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“I heard the guys in Room 402 went to the hospital today to borrow Ning Sui’s old phone.”
Yang Yanhuai bit into an apple, the crunch sharp in the quiet dorm room, and rolled his eyes in disdain.
“So what if they lost a phone? Just buy another one. Why go through the trouble of borrowing one? You can practically smell the poverty on them.”
That day, when the limited-edition luxury car had appeared, still lingered in his mind like a shadow. That car had stolen every ounce of attention, leaving him humiliated and completely eclipsed.
Ning Yuanming and Xu Tianxing might have already brushed off that memory but to Yang Yanhuai, that moment had been the brightest, most glorious highlight of his entire college life, until it had ended in utter disgrace.
Ever since then, any scrap of gossip involving Room 402 immediately caught his attention. He could not resist listening.
He could not compare to Ning Yuanming or Xu Tianxing in family background or social standing, yet he was still wealthy enough to look down upon Fang Dacheng and Cao Nuo with casual superiority.
Ning Yuanming, however, showed no interest in any of the rumors swirling around Ning Sui’s roommates. There was only one person he cared to hear about, Ning Sui himself.
“They went to the hospital?” he asked suddenly, his expression changing.
Was Ji Yucheng’s condition worsening again?
He had just returned from overseas treatment, and now he was back in the hospital?
If this had been the previous time, Ning Sui’s constant company might have been understandable, a dutiful spouse caring for her ailing husband.
But now, to still be trailing after him every minute of the day? That was nothing like the Ning Sui he remembered.
When Ning Sui had dated Ji Zhilin, he had never hovered or clung like this, not even when Ji Zhilin was away for basketball tournaments.
And that cheerful, radiant post Ning Sui had made on his social feed recently…
A wild, uneasy suspicion began to stir in Ning Yuanming’s chest.
The more he thought about it, the more restless he became, until curiosity grew into a burning need to confirm the truth with his own eyes.
“I’m going out,” he muttered, grabbing his jacket before striding toward the door.
Ever since Ji Yucheng had fallen into a coma, he had been kept hidden away in the Ji family’s old mansion, guarded like a priceless treasure by the old patriarch.
No one outside the family was ever allowed to visit. Seeing him in person was almost impossible.
But now that he was at the hospital, perhaps there would finally be a chance to see something, to uncover what was really going on.
When Ning Yuanming stepped out of the cab, he immediately noticed a familiar car pulling into the parking lot. It was Ji Zhilin’s.
Just a few days apart, yet Ji Zhilin already looked different, off, even. His usually refined and composed face appeared pale and drawn, and even his normally immaculate appearance was slightly disheveled.
Their eyes met across the distance. Ji Zhilin clearly had not expected to see Ning Yuanming there, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
Feeling awkward, Ning Yuanming forced a polite smile and walked forward. “Lin ge, you came to visit your brother?”
Ji Zhilin frowned slightly. “I caught a cold. I’m here to get medicine.” Then, after a pause, he added, “Ji Yucheng came in for tests today too?”
He could not even bring himself to say the words “big brother” anymore. Every time he thought of Ji Yucheng, he was reminded of Ning Sui’s sharp, merciless words and that humiliating moment when he had been blocked and dismissed.
Ning Yuanming, of course, was not about to admit that he had come here purely out of curiosity. He nodded quickly. “Yeah, I wasn’t feeling great either, so I came for a check-up.”
“Oh,” Ji Zhilin said indifferently.
From where the two of them stood, they had a clear view through the glass panel of the ward, able to see everything Ning Sui was doing inside.
Perhaps it was unintentional, or perhaps because Ning Sui’s fingers had brushed that pale skin too many times, but Ji Yucheng’s neck, visible above the edge of the hospital gown had turned faintly red.
“……”
Ji Yucheng had lain untouched and unseen by outsiders for years. This was the first time Ji Zhilin and Ning Yuanming had ever witnessed what Ning Sui’s “care” for him truly looked like.
It was nothing like the frantic or pitiful scene one might imagine. Ning Sui’s movements were calm, capable, yet unmistakably intimate, possessive, even.
When he noticed the flush spreading across the back of Ji Yucheng’s neck, Ning Sui’s fingers paused for a moment, then pressed lightly against the spot with a hint of amusement, kneading it with deliberate gentleness.
Just as Ji Zhilin and Ning Yuanming were trying to convince themselves that what they had seen must have been a trick of the light, that surely Ning Sui would now withdraw his hand, he moved again.
This time, his fingers trailed upward, brushing softly along Ji Yucheng’s ear. His touch was tender, lingering, indulgent, almost as if he were reluctant to stop.
And then, both hands joined in.
Ji Zhilin: “…”
Ning Yuanming: “…”
The two men could only stare, dumbfounded, as Ning Sui carefully helped the butler lift Ji Yucheng into the back seat of the car.
Just before the window closed, they caught one last glimpse, Ning Sui lowering the unconscious man’s head against the curve of his own neck, pressing his lips lightly to Ji Yucheng’s hair, holding him close with almost desperate protectiveness, as if terrified the man might bump or bruise.
And at the very last instant, before the window shut completely, they saw Ning Sui’s hand slip under Ji Yucheng’s coat.
They could not tell exactly what he intended to do, but judging from the motion, it seemed very much like he meant to continue what he had been doing moments before.
Both men: “…”
The Ji family’s car drove away, leaving the two of them standing in the cold wind, completely dazed, their mouths hanging open in stunned silence.
