Ji Tan walked over and slowly wrapped his arms around Zhou Wenbai’s waist. It was not an illusion; Zhou Wenbai had become alarmingly thin.
“Dr. Zhou, have you eaten?”
Golden light danced in Ji Tan’s hair, and his fair, soft skin radiated a warm, sunny fragrance that drifted into Zhou Wenbai’s breath, heating the blood throughout his body. Zhou Wenbai raised his hand to Ji Tan’s shoulder, his thumb rubbing against it. “Tuan Tuan, why did you come over?”
Ji Tan lifted his small face. “Didn’t we agree last night that I would bring you lunch today? Besides, the rings arrived.”
Zhou Wenbai’s expression did not change in the slightest as he naturally replied, “I am sorry, Tuan Tuan, I was so busy with work that I forgot.”
Ji Tan was tolerant. “It is okay.”
“The rings have arrived, then?” Zhou Wenbai bent his knuckles to rub Ji Tan’s soft, tender cheek. “I will go pick them up after I get off work.”
“Zhou She already went to get them.” Ji Tan imitated Zhou Wenbai, stroking his thin cheek. “Dr. Zhou, do not work too hard.”
Zhou Wenbai felt Ji Tan’s soft fingers resting against his face. He leaned his head against them, then took Ji Tan’s hand and lowered it. “It will be better in a few days.”
Ji Tan nodded trustingly. “That is perfect, because it will be your birthday in a few days. You can take a break.”
“Right. I will take a leave of absence then, and we will have a proper meal together, Tuan Tuan.” Zhou Wenbai reached around to pull away Ji Tan’s other arm from his waist, holding it as he pulled back. “But for now, Dr. Zhou has to continue working.”
Ji Tan was pulled back, and even his slow-moving nerves sensed something wrong with Zhou Wenbai’s cold detachment. Ji Tan seemed oblivious. “I will not disturb your work. I will prepare a wonderful birthday gift for you.”
Zhou Wenbai’s fingertips curled as he gazed into Ji Tan’s light-colored pupils. He hummed in response.
“I didn’t wait for you, Tuan Tuan. I already ate at noon.” Zhou Wenbai apologized again. “I am sorry to have troubled you to make the trip for nothing.”
Ji Tan was busy staring fiercely at Ji Enyi, who was occupying the insulated food container, trying to force him to concede and return the food through a battle of wills.
“It is fine that you ate.” Ji Tan felt relieved. “Then I will go first.”
“Alright.”
Zhou Wenbai did not have time to see him off, and Ji Tan did not think to call Zhou She. He hailed a random taxi and headed back. He just had not expected something to go wrong even then. The ride-sharing car deviated from Ji Tan’s destination and turned toward the Ji family villa. Ji Tan did not know whether he should get out.
The car door clicked open, and Ji Yunxin climbed into the back seat, sitting beside Ji Tan. Ji Yunxin waved at the driver in the front seat. “You can get off work now.” The driver stopped the vehicle, got out, and left.
“Older brother, is there something you need?”
Ji Yunxin’s handsome face lacked a bit of its usual gentleness, replaced by a vague and indefinable sense of danger, making Ji Tan alert like a small animal.
“Tuan Tuan, you called me older brother?” Surprise flashed in Ji Yunxin’s eyes. “You have never called me that before.”
Ji Tan pressed himself against the car door. Ji Yunxin gave a dry laugh. “Tuan Tuan, why are you so afraid of me? Have I ever hurt you? When you were little, weren’t you the one who always bullied me?”
Ji Tan frowned, his tone both regretful and seemingly not. “I knew I was wrong. After Mom stopped me, I never did it again.”
Used to Ji Tan’s reaction, Ji Yunxin sighed. “Tuan Tuan, do you know that you are not actually obedient at all?”
“When Ji Yuan told you something was wrong or shouldn’t be done, you put on an expression of knowing your mistakes, but in reality, you never understood why what you did was wrong.”
“You are just a doll trapped within the framework Ji Yuan set for you.” Ji Yunxin ignored Ji Tan’s confused gaze, a curve forming on his lips. “Just like now, you don’t understand what I am saying.”
“Ji Yuan told you to stay away from Ji Enyi, so even though he was deathly ill, you wouldn’t spend a single cent on him. Ji Yuan told you that what you did to me was wrong, so you felt you were a bad child.” Ji Yunxin shook his head as if witnessing Ji Tan’s fate. “Tuan Tuan, you will live under Ji Yuan’s shackles for the rest of your life.”
