Xu Nian lay down for a little while until he had calmed himself completely before standing up.
He walked over to the window, where the sunlight was just right. The pot of jasmine flowers that had been brought over to settle in was emitting a fresh fragrance. Xu Nian leaned in close to catch the scent, and after a long moment, he gently touched a petal.
The scratch on Chen Zhou’s face was not deep; it had simply looked quite terrifying before the blood dried. By now, it had already scabbed over and didn’t hurt much, though it had left a mark.
Recalling what Xu Nian had said, he still very carefully applied the ointment.
[Host, are you really okay?]
There might be a brief period of fatigue and soreness after using abilities. Remembering the aggressive stance of those punks earlier, 126 felt a bit worried and resolved that no matter what, it would never let the host act so recklessly again.
[Don’t worry, I’m fine.]
Chen Zhou didn’t mind it at all, feeling only a sense of guilt. He didn’t want Xu Nian to suffer even the slightest harm because of him.
Aside from that, he recalled how Xu Nian had looked while protecting him, and his heart softened once more. He had grown accustomed to facing everything on his own; it had been a very long time since anyone had shielded him behind their back like that.
[Host, to be honest, I didn’t expect this.] 126 suddenly struck up a conversation.
[What?]
[I just always felt that you’re a bit different today compared to usual.] 126 remarked. As the AI guiding the host, it only knew that the host was a college student majoring in Chinese language and literature, along with basic data like height and weight, but it didn’t truly understand him deeply.
Lowering his eyes, Chen Zhou tidied up the room. In truth, he rarely spoke about himself. No matter the situation, he always seemed lively, cheerful, and amiable with a smile.
Yet reality wasn’t always like that.
Pondering for a moment, Chen Zhou bypassed the heavier details and answered lightly, [I was bullied when I was a kid too, so I really detest people like that.]
That was indeed the case. His parents had basically neglected him during his childhood, forcing him to learn how to take care of himself. He had learned to cook when he was barely taller than the stove. Later on, when he went to school, he was constantly bullied for not fitting in. It had taken Chen Zhou a very long time to pull himself out of that quagmire.
Only then did he transform into the person he was now, reshaping himself entirely. But the agonizing, bone-scraping pain of that process was something only he knew.
That was why, when someone finally protected him behind their back, a long-dormant desire to rely on someone welled up within him.
Sensing that the host was in low spirits, 126 stopped talking and silently helped alleviate the pain on his cheek.
The incident eventually blew over; that group never came back to cause trouble, and Xu Nian’s hand was slowly healing. However, Chen Zhou found himself unable to treat Xu Nian the way he used to, though he couldn’t quite explain why.
Not long after, though, Chen Zhou received a new task from 126.
Things unfolded like this: the protagonist Cao Ying had fallen ill and was also hospitalized. That day, acting on 126’s instructions, Chen Zhou went to the market and happened to run into Xu Heyun along the way, who informed him of the news. Upon hearing it, Chen Zhou had an immediate bad premonition.
Sure enough, a few days later, 126 issued the task.
[Please go to the hospital to visit the protagonist Cao Ying, host.]
At that moment, Chen Zhou was busy helping deliver a meal to Aunt Wang. Hearing the directive left him speechless for a long time; he felt the system was deliberately stirring up trouble.
126 protested innocently, “I didn’t. I really didn’t. And I have no choice either.”
Fine. Chen Zhou had no choice but to resign himself to accepting the task.
With the task hanging over his head, Chen Zhou felt increasingly awkward facing Xu Nian. He couldn’t figure out where that guilty feeling came from, but it constantly lingered around him.
“Brother, let me help deliver Aunt Wang’s meal at noon today. You should take a break.”
Having finished his chores around noon that day, Chen Zhou took the initiative to make the offer because he noticed Xu Nian always looked exhausted. Both he and Xu Nian had been very busy lately, barely exchanging a few words when they crossed paths.
“No need. You rest,” Xu Nian politely declined. “I’ll go.”
“Why not?” Chen Zhou persisted. “I’m fine, let me go with you.”
