After a four-hour drive, Liao Ran had absorbed a massive amount of memory information in a short period. His mind was overloaded, and he fell asleep out of exhaustion.
Passing a gas station, Bai Ji parked the car on the side of the road.
He cast a cold glance at Liao Ran in the driver’s seat. He was practically a completely different person compared to when they first met that night. At the top of the Boyue Hotel, Liao Ran had been proud, unapproachable, and possessed the absolute majesty of an elite, surrounded by an untouchable aura of keeping strangers at a distance, noble and out of reach.
Now, he had thinned down to a mere paper-thin shadow. His delicate skin was pale, making the blood vessels and the contours of his tendons and bones clearly visible. Whether it was his arms or his ankles, a single hand could encircle them with room to spare. His originally sharp jawline had become even smoother, the soft flesh gone, leaving his chin narrowed. His larger eyes made him look innocent and unworldly, stripped of the bold, decisive vigor of a warrior.
A vigorously growing banana tree had been uprooted, stuffed into a glass display case, toyed with and ravaged by its owner, its once aloof and noble disposition buried after repeated rounds of watering.
In his natural state, Liao Ran curled up in the seat, as fragile as a crystal-glass person who would break at the slightest touch. Bai Ji gently stroked his cheek with his thumb, not daring to use any force.
“If you want to blame someone, blame yourself.”
Why hand your heart over to that scumbag? Staying with a person like that wouldn’t end well anyway, so he might as well benefit himself. During the few months he spent with Liao Ran, Bai Ji had struggled and suffered repeatedly in tormenting guilt.
Yet, the stolen trace of fragrance had ultimately left him dazzled and infatuated, and the person could no longer be sent back.
Fearing that Liao Ran would catch a cold, Bai Ji took off his jacket and draped it over him.
He then got out of the car and headed to the convenience store across the street. Having forgotten his past experiences and lost his ability to survive independently, Liao Ran followed human instinct and would surely wake up demanding food.
Bai Ji picked out some easily digestible snacks, along with a box of fresh fruit cuts, and went to the counter to pay.
His peripheral vision caught a notice on the display board, and his fingertips froze over the payment screen.
Clearly, this wasn’t the first time a customer had been drawn to that missing person flyer. The cashier said with a knowing look, “He’s not even a celebrity, but it’s pretty amazing he can look like that.”
“When was this put up?” Bai Ji asked, trying to sound casual.
“It’s been a month already. The convenience stores, gas stations, and hotel fronts along this road all have it. They still haven’t found him; a living person just vanishes like that. He is probably doomed. I heard his dad is the director of some research institute, and he’s an only child, so the old man got so worried he fell sick and was hospitalized. You know how hard that is. My dad is the exact same way.”
The more the cashier talked, the more carried away he got, linking it back to his own experiences. But the moment he lifted his gaze, the customer was already gone without a trace.
The closer Bai Ji walked back, the heavier his footsteps felt. He sat down in front of the car hood, gripping the plastic bag tightly.
After an unknown length of time, Liao Ran woke up. The sight that met his eyes was a lonely, desolate figure outside the car window.
The clothes he was wearing still carried Bai Ji’s scent.
The chilly wind was biting, and Bai Ji sniffed. Turning his head, his gaze met Liao Ran’s, who had just stepped out of the car.
Bai Ji averted his gaze. “It’s cold outside. Why did you get down?” His tone was stiff. He rarely spoke to Liao Ran like this, and he didn’t even know who he was angry with.
“You knew it was cold, yet you sat right in the draft. Your hands are already red.”
Bai Ji’s hand was covered by Liao Ran’s. Bai Ji turned his palm upward, interlocking his fingers with Liao Ran’s.
“Don’t be good to me. I’m not worth it.”
Liao Ran initially thought he was joking, but seeing the determination in those dark eyes, he put away his smile. “I’m just following my heart. It likes you, and I trust my own judgment.”
I really misjudged this time. Bai Ji kissed Liao Ran’s forehead.
His heart ached, yet his grip tightened. “When we see Dad, how do you plan to introduce me?”
