The sharp and overwhelming pressure that Jin Cixu had exuded yesterday had completely dissipated. His simple hoodie and trousers made him look like a student who hadn’t yet entered society, and his deep eyes lit up noticeably the moment he saw Shi Jiufeng.
Shi Jiufeng gave a slight nod, averted his gaze, and glanced at the parking lot outside the hospital entrance.
Wu Chang’an was smoking a cigarette while chatting with a hospital cleaning staff member. His occasional upward glances filled Shi Jiufeng with the nervous tension that he might be discovered at any second.
Although urgency filled his heart, Shi Jiufeng had no choice but to exchange a few polite pleasantries with Jin Cixu.
Shi Jiufeng: Are you feeling unwell?
Jin Cixu smiled lightly: It’s nothing serious.
Thinking that the small talk could end there, Shi Jiufeng prepared to excuse himself and leave, but Jin Cixu opened the floodgates of conversation.
I just returned to the country yesterday, and before I could even get over my jet lag, I was dragged to a company meeting. After leaving your place last night, I originally wanted to sleep, but my grandfather called me over to question me. I didn’t get back until almost dawn, and as a result, I haven’t been able to sleep ever since.
Jin Cixu’s casual, conversational attitude was so natural that it seemed as though they were already the kind of people who could share such intimate details.
His tone carried a faint, lingering hint of grievance, as if he were saying: I’m so exhausted, I’m so tired, why aren’t you coming to care for me yet?
A month ago, Shi Jiufeng would have been able to put on a show and offer a few empty, harmless expressions of concern.
But now, after nearly a month without properly communicating with anyone, facing this completely unnecessary interaction left Shi Jiufeng standing stiffly in place.
He had a mental script prepared in his mind, but those words turned to saliva the moment they reached his lips, only to be swallowed back down.
He couldn’t say a single thing.
Jin Cixu didn’t mind receiving no response and chattered on: Maybe it’s because I started doing business before I even graduated and have been working at high intensity for so many years. They’ve already gotten used to this work rhythm and forgotten that I also need time to rest.
With that, Jin Cixu looked expectantly at Shi Jiufeng, hoping he would catch the underlying hint in his words and realize that, compared to the incompetent playboy Ling Xiao, he was the one truly worth choosing.
Shi Jiufeng didn’t catch any of that. He only thought that Jin Cixu truly lived up to his reputation for building such a massive business, his mouth was genuinely talented at talking.
If only he had a mouth as eloquent as that.
Shi Jiufeng’s lips parted, searching his mind and forcing his mouth and vocal cords to activate as he said, Oh, oh, then you…
Shi Jiufeng looked out toward the exterior once again.
Wu Chang’an had finished talking with the elderly cleaner and was looking up at the upper floors. The hospital building used one-way anti-peeping glass, and Shi Jiufeng knew Wu Chang’an couldn’t possibly see anything from down there.
Yet for someone desperate to escape, that single action was enough to pull the alarm bells.
Withdrawing his gaze, Shi Jiufeng continued, How exhausting.
Jin Cixu reserved a fraction of his mind to ponder whether Shi Jiufeng’s remark counted as praise or an affirmation of his capabilities.
The rest of his attention, however, was entirely focused on Shi Jiufeng’s visibly tense expression.
Jin Cixu acutely sensed that, whether last night or right now, Shi Jiufeng’s mental state was far too high-strung.
It could practically be described as treating him like a formidable enemy.
On the surface, Shi Jiufeng was conversing with him normally, but Jin Cixu could feel that he was being kept entirely in the position of an opponent.
Jin Cixu had no time to feel heartbroken over this, nor did he believe that his previous brazen proposal to act as a homewrecker had frightened the other man.
Yet, whatever the real reason might be, Jin Cixu had no clue at the moment.
When Shi Jiufeng glanced toward the parking lot outside once more, Jin Cixu furrowed his brows.
Jin Cixu probed cautiously: Is someone watching you?
Shi Jiufeng’s heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t fathom how Jin Cixu had discovered this, nor could he understand the purpose behind Jin Cixu pointing it out.
He looked at the other man with vigilance, every trace of emotion instantly draining from his golden-brown eyes, leaving behind only endless coldness and scrutiny.
Jin Cixu noticed that Shi Jiufeng’s thin, rosy lips moved slightly as if wanting to speak, but after his Adam’s apple bobbed, nothing came out.
This was hardly the time to worry about good manners.
Based on what he understood of Shi Jiufeng, even if he couldn’t bring himself to dish out a slap or hurl insults, he should have at least coldly demanded: Are you a pervert? Why are you paying so much attention to me?
Shi Jiufeng should have questioned him like that, or perhaps been even fiercer, cursed at him, or told him to get lost.
Before returning to the country, Jin Cixu had prepared himself for such a reaction. Explanations had already been formulated in his mind, and he hadn’t expected to be left without a chance to voice them.
A myriad of questions popped up in Jin Cixu’s head, but rather than demanding answers on the spot, he chose to soothe Shi Jiufeng first.
