, okay. Be careful,” Ji Xu said.
Cheng Yue closed his eyes, abruptly stood up from his seat, took a few deep breaths, and coldly responded before decisively hanging up the call.
Then, Cheng Yue, as if afraid he might regret it, quickly confirmed with his mentor and then requested a day off from Teacher Chen.
After finishing everything, Cheng Yue looked around the empty classroom and suddenly felt disheartened. After sniffing a bit, he weakly sat back down in his seat.
After hanging up the phone, Ji Xu’s expression darkened, causing everyone in the meeting room to be too scared to even breathe.
Recently, Ji Xu’s mood was off-limits to anyone, especially with the challenging cases he had taken on. The court case was coming up in two days.
“Alright, the meeting is over,” Ji Xu said with a wave of his hand.
Everyone in the meeting room sighed in relief and streamed out.
Ji Xu was usually stern and indifferent. Although many people, both male and female, tried to approach him because of his looks, no one dared to come near him these days.
Ji Xu’s cold demeanor conveyed an unapproachable attitude, even Tang Jing didn’t dare to bother him.
When Ji Xu came home from the office that evening, he saw Cheng Yue’s overstuffed backpack in a prominent spot in the living room. His gaze grew colder.
He knew exactly what Cheng Yue meant; he was well aware of Cheng Yue’s every move.
Ji Xu sat down on the sofa, frowned, and pulled out a cigarette, only to extinguish it halfway through.
He rummaged through Cheng Yue’s backpack, sighed, and then added a thicker coat into it.
Cheng Yue, barefoot, stood by the door, cautiously peeking through the gap to see a corner of the sofa in the living room.
When he heard the door open, he jumped off the bed, hoping to see if Ji Xu would try to keep him from leaving after seeing him pack his things.
With his feet freezing, and seeing that Ji Xu didn’t come into his room, Cheng Yue wiped his eyes, climbed into bed with a stiff neck, and covered himself.
The next morning, Cheng Yue stood in front of the bathroom mirror, feeling awkward as he looked at his swollen and slightly red eyes.
He had secretly cried a little last night, not expecting it to have this effect.
Ji Xu felt heartbroken seeing Cheng Yue in that state. After wiping Cheng Yue’s head, he suggested, “Shall I drive you?”
“My senior will come to pick me up,” Cheng Yue dodged Ji Xu’s hand and went downstairs with his backpack.
Ji Xu was left with his hand hanging.
After Cheng Yue received a call from his senior and went downstairs, Ji Xu followed him, and once Cheng Yue got in the car, he suddenly felt regretful.
He had planned to use the two days while Cheng Yue was away to adjust his own state, but seeing Cheng Yue looking so aggrieved made his heart ache.
But… he couldn’t even sort out his own feelings…
“Bye…” Cheng Yue waved stiffly at Ji Xu.
“Call me if you need anything. Be safe,” Ji Xu waved back with a smile.
As the car slowly drove away, Ji Xu’s expression turned colder, his eyes gradually forming a layer of frost.
During the two days Cheng Yue was away, Ji Xu’s mood was even more frightening. The opposing lawyer at the court hearing the next day was so intimidated that he stuttered.
Only after Tang Jing expedited the documents, throwing in extra money and connections, did Ji Xu’s mood improve slightly.
“What’s the point of this…” Tang Jing observed Ji Xu’s expression, “Pushing Cheng Yue away only makes you miserable. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but Ji Xu, I’ll say this one thing—if Cheng Yue leaves and doesn’t come back, what will you do?”
Ji Xu’s pupils constricted sharply as he looked up at Tang Jing. The tangled thoughts that had confused him for days were suddenly clarified by Tang Jing’s words.
What exactly was he doing?
If Cheng Yue left with someone else…
Ji Xu suddenly realized why he had started to feel afraid.
It wasn’t just because Cheng Yue was growing up, but more because Cheng Yue, as he grew up, was slowly drifting away from him, no longer needing him or relying on him.
He hated Cheng Yue’s lack of control.
What Ji Xu needed was Cheng Yue’s wholehearted devotion, and in the future, only to him.
There couldn’t be anyone else; Cheng Yue could only be his.
Even if Cheng Yue regretted it later, he would keep him bound and locked by his side.
If Cheng Yue wanted to run away, he would simply break his legs; he would raise Cheng Yue for a lifetime if needed.
That night, with Cheng Yue returning the next day, Ji Xu, barely able to stay awake, heard his phone on the bedside table ring.
Ji Xu squinted as he got up to check. Seeing it was Cheng Yue calling, he quickly answered.
Cheng Yue hadn’t called him in the past two days, and now it was late at night.
Ji Xu’s mind raced with thoughts, and after answering the call, he realized that Cheng Yue hadn’t said anything.
“Hello? Cheng Yue?” Ji Xu called.
There was still no response on the other end.
“Cheng Yue.” Ji Xu called out again, “What’s wrong?”
“Burp…” Cheng Yue suddenly burped on the other end and then laughed a couple of times, “Ji Xu…”
Hearing this, Ji Xu furrowed his brow, “Where are you? How much have you had to drink?”
“Ji Xu…” Cheng Yue mumbled again.
“What about your mentor and the others?” Ji Xu asked, “You…”
“Shut up!” Cheng Yue suddenly yelled on the phone.
Ji Xu: “…”
“How much did you drink…” Ji Xu’s question remained unfinished.
“You said to call if something was wrong. I have a problem now!” Cheng Yue sniffled, took a deep breath to steady himself, and then, with a stomach full of anger, started shouting into the phone, “I damn well like you! You did it on purpose! Pretending not to know! If you don’t like me, why do you care! You don’t even know how much I’m hurting!”
“I know…” Ji Xu was heartbroken by Cheng Yue’s crying.
“Know what!” Cheng Yue’s breath grew heavy, coughing a couple of times from choking on his own words, then his voice suddenly dropped, “You did it on purpose… You made me suffer… You don’t even know how sad I am…”
“I know.” Ji Xu’s eyes were also a bit red.
“Then… then… then you…” Cheng Yue blinked desperately, and as he listened to the prolonged silence on the phone, his heart sank lower.
After Cheng Yue burped again, he heard no response from the other end, slowly closed his eyes, and wrapped himself in the blanket.
After Ji Xu said those words and waited for a while with no response, he frowned, about to hang up, only to find the call had already ended.
Ji Xu, with a cold face, got out of bed, grabbed a coat, car keys, and the documents from the drawer, and headed out the door.
He walked out with an unsteady gait, bumping into the door and knocking over the coffee table along the way.