Apart from that single incident in front of the villa, Ji Zhilin had never actually seen Ning Sui and Ji Yucheng together in person.
That time, with the old master present, Ning Sui had said a few ambiguous words, but there had been no such excessive intimacy. Even that kiss back then had felt deliberate, more like defiance than genuine affection.
Because of that, Ji Zhilin’s inner defenses had remained intact. He had always told himself that whatever Ning Sui said or posted online might not be real.
But now…
Now what on earth was Ning Sui doing?
Ji Zhilin’s mind went completely blank, his thoughts scattering in disbelief.
It was Ning Yuanming who spoke first. “…Did Ning Sui ever treat you like that before?”
The question instantly darkened Ji Zhilin’s expression.
Yes, back when Ning Sui had still been his lover, he had been attentive and sweet but at most they had held hands, shared a few hugs. Nothing like this. Nothing remotely close to what they had just witnessed.
Ji Zhilin could not even describe the feeling twisting in his chest. His heart clenched, part pain, part humiliation, part something he refused to name.
Ning Yuanming pressed again, his voice quieter now. “When you came back from the old house two days ago, you looked completely lost. Did Ning Sui say something to you?”
Ji Zhilin did not respond. His jaw tightened; the color drained from his face, turning pale, then ashen, then white again.
Without warning, he turned on his heel, yanked open the car door, got in, and drove away without another word.
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[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · The WeddingChapter 2 · New Target!Chapter 3 · Moved OnChapter 4 · Personal Information of Ji YuchengChapter 5 · Liked Ji Yucheng for 3 Years?!Chapter 6 · Love Rival?!Chapter 7 · Domineering PossessivenessChapter 8 · Obviously Very CuteChapter 9 Part 1 · Can’t be SeperatedChapter 9 Part 2 · Can’t be SeperatedChapter 10 · A blonde Guy…Chapter 11 · Dangerously Close to love?Chapter 12 · Confrontation with Ji ZhilinChapter 13 · Accidental DiscoveryChapter 14 · System 009 upgradedChapter 15 · Battery charging!Chapter 16 · Young Master was MiserableChapter 17 · Did Ning Sui treat you like this before?Chapter 18 · Was this what happened last night before you went to bed?Chapter 19 · He really got to the bottom of thisChapter 20 Part 1 · Don’t look at him, he was shocked too!Chapter 20 Part 2 · Don’t look at him, he was shocked too!Chapter 21 · Because I like it so muchChapter 22 Part 1 · Pull up your pantsChapter 22 Part 2 · Pull up your pantsChapter 23 · Why does it sound like he’s jealousChapter 24 Part 1 · I will protect himChapter 24 Part 2 · I will protect himChapter 25 · He’s quite gentleChapter 26 · Young Master Ji suddenly started to stutterChapter 27 · Ning Sui’s timeChapter 28 Part 1 · They ran away as soon as they were scaredChapter 28 Part 2 · They ran away as soon as they were scaredChapter 29 Part 1 · Are you looking for death?Chapter 29 Part 2 · Are you looking for death?Chapter 30 · Hurry up and say your last wordsChapter 31 · Ji Yucheng collapsed into his armsChapter 32 · Mr. Ji, I never expected you to be such a good person.Chapter 33 · He’s so well-behaved when He sleeps…Chapter 34 · His expression was incredibly varied in an instantChapter 35 · How could it be Ning Sui?Chapter 36 · Does the young wife only like people in a vegetative state?Chapter 37 · State-based controlChapter 38 · The young master was so happy he dropped his phoneChapter 39 · You were 37 minutes lateChapter 40 · I don’t plan to get a divorce.Chapter 41 · Otherwise, would it be your turn?Chapter 42 · Both perverted and cuteChapter 43 · If they sneak away again, I’ll hold them even tighterChapter 44 · I sprained my ankle tooChapter 45 · A cat jumping on a lion’s head to play with fire.Chapter 46 · Your young master has fainted!Chapter 47 · Sui Sui, come downChapter 48 · Are you going to lock me in there?Chapter 49 Part 1 · I love you, Ning SuiChapter 49 Part 2 · I love you, Ning SuiChapter 50 · Give the snowman a heartChapter 51 · Miss you.Chapter 52 · To hold in one’s mouthChapter 53 · You are in the cloudsChapter 54 · Ning Sui hugged him for the first timeChapter 55 · Can you sit on my lap?Chapter 56 · It’s either you or it’s not.Chapter 57 · From this moment on, I am your vegetableChapter 58 · Young Ji YuchengChapter 59 · They kiss tirelessly.Chapter 60 · RipplingChapter 61 · You want to compare this?!Chapter 62 · It’s 001!Chapter 63 · I like everything about it.Chapter 64 · It seems to have been filled up a little more.Chapter 65 · Wedding rings should be exchanged between the couple.Chapter 66 · Love-struckChapter 67 · Why can’t we even be apart for a day?Chapter 68 · PerfectChapter 69 · A lifelong contract was madeChapter 70 · Extra 1Chapter 71 · Extra 2Chapter 72 · Extra 3Chapter 73 · Extra 4Chapter 74 · Extra 5Chapter 75 · Extra 6Chapter 76 · Extra 7Chapter 77 · Extra 8Chapter 78 · Extra 9Chapter 79 · Extra 10Chapter 80 · Extra 11Chapter 81 · Extra 12Chapter 82 · Extra 13Chapter 83 · Extra 14