When a person experiences extreme tension, the body’s other organs trigger chain reactions. Shi Jiufeng had thinned down to almost no weight; his physical body clearly couldn’t withstand those negative tolls.
Fumbling inside his hoodie pocket, Jin Cixu found a thin ID card and slipped it right into Shi Jiufeng’s hand.
Shi Jiufeng was startled. What on earth was this man doing? What did handing his ID card over mean?
Completely unable to analyze Jin Cixu’s motives, Shi Jiufeng naturally had no idea how to react.
Jin Cixu spoke up: Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. You can trust me. Tell me, is someone outside monitoring you?
Clutching the thin ID card in the palm of his hand, its razor-sharp edge pressed a clear indent into his skin. Shi Jiufeng lifted his gaze to look at the tall man standing before him.
His younger brother’s critical condition forced him to temporarily put aside his contemplation of Jin Cixu’s bizarre behavior. From this single gesture of handing over an ID card, he could only deduce that Jin Cixu probably wasn’t a bad person.
What villain hands over their identity card before bullying someone?
After a moment of thought, Shi Jiufeng asked, Did you… drive here today?
Inextricably, Jin Cixu once again noticed the unnatural pauses in his speech. He nodded, his deep pupils brimming with sincerity.
Softening his tone as if coaxing a child, Jin Cixu said, My driver brought me. Where are you heading? Would you like me to take you?
Shi Jiufeng’s original intention had merely been to have Jin Cixu’s driver distract Wu Chang’an’s attention to buy himself a little more time.
Yet Jin Cixu’s offer provided him with an entirely new path.
The private hospital was located in the city center, while the Shi family residence was out in the suburbs. Suburban orders were scarce, and virtually no drivers were willing to take such trips. Shi Jiufeng had placed an order the moment he entered the elevator, but up until now, not a single driver had accepted it.
If Jin Cixu truly wasn’t a bad person, then surely he could ride in Jin Cixu’s car to go home, right?
Shi Jiufeng asked, Didn’t you need to see a doctor?
Jin Cixu smiled faintly: It’s nothing major. I’ll drop you off first; coming back to see the doctor afterward is the same.
Gripping Jin Cixu’s ID card tightly, Shi Jiufeng said, I want to go home. After a slight pause, he added, Not the Ling family’s place. My own home.
Shi Jiufeng harbored no certainty that Jin Cixu would actually agree. Strictly speaking, he and Jin Cixu had only met twice, they couldn’t even be counted as friends.
Yet Jin Cixu replied, Alright, I’ll take you out right now.
Shi Jiufeng quickly said, No, you can’t.
Jin Cixu raised his gaze: What’s wrong?
Without elaborating, Shi Jiufeng only said, I’ll wait for you at the side entrance.
Nodding once, Jin Cixu turned and walked out through the revolving doors of the main entrance.
Watching him exit the hospital, Shi Jiufeng hurried toward the side exit.
Standing within the shadows of the side door for a few minutes, a matching-plate Maybach steadily pulled up outside.
As soon as Shi Jiufeng settled into the back seat and the driver asked for the address, the privacy partition between the front and back rows rose smoothly.
The comfort of a customized Maybach’s seating far exceeded that of a Bentley, especially once the privacy partition was up.
Jin Cixu remained quiet, not even casting a single glance at Shi Jiufeng from beginning to end.
This feeling of complete liberation from anyone’s scrutiny allowed Shi Jiufeng to genuinely relax.
With his taut nerves relaxing just at the right moment, Shi Jiufeng’s rationality gradually returned.
Turning his head toward Jin Cixu, who was resting his eyes with them closed, he handed back the ID card he had been clutching for so long.
Mr. Jin, this is your identification.
Waving a hand dismissively, Jin Cixu said, I don’t need it right now. Keep it for me for the time being, and you can return it the next time we meet.
With that, Jin Cixu closed his eyes again, his breathing steady and deep, evidently fast asleep.
Remembering his mention of a hectic schedule and extreme fatigue over the past couple of days, Shi Jiufeng had no choice but to tuck the card into his own pocket.
The Maybach cruised steadily down the expressway. Amidst the quiet atmosphere, a wave of drowsiness slowly crept over Shi Jiufeng. Just as his eyelids were about to shut, a certain nerve deep inside his brain throbbed with a dull, fierce pain.
His muscles tightened violently, waking him up instantly.
Staring blankly at the back of the front seat, Shi Jiufeng’s gaze slowly lost focus, becoming dull and lifeless.
This entire sequence was seen clearly by Jin Cixu, whose arms crossed over his chest curled inward quietly.
Just what on earth was wrong with Shi Jiufeng?
More than an hour later, the Maybach came to a halt outside Shi Jiufeng’s house.
The vacant look in Shi Jiufeng’s eyes cleared up the moment the vehicle stopped. He turned to look at Jin Cixu.