Xu Nian looked into his clear eyes, which carried a hint of an almost imperceptible spoiled tone.
That reminded him of the dream he had dreamed. It was hazy and indistinct in the dream, yet he could clearly see a person’s back right in front of him, the butterfly shoulder blades standing out sharply and shifting with every movement.
He had heard a unique, singular voice calling out, “Brother…”
Xu Nian had jolted awake, covered in sweat.
So it wasn’t that he didn’t want the kid to go; he was just afraid that staying in the same room for too long would make it impossible for him to conceal his feelings.
Yet he found himself unable to refuse.
“Alright,” Xu Nian conceded helplessly. “Let’s go together.”
Chen Zhou was rather pleased. “Great!”
And so Chen Zhou followed Xu Nian to the hospital. Normally he only went back when Xu Nian was busy, so this was the first time both of them were making the trip together.
Aunt Wang was beaming from ear to ear seeing both of them show up. Thanks to Xu Nian’s attentive care over the past few days, Aunt Wang’s spirits were much better, and she grabbed Chen Zhou’s hand, chattering endlessly.
“Xiaojia,” Aunt Wang said with bright, lively eyes, “you’re not too young anymore. What kind of young woman do you like? Huh? Tell Auntie, and I’ll set you up with someone.”
Failing to understand how the topic drifted there, Chen Zhou instantly grew somewhat embarrassed, his cheeks heating up in an instant. “I, I… I don’t know either.”
Clearly unsatisfied with that answer, Aunt Wang pressed on, “Well, think about it right now.”
Seeking rescue, Chen Zhou looked toward Xu Nian. The older man was in the middle of peeling an apple; hearing the remark, he glanced over before looking away again.
Left completely isolated and helpless, Chen Zhou could only stammer, “I like… someone who treats me well, someone I can rely on. Um… and their eyes have to look nice.”
Aunt Wang laughed. “So they also have to be someone you can rely on? You have pretty high standards for a kid.”
Chen Zhou nodded. “Yeah, relying on each other. And it has to be mutual: I like them, and they like me back.”
“Fine, fine, Auntie knows now.”
“Mom,” Xu Nian finally spoke up at that moment. “Eat your apple.”
Chen Zhou looked at Xu Nian again, but the man still wore a blank expression. He simply handed over another apple, peeled completely clean and looking crisp and appetizing.
“Eat up,” Xu Nian said.
“Thanks, Brother.”
Taking a bite, Chen Zhou was surprised to find it exceptionally sweet, with almost no sourness at all.
Stepping outside to wash his hands, Chen Zhou grew rather troubled upon seeing the patients in the hallway. How was he supposed to find an excuse to go see Cao Ying?
Today was out of the question since he had to stay and keep Aunt Wang company. Should he sneak over behind their backs another time? Chen Zhou already felt guilty enough as it was, making that option entirely impossible.
“Xiaojia?” Someone suddenly called out to him with a hint of mild surprise. “Why are you here?”
Reluctantly turning around, the person calling him was none other than Cao Ying.
Still hooked up to an IV drip, Cao Ying was steadying himself against a support pole as he walked out, offering a weak smile upon seeing Chen Zhou. “It really is you.”
Having no earthly idea how to face him, Chen Zhou could only squeeze out a forced smile. “Brother Cao.”
[Host, this is a great chance to complete the task.] 126 reminded him ruthlessly.
Chen Zhou had zero desire to complete it right now.
[Ahem, points.]
Darn it!
Having no other option, Chen Zhou had to keep up the act, wearing an expression of deep concern. “Brother Cao, are you very sick?”
“Ah, just didn’t pay attention and caught something,” Cao Ying smiled gently. “Come on inside.”
Thus, Chen Zhou followed Cao Ying into the room, pretending he had dropped by for a visit.
“Brother Cao, I ran into Brother Xu Heyun the other day, and he mentioned you were sick. I wanted to see if I could bump into you and drop by for a visit.”
“No wonder. I’m fine, thanks for still thinking of your big brother.” Cao Ying gently patted the top of Chen Zhou’s head with a tender expression.