But what could be done about that? Ji Tan was too easily deceived, could not distinguish right from wrong, and could be easily incited to do bad things. No one protected him. Ji Tan’s father only wanted a child; after his father died, he was kicked into the Ji family like a ball. They all knew Ji Tan had psychological issues, and they chose to distance themselves rather than educate him.
Ji Tan grew up freely beyond control, yet a sapling that was warped at the roots could not grow straight; once he crossed the boundaries of law and morality, he would be uprooted. Ji Yuan adopted Ji Tan, deprived him of the right to choose, forcefully and domineeringly straightened him out, and strictly confined him within a small space. Ji Tan would pass his life safely according to Ji Yuan’s plans, though there would be other costs. One cannot have everything; Ji Yuan’s cold restrictions sometimes became Ji Tan’s bondage.
“I do not feel that is a bad thing.” Ji Tan’s gaze was clear and firm. Ji Tan had been raised by Ji Yuan, enjoying the material support and care she provided, and he also accepted the unavoidable drawbacks she brought. Ji Tan accepted everything about Ji Yuan entirely; he did not feel it was bad, and he did not want to disobey her by even a single step.
“I knew it would be like this.” A satisfied smile appeared on Ji Yunxin’s face, and he finally stated his purpose. “So, Tuan Tuan, since Aunt Ji told you that you must choose someone recognized by both families to marry, you will follow that, too, right?”
Ji Tan sensed something strange about Ji Yunxin, but he nodded anyway. Ji Yunxin’s smile widened, as if he were genuinely considering Ji Tan’s best interests. “Good Tuan Tuan. From now on, do not see Zhou Wenbai again. Aunt Zhong will never agree to you marrying him.”
“If you marry Zhou Wenbai, you will be violating Aunt Ji’s wishes.” Ji Yunxin lowered his voice. “Tuan Tuan, there are many other choices who are good to you and do not violate Aunt’s wishes.”
A sense of strangeness crossed Ji Tan’s mind; his fingers silently searched for the door handle, and he pulled it hard. The car door remained motionless.
“Tuan Tuan, the car doors are locked. Can’t you talk to me properly?” Ji Yunxin looked at Ji Tan, who was trying to avoid him, and said disappointedly, “You are always unwilling to spend time with me.”
Ji Yunxin reached out and grabbed Ji Tan’s slender wrist, pulling him into his arms without allowing for refusal. The sunny, sweet fragrance of Ji Tan’s body drifted to Ji Yunxin’s nose, making him smile heartily. “Tuan Tuan, I rarely have the opportunity to be alone with you so quietly.”
“Older brother.” Ji Tan did not accept Ji Yunxin’s words, struggling against the wrist that was being held painfully by Ji Yunxin. “Let me go.”
Ji Yunxin’s eyes darkened for a moment, and he held Ji Tan in his arms regardless of his struggle. His arms held Ji Tan’s waist tightly, and the intimate contact made Ji Yunxin’s heart throb. Ji Yunxin held him close, his nose resting against Ji Tan’s soft, thin shoulder, sighing. “Tuan Tuan, when you were little, you didn’t acknowledge me as your brother. Why do you acknowledge me now that you are grown up?”
Ji Tan was truly creeped out, as if he had been coiled by a cold, slimy venomous snake.
Ji Yunxin’s gentle face showed a hint of reproach, as if he were dealing with an unreasonable and willful child. “You cannot be like this. You know what I am about to say, and you use the word ‘brother’ to brush me off.”
523: “Is Ji Yunxin also code that you compiled? He is obsessive to this degree.”
Ji Tan replied, “No, the code I compile is normal.”
“Ji Yunxin, let me go.” Ji Tan’s clear, glass-like eyes welled with water, and his white, soft cheeks flushed red as he avoided Ji Yunxin’s face, which was drawing closer.
“Tuan Tuan, brother won’t do anything.” Ji Yunxin’s fingers brushed against Ji Tan’s soft cheeks; his expression was disturbing, but his actions were intimate and lingering. “Brother just wants to hold you, just like you hold Zhou Wenbai every time, acting spoiled and clingy, pressing your face against his.”
“Missioner, please note that the game does not support incest,” 523 warned. “Even if you have no blood relation to Ji Yunxin, it is still not allowed.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
523’s current crackled: “I did not mean that. I am just telling you that the person who is here to save you has arrived.”
Slap. As soon as 523 finished speaking, Ji Yunxin’s head was knocked to the side. Ji Tan had not even recovered from the numbness in his palm.