Slowly opening his eyes with the demeanor of someone just waking up, Jin Cixu asked, We’ve arrived?
Nodding, Shi Jiufeng murmured, Thank you, Mr. Jin.
Jin Cixu asked, You’re not going to take my car back later?
Shaking his head, Shi Jiufeng replied, I’ll just take my father’s car.
Hearing this, Jin Cixu didn’t press further. Once Shi Jiufeng stepped out of the vehicle, he instructed the driver to pull away.
Watching the Maybach turn the corner, Shi Jiufeng exhaled a turbid breath and turned to enter his family’s front gate.
No sooner had Shi Jiufeng stepped inside than the departing Maybach reversed back into view. Through the lowered car window were Jin Cixu’s eyes, brimming with dark shadows.
Jin Cixu commanded: Call Jiang Youming and tell him to come back immediately.
The driver, Gao Dahe, acknowledged instantly: Understood, sir.
Gao Dahe asked: Are we still going to the hospital?
Jin Cixu answered: No. There was no point in going if he couldn’t see Shi Jiufeng anyway; why waste the time?
Lowering his voice in compliance, Gao Dahe asked, Should we leave now, then?
Remaining silent, Jin Cixu gave no orders, so Gao Dahe didn’t dare drive off, choosing simply to wait.
Inside the Shi household at that moment:
Shi Jiufeng stood in the living room, staring at an embarrassed-looking Shi Yinghan alongside a woman hastily putting her clothes back on beside him.
Shi Jiufeng recognized the woman: Fang Weixi, Shi Yinghan’s former art model.
The blood in Shi Jiufeng’s body nearly froze solid. Countless accusations and a raging fury failed to find a logical outlet, trapping themselves tightly in his chest and making even breathing difficult.
His younger brother was hovering on the brink of death, he himself was enduring mental abuse at the Ling household, and Shi Yinghan, the one person who should have protected this home, was fooling around with someone right inside the house.
Once Fang Weixi finished dressing, Shi Jiufeng asked, When did this start?
Not daring to meet his son’s eyes, Shi Yinghan wore an awkward expression and said, Not long ago.
With absolute disbelief, Fang Weixi widened her eyes: Shi Yinghan, things have reached this point and you’re still lying?
Frowning, Shi Yinghan retorted, What do you mean by lying? It hasn’t been long at all, stop talking nonsense!
Gritting his teeth, Shi Jiufeng demanded: Just how long has it been?
Fang Weixi yelled: Three years!
Shi Yinghan argued: One month!
The two of them spat out completely contradictory answers; the truth behind them needed no further elaboration.
Shi Jiufeng let out a sudden, bitter laugh, but this self-deprecating smile lasted only a few seconds before vanishing as if retracted.
The forcibly suppressed emotions caused his nerves to throb with dull agony once more, while a tightening knot in his stomach instinctively made him want to curl inward.
Yet under the long-term conditioning of Shen Biyun and Ling Xiao, in order to maintain his final shred of dignity and decorum, Shi Jiufeng had long since grown accustomed to keeping his spine straight under any circumstance.
Thus, at this very moment, he couldn’t even bring himself any comfort.
Suppressing every ounce of emotion by force, Shi Jiufeng compelled himself to speak: Starting today, you must go to the hospital to see my brother every single day.
Finishing that single sentence, Shi Jiufeng endured a burning sensation in his throat, spun around quickly, and strode out of the house, leaving behind Fang Weixi’s furious reprimands directed at Shi Yinghan.
Standing outside in the yard, Shi Jiufeng took deep, ragged breaths.
This was a quiet upscale community with few passing pedestrians, and Shi Jiufeng knew it was safe here.
His pale knuckles hooked tightly against the courtyard wall, and he rested his forehead against the back of his hand, facing the grayish-white surface. Even the heavens had no business witnessing such a wretched moment.
Suddenly, his heaving shoulders were draped with a jacket. The warm and heavy sensation made Shi Jiufeng jerk his head up, crashing straight into Jin Cixu’s obscure, unfathomable gaze.
Jin Cixu stared intently at him, and those unnameable emotions crept along his gaze like wild, growing vines, slowly wrapping around Shi Jiufeng’s heart and binding it tightly.
Shi Jiufeng didn’t know whether those vines were biding their time to crush this heart completely into dust, or transforming into an indestructible shell to gently protect it instead.
Experience told Shi Jiufeng that the former outcome was far more likely.
Yet his experience had never once proven true when it came to Jin Cixu.
Whether this was because Jin Cixu was simply harder to deal with, or because Jin Cixu genuinely harbored no ulterior motives, Shi Jiufeng had no way of judging.
After all, he and Jin Cixu really weren’t close.
Two chance encounters, they couldn’t even be called friends.
Looking straight into Shi Jiufeng’s eyes, Jin Cixu said with utmost earnestness: Why do you always suffer alone?
Let me be your lover. I’ll make every single thing that causes you pain disappear.
Shi Jiufeng’s heart skipped a heavy beat.