Lowering his head, Chen Zhou found his thoughts drifting to someone else, someone whose palms radiated a much stronger warmth.
Cao Ying and Chen Zhou began to converse.
“I’ve been feeling completely worn out from this illness over the past few days,” Cao Ying confided, seemingly placing great trust in the younger man in front of him. “It always makes me think of when my grandma passed away. Looking at everyone crammed in this hospital, nothing felt right anywhere, and I couldn’t even eat.”
According to the original owner’s memories, Cao Ying’s grandmother had passed away when he was young.
That bit of experience was somewhat similar to Chen Zhou’s own; his grandmother had passed away during his junior high school years. Thinking of that, a wave of melancholy washed over Chen Zhou.
Normally, he should have taken the opportunity to offer a few perfunctory words of comfort and then happily take his leave. Instead, Chen Zhou suddenly blurted out, “If you miss her, you need to take even better care of yourself and get better soon.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Cao Ying froze.
“You probably think I’m being presumptuous, but I just wanted to say…” Chen Zhou fumbled for words. “The people who are still alive must live well too. Whenever you think of them, it should give you more strength. Only when you’re doing well can they truly rest easy.”
“Sorry, Brother Cao, I just spoke without thinking.” Realizing what he had said, Chen Zhou felt a jolt of alarm. He was Li Jia right now, not his true self.
“Anyway, get some rest.”
Studying him for a moment, Cao Ying smiled. “Xiaojia, you’ve really changed a lot.”
“You’ve grown up.”
Cao Ying’s gaze grew exceptionally gentle, looking much like someone watching a once-introverted and timid child slowly grow into his own.
Not knowing what else to say, Chen Zhou offered a faint smile. “I should get going.”
Stepping out into the hallway, he ran right into Xu Heyun rushing over. The man looked extremely anxious, presumably having hurried right over to find Cao Ying as soon as he finished his work.
“Xiaojia.” Catching sight of him, Xu Heyun’s eyes lit up. “You’re here.”
From the bottom of his heart, Chen Zhou felt they were a perfect match and smiled warmly. “Go on in, Brother Heyun. Brother Cao is waiting for you.”
Seemingly dazzled by that smile for a moment, Xu Heyun patted Chen Zhou’s shoulder and walked inside.
The door remained half-open, allowing Chen Zhou a clear view of the two figures inside leaning close together to talk, oblivious to the world around them. Both were remarkably handsome, a picture-perfect pair whose smiles seemed to brighten the entire room.
As Chen Zhou stood watching in a daze, he suddenly felt someone behind him.
Before he even had time to turn around, his eyes were gently covered by a pair of hands.
They were those high-temperature hands, with slightly rough palms carrying the faint scent of tobacco.
Xu Nian’s voice murmured right by his ear, “Stop looking.”
Chen Zhou’s eyelashes fluttered as he felt his heartbeat spin out of control.
He understood now. He finally realized where his sense of guilt came from, and why he hadn’t wanted Xu Nian to find out.
It wasn’t because of anything else, but simply because he didn’t want Xu Nian to think he had feelings for Cao Ying.
Chen Zhou remembered what his grandmother used to tell him: “In the future, our Xiao Zhou must find someone he loves, and then you have to hold onto him tight and never let go.”
When he first arrived at the hospital that day, he had been terrified because his grandmother had grown ice-cold inside a hospital and never opened her eyes again. He closed his eyes to force those unpleasant memories away.
At that very moment, it was Xu Nian who had offered him a slightly warmer temperature, pulling him back from those chilling memories.
No longer caring about whether there were misunderstandings or not, Chen Zhou spun around and threw his arms around Xu Nian, pulling him into a tight embrace.
Xu Nian stiffened, completely unprepared for this reaction. But a split second later, he gently wrapped his arms around the other person in return, turning slightly to shield Chen Zhou in his embrace while resting a hand on the youth’s fluffy head and gently patting his back.
People hurried back and forth along the corridor, noticing none of this secret and beautiful moment.
Leaving them a quiet space of their own for just a little while.