Clang. The locked car door was pried open by Zhou She, whose face was as dark as water. Zhou She scanned Ji Tan’s body; finding no injuries, his rationality returned slightly. He kicked Ji Yunxin away and bent down to carry Ji Tan out of the car. Zhou She held Ji Tan with lingering fear, pressing his face against Ji Tan’s cheek, his heart finally settling. “I will take you away.”
Ji Tan obediently wrapped his arms around Zhou She’s shoulders. Zhou She’s car was not far away; he placed Ji Tan in the passenger seat and soothingly touched Ji Tan’s head. “Were you scared?”
Ji Tan shook his head. “No.”
“Stay here obediently, I am going to vent some anger for you.” Zhou She’s cold, hard brows were grave. “Ji Yunxin is a lunatic.”
Ji Tan’s gaze flickered as he saw Zhou She return to Ji Yunxin’s car and pick up the iron rod he had just dropped. Ji Tan looked away and did not watch.
“I remember you saying you weren’t scared?” 523 asked hesitantly. “Then why is he venting anger? Can’t he understand human language?”
Ji Tan did not answer 523’s boring remark, but asked, “Was that Zhou Wenbai or Zhou She just now?”
523: “The code is exactly the same; even a system like me that runs on code cannot tell them apart.”
Ji Tan fell silent. He felt as if he could tell Zhou Wenbai and Zhou She apart.
Five minutes later, Zhou She returned to the driver’s seat. He glanced at the listless Ji Tan beside him, reached over, gripped his waist, and lifted him onto his lap. Ji Tan looked at Zhou She’s face and blinked.
“I am sorry, I should have taken a leave of absence to send you back.” Zhou She kissed Ji Tan’s forehead and soothingly touched his cheek, admonishing him: “If I don’t send you next time, you must call Zhou She, do you understand?”
Confusion flashed in Ji Tan’s eyes. Zhou She was oblivious, supporting the back of Ji Tan’s head and pressing it into his neck, his warm palm gently rubbing his spine. “Be good, it is alright now.”
He had overestimated himself; he still hadn’t recognized the right one. Ji Tan relaxed his body and lay honestly in Zhou She’s arms.
Zhou She held Ji Tan for a while, and seeing that Ji Tan’s state had stabilized, he put him in the passenger seat and drove him back. Zhou She settled Ji Tan and then called Zhou Wenbai. After Zhou She briefly described Ji Tan’s encounter, the other end of the line fell silent.
“Are you listening?” Zhou She could not help but frown, reminding Zhou Wenbai to speak.
“Zhou She.” Zhou Wenbai’s voice came through the radio waves, sounding cold and weary. “You help me take care of Tuan Tuan for a while.”
Zhou She’s jaw tightened, and he questioned him: “You aren’t coming back?”
Another long silence.
“You help me take care of him.” Zhou Wenbai seemed to pause. “Anyway, he cannot tell you and me apart.”
“Zhou Wenbai, are you sick?” Zhou She suppressed his anger. “How can you say such things? It is not Ji Tan’s fault that he cannot tell you apart. This is no excuse for you, as his boyfriend, not to come back and comfort him properly, shirking your responsibilities.”
Zhou She could not get a response from Zhou Wenbai for a long time. His anger grew, and just as he was about to say something else, the door behind him clicked open. Zhou She instinctively hung up, adjusted his expression, turned, and walked over, touching Ji Tan’s forehead. Fortunately, he wasn’t frightened into a high fever.
“What is wrong?”
Ji Tan clung to Zhou She, squeezing into his arms. Zhou She leaned over, picked him up, and patted his back. Ji Tan looked up and bit Zhou She on the chin.
Zhou She carried him back to the room and sat on the edge of the bed, gasping in pain. Waiting until Ji Tan had vented enough, he pinched Ji Tan’s little face with his thumb and forefinger, pushing him away slightly, and asked, “What is with the little temper?”
Ji Tan blinked, acting cute.
“A bully at home, but a coward outside.” Zhou She sneered, but his expression was gentle.
Ji Tan hugged Zhou She’s neck and smiled, ingratiatingly kissing the tooth mark on his chin. Zhou She felt a bit itchy, but he did not dodge.
As if encouraging Ji Tan, the next kiss landed on Zhou She’s lip corner. Zhou She was stunned; before he could react, his lip corner was licked again by Ji Tan’s small tongue, wet, soft, and slippery. Zhou She gazed at Ji Tan’s curled eyes, and his ear tips suddenly turned bright red.