Liao Ran genuinely hadn’t thought about this question, but there was no other answer in his heart: “Husband, didn’t you always make me call you that?”
Bai Ji twitched the corner of his mouth, letting out a sigh accompanied by a rare, faint smile. “I’m afraid that won’t do. Our relationship hasn’t been approved by my family yet. If they find out you eloped with me and get furious enough to stop us from seeing each other, you won’t be able to see me anymore.”
“Then I don’t know what to say.” Liao Ran disliked the feeling of being unable to do anything. It felt as though he shouldn’t be such a person, and this sense of powerlessness made it hard for him to adapt. “Ah, I really dislike thinking about this problem. I am hungry. I want to eat.”
Bai Ji wrapped an arm around him, led him back into the car, and placed the bag of food on his lap. “I couldn’t find your usual favorites, so I just bought a few random things. Once you finish eating, I’ll teach you what to say.”
The Neutral Hospital possessed the most advanced medical equipment in the city. From getting out of the car to the hospital corridor, every face along the way was unfamiliar, and the overly intense, burning gazes made Liao Ran carefully follow closely behind the man in front of him.
Until Bai Ji stopped, stepping right onto the heel of Liao Ran’s shoe.
“We’re here. Go on in.”
Instead of letting go, Liao Ran tightened his grip on Bai Ji’s thumb.
Bai Ji stroked his back. “It’s just separated by a single door. I’m not going anywhere.”
He gave a gentle push.
Liao Ran stumbled into the single-person ward.
The elderly man lying on the bed picked up his glasses from the bedside cabinet with a look of surprise.
He pushed aside the blanket, let the IV needle slip out from the back of his hand, and walked slowly toward Liao Ran. Tentatively, he pinched Liao Ran’s arm. “Xiao Ran? Is it really you? How did you get so thin?”
With his graying hair, the person before him seemed much older than Liao Ran remembered.
It was his father’s face, yet his heart was filled with an inescapable sense of unfamiliarity. His heart felt as though it had been frozen in ice, without a single ripple.
Even when facing a complete stranger, seeing an elderly person of this age dragging a sickly body while remaining utterly filled with care and concern for you would normally stir emotions. What on earth was wrong with him? Liao Ran had never questioned whether something was fundamentally wrong with his own human nature quite like this moment.
Until the old man’s tears fell onto the back of his hand.
They were as scalding as an ignited flame, scorching his conscience. His heart began to contract with a sharp pain, his entire body trembled, and his strength drained and dried up in an instant like a broken dam. Tears flowed uncontrollably, mixing with saliva all over his face, and his vision blurred and lost focus.
Without any warning, he collapsed heavily onto the floor with a thud.
Liao Qishi grabbed his son in a rush. Seeing his entire body twitching, he thrust his hand into Liao Ran’s mouth, terrified that Liao Ran would bite his own tongue.
His knuckles turned white from the biting force. “Someone help! Save my child! Is anyone there?”
The ward door was pushed open violently.
An adult man rushed like the wind toward the helpless pair on the floor.
Feeling the familiar aura, Liao Ran became like a sensitive little animal in its heat period, desperately craving a sense of security as he burrowed straight into the man’s embrace.
“Bai Ji, hold me.” He muttered in a daze, repeating the words.
Miraculously, under that person’s comfort, Liao Ran slowly grew calm.
At that moment, Liao Qishi also heard the clear name from his lips.
“Xiao Bai, you… you’re still alive?”
When the old man saw his face, his shock was no less than when Liao Ran had appeared.
Bai Ji scooped up the unconscious person horizontally, intending to lay him flat on the bed.
However, Liao Ran wrapped his arms around Bai Ji’s neck and refused to let go.
Bai Ji bent down, his breath brushing against Liao Ran’s neck. “I’m here. Look at me.”
Under these soft, coaxing words, Liao Ran slowly opened his eyes, his gaze chasing fixedly as the familiar face remained close at hand.
Once Liao Ran relaxed, Bai Ji gently lowered his arms.
