Another half month passed, and Miaomiao’s condition stabilized. Her rehabilitation was progressing remarkably well. After an examination, the doctor informed Zhou Fan that they could begin preparing for the move. The old gentleman in the small town was ready to receive Miaomiao and had even kindly helped the siblings find a house.
Zhou Fan knew the sooner they left, the better. The hospital environment made Miaomiao uncomfortable, and settling into their new surroundings early would benefit her upcoming psychological counseling. He had no desire to return to their old apartment, but to pack their belongings and prepare for the move, he took Miaomiao back home in her wheelchair one last time.
He worried the familiar sights would trigger painful memories for her, but fortunately, the little girl had barely slept the night before due to the excitement of being discharged. As soon as they arrived home, she fell into a dazed sleep in her wheelchair. Zhou Fan wheeled her into his bedroom, changed the sheets, and tucked her into bed. Once she was settled, he began to pack.
He found two large suitcases that would serve them well. He had just started organizing a pile of clothes when a knock sounded at the door. At first, Zhou Fan thought he had misheard it. When the knocking returned moments later, he put down the clothes and walked to the door.
Zhou Fan asked who it was. The voice outside was hoarse and low, seemingly suppressed by intense emotion, as the caller identified himself as Chi Hanqing.
Zhou Fan froze. He wondered how it could be Chi Hanqing. He had sent the breakup text, broken their promise, claimed he loved someone else, and ignored every message and call. The young master should have been in his luxury villa, nursing a broken heart while preparing to go abroad. Yet Chi Hanqing was standing outside his door.
Zhou Fan raised his hand and pressed it lightly against the cold wood of the door. He wanted to open it so badly, but he knew he could not. Chi Hanqing was more devoted than he had ever imagined, which meant Zhou Fan had to be even more heartless.
Chi Hanqing told Zhou Fan to open the door because he wanted to see him. Zhou Fan replied that they had already broken up. Chi Hanqing demanded that the other boy tell him to his face. He hit the door heavily and asked why Zhou Fan did not tell him about the family situation or why he broke up with him after they had made promises.
The boy’s voice broke into a sob at the end. That thud against the door felt like a blow to the heart of Zhou Fan. His hand on the door curled into a tight, white-knuckled fist.
Zhou Fan told him to keep his voice down and lied that a seventy-year-old lady next door was trying to sleep. He knew Chi Hanqing would lower his volume. As expected, the hallway fell silent. He told himself to be heartless. He noted that he had always been fickle and asked if it were really so strange that he liked someone else. He mentioned that Chi Hanqing knew about his many exes and added that the things he said were just sweet talk to coax him. He claimed he could not believe the boy actually fell for it.
After a long silence, Chi Hanqing only whispered his name. It felt like the heart of Zhou Fan was being torn apart. He closed his eyes but kept the smile in his voice as he noted he did not tell the boy because there was no point. He mentioned that Chi Hanqing was going abroad and they would not see each other again, so there was no reason to discuss things that had nothing to do with him. He asked what the use of telling him would be since the boy could not do anything anyway.
Chi Hanqing continued to whisper his name. Zhou Fan claimed that the person he liked was great and would stay with him, so there was no need to worry. He added that he took a million from the boy’s mother and noted that dating a rich young master was truly profitable.
Zhou Fan told Chi Hanqing they had broken up and noted it was inappropriate to block an ex-boyfriend’s door. He told him to go back. Chi Hanqing said that he loved him. Zhou Fan lowered his head and leaned his forehead against the door. He claimed he did not love the boy anymore and noted he was not a devoted person. He told the boy he had loved the wrong person.
Chi Hanqing insisted he had not and demanded the boy open the door. Zhou Fan stated he would not see him and did not want to see him. Chi Hanqing declared that if the boy did not see him, he would not leave.
Zhou Fan finally felt his patience snap and yelled at the boy for being so stupid. He asked if Chi Hanqing really thought they could have lasted. He told the boy that even if he had not liked someone else or experienced the family tragedy, they could never have been together because they were from two different worlds. He told him to get out and mentioned he had a boyfriend. He demanded the boy stop bothering him.
Silence followed. Zhou Fan panted heavily while his body trembled. He waited for what felt like forever and thought Chi Hanqing had finally given up. But then the faintest and softest sound of sobbing drifted through the door.
Hearing that crying, all the strength left the body of Zhou Fan. The resolve that had supported him since the day of the accident finally collapsed. He slumped to the floor while curling into a ball and the tears he had held back for weeks finally burst forth.
Six years had passed since then. Over two thousand days and nights had gone by, which was enough time for even the slowest fool to learn a lesson. Yet Chi Hanqing was apparently still that foolish because even today he still loved him. Zhou Fan found it almost absurd.
Faced with the warnings from System 004, Zhou Fan chose to deflect. He told Chi Hanqing that he was not thinking clearly and demanded the keys. Chi Hanqing replied that he was very clear and noted that in six years he had not been clearer than he was right now.
Zhou Fan stood his ground while locked in a stalemate. Somehow he thought back to the stubborn young master who had waited outside his door for three days until he fell ill and was forced to leave. When it came to persistence, Zhou Fan could never win against him. He sighed and turned around without a word then walked toward his rented apartment.
Chi Hanqing followed immediately. Zhou Fan knew this path well. The old neighborhood at night was filled with the background noise of everyday life that only residents truly recognized. Entering the building, Zhou Fan stomped his foot to trigger the voice-activated lights and headed upstairs.
The footsteps of Chi Hanqing followed closely behind. Reaching the fourth floor, Zhou Fan turned to ask for the keys only to find the man behind him looking dazed. Chi Hanqing tripped on the final step and tumbled forward.
Zhou Fan instinctively caught him and pulled him into his arms while grabbing the handrail to steady them both. He told the boy to watch his step. The scent of the boy’s fragrance filled his nose and caused a moment of frustration. Just as he went to let go, a pair of arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
Zhou Fan tried to pull away but knowing the stairs were right behind the man, he could only hiss a curse and ask if the boy had a death wish. Chi Hanqing said he did not care.
Zhou Fan cursed silently. If not for the existence of 004, he would not have to worry about anything and would have simply driven the man away with cold words. But bound to this cursed reformation system, he was powerless. After another moment of resistance, he sighed in defeat and asked if they could talk about this inside.
Chi Hanqing replied that he wanted to hold him longer. He seemed to have found his opening after realizing that Zhou Fan could not refuse a direct plea. He was no longer hiding his intentions. Zhou Fan remained silent. Chi Hanqing stated that if the other boy promised to let him hold him once they were inside, he would let go.
Zhou Fan was speechless. He saw clearly that while they were adults now and Chi Hanqing had returned from abroad, their fundamental problems remained unresolved. If anything, the distance between them had only grown. He was no longer the boy who had captivated Chi Hanqing but just a simple mechanic. He knew the issues with the Chi family would not simply vanish. He truly did not want to be entangled with the man again.
He wanted to refuse the request but 004 had stripped him of that right. He agreed and suggested they go inside first. Chi Hanqing finally let go and stepped up the last stair. Entering the apartment, Zhou Fan expected to find a mess but the place had already been cleaned. His heart felt heavy with complicated emotions.
The door clicked shut behind them. Before Zhou Fan could even change his shoes, Chi Hanqing threw himself into his arms. He stiffened for a second but before the thought of backing out could form, 004 intervened. Finally he raised his arms and embraced the man back.
Chi Hanqing murmured against his shoulder and called his name. He noted that the boy still had not told him if he missed him at all.