Aunt Wang’s surgery was a complete success, and Chen Zhou woke up just as the operation concluded.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he had come specifically to keep Xu Nian company, only to end up falling asleep himself. Fortunately, Xu Nian paid it no mind, waking him up naturally before returning to his busy tasks with Chen Zhou trailing closely behind him.
His cheeks felt a bit warm, and his neck ached slightly from being crooked for too long, but all of this was washed away by the joy of the successful surgery. At the very least, his Brother Xu Nian could finally get a good night’s sleep.
Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that Xu Nian had grown even more taciturn.
These days, Xu Nian always made time to stay with Aunt Wang and helped send back meals so Xu Nian wouldn’t have to carry the burden entirely alone. Only Xu Nian’s words had dwindled; sometimes when Chen Zhou stepped outside, he would catch him smoking by himself.
“Ge,” Chen Zhou said that day after delivering the meal, stepping outside to find Xu Nian. “Why don’t you go inside?”
Xu Nian’s smoking motion paused. He turned around awkwardly and snuffed out the cigarette. “It’s stuffy in there. I came out for some fresh air.”
“Oh.” Chen Zhou stood quietly beside Xu Nian.
There had been no missions lately, and while he wasn’t idle, the restaurant remained exceptionally busy.
After pondering for a moment, Chen Zhou decided to try again. “Ge. Just agree to let me try helping out in the back kitchen.”
Xu Nian fell silent, refusing to look at him.
“I promise I won’t cause any trouble.”
“No.” Xu Nian frowned, interrupting him. “You’re already working hard enough helping out front. Do you have any idea what the back kitchen is like? Can you handle it? It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I’m afraid you’ll exhaust yourself.”
With that, Xu Nian let out a sigh as if relieved of a heavy burden, reaching out to ruffle Chen Zhou’s hair. “Be a good boy.”
Completely taken aback by the gesture, Chen Zhou blinked and let out a dazed “oh.” Though Xu Nian had grown much quieter lately, the hidden tenderness beneath his surface made Chen Zhou feel both unfamiliar and somewhat…
“What are you thinking about?”
Xu Nian interrupted his train of thought. It was late afternoon, the hour of dusk, and the sunlight outside the hospital was incredible, looking somewhat like the scene when Chen Zhou first arrived at the restaurant, with dust motes dancing in the sunbeams.
Xu Nian was gazing at him intently now, yet it somehow felt different from before.
Chen Zhou kept quiet, continuing to watch Xu Nian.
Only now did he begin to observe Xu Nian closely. Xu Nian had remarkably striking eyes, double-lidded, which became especially noticeable when he lowered his gaze. A gentle warmth rested at the corners of his eyes and brows. His long eyelashes cast faint shadows, and his eyes were so clear that Chen Zhou could see his own reflection within them.
Without breaking his gaze, Xu Nian quietly met his eyes. For that single moment, Chen Zhou’s hearing failed him, leaving him aware of nothing save the thumping of his heart.
Oh no, Chen Zhou thought in a panic as he spun around.
Feeling it would be impolite to leave abruptly, he turned back. “Um, I, I’ll head out first.”
With that, he bolted away in a flurry of panic.
After briefly checking in with Aunt Wang and gathering his things, Chen Zhou took off. His mind was an absolute mess right now, filled entirely with the image of Xu Nian’s face.
To keep himself from spiraling further into wandering thoughts, Chen Zhou shook his head and decided to review his system tasks. [126, how are my mission progressions looking?]
[Hold on, Host.]
A moment later, information flooded into Chen Zhou’s mind, and he slowly began organizing the data.
Judging by the current trajectory, the two protagonists’ romance was advancing by leaps and bounds, practically hovering right on the verge of breaking through that final layer of window paper. Meanwhile, the cannon fodder role Chen Zhou was playing didn’t need to do anything right now except wait for the opportune moment, after which he could exit with appropriate melancholy upon discovering their relationship status.
There was no need for any tacky pestering or clinging.
As for that pivotal moment, it hadn’t arrived just yet, so Chen Zhou simply needed to wait for instructions from 126. Besides, he was just a disposable tool anyway.