After the doctor examined him, there was nothing seriously wrong. It was likely just nervous tension. After giving a few instructions, the doctor left.
Liao Qishi, however, remained skeptical.
Especially since Liao Ran, his son who had always been independent and disliked getting close to others, was acting completely out of character, gripping the man’s hand tightly from start to finish.
“Bai Ji, while Xiao Ran is still asleep, I want you to give me an explanation.”
Bai Ji wore an expression of guilt. “I was trapped on Mount Weier, and Liao Ran rescued me, but he was infected by toxic bugs. I’ve also been very worried about his physical condition. Director Liao, I’m truly sorry.”
To have escaped from that place of narrow escapes with death meant he must have endured countless inhuman hardships. Bai Ji was the same age as his son Liao Ran and was still just a kid himself. The old man patted his shoulder. “As long as people are safe, welcome home.”
Most of their subsequent conversation revolved around the Tongxi Academy of Sciences.
Liao Qishi casually brought it up. “By the way, Xiao Fu has been promoted to a tenured professor. The institute is well aware of your capabilities, so you’ll have opportunities in the future too.”
“I understand.”
Though Bai Ji said this, his hand unconsciously tightened its grip.
Liao Ran was squeezed too tightly and woke up in pain.
“Thirsty. I want to drink water.” The moment he opened his eyes, it was either eating or drinking.
Used to it by now, Bai Ji looked around for water, but the old man had already thoughtfully poured a cup and handed it to his son.
Liao Ran glanced at Bai Ji, and only after receiving a nod did he reach out to take it.
The moment his lips touched the rim of the cup, he suddenly pulled back. “It’s hot.”
Bai Ji smoothly took the cup back, took a sip himself to confirm the temperature was indeed too high, and only after blowing on it to cool it down did he return it to Liao Ran.
“The two of you have been together all these months. It’s only natural that you became good friends,” Liao Qishi observed, sensing the subtle atmosphere between the two.
Liao Ran nodded. The person beside him was indeed quite good.
Bai Ji’s complexion, however, did not look good.
Sure enough, the old man shifted the topic. “But interactions between people need to respect boundaries. Otherwise, it can cause misunderstandings for others. Xiao Ran, now that you’re fine, don’t bother outsiders with every little thing. Xiao Bai has just been reborn from the jaws of death and has a lot of work to do. Come home with Dad.”
Ignoring the doctor’s objections, Liao Qishi went ahead and processed the discharge procedures.
A driver was already waiting at the hospital entrance, and the old man had already climbed inside. The car door remained wide open, but Liao Ran hid behind Bai Ji, unwilling to move.
His son had reached an age where he could take responsibility for his own actions. Care was not confinement.
With a helpless sigh, Liao Qishi instructed, “Xiao Bai, Liao Ran, if anything comes up, be sure to notify me immediately.”
Bai Ji nodded solemnly. “I will take care of him.”
Things went smoother than expected. Bai Ji drove the person back to his rented apartment.
It was located just across the street from the Tongxi Academy of Sciences.
The elevator ascended to the ninth floor. The moment the doors opened, Bai Ji suddenly grabbed Liao Ran’s hand.
Before they had taken more than a few steps, a group of people rushed out from the hallway, tripping Bai Ji and pinning his face forcefully against the floor, twisting his arms behind his back and snapping handcuffs onto his wrists.
Just as Liao Ran tried to step forward to stop them, a man lunged out from behind the group, blocking his path.
“Let him go!”
“What’s wrong with you?” The man asked with an anxious expression, grabbing Liao Ran’s hand. “It’s me, Fu Chong.”
From between the gaps of people, Bai Ji gritted his teeth and smiled a twisted smile.
He watched as Liao Ran violently jerked his hand away from that person and ran toward him.
Fu Chong’s eyes were filled with utter despair, forming a sharp contrast with the wicked, triumphant smile he had worn that day above the abyss of Mount Weier.
At this moment, Bai Ji felt immensely exhilarated, seeing the exact scene he most wanted to see, yet the degree of pain was still far from enough compared to what he had endured.
The game had only just begun.