Chen Zhou sighed. Though he couldn’t quite grasp why the cannon fodder in this world had to revolve entirely around the protagonists, tying even their personal destiny to the main leads, he resolved not to be bound by it. Beyond fulfilling the mandatory tasks, he decided to indulge in a bit of rebellion.
126: [Host, I can hear you.]
Chen Zhou paused. Mistakes were made.
Just as Chen Zhou prepared to offer an explanation, a sharp bang echoed from down the other end of the street.
Instantly looking over, Chen Zhou spotted a group of delinquents. They sported dyed hair in shades of red, yellow, and white…
Their staggering gaits gave away their intoxicated state as they stumbled forward, laughing and shouting obscenities. The foul language made Chen Zhou frown in disgust.
The alley was narrow, making an encounter practically unavoidable. While Chen Zhou wasn’t particularly intimidated by them, they certainly made his stomach turn. Moreover, he recognized the figure leading the group as the very same lecherous man from the restaurant who had tried to get handsy.
[Host, do you need me to help?]
Sensing the situation, 126 immediately offered assistance, well aware that local ruffians were tricky to deal with and notoriously stubborn. In this secluded and sparsely populated area, Chen Zhou stood to lose out if he was targeted. Ensuring his host’s safety was paramount, and utilizing abilities appropriately felt entirely justified.
Yet Chen Zhou remained exceptionally calm. [Not yet. Stand by, I’ll call you if needed.]
Acting as though no one else was around, Chen Zhou kept walking. He was hardly broad-minded; since they crossed paths and 126 was backing him up, he intended to teach them a proper lesson.
“Crap, isn’t that the punk?” someone shouted from nearby. “Damn, it really is him. Boss, look.”
The balding uncle leading the group eyed Chen Zhou. Still sporting visible bruises from earlier, a sinister gleam flashed across his eyes as a memory crossed his mind.
“You guys stay right here.”
Feigning indifference, Chen Zhou continued down his path.
The bald man strode right up to Chen Zhou and slammed his shoulder hard against Chen Zhou’s, sending a jolt of pain through his collarbone and forcing him to stumble a step aside.
Such a cliché trick, Chen Zhou curled his lip. Even children had outgrown that sort of thing. Truly, these hoodlums lacked any basic caliber.
“Yo. What a coincidence,” the bald man sneered, as his companions quickly moved in to block the path ahead.
“Something the matter?” Too lazy to even spare him a glance, Chen Zhou enunciated clearly, “Old. Bald. Head.”
[126, boost my physical strength.]
[Understood.]
“You motherf—” Stunned at being addressed so bluntly to his face, the bald man instantly flared up, raising a hand to strike.
Catching the man’s wrist with effortless ease, Chen Zhou remarked, “Such a filthy mouth.”
He deliberately squeezed the bald man’s recent injury point, watching the other’s face turn a sickly shade of mottled pale and blue. “You—!”
The lackeys standing behind looked bewildered, hesitating to step forward.
“Do you know why you enjoy pulling stunts like this?” Chen Zhou leaned closer, applying more pressure as the sensation of possessing a golden-finger perk felt rather pleasant. “Because the feeling of controlling someone weaker gives you a little ego trip, right? Getting a kick out of watching people cower and beg on their knees?” Chen Zhou’s tone shifted, growing chillingly sharp. “Then what happens when you run into someone stronger than you?”
Losing his footing under the leverage, the bald man dropped heavily to his knees right in front of Chen Zhou, terror spreading across his face. “Y-You, how are you…”
“You’re nothing more than a coward.”
“What are you standing around for! Get over here!” Failing to keep his balance, the terrified bald man shrieked frantically at his crew.
Rousing from their daze, the group rushed forward haphazardly. One of them, emboldened by panic, swung a wooden club directly toward Chen Zhou’s face.
With a swift counter-motion, Chen Zhou hurled the bald man aside and tilted his head just in time; the wooden club grazed past his cheek, leaving a thin scratch on his skin.
“Beat, beat him to death!”
As the group lunged forward with their weapons raised, 126 readied itself to intervene. But before it could act, Chen Zhou was suddenly pulled into a firm embrace.
An arm wrapped tightly around his waist, drawing him against a broad, warm chest. He didn’t even need to turn around to recognize whose scent it was.
The club came down with ruthless, unyielding momentum, looking determined to crack open a skull.
Bang! The man behind him raised his arm and took the blow directly. The heavy thud sent a jolt of alarm straight through the heart.
With his pupils constricting, Chen Zhou cried out in panic, “Don’t!”
Too late. Pulling Chen Zhou swiftly behind him for protection, Xu Nian looked up and spoke, “Looks like your injuries healed up nicely.”
Unflinching and fearless, Xu Nian’s calm demeanor only left Chen Zhou drowning in guilt; he had intended to handle the punks himself, only to bungle it and cause Xu Nian to get hurt instead.
“It’s you again!” The man referred to as Brother Si gnashed his teeth in hatred.
Frowning, Chen Zhou thought, Again?
“This punk provoked us first!” the bald man barked, trying to shift the blame.
“Is that so?” Unfazed, Xu Nian stepped forward, lowering his voice. “Brother Si. He’s my person, and he’s still young. As the older guy here, couldn’t you have cut him some slack?”
Carrying an unmistakable undertone of threat, Xu Nian added, “Let’s leave each other an out, don’t you think?”
Catching the implication and knowing his own weakness remained exposed to the other party, the bald man choked back his fury, his face turning liver-colored. “Let’s go!”
The group scattered in a hurry.
“Ge!” Chen Zhou rushed forward, grabbing Xu Nian’s hand with tears threatening to well up. “Does it hurt?”
Pulling his hand back, Xu Nian insisted it didn’t hurt, then meticulously inspected Chen Zhou’s face instead. With his calloused hand, he traced Chen Zhou’s cheek and eyelids, gently brushing past the scratch before cupping the back of Chen Zhou’s neck—a gesture resembling someone soothing an injured animal, his gaze exceptionally heavy.
Radiating intense warmth from his palm, Chen Zhou shrank his neck slightly and whispered, “Ge.”
Xu Nian’s breathing grew heavier as his hand tightened momentarily, as though he wanted to pull the person into his arms, before finally letting go.
“Stay away from them in the future.”
Realizing his mistake, Chen Zhou obediently nodded.
Xu Nian pressed further, “Does it hurt?”
“No,” Chen Zhou shook his head, then asked in return, “What about you? Does it hurt?”
Gazing at Chen Zhou, Xu Nian let the words twist on his tongue. “Yeah… hurts a bit.”
Dragging the man along in a panic, Chen Zhou urged, “To the hospital.”
Stubbornly resisting, Xu Nian refused. “I’m not going.”
After a brief tug-of-war, Chen Zhou finally relented with a resigned sigh. “Then let me bandage it up for you back inside, alright?”
Though Xu Nian’s arm didn’t appear to have suffered any broken bones, the surface abrasions were severe enough, which Chen Zhou felt confident he could manage.
“Alright.”
Anxious to get back, Chen Zhou realized only now how exhausted he felt after tapping into that strength boost, his arms aching from the lingering adrenaline crash.
Noticing the hand holding his was trembling ever so slightly, Xu Nian pressed his lips together, lowering his head to squeeze back with a reassuring grip.
Refusing to let anyone else touch the injury once they returned inside, Chen Zhou shooed everyone else out of the room, handling the treatment entirely by himself with meticulous care while checking in every few moments to ask if it hurt.
Sitting patiently while watching him, Xu Nian softened his gaze. “It doesn’t hurt.”
Breathing a sigh of relief once the bandaging was finally done, Chen Zhou felt a lingering wave of guilt rise up as he stammered an apology, “I’m sor—”
Before he could finish, Xu Nian reached out and covered his mouth. Blinking in confusion, Chen Zhou stared wide-eyed as the warm palm pressed flat against his lips, with a thumb hovering just shy of the scratch.
Striking his chest over and over, Chen Zhou’s heartbeat threatened to spiral completely out of control.
“Don’t let it leave a scar,” Xu Nian said.
Lowering his hand shortly after, he cast his gaze downward. “Go clean up your own wound, I’m going to rest for a bit.”
Sensing that his ge was tired, Chen Zhou quietly slipped out of the room.
He never saw how Xu Nian pulled an arm over his eyes as he lay half-reposing inside the room, letting out a heavy sigh a moment later.
I almost lost control.